From enemies to allies

Count Hunyadi let the grey skin army pass through from the mountains without trouble. After a small talk, they got to know that the prince had sent word to the count of Rufus and that he would come with an army from the north and were to rendezvous with him.

He had gathered together all the other nobles who had also had enough of how the king and other nobles ran the kingdom. They were all the nobles that Emilia and the count had mentioned before. They were all from different parts of the kingdom.

The worst thing was that since the army had marched and gathered at Insbeck it had alerted the entire kingdom. Word had reached all over the kingdom that a civil war had started. Count Hunyadi has been declared the enemy of the state and the kingdom had started to raise its armies in response.

Rufus and the count were all talking in the count's tent. Inside there many chairs were lined up in a row. They all were prepared to receive Rufus and the 'surprise alley' that Rufus would bring.

"So. I was told that Rufus was coming down with an army of grey skins. I said to myself I don't believe it until I saw it myself. Now that I see it….I still somehow am having a hard time," count Hunyadi said to Rufus with a small laugh.

"Yeah well….I am still also kinda stunned with this."

"You apparently promised them that they could live in the kingdom after the was over?"

"Yeah. And I tend to keep that promise. After seeing how the grey skins live and hearing their story. They also deserve a better life. I hope you understand this," Rufus explained and looked into the eyes of Hunyadi.

The count exhaled in disbelief. He then realized that Rufus was being serious.

"I trust you. Personally, my region lays in the south. We have rarely had any contact with any grey skins. Unfortunately, many of the nobles that revolted with me do not share my view and trust in you. They are extremely skeptical about working together with grey skins. Many of them thought you had just hired some group of mercenaries or something."

The revolting nobles and the most notable tribal leaders joined in the tent. The air was extremely tense and uncomfortable for Rufus seeing that the humans and grey skins were obviously not getting along.

They all sat down opposite each other. Amala was the translator to all of them while Rufus sat at the center of the row.

Everyone was quiet. The atmosphere was tense and you could cut the air with a knife almost.

"So umm….These are the nobles who want to overthrow the kingdom also. They are willing to help us. They also hate the current leaders of the kingdom as much as we do," Rufus explained the situation to the grey skin tribal leader in grey skin language.

"We have been informed about the situation. We understand that we have a common enemy. The problem we share is that we are not sure if they will let us stay here after the war is over. There are still many doubts working together with humans," Tashi explained.

One of the nobles rose up. He had a light blue robe with a mustache on his face. He was from the north of the kingdom and had battled many times the grey skins.

"I take it you are Rufus. The people of the kingdom have been yelling your name for a long time. You have worked hard for the people and are an inspiration to them. You give them hope. Hope for a brighter future. Your story coming from the slums and rising up to help others is a rallying cry even to my own people.

"Count Hunyadi also trusts you with his life. We trust you, but as a person who has waged war against the grey skin, it is hard for me to trust them. They have sacked my lands for years," The noble said in a human language to Rufus and pointed at the grey skin tribal leaders.

"I agree with him. My lands are also on the frontier. My people have suffered in the hands of these beasts," another noble yelled in a mad voice.

"What did that pig skin say. He just talked shit about us right," a grey skin tribal leader said and pointed to the noble who just yelled.

"Sit down beast. Let the intelligent beings talk."

"My Raja. You are a trustworthy human. These are not. Don't trust them."

"Rufus. You do not need these savages. Send them back to the mountains where they came from."

"Just have these humans killed. They are here to stop us I am sure of it."

Soon the tent was up in arms with the nobles and the grey skins yelling at each other. They yelled and pointed fingers and fists at each other. Only Tashi and Hunyadi were the only ones who were trying to calm everyone down.

Rufus didn't know what to say. He was completely caught off guard and was used to trying to please everyone. The situation started to get extremely tense with both the nobles and the grey skins starting to conjure up their divine powers.

"ROOOOOOOOAAARRR!"

Gwon roared from outside of the tent in his Seng form. Gwon was able to make everyone go quiet and get everyone's attention. Next to him was Haley who looked extremely mad.

"Listen here. You nobles may be considered the good and righteous nobles, but it doesn't matter to us if the peasants and commoners are still suffering. Knowing that in some region who knows where that the noble actually cares for his people doesn't help the rest of us.

"They do not care either if their neighbor will be a grey skin or something else as long as the neighbor doesn't try to force the other to work in a salt mine or tax them to death. So stop complaining. With this the problems of grey skins raiding us would also go away," Haley yelled with an angry voice to the nobles.

"Amala, translate this to me to these stubborn bastards. Listen here. You are here since you believed in Tenzin's plan. He knew that if the grey skins would want to live on the flatlands they would have to work together with the humans. You all knew what was needed and now you finally get it. You are working with the humans. So shut up and stop complaining. This shouldn't come as a surprise to you," Haley yelled at the grey skin tribal leaders.

The entire tent was quiet. Haley had just scarred a tentful of hardy and strong grey skin tribal leaders and many prominent and powerful nobles.

Amala then translated everything that Haley had just yelled to the grey skins. Both the nobles and the grey skins seemed to understand that this alliance and union was necessary for all of them.

The meeting continued with now more civility. There was no more shouting or yelling. Both gave their terms and what they wanted. Both realized what the other one asked was reasonable.

They agreed on working together in defeating their common enemy and that the grey skins would be allowed to settle in the lands after the war was won if the grey skin's promised not to raid the lands anymore.

What was most remarkable they all agreed to sign a treaty after the war. The treaty would have all that they discussed and agreed on and would bind the two races together in forming the new kingdom they all had visioned.

The meeting ended with just Haley, Rufus, and the count left to the tent.

"Wow. You truly have a scary friend here Rufus. Kind of reminds me of my wife," the count said.

"Rufus has the charisma. I have the voice."

"Well, well. That is truly a great duo. Only kindness is needed, and you would have a great set there."

Both Haley and Rufus smiled. They knew who had kindness

"That was our sister. She had the kindness," Rufus and Haley said together.