What`s happened, why are you out here?`

　　Sosa lifted her hand to shade her eyes from the bright and burning light that shone from the bronze covered woman. She blinked. There was no light at all.

　　The woman`s words sounded stranger even than Ego`s. She hurried towards them. Is something wrong? How did you&?` but she stopped a few paces away and frowned.Wait, I don`t&` she drew back, a bronze coloured knife appearing in each hand. Who are you? Where did you come from?`

　　Her father stepped between the woman and Sosa, his hands raised and open. He tried to speak, but made no more than a croak. He was panting and his throat was dry. We,` he tried again, we need help. Yours, I think.`

　　The woman lowered the knives. Well, that`s obvious. This way.` She stepped aside and ushered them past, glancing back into the darkness that had, moments ago been about to rip Sosa to pieces.

　　Thank you,` Sosa whispered as she passed.

　　Move,` said the woman without turning.

　　Don`t worry, there`s no more of us,` her father said.

　　That`s not what I`m looking for.`

　　Sosa tried not to stare at the strangely clad woman, but saw her glance at the spear with a frown.

　　The woman led them through the trees a short distance. Sosa looked at her back which was one large plate of bronze shaped to perfectly fit her body. Long braided hair spilled from the back of a simple helmet that covered the top and back of her head but left her face open. Smaller plates of metal were strapped to her legs and arms. As she moved the dark melted away as it had done for Sosa and the spear, but the woman`s light spread much further. In places the dark tried to press in, but the woman dispelled it with a sharp look. This had to be Ego`s guardian, Talon was right. They had found her! She wore a full suit of the same metal the spear was made from. If the spear could keep the dark at bay, thought Sosa, just imagine what this woman could do with all that metal.

　　What might she do to Gris?

　　Now all they needed was to convince her help them. They could offer the spear as payment. If she dealt with Gris, they would not need it any more.

　　Smoke, real smoke, drifted through the trees and after a short distance they found its source. Darktree logs blazed, mixed with branches and foliage which together threw a column of thick smoke up through the canopy.

　　Sosa stopped and stared. This must be the source of the smoke they saw rising in the distance. The trees had been thinned here, cut to stumps which decayed, while newer trees had grown into the gaps. Some new trees were of considerable size themselves. How long had this been going on? Behind the blaze stood a small wooden building and a stack of covered logs that stood as tall. Sosa looked at the woman. Every inch of her not covered by metal armour was contoured, not bulging like the arms of a hearther, but the sleek muscle of speed and power.

　　The woman led them past the fire and towards the hut. It was large enough to shelter and sleep in, but much smaller than the family sized huts in the village. If the fire was to ward off bodaki it was strange to let it burn down now night encroached.

　　Are you the guardian?` Talon asked her.

　　Yes, now quiet. Get inside.`

　　You`re Eleris?` Sosa asked.

　　The woman looked surprised. Just get inside.`

　　The hut was bare except for a few tools and weapons and a large cot, the same size as that of her parents shared cot in the hut back home. The woman brought in a taper and lit a single candle. Sosa could see her illuminated features. Her face was smooth but the angled light threw shadows on some gentle scars. There was an ageless smoothness to her face. She looked younger than her father, but her eyes reminded Sosa of Grammawe.

　　You both look close to death,` the woman said and indicated the cot. Sit down.`

　　She handed them a jug of water and each something small and hard. It was like the tuba`s that grew in the fields, cooked, but now cold. They drunk and ate. It tasted different to the ones Sosa was used to. It was good.

　　Slow down,` said the woman. If you`ve not eaten for a while you`ll cramp.`

　　Sosa finished the meal too quickly and the lump of food slid painfully down to her stomach. She closed her eyes for a moment, sitting on the soft cot and let her head rest against the wall. They had survived. Sosa let a smile spread across her face, savouring the moment. When she opened her eyes, everything would start to change. When she opened her eyes, they would convince this woman to come with them, to return to the village. They would go back victorious, rid themselves of Gris once and for all, Halo would be avenged and the village would be safe again. They had already won, she could feel it. From here it was all inevitable.

　　When she opened her eyes&

　　The next time she opened her eyes it was light. She was lying on the cot and someone had covered her in a light blanket. Her father was beside her, his breaths deep and steady, his eyes closed.

　　Across the room, the bronze plated guardian watched them both, her face placid. Sosa got up, moving clumsily in the hope of waking her father. The woman was in equal parts exciting and terrifying. Her father didn`t stir.

　　What`s your name?` That accent again.

