Barter.

As they reached the front, the roars of battle seemed to grow even louder, as everyone began to hesitate.

“Young men, I have no doubt that Alba has invested you with courage beyond my expectations, so that you would follow me into this battle.”

“W… well, he didn’t say that Alba offered us the victory.”

“He did it, that doesn't mean we won't die in the process.”

“B… but we’ll win, right?”, in panic, it clearly turned into a sad reward.

“There can be no doubt about that fact,” he spoke with the determination he never expected to have.

By the time we finally arrived, they were aiming stones at us, while a woman came jumping from the edge just a couple of meters away from the wall.

“What do you want?”

“Blood and glory in the Bastion.” I spoke, in the closest thing I had to the fierce, determined tone I would practice in the near future.

“Hey, were you ever part of the tribe?” His spirits lifted greatly, and he climbed down the wall with the rope.

"No, but I have studied your customs and thoughts. Furthermore, in times of need, we have come to your aid. I have brought the bravest and most capable with me to participate in this desperate defense." As the stone axe's blade ground against my neck, that was the answer I saw coming.

“Will my people be safe from your weapons inside?” The anger was so predictable that it almost seemed rehearsed.

“Nothing, only the certainty that Dawn has guaranteed us victory.” The advancing blade made me take a step forward, and I let my neck bleed a little, the stinging of the wound rising as sweat soaked that area, noticing how they became alert. “Besides, I'm prone to betraying the truth, especially in treaties,” I emphasized that last point. “A simple deception and the front doors would be open.” I took another step, and my neck moved from the blade to the wooden handle. “Tell me, don't you think I've shown enough honesty?” Only fear kept me frozen in place, instead of fleeing like a coward.

"When your goddess gets involved in conflicts, she rarely fails," he reversed the blade, tapping the wood behind him twice, and the warriors hurried to open it. "As soon as everything here is settled, we'll talk properly and see if they're truly honest. Put your men in front."

I summoned boundless confidence, and my plan gained momentum. “I will personally grant you the most direct victory you could imagine.” I raised my hand for emphasis, clenching it tightly before taking aim. “You will see him on that hill. When my troops descend, the enemy will flee in terror.” I turned around in what I considered a sufficiently theatrical act, while everyone else looked a little worried. “Men, it is time for our valor to shine, for our forces to fight the savages and undisciplined. It is time for you to reclaim the glory that Alba has promised you, White Guard.”

The surprise was very strong as the doors closed again, and with it, our path around. Some of us were more determined than before, while we reckoned on minor problems.

“Excuse me, young Abaddon, but,” he gulped, as the sound of the war increased. “How exactly did we win in your vision?”

“I have no idea, I only saw us seal an alliance pact and then head off to a more pressing battle, but I have a couple of ideas from what I saw.”

"So?".

“Yes, right there and we won’t even fight.”

We left almost without haste, as we arrived and climbed the small hill and immediately they began to dig the earth and some to cut down the trees, finished and with the first tremors I spoke.

“EVERYONE, GET UP, TIME TO PUSH THE TREES HARD,” I shouted loudly, as I stopped the final pushes.

Once gathered, we were able to put all our effort into it and with a little liquid formed small clumps that directed the tree down the hill. There was a steering mechanic in the game, but this should have been just as easy with my knowledge of inertia.

Once we reached the last two trees, the dozens of fallen and seriously injured were finished off with relative ease, while they found the problem with our direction and with that I spoke giving new instructions.

"Everyone, attention, shout this at the top of your lungs." I wrote it on the floor, while giving a short spoken example that everyone heard and repeated afterward.

“Kua?”, obvious confusion, as they tried to pronounce it better.

"They'll know how to interpret it; what matters is that we do it well or it won't work."

“Good,” he nodded, recalling a bit of his past as a hunter.

"When I announce the beast's departure, we must charge against the besieging troops. Do not doubt that every blow you strike will be the judgment of the holy faith, every step your duty, which will reward us all with a more than reliable ally and a position you perhaps never thought you would have. You will be able to live out your days in leisure, knowing that you have earned it. You have the courage they always saw in you." He took the last one by the shoulders and spoke more forcefully. "You will be heroes; from the same legends you have heard so much about." From the enemy's astonishment and lack of restraint in his bravado, I knew that morale was at rock bottom.

We readied ourselves, and the cry echoed loudly, from barely a dozen voices, and I began to descend high above, weapon in hand. "Depart, clothe, and consume your enemies." With that signal, all the warriors descended, and we continued on our way, charging the enemy. Then we saw them retreat.

By the time we reached the wall they were on the defensive and I ordered them to line up, ready for a sudden onslaught and the same scream they made in the ravine echoed, as a few people came towards us thrown by the creature's blow no doubt and only one made it high enough to overcome the barriers.

“He’s having fun.” I pointed behind the troops, in case something happened to me by mistake, and spoke to the one above. “We’ve kept our end of the bargain; you’re ready to talk now.”

“Who are you, warrior?” fearful words sounded. “What beast have you brought to our fight?”

"Your daughter has shown good judgment in making an alliance with us. I only seek to make it official. Please don't misinterpret our intentions, Chief of the Sunken Tribe." I clarified, noticing them speaking loudly.

After a while, they opened the doors and with that, we saw her, while everyone seemed to surround us with the closest thing they had to courage, given the way their weapons trembled.

“So, are you leading us to your community hall, or should we expect a war that ends with all of us dead, except for a couple of my warriors and you, of course?”

“You’ve got courage, kid, put down your weapons.”

It's not like they could resist for long, defending from the morning must not have been easy at all and seeing how some of them lay down after the order, I considered that there were not many reasons for us to use force and we continued our way to the communal house and I ordered them to stay outside except for one, who clearly seemed less tired or worried.

“Daughter, speak to me, they agreed to help you.”

“And… I thought they wouldn't survive, and we didn't agree on anything, just help. I don't know what we can offer them,” I said with a tinge of concern, as I clarified everything. “If I had known they brought such a dress, I would have been more careful, Father…”

The all-too-familiar gesture for silence was made by the chief. "What was clearly a lost battle was saved by our guests, and I feel compelled to ask." He took a deep breath before continuing. "What do you want from my tribe?"