You are talking with an unexpected guest.

You said, “Who is this? You can come inside!”

An old female windrider enters your hut, wearing ritual clothing covered with the symbols of the Mountain Peak Spirits.

You know her face, covered with wrinkles.

This woman is the shaman of your tribe.

Ashandra.

She closes the door behind her.

You sit down on the bed in confusion.

She comes closer and also sits next to you.

Her voice is strangely quiet: “I need to tell you something important, Dar...”

You ask in bewilderment: “But why didn’t you talk about this “important” at the general meeting of the tribe immediately after my return?”

The inquisitive gaze of her dull gray eyes looks straight into your face.

You feel awkward.

Finally she says: “The most important things should not be told... in public. The fewer listeners, the better... Everyone in the tribe was happy to have you and Ben back. This is undeniable. But I have a duty to think about the future. The spirits of the Mountain Peaks inspire me with their will. The spirits of the Mountain Peaks are patient and wise. They are not guided by fleeting emotions. They painstakingly create the future from the grains of the present... What happened to you and other windrider scouts in the ruins is sad. But that doesn't matter. There is something more important..."

You say indignantly: “They almost killed me! This huge green-skinned mutant... He did things to my body that just thinking about makes me feel like vomiting! The vile babilian **** owners made me and Ben slaves! In your opinion, this is all “unimportant”?!”

Ashandra calmly looks into your eyes and says, “Yes. This is all unimportant. Even your life is unimportant. The important things are the life of the tribe as a whole and the will of the Spirits of the Mountain Peaks. Our sacred customs are important. Our lifestyle is important. And everything you do... It's an unnecessary risk. I have always advised you to limit the range of reconnaissance expeditions. You ignored my advice. Therefore, there is more suffering in your life... But there is another feature of the situation.”

You say in a tired voice, “What do you mean, Ashandra?”

She replies: “The fact that your group of scouts was attacked in the ruins is the basis for increasing the powers of the war chief. This... is in keeping with customs. Unfortunately... Now the tribe is at war. Satlon has been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. And then you come back... And these stupid words about the so-called “allies”... Some stinking unholy groundwalkers who live far to the west... And, in your opinion, the warriors of our tribe should go there?! Risking your own lives in an unnecessary bloody war?! If you think so, then you are just an irresponsible boy, Dar! You do not understand anything! How many warriors does our tribe have? At best, a hundred. The entire tribe of Skyblooded numbers only about three hundred people! And you, together with Satlon, want to send our warriors to battle with enemies who have thousands of warriors?! This is guaranteed certain ****! This can’t be called anything other than madness!”

It seems that the mask of composure has disappeared from the face of Ashandra.

Obviously that your actions and the assistance being prepared to the inhabitants of Fred's Hangar greatly outrage her.

You try to argue: “But listen to me, Ashandra... Salton has ideas that...”

She disdainfully interrupts your speech: “I know his “ideas”! Of course he's not an idiot. A couple of days ago he sent messengers to other tribes of windriders. Your return was only an additional reason for the implementation of his old and carefully planned intentions! He will not be limited to only sending warriors of our tribe. Our neighbors are the nomads... The war chief wants them to also allocate detachments of warriors for a “military expedition” in order to help the “allies”... What will he promise them for this? I can only guess... But this is still a path to **** - even if instead of hundreds of windrider warriors there will be several times more..."

You say in bewilderment: “What? Attracting warriors from other tribes of windriders? The war chief didn’t tell me anything about this..."

Ashandra smirks: “Of course he didn’t say anything. Important things are best kept secret. Despite the fact that I am an opponent of his goals and methods, I have to admit that Satlon is an experienced and smart leader. Representatives of tribe of Nightwings will probably arrive today..."

Tribe of Nightwings.

This is a tribe of windriders.

Windriders-nomads that roam the mountains south of your settlement.

Your father Jeremy died many years ago in a skirmish with hunters of this tribe. He mistakenly started hunting on their territory. The result was tragic. The subsequent tribal war lasted a year. Only after this did the tribal rulers manage to negotiate peace.

And now the warriors of Nightwings will, together with the warriors of Skyblooded, participate in the war with the ****-owning city of Babili.

You feel conflicting emotions: the war chief Satlon has attracted new forces to fight the enemy; but... he did not warn you and these “new allies” clearly do not inspire confidence in you...

Meanwhile, Ashandra whispers to you: “As much as I would like the tribe to refrain from sending warriors and taking risks, I am **** to obey customs. In wartime, the powers of a war chief increase... But let this military campaign to help the “allies” be successful and quick. Let the warriors crush their enemies and return with trophies. The main thing for the interests of our tribe is that the war does not become a protracted and bloody process that will last indefinitely. Therefore, we all need to fervently pray to the Spirits of the Mountain Peaks. Here, take this, Dar..."

She places a small bottle of cloudy bluish liquid in your palm.

You ask: “What is this?”

Ashandra replies: “This is a sacred infusion for communication with the Spirits of the Mountain Peaks. The remedy is powerful and rare. I spent a lot of time making this infusion. If you see that the war chief Satlon is making rash decisions and prolonging the war, try to discreetly mix this infusion into his food or his drinks. The magic of the infusion will penetrate his body and his connection with the Spirits of the Mountain Peaks will become much stronger. He will hear in his mind the commanding voice of the Spirits of the Mountain Peaks. And then he will submit to their sacred will. He will return the warriors to home, he will not prolong the war. You don’t want senseless victims of a bloody war, do you? Do you want all the bloody horror to end quickly and for the warriors to return to their families? Isn't that right, Dar?"

Your thoughts are confused. You don't understand the complexity of the situation.

You squeeze the little bottle with your fingers. Then you hide it in the folds of your clothes.

The cold-blooded gaze of the gray eyes of Ashandra follows your movements. The embarrassed expression on your face did not escape her attention.

Finally, she leaves your hut.

Her last words: “I hope you realized that you have a great responsibility before the Spirits of the Mountain Peaks...”

After she leaves, you try to come to your senses.

The words of the shaman Ashandra, like a cobweb, entangled your consciousness in a network of doubts...

What happens if she's right?

What will happen if you simply lead the windriders into a long, bloody and hopeless war that will last for years?

But you made promises!

You have sworn to help the inhabitants of Fred's Hangar!

You called them allies and swore an oath to help them fight the enemy!

But you didn’t take into account that the inhabitants of Fred’s Hangar are friends only for you and Ben...

Friends, who saved you both from the horrific fate of slaves.

For most of the windriders from the tribe of Skyblooded, inhabitants of Fred's Hangar are just some pathetic wingless groundwalkers.

Satlon believes that helping these groundwalkers is beneficial to your tribe.

Ashandra has the opposite opinion.

But none of them perceives the inhabitants of Fred's Hangar as equal allies...

No wonder.

The age-old customs of your tribe are built on the cult of the Spirits of the Mountain Peaks, on the awareness of the joy of flying in the skies, on rituals and practices for which the fact that a person has wings is a necessary condition.

Your personal recent experience suggests that groundwalkers can be worthy persons with whom you can have an equal dialogue.

But this is just your personal experience.

Personal experience before the power of age-old tribal customs is like a midge before the majestic eagle...