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Description
Chapter 3:

The sound of the munso's trill was the first thing Seta heard as he awoke. As he finally opened his eyes he saw he was back in his own room, in his own bed, with the rock ape hanging upside down from the canopy's railing, ravishing a piece of delectable fruit. As he started to get up he saw the chief of Ard'or, Kade Rie, sitting in the chair next to his bed.
“So, you've finally decided to from your slumber. I trust you are fully healed?” The old man asked patiently. Seta looked at his body, then, seeing the majority of his wounds properly wrapped and the rest starting to disappear, he nodded. Kade reached into his garments and pulled out the package that Seta had refused before. “When you ran off I thought I would never be able to deliver this to you. Then we found you when we saw the smoke rising from that field of firebushes.”
“How long have I been asleep?” Seta asked, leaning forward and slightly wincing. Even though the wounds were wrapped, and he had evidently been given proper medicine, some of them still hurt.
“Two days since we brought you back. You were gone for two days before that, so you were the talk of the town for the past four days.” Kade replied and set the package down on the nightstand next to the teen.
“The people of Desu do not gossip.”
“Perhaps. I do distinctly remember an old friend of mine doing so in our youth, however. The package was to be given to you when your uncle passed on. It was his last gift to you I suppose. We have held off the funeral for your return, but everything has been prepared. When you are ready we can begin the procession.” The old man said, leaving Seta to himself, the munso and the gift. The teen picked up the almost pure marble box and opened it. Inside lay two things: A blue juma necklace, and a scroll. After putting on the necklace, Seta read the scrawled letter.
“To Seta, my dearest nephew. I am sorry that I could not tell you what you are about to read in person. Do not blame yourself for my passing. I have gone on to the land of undying light where I shall be without sickness or weariness, waiting for my chance to rejoin the Well of Souls. Even if I had the cure for my disease that riddles my body, I was too aged for it to matter anymore. Do not wish to join me yet. There are those who still need you in the land of the living. Never shrug your duty, and follow your heart. Look to Kade and all around you for advice. You know that you were more than just a relative to me-You were the son I never had. Your loving uncle, Tain.” Crying, Seta put the letter back in its box and closed the lid. After a few moments leaning against the nightstand, he wiped the tears from the box and changed into his ceremonial clothing, the munso following the sound of his steps.

Seta marched with the casket-bearers, at the front of the procession, bearing the weight of the former chieftain's coffin upon his shoulder. On his other shoulder sat the munso, which he had aptly named Loeki after a famous Desun explorer. Behind him on both sides were the mourners. His entire village was in attendance, those familiar faces and strangers alike, outsiders from other villages who had been impacted by his uncle's life, and certainly the other Rie as well. His mentor had been a man of great influence and respect, and was greatly admired by not only the people of his village, but by also by those across all of Delni. And some were in attendance, giving their respects and praying for his afterlife. The funeral procession walked silently from the temple where the blessing had taken place, their footsteps echoing like a rolling thunder in the ears of the quiet huddled masses. Slowly the moved, tracing the steps of their fathers, and their fathers' fathers, and all those that came before them, marching onward through the Valley of the ancients, towards their final destination. On both sides of the canyon were sculptures of the former Desu Rie, and other figures of historical importance, somberly gazing down at them in honor and recognition of their deep loss. After the group had traversed the mile-long path they came to Saku, the one hundred foot deep pit where prominent Desun figures were laid to rest. There they stood at the edge of the pit as the casket-bearers lowered the ropes on Tain's coffin until they felt them slack, knowing it had touched a solid base. Then three of the casket-bearers let their side of their ropes go, tossing in the ceremonial casket spray, as the other side pulled the rope back up to the surface to be used whenever the next funeral occurred. After five minutes of silence the mourners slowly began to part, holding each other as they left to head back to their homes. There would be no buying or selling today. No school or sport. Merely silent reflection on the one who had been lost and appreciation for those who still lived. Still Seta remained, staring into the icy darkness, the deep abyss which had swallowed his uncle whole.

