The Passage: Endless Trail II

They arrived in Soue at the 9th hour. It was a small village -- houses made of woods and bamboo sticks strung together. They spoke a language that Shanti could not understand, but Niesh did.

When they arrived, they met a young man who was just sprouting his beards; he directed them to their leader.

Their leader was a well built and handsome man in his early forties. He was dressed in an overall tunic made of cotton, a belt tied at his waist where his sword hung and a boot to his feet. He had the look of a wise, gentle but striking man.

The place he called his Chambers was the biggest seen so far. The surroundings were hidden by giant trees. One look an you could tell that these people were not warriors but farmers and peasants.

The women were dressed in a simple light animal skin gown that covered them bit inch over their knees, their waist tied by a small piece of clothing. The male children were dressed in tunics that reached their knees. Those wide eyes staring at them with curiosity.

Their leader sat on a chair made of bamboo, both hands by the side. He looked from Niesh to Shanti whose eyes were keen on him since the moment they entered.

His voice was thick when he spoke. "To where are you headed?"

His question was directed at Shanti but she did not understand. So, Niesh replied him in the language. "Alvadar"

The man furrowed his brows. The people around gasped and looked frightened.

"Alvadar? Such dangerous grounds. And why is your destination to Alvadar?"

"We seek for someone, a friend to-be in the nearest future. Legend have it say she is a seer, born of the prophecy of Meresh".

Again, the people around mumbled among themselves.

The leader looked at Niesh thoughtfully, pulling at his jaw. He narrowed his eyes. "What is your name?"

"Niesh."

"Niesh". The man repeated. He looked at the woman he came with. "And her name?"

Niesh looked at Shanti before replying. "She is Shanti by name"

"What is your clan?"

The man was full of questions. Is this what their leaders do? "We are Niesh and Shanti of the Huie clan born of Meresh, the goddess of truth!"

The people gasped. Their side talks becoming louder.

The man in the chair stood up. He was tall compared to how he sat on the chair. He walked towards them and stood in front of Niesh. He glanced at Shanti. She was tall compared to the women around him. She was 6ft 1, a height only a man would claim but she claimed it excellently. Her height as part of her features graced her vibrantly.

She was wearing a black thick leather leggings, black boots, hair tied up in a ponytail with a black piece of clothing. She wore a gorget that covered her from the neck to below her breasts. She had a silver gauntlet that braced only her wrists, and silver knee pads -- her hands on the cap of her sword. She definitely didn't look like a girl from this world.

"I thought the entire Huie clan was wiped out?" The leader asked studying them simultaneously. Before Niesh could reply, he walked towards Shanti. "She doesn't speak?"

Niesh turned and his eyes met Shanti who was already on her guard. His eyes told her to stop and she did, looking up at the leader. "She doesn't understand. She speaks only Huien and a foreign language".

The leader stared at her for some seconds then turned to go back to his seat. He sat down and waited.

Niesh stood awkwardly, before breaking the silence. "We came to seek for leader's consent to rest our head for the night before proceeding tomorrow."

Shanti watched as Niesh and the leader conversed in a language unknown to her. She became uninterested, being left in the dark. She grimaced and looked at the man they called leader. He was an Hercules in a medieval era. He walked with Grace and command when he walked towards them. She shifted her foot to the front and earned her mark when he glanced at her. She saw Niesh's look and dropped her act.

When the man went back to his seat, she looked around her. On a bench, a woman sat with a baby in her hand who was sleeping quietly. She watched Shanti with a warm heart and eyes. She saw her smile sometimes. Her confidence slightly dominating the open Chambers. Apart from her, no one sat on the bench -- so, she concluded that this was the leader's woman.

"The question is still left unanswered. I thought the entire Huie clan was wiped out?"

Niesh smiled. "Your majesty_"

"I am not a majesty". He cut him off. "My name is Randesh. Please call me that"

Though the man was humble enough to grant him such entrance, Niesh thought he should still give him the respect nonetheless. "Sir Randesh," he looked at him for any reaction -- he gave none. "If I were to go to how the existence of our Huie clan still survived, We would sit for a banquet for three days for me to complete the history".

"Ha!" Randesh laughed hysterically. He pointed at Niesh and said to the people behind them, "He is a funny one! Find him a place to rest his head for the night... and nights to come. I need this man to dine with me tonight. I am ready to be taken to history!"