"Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact."
- William James
The skin and leather clad harriers pounded on the table
Only two men wore cloth, Mydaefandynm and
The stranger
Neither flax nor hemp, just animal and steel
This was not the refined times of legend
These were not the warrior princes of tales yet to be told
Each man was testament to his violence
After hacking their enemies they would rape and kill the other's
Women
And pike the children that were left
Hate and mother's milk the same fed diet for the victor's young
From birth distrust of others anything that was different
A lock of hair on the other side of the head or hair at all
Skin signs on the arm instead of the back
Or a different design on a scabbard
It took little to make an enemy or foe
And only clan to make them with
Fierceness shone in their eyes
As hate pierced across the table to the other side
There were no friends only clansmen
Those you fought with today may die by your sword tomorrow
"Each of you have a piece of the crystal"
"It shines but a small part by itself, but like the sun when together"
Grunts and guttural barking of the groups within groups questioning
Language was not one of their weapons or shields
When the yelling died down
"Think on this, each of you is like a stand in the rope"
"Twisted together you have strength"
The boy understood where the men left off
Mydaefandynm invited the stranger to sup as he threw off
A man to his right
He distrusted the cloaked man but wanted him close
Near him and Aethelrodmyd
"Speak your name and purpose for coming to us"
Names held keys to whys, wheres, and who
