Azazor and a heavy-bodied homin sit around a fire in the Hidden Spring marauding camp. A leg of bodoc is cooking over the fire, while a barrel of shooki liqueur, already well-started, slowly thaws next to it..
- In the end, the matis chickened out and didn't come to escort the caravan. There was only the alcoholic ambassador Nilstilar, present from beginning to end, and the royal clerk Copal, who followed the entire journey through the kingdom without flinching..
- See, I told you they'd snub you..
- Yeah... When I think that they've filled our heads with their rules and their attempt at submission, and the result? Nothing. No matter how hard I prodded the two present, nothing happened. Head down and not a word. So what to think?
- How weak they are.
- Yep, in front of Naveruss and Ulymorus, in a position of strength due to their numbers and the mediocrity of our negotiators, they were able to show off. But in front of all the trykers and fyros present, as well as the rangers, they kept a low profile..
The homin nods in agreement, while Azazor pauses, seeming to reflect..
- Or maybe they realized they'd overdone it and decided not to add to it. Maybe they'd heard about the Trykers' discontent and the risk of the convoy passing through the Shadow Route. After all, I was close to pulling it off..
- In the end, only Naveruss was blocked.?
- That's it. That's it. Even Wixarika was up for it. Anyway, it's a good thing they didn't come to escort us. Just goes to show, it's only the balance of power that works with them. A good blow of pressure, head held high, and there they go..
- You have to use your nerve. That's usually enough with most homins. It's only with kitins that it doesn't work..
The homin bursts out laughing, followed by Azazor..
- Too bad Naveruss didn't understand that. But she obviously didn't understand a lot of things..
- She's probably mad at you?
- What if she's mad at me? Of course she is. She has her pride. She even offered me a duel, which I was happy to refuse. What would that have proved? That she's a better fighter? And then what? In any case, without the real death at stake, duels are a joke..
- Ask him to fight without armor.
- Why would I do that? To scare him with my scars?
- Non, ton gros bide.
Azazor smiled and patted his stomach..
- You can talk!
- No, you idiot. She has to fight without armor so that combat encourages dodging rather than parrying. Too often in the New Lands, homins fight by parrying. And yet, when death can take you permanently, you don't want to parry blows but avoid them at all costs. So force her to fight by dodging. And you'll win..
- How do you know?
- That's all you've been doing your whole trip. Otherwise, you'd be dead.
As he says this, he cuts off a piece of grilled bodoc and hurriedly swallows it..
- There's no denying it, I've missed this cooked meat. You really must come back to the Cloudy Cliff Outpost with Eeri. We've never eaten so well.
- One day perhaps my big Krapoutos, one day... when I have completely despaired of my people...
He also helps himself to a piece of bodoc, which he passes along with a glassful of shooki. Behind them, the marauders look on warily. It's not every day they tolerate a Fyros patriot in their camp. But Akilia is on the prowl and Krapoutos answers for him. And it's true that this grilled bodoc smells delicious!.
- In the end, the matis chickened out and didn't come to escort the caravan. There was only the alcoholic ambassador Nilstilar, present from beginning to end, and the royal clerk Copal, who followed the entire journey through the kingdom without flinching..
- See, I told you they'd snub you..
- Yeah... When I think that they've filled our heads with their rules and their attempt at submission, and the result? Nothing. No matter how hard I prodded the two present, nothing happened. Head down and not a word. So what to think?
- How weak they are.
- Yep, in front of Naveruss and Ulymorus, in a position of strength due to their numbers and the mediocrity of our negotiators, they were able to show off. But in front of all the trykers and fyros present, as well as the rangers, they kept a low profile..
The homin nods in agreement, while Azazor pauses, seeming to reflect..
- Or maybe they realized they'd overdone it and decided not to add to it. Maybe they'd heard about the Trykers' discontent and the risk of the convoy passing through the Shadow Route. After all, I was close to pulling it off..
- In the end, only Naveruss was blocked.?
- That's it. That's it. Even Wixarika was up for it. Anyway, it's a good thing they didn't come to escort us. Just goes to show, it's only the balance of power that works with them. A good blow of pressure, head held high, and there they go..
- You have to use your nerve. That's usually enough with most homins. It's only with kitins that it doesn't work..
The homin bursts out laughing, followed by Azazor..
- Too bad Naveruss didn't understand that. But she obviously didn't understand a lot of things..
- She's probably mad at you?
- What if she's mad at me? Of course she is. She has her pride. She even offered me a duel, which I was happy to refuse. What would that have proved? That she's a better fighter? And then what? In any case, without the real death at stake, duels are a joke..
- Ask him to fight without armor.
- Why would I do that? To scare him with my scars?
- Non, ton gros bide.
Azazor smiled and patted his stomach..
- You can talk!
- No, you idiot. She has to fight without armor so that combat encourages dodging rather than parrying. Too often in the New Lands, homins fight by parrying. And yet, when death can take you permanently, you don't want to parry blows but avoid them at all costs. So force her to fight by dodging. And you'll win..
- How do you know?
- That's all you've been doing your whole trip. Otherwise, you'd be dead.
As he says this, he cuts off a piece of grilled bodoc and hurriedly swallows it..
- There's no denying it, I've missed this cooked meat. You really must come back to the Cloudy Cliff Outpost with Eeri. We've never eaten so well.
- One day perhaps my big Krapoutos, one day... when I have completely despaired of my people...
He also helps himself to a piece of bodoc, which he passes along with a glassful of shooki. Behind them, the marauders look on warily. It's not every day they tolerate a Fyros patriot in their camp. But Akilia is on the prowl and Krapoutos answers for him. And it's true that this grilled bodoc smells delicious!.