Abased - The Exiled Warrior

Chapter 2.1 - Union

"Thank you for your hospitality Chief Feda," said Shaleh as she bowed before the elderly leader of the Jaweda Clan. "May the coming winter be kind to your people."

"And to yours as well," he bowed in return.

"We look forward to seeing you and your warriors in early spring," said Nurlan.

"We will be ready." The old man replied.

Shaleh looked around. The entire population of the clan had assembled to farewell Shaleh, Nurlan, and the rest of their delegation. Jaweda was a small clan, but it was still much larger than her own: the Empa Clan. Shaleh did some quick estimations. Her father had drilled her, from a young age, to be able to quickly assess the size of groupings, be they people or herd animals. It was essential for a leader to have the ability to instantly gauge the size of another clan's army, or its herds, and thus its threat and wealth.

Three thousand people. Half will female, and less likely to fight. Of the one and a half thousand left, six in ten will be of fighting age.

Nine hundred. Only two thirds will be able to fight. Six hundred left. But they will need to leave one in three behind to protect their lands.

Four hundred warriors.

Not enough.

At a wave from Nurlan three of Shaleh's people stepped forth, each leading a horse. Nurlan took all three reins in his hands and extended them to Chief Feda.

"Your hospitality has been very generous," said Nurlan. "Shaleh and I are pleased that our conversations have united us in the common purpose to protect our peoples. The threat from the Khashbal Clan, as it is currently ruled, is significant and we will only be able to withstand them if we stand together. Let this gift be both an expression of our gratitude and bind us together."

Three warriors stepped forward to take the horses. Chief Feda bowed again.

"Your gift is generous and beautiful," he said to Nurlan. He then turned to Shaleh. "Please pass my respects to your father and tell him that I have not forgotten how he saved the lives of my scouts from the blizzard six winters ago. He was within his rights to kill them, as they were planning on raiding your herds, but instead he housed and fed them."

Shaleh bowed in respect.

"Ride well," continued Chief Feda. "We will see you in the spring."

Nurlan, Shaleh, and the rest of their delegation mounted their horses and departed. They pointed their steeds to the west. The wind was cold and strong enough to cause the horse's manes and tails to flutter like flags.

Once they were out of earshot from the Jaweda camp Nurlan spoke.

"That went well."

"Very well," Shaleh agreed. "But it is only four hundred more warriors. We need thousands, not hundreds, to stand with us when Chumerra sends her troops to crush us in spring."

"Fifty from Empa clan, one hundred that I brought with me from Khashbal, three hundred from Hatagin clan, and now four hundred Jaweda. Eight hundred fifty against the ten thousand that Khashbal could easily send at us... We need a lot more but we only have time to contact one more clan."

"I'm still not convinced that it should be Astaevka," Shaleh frowned. "They have raided my clan for generations."

"But at least you are not a threat to them like the Khashbal clan is with Chumerra as their chief. All we need to do is convince them that it is better for them to join our union of clans than face Khashbal alone. The fact that they are the clan closest to Greytop Pass means that Chumerra will want to take them over quickly. The clan that controls Greytop Pass controls trade along The Trail."