Melock dismounts Stinky and briefly bows his head in a sign of respect to Boronwaha. He stays near the back and looks round at the braves surrounding them and gently shakes his head, those nearest him, hear Melock mutter, "Who thought this was a good idea?"

Ignoring the subject mentioned he replies "Hargran the Dirty's men. They've been treading on a lot of toes including your own so we heard. Also heard that because of the politics of this place it might be difficult for you to do anything about it directly."

"Go on..."

Henal makes the usual signs of respect to the khan, but leaves the others to talk for the minute.

Melock sighs and walks to the front of the Rangers, "If we were to take care of this problem, would it be worth something to you?"

"Just as my friend says, we are in a position to send then a message of the type they understand, but we are not with the clans here, of you wish it so."

"We can of course make it as clear as you wish why the message is being sent."

The Khan listens, but doesn't lose his frown or aggressive stance "You've some nerve coming here and without your hostage. You work for those that have stolen our lands and are our defeated foes. I have been informed that you no longer have the Queen's daughter is that true?"

No point lying, especially with Sun Hawks about "You asked of our hostage and the Queen's daughter in the same breath. Delenda is no longer our hostage, but she has not been so for some time."

"She has a great will and bravery" he looks at her mother "And she chose at the Giant's Finger Holes to become an Avenging Daughter. We do not keep hostages who and protectors of that which we seem to renew."

He smiles slightly "She is also very proud and expected the ransom to be collected and was quite insistent on the amount."

"On the way here we were attacked by trolls, many from the runts to the great ones. Her pride and hot headedness lead her to charge their leader and we could not stop nor get to her in time."

"He fled with her when he realised he was going to loose and we followed them into their Hell. We fought them there to rescue her though they had taken her to a Castle of Lead and we would have won the day again but like a coward he fled again from that Hell to this place."

Looking back at Khan Boronwaha he continues "So we have neither, but nor is it our intent to let her go unrecovered and we still have time before the designated day."

"You have also killed my son"

The voice comes from behind and turning the Rangers can see that it comes from Delnda's mother, a powerful looking priestess of Eiritha, resplendent in all her power and wealth.

Her voice holds no anger, just the stark truth of the matter. Around her stand her honour guards, faces filled with rage.

Ohanzee looks at Delenda's mother, the Priestess Nefertari as her daughter has called her. "I have heard that he was killed." he says to her "People can fall in raids, but in truth though I cannot say any more about that for I was killed, or at least sent as close to Death as can be without flying to Raven's nest."

He moves the armour on his abdomen to show the scar that remains still despite the ministrations of Kinope, his Water Rune marks showing on his blue arm. "Were it not for the daughter of the Greatest Serpent then I would have flown there."

Amara nodded solemnly, her eyes holding empathy and sorrow for the loss of the her friends brother "It is unfortunate that we fight each other. We've all lost loved ones in fights with other tribes. Both of my parents, my aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents were all lost at Moonbroth. The SkyWatchers were almost completely lost there." she said pointedly "Yet we remain. As braves we've witnessed the end of tribes, the end of lives....but we've beheld something more. Something wondrous. Something miraculous. The beginnings of the garden in a place that was once haunted by nothing but the dead."

Forgive me speaking out, stutters Grundar, plucking up the courage to speak. We have all lost. I am Grundar, not one of the Rangers but travelling with them. I too lost my family at Moonbroth, only my sister survived, but we were separated and to this day I do not know where she is. Seeking her is why I travel. I have only recently become acquainted with the Rangers, although some are of my tribe, and for now we ride together. I have found them honourable. You can trust them to do as they say, or at least give their all in striving towards it.

The Khan and Queen listen to the Rangers speak, with the Khan answering first

Turning to Amara he replies

"You must be the daughter of Yennan Windsong. A brave warrior who fell under my sword at Moonbroth. You have his look about you."

The Queen answers "My son is dead, my daughter held hostage by Trolls and you come here looking for help? You are either very strong or very stupid.

"I want access to the new Earth Temple for my clan. "

Ohanzee smiles strangely answering "Perhaps we are both very strong and very stupid, many say those are the most dangerous."

"All our peoples who honour and protect the Earth are welcome at the Earth Temple." He frowns a little "Though getting to it might be problematic given the clans between here and there, not to mention the current residents!"

His smile returns The chance to sooth troubled waters "We Wandering Rangers care for the Earth and Greening it above all else though, it is what we are sworn to." and he casts a wave across the gathered group "Our band takes those of any tribe or clan who take the oath." And as he does this he looks across the faces of the gathered Sable Riders to see if any show signs of interest in this.

"We can go with your clan to the Giants Finger Holes, an escort if you will. When Tada returns to his residence with his Green Knights few would try to stand in his way."

He sighs "Back to current business though, we come not for help and we will return your daughter. We come as I said to offer help in dealing with Hargran the Dirty's mercenaries."

He turns his gaze back to Boronwaha "If that help is wanted?"

"We will come after Sacred Time" answers the Queen.

"You plan to free my daughter, how so?"

He nods at her suggested timescale and then replies to the question "Our options are limited. We, well Amara" he indicates his red headed wife for the year "invoked a heroquest to chase them down in their Hell and we couldn't trap him there."

"Now though he is in his warrens he is surrounded by his minions so we don't have the numbers to raid for her. Unless we can raise more then galling as it is we will have to buy her back."

"We will get our own daughter back without your help" announces the Queen.

"And we do not need you interfering in our business" replies the Khan. "Leave now..."

The Sable braves begin to close in on the Rangers, intent on herding them out of the camp...

That didn't go so well, Grundar mutters to himself, making a mental note to add them to his list to get one over at a later date. Oi, hands off brother, he shouts at one brave who gets too close, a sarcastic edge to the familial description, giving them a glare as they attempt to herd him, We're not your cattle!

Henal has kept silent through the speech stony-faced and glowering at the sable braves.

He moves away readily muttering "should leave these lot to the moon worshippers".

This gains Grundar a sharp dig in the ribs from the butt of a spear.



Henal has the reins of his mount in his hand, as do his companions.

Melock bows to the Khan, "Thank you for your hospitality." He does his best to sound sincere. He turns to Delenda's mum, "I can see were your daughter gets her fire from. I hope in the future we can meet on better terms."

Instinctively, Grundar shoves back and then realising the stupidity of such a gesture, holds up his hands to try and prevent escalation. Ok, ok, reign it in...