Vai and Mahu Kaeo crested the hill that overlooked his home island's beach.
"By the gods, not again." Kaeo hissed as they both set eyes on the Nikan mega-canoes. There had to be at least fifteen of those vessels.
"Not again?" Vai furrowed his brow, "Mahu, have they been here before?"
Kaeo sighed, but nodded, "The Empire has wanted to annex our islands ever since Rarotonga accepted vassalage under them. I assume they've sent this many to intimidate us."
Vai cursed, "What do we do?"
"We will simply reject them again." Kaeo said, "They are more a nuisance than anything. They cannot afford to hurt anyone."
Vai nodded, "War with the Westerners and Jambudvipa already has them occupied."
Kaeo nodded, "And if they harm us, the other tribes and islands have expressed they are willing to form a coalition to defend each other from Nikan."
Vai followed his teacher as they descended down to the beach along with the other people of the village. Najeem had notably concealed his face with a black cloth wrap as he and Shahla met them.
The junks dropped their anchors a ways out before lowering smaller watercraft that rowed their way to shore.
A young man with tan skin, but narrow Nikan eyes, in lamellar armor, accompanied by another man in elaborate silk robes stepped onto the beach. No Aotearoan made any moves.
"Why do we not offer them the Powhiri?" Vai whispered.
"They killed one of our warriors last time." Kaeo grimaced, "It was an honest mistake."
"People of Aotearoa 46," the man in rich silk announced in broken Aotearoan, "We of the great Empire of Nikan come on behalf of the Golden Emperor, Lord of Heaven, Gongsun Xuanyuan. He graciously extends his hand to those less fortunate in an offer of protection and friendly aid in exchange for a meager tribute to aid a well-met friend in his endeavors against those that would threaten our ways and yours."
"Begone from our shores, Word Weaver." Kaeo said, stepping forward, "We are in a time of festivities and would ask to not be bothered with such matters. Additionally, we cannot accept your offer, as we have stated multiple times."
"I encourage that you truly reconsider as we asked of you last time." the man in silk said, raising his chin up at Kaeo, "Our emperor will not allow this rejection to become a humiliation of him and his great house."
"You'd best listen to him, old Mahu." the man in lamellar said in much better Aotearoan, "We won't be taking 'no' so graciously."
"We have nothing more to consider." Kaeo insisted, "You cannot make us accept bondage to your emperor's leash. Now begone!"
The man in lamellar shook his head and sighed, "Told you, Jiang. You wanna refuse? Fine. Here's how things are going to happen. You'll have minutes to prepare. After that, we will make an example of you."
___________________________________________________________________
Shahla let herself be dragged away by Lokapele as Mahu Kaeo and the Nikan ambassador spoke.
"I need you to help me with something." Lokapele said, "Have that knife of yours ready. Those Nikan are definitely attacking."
"We can't fight them, we need to leave!" Shahla protested.
"What, do you think they're here for you?" Lokapele asked, "You want your boat to still be intact, right?"
"Well...yes." Shahla muttered.
YOU ARE READING
The Call of Crows
FantasíaBjorn Stormtamer's world has been turned upside down in more ways than one. His shipmates have left him for dead on an island for quarantining victims of a disease that he now has. His partner in battle despises him, his family thinks he's dead and...