The tears had finally stopped feeding the stream from his eyes, which had frozen against his skin almost as soon as they sprung. He had been standing next to the pit for fifteen minutes now, and without movement his body had begun to lose it's warmth on the slightly exposed skin. Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder, and turned to see its owner. There stood a tan, red haired woman in her late twenties, gazing deeply into his eyes, echoing the sorrow he felt.
“He was a good man, a strong leader and teacher. He lived a good life, and he will be sorely missed by many.” She said, trying to console and comfort him. Seta lowered his head to avert her eyes.
“He was the only one who ever really cared for me. I never really knew my parents, they died before I was old enough to remember, but, he was—he was like...” He said as his eyes watered again. Seta fell to his knees sobbing, and the stranger held him in her arms, rocking him like a mother soothes her child, even as a single tear streamed down her face.
“Shh... Shh... It's okay. It's alright.” She said, repeating it until finally Seta stopped crying, and after helping him back up she left, she dried her eyes, leaving him to pay his last respects to his chieftain, his uncle, his surrogate father.

Seta stumbled into the palace, shivering and weary. After a mug of hot tea by the fire he had finally warmed up, when Kade walked into the room hurriedly.
“There you are! Seta, please, follow me. I need you to meet with me and the others in the council room immediately.” Seta got up and stretched, already regretting having done so.
“Can't it wait? I want to go back to my room and rest.” He said as he started sauntering off to do just that.
“Seta, it's concerning you uncle's last requests. Specifically the one he passed on to me.” The youth froze in his tracks and turned with a grim expression on his face. A moment later it became as blank as a slate as he nodded, following the Ordeanib's chieftain, the Rie of Ard'or, towards the council chambers. Before opening the door, Kade spoke softly to Seta, “When you enter, do as you would in a room of elders. Sit in your uncle's seat, the one closest to mine. Try to observe all that is going on inside, but do not speak unless spoken to.” Seta nodded once again, and the two entered the room. There were five seats in the room encompassing the table, and three were already occupied. Seta did as instructed, and sat uncomfortably in the former Rie's seat, looking at the people around the table. “Seta, this is Lita Rie.” Kade said, introducing him to the woman next to him. She looked young for her position, which was obviously chieftess of Rostano, the largest village in the Josu Jungle. She had long, flowing hair that looked like spun gold, fair skin, and cerulean eyes. She wore green lipstick and a one-piece fur dress made especially for her visit, with a cloak on her chair which covered her exposed upper chest while outside in the frigid weather. On her head was her wreath crown, and on her face a few tattoos. Lita smiled at him and flirtatiously winked. “This is Eda Rie.” Seta turned towards her as she lifted her head. The red-haired freckled stranger who spoke to him before looked at him through hazel brown eyes. As Seta opened his mouth to speak she nodded in recognition. As the teen shut his mouth Kade introduced the last chieftan. “And this is Glenn Rie.” The burly man snorted a breath out his nostrils and turned his head away, his large muscles rippling as he slightly rotated his body. His earthen-toned skin was adorned with dark fur and thick cloth, his coarse, burnt orange hair had a few beads and stones tied in it. His deep brown irises seemed almost to look suspiciously at Seta through the corner of his eyes. “Rie, this is Seta, Tain's nephew.” Despite his obvious dislike for Seta, he seemed to relax a little and face the others. “Any opening subjects to discuss?” Kade asked.
“The miners of Klar have found yet another deposit of iron ore. This latest find is very strong and almost pure. Our people are prepared to start transport of their first delvings along our proposed trade lines. All that is needed is an approval of the exchange rates and routes.” Glenn said, pulling out a large scroll and unrolling it on the table. Four crooked lines cut across the map of Delni. The Rie examined it intently for about a minute before Kade finally asked what they were all thinking:
“These are the most efficient routes that your village was able to come up with?” Slowly, Glenn Rie nodded, with eyes closed. Surprisingly, Kade turned to Seta. “Seta Kazu, what do you think? Do you see any way the lines could be improved?” Seta was taken aback for a moment and tried to speak, but eventually he gave up and stared at the map in confusion. There on the map were the routes, four major lines branching out from Klar towards the other major villages, without intersecting.
“Why do you have all the trade routes separated? Forgive my ignorance, but if you had a major line, curving straight towards Ard'or, couldn't the other routes branch off from it? Then you would have a more solid main route, clear cut due to its more prominent usage, and, by having the trade carts move together, they'd be able to defend against predators more easily. Wouldn't that be safer and faster? You could even form a permanent resting place at the crossroads for the different routes, here, by Lake... Ryutna?” Seta said, hoping he knew what he was talking about, and that he wouldn't be rebuked for overstepping his boundaries as a mere observer. The brow of the Klar chieftain furled, and his face frowned in thought. He pulled out a quill and inkwell from a bag at his waist and set them on the table. Slowly he uncapped the inkwell, dipped the feather, and drew over the map in a new color. Closing his eyes, he nodded when he finished. Kade's eyes sparkled as he looked at Seta and asked,
“And what of Desu's trade routes?” Kade moved over to one of the room's walls, and pulled out a scroll, which he unraveled on the table on top of Glenn Rie's map. There lay another map of Delni, it's trade routes clearly marked. Glenn Rie handed the inkwell and quill to the youth and crossed his arms, waiting in false disinterest. Slowly Seta rubbed his forehead, then drew up another set of trade routes. One route would go to the proposed rest area, then branch off and go to three the other villages, and one would curve to Ard'or without stopping with the others.. With the lines he had created, Desu's trading expenses could theoretically be decreased by fifteen percent within a year.
“Bah. Why are we asking him anyways?” Glenn asked, voicing the shared opinion between him and the nervous Seta. Kade replied, without a hint of jest,
“Is it not important for one to learn what his full responsibility and duty shall be before becoming a Rie?”