　　Sosa.`

　　The woman`s eyes dropped in thought. Rock in the stream,` she said. And who is this, Little Wet Rock?` she asked, her chin nudging towards her father. The woman lounged comfortably as if the armour were nothing more than Sosa`s skirt.

　　Talon,` Sosa said.

　　The woman raised her eyebrows as she thought again. Of the earth,` she said. Is he yours?`

　　Erm. No, I&`

　　Are you his?`

　　He`s my Pawe.`

　　The woman frowned, not understanding.

　　Sosa tried again, My father. I`m his daughter.`

　　The woman nodded in eventual understanding. It seems our words have grown apart.` She jerked her chin towards the spear. Where did you get that?` Her enforced nonchalance did not quite veil the tension in the question.

　　We found it, in my grandfather`s things after he died. We were just sorting, and there it was. We don`t know where it came from. It kept the dark away so we could come through the forest.` Sosa knew she was rambling. It looks like your, er,` she motioned at her own naked torso, your clothes. We need your help. We came all this way and at night and things were following us but we managed to survive, but I think you actually saved us.`

　　The warrior looked amused and took mercy. I saw. You were both very brave, fighting with nothing but a single spear.` She leaned forwards, her hand outstretched.

　　Sosa offered her the weapon and watched her face change as she gazed upon the tip. It darkened, her youthful skin looking tired as if some additional weight settled on her. The woman glanced at the cot, but it wasn`t Sosa`s dozing father she was seeing. That same look had crossed Grammawe`s face when she talked of those who had become ki.

　　The woman saw Sosa looking and smiled. I used to have a spear like this.` She handed it back. Was she getting emotional about a spear? Certainly, Sosa had her favourite hoe, but still. Whether this was actually hers or just like it, the woman clearly missed having a spear. Maybe it would be sufficient payment, although Sosa would be disappointed to lose it.

　　Why do you need my help?` The warrior rose and looked out at the trees and the shadows which hung between distant trunks, her back to Sosa.

　　Er, well.` Sosa glanced at her father who was supposed to be doing all the talking. She wanted to prod him with her foot while the woman wasn`t looking, but she should probably let him sleep. There`s this man who comes to the village. He killed my brother. He`s killed others too. He attacks people in the village and steals things. There`s nothing we can do. He`s too strong. He controls the dark and the things in it.`

　　The warrior`s hand lifted to her mouth, perhaps to her eyes, Sosa could not see as her face remained turned away.

　　After a long pause she spoke without turning. What do you call this man?`

　　We call him Gris.`

　　The woman gave a single nod, still facing away. Is your village in immediate danger? Is he threatening to kill again soon?`

　　I don`t know. He didn`t really threaten the first time.`

　　So how did the others die?`

　　Sosa stuttered, not sure how much to say. It should not have been her making their appeal. She told simply how he had taken the spear from Halo and cut him open with it, how he had attacked the others, or set bodaki on them, how he controlled the darkness and the monsters within. Sosa did not mention that they were hunting him at the time and were lying in ambush in his home.

　　And no one protects you from this man?`

　　Sosa shook her head. There is no one who could stand up to him.`

　　You`ve tried?`

　　Sosa felt trapped into admitting more than she would have liked. Well, I&` then she just gave a small nod. Yes.`

　　That`s when the other people died,` the warrior said. She heard all the things Sosa had left unspoken.

　　Sosa nodded again. Yes.`

　　The warrior turned towards Sosa, but stared a long time at the wall over her head.

　　Your village is otherwise safe? They,` she waved a hand toward the doorway and the forest beyond, do not trouble you?`

　　Not in the village, no.`

　　The frown deepened.

　　We call them bodaki,` Sosa said. She wasn`t sure why exactly.

　　Hm. Creatures who live in their own night, and only in it.` The woman looked at the still sleeping Talon. Wake him, there will be food and we should go. I will help you, but I need to return to my village first and it would not be safe for you to wait here.`

　　She opened a box and took out two hard fruits. They looked like the waternuts in Sosa`s village but were larger and greener. The woman went outside to split them. Sosa glanced at her snoring father and crept silently across the room to peek through the door at the woman. She watched for a while as the guardian drained and cut up the hard white flesh inside the huge nuts.

　　Are you Eleris?` she asked, softly.

　　The woman only grunted in the affirmative.

　　You`re Ego`s guardian.` Sosa spoke before she really thought it. Now she`d started there was no point stopping. He came to us, found our village. It was him who told us about you.`

　　This grunt was more a lack of interest. Perhaps she really didn`t care that Ego had escaped from the village. If the boy didn`t like her, she was probably glad to be rid of him.

