Book 4 Chapter 22

The crowd cheered, their voices coming together in a low roar that shook the valley and scattered many of the small creatures that had been drawn by the heat and smell of food. Fari raised her arms, an unspoken call for calm, and waited until the noise died down once again before continuing.

“Clan Waythe,” She said turning in Dun’s direction. Her eyes passed over the young boy standing near him but didn’t pause, sweeping over the group Dun had brought, “As the Clan that called for the Moot, who will speak for you?”

Dun stepped forward his face confident but stern, “I, Dun, will speak for Clan Waythe as its Cheif and representative.”

As he spoke hisses and mocking shouts broke out from the crowds around Krawl and Jacta. Dun didn’t react though standing proudly as he let the hate wash over him uselessly. He waited patiently, and soon Fari called out viscously, “Interfering with the mute is a grand crime, hold your tongues unless you want them cut out…”

The crowd quieted almost instantly… Dun glanced at Rev, his expression neutral as he went on, his voice rising across the valley walls. “I’ve called for the Moot tonight because the Tribe faces a danger never before seen in our mountains….”

“Quit your grandstanding and get to the point!” Rev yelled, earning another cheer from his clanmates.

“I have the right to speak Rev…” Dun countered, his eyes narrowing, “Do you have a problem with the rules our ancestors set?”

Rev stood instantly, his lips curled into a sneer, “I have a problem with you and your bullshit Dun!”

“Then challenge me to a duel if you’ve got the balls Rev!” Dun yelled back his own anger radiating off of him. His clan stood with him as well yelling at rev to fight if he dared. The members of Krawl clan stood behind Rev yelling in support as tensions rose.

Just as it looked like a fight might really break out, Furi slammed her staff into the ground, the attached bones rattling eerily. “Enough! Havo is hosting this Moot Rev and I have given Dun the right to speak, if you have a problem with that then Clan Havo will be more than happy to accompany you…”

The warning came as a shock to Rev, who swallowed his words as he took a reluctant step back, avoiding the sight of Dun’s smug smile. Fari, seeing him step back, nodded, “You’ll have your chance to speak Rev, until then I don’t want to hear another word out of Krawl Clan.” She turned back to Dun, her eyes searching his, “Though I must admit, I too don’t appreciate being spoken to in such roundabout terms…”

Dun shook his head sadly, it's not roundabout. It's the truth! How many men and women have we lost since the start of the Beast disaster? Clan Waythe can’t be the only clan at its breaking point. Dealing with a Beast once a year is simple, once a month dangerous, but possible… But an attack every week? Every 3 days? And who knows if it will get worse. What happens when they start showing up every day?”

His eyes traveled across the other clans, where he could see signs of reluctant agreement. Each clan had faced the dangers, and none had been left undamaged. Dun’s voice soared as he looked up at the stars above them, “How could we just sit in our valleys, waiting until the Beasts grind us to nothing and destroy the great tribe our ancestors left in our hands…”

“So, what do you propose?” Fari asked, her eyes curious.

“Even now,” Dun continued, “The only reason we’ve survived this long was the Shard that was gifted to us by our ancestors Without its power to control the mountains, we would have fallen in the first weeks of the disaster. I believe they have given us another boon.”

A low mutter went through the crowd as the other tribes pondered his words. It was a well-known fact that the shard had been a gift from the ancestors, a way to help strengthen the tribe. The tribe’s reverence for its original creators ran deep, and hearing that they had been given another gift, even the members of Krawl clan seemed interested.

Dun smiled confidently, he turned back pulling Tirr forward as he showed him to the rest of the Tribe. “The ancestors guided us to the Shard two years ago, now I say they have guided the source of the shard to us as well, to further strengthen the Tribe and to help us survive and overcome the Beast Disaster!”

“The outsiders!” Rev yelled instantly his voice followed quickly by others. “Are you trying to say the flatlanders are some kind of gift from the Anscdetors?” His words drew more support from his allies, and even the members of Havo looked hesitant, with Fari wearing a troubled expression.

“Yes,” Dun answered easily, acting as if he didn't hear the venom in the other man's words, “This god of the flatlanders as incomparable strength and control over the shards. He can slay beasts that would take a whole clan days in a matter of moments.”

Dun’s hand pressed easily on Tirr’s shoulder. The young god stood proudly, enjoying Dun’s praise. As the rest of the tribe whispered uneasily, Dun swept a hand out, his voice full of conviction. “Having such a person arrive just when the tribe needs them most, what else could this be besides the will of the ancestors?”