They rose as she stepped in and greeted her with an x, yet all their expressions read something different.
Chief Raino gestured for them to sit once Salīa took her seat in the throne that sat separate from the rounded table, which looked to her.
In the corner was a small chair and table, and a small, blond man who immediately started writing away the moment Salīa opened her mouth. She felt even more anxious when his little blue eyes looked at her, waiting.
"Council of Salazā, let us take a moment of silence to…"
Scratch, scratch, scratch.
Salīa felt her heart quicken as the writing went on.
"Honor the passed on and bless the living."
They did so, yet she couldn't help this uneasy feeling within. It truly did feel like she was in a jungle with all these people radiating such strong energy. Chief Raino nodded to her.
"I'd like to start this meeting by addressing—"
"Can you stop it?!" Bana growled at the young man.
He instantly dropped his pencil.
"Do not bother the boy," sighed Eli.
"Then he must not bother me. I cannot stand that scribe. Always tlof-tlofing in my ear with the," Bana pattered her long, painted nails against the table, mimicking writing sounds. "Are you really necessary?" She gritted her teeth at the gulping scribe. "For all we know, this scribe over here could be taking notes to give his grandfather to send to the invaders."
"Is that so?" Eli said, shaking his head. "What about you, always chattering back to yourself, remembering what you'll send the invaders?"
Salīa wasn't sure how long Eli and Bana had gone back and forth, but eventually she snapped.
"Fine," Salīa said. "Chief Raino, is a scribe necessary?"
"We've always had scribes, your majesty. Before it was Eli's son and now grandson, Seth, as their family are descendants of legendary scribes.
They give uniform notes and adjust them to fit each village leader's preference.
It makes the delivery of our messages to officials, magi, and leaders both within and without the land much smoother and is an adapted process in all lands. Yet if this brings you discomfort, we can remove the scribe."
"Please do so," Bana put her fingers on her temple.
Eli scoffed, and even a few others sighed.
"Scribe Seth," Salīa looked to the sweating boy.
He stood up, shaking timidly at Bana's glare.
"Yes, your majesty," he bowed.
"Would you be alright to not attend this meeting?"
"Of course," he smiled, although his face flushed all over. "I can simply ask Chief Rainorufaro for any notes or messages that may be needed to be sent out if permitted?"
"I can do so," Chief Raino nodded.
He nodded and got up, dropping his parchment and tripping to pick it up. Eli shook his head at his clumsy grandson.
"Truly, he and my son are no different."
"I think Seth is an excellent scribe," said Letu. "And Bana never complained before."
"I concur," added Lefu. "It's almost a coincidence that you're bothered by the scribe at our acting ruler's first council meet. Could it be you intend to say some things you wouldn't want written?"
They both raised a brow at her.
"It's been sorted," Bana wavered her hand at the scribe. "Stop making a fuss of it."
With that, the scribe left after bowing.
Salīa wasn't sure if it was a smart decision or fair to put more work on Chief Raino. Yet hearing the scratching of his pen whenever she spoke was severely unnerving, especially since she was doing everything she could to not stutter or stumble.
"I guess we can begin. Firstly, please also welcome our newest Salazā village representative, Chief Rainorufaro."
"A zazi as our council member?" Bana shook her head.
"Is there a problem with that?" Salīa stared. "Chief Rainorufaro has a significant ancestral animal, the lion, and shares distant ancestral ties with Shaka. He has also been in service to Queen Saoa since she was young and was in the service of King Djani and Queen Afri Ka previously. There are few council members here who can attest to the same."
"I've been here for almost just as long, but I can agree that Chief Raino does have a few years above me in his position," Eli said, nodding. "And he is a very close confidant of Queen Saoa. If anything, he probably knows more than we do at times."
"Then does he know where she is?" asked Bana.
Salīa squeezed her jaw. Yet Chief Raino remained poised.
"Careful," said Keanu, his smile thinning. "We already know where she is."
"No, we know where she was going to. You know her to an almost questionable extent. So don't you think that if she knew what's become of the land that she wouldn't at the very least send a bird our way?"
Othu lifted a finger, but didn't speak, still observing. It was his way of silencing the rest.
