Chapter 479: Meet the Khüch Khan
The woman smiled. "My name is Neelei, daughter of Galt, from the Khairkhan tribe. Should I take this to mean you accept my request?"
"When a pretty lady like you is asking? I have no choice but to agree," Benjamin raised a thumb up in approval and Neelei was pleased, her smile widening at his easy acceptance. "But you don’t mind me calling you Lei, right?"
"Do as you please, Sir. Benjamin," she bowed her neck, but her back remained straight.
The gesture was one of respect, of deference, but it was also one of dignity, a recognition that she was offering hospitality as an equal, not as a supplicant.
Heka soon snapped out of her daze and got a bit worried, her brow furrowing with concern as the implications of their detour settled upon her.
The initial surprise of Benjamin’s fluent speech had also faded, replaced by the practical considerations of their mission.
She said: "But Benjamin, King Renard will be unhappy if he learns about this? We are already pushing it by not instantly heading to Goliathens. He expects us to arrive within a specific timeframe, and any more deviation from the schedule could be seen as a slight against him."
"Oh? Who is this King Renard you speak of?" Benjamin rolled his eyes, moving closer to Heka as if to gossip with her, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, as his blue eyes sparkled with mischief. "I only know one tiny guy who would look good in a female slave’s dress dancing for horny old men. The one who thinks he can dictate my movements and schedule my time as if I were the common servant."
"Wh-What was that supposed to mean?!" Heka fidgeted, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she processed his words.
She felt a bit bad for the young-looking king, who had always been nothing but courteous to her.
"It is not proper to speak of him in such a manner. But very well. Only if we do not visit another location like this. This one stop is already pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable. If we make a habit of such detours, we will never reach Goliathens at all."
"That’s why I love you, Heka!" Benjamin embraced her tightly, his arms wrapping around her with warmth. His voice was affectionate, his touch reassuring.
He then informed Lei that his companion was game, giving the red-haired woman a cheerful thumbs up.
Thus, after Maximus drank his fill and did some nature’s business, Lei led them to the village only a mile away.
The battle-horse seemed content, its belly full, some energy restored. The journey was short, the path well-trodden, and soon they could see the outlines of the village rising against the horizon.
And yes, Renard is pissed hearing that Benjamin left Verdant Spire days ago, but for some reason is not in Goliathens.
***
The village was actually more advanced than Benjamin had imagined: with it seeming more like a proper town than a village, with wooden houses and residents reaching up to 10,000.
The structures were well-built, their walls sturdy, their roofs thatched with precision.
Streets wound between the buildings, paved with packed earth and lined with lanterns that would be lit at dusk.
There were markets and workshops, temples and gathering places, all the hallmarks of a thriving community.
Benjamin expanded his perception enough to cover the entire place, and though he unintentionally found the female bathing area and got aroused, he discovered the place was distinct from Verdant Spire with their unique culture and practices.
The architecture was different, the clothing was different, along with the very rhythm of life.
The town was not surrounded by a fence, but guards were acting as human fences around the tribe.
They stood at regular intervals, their eyes scanning the horizon, their weapons at the ready. They were the first line of defense, the protectors of their people, and they took their duty seriously.
***
"Chief, these are the guests I found traveling near the crystal river," Lei began, bending down on one knee and touching her forehead on the ground. The gesture was one of deep respect, of submission to authority, and it was performed with grace.
There were all currently in a somewhat large hall with tribal elders and officials seated, and one raised platform on the north side where a powerful figure was seated.
The chamber was grand, decorated with tapestries and banners, the walls lined with weapons and trophies from long-ago battles. The air was thick with incense, the scent of sandalwood and something sweeter mingling together.
Carpet, fur, and silk banner filled the place, with weapons on display wherever you looked. The floor was soft underfoot, the furnishings luxurious, the overall effect one of wealth and power.
This was not a simple village chief’s dwelling; this was the seat of a significant ruler.
[Something smells like... milk tea?] Benjamin wondered, staring openly without shame, unlike Heka who was more cultured.
His eyes roamed the room, taking in every detail, every face, every nuance of the scene before him.
"Your prediction was correct once more," Lei stated again, her voice flowing with satisfaction. "That person there is Heka, the daughter of the Amazon Queen. And the man with her is her husband, Benjamin Mark... He should be the god-touched you dreamed about."
[...Eh?] Benjamin’s attention was finally gotten. His eyes narrowed, his posture shifting almost imperceptibly. [I sense foreboding]. The words hung in the air, heavy with implication.
"Welcome to the Khairkhan tribe, god-touched," the large silver-haired, middle-aged man seated on the north side began.
His voice was deep and resonant, carrying the weight of absolute authority. He was a figure of immense presence, commanding attention without effort.
He wore a yellow and gold dress patterned with a dragon, a white fur trimmed coat, wearing a tall hat with feathers of different colors, his fingers covered in several golden rings, boots of soft leather and upturned toes.
His whole look signaled extra, to be honest, but it sends the message he was different, exalted among the others. Every aspect of his appearance was designed to impress, to intimidate, and remind all who saw him of his elevated status.
"My name is Khüch Khan... Let me not beat around the bush," he looked at Benjamin in the eyes, his red ones fierce and intense, burning with a fire that spoke of decades of leadership and countless battles. "I only wish to favor the woman for what her kin did for my tribe long ago. But I also knew you will come one day... I need something different from you."