Story 18 - Part 2 - Know Your Enemies

“Wait,” Vire could not help but interrupt the story, which saved Jordan the trouble of doing it. “You mean to say that Carmine’s parents were like that story of star-crossed lovers?”

“Not quite,” Melina said in her thick accent. “Donatello’s father, Carmine, seemed a definite trouble maker. We learned he dropped out of school and so that was not good enough for our Linda, but he still charmed her.”

“And the rest of us as well,” an old man by the name of Marizio Micholo said. “The boy was a good for nothing scamp at first.”

“How did he even get here?” Vire asked.

Jordan was enjoying the question and answer session. Tech and Don were being given a tour by the village teens, including several girls that seemed to think the boys were rather cute. Carmine was, well, Jordan had no idea what Carmine was doing. Currently, though, Jordan and Vire were enjoying the reminiscing of Carmine’s kin. Now and again they would lapse into their tribal language, but they did try to keep mindful of their guests.

“That Carmine could not sit still and respect his elders,” Marizio snorted. “He looked like a boy who should be put in prison, but we could not ignore that his appearance was not who he was.”

“He was a very good boy,” Melina agreed. “Most of the time.”

“Easily taken advantage of,” Marizio grumbled. “He was too trusting.”

“But he was a good boy,” Melina emphasized. “He could not sit still, but he was a good boy.”

The two reverted back into their native language as they discussed the older Carmine. Both of Carmine’s parents were dead before Vire had even met him which meant that Jordan never even had the slightest chance, so it was interesting to hear a little bit of where Carmine came from. It was said that most people take after their parents and some of that seemed true to Carmine. He was a good person, and he certainly loved to travel.

There were a few yells from outside the hut and someone came running in. The conversation between the younger person and the two elders was rapid fire and there seemed to be a look of concern and annoyance that was expressed. Jordan had no choice but to sit there and wait for an explanation, but the more he heard the name Donatello the more Jordan felt concerned.

“Melina?” Vire asked. “Can I ask what’s going on?”

“There is no worry,” Melina said.

“What about Donatello?” Jordan asked.

“Another tribe wants him for a ceremony,” Melina explained.

“Why do I get the feeling there’s more to that explanation?” Vire asked Jordan as the older couple politely excused themselves for a moment.

“They are assuming we know something about their tribe,” Jordan guessed. “Usually, anything involving two tribes are limited: marriage, trade, or war.”

“Well, I don’t think he’s getting married,” Vire said.

“He could be part of the ceremony if it’s a relative,” Jordan thought. “Of course, this does seem too sudden to be that. Unfortunately, I don’t think the tribes are traditionally friends.”

“In the past, no,” a young woman explained as she escorted Tech and Don into the hut.

“Can we get an explanation?” Jordan asked.

“Of course,” the young woman laughed. Unlike the elders, her accent was hardly there. “Our tribe is usually the negotiator when any of the other tribes have disagreements.”

“So, you guys are the ambassadors?” Don asked through thinly veiled flirting. “I can see someone like you taking charge.”

“The other tribes have started delaying their disagreements and wait for when Carmine’s visiting,” the young woman said with a roll of her eyes.

“Why Carmine?” Jordan asked.

“His parents,” she shrugged. “They increased tribal communications and Carmine is fair. When you’re dealing with enemies you want someone who won’t take sides.”