The villagers remained silent, but all eyes were on Eliska. She waited upon Chantale. Joseph tried to guess what he saw in Chantale's expression. The obvious was anger, but he knew better. Deeper, there was hurt. But the fact that she said nothing told more of how she felt.
After all, she was forced to fight on two fronts. And now here one of her adversaries sat. Not just any adversary. Who among the village didn't want an explanation of Eliska's actions. Joseph knew he had more insight on the matter than anyone. Though, perhaps Chantale was privy to much as well.
Yet, he waited.
As did the villagers.
"Why not avoid all dis?" Chantale finally spoke.
"Because," Eliska was quick to answer, almost as if she was waiting for the excuse to speak, "ya know Calarapan's nature."
"You more so dan anyone else here, it seem." Chantale shot back.
"You tink I enjoyed it." Eliska said.
"I saw ya face." Chantale responded.
"An Calarapan believe." Eliska said.
Joseph remembered what she said when kneeling upon the alter. Calarapan had to believe she was genuine.
"Calarapan coulda been sent away!" Chantale snapped, taking a step forward.
"Not so easy." Eliska said.
"He touch you!" Chantale scoffed.
"An I hate it." Eliska said.
Chantale didn't look Joseph's way at that moment, but if she had, she might have sensed his relief.
"I was trapped." Eliska continued, "but so was he. Not find me. I wait." Elisak glanced Joseph's way. "I trust." Locking eyes with Chantale again, she continued, "Count of Joseph. Dis his named land."
"An now look ah dit." Chantale said, spreading her arms to indicate the changes. "Pieces missin'. River cut off. Tamara bridge…"
"I had to." Eliska said. "Calarapan come. Joseph's will tis good. Calarapan hate it. Calarapan build, but…" she stretched her right arm to point toward what was left of the stronghold, "what wicked build tis set aside for dah righteous."
For the first time during this confrontation, Chantale pulled her focus away from Eliska to regard the stronghold. Calarapan was only able to collapse the front wall to a certain extent. Once almost as tall as the mountain where the gate resided, the wave-like top just overshadowed the roofs of the houses on the other side of the path and those that still stood to either side of it. But as for the front section, it might have been pulled halfway toward the back wall. The side walls eroded away from the village to sit in the middle of the river. The rest of the river on the other side of the crack splitting the village was dry, but the stronghold's cavity was filled with water. Already, the continual stream had swept beyond the stronghold and was rolling across Chantale's piece of land that gave Joseph access to the back section. No longer able to flow into the neighboring land, the water dropped off the edge to disappear into the abyss.
Perhaps that couldn't be repaired, Joseph thought, but another bridge could be built across the crack, connecting this part of the village with the smaller section downriver.
"Calarapan not take dis wid'em." Eliska said, still indicating the stronghold. "Tis Joseph's now."
Chantale took another step toward her, "Not for yaself?"
Eliska shook her head, "Calarapan not conquer dis land. Still named. Joseph name it. All his."
Joseph was taken from their confrontation by Tamara's touch. She was wrapping her arms around his and resting her head against his shoulder. He studied her. No longer alert. No longer agitated. But at peace. She hadn't understood before. Did she now?
He shared a glance with Ernie who was still at his side. Ernie shrugged. "Take Henry's word for it." He said. "The stronghold was forced to wait. Someone other than this Calarapan guy was holding it back." He nodded toward Eliska.
Joseph turned a grin Eliska's way, but she was still facing Chantale. He was aware that Chantale understood much of the situation, but that didn't mean she had to like it.
"An I suppose ya see me translatin' dis big rock, ay?" Chantale swept her hand toward Calarapan's stronghold.
"I help." Eliska said, beginning to smile. "I inside it. Calarapan not see mah plans. All I do, tis for Joseph sake."
Chantale's shoulders sagged as she emitted a silent sigh. Her lips worked with her scowl to form more scolding remarks. Joseph almost laughed, knowing she wouldn't be able to keep up this debate for much longer.
She placed her face in her hand, "Oooh child. What we do wid you?"
Eliska beamed. Tamara squeezed Joseph's arm. He reached over to run his fingers through her feathery hair, and then started forward. Tamara, still attached, walked with him.
"The materials of this structure," he said, drawing both women's attention and pointing at Calarapan's stronghold, "you think there's enough to build another bridge? The first one was a testament that held true, though not as expected. But, hey, isn't that how these things happen? So," he looked toward the other half of the village down river, "a break made
by an enemy, but established again by the very same. Only, we get to forge it. Bet Calarapan didn't know he came only to remodel this land into something greater than anticipated."
Eliska and Chantale regarded one another. Eliska's smile was still present.
Not ready to return her smile yet, Chantale spoke, "What we learn here, we take wid us."
"Tah journey ahead." Eliska said, "Make Joseph lineage long."
"To strengthen ahselves." Tamara added.
"Let it be so." Joseph said.