Another envoy bearing Calsar's banner arrived.

Sif looked upon it with a drawn face, becoming suspicious and hackled, but it was not one to do with the errant priest. Nor did they ask after him.

This time, a man in armor spoke with Yrnhold, attendants by his side.

" Coven, we come here since this is the nearest village to the Cwge," he said. " They are refusing to cede the Calmat, and so we are to make war with them."

" Didn't we give the Cwge clan the fishing rights for the Calmat when we drove them out?" Yrnhold said, arms crossed. " It isn't in us to work as soldiers. We sent nearly fifty ablebodied men last time Calsar called for aid, and less than twenty returned!"

The other man still appeared obstinate.

" Then are you siding with the Cwge? Are you ungrateful that we slew that foul sorcerer king in Westernkeep?" he demanded.

" Lord Hélna, you've returned at a good time," Yrnhold called, looking over the armored man's shoulder. " Come instruct us."

Sif handed his brace of prey to the man beside him, stalking forward.

" You call a maiden your lord?" the armored man asked, brow wrinkled with confusion.

" I am the patron god of this valley," Sif said, watching as the man's face blanched. " It is a matter of course that coven calls on me to inform him on this decision."

" A god," the armored man repeated, now sweating nervously. " Forgive me my insult. We in the central lands had not heard of a god descending. It has been a long time since such an event occurred."

" Luckily for this man from the central lands, I am feeling most magnanimous today," Sif said, pointing his nose up a bit to look more regal. " You and Yrnhold shall come tell me of this war, and I will decide whether or not we participate."

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