Chapter 3: Uncertain Future

Upon entering the cabin I could observe 3 people inside. In the center heading the meeting was the elderly Yoru, the current leader of the village. In front of him were two other people sitting, the man one with a large and muscular build was Haiden, the strongest man in the village today. At his side is a man with a less large body but still well exercised, he is Mors, both have short black hair with a brown skin tone although Mors was lighter than Haiden, but you could see spots blacks all over his body, these were smoke stains, Mors was in charge of the forge of the village. These 3 men were members of the council. My presence in this meeting is due to the fact that my adoptive father was also a member of the council, but after his death his position would be occupied by his son, in this case I, but since I was not yet 14 years old, they considered themselves the majority of age, I could not participate in any meeting. But now that I am 13 and apparently because it is an emergency, I have been allowed to attend the meeting.

-Aren takes a seat- Yoru indicates with my eyes where I have to sit.

-Well first of all, Aren you know that you are not yet of age but the situation requires your presence- Yoru looked at me as he spoke, Haiden and Mors also looked at me. Despite being nervous, I have to show calm and determination.

-Well you will ask why this urgent meeting is due- we all agree.

-This afternoon I got a message from the black thorns tribe- the tribe was the tribe closest to us in the prairies, our rising sun tribe is on the edge of the meadows and we are 3 days from the black thorns tribes.

Our tribes are considered a tribes of medium-low size, consisting of about 150 people, the tribes that are close as the black spine tribes are also of this size more or less.

-And what was the old message Yoru-Mors said to Yoru.

-The one who wrote the letter was his village chief, in it he tells me that the tribes of the middle of the meadows have started a tribal war, in which the 4 main tribes are participating- we were all surprised, in spite of myself short age wise that in the middle of the prairies where the land is more fertile were the 4 largest tribes of all the prairies, its size was more than 500 inhabitants. In addition to their population they also had smaller tribes as their ally or vassals depending on their relationship with the main tribe. We all knew that these tribes could subjugate and conquer another tribe of medium size (250-350 inhabitants), but from time to time 2 central tribes that is what we call them, they are in conflict, simple skirmishes are usually done, but 8 years ago there was a conflict that was not solved in this simple way of battle, and a great conflict was formed in which all the tribes of the prairies were involved, in that conflict our tribe was severely punished, she lost my adoptive parents and the village that in That moment was a tribe of half size lost almost half of its inhabitants mostly men.

In that war the most affected were the rest of the tribes since the 2 main tribes that fought did not use their warriors but those of their allies and vassals. Our tribe was an ally, with difference of the vassals which are tribes that lost in one war against another and are subjugated to their power.

-An old man you are telling us that the 4 four central tribes have started a war between themselves or against another enemy- Haiden asked Yoru.

-the four tribes have entered into conflict between them, so unlike 8 years ago this time the war will be bigger- Yoru declared with sad regret, remembering what happened 8 years ago, but this time the war will be even larger.

-Then we'll do- I could not take the pressure anymore and ask.

-The black thorns tribe is divided between those who want to participate and those who vote for no- Yoru explain the rest of the message.

-So you're telling us to vote to see if we participate or not- Mors asked Yoru with a serious face.

-that is, but not only that, but also to decide who will be the next chief of the village- we were surprised at the news.

-As you already know my only sons died in the previous war, and I only have one daughter left but she is still 12 years old and can not even marry to put her husband as head, so one of the members of the council has to occupy that put- Yoru explained his words with regret.

-But I have to do with this- I could not avoid question because I'm only 13 years old.

-Aren you are about to turn 14 next winter, so we can consider you of legal age- Yoru explained.

In the meadows, both men and women are considered to be of legal age at 14, from that age you could get married and you were considered a man with a voice in the village. Despite being 14 years of age, unlike the knowledge I have where the majority of age is said to be 18 years old. Despite this I do not know if it is because of this world but people develop their bodies at an early age, a woman with only 12 years could be considered 16-17 years according to the standards of beauty of my other knowledge, and at the age of 14 years resemble women of 20 years. Another characteristic is that this appearance is maintained for many years. There was history where there are races with very long life hopes, as for humans it is said that they can live more than 100 years, but that normally does not happen due to diseases and wars.

Returning to the subject, it is true that I will soon come of age but I was not sure if I could be village head, although I do not think it was chosen.

-you will choose your next boss- Mors asked Yoru.

-not according to the traditions if a boss can not pass on his duty to a male child the next leader must be the one who fights and defeats the rest of the candidates, in this case you 3- Yoru explain this. In the prairies the traditions and the orders of the leader are absolute can not go against it, if it was not considered a crime, not obey them.

This time I am sure that I can not be elected new boss

.

-But before fighting I would like to know what they would do with respect to the main issue if they become the new boss- Yoru asked us all three.

-I happened to be chosen as the boss- the first to answer was Mors, in the whole village they knew that the only thing that interested him was the forge.

-I knew that would be your answer- Yoru could not help having a sarcastic laugh, then he directed his gaze to Haiden.

-I will make the village participate in the war and be able to take revenge for our villagers lost during the previous war- Haiden declared with anger and emotion.

Before the answer of Haiden, Mors and Yoru put expensive series, in spite of knowing that that decision could take to the tribe to the destruction they could not do anything, since if Haiden becomes the new head, his orders have to be fulfilled .

I was shocked by his response, I thought I would choose not to participate because of what happened 8 years ago. I could not allow that, I did not want to endanger my family, and the only way to avoid that was by becoming the new village head. When I realized everyone was watching me. My nervousness increased. He clenched my fists almost making my palms bleed. I look with determination to others.

-I will fight and I will be the new boss and I will refuse to participate in the war !!! - I shout my thoughts to the four winds.

Yoru and Mors smiled, while Haiden gave a snort.

-All right, then so be it within 3 days Haiden and Aren will meet in a duel, to be the new head of the village- Yoru declared, later we left the cabin but before leaving Haiden and I exchanged glances, despite of being nervous, I kept looking.

-Tch- Haiden clicked with his tongue, apparently expecting him to look away.

-Aren I hope a lot of you- before leaving Yoru spoke to me when I turned around he was lying on his bed with his eyes closed, I looked at him for a moment before the doubt of why those words.

I left the cabin and met Ellen.

-Aren that happened at the end- Ellen asked me because I also listen to my statement. I should not have shouted, it does not matter.

-I'll explain it to you when we get home- it was not the right place to give explanations. I went with Ellen to our cabin, meanwhile I could not stop thinking about a way to win the fight and avoid war.