Overwhelming Firepower

The three chiefs of the nearby tribes had arrived at almost exactly the same time. The chief of the Ashfang Tribe was a large man similar to Varek.

On his back was his weapon of choice, a warhammer that was larger than most. It was made from the bones of powerful monsters.

His body, which was barely covered, was filled with many grey tattoos, which proved his valor in many battles. Alongside him were several tattooed warriors of their tribe.

Next was the chief of the Frost Wolf tribe. He was wearing a lot of fur, and unlike other barbarians, he was wearing leather armor.

He had different weapons all over his body, a spear, a sword, a knife, and much more hidden here and there. He, too, brought a few tattooed warriors of his tribe with him.

Finally, the last chief was from the Red Tusk Tribe. She was the only female chief, and the many red tattoos prove her qualifications.

Unlike the other chiefs who came here with a few warriors, she came alone, with only a bow and a few arrows.

The three chiefs looked at each other, but before they could say anything, Varek arrived in front of them and spoke.

”I’m glad everyone was able to make it so quickly.”

”What is this all about, Varek?” The chief of the Frost Wolf tribe asked.

”I’m not the one who’ll be able to answer that question, Gulfgr,” Varek answered.

”Then who will be the one to answer that question?” The female chief, Sylla, was the one to ask this time.

Varek then gestured at the people who were standing behind him. They didn’t react much when they saw Lucen, but the second they saw Sir Thalos, Sylla almost unconsciously drew her bow.

While everyone was focused on Sir Thalos, Karsh, the Ashfang Tribe chief, was staring at Thrall, who simply shrugged his shoulders with a faint smile on his face.

There was a moment of silence and tension between the two sides.

”Is this stone dweller the one who has something to say?” Sylla, who lowered her hand that was reaching out for her bow, asked her sight never leaving Sir Thalos.

”There seems to be a misunderstanding here. I’m not the one who wishes to speak to you all. It is the young lord who wants to talk.” Sir Thalos gestured to Lucen.

It was at that moment that the group finally shifted its focus to Lucen. This young man was someone, Sir Thalos called his young lord with such respect that could only mean this was the son of the unbreakable one.

”Since I don’t want to waste anyone’s time, I’ll get straight to the point. I wish for the tribes to fight alongside me in an upcoming battle.”

For a heartbeat, no one responded. Then, Gulfgr of the Frost Wolf tribe started laughing.

”Stone Dweller, I don’t know if you understand this, but here we don’t care about your titles or who your Father is. Out here, the only thing that matters is strength.”

”Then how do I prove my strength for you to fight alongside me?” Lucen asked while already guessing what the answer would be.

”How else, of course, through battle!”

Gulfgr’s laughter echoed across the gathering ground, sharp and unrestrained. A few Frost Wolf warriors grinned, gripping their weapons with open anticipation.

Before Lucen could respond, Karsh of the Ashfang Tribe spoke first.

”I, Karsh, as the chief of the Ashfang Tribe, have made a decision. We of the Ashfang Tribe will go to battle with the young warrior.”

The second Karsh said those words, most people were surprised. Even Lucen and Thrall were quite surprised to hear those words.

The only ones who did not show any reaction were the warriors of the Ashfang Tribe. Sylla, the chief of the Red Tusk Tribe, did not speak up and decided to see how things went.

On the other hand, Gulfgr’s whose laughter was cut off mid-breath stopped for a few seconds. His grin slowly faded as he turned to stare at Karsh, disbelief plain on his face.

”What kind of trick is this?” A few of Gulfgr’s tattoos started glowing a little. ”Did you just say that you will fight alongside this Stone Dweller without even testing him?”

”Chief Varek has already fought the young warrior in an Einvígi and has proven himself. Are you telling me that isn’t enough to prove his strength?”

Hearing Karsh’s response made Gulfgr grit his teeth. ”How can I believe that?! How is a Stone Dweller who looks to have just finished his first hunt, able to fight Varek in an Einvígi?!”

