“There’s no need for swear words or hate speech,” Oliver pointed out.
“Except to you hate speech is what the rest of us consider irony or sarcasm.”
“I’m no expert in irony or sarcasm, but from what I understand it’s a low level of humor at other people’s expense. Our society doesn’t appreciate that sort of behavior, nor do we feel that anyone should suffer name-calling or be belittled by others. It’s a matter of decency and respect.”
Aubri threw her hands up. “Fine, Oliver, but then you also have to acknowledge that in order to protect everyone’s sensitive feelings, you gave up freedom of speech. Here in the Northlands we value honesty higher than politeness and we’re taught early on not to take everything so god damn personal.”
Oliver kept his face pointing straight ahead. In general, Motlanders avoided confrontation, but he made one last attempt to defend his nation. “It’s not as bad as it used to be.”
Aubri’s cheeks were red from the cold, but she wasn’t wearing her gloves. With passion for the subject of their discussion, she kept throwing her hands around while walking along: “No, you’re right. At least now you’re allowed to talk about us Northlanders and you can enjoy emotionally charged novels and movies again. That’s an improvement, but you’re far from free. If you can’t see that, Oliver, then you’re more indoctrinated than I thought.”
The rest of the way, we all walked in silence and when it was time to leave again, I was one of the few who seemed excited. I was an artist, and although I’d never sculpted in snow before, this was one of the few challenges where I could excel. After emptying my bladder and fueling up with a bit of fruit and biscuits, I was ready to show them all what I had to offer.
CHAPTER 10
Changing Weather
Mason
“I have a bad feeling about this,” Indiana said as he, Thor, Aubri, and I rummaged the shed for tools.
“Me too, we’re gonna look bad,” Thor grumped. “We should have insisted on the challenges we had planned.”
“Do we need this one?” Indiana held up a shovel.
“Yes, give it to me. I want it.” Thor reached for the long shaft.
“Just remember there’s no I in teamwork,” I said because I was pretty sure Indiana and Thor would end up fighting while making the sculpture.
“Maybe not, but there are three U’s in shut the fuck up,” Indiana said and handed over the shovel.
“Is it safe to leave them out there without one of us close?”
My question made Aubri roll her eyes. “They aren’t children and it’s not like building a sculpture is dangerous work, unless you think them too clumsy to handle a bucket.” We all laughed at Aubri’s sassy comment and I knew she was right. I just felt protective.
“What about Belle? Her group was never nice to her.”
“They will be today since she’s their hope of winning this challenge.” While talking Thor gathered tools and placed them outside. “Mason, stop imagining worst case scenarios. It’s just a few hours and everyone will be fine.”
I suppressed my worries about wolf packs showing up and Belle’s delegation giving her shit. Helping Thor and the others, I filled up the drones with tools.
Looking up at the sky, I frowned. “There’s some dark clouds out there.”
Thor lifted his gaze and squinted. “Hmm… tell you what, we’ll leave a drone with each of the groups and program it for the cabin. If it begins to snow or our fragile guests get too cold, they have a way to get home.”
That calmed me a bit and when the twelve people divided into the three drones, I raised a hand and smiled. “Have fun. Remember to take a lot of pictures so we can decide on the best artwork.”
“And be back by two o’clock. We’ll have lunch ready by then,” Harper called after them.
As we returned back inside, Celeste sat on one of the couches with her feet up and her hands on her belly. “I’m pretty sure that my group will win this round. Belle has to be good for something.”
“Just remember that the three of us have to be impartial,” Harper pointed out before checking the clock. “We have three hours so would you mind if I go and meditate in my room?”
“Not at all.” Celeste smiled.
I spent the time chopping more firewood, fixing a door handle that was loose, and taking a private moment to myself in one of the bathrooms where I played with fantasies about what could have happened if Belle and I had been roommates.
It was far from the first time that I’d fantasized about her. Knowing that I was destined to marry a Northlander woman, Belle had been a forbidden sexual fantasy for years.
At a quarter past two I went down to the kitchen and found Celeste standing by one of the windows close to the fireplace. One look outside filled me with worry.
“Have you heard anything?” I muttered and walked over to stand next to her.
“No, but I don’t like how dark it suddenly became. It was like it went from day to early evening in ten minutes. Look at the sky.”
“Hmm.” I drummed my hands on the window frame and leaned forward to see better. “Looks like a storm is coming.”
“A snowstorm?”
“Yes. The weather was supposed to hold steady, so I don’t understand why it shifted that fast.”
“Maybe you should call and warn your friends.” Celeste’s eyebrows were knitted together in worry. “We French have no connection over here, so I can’t contact my delegation.”
I was already pressing my wristband to connect with Thor. “He’s not picking up.”
I kept trying as big fat snowflakes started falling outside.
It took another thirty minutes of our being sick with worry before a drone showed up. It was the four Motlanders. By that time a strong wind combined with snowfall made for low visibility.
“Did the others return yet?” Lachlan asked as they came inside and brushed snow off their jackets. “We didn’t see the other drones outside.”
“They must be on their way.”
Again, I clicked my wristband and this time I found a message from Thor. “They’re on their way back. Thor says all the drones are returning so they’ll be here shortly.”
The French were the next to return in my drone right before Thor’s drone landed and my sister and the others came out.
Despite the wind that was now howling, we could hear voices shouting as they all came running to the door.
A gush of wind and snow made the flames in the fireplace crackle when the door was flung open.
“Hurry inside so we can close the door.” I directed and held on to the door so the wind wouldn’t slam it against the wall again.
They were all shouting at each other making it hard for the Motlanders, Celeste, and me to understand what the problem was. Indiana was the last to come through the door, pushing Simon in front of him.
My gaze flew to the drones, which were hardly visible despite being close to the cabin. “Where’s Belle?” My blood instantly felt as cold as the snow coming down in buckets. Looking outside I searched for her before Thor pulled me in and slammed the door shut.