Way of Overlord
Chapter 53: Men and Women of the Steppe

Chapter 53: Men and Women of the Steppe

The mood was awkward between the two. No, it is more awkward for Ayera. Aeryon is fine. Instead, he seems to be unfazed by the attempt to kill him.

Instead, he looks at Ayera with a smile, like he was looking at something fascinating

"Explain to me why did you just try to kill me. I doubt that Garron send you here to kill me and provoke a war"

The words he said is full of threat but the way he said it, it almost seems playful.

But while he is being playful, Aeryon did not know but he just hit the target right on the centre. One of Garron objective is clearly the death of Aeryon.

But in Aeryon mind, even if Garron wanted to kill him, he would not kill him in such a way. Poisons, killing using a borrowed knife, that is more of Garron style.

He would not make it that obvious that he is the one that kills him

Because that would provoke a war, he did not want. So, Aeryon wondered. Why would Ayera would suddenly try to kill him

Ayera was released and she stands a few feet away from Aeryon. Her hand still feel numbs. She looks at her hand and she could see it is bright red

"What a powerful man"

she believe that Aeryon did not use all of his strength.

She has this preconception because Aeryon must be at the same level as Belarion.

Even though she never clash with Belarion, she did clash with a few people with innate strength in the past.

Of course, this clash is merely a sparring and not a real battle

In a real battle, Ayera knows she would be killed easily if she fought someone with innate strength one by one.

Ayera mad ethe mistake because the information she got was that Aeryon is like a lion tearing through enemy forces.

That kind of power is akin to someone who w sorn with innate strength.

What Aeryon demonstrated to her before, with that one slash of the sword cutting through her spear like some kind of hot knife cutting a butter was a powerful strike./

A very powerful one. But still lack in comparison to a true strength of someone born with innate strength

Because of this, Ayera fell into the misconception that Aeryon had hold back.

Ayera was dwelling in her own misconception. Aeryon on the other hand seems fascinated looking at Ayera.

Aeryon had seen the woman in this era.

Most of them are weathered by the sands and the cold winds of the Steppe.

Most of the woman he saw in his tribe is not that beautiful, having dry skin and the appearance looks nothing like a beauty. As for the woman he is now holding, her beauty even seem to surpass people of his own time.

Now that Aeryon looks at her closely, he could see that she has a green eye framed by long lashes, her long dark hair falls gracefully in loose waves down her back.

Her skin is smooth and clear, with a natural flush in her cheeks.

She has high cheekbones, a small nose and full lips. The symmetry of her face and everything on her face is perfect

"I just wanted to test you. My father sent me here to marry you. I waited days. You never came. And you never summoned me. I wanted to see whether the brave Aeryon is really brave or a coward"

For some reason, the words she wanted to say suddenly changes its meaning. Ayera wanted to simply said that she wanted to test his power

She heard many stories and she simply wanted to know whether the stories are true. But then the moment she opens her mouth, different words came out

For some reason, all of the frustration she felt for the past couple of days is suddenly vented out. She might appear to be calm, but she also has her own pride

She was ignored for days. He did not come to her tent, and he did not summon her, making her appear like an abandoned woman

Aeryon clearly was not expecting it. But he looks at her with a smile. He knows better than anyone else how politically motivated this alliance is

Aeryon did not want to entertain her. He himself is not quite sure the intention of this woman. He whistles and his horse galloped to him. Without answering her, he jumped onto his horse and rides back to the tribe.

Ayera was stunned and then her face turns red

"Hmph!" she harrumphed as she stomps her foot on the ground

And she also rides her horse.

She let go of the spear since it is pointless trying to repair it. She already saw the fragments of the spears and she wonder, if Aeryon sword is a high-quality sword would that sword cut her horse with that slash?

Fortunately, she did not have to wonder such a tragic ending

Ayera kicks her horse and her horse galloped swiftly and not before long she is riding beside Aeryon.

Aeryon and her rides the horse across the vast steppe and after a while the wind blew and her anger is calmed and then she rides towards him.

There are no words exchanged, only silence as the sound of the horse, the wind and the steppe could be heard

They did not say anything, only riding their horse side by side.

They returned to the tribe and this time Aeryon escorted her back to her tent. She stopped in front of her tent, look at Aeryon, the gaze is complicated and full of confusion.

And then finally Aeryon speak

"I meant no disrespect. Tomorrow, I would come to you. Inform your father. If he is sincere, then he knows what to do"

Aeryon was about to leave and he was about to turn his horse to the Brolgadhr settlement but then he stopped

He looks at her. And for a moment Aeryon simply stared at her. And Ayera does not like being stared.

But she also wonders. She became curious.

"Why are you looking at me?"

’You really are beautiful" Hearing this, uncharacteristically for Ayera she blushes in embarrassment

The people of the Steppe rarely compliment external appearance. They look if the woman looks strong enough to bear children, to be a mother, to be a protector of the home.

Beauty is the same everywhere. But the value of beauty is not always the same. Someone who is recognized as beauty in the past would also still be recognized as a beauty in the future.

But certain traits, certain physical appearance might gain popularity in some era and not in some other era

For the people of the Steppe, it is good if they get a beautiful wife and the woman get a handsome husband.

But beautiful wife does not mean that they would be a useful wife. And a beautiful husband does not always means they would always feed you.

To get a beautiful wife who would also be a useful wife is hard. Because beautiful woman rarely does any work.

With hands that is soft as silk, how could such a woman ever hold a hoe, ever hold a whip, ever hold a bow and arrow?

Such woman is useless.

To get a handsome husband who could feed you is also very hard. Because handsome man with flawless skin means that they never experience hardship

The cold winds of the Steppe are like thorns that flew in the air. The cold winter, the hard work, how could the skin is always flawless?

Such men are useless.

So, men of the Steppe seek a woman who could accompany them, teach their children, an protect their home, herd the sheep and control the livestock.

And the woman seeks a man who could hunt, who could fight, who could protect them and protect their children.

What use is beauty in such a harsh world? It is better to give it to the dog?

Hence, Ayera while beautiful, people always praise her for her skill with the dagger, for her agility

But of course, everyone knows that she is one of a kind beauty. In the Steppe however, a beauty always hides thorn especially if that beauty is the daughter of the Viper

And even if one wanted to compliment her, how many people would dare try to flirt with the daughter of the Viper?

But from where Aeryon came from it is a very common thing to compliment someone.

This is the difference of culture. Complimenting someone differ by culture. And it is even more so for the people of the Steppe.

Aeryon seeing the blush on her face suddenly laughed

"A woman everywhere is the same. They all like to be called a beauty" he said and Ayera hearing this suddenly look at Aeryon with glare like dagger

Aeryon look at the girl and he could not help but laugh

"Hahaha! The daughter of the Viper is very interesting!" and then he laughed as he rides his horse away

She could just look at Aeryon riding the horse away. Her eyes narrowed

"What an incorrigible man!"

Today, Ayera learn something new about Aeryon. A good fighter. A strong fighter. And that he is playful and a...romantic.

A trait he never expected from him.

In a tent filled with the scent of herbs, an old woman is sleeping. And she is smiling

She must be dreaming a very nice dream to be smiling so widely.

Outside the tent, the sun is coming down, and night is beckoning.

Another days is about to pass. Dark clouds gather and raindrops falls. It is just a downpour.

It rains heavily but shortly

Brief, passing downpour.

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