　　So, you`re a guardian.` Sosa continued. What does that mean?`

　　I keep the village safe. Here eat this.` She handed Sosa a chunk of the nut. Its flesh was crunchy, but sweet and wet. The woman handed her a cup of the drained juice. Sosa gulped them both down. She was handed the same again and Eleris motioned towards her father. Wake him now, give him these.` Eleris crunched on some of the waternut while she waited.

　　Talon was already waking, his eyes puffy and he looked confused and tired. He saw Sosa and his look of worry faded. Then he saw Eleris.

　　Ah, guardian, we have travelled a great way to find you. We need your help. Our village is under attack&`

　　Pawe&` Sosa hissed.

　　& by an evil man. He has killed my son and several villagers. We need to stop him before he can do more harm, but we cannot do it alone, he is too strong&`

　　Pawe!`

　　Talon stopped. What?`

　　This is Eleris. She`s coming to help us, I`ve told her everything.` By everything, Sosa hoped Talon understood what she meant. His eyes dropped to her in warning, and Sosa gave a minute shrug.

　　Eleris, still chewing on the nut flesh, chuckled to herself. She finished and spat out some pulp. Should have just sent the girl, old man. She can run faster and talk faster than you.` Eleris clapped Talon on the back. Eat what the girl`s got for you and we can go. The faster we go, the faster we get back to your village.`

　　Are we coming with you, then?` Talon asked. Are we going with her?` he whispered at Sosa.

　　She handed him the chunk of nut. We`re going to her village.` It was only as she spoke the words Sosa realised her thrill at the prospect. Sosa laughed at the expression on Talon`s face and handed him the cup.

　　And you`re coming with us back to our village?`

　　Yes, though it is dangerous to leave my own village for too long, this sounds& important.` Eleris said. Now hurry up, slow old man,` she scolded. Get those gathered up, girl,` Eleris nodded to the other chunks of waternut, you can eat while we walk.`

　　Talon looked at the nut then at the doorway to the shelter. Ah,` he began.

　　We usually don`t eat where anyone might see,` Sosa explained to an uninterested Eleris. It is fadi,` she added, hoping Eleris would understand.

　　Eleris nodded and spat more pulp. Only for anyone not eating with you, and I assure you were are alone out here. If you remain once I am gone, however, you will not be alone for long.` She began to walk away.

　　Sosa rushed to gather the remaining shards of waternut and Talon gulped the liquid from the cup and stumbled after her, still chewing on the thick nut flesh. Then he stopped. Oh the spear!`

　　Leave it,` Eleris commanded, striding away. You have me now. We will get it on the way back.`

　　Talon and Sosa exchanged glances. This left them very reliant on this woman who they didn`t really know. Although, if she wanted them dead, they would not have woken. Sosa nodded to Talon. I think it is okay. We should do what she says if we want her to help us.`

　　It was late that day when they arrived at the edge of another village. Sosa could hear the sounds long before she could see it. People talked, children shouted. In the distance metal rang against metal. Hearing sounds other than the screeching of the forest and the screams of the trailing bodaki was joyful. It was louder than her own village, Ego had said it was larger, but then he`d said a lot of things. Maybe her own village would seem just as loud when she returned.

　　Eleris strode from the trees and across the open grass to the where her village began. It looked like home, but it stretched much further - Ego hadn`t been lying. The clearing was so wide, the opposite trees were almost out of sight. There was so much sky here. Sosa`s village was dappled with fruit trees, but here they were kept in clusters between which there was nothing but air. Sosa stood in the open and stared at the expanse of light above her. Even the sky over the fields was not so uninterrupted.

　　Villagers lowered their heads as Eleris passed, some almost bowed. Then their eyes fixed on Sosa and Talon. Sosa wondered if Ego had felt like this, but remembered him hurtling from the trees before passing out. It was unlikely he had noticed anyone`s stares.

　　There was no sign of the red paint Ego claimed was common. Other than the strange way they had of wearing skirts - tied between their legs as Ego`s had been - they might have been Sosa`s own villagers. Except they weren`t. Sosa recognised every face she ever saw, but not here. Here every face was a stranger.

　　Talon had stopped walking.

　　It`s another village, Sosa,` he said. He`d lived his whole life in the only village in the entire of the existence of a never ending forest. They both had. They knew Ego must have come from somewhere, but expecting it didn`t compare to seeing it. The difference was that it clearly frightened her father. She understood why, but the presence of this village excited her, made her wonder what else might lie out there, through the trees. Or beyond them.

