"Slavers changed as we wandered! All denied us the hajj!" The religious intonation vindicated Edwell's bet but also signalled a change in the meaning of the conversation and the soft murmurs from among the rocks followed. They had entered a ritual, and there lay danger. How to continue, how to egress it?

But one thing came clear, and it seemed obvious in hindsight. The Fremen did not just hope for the ousting of the Harkonnen, but for some break of pattern, a profound change. But what could this change be?

Bomilcar nodded at the call and response. He was not a fan of chains and had broken a fair number of them in his life... his own and others.

Though if they were about to seek some sort of pledge or swearing of loyalty after having spent the entire past five minutes of knowing them threatening them... they were absolutely mad. Agreeing to face off against a mutual threat was one thing. Binding yourself to someone who has thus far only offered threats and insults was the worst kind of stupidity.

"Want more while hiding?" Bomilcar called out to them. "Show respect, get respect!" His voice was getting scratchy from the shouting, and he coughed a bit. there was a trace of blood on his palm as he pulled it away. He tsked at that, pushing through the pain.

Then, by offworlder standards, Fremen were truly mad. In their mind the offworlders were already dead for their water unless they would redeem themselves. Their assumption about the disparity in the situation was a practical one: they held no respect for nobility or for beings that showed little survival wisdom. But it was hard to blame Bomilcar for not realising it.

"You've done nothing to earn it." Someone hissed at the Thorvald's words.

Most, however, still waited for Edwell to continue the canto and respondu. Once started, it ought not to be broken until concluded. The ritual was what was keeping them alive after all.

Ahmina glanced towards Torvald for a second without dropping her waryness.

''They do not know you, sahid, and you do not know us. Let the old man finish...his age might have earned him enough wisdom to have the right words for the moment.''

He keeps his voice low when he responds to Ahmina. "Hiding like assassins." He lifts his chin to make his scar more visible. "Assassins show no respect."

''Waste can come in many form, sahid, the desert abhors them all'' she replies

Edwell put a calming hand on Bomilcar's arm behind him to accompany Ahmina's words.

"Hajj is a raging river, to stop it is to bring about the great flood." He hoped the imagery of water wasn't lost on them. If anything, they should be more cognizant of the power of water.

Solemn "Bi-lal kaifa" could be heard from at least two dozen mouths. And that was it, Edwell and Bomilcar discovered, this very imagery - water - quite obviously, was one of the keys to enter Fremen mindset. Water was their paradigm.

[All players in this scene receive an Advancement Point for their main characters]

Presently, one man emerged from behind the rock, in a feline leap, still holding a distance at which melee aggression was not possible. He carried a musical instrument on his back, a baliset of no poor quality. A Fremen baliset player, an oddity. Those instruments came from Chusuk and were very expensive. And yet.

"I am Chatt." He said, his blue-within-blue eyes confirming a playful, artistic soul. But his moves spoke of a supreme killer. Assassin, if Bomilcar wished. "And this troop is Rajifiri's." Ahmina recognised the name of one of Stilgar's most vehement opponents among naibs. This could have gone way worse. And still could.

"We think we won't take your water. We will trade with you instead. For once, we give you back your water, for you don't covet the water of our children." He gestured to them as they stood.

''Very gracious of you''

She quirked her head

''You have something else in mind Chatt?''

"We are grateful for your wisdom Chatt. We have no desire for your water, the water of your children, or the water of your children's children. Our only desire is for knowledge that could be used against the Harkonnens, so they can be removed from Arrakis. Neither of us is naive enough to think I can guarantee the next governor will be a kind and benevolent ruler, but they will be better than Harkonnens. Few, if any, in the Imperium have such a thirst for cruelty as they." Edwell felt some confidence to speak more at length now, but he still refrained from how much he would usually pontificate.

Assassin indeed. Bomilcar do despised the type that would prey on others in a surprise attack. He'd spent his life fighting such people. But they had chosen not to today so he didn't hate them today. A person was not their moments, but their whole life.

That didn't mean he liked them though. Their ways were too different, and too predatory, for him to be able to like them immediately.

"Bomilcar Thorvald," he said, returning the greeting. He nods in agreement with Edwell. "Harkonnen's common enemy."

Chatt didn't move, frozen in absorption of words thus spoken, and that was perhaps the most visible sign of appreciation for them. The children's children - the long-term. It revealed something about the Fremen, they were capable of long-term planning. Few human collectives were capable of that, not without a solidified common awareness of the necessities, inspired counsel, or a great leader. The Imperium was used to fixing that caveat in the leadership within the Faufreluches with mentats and their projections, or giving their fates into the hands of the Sisterhood. What was the Fremen solution?

"The Harkonnen shall pay the fai that is due before they leave." Whatever this fai was, and only Ahmina would know it meant water tribute, it was spoken ominously enough for the others to get their meaning. Something about the manner of this man made Bomilcar think of the Sardaukar, though he couldn't quite place it. The inevitability of delivering on any threat made?

Presently, Chatt clicked his fingers, soundlessly. Two more emerged from behind the rocks, a man and a woman, both with features sharp of water deprivation, but not sickly-looking, placing three bundles on the ground. "The trade is completed. Walk a distance back before you use comms."

Bomilcar simply nodded. He had no love for Harkonnen's ways. They were too cruel for his tastes. There may be some measure of respect between families, but none of it lay with him.

She nodded too

Edwell bowed to Chatt and wordlessly collected the bundles with the others from the ground before turning back in the direction of the thopter.

He had hoped for some type of lead or leverage to use against the Harkonnen, but he would accept being able to leave with his life. Edwell was no fool.

They parted with the Fremen with no further word. They disappeared as they had appeared.

There was of course no thopter upon return. That had been the trade, more than fair by Fremen judgement. Surely the Fremen would use it well in the common fight against the Harkonnen!

It would take them time to walk enough to be in distance of the Spintered Rock comms and call rescue. Stilltent from the fremkit and the new stillsuits would be just right to survive the worst heat as they waited. In addition, they found a small pouch of spice tucked into the fremkit. Small, just about 5 gram. Around 400k solaris in current prices.

Bomilcar sighed as he started the trek.

Edwell had to agree with Bomilcar's sentiment. But thopters could be replaced, he and his colleagues could not, and maybe a little good will with the Fremen. The bundles would be useful, both to survive this trade and in the long run for their stay on Arrakis.

He was curious about the spice they had left. He asks Ahmina, "Is that spice something the Fremen would collect or is it from a different source? Do you think there's a particular reason they included it, or just as equitable trade for the thopter?"

''I wonder, sahid'' she replied ''But reflect upon what they have traded''

"Hmmmm, I think it would be best if we let our Ms. Gray have a look at this spice... assuming we make it back."

He nods at that. "Can split. Have her take a look. Bit more for you. Words helped."

"Quite right Mr. Bomilcar. We each deserve some reward for this trial. I would caution against partaking of any of the spice or trading it away before Ms. Gray can give an assessment. It may be some type of subtle evidence the Fremen are providing us. And I am optimistic of Ms. Ahmina's ability to guide us until we can call in a thopter to retrieve us."

Bomilcar nods his agreement with that assessment. "Make it back first."

"We will reach your frigate, sahid, have no fear"