SPIRAL MOUNTAIN PLAINS, 1600 AD

Clan Gezon

Ah, such beautiful sundown. If it be my last, at least I had my fill.

We sat around the burning ember, to male rest for the tedious day. The stars twinkled in the drawing darkness. In their graceful glow they whispered -- beauty.

We had been trailing the borders of our tribe, something we did often. We would ensure no one was stretching into our lands.  Securing our territory was paramount. If we faced an intruder, then we would challenge him and make him suffer. Death sometimes was inevitable.

Now, it was time to camp, rest and prepare for our return tomorrow

Seated before the campfire, each one of us was lost deeply in the heated discussion.
We talked about bravery which had been birthed from our tribe and neighbouring clan.
We talked as well about the growth and future of our clan. Gezon had felt its fair share of darkness. The new era of rule -- my rule, would define a moment of our strength and increase.

Some had opposed the decision of the warriors in nominating me their leader. Many elders doubted my competence. In their eyes I was nothing but an ambitious and arrogant youth.
Well sometimes change demanded ambition and arrogance. I'll give them that!

Strength. What was strength without arrogance? It was arrogance to nature, tearing young boys from their mothers -- setting them upon the venture in the wild with their father's. But it was the same actions that had turned us formidable.

In my view, strength was indeed birthed by arrogance...and arrogance did purge fear. I remembered the first moment I took a man's soul. It was then I felt the entire suppression of the plague of fear.

I was merely nine, and the enemy was no youth. Haven stumbled upon enemies while faring the wilderness, my father lunged for the killing, leaving me to stand for myself. I drew out the blade from my scabbard and stood. All my fears came to life -- every single one. It was like a mighty hand had struck me, and I couldn't move a bone. I fumbled, and it interested the adversary. But in that moment, a strange resolve slammed into me and then I realised how much I wanted to live. I would not die this day. Eventually running my blade through the foe's throat, I felt purged -- I felt clarity wash over me. I understood myself a true warrior then.

As the talk proceeded, I glanced at the faces of my drunken friends. Warmth soothed my heart at their presence. That sheer contentment now guided my thoughts away from the discussion and beyond. They had tranquility. These one's had been with me long enough -- from when we would set upon raids as a party, hitting on caravans traveling through our trails. Looking for the fine ladies of enemy clans. And making troubles through the Spiral Mountain Plains, the land upon which our ancestors had paved our culture and belief's

The seed of our youthful exuberance was sprouting now. Trouble was verily taking root. The Huldar clan -- mightiest clan of the Plains, were rallying now for a unification of the clans to become a single domain.

Aside that the Huldar clan had maintained in the last Clan assemblage, that they would of course ascend as ruler upon unification, I refuted the ludicrous idea because it was pointless. More so I could see beyond their sweet words. It was their brilliant pattern of inviting us to slavery. 

Yet in our refusal lay the threat. More than ever now I was committed to service to my people; they needed me, and I was motivated to stand strong for them.

Now in the midst of the heated discussion, we were keen to the absurd clatter of horses. A heavy company of men had cantered up in front of our camp and drawn reins.

I was alarmed at first, then confused. The strangers were traders, or passer-by's perhaps. What did they want from us? Clearly they didn't appear much like any of the Plains. They weren't covered in fur cloak against the cold. A few of them wore fine linen. The rest were a clad in tunic of brass.

Their light skin and exquisite style, told they were from a far strange land. I had never seen any one like them on the Plains, and the sight of them only sparked an uneasiness.

"Greetings to you!" they hailed.

"Greetings and welcome," I answered worriedly. "how can we be of any help?" I added in a haste, too anxious for the strange men to be done and be on their way.

My comrades whom were with me, were already keen and contemplating our chances if things went wrong. It wouldn't be fair on us! We were badly out numbered.

How did we not sense them drawing closer?

"Yes," Sneered the leader of the group suddenly. "you can determine that," He smirked, "if you are no faint hearts" His grin emerged.

Trouble, just as I had feared. My temper was yet ensnaring. My blade shut out in an instant,   barely considering our grounds. It glistened threateningly by the fires bidding. Then I sprung for the speaker. The mighty man relaxed atop the horseback, and with a simple movement of his cane, he flicked the weapon clean out of my hand and roared with laughter.

"Such might!"

Then he fixed his gaze on me and declared.
"How would it be to test your chance again, this time with my daughter Keiya as prize?"

