So when only vampires agreed to a suggestion, it was often the wrong one.
"Yes, but what about this toll thing?"Conal glanced at Fala and Raven."They'll make things harder for themselves."
"Maybe it's a lesson they need to learn."Enyo, one of the vampires, dropped the shadows around her so everyone could see who was talking.
"Maybe."Thano gave her a short nod.
"What's the toll about?"Armelle crossed her arms over her wide chest.
Conal replied before Thano could."The board wants to add a fee to the dock.Everyone who wants to tie their boat to it has to pay money."
"We don't use the dock."Armelle shrugged.
"No, but almost all the food they eat in Last Hope comes from Fisherman's Lake, and they travel there by boat."
Armelle nodded."And if they have to pay, they won't come."
"Or come more seldom.It could also mean, since they have to use the dock to deliver food to Eli's shop, the food would become more expensive.Which, in the next step, would mean the Gallo pack would have to pay more money to stay alive."
Yes, Conal should be the one who stayed on the board.He analyzed the situation, but Thano didn't like that he played on people's empathy for Romeo's family group."The Gallos won't starve.Ciar and Draven would keep them fed."Thano gestured at the two, who nodded as if he'd given them an assignment.
"No, perhaps not, but there are others."
Of course, there were.It was an entire settlement.When Thano didn't reply, Conal continued."If we allow them to enforce the extra tax, everyone will suffer, and those in the direst situations will starve."
"It's not our job to make sure the people in Last Hope don't starve."Enyo glared at Conal.
"I don't suggest we do anything to help them other than stop them from making stupid decisions."Conal showed some sharp teeth.
"But the board doesn't think it's a stupid decision."On a personal level, Thano believed it was, but what he believed was neither here nor there.He didn't live in Last Hope, and he never planned to.He didn't need to eat solid food and only did if he wanted to, so what it cost didn't have an impact on him."They believe they can do something good with the money they'll get from the toll."
Conal narrowed his eyes at him, and Thano almost smiled.Conal wanted to argue, but since Thano was the leader, he held his tongue.
"Why did you call a meeting, Thano?"Armelle looked confused.
"I think we should take a step back, allow them to deal with their own affairs.I think our time there is a waste of...well, time.I still think we should have a representative on the board, though.We need to be aware of what they do."
Silence fell.
"What do you think?"He looked around the clearing.
Armelle shrugged."My life is here.I've never been to Last Hope, so I don't care what they do."
She wasn't human-passing, and no non-human-passing ever went into settlements.It was an agreed-upon rule all over the world.
Fala pursed her lips."We can fly there whenever we want.What they do has little to do with us."
"As long as Eli still has a shop and enough money to buy our meat, I don't care."Draven looked at Ciar, who shrugged.
"We'll look after Romeo's pride."Ciar met Thano's gaze.
"What about money?"Conal turned to Ciar.
"Money?"
"The Gallo pack needs money to pay for their housing.You might be able to give them meat, so they don't starve, but they need money too."
Thano thought back to Alice in the shop, trying to sell her plants to Eli.She needed money."If they can find jobs, they'll have money."
