Revenant Slaves Chapter 53: Chapter 52: Zain

Read chapter 53 of Revenant Slaves by Zee on NovelPedia.

Chapter 52: Zain “So what, introduce a culture-defining trait into their lives, force them to marry, and what? Hope it sticks?” Maya asked. “What were the Elders thinking?” “Their societal structure is just beginning to bloom; they will be amenable to it,” Tayyab said. “Isn’t there more to the message from the elders?” “If you people would stop interrupting, I might actually get to the end,” Michael replied. Maya and Tayyab looked down and nodded towards him. “The elders want everyone here who is unmarried to marry into the people of Mortrum. In the North, we have about 300 agents. It would actually be better if we could have a high-profile marriage as an example for the people of Mortrum… Rain and her son are the ideal options,” Michael paused and leveled a long stare at Maya. Slowly, everyone else around the room was looking at her as well. “What? WHAT?” Maya put her hands up as if going on the defensive. “Come on, Maya, the boy is smitten with you, and it is about time you were married.” Zain couldn’t stop a smile from forming on his face, but he controlled himself enough to avoid laughing outright. Maya might have actually killed him for that. “Don’t even start, Maya, you have been putting this off for 4 years already. Well, all that waiting has placed you as the ideal candidate for it. Sure, the boy has some rough edges, but once we get him off-world, I think we can make him into a fine young man,” Sanya added. “You marry him then,” Maya retorted. “I would have, if I hadn’t already been married.” Sanya replied, “It’s not every day you get a folk hero, honestly, you could have done worse, Maya. Face it, you’re the only unmarried 20-year-old in the rebellion. While most of us get hitched at 16. You’d be galavanting from one mission to the next — if it wasn’t that, you had to take care of Zain. Well, now the mission requires it, and Zain’s on his bloody way to the title of Imam.” “If an Imam directly told you to do it, would you still reject it?” Michael asked. “Well, I don’t see an Imam here. And, don’t you even dare mention Zain; he doesn’t count, nor has he been acknowledged,” Maya argued, “And all of you had a choice in the matter; marriage has never been enforced on us, I don’t get why that must change?” “Well, on the first point, you’re wrong. Tayyab, acting as Zain’s witness, along with Sanya and a bunch of others, sent our reports back to the elders. They recognize him as an Imam, in these extenuating circumstances, considering we lost Imam Leonard when your team attacked the temple.” ‘So that’s why these people wanted to meet alone with me awake — not exactly smart…’ Zain was actually glad that the leaders of the rebellion weren’t blind loyalists turning to him for leadership just because of some obscure conditions being met. They had wanted to corner Maya, but Zain knew his sister better than most. She could not be cornered, especially not by him. Title or no title, it didn’t matter. “And secondly, you do have a choice, but I hope you will put the needs of the many above yourself. That is a choice not many of us got when we got married. Most of ours had been arranged for us as well, but none of them carried such weight.” “Enough,” Zain managed to speak. He got pointed stares from everyone present. “I would talk to my sister alone. The rest of you, please assemble the people and start relaying this news to them. Teach them our methods of proposal and acceptance. Sing praises of the ceremony, and sell them the idea. We can have a huge feast and gathering here in the city tomorrow at dusk. I’ll leave the rest of the details to you.” Michael looked annoyed, and Sanya and Tayyab almost seemed amused. Zain couldn’t discern Maya’s mood from her face. “Of course, of course, but we must come to a decision about this matter…” “Michael, sir, it was you who elevated me to the position of Imam, and in that capacity, I would like to confer with my sister. You all have a busy day ahead of you. I wouldn’t want to keep you from the