Chapter 57

Chapter 57
There is no way to circumvent the tense atmosphere that settles over the room as we watch the four council members take their seats once more. None of their faces give away what the ruling will be but after Kiros’ warning this morning, I have no more hopes that it will be a fair one, despite the speech I gave earlier, despite the evidence we submitted that our clan was doing fine, better than fine even. I believe in every word I have uttered in this room, but even I can’t make the council listen if they have firmly decided on an unfair route before we even made our arguments. 
“After much deliberation we have come to the following ruling. The Blue Crystal Mountain clan will rank in the final top three to solidify their ranking and keep their clan active. Failure to do so will result in their clan assets being sold and distributed among the clan members. Consequently, the Blue Crystal Mountain clan will then merge with the Black Haven clan given that they possess the land to take on the members of the Blue Crystal Mountain clan. In the event of failure to rank in the top three King Hutting, Beta Valentine and Vice Leader Vallor will abdicate their roles when they join the Black Haven clan unless King Darius allows them to retain their titles and roles within the expanding clan. In the event that the Blue Crystal Mountain clan does rank in the top three, the Black Haven clan will have no right to request a merger, privately or forced and can lay no claim on the Blue Crystal Mountain clan lands nor be involved in an attack on Blue Crystal Mountain clan.” Maximus delivers the ruling like it’s a practiced speech and given what I know now, it might be.
“This council thanks you for your faith in it. May it stay as true as the flame inside of you.” Lance ends the hearing, and they leave the room without glancing back once. 
“Well, little brother. I’ll inform mom to get your room ready for you.” Sewell grins as soon as the door shuts behind the council members. 
“That is King Hutting to you. You can still be held in contempt for disrespecting a King.” I warn and his eyes narrow at me. 
“Is that a threat?” He steps forward, like he actually thinks he can intimidate me. 
“It’s a fact. One that can have your stripped from your rank and your clan, so I’d advise you to tread lightly.” He goes to say something, but Darius grabs his arm, whispers something to him while glaring at me. Sewell nods and then leaves the room with his King with one last glare in our direction. 
“I’m not joining their clan.” It’s a fact, not a statement Falkor makes and it’s one I agree with. 
“So, we make sure we rank in the top three.” I tell him, even when I know how hard it’s going to be. We might have beaten out two low ranking clans but ending in the top three for an unraked clan has never been heard of. The top-ranking clans have too many points so if we even stand a chance at this it would mean ending in the top three in every challenge moving forward. 
“Or we become lone dragons.” He smirks and I give him a soft smile.
“Wouldn’t be my first time.” He pulls me into his arms and lays a soft kiss on my forehead. We stay like that for a few seconds before we move, leaving the main building to confront our clan with the news. 

“You’re joking.” Gina says, standing up from her seat. “Tell me you’re joking.” There’s a desperateness to her voice that breaks my heart, but I shake my head, too overwhelmed by the emotion in the room to say anything else. 
“And Kiros warned you before the hearing?” Gavin asks, a deep frown on his face. Falkor nods, clearing his throat. 
“He said it wouldn’t be a fair verdict, but he also told us to rise above it. He wouldn’t say that if he didn’t think it can be done.” While I don’t doubt that our clan will do its utmost to get us the ranking, I also have a feeling Kiros has a wild belief in us that I’m not sure is justified. In my five years as Beta, it’s still strange to me that he is the council member that’s taken liking to our clan. He’s not much known for liking anyone. I’d believe it more if Lance favored us, it’s more believable with his temperament, but it seems like we have no idea what’s really going on in the council, despite their claims of transparency. 
“It’s not a matter of being able to do it.” Sam sighs, running his hands over his face. “We simply don’t have any other choice.” His words are heavy, but it doesn’t make them any less true. 
“Nick, could you inform the clan back home? This is not something I wish to keep from them.” Falkor asks and Nick’s disembodied head nods on the screen projected on the wall. 
“I’ll handle it, good luck guys.” He ends the call with that, leaving Falkor, Gina, Gavin, Sam, Kayla and I to stare at each other. 
“I’ll inform the warriors.” Gina mutters, leaving the room before we can stop her, not that we would as the rest of us follow behind her. We find them all in the training center and as Gina breaks the news I see mixed emotions of anger, annoyance and determination, but not one inkling of fear. 
“Just to be clear? Are they allowed to do this?” Jane asks, a deep frown on her face. “Are we not allowed to say we don’t want to merge our clan? That we don’t want different leadership?” 
“We could dispute.” I inform them. “We can go through the tournament and dispute their decision should we not rank top three. It’ll go to trial, include the entire council, not just the head members. We could drag it out and bring other clans into this for witness statements and actively hash out every piece of evidence we provided them with this morning. We can make a big thing about it and they might still force us to merge.” 
“So, the only way to combat this is through winning?” James asks and I nod. 
“Or talking about it enough in hopes that other clans will be outraged and force the council to redact their ruling.” Kayla shrugs and I frown at her. “What? It’s happened before. Laws get changed because clans stand together. If enough clans know about it, all it takes for one clan to decide to petition the council to change the law because they don’t want to lose their own clan though these actions.” 
“So, we’ll do both.” Gina shrugs. “We’ll talk and we’ll win.” Cheers erupt among all forty-five of our warriors and I can’t help but think that this is the way revolutions start.