"Fine, I understand we're not royal enough to be privy to where our Queen is…"
"For respect and custom," said Simo matter-of-factly. "You know to refer to the acting ruler as Queen."
Bana's glower could've set him alight with how searing it was.
"I suppose a mighty lion seems better than that flightless bird we had before," Bana spoke on as nothing disrupted her a moment before. "But he's just a supposed guardian, protector, a chief of battle at best."
"Our land was founded by guardians, protectors, and chiefs of battle at best," the usually quiet Buhle said softly, nodding to Chief Raino.
"True," said Keanu, offering his renewed smile. "I respect Chief Rainorufaro immensely. He's assisted many council members before us and even us now. Are we voting, because I say yes?"
"Me too," said the twins. "We always welcome another cat."
Bana disputed, while Simo somewhat agreed, and Othu wasn't openly saying anything, seeming to have his own reservations. Salīa didn't have the heart to tell them that she didn't consider their voting at all when it came to this.
While council was needed for certain matters, the key ruler of the land still had the right to make certain decisions without the council's say-so.
Yet how would mother say this in a way that doesn't look down on them?
"I understand some of you aren't pleased, and some of you are. Yet debating this in a time of crisis can put us in a compromising position.
Chief Raino has been selected due to his loyalty, knowledge, and courage when it comes to our land. This is not just a decision on a whim.
If you still would like to contest this after this crisis, then the space will be open to do so. But for now, let's talk about the most urgent matters. Agreed?"
They all said agreed, some with smiles, some with heads bowed, and some with their faces turned. Chief Raino gave her a nod of approval.
She turned away to exhale the gush of nerves constantly grating at her.
She wasn't even sure where to start. Every part of this was jarring. Chief Raino stood as if he had already prepared for this.
"As it stands, our land was attacked both by fire and by invaders in black masks. This seems to have been timed for when they knew our zazi was in Pasang and potentially when they knew our leaders would be away.
This left Salazā in the most vulnerable state," he paused, trying to conceal his own shame in the matter. "What's even more unsettling is the points that they appeared to have come from.
It wasn't the standard land entry between Shumpa and Sando. Not even Senai. But by Sana and Silio enclosing the Salazā mainland."
Some had their eyes widened, yet others shrugged as if they already realized.
"Sana and Silio are highly shielded areas by our natural landscape and, of course, our guardian placement. Senai, while having open ports, is also just as guarded for that reason.
It would not be easy for one to sail from far to Senai without stopping by a nearby land first. Yet no island or isle has reported any suspicious activity. And none who've spoken here seem too familiar with any suspicious beings in Sana or Silio before this time."
This wasn't good. It was clearly a well-thought-out attack. But by who? And why?
"There are a hundred and thirteen children currently missing, who some believe they saw leave with some flamboyantly-dressed man.
All they could hear was what sounded like an odd tune throughout the screams and fire whipping about. Yet just like that, they were all gone," Chief Raino sighed as deep as everyone else. "Though a hundred and thirteen is just the reported number thus far.
This is reported by living relatives who could not find them. On account of those that died, it's possible more children were taken from relatives who no longer live."
Salīa felt an overwhelming urge to vomit, yet kept her head up, knowing some council members were studying her.
"How many dead?" asked Buhle, hiding her sniffles.
"Counts are still being made. There are over eight thousand injured from the last count. It's believed that around another thousand who were in critical condition were unable to be healed."
"That's of the injured," Bana stated, wiping a hand over her mouth. "None of my family are injured, but some of my family are dead. So please, could you tell us how many are dead? Estimates suffice."
Salīa noticed Chief Raino's head lingering low, yet he forced it up.
"It's a lot, Bana," Simo said, clicking his jaw. "You saw it. What else do you want him to say? What difference will a number make?"
"What difference?!" she yelled, and proceeded to argue.
Yet only the twins and Eli added to it while the others just stared, shaking their heads.
"It makes a big difference," Salīa cut through their words. "How many bodies to bury, how many tombstones to commission, how many apologies and blessings to send out, how many prayers to be had. Please, Chief Raino."
He nodded and said, "The last report tallied it to…over twenty-five thousand."
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