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Age of Finality
Dameneh rubbed sleep from his eyes, as the sun rose. He glanced from one man to the other. "Did either of you sleep?"
Divyan grinned and squinted at the sun. "Today is going to hurt." He rubbed his head. "I haven't stayed up this late since I was a kid." The pained words were followed up with laughter. "You tell good stories, Sugriva. And you have a captivating one. I look forward to hearing the rest of it."
"Today is not the day for the rest of his story." Dameneh glowered at the two men, as he picked up the camp. "We need to talk to these warriors. Come on."
It didn't take long for them to see men in the distance. When they crested a hill the march stopped, and so the three stopped. Three men broke off from the rest of the military and approached Dameneh, Divyan, and Sugriva as they stood atop the hill.
Dameneh shouted, "We are here for peace. We carry weapons for bandits and wild animals. May we speak to your leader and broker a treaty?"
The men paused, looked at each other, and spoke in a language Sugriva did not understand. There seemed to be more and more languages getting thrown around, though he figured Dameneh would understand.
Divyan nudged the boy. "What are they saying?"
Dameneh shrugged.
"Why are you shrugging? What does that mean?" Sugriva hissed. "You always know what they're saying."
"The One doesn't want me to know what they're saying, so I can't understand it."
"But your God always tells you the languages. Why not now?" The calm of the boy when faced by an army unsettled Sugriva.
"My God always gives me the path I need to be on. If I can't understand their language, it's for good reason."
The men watched each other, waiting for something to happen.
Finally, Divyan said, "We are from Sankive to the west. What is your intent with such a large army?"
Of the three men, one stepped forward. He was older, with gray creeping into his swept back hair. The other two were youthful, strong looking. One of them was missing his right arm. The older man spoke, though Sugriva couldn't make out the words.
Dameneh said, "They are exiles."
Divyan cocked a brow. "Those are a lot of well armed exiles." Dameneh translated.
The man spoke, and Dameneh said, "They were warriors, but they lost their lands. They are the Dian clan and are looking for somewhere safe and fortified. They know of Yosheket."
"Do you trust what they're saying?" Divyan asked Dameneh.
"They look hungry and thirsty. There are several toward the rear with severe wounds. Why bring your wounded to a battle?"
"Is your God saying this is a trap?"
"You misunderstand. He said nothing on this, and I wouldn't expect Him to. He sends me in a direction, I get there, and then He expects me to follow His will. That will get me and my people where we are supposed to go."
Divyan glared and gritted his teeth. The three men across from them crossed their arms and started to grumble between each other. Divyan asked, "What does His will demand of this moment?"
"Their injured are dying, and they are all in need of rest. Yosheket will need an army, and here one is. I say we bring them home." The little boy gave an innocent smile, like a child trying to get something from his parents. Sugriva wondered if the kid was used to people underestimating him.
"Fine."