As father and the chief neared, many things raced through my mind. Things such as fleeing, tossing aside my pride and letting everything go and just laying low for a while. I wanted to do both things so badly that I had even unknowingly taken a small step back opening my stance up ever so slightly. I however did not completely follow through with either of those thoughts because my pride could not be overcome so easily.

I was taught since very young to be prideful and to never back down from a fight, that my pride is a banner that I should show everywhere I went. So here I was, possibly about to go head to head with the very man who had taught me everything about being a man. You might think that would scare me, but instead of scaring me, the thought exhilarated me, and pushed me to be rasher and stand out even more so that I can show my father his teachings in action right before his eyes. Alton and the chief both stopped some ten feet before me. I released a breath I did not know I was even holding in, and relaxed loosening some of the tension built up in my shoulders. I noticed that my stance had opened, so I corrected myself preparing for the final showdown. Pleased with my stance and newfound calmness I gave them both the fiercest smile I could muster. The chief flinched slightly, so slight in fact that I am sure we are the only two who noticed it at all. Alton on the other hand gave a pleased smirk and folded his arms. “Where are your boys?” I asked still smiling fiercely. Alton grunted while the chief’s face grew red in his apparent anger. “Who do you think you are to demand for my son to be here?” the chief exclaimed spittle spewing with his words. Well it seems that the chief is pissed, there is no avoiding confrontation at this point and my chance to back down had already passed so all I could do was go forward and hope for the best.

“Well chief, your son Kubilai along with Alton’s son Bataar and Muunokhoi’s son Khenbish attacked my animal pens tonight, killing my horse and several goats and sheep.” I paused to let the words resonate with the crowd once more thinking that the crowd needed to stay on my side if I was going to get out of this situation with my head still attached to my shoulders. “Now you and I both know chief, that this is a serious crime and I demand payment for my lost property.” Demanding for payment from the chief and his son so early on in the conversation might not have been the wisest move since all it seemed to do was anger him even more and turn his face an even darker shade of red. Well nothing I can do about it now what is said is said, and I just had to move on. Before the chief could speak, or rather yell, at me again for my impudence or whatnot, Alton decided to interject and put his thoughts out there. “Yes, the attacking of a fellow tribesmen’s stock is a serious crime and I assume you bring some form of proof with this severe accusation.” Alton spoke in a calm and calculated manner a polar opposite of the chief, Alton would always be my toughest opponent whereas the chief and others in the tribe would, in their anger just use violence to get their point across. Alton would be far calmer and logical in his actions, and that would always make him dangerous. ‘The calm ones are always tough opponents since you never know what they are thinking behind their masks’ He told me in one of our training sessions. So, to match Alton I too had to be calm and collected regardless of how the chief acted and how scared I was. “Of course, I have proof or else I wouldn’t be here,” I said crossing my arms in exaggerated exasperation. “There is my dead livestock for starters and then the attacker I caught.” I pointed to Khenbish or at least where he was supposed to be. He was not where I had left him staked into the ground. He had removed the stake and was trying to sneak away by crawling back behind me and away from the four of us including his father who was now standing to the side and behind the chief. It was clear which side of the battle lines he had chosen, he was probably hoping to avoid paying me for damages.

I grabbed Khenbish by his hair once more and threw him between mine and the chief’s side. I then removed my sword from its scabbard once again, resting the blade on Khenbish’s neck causing him to flinch back attempting to avoid the touch of the cold metal which had already injured him once earlier in the night. I would make sure they all heard his words once more. “Now tell the chief and Great Warrior Alton what you had told me before,” I said pressing the sword even more to Khenbish’s neck now on the verge of drawing blood. “I swear before the Great Being and everyone here that if you change your statement you will lose your head here and now and be unable to pass on into the ethereal plains.” Khenbish shuddered at my words and Muunokhoi threatened to lunge forward but was held back by the chief who held up his hand to stop him. It was the belief of our people that when you die in honor which meant if you died in battle, in child birth, of old age or just really died a clean death in general without dishonoring your house and tribe you would pass on into the ethereal plains which is where the Great Being and creator of our people resided. There is of course an exception and that was to lose your head as a criminal or lose your head basically in any other way than in battle fighting for your tribe or people. Since your head is the most precious part of your body, if you lose it that is the greatest dishonor and you cannot pass on into the ethereal plains. Now if you were to lose your head in battle then an Elder would have to hold special funeral rights just for you which includes a sacrifice of at least one horse and a pair of a pure goat and sheep.

