"Respected chieftain of the Red Crow Tribe! We... we need some time... to discuss this..."
"Fine! Discuss it right here. Don't keep me waiting too long!..."
The sun sank into the western wasteland, and the campfire in the great tent flickered between light and shadow. Old militia Chiwako pulled a bitter face and huddled together with the lowered-headed Priest Mekat. The two spoke in the dialect of the Patzcuaro Lake Region, exchanging words in quick, low voices.
"Captain Chi, what do we do?"
"What do we do? You tell me what we do?!..."
"Do you think... she'll be afraid of threats from the Kingdom Legion?"
At that, the old militia shuddered all over. He immediately glanced at the female chieftain wearing the cold mask, then clapped a hand over Mekat's mouth.
"Damn it! Have you lost your mind? We were blown here by the storm. The kingdom doesn't know a thing! A bare-assed fox falls into a wolf den, then drags out a jaguar to threaten them!... That wolf will swallow you whole, not even leaving a bone... And when that time comes, however fierce that jaguar is, it won't know a damn thing!"
Hearing this, Priest Mekat pressed his lips together and clenched his fists, his heart filled with regret. He looked around at the fierce Dog-kin warriors, fell silent for a moment, and sighed helplessly.
"Ai! Fine! The kingdom searched for so long before discovering that small iron mine at Black Rock Mountain. His Majesty said there aren't many iron mines under heaven, and they're hard to find... It can't be that there just happens to be an iron mine around the Red Crow Tribe. Then we leave a few people with them, and they find it right away..."
"Mekat, shut your mouth!"
Old militia Chiwako gnashed his