V2Ch150 Nyew Loathe

I left Babur and her odd-smelling acquaintance at the border of the village. Even this old nose could tell he smelled off. Still, Babur wouldn't be stupid enough to trust just anyone, would she?

I shook off the thought and gathered my strength to ascend the stairs in front of the village council hut. A hand reached out and grabbed under my right arm to help me up the stairs. I accepted the help.

"Thank you, Amur. You are too kind to this old one."

"As a servant of the elders, I can not help you enough."

His polite demeanor seems ever-present. He held open the door to the council hut while I neandered through at a snail's pace. Those stairs wiped me out.

Several of the village elders were lounging inside at various locations. When I entered, they all stood up. As I walked past, they followed. Amur was still closely following me. Some of the other elders had their own aides, Amur was mine. Not by my choice. He was the most dutiful, therefore he was suited for the head elder. The others voted in my place for my aide, just as I vote in their place for theirs. Some were still young enough to not need an aide. I envied them.

I took my place at the head seat of the council. The other elders took their seats.

"Why are we gathered today? I was resting."

"Arthur. When was the last time you left the council hut?"

"Well, it was about... ah... I... don't seem to remember."

"Exactly. Don't complain when you have to walk ten feet to sit down in the same hut you live in."

The council hut is home to several elders that have a hard time moving. The central room is the council chamber itself while several outlying rooms are home to half of the council.

"The Fifth Trial."

I didn't need to say much more than that to get their whole-hearted attention.

"An exile? Who?"

"There are only two left right now, right?"

"That one guy with the scales and teeth. He was one."

"Have you forgotten about the head elder's granddaughter?"

"That's right. It must be her. Why would he consider the other guy?"

"Isn't that favoritism? How long has she been gone anyway?"

I slammed my hand down on the table.

"IT IS NYOT FAVORITISM! Even if it were Kholeel, he would have the same rights as Babur. They have both been gone for over eight years. That has been the law of our tribe since ancient times. I will nyot deny anyone a right that is theirs."

"Which of the five trials will be chosen?"

"The first of five is the most entertaining."

"The first is also the most bloody, do you really think that kind of method is necessary? I prefer the third of five, myself."

"The third can't hold a candle to the wits required for the second."

"Is her partner Leo? We should take that into consideration."

"Leo is dead. Her partner is a stranger. I knyow nyothing about him beyond his willingness to help her. I'll be the first to admit, he has a strange smell. I don't knyow if I like him or nyot. He is nyot of this village so his consideration is nyot necessary."

The room seemed to quiet at the information about Leo's death. It's understandable. He was like a hero to this tribe.

"Ahem. May I interject with an opinion?"

"You may, Amur. But, only to me."

He leaned in and hid his lips with a hand.

"What about the sixth?"

"The sixth?"

I gasped out loud.

"The sixth!"

"That seems adequate."

"The sixth of five? Have you no hearts?"

"Why have a heart for a stranger?"

"A stranger maybe, but as a stranger, he could be better than the lot of us."

"You think anyone could be better than the lot of us."

"It's true."

"Hag."

"Turtle."

I put a hand up before the two that were bickering could stand up and quarrel.

"Calm yourselves. There seems to be somewhat of a consensus of the Sixth of five trials. Raise a claw if you vote for the sixth trial."

It was an obvious seven votes yes to three votes no, including my own. She has no doubt never heard of the sixth of five trials. The last time it was used was before I was born. This will be hard to tell her.

Of all the trials. This one is usually the most heartbreaking. Once the pair knows what the trial entails... I have heard, that in the past, most pairs would say no to such a trial. Those that say yes are... The pair ended up no more. Fewer still have succeeded the trial.

"The sixth of five trials has been chosen. Set preparations underway for the afternyoon. I shall inform them and bring them to the preparation hut."

As the others left the room, Amur stood behind me, waiting. I was lost in thought.

This may be my last year as head elder after all. If her trial fails, I will step down and my final act will be to abolish the sixth of five trials. That trial is meant to punish, not redeem.

"Something wrong, elder?"

I stood up on my own. As I did so, I could swear I saw a smirk on Amur from the corner of my sight. I admired him so. But now, I can only loathe him for such a suggestion. I already loathe myself for uttering it out loud before the council.

I left the room without answering him. He tried to help me down the stairs. I refused him. He finally got the hint and went somewhere else.

My travel back to the border was wrought with a heavy weight. Her smiling face wrung my heart as I got closer. If I was truly the elder everyone thought I was, I wouldn't feel anything at all for her.

"I'm sorry, Babur."