“My apologies for my abrupt arrival, your majesty.” Lei’la bowed at a flourishing bend. “We brought a severed one. It is her wish to visit the Red Spider festivities. It is not in my place to deny her, the law wills it so.”

The queen whose hair was in a flower crown braid, wearing leagues of gold in jewelry gave a graceful nod. “Naturally.” meeting River’s wide-eyed disbelief, she began to say slowly “I am your sun queen, Alia.”

River found herself gawking at the king and queen, and immediately rectified it by bowing rather clumsily. “I come in peace, your majesty.” she said, wary about the wolf king’s murder vibes.

Placing a hand above her tatooed throat, she exclaimed in surprise. “She speaks!”

Lei’la quickly followed it up with an explanation “The work of very hard-working dark tribe healers. They diagnose that her healing ability will restore as well with enough patience but as of now, her state is mortal. Severed.”

River frowned at that. She was beginning to think that term was meant to be disparaging.

The queen’s grey eyes began raking her gaze over Maksim, “What is your purpose here?”

Again, Lei’la answered for him while he leaned forward, bending at the knee. “Venemundo”. We have asked him for help to guide us through our travels. We only ever plan to stop by here before we head for the southern sun tribe.”

“I am Maksim Descansos.” an icy pale glow lighting his form, the temperature dropping “I come from the base snow tribe and I insisted on helping. My wife, River, needs all the help she can get.”

Lei’la addressed the king and queen, “It is my honor to provide for them. I promised them sanctuary here on our time-honored festival week to lift their spirits. It will be done at your accord, your majesty.”

“How can I say no to that? Well, of course! Welcome visitors to our humble village settlement.” she smiled, her expression softening when it landed on the weaver girl and held her hands together with hers “My Lei’la. Our very pride and honor, you give us much of your talents well enough as it is. You don’t know how much it means to me that you have reached out to us. Sun tribe owes you a big debt. Your magnificent weaves alone has helped us restore our tribes to its former glory. We couldn’t have made it without you.”

“Oh,” she blushed furiously “I don’t know about that. I keep getting the feeling that I haven’t done enough as it is.”

Waving a dismissive hand filled with sparkling rings, “Whatever you need, the sun tribe supports you.” Her and the wolf guided them through the cave tunnels until they arrived at a small village settlement with stone houses built like igloos. “Go on ahead.”

“Perfect.” River perked up, rising from her bow. “Shall we go? I smell something really nice and I haven’t eaten in like hours now. Lei’la, we’re eating buttloads today.”

“What are buttloads?” she asked, falling into step as they walked down the streets lined with stalls. The scent heavy with spices and sweetness. “I don’t think I have the right amount of currency for exchanging much for food.”

“Alu’tu vahmo” admitted the snow tribe prince.

River held their hands with each of hers, “Listen, festivals have games and competition. I happen to be the best at games. We can get something out of this, exchange it for real food.”

“Questionable.” said her soon-to-not-be husband.

Lei’la asked Maksim, “Back where you’re from, do snow tribe celebrate the red spider festival as well?”

“Not as much as we should.” he shrugged.

“Have you ever heard of Liembel racing?”

Brows raised, “You can’t possibly be thinking of cheating.”

They briefly glanced to River before replying, “It’s for a good cause.” she whispered. “Your control over water is nothing like I’ve ever seen. No one will be the wiser.”

Maksim nodded once, as his watchful eyes stayed glued to River who was slowly marching off to a direction, following a scent.

Pointing, “Can we go there?” asked the behagthi, already running ahead of them.