The Northern Tribes

11

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 ***THIS section contains material that may be triggering. Contains violence***

He brings me down from the tower and the stuffy room to show me the rest of the building, and I hate to admit, but it's awe-inspiring. It's shaped in three long pieces, like three sides of a square. In the middle is a large courtyard and we begin on the opposite end of the building from our tower room.

Catall shows me the large dining room, with extravagant decor. There is a huge table, the biggest I've ever seen. It could easily seat fifty people. There are crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, a decoration piece well known in the United Coast. My father would tell us about the things he saw when traveling, so although it's my first time seeing it in person, they feel reminiscent. The high arches in the ceiling are carved to display flowers and vines in the wood. It's truly magnificent and I had not anticipated anything so cultured and fancy to exist here in the tribeslands.

We always assumed everything in the tribeslands was crude. The only foreigners that get to see this place are diplomats and slaves. And slaves have never escaped from the tribeslands alive.

"Beautiful, is it not?" Catall asks me, watching me with enjoyment. I try to hide my awe, but it only causes him to laugh.

"It's okay to admit it, even I am amazed by this place often. Come, I'll show you more of my favorite locations."

We pass the room where I first saw the young ruler of this nation and Catall gestures towards it.

"I believe that's the room you would know as the throne room, but in our language it translates more to mean the 'business hall'."

I nod, thinking back to the similarly impressive room as I look at the large, carved wooden doors.

"They're in there now, but I'm sure you will see it again," he says as we pass by.

He shows me a room filled with books, like our tower room, but massive. The tribesman in charge of the room watches me wearily although Catall seems to help appease his apprehension.

We see a room filled with mounted animal heads, almost all of which I have never seen before.

"The Reth before Reth Valaric's predecessor was very interested in what I think you call 'sport hunting'," Catall explains as I view the animal heads with wonder. There are reptile-like animals with horns and animals so furry I can barely see any other features. There is also a giant feathered creature.

"I suppose Reth Valaric isn't?" I ask. When I look at Catall I can sense his hesitation. But after a moment he shakes his head.

"Reth Valar isn't interested in hunting for pleasure, only necessity. He enacted restrictions on hunting for some tribes that were depleting resources. They weren't too happy with it," he explains proudly. I can tell he is very fond of his Reth, and it even makes me feel a little less hatred. But not enough to derail my plans. Nothing will stop me from getting my revenge.

Catall shows me one more room with beautiful art before taking me to the common areas I need to know. And when we are done locating those, it is getting dark.

"We should head back. If I'm late, Karia will have my head," he says with an innocent smile. I nod, and follow him across the courtyard. When we are close to the other side though, we hear something that sounds like thunder, and the ground shakes under our feet.

Everyone in the courtyard stops and we look out towards the open back part of the property, which faces the downwards slope of the hill and the wild landscape that lies beyond the city. Great snow-capped mountains in the distance are barely visible in the fading light. Confused, I look at Catall, who is watching the open part of the courtyard with strained concern on his face. His expression makes me quite nervous, and I notice he has stepped in front of me in an almost protective manner.

And then, like out of a nightmare, a huge head rises up from the other side of the courtyard to look at us all. I've never seen such a large and terrifying creature before in my life and as it lumbers up into the courtyard, the tribesmen spring into action, pulling out their weapons and yelling. The courtyard comes alive with panic and I hear Catall say something in their language. Although I can't understand what he says, his tone worries me greatly.

"It's a talstav," he says, this time in Cenci, although he doesn't even spare me a glance. And when it reaches the courtyard and I can see it better, I nearly pee myself.

The talstav is nearly the height of one of the huge towers, and it is covered in scales. It has 6 legs and a long, black body. Each leg has a huge foot with five long claws, each the size of a short sword. Its two large yellow eyes gleam in the light of the torches and it has a wicked, reptilian-looking face. When it opens its mouth to let out a horrible high-pitched, screeching roar, I can see two or three rows of sharp teeth, with two incredibly long fangs on the top row. There is some sort of weird symbol glowing on its chest, which rises up from the front two legs, to house its terrifying head on top.

While tribesmen scramble around, it rears up even further and uses its two front legs to decimate one of the pillars on the side of the courtyard closest to me and Catall. I can do nothing but stare in open horror, my knees weak and my blood pumping loudly in my ears.

The tribesmen begin to attack, and as I watch in cold terror, their attacks are thwarted easily by the creature's thick scales. The talstav pins a few tribesmen under a clawed foot, lunging down with its horrific mouth and biting them in half. Blood and innards fly everywhere. I feel myself begin to shake, a cold sweat breaking out on my forehead.

As tribesmen around us yell and run into the fray, the nightmarish talstav looks down at us, blood now dripping from its scaly mouth. I think I see a disembodied arm stuck in the corner of its mouth and I begin to feel faint. I look at Catall, who grabs something from inside a pocket in his clothes, holding it tightly in his hand. He watches the scene carefully and calmly, and I get the feeling he's been in situations like this before.

The talstav gets my attention again when it sweeps a clawed foot into the crowd of warriors amassing in front of it. Half the warriors are taken out with the one move, as it throws them to the other side of the courtyard. They smash into the pillars and walls. Most do not move again. I see one tribesman look up again. He looks no older than the Reth, a young adolescent. There is blood running down the side of his head and he is clearly in pain. He glares at the creature while spitting out a mouthful of blood. But he doesn't last long, and after a few moments his head drops to the ground again.

I realize now my knees are shaking and I can't move anything but my head. Even when Catall looks at me and tells me to run, I can only stare back at him in horror. I'm pathetic. I'm nothing like these strong, savage warriors.

But even these strong savage warriors are no match for the talstav. Its scales deflect the weapons the tribesmen use and not one man is able to even attempt a second attack. As soon as they get close enough to hit the creature, it hits them with a claw or grabs them in its horrifying mouth. It's easily decimating the gathered warriors.

The tribesmen are still running towards it though, the courtyard a lively mess of pandemonium. And then I see a large tribesman appear. He has a shaved head and he wields a spear and shield. He looks vaguely familiar as he strides into the fray. The entire atmosphere of the battlefield courtyard changes. The men fall in behind him naturally and he begins yelling out what seem to be instructions. When I glance at Catall, he is still watching closely.

I know now would be the perfect time to try to run, to escape. I should take advantage of the chaos and leave. But my legs won't work. I simply can't move.

Though even if I could, I doubt I would get far or survive long in this landscape on my own. This creature is enough to scare anyone into staying out of the wilderness, even if it means slavery.