I`m going to do it.` Kala said.

　　Talon smiled gently. Are you sure? This could end badly.`

　　He murdered her, Talon. He`s using fadi to suppress the record. What`s the point of having a record if even the chronicler is not allowed to read it and the chief gets to change whatever he wants. He nearly got exiled over this once, there must be enough Elder who are tired of what he`s doing.`

　　But it was you who defended him.` Talon said. Now you`re going to try and prove that he killed Hora.`

　　There`s enough people who saw him&`

　　No there isn`t!` Talon snapped. Saw him what? Go for a walk? Loudly?` He shook his head. It`s suspicious, but, you can`t prove anything with just that. This seems dangerous.`

　　Remind me again what you got up to?` Kala moved slightly closer, her intensity causing him to falter.

　　I know.` His wife was not convinced. I know. I just worry about you.`

　　She nearly spat, Oh you were worried?`

　　I know, I know. I`m just& I just thought this was all over. I just want to till a field.` Talon felt tired. It wasn`t just his body. He felt his head would never be rid of the dark stain.

　　Kala tilted her head. While you were out there, and I was back here preparing to never see any of my family again, I found out that the chief has been breaking all sorts of laws and I want to do something about it.`

　　And what when Jode sends his strongmen after you?`

　　Kala smiled. Oh, I`ve got allies.`

　　Talon smiled in surprise. You&? You`ve been busy. What do you mean, you`ve got allies?`

　　Kala, seeing her husband was won over, even before he realised it himself returned his smile slyly, And I`m not stupid. I`m not going to accuse him of killing Hora, not while he`s chief. I`ve been gathering evidence that he`s changed the record, that he`s lied about fadi, that he and a long line of chiefs have been covering up something that happened a long time ago.

　　I`ve spoken to people; Elders, villagers. There`s people who are tired of Jode being in charge. They might not have liked Hora, but losing her made them realise how much they don`t want Jode back.` She gave a shrug meant to convey innocence, Besides, he only took over temporarily and he`s just hung onto the position.` She grinned. And one other thing. He threatened me. He threatened my family. He doesn`t get to do that.`

　　While the forest had changed him and Sosa, possibly for the worst, this whole thing had turned his wife into a different woman. Talon gave her a smile and thought about how he wasn`t terrified by the prospect. Just fatgued at the idea of the emotional effort. It would have frightened him once, but no longer. The thought of going up against Jode was& oddly exciting.

　　So,` Talon said, thoughtfully, if he sends someone to try and have us arrested, we just& fight him?`

　　Kala nodded.

　　Talon laughed. Okay, then. Who are these allies, exactly?`

　　She took him to the Hearths where Tarry and another hearther were beating on glowing iron.

　　Talon looked around, uncertain. The two men were known to have ties to the council and would on occasion do heavy lifting for the Elders.

　　Kala strode up to Tarry. Where`s the boss?`

　　Talon expected a sneer, but the man was too busy. Keeping one eye on his work Tarry gave an apologetic shrug. Not seen her. I`ll tell her you were looking.` A quick glance back to the hearth, Can I help?`

　　Kala touched him on the arm and he smiled. No, you`re busy, thanks though.`

　　The other man shouted, without prompting, suggesting to try the master`s hut. Kala thanked him and led Talon over. He thought she`d just knock, but she didn`t, she tapped on the side and then slipped inside the door canvas.

　　What are you doing?`

　　Just get in here and quit lingering, it looks suspicious.`

　　Kala looked like she was meant to be there. She moved with a certainty that reminded him of Eleris.

　　You really have been busy,`

　　She shot him a grin. In the corner a linen sheet covered up a pile of scrap. Kala swept it back and Talon gasped. It wasn`t scrap but sheets of shaped bronze metal, the kind he`d last seen strapped to a certain guardian.

　　This is what I`ve been doing. Well, Roo`s been doing, really. It`s not complete, but Roo wrote down where the other pieces are. She carried on collecting peices. Just in case, I suppose. I was thinking of presenting this to the Elders and having them explain where it came from, why it`s not in the record. There are several people who claim to know where it came from and their stories have more than a little overlap.`

　　They might know, but will they actually speak out?` Talon bent to the pile, and picked up a piece. He could feel that same sensation of light coming from it as he did from the spear. When he looked in the right way, he could even see it sparkle.