So, if I took Khenbish’s head right now he would be dammed to wander the earth forever and never be able to pass on into the ethereal plain, this would be a dishonor not just on Khenbish, but also his entire family. After a minute or two Khenbish had still not spoken so I nudged my sword into his neck even more now drawing some blood and a whimper from Khenbish. “Speak or it comes off.” Khenbish shuddered looking up at the chief, Alton and his father for salvation, salvation that would not be coming from them. Even if they wanted to help Khenbish, it was impossible since their hands were tied down by tradition, especially the chief’s. If the chief bucked away from tradition he would risk him, and his entire line being eradicated by an angry mob. Khenbish seeing that no help would be offered to him by his father, Alton, or even the chief, lowered his head in resignation. I smirked behind him, things were not going perfectly for me since I have now made an enemy out of the chief but at least I was making ground and still had my life, both very important things in this situation. “I-it w-was us, w-we did it.” I could not help but to cringe at Khenbish’s words since he stuttered so badly, and you could literally hear the fear in his voice.

No matter how much I wanted to pity the boy I could not, since he did get himself in this mess by attacking my house, and I also needed him and his confession to prove my point to everyone here including the onlookers. “What do you mean ‘it was us’ what was who?” the chief prodded bending at the waist to lean in closer to Khenbish. If he was trying to scare the boy I would have to say that my sword to his neck probably outranked the chief in the level of scariness here. Hell, Khenbish could not even see the chief right now since his face was towards the ground avoiding eye contact with any and everyone here. I cannot blame the boy for his cowardice though, since his entire world has been turned upside down after he attacked my house it would be no surprise if he never mentally recovered from this event.

Khenbish did not respond to the chief immediately and I do not know if it was because his mind had already broken or if he was trying to phrase his words in a way as to either get the chief on his side or just avoid angering the chief like I had done just moments earlier. Though, I do not think with everything going on around him that he would be putting that much thought into his actions. I really cannot blame him though seeing how having your back slashed with a sword, then a stake driven through your hand, followed by an interrogation from the chief himself could really traumatize just about anyone; especially some boy who had not even seen fifteen winters.

I grew tired of waiting, so I ever so slightly flicked the edge of my sword’s blade so that it would cause a small cut on Khenbish’s neck and draw even more blood and pain. The small cuts are the ones that always hurt the worst and the flinch I got from Khenbish after I made my cut proved that point. Seconds after cutting his neck again, Khenibish spoke up once more and once again there was fear in his words. “Y-yes sir it w-was me Baatar and K-Kubilai, w-we attacked Aridan t-t-tonight.” The chief’s eyes lost all color at Khebish’s words it would seem the chief did not want to believe that his son was involved and now with Khenbish saying right here before him, and everyone once again that Kubilai was in fact involved it would now be a firm belief in the entire tribe that Kubilai had been in on the attack.

Even if later on it was found that he was innocent, after tonight it would not matter, his reputation was ruined and he would forever be labeled as a butcher for tonight’s attack. Alton however, just grunted at Khenbish’s words almost as if he did not care either way, and knowing him, he probably did not care. Alton turned to the crowd and addressed them in a loud, commanding voice, “Bring the accused forward now, if they are not here then someone go find them.” Alton did not even entertain the thought that his orders would not be obeyed. Him being a Great Warrior, his words held much weight among our people not just in the Dulfar tribe, in all the tribes a great warrior was respected no matter where he comes from, so it is the obvious conclusion that his orders were followed without much hesitation.

