Grimly I pondered his words. "Do what I must". How could I determine that? Everything was turned on its head in this new world I found myself in. Here, to pursue enemies was to bring death on those you loved. To not follow meant the loss of all who were captured.
Were I home I would gather a large expedition to punish the attackers for their temerity in striking at my home. The vengeance we would inflict would be terrible indeed and it would be many, many years before they had the numbers to attack again, much less the desire. Yet here it seemed the loss of their children and wives was acceptable and almost expected.
I sighed deeply. Things used to be so simple. Give the Ogres a few bits of meat every year and they would do their raiding elsewhere. Threaten the goblins with annihilation if they did not behave. Trade off things the Orcs needed and they would leave us in peace. Those were the arenas I was prepared to deal with.
That was where I was comfortable. I knew what to do and how to do it. Here I was more useless than a child an, in fact, more dangerous to those around me than to my enemies.
So lost in thought was I that it was when his hand dropped on my shoulder that I noticed Running Bear. Alongside him was Wise Owl.
Wise Owl's sad eyes caught mine. "Running Bear has asked me to translate."
I waited for him to continue but that was apparently everything he was going to say. The silence grew awkward before Running Bear began to speak. Words poured forth with him as he began walking back and forth as he spoke. He was very animated speaker and his words were accompanied by a great number of gestures. Finally his words dried up and he turned to me expectantly.
I looked to Wise Owl. "What did he say?"
"You are always in a hurry, Man Full of Anger. Please allow me time to compose myself before I speak too hastily and speak words he would not have me speak."
Impatiently I stood back, crossing my arms. This language barrier was something I must learn to overcome. I would need to work hard, but I knew if I began paying attention to the things going on around me rather than relying on Wise Owl all the time I would soon have a grasp of at least the basics of their language.
As I thought these things, Wise Owl found the words he sought.
"Running Bear says you bring us new ideas. At first he was excited at the thought of pursuing those who took his sister and son. However, when he found Green Leaf lying dead on the trail, he was angry with you.
"He has thought much about it however and knows you are not to blame. It was his pursuit which was too close and caused the enemy to slay the child. He grieves as if Green Leaf were his own. Yet he sees value to the new ways. He wishes to learn more of them."
Wise Owl paused and as was his way, allowed the silence to become uncomfortable before continuing.
"He wishes to take up the pursuit again tomorrow morning. It is his desire that you would accompany him and, if possible, rescue those who were taken captive."
He stopped speaking and both he and Running Bear looked at me.
My natural inclination was to accept immediately. Yet the words of Wise owl regarding how I would change this people kept coming back to me. Was this what he was talking about? Would I destroy the innocence of these people?
Yet his other words also came to mind. "Do what you must."
"Yes, Running Bear. Tomorrow morning we shall take us the chase." With those words my path was chosen.
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