Gepo sat at his chair in the palace hall. He overlooked the table before him, displaying fruits from the gardens and the flesh from a freshly slewn ox. It was a brilliant meal to him, and he smiled at the waiter at the end of the table. The waiter then bowed and hurried back to the kitchen.
The room was only slightly lit; some guards stood at the entrance and blocked the way from intruders. An Uini
[1] lay in the corner, relaxing on a pile of soft fur. Then, out of the sudden, the peace was broken. Voices were heard outside the hall, and Avil Gepo looked at the door, waiting for whatever was coming. The guards prepared themselves, and the Uini watched frightfully. Then the door opened, and a guard walked in, carrying a frightened man.
"What is this?" Gepo said in shock, and the guard let go of the stranger. The stranger instantly stood up and took three steps away from the strong man. Gepo raised from his chair.
"Calm down!" he roared, as the guard quickly stepped against the man. The guard froze, then bowed before Gepo, quitting his chase. The Avil looked at the stranger.
"Who are you?" he asked. The stranger did not react, but looked at Gepo with fearful eyes.
Gepo sat down once again and gestured for the stranger to sit down in front of him. The man blinked a few times, then moved to his seat, where some waiters showed up and gave him some food. The stranger looked at the delicious plate for a whole second, then started eating.
"Oh," Gepo said, "You must be very hungry." He did still not respond, so the Avil looked at his guard:
"Then, who is this person?"
"I don't know, your greatness. We found him running around near a farm south of the river." He gestured at the man in front of Gepo. "And he just kept on speaking in a weird language.
"The speech of the river people?" the Avil asked.
"No sire, he did not speak Rivers," the guard said, "But I think - -"
"Gepo?" the stranger said, out of a sudden. The two Oden frowned and looked at the strange man.
"You-be Avils Gepo?" he said again, his accent was very bad, but he spoke Oden.
"Yes, my friend. Who are you?" Gepo said to him.
"Come froms Panchala," he said, "I scout by gooder king Chanaliya. I discovers many nation for-he."
The Uini in the corner looked more interested at the stranger, and the guards stood less prepared. He was peaceful, nonetheless. A mere scout.
"Who are the Panchala?" Gepo asked.
"Panchala be the-most gloryful nation, army massive and say-many riches."
Gepo nod at the man, opening his arms at him, greeting him to the empire of Odenes.
"Very well," Gepo said, "I will greet your people welcome to my realm. Stay in my home tonight, and I will send an escort with you back to your country! We invite your nation to peace with the Oden people!"
After the meal, the guard followed the Panchala to a room where he could sleep. The next day Gepo gave him a personal Uini, the same as the one in the corner, in the tradition of the Oden people. The confused scout accepted the gift.
Now, Panchala and Odenes was introduced to the most basic of diplomatic relations; contact.
[1]: Uini