Chapter 330 - The Aegis of Aegin Bloodthorn (1/2)

*Eldovian Era 1715, 5th day of the 7th month*

It was only an hour or so before dawn when Aegin arrived back at the festival. The Tribesman, at least those that could hold their liquor, were still celebrating. Aegin walked by them, greeting them as they greeted him. Finally, he arrived at the Elder's tent in the centre.

It was the largest there. Considering that there were around thirty Tribes here, that meant nearly 200 elders were present. As Aegin approached the tent, it became clear that all of them were in attendance at this meeting. It occurred to him as he nodded to the guards standing outside the tent that he probably shouldn't have kept them waiting.

When Aegin entered though, there was no hostility. He nodded his head in respect to them, moving forward to where Rima and Tigin were both sitting near the centre of the tent.

”Now that we're all here, we should begin,” Cora stated as she stood, giving Aegin a look that was halfway between grateful he was there and annoyed he took so long.

Aegin just smiled in return.

”18 months ago, the three of you entered the Hava Rastellan in search of something,” Cora stated, ”The reasons were different for all of you, but here you find yourselves after all that time. Two half-blood Tribesman from the Triad Cities and a Foreigner from the East who walks the Gluttonous Path of Chaos”.

No one dared interrupt Cora as she spoke, stopping before where Rima and Tigin kneeled respectfully. Aegin supposed that was where he should be as well, but he hadn't moved to kneel, and nobody had said a thing about him standing behind the two.

”You find yourselves here, among the Northern Tribes of the Hava Rastellan, having not been asked, nor coerced, yet having made some of the largest contributions in the continuation of our people and culture,” Cora stated. Tigin and Rima looked up in surprise at Cora's gentle and proud tone. Cora met their gazes for a moment before she looked around at the gathered Elders.

”As Tribesman, we take pride in our identities. In our culture. We have stayed true to the old ways, not allowing Order's influence to rewrite our histories and our way of life,” said Cora, ”The Hava Rastellan is old. It is harsh. But it is also, as we all believe, where the strongest are born”.

Cora turned back to face Tigin, Rima and Aegin, ”Or, as we should learn to acknowledge and accept, where they are reborn”.

The Elders, all at once, lifted their hands and then brought them down onto their t.h.i.g.hs in a ringing slap that echoed thrice in the tent, ”The Balance restored, the peace returned, strongest are the Tribesman, whose places are earned”.

Cora lifted her arms and spread them wide, ”If you will accept it, the Northern Tribes have all agreed that you shall be offered places among our Tribes. You have all proven that you are one of us, regardless of your bloodlines, and we see fit to acknowledge that by our deepest and oldest traditions”.

Cora turned to Tigin, ”Tigin, Son of None, your allegiances it seems are now torn. Whilst you have served the Red Eyed Snake Tribe dutifully, the pursuit of your hard work now has a Tribe of her own. If you accept a place, you may wear the totems of both Tribes, but one must have your allegiance”.

Tigin turned to look at Rima for a moment, then he turned back to Cora.

”Thank you, for this honour. As a half-blood, while I trained with the Tribes and fought with them, I was sure that I would never truly call myself a part of any Tribe. Now, to even be given a choice…The Red Eyed Snake Tribe will always have my gratitude and my friendship, but I should stick by the woman who has been my own Tribe since we were children. I will join her if she allows it”.

Rima smiled, nodding.

”Tigin, Son of None, shall join the Blue Sands Tribe, but shall b.a.r.e the proof of his friendship with the Red Eyed Snake Tribe among his totems,” Cora proclaimed.

”The Elders accept Tigin, Son of None,” the Elders proclaimed in unison.