(TFOR) Chapter 3: Compelling Meets & Greets

The camp was definitely smaller than the last place as of the looks from the outside. It was smaller than even three average buses were aligned together. Although, The Leader had a bigger tent than the commoners, which was protected by a fair amount of armed guards, leftovers from the battle mixed with newly recruited ones. The exterior in Tane's sight consisted of many easily distinguishable orb-shaped and cone-shaped trees and bushes that were strictly managed and cut. The conspicuous scent of the rose bushes and various types of flowers that were randomly scattered around the area were delightful, despite the royal outhouse of noxious gases hovering about the local perimeter.

The overview of the outside weren't detailed enough to remind Tane of the familiar throne room, he visited in his previous home that sounds like it recently crumbled to ashes from the raid. Even though it has been years since the bandits and their tamed beast turned on him and the humble village.

When Tane approached the pavilion, two of the guards who were patrolling the front yard decided to interrogate Tane with aggression. Both of them clearly have the casual guards' uniforms. One of them has more ranks, agreeable from the quantity of badges he has got sown on his thick red-coated guard tunic and an unappealing goatee carefully grown on his face. Although, the other looks to be less talkative and more nervous. Without his badges to be enough, a shameful seven-days stubble and the lack of confidence, he would likely choose to leave the questioning to the first one.

“Hey you! Where do you think you’re going? You should know that this is The Leader's territory! You can't just go wild around here”, the bearded guard quizzed vigorously.

“I was told that The Leader needed me”, Tane confessed.

“No, he doesn’t want anything from you! Get lost!”

"Calm down Bill, he's just one of our people. You can't just threaten someone like that. I might be just wondering around", the other replied.

"Shut up Nick, you ain't knowing any piece of rubbish. All the things you do are standing quietly and wait for money to appear in your pockets. Ugh, stupid pentevians."

Nick sighed hopelessly and stood there, letting the "boss" rule over the chat.

While the guards argued like children, Tane could partially see an old man adorned with luxurious trinkets, an over-sized maroon-trimmed robe, two fancy slippers and a small bronze crown. Overall, creating a somewhat slack and unimpressive figure. Although, his gregarious nature did stand out from the network of other kings and leaders.

Standing there without the footmen noticing, he was watching deliberately over the situation of two generic guards arguing on his front yard. Eventually, they would get a stern talking to their real boss.

Tane couldn't say any other words. He noted that the The Leader decided to walk out and play as his role to at least end the loud yelling. He marched towards the two nitwits in anger, and stood behind them patiently with a grumbling face. He then, displayed a slight welcoming face to Tane and gestured his fingers towards his tent, telling Tane to access his home without further conditions.

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