Why can’t I use wrath to solve my social problems? Why do I think that?
See?I think wryly to myself.Lots to learn.
“It’s not actually that many people who go,” Teren tries to reassure me. “I can help give you some context for where they’re coming from, so if you can read them...”
Oh. I can, can’t I?
Look at that, heisreassuring.
I smile at him. It’s genuine, if a little shaky. “You really are a comfort. Thank you. I’ll be relying on you.”
Teren’s gaze searches mine, then turns thoughtful as he evidently decides that I mean that literally.
And I do.
Just because he thinks his power is useless doesn’t mean that I agree.
And I think he may be beginning to unpack some of the assumptions of his own upbringing, too.
I turn to Zan and say, “I didn’t actually ask you—”
“I’ll be with you today, Yora.”
But not after that.
I can have all of him today—or at least, as much of him as I can get beneath his stupid public disguise—and then he thinks that’s it.
I square my shoulders, taking another determined bite of nutrition.
It’s not going to be it.
I haven’t gotten him to rethink his own assumptions yet, so while he supports me, I’m going to have to take the lead on making a space forbothof us here.
Because I’m not settling for less.
Even if it means talking to more humans.
Chapter 18
EvenwithTeren’swarning,the town hall is smaller than I expected.
“How many people live here?” I ask Teren quietly.
“About twenty-five hundred, give or take.” He leads us toward the back with no explanation needed.
When it’s my time to speak, I’ll be able to see and read everyone in the room.
Zan looks at Teren with sharp interest. “You come to these meetings regularly?”
Teren nods. “It seemed... prudent, given my situation, to get a read on things myself. And I can help Nomi keep the peace from the audience.”
Surveying the crowd, I understand why Zan asked.
It’s not much of a crowd. A couple dozen people. That’s like... 1% of Crystal Hollow.
That’s how many people make time for their neighbors.
For people to have a chance to have a say in their lives and not take it...