”So you need to see it with your own eyes? Do you not trust the word of an honorable warrior like Varek?”

The second Karsh said those words, Gulfgr finally noticed that a few Stone Hawk Tribe warriors were glaring at him.

”I do trust Varek, but this and that are different.” It was obvious to anyone that Gulfgr was having a hard time with what he wanted to say.

It was at this moment that Sylla decided to speak up. ”I understand both sides. Still, I know the cunning chief of the Ashfang Tribe wouldn’t go to battle just like that. You must have a deeper reason. So what is it? Don’t even think about saying it’s because they took care of your son, I won’t believe it.”

”It is partly because of my son. I do appreciate the Stone Dwellers taking care of him, but that isn’t the full reason. Have any of you thought about what the Stone Dweller’s Styrhord means for us?”

”Isn’t that just another word for war among the Stone Dwellers?” Gulfgr asked, sounding genuinely confused by the entire thing.

To Lucen, who was just listening to their conversation, felt that among the barbarian chiefs, Gulfgr was the closest he imagined a barbarian chief was.

But it turns out, Gulfgr was part of the minority as the three other chiefs seemed to be much wiser than he anticipated.

’I guess, I really was prejudiced... I think I’ll blame all those novels and shows that portrayed barbarians as all muscles and little brains. Yup, I’ll just blame those things.’

While Lucen was convincing himself about other things, the conversation between the chiefs continued.

”No, it’s not that simple. Young warrior, can you explain to everyone what a Styrhord is?” The Ashfang Tribe chief suddenly spoke to Lucen.

Take a little by surprise, Lucen’s Acting Adept came in handy once again as it masked his surprise. Lucen began explaining to those present what a Styrhord meant.

”So it’s a war of annihilation of one’s entire clan.” Gulfgr, who was finally calming down, now understood how serious the Styrhord was.

Even those who enjoyed battle and found honor in death felt a little uncomfortable hearing about the Styrhord.

As warriors, they were no strangers to war. In fact, a few barbarian tribes act as mercenaries if need be and have experienced wars between the Stone Dwellers. Still, even if they would not annihilate one’s entire bloodline.

”I understand now that this Styrhord is much more serious than I thought, but even then, why would you and your tribe willingly join such a battle?” Sylla continued to question.

”You still don’t see it?...” Karsh mumbled to himself. ”Who here hasn’t raided the Stone Dweller’s villages?”

Hearing Karsh’s sudden question, many of the barbarians looked at one another, but no one raised their hand.

”Yes, all of us have done this. Some did it because they needed food, clothing, or something else they needed from the village. Of course, that was in the past; now we can safely trade with the Stone Dwellers.”

Karsh then paused for a few seconds as he spoke the next words; his voice became heavier.

”Others would attack the so-called fortresses of the Stone Dwellers to have a bout with their warriors. This was to acquire honor from battle, to prove oneself, as is our tradition. Our old even go there simply so that they may die in battle, not on a bed helplessly waiting for the end, but with sword at hand.”

He let his gaze sweep across the gathered warriors and chiefs alike.

”That is our way. That is how our fathers died, and how many of us expect to die as well. The only reason we can continue with this tradition is that the unbreakable one is the one who is in charge. He is a true warrior who understands our traditions, and his men are warriors as well. But what do you think will happen if by some chance the unbreakable one loses this Styrhord?”

The atmosphere shifted. A few of the warriors were starting to understand what was in Karsh’s mind.

”If the unbreakable one and his clan are no more, then what do you think the next Stone Dweller who takes over his place will do? They might think we are a nuisance and completely wipe us out.”

Hearing those words made most of the barbarians frown. They understood that if the Stone Dwellers sent in their armies, no matter how brave or skilled their elite warriors were, they would not be able to overcome those numbers.

”So we either join this young warrior and fight for that chance of victory. Or we can just wait and die in battle later when they come to annihilate us all.”

Silence gripped the gathering. Every chief understood the choice now: fight beside the young warrior for a chance of their tribe’s survival, or to fight with just themselves and face total annihilation.