　　They won`t be alone. We`re pretty certain they will speak. And if Jode tries to threaten anyone, we will expose that too.` She stepped close to him. I was hoping you`d speak out as well. About the other secret part of the village you found. We should demand to see the record on all this. I don`t really care if we do, but Jode will oppose it and then others will oppose him, that`s all I need. Then I make it known that the record is being changed. I can vouch that Jode openly checks and edits my record.` She grasped Talon`s shoulders firmly. I don`t need to prove a chief is a murderer, I just need to create enough uncertainty around him that people remember he was disgraced once already and that he really shouldn`t be chief at the moment. Once someone else is in charge, I can maybe start to work on proving he killed Hora, but I`m not stupid enough to try it all in one go.`

　　He felt another tingle. He supposed it was still fear, but somehow fear itself didn`t feel like a bad thing any more. We should get Sosa involved.`

　　Stop dragging my daughter into things that will get her killed.`

　　And if you don`t tell her about this, she might just kill us.`

　　About the armour or the plan?`

　　Both.` He grinned at his wife. She`s&` he searched for the word, &formidable. Trust me, you want her on your side. If those two out there,` he nodded to the door where the hearthers toiled, were sent to stop us, she`d take them both apart.` Kala glanced out at the hearthers and gave a knowing smile, but she stayed quiet.

　　Talon returned to the fields at her behest. Kala left to talk with Roo and meet with more Elders. That was the part that made Talon worried. More people was one thing, but it only took one Elder who thought they could gain some influence by flipping on Kala and they would be in a lot of trouble.

　　Sosa was attacking a furrow of weeds as if it had insulted her. It would be impossible not to tell her something now. He steered her out of earshot of the other workers.

　　Mmawe is still up to things. Far more than since we wrote the secret record. But it`s got to stay super quiet. She`s going to need your help. Can you wait for tonight?`

　　No! Obviously!` Sosa said then pulled an overly sad face that made him laugh.

　　Get on with it,` he said and nodded at the half weeded furrow.

　　Fine. You keep me out of your exciting plans. Slave driver.`

　　He threw a balled up leaf at her. He joined her and they attacked the furrows until the day grew close to its end.

　　It`s Mmawe,` Sosa said, nodding towards the village. Kala was hurrying towards them.

　　What is it?` he asked. He had not been worried, not until now.

　　She`s missing.`

　　Grammawe?`

　　Roo.`

　　It took a moment for the implications to click into place. Oh. Are you sure?`

　　No one has seen her for two days.`

　　That`s not unusual for the hearthmaster.`

　　Only because she`d spend days working.`

　　Talon conceded. We need to get you somewhere safe.`

　　No, we need to find out what happened. Jode might have been able to kill Hora on his own on the outskirts where no one would see. He didn`t kill Roo. Not even if he snook up on her with an axe.`

　　Talon saw where she was going. Perhaps we should pay your new friends at the Hearths a visit.`

　　Kala shook her head. They wouldn`t. If you`d seen them together& If the council told them to do one thing and Roo told them something else& well I`m not saying they`d disobey the council but they`d hide and pretend to know nothing of either instruction. They wouldn`t dare.`

　　Still they tracked down all the hearthers, starting with Tarry. Kala asked them and Talon watched. If they were hiding something they hid it well. By the time they had done, they were no closer to finding Roo, but a small army of people were now out looking. Talon was pleased to see that a lot of these people were very well built.

　　It was getting dark when Tarry reappeared looking apologetic. He wouldn`t look at Kala when he spoke.

　　So sorry, I know you`re looking for Roo, but the council want to see you.`

　　Talon bristled looking for a weapon in case Tarry had been given certain orders, but Tarry had no intention, it was clear.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

　　Still Kala challenged him, making Talon wince but also watch with fascination. She stepped forwards, close to the hearthsman. Are you here to arrest me, Tarry?`

　　No, Kala. I said I`d just come tell you that`s all. I`ll come with you if you like.` He even took a step back. His wife, Talon realised, was as lethal as his daughter but had found a whole different way to go about it.

　　Good, but no. Thank you Tarry.` She nodded to Talon, while the hearther hurried away in a direction, he noted, that was not towards the council.

　　Stay here,` he said to Sosa.

　　I`m coming,` she said. He didn`t argue, though he made sure she lingered outside rather than come in. She suggested fetching the spear in case they needed it. He hoped she was joking.

　　The Elders were already gathered.

