Chapter Eight, the State of the Clans

The ride was bumpy, loud, and very cold. The Lifter, she was informed over the roar of its engines, was military surplus. They'd bought it about forty years ago for exactly this sort of thing.

They set down in a small town further into the mountains. It had a wall over the mouth of the valley, the main road lead up the small valley. The houses were dug into the sides, but even the visible parts were quite large. At the end of the road was a platform, the lifter set down there.

After the engines had cut off a man walked up and began talking to the hunters. Judgng by the hand gestures they were discussing her. Finnaly the archer stepped over to her.
"Name's Ishylde, Dad says to show you to some quarters. Come with me."

She followed the girl further up the hill, taking in as much of her surroundings as possible at the pace set by her guide.
"Ross tells me your here for the empire; are they sending out a call to arms then?"
"Yes actually; were you interested?"
"Of course, I'd like nothing better. But things here in the mountains the way they are dad needs every warrior we have."
"Your father is the mayor?"
"Chieftan."
"Sorry. What's this problem I've been hearing about?"
"Ga-Vok general came up to deliver an ultimatum. High King Jalaan; well he wasn't really the king just said he was, definetly high though; anyways, he told him where he could stick the Alpha's command."
"Tassand took his head off, didn't he?"
"Who? You mean the Ga-Vok guy? Yea, it was pretty awesome actually. The general pulled this masive sword off his back and chopped him in half, Slash! one hit and it was over. The guards were to scared to do anything about it. Since then all the chieftans have been fighting to take his place."

Alicea stopped her.
"You mean to tell me you have less than a season before the Ga-Vok begin exterminating you and you haven't even decided whether or not to fight back?"
"What's to decide, of course we'll fight them. We just don't know who will lead us. There's a tournament here on saturday to settle the matter."

~We should..~
"Shut up"
"What?"
"Nothing; what'll it take to compete in the tournament?"
"It's open to all comers, but there's going to be some pretty tough competition. I hear Hevglir Frosthammer is competing."
"I'll compete, and I'll win. I was sent to bring the Nielda of Gasca to the defense of their world; and I'm going to do it."