“It’s just that many of us have fallen in love with members of our own clan,” Yarren said.
The room erupted into a babble of voices again, but this time it was clear the younger people were making themselves heard. More and more of them came forward, announcing that they loved someone of the same clan until the older clan chiefs looked absolutely bewildered.
At last Saber’s father came forward. Calling for silence, he turned to his son and spoke.
“It is settled then—Saber will succeed me as OverChief.”
A few of the older chiefs started to protest but Saber’s father shook his head.
“No, do not gainsay me, my Brothers,” he said heavily. “What I have seen here tonight weighs heavily upon my heart but it is clear that our ways will be altered with or without our consent. Tradition and custom cannot stop the rising tide of change.”
A great shout went up from the younger people in the crowd and Saber took over from his father.
“I’m pleased and honored to serve you,” he said gravely. “And I swear by the Goddess to do my utmost to unite our people as one—clan to clan and generation to generation.”
Another cheer went up and some of the younger men who had professed love for their amallas surged forward to lift Saber on their shoulders. Clearly his position as the future OverChief was no longer in question. He would lead his people and lead them well, Nina had no doubt.
And, as she watched the tide of the meeting turn, she began to feel something growing inside her—an emotion she’d been suppressing fiercely for a long time. Hope, she thought, putting a hand to her heart. There’s hope now. If the younger generation supports Saber and puts him in power, Reddix will be free of his obligation. He won’t have to stay here and marry that awful Tilla. He can come with me, or I can stay with him. We can be together!
Excitement bubbled up inside her, and she looked for Reddix, hoping to see the same joy she felt on his face. But she couldn’t find him. Where had he gone?
She felt a twinge of unease, but just then Lissa came down to join her. The meeting had broken down into groups of people talking and gesturing, but it was clear that the younger generation was prevailing. Saber was smiling and laughing with some of the younger chiefs and the older ones were beginning, hesitantly, to speak to him as well.
“This is good, right?” Nina asked Lissa when she squeezed her hand.
“Very good.” The Kindred girl’s eyes were bright with excitement. “Amazing! Saber and I had no idea. And to think we almost didn’t come back.”
“I’m so glad you did,” Nina smiled at her. “This means Reddix is free—right? I mean, he doesn’t have to be the OverChief?”
“It doesn’t look like it.” Lissa beamed. “Come on, let’s go talk to him—it must be a huge weight off his shoulders!”
“Where is he? I don’t see him anywhere,” Nina nearly had to shout, to be heard above the crowd.
“Oh, he’s waiting for us by the shuttle. We have to go back to the Mother Ship tonight.” Lissa pulled her through the crowd and out of the huge, spherical auditorium as she spoke. “Whew,” she said, taking a deep breath when they got outside into the cool twilight. “That’s better—it’s so hot and crowded in there.”
“It really was,” Nina agreed. “Um, did you say you were going back to the Mother Ship tonight?”
“Yes, now that things are looking more settled here, I have to get right back for my friend Kat’s joining ceremony which I’m supposed to be planning and organizing. I assume you and Reddix will be coming back as well?”
“I think so,” Nina said, smiling. “We, uh, agreed last night that if things somehow worked out we would stay together.”
Lissa nodded. “I had a feeling about the two of you. I wasn’t sure it was a good idea at first, but, well, I’ve seen the way he looks at you. I think you’re good for him, Nina.”
“Thank you.” Nina felt her cheeks get warm at the compliment. “I hope so. I know he’s had a hard life but maybe—oh, there he is now.”
They had been walking through the small wooded area behind the auditorium. Now the trees had opened up to form a small landing area. In it, a shuttle was parked, obviously primed and ready for takeoff. Standing in front of it, arms crossed over his broad chest, was Reddix.
“Reddix!” Nina ran to him and put her arms around his neck, but he made no move to return her embrace.
“Shuttle’s ready. You two should get going.”
“We…two?” Nina looked at him uncertainly. “What are you saying? Aren’t you coming with us? Who’s going to fly the ship?”