Aalis paced back and forth near the gate of the palisade. Verne had told her that Judd and Giordi had gone out with some of the younger nomad men on horseback not long after the fog had lifted. It was now well past midday and the fears Aalis had been ignoring all morning were mounting a comeback. She had run out of reasons to argue them away.

  The prairie was alarmingly empty beyond the palisade.

  She wrung her hands together, unable to keep still.

  “Come back…please come back…”

  As she paced, she caught sight of another hovering near the gate, clutching at the cape that barely encompassed her expanding form. Revna’s pale grey eyes were doing the same as Aalis’ lavender ones, scouring the landscape for any sign of life. Aalis, sensing a soul in similar distress, approached her.

  “They should not be much longer.” She said even though she was not at all convinced. The young woman nodded, equally as unconvinced. Aalis gazed at her sympathetically. She was so young and so vulnerable, taken in by a man whose honey dipped words were all too familiar. “Revna?” She looked up at the sound of her name. “I am Aalis. Giordi’s friend.”

  Revna studied her for a moment. “You…your hair…”

  “Oh,” Aalis smiled and tugged on a dreadlock, “I look like a nomad but I come from far up north.”

  Revna shivered. “You travel?”

  “With Judd and Caste, Verne, Suvau…”

  “Giordi?”

  “Yes.” Aalis cleared her throat. “Your baby,” Revna recoiled, wrapping her arms around her abdomen, “close?”

  Revna gave a semi confident nod. “I…think. First time.”

  “Of course.”

  They ran out of things to say, each consumed by their own thoughts and unable to think of anything to chat about. Revna let out a small, frightened sob.

  “He no come back.”

  Aalis gasped. “He will. They both will.”

  “No,” Revna’s will power broke down and she clapped her hand over her mouth, “he goes. He runs.”

  She retreated from the gate. Aalis wanted to go after her but realised as she did so, Revna would run and risk tripping and injuring her baby. She let her go then stamped her foot and looked out at the empty landscape.

  “Where are they?”

  An hour later the nomads, Judd and Giordi finally returned to the campsite. They were all on foot, two of the nomad’s horses dragging makeshift sledges from their saddles and reins which carried two large shaggy beasts on them. Quell was in high spirits and snorted happily when she saw Zeke as though she had exciting news to convey over the water trough.

  Xenon walked more slowly with a large, covered mass draped over his back.

  Aalis broke through the crowd of nomads who gathered at their return.

  Judd caught her gaze and smiled.

  She put her hands on her hips. “Where have you been?”

  “Rite of passage,” Aalis pointed at him, “no, not me. Giordi. It seems Sten wanted to prove that Giordi was not man enough to be a nomad so he took him on a long ride and then on a hunt.”

  “Giordi?” Aalis turned to the blond headed minstrel who looked a little shocked with several scratches and torn clothing. “Are you alright?”

  “I am fine.” Giordi looked at Judd. “I think we should probably head to the meeting hall. I have a gift for my father in law.”

  News travelled fast and it was quite the crowd that gathered in the meeting hall. Chief Elk stood by his throne and listened stoically as he was told of his son and company’s kills that had already been taken away to be skinned, cut down and salted. When the tale was over, Caste let Judd and Giordi know they could step forward. Thankfully the meeting hall was large enough that Xenon was able to be led inside and he stood dutifully with them.

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  “Chief Viskalt,” Caste announced and proceeded to speak in ancient Terra, relaying what Giordi had to say, ending in, “present you with this trophy.”

  Judd and Giordi stood on either side of the lump on Xenon’s back, took hold of the covering and pulled it off, the enormous body of the wild cat falling to the ground with a heavy thud befitting its considerable size. Chief Viskalt’s eyes widened at the sight of its jaws, opened in a frozen howl of fury, an arrow fired through its mouth, the tip of it buried in its brain.

  Chief Elk lifted his silvery gaze with difficulty and looked between them, ending on Judd. “You,” he said sternly, “do this.”

  “No sir,” Judd shook his head, “Giordi Gavoli,” he mimed using a bow then tapped the arrow in the jaws of the cat, “did this.”

  What went through the chief’s mind was a mystery Judd couldn’t begin to comprehend. Even he who had lived through the near death adventure was still struggling to comprehend it. Eventually Chief Elk breathed in and out, squaring his shoulders.

