“Couldn’t you ask them to guarantee my safety?” I asked, an alarm going off inside me.I can’t let her think me a daredevil or she’ll never let me go.
Pearl watched me closely but stayed silent, so I chose my words carefully.
“I understand that it would be dangerous, but if anyone were to venture into the Northlands to discover what is real and what is myth, it would benefit us enormously. Since I teach classes on the Nmen and I’m considered an expert…” I looked down and took a second before I met her eyes again. “I can’t think of a more suitable person than me, and I would be willing to step up and do it for all of us.”
“You would consider putting yourself at risk?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
The answer popped into my head immediately.For the adventure. But luckily I managed to apply a filter and say what she wanted to hear. “An individual serves the community so the community can support the individual.”
It was the words taught to us all from early childhood, and Councilwoman Pearl smiled.
“I see,” she said.
“They won’t harm me because if they did the repercussions would be severe, right?”
Pearl couldn’t be more than a few years older than me but she gave me a patient glance worthy of bestowal upon a child. “Christina, dear. Don’t think you know what Nmen would or wouldn’t do. They’re savages without a conscience.”
I nodded slowly. “I understand.” My heart was racing with excitement and fear. “But I’m not afraid,” I lied.
Pearl raised both her eyebrows. “It’s very brave of you to volunteer, but I would need to bring this up with the council before a decision can be made.”
“All right.”
“Are you absolutely sure you understand what you’re asking for, Christina?”
I swallowed hard but remained calm. “I’m volunteering to lead a team to excavate a potential library in the Northlands.”
“I’m afraid you’re mistaken if you think there will be a team going with you. We can’t force anyone, and so far, you’re the only one to volunteer. Unless you can find someone to go with you, you’ll be on your own.”
“But maybe they have some people who could help me with the work. I could teach them how.”
She drew in a deep breath with a worried expression. “Maybe, but we can’t know what skill level they have nor how cooperative they’ll be to a woman.”
“Maybe some of my students will come.”
Pearl shook her head. “I don’t like the idea of women and children going to that awful place.”
“My students aren’t children; they’re all above eighteen.”
“Maybe not children then, but young nevertheless.”
“If you let me do this, I’m sure I can convince one or two to go with me.”
She tapped her finger against her chin. “That would surprise me, but then again,yousurprise me.”
I took that as a compliment, although I’m not sure she meant it as one. “When is the project planned to start?”
“Four months ago,” was her short answer. “The ruler of the Northlands contacted us. We just haven’t been able to find a volunteer.”
“Until now,” I added and tried to hide how my hands were shaking.
“Until now,” she repeated slowly and studied me. “If you’re sure about this, I’ll summon the council quickly and let you know.”
“Thank you,” I said and bowed my head.