　　Beyond the trees.

　　The thought brought a tingling numbness to her legs.

　　Beyond the trees. Could there be a place that wasn`t in the forest? If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it`s taken without the author`s consent. Report it.

　　Come on, Pawe,` she took his arm. Eleris was getting ahead and there were men approaching.

　　Guardian Eleris-ses.` The man stopped and bowed his head towards Eleris. Greetings.` He shot an unreadable glance at Sosa and Talon as they hurried to catch up, but said nothing.

　　Karol-ses,` Eleris replied, though she did not bow her own head. What news?`

　　None of import.`

　　Good. Then I need to speak to the Elders. Gather them.`

　　The man nodded again and then ran. Eleris headed for the centre of the village. It took longer than it would back home. Sosa stared, unable to stop grinning. She offered a wave to some of the passers by. Some returned a confused wave, while others fell into whispers.

　　She should be careful. Ego had been unaware of some of their fadi when he arrived in her strange village. For all Sosa knew waving and smiling at strangers could be forbidden here. It was difficult to contain the excitement and when they were close enough a chirpy greeting shot out of her before she could stop it.

　　Many villagers were sat talking without any particular job to do. This was unusual, in Sosa`s village, everyone had work enough to keep them occupied until it went dark. If everyone didn`t work hard, people starved. With the mourning period of Grampawe and again for Halo, Sosa could not remember spending so long not working.

　　This place is huge,` Talon looked as if the size of the place might crush him. It`s bigger than Ego&` then he stopped, aware of what he`d said.

　　It`s okay, I mentioned Ego too,` Sosa whispered at him. I didn`t say much, though.`

　　Eleris turned so they could catch up. This is Rala.` Sosa looked around, expecting a person, but Eleris had swept her arm across the whole village. Did Ego not tell you where he was from?`

　　No, but then we don`t have a name for our village, so we didn`t tell him one either,` Sosa said. Why would you name the village.`

　　Eleris frowned. But your village is called Ale. You did not know this?`

　　Talon and Sosa both silently shook their heads.

　　But we have a tree ki that guides us all called Ale-ki.`

　　Eleris nodded and said, Yes,` as if the two should be obvious.

　　Do you have a giant tree called Rala-ki?` Sosa asked.

　　Don`t be ridiculous.` Eleris turned and strode off. Rala-ki is a rock.`

　　How does she know our village`s name when we do not?` Talon whispered.

　　Sosa thought about it. Maybe it is only us who think we`re alone in the trees. Ego certainly knew we were out there somewhere.`

　　Among the huts, Sosa felt more at home, though the locals still stared. Ego had put up with this for days until her village, Ale, finally sent him to exile. She`d thought him brash and foolish, but under this pressure, it was little wonder if he acted strangely. At least Sosa had arrived with the guardian as escort. Ego had fled into the village quite alone and been left at the whim of Jode and the fear of the locals.

　　An older villager with an orange mark in the centre of her forehead hurried to stop them. Eleris-ses.` She gave a short bow. What is this?` There was an authority Sosa recognised. This was how Jode and Hora spoke to people. The difference here was that the woman seemed reticent to look Eleris in the eye.

　　Eleris didn`t pause but walked around her. Elder Huli.` The nod was cursory and directed forwards when she`d already passed.

　　The woman shot Talon and Sosa a sharp look. Eleris-ses it is fadi to bring strangers into the village! You know that!` The old woman`s legs were not able to keep up with Eleris, so she sent her already breathless words chasing the guardian instead.

　　Sosa was torn between following the guardian who effortlessly commanded awed authority, or the Elder. In her confusion she didn`t realise Eleris had stopped and nearly walked into her. The guardian wore a strange expression that made Sosa shrink back.

　　Ego said she was something of a tyrant, perhaps this is what he meant. Eleris fixed the Elder with a glare but took several slow strides towards Sosa. Sosa`s eyes grew wider just as she grew smaller. Without taking her eyes from the Elder, Eleris planted a heavy finger on the centre of Sosa`s chest. Name?`

　　Er, Sosa?` Sosa said, hoping she didn`t sound too uncertain about it.

　　Eleris moved the finger to Talon`s centre, her eyes still on the old woman. Name?`

　　Talon.`

　　Sosa could hear a slight smirk to his answer, and didn`t dare look.

