Kiyiya listened patiently as Jordan explained the concept of one big chief and many little chiefs…it made sense every so often neighboring villiages would band together to fight off a single threat, usually a group of invaders. The fort was something he understood quite well. As a child his father had taken him on a trip far to the east to meet with a kachada leader to discuss treaties. He remembered clearly the hulking wooden monstrosity that had jutted out of the land. The gate closed around the people, like they were rabbits hiding from a hunter.

Then the haughty kachada made another comment on this people. He nudged Wanee forward and looked the man in the eye. “My tribe has never killed or made any trouble for the kachada. My men and I saved Deeheeya from the Crow and would do so again. You would not do such a thing for a member of my tribe…”

Having said his piece Kiyiya pulled back and eased into a slow trot beside Jordan.