The Northern Tribes

17

After I put back the swords, the Reth directs me to where Karia will be, before giving me a nod and leaving. As I watch him walk away, it strikes me how young he looks from the back. His demeanor and the look in his eyes always makes him seem older. But from the back, he looks like any other boy. I stand in the courtyard as the rest of the building wakes and look at the sky for long moments. The magnificent hues of blue and orange and violet and pink mix together in the most beautiful tableau and I wonder. I wonder why I am here.

I wonder why I survived. I still believe my purpose is to seek revenge. I don't have any other explanation. And it concerns me that I am questioning this right now. But there is something deep inside me that is beginning to question my purpose. There is something that suggests maybe there is another reason why I am alive, why I am here.

Someone bumps into me roughly, and I stumble forward. As I am brought to my senses and look at the tribesman who collided with me, he glares and spits an insult towards me, not slowing at all. And then all other thoughts are gone. I silently thank this man for bringing me back to my senses. These people are savage heathens, nothing more. They deserve any misfortune they suffer and I will rain down the greatest misfortune of all by robbing them of their precious leader.

When I find Karia, she doesn't mask her disappointment upon viewing my face. Her beautiful face can be so ugly. I'm sure she was hoping when she brought me there, all alone in the early morning hours, that the Reth would kill me. It brings me joy to know her wish was not granted.

"Esme," she says flatly.

"Moorian Karia," I respond innocently.

"I trust the Reth is well?" For a moment I wonder why she is asking. Then I remember the truth behind his mask. He must still be recovering from the talstav attack. He isn't well, and they know it. They are still concerned about him.

"He is," I answer and we both know it's a lie. She nods to me.

"Good. It is your one and only job to keep him well. Your only job is to serve him directly. And I'll never understand why such a high honor is wasted on you," she says spitefully.

"You should never question the Reth," I tell her, trying desperately to keep the smirk off my face. I think briefly that she might slap me as the look of rage and hatred flashes on her face.

"You," she mutters darkly, seeing how much joy it brings me to antagonize her. So she pulls herself together and feigns indifference. "You are correct. We need to go eat now so you can begin your lessons."

She gestures to the door and we leave in anticipation of food.

But while we're eating, something happens. I'm not sure what it means, but we all hear a loud bell ringing and Karia is immediately on her feet next to me, a look of concern on her face. She stays still for only another moment before grabbing my arm and pulling me to my feet roughly.

She drags me out into the hallway, where we see many others gathering and looking confused. Karia shouts something at them, pulling me along down the hall. We end up outside the throne room, with many tribesmen rushing in. Karia looks at me for long moments and it's almost like she is trying to make a decision. But a few moments later, we see Catall approaching us. He speaks to Karia briefly and they both glance at me. I am confused, but Catall gives me a reassuring look and I immediately feel better, although it concerns me. I obviously trust him, which is dangerous. Catall may be different, but in the end, he is still a tribesman.

"Come," he says to me. And they turn towards the large wooden carved doors. A few large tribesmen are outside the doors, presumably monitoring who is entering, since there are a few others who are standing around curiously but not attempting to enter. Karia barks something at them and they scatter. When we approach, the men stationed outside make no effort to stop us although they look at me wearily and with envy. I realize that it seems only select tribespeople are able to enter this room right now and they seem to be of high stature.

The room is buzzing with what I assume are like the nobles of the tribeslands. There is also a group of people wearing traditional clothes I've seen only once before, when I met Feyri. There are 8 people in the group, and they all have on the same clothes, but with different colored sashes. They are the Chief's advisors, the people who stay in the center city with the Reth and act as liaisons between their tribes and the Reth. We approach the opposite side from the advisors, making our way towards the front of the hall.

I see the Reth seated in his chair, with Kami by his side and a large black bird on the perch. Aven and Meja are once again standing on either side of the Reth against the walls. Hawke is crouched down next to the Reth and they seem to be having an important conversation. Reth Valaric is looking at Hawke, but as I watch, he glances around the large room now. When his incredibly light eyes fall on mine, my heart skips a beat. It surprises me that he looks at me, and I avert my gaze immediately. When I have the courage to glance back up, he is watching Hawke again with renewed interest.

"It's an emergency meeting," Catall tells me quietly. I glance up at him, his expression strained.

"Is it a bad thing?" I ask, reading the room. The tension is incredibly thick. Catall looks at me and we maintain eye contact for a long moment.

"Probably not anything good. These meetings are usually reserved for urgent situations and pressing matters," he mutters. Karia glares at us over her shoulder, clearly annoyed by our conversing.

"Do you know what it's about?" I whisper. He shakes his head at me, now looking up at his leader.

"No. But he wanted you to witness it. It's important for you to learn, so I will translate what I can for you." I am quiet now, watching as the bald fighter and a few other important warriors enter.

The room is quietly humming with conversation, but after the group of warriors enter, the large doors close and they are latched. I feel the tension and anticipation in the room rise with each passing moment and I wonder, like most others, what this could be about.

Eventually, Hawke nods to the Reth and stands. Everyone else in the room falls silent almost instantly. Hawke speaks.

"He's talking about the talstav attack," Catall tells me. "He's explaining that it was an attempt on the Reth's life." After Hawke speaks a little more, the room comes alive again with strained whispering. Hawke struggles to speak over the hum.

"He said," Catall pauses for a moment, a wrinkle in his brow. "He said after some investigation they have reason to believe the people behind the attack had inside help. There is a traitor among us."

I know I haven't done anything yet, but I still feel weirdly guilty and nervous. Catall glances at me as Hawke waits. Valaric's voice rings out clearly and the room falls completely silent again a breath later. He nods at Hawke, who continues.

"He's requesting information from anyone who might know something," Catall explains in a low whisper. The room erupts into quiet conversation and the tension increases yet again. "They think the help came from one of... one of the advisors." Catall stares in bewilderment at the other side of the great hall. The advisors begin to look around nervously at each other and the tension is so thick it's almost suffocating. It seems the advisors are all glancing at this one young man among them, who looks around in confusion.

Hawke speaks loudly again.

"He's asking Farstas if he knows anything," Catall tells me, and I assume Farstas is the man the other advisors seemed to single out. Farstas seems to be pleading in his response but before I can ask Catall what he's saying, another advisor steps from the group. He says something loudly, pointedly, and everyone in the room bursts into conversation now.

"It's Malta," Catall hisses to me. "He's advisor to the Monlatte tribe." I have no idea where that tribe is. "H-he just formally challenged the Reth." Catall sounds incredulous.

"Formally challenged?" I ask in a hushed whisper, although Karia still shoots a glare at me.

"It's an old protocol, from the time of the first Reth," Catall says absently, staring intently at the scene in front of us. Someone on our side of the room yells something and we all find ourselves on the brink of pandemonium.