Catch A Falling Star

Chapter 11

A fist slammed hard against the maroon wood of the table. The owner of the said fist was crimson faced soon to match the color of the furniture his temper much too obvious for someone of his status. The rest of the room watched him with resigned annoyance and a sort of edgy patience.

- This is unacceptable! He bellowed.

- So you keep saying, a short blond woman stated from across the table.

- Why should we waste precious resources just to help a bunch of savage animals?

His words were followed by silence all expressions sharing the same exasperated features. All but one.

- And what makes you so civilized? Asked another woman from the other side of the room. You beat yourself over the chest with your fists like a gorilla at every other opinion and roar like a lion every time things don't go your way! They helped us when there was a need for it, we at least owe them that.

- Of course you'd see things their way, Lora, that thing you call a child of yours is one of them!

- Enough! The man at the head of the table boomed.

Everyone froze and stared at him, but he only nodded towards the woman next to him to say her piece. She nodded her acknowledgement in turn.

- Quistus Reegart sit down, she ordered firmly. While some of you may not be very fond of history I am a devoted listener thus I feel it is my duty to remind you all of the events that lead to the previous disaster that nearly killed us all. Now, the citizens of Renhara have always helped us despite the strict and sometimes offensive rules that we have imposed on them while here. So, I suggest you tone down your temper Quistus Reegart because you have also profited from the help of those "savage animals" on multiple occasions, she finished calmly.

- But it is their duty to lend a hand.

- And it is ours to help as well, she stated as if talking to a child.

- But we need everything we have for our own people, Prima and to waste it on such lowlifes is almost a cri...

- I will not stand here and have you insult the people to whom we owe are very lives. Does anyone else have any objections - solid objections to us sending help?

- I don't see w...he started again.

- Clearly you don't. Now sit down and shut up, the Prima was clearly at her limits.

- You cannot dismiss my objections so easily. I have the right to contest your decisions, he insisted.

- Not when you have no other arguments except your primitive way of thinking. Your objection has been acknowledged and declared without base Quistus.

- You choose some filthy mongrels over your own people, he spat at her.

- Silence! She roared making everyone flinch.

- Nary, the man next to her placed a hand on her shoulder gently.

Her eyes snapped to him her anger visibly melting away. He smiled in turn and faced the people at the table.

- It is expected of you to have some reservations regarding our involvement in this conflict however despite the fact that we are only humans - well most of us anyway - we have proven that we can stand our own in a battle. We are resourceful and resilient. This shouldn't even be up for discussion. They helped us when we needed it without questions so why shouldn't we respond in kind? He finished looking pointedly at Reegard.