Part 2: Whispers from Outside

Evas Lake, being the absolute centre of Naidirem, was the bustling 'business centre' and 'meeting area'. The pub on the east bank of the Evas Lake, Ehtay Ahyppay Uohray (aka The Happy Hour), was the favourite meeting place of the yalcs to exchange news. Evening, after a good dinner, the sociable mood would generally take over the yalcs. heading to Ehtay Ahyppay Uohray for a nice cold drink and a long chat was enjoyed by all yalc clans alike.

This night was no different. Nekia Nebur Yalc slid into his usual seat at the pub and was immediately joined by his friends Reggit Sirhc Yalc, Oisac Ovon Yalc and Ydegart Emarf Yalc. Every evening since time immemorial, they had met at the same spot. Except that, instead of the usually empty seat next to Oisac, there was now a stranger seated there.

The stranger was wrapped in a dark blue, grubby, travelling coat, hunched over his bucket which bartender Otohp Aikon Yalc had warily handed over. Old Otohp didn't really approve of foreigners, especially "the likes of this fella". He seemed totally obvilious to the bustle around him, concentrating on his drink.

Not just his mysterious manner induced caution. He towered over most of the yalcs. If the Aikon clan, who owned the pub, didn't make allowances for foreigners in the construction of the building, this foreigner would never have gotten in. This stranger was well over 3 feet tall, maybe even reaching 4 feet. he had a long grizzled beard, brown splotched with gray. That was all he allowed the casual yalc observer to see.

Nekia and friends didn't take notice of the stranger after the first glance. Ydegart had a tale to tell them than "my uncle Rammag told me. Now being the Emarf that he is, he says the was in the Eveileb few days ago. Must have been last wednesday was it?"

"Not wednesday Ydegart," Oisac interrupted. "he was visiting poor old sick Ainellim Ztir like."

"Now i don't rightly know." Ydegart conceded. "but some time recently. He just came back from rambling in the forest. well, my Uncle Remmag, he was in Eveileb and believe it or not, the old bungler got lost. So he was wandering around tryin' to find his way and he reached the other side of Eveileb. You know, the side that's Outside."

Ydegart paused for a dramatic effect. He took a swig of his beer while the others exchanged significant looks.

"Well anyway," Ydegart continued, wiping foam from his mouth. "My uncle Remmag thought he'd have a look-see at what's happenin', since he was already Outside. So he climbed a tree. Huge tree. Must have been as tall as Evas is wide. Dunno how he climbed it. Must be the Emarf in him. Y'know we Emarfs are all atheletic."

The group nodded appreciatively. Ydegart smiled fondly at the memory of his uncle climbing a tree.

"So he climbed the tree to look outside?" Nekia prompted.

"Yup he did. So after climbing that huge tree, guess what he saw?" Again Ydegart paused for drama. "he saw, far off mind you, but close enough for him to see. He saw burning. said it was like a whole village was burning. black smoke and all. said that there was a thing like a black river coming from the village, only there never was no river there. 'Parently, t'was people moving. Headed for the old Lassen road. Migratin' like. Leaving the land."

"Now that's something i haven't heard of for years!" Reggit exclaimed. "now who'd be migratin'? to where? and why? Never had so much movement ever, if your uncle Rammag's report be true."

Nekia recalled something he had heard recently. "i heard that there's some huge, massive social upheaval way up north. revolution or something. war? anyway, someone killed someone important and took over his place."

"Yes i heard"Oisac contributed with almost obscene cheerfulness. "heard bout the killin' thing. called assassination like. also heard that this new guy loves power and control and wants to conquer land. That's it!" He slapped his hand on the bar triumphantly. The stranger looked up at him. Old Otohp looked askance at him. "this new fella wuz tryin' to conquer new lands like. They're resistin' so he burned them. So they're forced to run."

"that makes sense." Nekia said. "but unfortunately, there's no real evidence. if this fella's so bent on land, how come he hasn't come here? hate to say it but Naidirem's really open to attacks from Outside. yet we've been ok so far. why?"

"You sayin' my Uncle Remmag ain't real evidence?!" Ydegart irritably retorted.

"Nekia doesn't mean that." Oisac tried to calm him down. "what he means is that, like, all we're talking bout is that we need like, something more concrete to go by, get my meanin'? Coz it's important lie. It's best to hear from more reliable news. Eyewitnesses like, or Outside villagers."

"Ya want eyewitness news? I could give ya an earful, i could." a gruff, unfamiliar voice stage whispered.