ELRETH

Elreth sat, tense, in her chair, waiting for the response from the elders. Would they ultimately advise her to allow the bigots to determine their course here? Or would they all stand together and point a new way forward.

Most of them regarded her thoughtfully, and she remembered her father's advice to let them challenge her, to listen to their thoughts, to use it as preparation for what would come from the people themselves.

But she also knew, deep in her gut, that she was right. She resolved to answer their questions, but even now, before they'd answered, she knew what she would do.

She was not going to bow to these people any more. They had been stepped around for far too long. They would submit, or they would be asked to leave.

She would just have to pray they didn't get organized and join forces with the bears…

Elreth shook off the thought. That wasn't going to happen. She was going to call the hearts of her people. And they were going to be won over by Aaryn and the other disformed.

Then Huncer stood and, without preamble, answered her question. "I believe you may have found the seed of our discomfort in all these issues, Sire," she said. Elreth was about to tell her not to use the title, but the older woman rolled her shoulders and bowed her head. "I for one am humbled. You are… you are correct. We have allowed these people whose hearts do not align with our own to cause us to step cautiously. And you are correct, as a new ruler, to begin as you intend to go. I will advise caution only in confrontation. Give information. Give warning. Allow the people to learn to accommodate it. But… do not waver, my Queen. I will stand behind you."

"As will I," Lhern said, standing also, with a smile on his face that made Elreth want to cry. "The day is here for all of Anima to be united as one people. We must use wisdom, but we must also begin to step forward with determination. I stand behind you, Sire."

There was a chorus then, one by one, of other elders taking their feet and submitting—some with smiles, others with fear. Until only two or three remained seated. One was Sorche who had raised the question of too many changes all at once.

When Sorche stood, her lips twisted. "I do not disagree with your intentions, my Queen," she said quietly. "But I am old enough to remember the War of the Wolves. The herd of my youth remains fractured to this day. The King had not committed the crime of which he was accused, and yet it was almost the end of the WildWood.

"I will take your instruction, and I will not rebel," she said, barely above a whisper, bowing her head. But then she raised her eyes and held Elreth's fearlessly. "But I will also hold you responsible for whatever may come of your decisions."

Elreth stifled the urge to swallow. She held the female's eyes and nodded. "I would expect nothing less."

The last stood then in solidarity. Her father had warned her there would almost always be two or three dissenters when the elders held a vote. Technically, this wasn't a formal vote, but it was a show of support. Elreth told herself it was important to have dissenting voices to raise issues that supporters wouldn't think to ask. That these people would be an asset to her.

But she also marked their names and resolved to watch them closely.

She would accept challenge. She would not accept rebellion among the leaders of the Tree City.

"Then we are agreed," she said softly. "I will announce a feast tomorrow and declare my Mate. I will not set the date for the Flames and Smoke, but you should know my intention is to take my Mate as soon as possible—as early as next week, if we can do so responsibly.

"I will answer questions from the people, and from you. But I will not waver. I will not allow the bigots, or fearful ones to hold back the progress towards unity. I vow to you that during my rule, the disformed will finally step into their rightful place as Anima—no greater and no lower than any other. They will own their places in the hierarchy. And they will be recognized as fully Anima, without fear or taint."

"As you have said, so let it be," the elders all recited.

Elreth's skin pebbled with goosebumps as the tension broke and they all took their seats again, murmuring—some laughing and joking.

It was happening, she realized. It was really happening. She was leading her people. She was leading the leaders. And they were aiming for the same goal. The correct goal—she was certain of it.

"Now that we have that settled," she said as they all began to quiet, "Until my mate has walked the flames with me and I can rightfully appoint him as Chief Advisor, I would like to appoint Lhern and Huncer to advise me on this issue specifically. I am meeting with the disformed tomorrow, I believe, to hear their perspective, and become more fully informed on their hierarchy and goals. Once we understand better what they are doing, we can begin to make decisions on how to incorporate them best. Will you two accept the roles and keep the confidences until such time as we are certain how to move forward?"

The two both smiled and accepted, and Elreth ticked another milestone from her mental list.

There was a pregnant pause then and she realized she was done. She had achieved what she'd come there to do—to properly establish her own position, as well as the Elders in relationship to her. And they now likely needed a break since they had been there since breakfast.

"Thank you, all of you. Thank you for your grace today—for allowing me to make a mistake, and learn from it. I cannot guarantee that I will always get it right, I know I am emotional. But my focus now will be on holding myself in better control and learning which battles to fight. I hope you won't give up on me. I plan to be much more like my father in this way."

Huncer and Lhern, the only two who had been elders since her father's appointment thirty years earlier—when they were the youngest on the council—both laughed.