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Cradle
Cradle Chapter 2 - Deliberation

Cradle Chapter 2 - Deliberation

Milton leads the boy inside, a little forcefully as the boy slows to stare at the door as he opens it, although the boy loses interest quickly as he understands it.

It should be noted the boy is now covered in a cloak provided by Milton, an article of clothing Milton always has with him due to the windiness of the plains. Milton finds a cloak suits the boy, despite the boy's surprise at him putting it on at first.

"We're here Chief."

Announcing their arrival, Milton walks towards a circular table in the middle of the one room house, seating the boy on one of the chairs surrounding the table.

Sitting in the other chairs surrounding the table is an gray haired man who looks to be in his fifties with an intelligent gleam in his eye that clashes with his grizzled features and modest attire, and the girl Lia. 

Milton seated the boy directly across from the gray haired man, the Village Chief (he insists people call him by his title, a show of pride for his job) and settles himself next to the boy. 

In the background a woman is making drinks, her looks at the same level of the chiefs in terms of age, with eyes just as intelligent but even more so kind.

"This the boy Lia was talking about Milton? He hasn't told you anything?"

"Nothing Chief, he hasn't spoken a word at all. I haven't a clue where he came from."

"Peculiar...."

The Chief rubs his bearded chin as he examines the boy, the corners of his lips rising slightly as he sees the boy returning the look back with curious eyes.

"I don't know where this boy came from, but there must be a reason for his appearance. Have you heard of any violence in the neighboring villages, Milton?"

"Not that I know of Chief, course those sort of things can always happen rather suddenly and spiral out of control. I'll set off tomorrow to find out if something has happened, especially since we can't rely on the lord for help if something shows up on our doorstep."

"That bloody bastard drains us dry....well, I suppose it can't be helped due to the recent skirmishes with the Andratti, but I feel like only half of the money he takes from us goes towards that front...."

The Chief's eyes stare into the distance for a moment in thought, but quickly he returns his attention to the boy.

"Question remains however, what do we do with this boy..."

At hearing the topic of the mysterious boy, Lia grows restless and starts to speak.

"Ooh ooh, can he stay here in the village? You know that there isn't anyone around my age who hasn't been married off or left the village for the world. Give me a friend, grandfather!"

"I'm not your grandfather Lia, I'm the Chief. And we can't just have a mystery boy living in the village."

The Chief sighs.

"But, we can't just turn him away either...I suppose he can stay until Milton returns with news, and then a decision can be made then after consulting with village."

Hearing the Chief's decision, Lia's face exudes a radiant glow, a smile on her face capable of making an angry bull ashamed of itself.

"Thank you grandfather!"

Stolen novel; please report.

Hearing Lia calling him grandfather, the Chief mutters to himself about such a cute child being such a pain. 

Suddenly, the Chief raises his eyes at the boy, his face showing signs of thought.

"Something we should probably address, how about giving a name to this boy. It's no good to just refer to him as 'boy' everytime, even if it isn't his actual name."

Lia immediately perks up at the Chief's words, putting her hand on her chin to imitate his actions when he thinks. After a while, she bops her fist on her palm as she comes to a decision.

"How about Elliot?"

"Where'd that name come from Lia?"

Milton looks at Lia questioningly, as her face shows signs of firm determination.

"It's the name Papa and Mama decided if I was to be a boy. It's perfect!"

Milton and Chief exchange glances at Lia's ability to turn a mysterious boy into someone named by her own flesh and blood.

"I suppose that's fine.."

The Chief looks at the boy who has been following the conversation with his eyes since the beginning, and points a finger at him.

"Elliot. Just as good as any."

The boy lifts his hand and points at himself.

"Elliot...."

Everyone except the boy show a surprised look, their eyes agape at hearing the boy talk for the first time.

"So he can talk....did he not have a name before? This boy...excuse me, Elliot, just gets more and more mysterious. Ah well, we'll learn things in a few days when Milton returns with news. As for now, you should get home Lia, your parents are probably getting worried since it's getting dark out."

"O-kay grandfather~"

Sighing with weariness, the Chief takes an offered drink from the woman from earlier.

"Thanks dear, don't know how I could get through a day without you."

"I don't know either, nor do I know how such a high maintence man as yourself made it through life before you met me. Here ya go Lia, drink up before you head out, you must be thirsty after having ran so much today."

The Chief looked up to the sky as he wonders where his wife's kindness goes when it concerns him, but smiles wryly as he knows it's her way of showing her love towards him. 

"Thanks grandma~"

The Chief's wife smiles kindly at Lia, completely acceptant of her addressing. Lia leaves after chugging her drink in a very unladylike manner.

"I'll take my leave too, then. I have to get started preparing if I want to make good time tomorrow. Thank you for the drink Laurette."

Following Lia's example, albeit with more grace, Milton quickly downed his drink and went on his way.

"Now for Elliot, dear, shall I prepare the bed we use for when we have a guest from another village over?"

"That'll be fine, while you do that I'll see if I can't find any clothes that might fit him. I'd like to make sure Milton has his cloak before he sets off tomorrow."

Thus night gradually descended, as the Chief and his wife prepared their home for Elliot's stay, as Elliot himself watched with inquisitive eyes.