The feast they were given was quite bountiful. It wasn’t just meat, but there were also vegetables that the Clan cultivated. It seemed that the nearby regions allowed for some wild vegetables to grow here and almost nowhere else.
There was a large carrot, though it wasn’t quite a carrot. It was thicker than any carrot Ken had ever seen, and was extremely sweet. There was also another carrot which was nearly identical, but it was far more savoury than sweet.
[I’m more confused about these vegetables than the relationships between these people.]
“Would you like to dance?” a woman asked Lan, who looked to Ken.
Ken nodded, allowing Lan to have some time alone since he didn’t get to risk his life for some fun.
“It would be my pleasure,” Lan said, taking the woman’s hand and they went off to the fire, beginning their dance.
The dances the Plainsfolk danced were wild, like the vegetables they grew. Their bodies would pop and lock with how wild they danced, and like every Plainsfolk, it would eventually take them to a tent to dance more privately and intimately.
[Even escorts need to relax now and again.]
A shadow loomed over Ken and he looked up to see a near passed out Gin.
“Are you drinking without me?” Gin asked, tumbling down beside Ken and then grabbing a clay pot and pulling it onto his lap. “How could you do such a thing!” Gin sobbed and then drowned his sorrows, and himself, in alcohol.
[Is he okay?]
Ken stared at Gin, who was half choking on the alcohol as he drank it, sobbing the entire time.
Asha was sipped from a small bowl, sighing happily. “Ah! That hits the spot! I forgot how good that bastard’s drinks always are!” She caught Ken looking at her. “Get your own!”
“No, no. I just didn’t expect to meet someone as lovely as you,” Ken said.
“Say what you actually think. You think I’m too manly, don’t you? Like a brute?”
“I think that you have a different femininity about you, something which doesn’t lose to the likes of other women.”
“You speak in tongues, crippled Arrayist. I thought you were more blunt than that! Did I give you too much respect?”
“I am being blunt. I didn’t expect to meet someone as lovely as you, and you do have a different femininity to other women, but it doesn’t lose to them. Isn’t there something intriguing about everyone? For example, a crippled Arrayist who is flirting with such a lovely woman that wants to empty his pockets?”
Asha smirked. “That’s more like it! There is something intriguing about it. Though, you are making me out to be some kind of terrible woman. I’m not here to empty your pockets, I’m here to make sure you get to the other side of the plains safely, all while I make my pockets heavier.”
“I thought you were more blunt than that, Miss Asha. Perhaps I gave you too much respect?” Ken teased.
Asha frowned and then drunk some more of the sweet wine. “If you can think so clearly, you haven’t drunk enough!”
"I didn’t expect the two of you to be so close, Niece Asha, Big Brother Ken,” Jita said.
“If you’re going to call Miss Asha your niece, then maybe I should be your neph-“
“So where are you headed to, Big Brother Ken?” Jita interrupted him with an innocent smile.
Each time she called him Big Brother, Ken felt like he was being struck by a hammer of shame.
"Dragon Hill Town."
"Dragon Hill Town? You know that the Great Beasts have awoken, so it’ll be quite dangerous."
"So I'm told,” Ken replied, calmly sipping some of the wine. It was very tangy, like an apple. “I still need to renegotiate with Miss Asha about the matter."
"Since you’ve done so much to help us, please take with you one of our Six Spears and a few of our warriors to escort you. They know their way around the immediate vicinity, but they’re useful beyond it too.
"Six Spears? Aren’t there only Four Spears?”
“Two more will swear their oaths soon, so there will be Six Spears once more.” She sighed. “To think that those brats would die for me…” She frowned.
“I would appreciate the assistance,” Ken said. “I am sorry that we couldn’t do more to help.”
"It’s fine. You saved my life with the pills you had given to us. It was only because of your escorts that we managed to slay it. To slay a Great Beast, it gives us so much honour.”
"Why did the Giant White Serpent wake up?" Ken asked, curious about the matter.
"We saw ill omens recently but didn't know what they were about. It seems that the ill omens were foretelling us about the rise of the Great Beasts. No one truly knows why they have awoken, that is just a question for the Heavens.”
"What will happen with your Plainsfolk now?"
"Since the Great Beasts have awoken, we will need to unite together under a single Tribe. We will come together and form a proper town, one which can be easily defended. The Chief will fight to see who will become the Great Chief.”
"Do you think your husband will win?" Ken wondered how powerful the other clans were.
"It's an even chance. I can’t be sure who will win between all the Chiefs. They all have their strengths and weaknesses, but if they were to face against one another, you may as well ask a coin."
Ken thought for a long while. If it’s that even, then couldn’t the balance be swayed some way? If only there was a way.
Ken looked down at the wine to see his masked face inside it.
[Oh, right.]
"What if it wasn't an even chance?” Ken asked, looking up at the woman.
“What do you mean, Arrayist Ken?” Jita asked, already picking up what he was talking about. “Does Big Brother Ken have an idea?”
Ken almost vomited blood again from being called Big Brother. “You have an Arrayist and an Alchemist."
