"We can't just change the chosen after the picking Randel. If you wanted it to be someone else, you should have done it yourself! What your suggesting will bring disorder." One of the councilmen huffed hearing the man speak. "The seer has always had the right and authority to pick the girl we sacrifice."
"He's right. Changing the tradition has caused anger among the villagers in the past, but overruling the seer? It's ridiculous." Said another loud voice.
Randel rolled his eyes looking at the group of men sitting in the circle. These were suppose to be the most superior men the village had to offer, yet they still feared the effects of some measly village folk who thought they had any clue to how the society worked.
Randel was the youngest to ever be elected into the politics of the village and it was because of his clever tricks. He could study the people before him as easily as the annoying pest of villagers occupying his town. But, the only being capable of making him doubt his conclusions was a dark haired girl with blue eyes.
"Gentlemen," Randel said in a calm matter smiling amongst his peers giving them an authority tone. "I think we can show how the seer is unable to make wise decisions due to her age. I have seen instances where she talks to herself singing in a language that does not exist. I believe many will agree that it isn't wise to send the girl out if the skies really did not pick her."
"But the skies did pick our seer.." came a mumbled voice that Randel couldn't place. "And the seers have always been odd. Perhaps they have different ways of coping since they take on such a dreadful calling."
"Do they actually have a dreadful calling?" Randel questioned. "When was the last time we actually had communications with these so called 'gods'. This has been GENERATIONS worth of traditions that only kill our own. Our numbers are growing less everyday while the Wolfmens population increases. There is a point where we might become instinct if we don't act now! Just think logically, we are basically trusting the ideas of a woman who can't even see… why should we all believe this woman? What has she done to prove to us that the gods truly made this law?"
Some of the men in the room mumbled around agreeing with some of the words.
"Clarice lives in a house where she receives free food from OUR hardworking villagers. She doesn't ever seem to care for the families that have lost their daughters in the past. It questionable to even know if she actually is one with the Gods."
"So you're suggesting we explain to the townsfolk that this has been a useless tradition?" One scoffed to Randels left. "Do you know how angry they will be if they think we purposely had their children eaten all these years letting the 'seer' pick them randomly?"
Another then commented saying, "do you really think the seer has been forcing us to sacrifice our child for her own entertainment?"
Randel held back a scoff. These men were growing more annoying to him as the days continued.
"We have always followed the words of the so called wise seer, but what if she is the culprit behind our demise? Listen to me my brethren! We need to act now and think of how to finally protect our women from such a gruesome fate. I'm starting to fear that maybe she is working for the Wolfmen." Randel suggested with a shrug watching the men intently.
Men nodded their heads thinking to themselves.
"Even if we don't allow her to pick the girls anymore, the Wolfmen will be upset if we don't uphold our end of the deal giving them a sacrifice." Someone spoke making the room go silent. And even Randel was a bit taken back not knowing how to address this. "What do you suggest we do?"
Randel took a moment before giving the council is normal charming smile with his eery calm composure. "I guess we pick the girl ourselves. It might be best to give the most useless ones away."
Deadly silence filled the room at how easily Randel spoke about his plans. Although no one was particularly against it, they did wonder for a second if they truly had become corrupt. But the second passed and many seemed to think that the idea presented was the best solution. Not only could they get rid of useless beings, they could also start picking which girls to keep.
"That's a very serious crime to commit against Clarice, Randel." Came the loud voice of an older councilman. "You may be the head councilman son, but you don't seem to be thinking with your head."
Randel looked at the man who seemed to be an older version of himself. The man was handsome with his black gray hair falling on his forehead. He was tall but seemed to be becoming weaker everyday which surprised everyone. He was once the most feared man in the village, but even he seemed to be weary of Randel.
"Father." Randel said with a smile looking into the mans hard eyes. "You don't believe I am thinking with my head? What makes you believe that? I am here as a benefit to our kind!"
Randel then took a step away from the platform he spoke from walking toward the older man with his eyes looking sharp with every step.
The older man had watched his son join the political circle at a younger age. He was always ambitious and seemed to have so much goals within his life. But he also knew his son was becoming corrupted in his heart making him cautious to how to help him before he lost his soul. And even though he was not one to speak, he realized his son was becoming too dark.
"Do you have feelings for the chosen that was picked?" The old man asked loudly making the rest of the council watch with interest.
Randel narrowed his eyes at the blunt question his father asked.
Many heads snapped their heads curious to what answer the man would have. All of the men in the circle new of Sophia Red. She was the girl who made all the men stare whenever she came into view.
In fact, many had been patiently waiting for the girl to turn past the age of the picking in order to have a chance to properly introduce themselves. Even those who were currently courting other village women secretly admired the dark haired beauty.
"I do not know the girl enough to have those kind of feelings. But I care for her in the way I care for every villager. I seriously believe it's time to stop the tradition of the hunt and protect our own!" Randel said with a low tone almost threatening to some ears. "I'm surprised you've allowed this to continue when you were in charge."
Some widened their eyes at how Randel spoke to their old leader.
Although many never saw Randel act inappropriate toward Sophia, his father had his suspicions after seeing Randel enter the marketplace on the same days Sophia Red would. It always happen to correspond with days his son's servant was sick.
"I would hope so. This is a serious accusation you are making against Madam Clarice. If you are doing this because you truly believe she is manipulating the people, then I will support you. But if you are doing this to protect a woman you fancy, then the Gods will punish our kind. It would be a very selfish thing if that was the case."
Randel gritted his teeth that his own father would challenge him in front of all the members. The old man was the last of his kind who truly had a heart for his people, but Randel had learned the ways of power. He knew it would be difficult working together, but this was the first time Randel felt the urge to permanently rid of the nuisance.
Randel had pushed his father out of his position and wouldn't mind pushing his father out of the council altogether.
"Your concern is valid." Randel said looking first at his father, but then the other members of the council. "This is exactly way we should allow the townsfolk to hear what evidence I have gathered. This decision shouldn't be made just by one individual."
The old man narrowed his eyes at his son thinking about his words.
"And if the people don't agree with your accusations, how will you react my boy?" His father asked with an eyebrow raised in question.
Randel looked again straight into the mans eyes. Something chilly and deadly was shown in the glint when he smiled widely for the man to see.
"I will obviously listen to my people. There's a reason I was given my role as the Lead." He said confidently hoping to manipulate them as easily as he had before. They too had started to notice that Randel's father was becoming weak to deal with the village.
"Good." The older man said with a nod noticing how his son's eye twitched in annoyance.
Randel then stepped close to his father so no one could hear.
"I obviously am only interested in the good of our people. You should know that by now my dear father." Randel said with venom while keeping his smile plaster upon his handsome face. "But I am losing interest in your well being old man. Watch yourself. Next time I won't tolerate you challenging my authority."