Page 185 of Phoenix's Fire

"Deenah and Helah. Maybe Petra? I haven't decided, but she's at least an acquaintance. Then there's the bold woman. I don't know her name, though."

He looked around. "Is she in here?"

My eyes scanned the group. "Over there with the widows. Fifth from the end, far side."

"Ms. Baldwin?" he asked, using the title for widowed women. "I think her first name is Felicity? Her husband was one of the veteran hunters. From the sounds of it, she's willful."

"So am I," I reminded him.

Which made Tobias smile at me. "I wasn't saying it as a bad thing, Callah. I happen to like - "

The clanking of a fork against pottery made us both look up. Holding a heavy mug, Mr. White was standing at the elders' table, rapping his utensil solidly to get everyone's attention. His head swung from one side to the other as he waited for us to all look up - and he kept tapping, making that horrendous racket until the entire dining hall had fallen silent.

"We have an announcement to make!" Mr. White called out. "Ladies and gentlemen, as you can see, our meals are smaller than ever. Our larders are nearly empty, and our hunters have been failing us."

Beside me, Tobias groaned. "Of course they'd phrase it like that."

"This is a sign we have grown complacent in our faith!" Mr. White bellowed, setting his cup down before him. "Something has to change, and our halls are too empty. Our hunters are too few. Our nurseries are nowhere near full! Where once our compound was teeming with people, now we have empty seats at every table because we, the Righteous, are not doing our duty by God!"

That made a swell of discussion wash across the room, but I couldn't join them. I knew what was coming. If he said it out loud, it would make it all real. I wanted to shake my head in denial, but before I could, Tobias reached over to clasp my hand, squeezing my fingers reassuringly.

Mr. White continued, "We can no longer afford the luxuries we once had. The Council of Elders has met to discuss this, and there is only one way to solve the problem. We need more Righteous children! Because of this, the age of graduation will be lowered to eighteen. Once, that was when a child was considered to be mature. It seems that time has come again."

Immediately, the entire dining hall erupted. Not in yelling, but frenzied whispers as everyone tried to check with those around them. I simply looked at Tobias, shaking my head slightly. I wasn't ready!

"Listen up!" Mr. Morgan said as he stood beside Mr. White. "This change will not be implemented immediately. Mr. Cassidy will discuss with all the young men what will be expected of them, arranging their assignments over the next week. For the young ladies, your lists have all been prepared. If you are seventeen or older, your matron will make sure your list of prospects is posted in the women's area."

"And," Mr. Saunders said, refusing to stand, "you should all consider the widows as well. Each woman who has tragically lost her husband will have her ownlist made available to Mrs. Worthington. The women can decide how to get those, but every widow will be given three months to mourn the loss of her husband unless she is currently carrying his child. If that is your situation, speak with Mrs. Worthington to have arrangements made."

"Men," Mr. White said as soon as Mr. Saunders stopped talking, "we will have listings of all available women in the men's meeting area."

"Forgive me," Tobias whispered, leaning closer to me while Mr. White still spoke.

I looked over at him in confusion, but I was trying to pay attention as Mr. White said, "Because this is so sudden, we will give everyone time to consider their options. Weddings will continue as normal until our next holiday, the Day of the Seven Trumpets - "

And Tobias shot to his feet. "Mr. White? When can we propose?"

"When your intended turns," he said automatically.

"No," Tobias insisted. "You said the age is lowering. What if my girl is over eighteen but under twenty? When should I propose? We're supposed to wait until she turns, but if the age is lowered and she's nineteen, then she's already turned, so when will our proposal be official?"

My face was burning. I looked down at the table, but I could still feel everyone turning to stare at us.Thiswas why he'd asked for forgiveness. Oh, Tobias, you sweet fool!

Mr. White looked down at the elders sitting around him. Clearly, that wasn't something they'd thought about yet. It was Mr. Saunders who made a dismissive flick of his hand.

"Let them propose any time between now and the holiday," he told the others. "The women will still have to decide one week before their assigned time. It will only give the girls more time to walk with the men who fancy them."

"You hear that?" Mr. White asked, looking right at Tobias.

"So, if I propose now?" he asked, flashing a smile at me.

And I was dying inside. I wanted to crawl inside my own skin - or maybe under the table! I knew he had to do this, but I was terrified he might be serious. Too many times, Tobias had called me pretty. What if he was simply trying to lull me into submission so I would end up as his wife?

"After I finish my announcement," Mr. White told him, "you can do as you will. The young ladies will not be expected to have a final answer yet, so sit down, Mr. Warren." He waited until Tobias sat again, then let out a heavy sigh.

"As I was saying," Mr. White went on, "because there will be many weddings due to this rule change, we will be spacing them out. Women will be divided into groups based on their age or how long they have been widowed. We will have the listing for the groups up soon. Our current plan is to host weddings once a week, starting on the Day of the Seven Trumpets."

"Also," Mr. Morgan said, "we will be monitoring the men and how long it has been since their last child."