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“Well, we have a solid majority,” Astrid said, “but a pretty clear division,” looking at me with my hand up and Agnarr with his hand down. “I’m not voting for or against. It is too close to my departure for me to have sway here. I will stay and advise, but it will be up to our new leaders to determine how to proceed.”
AGNARR
I was surprised that all the females voted to allow Magna and his followers to return—especially Piper and Billie.
“I don’t want to put you two on the spot, but as you will be the most impacted if we allow Magna and his followers to return, I would like to hear from you,” I said, directing myself toward Billie and Piper.
Billie spoke first, “Maybe I’m too trusting, but I believed him. Magna seemed changed.”
“I’ve met Steve. It sounds accurate to how Steve would respond in a situation like that. And how the rest of his tribe would, as well. You remember how the Snaerfírar members treated him. He had a place of respect,” Piper explained.
“I don’t think he’s lying about his experience. I am not certain I am ready to fully accept he had a change of heart,” I replied.
“What if we put some expectations or parameters on their behavior? And some rules about how they are to act?” Runa suggested.
“And what would you suggest we do if they don’t follow our rules?” Vigot asked.
“Then we kill them,” Vott growled.
I wasn’t surprised at Vott’s response, given that he was head of the guard. But he had also voted to allow Magna and his group to return.
“Vott, if you want to kill them all, why did you vote to allow them to return?” I asked, rubbing my temples.
“I didn’t say kill them allnow. I said, kill them if they step out of line,” Vott responded.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Piper leaned in, putting her hands up, “no one is killing anyone. I believe the option on the table is allowing them back in but having some requirements in place?”
“Yes, and I think that seems completely reasonable,” Alvis, the elder charged with caring for the hestrs, agreed.
I looked around the table. Many heads were nodding.
“So we are in agreement that we are willing to let them return given that they follow some guidelines?” I asked.
“Uhhh, I think they should also pay some sort of penance,” Billie piped up.
“Penance? This is a new word to me,” I confessed.
“Like doing something to show they’ve changed. To atone— well, atone probably doesn’t translate much better than penance—how about some sort of action to make amends?” she explained.
“I think that seems reasonable,” I said.
Runa interjected with surprising fierceness, “No taking human mates!” she exclaimed.
I was astonished by the intensity coming from the tiny head cook. Though, I realized she spent much time with the human women. Many of them had chosen to help out in the kitchens as it was a primarily female space. She was probably very protective of them.
“No taking human mates, ever?” I clarified.
“How about no taking human mates, or even attempting to court the human women for at least one year?” Piper suggested diplomatically.
I looked around the room, more agreement.
“What about those that are too old to take mates? It looks like a couple of them lived—including Magna,” Astrid asked, “how will they show...penance?”
“I am planning on adding a unit about humans and human culture for our orklings that are about to come of age to my classes. We could make them all take it. Ginny is planning to help me teach. I am sure Jarlin Piper would happily guest speak,” Jodis, the elder of the teachers, suggested.
Piper laughed, “A few old males taking classes on human culture and customs with a bunch of teenagers? Sold!”
“And what if, after the ár, they haven’t met the conditions we set forth? Or if they don’t agree to the conditions at all?” Bram asked.
