Every eye turned to Roshan.
The silence stretched.
And stretched.
And STRETCHED.
Too long.
Damning.
"Your hesitation," Korin said softly, "tells us everything we need to know."
Roshan's jaw clenched.
"I would try to STOP the fight. To prevent bloodshed on both sides."
"So you WOULDN'T defend your tribe."
"I would defend EVERYONE—"
"By defending NO ONE." Korin's voice was ice. "Is that divided loyalty? Yes. But you dress it up as 'trying to protect everyone' when really you've already chosen THEM over US."
"The blessed one bridges our tribes whether you like it or not," Roshan shot back. "That's the POINT of her bonds. Maybe instead of seeing that as weakness, we should see it as opportunity—"
"Opportunity?" Korin laughed. Bitter and sharp. "For what? To become Shadowclaw's subordinates? To bow to panthers? This is exactly what I feared. You've already chosen them over us."
The council erupted.
Voices raised. Arguments flying.
"She's a curse!"
"She's a blessing!"
