Between The Crystals

Ch 56 Voting

I sat on a boulder and watched as Grant stood on a ridge with almost the entire population gathered on the ground below. Various people were scattered along other ridges, acting as witnesses. The patriarchs all sat to the side since the villagers were already voting.

Grant once again listed the options and what they meant. People put on leather hoods to keep their votes anonymous. Anyone on the sidelines had been sworn to silence. As Grant called out for those in favor of keeping Janette here, over two-thirds of the hands were raised. When Grant asked who wanted to risk seeing if the Saursune would heal her, about a third of the hands went up, mostly from hunters, gatherers, and porters. Some never raised their hands at all, for reasons of their own.

I sighed and closed my eyes. History was hard to forget, regardless of recent events that vaguely resembled friendly overtures. And some raiding villages had been destroyed lately. The outcome had been expected, not that it made it any easier.

I wandered to the top ledge for some peace and quiet. I had visited the unresponsive porter earlier and held her cold hand for a while, but the sight of her pale skin haunted me. Picking the most remote corner I could find, I lay back and stared up at the sky.

Shortly after, Liam sat beside me with two bowls of soup.

"Thanks," I quietly said as I sat up and ate even though grief kept hunger at bay.

He nodded, and we sat in companionable silence. Below, many were spreading out or gathering into small groups as they ate and mourned. Sadness practically radiated out of the ravine.

We remained on the ledge even after our bowls were empty. I didn't particularly feel like being around people at the moment, but I was glad for Liam's silent, supportive presence. In another hour, I'd have to take the big water cart out and visit the cat. As if it were another day, as if a porter wasn't dying below.

My eyes drifted to the cave as the doctor came and looked around. He spoke to a few people, who pointed in this direction.

The doctor cupped his hands around his mouth and called, "Natalie! She's awake! She wants to see if the Saursunes will help her!"

I blinked slowly, not believing what I had just heard. Liam jumped to his feet and offered me a hand. Snapping out of it, I let him pull me to my feet and skittered down the trail as fast as safely possible, ignoring the murmurings and mutterings of those I passed.

Four people carried a stretcher out of the cave, and I picked a different path, one that would take me closer to the crystal they were heading to. Finally on flat ground, I was able to run over. Her fingers twitched, and I held them gently as her dull eyes finally focused on me.

"Go... Saurs..." Her wispy faint voice was barely audible.

"I can take you," I promised her, walking beside the stretcher.

Her eyes closed as she fought for breath.

When we reached the crystal, I asked those carrying her, "Can you set her on the ground? I'd rather not take someone who isn't a porter that close to a town since the Saursunes might react negatively."

In reality, I didn't want witnesses. They hesitated, then gently set the sapling and leather carrier on the packed dirt, the habit of obeying a porter overriding their original plans. Reynold's eyes bored into mine, clearly about to object to leaving his wife's side.

I didn't turn away, letting him see the sadness that had been plaguing me. "I'm sorry, Reynold. As much as I want to take you, I think the Saursunes will be more inclined to help if there aren't any non-porters present."

He squeezed his eyes closed, then opened them. He stepped closer and rested his hands on my shoulders. "Please take care of her until...until whatever happens, happens."