Just Like You

Chapter 18: Incomplete information

Caran had experienced Ruyotu’s fury many times before, and had no doubt that he would be on the receiving end of it once again when he went to the palace to make his report, but he was startled by just how badly the news was received. The Chief Priest shouted at him for a long time, and seemed prepared at every moment to commit an act of assault.

It was only when Ruyotu demanded to know why Caran had ordered a retreat from the mine that he was given an opportunity to speak. It was necessary, he claimed, to give his men the impression that he was still in control. Ruyotu roared that he should not have lost control in the first place. Caran informed him that he had put himself in danger because he would not risk any Luxalian life by assuming that Qama was telling the truth about there being no other Woodlanders in the area ready to fire. Ruyotu, still angrier than he had ever been before but now running out of things to shout about, simply told Caran that he was a disgrace to Luxal.

“You might think that,” said Caran, “but I am in charge of operations at the mine, and I am best placed to respond to what happens there. No one else could do it. Name any other priest, and I will show you how they are too weak, or too stupid, or too lacking in agreement with your plans to perform my duties effectively.”