　　This Little Wet Rock and this Man of the Earth approached me outside the village. We have talked at length and spent most of the day together. We`re not strangers. I have no doubt the ancestors will understand why I have brought new people to the village, and there is certainly nothing fadi about that. The fadi about strangers is to protect us, and you well understand that. I will explain the same to you all. I have, in fact, summoned the Elders and you`d be well served to help gather them, rather than have me repeat myself.` Eleris looked first at Sosa and then at Talon, flicked her head to the side in a come on gesture, and walked away.

　　Sosa made her decision about who she would follow and hurried after the glittering woman. The Elder stalked away. She could hear Talon`s low chuckle as he jogged to catch up.

　　What would have happened had one of them spoken to Jode like that, Sosa wondered? She was so preoccupied she nearly didn`t notice where they were going. The village sloped down to the stream at its middle, but there was a small rise upon which a large building stood at the head of the village. It was more grand than the council building back in Sosa`s village, in fact it reminded her more of the building that Gris now lived in.

　　How interesting to see these similarities. Even more interesting were the differences. If not for the bodaki, they would have known about this place before. She suddenly hated them for keeping her village cut off like this, cut off from a whole world they never knew existed. If not for the monsters and the black they clung to she could be out in the trees exploring and finding other wonders out there. How many villages were there? What else might be out here?

　　She felt a glitter of excitement again as her thoughts drifted even further trying to imagine what it could look like if the trees just& stopped. Like a clearing, that went on forever? The excitement was laced with anger that learning of these possibilities was forever denied her by the creatures in the darkness. She felt a little envious of Eleris and her ability to walk freely among the trees. If Sosa could do that, she would walk forever and never stop until she had found everything there was to find.

　　Perhaps Eleris knew of the world beyond their villages? She might tell Sosa stories? That might have to be enough.

　　As they entered the large building, it was apparent this was not the council building at all. The main chamber was adorned with tables and a few chairs ornately carved from darktree wood. Cloth, dyed in bright colours hung from the walls and was draped over tables. Small pretty objects that served no obvious purpose were displayed. Colourful stones were stuck in plaster creating patterns and pictures on the walls. Even the floor was made of tiles of coloured stone, although it had clearly worn away in places. Two bronze knives the length of Sosa`s forearm hung crossed on the wall.

　　A small set of stone steps led from this chamber to a floor above. Eleris ascended and bade them follow.

　　Villagers do not usually come in here, but you need to bathe and eat. You`ll have no privacy if I leave you out there.` She paused, shouted two names, Yura! Jadi!` then continued up.

　　Upstairs was simpler, clearly more of a home. A simple cot, not decorative but well cushioned, lay to one side. More bronze coloured items, mostly weapons, adorned the walls. This was where Eleris lived, the council building was clearly elsewhere.

　　Eleris left them looking at her things as she stripped off her armour. The leather straps left marks on her skin and she rubbed at them. Nakedness was not something either village seemed concerned with, but still Talon and Sosa averted their eyes until something swinging over Eleris` chest caught Sosa`s attentions. It was a pendant, a bird, small but intricately detailed. Eleris saw Sosa`s gaze and lifted a hand to it, It is my symbol,` she said, `as a guardian, I mean.` Sosa dropped her eyes but when she glanced back Eleris was smirking. The guardian`s skin was crossed with lines, too random to be decorative, and sat over lean undulations of muscle.

　　A small girl appeared at the door, very young, about half the height of Sosa.

　　One day I will pass it on to my successor. If they prove worthy.` The last was said pointedly at the young girl who just nodded, but was more interested in staring at Sosa and Talon. Jadi,` Eleris gave the small child a smile. Fetch some water for me and our guests. Find Yura to help.`

　　They washed while Eleris gave instructions for the meeting. They were to stay silent unless questioned and keep answers simple. This was probably more about keeping nosey Elders from dragging things out.

　　Sosa`s many questions whirled in her head, unspoken. There was so much she wanted to know. She had to get Eleris talking before this was over and the woman was gone.

　　Eleris began strapping on her armour.

　　Your armour is very pretty,` Sosa said, I`ve never seen anything like it.`

　　Eleris answered only with a grunt, then fell quiet. Sosa feared she had already made a mistake. The guardian was not as excited as Sosa was to discover people from another village. It was not the revelation to Eleris that it was to Talon and Sosa, but something about their arrival seemed to deeply trouble the guardian.

　　Sosa held her silence only a few moments, but could not help it.

　　What happened with Ego?` A dangerous question depending on the answer, but it should be something Eleris felt strongly enough about to at least get her talking. Or solidify her mood into permanent silence.

