It emboldens them to take more.
I’m sheltered from a lot of the world, but I saw that time and again among the ranks of the Order.
“That’s a yes, then,” I say.
Zan sighs. “Yes. I can show you where it used to be, and you can show them.”
“Oryoucan show them.” Because hedoesn’tneed to leave.
His jaw clenches.
At least he doesn’t shrug.
“Do you think it’s a bad idea?” I ask him. “If you don’t want to—”
“I will help you,” Zan cuts me off.
Of course he will. I don’t even have to wonder at that.
But he won’t help bystaying.
I take a deep breath.
Suppressing rage isn’t healthy long-term, but Icando it.
If he tries to leave me tonight “for my own good,” though, he’ll feel the full force of it.
I stand again to get everyone’s attention, and I don’t wait for them to quiet down to announce, “We have spent a lot of time on the mountain.”
On one side of me, Zan’s lips twitch, and on the other, Teren chokes.
Who knew I could be so funny? What a world.
“There used to be an ice line on the mountain, before the Quiet,” I say. “We can show you where, and rebuild it.”
The reaction this time is quieter.
Finally Haben grunts, “Big undertaking.”
“Indeed,” Waten says. “You think we should trust two strangers for all of our ice needs? Be serious.”
“It will take more than two people to rebuild the line,” Zan volunteers abruptly. “It’s a job for all of Crystal Hollow, and that means you won’t be dependent on us.”
“And who exactly do you think is going to volunteer forthat?”
“Me,” Nomi finally says mildly.
Nomi isn’t running this meeting so that her vouching for us, conversely, doesn’t raise questions about our credibility.
“And then who’s going to fix our houses while you’re busy wasting time on a mountaintop?” Waten demands.
“People who want to be out from under the thumb of the Order for whatever reason, the same as the rest of us, Waten, but also people who need jobs we didn’t have.”
Oh. I hadn’t even thought of that.
“Smart,” Zan notes quietly next to me. “People who have connections outside can report back that however the Order tries to paint Crystal Hollow, it’s not accurate.”
“And with more traffic, there will be more demand for people’s goods,” Teren adds. “It’s always been a problem here—only somany people who live here need new blankets every day, you know?”
