The winters in the ice fields are cold and long, and the air blowing from the northernmost part of the continent carries the chill of the frozen earth, which makes the Quaid people have to endure hunger and cold every year. They prayed to the gods under the scorching sun and the moon, praying for a deadly winter departure. But this year, the warm wind came later than usual. It wasn't until two months after the tribe returned to camp that the blizzard staggered away, retreating back to the north like a wounded lone wolf.

The cloudy sky soon returned to the blue color of an alpine lake, making the ice sheet look cleaner. The scorching sun Estel also began to pour warmth on the earth, causing the ice field covered in a thick layer of silver fur to awaken. The bright sunlight shining down from the cloudless sky blooms in the reflection of the crystal snow, and the colorful flowers shimmer as if to welcome the monsoon wind blowing from the southwest.

A faintly salty wind changes the ice sheet dramatically, melting the permafrost and thick snow on the branches, seeping into the ground or drooping down to the point of ice distillation. A babbling stream of snow flows through the valley, still casting the last hint of chill over the place, but the thick green moss that emerges from the ground is already a sign of the end of winter. The cold winds were accompanied by fauna migrating from the depths of the ice fields, with herds of reindeer, bighorn deer and woolly rhinos once again heading north, just as the vast expanses of the ice fields in the spring were already providing them with enough food.

The departure of the prey often means the suffering of the hunter.

Sandwiched between the Golden Corridor and the Ice Plains, the Quaid tribe immediately felt the torture of hunger, especially the Spain tribe, which was embroiled in two battles during the winter. The two wars with the Terrans cost them most of the food they had saved, and they couldn't even scrape together the seeds of the Putantes that they had sown in the spring.

The warriors who survived the war had to go out hunting every day, but the prey they caught was getting scarcer. Hunger has even led the tribesmen to exchange their steel weapons for food from the surrounding tribes, but again, the nearby tribes are not too rich in food.

"Riga, what's that?" Holding a delicate horned bow in his hand that reflected in the sunlight, Gal spotted a black dot wriggling in the distance as he ran towards the passenger pigeon that had been shot down. The warrior survived the battle with the Terran mercenaries, but at the cost of two scars on his face and arms.

The warm wind lifted the Quaid warrior's head and glued it to the glittering sunlight into shiny filaments, like the webs of a spider. But then he scratched his itchy face and neck vigorously and shook his hair down. "Could it be a Terran caravan? They seem to have arrived a little early. Picking up the passenger pigeon on the ground that had been shot through its thin torso by an arrow, the warrior twitched his cheek hungrily, causing the centipede's slender scar to writhe hideously.

"It seems early, but it's good news for the tribe. "After two months, Riga hasn't changed much, just looks more mature on the outside. In addition, at the bottom of his golden beard, three slender braids had been braided. It was a symbol of glory that only the most valiant warriors of the Quaid could qualify for.

"It's time to go back. Gal looked up at the sky, and the sun had shifted two palms to the west. "It was another bad day, we only caught two passenger pigeons. This fills a hungry stomach like a glutton. ”

"It's better than the people who are already relying on moss. Gal replied to his friend in a dull voice. "The dead can drink freely in the temple, but the living will continue to suffer. ”

"The Chief has never been as hungry as we are. Gal jumped onto a slippery rock below, waved his arms to regain his balance, and said in a tone of indignation. "His pantry was piled with food, but he didn't spare a little to help his people. ”

"He'll take it out. Riga jumped down with the same agility and calmly responded after gasping for hot air from his chest. "But wait until the body is fully recovered. ”

"Wait until he takes over the hammer of power again. Gal replied dissatisfied, then he paused and said in a sneering tone, "I really didn't expect that guy from Paloon to slip in the middle of the battle." His return alive was already a blessing from Hirag. ”

Riga killed the mage in battle, but Paron didn't kill the baron who stayed in the camp. Although Natilles promised to help Orlando in white robes, all of his elite guards remained. In the face of well-armed and well-trained soldiers, the chief's son suffered a great defeat. The rain of arrows rained down cost the Quaid warriors. Even though Paloon split the group into two parts, by the time he stormed the camp, half of the dozen half-tribesmen outside had already fallen.

