Rebels of Vulvar (Vulvarian Saga Book 2), стр. 23
Next, my mother made a motion that the council receive an address from her son on the current situation in Nisa and the state of the slave rebellion. This motion resulted in pandemonium breaking loose in the chamber. When my mother had restored order, a seasoned member rose to address the council. The jeers and cries of outrage subsided for a time.
“Anax, our laws prohibit males from even entering this chamber,” the council member said. “Permitting a male to address this council is unthinkable. Though he is your son, males are beasts, inferior beings, who have no status and no standing to address this distinguished body.”
My mother displayed no emotion, while the other woman spoke. But she countered the argument with reason.
“My son, Tobias Hart, is unique,” she said. “As foreign a concept as it may be on this world, he is a free male. Years ago, the Goddess Queens bestowed that status. Now, those same deities have summoned Tobias Hart back to Vulvar for another mission.”
“What mission?” someone shouted.
“To assist with putting down the slave rebellion,” my mother said. After waiting for the murmurs to subside in the room, she continued.
“My son infiltrated the rebels in Nisa,” she said. “He has vital information to share. It would be well for you to listen to his first-hand account.”
“Let him speak,” one member shouted.
The council voted. Narrowly, the motion passed, allowing me to address the body. My mother turned to me and motioned me to the podium.
For my mother’s sake, I showed all respect, even deference, to the council as I addressed them. I told them what I had observed in Nisa as far as the strength and military effectiveness of the rebel force. I shared what I had heard of their plans to attack Thiva, and when they planned to march on the city. For a few moments, at least, the council members seemed to disregard my status as a male and instead saw me as a valuable resource for answering their pressing questions.
Once I’d finished my presentation to the council and had answered all their questions, to my astonishment, one council member even asked me my recommendation for countering the rebels.
“The Goddess Queens have given me a mission which I intend to carry out,” I said. “But, it is not my place to recommend how you should deploy your warriors. You have able commanders far better qualified than I to address that.”
“Well said,” a council member cried. “Let us hear from Idril.”
Idril stood up and joined me at the podium.
“After hearing the report of this warrior, I recommend that we reserve two-thirds of our force to defend the city from within our walls,” Idril said. “I suggest we use the other one-third to attack the rebel force now building siege engines in the forests west of the city. If we rout them and destroy the siege engines, the slave army from Nisa will lack the equipment needed to circumvent our walls.”
The council accepted Idril’s proposal. One member even stood and thanked me for my service to the city. Then the council member who had first stood to oppose me addressing the body stood to speak again.
“In hindsight, I think we were wise in allowing your son to speak,” she said to my mother. “On the other hand, once we defeat the insurgency and the emergency has ended, this council must again take up the status of Tobias Hart. Our customs and laws do not accommodate free males, regardless of what the Goddess Queens may have done in the past.”
“Very well,” my mother said. “We may discuss that later at an appropriate time. However, none of us know the minds of the Goddess Queens. Any decision about the future status of Tobias Hart or his continued presence here is likely their decision rather than ours.”
That seemed to satisfy everyone. The council meeting adjourned. Idril took me aside to inform me that when she arrived at her headquarters, she would assign Emer to a warrior unit with whom she would take up residence in a barracks. Since she would soon be without a house guest, Idril pointed out, there was no reason for me to refuse her offer of hospitality. She insisted that I make plans to stay with her at her home. I accepted the invitation, and we agreed to meet there after the twelfth hour. Then Idril excused herself to attend to her duties. My mother and I returned to her residence for the midday meal.
* * *
“Are you still determined to attempt the capture of Cooke?” my mother said.
“Yes, I think it is the most promising option for ending the rebellion,” I said.
“Do you have a plan?”
I shared the best of the plans I’d come up with, though even it was incomplete.
“Idril will send warriors with you. Nevertheless, I’m unconvinced your plan will succeed.”
“No, mother, I must go alone,” I said. “The rebels would likely discover even a small force. Alone, I might pass through their defenses undetected.”
“To accomplish what, Tobias? What then? You expect to stroll out of the midst of their army with their commander as an uncooperative captive?”
“I haven’t yet worked out those details,” I said.
“Because you cannot work them out,” my mother said. “Such an attempt would be foolhardy, even suicidal.”
We were both quiet for a while and ate the meal.
“Assuming you somehow accomplish the mission the Goddess Queens have given you, what then?” my mother said. ” Also, presuming they give you a choice, will you stay on this world or return to Earth?”
“I’m unsure,” I said. “My feelings for Idril have not changed. I suppose I would do whatever was necessary to be with her.”
“That means staying here,” my mother said. “The Goddess Queens would never allow Idril to go to Earth and