“What were you planning on doing, trampling him to death?” I asked, my voice echoing in the stillness.
“We deserve justice!” one of the braver voices shouted, followed by a chorus of agreement from those who hadn’t had the balls to speak up first. Always easier to be a follower, wasn’t it?
“And you will get it,” I said. “But not by attacking your own. These warriors have risked their lives to protect you and this is how you repay them?”
“Give us the girl, then!”
More shouted in agreement, lifting their torches high.
“Nadya will face your laws for what she has done.” I licked my lips and sighed. “I know nothing–absolutely nothing–can make up for you losing your children. But she will be tried and you will get your chance to see justice fulfilled.”
“How do we know you’re not just hiding her?” another tear-soaked voice cried out.
I clenched my jaw. “Has the Commander ever failed you? Has there been one single person in this entire city who hasn’t been treated fairly? Ever?”
I got only grumbles as a reply.
“Then why are you so scared this situation won’t be as just?” I asked. “Spirits are high right now, I understand–”
“Things are changing! We now have to live next to the trolls!” another voice bellowed. This one didn’t sound pained or vengeful–they hadn’t lost a child, they just wanted an opportunity to scream their grievances, emboldened by the situation.
I swallowed my groan.
Not again with the trolls. “What do they have to do with anything?”
Said trolls were keeping to themselves right now and staying as far away from this chaos as possible. Smarter than us selfish people.
“You brought them here and forced us–”
“Forced you to what, exactly?” The anger which had barely bubbled to the surface when I drank the truth serum was now on the brink of spilling over. “How have your lives changed with them here?”
More mutters, disgruntled but incoherent.
“They shouldn’t be here!”
“But they are,” I said. “And they have donenothingto you. They faced the soldiers at the rimfor you. Andthisis how you repay them?”
The murmurs lessened, but didn't vanish.
“Once we secure Solkar’s Reach, they will return to their own homes. If you had been attacked, you would have wanted them to help you in your day of need.”
“No, we wouldn’t–”
“Don’t lie.” The blue tendrils twisted around my wrists. “Every being in this world would do just about anything to survive–perhaps even swallow their pride and stop believing in grim tales.”
Shocked whispers began to brew in the gathering. I doubted anyone had spoken to them so plainly in their lives. Treating them with gloved hands wouldn’t help us. Not right now.
Dax was right.
I needed to show the part of the leader, not just play it behind the scenes.
The Blood Brotherhood respected power. Visible, tangible power.
“The crater’s changing!” another voice, this time more powerful. “We all see it!”
“Is it,” I said. “And we can stand together and face it or try to tear each other down in the meantime.”
“But–”