Description
Chapter 3:

The sound of the munso's trill was the first thing Seta heard as he awoke. As he finally opened his eyes he saw he was back in his own room, in his own bed, with the rock ape hanging upside down from the canopy's railing, ravishing a piece of delectable fruit. As he started to get up he saw the chief of Ard'or, Kade Rie, sitting in the chair next to his bed.
“So, you've finally decided to from your slumber. I trust you are fully healed?” The old man asked patiently. Seta looked at his body, then, seeing the majority of his wounds properly wrapped and the rest starting to disappear, he nodded. Kade reached into his garments and pulled out the package that Seta had refused before. “When you ran off I thought I would never be able to deliver this to you. Then we found you when we saw the smoke rising from that field of firebushes.”
“How long have I been asleep?” Seta asked, leaning forward and slightly wincing. Even though the wounds were wrapped, and he had evidently been given proper medicine, some of them still hurt.
“Two days since we brought you back. You were gone for two days before that, so you were the talk of the town for the past four days.” Kade replied and set the package down on the nightstand next to the teen.
“The people of Desu do not gossip.”
“Perhaps. I do distinctly remember an old friend of mine doing so in our youth, however. The package was to be given to you when your uncle passed on. It was his last gift to you I suppose. We have held off the funeral for your return, but everything has been prepared. When you are ready we can begin the procession.” The old man said, leaving Seta to himself, the munso and the gift. The teen picked up the almost pure marble box and opened it. Inside lay two things: A blue juma necklace, and a scroll. After putting on the necklace, Seta read the scrawled letter.
“To Seta, my dearest nephew. I am sorry that I could not tell you what you are about to read in person. Do not blame yourself for my passing. I have gone on to the land of undying light where I shall be without sickness or weariness, waiting for my chance to rejoin the Well of Souls. Even if I had the cure for my disease that riddles my body, I was too aged for it to matter anymore. Do not wish to join me yet. There are those who still need you in the land of the living. Never shrug your duty, and follow your heart. Look to Kade and all around you for advice. You know that you were more than just a relative to me-You were the son I never had. Your loving uncle, Tain.” Crying, Seta put the letter back in its box and closed the lid. After a few moments leaning against the nightstand, he wiped the tears from the box and changed into his ceremonial clothing, the munso following the sound of his steps.

