178 Dawn of the Ominous War
***[Goruka, Red Hawk Chief]***
The Council of Chiefs is held in the territory of the Blackrock tribe.
The meeting place was set up on a hill that was rarely visited by people.
It’s unlikely, but it’s probably out of concern that someone might attack it.
Seats on high ground were easily recognized by anyone approaching.
It has a clear view all the way down, so no one can sneak up on it.
Even if attacked, it is easy to counterattack from high ground.
Choosing this place as the meeting place was a good choice.
Because tribes with grudges also participated, the number of people to be taken from each tribe was set at a maximum of two other than the chieftain.
Goruka also came with two of the most combative warriors from the Red Hawk.
Goruka made a small noise and drove the sheep and goats away, and a boy came running.
The boy nodded toward them and, with a familiar tongue, took the sheep and goats and led them away.
At the meeting, the meat and wine stocked by the Blackrock tribe are presented.
Because of the unexpected consumption, the participating tribes brought several live sheep and goats to ease the burden and say hello to the organizers.
If it’s a small meeting, you don’t have to go that far, but when there’s a big meeting, this is normal.
The number of sheep was at the discretion of each tribe.
A tribe that can afford it may bring a little more, and a difficult place may bring only one.
Where the boy headed, sheep and goats from other tribes had already gathered together.
A few boys stand around it, tending to keep the sheep from scattering.
The boys’ heads were adorned with bands and feathers dyed black.
They must be the brightest children of the Blackrock tribe.
One was the son of a Blackrock chieftain.
When the goats confronted the strangers and showed signs of fighting, a tall boy went next to them and slammed the floor with a tree branch while shouting loudly.
The people gathered today are the chiefs of each tribe and the strongest warriors.
As if they had been told to familiarize themselves with that face, the boys were eagerly giving their gaze to the people of other tribes without being rude.
In particular, he secretly looks at Goruka’s face.
Even the children would know that Goruka is from the Red Hawk tribe.
The boys were talking to each other in whispers and looking this way.
A bitter smile comes out of that gaze.
Perhaps the rumor that the red hawk is a traitor spreads even to the children.
Goruka put strength in her waist and straightened her body.
I rode my horse and headed for the meeting place.
Several large tents stood on the ground where small stones were ground like sand.
It was prepared by the Blackrock Clan.
After the meeting, the chiefs will eat, sleep, and mingle here for at least one more day.
In preparation for this, a good amount of food was placed around the tent.
There are especially many wine jars.
Away from the tent, older women were preparing a hot bath.
As the Blackrock chief spotted him and approached, Goruka dismounted and held out his arm.
When we exchanged greetings and headed to the tent, the inside was already packed with people.
There is also the Chief of the Silvermoon.
He and several chieftains glared at Goruka with ferocious eyes.
There was a brazier with several charcoals in the center, and Goruka was guided to a seat opposite the Silvermoon tribe.
While greeting the chiefs of familiar tribes, several more arrived.
After waiting for a while, it seems that all the chiefs of the tribes of a certain size have arrived.
All other warriors except for the chief were waiting outside, but the inside of the large tent was filled with no space to set foot on.
The Blackrock Chief stood in the center, looking around in all directions.
“Everyone knows why the meeting was held today.”
The Blackrock chieftain’s voice boomed through the tent.
The story of the abducted and taken to the kingdom and the invasion of the kingdom army was briefly mentioned, and the inside of the tent became cluttered.
Each one pours out words of anger.
The Silvermoon Chief glared at Goruka and spit out.
“Even in this situation, there is a traitor who side with the kingdom. This is not possible for a proud steppe warrior! I don’t think such a person is the same steppe tribe.”
Several of the chiefs of tribes close to the Silver Moon raised their voices, saying they were right.
“Have you forgotten the most precious grace of this meadow before you know it!”
Goruka glared at the Silvermoon Chief from the front and raised a deep voice.
“With the help of the moon, we were able to stand firmly on this grassland land. It was the children of the moon who kept us from the beast and watered this parched land. It was the children of the moon who taught us how to use the energy of the earth. Our lives was all made possible by his grace. To turn away from such a child of the moon, you should think about whether the silver moon is the proud descendant of the grassland!”
