Chapter 137 - Unpersuaded

AARYN

If anyone had told Aaryn that the person to sway Elreth would have been her brother, he would have laughed them out of the cave. He'd been almost nervous when the male started talking. But something was different in him. Aaryn didn't know what it was, but it was as if some of Gar's anger was gone.

And the way he spoke about the disformed…

Aaryn often forgot that Gar wasn't disformed, that he could shift. The male did it so infrequently—probably because he had a true heart of compassion for the disformed and didn't want to flaunt it in front of them.

And he was so freaking big, he usually didn't need to shift to win any kind of conflict.

Aaryn had told him before, whether he realized it or not, there was a presence around Gar—something like his father's dominance, but with a slightly different quality. People wanted to follow him. Where Reth inspired and dominated, winning the people to his way—and scaring those that didn't fall into line—Gar seemed to just… exist with people.

He didn't take his natural place in the hierarchy, but lived alongside the disformed as their friend. But because of his dominance they naturally wanted to follow him—which was odd, since he wasn't disformed himself. There was something about him that drew those who were broken, or alienated. They felt like he understood them.

Coupled with his strength of will and independence—not to mention, sheer masculine dominance—he was a King in the making.

He would never be King because he didn't desire it. But it wasn't until Aaryn had seen Gar functioning away from his family that he'd realized just how strong, and wise, the male could be.

And how easily wounded.

Gar wasn't telling his sister the whole story. And Aaryn wouldn't do it for him. It wasn't his story to tell. He probably didn't know all of it anyone. But he did know one thing for sure: Gar was made to lead. But he did so differently than his father and sister.

Aaryn just prayed his sister would get a chance to see her brother through that lens. Because he knew she'd admire him for it if she did.

As Gar finished his story, Elreth was already looking slightly stunned. Then her brother made that impassioned plea for the disformed and Aaryn's throat pinched.

Elreth looked like she'd swallowed a prickle-pig. Then she looked like she'd been hurt. Aaryn wanted to reach out for her, to hold her close, to soothe whatever Gar's words had used to stab her.

But then she seemed to shake herself and turn to Aaryn with a deep breath. "Okay, then… I won't deny, I can see what you all have here is special. So the next question is, what do you want me to do?"

It was like she'd sucked the air out of the room. Aaryn stared at her, stunned. He hadn't expected her to just put it out there like that. He'd thought they'd have time…

But the time was, apparently, now. So as everyone turned to look at him, and Elreth stared at him, waiting, he rolled his shoulders back and held her gaze and prayed she wouldn't hear it as a challenge, but as a plea.

"We want to show our worth. We want to function independently. We want our people to be able to mate and breed and raise their offspring under the protection of our own cave." He swallowed. "We want you to make us our own tribe."

Elreth blew out a breath and looked away from him, her jaw rolling. He couldn't tell if she was angry or nervous. Something had made her tense, but she was trying to stifle it.

"It isn't that simple," she said a moment later.

Many of the disformed shifted in their seats, but Aaryn let himself feel his control and his leadership. They would follow in this. Not speak past him. Not to the Queen.

"I believe it is," he said simply. "I recognize that it's a big move, but—"

"No, Aaryn, I don't think you do. I just had to convince the elders to accept me taking a disformed mate, and discussing the strategy for bringing as many of the people along with us without conflict as possible. You think if I announce that, then immediately announce that I'm allowing the disformed their own tribe, they won't see a connection? You think there won't be accusations of leadership being stolen? That I am a puppet—or worse, that I have intentionally deceived everyone to get you in power?"

"Not if we bring them to it correctly," he started.

Elreth snorted. "We? You mean me. No one—even the supporters of the disformed—will hear you objectively on this, Aaryn. This has to be very clearly my decision, not yours."

"Of course, but—"

"No buts. I will consider it. I agree that it is an ideal result. But I need time to consider and take advice. Perhaps a lot of time."

There were murmurs of displeasure about that, but Aaryn quieted them with a look. "How much time?"

"How long can the disformed keep quiet about this meeting? Because trust me, while I understand the value of what you have done for each other I can guarantee you aren't aware of everything that will be required of you as a Tribe once we achieve that. And I will have to answer questions for you to make it happen.

"For example, how will you contribute? What will you offer to the Crown, to the City, to earn your place?"

Aaryn nodded. He was ready for this question. "What you see here tonight is just a sliver of the Anima that are a part of the Outsiders. Every single one born into other tribes and sustaining relationships there, yet has proven themselves of the character to keep our secrets even when there is conflict within our ranks. And to support the others when there are problems outside of our Den. Quite apart from the practical measures of growing and farming that we are physically capable of, we are a people who are accustomed to moving outside the notice of others. We could be an asset to the crown—a part of, but not loyal to the other tribes. Our people could be trained to track, and to spy, and—"

"Why should I trust the disformed to spy on others when the only faction I'm aware of within the Tree City that is poised to rise up against me are the disformed?"

Aaryn took the word like a blow and sat back in his chair.

Had she really just said that? In front of all of them?

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