*3*

Karth (narration)

I turned and looked at Rik and there were gasps and murmuring around the huge room at what he said, "Repeat that!" I said as I felt almost as if fear was taking over my body, those are times I do not want to remember they were hard times I try every day to forget and most times I cannot even sleep, that's how much of trauma I had

The Dagorth attacked our state years ago but the one thing that traumatizes me most is the thought of their queen, I do not know why but I always get this feeling that she is still alive and waiting for the right moment to come back and haunt us

"We think some etocrites survived Karth, I know they were hard times and we all try to forget them but that is the truth," he said coming close to me

"What makes you think some survived all of them died including their queen?" I questioned looking back at him

"Can we talk...just us?" he asked looking at Noth and Farath, "We can but Noth and Farath are coming with me too," I said looking at him and he looked at me in the eyes and just nodded as to get the situation over with

When we got to a smaller room with a table and seats we all took our seats he sat on the other side with his second in command while Noth, Farath and I sat opposite, "So what makes you think some etocrites survived?" I asked with a raised eyebrow,

"Look Karth first off they could easily survive because one they are etocrites and two we found an etocrite body on our border with a mark on it and some words which stated "LONG END SHALL ARRIVE"

He said seriously and from then on I knew this was serious it must be the queen sending that message, I remember when I drove my sword through the Dagorth queen's chest the last thing she said is what has given me trauma all these years

"You remember what she said before her last breath," Farath looked at me with fear and I looked back at him with the same look I always wanted to forget what she said but I just cannot I could not even bring myself to tell Nen about it

Rik looked at the both of us and asked the long awaited question, "What.....what did she say?" ,"Long end shall arrive," I said as I looked at Rik whose eyes widened and he stated, "Well are we going to wait for destiny to arrive or try to fight it huh?" he asked resting his arms on the table,

"Obviously we can come up with a plan with my security duty so do the same Rik because every tribe for themselves right," I said recalling how the leader of the Karan tribe clearly stated that to me when the Dagorth attacked us

"In any case we the Hnerez are the ones who suffered most because the war was in our tribe while everyone did not give us any support," I said looking at Rik

"And that is why I came here I know that the war was majorly here and that is why we came to inform you about this because clearly the queen is coming for you Karth, and that's where the Xasv deal comes in, you give us a piece of your metal we make armory for this long awaited war and also majorly because this time they might attack all the other tribes too," he said trying to convince me

"We would like to organize a meeting with the leaders of every tribe to find a solution to this situation," he said looking at us,

"So that is why you want Xasv huh?" I asked and looked at them, "....and also why didn't your leader come with you?" I asked him simply, "He did not come because he trusts in me to handle everything so that is why I am here," he says and I can't help but see his point

"Basically we do not want to fight you for that metal because now we accepted it belongs to this tribe and we will not try to take it away we just want to improve our weapons because we have heard you use it to improve your weapons and also have this cool technology I have been seeing since we arrived here," he said looking around and finally ended with asking,

"So what do you think Karth?"

. . . . .

Nen (narration)

It was coming to six and the guys were not yet back, it seems whatever they were dealing with was serious as they left hours ago. I was just in the kitchen with the cook as she prepared the dinner I just stared on and smiled at her she was such a beautiful soul,

"So leader Nen how does Leader Karth like his meat again he is always changing his mind sometimes he likes it smooth, other times hard it is just very hard to read him," she asked looking at me, "Terry I told you to call me Nen or Anensia please don't call me leader it is just strange and yeah he is super complicated I guess just cook it soft....don't worry he will eat it anyway," I told her and she nodded

It was now coming to eight and they were still not back and I was starting to get worried because Karth is always home for dinner so this was really getting me worried until I heard a beep on my watch and I decided to look at it, when I tapped it a hologram floated over it with a message,

"Hey Nen I am sorry but I cannot be back for dinner tonight I will be back at the tower tomorrow there are very urgent matters we are discussing here," he said with a serious face, "What is happening Karth?" I questioned him with concern

"I will tell you when I get back tomorrow but I need to go for now," he said and I heard someone call him, the voice though was so familiar I felt like I had heard it before and I just could not place it to whom

"Karth who is that?" I asked him, "Who?" he asked with a raised eyebrow, "I mean the person who just called you," I said as I waited for an answer, "Honey I have to go see you tomorrow," he said and hang up

Wait...did he just ignore my question and hang up, I could not believe it... he has a lot to explaining to do tomorrow and he better not keep anything from me.

. . . . .

