Chapter 830 - The Society for the Reformation of Hags Ⅱ (2/2)
The three council members gaze at each other, before Melanchtha says, ”Very well, then we shall put the subject to vote, but first we shall explain in detail the request of the Goblin King.” After proceeding to explain the request of the Goblin King, she says, ”Each sister please cast her vote in favor or against. I vote NAY.”
The hags move to speak against, but the surprise of the hags in the room, the elderly Perpetua lets out a bark of laughter. ”We can hide or fight, sisters. I know that am old and I no longer have much fight in me, but I will not hide away like a cornered beast. I say, AYE.” She was the first council member to speak in favor of the proposal beyond Annis Black causing many to gasp in shock. It was well known that Perpetua rarely went against Melanchtha's vote, but a clear divide could be seen with the council.
With one of the council members voting in favor of the Goblin King's proposal, the hags on the fence follow in turn. The hags cast their votes, but by the end, the vote is evenly split. Undecided, the last vote belongings to the remaining council member, Indira Grymm.
Indira purses her red blood lips before an enchanting smile appears on her face. ”I do not wish to lose more sisters to violence,” she sincerely said. ”However, we will lose sisters either way. In the past, I have not always seen eye to eye with our sister Black, but I agree with her sentiment that we have nothing further to lose. I vote AYE.”
Melanchtha lets out a sigh as the hag's clamor in shock and excitement. Motioning for the hags to quiet down, the room becomes silent as Melanchtha lets out a wary expression. ”The sister has spoken and so we sister shall act,” she firmly declared. ”Send word to our sisters that we will gather and to our kin overseas. If it is a gamble which we seek to partake in, then we will do our best to stock the odds in our favor!”
The hags in the room let out a cry of agreement, before bustling out of the room. Not all the hags were convinced nor in favor of the proposal, but they would obey the majority's vote. Among those departing is the figure of Annis Black, who bears a determined expression. She had plenty of friends among the hags overseas and she knew that many would come to their aid.
With the gathering ended only the three council members remain behind. The elderly Perpetua inspects the beautiful witch and teasingly says, ”I thought for sure you would say, nay, witch.” It was an old joke between them since Indira's mother looked like a hag but had borne such a breathtaking enchantress.
Indira refrains from sighing in exasperation at the old hag. ”If you must know t'was not Annis Black that convinced me, but rather Finny Frogbottom,” the beauty quietly replied. ”Giants are territorial existences and there are only so many places we sisters can hide. Sooner or later, a tragedy will occur; and if it is fated to be so, I would rather that we make something good of such a poor hand of cards.”
”Aye,” Perpetua grunted in agreement.
”Although I understand your reasoning, Indira,” Melanchtha interjected, ”I fear that it is a trap by a trusted ally of the Goblin King.”
”Be as that may be,” Indira murmured, ”the die is cast, and the majority has spoken, Melanchtha.”
”So, it has,” Melanchtha sighed, before turning away. The thee hags retreat for the evening each lost in their own thoughts. Only time would tell if the audacious gamble would prove to be their salvation or their condemnation.