Page 3 of The Ruler
“Oh, Mother Nature, but we must dosomething,” someone called out.
I closed my eyes for a second, taking a deep breath before I spoke. “There is one thing wecando.”
The women settled down, giving me their full attention. Like Isobel, I was a known face in the council after having served for seven years and I held their respect.
“I suggest that one ofustrade places with Athena.”
All one hundred of them remained completely silent as I continued making my point.
“We already agreed that we won’t give Laura back to the Nmen after she so courageously escaped to live here. Hard sanctions will lead to a war that we don’t want, and leaving our priestess in the hands of the Nmen would make us all unable to sleep at night.”
They nodded in agreement.
“I say that our best chance of saving Athena is to offer them an exchange. One of us for her.”
It was the quietest the council had been during this entire crisis meeting.
“And then what?” Juliana finally said and threw her hands up. “Even if someone should be altruistic enough to volunteer, it would still leave us with an unbearable situation. No one should be held against her will in the Northlands.”
“True,” I said softly. “But we should always look for the positives, and as frightening as this is, it’s also a rare opportunity for us to influence them.” I looked around but met only troubled glances. “What if our presence in the Northlands could inspire change or be a way to make the Nmen want to join us?”
“Join us?” Naomi asked with skepticism.
“Join us,” I repeated. “We have spoken about this for years, searching for ways, and it’s a fact that we need men and the Nmen need women.”
A roar of protests broke out. “We don’t needmen.”
“Not to rule us or control us, but surely including the Nmen would align with the visions of this council. With the Northlands absorbed in the Motherlands we would all be one people and live in harmony and peace.”
“Settle down!” Isobel waited for the women to be absolutely quiet. “It’s true that the vision of this council has always been inclusiveness, and I think we can all agree that one world in peace and harmony is the ultimate goal.”
Heads were bobbing.
“True,” Naomi said. “I agree, this should be a goal of our council.”
“But if we sanction them and retaliate we’ll feed their mistrust and resentment toward us. I say we try to speak to them and find a peaceful solution to our differences,” I said loud and clear.
“Hear, hear,” several chimed in.
“I salute your idealism, Pearl,” Jolena, a small dark-haired woman who had been quiet so far, said. “But you’re asking one of us to go on a suicide mission. The Nmen are brutal savages. I doubt they’ll be willing to talk at all.”
“I would never ask any of you to volunteer,” I said firmly. “I’ll go.”
“No, let me,” Isobel exclaimed and I knew it was her maternal instinct to protect me.
I shook my head. “No, the council needs you as chairwoman. I’ll go.”
“Are you sure?” Jenna asked.
Nodding, I raised my hands. “I don’t see any other way, and I choose to see this as an opportunity for us.”
“Let’s vote,” my mother said. “Yes, Pearl should take Athena’s place orno, we should continue to look for a different solution.”
Sixty-five percent voted yes and with that, democracy had spoken and my destiny was sealed.
Choking down my emotions, I stood sternly and stoically listened to the thank-you-for-your-sacrifice speeches that started from the council members.
Kamikaze, I thought again and was relieved when the council meeting ended and I could log off the virtual reality and be alone. Only then did I let my fear surface and my tears flow freely.
