A Second Chance With The Chancellor

[John Murphy]

Unsure of what the reply might be, if he'd had to guess he'd have gone for expecting a somewhat confident response, whether Bellamy would have meant it or not. At one point, Murphy may have guessed a more aggressive reply to an apparent questioning of the other's leadership, back in earlier days. If that was unlikely now, perhaps just a shrug and affirmation, followed by a subject change. What he got was an honest answer. Or so it seemed to him, with any potential pretense falling away at the word. 

It coaxed Murphy's gaze once more, if only to settle on Bellamy cup for the moment, until the following question drew it up to rest on the man himself. After everything he'd done, as he'd put it, would Murphy think he was up to the job? Should he? Had he been asked the same thing several months before he'd have no doubt scoffed, after his own brand of trust placed in the leader had been short-lived. With good reason. But that ever pertinent point in time couldn't fully dictate his views now, not with all they'd been through. Alone and together. 

As Bellamy went on it became clear there was more than a possible lack of self-confidence in reaction to his new position in the camp. Maybe confidence wasn't the problem at all, instead reluctance, a touch of bitterness? Perhaps the older man felt undeserving of the title. Each seemed to be present in Bellamy's voice behind his usual demeanor, but whether it was one or all or none of those things, he'd still said more than Murphy had expected. He held his gaze on Bellamy as the other looked his way with a confirmation of intent, despite everything else. A while longer Murphy studied him before his attention drifted back to his own cup, the silence drawing out a little more before he spoke up. "I don't see anyone else around here who should do it."  

Sure there were those who could do it but should they? Whether it was an echo of misplaced trust or the result of a newly rooted one, had Murphy bothered to vote at all it might have been for Bellamy. "So, convenient or whatever... " He trailed off to take another long drink from his cup, eyeing the remaining contents as he set it down. "You got them this far, right?"

Bellamy Blake