Spring 1077 of the Mero's Calendar

Snow has melted, and the ground is dry again. It makes it easier to dig for burials. There are not as many of them compared to three years ago, and Nibotus suspects that once he got his father's approval, Suzir must have order to limit the kills and take prisoners instead. That way there would be enough men to battle by their side in the south. It was the right call, but still too late to save Kamav's life, and so many others.

Lost in thoughts, Nibotus jumps when Wolf's hand grazes his shoulder. The woman smiles sadly at him, understanding his heart without any words spoken, and her fingers follow his arm until they close on his palm, warm and grounding. She smells like dry herbs and dark soil, having freshly finished the rites for their tribe. Her spiritual guide is nowhere to be seen, probably patrolling around the village so the funerals would be left undisturbed. 

- You are not with our son?

- Nivis cried, but he is doing better now that Kamav received his afterlife gift. Auroch is reassuring him as we speak.

As she says that, Nibotus can spot his kid next to the druid. He looks even smaller compared to the massive spiritual guide of the woman, a large bovine with heavy horns and dark fur. Soon enough, more people come to give their final respect to the fallen chief, and Nivis disappears in the crowd once again. Despite knowing that his son is safe, Nibotus’ heart aches at the loss of his view.

- You have won back everything we have lost, and still you look troubled, my love.

- It is difficult to feel any sense of victory when you realize all those sacrifices were for nothing. If I could have waited summer for the first assault, or realized those men sent by the general were messengers instead of scouts… 

Once again, Nibotus wishes he could let tears take away the heaviness in his chest, but his eyes stay as dry as the earth swallowing their warriors. Instead of sadness, it’s doubts and anger that creep their way into his soul, taking advantage of the emptiness left by grief. 

- Why did the spirits stay silent on this? They could have warned us about the Meros intentions, they could have…

- They did not know.

Feeling a rush of resentment and despair rising in his body, Nibotus lets go of her hand so he wouldn’t crush her long fingers, and forces himself to open and close his fists repeatedly in the hope it would calm his nerves. He wants to walk in rounds, wants to scream, but it would not be fair for Wolf. She might be the voice of the spirits, but that doesn’t make her one. She’s still human, and alive, and like any of them, doing the best she can with what she has. Faced with his distress, Wolf cups delicately his jaw to press a feathery kiss on his cheek. 

- The Meros are not us, and never will be. Their minds and actions are incomprehensible for the animal spirits, the same way ours are strangers to the earth spirits.

- So that is why Diamond still decided to join us. His spirits could not predict we would accept the Meros’ offer. 

- The same way I could not tell if the Namalas would become our allies as you left for their mountains.

Well, those allies had left right after Nibotus’ capture, presuming that he would soon be killed by the general’s hand, thus ending the queen’s favor. And so the king wonders, does Diamond lament his loss as he thinks him dead? Will he be accused by his mother and his peers for taking their men to an unwinnable war, even if it was in honor of the earth spirits? How many warriors have they lost on the battlefield, and what rites will be done to their bodies? Will their heads be severed and exposed with the other skulls in the main cavern, or will they be hidden in shame for not bringing back victory? Will their spirits rise up to protect their lineage, or does dying too far from the mountains make it impossible for their soul to join the rest of their family? 

So many questions Nibotus will never have the answer, because he had decided to close the door of cultural curiosity after the queen’s first jabs at his pride. He should have focused on Diamond's passion and eagerness instead, but ended up turning all their time into preparations for war. Such a waste now that he knew the general Suzir had already planned to yield. If it’s true that the earth spirits can’t see what’s happening to the Kars, a foolish part of Nibotus wants to go back to the mountains just so he could see Diamond one last time and assure him that he’s still alive. But that would be a terrible idea. The druid would never forgive his alliance with their enemy, and rightly so. Even with the other Kar chiefs, the decision has been received with mixed emotions. 