　　Where is Sosa, we commanded you all&` Jode began.

　　Commanded? I came here at the request of a hearthsman` Kala interrupted, If you`re not aware, the hearthmaster is missing and you`re wasting time I could be using to look for her.`

　　Talon winced, but watched his wife and then turned to Jode with the essence of a smile on his face.

　　Jode paused and let her stand in silence. In the moment, Talon felt his own resolve begin to slip and wondered if Kala felt the same.

　　It is about that we wished to speak to you.` Jode said softly, though there were sharp edges to his voice. Your husband left this village against the council`s express orders&`

　　No,` Kala said, firmly, her voice filling the room as much as the chief`s did. There is no record of any such instruction. Villagers do not leave the village because it is dangerous and for no other reason. The council never forbade my husband to leave, they were too busy squabbling, and leaving the village is not considered fadi. Despite what some misguided individuals have uttered, I have yet to find a single Elder who agrees.` Kala stared at them, daring someone to contradict her. It was only Jode who had ever suggested it was and Talon noticed his eye twitch but he was not foolish enough to voice it now. I frankly find it suspect you have waited until this moment to bring that up, unless there is some reason the council does not wish us to be searching for the missing hearthmaster?` She paused, only half a beat, Then I am currently busy and the Elder`s business can wait until lives are not at stake. We are done here.` Kala began to turn away.

　　We are not done.` Jode`s voice boomed, but the authority it should have carried was cracked. Kala had him unsure. Your husband went to fetch someone from the outside which put us all at risk. He claims this woman has banished Gris and that we are all safer. Yet here we are with another missing villager. I can only assume that this was yet another murder committed by Gris. As such&`

　　As such the worst that has happened is my husband tried to help save the village and failed and we are in exactly the same situation the chief wanted us to remain in. The only thing that would have changed is that my husband risked his life to save the village. Given the council`s decision to not act, this places us in no different a position to where we were under their guidance. So once again, we are done.`

　　Jode could not contain his anger. Silence!` He stared at everyone in the room. The Elder shuffled and Talon found himself holding his breath, but Kala stared back at the old man refusing to drop her gaze. We have yet to determine if your husbands actions have placed is in more danger or not. We have yet to determine if his actions were fadi. We have yet&`

　　It is not up to the council to decide if it is fadi. If the council does not know, then the answer is already clear. I am sure the council, especially you, Elder, would not be wishing to risk further angering of the ki by manufactured fadi, not given recent lessons that I should hope you have taken great care to learn. I am still unsure why it is we are wasting our time with this when there are clearly two more important and pressing issues afoot.`

　　Jode didn`t ask, but he looked confused for long enough for it count as the question Kala needed to continue.

　　What has happened to our hearthmaster and for the Elders to decide who will permanently take over from chief Hora after Elder Jode had kindly, and temporarily, stepped into the role. I`m sure at this difficult time, getting someone in charge who can lead us through this turmoil should be the highest priority of the Elders. By now, I should imagine your debating should be done and your decision nearly made, yes? The record will need updating of course and I expect to be informed of your decision as soon as it is.`

　　Kala barely used to mention her occasional role as chronicler, now she wielded it like a sharpened weapon.

　　Talon felt someone behind him and turned. It was Fural, not a hearther but built like one. Another man the council kept around when it needed someone young and strong. He was accompanied by a handful of other men, none of them hearthers, Talon noticed. The council had been forced to find new muscle.

　　Kala,` he called out a warning, but she didn`t turn.

　　I`m sorry, Kala, but there is just too much unknown.` Jode smiled, his confidence bolstered by the arrival of the men. Your husband cannot be trusted, clearly, as his involvement with various occurrences of late is to be questioned. I`m afraid I`m going to have to detain you and your family.`

　　Kala bristled, You have no right!`

　　Kala has not been involved in any of this, you will not detain her. For myself,` Talon continued, I will answer the Elder`s questions, but I will not submit to their detention. I have done nothing wrong.` He nearly also came to Sosa`s defence, but thought it best to leave her as far from their thoughts as he could. Although he`d left her outside and the men had walked right past her, it was possible they`d already grabbed her.

　　From just beyond the door someone exhaled as if they`d been hit in the stomach. He could tell from the noise alone they were doubled over.

　　Touch me again and I will hurt you.` Sosa`s voice grew louder as she entered the chamber. Talon winced, but there was a streak of pride there too. One of the others went to block her but the look she gave made him back off.