The chief got control over himself and straightened back up. He did not have complete control over his emotions however since I saw him fidgeting around with his hands and looking around nervously, I assume he was looking around for his son being brought forward. Several long minutes began to pass by as we waited for Kubilai and Bataar to show up, minutes I spent agonizing over my words and actions up to this point. I never once let my guard down though, even if I had the support of what seemed like most of the tribe, if not the entire tribe, even tradition was on my side, but I could not put it past the chief to do something stupid in his anger. Even if the chief looked nervous now, I knew that deep down he was feeling similar, if not the same amount of anger I was feeling towards what happened to me tonight. There was always that chance that he just snapped and went after me throwing tradition and common sense aside and taking me down with him. My worries turned out to be for not when Bataar and Kubilai were brought forward by a group of warriors. Everything had worked out fine to this point and I had not caused to many problems for myself, but now this would be the true test, I had to act tough and at least threaten to kill the chief’s son. Thinking about threatening the chief’s son, in front of the chief, I realized just how stupid it seemed. But hell, I had made it to this point and by now I just needed to see how far I could take it.

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Bataar and Kubilai both walked up and stood by their fathers, but they both received very different reactions. The chief smiled warmly and nodded to his son, it seems that the chief favors Kubilai. Alton on the other hand looked down at Bataar in disdain causing the boy to shy away from him and take a step closer to Kubilai and the chief. If one thing was for certain Alton would not allow this kind of event to happen again at least if he had any say in the matter. “now that they are both here I can give out my punishment and get what is owed to me by the offenders.” I said stepping forward no longer caring what Khenbish did since he had served his purpose. “hold on a second,” the chief said holding up his hands in protest taking a step forward of his own to match mine. “we are not actually certain if they have done the crime you have accused them of, it is now yours and Khenbish’s word against theirs, and it does not seem right for you to execute them based on words alone.” Damn he really was going to take it this rout wasn’t he. I was racking my brain on how to go forward even though I should still have most of the tribe on my side the chief did pose a good point and I could not use outright violence in this situation.

As I was beginning to lose hope, I received help from a very unlikely place. “Cut it out Karn, you know as well as I and everyone out here right now that they did it, so stop these mind games.” Alton said unfolding his arms for the first time since he started standing there in front of me. I was truly shocked that Alton was helping me out, and apparently so was the chief. “we do not need to drag out these proceedings any longer, some of us need to get a move on soon so that we can get settled before nature prevents that from happening.” I had almost forgotten that we had to move on in the morning, and also that we had a very small window to do so before the rains started to come in from the north, making it nearly impossible to make a long journey. This rainy season in the spring is precisely why all the tribes fight when we do, so that we can get settled before the rains come in and turn the land to a muddy soup. “very well,” the chief sighed in resignation, he and everyone here knew who had attacked my animals even if it was only my word against theirs, but now after Alton’s words, everyone felt a sense of urgency to get this over with so that they can get moving early in the morning; this had already taken enough of their time. This was an unforeseen development, but I would not let it slip by I had to use the momentum Alton had given me. “their lives or my choice of livestock to replace my damaged property,” I deadpanned face void of any emotion that might give away my inner turmoil. I really wanted the chief’s prized white mare, no matter the cost in our future relations, so I truly hoped he loved his son more than the horse and gave the horse up to me. I mean what could I really do with a head, not much actually, especially since it was a kid’s head and not some famed warrior’s. Luckily, the rumors that he truly did love his son Kubilai were true, and without much hesitation he took me up on my offer. “Fine, take the animals and be gone with you, but I warn you, this is not over, and you will regret doing this tonight.” The chief’s threat was given in a low voice so that the only people who could hear it were those of us here in the circle and not any of the onlookers. He still had to keep up appearances and had to follow tradition in the eyes of the tribe. “Very merciful chief I thank you for helping me receive my justice and I will be by to pick up my new livestock shortly after I wrap things up here, so I can be ready to leave at first light.” I made sure to gush over the chief’s mercy so that the others around would hear and be in agreement with me. I would use the crowd to protect myself as best I can.

