Marsus looked at me as if I had grown a third eye, making me self-conscious about my appearance.

  Is my smell that bad?

  “Is there something on my face, Brother Marsus?” I asked. Although when Yakob turned to look at Marsus, I knew something was up.

  “No, it's just… your question, it’s like asking… Argh, I‘m so bad at lying!”

  Marsus face-palmed as Yoakb seemed to get mad and started admonishing him in their language. I was surprised when Yokab spoke, as his voice didn’t fit his age, being very deep. Sipsus, on the other hand, looked pleased, pointing a finger at the other two as he covered his eyes and laughed.

  What are they talking about?

  “Mhm, Brot—” I tried to interject, but was cut off.

  “You said you can take us inside the chief's mansion, right?” Marsus asked.

  When did I say that?

  “No, I said I can bring Heler to you,” I corrected him. I could do what he said, but making armed strangers enter my home wasn’t wise.

  This time, Yakob spoke with barely any accent. “Let me rephrase my friend’s question, brother. Will you help us meet Heler today, if we told you what the Guild found?”

  So they really are here for something. But why would Heler refuse to meet them? No, why are they in such a rush to meet him?

  “Sure, but you’d have to tell me why Heler is refusing to see you guys.”

  Yakob didn’t hesitate, agreeing immediately. “Deal, but please don’t tell anyone about this.”

  Seeing how he didn’t hesitate, I didn’t either. “I swear in front of God.”

  Yakob shook my hand before continuing. “For your first question. The Guild had chosen your tribe to build its first branch in the Blacklands region because they believe there is a stash of ancient Bracelets hidden close to here.”

  Ancient Bracelets? Where have I heard this term before… Aha!

  “Aren’t those the first Bracelets to ever exist? Built by the Giants, right?” I asked, unable to remember much more from history class.

  Yakob nodded a bit excitedly; a passion could be seen burning in his eye. “Exactly, although these Bracelets are way weaker than the current ones created by the Hanshins, they’re still free Bracelets. The last guy who found ancient Bracelets got super rich, managing to find about 300 of them. The Guild believes we might find a similar stack here.”

  My mind went into overdrive, thinking of the implications of such a find.

  Why didn’t father tell me? Are the Hanshins after these, too? Is that why they’re attacking us? I thought. Many different questions were going through my mind

  “And why would the Guild believe we have those here?”

  This time, Marsus answered. “Because it was discovered that the Red Mountain is actually a tomb for a giant of old.”

  Pfft

  “Hahaha,” I couldn’t help but laugh at the ridiculousness of such a notion.

  “Why are you laughing? I’m serious; it’s been proven. Throughout the millennia, the tomb has been going through harsh environmental conditions, leaving it looking like any other mountain, but in reality, it has always been a pyramidal tomb.”

  That sounds logical, but… Argh, I think father has a lot of explaining to do.

  “I still have my doubts, but that’ll have to wait. Now, you said you’d tell me why Heler is refusing to see you.”

  Yakob sighed—a deep sigh. “How about you explain to him, Marsus?”

  Marsus looked at Yakob, opened his mouth as if wanting to disagree, then closed it without saying anything.

  “Amm, you see.” Marsus shot Yakob a glance before continuing. “We didn’t come here with the rest of the adventurers—we’re not licensed. You can say we’re mercenaries.”

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  I frowned at that. “Is it perhaps that you’re too young to join them?”

  “Too young? Yeah, that’s it, we’re too young. There’s also—”

  Yakob put his hand on Marsus’s shoulder, cutting him mid-sentence.

  “That’s enough,” said Yakob to Marsus before turning to me. “It's a bit complicated, but we can say no more.”

  What the heck is going on?

  “So why would you want to meet Heler? I mean, you already said that you’re not part of his group.”

  “This wasn’t part of the deal, Sir Yomon. We respected our part, so I hope you do the same.”

  I gave the man a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, we Khahandarians don’t renegade on our oaths. Today, in the afternoon, wait for me at the wooden bridge. I’ll bring the man.”

  ***

  After paying the bill for the mercenary group, I took my own table and had my usual breakfast. It consisted of crushed date paste mixed with sesame seed liquid and a bit of olive oil—Tahenee Bdibes, as it's called.

  I immediately went back home after that, wanting to speak to father to understand the situation better.

  Khalad had a group of merchants in his office, which led me to attend the unpleasant and boring meeting. Thankfully, it didn’t last long.

  “You’re back early. Here to learn your father's craft?” Khalad asked as he went through some papers.

  “No.” But the look father gave me, where his head was lowered and motionless as his golden eyes stared at me above his glasses, changed my response.

  “I meant yes, but not know. I met this group of adventurers, and they told me…”

  I retold father the conversation I had with the mercenaries.

  “So, I was wondering. Why are we housing these foreigners at such a crucial junction of our tribe’s history, and if their story is true, can’t we just obtain these Bracelets on our own? What is the use of the Guild, is all I’m asking?”

  Father put his glasses down and started to massage his temple.

  “Why do problems only come in groups?” He mumbled.

  “So you didn’t know?!” I asked, unbelieving what I was hearing.

  “It’s you knowing which I feared.”

  Does he not trust me? What’s going on?

  I tried to keep calm as I asked. “What are you talking about, father? I don’t understand”

  Father looked at the picture behind him, his eyes lingering on his wife longer before he returned to face me.

  “A month ago, a group of mercenaries with special powers discovered the tomb, which led the Guild to send its men to create an outpost here. I agreed, the Guild brought wealth to wherever it went, if there was a strong government that regulated it.”

