The Northern Tribes

16

The meeting proceeds without further interference. Valaric watches the proceedings with silent authority and Hawke oversees the rest of the matters for this gathering. There are a few times when there is a vote that occurs, but I get no explanation or even any helpful hints from my one information source. He seems to still be rather preoccupied with his thoughts.

After the meeting is adjourned, Catall and Karia exchange words and then Catall nods at me. I notice, however, the other two demda are watching their Reth with concern. I can feel it emanating from them although it seems they are trying to hide it. Catall puts his hand on my shoulder for a moment, demanding my attention.

"Shall we?" he asks, and we go together to eat before continuing to our small neglected room in the tall tower. While we were eating, Catall spoke with me, but I could tell he was still deep in thought. And although I know there are even limits to Catall's trust and kindness, I can't help myself anymore. When we get to the room my curiosity gets the better of me.

"What have you been thinking about?" I ask sheepishly. He looks at me silently for long moments.

"I cannot tell you, you know this." Although I know I shouldn't even care, it still bothers me.

"Then what can you tell me? Because I am rather confused," I tell him, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice. I fail. He gives me a small smile, and I know he is sympathetic to my struggle. And after long moments of studying my face, he sighs a little.

"Last night... last night was an attempt on the Reth's life," he says. I am taken aback and it must show clearly on my face because he smiles slightly.

"Does he know?"

"Yes, he knows," he answers patiently and with amusement.

"Then why..."

"Why would he run towards an assassination attempt?" he finishes my thought. I nod. "You are young. And naive. You only know what you have been taught and what you have witnessed yourself. Your leaders would never do something that reckless. But if our leader couldn't face that problem himself, head-on, we would never respect him."

"So he would risk his life for your respect?" I ask. Catall gives me a warm look.

"Respect is a powerful weapon," he answers cryptically. "He also wants to be that kind of leader. He wants to respect himself as well."

"Do you know who tried it?" I ask, pondering the limits of the respect he speaks of. Catall once again watches me for long moments before he moves to answer.

"Yes. Even our Reth has his enemies."

And it dawns on me suddenly. There is a faction of dissenting tribesmen. There is a group of his own people that are not loyal to him, and I wonder if it is connected with the tattoo on the man's back.

"How is it even possible?"

"They controlled the Talstav."

"What? How?" I ask, although as the words leave my mouth, I remember Geir, on the back of the beast, stabbing at something. Everyone in the village always said the Tribesmen had magic, but I never actually believed it. Until now.

Catall chuckles a little.

"I enjoy seeing the cogs turning in your mind," he admits to me. "But it is dangerous. You and I play a dangerous game. I have to be very careful about what I say to you, lest you figure out too much on your own. I like you, Esme. I would hate to be the cause of your death."