Not Giving Into Fate

32- The Bulnan Chief

I gulp and nod. "Yes," I smile. "Thank you for bringing me back to life."

He doesn't say a word and leans back. He hums, looking at me some more before looking at Milo. He doesn't speak for a few minutes before he looks back at me. "I understand Milo has told you of our deal?"

"Yes." I nod my head. "In exchange for my life, Milo and I are to give you a place amongst the nobles and some land for your people."

"Yes and no." The Chief sighs, reaching over and grabbing a pipe. It lights up by itself, no doubt he enchanted magic.

"What do you mean no?" Milo speaks up. "That was our deal. Today, we are here to speak about a plan to put it into fruition."

He puffs out some smoke and shakes his head. "I want a seat at Parliament and some land. All nobles have a seat in that room, and I will have one too."

I purse my lips. "I'm sorry, are you of noble descent? Because-"

"My mother was the only child of Count Fontaine."

"They no longer exist." I remember that piece of knowledge. I never cared to remember much of them, I just recall that fact because of the sudden and random disappearance of the entire estate was all over the news when I was young.

"That's because I was born." He puffs out. "My mother fell in love with my father. The Count's territory borders our territory and a forbidden love blossomed between the two and I was born. Duke Stiling heard of this and well... a disagreement between my grandfather and that man occurred. It resulted in the Duke killing everyone on my mother's side for allying with the Bulnan tribe."

"That's horrible." I gasp, looking at Milo and see he doesn't look surprised. "What-"

"It's classic racism and I'm tired of it. As of now, there is an empty seat in Parliament and my tribe has the official documents of my parent's wedding ceremony. I have a right to claim the seat, but I need official backing." He sets down the pipe and leans forward. The robe falls off his shoulder and reveals a strong chest that my eyes gravitate towards.

"That's why you're here." I understand. "You need my family's support. You need me as a Master of the Magic Tower and my brother because he is the Captain of the Temple."

I take a deep breath, not liking the idea that I will be used once again. The Prince targeted me as his fiancée for this exact reason. I don't like the sad fact that my family is being used for someone else's gain... but I'm alive because of this man and he can take it back. I have to follow it. I swallow my pride and nod my head.

"Yes, we have an official meeting tomorrow. It will be of: the Chief of the Bulnan tribe sharing our centuries worth of knowledge on magic and the gods between the Tower and the Temple. The Grand Sorcerer, the Master of Ancient Magic, the Pope and the two Captains will meet with me and we will come to an agreement. You will have the job of convincing your brother to let me stay. With my stay and your support, I will get my seat at Parliament and you will stay alive. Will your brother help me?"

I nod my head, unsure of what my brother will do but I have to lie right now. "Yes. You can depend on us."

-/-/-/-/-

I sit in the room, listening to the men talk around me. I've spoken with Elric and he has agreed to humor the Chief. I know in the end he will do what the Pope wants. I look over at the man in his late 20s. He's handsome, tall, strong and would have been a perfect marriage candidate any young woman would die for were it not for the vow of celibacy he took. As a child, I came to love him but he always saw me as a younger sister. As I grew older, I understood that he was just a nice man who pitied a young child who faced a cruel father.