My comrades who were now fear stricken at this event managed to comport themselves otherwise. We were just ten against a company of more than fifty riders. Worse, our best chance, I, had been made a public spectacle of.

"Leave this land...you and worthless daughter." My ego would still not let me see the fact of our stand.

"Gentle now my young man, least I make you sorry for your words." The leader of the riders warned in a growl, looking at me with a piercing gaze.

For a moment their was a silence of uncertainty. My hands itched around my rapiers, as I waited for it. My comrades made ready no lesser. The worst that could happen, was ten of us dying in the skirmish, but not without a deadly blow to the enemy company

"Mager! Put Keiya down! And let them all see with their eyes."
These weren't the words we anticipated. But we were still conscious. One of his men in the rare, rode briskly forward, and leaping down, he helped another figure down from same horse.

She was clad in a beautiful cloth, and her head was bowed. I couldn't see her face for she was veiled, but it was easy to guess what a beauty this was. She was slightly tall, and her movement was wrapped up by grace.

She was a sharp contrast to our women!

"Take off the veil! "Another order followed
Finally! I mentally gasped.

The servant obliged. And then we beheld the rare creature. A damsel like never seen before.

Her face was so radiant and calm, her eyes were downcast with long lashes and her lips slightly parted. Even now a sudden absurd inclination had hit me, and had I not willed myself otherwise, I would have moved up straight to her.

"She is yours for a prize," the leader of the riders declared.

"But how?" I asked confused, while the man Majer helped her into the saddle.

"The way the people of this clan and other clan talk about you Dorack, it appears you are the greatest fighter they ever had. Maybe its true! And maybe not! " The leader said then paused. But I, shocked by how he knew my name regarded this happening with strangeness.

"We are Northern men as you are, except we've come from a kingdom far from here. It took us two whole days to reach here, and all we were seeking was the best man...the greatest of the fighters. I must say am startled to see that its a youth after all. Never the less even young men do crazy things, and I like the fire and aggression you carry,  its one I never had when I was younger." The leader grinned tauntingly.

"What kingdom do you speak of?"I asked.

"Kedrone!"

"We are Iron Wolves, and what you speak of is not our way. We do not befriend strangers and indulge in their request."

"But it was not a request...it was a challenge."

"Still, " I insisted. "We would not consent."

The older man was displeased, I could see it in his eyes.

"Fine," he frowned. "You can decide to come or not, and I shall know you from this day by your choice. Cowards or valiant." He hissed and readied to go.

"Oh," he paused. "Should in case you change your mind." he tossed a parchment to me, and then led his company away.

Upon their departure, I discovered the parchment was a map. I truthfully had never seen any map as detailed as this one.

I was intrigued by the whole drama, but silent as soon as the men left. It was the first time in my life I had ever been humiliated in such a manner. Still, it unveiled a lot to me.

I couldn't start a fight. Of course my men wouldn't have stood the heat. The opponents were well girded with armed wears, and had horses to their advantage. The odds were indeed against us. And in spite of our insult, the leader of the riders wouldn't stir a skirmish. Interesting! Just who exactly was that man?

"Useless men! Moving around making trouble. Forget them all and let's go back. They have nothing better to offer." Deco, my oldest friend, brother, and my closest comrade tore in.

"I am going to Kedrone! " I declared suddenly.
My sudden decree in its absurd break threw my companions muddled.

"What?" They all exclaimed in shock. Their was deep disapprove in their disposition.

"No! You can not be serious. You cannot leave our clan for a stupid exhibition game." Deco told

"What if we can?" Dada frowned. His annoyance matched mine...yet I could sense darkness in his intent.

"What do you mean?" I invited him to speak.

"They are a large company. They wouldn't move fast. Worse, they do not know the Plains well enough. Give me order and I would arrange a band of raiders for ourselves. We would waylay them, massacre who we can, steal the beauty and shame that leader."

"Where is your honor Dada?" Deco scorned.

"This has nothing to do with honor." He retorted.

"Then at what cost?" I moved to him. "What you saw was but a fraction of their true forces. If we do as you say, more will come...and with death."

He was silent.

"Its not about the game. Strange men come up our home, spit on our faces and then leave. You think am doing it for the price? The woman?Am doing it for the honor of this clan. Which is why we must do every of this honorably." I told.

"But once surrounding clans hear that you have gone, they would want..."

"Deco!" I stopped him from further words.

"Gather the elders together...we have to speak now." I ordered and turned away.