　　Whether it was Sosa`s questioning or the question itself, Sosa wasn`t sure, but Eleris stopped, her fingers resting on a buckle. She shook her head as if to dismiss the question, but paused again and turned to them with a frown. Sosa recoiled involuntarily.

　　There are small differences in our speech, our words,` Eleris said. Sosa would not have described Eleris` accent as a small difference. And after so long I am sure there are differences in our way of life too.` Her words fell with a hard edge. Sosa was not so old as to not recognise the build up to a telling-off. What did she mean by after so long? But, surely you still know it is fadi to wear red?`

　　Well, yes,` Talon answered, verbally stepping in front of his daughter. He could clearly sense Eleris` annoyance.

　　Then why did you allow a boy both painted and wearing red into your village?` Eleris looked vexed.

　　Well,` Talon began.

　　Sosa took over, Because he was a boy from outside. The only person who has ever come from outside the village and he needed our help. Red is fadi for us, but it might not have been for him.` She stood a little proudly, straightening her back and gaining a little height that put her closer to that of the half armoured woman.

　　Sosa remembered that he`d shown her how to make the red dye. It had been another deception, though a clever one. Ego must have been more terrified than he let on. It was easy to be angry with him, but harder to admit she`d try the same thing if their situations were reversed. He was brave enough to traverse the forest alone. For all we knew you all wear red. We took him in because we`re good people.`

　　Are you.` It was not a question. The guardian looked Sosa up and down in a way that made her aware of every inch of her unprotected skin. Talon edged closer. No,` she said finally. We don`t wear red, it is fadi under any circumstances. We douse exiles in red and send them into the forest in case they find any other villages who will, who should know what this means. You should have sent him away.`

　　Wait,` Sosa said, her mind whirling with the mention of other villages. Villages. Plural. One thing at a time. You sent him into exile? Why?`

　　What did he tell you?` Eleris stopped again, her sterness becoming mild amusement.

　　That he ran away from, well, from you.`

　　Yet still, here you are looking for my help, what a tyrant I must be.` Eleris laughed. We exiled Ego and two others. They had begun to question several fadi. This was tolerated due to their age, but the Elders were soft on them. Their parents were soft on them. They pushed too far until they deliberately and repeatedly broke fadi.` Eleris shrugged. If they had been dealt with properly earlier maybe they would have been okay, but they began to anger the ki. We had no choice.`

　　Why would they do that?` Sosa was horrified. Could Ego have been the architect of his own exile? His brash foolishness made it believable, though it was just as possible this woman was lying to them. There was something about all this she wasn`t sharing.

　　Ego`s mmawe died giving birth to him and his pawe`s mind slipped. Ego grew up hearing some strange things from this man. It is no wonder he started to believe some of them.`

　　He tried to deliberately break fadi, to prove nothing bad would happen?` Talon said thoughtfully, piecing together what the guardian was saying.

　　Eleris nodded. But it did.`

　　Well only because you exiled them.` Sosa said bitterly. She never questions the fadi, but she did wonder if the ki got as angry as people thought.

　　Eleris let out a sigh. I hope you`re aware of the many ki in your village?` They nodded. Then you will also know that they can be mischievous at times. If disrespected or angry they can become dangerous. Perhaps in your village, the fadi are respected enough that you never have to find out how bad things can get.`

　　Sosa and Talon remained quiet. They might have defied the council, but they had not broken fadi.

　　Had they?

　　Sosa did not want to consider that any amount of their misfortune could have been avoided. What if they had angered their ki by taking Ego in? What if everything that came after&?

　　What did the ki do?` Sosa asked.

　　Eleris looked out of the window with a bowed head and made some sign.

　　We lost whole crops. Herds grew sick and we started to lose animals. There were accidents. We had a fire in a cereal silo.`

　　Sosa`s eyes widened. How will you survive?` Losing a crop would be enough to cause starvation in her village. They had food enough, but not in abundance.

　　Eleris considered, but didn`t look worried. We will be fine. There is food enough left, though it will be a harder year.`

　　Your village is much larger than ours I think.` There had been people sat around not something seen until the light began to fail in her own village.

　　In Ale.

　　Things seem more relaxed here, as if people don`t always have work to do.`

　　Your village should be no different.`

　　Ours is much smaller. There is much work to do to keep everyone alive,` Talon said. Eleris let her eyebrows crease and turned away for a moment, but the look was gone when she turned back.