The crowd murmured about the merciful chief and how magnanimous he was as a person. Well they can’t help but be blinded by these pretty words I thought. The chief did not wait around long and after he took my offer he and his son left heading to the chief’s yurt leaving myself, Alton, Bataar and Muunokhoi to remain encircled by the crowd that by this point reached close to three thousand bodies. I looked over to Alton, who was standing completely still and intensely staring me down, as if searching for something that was hidden on my person. “will you do it?” he asked in an emotionless voice that left me even more confused as to what he was referring to. “Do what?” I asked confused. Alton’s mask broke as he started to laugh loudly, “Kill him of course, will you kill your own brother?” the entire village went quiet and all you could hear was Alton’s laughter, which got louder as the rest of us went deathly quiet. He laughed for a solid minute and I realized he was not going to stop anytime soon, so I coughed into my hand to grab his attention. He eyed me but was still chuckling to himself like a man who had gone mad. “Um… yeah of course I’d kill him, even if he is my brother I demand payment for what he has done tonight.” I said confused as Alton continued to laugh. I mean he isn’t going to have me kill him it’s his own son after all. I could not be more wrong. Alton stopped laughing almost immediately after I said that I would kill Bataar. “Very well then, take his life as your payment, he lost all value to me as soon as he attacked his own brother, much less a fellow tribesman.” Alton’s words were followed by a very high pitch shriek from Bataar, “No father please don’t let this happen to me, I beg you, I will repent and never do it again please.” Bataar latched on to Alton’s arm begging with tears welling up in the corners of his eyes.

The response Alton gave was not a loving or even familial one it was just pure violence something that Alton was known all too well for. He backhanded Bataar so hard that Bataar fell to the ground flat on his ass and in a daze, those tears that were welling up before were now freely falling down his now reddened cheeks. I, and maybe a few of his wives, are the only ones that have not been shown his violence on a regular basis, and I am thankful for that.

The interaction between Bataar and Alton left me speechless, and my mouth was agape as I watched Bataar hit the ground crying, he knew all hope was lost when Alton struck him. Alton turned to leave and headed home, when he stopped and looked at me over his shoulder. “I don’t think it wise for you to follow us tomorrow, and I certainly do not advise you to stay here, so I suggest you find your own way from here on out.” After that he continued walking and was soon lost in the crowd that was parting to let him through. I gulped down the saliva that was building up in my mouth and looked down at Bataar who was now full on weeping in despair. As I looked at my brother in his pitiful state, coldness filled my body like a wash of cold air that hits you when you step outside on a winter morning. I took a harder grip on my sword and stepped towards my brother. Bataar noticed my advance and began to scoot backwards with his hands and feet while he was still sitting on his ass. I still felt nothing as I looked at this pitiful sight even though it was my brother I was simply advancing on with the sole purpose to kill.

I soon was upon him since he could not move faster than me while on his ass. I stood over him as he stopped. Looking up at me with terror written on his face. “D-Don’t please” he sobbed. I looked at him curiously the scene from my animal pens playing over and over again in the back of my mind. Would he show me mercy if he were in my position or would he show me the same mercy he showed my innocent animals, I wondered and came to the conclusion that no he wouldn’t show me any form of mercy he was always filled with jealousy around me and would strike me down in a heartbeat. I brought my sword up above my head and without any warning a swift motion brought it down onto my brother’s neck removing his head from the rest of his body, in a spray of hot blood that covered my own body. His head rolled away from his body with a look of mute horror on his face. I am sure that if he could have he would have shrieked loud enough to shatter the heavens. I walked over to the head reaching down and picking it up with a bloodied hand. I held my brothers head up over my head and looked to the crowd of my fellow tribesmen. “THIS IS JUSTICE,” I bellowed looking as many in the eyes as I could. I then dropped my brothers head and walked away to my yurt, I still had to prepare to leave. As I walked towards the crowd it parted for me the same as it did Alton and the chief.

I had just killed my first person and that person happened to be my brother and I felt nothing for doing it, I felt the same as if I had just killed an animal. Though I did note that I hated the taste of blood and was busy spitting my brothers blood out of my mouth the whole way to my home. I had a lot to do before I left and not a lot of time to do it.