Chapter 53: Meeting Continued
Basla’s words both settled the matter and moved them onto the next subject, the Outsider. Basla was also expressing his intentions to bring down Sosora with it since he had failed with his last attempt.
"I assume everyone here already knows about the Outsider staying at the center of the forest," Basla said, glancing around to see most people nod. Those who didn’t nod just couldn’t be bothered since it was obvious that they all knew about it.
"Currently, we have forbidden anyone from making contact with the Outsider, but we were a little slow. Several individuals have already had frequent contact with the Outsider, putting all of us at risk. They even guided two humans through the forest to meet with the Outsider!" Basla paused for dramatic effect. It was a short pause. He then pointed at Malak and Sosora.
"Sosora of the Aer tribe and Malak of the Bawin tribe, what do you have to say for yourselves?!" He demanded.
Elder Atarak’s eyes shone. Elder Kobo tilted his head and glanced at Malak behind him. Tair looked at Sosora with a gaze Sosora couldn’t decipher. Malak looked at Sosora with concern. He was worried about being put on the spot and accused of something he definitely did.
Sosora turned to Basla with a confident face and her arms behind her back as she stood proud and tall.
"You say that like we did something wrong. But we didn’t. But all of that is irrelevant. Everything we did, we did on land that has nothing to do with the Lowat tribe. What gives you the right to question our actions?"
"Yeah, weren’t you preaching about the autonomy of the tribes just a few minutes ago?" Malak chimed in, trying to be helpful. Sosora had already made her point, and most people got it. Almost everyone in the room understood what she was getting at. Malak had just stated the obvious.
But he helped clarify it for Basla, who was a little caught by surprise by her rebuttal, and Muhso, who wasn’t fully aware of what Basla was trying to achieve.
Basla was frozen for a few moments while his mind spun. He quickly came up with a rebuttal.
"Your interactions with the Outsider have jeopardized the safety of this forest. As a resident of this forest, of course, I have the right to question your actions. Everyone has the right!"