Cheers bloomed throughout the room. Dark cackles trickled across the broken table. While the flame of fear was half-doused by the splash of that sudden chance to change the world…
'Father…'
Hearing his daughter's wavering thoughts, Tuuntol masked his surfacing hesitations with a half-smirk.
'Fear not, Troena… I will protect you. That's my solemn promise not as the clan chief, but as your father.'
However, that telepathic reply didn't put Troena at ease one bit.
Her heart raced even faster than those spreading optimistic cheers. Troena shivered. Hard. Harder than she could realize, with no awareness of subconscious body language.
'Then… does that mean…
'... I can't… say no?'
Tuuntol reached for his daughter's trembling hand under the table.
'Troena… my sweet, little girl… I'm sorry.