E07 朗读版 | Five clans getting together

Chapter 3 

The next day, the chiefs of Tail, Talon, Spine, and Fang arrived in Heart. Raya accompanied her father to welcome them. Dressed in blue and gold silk, the two stood side by side on the bridge that connected Heart to the mainland. Together, they looked out at a crowd.

For the chiefs had not come alone. Each had arrived with an army of warriors. The clans stood apart from one another, identified by pennants bearing the symbols of their lands. But Raya hardly noticed the colorful flags. She was focused on the swords and spears that bristled from the crowd.

“Things look a little tense,Ba,” Raya whispered to her father.

“Don’t worry. I’m gonna open with a joke,” he whispered back.

Raya rolled her eyes. “Please don’t.”

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding,” he said. Then he stepped forward and held out his arms in greeting. Raising his voice to be heard by all, he called out, “People of Tail, Talon, Spine, and Fang, welcome to Heart. For far too long we have been enemies. But today is a new day. Today, we can be Kumandra once more.”

Smiling warmly, he stepped aside, inviting the other clans to cross the bridge and enter Heart.

No one moved. The chiefs regarded Benja with narrowed eyes, their faces etched suspicion.

“Nice speech, Chief Benja,” growled the chief of Tail. She was a small woman dressed in earth-colored clothes. “But why did you really bring us here? Are you going to rob us?”

“Why should he need to rob us? The Land of Heart already has everything,” snarled an imposing man wearing vibrant purple robes. It was Dang Hai, the fierce-looking chief of Talon.

“It’s easy to pontificate on Kumandra when you hold the mightiest weapon in all the lands,” shouted the chief of Spine, a burly warrior dressed in furs.

“The Gem’s not a weapon — it’s a sacred relic,” Chief Benja replied.

A chorus of angry voices filled the air as the leaders began to shout over one another.

Raya looked around. This was not going as her father had planned. She noticed a girl her age, the only other kid there. As their eyes met, they shared a smile.

Raya stepped forward, bowed respectfully to the clans, and said, “I have something to say . . . ”

Silence fell over the crowd.