Stephen, on the other hand, perfectly remembered the words she had dropped yesterday about extinction, and he, to his complete regret, understood that she was not so far from the truth. No matter how hard he tried to bury this conclusion in the depths of his soul, her presence reminded him again of what the clan was moving towards at the moment. If they did not conquer one of the clans soon, if they did not acquire new lands along with their inhabitants, then his own people would not have so long to live. His son also did not miss the opportunity to rub his nose in those bloody feuds that followed one after another. Stephen felt the noose wrap around his neck tighter and tighter, as the clouds thickened over his head and there was nothing he could do about it. «The clan is falling into decline, my son does not support me, and the elders are about to start plotting. Everything that we have been building for so long is hanging by a thread. Okay. Let her stay with us. Let’s see what happens. It’s going to be harder with Daniel. He is not as accommodating as this assistant. At least she wants to help, not like my son, who decided to just run away, throwing the burden of responsibility off his shoulders,» Stephen reasoned to himself, while his elders discussed the fate of the maiden with each other.
«My dear elders,» Stephen finally said, «do you think we can settle her in the clan without putting our people at risk?»
«I don’t like her,» Harold waved disgustedly, trying to follow the head’s train of thought.
«Or maybe we should throw her out of the settlement, and that’s the end of it?» the assertive Oleo suggested.
«And then the Mountain Clan will gladly take her for themselves. No, it’s better to let her stay with us,» Vero opposed his idea, mindful of the pursuit of their squad all the way to the gates of the clan.
«I think we should give her a chance,» Richard said judiciously. «She is definitely here for a reason, and putting her in a tower or throwing her over the wall won’t achieve anything.»
«It seems to me that keeping her with us would be a much more sensible decision than getting rid of her without knowing the secrets she brought,» concluded the eternal always quite Garner.
After listening to the opinions of all the elders, Stephen said his final word:
«I don’t see her as a threat. My will is to let her live in the settlement under the protection. Give her a house and a couple of guards. May they always be with her. I suggest we end this and disperse.»
Meanwhile, the same guard who brought her here had already approached Deva. He did not take her by the elbow, as they did with Daniel, but only showed her with his hand to the direction of the exit.
«What about Daniel?» Harold asked, to whom it seemed that Stephen wanted to avoid discussion of this topic.
Deva, wanting to hear the decision that would be made on his account, was not in a hurry to leave the council room. She turned as slowly as possible and moved towards the exit.
«Daniel will stay in the tower until we settle this issue,» Stephen calmly replied to him, who was fed up with all the recent events. He wanted to get some rest and recover before passing judgement on his own blood. He looked at the back of the girl, who was slowly walking away, and her wonderful cloak fell in silver from her fragile shoulder, undulating like a morning gaze.
Harold remained silent, casting puzzled glances at the other elders as they looked at each other meaningfully. Meanwhile, Deva was taken out of the council room. Stephen, without saying another word, got up from his throne and almost followed her out. The elders, left alone with themselves, sat for a while longer, exchanging worried glances, and then one by one they also left the stuffy room.
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