  Father handed me a paper. On it was a request from the Guild to purchase land and start their activities.

  “But what has that got to do with me. Why did you fear me knowing?”

  Father ignored my question. He glared at me before continuing with his talk. “When my great-great-grandfather discovered this oasis, he had no competition. The Baras didn’t care about these lands, as they were too far from the mainland. So we grew in peace until the Holy Empire ended, and with its demise, a new world order began. At that time, we were few—”

  I interrupted my father, even though he had given me an earlier warning, but my patience had run thin. “I know—“

  “Silence!” My father roared, making me cower in my seat. This was the man I knew, not the lovable father that had become after mother’s death—a man with no tolerance for disrespect.

  “I won’t allow you to interrupt me again, Yomon. Am I clear?” He said in a low, but threatening voice.

  “Of course, father.”

  “Our ancestors poured blood to protect this land, but it wasn’t enough. And that was when my father came. One day, while digging a trench to reinforce the oasis, he stumbled upon a tunnel that led deep into the Red Mountain. Inside, he found remnants of a lost civilisation—one where they buried riches with their dead. And with the Bracelets he found inside, the tribe survived. Now, what has this got to do with you?”

  I held my breath.

  Father hesitated for a moment before speaking. “I… feared for you. You were always rash, wanting to run around and play adventurer. The tomb is still dangerous, with many closed chambers that hold tempting loot. That is why I got the Guild; we need their expertise. We can’t stay put with this fast-moving world.”

  I didn’t know what to say. I was part shocked, part confused, and… scared. Yes, I was scared. Scared of the backstabbers, from the invaders, from the uncertain future. But most of all, I was scared of living in a future that didn’t suit me. Like father said, I liked adventure, I liked freedom, and I was curious.

  This is not the time to think of this!

  Emotions welled up inside of me, and before my eyes betrayed me, I decided to leave.

  “Yomon, if you enter the tomb without my permission, I’ll—”

  I didn’t hear the rest of the warning as I closed the door behind me with more force than intended.

  ***

  I rested for a bit in my room, contemplating what my father had told me. In the end, I understood his viewpoint, but I couldn’t agree with his implementation.

  I was brash, liked to adventure and ignore warnings, but I knew I could be reasoned with. Father was the type to order and expect you to follow without complaint, and that might’ve been why he kept the tomb hidden. The man had past experiences with me and knew that if I wasn’t fully convinced, I’d do whatever I wanted. Well, danger is a good enough reason for most, but not for me.

  It wasn’t like I was foolish, or so I thought. But from my perspective, everything had a degree of danger to it. You only had to have the right preparations, know what you’re doing, and be careful.

  And that’s why I’m going to enter that pyramid after getting ready, whether he likes it or not.

  It could take me months, maybe years, but I had my eyes set on it.

  The meeting with the mercenary boys was getting close, so I got up and headed to where Heler was residing.

  The man didn’t need much convincing, agreeing immediately when I told him I needed a favour from him. On the way to the bridge, I contemplated telling Heler who I wanted him to see, but decided against it. I had an oath to fulfill and he might not agree to see them if he knew who they were. If he decided to stay or leave after that was none of my business.

  As we passed over the curve of the bridge, the trio came into view. They still had their armour on, with swords strapped to their sides. What made me take a second look was Sipsus’s height. The man looked big when he was sitting, but standing up, he was enormous, almost the same height as my father

  Even Yakob is quite tall. It seems only Marsus didn’t luck out in the height department.

  I waved at them, catching their attention.

  “So that’s why you brought me here, Yomon. I’m disappointed. If you wouldn’t mind, I’ll be taking my leave,” Heler said, turning on his heel.

  Does this count as a meeting?

  “Elder, why won’t you see these boys. All they want is to speak to you.”

  Heler didn’t stop walking as he answered my question. “It’s because that boy with the red hair is a disgrace. He’s the son of a noble from the fallen empire.”

  So that’s what it is.

  The trio started shouting when they saw Heler leave, but I didn’t understand anything as it was in their language. I only recognised Heler’s name and guildmaster—probably a shared word between our two languages. They even tried to get on the bridge, but the guards stopped them; they only allowed Baras on the island, or authorised foreigners.

  I didn’t know what to do. Heler had clearly stated his refusal to meet the mercenaries. In the end, I decided to talk to them; I owed them that much.

  “Hey,” I greeted them as I stepped off the bridge.

  “What happened? Why did he turn back?” Yakob asked, annoyance clear in his eyes.

  “Let’s go back, Yakob. He’s the loser. Thanks for your effort, Yomon. We know it’s not your fault he left,” Marsus said as he held Yakob’s shoulder, dragging him. Yakob nodded at me, while Sispsus looked between his two friends.

  “He said that you’re the son of a disgraced noble; that’s why he refused to meet you,” I called after them.

  Yakon snapped his neck at me, anger clear in his eyes.

  “My father is way more graceful than those traitors will ever be!”

  I came closer to the group, a step separating us.

  “I haven’t introduced myself properly last time. I’m Yomon, son of Khalad, the current chieftain.”

  The trio didn’t look that surprised.

  “You don’t look surprised?”

  “We guessed you were someone important after you said you could bring him. Anyways, we are honoured to have known you, Yomon son of Khalad,” Yakob said.

  “The honour is mine. If you want, I can send your message to Heler. What do you think?” I asked, wanting to repay my debt to them.

  Marsus looked at Yakob, who shook his head. “He doesn’t deserve it,” Yakob said.

  Deserve it?

  Suddenly, it all hit me.

  “Hey Yakob, can I ask you a question?”