As the envoy disappeared into the forest, the village of Ellenshire was left in a heavy silence. The tension was palpable, and every villager seemed to hold their breath, waiting for what would come next. Elara and Jack led the way back to the village hall, where the council would convene to discuss the decision that had just been made.
The hall was modest, its wooden walls lined with tools and symbols of the village's long history. The village council, composed of elders and respected members, gathered around the large table at the center. Jack stood at one end, Elara beside him, while the rest of the council took their seats.
Eamon, one of the village's more outspoken elders, was already seated, his arms crossed and his expression dark. He had been one of the most vocal opponents of resisting Lord Aric in the past, and his distrust of Jack was well known.
The murmur of quiet conversations filled the room until Elara raised her hand, calling the meeting to order. "We've all heard the offer from Lord Aric," she began, her voice steady but tinged with tension. "Jack has agreed to go to Lord Aric's stronghold as his advisor and engineer. But before he leaves, we need to decide how we, as a village, will move forward."
Eamon was the first to speak, his tone sharp. "I still don't like this one bit," he grumbled, his eyes narrowing as they fixed on Jack. "Sending an outsider to negotiate on our behalf? What makes you think you can trust Lord Aric, or that he won't just use you and then crush us when he's done?"
Jack met Eamon's gaze, understanding the older man's fear and skepticism. "I don't trust Aric," Jack admitted, his voice calm but firm. "But we're running out of options. If I don't go, he'll come back with more soldiers, and this time, he won't be offering any deals."
Eamon shook his head, his expression unyielding. "And what if you go there and he turns you into his pawn? What then? You could be leading us into a trap."
Bran, who had been quietly listening, spoke up in Jack's defense. "Eamon, you know we can't keep fighting forever. The last battle showed us that. We need a way to end this without more bloodshed, and Jack might be our best chance."
"But at what cost?" Eamon shot back, his voice rising with frustration. "We don't know what kind of man Aric truly is, or what he'll demand once Jack is in his clutches. We're putting our lives in the hands of someone who barely knows us!"
Elara intervened, her tone diplomatic but firm. "Eamon, your concerns are valid, but we must consider all our options. Jack has proven himself time and again to be a valuable ally. He doesn't make this decision lightly."
Eamon's face softened slightly at Elara's words, but his doubts remained. "And what if things go wrong? What if Aric uses Jack's inventions against us, or against other villages? We could be arming our enemy."
Jack took a deep breath, his mind racing as he searched for the right words. "Eamon, I won't lie to you—there's risk in this. But there's risk in doing nothing too. Aric's forces are stretched thin because of the war. That gives us leverage. If I can get close to him, I might be able to influence him, steer him away from attacking us again. And if it comes down to it, I'll do whatever it takes to protect this village, even if that means turning Aric's own power against him."
The room fell silent as the council absorbed Jack's words. The weight of the decision hung heavily in the air, each member grappling with the potential consequences.
One of the younger council members, a woman named Liora, spoke up hesitantly. "If Jack goes, what happens to the rest of us? How do we keep the village safe if Aric decides to break his word?"
Elara nodded thoughtfully. "We'll need to be prepared for any outcome. While Jack is away, we must continue strengthening our defenses and maintaining our alliances with the other villages. We can't rely solely on negotiations—there's too much at stake."
Bran leaned forward, his voice steady. "And if Aric tries anything, we'll have to act quickly. Jack's made it clear he's going to do everything he can to protect us, but we need to do our part too. We can't afford to be complacent."
Eamon's gaze shifted to Jack, his expression still filled with doubt but also a grudging respect. "If you're going to do this, Thompson, then you'd better be damn sure you know what you're doing. We're putting our trust in you, but if you betray that trust…"
Jack nodded, understanding the gravity of Eamon's warning. "I won't let you down. I've made my choice, and I'm committed to seeing this through. But I'll need your support. All of you. This village has to stand together if we're going to survive."
The council members exchanged glances, the tension slowly easing as they began to see the necessity of the plan. One by one, they nodded in agreement, accepting that this might be the only way to avoid further bloodshed.
Elara turned to Jack, her expression resolute. "You'll have our support, Jack. We'll do what we can to hold the village together while you're with Aric. But remember, the safety of this village comes first. If at any point you believe the deal is going south, we'll be ready to fight."
Jack felt a wave of relief, knowing that Elara and the council were behind him. "Thank you, Elara. And thank you, all of you. I won't forget what's at stake."
As the meeting came to a close, the villagers slowly dispersed, leaving Jack and Elara alone in the hall. The weight of what lay ahead settled heavily on Jack's shoulders, but he knew there was no turning back.
Elara placed a hand on his arm, her voice soft but filled with conviction. "You're not alone in this, Jack. Whatever happens, we'll face it together."
Jack nodded, grateful for her support. "I know, Elara. And that's why I believe we can get through this. We just have to stay strong and keep moving forward."