Storms (Sharani Series Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

“There’s not enough for all of us. The Roterralar don’t have enough stores to support the entire Rahuli people for an extended period of time.”
    Of course you’d be the one to bring that up again. Several of the other leaders shot her half-concealed glares. The look Evrouin shot her shone with the same disdain he’d leveled at Alia only moments before when insulting her.
    “We have sufficient for our needs,” Gavin replied with a level voice. “The patrols bring in more and more each day.”
    Khari raised an eyebrow, but gave no response.
    “We can increase patrols now,” Cobb said. “The strange weather patterns and winds are causing some minor issues, but the Roterralar seem to be adjusting to it.”
    Gavin nodded his thanks.
    “More excuses from the mighty Roterralar,” Evrouin said in a whisper that nonetheless carried. “I fail to see what that old man is doing here anyway. But at least he’s upfront about his involvement. The rest of you are acting like women and hiding behind the actions of other men, and women too, for that matter. Maybe you should all put on shufari . Or give over leadership of your clan to someone who’ll lead it the right way.”
    “What was that?” Khari demanded, half rising. Gavin raised a hand to try and placate her, but before he could answer other voices spoke up.
    “How many are dead because you hid here?” Asselin asked with a sneer. He represented the Londik, though he had showed up to fewer and fewer of the meetings of late. Evrouin was slowly taking leadership of several of the clans, the Londik among them. “It was one of yours behind all this.” Asselin gestured vaguely at the walls, though everyone understood his meaning. “You’re no ally of mine, nor any of us.”
    Gavin stood up before anyone else could respond, though Khari looked murderous.
    “Fighting between us leads nowhere,” he said. “We’re not getting anything accomplished today, it seems. Each time we leave these meetings without anything getting resolved is just another day of chaos, bitterness, and anger we can’t afford. We need unity, not in-fighting. We will meet again in two days at the noon hour if no one objects.”
    No one argued. Gavin ground his teeth together, though he was careful not to allow the set of his jaw to show his irritation. These meetings always degenerated into arguments and posturing. Maybe Cobb was right.
    The various clan leaders exited the room, only a few pausing to nod toward Gavin. Gavin tried not to get irritated at the slight.
    Alia and Khari chatted softly as they left. Gavin had noticed the two of them spending more and more time together recently. The Roterralar ways were definitely having an effect on some, at least.
    “Maybe you’re right, Cobb,” Gavin said with a sigh, dropping back into his seat. “They’re not ready to be united. Not yet. They can’t seem to leave the past where it belongs.”
    Cobb grunted. “That much is obvious. And why should they? Evrouin and his lot betrayed them, boy. Why should we trust them now?”
    “We can’t just let them leave. We don’t even have the remotest understanding of what’s going on now. The Oasis is gone. This land is changing.”
    Cobb grunted again and took a seat near Gavin, carefully bending his bad leg under the table and dropping his cane onto the table.
    “Life is change, boy,” Cobb said. “And what these people need is change. They can’t live together until they learn to respect one another, or at least have a mutual respect for the same thing. Some of the clans are starting to follow a different way, women are starting to lead, and they’re all still in shock from what happened. They need time apart to think and nurse their wounds. They need to find themselves again.”
    Gavin massaged his temples. Meetings of clan leaders always left him with a bit of a headache. There was a reason his grandmother always handled the negotiations between the outcasts and clan leaders. She was