Taming Destiny - a Tamer Class isekai/portal survival fantasy.

There’s silence. I almost hear a cricket chirping in the stillness. Clearly, it’s not the reaction that the angry Pathwalker was going for. Even her staunch ally doesn't immediately agree with her, something that Wind-whisperer takes exception to.

“Wood-shaper, shame on you! Did we not discuss just last night how even banishment was too good for the one who murdered our shaman?” she demands.

The samuran in question looks away from her and shuffles her feet slightly.

“That was before she Evolved,” she says finally.

“It changes nothing!” insists Wind-whisperer.

“It changes everything,” refutes Grower, the quiet Pathwalker evidently deciding to step in there. I see her exchange a look with the herbalist and then focus on Wind-whisperer. “Sister, I understand your anger. I feel it too. Mover was a dear sister who didn’t deserve to be killed in the middle of the village during the night. Shaman has been a guiding presence for our village for as long as most of us can remember.” I note how she doesn’t say that the shaman was ‘dear’ in any sort of way. “However, put your anger aside and consider the situation.”

“What situation?” Wind-whisperer demands waspishly, obviously feeling defensive with all of her sisters apparently set against her. At least, that’s what her mulish body language seems to indicate she’s thinking.

“We need hatchlings,” the herbalist says bluntly, stepping forwards to face off with Wind-whisperer. Only the single guard remaining on the gate stands between them, and he quickly backpedals, clearly not wanting to get between two potentially angry Pathwalkers. “Thanks to recent events, we have none. That means no new Warriors or Pathwalkers from this year’s generation. We need them due to recent losses, and not only those caused by Runs-with-the-river. To make matters worse, we have two fewer Pathwalkers; that means at least twenty fewer eggs for next year. More, probably, since Shaman was always one of our most fertile.”

I look around to see that everyone is fully focussed on the herbalist, and that all but the Wind-whisperer look solemn enough to be convinced of her argument.

“If we banish Runs-with-the-river then we are left with only five of us,” the herbalist continues. “That means around forty hatchlings when the warmth returns, if we are lucky and don’t lose any to the cold. It is not enough!”

“And whose fault is that?” demands Wind-whisperer again angrily. “Should we reward her by letting her join our ranks when she has caused the problem?”

The herbalist steps forward once more so she’s practically jaw to jaw with the other Pathwalker.

“We should put the needs of the village ahead of our desire for revenge,” she says, her tone like steel. Though she’s no larger than Wind-whisperer, in that moment she seems to tower over her sister. “If Shaman had done that in the first place, we would have been saved from all of this.”

My eyebrows go up in surprise. Is she referring to Shaman targeting Lathani in the first place? I wonder. If so, then she’s clearly been doing more contemplation than I’d thought.

There’s a long moment of silence, then Wind-whisperer backs down.

“We should have a vote,” she says grumpily, taking a step backwards and turning her head slightly to one side. “All to deny Runs-with-the-river a seat around the carcass for the discussion today?”

Obviously, Wind-whisperer raises her tail, indicating that she supports her own proposal. After a moment, so does Wood-shaper.

“I don’t support the banishment of Runs-with-the-river,” she explains defensively. “But I don’t agree that she’s yet earned the right to sit with us over a discussion of such magnitude.”

After a long moment, it becomes clear that none of the other Pathwalkers wish to vote in favour of Wind-whisperer’s proposal.

“Then it’s clear,” announces Grower neutrally. “Two for the motion, three against. Newly-Evolved Runs-with-the-river is to be allowed a seat around the carcass for the most urgent discussions. Confirmation of her status is to happen as soon as possible afterwards, allowing her to be fully accepted.”

“Well, I count two for and one against,” Wind-whisper argues, apparently not willing to let it go even now. However, even Wood-shaper eyes her like she thinks the other Pathwalker has gone a little mad.

“What are you talking about?” snaps the herbalist, her hands twitching like she’d like to wring her sister’s neck.

“You’ve spent all night with the traitor and her ‘master’; your opinion cannot be trusted. Nor can Weaver’s since she has such odd lines of connection with the traitor and the traitor’s master,” the Pathwalker accuses wildly. This time, the silence that results from her assertions is even more tense than before.

“Wind-whisperer, consider what you’re doing,” Grower says, her voice that of reason. “You’re accusing two members in good standing of being incapable of making a decision. You do not have the authority to do that. More, you do not have the rank. I know that Shaman favoured you and that you were often trusted with missions of importance for her, but do not forget that Herbalist beat you in the last ranking fight.” She looks around at the guard still standing in the gateway to the village. “Runs-outside, let the three Pathwalkers in. No one else.”

“Yes, Honoured Grower,” the Warrior says respectfully. He doesn’t actually need to do anything – it’s more ceremonial than practical since the way is open already. However, he doesn’t move to interfere as the herbalist, Joy, and Runs-with-the-river step forward to make their way through into the village.

Then, with nerves playing across his spikes, he moves to stand in our way, in case we decide to try to follow the three of them in. Tension fills the air for a long moment as he and the other Warriors behind him eye us.