　　The fire and the crop should have been enough, but they would not stop. Once we lost animals, we had no choice.` Eleris looked pained. I assume the others didn`t make it?`

　　Sosa shook her head. Ego had never mentioned others.

　　He told me you executed one of his friends and so he ran away alone. He lied about that too, didn`t he?`

　　Eleris gave a somber nod and returned to the last of her armour. Sosa wanted to feel angry at the boy, but what good would honesty have done him? Where did his ki now reside, she wondered? Was it here or in her village? Maybe it wandered the ruins where he had been killed. Perhaps it was lost among the trees, at one with the bodaki. The thought made her shudder. If Ego`s ki wandered the forest, then perhaps Halo`s did too. Maybe Halo found Ego in the forest after all?

　　Here, let me help you.` Sosa picked up a leg piece and began to strap it to Eleris` leg. Her skin felt rougher than it looked, like supple leather pressed over iron. Maybe Sosa could keep her talking.

　　So how many other villages are there?` Sosa asked. We thought we were alone.`

　　You do not know your history?` Eleris sounded shocked.

　　We have children`s tales of ancient places,` Talon said, but our record was lost several generations ago in a fire.`

　　And what? You work too hard in your strangely tiny village to pass on your history to your children?`

　　Talon quieted.

　　We have a record,` Sosa said, but no one can read it and no one seems to know anything worth passing on except whispers and half of them seem to be fadi.`

　　Sosa was struggling to understand what topics triggered Eleris darker moods and tried changing the subject.

　　Where did you get your armour from?` Sosa asked.

　　Every guardian has it.` Now it was in place, Eleris was adjusting her straps.

　　Do you always wear it?`

　　Eleris threw her a crooked smile. Not always.` She looked out of the window. Come on, they`ve gathered.`

　　Old villagers marked with orange dots on their foreheads gathered before the guardian`s palace while villagers watched from a respectful distance. There was indeed no sign of the red paint anywhere.

　　Sosa expected the congregation to move inside, but the meeting was held in the open. All eyes weighed on Sosa and her father, crushing her excitement. She lowered her head so she didn`t have to see any worried expressions.

　　Eleris silenced them all with a look, but it was deference not the fear Ego had suggested. They looked at their guardian the way her villagers looked approaching Ale-ki. The Elders bowed their heads and Eleris returned the gesture.

　　Omaki.` Eleris left a pause and looked from face to face. Sosa wasn`t sure if this calmed or cowed them, but it certainly gave her control. I`d like to introduce new friends of the village, Sosa,` Eleris paused while the villagers goggled at her, and Talon.`

　　Talon bowed his head in imitation of what they had seen and Sosa rushed to do the same, then stared back at the floor. More eyes than she had seen in her whole life fixed on her. A murmur, rippled like leaves in a breeze and then died.

　　Clever, Sosa thought. Introducing them like this pre-empted the stranger-fadi problem, although she wondered if this was a fadi that had ever needed referring to before.

　　They have come to us to request help. They have travelled bravely to reach us and the help they request is simple. It requires nothing more than my presence for a short time. I will not be gone for long.`

　　There was more murmuring, loud enough to hear the marbling of panic. Eleris raised her hands for calm. They quieted at once.

　　Omaki,` she spoke softly addressing all present, not just the Elders. I know you may be afraid, but I have been gone from the village before without issue and I will make the usual preparations.`

　　The chief, Sosa suspected, spoke up, less cowed than the others. I think the Elders worry that this occasion may be longer and they would like to know the nature of the help that has been requested.`

　　Sosa stared hard at the floor, feeling her skin and ears burning.

　　A bandit and murderer threatens their village. He has killed one of this family and five others.` Eleris said. It is possible a boy exiled from our village may have triggered these events.`

　　It was true that Ego`s appearance had caused some of this, but neither Sosa nor Talon had said this much. Did Eleris somehow know, or was this a motivational half truth to give the Elders a reason to let her go? The crowd rumbled again and Sosa listened for Ego`s name to be amongst it, but it was like listening for the rustle of a single leaf.

　　But why doesn`t-,` began one voice, but Eleris silenced them all.

　　I called the meeting to inform, not to debate.` Eleris spoke with a grim edge to her voice like she was scolding a child. The guardian was not asking permission and the chief nodded in resignation.

　　Still the chief spoke further, almost sadly. It is true that the village is safe for days at a time, but you are always nearby. This time you would be far away. A few words of reassurance from our guardian might allay people`s fears.`

　　Eleris bowed her head. I will make the usual preparations, but I can use four volunteers to help me, then the people will know they are safe until my return.`

　　You are certain there is no danger to you? That you will return?` the chief asked.