"..." Jita just smiled innocently, waiting for him to continue.
"Why don't we make a deal?"
"What kind of deal, Arrayist Ken?"
"I will help you increase your strength. If you win the Great Chief title, I want you to remember my assistance.”
"Oh? We just need to remember your assistance?" Jita wasn’t sure if that was quite concrete enough.
"I give you the plains and you help me through them whenever I require it." Though it wasn’t the best of deals for him, the fact that he could ask for their assistance through the plains was more than useful, and he could always deepen their relationship later.
"If you’re going to assist us gain the Great Chief title, I think it is only fair we assist you through the plains.”
"Since your title will be useful for you in the future, I'd like my reward to be as useful in the future too." Something which would require them to assist any time in the future should he require their assistance.
"Since you’ve offered such a good deal, we’ll put our faith in you, Big Brother Ken.” Jita smiled sweetly and poured Ken a drink.
"Speaking of which..." Ken looked to Asha. "How much is the new price?"
"New price?” She frowned right at him, having heard the deal he had made. “What kind of woman do you take me for?” She leaned right up to his face, his nose a hair’s breadth away. Through the tiny gap, Emerald could be seen, staring at their faces. “We can keep it the same as before. It's just life that this happened. If we had waited a couple of days, then I would have charged you much more."
"I can't have someone in my employ being so moody, regardless of how cute it is.” Ken reached around and grabbed Emerald’s ass, letting her know that he understood she was there. “How can this Arrayist make it right?”
"Like I said! I won’t charge you any more than I already have! Though you have to keep hiring me whenever you come through the plains.”
“Of course I will. Isn’t your company alone worth the gold?”
Asha smirked, drinking down the rest of her alcohol. “You’re right. I should charge more, since you get to enjoy my company. I’ll ask for a hundred gold next time.” She grinned, getting up and stretching. “I’ll retire for the night, Big Brother Ken.” She gave another playful grin and left, moving with the grace of a tiger.
“I think I should retire for the night as well,” Ken said. “It was a pleasure meeting with you all.”
“Thank you again for saving my life.” Jita bowed her head.
Ken and the others entered a tent, which hid them from the world. With the sounds of the festivities, they could do quite a bit without much worry.
Ken sighed, feeling his entire body ache. He was still so itchy, wanting to run around, but he knew that it wasn’t the time yet. He looked to Nana, Yue, and Chandi.
“Soon,” Ken said, smiling at them. They would need to discuss a few things when they had time to themselves, but they knew most of the plan already.
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The feast they were given was quite bountiful. It wasn’t just meat, but there were also vegetables that the Clan cultivated. It seemed that the nearby regions allowed for some wild vegetables to grow here and almost nowhere else.
There was a large carrot, though it wasn’t quite a carrot. It was thicker than any carrot Ken had ever seen, and was extremely sweet. There was also another carrot which was nearly identical, but it was far more savoury than sweet.
[I’m more confused about these vegetables than the relationships between these people.]
“Would you like to dance?” a woman asked Lan, who looked to Ken.
Ken nodded, allowing Lan to have some time alone since he didn’t get to risk his life for some fun.
“It would be my pleasure,” Lan said, taking the woman’s hand and they went off to the fire, beginning their dance.
The dances the Plainsfolk danced were wild, like the vegetables they grew. Their bodies would pop and lock with how wild they danced, and like every Plainsfolk, it would eventually take them to a tent to dance more privately and intimately.
[Even escorts need to relax now and again.]
A shadow loomed over Ken and he looked up to see a near passed out Gin.
“Are you drinking without me?” Gin asked, tumbling down beside Ken and then grabbing a clay pot and pulling it onto his lap. “How could you do such a thing!” Gin sobbed and then drowned his sorrows, and himself, in alcohol.
[Is he okay?]
Ken stared at Gin, who was half choking on the alcohol as he drank it, sobbing the entire time.
Asha was sipped from a small bowl, sighing happily. “Ah! That hits the spot! I forgot how good that bastard’s drinks always are!” She caught Ken looking at her. “Get your own!”
“No, no. I just didn’t expect to meet someone as lovely as you,” Ken said.
“Say what you actually think. You think I’m too manly, don’t you? Like a brute?”
“I think that you have a different femininity about you, something which doesn’t lose to the likes of other women.”
“You speak in tongues, crippled Arrayist. I thought you were more blunt than that! Did I give you too much respect?”
“I am being blunt. I didn’t expect to meet someone as lovely as you, and you do have a different femininity to other women, but it doesn’t lose to them. Isn’t there something intriguing about everyone? For example, a crippled Arrayist who is flirting with such a lovely woman that wants to empty his pockets?”
Asha smirked. “That’s more like it! There is something intriguing about it. Though, you are making me out to be some kind of terrible woman. I’m not here to empty your pockets, I’m here to make sure you get to the other side of the plains safely, all while I make my pockets heavier.”
“I thought you were more blunt than that, Miss Asha. Perhaps I gave you too much respect?” Ken teased.
