|< // << // >> // >| Half a year after his last visit to the tribe, Warcisław once

|< // << // >> // >| Half a year after his last visit to the tribe, Warcisław once again returned with a report from his great Masovian mission. This time Sobiesław decided to use this opportunity to call a council meeting.‘So, chief Warcisław’, he began once everyone was seated. ‘Welcome back. Are you bringing us any good news?’‘Why, I dare to say I am’, answered Warcisław, visibly pleased with himself. ‘Chief Drogowit is growing fonder and fonder of me every day, and he seems really interested in getting to know you personally, my chief. Moreover,’ he added before Sobiesław could ask for any further details ‘I learned that both brothers from the south, Lech and Krakus, got married in the meantime. You were absolutely right to pursue Drogowit instead of those two. As always’.Sobiesław almost burst out laughing at this obvious attempt at flattery - and yet he really did feel flattered by it. To not let it show, he made an extra stern face and asked:‘Did you manage to settle anything though?’Warcisław’s good mood was suddenly gone, replaced by slight embarrassment.‘No’, he admitted, clearly uncomfortable. ‘I’m sorry, my chief. Not yet. But it’ll work one day, I’m sure of it’.Sobiesław nodded, only half listening to the man’s excuses. His thoughts were already elsewhere.‘What do you all have to say to the condition of our tribe?’, he asked the other council members. ‘How are our warriors doing, Miro?’‘All at your service, my liege’, answered Mirosław, a bit surprised at this sudden question. ‘We practice regularly and stay in the best shape possible’.‘The finances look good too’, added Lestek hastily.For a second Sobiesław’s gaze turned to Bończa, but he quickly turned to the other side and looked at Paszko instead.‘The omens are auspicious’, said Paszko calmly. ‘Whatever it is that you’re up to, you seem to have the gods’ blessing’.‘I’m not up to much’, admitted Sobiesław. ‘I was just thinking of improving our tribe’s fortifications. So, if we’re doing so well in all fields, I guess you won’t have anything against it?’One could hear a round of murmured ‘of course not’s - and then Warcisław asked:‘Do you fear an attack?’‘I do not fear anything!’, answered Sobiesław angrily, indignant at that accusation. How could Warcisław even think something like this?!‘You’re planning an attack’, said Mirosław, eyeing Sobiesław with excitement. It was a statement, not a question.Once again Sobiesław tried to suppress a little smile. My marshal is a smart man, he thought and looked at him with a new respect.‘It’d be too much to call it a plan’, he said honestly. ‘But yes, it might happen that one day not all our men will be here, ready to protect the tribe. And right now… We’d be so easy to conquer. With no fortifications whatsoever, only a broken fence here and there. We need to do something about it’.He looked around at the gathered man and asked:‘Is anyone against?’Silence.‘Wonderful’, he said with greatest satisfaction. ‘And now let’s go eat something. I bet the women have already prepared supper. The meeting is over’. -- source link

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