Lev turned his eyes back to the old man. The old bird man stared back. “So what did you choose?”

After hearing Orva’s translation, the old man shook his head. “Tha mi airson a dhol ach chan eil mi cinnteach gun lean càch. Dè a nì thu iad?”

“He’s worrying the others won’t agree to come with us and he’s asking what will happen to them.”

“Nothing. I’ll just let them go.” With a shrug of his shoulders and a smirk on his lips, Lev replied.

Orva gave Lev a raised eyebrow before turning to the old man, who became shocked after hearing Lev’s answer.

“I’ll assure you that those who follow me will be treated well and nothing will happen to those who refuse.” Lev promised, earning a skeptic look from the old man.

“Feumaidh mi seo a dheasbad leis a ’chòrr de na daoine agam.”

Hearing from Orva that the old man needed to discuss his offer with the rest of his people, Lev let him go.

Waiting a few moments after everyone, barring Orva, left the tent, Lev’s shoulders sagged and he sighed. “I hate it when I can’t understand the other party. It makes negotiations difficult.”

“That’s what you need me for, isn’t it?” Orva mentioned, tapping her staff while shooting him an expectant look.

Knowing what’s on her mind, Lev laughed. “Yes, it is. In fact, thanks to your help, I’ve realized that the research department is in need of more experienced help, isn’t that right?”

“Just say it as it is, Lev. It would be faster for the both of us.” Shaking her head, she said in a humored tone.

“Being straightforward isn’t very fun, but sure. Expect an increase to you and your department’s research fund in the next meeting.”

“If you also dedicate more hands into recovering more relics and records from the older libraries, it would make this trip more worthwhile.”

Lev frowned. “Don’t push it, many of those buildings aren’t even damaged, they’re completely destroyed, recently as well. Something destroyed them just before we arrived and made it hard to recover anything worthwhile from them.”

Orva shrugged. “Suit yourself. It could uncover what went on with their race.”

“You also noticed, huh.”

“Yeah, they not only look different from the ones we met when we first came to the city and don’t turn to dust when they die, but everything about them is different. Their clothes, mannerisms, and, judging by how they allowed themselves to be captured and our interaction with the old man, their less aggressive nature shows they’re different from the ones that inhabited the city.”

“I bet my position that the ones in the city were artificial, they were anomalies. What do you think happened to them to make them what they were?”

“I honestly don’t have an answer to that. That’s one more reason to give me more manpower, we might understand more of what’s going on. over here. Being newcomers, we’re at a disadvantage.”

“That’s also another reason for getting the bird folk and other local species under our cause, we need their knowledge to properly map out the area, understand our surroundings and local threats, and gain a foothold in the region.”

Hearing the commotion from outside, Lev walked towards the exit. “Speaking of our new friends, it seems they’ve made their decision.”

Yells and cries filled the outside.

Lev couldn’t understand what the bird people were saying but he could make out that some of them were insults and curses.

The bird folk were divided into two groups whilst surrounded by many of Lev’s soldiers, their spears drawn at the two groups, mainly at the smaller one. Many of the larger of the two groups were tending to a bleeding grey-feathered old man whom Lev recognized was the one he was negotiating with.

“What in the world happened here?” An approaching Rapha asked, she was just returning from a patrol around the perimeter.

“I don’t know but I’m not going to let it last long. You two get the injured one a healer” Lev uttered, waving to some dumb-founded guards to come with him, he marched towards the commotion.

In the centre of it stood two bloodied bird folk who were tussled on the ground. One had black feathers and a blue mask, his body was covered by a wool cloak, while the other only wore a pair of blue pants, showing his large red feathered body and the sharp edges on his green mask.

The two figures rolled in the dirt, exchanging punches and kicks till they disentangled from each other.

The green masked one stood up first and kicked the blue masked bird man in the abdomen, knocking the air out of his lungs. He then stomped on the cloaked bird man’s face, cracking his mask.

With a kick to the guts, the cloaked bird man managed to not only cease his adversaries’ attacks but also push him away. Using that moment, he got up on his feet.

Both of them circled around each other until Lev arrived.

“That’s enough.” Lev told the two in a dreadful tone, shivers went down many of those who were watching the fight.

The red feathered one slightly lifted his mask and spat in Lev’s direction before standing in front of him.

Lev simply threw his glaive aside and cracked his neck. “If you have a brain, I advise you to back down.”

The green masked bird man gazed down on Lev and laughed. “Dè a tha thu ag iarraidh, shorty? Bidh mi a ’dèiligeadh riut mar a h-uile amadan eile a chuir stad a-steach aon uair‘ s gun dèan mi eisimpleir den mhartarach seo agus athair.” Pointing at a nearby injured bird man and bogey, the red bird man announced.

Lev sighed. “Seems you’ve already crossed my line.”

Before the red bird could reply, a slightly claw-shaped bronze dagger punctured his throat and dragged him closer to Lev, before getting repeatedly shanked in his guts.

The bird man dropped to his knees, shock and horror gleaming from his eyes who met with Lev’s. That was the last sight he saw before dropping dead.

Silence permeated the area.

“Now, does anyone else need to ruin my day? I doubt it could get worse, but lately I’ve been proven wrong multiple times.” With eyes glowering at the surrounding crowd, Lev growled.

“Good.” Hearing no more arguments or complaints, Lev exhaled.

Lev turned towards Rapha, Volker, and Orva who stood near him, flabbergasted at his earlier display. “Seems that I overdid it, huh.”

“You bet.” Orva nodded.

“That was overdoing it.” Rapha added.

“You need to calm down, sir. Once we’re back, take a break and leave everything to me.” Volker advised.

That was rude, throwing me on the ground like that. The glaive complained, her voice barely a whisper, and Gherm was silent. He was still in a stupor.

Rubbing his forehead, Lev thought. This isn’t like me, I never lose control like this.

Grabbing his glaive, Lev turned towards the trio once again. “Once all the injured are taken care of, remove the group that refused our offer from our camp then help the one that agreed to prepare itself for departure, we’re leaving in an hour. We need to get out of here before it gets dark.”

“I’m going to be in my tent, alone. There are some issues that I need to sort out.” He added before leaving the three to complete their tasks.