Garrot’s tone makes Matilda want to shove her face back into her breakfast, and she stays quiet while the others argue their cases, her face growing more and more heated by the moment. Matilda’s never been one for conflict, preferring to ignore it and carry on to her own drumbeat— but this is too important to ignore.

By the time Gyre’s finished speaking, Matilda’s perfectly manicured nails are cutting into the palms of her hands, her teeth gritted. “He’s right, you know. I want us to live another year too—“ She doubts herself. Pauses. Flounders. And then realized if she doesn’t keep taking now, Garrot or someone else will start talking again, and she’ll miss her chance to be heard. So she pushed away from the table and stand. “But we cant just say no! We cannot bring anything to finality, not without seeing the fountainhead! It gives us the very best chance!”