Elders

The air seemed nervous, the patch-eyed sentry walked me over towards one of the huts, larger than the rest, more akin to a town hall, even if so a more rundown one. Two more guards held ground near it, donning some sort of frilled and feathered ceremonial leather armour. They exchanged a silent glance with the patch eye, and stepped aside to let us through.

Silently, we proceeded inside, marching onward into a hall constructed with wood, lined with a stone foundation with rows of tanned and skinned animal rugs to provide insulation. Seated in were four elders and one village chief, the latter possessing a seat more elevated than the rest of the podium.

There was an odd tension in the air, and I, for one, was not about to part with the initiative this time. The value of steering any conversation was immeasurable in any negotiation.

"You are elders of this village, are you not? Looks like this place has seen better days." I kept myself level-headed, trying to create a positional balance between both parties where I could seize advantage. "Not to mention, I've heard of the lost expedition. Allow me to be plain here, at the rate you are progressing. You will not survive this winter, your people are doomed."

Hushed whispers followed, the village elders all looked at each other, they seemed unsure if they were more concerned or offended. Hushed whispers from some more persons around them seemed to stop them from the latter. It was a dangerous game, but prophetic assumptions were my only way to gain a better foothold on these people, establish a base that I could work out of until I could move on.

Then came the crack of wood against the floor, the oldest of the bunch rose to his feet and walked towards me. Leaning against the support of his cane, frilled helm slipping slightly off his head.

"Nonsense, our village of Arborest has stood the test of time for three centuries. We're all descendants of the blessed residents of Sol Raesh-lam. We've maintained the boundary between the Holy Kingdom of Quad and the Exiled Lands for generations. How will we believe your-"

"You need not." I replied coldly, trying my best to hide the smirk that my expression almost betrayed. I had just received a tantalising density of information. Much of which seemed to somewhat confirm my theory, with the slight addendum of what I presume to be the primary spiritual centre of this kingdom of four whose residence seem to enjoy greater prestige than others.

"For it would be that very hubris that dooms you. By sending others into the Exiled Lands, past the Cathedral, you've violated the territory of the Frozen Ones, thus disrupting a status quo, and a new one must be set. One which you do not have the time nor people to enforce."

It was a guess, a bluff, and a long shot method that would work at a stretch based on the information that I scantly possessed. The one thing I couldn't afford to let them do, was contemplating. I needed to first offer a carrot before I bring the stick.

"However, I am not here for such matters." I brought out one of the solar medallions I possessed, the very sight of which made them all tense up once again. "My pilgrimage is not complete yet, and promises to be longer than anticipated. All I am here to ask for is residence, seven days and seven nights to be precise. In exchange, I shall help alleviate your scarcities of timber, sustenance and guide your warriors."

With that, I pocketed the medallion back, crossing my hands behind my back as I let the four discuss between themselves. As I expected, not every elder was convinced, but the proposition seemed relatively unintrusive enough that they agreed, most eagerly and some reluctantly. 

Another elder rose, the only one to remove her beaked bone mask and rest her golden eyes upon me. She seemed no older than forty, very few streaks of dark silver accenting her raven hair. Even as she walked down, I could feel an imposing air about her, not of oppressive strength but a degree of shrewd intelligence. This one I had to be weary of, even though she seemed most passionate to accept my proposal, I could sense that there was more to her than met the eye.

"I'm Elder Calida, the hearth-keeper for our humble village, and it'll be my pleasure to show you to your quarters, your holiness. Would you be so kind as to tell us your name?" She spoke, her voice level and welcoming like honey, yet before I could respond I felt a fire course through my lungs as my tone grew stoic and collected off its own accord.

"Shisoka Tetsu."

"A unique name, are you from the Eastern territories?" She asked, opening the door for me to lead our conversation outside.

Following her gesture, I trailed her through the village as our conversation continued. I tried to stick to near truths as much as possible, to not conflate any contradicting information.

"Indeed, from a small island in the eastern territories. It has been quite a journey to make it here."

"So your first name is placed after your family name? In which case would you prefer if I called you Shisoka, or Tetsu?" She spoke with a deceptively comforting smile, one which I'd fallen for in youth, but not after knowing just how concealing such mannerisms can be.

"Tetsu is fine, then I'll call you Calida. Speaking quite frankly, I saw you agree with much of what I told the Elders, but that's not why you supported my stay, is it?"

I chose bluntness, and for a moment I could see her smile strain. What followed was a half-hearted chuckle and an expression so still that it carried an intimidation factor of its own. As we reached the vacant house, which I presumed I would occupy, she rather firmly gripped my hand and pulled me inside, shutting and locking the door behind us.

"You're clever, too much for your own good. Be glad that no one else heard you there, just because this is a depopulated village doesn't mean the walls don't have ears." Her visage bore a completely different expression now. Furrowed brows, fierce piercing gaze and a grip that was too firm for just a simple keeper of the hearth. Instincts knew it, this was a warriors' grip.

"Let's talk, a little more comfortably? How about the table right there."

She released her grip, and I promptly took a seat upon the rustic table, her following suit right behind. Both of us taking a moment to catch our breaths, and as was evident by now, gauging and sizing up one another. She took the initiative this time.

"The village chief is lying to all of us."