“A tribe is a group of people connected to one another, connected to a leader, and connected to an idea. For millions of years, human beings have been part of one tribe or another. A group needs only two things to be a tribe: a shared interest and a way to communicate.”
― Seth Godin, Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us
Cato stood before his chief awaiting his response to the report. It had taken Cato 16 days to return to the Shattered Lands, and another 3 days to reach the lands of the Vales Tribe. Now, inside the tribal home of the Vales, the chief sat on his throne of stone. The man was similar to his daughter, not in looks. Although, his hair was blonde like his daughter, his eyes were blue instead of green. While Sandra stood at seven and a half feet, her father Scarf was an impressive eight feet of muscle and sinew. There were two others sitting beside the Chief of the Vales Tribe. On Scarf’s right was his son, Strife the Head Warrior, and he looked much like his father. On the left was Scarf’s youngest daughter, Serene the Head Shaman, and the woman who had blessed Sandra’s gladius and shield. She looked so much like her sister; you would have mistaken them for twins. But while Sandra was seven and a half feet tall, Serene was only seven feet in height.
“My daughter was captured and taken to the Nether Realm by a greater she-devil. If what you say is true Cato, then Sandra is lost to us forever.”
“It might seem so chief…”
Cato began.
“…but I do not believe that to be the case.”
Scarf gave Cato a questioning look.
“Why would you say that? What makes you believe that my daughter might return to us?”
Cato took in a deep breath, what he was about to say may cause others to doubt his sanity.
“The she-devil did not act in the way we have seen or heard how beings of the Nether Realm would act. The greater she-devil had the power to destroy us all, but she did not use it. I don’t know why, but I believe that she did not want to harm anyone. That was my observation, of course, I could be wrong.”
“Then why did she take my sister to hell!?”
Strife demanded, his emotions for his sister’s circumstances were showing through. Cato shrugged saying.
“I wish I had the answers for you Head Warrior, but I do not know why.”
Strife was about to say something when his sister Serene cut in.
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
“Brother please, I know how you feel. I feel the same way, and so does Cato. Sandra is his War Leader, and he was unable to fight by her side. But the actions of this greater she-devil are quite peculiar.”
Serene went silent in thought, thinking of the report Cato had given them. The she-devil’s actions were on her mind, there was something she was missing.
“My daughter may or may not be lost.”
Scarf began.
“We have no way of knowing, after all, the Nether Realm has been beyond our reach ever since The Fall. For now, we cannot aid Sandra. However, the Romantians are another matter. If the greater she-devil was not lying, the Holy Church of Romanto has been dealing with demons for a very long time.”
Strife cursed.
“Those hypocritical bastards! They condemn us for following our Lady, and yet they are the ones in collusion with denizens from the Nether Realm. Now is the time to throw off the oppressive yoke of the Romantians.”
Strife’s words were greeted with great enthusiasm by everyone in the room. For 300 years, the Arcadian people have been at the beck and call of the Romantians. Before that, the Arcadians spent forty-seven hundred years fighting Romantian invasions. But without their patron and the magic, she provided to the shamans. The Romantians were able to ground down Arcadian resistances. When the Arcadian tribes were finally conquered, the Romantians were in the position to dictate their continued existence. Cato gritted his teeth at what his ancestors had to do to ensure the survival of the Arcadian people. If the Arcadians agreed to serve the Holy Church of Romanto, they would be allowed to live with supervision of course.
The Arcadians were leashed like dogs, and like dogs, they had to obey the commands of the church. They would fight, kill, and die against the enemies of the church all for the sake of Romanto.
“For too long we have been the attack dogs of the Romantians.”
Strife went up, building up the momentum.
“We have been leashed, chained, and caged. Forced to watch as the Romantians slowly try to erode our culture, traditions, and our very way of life. We are warriors!”
Strife slammed his clenched fist on the armrest of his stone chair.
“Our ancestors were warriors! And our Lady saw this in us. Under her guidance, she directed our war-like nature. And we create an empire that spans the multiverse. We should—”
“Brother!”
Immediately, Strife closed his mouth at hearing Serene call out his name. He looked at her and she gave him a patient sigh.
“I feel the same as my brother, but it is not wise to speak of such things here out in the open. Where unfriendly ears can pick up your words and report them back to their superiors.”
Serene gave Strife a look and he nodded in understanding. Part of the agreement their ancestors had made with the Romantians 300 years ago is to allow for church overseers into the Shattered Lands. But everyone knew what they truly are. Spies to monitor the activities of their conquered subjects. The Arcadians have learned over the centuries not to say or do anything within sight or hearing of the church overseers. Serene addressed her father.
“My Chief, the spirits are restless. They whisper of change, this greater she-devil I feel will shift the balance of power. If this is good or bad for the Arcadian people.”
Serene shook her head.
“I cannot say.”
Scarf stared at his daughter for a moment and then nodded.
“For now, we will be patient and wait for the right moment.”
Scarf knew what he had to do, for too long the tribes of the Arcadian people had waited. Waited for the right moment to take back their freedom and their homes. They have not been idle under Romantian rule, they have learned about their enemy. Their strengths and weaknesses are no longer mysteries, but the Arcadians are outnumbered. However, if their plans are successful. Numbers will not matter. Scarf must be careful, very careful.