Karth (narration)

"Come on Karth we have a lot of work," Rik called out for me while I was talking to Nen and I somehow knew she might recognize that voice but I guess I was wrong when she asked

"Karth who is that?" she asked, "Who?" I asked with a raised eyebrow pretending I did not know what she was talking about, "I mean the person who just called you," she said and looked at me too keen trying to read me I guess, "Honey I have to go see you tomorrow," I said and hung up

I hated to do that but I had no choice because she was going to figure it out if I continued stalling and pretending, she was going to figure out that I was hiding something from her and I did not want her to find out about Rik because I knew it would cause her trauma of what she went through because of him and I alone I was trying to compose myself around him as I tried to be professional and put my tribe first without smashing his face

"Karth do I have to call you again, come on man we have a lot to discuss," he shouted from outside and I just rolled my eyes as I got out and headed with him to the large hall

When we got to the hall I recognized Feron, leader of the Dok tribe, I immediately went to greet him, "Feron...how are you doing man?" I said as I went in for a hug he accepted it and we pulled apart and I saw his serious face, the man always had a serious face but he had a good heart and he was also quite good to work with

"Karth my boy I was doing okay until your brother here called me saying it is something important and I have to come...so here I am," he said seriously,

"How is Nora and the baby?" I asked pulling him away, "Oh Nora and baby Fera are doing okay, thank you for asking," he said tapping on my shoulder. Well how sweet their baby's name is their names conjoined I smiled at that

"So Karth what is the situation?" he said giving me a more serious look as he looked in my eyes, "The Karan found a dead body of an etocrite on their border," I said looking at him

"You know what Karth I had a feeling those beasts were still lurking around and especially their queen she was the lead monster," he said stating ahead and then looked back at me and I could not lie I had that feeling too, maybe that woman was just good at getting into our minds and making us see stuff she wanted us to see

Going back to that day when we were fighting as usual Noth and Farath were by my side as we battled the etocrites, for some reason those things decided to attack the Hnerez tribe and not any other tribe and of course the Karan, Leza hid in their territories, Feron leader of the Dok wanted so much to help but he told me his council did not allow to that request but despite not getting help from him he is still a very good friend

"Karth how come you have not yet murdered Rik?" Feron asked bluntly looking at me with this look of you-must-be-kidding-me and I just shook my head, I was desperately trying to forget about the past because we had a serious issue at hand and we had to handle it

"We have a serious issue right now," I answered back looking at him

"Remember that bastard right there almost disfigured your girl and you tell you are going to ignore that very fact huh?" he said pointing to Rik who was laying down some papers and talking to some of the keepers

"I know that okay I am just being civilized and besides let us see what he has to say, you know when it comes to these things I am very alert, I would not want the same thing that happened years ago to happen again," I said seriously

"Whatever you say Karth, but just so you know I will support you and when you are punching him, you know because I am a friend and somewhat care if he gets some good blows," I looked at him surprised at his humor, I never knew he could be that hilarious

I was going to say something when Farath came and alerted us that the meeting was starting, as we walked to the table for some reason something in me was forcing me to beat up Rik yet I hit him earlier but I feel like I did not let out all of my anger but I just decided to push it aside, onto more important things

As we sat at the table some other leaders came in, Paz, Enzo and Dalen and sat at the table too, I just raised an eye brow at Rik who apparently did not tell Feron and I that we had more company at this meeting,

"Hello Karth I am glad we were involved in this meeting, thank you for calling out for us," Paz said clearly talking about the two friends that came with him and I just raised an eye brow at him

"I did not call you here," is all I said as I leaned back in my chair

"I did and besides my leader had to come," Rik said bowing to Dalen and I just let out a chuckle

"So Dalen tell me this....how do you let a man that is from the Hnerez become the leader of your security duty?" I asked and looked directly at Dalen

"It is because he does the job well and is great help to the tribe," he answered shrugging and I just laughed he must be feeling like a bad ass after what he just said, I decided to just let it go.

. . . . .

After what seemed like forever, the meeting was over. I was more worried about being in the same room with those animals. When we were attacked by the etocrites no such meeting was held instead we were left to fend for ourselves, we had to struggle as a tribe and find a way to kill those things.I was still thinking when Noth approached me,

"Karth we can go now I don't think I can stand looking at these pricks," he said looking around for Farath I think

"I could say the same thing, I cannot stand them at all," I said and looked around for elder Biron, once I saw him I said my goodbyes and told him to let the keepers keep an eye out for the leaders and Rik, no matter I could not trust them even one bit, I knew they were up to no good.

When I reached home I headed for my room but I did not see Nen there and I just knew she was in her room I even do not know why she has a room she is supposed to be in my room no scratch that out room, so I headed for her room and I saw her sleeping peacefully I cannot believe I missed dinner I have never skipped that at the tower.

I just decided to get in bed with her and sleep it off and besides with the known issue right now there were days in the near future when I was not going to sleep at all so I needed this moment to keep going with my love and maybe I am whipped or something but being a leader to a full tribe all I cared for most was Nen.