Mivaren hasn’t spoken a single word to his king once he learned about his deal with the general, but he doesn't act on the verge of revolt either. Sure, he grunt like a grumpy bear with eyebrows constantly furrowed in irritation, but at least Nibotus can console himself by thinking it will pass. Once the chief will see the relief and happiness of his people as they settle by the river, he’ll come back to him. As for Aturi, the deer chief is rather cautious in his optimism, with hesitant smiles and shy gestures of affection when he confide with his king. He’s wary of the Meros’ intentions, and he’s right to be. Nibotus barely trusts that Suzir, even though the man has been an exemplary host during his recovery, if one didn't look at his dry and closed off attitude, so opposite to any lively Kar. 

And then there’s Bukeres. The king knows him well enough to expect the lynx chief to plot something, maybe not against him, but definitely against the Meros. For sure, a lot of minor accidents will happen to the neighboring villages, and of course Bukeres will feign ignorance in the matter with a big feline smile contradicting his every word. And if Nibotus gets really angry, he will try to distract him with some more pleasant matters, which may or may not include a bed out of innocent sight. That’s how he was, and Nibotus would be surprised to see him change. Just right now, he could see the man discussing with the new auroch chief, his pale grey eyes sparkling with mischief every time they would fall on the king. With a sigh, Nibotus turned to Wolf, giving her a tender kiss on the temple. 

- King’s duty?

- It never stops.

- Can I expect you to sleep with your family tonight, at least?

- It will be our first time on our ancestors land, of course I will be there to celebrate with you.

She gives him a satisfied smile before letting him go with a peck on the lips, and this simple gesture makes him wish to stay longer in her loving embrace. But off he goes, leaving the warmth of the sun for the shades of the forest's edge, where the two chiefs are having their animated discussion. By the time he gets to them, Bukeres had sling an arm around the shoulders of the youngest, bringing their heads closer in conspiracy. It's so exaggerated, Nibotus knows it's just another way for the lynx chief to grab his king’s attention. 

Majen, for his part, is clearly displeased with Bukeres’ shenanigans. He's smaller in stature than his predecessor, but with the same broad shoulders and muscular arms that could compete with the giant Mivaren. His serious, if somewhat annoyed, expression seems to give him way more years in age than he is. For what Nibotus has seen on the battlefield, he is a man that receives orders as well as he can give them, and organizing raids with him has always been a quick and effective affair. As he sees him approach, Majen gives the king a short nod in salutations, making Bukeres pivot to display his false surprise.

- My king! We were talking about you just now.

- As I gathered from your glances in my direction, yes. What are you scheming, Bukeres?

- Me? Oh, absolutely nothing, I swear. I am way more excited with what you have planned.

- And just by curiosity, what do you think I am planning, exactly?

- Is that not obvious?

With a radiant smile, Bukeres grabs Nibotus’ own shoulders with his free arm, forcing the king to slightly bend his back to better adjust his height. Facing him, Majen gives him a silent plea so Nibotus could use his grade and get them out of the man's grabby hands, but sadly for him, the king likes humoring the lynx chief. After all, touch has always been his weakness, and his lovers know it well. 

- You are lowering the Meros' distrust in us so we can quickly hit when the troops of the general will leave for the southern war. It is brilliant, really. Save us the trouble to cross the Nir over and over again when we want to fight.

- You do not think I want to respect my promise to the emperor?

- Why in all spirits would we do that? Let them kill each other if they want it so badly, and we will take care of the civilians they have left behind. Make them scared enough that they will leave our lands for good.

- Those lands are vast, and our number has dwindled over the centuries. Would it not be easier to share?

- With the rich bounties of the river, we will soon grow numerous, and the Meros will do everything to stop us from expanding. Better take care of it now, before it becomes a problem for the next generation. That emperor and his general son will not live indefinitely, and their successors might not be as lenient with our kind. 

Nibotus worries at his bottom lips. It is still sensitive from battle, the scab opening over and over again as he can’t stop himself from nibbling at it when he has to make a difficult decision, which is basically his entire life as a king. Until now, they had both kept a light tone, but the more the discussion goes on, the more it is evident things are way too serious for play pretends. Especially when the future of his son is suddenly brought into the balance.

