Chapter 312 - A Battle on Borders (2/2)
War Master. A ranking title for the leaders of Tribal War Bands. Sevis had been given commend of five hundred men a year ago. That number was barely dwindling at fifty now. Still, he'd proven himself a capable leader despite his losses. He needed to be. One never knew whether they were going to come up against a Black Sands War Band or the Djinn. Fortunately, they'd been hearing the Djinn's interference less and less recently. Not that it boded well for the future.
”Alred, my name is Sevis. You've told my Warrior here you are of the Blue Suns Tribe. Why is that?” asked Sevis.
”Because it is true, War Master,” said Alred, ”The Blue Suns are prisoners of Black Sands, they have been for many years. So long that many of us have forgotten another way”.
”How many?” asked Sevis.
Alred thought a moment, ”Perhaps a third of those currently inhabiting the Black Sands' city are of Blue Suns descent. Though we have long be stripped of such names and forbidden from calling ourselves anything but Black Sands”.
Sevis frowned, ”So when Black Sands hunted the Blue Suns, they did not destroy them, but assimilated them?”
”Yes, War Master,” said Alred.
”It is interesting, but why do you use this now? Is it to beg for your life?” asked Sevis.
Alred shook his head, ”I dare not. Indeed many of us started this war as Black Sands, but when word began to travel that a member of our Chieftain's family remained, we sought out further information”
Sevis frowned, ”Rima”.
Alred looked up in surprise, ”Yes, War Master, you know her?”
Sevis looked at Tigin, who nodded.
”I consider her a friend, what can you tell us about her?”
”Gryffyn took her in as his long-lost daughter. But he keeps her in his Estate, far from prying eyes. Only those within the Estate see her. The Rumour is that following several escape attempts, the Djinn who obeys Gryffyn now guards her,” said Alred.
Tigin cursed turning away.
”A long-lost daughter?” asked Sevis, ”But Gryffyn never ever met Elva. She ran before he could”.
Alred nodded, ”Aye, there are rumours swirling about that too. Gryffyn has been growing more and more hungry for power over the years, he would not have even thought of starting a war with so many tribes a decade ago. But recently…some say he is going mad”.
Sevis nodded, then turned to Tigin who looked at him expectantly, ”You heard him, she's alive”.
”And guarded by the Djinn,” Tigin scoffed, ”How are we supposed to get her back if she's guarded by the Djinn?”
”If I may?” Alred asked. Tigin and Sevis turned back to him expectantly, ”While no one is sure what it is, there is a rumour that the only reason the Djinn obeys Gryffyn is because Gryffyn holds something valuable to it”.
Tigin frowned, ”You're giving away an awful lot of information”.
”This war has been led along by a mad man for long enough,” said Alred, ”And if you can do anything to save our rightful Chieftain, if would surely mean that our victory is two fold given Gryffyn's apparent affection for her”.
”The man has a point,” Sevis sighed. He seemed to pause in thought for a moment before he nodded and turned to walk away.
Tigin frowned, ”Sevis, where are you going?”
”The only place we can get help,” replied Sevis without turning around.
Tigin frowned, ”What place?”
”You'll see”.