The Matriarch's Daughter

Chapter Twenty-One: Revelations

Thepa barged through the door gathering the attention of the room. For a gallay, the place was large, but save for a few crates and fishing gear, all that was there were the five members of Elite Team One.

"Captain," Wilran spoke. "We were just—"

Thepa stepped all the way in and shut the door. "You were just deciding on whether or not to commit high treason. I'd advise against it. It could cost you your lives."

"That's not necessarily true," spoke Tash for the first time. "We were all chosen to be a part of Elite Team One for how good we are. If anyone could change the events in the Beachwick it has to be us."

Wilran responded, "Not to mention we knew that we were putting our lives on the line when we joined the team."

"That's right," Yenry said. "Plus, I bet a good arbitrator could make a case for us going into the Beachwick."

Thepa shook her head at their recklessness. There was more at stake here than their lives. "I expected better of you Yenry. The treaty doesn't protect unlawful actions. Even if Goldale wanted to do something about it, they wouldn't because the Beachwick is essential to the war effort. Your risk would be pointless."

Zuna stepped forward and stared her down before saying, "It isn't for me."

"I could order you," Thepa replied.

"Then let's vote," Wilran said. "I vote yes. If someone is in trouble, it should be our job to help them."

"I also vote yes," said Zuna. "It is my home. I have a right to defend it. I will defend it. Sister Zelphina does not belong on the throne."

Julius sat down and said, "I will respect the wishes of the team, but I don't like it. I vote no."

"I'm with Julius," Tash said. "It isn't our place. If we step in here, what kind of precedent would that set later on down the line? I sympathize with our satyr comrades, but we need to be willing to step back from personal matters and focus largely on the war."

This was not going the way Thepa had hoped. Wilran was pushing the advantage Zuna was giving her. She would just have to hope Yenry sided with the rest of the male members of the team. She looked over in the halfling's direction and found him staring at the floor. She could tell he was very uncomfortable with casting this vote as it would largely dictate the direction the team would head in. Ultimately, no matter what happened, he might feel guilty about the outcome.

"Both sides have merit," he stated without looking up at the group. "However, I also feel Captain Thepa is right about the essentiality of the Beachwick to the war effort. An unstable government could be rather detrimental and from what I understand a large contingent of their army is currently hiding in the jungle. What could Sainta expect from a fractured Beachwick? Only in the interest of Sainta and not in the matters of the state do I vote yes."

Wilran and Zuna smiled triumphantly, but the decision frustrated Thepa. Even if she didn't care about the state matters, she needed them out of the way to make sure Rory got to safety. "And what about Rory? Who's going to keep an eye on her. We can't ignore what just happened."

Yenry nodded. "I'm curious about that as well. That was a powerful display of magic. Perhaps Goldale could help? How far is the outpost from the Beachwick?"

"About two miles," Zuna answered.

Wilran nodded. "Then we leave her at the outpost. She should be fine and out of the way. Just in case, we can have Mistress Deeprabbit meet us there to assist. You were planning on going there anyway so it isn't even out of the way."