The Marksman [The Talent of Three: Book 1]

28 ••• The Leaders' Verdict

Atheris, Kayne, Chip, and Teodanos stand in the center of a large, circular room. Its grand height is the only impressive thing about it. The room, like the rest of the house, is made from wood. The walls are unpainted. The table at the end opposite the doors they walked in through has five seats, in which each of the leaders sits. The floor is barren. A draft blows through the room from...somewhere. 

"State your names and reason for coming to Dygo Port." The one that had spoken was the man in the center. 

"I am Teodanos."

"I am Chip."

"I am Kayne."

"I am Atheris."

"You, children. Your names sound familiar," a young woman all the way on Atheris's right said.

Atheris, Kayne, and Chip share a look. "Um...we're Questers," Chip says.

"Questers," the young man beside her, with the first speaker in the center on the other side of him, muses. "What are your Talent Packs?"

"I am a Technologist," Chip says. 

"I'm an Archer," Atheris adds.

"And I'm an Assassin."

All heads swivel to Kayne. "An Assassin?" the woman from before says, frowning.

The man all the way on the left clears his throat. "Council, they have told us who they are, we must inform them of who we are."

The other four quiet themselves and the man who calmed them speaks first. "I am Lore of the Writers. I am the Storyteller."

The man on his left says, "I am Caspian of the Sailors. I am the Captain."

The man in the center goes next. "I am Fin of the Architects. I am the Field Architect."

The young man on his left, who seems to be the youngest, smiles as he says, "I am Timin of the Sailors. I am the Fisherman."

The woman beside him studies them critically. "I am Gypsy. I am the Trader."

Atheris frowns. "You're all the heads of your Talent Packs?"

"Or subdivisions of them, in Timin's case," the one called Lore says quietly. "Dygo Port houses four Talent Packs—the Sailors, who live on the first level; the Architects, who live on the third level; the Writers, who live on the second level; and the Traders, who live in the mountain."

Chip thinks for a moment. "So you house the Talent Packs that make up the life of the port?"

"Indeed," Fin says.

"So...where do the Writers come into play in this?" Kayne asks.

Atheris rolls her eyes at him. "Haven't you ever heard a sailor's tale? That's storytelling! It makes sense that the Writers should be here." She looked back to Lore. "But I thought they lived in Salis."

Lore nodded. "Yes, we do. A small subdivision troop lives here—the Storytellers."

"Then...why are you here, but not with the rest of your Pack? If you'd forgive me for asking," Atheris adds hastily.

"I live in Dygo Port part of the year, and in Salis the rest," Lore explains. "While I am here, my sister, Fable, is in Salis. While I am in Salis, she is here."

"Oh," Atheris says.

Gypsy clears her throat, looking annoyed. "We are not here for a lesson on your Talent Pack, Lore," she snaps. "We are here to decide the fate of these three trespassers."

Caspian looks shocked. "Gypsy! They are Questers, not trespassers! By the laws of the Quest, we must allow them to pass through and we must give them aid, should they require it!" He turns to the three humans and their centaur companion. "Dear Questers and companion, are you in need of our assistance?"

Chip nudges Atheris forward. "Why me?" she mutters.

"You're the Archer and this Quest is focused on your powers. You're our leader," he murmurs.

Sighing, Atheris turns back to the five. "Yes, Captain. We are in desperate need of a ship, now that the centaurs have banned us from traveling through the wood."

Lore leans forward. "Oh, really? What happened?"

"No, not a story, Lore!" Gypsy starts. Fin looks tempted to agree with her.

"Oh, let us hear the tale!" Caspian cries. "It would be better for us to give them the proper help they need!"

Fin's fingers twitch on the table. "The story will no doubt be long. We do not have the time to listen to—"

"We have plenty of time!" Lore cries, outraged.

With the council gridlocked, two on two, they all look expectantly at Timin. Timin shifts in his seat, studying the three Questers and Teodanos. "I should like to hear the story," he says finally, "as for the enjoyment of Lore and the purpose of helping them."

So, in intervals, Atheris, Chip, and Kayne tell their story. Teodanos quietly corrects them about several points about their travels (such as Atheris's exaggeration of the days, to which Lore says, "You would make an excellent storyteller," which Caspian slaps him for). In the end, Timin asks to hear the Task again. Chip brings the paper out and hands it to him.

Timin looks up after a long time. "The only way to reach the mountain besides taking the long way through the forest is through the Vaucus Sea. We will offer a ship and we will help you."

Gypsy looks furious. "They are not even from our Talent Packs! Why should we help them, Questers or not? If they are finding someone to replace Flint, why should we let them? Flint is the only reason all our Talent Packs can live here and the only reason the Traders have a permanent home here!"

"Trader Gypsy," Atheris says quietly. "I am an Archer. I know for a fact there is no one in my Talent Pack that will force your Talent Pack—or any of them—to move. Should anyone need convincing to keep you here, I will vouch for you personally."

Gypsy sneers at her. "The vote from a little girl is not the vote of confidence my people need. We need—"

"Gypsy," Caspian warns. She shuts her mouth.

Lore clears his throat, breaking the tense silence that fell. "All those in favor of helping these Questers by offering them a ship and supplies—"

Gypsy gasps like a fish out of water. "Supplies now, too?! Lore, are you crazy? It's the height of the season, we need those ships and we need all the supplies we have, we've nothing to spare—"

"—raise your right hand," Lore continues, ignoring Gypsy's outburst. He put his right hand in the air. Caspian's joins him, quickly followed by Timin's and Fin's. Gypsy is the only one who hasn't moved. Lore's face has a smug air of satisfaction as he says, "All those in favor of breaking the ancient Questing laws and not helping these Questers, raise your left hand."

Gypsy raises her left hand.

Caspian turns toward the Questers. "It has been decided. We will help you."