Come morning, everyone in Palm Haven had learned of what had happened to the Grayhounds. Their sudden destruction was nothing more than divine retribution for what they had done to the Sunwardens.
News spread of the red-skinned man who had killed their Extolites and the chief. Many wanted to learn more about this man and how he had done anything he had, but learning anything about him was impossible.
The man seemed to have vanished in the dead of the night.
Meanwhile, the man responsible for it all sat inside of a tent in the Sandkillers’ land, where Xichen had gathered a few of her people to decide their next move.
“I do not wish to make this decision on my own. I want all of your suggestions,” she said.
“We do not have enough people to control everything,” Runin said. “We will need to rebuild everything, and if we’re attacked in that time, we won’t be able to fight back.”
Xichen thought for a bit. “The Sandkiller chief won’t attack us. Not only is he a good man, he is filled with guilt for betraying us. He won’t dare do anything to us at all.”
“What about the Skullheads?” someone asked. “They have no reason to stay back and watch. They might even take over Grayhounds now that they are defeated, and then come over toward us.”
Xichen knew that was a possibility. A very real one at that.
“What if we got help from the Bonefangs?” Goyin asked. “If they found out Father was killed by these people, they would…”
“They’re weak,” Xichen said. “The only reason they have any influence at all was because of your father. But now that he’s gone, they will be in as much trouble as we are.”
“What if we worked together then?” Goyin asked. “We don’t want to be kicked out of our land, and the Bonefangs will need protection. What if we suggested that we joined hands and become one tribe?”
Goyin’s words were harsh to anyone hearing her since no one wanted the tribes to join to become one. Someone protested, claiming that they couldn’t let the bloodline of the Sunwardens get muddled.
“What do you mean muddled?” Goyin asked, anger flaring in her. “I am as much a Bonefang as I am a Sunwarden. In many years, I will be your chief. Besides, we are speaking about life and death. Is being muddled so much worse than being dead?”
Her words caused everyone to become silent at once. No one dared claim that joining with the Bonefangs was in any way a bad idea anymore.
“We’ll have to send news over as soon as we can. I’ll write the letter when we have the time,” Xichen said.
“What about the funerals?” Runin asked. “Whatever our situation is, we need to hold funerals for the dead. You said you managed to retrieve your husband and your father’s corpses, right?”
Xichen’s eyes flashed toward Alex for a second before she closed them and nodded. “I have them,” she said, pain nearly choking her words.
“Then, we will have to take care of the funerals first. We should return to our place.”
“But what of the Skullheads? What if they decide to attack us while we are busy? We need to prepare for them.”
Alex stood. “Don’t worry about the Skullheads,” he said. “Take care of your funerals. I’ll take care of the rest.”
He left the tent.
His skin was still bright pink, the color retracting very slowly, so he decided to turn invisible instead. He went through the streets of the Sandkillers, making his way to the Skullheads that were right next to them.
The Skullheads acted as if nothing big had happened last night. Nothing much changed in them despite the fact that two of the big tribes had lost overnight.
Very few people here had been affected by that at all.
Alex found his way to the Skullhead chief’s house and entered. After going through the house, he found the chief in a meeting with a few people. They spoke in hushed words.
Alex entered and shut the door behind him.
The sudden sound caught everyone’s attention, causing them to turn around and look toward him. At first they saw nothing, but then Alex removed his invisibility and his pink skin was all that they needed to recognize him.
Everyone immediately got up from their seats, spears and swords flying out of their storage bags as they readied to fight.
Alex held no weapon at all. He walked forward a bit, and sat down in one of the empty seats. He stared at each man, noticing their fearful look and finally spoke.
“I came here to talk. But if you wish to fight, I will indulge you.”
Everyone stiffened immediately, holding onto their weapons even more tightly.
“N-no!” the older man of the group, not a chief, but someone with just as much authority quickly spoke up. “If we can avoid fights, we will.”
Alex nodded. “Good,” he said, watching everyone sit back down.
“Wh-why have you come to us?” the chief finally asked.
“To warn you,” Alex said. “I do not know if you have even thought about it or not, but with the downfall of the two big tribes, you’ll find opportunities. I do not care what you do with the Grayhounds, but do not even think of going after the Sunwardens.”
The chief gulped. “D-Did they hire you?” he asked. “We can pay more.”
Alex pulled out the sword from his storage bag, his body disappearing as he arrived right next to the chief, the sword by his neck.
The people scrambled to try and attack Alex, but with his sword on the chief, they couldn’t do anything.
Alex looked into the fearful eyes of the chief and asked, “You wish to pay me? Will you pay with your life?”
The chief sucked in cold air, feeling the sharp metal against his neck.
Alex suddenly vanished again, this time fully turning invisible.
“That is all I came here to say. Do not do anything stupid against the Sunwardens.”
The door opened on its own and he was gone.