Chapter 449
[Chjell POV]
There were dozens of people and things that demanded his attention, and Chjell gave each one the time it deserved, not a single moment more. The Sik’Tal, as always, searched for other opportunities to provide for the city, to varying and limited success. The laws that had been instituted so long ago remained, and they demanded that only a certain amount of fish be taken from the sea on any given day. There was a reason for this, of course, and there wasn’t even a keelish alive foolish enough to transgress this ancient law. As such, there had been discussions of perhaps stepping into the mountains and hunting some of those ants that they had become more familiar with, but that was a risk. If the ants followed the scent of their hunted brethren to Tala, then the city would be overrun with ravenous insects.
“Wherefore are we to search? The north hast been prepared for hunting, yet only for a limited window of opportunity. To the south lieth only suffering and warfare, while the east contains bounteous hunts only in the wintertimes and the west is a deadly mire of enemies.”
“The decision remains yours.” Chjell replied. “You choose where to go and what to hunt in such a way that you’re not endangering the rest of the city. It’s your responsibility to be safe and to provide for Tala. If you’re unable to do that, then march to the south and offer yourselves to the Zaaktif and the war.”
“When dost thou expect to be permitted a return journey?” The Sik’Tal changed her method of questioning, caring only to further her own designs. It was the fifth time he’d been asked nearly the exact same question, and Chjell refused to give it any different of an answer than he had been.
“When Nievtra is cleared of all attackers and the Zaaktif has dismissed me, I will return and no earlier. Even after a potential siege is broken, there may be a need for my presence in the south, and as such, I will remain in Nievtra for as long as I am needed. Finally, not for the first time, I’m telling you to adjust your speech. There’s no reason to remain so stubbornly repeating the words and phrases of our old ways when the Zaaktif’s manner of speech is clearer and more effective. Work better at adapting.”
“Very well… I understand, and I’ll be better.“
The female seemed to struggle over the slight dialectical change as he requested, but she, as well as every other member of the nation, was willing to do as they’ve been asked. In fact, the Zaaktif himself hadn’t asked or demanded that such a thing be done, but the Alpha had given the command that Tala do and act as their superiors did, both in word as well as in deed. And when commanded, the Saharliard were obedient.
“With our reduced numbers,” the Kha’Tal representative, Krii, asked, “should we remain focused on the expansion of our city's borders? Or should we focus entirely on the maintenance of that which we’ve gained dominion over? We can only prioritize one with our reduced workforce.”