I froze as I heard the question. Sure that the voice was somewhat mocking, I brought my gaze up to that of a smiling man, his tattoos dancing in the candle light in ways I didn't quite understand. They seemed familiar, but somehow different. The way that AAta had not reacted to this man let me know that he wasn't a threat, the opposite actually seeming to be true; that he was here to test me. The conversations we had previously had about his people and their expectations came briefly to my mind. They didn't want someone who was weak, who would hide behind a fan and who couldn't defend themselves in public. They wanted someone who viewed themselves as equal with everyone in the tribe, sharing in their joys and their sorrows.
I racked my brain for the words I wanted to use, thankful for le
