Take me to her, now.` Kala shoved the hearthsman, but he was stronger. Now!`

　　The chief wanted us to keep you here.`

　　Which chief? The dead one?`

　　Elder Jode.`

　　Elder Jode isn`t chief.` She looked him in the eyes and spoke softly. Tarry, I was here with Elder Hora, the chief, only a short while ago and&`

　　&and we`d all like to know what you were discussing.` Elder Jode swept in from the doorway, the other members of the council shuffled after.

　　Hora had known there would be a battle convincing the council to act against Gris when so many were worried about a fadi, even a false one. What chance did Kala have?

　　She thought quickly. To stay quiet was to invite accusation. Elder Jode, I`m so pleased to see you. The chief, Elder Hora I mean, was in here talking about how much the council were to be in favour of dealing with the Gris threat, only moments ago. How can she have died in that short a time? What can possibly have happened?`

　　She looked at the council Elders. Just people, she thought. They`re all just people.

　　People with the power to exile you.

　　I have come to address the council and inform them of what has happened,` Elder Jode said. You may stay as I will be speaking to you in a moment.` The Elders began sliding down onto the long benches and Jode turned to face them, patiently waiting for attention. Kala stood to one side, with Tarry and the other hearthsman standing either side of her. She did not like being made to feel like a prisoner.

　　As many of you already know, chief Hora has been killed.` There was no muttering of surprise. If her body had been found, nearly everyone in the village would have known in a matter of minutes, the Elders would be no exception.

　　He turned to Kala. You were overheard talking to her about Gris, about taking action against him. Only now did some of the council members gasp. Others however, exchanged sly glances and stayed quiet.

　　Yes, she was telling me how the council was finally going to do something about the old thief, and now murderer.` It was clear from their reaction, Hora had been a long way from convincing the majority.

　　I see. Where did she go?`

　　To gather the council.`

　　And who here received such a message from the recent chief?` Jode asked. The gathered Elder either stayed quiet or shook their heads. As I thought.` He turned to Kala. I do not think we can hold you responsible, you were merely taking direction from Elder Hora.`

　　Kala stepped past Tarry. Yet still you sent two men to detain me.`

　　Jode feigned apology. Not at all. I was simply worried he might come for you as well.`

　　Kala looked at him, confused. He, who?`

　　Gris, of course. It was he who killed chief Hora. As I have always suspected, it is fadi to act against our visitor and Elder Hora has paid the price for speaking of it. As chief she knew better, but too many of us think fadi can be ignored, forgotten or bargained with.` Jode`s gaze swept across his congregation, slowing on very particular faces which were lowered in turn. He had taken charge in the confusion and was using this to grind away his opposition. Thanks to Kala and our old chronicler, we doubted Gris was human. I think this is proof enough that he is ki and therefore the subject of a fadi. Elder Hora has been punished for her crime.`

　　The collective faces began to look frightened. Kala felt a chill. Hora believed Gris to be the original old man from generations ago and given what Talon said about his control of the dark and the bodaki within, perhaps they had been wrong. Perhaps Gris really was ki? Although, Jode was only capitalising on the fear to bring the council in line it didn`t mean he really believed and Hora could have been wrong too. Either way, Jode was also unwittingly solidifying the council against the action her husband and daughter were out in the trees taking right now. But what if he was right? What if Gris did come for her next? Or if he went to stalk Talon and Sosa? If he really knew Hora had been thinking of plotting against him and had killed her, he might know what Kala`s family were up to as well.Stolen novel; please report.

　　No. She had felt conviction, that of her own and that of Hora`s. Despite what the chief had believed, she had also believed Gris should be dealt with. Kala tried to kindle the feeling again. Jode was lying and using fear to control the council and the whole village. It was working, but it didn`t make anything he said true.

　　We must re-establish this fadi properly, and keep everyone safe. No one is to stop or interfere with Gris. We have kept the peace with him for generations and he has not harmed us until now. This rule must be enforced before peace will be restored.`

　　The Elders were nodding, but it took a moment longer for Kala to understand him. You mean that you`re going to deal with the Gris problem by doing nothing.`

　　You have suffered more than most at the hands of this bodaki. Your son`s own actions cost him his life.` He turned back to the council leaving Kala in astounded silence. Come forwards.`

　　Kala looked at him confused until a crying woman entered, her hands clamped to her face. Only when her hands lowered, did Kala realise it was Neka.

