ELIA
By the time they reached the great room in the cave Elia was swallowing back tears. Candace sat on the bench in front of the fireplace immediately, but Elia stayed on her feet, pacing in front of her.
"I can't help it! I didn't learn these things, I don't… smell things like you people do. I'm not strong the way you are—but it's not my fault! None of those things were needed to be successful in my world. So why is everyone judging me for something I have no control over?"
"Because you were a sacrifice. You were supposed to die," Candace said quietly, her green eyes following Elia's movement. "You have been made a leader among people who see no reason to follow you."
"What was Reth thinking?"
Candace made a little chirping, coughing noise. "I suspect he wasn't thinking as much as… feeling."
Elia gave her a flat look. "I'm hardly a beauty," she snapped. "If he was feeling anything it wasn't about me."
