BOOK 4 CHAPTER 25
All eyes were on Dun as he made his announcement and the reactions among the crowd were a mix of anger and astonishment. It had been over a decade since the last Clangang, yet each and every one of them knew the importance and implications of calling for one.
Rev’s face had grown a deep shade of purple, and veins throbbed visibly from his anger. A few of his warriors stood with him, glaring at the Havo warriors that blocked their path. Rev cursed them, but seeing that they still refused to move, he turned towards Fari, who stood still watching the commotion with emotionless eyes.
“Do you intend to let him get away with this?” Rev asked her accusingly, his words followed by shouts of agreement from both Krawl and Jacta.
“Get away with what Rev?” She asked, her voice edged with sarcasm, “The only one that’s broken the laws of the Moot here is you!”
“You!” Rev replied, his voice shaking… He forced himself to breathe, recognizing that he couldn’t afford to antagonize her further. He put aside his frustration as he changed tactics, his voice taking on a pleading tone, “Please Fari, you must see that this is nothing but an insult to the ancestors… Not to mention a waste of all our times when more important things are going on. Allowing this farce to continue would be a mistake!”
“What Rev?” Dun laughed, “Scared of facing a proper fight for once?”
Rev scowled at him, but continued his pleading, “There is no reason for true members of the tribe to fight and risk their lives against each other, especially over outsiders. As much as Dun may be a failure of a Clan Chief, it would not be fair to drag members of his clan into danger over this. Therefore, the Clangang should be denied!”
Fari heard his words, and hiding her own opinion, looked over towards Dun expectantly. The young man didn’t let her down as he stepped forward again, flashing Rev another antagonistic smile.
“I won’t be my people fighting in the Clangang…” Dun said confidently, his hand clapping against Tirr’s shoulder, “His people will fight for their own place in the Tribe!”
The crowd erupted once again at his words. Most present could never have expected the Moot to have taken such a turn. Yet Dun seemed deadly serious as he looked back at Fari.
“This is ludicrous!” Rev spouted, he would have charged the man right there and then if it weren’t for the Havo that still stood in between them. “Our ancestors would cry if they heard what you were saying! Wasting our time and energy against flatlanders, for the flatlanders?”
Rev shook his head his voice rising to spread over the crowd as he pointed accusingly at Dun, “It was you yourself Dun that said the Tribe faces danger. Why waste energy beating them in Clangang when we could use that same time to fight the true danger?”
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“Because I know just how strong they are, and I believe the Tribe needs their strength!” Dun yelled in reply, “Furthermore, you act as if this is some never before seen affront to the ancestors Rev, but there is precedent!”
“Over a hundred years ago…” As Dun spoke his eyes wandered over the suddenly silent crowd. Before resting on Fari. “When Clan Gant was separated during a great blizzard, those lost were thought dead…. The rest of Clan Gant, too weak to stand on hits own, was absorbed into another Clan, and Clan Gant was officially struck from the records!”
“When the survivors, who had fought and eventually thrived on their own, came back. They petitioned to be allowed to rejoin the tribe as a new clan! In a Moot just like tonight they were denied, and yet they would not give up! They faced Clangang as a way to prove their strength and worth to the tribe… And they won!”
Dun nodded over towards Fari, who stood listening silently, “I’m sure Havo has the records if you doubt me.”
As the other clans looked over at them questioningly, Fari simply nodded, “It is true, the precedent exists.” Privately she let out a sigh, wondering if Dun had truly seen that things would go this way tonight. She had once thought he was a simple muscle brain, not unlike Kos who clung to him, little did she know his vision could see so far…
Having gotten the confirmation he was seeking, he now turned towards Rev who stood spluttering in anger, yet was unable to refute his hated rival’s words. “The Ancestors allowed it to happen Rev, yet you think you can deny it? Clangang is not a tradition you can just throw away!”
“Dun!” Rev finally shouted, having been pushed past his limits he tried to lunge through the Havo warriors, followed quickly by his clanmates. Yet before he even took a step, the bottom of Fari’s staff plunged brutally into his solar plexus. Rev’s face went white as he collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath
“That’s enough…” Fari’s voice was subtle but commanding, and the area instantly grew silent. She looked down at Rev, her eyes filled with disgust, “I’ve had enough of your disrespect for not only me, but the Moot as well. The Clangang shall be held!”
She turned to Dun now, a curious look in her eye as she glanced briefly at Tirr. “As the denying parties, Clans Havo, Jacta, and Krawl will present the opposing contestants. As the subject in question, the forces led by the god will be the challengers. It will start the day after tomorrow down at the mountains foot. That will be all! The Moot is Over!”
She gave one last glance at the triumphant Dun and the furious Rev before letting a few of her clanmates guide her away. The rest stayed behind watching Krawl and Jacta to make sure they dispersed.
As Waythe started back towards their own camp, Dun clapped Tirr on the back cheerfully, “Now you just need to win!”
Tirr looked at him seriously, “And if we don’t?”
“Don’t even joke about that!” Dun said seriously, “Not only will this have all been for nothing, but I’d also be the biggest laughingstock the Tribe’s ever seen.”
“We’ll win!” Iesa cut in confidently, followed by a nod from Lin…
“As the forces of God how could we shame him?” She said quietly. Doron and Maria kept to themselves and soon they arrived back at camp. Almost all of them went to bed immediately, leaving their plans for the morning as they ware of the last days of travel finally won over the excitement for the Moot.
It was only Tirr, sitting quietly as Maria snored next to him, who stayed awake, the words Rev had yelled still ringing in his ears. “Guard these mountains, and let no one pass…”