Asha frowned and then drunk some more of the sweet wine. “If you can think so clearly, you haven’t drunk enough!”
"I didn’t expect the two of you to be so close, Niece Asha, Big Brother Ken,” Jita said.
“If you’re going to call Miss Asha your niece, then maybe I should be your neph-“
“So where are you headed to, Big Brother Ken?” Jita interrupted him with an innocent smile.
Each time she called him Big Brother, Ken felt like he was being struck by a hammer of shame.
"Dragon Hill Town."
"Dragon Hill Town? You know that the Great Beasts have awoken, so it’ll be quite dangerous."
"So I'm told,” Ken replied, calmly sipping some of the wine. It was very tangy, like an apple. “I still need to renegotiate with Miss Asha about the matter."
"Since you’ve done so much to help us, please take with you one of our Six Spears and a few of our warriors to escort you. They know their way around the immediate vicinity, but they’re useful beyond it too.
"Six Spears? Aren’t there only Four Spears?”
“Two more will swear their oaths soon, so there will be Six Spears once more.” She sighed. “To think that those brats would die for me…” She frowned.
“I would appreciate the assistance,” Ken said. “I am sorry that we couldn’t do more to help.”
"It’s fine. You saved my life with the pills you had given to us. It was only because of your escorts that we managed to slay it. To slay a Great Beast, it gives us so much honour.”
"Why did the Giant White Serpent wake up?" Ken asked, curious about the matter.
"We saw ill omens recently but didn't know what they were about. It seems that the ill omens were foretelling us about the rise of the Great Beasts. No one truly knows why they have awoken, that is just a question for the Heavens.”
"What will happen with your Plainsfolk now?"
"Since the Great Beasts have awoken, we will need to unite together under a single Tribe. We will come together and form a proper town, one which can be easily defended. The Chief will fight to see who will become the Great Chief.”
"Do you think your husband will win?" Ken wondered how powerful the other clans were.
"It's an even chance. I can’t be sure who will win between all the Chiefs. They all have their strengths and weaknesses, but if they were to face against one another, you may as well ask a coin."
Ken thought for a long while. If it’s that even, then couldn’t the balance be swayed some way? If only there was a way.
Ken looked down at the wine to see his masked face inside it.
[Oh, right.]
"What if it wasn't an even chance?” Ken asked, looking up at the woman.
“What do you mean, Arrayist Ken?” Jita asked, already picking up what he was talking about. “Does Big Brother Ken have an idea?”
Ken almost vomited blood again from being called Big Brother. “You have an Arrayist and an Alchemist."
"..." Jita just smiled innocently, waiting for him to continue.
"Why don't we make a deal?"
"What kind of deal, Arrayist Ken?"
"I will help you increase your strength. If you win the Great Chief title, I want you to remember my assistance.”
"Oh? We just need to remember your assistance?" Jita wasn’t sure if that was quite concrete enough.
"I give you the plains and you help me through them whenever I require it." Though it wasn’t the best of deals for him, the fact that he could ask for their assistance through the plains was more than useful, and he could always deepen their relationship later.
"If you’re going to assist us gain the Great Chief title, I think it is only fair we assist you through the plains.”
"Since your title will be useful for you in the future, I'd like my reward to be as useful in the future too." Something which would require them to assist any time in the future should he require their assistance.
"Since you’ve offered such a good deal, we’ll put our faith in you, Big Brother Ken.” Jita smiled sweetly and poured Ken a drink.
"Speaking of which..." Ken looked to Asha. "How much is the new price?"
"New price?” She frowned right at him, having heard the deal he had made. “What kind of woman do you take me for?” She leaned right up to his face, his nose a hair’s breadth away. Through the tiny gap, Emerald could be seen, staring at their faces. “We can keep it the same as before. It's just life that this happened. If we had waited a couple of days, then I would have charged you much more."
"I can't have someone in my employ being so moody, regardless of how cute it is.” Ken reached around and grabbed Emerald’s ass, letting her know that he understood she was there. “How can this Arrayist make it right?”
"Like I said! I won’t charge you any more than I already have! Though you have to keep hiring me whenever you come through the plains.”
“Of course I will. Isn’t your company alone worth the gold?”
Asha smirked, drinking down the rest of her alcohol. “You’re right. I should charge more, since you get to enjoy my company. I’ll ask for a hundred gold next time.” She grinned, getting up and stretching. “I’ll retire for the night, Big Brother Ken.” She gave another playful grin and left, moving with the grace of a tiger.
“I think I should retire for the night as well,” Ken said. “It was a pleasure meeting with you all.”
“Thank you again for saving my life.” Jita bowed her head.
Ken and the others entered a tent, which hid them from the world. With the sounds of the festivities, they could do quite a bit without much worry.
Ken sighed, feeling his entire body ache. He was still so itchy, wanting to run around, but he knew that it wasn’t the time yet. He looked to Nana, Yue, and Chandi.
“Soon,” Ken said, smiling at them. They would need to discuss a few things when they had time to themselves, but they knew most of the plan already.
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