Chapter 41: Return to Atene

By mid-afternoon the following day, our convoy reaches the confluence of the river from Atene and the river the Tribu must follow. We part company with Adelita, Elodia and the three elves in their group. We said our farewells to each other when we stopped earlier for a midday meal. Consequently, the parting of our ways is a simple wave goodbye without bothering to stop.

We are entering the stretch of the river where we encountered dangerous animals on our journey south. We see several on the riverbank, but they are ignoring us so far. This time we opt for speed rather than taking the precaution of having one less paddler in favour of an armed guard. Nevertheless, we keep weapons within easy reach. We travel until the light starts to fade. We are well inside Merope territory, although they show no signs of challenging our passage. Their underground city is still well to the north-east of us. At our current rate of travel, we should pass the place where we landed on our southward journey in about five days.

We find a suitable place to spend the night on the opposite river bank to the Merope settlements. Ihapera has come into heat, so Cassandra and I take the opportunity for a threesome in a quiet glade. The glade is far enough away from our main encampment for privacy, but near enough that we, or those in camp, can come to the aid of the others should there be any form of attack.

As both Cassandra and Ihapera have recently given birth, we keep our sex play relatively gentle. Both women have tits engorged with milk. While milking them is tempting, we remain mindful that Renata and Tina will be wanting their next feeds in less than an hour. Fortunately Rawiri is now old enough to no longer need his mother’s milk.

The cry of Tina demanding her feed ends our sexual romp prematurely. Fortunately my erection remains long enough after Ihapera leaves us to give Cassandra and me a few moments to fuck ourselves into an orgasm.

For the next few days, our journey north is uneventful. We pass several Merope riverside settlements on the east bank. We don’t stop, and the Merope ignore us. It’s only when we draw parallel to the main Merope city that anybody approaches us. The hill covering the underground city is too far inland for us to see from the river. However, this riverside settlement obviously serves as a trading post between the city and traffic along the river. We stopped here briefly on our southward trip, but we didn’t stay for long. For a settlement that is reliant on trade, the Merope population wasn’t particularly friendly.

The large sail-boat approaching us has a crew of seven Merope. The helmsman shouts to us in Atenex as their boat draws closer to us. I’m not sure whether the helmsman’s choice of language is because he remembers us from our southward journey, or that he simply identifies our two wakawaka as Atenex craft. He calls on us to stop at the settlement’s jetty. It’s unclear whether he is making a request or issuing an order. We are already tired from our day’s journey, and we are in no condition to fight. Trying to outrun the Merope boat would be futile. The elves in the other wakawaka turn towards the jetty, and we follow them to the riverbank.

Given the surly reception we received previously, we are confused by the almost joyous welcome we receive. A couple of Merope workers help us to moor our wakawaka at the wharf. The Merope craft docks further downriver at what appears to be a private quay. We disembark from our boats and follow a woman dressed in a ceremonial robe. Our destination is a large building located between the waterfront and the settlement’s market square.

“I am Jalene. Welcome to Makaziyamto,” says Jalene in Atenex once we are seated inside the airy meeting hall.

Several other Merope join us shortly afterwards. They appear to have come here at short notice, so I presume it’s our arrival that has prompted this assembly. Unlike our previous encounters with the Merope, there’s no delay in getting down to business. Several Merope try talking at once, and it is clear that there are disagreements between them. It takes us a while to get a clear picture of what is happening and why we are being asked help. The meeting lasts for nearly an hour before the Merope start leaving one by one. Eventually only Jalene and two men remain with us.

I recall that those living in the underground Merope city are divided into three castes; the highest level are the aristocratic Kwanza, followed by the well educated Pili. However, their numbers are dwarfed by the poorly educated Tatu, who live in serf-like conditions. Escaping the caste system is the main reason some Merope prefer to live in the outer settlements like Makaziyamto. Now, it seems, the Merope senate has decided to extend the caste system to all Merope settlements. It’s a move that doesn’t sit well with the residents of Makaziyamto. Unfortunately, they are divided over how to respond.

“I’ve received sufficient schooling to qualify for the Pili caste,” says Jalene. “But everyone else here will lose much of their freedom once they become Tatu. The senate appointed Governor is due to arrive in a week to implement the caste system in Makaziyamto. Once that happens, then many of our young people will be conscripted into military service. We wish to live in peace with our neighbours, but the Kwanza dream of expansion into the territory occupied by other races.”

“What do you expect us to do?” I ask, alarmed that the Merope senate is already moving ahead with it’s expansionist plans.

“Be our emissaries to the Atenex leaders,” says Jalene. “Many of the Pili and Tatu are on the verge of rebellion against the Kwanza, but we lack any coordination and leadership. In exchange for the Atenex helping us to overthrow the senate, our healers will provide treatment to overcome the fertility problem in Atenex males. But we need help soon. Once the Kwanza spread their caste system throughout the Merope settlements, and expand their military, they will be able to crush any resistance.”

We agree to discuss Jalene’s request overnight. It’s too late in the day to travel any further, so we accept the offer of a large room for the night. It’s our first chance to talk in private and compare our understanding of everything we’ve been told.

“All we are being asked to do is carry the Merope request to Atene,” I say. “It will be up to the Atene leadership to decide whether to help the Merope people.”

“Yes,” replies Cassandra. “But they will be influenced by our interpretation of the situation. As we saw in the meeting hall, not everyone agrees with Jalene and her supporters.”

“Then that’s all we can tell the Atene Rangatira,” says Ikaroa. “Even if the Atenex are willing to help, that doesn’t mean we are in a position to do so.”