Chapter 128: The Banquet and the Forge
Steam from the massive iron cauldrons flooded the communal dining hall as night fell over the village. Rows of wooden tables creaked under the weight of massive platters filled with roasted reptile meat, seasoned with mountain herbs and mineral salt. The tribe celebrated with loud chants and continuous toasts of the shaman’s wine, honoring the abundance Ignis had brought back from Lizard Lake.
At the main table, Kellar enjoyed his banquet flanked by Mila and Maya. A few paces away, Ron and Lía ate with a voracious appetite. Ron conversed with the young hunters, fascinated by the tribe’s battle stories, while Lía kept her gaze fixed on Kellar, serving him meat and bowls of broth with a silent devotion that made Maya smile.
"Your new assistant hasn’t taken her eyes off you for a single second," said Maya, leaning toward Kellar with a teasing giggle while giving him a gentle nudge. "She seems ready to fulfill every single one of her ’duties’ the moment you step into your cabin."
Lía, realizing they were talking about her, lowered her gaze to her hands once again, a bright blush spreading all the way down her neck as she shyly gripped her tunic over her thighs.
"Maya, please," said Mila, offering a soft smile while pouring a cup of mead for Kellar. "Your new Guardian has solved a whole month’s worth of food in a single afternoon. The people are happy, and the tribe has never felt this safe."
"This is only the beginning," said Kellar, taking the mug and looking over the crowd laughing and singing in the hall. "With food secured and mountain iron on its way, it is time to forge our true warriors."
Outside the communal hut, Ignis lay euphoric in the center of the yard, devouring the giant rib scraps amidst deep purrs that shook the snow.
"Tomorrow at sunrise, I will gather the youths at the firing range," said Kellar, looking over at Ron, who immediately sat up straight upon hearing him. "We will begin training with the muskets. If we want to sweep the valley, our people must master the thunder in their hands."
"We will be ready, Great Shaman!" said Ron, his eyes sparkling with excitement while Lía nodded silently beside him, reaffirming in her mind her sacred duty to remain by his side.
After the hearty dinner, the atmosphere in the hall became more relaxed. Maya rested her head on Kellar’s shoulder while Mila played lazily with the rim of her wine glass. A few paces away, Lía cleared the table with great care, maintaining an upright posture and casting furtive glances at the shaman whenever she passed near.
"Hey, Kellar," said Maya, lowering her voice with spicy curiosity. "She hasn’t said a single word all night. No matter how shy a woman is before her lord, this seems exaggerated. Why doesn’t she speak?"
"She doesn’t speak because she can’t," said Kellar, holding Maya’s hand with warmth. "Nor can she hear us. Her brother explained to me that she was born with this condition."
Mila opened her eyes in surprise, looking at the girl with a new spark of empathy.
"Poor girl..." said Mila, adjusting in her seat. "In the northern tribes, that usually means a death sentence or continuous abuse. And how do you communicate with her?"
"With hands and glances," said Kellar, smiling faintly as he gestured with his fingers toward Lía.
Upon seeing the shaman’s hands moving in the air, Lía stopped in her tracks. Her cheeks flushed crimson, believing her lord was calling her before his other women to demand her nightly duties. She walked briskly to the table and bowed with absolute bashfulness.
Maya and Mila let out soft giggles upon seeing the young woman’s blush.
"It’s adorable how red she gets," said Maya, leaning in closer to get a better look. "Teach us something, Kellar. We want to learn how to speak with her."
"Alright, watch," said Kellar, raising his hands slowly so they could both see. "If you bring your fingers together like this and place them to your chest, it means ’welcome’ or ’friend.’"
Mila and Maya imitated the movement. Maya curved her fingers incorrectly and ended up making a strange gesture that caused Lía to let out a soft guttural sound of surprise before covering her mouth with her hand to hide a chuckle.
"Hey! I think she’s making fun of my pronunciation!" said Maya, laughing out loud while trying the sign once more.
Kellar stepped behind Maya and took her hands firmly, gently guiding her fingers to correct the posture, while Mila watched the scene with amusement and repeated the sign correctly toward Lía.
Lía looked at Mila’s hands and then at Kellar’s. Seeing the warmth and patience with which the shaman treated his women, the tension in her chest melted away. She offered a genuine smile and responded with her hands fluently: "Thank you. Happy."
"What did she say? What did she say?" said Maya, excited upon seeing the girl’s response.
"She said she is happy to be here with us," said Kellar, wrapping one arm around Maya’s waist and drawing Mila in with the other in a warm embrace. "And so am I."
Lía observed the group’s tight embrace and bowed her head once more, feeling that her place beside the great leader was not only a sacred duty, but the warmest sanctuary she could have ever imagined.
Kellar gave his women a couple of affectionate pats on the waist before standing up and stretching his back after the long day.
"I will leave you for tonight," said Kellar, offering them a relaxed smile. "I’m going to take a bath. Up at the mountain fortress, there wasn’t a single drop of clean water; Krag will have plenty of work ahead to organize the pipes and sanitation."
"Enjoy your rest," said Mila, returning his look with warmth while Maya winked at him from the table.
Kellar walked at a leisurely pace toward his private quarters. Upon entering, he headed straight to the bathing area, where a large, reinforced wooden tub rested. With skill and patience, he lit the small stone fireplace connected to the cauldron’s base to heat the river water.
He stripped off his travel clothes and waited a few minutes by the fire, watching as hot steam began to rise from the tub, ready to submerge himself and melt away the tension of an entire week’s expedition.