Page 107 of Phoenix's Fire

"Not as bad as Ayla, I'm sure," I teased.

Ayla huffed. "I was a good child!"

"You were not!" Meri said around a laugh.

I couldn't help but chuckle. "I have a feeling Meri's right, Ayla," I said. "The way you've berated me? I think she was the good one of the bunch."

"She's not as good as she pretends," Ayla assured me.

Meri sucked in a little breath. "No, I... "

"I think," I told her, "that Mole women are strong, intelligent, and impressive women. I've only met two, and both of them are stronger than I could ever imagine being."

Her cheeks began to turn pink. On the other side, Ayla's mouth closed as she realized what I was doing, and the look she was giving me? That made me think I wasn't making a complete mess of this.

"I was just scared," Meri said softly. "I didn't really do anything."

"You survived," I told her. "Over and over again, you kept surviving, and Meri? That's something you should be proud of."

Around us, people were talking softer. Most had fallen silent to listen in. Meri glanced around and her cheeks got a little brighter.

"Thank you, Mr. Wyvern."

I shook my head. "It's Zasen."

"They call you the Wyvern."

"That's my sign," I assured her. "And I made sure your men know it. I stamped it on their bodies so they'd understand there was a price for hurting people I care about. So you know, that includes you now."

"Me?" she breathed.

I nodded. "My friend says you are a good person. I happen to trust Ayla's opinion."

"But I'm not brave like Ayla," she said.

"You're not," I agreed. "You're brave like you. I'm brave like me. Everyone at this table can say the same thing, but my sister is not weak because she is what you'd call a healer. Lessa is not timid because she's amazing at making clothes. Rymar is not useless because he is good at organizing."

"I don't understand what you mean," Meri admitted.

My mother opened her mouth, but I lifted my hand, letting her know I had this. "In the compound, you were supposed to be one thing. All women were meant to be good, quiet, and obedient wives, correct?"

"Yes."

"All men were meant to be devout, strong, and leaders of their families?" I was guessing at that from history and things Ayla had said.

Meri jiggled her head in a little nod. "Yes, that is what they say."

"But here, you're supposed to be you," I told her. "A woman who likes the things you like, who talks back - or doesn't. Who laughs at jokes - or doesn't. Who is loud or quiet, rude or polite, rowdy or calm. It doesn't matter which thingsyoulike. It only matters that you get the chance to figure them out, and we're all here to help you with that."

"But why?" she asked. "Ayla said the hunters comehere. She said we eat..." Her words trailed off. "Why do you want to help us?"

"Because you - " And I pointed at her. "- have never hurt me. I judge people on themselves, not the group they fit into. I don't care if that's 'woman' or 'Mole' or 'tailless.' You are not them, and their cruelty is not something you should be punished for. It also sounds like you've already been punished more than you deserve."

She nodded. "I didn't know."

"No, you didn't," I agreed. "And that means it's on the men, not on you women."

"So this isn't a trick?"

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