The Northern Tribes

15

The room is somehow even more intimidating than my first encounter. This time, there are more tribesmen. Several of them seem to be arguing heatedly as Karia and I creep up the outside edge of the large room. We approach the platform where the Reth is seated in his huge wooden throne, although I try to keep my eyes downwards. When we stop and I see who I am standing next to, I feel immediately relieved. Catall gives me an encouraging smile, and I can't help but smile slightly back.

"So you do know how to smile," he says to me very quietly. It makes me smile a little more. But when I hear the arguing get louder, it draws my attention.

Two men are practically yelling at each other and I glance at the Reth seated in his chair. I notice now that there is bruising on one side of his face. It must be from last night's fight. It comforts me to finally get confirmation that he is human, and he can actually get hurt. He looks quite pale as well. Like usual, Kami is standing next to him, her expression blank. But this time on the perch next to him is a rather large nofori-like creature.

And on the platform with them, on either side against the walls stand Meja and Aven, watching everything with a quiet detachment. There is a young man who looks vaguely familiar standing in the middle of the front of the room, in between the two separate sides of people. It appears he is currently directing things and when the arguing grows even more heated, he looks back at Reth Valaric, who nods to him.

I know I've seen this young man before, I believe during the first time I was in this room. He appears to be around my age, so slightly older than the Reth. He has dark auburn hair that's shaved on one side, with small dreadlocks littering his short hair. He has the typical tribesmen tattoos, although he has even more than Karia or Catall. His dark golden eyes gleam when he sternly speaks and the other two fall silent. He, too, has some bruising and I wonder if it was from last night. I don't remember seeing him, but I wasn't very focused on anything but the beast.

"His name is Hawke, and he is the Reth's closest advisor and friend," Catall whispers to me.

I notice in the crowd on the other side of the room is the bald fighter from last night as well. He's still fairly pale and is leaning against the wall, arms crossed. But he's showing no signs of pain or fatigue and I'm impressed. These people are quite tough. They live up to their reputation.

After Hawke speaks, one of the men who was arguing says something and it seems that he has conceded in some regard. Hawke speaks again, clapping his hands together like an issue has been resolved.

As if on cue, the doors to the great hall open and a man is brought in, struggling and yelling. Three tribesmen bring him in, and after dragging him up right in front of Hawke, one of the tribesmen kicks the back of his legs and he falls to his knees, still fighting against the men restraining him.

Hawke tries to talk over him, but the yelling is too loud. Hawke glances down with an irritated demeanor and punches him hard to silence him. It works. The man falls silent, spitting a mouthful of blood on the floor as Hawke speaks with the men restraining him. The one who kicked his legs responds and when he does, the Reth shifts from a relaxed position to sitting upright in the chair. Whatever was said has gotten his attention.

Hawke is silent and looks back at the Reth. But the bald fighter says something angrily, no longer leaning against the wall and glaring at the newcomer. The room bursts into quiet musings and hushed whispers. The nofori hisses menacingly.

Reth Valaric, however, holds up his hand to silence everyone. It works instantly. I look at Catall for guidance, but he, too, seems to be wrapped up tightly in whatever is happening with this man. He's watching everything very closely. When I glance at Karia, she is doing the same. The tension in the room has increased dramatically.

The man they brought in is undoubtedly a tribesman, but with very few tattoos. I assume he must be a farmer or something of the sort. He is still struggling against his captors, but now only half-heartedly. Valaric pushes himself out of his chair and I notice he does so almost carefully. Although he makes no outward sign he is in pain, I get the feeling he is suffering nonetheless. He walks down the few steps casually, but the tension in the room becomes almost unbearable. I can feel how immensely on-edge everyone else becomes when he approaches the man.

The Reth says something to the man calmly. When the man responds, he does so with contempt and spits at the Reth's feet. I can see though, that the man is shaking slightly. I can sense his fear.

Hawke backhands the man so forcefully I see bloody spit fly from his mouth. The Reth says something to Hawke, who responds by saying "yes, my Reth" in their native tongue. Other than "weak", yes and no are a few words of the language I actually know. And then Hawke tears off the man's shirt, revealing a large tattoo on his back I haven't seen on anyone else yet. It looks almost like a crest. The room breaks out again in whispers. But then Valaric begins to take off his glove and everyone falls completely silent.

The man gets a terrified look on his face for a brief moment, before he resumes ranting again, yelling and struggling like mad. When the glove is off, the Reth glances back at Kami, who gives him her solemn nod. Now that I'm closer and I can see better in the light, I notice his hand isn't tattooed. Instead it has what looks to be a pattern of raised skin on the top of his hand, leading into the tattoo that begins at his wrist and runs up his arm. Valaric turns back to the prisoner, who yells something loudly and sticks his tongue out from his mouth, before biting down hard.

Although the Reth and everyone in close proximity attempt to stop him, it is too late. The man bites deeply into his own tongue and shortly after, he begins to seize. While everyone else is yelling and trying to stop him from seizing, Valaric simply raises his lip on one side of his mouth in a tiny sneer and makes a tsk sound. He puts his glove back on and turns, retreating back up to his throne. By the time he sinks down into it again, the man is dead on the ground, blood streaming from his mouth, nose, ears and eyes. I look on in horror.

Hawke glances back at the Reth, who appears to be lost deep in thought as he idly brings a hand up to his mouth and leans on a side of his chair. Hawke takes charge and speaks sternly to the men, who shortly afterwards pick up the dead man on the ground and drag his body from the room. I'm very confused, but it seems like I will remain so after I glance up at Catall. Similarly, he appears to be deep in thought, and it's like he's forgotten I'm even here.

I have absolutely no idea what just happened. I can't even begin to speculate. I notice now, though, that Karia is watching me and when we make eye contact she turns her hateful glare away. Whatever just transpired has prompted deep thought from the Reth and Catall, and prompted renewed hatred for me from Karia (although in all fairness, everything seems to do that for her). I begin to get the feeling this event also is connected to what happened last night.

The room is now buzzing with conversation and nervous energy. Hawke speaks loudly and harshly to quiet it. Valaric remains unmoved, however, and he continues to idly touch his mouth and chin while lost in thought. Kami puts her hand on his shoulder and when he looks up at her they share unspoken communication the rest of us do not understand. He nods to her and then looks back at Hawke, who is still speaking to the rest of the tribesmen loudly.

The bald fighter chimes in and the rest of the tribesmen laugh, except Catall, Valaric and Kami. Meja and Aven remain stoic as well. They are watching their Reth solely. Catall seems to be listening to Hawke, but also lost in thought. And Karia is now ignoring me again and engaged with the rest of her people, laughing along with them.

Hawke continues speaking and I take time to watch the others as he speaks. They seem to be listening with respect, and I get the feeling he is well-respected outside of just being close with their leader. But I know I will never fully understand their dynamics. I will never fully understand the way these people think or why. I just have to bide my time while coming up with a plan that will get me close enough to the Reth to attempt to take my revenge. 

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