Several years later:

Dar'shal looked at his father, the huntmaster, impatiently. "We can't be late for this, father. We have to leave now if we're going to make it to the border village by nightfall!"

Despite his son's words, Rak'shal, the hunt master of the wolgen speaker tribe, didn't seem very rushed. "Oh, we'll make it, and with time to spare, assuming your beast can keep up with Taak here!" The older hunter patted the side of his wolgen, who looked over at the older male and sniffed before returning to his pre-walk snack.

Dar'shal wasn't too amused at his father's nonchalant attitude. "I think you forget, father. I'm the one who taught you how to train wolgen to be ridden. It was me you sent away to learn from S'haar's group all those years ago!"

Rak'shal didn't seem too impressed. "Yes, you taught me, and I refined it. Don't go thinking your time with the valley people taught you everything there is to know! Experience still matters, and I've been raising wolgen since before you were born! Now if you're done lecturing me, I'm packed and ready to go!"

As his father hopped up into his saddle, based on the one Jack had used back in the war all those years ago, Dar'shal sighed and mounted his own wolgen, Rass. Not all that long ago, the two argu'n in charge of their tribe's wolgen breeding would have been far too important to travel without significant escorts, but between their neighbors' newfound stability under the rule of S'haar and the fact that as intimidating as Jack was on the back of his wolgen, two argu'n riding on the back of actually full-sized wolgen was considerably more so. Also, it was a lot faster. A journey to the capital city of Jack'haar would have taken weeks, if not months, back then. Now, it was just a few days' ride on the back of a wolgen.

Still, there was the question of if they'd make it on time for the ceremony. Even as important allies as the wolgen speakers were considered, Dar'shal knew they wouldn't wait on their behalf. Still, with his father now moving, he knew it was best to let go of any hint of debate.

-

Chal'ac groaned. "Do I have to go too? Lon'thul will be there, and I don't want to see his smug face again!"

To'brel chuckled as he inspected the "fancy" clothing he wore whenever he was acting in his role of Village Lord. "As the master hunter of our village, your attendance isn't necessary, but I'd like the company. You don't have to pretend that you like him. All I ask is that you refrain from assaulting him. If you manage that, I'll let you try that one thing you've been pestering me about!"

Chal'ac's eyes lit up. "You mean..."

To'brel nodded. "Yup."

"With the..."

"Yes."

"Can I even use the..."

Tobrel laughed."Yes, to all of it! You just have to play nice for one evening! Is that too much to ask?"

Chal'ac didn't seem convinced yet. "But what if he propositions me again, like last time?

To'brel shook his head. "You know he only does that because he knows you'll give him the reaction he wants, right?"

The huntress didn't seem swayed, and To'brel sighed. "Alright. If he propositions you, you may slap him. Once. With an open hand. No claws!"

Chal'ac nodded. "Alright. When he propositions me, I'll try to keep my temper in check that much. Besides, it'll be good to see Em'brel and Sare'en again. Out of everyone in the camp, I always like them the best."

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To'brel just sighed. "You just liked them because of how scared of you they were!"

Chal'ac laughed a little. "Yeah, they were almost as scared of me as you were!"

To'brel frowned in mock seriousness as he grabbed his partner into a hug meant more to pin her arms at her side than show affection. "You know, I don't find you very scary now..."

The huntress grinned up impishly. "Oh, ho! Look at who is all brave now that he's finally got a solid six inches of height on me!

The younger male rolled his eyes and gave her a peck on the top of her head before letting his partner free. "My height isn't what changed. You did. You mellowed out once you trapped me in this relationship with you. Also, I'm seven inches taller!"

Of course, those words only poked the wolgen in his partner, and Chal'ac pounced, pinning her favorite chewing toy to his mattress, her grin turning just a little wicked. "I'm going to have to see about reinstilling a little of that fear when I get to try out that new thing..."

To'brel grinned back. "You're welcome to try!"

-

Fea'en grumbled as she fiddled with her sash until her companion helped straighten it over her shoulders properly. Usually, it would have been Sare'en helping her, but in the girl's new position of "Queen's Attendant," she had a different set of responsibilities. Instead, her previous student and now fellow woodworking master, Jan'kul, was helping out as she complained. "You know, back in my day, craft masters didn't need anything so gaudy as this!"

Jan'kul snorted in amusement. "Back in your day, we didn't need to worry what village you were craft master of! Besides, it's not that gaudy. It's a simple cloth sash with one symbol representing your village and a second representing your profession. It's nothing like the finery half the visiting village Lords wear!"

The older woodworker was not amused. "We may have the same title, but you've still got a lot to learn before you're my equal! You better watch your tone, or I'll have you spending a day making planks just to remind you of the basics!"

However, Jan'kul did not seem appropriately intimidated. "I'll have you know I spend a day making planks with the new initiates every spring! It's good to keep up the basics, as you said, and it lets me provide examples of what to do and what not to do at the same time."

The younger woodworker's grin turned just a little more troubling. "Besides, I know you're only this grumpy because now that you've got the irrigation system up and running to get water through the village. You don't know what project you will be working on next! Gods forbid you make a table or a cart for someone. You've always got to be trying something new and exciting. Lady Em'brel has spoiled you!" His wink at the end took the sting out of his words, but Fea'en knew he wasn't too far off. It always seemed like they had new and exciting things to do, but she didn't know if Em'brel would have the time to develop as many new projects with her new position.

Of course, if that was how things were going to be, maybe Fea'en would just have to step up and come up with some ideas of her own. She did have an idea for a new craft to use on water that would be more efficient and bear more weight than the rafts they'd used until now.

Still, Jan'kul was being just a little too familiar and needed to be put in his place...just a little. "May all your students make your life as easy as you've always made mine!"

Jan'kul smiled as he answered. "Why, thank you! You know, I always used to think you were so scary back when I was an apprentice. It's nice to see you've got another side!"

Either he was messing with her, or he was too stupid to realize that had been a curse, not a compliment. Either way, the older woodworker sighed in defeat. "We'd better get going. I hear Dar'shal arrived just yesterday. It'll be good to see the young pup again!"

Jan'kul sighed. "I know staying back here was the right thing for my family, but sometimes I wish I would've gone with you all on that back then!"

Fea'en looked at him like he was a particularly foolish apprentice. A look Jan'kul hadn't seen in some time. "It's not like it was fun and games out there. Many people died, and your partner and kid might have been left without you. Besides, who would have talked Lady Ta'miel into bringing all those weapons and armor if you weren't back here doing your part? I'm not saying it didn't have its moments, but everyone who went would have been happier with a more peaceful solution!"

The younger woodworker held up his hands in surrender. "I didn't mean to imply it was fun or exciting! I'm just saying those who went have a much tighter bond with each other and even the hill people. Take this Dar'shal, for example. I only know him from the times he's visited as the spokesperson for his people. He's not about to go out drinking with me during one of his visits!"

Fea'en laughed at the image. "Well, you're right, but that's mostly because the kid isn't much for drinking anyway. Whatever you may think of me, he's far too serious and stoic for my taste!"

Jan'kul's face clearly expressed his disbelief that anyone could be too serious for Lady Fea'en, but instead of debating the subject, he frowned at his old master's sash, which she'd been fiddling with as they spoke. "Well, either way, we need to get going. Now I'll fix your sash again, but you have to stop messing with it for at least five minutes!"