Chapter 5 - Codi the merchant

Kai woke up. He was lying in his bed in the healer Chasis tent. The ancient elf sat cross legged, with a bone bowl in her hands, eating soup.

She smiled brightly when Kai woke up. "Good morning Kai. Do you remember Bonding with Blizzard?"

Blizzard said from outside the tent in a loud voice "of course he remembers me! Don't you think I'm a memorable tiger? My fur is totally unique! And our battle was legendary! Everyone says so."

Blizzard poked her white and orange striped head into the tent flap, ignoring Chasi completely. Her blue eyes went from looking anxious to being bright and happy. She said "good morning Kai. You have been in something called a fever for the past month. Your broken bones were all set and healed quickly after your challenge , but your body had been through a lot."

Chasi said "ahem. I'm the doctor here, if you please, Tiger blizzard."

Blizzards eyes flicked onto Chasi briefly, and she said "fine, but only since you helped to heal my Prince."

Chasi grinned and watched Blizzard move her head back out of the way. Chasi got another bowl and crude spoon, and handed it to the wounded prince carefully, after Kai sat up with a few groans and her help.

"Eat slowly, your body hasn't eaten in a month." Kai took slow mouthfuls, enjoying the flavorful soup, with very tender meat. Chasi slowed him down if he started going too fast. Kai's appetite was very large right away.

After finally finishing his food, Chasi said "ok. Well.. you should be fine now to go sleep. This is your new tent. Don't forget you have to take good care of it. Try not to run too much for the next month if you can help it. Your bones have been healed but that doesn't mean perfectly healed. I'm not the greatest healer, but I was what was available."

Kai wiped his lips off of soup with a leather handkerchief. "Thanks for everything Chasi."

She stood up, packing her medical supplies into a bag which she rolled up.

She said "ok then. See you soon Prince Kai, I'm sure you will get hurt again after all, and we are of the people." Without waiting for Kai's response, she left the tent. Shortly after, Blizzards face came poking into the tent. She came in all the way, moving with great agility as she's a big cat.

She said "well then. Sorry you got hurt but it is still good that you convinced me to be your battle sister."

Kai grinned and said "true." She helped Kai go to the bathroom in one of the nearby bathroom tents, which were shared between 20 family tents.

Ignoring the smell as best he could, Kai took a piss and shit, wiping off afterwards with a wool cloth that was quickly thrown away afterwards in the same hole. The people dig one every day while setting up camp, and fill it in before leaving the next day.

He came out of his new tent, rotating his shoulders, his right side being substantially more painful and stiff.

Kai got on blizzards back, and began walking towards his tent when he looked across the river. It had been many years now since the merchant Codi traveled to Rakanshi. Father says the journey should have taken a half year at the most.

Thus the people had assumed Codi to be taken by either fang and claw, or human treachery and greed.

The trader was still very far away, but it seemed obvious to Kai that something was wrong. It had been so long for one, but even that wasn't it. What in the hell was that hazy thing behind the merchants small caravan.

After a few seconds of staring intensely, Kai realized what it was. A sea of dust behind the colorful merchants wagon and cattle.

Kai's eyes widened. And he urged blizzard with his mind, and blizzard began bounding quickly towards Kai's fathers chief tent.

Getting to it fairly quickly, Kai didn't see the two guards outside the tent who are there whenever his parents were inside.

Still though, he called out to his parents in case they were in it anyways.

After no answer came from within the tent, Kai cursed aloud. "Shit."

Kai looked around, and saw a group of 20 tiger scouts marching in a column on one of the crude roads within the camp, and whom hadn't seen Codi and the many coming up behind him.

Kai cupped his hands around his lips, to direct the sound better where he wanted it to go, and called out in a loud yell "Scouts of the Kahn clan! The merchant Codi returns, and has an army behind him."

Kai watched then as the scouts tigers came to a stop, listening and looking towards Kai's voice.

Kai then moved his arm, pointing in the direction of Cody, and yelled out "send scouts to warn the camp, and Chief Kahn. The rest of you, form up around your prince. Hurry now!"

The scout force split into two groups, with one separating into many; to run throughout the camp warning the people of a potential attack.

Kai looked at the chaotic situation, and grimaced. If he was the chief the scout system would be interwoven with dedicated ways to communicating quickly.

His father was locked into tradition, as are most of the tribes elders. Chasi was willing to learn new information, but the elders in large part were not.

The group which hadn't split soon arrived, placing themselves behind and besides the prince.

Kai took out his bow, and drew an arrow. Two quivers with 42 arrows in each were on either side of his waste, placed to allow comfort while riding, but also during walking.

Kai's bow was far more powerful than ordinary bows, as he had made it for himself. It was even better than his old earth compound bows, with its two cams allowing Kai to have a bow with a draw force of hundreds of pounds. The bow string was powerful enough to handle the immense forces of the draw as well as release, with the cams drastically releasing the pressure.

