The Dechen tribe took Tenzin's body back to the camp outside the city. All the Dechen tribe grey skins were heartbroken of Tenzin's death. He had been a beloved leader of the tribe. He had brought the Dechen tribe into prosperity and helped the tribe survive when other tribes had failed. He led from the front and made sure everyone was included.

Pema and Amala still hadn't shared a single tear. They had to show strength for the rest of the tribesmen that had accompanied them.

They held a funeral ceremony for Tenzin right then and there. They climbed a mountain. They brought with them dried pieces of wood and on top of the mountain where they piled them up. They placed Tenzin's body on top of it and it was lit aflame. Many other tribal leaders took part in the ceremony since Tenzin was a respected leader among the tribal leaders.

After the tribal leaders left only the Dechen tribesmen, Tenzin's siblings and Rufus and his friends stayed behind to look at the pile of cinders. The Dechen tribesmen although being renowned warriors and hunters burst into tears.

"Stop this crying. We can not cry now," Yelled Amala.

"Sister. Let them cry," Pema said calmly.

"NO! Tenzin lost. Our brother lost. Tenzin would not want us to wale for his corpse. We have to act now for the best interest of our tribe," Amala yelled to everyone.

"We have been summoned again to the great tribal hall. Tride has called everyone to attend. Rufus and the three of you must come also. Tenzin viewed you as official members of our tribe. We have to show Tride strength now. That we are not weak. Does anyone object?" Amala explained and looked around.

None of the Dechen tribesmen opposed. They viewed Amala now as their leader.

"What do you think Tride wants to talk about?" Doreen asked.

"I think you know. He wants to make sure every tribe falls in line and he is proclaimed as the new Raja," Amala explained.

"Will you fall in line?" Edward asked.

"I don't know yet. I do know I do have to honor the trial of combat or the other tribes will all turn on the Dechen tribe. But if Tride wants to punish the Dechen tribe to use us as an example I will not let the Dechen tribe go down without a fight," Amala said and clenched her fist.

They started themselves to descend the mountain. Amala walked ahead of all of them. Rufus notice that Amala was trembling. Rufus realized what was happening but let Amala be.

Amala was trying her hardest to show a strong face but couldn't help herself. She also was crying for the loss of Tenzin. She loved and missed her brother.

~ ~

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

The next day all of the tribal leaders met at the great tribal hall. The three elders again waited at the center of the hall.

The hall was silent. Many people were still disappointed that Tenzin lost, but most importantly that Tenzin had passed away. Many people showed their respects and condolences to Amala. None of them showed anything to Pema.

Tride walked in. He had many bruises and broken bones. Most of the other grey skins gave way for him liked they feared him.

Tride again refused to talk and show respect to the elders. He waited in the center that all the tribal leaders would be seated. He was anxious to get the meeting started.

Rufus and his friends again took a back seat. They waited that all the tribal leaders had sat down. When everyone was in the hall Tride started his speech.

"My fellow grey skins. As I said last time it is time to reclaim our golden age. We will march south. We will show to those humans that we are the true rulers of this world," Tride spoke.

All the supporters of Tride's burst into cheers.

"We will show no mercy to any human. This world is not for them, and they have occupied our lands for too long. They do not deserve to be alive," Tride yelled.

More and more tribal leaders joined in on the cheers. Amala looked worried. Tride started to get more and more supporters.

"Every single human is our enemy. We will purge them from our lands and we will start with those humans that accompanied the Dechen tribe," Tride said and pointed at Rufus.

Amala stood up.

"Rufus is an official member of our tribe. He is not to be killed," Amala spoke out.

"He is a human. Doesn't matter if he is your tribe member," Tride said angrily back at her.

Tride then ordered his Songtsen tribe grey skin warriors to go and kill the humans. They all prepared to fight. The grey skin warriors marched up with swords in their hands. The Dechen tribal warriors also took out their weapons in anticipation of a fight. Before any fight though began Amala was able to stop them.

"What you are doing is against our customs. It is an act of tyranny," Amala yelled out.

"I said it once killing a member of the tribe is in my authority to do," Tride said and brushed Amala off.

"Maybe killing a tribal member but ordering the killing of a tribal leader is an act of tyranny even from a Raja," Amala said.

The entire hall went quiet. Amala just proclaimed that Rufus was the tribal leader of the Dechen tribe. The warriors of the Songtsen tribe stopped approaching them.

"That is stupid. A human cannot be a tribal leader," Tride said back.

"No law says that. Before the fight, Tenzin said that Rufus is the leader of our tribe. I stand as a witness to it as Tenzin's sister. He asked Rufus to take care of the tribe. I ask my tribesmen. Do you accept Rufus as your leader?" Amala yelled.

All the Dechen tribesmen in the hall accepted Rufus as the new leader. The entire hall became confused, and whispers were heard. People yelled for and against it. All the grey skins started to argue. It became a real mess in the hall.

The three grey skin elders started to laugh.

"It seems that we again are in an impasse," laughed one of the elders.

"True, true," laughed the second elder.

"It also seems that a trial of combat is on order again, hahaha," laughed the third elder.

"Yes, and Tride also initiated a fight with him. Only a Raja can instigate a trial of combat and no one can challenge the Raja," an elder laughed.

Tride looked at the old and snake-like elder with disgust and hatred. Tride again created a metal armor around his arm and then slammed one of the elders on the floor killing him instantly. The rest of the two elders screamed in fear and looked in fear at Tride. One even wet himself.

"This is ridiculous. I will not allow a human to be the Raja. These old customs are stupid and outdated. I will kill that human and give him a proper send-off. He will die in a trial of combat, but just to make sure. He is in no way eligible to be the Raja," Tride yelled and looked at everyone to make himself clear.

The hall was quiet. Tride had just killed one of the elders. Everyone was afraid to oppose him.

"We will meet in a week when my wounds have healed. I will then rip apart that human," Tride said and proceeded to walk out of the tribal hall.