Words of agreement with Goruka’s words exploded here and there.
The Silvermoon Chief pushed out his chest and shouted.
“A story from such a distant past, I don’t even know if it was true.”
The ones who refuted those words were the chiefs of the tribes that had attacked the kingdom before this subjugation.
“No, I didn’t go there myself, but the warriors of our tribe testified. It’s true that there is a moon child in the kingdom.”
“I think so too.”
“It’s not just a long time ago. The moonchild helped us this time too. Many of our warriors would never have returned to the plains had it not been for him defending us on the borders.”
“That’s right. Besides, if it weren’t for the Moon Child, most of the women taken as slaves would have died. But the person the Moon Child sent healed them. Even though they are in the kingdom, the Moon Child has favor with the plains.”
“My tribe has been skeptical… but I’ve seen him with my own eyes and know the legend is true. It’s hard to describe precisely, but I can definitely feel the energy of the earth in him…yes, the connection of the steppes. .”
As each of them said a word, the tent became noisy.
Occasionally, shouts broke out.
A few hot-tempered people were on the verge of hitting someone with whom they disagreed.
“Quiet! Quiet!”
The Blackrock chief roared loudly, but the turmoil did not subside easily.
Several times, voices telling people to be quiet echoed through the tent like thunder, and the voices of the people finally died down.
A brief heated discussion ensued.
The silver moon led the conversation to the invasion of the kingdom’s grassland land when many chiefs were positive about the child of the moon.
Gradually, the atmosphere changes with anger toward the kingdom.
Goruka was also angry about the kingdom army stepping on the grassland land.
The anger at having our land invaded is understandable.
As the atmosphere matured, Chief Blackrock intervened a few times to calm the crowd.
The story gradually turned towards showing the kingdom the fear of the grasslands.
In addition to the tribes that raided the kingdom over slavery, there were several places that recognized Oscar as the child of the moon.
But that and anger against the kingdom are different things.
While reluctant to Oscar, the child of the moon, most of the tribe raised their voices that the kingdom should be punished, that those who trampled my family and set dirty feet on the meadow should not be left alone.
In the Silver Moon, people were sent to various tribes to gather opinions even before the meeting was held.
Several times such news arrived from tribes that were friendly with the Red Hawk.
Tribes that have been hesitant about going to war with the kingdom will decide their minds after seeing today’s atmosphere.
Goruka listened to the story silently, but opened his mouth before the final conclusion was reached.
“I too am enraged at the kingdom army’s invasion of the steppe lands. But before making a decision, you should think carefully about why the moon child appeared in this world.”
The place became quiet.
“The moon child comes down to the meadow, at a time of trouble in this world. It is the child of the gods that the moon sends for us and bestows for human beings. Consider the danger of pointing a knife at the child of the moon.”
After Goruka’s words, the people of the Blackrock tribe handed out small sticks to the people one by one.
The stick was painted with intricate patterns only used by the Blackrock tribe.
“There is one stick per tribe. The fact that this symbol is used today has not been disclosed to any other tribe, so there is no possibility of manipulation. No one has the time or means to create it in advance, so rest assured.”
The Blackrock chieftain turned his head toward the central furnace.
There were three barrels near the central furnace.
“The red barrel on the left is in favor, the middle is neutral, and the black barrel on the right is against. Each tribe has decided on a position and put a stick in this barrel before sunset. The barrel is guarded by our warriors until the last tribe decides. There will be.”
Goruka immediately put the rod into the opposite barrel.
The Silvermoon chief throws a stick at Chansung’s side.
The chiefs of different tribes moved one by one.
The bars are stacked on the positive side.
Some tribes chose neutrality.
Many tribes kept their sticks out of the barrels and looked for trends elsewhere.
After confirming that the bars on the favor side were stacked up to the majority, Goruka came out.
You don’t even have to look any further.
As you already know, the grassland is at war with the kingdom.
