AR Chapter 449

Hey. Sorry for slowness on this. I've got a tiny bit of a backlog now, hoping to post every day this week. Sorry for inconsistency, it's just been hard to be motivated for this when there's much less interest in AR and SoK than PW. Then there's personal stuff, but you don't care about that. Anyways. Enjoy!

[Chjell POV]

There were dozens of people and things that demanded his attention, and Chjell gave each one the time it deserved, not a single moment more. The Sik’Tal, as always, searched for other opportunities to provide for the city, to varying and limited success. The laws that had been instituted so long ago remained, and they demanded that only a certain amount of fish be taken from the sea on any given day. There was a reason for this, of course, and there wasn’t even a keelish alive foolish enough to transgress this ancient law. As such, there had been discussions of perhaps stepping into the mountains and hunting some of those ants that they had become more familiar with, but that was a risk. If the ants followed the scent of their hunted brethren to Tala, then the city would be overrun with ravenous insects. 

“Wherefore are we to search? The north hast been prepared for hunting, yet only for a limited window of opportunity. To the south lieth only suffering and warfare, while the east contains bounteous hunts only in the wintertimes and the west is a deadly mire of enemies.”

“The decision remains yours.” Chjell replied. “You choose where to go and what to hunt in such a way that you’re not endangering the rest of the city. It’s your responsibility to be safe and to provide for Tala. If you’re unable to do that, then march to the south and offer yourselves to the Zaaktif and the war.”

“When dost thou expect to be permitted a return journey?” The Sik’Tal changed her method of questioning, caring only to further her own designs. It was the fifth time he’d been asked nearly the exact same question, and Chjell refused to give it any different of an answer than he had been.

“When Nievtra is cleared of all attackers and the Zaaktif has dismissed me, I will return and no earlier. Even after a potential siege is broken, there may be a need for my presence in the south, and as such, I will remain in Nievtra for as long as I am needed. Finally, not for the first time, I’m telling you to adjust your speech. There’s no reason to remain so stubbornly repeating the words and phrases of our old ways when the Zaaktif’s manner of speech is clearer and more effective. Work better at adapting.”

“Very well… I understand, and I’ll be better.“

The female seemed to struggle over the slight dialectical change as he requested, but she, as well as every other member of the nation, was willing to do as they’ve been asked. In fact, the Zaaktif himself hadn’t asked or demanded that such a thing be done, but the Alpha had given the command that Tala do and act as their superiors did, both in word as well as in deed. And when commanded, the Saharliard were obedient.

“With our reduced numbers,” the Kha’Tal representative, Krii, asked, “should we remain focused on the expansion of our city's borders? Or should we focus entirely on the maintenance of that which we’ve gained dominion over? We can only prioritize one with our reduced workforce.”

“Continue as you have been, focused on the broadening of our territory.“ Chjell commanded. “By the end of winter, the hatchlings should be large enough to be tending to both the more established lands as well as the new. According to the commands of our Zaaktif and our Goddess, for as long as we are capable of sustainably maintaining ourselves, we will grow our numbers. For that, we will need more space for eggs to be laid and homes to be built.”

The license to, once again, do as their instincts commanded, to spread and grow their population until they could confront every challenge with strength and numbers, was intoxicating. Even so, it was different from how they’d been told to live since long before any of their race could remember. The ways of Tala had always demanded that, as a people and a settlement, the remain small, easy to miss, and quiet. Now that their race, their true race, the Keel, had returned, those constraints no longer bound them and the traditions set to counteract nature were hard to fully cast off.

Another hour passed in the same way, more of his people coming to ask him questions and for guidance, only getting exactly what he determined was necessary, and before long, there were no more who could reasonably stop him. Chjell finally dismissed those who approached, appreciating their support of him, but stopping it. Instead, he allowed the entirety of the population of the town to gather and made his address.

“Your leaders, and the strongest among you, are leaving. There are those who consider us to be prey in the south, those who shall be consumed and made into steppingstones. We go to offer our strengths, to refine ourselves and quench ourselves in the lifeblood of the Misti Hawar. Until we return, it is your duty to protect Tala. There will be no Keel to give additional support, and any Khatif that emerge will be fledglings. Those with experience and greater strength shall be in the south, fighting alongside the Zaaktif to preserve our people. Those few of you left here, survive, and be ready to defend yourselves against any outside threats, whatever they may be. By so doing, you will find yourselves worthy of speaking Nievtala’s Words of Power, of taking the steps to becoming Keel!”

Chjell listened to the cheers of his people and gave the finale they were all waiting for: “Victory by fang and blood!”

As the assembled Saharliard raised their voices in cheers, ready to confront whatever was necessary to live up to the expectations of their superiors. They understood what it was to be a Saharliard, to obey and sacrifice, to be what the Zaaktif demanded. Chjell flared his frills in acceptance and said nothing more as he turned on his heel and strolled away. 

Dozens of Khatif and hundreds of Kha followed him, leaving less than 200 in Tala to protect the remnants of their civilization. He had no regrets, as the Zaaktif had only asked that he bring a force back to Nievtra, not that he bring everyone of the Saharliard in the north. Chjell chose to bring as many as he could manage, and those left behind knew that they would receive no support in the event that there were enemies who reared their heads. They would fight and win or fight and die. That didn’t need to be repeated, and he strode forward, Khatif of every caste following in his steps. It would be maybe a moon for the force to reach Nievtra, and he hoped that they would be there in time to assist with the war that had been brewing for so long now.