Upon hearing Alex's words, the chief's face finally widened into a proper smile. "Well, that makes things easier. You inner desert folks really are so very easy to talk to. Nothing like us outsiders."
Alex wondered if the desert was divided in that way. Were there insiders and outsiders here? The people from Sunspear had no distinctions for these people aside from the fact that they were from deeper in the desert.
How far did he have to come to face those distinctions? Or was he even anywhere in the eastern half at this point?
"Well, before you say anything else, I would like to make it clear once more. I wasn't there to ruin your daughter's ceremony or tradition, or whatever it was. I was not paid off by anyone to be there. It was a coincidence, and I merely wanted to help her since it didn't look like she was going to defeat the crab at all."
