The Rhythm of .. Confrontation

I am not that old .. when you get down to actuality. But some of what I lack in age I have gained in experience. I have been a commander .. I have been an Ubar. How does a young man my age earn the respect of older .. wiser ... and more experienced men when he is put in command over them? There is only one way .. take it ... demand it.

That sounds easy .. and in a way I suppose it is ... that simple. I would not exactly say it was .. easy.

It was commander Fonce that dealt with Salu that night. Not warrior Fonce .. or friend Fonce ... not brother or uncle Fonce. I was tired. Half asleep. Irritated that Oren had asked me to handle it and .. irritated that Pacu was not here to do it. Pacu always did these things better than I did. Found some common ground to work from. But that takes time and I did not feel like I had a lot of time.

Salu is only sixteen but Salu has all ready earned his courage and loyalty scar. He is a named man .. much as I had been at that age. Which was not all that long ago.

huh

Anyway .. the boy has courage and skill. I have seen and heard of it. There are all ready songs sung of him. But I needed Salu to see me as the head of the family. I needed him to understand I was in control. And like I said .. there is only one way to do that.

We left the fires and as Salu turned to speak to me .. probably some sarcastic remark about something stupid. I really have no idea what it was because as soon as he turned I hit him. I hit him hard enough to knock him off his feet .. mostly because he was not expecting it. Before he could get back up I hit him again.. and again... and again. I never gave him a chance to defend himself .. let alone attack. The boy is no lightweight .. and I had no desire to get into a real fight with him. I made it quick .. and brutal.

He tried to talk .. yell ... scream at me. He tried to tell me how much he hated me .. or something akin to such. I was not listening. I cut every attempt at a sentence off. I proceeded to beat the fight out of the boy until he did not want to talk any more. He had nothing he wished to say. And then I spoke.

I told him I did not care. I was not going to involve myself in his life that much. I do not care what he calls himself .. but he better respect his father around me because I do remember Salukaii and I will give him and his name the honor he deserves even if that means beating his son nearly to death. I told him he was a named man .. a scarred man ... and he was free to go about his business but when it came to this family and the honor of this family I expected a few things. Some things I did not take too lightly .. some things I would be unhappy if I am disappointed about. When I spoke .. about this family ... he would listen. Or we would go through this again.

I hope we will not have to go through this again. I am not stupid .. I know that Salu .. Tao ... whatever ... will not be taken so easily by surprise. I know he will be ready for me and I have no assurance that I will be able to beat him.

I know I had the element of surprise on my side .. I know I used that to my advantage. I know that is not fair. I know that is harsh. I know I may have cost any friendship I might have had with the boy. But it was more important that there be an understanding .. a level of respect. And I do not have time to get the boy to respect my thoughts. For now he will simply have to respect my fists.

That night .. I was commander Fonce.