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  P’taal enters the Great Hall with a heavy heart. He stops at the bottom of a large staircase. Elder Glandis stands unmoving at the top, his green eyes narrowed. P’taal kneels before the steps, the mask of his fallen hunt brother raised above his head.

  “Elder. I am…Your son…H’lvif. I am sorry, Elder.”

  Elder Glandis’ eyes narrow impossibly further—until they are almost shut. Without a word, Glandis whirls in the other direction. Mau-Nis, Elder Glandis’ second-in-command, descends the steps. P’taal rises from his place on the floor and offers the mask to Mau-Nis.

  “He fought bravely. The odds…The odds were just too great. You will tell the elder?” P’taal inquires.

  “I don’t have to,” Mau-Nis says. “When nine warriors leave…And only one returns…That can mean only one thing. You have done well, P’taal. Thank you for returning H’lvif’s mask.”

  “Not just his mask, High Leader. I have brought his body as well. So that it may be enshrined with his honored kin. I could not leave him there.”

  Mau-Nis nods, but says nothing further. Ascending the stairs, he follows the trail of his honored elder.

  -

  -

  Elder Glandis stands before a large window, his mandibles drawn tightly shut, tusks folded across each other to form two x’s. Mau-Nis strolls into the room, H’lvif’s mask gripped in his large hands.

  “Elder. The surviving hunter wishes you to know…That H’lvif’s body was not left on Ravaar’nak. He braved the dangers of the island to return your son to you. So that he may be enshrined with the rest of his honored kin.”

  Elder Glandis’ eyes grow wide in their sockets, but he remains staring out the window, brow creased. When he speaks, his voice is deep and without emotion.

  “You will make sure…This warrior is given a position within my contingent. Not many could have survived Ravaar’nak. Many have tried. Even the team sent from Ta’dnu was almost completely wiped out. They lost thirteen. But we regained control of the rogue settlement. That is all that matters.”

  “Yes, Elder,” Mau-Nis says.

  Placing H’lvif’s mask on the large table, Mau-Nis exits the chamber—in search of P’taal.

  Sometime later

  P’taal is wandering the halls, studying the many etchings of great battles carved into the walls. Numerous statues line the corridor, and P’taal stops to scrutinize every one of them.

  He looks up to see a beautiful female strolling in his direction. P’taal’s heart flutters in his chest as he recognizes her as Elder Glandis’ much younger sister—Glotis. Born after the joining of the two clans, Glotis has the same father as Glandis but a different mother. Like Mau-Nis, Glotis bears the thin frame and gray eyes common to the Nilyautha. Making her all the more beautiful.

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  Purposely stepping into Glotis' path, P’taal puts out both hands palm up. Glotis halts her gait and offers P’taal a warm smile.

  “You are P’taal? The warrior who returned from Ravaar’nak.”

  “Yes,” P’taal says over the sound of his racing heartbeat.

  “I thought I recognized you. How is my brother treating you? It is not easy being one of his contingent. I am glad to be a scientist. So that I can spend as much time away from him as needed.”

  “I am treated as fairly as can be expected. I am a hunter. I do not expect life to be easy.”

  “I would say not,” Glotis chuckles.

  The sound of her laughter causes P’taal’s maleness to tingle and he subtly sniffs the air. He is not the only one interested in more than talk. Gently taking Glotis’ hand, P’taal presses his mouth to the flesh of her palm. While in this position, he gazes up at her with slitted eyes.

  “I am truly sorry about the loss of H’lvif. I know you two were very close.”

  A shadow crosses Glotis’ face, and P’taal immediately regrets his decision to bring H’lvif’s death into the conversation.

  “I should not have mentioned—” P’taal begins.

  “No. You have done nothing wrong. I’ve been wanting to talk about it with someone for some time. Glandis refuses to talk about it. And Mau-Nis…Well…He does what he thinks is best. Which is not to talk about it. H’lvif was more like a brother than a nephew. Us…Being so close in age. Glandis is so old. He thinks like one of the old ones. It was easier to talk to H’lvif. We had more in common. It was I who taught him how to properly woo a female.”

  P’taal’s brow creases and he narrows his eyes to small slits.

  “Did you now?”

  “I did,” Glotis says, quite proud of herself.

  P’taal takes the opportunity to kiss Glotis’ palm a second time.

  “I am here for you…Whenever you need me,” P’taal says.

  -

  -

  Elder Glandis is once again in front of the large window when Mau-Nis enters the chamber. He crosses the room and stands beside his famed leader—staring down at the milling crowd below. Elder Glandis speaks without looking at his second-in-command.

  “I called you here because there is a matter I wish to discuss,” Glandis explains.

  “I am here, Elder. What is on your mind?” Mau-Nis says, nodding respectfully.

  “It is about…An heir,” Elder Glandis says plainly.

  “An heir? Yes, I see. Are you considering P’taal, perhaps? Or one of your original contingent? Kiryzif? Or Luusen? Surely, not Curzu? He is more impetuous than your nephew. Which brings up another point. N-Vorl has been requesting an audience with you. It is the time of his blooding. He wishes to join with your team for the journey to Yultimavo."

  Elder Glandis grunts loudly and finally turns to Mau-Nis.

  “N-Vorl is a cultivator now. What does he need with blooding?”

  “Everyone knows he only remained with his family due to his father’s mental state…His mother’s ailments…And the love of a female. He has been making this request for many cycles now. Perhaps, this is an opportunity to heal old wounds. To allow him to prove himself. It is possible that the son can learn to be different than the father. He might make a good heir. If given the chance. In this way, the title can remain within your honored bloodline.”

  “No. No. That will not do,” Elder Glandis says with a sardonic laugh. “Besides, N’bril would never allow it.”

  “It will not be N’bril’s decision. A warrior’s quest is his…And his alone,” Mau-Nis boldly interjects.

  Elder Glandis takes a deep breath and slowly lets it out.

  “I will allow N-Vorl to join us during our mission to Yultimavo. However, I will not even entertain allowing him to attain the title of Elder. He is much too volatile. There is always the possibility of failure…When a hunter goes out to battle the keinde amedha. As such, I have been considering an alternate heir for quite some time. The one I have chosen…You know quite well.”

  Mau-Nis offers Elder Glandis a wily grin.

  “So you have chosen, Luusen. He is a little…Unpredictable at times. But I believe he will make a good heir.”

  “No. I have not chosen Luusen,” Glandis says, gazing askance at Mau-Nis.

  “Then who, Elder?”

  “You are wearing his armor!” Elder Glandis says, casually gliding away from the window and exiting the chamber.

  Mau-Nis stands completely still. His mouth agape.

  “Me?” Mau-Nis says, shock registering on his face.

  -

  -

  Mau-Nis is stilling standing in his spot in front of the window when Glotis swishes into the chamber. She goes about her task of collecting various items. After a moment, she notices Mau-Nis’ statuelike pose and goes to him.

  “Mau-Nis? What is wrong? You look as if someone has claimed you did not truly earn your blooding. What is it?”

  Mau-Nis turns to Glotis, his gray eyes wide in their sockets.

  “Your brother…Elder Glandis…Has chosen an heir.”

  “Oh no. From the looks of it…He has chosen poorly. Not N-Vorl? Surely, it can’t be that bad?”

  Mau-Nis swallows before answering.

  “No…In fact, it is very good.”