It had been far too long since the Village had received such a large number of Exiles, the Chief was both delighted and worried. There was never anything wrong in having fresh blood introduced into the family lines, but people from the underworld kingdom also did not share the same views; such a large group could disturb the current balance of things. He was not wrong in his assumption and he always knew that one day the village would face such trials and perhaps compromise, he just hoped that he would not be the one having to deal with the consequences. The Record Keeper, on the other hand, was nothing but delighted.
The first point that the newcomers clarified was that they were not in fact Exiles, they had left of their own accord. They did not and would not follow the traditions of the village simply as they did not need to village to survive. If the village would not accept them and their views, they would simply move on. As the Witch was not only in agreement, but hinted that he would follow the newcomers and as the Record Keeper had long disagreed with the current marital traditions for his own reasons, the Chief found he had no choice but to agree with their conditions.
It was announced during a full village gathering that the youngsters had opted out of the marital tradition and did not wish to be pursued by the Elders in expectation. The other Elders were not pleased with this. "We have followed these traditions for years, the old protect the young, the young serve the old, why must this change due to the views of a few arrogant brats?" Elder Barkridge demanded to know. He had not long married his current wife, but on seeing the beautiful young man who was not yet of age and now the curvy young woman who was, he saw no reason not to wed again.
"I agree," Elder Calarook said as several of his fellows also voiced united opinions.
"Um, there is something important that I have not shared with you," Seven advised them, standing up beside the Chief. Silence fell over the crowd, his softly spoken voice would not reach them if they continued to chatter and grumble. The Chief nodded and allowed the young man to stand on the large stump that served as the podium. "Some of you have asked why my family is named with numbers, what I tell you now is the reason for that and why you should respect out views. We were raised to be assassins, paid to kill others." Immediately, this caused a mixed uproar, some were fearful, some questioned their youth for who would send children to commit such bloody acts? Some said nothing, wondering what this had to do with breaking village traditions.
Once the crowds quietened down a little, Seven continued. "It was not a kind upbringing and all of us are more than a little broken. We can't help but feel little or nothing for our victims for should we have dared to, we would have met our own deaths. In fact, if you insist on pushing us too far, I cannot guarantee that you will not find yourselves on the ends of our blades. We need time in order that we can find our own places in the village as we would prefer it if we could stay. But we absolutely do not feel that we need too. We know we will survive on our own so if you truly cannot accept that we will not be forced into following nonsense traditions, we will simply leave."
"What nonsense?" Elder Rootfern asked. "These traditions were put in place to make the Village stronger and ensure its continuation. Do not attempt to belittle them, just because you disagree with them!"
"Our marital tradition," Elder Blackthorn stood in Seven's place and began to argue, "was indeed put in place for such reasons, during a time when there were few brides to go around and when advanced age was seen as proof of strength and the ability to survive in the surface world. However, it is hardly necessary now. In fact, I have despised this for many years. Do you know how many shameless men have asked me to overlook them pursuing a cousin or even a niece? That is not the behaviour of a man seeking to ensure our village survives, that is pure self satisfaction."
"Us warriors also do not wish to wait until we retire from our posts to be able to pursue a bride," a young man voiced from the side. "We might die at any time protecting the village. It is hard to put the village first when our first thoughts are that if we die here we will never have a wife or children!"
"It is not just Seven's family that think that way," the girl mage that was one of the outsiders called out. "I left the Kingdom to avoid a horrible marriage, why would I allow myself to be wed off to another that I don't care for? Especially as I already have someone I like?"
The voices of the crowds began to rise again and there was much dissension. Elyas listened carefully to many arguments before deciding to speak, asking Elder Blackthorn if he might address the crowd. The Elder gave a nod of ascent and the boy stood in his place. He stood for several minutes as the crowd bickered, waiting to be noticed and when the villagers came to notice him, they suddenly felt as if a higher power was standing before them calmly. They quietened as waited in anticipation of his words.
