Clayton shoved the bread under Eli’s nose. He noticed red lines starting to form on his face. “So, what you’re saying is that everyone knows?”
Eli’s eyes watered. “Yes! How could we not? The difference between my kind of smellers and your kind of sweet-smelling vampires is significant!”
“You tried to exploit our weakness!” Clayton took a small piece of bread and stuffed it in one of Eli’s nose holes.
Eli coughed, and the red lines were all over his face and starting to go down his neck and throat.
Clayton didn’t want to kill Eli, at least not right away. He removed the bread from Eli’s nose and put it on the floor near the door. Within a few seconds, Eli returned to normal.
“We will always exploit your weaknesses! And the other kinds of vampires will too rest assured!” Eli yelled.
“I am debating whether or not to kill you right now.”
“If you let me live, I will tell the others to leave you and your tribes alone.”
Clayton held his stomach while he gave a deep belly laugh. “Right, and I am just supposed to believe you?”
Eli switched tactics. “What would you want to trade my life for?”
Clayton went within inches to Eli’s face. “I don’t know. What do you have to offer?”
Eli moved back as far as he could. “Sorry, but your sweet-smelling blood sickens me in such close proximity.”
Clayton pulled back. “What could you possibly offer me that I would spare your life?”
Eli put his arms across his chest. “What if I told you a secret?”
“It would have to be a big one for me to let you go and explain why to the other council members.”
“Will you let me go?”
“Will I live to regret it?”
“Probably.”
“At least you’re honest, Eli.” Clayton stared hard at Eli and debated. “Tell you what, why don’t you tell me your secret, and if I think it is worth the pushback I will get from the tribe, I will let you go?”
“How about you promise first?”
“Eli, I just feasted from a sweet-smelling human. I am feeling mighty strong right now; give me another reason to kill you.”
Eli knew he had no options left if he wanted to live to see another day. “Fine! The secret is all the tribes are restless. We are tired of England and the king’s taxes.”
“And your point? All the vampires and humans are too.” Clayton walked closer to Eli and did not care if his sweet-smelling blood repulsed him. “ I am getting tired of listening to you ramble on.”
Eli looked at Clayton. He had to tell him the truth. “My point is they want to migrate to another place.”
Clayton folded his arms across his chest. “Another place? Really? Where exactly would that be?”
Eli’s eyes darted back and forth. “There are a few boatsmen that we are conversing with that will take us to another faraway land.”
“Are they the ones docked not far from here?”
“Yes, there are a handful of boats. They think we’re humans and peddling goods.”
“How many boats will you need?”
Eli’s face grew tense. “That does not concern you, Clayton, nor is that knowledge part of our deal!”
Clayton looked at him for a moment, lost in thought. “Okay, then tell me this, Eli. Did they tell you there are other tribes like yours?”
Eli’s eyes squinted. “Yes, why? Were you planning on doing the same thing?”
“Not anymore. You’re free to go. And go quickly, before I change my mind.”
Clayton opened the door, and Eli fled. Clayton walked to the Council Square and saw the other council members sitting in the center of the wooden deck huddled in a small circle.
“I can’t smell the sour smelling prisoner anymore. You let him go?” his mother fumed.
“Yes,” Clayton said as he walked up the steps and faced the elder tribal leaders.
“And why did you think it necessary to let him go when it’s the council’s decision and not yours alone?” another council member demanded.
“I did what I did because I am the leader of this council. I traded his life for a secret.”
“What secret was worth sparing his miserable existence, Clayton?” Tabatha demanded.
“He provided me with information that warrants all of your attention.”
“Spit it out, son! What did he tell you?”
He looked over the council members and sighed. He hoped the information he gave them would suffice. “The sour smeller, Eli, told me the other tribes had made secret deals with some of the boatsmen to leave England and go across the pond to the vast, mostly unexplored world far away.”
“Why would they want to do that?” asked Tabatha.
“For two reasons, the boatsmen claimed there are other tribes there too. I doubt they are our kind of tribe, but they wouldn’t have to fight for land.”
“And the second reason?” Tabatha inquired.
“The King is demanding more and more payments from all of us. He’s probably planning another war. I know we don’t have much money left, but I am unsure about the other smeller’s wealth.”
Tabatha stood up and addressed the council members. “Good! Let them go! More food for us!”
Everyone nodded except Clayton.
Tabatha looked at her son with disapproval. “It seems you don’t approve, Clayton.”
“No, I do not, mother. We may get more food, but the king’s taxes will increase if the others leave. He has to get revenue from somewhere.”
“You’ve been quiet, husband. What do you say?” Tabatha said to Tarson.
Tarson looked around the circle. “I don’t typically come to the council meetings, but I felt it important this one time.” He peered at Clayton. “When, and if the other smellers go, we will deal with the king,” Tarson argued.
“Father, I urge you and the other council members to reconsider. I feel it prudent we leave too!” Clayton remarked coldly.
Tarson looked at his son. “Now is not the time for cowardice, Clayton.”
“Cowardice? By wanting our tribe to have better meals? By expanding our land? Your definition of being spineless is skewed, father!”
Tabatha looked at her son. She kept her temper in check.
