this time I’m torn, please wake me if I lose that face
search in these eyes: there’s still fire in the darkness
More began gathering around, though she knew even this large group was not the whole of the island. Each and every one of these people were standing against this baffling change of events. Tiphon's defection and betrayal made no sense to any of them, siding with the man that attacked him violently and shattered the peace of their sanctuary. Cress's borderline defection also confused the hell out of her.
Seriously? She'd claim she wants only the sanctuary to remain safe and yet choose this vicious criminal over the residents that have lived here for years? Saying that he had just as much right to lead it as any of them. Was she insane? Did she even live here herself or was she another healer that flew in from time to time like the others?
Wallace turned to her immediately. "You're right. This was a sanctuary. He--" she gestured to Castile, "just destroyed that, or do you not see Tiphon's blood around his mouth? He has taken it by force.
"You say it must stay a sanctuary, which we all agree on and intend to keep it as such, and you say that we will overthrow any leader that changes that. Well, what do you think we are gathered here to do?" She paused to let that sink in.
"HE, just changed it. Overthrowing a leader by force is not what the sanctuary stands for. If that's what you see in a sanctuary then maybe you don't belong here. We are here to keep this a sanctuary. Siding with him will do you no favors if you ever seek to lead us." Her eyes held firmly on the woman and she waited. She was not sorry for being direct. This was a vital moment for their home and the balance hung precariously in the air. She had no problem with the woman, and likely would've trusted Cress to step up and lead them had Cress not claimed this attacker had just as much right as they did. After ripping Tiphon to shreds, no less.
Then Tiphon was surging straight to her and she squared to face him, her expression firm on this man she had almost been stupid enough to think cared for her. Or any of them. She held her ground as he pressed close and brought up their conversation from before. And it was true, obviously. Ischia was there home, would always be there home. She would not deny that, she didn’t need to. But Ischia was not safe, now was it? And yet here he stood telling her to take her children home, risk their lives, watch them get sick and die. Perhaps it was better that he was no longer their leader after all.
This was no longer the man she knew when she was so much younger. Whatever had happened to him in between Ea's reign of Ischia and now must've changed so much of that Angel. This was not him.
Kirby spoke first, explaining in no uncertain terms that her absence at his meeting was due to the fact that she was off on a mission to help this world in the only way she could. She was not a healer, had no power at all, no magic. A quest, she could do. And she did. Without notifying her family where she was going, and coming home surprised that they'd even noticed her missing. She was to blame for their absences as well, since they had been desperate to find her.
But she let Kerberos tell him that and didn't see reason to repeat it.
She would not apologize for helping this world in the only way she knew how. That is what their sanctuary was here for, was it not?
Tiphon added that this was a sanctuary and that if Castile did anything to change that they'd overthrow him. She scoffed in answer and turned away from him. The man had already changed that, and she would set it right if no one else would step up and do it.
Castile requested to speak with the head of the family, but this was not a single family opposing him. This was an entire island against this violent change and she would not speak for others. If he wished to address their community, he could say it before all of them. She nearly said as much but was once again cut off from speaking.
Another joined, speaking with a depth of wisdom that both surprised her and made her doubt herself for this job. She'd never wanted to lead anyway, but she damn well wasn't afraid to if no one else would. Unfortunately, he did not offer himself in her place, but instead asked extremely important questions.
How were they supposed to accept a new leader who would force himself upon them with violence and aggression, the exact opposite of what their sanctuary stands for?
And to Castile: Why should they believe him? His promises built on lies. Why should they trust him over any of them that have already been living here amongst each other peacefully?
Wallace turned a heavy stare on Castile, waiting for his answer to these vital questions that they all wished to know. The answer never came. In fact, his response had her brows shooting up in surprise. It turned out, this leader was not much of a leader at all. Instead of answering, he turned it on the residents and blamed them. Played the victim. This meeting just got wilder and wilder as he continued. He should've stopped while he was ahead, and she nearly felt embarrassed for him.
"Yelled at? Threatened?" she said with a laugh. Dear god, this man. He made such a beautiful innocent victim, didn't he? Not a single one of them had yelled or cursed or thrown magic around. Not a single threat had been made. Not a single one of them had done anything but speak civilly to this beast, which was far more than reasonable. They had every right to treat him with disrespect as he has met them with by desecrating their haven, and yet they all held their heads level, their voices firm and direct but not malicious. This poor, powerful dragon. Perhaps their island was too hard for him.
