Adrian requested A’Mila to hear him out alone. While she was still adamant about not letting him walk into the lion’s den, she thought she could at least hear him out. Once the room was empty, Adrian began his speech.
"This is not just a plan, A’Mila. It’s our best shot. The Tulkas won’t see coming," Adrian asserted. "I need you to step out of Vesper’s mories for a mont and think as the Matriarch of the tribe. Besides, it’ll be beneficial for both of us."
"What do you an?" she inquired.
"After Silka’s public outburst, the tribals would view suspiciously," Adrian explained. "No matter what you say or do, sowhere in the back of their heads, they’d think of as a traitor."
He continued, "I need to prove myself, and what better way is there than facing our enemies on a risky mission? Plus, if you let go, it’ll set straight those who think you favour . No one who’s all biased would let soone take on such a dangerous mission, right?
A’Mila didn’t say anything and kept staring at Adrian. He had offered her a solution to all her imdiate problems, but her gut told her there was sothing more to Adrian’s request than just a desire to prove himself.#
Soone like him wouldn’t propose such an absurd arrangent to please people. But A’Mila pushed such thoughts out of her head. She didn’t care what Adrian’s true goal was. Besides, he was right. She had to think as the Matriarch of the tribe and not as his babysitter.
"Fine, you have my permission to leave," A’Mila concluded. "But if you’re doing this for us, you’ll have to do things our way."
"I don’t get it."
"You will," A’Mila smiled. "Don’t worry, it will do you no harm. But before I dive into the details, bring the council mbers back. We need to discuss this matter first."
Adrian was confused but asked the others to rejoin them, and they did. Once they were seated, A’Mila began talking to them in their language. Luckily, Adrian had learned quite a bit and could understand their conversation.
"Since Adrian is taking such a risk for us, it’s only fair we compensate him accordingly," A’Mila said. "I’m in favour of letting him into the warrior’s lake."
A collective gasp echoed in the room.
’Water from the warrior’s lake? What’s that all about?’ Adrian wondered.
"No way!" Silka was the first to object to A’Mila’s proposal. "The lake’s water is strictly reserved for the Tribe’s Matriarch, and no man is ever allowed to touch it!"
Even though her influence in the council had been affected, most mbers still nodded along. The lake’s water had extraordinary properties, able to strengthen a diver’s body and repair damages even elixirs couldn’t.
However, each ti soone took a dip and was accepted by it, its power diminished. That’s why only the tribe’s Matriarch was permitted to dive into the lake as an annual ritual.
But A’Mila wasn’t going to give up so easily, and she had so great points to counter the rest.
"We need details about the Tulkas, but Adrian must return to us unhard to obtain that information. The least we could do is to provide him with the best opportunity to fulfil the objective."
As A’Mila continued, the opinions of a few mbers began to shift. As the Matriarch, A’Mila also knew how to push everyone’s buttons and did not hesitate to utilise every trick she had in the arsenal—even resorting to guilt-tripping them about Adrian’s mistreatnt since the incident.
However, the montum stopped when A’Mila called for a vote. One of them had abstained, and the vote for the rest was tied. Since a decision couldn’t be reached without a majority, Silka prevented Adrian, an outsider, from taking more of the tribe’s resources.
Or so it seed for a mont until the final mber of the council made an appearance. Wrapped in bandages and carried by two others, Akila limped into the room and assud his seat.
"Akila, you should be resting! What are you doing here?" Silka asked, baffled by his sudden arrival.
Silka’s words seed to show concern for him, but deep down, she was afraid Akila would turn the decision over to Adrian’s favour and knew she had to do sothing about it.
Before Silka could react, A’Mila seized the chance, informing Akila about everything and that they were in the midst of voting, but it tied.
"Your timing is impeccable as always," A’Mila said with a smile. "You see, we were in the middle of sothing, and perhaps you could help us solve the problem."
"You could have just voted in my stead, you know?" Akila smiled before turning towards Adrian. "Of course, I’ll vote in my brother’s favour."
"B-Brother?" Silka wa speechless for a mont, mirroring the council’s shocked expression.
"Why are you all surprised?" Akila continued. "He saved my life, didn’t he? According to the laws, I get to repay him however I want, which is my way of doing it. You know what this ans, right?"
Adrian didn’t know what was happening, but he could see Silka was furious. If the room had been a bit brighter, he would have thought smoke was coming out from her ears.
"Alright, let’s vote again, shall we?" A’Mila said, clapping her hands to signal a fresh round of voting.
To no one’s surprise, the votes were in Adrian’s favour, permitting him to enter the lake. After the voting concluded, Silka quickly left, and the rest of the council followed suit, leaving only A’Mila, Akila, and him in the room.
"...what was that all about?" Adrian asked the siblings, who burst out laughing.
"Let’s just say you’re not an outsider anymore," A’Mila said, tousling Adrian’s hair as she removed his collar. "You’re our brother, part of the tribe. That ans you’re under our protection. No one can mistreat you over your past mistakes."
"Isn’t it too easy?" Adrian asked Akila, thinking they were ssing with him.
"Easy? I almost died there, didn’t I?" Akila acted offended. "The audacity!"
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