The summer was scorching, and the wind carried damp vapor. Clouds were gathering on the eastern horizon, like an omen of rain. On both banks of the Adobe River, emerald weeds and shrubs grew lush and thick. A tribal army of several thousand was marching swiftly southward along the great river's western bank, toward the upstream reaches.
It was called an army, but judging from the state of its march, it was clearly split into two groups, front and rear. Among the two thousand men at the front were some chiefs wearing pointed caps—the main force of the eastern Cone House City tribe. Among the two thousand behind them were men who used bird feathers on their hats to show their noble rank, yet they came from Feather Bird City in the southwest.
These two tribal armies were both heading south to support River Bend Stockade, but their motives were not the same. The Coyote City tribe stationed at River Bend Stockade was geographically close to the Cone House City tribe; both belonged to the eastern Totonac alliance, and they were extremely close allies. Thus, when the envoy seeking aid from Coyote City arrived at Golden Bay City, the chiefs of Cone House City were the first to respond with support. As for why the Feather Bird City tribe followed south, it was to preserve River Bend Stockade, the node that communicated with Feather Bird City upstream on the great river, and to prevent the army's connection with their own city from being completely severed.
It had been only a day since the envoy seeking aid had arrived. As for the Totonac chiefs of the other tribes in Golden Bay City, they were still arguing endlessly at the moment, and even now had not discussed any result.
"These red-haired savages