She laughed again, at Castile brushing away his attack as if it was of no consequence. See? Tiphon wasn't hurt. Everything was fine.
"I guarantee you were not aware that he could heal when you tried to kill him, otherwise you would've just asked for the leadership. He has seemed so far extremely eager to pass it off to you for gods know what reason. Sure as hell doesn't make sense to any of us. So do not use his healthy body as a tool to minimize what you've done. The facts are that you have taken this by force and we the residents will not honor your leadership. By attacking our leader, you have attacked us and threatened our sanctuary. We have no reason to speak to you so generously when we can just throw you out. And I fully intend to."
She ignored the child that joined them, a random face that seemed only to join to stir up more trouble. She ignored Tiphon when he spoke next as well, dismissed the insults he threw at them. He was no longer their leader, by this attack and by his choice not to fight, and he had nothing worthwhile to say. This discussion was between the people of Island Resort and the overthrower, no matter how many times they asked for the head of her family. This was not a single family opposing this ridiculous situation.
What a damn mess this all was. And still no other besides herself had offered to lead them, because clearly this man was not suitable for it. Not here.
She sighed and faced the islanders, dredging up her memory of the only Queen she'd ever known and wishing she were here to tell her what the hell to do. Her chin lifted just as she'd seen the Queen do, not in authority but in grace, and chilling frost melted and slid down her shoulders.
"LISTEN PLEASE." She spoke clearly, enunciating and projecting her voice so that all would hear. There would be no miscommunications here. "Anyone who feels that a leader should play the victim after taking a peaceful home by force then turn the problems he's created back on the people and blame them, then you are free to follow this man and his family out.
"The rest of us who intend to keep this island a sanctuary for families and the sick and those in need seeking refuge as it was intended for, then I offer myself in our current lack of leadership. Whether you choose to keep me in charge is entirely up to you after we've dealt with this immediate issue. My only goal right now is to remove him as by his own actions he has show us he does not belong here, and I ask that you give me the power to do so.
"I am calling a vote of leadership. Wallace, or Castile."
She slowly turned to face the criminal trying to force himself upon them, and still speaking clearly she addressed him. "This is a Sanctuary, a place of peace and healing and companionship. Your violence is unwelcome here. You are unwelcome here. You do not belong here. You have shown as much in your own actions and not based on anything anyone here has said to or about you. This is of your own making."
She kept her face on him, but spoke to the others of the island, holding strong to the words of the wise man that joined them. This island is meant to be a sanctuary, welcoming to any who might need it, regardless of their reasons or their past.
"If I am made our leader," her voice rang out strong, hiding the wild nerves firing inside her, her iced-brown eyes solidly on the threat to their peace, "I will tell you now what my next step would be."
"As a sanctuary, I imagine we do not make a habit of throwing anyone out save those that have earned it. Tiphon will be allowed to remain and continue to offer his aid if he wishes. He has not given us reason to remove him, only to dislike him greatly." Her stare slid to him, and she deeply hoped he found his memories again, remembered who he once was before. They would all welcome him openly. She spun slowly around to the fellow islanders again and continued.
"Castile, however, has shown that he is not respectful or observant of our home and what it stands for, what it was founded for, what it was intended for. He will be removed and exiled for one Beqanna year in the hopes that he can learn in the meantime how to control himself in a peaceful environment such as this. He would be welcome to return afterwards so long as he respects our purpose here in the future."
She glanced to him again. "His family would be allowed to remain here peacefully should they wish to given that they have not acted in violence and joined him in the destruction of our sanctuary." Quietly, with small edge of soft regret in her voice. "We would have loved to have dragons live here among us. It is a shame you chose this path."
For the last time in this gathering she turned to face her fellow refugees. "I ask that you vote now, grant me the power to clean up this mess and restore our sanctuary to its rightful state. Then after, we can discuss any new leadership or co-leadership suggestions you may have." And she thoroughly hoped someone would have one.
I have permission to call a vote, but since one is already running I'll just add it to that thread