The Baron's Guards are equally fierce in combat, and although they are not as strong as the Quaids, they will use ruthless means to win the battle. The Quaid warriors paid two dozen lives to defeat the guards, but the baron ordered a breakout. The mighty warriors around him rushed out, swordsmen of astonishing length waving across the sky, quickly tearing a path through the Quaids. Paloon tried to rush up to stop it, but was quickly defeated by a slip. The greatsword sliced open his abdomen, but fortunately Alani didn't cut his death line as well, and instead allowed him to return to the ruined fortress in a safe escort.

Riga decapitated the mage, leaving the injured chief with the hammer of power to the hunter. The wizard was overjoyed, but as Spain recovered, the hammer would return to him, unless Riga was forever stronger than him.

"I'll give him the hammer. Riga touched the hammer behind him with some nostalgia, but then he spoke solemnly. "Only in this way can the people get some food to sustain themselves. ”

Garr, who was descending, paused for a moment, and turned his head, only to find that his friend's face was serious. "Do you really want to do that? The wizard probably wouldn't agree. And, it means that we give up everything that came before. The chief will find an opportunity for Paloon to wash away his shame. ”

Riga didn't answer, he jumped over two rocks in quick succession, and dragged his pulled cloak in front of Gal. "Hurry up, maybe you can meet this Terran caravan. ”

The horses moved quickly, and when they came into Riga's sight, Quaid realized that they all had mounts. It was a tall warhorse, definitely more than five feet tall at the shoulders.

When the Quaids reached the side of the road, the caravan also spotted the two young warriors. The knight at the front immediately kicked the spur, causing the horse under his ass to trot. "Warriors of the Hirag, we are a caravan from Chesterton, and we are here with Binglan and a sword. The knight tightened the reins when he was still more than ten yards away from the Quaid. As the horse neighed and writhed across its body, the sturdy wandering knight spoke, using a somewhat vague and jerky Quaid.

Binglan represents purity and peace in the eyes of the Quaids, so the meaning of the knight's expression is obvious. The caravan came with peace, but they also believed that the sword in their hand could keep out all the greedy.

As a courtesy, Riga let go of his hands pressed against his weapon, squeezing out a smile on his wind-blown face. Finally, he said in a slightly unfamiliar Terran language: "On behalf of the Spain tribe, I welcome you, friend of Chesterton. ”

"The lingua franca is very good. And Sparin is still alive? That's really good news. "Out of the wagon at the back of the caravan came a Terran man. He had a muscular body and a shiny crown of head, but above his ears there was a brown color like dead moss. The red-nosed creature wore a linen robe, but was covered with a cuirass made of fine rhinoceros skin.

"In the team, everyone calls me Kasa. The Terran shivered in the air that was still cold to him, and then asked very kindly. "Young man, what can I call you?"

"Next to me is my brother Gal, and I'm Rigga. The hunter replied in the same gentle tone, but Gar behind him suddenly spoke. "He is also the wielder of the Hammer of Tribal Power, the Slaughter of Mages, and the Hunter of Snow Apes. ”

Garr's words caused Casa to focus on the beards of the two Quaids, the braids on the short beards that made him in awe, especially the three that Riga had. "What a brave samurai. The Terran said in a solemn and serious tone, then turned to beckon. The wandering knight who had questioned him immediately pulled out a mass of red-and-white patterns from the carriage.

Casa took it from the knight's hand and introduced it to the two Quaids. "This is Chelster's most precious linen, with hand-embroidered patterns. But I don't think it's as important as the favor of two powerful warriors. ”

The soft touch of the cloth and the faint aroma of the cloth pleased the two Quaids, so they boldly agreed to Kassa's next request and took the caravan to the tribe's camp.

"I hope your place of residence doesn't change. The Terran merchant did not make the carriage back, but he asked his men to bring three large horses and invited the Quaids to sit on them. "Every year my caravan has to rediscover Quaid's camp, even if it's not too far away. ”

"We haven't changed this year. Gal replied, overjoyed to receive the gift. He stepped onto a steed with great agility and spoke excitedly. "But because of the people of Moulton, we are short of food. ”

"Is there a lack of food?" said the merchant laughing twice with great pleasure, until the tip of his nose began to redden. "Don't worry, my friends. In the back carriage carried plenty of food, and even a batch of potante fruits. At this, the merchant deliberately blinked again, and only after stepping into the saddle did he say mysteriously, "And I have brought you a precious gift." ”

PS: Sanjiang is over, thank you.