- I conceive that it seems the best course of action. The only problem is, if the emperor comes back victorious, nothing can stop him from attacking us with the force of their entire army in retaliation for our treason. Do you really think it would be wise to risk that?

- He groveled at our requests because he thinks a meager five hundred Kar warriors is enough to tilt the battle in his favor. That does not seem like someone confident to win, but someone desperate to fight the odds in his favor. If we ditch him, I am confident he will not come back alive to enact vengeance.

The king sighs as he realizes he doesn’t have any good argument to counteract Bukeres, and then frowns at that. Since when would he be against such a plan? Has the death of Kamav affected him so much that he’s now finding ways to never battle the Meros again, despite knowing that is exactly what the emperor is expecting of him in the south? Reluctant spectator of this conversation, Majen's eyes suddenly widen in pure shock as he stares at his king.

- You slept with the general. That is why you are so hesitant to betray him!

The reaction is immediate, Bukeres’ arm leaving the king’s shoulder as if burned, his face showing absolute outrage. Stunned by the accusation, it takes a few long seconds for Nibotus to react accordingly, which is bursting into loud laughs of disbelief. Realizing his mistakes, the youngest quickly turns into the reddest shade of shame as Bukeres playfully pushes him aside, the lynx chief’s stance relaxed once again after understanding that his king did not, in fact, have any intercourse with their enemy. 

- I am truly sorry, I did not… Of course you would not have, I do not know why I… 

- No offense taken, Majen. I do have a reputation of turning diplomacy into something much more pleasant.

- I mean, it does sound like the start of your story with Aturi. You, gravely wounded, forced to stay for long days in bed, with for sole company the man you were supposed to defeat in combat, only to come back with everything you ever wanted in the first place…

Ever so theatrical, Bukeres accompanies his tirade with a hand closed at his heart, the other raising to the sky with an open palm as if to grab the sun. His back now leans against Nibotus, as if suddenly taken by weakness, and it makes the king chuckle as he wraps an arm around the man’s waist.

- It has nothing to compare with Aturi. The few interactions I had with the general were very sterile and to the point. It was mostly planning, with no place for emotions or personal exchanges. I guess the only time he had been remotely pleasant was the day of my capture, but after that he pretty much kept his distance.

- Afraid to fall under your charms, I am sure of it.

Or maybe knowing that Nibotus would have been even more suspicious if he had acted all friendly, but the king keeps that thought to himself. Seeing his frown, Bukeres lifts a finger to caress his lover's jawline, and it is enough to make the king smile again. The lynx chief might be a lot, but his efforts to keep their mood high through heavy discussions are always appreciated, especially in such a stressful situation. After all, they are leaving tomorrow for their new home, and it’s around two thousand souls Nibotus has to take care of on the way to their promised lands. How lucky he is to have great people by his side to help him. His chiefs, their druids, Wolf… 

Even the general had said that he would stay close by, despite his senator’s duties calling him back to the province’s capital now that the conflicts at their border had ended. But leaving west would stop him from intervening quickly in case his people decided to cause the Kars trouble. Nibotus had been honestly surprised to hear Suzir give that reason, instead of implying it’s the Kars that need to be under surveillance. Or maybe it’s just the Mero who is good at hiding his true thoughts so he could ensure the king’s cooperation. 

As the crowd disperses to prepare for the journey ahead, Nibotus goes one last time at Kamav’s grave. The man’s silhouette is perceptible under the fine layer of dirt loved ones have thrown in the pit with their last wishes for his afterlife, and it is still possible to see the wooden statuette of an auroch laid next to his head, its spirit ready to guide the warrior’s soul into the reincarnation cycle. Diamond would probably be horrified by this, the Namalas clinging to their ancestors’ spirits so they could never leave them. Nibotus can’t even fathom what could be the Meros' own practices and beliefs for their dead. Probably something like joining their gods in their mystical palaces and being their eternal servants. With a horrified shiver, Nibotus bends to throw his own handful of dark soil, silently asking Kamav to never leave his spirit’s protection during his long travel.