Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 409: Among the tribes(2)

Chapter 409: Among the tribes(2)

Aron stepped out of the small hut, the dry earth crunching beneath his boots as he followed his escort through the village. The air was thick with the mingling scents of woodsmoke, livestock, and the ever-present staleness of unwashed bodies. Around him, the daily life of the tribe unfolded, though he could feel the weight of countless eyes lingering on him as he passed.

Women tending to small fires paused their work, their hands stilling over clay pots. Children, some bold and curious, others wary, peeked out from behind their mothers' legs. The warriors, however, made no attempt to hide their scrutiny. They stood in clusters, sharpening weapons or adjusting the leather of their armor, their expressions unreadable.

Aron had been given the option from Valen to bring some of his men with him for protection, but he had refused. It would have caused problems as not all could be as welcoming to differences as him , and, in truth, it would have done little to assure his safety. If these people wanted him dead, no handful of guards would be able to stop it. No, he had to trust in the thin, fragile thread of diplomacy he had woven between them.

As he walked, he studied the village with keen eyes. The huts were crude, little more than wooden frames lashed together . All of them made of wood and hat.

It confirmed what he already suspected—these were not people accustomed to staying in one place for generations. They were semi-nomads at heart, herders and raiders who followed their food, taking what they needed from weaker neighbors when the land could no longer sustain them.