Ulana led Lolo to a large building on the edge of town from which they could hear music emanating all the way down the street. The girls paid a small admission fee and entered. The back of the building opened up to a large courtyard by way of two oversized rolling barn doors. A large orchestra was playing music, and there was a lively collection of young adults dancing inside the building and outside in the courtyard.

“Follow me!” Ulana nearly had to shout as she led Lolo to the outdoor courtyard, dodging and weaving between dancing couples as they went, to where the music was a little less oppressive and there was more maneuvering space. “Much better. Want to be my dance partner for a bit?”

“You and me?”

“Of course! I’m not going to wait around for some guys to ask us before we start dancing.” Ulana took Lolo’s hands and began twirling her around to the music. The girls took turns leading and spinning each other around, drawing from their sword training as they invented new moves.

“Excuse me,” someone tapped on Lolo’s shoulder, “may we have the next dance?” Lolo turned to see a pair of young men. The one nearest to her was about Ulana’s height with a warm smile, big green eyes, freckles, and pitch black hair. The second was a little taller with flaming red hair and an equally warm if less rosey and freckled skin tone.

“What are your names?” Ulana asked.

“Titem,” the red-head introduced himself.

“And I’m Taivan,” said the other.

“I’m Ulana, and this is my good friend Huo Lohse.” Titem offered Ulana his arm and escorted her to an open space on the floor.

“Huo Lohse,” Taivan tried her name out. “That’s an unusual name.”

“Not where I’m from,” she laughed. “But most people call me Lolo anyway.”

“Lolo. I think I can remember that,” Taivan grinned and pulled her into his arms to dance as the next song began. “So where are you from if not from here?”

“The Wolf Tribe.”

“The Wolf Tribe? What brings you all the way to the Phoenix Tribe?”

“The training exchange.”

“You’re part of the exchange? Wait.... Wait. Are you the Wolf Tribe princess that’s been training the phoenix military?!”

“You’ve heard of me?”

“Wait! You are?! No way!” Taivan stopped dancing momentarily to look Lolo over. “You’re seriously the Wolf Tribe princess?”

Lolo gave him a funny look. “If it’s all the same to you, can we keep that between the two of us until after tonight?” Taivan ran his fingers across his lips as if to seal them. Lolo relaxed a little as they began to dance again. “So you’ve heard of me?”

He nodded. “From some of my friends in the army. Is that other girl your assistant?”

“Ulana? She’s one of my very best friends, but she has been helping me train the military, yes.”

“Also a part of the training exchange?”

“Yeah, why?”

“I'm just curious. Like I said, I’ve heard about you two from some of my buddies. I’ve been hearing for a couple of weeks how two young women have been given command of the army. You two are rather infamous, you know. You’ve developed a reputation for being extremely intense and for completely upending the command system. I understand that you and your friend took on the entire group of now former commanding officers in a fight and won, so you must be good at what you do....” Taivan seemed lost in thought for a minute and returned to the present chuckling. “Imagine how surprised my friends will be to hear that I actually met you in person! And at something as frivolous as a dance, no less.”

“Tell your friends that I say hi, and that they’d better not slack off,” Lolo laughed. It was nice to have, as Taivan had called it, a frivolous evening not stressing about the next day's training.

Taivan grinned. “Will do.”

When the song had finished, Ulana located Lolo again.

“How was your dance with Taivan?”

Lolo rolled her eyes but chuckled. “Apparently he’s heard all about us from his friends in the military.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. We’ve achieved infamy.”

Ulana laughed. “Infamy, huh? Excellent! That means we are doing our jobs.”

“So how was your dance with, what’s his name? Titem?”

“He was a fair dancer. 'Not particularly talkative though.”

After a couple of hours in the dance hall, the girls decided it was time to return to the palace. In the dark it was difficult to make out her surroundings, but Lolo was impressed with the even construction if the wide cobbled roads and the general cleanliness of Ulana's hometown.

“Lolo, what do you want out of life?” Ulana steered the conversation toward the philosophical.

“How do you mean?”

“Well, you are talented, a natural leader, and a princess to boot. You make friends everywhere you go, and you always get yourself in way over your head. Yet, somehow, you always come out on top as the victorious hero no matter what you undertake. So, I’m curious, what do you want for yourself? What kind of life do you want?”

“Hm,” Lolo spent a moment contemplating the question. “I don’t know that there is anything specific that I want for myself. I just want to protect the people I love and do my part to get everyone through this war. I plan to continue my sword training. I like learning new things, so I’d like to do independent studies throughout my life. I’ve technically got a one-in-seven chance of becoming the next Wolf Tribe leader, though I don’t particularly want to be the Alpha. At some point, I would like to raise a family. I’ve always loved kids. I’m not sure at this point how I’m going to fit a family into my life, though. Heck! I have to find someone to marry first! But, I’m only eighteen. I’ve got plenty of time. What about you?”

Ulana grinned. “I think I’ve decided that I want to spend the rest of my life stirring up trouble.”

