Mélange - Horizon Forbidden West Fanfiction

The Price

You could almost taste the tension in the air.

It had a bitter taste that didn't want to leave, no matter how Aloy tried to swallow it down and the sand scratching in her throat didn't make it better, it made her want to claw it. Resisting the urge, however, she clenched her hands into a fist.

And there was a damn good reason for the tension.

Aloy might not know much about the Tenakth clan or its history, but she knew what Carja had done to other tribes under the rule of previous Sun-Kings, especially the Sun-King Hivas, and his son Sun-King Jiran.

She knew that the Carja's invasions had taken a toll on everyone, no matter where their loyalties laid, and whose markings they bore. She could feel that the wounds were still open from the long war between them, and it was a miracle that Tenakth would agree to Avad's peaceful parley so soon.

Aloy had come to make sure that the Embassy was held in Barren light, as she would need the right of passage to pass the Tenakth lands and go far west.

That's how she found herself amid a conversation with Tenakth's Marshal Fashav, who was Avad's cousin and former Red Raider.

"Chief Hekarro knows the West better than anyone. He may be able to help you. He can be intimidating to others, but don't let that deceive you. He is a man of his word," Fashav said and smiled like he was remembering something particular. This Chief Hekarro must have left quite the impression on him. Fashav offered his knife to her deep in thought.

She could tell that even though Fashav was a Marshal, not many Tenakths liked him, they respected him, sure, for Fashav must have shown a lot of strength to become a Marshal, a high-ranking soldier, but even the High Marshal had some disdain towards him from time to time, she could tell. It wasn't the man they disliked, but the Carja part in him, which was buried deep inside, but still lurking.

They were all on high alert. You couldn't see it at first, but it was there. Especially now that the Carja was so close, just on the other side of the fort.

The subtle movements of their bodies, small hints of inner fear in their eyes, the tension in their bodies. It was understandable given their history, she supposed.

Aloy carefully pondered her next words as she took the knife from his hand, raising her eyebrows at him. She felt like she could trust the man. The way he carried himself was admirable. "Maybe. If I need him."

Fashav smirked as he looked into her eyes knowingly, his eyes challenging her back. "Your choice. You can find him in his palace, past the mountains to the southwest." He waited for a second until continuing. "Tell him I sent you, and he'll listen to wha— "

"Look! The Sky Clan's banner!" The Tenakth's High Marshal yelled next to them. This made both Aloy and Fashav move their gaze from each other to the direction he was pointing at. Aloy furrowed her brows as means to see better, the scorching sun burning her hazel eyes.

A group of people with a purple and light blue banner came to view. The missing clan. Finally.

In front of their group was a tall and broad man walking, Aloy noted. He wore the same type of clothing and tattoos as Fashav and other Marshals.

As the Sky Clan's men set up their banner, he came closer, clearly on his way to Fashav and the High Marshal, to them. As he stopped in the middle of all of them, Aloy started to look at his face more intensely. He looked... handsome. At least, that was the first thought that came to her mind. Edible was another word that pushed through. Flushed, she mentally shook herself. What in the All-Mother's name was she thinking? This was not something she usually did, and not the time for it either.