“Yes.”
She sighed. “We had some powerful, smart women try to join, and he turned them away. I’m not sure why he accepted me, though it’s clear he regrets that decision now.” She curled her hands into fists. “It’s so frustrating! Going to Liftre showed me why the men of my world complain so much, but I didn’t understand how they felt until now. And I know it’s impossible to change anything, because I tried at home and everyone laughed and kept doing the same thing.” She shook her head. “There must be other rebel groups forming elsewhere that we could join. Or you and I could start our own. Or I could just go back to Roihe.”
Tyen shook his head. “The Roihe have been the same way for… what? Hundreds of cycles? This group of rebels has been together for less than thirty days. Change is possible. It’s more likely than no change. Even if you left and joined another rebel group, or formed your own, at some point we’ll all have to unite if we are to defeat the Raen. Better that you overcome their prejudice here and now.”
She spread her hands and shrugged. “But how? This is not the sort of battle I’ve trained for.”
Tyen looked towards the entrance of the meeting room. “Use your enemy’s momentum against him. Focus on something they’ll expect you to be concerned about, as a woman. Convince them to move the families to somewhere safer. Let Ceilon think it’ll get you out of his way for a while, then, when you get the leaders’ agreement, delegate the task, as a true leader would do.”
She straightened. “That might just work. But who do I delegate it to?” Her eyes widened. “You. Of course!”
Tyen’s stomach sank as he realised his mistake. The rebels might decide he should stay with the families to protect them. He’d not know what they were planning, or be able to influence their decisions. “It needs to be someone they’ll trust.”
“This will be the perfect way for you to gain their trust,” Yira told him, her eyes bright with eagerness. “You’ve already won the children over, and you’ve only been here ten or so days. Use that charm of yours to befriend the families. And if you convince them they aren’t safe here, and are endangering others, they’ll demand to go elsewhere.” She smiled. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the rebels wind up so grateful to you for getting their families out of danger that they make you leader.”
A chill ran down his spine. “I don’t want to be the leader. I’m not a leader type.”
Yira nodded. “No. You’re not the type. What do you see yourself as, then?”
“I don’t know. An adviser?”
“Well, I’m glad you’re my adviser.” She nudged him with her elbow. “Thanks.” Then she sniffed and looked around the room. “I smell cooking. It’s nearly mealtime. The rebels will emerge soon to eat. Wait until they go back before approaching anyone. I’ll start suggesting we remove the families. We’ll raise the pressure slowly. Chances are, Ceilon won’t realise what we’re doing until it’s too late. And if he does… he might not send me out to watch you for fear of us hatching any other plots. Ah, here they come.”
As rebels emerged from the meeting room and wandered over to eat, Yira and Tyen joined them. Each family was responsible for preparing their own food, and this meant most of the rebels did not need to cook or clean up.
Is this the real reason why they are so reluctant to send their families away? Tyen wondered. They might have to make their own meals, and do their own cleaning. Are they risking the lives of their loved ones in order to avoid domestic chores?
If they were… Ceilon’s claim that they were willing to live rough for the sake of the cause was a lie. But he doubted they were doing so intentionally. It simply hadn’t occurred to them.
How did their families feel about their situation? Well, it’s time to find out. As Yira and the others returned to the meeting room, he took her bowl and utensils along with his to a pair of women washing theirs.
One of them looked up and held her hands out for the bowls. Tyen shook his head.
“I can clean my own,” he said.
“We don’t mind,” she replied. “This gives us all something useful to do.”
“I could do with something useful to do as well,” he told her.
Her eyebrows rose. “Well… if you have magic you’d be useful fetching some more supplies for us.”
He sighed and looked back towards the meeting room. “I’m not supposed to leave without permission.”
“Well…” She cast about. “Illy and Tandila do most of the work requiring magic, since they can’t join the meetings…”
“I have hands, too,” he pointed out, holding them up and wiggling his fingers.