The only tribes gathered here today were those with at least a few hundred warriors.
In the case of the Silver Moon, there are thousands of warriors thanks to the recent absorption of other tribes.
‘There’s probably a reason for insisting on war.’
It is now difficult to feed the tribe by hunting alone in the grasslands.
The number of people has become too large.
A wider area was needed, but if the silver moon grew stronger than this, there was a possibility that other tribes would unite and oppose it.
I heard that there is also tension between newly recruited warriors and existing warriors.
Perhaps that internal turmoil also played a part in turning her eyes to the kingdom.
‘ha….’
Goruka sighed lightly.
When fighting in the steppe lands, only warriors fight, but when going to the kingdom, you need people to drive carts or transport plundered goods.
Men other than warriors and slaves would also go.
It’s not that they can’t fight either.
Compared to the warriors, they may be weak, but against the kingdom army, they are powerful.
‘If so….’
No matter how minimal it is, a large army of tens or hundreds of thousands rushes to the kingdom.
It’s going to be a tough war.
When Goruka came out, the Red Hawk Warriors who were waiting outside came closer.
“Let’s go back. There’s nothing more to do here. If you do something wrong, you risk getting involved in a fight.”
The atmosphere of the Silver Moon and the friendly tribe was very harsh.
There was a chance of sudden action.
It wasn’t because he didn’t trust the Blackrock tribe, but even if he was dishonored in Silvermoon, there was a concern that he would try to get rid of the aftermath.
If you get stabbed by a sword or arrow here, there’s a chance you’ll fizzle out if you’re steered toward war.
I brought a magic bomb with that possibility in mind, but it is right to prevent the danger in advance.
When Goruka headed for the boys looking after the horses, the quick-witted horse noticed it first and came running.
As I climbed on its back, I saw two Silver Moon warriors near the tent running towards me.
It seems he didn’t expect Goruka to come out so early.
The Silver Moon Warriors glared at Goruka, who left with bewildered faces.
If Goruka’s memory is correct, the two were not originally from the Silvermoon tribe.
He was a warrior from a tribe he had recently absorbed.
It is customary to bring the tribe’s most trusted warrior to such an occasion.
Unless there is a special case, there is no such thing as bringing a warrior who has just joined the tribe.
‘That bastard, he must have thought of killing me.’
Perhaps Chief Silvermoon ordered those two to kill him.
They must have used the safety of their families or the well-being of the absorbed tribe as an excuse.
After the two of them kill Goruka, if they execute him on the spot in the name of punishment, Blackrock has no choice but to agree.
Goruka urged his words with his mouth tightly shut.
It was also a good thing to evacuate the women and children.
I don’t know about the other tribes, but the silver moon must have been aiming for the women of the Red Hawk.
When they arrived at the place where the original tribe was staying, the women and children had already left and only the warriors remained.
In the place where all the tents were taken down, only traces of bonfires and ovens were left here and there.
Seeing Goruka, the tribe’s warriors drew closer.
“I’m sure they left no traces. Since we didn’t find them, no one else will be able to follow them.”
It refers to the traces of the departed family.
The warriors roamed everywhere while Goruka was gone to see if they could track them down.
“Okay, then let’s go.”
At Goruka’s words, all the warriors mounted their horses.
One last time, after looking in the direction the family was headed, Goruka turned his head.
* * *
That evening, hundreds of wolves were found dead in the meadow for unknown reasons.
A non-steppe man was dead near the wolf carcass.
The man’s entire skin was wrinkled, as if his insides had been sucked somewhere and only the skin remained.
It was the same with wolves.
The wolf carcass left only skin and fur, and the bones inside seemed to have melted away.
As unusual as it was, the news soon spread to the various tribes of the steppe.
[The child of the moon comes down to the meadow, in times of trouble in the world. Because he is a child of God, sent by the moon for us and bestowed for human beings. Think carefully of the danger of thrusting a blade at the child of the moon.]
Goruka’s words came to the minds of several chieftains.
It was only a few days later that some of the tribes that were in favor of war with the kingdom turned to neutrality.