  “Revna.” he called and she appeared, probably waiting to be summoned in the shadows. He spoke to her and she nodded. She knelt with difficulty and, using a small blade, cut into the body of the wild cat, finding bright red blood. She dipped her finger in it and stood in front of Giordi. He leaned down so that she could reach him, drawing a red line on both of his cheeks before stepping back.

  Chief Viskalt lifted his chin. “Giordi Liontari.”

  “Patras!” Sten blurted indignantly.

  “Skaste!” Elk snapped and Sten immediately stepped down though it was clear he was seething beneath his fa?ade of obedience. “Revna.”

  “Gese, patras.” Revna looked pointedly at Giordi who took the hint and followed her out of the meeting hall.

  It seemed they were dismissed. Judd led Xenon out of the meeting hall and was immediately surrounded by his companions.

  “You’re not seriously telling us that Giordi Gavoli, master womaniser and useless archer, brought down that wild cat?” Verne demanded.

  “You gave him the credit to increase his standing in the nomadic community…right?” Caste insisted.

  “I swear to you, Giordi killed that beast.” Judd let Xenon shake himself free of the memory of the wild cat that he had to suffer to carry. Xenon’s pride was a bit battered after he had run from the field of battle while Quell had galloped towards a predator. Never mind that she’d never seen a giant wild cat before. It was a foregone conclusion that anything with big teeth that smelt of blood ought to be avoided. Yet she had accompanied Giordi, ignorant or otherwise, while Xenon had bolted. He had returned somewhat sheepishly and with no little terror, allowed the nomads to heave the body of the wild cat onto his broad back, having to smell the scent of a predator the entire walk back to the campsite.

  “He killed it?”

  “I was helping herd those big shaggy bull beasts and had no idea I was being hunted until Giordi came charging towards me on Quell,” Judd opened the gate to the paddock and unhooked Xenon’s reins, closing the gate behind him, “firing arrows left, right and centre.” He snorted. “I don’t know how many of them actually hit but the one that mattered killed it outright.” Judd scratched Quell’s nose. “Yes, you’re a brave horse…braver than my stallion…” He glared at Xenon who lowered his head in shame. Quell sensed the stallion’s humiliation and nuzzled him gently. He huffed grumpily and flicked his tail.

  “Giordi almost looks like he was in a fist/claw fight with the cat.”

  “His scratches?” Judd laughed. “That happened because Giordi shot it as it was leaping at him. So it landed on top of him and he got scratched trying to claw his way out from beneath it.” He chuckled at the memory then jumped out of his skin as Aalis slapped his arm. “Ow! What?”

  “You had us all worried to death!” She exclaimed. “Only Verne knew you had gone and we did not know where or for how long…”

  Judd rubbed his arm, seeing everyone’s amused expressions at Aalis’ ire. “Uh…sorry? I couldn’t let him go on his own. Chief Viskalt’s son was just looking for a chance to exact some revenge.”

  “Which a brother should be allowed to do when his sister is forced to marry her rapist.” Verne argued.

  “Sten’s father exacted punishment on both his daughter and Giordi with this marriage,” Suvau replied, “Revna defied her father and wound up with child and Giordi was the one who supposedly did this to her. That is what Chief Viskalt is punishing and whether or not we agree,” he said in a warning tone as everyone looked set to argue, “this is his clan and it is his rule. According to Elk’s command, Giordi is one of them now that he’s married to Revna.”

  “Which means Sten is either going to have to swallow his pride or he’ll work out another way to avenge himself on Giordi.” Yolana concluded.

  Judd could feel their freshly mended seams beginning to pull as each of them wrestled with the situation from their own point of view.

  “I said we’d stay a few days and to that I hold.” Judd announced strongly, pulling the threads of his company back together. “Besides…I have a feeling we’re going to be treated to a feast tonight.”

  “Let me guess, roasted unidentified shaggy beast is on the menu?” Caste lamented.

  “Just wash it down with ale.”

  Yolana shook her head. “I’m quite glad women are not generally invited to these feasts.”

  “I think I shall make up more of my hangover cure.” Aalis mused as she, Yolana and Emeri walked away.

  Judd, Verne, Caste and Suvau watched them go.

  “Anyone would think they think I have no self control.” Judd chuckled wryly.

  “Anyone who had seen you at a nomad feast would know it to be a fact.” Caste muttered.

  “Hey!”