Il'dune wasn't sure why his chief was entertaining these outsiders' request for a meeting, but it wasn't his place to render judgment on the one who'd passed the trials of leadership. Instead, it was his place to judge the merits of the outsiders.

Admittedly, their arrival had been quite the spectacle. If the tribe's hunters hadn't already brought back word of the valley people passing through their land possessing a tamed wolgen, or the presence of a large metallic goddess, he might have had his warriors attack on sight. As it was, he supposed he should be happy they were coming to talk rather than fight, but talks with the valley people were well known to end in violence. Regardless, his warriors were still seeing to the quiet evacuation of most of his people to the mountain caves to mitigate any potential losses in the face of such an overwhelming threat.

Once they'd come close enough that the remainder of the valley people's delegation could be seen, Il'dune was even more surprised to see a member of the Wolgen Speaker tribe among them. In hindsight, that would explain the tamed wolgen the valley people possessed, though he wondered what they'd offered the Wolgen Speakers to get a tamed wolgen. Until now, they'd been adamant about never letting one out of their tribe, even if it was a runt like this one.

As they arrived at the meeting spot, a hooded frail looking argu'n climbed off the back of the wolgen as the dangerous looking argu'n female set up an odd folding stool for the hooded one to sit on. Il'dune almost grinned at the thought of a runt riding a runt, but he kept his face passive enough so no one could tell what he was thinking. Or at least he thought he did, but then the metallic woman looked at him and winked. But before he could try and puzzle out her meaning, the dangerous-looking argu'n female bowed before the chief as she spoke. "I am S'haar, the leader of our group. We are grateful you have granted us an audience this day. Though I'm afraid we bring dire news along with our offer of friendship."

The chief nodded in return before responding. "The valley people have a long history of being dire news, so I suppose you bringing more to share is to be expected in a way. However, I'm more curious about this offer of friendship you bring and what your friendship will cost my tribe."

The hooded argu'n tilted his head to the side as if trying to understand what was meant, but everyone else waited passively as S'haar answered. "We offer our friendship freely, though our enemies may extract their own price for such a relationship."

The chief snorted derisively. "Is that why you've come, to seek our protection? from what we know of your numbers and your... people," The chief nodded toward the large metallic female. "we have little in the way of protection to offer a group such as yours. Besides, we've little desire to be drawn into your war. So be on your way, and leave us be!"

If this "S'haar" realized she was wasting her time, she showed no recognition of that fact. "Though it may not seem like it right now, this is not just our war. It's yours as well. Lord A'ngles will not be content to let you remain in these hills for long. Once he'd finished consolidating his hold on the valley and all the villages therein, he will be coming for every tribe in these hills, and he won't settle for anything less than your servitude or extinction. We're simply offering you one opportunity to fight back in a way that offers you a slight chance at victory, and make no mistake, you'll only get one chance. If you wait any longer, any resistance you can offer will be symbolic at best."

The chief sat back and sighed. "The valley people have tried to wipe us out many times before. We find it best to simply retreat into the caves and hills and wait for them to withdraw. I see no reason they will pose more of a threat this time than in the past."

S'haar crossed her arms and shifted her weight. "Then the enemy you face now is different than any you've ever encountered. The villages below may have made brief alliances to send groups of guards into these hills for a summer, but those agreements were tenuous at best and fell apart at the slightest indication of complications or delays. Now one argu'n has conquered and united every village from the valley to the sea, and we won't be content there. Next, he'll set his eyes on the northlands; to do that, he'll need to control these mountains. He will flood the hills, but not with hundreds of warriors. He'll send thousands."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

The female warrior began pacing as if facing off with an invisible enemy. "What's more, they'll be supported by all the villages below. They will have enough supplies and warriors to push on fighting for years if need be, long enough that you'll be lucky if barely a handful of you survive, forced to live in caves hidden from sight for the rest of your lives. This is not an enemy you can afford to underestimate. We are your only chance to take the fight to them and win."

The chief didn't seem convinced. "Those are fine words, but the valley people often come with fine words. A year and a half ago, a remarkable warrior from the valley came with promises of food and iron enough to tempt away many of the young males of the village, but most of them never returned. So why should I believe your words any more than his?"

At this, a juvenile male stepped forward and bowed. "Great chief, I am To'brel, Lord of one of the villages down in the valley, though it is a hollow title bestowed on me by Lord A'ngles, the one who murdered my father who was Lord before me and his brother who was Lord before him. He also arranged for the warrior De'haar to come and steal your warriors away, only to betray them and hunt them down when they were no longer of use to himself. He then used the warrior De'haar to assist in besieging our settlement, the first of the villages he took by force, though not before De'haar was slain at the hands of our own Lady S'haar in one on one combat."

Now the chief looked somewhat impressed as he directed his attention to S'haar. "You slew that monster in one on one combat? If true, that is quite an accomplishment. Although, I can't help but notice a similarity in your family name. Were you related?"

S'haar's gaze narrowed, but otherwise, she showed no physical reaction as she spoke. "He gave life to me. That was the extent of our relationship besides the odd torment he inflicted on my mother or me before he abandoned us. I claim no connection with that monster other than that of his slayer."

The chief looked like he was about to say something else, but the wolgen speaker stepped forward first. "I am Dar'shal, son of Rak'shal. Your people know me and my kin. I have traveled with these people through the spring and early summer, working with them and learning from them. While I share your weariness of the valley people, this group possesses honor. They always give that which is promised plus that which honors the gods, though I do not think they know what that means. It is just their way."

For the first time, the chief looked thoughtful. He continued directing his gaze and words at Dar'shal while everyone else stayed silent. "If all their words are spoken in truth and honor, what can they hope to do against the armies of this A'ngles?"

Dar'shal looked thoughtful a moment before answering. "Not long ago, I would have wondered the same. But I've personally witnessed the power and magic these people possess. Lady S'haar does indeed rival the power of the warrior De'haar. In battle, I saw her lead barely a dozen warriors to cut off and entrap hundreds. I've also witnessed Lady Angela" At this, he indicated the sizeable metallic female, who nodded in recognition. "stop and subdue a full-grown wolgen through might alone. Though perhaps both of those pale in comparison to the abilities of Lord Jack." At that, he indicated the small injured male, who finally drew back his hood, revealing a malformed and sickly appearance. "He possesses the knowledge and understanding of war on a scale for which we have no comparison. He developed weapons that enabled their workers and elderly to stand against seasoned warriors and win. He gave their warriors armor that allowed them to fight in the cold while shrugging off the swords and spears of their enemies."

Il'dune found these claims ridiculous bordering on impossible. Coming from one of the valley people, he would have thrown the words out before the gods for judgment, but the wolgen speakers were known for their honesty, mainly because they didn't need to resort to dishonesty when they had a pack of wolgen to protect their tribe. Dar'shal, son of Rak'shal, stopped a moment in consideration before sharing a final thought. "I do not know if even all this will be enough to win against this A'ngles, but I believe they are correct in stating that they offer our best chance at any kind of victory."

Having said his piece, the wolgen speaker stepped back, leaving the chief staring at this Jack in contemplation. For his part, Jack merely gazed back as calmly as if they were discussing the weather. Finally, the chief stood. "You've given us much to think and speak about. Go back to your camp and await our answer. We will send you with food as honors the gods."

Il'dune was surprised at that last part. By offering the visitors more than they asked for, he was treating them as if they were a fellow tribe rather than people of the valley. It meant he was seriously considering all that which they'd said.