“We will wait here,” I tell the guard, though my eyes are on Shrieks-loudly, the real boss here. After another dragging silence, the largest samuran moves his tail gently to the left and then the right, a non-verbal indication of acceptance, though without any conceding of authority. It’s something that I never saw River do with me, but only with other samurans. There are a number of subtleties like that which I will have to learn if I am to communicate well with the villagers.

Shrieks-loudly leaves, following the retreating Pathwalkers, three other Warriors going with him. The other four who had come with him remain, moving to stand near the original guard. One, the guard who had gone to fetch the other Evolved in the first place takes up his previous position. The others arrange themselves behind them.

Silence ensues.

I look around at everyone and then at the retreating Pathwalkers. I itch at the idea of leaving Joy and Runs-with-the-river unguarded in the middle of a camp which right now feels like it’s full of enemies, especially with how Wind-whisperer was behaving there.

Yet I’m definitely not going to be allowed to go in there and, though I could probably ask Sirocco to keep an eye on things, she wouldn’t be able to intervene if something went wrong.

Instead, an idea comes to mind, something that I accidentally did a long while ago and have wanted to try doing again. I meant to attempt it at a time when I had the Bound in question right in front of me, but since I haven’t got around to it, needs must.

However, given the situation, I’m not keen on making myself so vulnerable in front of the samurans. At least, not without having someone to defend me.

Looking thoughtfully around my group, a plan slowly forms itself in my mind. I walk over to the komodo dragon-like lizard who is my newest Bound. If we don’t include Aingeal, anyway – I’m still not sure whether we should consider the fire elemental as the same as my other Bound. On my way there, I summon Bastet, Lee, and Catch over.

“Komodo,” I say to the kalestan, “I’d like to ride on your back for a bit. I’m going to be testing something out, and I’m likely to be unresponsive while doing so. You’ll be in charge of keeping me out of danger if something happens. Are you willing to do so?”

The interactions I’ve had with the kalestan have proven that he’s reasonably smart, but rather quiet. He hasn’t yet shown the ability to focus his thoughts sufficiently to ‘speak’, despite being Evolved, but as far as I can tell, he understands everything I say to him.

This moment doesn’t seem to be an exception and he sends me a sense of unconcerned agreement, pressing himself slightly against my leg, those venomous jaws uncomfortably close if I hadn’t been confident that the Bond keeps him from using them on me. That’s one of the reasons why I decided on him being my ‘mount’ in the absence of Hades: although he’s not the fastest, he can be quite quick, and he’s both safe for me and dangerous for my enemies.

“Lee, you’re in charge of keeping the rest of the samurans in line, even if we’re attacked by your kin. Bastet, you’re in charge of the rest of the Bound. Catch, I want you next to me, helping Komodo keep me safe if it comes down to a fight or fighting retreat. Any questions?”

All of those I’m putting in charge are Bound by either Dominate or Companion Bond, meaning that I can trust they will follow my instructions.

What are you doing? Lee asks, my other Bound emanating curiosity. Bastet has a sense of knowing about her too – I think she either knows what I’m planning or has a good idea.

“I’m hoping to get a closer view of that meeting than we can currently have,” I tell him simply. He’s not satisfied, I sense, but he doesn’t ask any more questions, perhaps realising that I’m not going to clarify further.

The next couple of minutes involve Lee and Catch helping to bind me onto Komodo’s back while Bastet gathers the rest of my Bound and arranges them in a more defensive position. The samurans are on one side, everyone else on the other.

About to slip into Heavy Meditation, I am interrupted by Murmur coming over.

Honoured Pathwalker, before you become insensate, may I ask that you give us a few of the carcasses you have stored away?

“Sure,” I say, pulling some more out, noting that we’ll need to go hunting soon. “Are you hungry?” The samuran hesitates then eyes me cautiously.

It is not for me. It is for my kin, he answers, indicating the samurans standing at the gates. I pause at that, looking between the Warrior standing before me, and the Warriors blocking the path between us.

Maybe it’s not such a bad idea, actually. Maybe if we can work on the Warriors while Joy is working on the Pathwalkers, we’ll be able to reach an agreement earlier than just relying on Joy alone.

“Alright, take them with my blessing,” I tell him. “Just be careful. Right now, they might still be your kin, but they’re not yet our friends.” Murmur tilts his chin up slowly to acknowledge my words.

Then, as he grabs several carcasses at once, I close my eyes and drop into Heavy Meditation.

It takes me several false starts. Thanks to my experience with Fenrir, I’m able to find and reach Joy’s mind easily enough, but trying to see out of her eyes and hear out her ears is oddly harder to achieve.

Still, eventually I manage. Hopefully I haven’t distracted Joy enough that the Pathwalkers around her have noticed that something’s going on. From the intense discussion – argument really – going on between, surprise surprise, Wind-whisperer and Runs-with-the-river, I have a feeling that it’s unlikely anyone would have noticed anything untoward.

I’m not in control of Joy’s mouth, merely riding along as an observer, and I settle in to watch with interest.