Way of Overlord
Chapter 55: Family

Chapter 55: Family

The water on the fire is finished boiling. Aeryon take his time. He extinguishes the fire and put down the water container away near the entrance of his tent

He reminded the guards not to touch it.

The cold wind would cool down the water and so he let the water to cool off a bit. After that he could drink it

The three people waited for him.

And then after doing all of this Aeryon take his position back on the tent, sitting on the host position.

The three people all bow slightly to Aeryon, their hand on their chest as they sit down on the carpet

These three people are Mayeux, Belarion. And Aeryon uncle Rukari. Aeryon look at the three of them but he focused on his uncle

Aeryon remember many things about his uncle.

He is the one who taught him how to ride horses and how to use a bow. He taught him how to fight and he is one of the Elders and one of his staunch supporters.

But he is old. Hence he did not follow Aeryon and even if he wanted to follow, Aeryon would not let him follow him

Belarion and Mayeux sit down and Aeryon did not pay much attention to them. He knows them closely.

Belarion, he already knows that this Andawan of his is loyal towards him.

The details he knows about Belarion comes from his memory.

As for Mayeux, he had vetted this man and he knows that this person have a grand ambition and a small tribe could not contain him.

As long as he could sate Mayeux ambition, he would serve him loyally. But his uncle....he did not meet with him

Not after the victory. He met with all the Elders but he did not meet them personally. He invited Rukari because he believe Rukari could support him

The Elders is not the backbone of the tribe.

Unlike in the large tribes, the Elders of his tribe is basically just like an advisor to the Chief. No, to be more accurate, it is like a family meeting.

And since the Brolgadhr tribe is a small tribe, the Elders is basically like uncles to everyone.

Whenever they have problem they could consult the Elders. Their words are respected but they are not authoritative.

As most of them are all related to each other, there is also lack of nay power struggle.

The reason is because there is no power to fight for. A small tribe like them could not afford an internal struggle

it is good enough that they were not wiped out in the large Great Steppe among the hundreds of tribes and clans

And since everyone is family, there is no feeling of envy or wanting to fight for one position. Elders in his tribe is not a position of power but a position of honour.

It is also a position of great responsibility

But....that is then. Now, it is quite different. Aeryon had subjugated four tribes and destroy two others.

Clearly some things have changed.

He is planning to create a Council of Elders.

And he needs a person he trust in that Council. He thought to himself. And there is only a few candidates that comes to mind.

There is his aunt. There is his father friend. And then there is his uncle. He has many uncles. But many of them had died. Before, he had around three uncles holding the position of the Elder.

But out of the three uncles, one of them die last year. Another one is so old that he probably would retire next year.

So, Rukari is the only candidate left. He pick someone he knew to be loyal to him and someone that have his voice heard.

This is the first time Aeryon look closely at his uncle. There is many features of the Marynku that stands out from his uncle

Even though he is old he possesses a commanding and distinguished presence. He stands tall and upright, and he has a strong physique.

No doubt carved by the years in the harsh environment of the Great Steppe

His face bears the marks of wisdom and experience, with weathered features that reflect the ruggedness of his life.

He has dark hair streaked with strands of silver, tied his hair with a style of Elflock. Some would wear their hair in topknot but most of them wore their hair like a Viking braid.

This is because of the influence of the Ashran who wear this kind of hairstyle. And Aeryon also sported that kind of hairstyle.

Of course, here it is called as Ashran Ambut instead of Elflock

It means the hair of Ashran.

Rukari facial features are defined by a well-groomed moustache and a neatly trimmed beard, adding an air of sophistication to his appearance.

Even though he did not fight, Aeryon could see him sometimes riding around the training ground and at times he would even come down from his horse and spar with the new recruits.

He is normally dressed in Marynku attire and today is the same.

Aeryon sighed looking at his uncle.

In his youth, he must be very heroic. Aeryon remembers some memory of the past where his uncle use to go out with his father to go raiding.

He remembers that his uncle has a distinctive helmet adorned with feathers in his tent, a relic of his past as a horse rider of the tribe.

Aeryon look at the three of them and the three of them look at him. Belarion appears confused.

He clearly does not know why he is summoned. Mayeux on the other hand is calmly waiting for whatever words that Aeryon wanted

As for his uncle, he exudes a sense of calm and measured confidence.

Aeryon looking at his uncle could not help but feel even though his uncle might not be as strong as Belarion, or as smart as Mayeux, what he has is experience and that alone surpasses Belarion and Mayeux

Even just sitting there, he carries himself with an air of quiet authority, his presence commanding respect from those around him.

Despite his middle age, he possesses a youthful energy and unwavering determination, fuelled by a deep sense of purpose.

Does Aeryon could tell all of this just by looking at him? No, it is the assessments he gave after combining what he knows about his uncle and what is he seeing right now

"All of you must be quite curious on why I called all of you here" Aeryon began

The three of them nodded.

Aeron did not know how to start. Even though he already prepared for what he wanted to say, when the moment really come, he finds himself lost for words.

So, he began from the beginning

"I summon the three of you because I trusted you and wanted you to help me"

Belarion knock his chest with his fist and spoke

"I will always help you, Andawan" Aeryon only chuckles at this.

Mayeux bow and put his hand on his chest, a sign of submission. But his uncle remains looking at him, his piercing gaze looking at him

"Our tribe has now expanded. There were only a few hundred of us before. Now we have a thousand. They listen to us because they fear us. And the fear that I planted on their heart is keeping them docile. The moment that fear dissipate and we no longer have anything to restrain them, there would be a problem. So, it is very important that we assimilate them, with our tribe’

Mayeux agreed with this. Belarion however does not understand and maybe he simply does not want to understand.

Aeryon could guess how Mayeux would act and he could guess how Belarion would act. Mayeux understand his ambition so he would support him as long it feeds as it also feed to his ambition

Belarion is simpler. He will fight for him and the tribe. Belarion will fight for him because they are brothers.

And he will fight for the tribe because the tribe has sheltered him for all of his life.

However, he do not know how his uncle would act. Some of the Elders feel uncomfortable when the other four Elders were added without a discussion.

That is why today he summon his uncle.

He is here as the representative of the Elders of the Brolgadhr.

Aeryon feel that there is a need to differentiate between the Elders of the Brolgadhr and the Elders of the conquered tribes.

This is to inform him and to have a heart-to-heart conversation with him

The Council of Elders is necessary in then beginning stage of his plans. This is the fastest way for him to pacify the conquered tribe.

It is also a good way to quickly assimilate the conquered tribe.

"Uncle, do you have any thoughts?"

The tent is silent.

Rukari close his eyes and Aeryon waited for his answer.

Rukari might not have formal education, nor did he read a lot of scrolls and parchment of ancient knowledge like Mayeux but he has sharp intellect and strategic thinking,

These are traits that are honed through years of leading his people and navigating the challenges of life on the steppes.

Even though he himself was never a member of a large tribe, he had been to one of them. But none of them did what Aeryon did

Most tribe which has been subjugated will become slave. Or killed. Persecuted.

None of them would be as generous as Aeryon.

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