"All right, Archmage, we're here!" A Taunka led Rhode to the largest tent in the village. "Our chief and prophet are inside."
Although preparations for the migration had left everything rather chaotic, a meeting with the benefactor who had saved their people still called for a more formal setting.
This tent was where the village held its important meetings, and where the decision to migrate had been made.
Rhode nodded his thanks to the Taunka who had led him there, parted the furs hanging over the entrance, and pulled Lilia into the tent.
The tent, built from wood and hides, offered little protection, but at least it was much warmer inside than outside.
Rhode looked around.
Everything inside was simple and crude. The decorations hanging to one side were nothing more than animal bones and pelts.
Notably, the tent was quite large, with one side open to the outside like a balcony, facing a pool almost as large as a lake.
Two Taunka sat by that balcony.
One was male, the other female.
The male Taunka had gray fur and wore leather made from a woolly rhinoceros's hide.
The female Taunka had brown skin and likewise wore a simple suit of leather armor.
Unlike the male Taunka, however, she had a long staff resting beside her.
The two Taunka had one thing in common: they were both very old.
Still, both seemed in excellent spirits, and their age did not show on their faces.
Rhode could also tell that the male Taunka was clearly a pure warrior-the most common profession in the village, outnumbering even hunters.
The female Taunka, meanwhile, was a shaman.
Powerful elemental energy resided within her. Though age might have diminished her strength, Rhode felt that this shaman was still stronger than the Taunka warrior.
"Welcome, guest