　　I thank the council for their concerns, but I assure you I will be quite safe.`

　　Sosa understood their fears and while she felt guilt for taking away their protection, the people of Rala were not dealing with a murderer. The meeting broke up.

　　I thought you`d need to convince them.` Sosa whispered to Eleris as the guardian led them away.

　　Eleris gave a short laugh. That`s not how it works. This was a courtesy, but if it established you as friends, not strangers, it was worth the effort.` So Eleris had to obey fadi just like the rest. You`d best stay with me while I make preparations. You`ll get no peace otherwise.`

　　Eleris led them upstream and worried glances followed. Were the people so scared of bodaki they could not bear Eleris to leave? Certainly they were terrifying up close, but surely Rala village would cope for a few days? Sosa`s village remained perfectly safe without a guardian at all. Sosa kept the thought to herself. It was possible the fear was amplified to help Eleris keep control, but such political thoughts were of little interest to Sosa next to the questions that flurried through her head. The fear of having her childish curiosity coldly brushed aside was all that prevented her asking.

　　Eleris was looking at her as if she was about to ask a question of her own, the guardian shook her head without speaking and led them to the outskirts.

　　Unable to contain herself longer, Sosa risked the rejection. What is it you do to protect the village while you`re away?`

　　The Ritual of Light.` Eleris wore a slight frown, though not one of annoyance. If you don`t know what that is, you`re about to see.`

　　What does it do?` Sosa pushed.

　　Keeps the dark out of the village, and the things that would follow.`

　　Sosa frowned. Maybe your darktrees are more powerful than ours. Or,` she searched for the right level of diplomacy, well, we`re careful to only let a few darktrees grow in the village and cut them down before they get too big. Maybe,` she tailed off before suggesting the guardian should consider managing the tree situation better. Besides the look on Eleris face was enough to stop her talking.

　　Darktrees?` Eleris said.

　　Sosa pointed with a closed fist towards the tree line they were approaching. Is that not what you call them?`

　　They`re kapoc trees. We cut them down when they get big too. Otherwise they steal all the sunshine, if that`s what you mean.`

　　Sosa didn`t think they meant quite the same thing but didn`t dare say so. She just hoped she hadn`t offended the guardian by trying to give her advice about the trees. It was the woman`s job afterall, who was she to start throwing around her advice? Her nagging questions quietened to an internal grumble.

　　They were joined by two villagers who looked nervously between Eleris and the outsiders, but did not speak. They had come for this ritual. It was clear Eleris` did not consider this ritual vital and that it was mostly for reassurance, hence the witnesses. The two young girls who had waited on them earlier now also stood to eager attention.

　　Eleris walked into the trees. The swirling dark was far back, away from the light. The guardian drew a long slender, bronze coloured spike and knelt facing into the deep forest. She intoned words quietly, her eyes closed and placed the spike into the earth. The two villagers watched in silent awe, but the young girls crept closer. Sosa couldn`t tell if the language was different or it was just the guardian`s accent.

　　It did not take long. Sosa felt nothing and saw nothing. The dark maintained its distance. Sosa wondered if she could see it more now since she had seen it up close. She wondered if any of the witnesses saw what she did, but didn`t dare ask.

　　Eleris beckoned them on. Sosa strode to catch up with the two young girls. So, one of you will be guardian one day?` she whispered. After Eleris?`

　　The girls exchanged glances and giggled. Probably not.`

　　Again feeling as if she had said something foolish, Sosa buried her many questions.

　　They followed Eleris across the river, to the far side of the village. From here they could see the fields. Back home they sloped gently, but here many were quite flat and much larger. Channels of baked clay carried trickles of water from the river out to the crops.

　　Is the soil here not wet enough from rain?` Talon asked. He was watching the workers with interest.

　　Mostly.` Eleris said. It`s more for the oriza fields.` She indicated a flat field flooded ankle deep.

　　Sosa squinted, trying to see the crop leaf. I don`t think we have oriza.`

　　Talon shook his head. No, our fields slope too much to hold the water.`

　　You could still grow it. The water isn`t for the crop, it just kills the weeds between cycles. Ale is better suited to other crops, that`s all.`

　　Sosa started. You`ve been to our village?`

　　A long time ago.` Eleris continued on in silence. Questions fluttered back into Sosa`s mind.

　　Sosa wanted to ask when she had come, but by the time she worked up the courage, Eleris shushed her and knelt with another bronze spike to repeat the ritual.