That evening Kaleb, still wearing his knot name around his neck, went before the Grand Council of Elders and presented his case with unusual eloquence. He explained that his nation had intelligence that the nation beyond the Sunset Mountains were planning to invade the valley to expand their empire. He also explained his sovereign would be willing to send his army to protect the valley in exchange for the Council of Elders allowing them to station an army garrison within the valley. He explained what all the advantages of a trade alliance where not only food and tools could be exchanged but also information and culture.

When he finished with his presentation, there was only silence in the great hall. Kaleb had guessed that there was over a hundred elders and aides attending the meeting. Then the elders began to tie and pass knotted notes among themselves. Occasionally an elder would stand and ask a question, which Kaleb would answer. Kaleb realized his heart was not in this, for if they accepted his offer, their way of life would end forever. He had come to respect these people, but once the army moved in, they would eventually be absorbed into the nation. Yet, his loyalty still lay with his sovereign to whom he had pledged his life's work. His sadness deepened as he realized the valley was the most peaceful and blissful place he had ever been. He could easily spend the rest of his life here. However, the fact remained that a hostile army lay just across the mountains to the west and these people needed protection even if it destroyed their way of life.

Kaleb waited and waited. Time seemed to drag as he awaited the decision of the elders. The tension could be felt as the time neared middle-night. Kaleb felt the tension break; he knew a decision had been made. It was Crimn, the elder he had first dealt with, who stood to make the announcement. Kaleb felt the sweat rolling down his face even though there was a chill in the air.

Crimn stood and faced Kaleb with a knotted rope in hand which held the decision of the Council.

"It is not to be. Thank you for coming. You may go now."

Kaleb was stunned. He tried to reopen the discussion but the elders were already filing out of the building. He moved through the crowd yelling at the elders that they were making a mistake. The army to the west would destroy them and their way of life. No one stopped to listen to him. It was as if he didn't exist anymore. He found Master DeCarlos who was being led away by a student.

"Master DeCarlos," he shouted, "don't they realize what they are doing? This will be the end of your way of life if you don't get some help."

DeCarlos turned and faced Kaleb's direction. "One of our early prophets once said when the two warrior clans meet to fight within the valley, the valley people will be no more. Yes, they know what they are doing. Now they go to tell their people." With that Master DeCarlos turned and departed the building.

Kaleb was at a loss as to what he should do next. They hadn't given him a chance to rebut their decision. When he left the hall, he could see some of the elders were already leaving the village to return to their homes. What hurt more, that this was his first failure or that the valley people would be destroyed?

Quickly, he made his way to the inn. He woke up the owner and settled his bill. She seemed surprised that he was leaving in the middle of the night. He also woke up the stable proprietor and tried to buy a mount to ride out of the valley. However, the stable master had no mounts for sale. Kaleb decided to settle up with the stable master with trade goods and ride his pack animal out of the valley.

Kaleb knew the army was awaiting his instructions just outside the valley. He must make his way to the trading post where he entered the valley so he could contact the army's commander. He would send the army through the valley as a show of force. The army could be garrisoned on the west side of the valley to keep the hordes from the west from entering. He would protect these people in spite of themselves.

As Kaleb left the village it was beginning to rain very lightly. He would not let a little rain stop him. These people would need help. Kaleb truly believed that he was their best hope of survival. He would make his way to the mountain trading post by nightfall tomorrow. He would carefully plan the army's move into the valley. There was no one inside the valley who could stop the army, and it was, after all, for their own good.

The rain began to increase in intensity the further away from the village of Herco Kaleb traveled. The pack animal was slow, still it was quicker than he could walk. He was not sure when the sun came up, the rain was so heavy, but he knew he couldn't stop. As the day passed, Kaleb realized that he was becoming sick; still, he must get to the army. He would turn his first failure into an ultimate victory.

Kaleb found himself rethinking all that had transpired over the past several days. He had to laugh when he thought about how uninformed he had been about the valley people; how he had thought they were a backward culture who needed his help to improve themselves. Kaleb found himself laughing out loud when he thought about the inn keeper asking him if he were going to the school of hard knots. He realized he was very sick. He was losing control of his emotions. He could feel the chills and fevers running through his body.

He continued to travel through the entire day, eating in the saddle. Time was short and he must reach the army. He was not aware of when the sun went down but he knew he had a great deal of distance to cover. He could vaguely remember passing the monument to Herco, but for the life of him, he could not remember when. He had to hold on and not give into the sickness. This was too important for a little rain to get in the way.

A couple of times Kaleb lost his concentration and nearly fell off his pack animal. Just when he thought he would have to give up, he spotted a light through the rain. At first he couldn't tell the source of the light. As he neared it he realized that he had made it. The light was shining through the window of the trading post. Nearing exhaustion, Kaleb fell off his pack animal as he reached the trading post. It took nearly all his strength to pull himself up and knock on the door.

As the door swung open the heat and smell of cooking food overcame him and his knees buckled. The man running the trading post caught him before he hit the floor.

"Whoa there, feller." He said, "You look like you're in bad shape, but you're just in time for breakfast."

"Breakfast?" Kaleb realized that he had been riding through the rain for a full day and a night.

"Sure, it's breakfast time. Now you come on in and we'll find you something dry to wear and get some food on your stomach." Then he turned to speak to a young boy standing nearby. "You go take care of the man's animal."

"No." Kaleb said weakly, "Do you know Commander Duncan? He's the commander of the army that's...."

"Sure, sure," the man interrupted, "he's upstairs asleep right now. But we need to fix you up. Anyway, Commander Duncan doesn't get up till after sunrise."

"He'll get up for me." Kaleb said. Turning to the boy, "Go tell Commander Duncan that Kaleb, Emissary of Her Majesty, requires his immediate appearance." Kaleb could feel himself slipping into unconsciousness as the boy's face began to fade in and out. The boy looked to the man for confirmation of his request. The man nodded and the boy disappeared.

A cup of hot broth appeared from the kitchen. Kaleb felt his body begin to cramp as the broth ran down his raw throat. The room began to spin and then went black.

The next thing he knew he was shaken awake by Commander Duncan. "Kaleb," Duncan was saying, "Wake up! What did you need to tell me?"

Kaleb could hardly speak, but he forced himself to voice the words.

"Must send army... into valley." It was all he could manage, but he knew that it would save the valley people.

Duncan was not satisfied with that. He had more questions.

"What about the people of the valley? What is their army's strength? Where are they?" Duncan asked him.

With all the strength he had left before he passed out once again, Kaleb said, "Don't worry; they're Knot People."

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