"Quiet! All of you." Keizel barked at his subordinates. "We're almost there. I don't need your prattle distracting me." He was irritated enough by having to be here, and he would not be made to look like a weak leader with no control over his subjects. Keizel could care less if his commands rubbed them the wrong way. What was important was that he was feared and respected.
After walking several more minutes Keizel's group arrived at the clearing. Stepping into the open space, they remained on the outskirts closest to the cover of the trees. If they had to retreat or find cover they would need to be in the best position to do so. As the members of the Earth clan assembled there watched them from afar, Keizel and his clan shot back scowls and dirty looks. Their intimidating appearance was their first line of defense, meant to strike fear into the hearts of their enemies.
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Garron and his companions drew closer to the site of the meeting. The last report he had received from his scouts indicated it was only a short distance ahead. A feeling of apprehension grew in his chest. Now would come the most difficult part of their journey; ensuring cooler heads prevailed at this summit of the clans. He knew that the Fire clan's new leader would be there, the son of his former enemy and by all reports a brash young upstart. Garron did not look forward to dealing with him, but he knew it would be necessary to bear his insolence for the sake of making peace.
Turning to Iberis, Garron closed his pale eyes and breathed deeply before answering. "We are here to make peace with the other clans. It is our duty to participate in these negotiations for the well being of all our people. And there will be no deaths today, I assure you. At least not for the Ice clan. Should fighting break out I swear I will protect you all."
They continued to march, and before long they made it to the clearing in the forest. Garron stood ahead of his clan, his most trusted warriors taking up position directly behind him and the others standing in formation at the rear. A heavy silence hung over the gathered clans, but Garron's steady gaze and even expression did not falter. He would wait and see how things went before he made any move one way or the other.
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As the last of the other clans' representatives made their way to the meeting place, Nyera surveyed everything from the center of the clearing. Looking around, she took in the strength and numbers they had brought with them and tried to determine what their chances of surviving would be if they decided to attack. Deciding they were all evenly matched at the moment, she stepped forward to address the entire crowd.
"Greetings, fellow clans. We of the Earth clan welcome you to our home. I am Nyera, clan leader and guardian of this forest. I now ask that the leaders of the clans of Fire and Ice join me in consecrating this meeting."
Keizel and Garron both approached, joining Nyera at the center of the clearing. The three leaders faced each other, saying nothing but commanding the attention of everyone there with the weight of their presence.
"As in the days of old, we must mingle the elements here as an offering to the gods. Let our offering be one of peace, dedicated not to the destruction of war but to building a future for all our people."
Nyera raised her hand and members of her clan brought forth loads of withered branches and other pieces of wood. Piling them there in the center of the clearing, they soon formed a massive heap of brush and kindling. Nyera turned to Keizel, signaling him to take his turn. The young leader stepped forward, unsheathing one of his blades from his back and with a swipe sent flames into the heart of the brush heap. The flames grew until they consumed all the branches, making a large bonfire that sent waves of heat washing over everyone present. Garron was the next to step up. Reaching out with his gauntlet-covered hands, he drew in a draft of cool, moist air. As the air condensed, a small grey cloud formed over the bonfire that poured down torrents of snow and icy hail. Before long the fire was extinguished, leaving nothing but the charred remains of the bonfire lying on the damp ground.
Nyera once more stretched out her hand over the bonfire's ashes. Up from the ground sprang a small green sapling that slowly stretched towards the sky, increasing in size and spreading out branches as it grew. It soon developed into a fully grown tree right before all their eyes. As if to mark the end of the ritual, hundreds of tiny buds popped up along the tree's branches and blossomed into pure white flowers that opened to the sun hovering above.
Her work now done, Nyera lowered her hand and looked at the other leaders standing around the tree. "This tree will be the symbol of the peace we make here today. May it stand forever, and let no person raise a hand against another in its presence." She paused briefly before speaking once more. "The offering is now complete. We may begin."
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