Celestial Discord

Chapter‌ ‌16-‌ ‌Support‌ ‌

Veronica, who easily had the fullest plate, was stuffing her face with food, which made me question where it was all going. In contrast, Valerie had probably the least amount of food compared to everyone and was eating her food slowly, almost gracefully.

I guess I'll just eat in silence until the announcement. Or at least that's what I thought I was going to do until I felt Tucker tap on my shoulder.

"Yo Arthur," he whispered.

"Yeah?"

"What is pops here for?"

"He's here to send me and you to our deaths," I said casually.

"Seriously. Stop joking around."

...But I'm not joking.

I shrugged. "I don't know," I lied.

Tucker made a thinking face. "Hmm, hope he's not taking our other two free days. I need those."

We did have two more free days, didn't we? Seems like recently every time I get off days something bad happens.

The chatter continued for probably fifteen to twenty minutes before my father clapped loudly, silencing everyone.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your enjoyment, but as I said earlier, I have an announcement."

He cleared his throat again. "Recently, I have been attempting to get on good terms with the women of the forest, the Amazons, in hopes of establishing trade with them in the future."

"Who?" Tucker, Valerie, and Veronica all said.

Both Mr. Reginald and Leon's faces darkened but they didn't say anything.

Miss Cecilia stayed quiet as well, which I guess was predictable. She already tried arguing against him.

Sophia and Mary seemed to ignore everything and continued eating.

"And," he continued, "I have decided to have the two heirs of the household, Arthur and Tucker, to venture to their village and greet them to show them we mean no harm."

This caught both Sophia and Mary's attention. Their apathetic faces remained but I could practically feel hostility coming from them.

"What!" Tucker exclaimed.

Reginald was the first to speak out. "I disagree with this plan in its entirety."

"As do I," Sophia said.

"I will never agree to this," Miss Cecilia added. "There's far too many unknown variables."

"Come on, give him a chance," Veronica interjected. "He's probably thought this through and eliminated any risk. Right Mary?"

"I believe this is too risky." Mary said, looking up from her plate for the first time. "It seems rushed and poorly planned."

The room got quiet once again and I don't blame them. I was just as surprised. Mary rarely speaks up in discussions like this.

"Oh, even you Mary?" My father said. "Well, I have in fact minimized the risk. I decided that you and Reginald are to go with them and act as their safeguards."

"Even then," Sophia said, "there's only a slim chance that all goes well."

"I don't like this idea either," Valerie said softly. She looked down as she spoke and was probably too scared of my father to speak any louder. I can understand where she's coming from. She did just get hired.

"I understand that you all have strong feelings about this. But just know it's not even my decision to make anymore. Arthur already agreed to participate earlier today. Right, Arthur?" He looked at me with clear deceit in his eyes.