Kai's father had admired how far his son could shoot targets from, but he wouldn't let Kai teach the bow makers how to make them for their bows as well.

Kai stopped thinking of that, as codi came into clearer view. The merchant codi and his tiger looked like they had not eaten well for a long time. His 5 cattle he'd left with were gone, and now had 4 other beasts, being ridden by scale armored warriors, definitely not of Kai's tribe.

Kai's eyes narrowed in focus. The warriors held spears made of iron. Their armor was of a good quality. That They were humans was easy to see. They looked to be of the steppe descent with hard faces well used to the bitter winds.

Kai saw more and more people coming from his own camp, riding their tigers. Camp was being packed up rapidly, in case the people all needed to flee.

Kai saw his father and mother, making their way easily through the people towards the front line, where Kai sat.

Kai called out to Codi, and the 5 beast riders. "Stop. Why do you travel with humans Codi? Where are your cattle?"

Codi looked at Kai, and didn't recognize him. He said "who are you? Since when do the people have a white tiger and its rider among them? Why have you gathered the tribe into battle formation. These men and women beside and behind me are all soldiers who are trained too highly for our clan."

They were terifically interested in these lands, after I brought forwards three marvelous diamonds.

Kai looked at the five humans on their tall beasts, and they scowled back at him quite rudely.

Behind them, a Collumn 20 riders wide approached. As they arrived , they began splitting into the left and right smoothly, creating a battle line that was many rows deep and extending outwards as wide as Kai's camp.

The fact that his people could easily be flanked in a battle with these numerically large foes was in Kai's mind.

Behind Kai, his people made cries of anger at how insolently Codi addressed their prince.

Kai raised his right arm, with the arrow in it, calming the people down.

He looked at the merchant, and shifted on the saddle blanket of blizzard. He said "ah.Well, it's understandable you wouldn't recognize me Codi. After all, I was only about two years old when last we met. I am Prince Kai, of the Kahn tribe. Now I will ask again, why have you brought humans back with you? And where are your 5 cattle."

One of the humans scoffed out in disbelief "you are the prince who made the gemstones? Hmmph. As to where the merchants cattle are..Bah. Our beasts ate your friends cattle as they grew hungry on that dreadfully long march.As for why we have come, the answer should be obvious. We want to find more of those incredible gemstones your slimy friend brought to Rakanshi. By order of King Drake, we ask that your chief offer you as ransom, or we shall crush your people on the field of battle, and take you anyways. Know that you will be treated well."

Kai's parents Chief Kahn and Chiefess Akaishi arrived, the crowd splitting to allow them through. They took their place on either side of their son.

Kahn said "I am Chief Kahn, and Prince Kai is my son. I shall accept your terms, and offer my son as ransom. As long as you allow our people to continue unmolested by you or your agents directly or indirectly. And bring no harm to Prince Kai."

The warrior who had spoken before now replied again. "You have a deal. Conquering you barbarians would not benefit the empire, as you are far too poor."

Kai looked at his people, and then his mother and father. He said "don't trouble yourselves with too much worry mom and dad. I will do well wherever I am, I'm sure. These soldiers have better weaponry and a lot more soldiers."

"You are so brave Kai. I love you. I will miss you."

She didn't hug him..it wasn't the way of his tribe for non married adults to hug.

Kai said "farewell father. I shall return one day, and lead the people forward."

Kahn looked at his son, sitting proudly despite his recent injuries. He didn't act like a boy at all, but a wise warrior.

"May the wind always be helpful at your back, the sun shine in your enemies eyes, and may you find clean drinking water at the end of each daily journey."

Kai said nothing, spending his time looking at his parents faces. Blizzard turned then, and began walking towards Codi. Codi walked towards the tribe on his own tiger.

As they met each other, Codi whispered quickly "Be careful of these humans treachery Prince Kai. They tortured me for years to get me to lead them to the people. I am sorry for my part in this."

Kai looked at Codi, and said to him "it's not your fault, but mine. I made the precious gems and thought it would be of no concern. Rest easy, and let the people know I have no ill will towards you."

Codi seemed struck by the noble words, and his shoulders fell to their lowest potential, his raised head dropping so he looked at his tigers feet and back.

Kai met the assembled army of humans, who rode numerous kinds of beasts. None of them were like his clans tigers though.

As he met the group, they formed themselves around him, in a protective shell.

The leader who had spoken before said "Smart decision not to fight, Prince Kai. I am Haixo, general of the army of Rakanshi. Don't think about trying to run away in the middle of the night. If you break your word to us, I swear that I will hunt down every last elf man, woman and child in your clan, and use their heads as the foundations of new land in the Rakanshi coastline, not that you would know what a coastline, or an ocean is."

Kai laughed, as he knew much about coastlines, and oceans, from his past life.

"Don't worry. I won't break my word. I'm an elf of the Kahn clan. We always keep our word."

Ever so slowly, the army of Rakanshians began their long march back home, taking Kai far from his.