"It is not wrong to say that the old protect the young," he began in a clear voice that seemed to encompass the entire village, though he did not shout or raise his voice unnecessarily. "As it is not wrong to say that the young serve the old. What we feel is wrong is the interpretation of this. As an apprentice, I have served my Teachers, sweeping floors, cleaning desks and windows, serving tea. And as my Teachers, they have provided protection with their teachings and with the Guards that ensure our safety." He glossed over the fact that actually they had not been treated to the level protection that the Elders felt they spoke of. "I have never been expected the warm the beds of others in order to be protected, nor produce offspring with my protector." He had heard that within the Village it was possible for men to give birth and in fact had spied several young men not much older than himself with swollen stomachs.
"Traditions are all well and good," Elyas continued, "so long as they are in the best interests of the people and not suppressive and causing more harm than good. We are not asking for those who wish to continue them to cease, we are asking that they are not forced upon those who do not wish to follow them and that we are respected for our decision, just as we will respect your choice to follow your traditions. We simply can not fit into the mould that your tradition dictates and ask for you to understand this. We understand that change is difficult and unsettling and we apologise for any waves that occur due to our insistence of this matter."
The Chief wished to applaud this young man who showed more wisdom and leadership than even his sons had revealed in the years he had been tempering them to one day step into his place. In fact, this wisdom probably surpassed his own. He would have to step up and stop being afraid of the change he knew would always one day occur. He took Elyas' place upon the podium. "I have always known this day would one day come. I knew that there were many already born in the village not happy with the traditions."
He thought of Leif, the Witch as he said this, who had always seemed to be waiting for a specific person and of Elder Blackthorn's wife, who happened to be his niece and had once threatened that she would cut off her future husband's private parts should he think of forcing her to share. He had not realised that there were many others in dissent. So even if the outsiders did not stir the melting pot this day, the villagers themselves would have eventually revolted, he believed.
"This will indeed cause change and difficulties between everyone. So I shall assign three people to act as arbiters," he decided, "to help negotiate interests and resolve disputes that may occur because of this. Individuals are still permitted to approach with the intent of marriage, but must agree to leave uninterested parties alone once it is made clear. I also request of the newcomers that they refrain from bloodlust and killing and come to me, Leif or one of the arbiters should a villager become too persistent and not follow this rule. In fact that should be for all coming of age or as yet unwed. And those who are already married should come to speak with us if they also feel it is necessary.
"In the meantime, I will assign this hall available for the newcomers to rest in until sufficient homes have been built. Are any of you still under the age of sixteen?" He directed this to the newcomers. Just Herebert and Seven raised their hands. "Leif is guardian of Seven, so I will assign another guardian for Herebert until he comes of age." He turned back to face his people and said; "My friends, my family, change is coming. It will take time for us to adapt to it, but we will. We will face it and we will become stronger because of it. Let this not be our downfall, let this be our challenge towards a new improved us."
The old man stepped down and was welcomed warmly by his wives, who each said that they were proud of him and promised to ensure that their family would remain united. The five women cared for their husband, as he had always treated them well and they cared for each other. But they were happy that many of their sons and daughters had more choice for their own futures, as well as their grandchildren. However, they knew that not all families would step away from this unscathed.
Several of Elder Barkridge's wives had felt uncared for due to his problem that he treated with potions, which they had also only discovered after their wedding nights. Most had thought they were the cause and should they not fall pregnant that night, could only lament at their childlessness from them on. They had complained to their families, but their attitude had been very much that due to tradition, their offspring had made their beds and must lie in them. Hearing talk about arbitration, stirred their buried resentment. He was not the only Elder to find he might end up divorced a few times.
Elder Calarook had a habit of ignoring his older wives in favour of each new bride and all had felt completely overshadowed since the man had begun eyeing the boy Seven. The nine women and men were not at all pleased with his behaviour and had decided that if the Elder wished to remain their husband, there would be major changes in their household.
Elder Blackthorn's wife looked at the many brides, whose expressions had altered throughout the course of the evening with a very smug expression upon her face. She curled her arm about her husband's and kissed his stubbled cheek with warmth. Now who was the strange one? She thought, happy that she had stood her ground in the face of the disputes and wed the one person who had agreed with her views at the grand old age of 20.