　　Neka, like Korassi, had been widowed years ago. The two women had begun living together and raised their two families as one. In the crying woman`s eyes, Kala saw something of the pain she felt when she thought of Halo.

　　Something clamped over Kala`s heart. What might Korassi have told Neka about Talon and their expedition? What had Talon revealed about the nature of Korassi`s death? If she let something slip now, it could make coming back from the forest incredibly complicated for Talon and Sosa.

　　Kala fought to keep her panic inside, and concentrated on breathing normally. Jode was speaking but Kala didn`t hear a word over the sound of blood hammering against her eardrums. The crying woman`s mouth opened to speak, her red eyes on Jode and Kala`s mind dropped to silence. Even her breaths froze.

　　I can only tell you that Korassi was angry that Gris had attacked Halo. Korassi cared deeply for our&` she paused, her children. They`re a little older now, but Korassi spoke often of her fear that any of our children might be in danger from Gris. She talked a lot about stopping him from harming anyone else.`

　　She told you about her plan?`

　　Neka nodded, wiping her eyes. I begged her not to go. When she went missing, killed, with all those others.` Her eyes shot to Kala again. Kala`s skin turned from icy to flushed with the heat of shame. I knew she must have done something.` Neka shook her head. If she`d told me what, I would have stopped her. But she knew that.`

　　Neka took half a step back. She had told all she knew, or at least was prepared to say. Kala`s breath slowly slipped out. Talon and Sosa remained un-damned. Was Neka magnanimous, or did she know nothing more?

　　There you have it,` Elder Jode opened both his arms as if displaying himself and his argument to the council. Thank you Neka. Thank you Kala. Thank you both for bravely coming forward to tell us what you know. Korassi - and we have to assume the others, Devon, Arella and Rem - conspired to interfere, to go after Gris. As we know they have not been seen since.` His arm swept towards Kala, We have heard that Elder Hora had similar intentions and sadly Halo, little more than a young boy who knew no better, thought to enter the forest and crossed paths with Gris. Now they`re all dead. Gris has harmed no one else, no one who did not interfere with him. Our path is clear. We broke the fadi and we have been punished for our ignorance of it.` The Elder were nodding.

　　Kala felt sick. What if he was right? She felt so proud of Talon and Sosa out there, alone in the dark woods. She had been afraid for them before, but now& she was too numb to comprehend the terror.

　　Someone was leading Kala by the arm from the chamber, Jode had presumably dismissed them both. Numbly, she complied. Outside the light had turned to late morning and there was hushed activity and whisperings as news of the chief`s death left its mark on the day.

　　Someone asked her if she was alright, but she only stood. The men who escorted her drifted away, back to the council chambers to be of use and Kala realised she was standing alone with Neka.

　　I lost my husband four years ago. Korassi saved me and my children from despair. Now she has gone. I`m sorry you lost your son. I wonder how many more your husband will convince to die before someone stops him? Will you do it before he gets you killed? Or your daughter?`

　　She did know. Kala drew a shaky breath, but could not speak. She`d lost a son. Was she about to lose everything? If they died out in the trees, Kala would not know. She`d just be left, waiting&

　　She wanted to thank Neka for not revealing more to the council, to apologise, to& something, but Neka was gone. Kala was left staring into the air.

　　Shaking, she scuttled back to the hut and her own cot.

　　Need food in you, look like you`re about to slump.` Grammawe handed her a bowl of hot food and pulled the canvas across the doorway. Kala stared at the bowl thinking about Talon and Sosa fleeing into the trees. Had they been able to grab supplies? Weapons? The spear? They had fled and she had no idea what they had been able to take. If they had fled without the bronze spear Talon was so certain would protect them then they may well already be dead.

　　She had to see. She had to know for certain.

　　Kala handed her bowl back to a confused Grammawe and stumbled off towards the empty hut. She burst in through the door, the supplies, the spears, all there, still untouched. She grappled with the spear`s checking each in turn, frantic, dreading seeing the bronze colour.

　　Iron, iron, blank, blank. She looked about, hopefully frantic but could not see the stave that had the bronze spearhead mounted on it. Perhaps they did have it, perhaps&

　　Looking for something particular?` came a voice from the shadow.