Role

Chapter 4

That very same afternoon, an Arun'otyl family meeting was called.
Traditionally, such a meeting would be called by the matriarch or patriarch of
the family. But now, something had changed. It was not Elokhi's mother who
perched at the head of the table, but his elder brother, Kayven.

And when Kayven spoke, it became clear that this was not a meeting to discuss
the fate of his sister, or a quest to find her true killers. No, this was to
plan how the family may use the tragedy to its advantage. To wield the
sympathy for their own gain.

Elokhi's patience had always outweighed most, but remembering that sign from
above, he could hold his beak shut no longer. In outrage, he spread his wings
and raised his voice. He demanded retribution. He demanded that they find the
true killer, and see that justice was served.

Eyes still burning with divine outrage, Elokhi continued, promising he would
find help from the Gods above to see it through, to bring righteous wrath down
upon the wicked creatures who killed his sister.

The entire family erupted at once, but Kayven's seething rage dwarfed it all,
as he hurled himself at his brother.

Holding him by the throat against the wall, Kayven glared murderously into his
little brother's eyes.

"Embarass our family further, little brother, and I will do to you what I did
to your sister!"

Realization came slowly to Elokhi, as he sank bonelessly to the floor. Looking
up, he looked at all of his family in turn: cousins, aunts, uncles.. and
finally his own mother. None wore an expression of shock. They knew. They all
knew that Melya was murdered by her own brother. And they did nothing.

As Kayven turned back towards him, dinner knife in hand, Elokhi hesitated no
longer. He ran.