“What?!”

“Only the good kind of trouble,” she clarified with a hearty laugh. “I’m not the leader type like you, Lolo. I’m happy being second-in-command or just as one soldier among many, but I’ve got enough fire in me to burn the world down. I want to use it to make people in power squirm a little, find some worthy causes, be a voice (or sword) for change, or go down in flames. I think infamy suits me.”

“That’s a bold choice, Ulana, but, actually, I agree with you. Infamy does seem to suit you.”

Ulana laughed good-naturedly. “I might just start following you around, oh intrepid leader. You always manage to find the biggest, most exciting trouble to get into.”

“Yeah. Tell me something that I don’t know,” Lolo grinned.

***

To Huo Lohse Lang, Phoenix Tribe, Palace, Guest Quarters

From Fortus Arum, Lion Tribe, Palace, Guest Quarters

June 15

Lolo,

The meeting was an incredible success this morning. All four main tribes came together eager to offer aid, and every small tribe in attendance was grateful to accept it. Your concern for the small tribes was timely.

It was interesting to note which tribe leaders didn’t show up. You specifically mentioned concern for the Boar and Komodo Tribes because of their proximity to the Dragon Tribe. The Boar Tribe leader was there, but the Komodo Tribe leader was not. Also missing were the leaders from the Crocodile and Shark Tribes, located near the Dragon Tribe by the South Waters, and the Snake Tribe.

Perhaps most compellingly, Badger Tribe Leader Anam didn’t make it, even though he specifically promised the messenger that he would. Your father insisted that he sent everyone invitations and that he had confirmed the success of the deliveries with each of his messengers. I don’t suppose that you’ve heard from Durfein recently, have you? I can’t help but notice that, on a map, after the previously mentioned tribes, the next small tribe along the southern road from the Dragon Tribe is the Badger Tribe.

Hopefully, I’m just being paranoid, but I plan to request permission from King Hospes to personally investigate why the small tribe leaders to the south didn’t make it to the meeting. I’ll keep you posted.

Fortus

***

To Huo Lohse Lang, Phoenix Tribe, Palace, Guest Quarters

From Standig Tragen, Bear Tribe, Leader’s Lodge

June 16

Lolo,

Fortus said he updated you about the meeting already. I’ll be brief, so I can send this letter in time to reach you by tonight. Jadu and I are joining Fortus tomorrow to visit the Badger Tribe. Perhaps you and Ulana would care to investigate with us? If not, maybe we will try to swing by the Phoenix Tribe to give you an update in person and harass the Phoenix Tribe military with you. Fortus told me that you actually lost your temper on the Phoenix General. I’m sad I wasn’t there to watch. I’d pay to see that.

Standig

***

“Your majesty,” Huo Lohse addressed King Ukhaan first thing at the council meeting the next morning, “I have a request.”

“Name it.”

“I’ve received word about the success of the tribe leader’s meeting, but there were some smaller tribes suspiciously missing in attendance. I’d like to request permission to investigate their absence.”

The king chuckled. “Of course you would have more information on the success of the meeting than even I do and more details of who was and was not there. Could you share your intelligence report with me?”

Lolo handed him her letter from Fortus.

“I see,” the Old Phoenix’s cheerful countenance was replaced by one of deep concern as he read through the letter. “The Badger Tribe is near our territory. If something has happened to them without our knowledge, I want to know about it as soon as possible. Take a battalion of soldiers with you, princess Lang. I’d prefer that you exercise too much caution than too little.”

“Thank you, your majesty,” Lolo bowed.

Within the hour, Lolo and Ulana had one thousand armed and armored men assembled under Captain Dulaan to visit the Badger Tribe.

“Princess Lang, would you mind filling me in?” Captain Dulaan asked as they moved out. “Why are we taking troops to the Badger Tribe?”

“I hope it’s just a precaution.” The tremor in Lolo’s voice gave away her anxiety.

“Worst case scenario?” Captain Dulaan dug.

“Worst case, the Badger Tribe has been destroyed, and we’re going to bury the bodies.”

Ulana wheeled around. “What?!”

Lolo swallowed hard. “I said ‘worst case’.”

“Ok, then what is the best case scenario?”

“That nothing is wrong, and Tribe Leader Anam simply had something come up that prevented him from attending the tribe leader’s meeting this weekend.”

“Do we need to be prepared for a fight?” Captain Dulaan asked.

“Be prepared for anything, captain,” Lolo replied. “We could get there, find nothing, and return home. We might get there to find it swarming with Dragon Tribe soldiers, and we might get there to find the aftermath of a battle. Or none of the above. We are investigating because we don’t have answers.”

Satisfied, Captain Dulaan moved off.

“Are you ok?” Ulana grabbed her friend’s arm, keenly aware of Lolo's anxious tells.

“Maybe ask me that question later.”

“What is it, Lolo?”

“Just Fortus’s letter. He’s worried too. Fortus doesn’t worry about nothing, Ulana.”