Seta marched with the casket-bearers, at the front of the procession, bearing the weight of the former chieftain's coffin upon his shoulder. On his other shoulder sat the munso, which he had aptly named Loeki after a famous Desun explorer. Behind him on both sides were the mourners. His entire village was in attendance, those familiar faces and strangers alike, outsiders from other villages who had been impacted by his uncle's life, and certainly the other Rie as well. His mentor had been a man of great influence and respect, and was greatly admired by not only the people of his village, but by also by those across all of Delni. And some were in attendance, giving their respects and praying for his afterlife. The funeral procession walked silently from the temple where the blessing had taken place, their footsteps echoing like a rolling thunder in the ears of the quiet huddled masses. Slowly the moved, tracing the steps of their fathers, and their fathers' fathers, and all those that came before them, marching onward through the Valley of the ancients, towards their final destination. On both sides of the canyon were sculptures of the former Desu Rie, and other figures of historical importance, somberly gazing down at them in honor and recognition of their deep loss. After the group had traversed the mile-long path they came to Saku, the one hundred foot deep pit where prominent Desun figures were laid to rest. There they stood at the edge of the pit as the casket-bearers lowered the ropes on Tain's coffin until they felt them slack, knowing it had touched a solid base. Then three of the casket-bearers let their side of their ropes go, tossing in the ceremonial casket spray, as the other side pulled the rope back up to the surface to be used whenever the next funeral occurred. After five minutes of silence the mourners slowly began to part, holding each other as they left to head back to their homes. There would be no buying or selling today. No school or sport. Merely silent reflection on the one who had been lost and appreciation for those who still lived. Still Seta remained, staring into the icy darkness, the deep abyss which had swallowed his uncle whole.

The tears had finally stopped feeding the stream from his eyes, which had frozen against his skin almost as soon as they sprung. He had been standing next to the pit for fifteen minutes now, and without movement his body had begun to lose it's warmth on the slightly exposed skin. Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder, and turned to see its owner. There stood a tan, red haired woman in her late twenties, gazing deeply into his eyes, echoing the sorrow he felt.
“He was a good man, a strong leader and teacher. He lived a good life, and he will be sorely missed by many.” She said, trying to console and comfort him. Seta lowered his head to avert her eyes.
“He was the only one who ever really cared for me. I never really knew my parents, they died before I was old enough to remember, but, he was—he was like...” He said as his eyes watered again. Seta fell to his knees sobbing, and the stranger held him in her arms, rocking him like a mother soothes her child, even as a single tear streamed down her face.
“Shh... Shh... It's okay. It's alright.” She said, repeating it until finally Seta stopped crying, and after helping him back up she left, she dried her eyes, leaving him to pay his last respects to his chieftain, his uncle, his surrogate father.

