Hope

Chapter Thirty-One: Reconstruction

We all met back in the wagon that night, long after the sun had set and the crowd had dispersed and gone back to their homes. Tasha and the others were all shining with triumph. Even Zack seemed affected, his skin taking on an angelic glow and an irrepressible smile on his face. There was still no sign of Ryan or the other guard, but Tasha assured us that they were okay. Since they were guards, they could take care of themselves.

"That was awesome!" Rebecca declared. "After all that effort we finally managed to do it!"

"Not yet," Tasha reminded her. "We still have to put in a new democratic system to replace the dictatorship we overthrew. And it's probably going to be harder than you think. These people haven't known democracy for two hundred years. Memories often don't last that long."

Zack then tapped Tasha on the shoulder. "I think I could help you with that."

Tasha's eyes widened. "Oh, that's right! Your grandmother Jírda! Zack, do you think you could send for her?"

Zack nodded. "I'll be back within the week." With that, he disappeared into the night. Jing stared wide-eyed after him, but she didn't try to follow.

"I hope he'll be alright," she murmured.

Tasha looked upon her gently. "He will be."

The days passed by quicker than I would've thought possible with all the work that needed to be done. Zack was back within five days with his grandmother Jírda and almost immediately she and Tasha started writing up a new constitution. Stan was busy in the local smith's shop making various machines to help out the local populace. More often than not he had Zack looking over his shoulder. Jing went from door to door recruiting healers to treat the numerous scrapes and breaks endured during the riot. Rebecca was doing a little reconstructive demolition with the help of her magic. I made sure to stand well away from her after she nearly burned my pelt off with a misdirected stream of fire. Ryan and the quarter-elf it seemed had remained behind to train some of the civilians as 'policemen'. When I asked Tasha what policemen were, she said they were law enforcers and left it at that.

I felt a bit like a dead weight in all these going ons and I was pretty sure Tornheart, Smokesky, Tangleweed, and Tinyflower felt the same. Splashing Fish and Fallen Shadow had left on day three, saying they had to return to their tribe. I was considering leaving, but Tasha insisted that I stay until the constitution was signed.

"I might not want to wait that long," I informed her.

Tasha gave me a sly look. "You wouldn't want to miss Jing and Zack's wedding, now would you?"

I gave her a mock incredulous look. "You sneak! How dare you!" Tasha chuckled. I then remembered something and asked, "When are you and Stan going to have your wedding?"

"Later," she replied absently. "There's just so much that needs to be done. I just hope the civilians don't try to make me a council member. I'm just not made for paper-pushing."

"You could always advocate for Jírda to take your place," I told her.

Jírda laughed behind me. "I don't know, Pointedleaf. For the past two hundred years I have thought that I would never see democracy in the Kingdom of Lyssia again. I am gladly wrong, but there are many people who never got to see this." A sad look crossed her face. "Poor Rising Moon," she muttered. "She was so young..."

I took her hand in mine, moved by her sadness. She was startled and looked at me with something resembling awe. "Do it for her," I said firmly. "She lives on in the tribes. Be Lyssia's new leader. They need you to heal the rift between elves and humans. Tasha can't do it for you."