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Greetings were exchanged between his father and one who introduced himself as a chieftain of the Nomar tribe and he sounded a little short tempered.  “Where are you taking such a large company?”

“To the Ingaray villages along the border,” answered Trinel.  “We are bringing them food and basic necessities.”

The chieftain grunted, “Did we give you leave to pass through our land?”

A drop of sweat slipped into Talon’s right eye and he wiped his brow with his sleeve.

“No, but safe passage was guaranteed by both the Ingaray and the house of...”

“Their words are useless here.”  The chieftain spat.  “You forfeit all goods to us for this transgression.  Leave the baggage carts and go home at once.”

Talon heard a sloshing clinking sound like someone’s hands going through coins in a small chest.  Then he heard his father’s voice again.  “I offer this gold to you as a payment for passage but do not take the food.”

“These are not your people.  Why do you care?”

“They are hungry.”

“So am I.”  Then the chieftain said, apparently to his men, “Take it all.”

Talon then heard something he didn’t expect: his mother’s voice.  “And leave those people with nothing?”

Silence.

The chieftain asked, “Is she yours?”

Silence.

The chieftain laughed.  “Will you offer her to us now too?”

Scroll 1: History's Mirror                                                                                    Chapter 1: Treasures from the Past