Chapter 64 - Negotiations (2/2)
Have them meet us here. Then, we shall come to a peaceful understanding. Of course, if they fear us and aren't born with enough spine, they are free to leave without any interruption.”
***
”Spirit Valley?”
Karna's eyes momentarily brightened before she looked at Nik with her eyes narrowing.
”Why?”
Smiling, Nik extended his hands towards Karna to help her on the boat, which she accepted with a grumble since her leg still remained encased in ice.
”You see, inside the Spirit Valley, not only you will have a wide area for practice, but we can even interact with the only Princess of the tribe.”
Taking a seat, confusion flashed across Karna's face as she looked at Nik suspiciously.
”Why would you want to interact with the Princess?”
”Why?” Nik frowned at her question and looked at her extremely seriously.
”I wish to mentor and enlighten her, just like you.” was the only answer Karna received.
***
”Chieftain!”
The beastmaster from the Tusk Shark side spoke solemnly. The bald, tattooed man happened to be a being of few words, but even right now, the chieftain's behaviour towards the Fire Nation was nothing but suspicious.
”Everyone, what do you think of this ongoing war?”
Bhiman suddenly opened up, causing the eyes of the other four beastmasters to narrow dangerously.
”What do you mean, Chieftain?”
Bhiman's successor, the Polar-ape master asked lightly.
”The Air nomads are wiped out with the surviving air bender despised by most of the world. Our sister tribe has already been eradicated and its establishment cannot be achieved without the procurement of proper human resources.
That means, many young and abled benders would have to leave the tribe defenceless.
Lastly, Ba Sing Se is already surrounded with only the merchants that have surrendered to the Fire Nation allowed to leave.
In other words, aside from this piece of the glacier, the world is already owned by the Fire Nation. Whether the rebels like it or not, the sudden spark of technology has already created a big gap between the four... no, three element benders.”
Taking a deep breath, Bhiman spoke with sadness filling his voice.
”Honestly, I don't wish our tribe to be sacrificed meaninglessly...”
”CHIEFTAIN!”
The four roared in tandem only to see Bhiman smiling bitterly.
”Alright, you guys aren't thinking clearly. Your thoughts are being affected by your ego and emotions.
So, let's hear the best plan you guys can come up with.”
Bhiman chuckled at their silence and spoke coldly.
”So? What is it? Sacrifice our wife and kids? Lose everything we have achieved due to keeping our head held high?
But how would you keep your heads high if they roll over the ground?”
His cold voice made the four shudder breathlessly.
”I apologise if I disappointed my ancestors by being adaptable. Once, the Water Tribe had the opportunity to take a piece of current technology, but our ancestors sought out to bend water instead of advancing.
I am done being ignorant.
This generation is done being ignorant.
If any of you feel that I have not undertaken my duties as a chieftain responsibly, any of you are free to challenge me for the rights of the Chieftain.”
***
If you enjoy the novel, be sure to review and donate your power stones.
***
If you wish to support me, then be sure to check out my patron.
Patron:
Discord: