Holding Him High

ELRETH

Elreth's anger flared in her chest because the elders didn't look convinced. In a circle as they were, she couldn't meet eyes with each of them at the same time, so she turned slowly, knowing her eyes were alight with her beast because she wanted to roar, impressing each of them with the certainty of her conviction—and pleased to see the weaker among them shrinking under her gaze.

"I bring salvation to our people. If they reject it because they do not like the vessel it travels in, they can walk away—and die needlessly. I will not indulge their bigotry another moment." The door creaked behind her, but she refused to turn, to try to convince anyone. If one of the elders had left, she would let them. She would not drag bigots with her into this when the very people they were dismissing would be their salvation in the end.