Zetrov the Insane looks bored; his fish basket is empty. He has already been waiting for hours in the hole he made in the frozen canal. His net moved only a little, but when he pulled it in, it was empty. All the grasshopper bait had already been eaten by the fish.
His Koryak friends did not encounter such problem. Their baskets is already full. Pepe taught them this morning.
"Can i look?" one of his friend want to see his catch. He is Yilcho of the Umqa Clan.
"Empty," Zetrov still focus on his net's.
"Are you done yet? Are you done yet? Our quota for today's Qarabuqa demands has been fulfilled. We'll get going then Chief." Yilcho leaving their new chieftain still empty handed.
The Umqa Clan was divided into two after Tiki surrendered to Iltas. Most of their kinsmen followed Miki to the north, where she and her clansmen pledged their loyalty to Kure. The rest of the Umqas did not want to leave their priestess's side.
"Grr i'm fishing not thinking. I'm Zetrov the Insane!" Zetrov shouts. He try to encourages himself.
Zetrov has shifted from his earlier methods. He uses his spears rather than probing the holes with baited nets.
Catch!
"You done yet! Want to learn how to mount horse," Pepe shouts while mounting his horse. He already catch three rabbits.
The town of Uybat does not have strict laws preventing townsfolk and nomadic tribes from hunting near its territory. In addition, Shargot, the town's de-facto temporary ruler, is member of Qarabuqa Clan.
"Oh don't worry," Zetrov fills his second basket.
"Your work is still so clumsy. Let me help you, It is nearly time for the lunch," Pepe dismounts.
Tiki and other Koryak women are in the Town's Stone Public Kitchen, preparing food for thousands of Qarabuqas. Dilara's turn is in the evening. A two-meal day is the norm here, split between the afternoon and early evening.
Breakfast is practically nonexistent; the people only tide themselves over with snacks of dried dairy if they really hungry.
"Ehem my clansmen is also coming to Uybat for trading. My name is Kucuk, Chieftess of Myosha Clan. My name itself are probably confusing for you two. I'm not so small as my name implied, perhaps taller than most women. Can i speak with the leader of the Buqa Clan," she explains. Her clothes are a little bit rough, but Pepe trusts her.
"Who?" Zetrov ask. He could not understand, she speak too fast and too long.
Punch!
"Shush have some manner idiot. She is from the powerful clan to the west. Near the Balkash but Turgesh is really stingy with their grazing land. Her clan is famed to have almost 1,500 horse archers," Pepe whispers.
"Well we are larger with infatry numbers but can we really trust her? What if she is Avar or Tatar spies. Both of them are conspiring against Gokturk. Everyone always talk about it," Zetrov whispers back.
"No wonder they call you Zetrov the Insane. Tatar is Turk you idiot, why would they work with Xianbei. What can they gain? they already have the Baikal and Ordos. We only grazes in the part that they did not want around Lena," Pepe talk some senses to him.
"My husband, Aqsaqal Arda will came soon," Kucuk looks tired. Probably from the long journey.
Pepe quickly apologizes to the Chieftess and guides her to the lunch area. During meal times, everyone must gather together, except for the sick. These are one of the new rules of Qarabuqa. Iltas implemented it after conferring with Adam. The sick may rest in their yurts, rent a room at the inn, or stay in the medical yurts.
The townsfolk watched as a groups of 5,000 men, women, and children gathered near the Town Hall. Their massive numbers nearly rivaled the entire population of Uybat, which stood at 6,000.
"There," Pepe points out at stables to ties their horses.
Tiki has finished serving all the food. Her beauty was mesmerizing. A charm that could make even many hardened steppe warrior to forget the weight of his own blade. She sits near Iltas, while Dilara moves from Yulbar's side to her new position. To the right and left are Iltas's women.
Iltas himself did not care much about the two women fighting for his attention. Although the atmosphere around him had thickened with veiled tension, the scent of Siberian-flower perfumes mingled into a sharp, competing aroma.
"What does that clan want from me," Iltas muttered while drinking his soup bowl. He eats the rest slowly with his right hand.
"How's my cooking," Tiki smiles sweetly.
"Good but again don't forget to ration our ingredient remember. This is uhh you use too many cheese ball ...," Iltas explain.
"The milk is too abundant, it will be a waste if the cheese got spoiled. Tatabi have so many livestocks. Now it belongs to you," Dilara nods.
"No that is wrong, i only temporarily guard it per Tatabi's will for the sake of the clan. It shall be returned one day. They are Turnak and his siblings inheritance." Iltas refuses both of their suggestion.
"Ah come on be honest with us. You own it all, no one will complain." Tiki is dissapointed for his indecisiveness.
Qarabuqa is a vast clan with almost 1,000 cavalry and 2,000 vassals infatry from Tiki troops. It's core strength came from the combination of the four clans. Buqa, Kilja, Ak Yay and Qara Yay. Iltas now could claim the prestigious title of Bey and uses it among the Kyrgyz. No one will laugh at him and he actually will be respected despite being officially disgraced by the Ashinas in the entire realms.
Iltas is the highest leader in the clan; previously, he was the Great Leader of the Five Clans Alliance. Directly below him are the ranks of Elder. Each of the elders have their unique roles. Dilara as the first chieftess and physician. Tiki is the second chiftess and to her people a shaman priestess. Adam and Udmurt are trusted to watch over their livestocks and trades.
The higher-ranks clansmen are consisted of people such as: Tughluq, Yulbar, Nana, Kabasakal (fourth child), Shamshir (fifth child), Yami, Zetrov, Arpad, Kartal, Shargot, Akgun (Tatabi's fifth child), all of Dilara siblings and other half of Tatabi children. The middle-ranks clansmen are consisted of people such as: Harran, Mumtaz, Layla Inzhu, Gunner and the rest of Tatabi children.
The lower-ranks are Manila, Yilcho and many less prominent members. There are also some slaves that is not freed by Iltas. All of them commit heinous crimes which if they are freed, Iltas will be seen as a hypocrite for not upholding justice.