Chapter 110 - The Chief

Karyea's face took on a look of panic and she cursed under her breath.

"Is something wrong, my love?" The muscular man frowned.

"No!" she hissed. "I'm busy, Jall. I don't have time to speak.

The man who Karyea had identified as Jall looked to be in his late twenties with similar olive-colored skin, although that was where the resemblance ended. I'd seen tall people before, but this guy took the top spot easily. At what must have been around seven feet tall, and with a figure that reminded me of drawing and paintings of what people thought Hercules might look like, although his face was as average as could be and was partially ruined by a large scar that stretched from his forehead through his right eye and to the side of his lip. It looked like it had been caused by either a jagged blade or the claw of a beast, and I couldn't help but wince at the sight of it. He had no hair to speak off and the sun reflected off his bald head rather comically.

"Busy?" Jall asked as his eyes turned to me. "Busy with what?"

The man's eyes narrowed and he puffed his chest out as he glared down at me. What this guy really trying to do what I thought he was, because if he was trying to intimidate me, then oh boy was he going to be in for a surprise.

Karyea seemed to understand the look I was giving the man as she hurriedly grabbed Jall and dragged him off to a nearby corner. I then was witness to what must have been quite the verbal assault as Jall's shoulder slowly slumped further and further down until he looked like a beaten dog. When Karyea was done, Jall nodded and then dragged himself away, with one last glare in my direction as if it was my fault.

"Who was that buffoon?" Asara questioned as her hand reached for her weapon. "I don't like the way he was looking at you, you maj- I mean Nathan."

Karyea sighed. "I apologize for his actions. He is an admirer of mine, not that I share his feelings, but I have always felt pity for him. He tries so hard to win my affections even though he has plenty of his own admirers."

"I understand," I said. "You are rather pretty, but can we continue on our way? I really want to meet your father and then your uncle."

"Of course." Karyea nodded as she shot Asara a sideways look. 'There will be no need for that."

Asara lowered her hand from her weapon, but still seemed somewhat tense. She had said she would try to stay calm, and perhaps she was. I shouldn't expect an immediate change in just a few hours. She was surrounded by people and no doubt wherever she looked brought back painful memories.

"We won't be here long," I said. "We just need the information and then we'll be gone."

It took us a few more minutes until we finally reached a guarded section of camps. A few quick words from Karyea and we were let in. Soldiers in leather and fur armor walked around, and a few greeted Karyea, but she ignored them for the most part in favor of heading to the largest of the tents.

"Wait outside," Karyea said. "I will go in and speak to my father and call you in when ready."

Asara opened her mouth to protest but I held up a hand to stop her. "That will be fine."

Asara lowered her head as the tribeswoman entered the tent through its flap.

"I'm sorry," Asara began but I cut her off with a wave of my hand.

"Don't be," I said. "Just try to focus on our task to keep your thoughts away from the past, and as I said before, don't feel as though you are somehow failing me, you're not!"

The inside of the tent must have been soundproof as I was unable to hear any voices but after a few minutes the tent flap opened and a few older men walked out, all of which gave me either angry looks or accessing looks. Oh, and there was a whole lot of skepticism there as well. Whatever Karyea had told them, most didn't seem to believe. That was fine. As long as they didn't get in the way then there wouldn't be any problems

"You can come in now," Karyea said as she poked her head out of the tent. "My father will see you."

I entered into the tent with Asara. We were greeted by a cozy-looking space with a fire at its center that shed far more light than was normal. There were no traditional chairs, just comfy-looking rugs and fur draped across the floor. At the back and center of the tent sat an older-looking man, probably in his mid-fifties, with the same olive skin as Karyea and a rough and leathery-looking face. He reminds me of an old drill sergeant. His armor was made up of leather and bones, though his were far more intricate than any of the others I'd seen. The bones that adorned him seemed to have carvings on them, although I couldn't tell of what.

"Please, step forward and take a seat." His voice was a deep rumble, though full of welcome. "Would you like a drink or perhaps some Kuffa?"

"Kuffa?"

"What do you call it over the mountains… cigars?"

"Oh." I shook my head. "No thank you. I'd like to get down to business as soon as possible."

"As yes," Horadir mused. "My daughter says you wish to speak to my brother, that you wish to know of our hunting grounds. She has weaved quite the tale of her meeting with you, so grand that either it is false and she speaks lies, or it is too large of a lie that It can't be anything else but the truth. The elders may not believe her, but I know my daughter. She would not spin such a tale if it were not true."

"I do want to speak to you brother," I replied. "I'm willing to make a trade for the hunting for the locations."

"You are a king, yes?"

I nodded. "Yes."

The chief took a long pull from what looked like an overly large cigar. "My people do not need for food , steel, or warmth. We have plenty of all, but if what my daughter had told me is true, then there is something you could offer us in trade."

I narrowed my eyes on him. "And what would that be?"

"You wish to hunt," Horadir stated. "We will give you all of what we know, but in return I want you to destroy the great hive spire to the north."

Well, that was unexpected. I had thought he'd say something like a large amount of gold or something like that.

"Hive spire?" I shook my head. "I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with the term?"

Horadit took another long pull and blew out the smoke slowly. "The hive spire has plagued my people for many years. It is a large pillar, a spear that rises from the ground, and the things that dwell within it are no creatures of this world. Tell me, king Nathan, what do you know of these lands?"