Book 4 Chapter 4

Despite Dun’s dramatic statement, he spoke no further on whatever danger was facing his tribe. Instead, he guided them into the valley, proudly showing off his home. As he guided them through the simple huts and tents the others had strange faces looking at the man’s pride in what seemed to be so little to them. Even maria, who was probably from the poorest town of all of them, couldn’t hide her awkwardness.

For Tirr however, the Campsite had a sort of rough charm. It was of course nowhere close to his own standards But As they passed by meat drying racks and Tanners. He felt like he could appreciate the brutal efficiency of it all. Everyone here from the children to the adults seemed to know their place and their work.

The adults set about their business eagerly whether it was hauling building material or cooking food. Each went about their work with a cheerfulness that seemed to deny that anything was wrong. They laughed and chatted as they worked waving and greeting Dun as he came by.

The children had their own jobs from picking weeds to collecting firewood and other material. Afterward, they would make baskets and ropes before setting off onto whatever the next job was. Even their play, Tirr noticed, was just well-disguised hunting and combat exercises.

Compared to somewhere like Road’s End or other poor villages down in the plains. It appeared worse off at first glance, but underneath the appearances was a well-oiled machine. The result of surviving for years within the harsh environment of the mountains. Compared to the villages and tones of Lutel and Rasor, which even now were rife with corruption and decadence, Tirr had to admit it had its appeal.

As they reached the center of the sprawling campsite, Dun led them to a large tent, sitting comfortably in the middle of everything. Paintings marked the leather exterior, featuring large Beasts and fearsome creatures and the people who stood against them.

Each painting seemed to have the same spirit of the people who lived here, making Tirr nod. Not bad… He thought to himself as he stepped in after. Most of his honor guards stayed back, setting themselves in formation as they waited for his return. Meanwhile, Maria, Doron, and the leaders of the other Blessed came to join the discussion as well.

Inside, a cozy fire filled the area with a comforting warmth and the smell of wood oil. Dun motioned for them to sit on one side while he set himself on the other. grinning as he faced them.

“Glad that you’re here, I hope there are no hard feelings for the last time we encountered each other?”

Tirr frowned, “Just get to why you called us here…”

Dunn nodded, “Our mountains are known for their danger, and we of the Tribe pride ourselves on being able to handle anything it can throw our way. To us, the Beasts that may make a flatlander squeal in terror are nothing more than prey that can be used for food and earning honor.

Dun shook his head. “Now though, fear has crept into all of our hearts… Each clan is more than prepared to handle one Beast a year, maybe two if they can convince the others to help. But in the last month we’ve faced four Beast attacks and more before that. And the other clans aren’t much different…

“You called us here for that?” Tirr asked incredulously, “With that shard, you should be able to handle that easily yourself.

“That’s what we thought as well…” Dun admitted, “When the Shard first activated over two years ago now, our strength went up exponentially. The problem is that these aren’t any random beasts. They’re strong, and each one is stronger than the last.

“That’s…” Maria stuttered… Having seen the power of some Beasts for herself.

Dun nodded, “usually the stronger Beasts stay deep within the mountain, away from where any human could possibly think to tread, but something has upset the natural order, the larger Beasts have shifted their territory, moving further down, Meaning the weaker Beasts are being driven out of their homes and directly towards us…”

“So, you want us to go and take a look and see what's happening?” Tirr asked, “Find out why they’ve moved and get it to stop?”

“I wish it were that simple…” Dun said sighing, “Another reason no one goes up there, besides it being suicidal… Is that the tribe considers it sacred ground. Anything past a certain point is not meant for the steps of man. It's an old tradition… One that I thought originally was made to keep younger ones away from the Beasts that lived there. But now? I don’t know…”

“Isn’t your Tribe more important than some stupid tradition?”

“To me, yes… But the Tribe is no longer the same as it once was. The current Tribe is split and frayed, with each of the five great clans having split off and formed their own groups under the strength of the Shard.

“I’m guessing that that Clan Krawl was one of those?” Doron asked the mountain man.

Dun nodded, “To some the idea of trespassing on that sacred land is heresy, and the only thing that could be worse would be to let outsiders up there… As stupid as they are, I’m worried that if I try to force things, internal fighting could end u just as easily as the Beasts.

“So, what do you want us to…” Tirr started when there was a shout…

A man swung the tent flap open fear and desperation in his eyes as he looked at Dun,

Dun just sighed as the man caught his breath “Another one? Already?” The mercenary asked…

“Not just one,” The man said through gasps, “Three of them…”