Seta stumbled into the palace, shivering and weary. After a mug of hot tea by the fire he had finally warmed up, when Kade walked into the room hurriedly.
“There you are! Seta, please, follow me. I need you to meet with me and the others in the council room immediately.” Seta got up and stretched, already regretting having done so.
“Can't it wait? I want to go back to my room and rest.” He said as he started sauntering off to do just that.
“Seta, it's concerning you uncle's last requests. Specifically the one he passed on to me.” The youth froze in his tracks and turned with a grim expression on his face. A moment later it became as blank as a slate as he nodded, following the Ordeanib's chieftain, the Rie of Ard'or, towards the council chambers. Before opening the door, Kade spoke softly to Seta, “When you enter, do as you would in a room of elders. Sit in your uncle's seat, the one closest to mine. Try to observe all that is going on inside, but do not speak unless spoken to.” Seta nodded once again, and the two entered the room. There were five seats in the room encompassing the table, and three were already occupied. Seta did as instructed, and sat uncomfortably in the former Rie's seat, looking at the people around the table. “Seta, this is Lita Rie.” Kade said, introducing him to the woman next to him. She looked young for her position, which was obviously chieftess of Rostano, the largest village in the Josu Jungle. She had long, flowing hair that looked like spun gold, fair skin, and cerulean eyes. She wore green lipstick and a one-piece fur dress made especially for her visit, with a cloak on her chair which covered her exposed upper chest while outside in the frigid weather. On her head was her wreath crown, and on her face a few tattoos. Lita smiled at him and flirtatiously winked. “This is Eda Rie.” Seta turned towards her as she lifted her head. The red-haired freckled stranger who spoke to him before looked at him through hazel brown eyes. As Seta opened his mouth to speak she nodded in recognition. As the teen shut his mouth Kade introduced the last chieftan. “And this is Glenn Rie.” The burly man snorted a breath out his nostrils and turned his head away, his large muscles rippling as he slightly rotated his body. His earthen-toned skin was adorned with dark fur and thick cloth, his coarse, burnt orange hair had a few beads and stones tied in it. His deep brown irises seemed almost to look suspiciously at Seta through the corner of his eyes. “Rie, this is Seta, Tain's nephew.” Despite his obvious dislike for Seta, he seemed to relax a little and face the others. “Any opening subjects to discuss?” Kade asked.
“The miners of Klar have found yet another deposit of iron ore. This latest find is very strong and almost pure. Our people are prepared to start transport of their first delvings along our proposed trade lines. All that is needed is an approval of the exchange rates and routes.” Glenn said, pulling out a large scroll and unrolling it on the table. Four crooked lines cut across the map of Delni. The Rie examined it intently for about a minute before Kade finally asked what they were all thinking:
“These are the most efficient routes that your village was able to come up with?” Slowly, Glenn Rie nodded, with eyes closed. Surprisingly, Kade turned to Seta. “Seta Kazu, what do you think? Do you see any way the lines could be improved?” Seta was taken aback for a moment and tried to speak, but eventually he gave up and stared at the map in confusion. There on the map were the routes, four major lines branching out from Klar towards the other major villages, without intersecting.
“Why do you have all the trade routes separated? Forgive my ignorance, but if you had a major line, curving straight towards Ard'or, couldn't the other routes branch off from it? Then you would have a more solid main route, clear cut due to its more prominent usage, and, by having the trade carts move together, they'd be able to defend against predators more easily. Wouldn't that be safer and faster? You could even form a permanent resting place at the crossroads for the different routes, here, by Lake... Ryutna?” Seta said, hoping he knew what he was talking about, and that he wouldn't be rebuked for overstepping his boundaries as a mere observer. The brow of the Klar chieftain furled, and his face frowned in thought. He pulled out a quill and inkwell from a bag at his waist and set them on the table. Slowly he uncapped the inkwell, dipped the feather, and drew over the map in a new color. Closing his eyes, he nodded when he finished. Kade's eyes sparkled as he looked at Seta and asked,
“And what of Desu's trade routes?” Kade moved over to one of the room's walls, and pulled out a scroll, which he unraveled on the table on top of Glenn Rie's map. There lay another map of Delni, it's trade routes clearly marked. Glenn Rie handed the inkwell and quill to the youth and crossed his arms, waiting in false disinterest. Slowly Seta rubbed his forehead, then drew up another set of trade routes. One route would go to the proposed rest area, then branch off and go to three the other villages, and one would curve to Ard'or without stopping with the others.. With the lines he had created, Desu's trading expenses could theoretically be decreased by fifteen percent within a year.
“Bah. Why are we asking him anyways?” Glenn asked, voicing the shared opinion between him and the nervous Seta. Kade replied, without a hint of jest,
“Is it not important for one to learn what his full responsibility and duty shall be before becoming a Rie?”