　　I will not have this in my chamber!` Jode roared again, but there was a lack of weight to his authority now.

　　Your chamber?` Kala said, clearly affronted on behalf of the gathered Elder. Since when did the chamber belong to one disgraced chief who had been narrowly saved from exile. This chamber belongs to the council of Elders. And these men,` she nodded behind her, are here are your request, not mine.` There was a rumble of assent from among the Elders.

　　Yes, Elder Jode,` came one older voice from among the seated. I too would appreciate less drama in my evening when I am summoned to the chamber at short notice.`

　　Then the room erupted into aged grumbling, but not all was in Kala`s favour.

　　I see no reason to detain our chronicler,` came another voice. It was met with quietly grumbled assent from a small number of the Elders.

　　Kala did have support from among the Elders, but she`d not had time to win over many. Jode had forced her hand too soon.

　　If Jode insisted on their arrest, they would not win this. From behind them came a surprised yelp, and the sound of someone`s feet flailing against the floor.

　　Move for Dorrel,` Dorrel said, relocating the man who blocked her to one side. The small group of large men who currently blocked the entrance parted before she parted them herself.

　　Kala needs some help?` Dorrel asked.

　　Thanks Dorrel.` Kala smiled. I think we might be okay now.`

　　Behind Dorrel others crowded into the entrance. Tarry was among them, and several other hearthers behind. Talon felt a rising panic, but when he glanced at Kala, she wore that small smile, and raised her eyebrows at him. One of the Jode`s new men took a step towards the door, but Tarry stepped in front of him and while he was not as large as either Roo or Devon, he was not easily moved. The man glanced over Tarry`s shoulder to the giant shape of Dorrel and while he didn`t retreat, he relaxed his shoulders a little. Kala had indeed made some very useful friends.

　　Very well,` Jode conceded pretending that nothing had changed. Remove them from the chamber and ensure that Talon and Sosa do not leave their home until the council summons them again. The hour is also late, we will reconvene in the morning to discuss our decision.`

　　One of the eager enforcers placed a hand on Kala`s shoulder. Talon stepped forwards, drawing back his hand to strike the man, but Sosa beat him to it and shoved him hard, stepping into his space as he fell back so he had no choice but to retreat several steps. You were told not to detain the chronicler,` she spat at him, how dare you lay a hand on her?` Then to Talon`s surprise Sosa wheeled on Elder Jode. And you don`t get to order the chronicler from the Elder`s chamber. Unless there is something to be discussed that is to be hidden from the record? While you`re discussing as a group which of the village`s fadi`s you can conveniently remember and forget, perhaps you should see if anyone might consider that to be fadi!`

　　Jode nodded to one of the men stood behind Sosa who reached for her.

　　Talon stepped in his way. Try it.`

　　The man did.

　　Talon balled his hand into a fist and swung it up like a hammer, ramming the soft underside into the man`s mouth. The man`s teeth snapped together with a loud crack and he toppled backwards. Talon turned fiercely towards the others, daring them to move. The hearthers behind him tensed. Their appearance was timely but he wasn`t sure how they would act if things escalated beyond intimidation. Sosa stood beside him, her own hands raised. Talon sneered at their hesitation and turned, glaring at Jode, walking slowly toward him as he spoke. Jode began to shuffle back.

　　By your own admission,` Talon growled at the chief, you don`t know what is fadi and what isn`t, what is a crime and what isn`t, yet you allow your own citizens to be attacked in the Elder`s chamber, in the Elder`s presence. In the chief`s presence. You have lost your way.` Talon glared around the room. Anyone else who tries to harm my family after what we have been though for this village had best be prepared. You would be better served finding out what has happened to our hearthmaster and what you can do about it. It seems that our wise leader is too ready to find convenient, easy conclusions than bother with useful truths.` He turned to the council of seated Elders as a group, thinking about how Eleris had spoken to her council and how they had been made to have their meeting out in the open where no underhand threats or hidden decisions could be reached.

　　Kala stepped beside him. She still looked furious. If I were sat where you are,` she said, looking at each of the Elders in turn. I would question this forgetfulness. I would question a leader who refuses to step down long after he should have done so. I would question the death of a chief and I would question a man who uses intimidation instead of reason, a man with a track record of having a broken memory when it comes to things fadi. I will speak to the council when the council is ready. This council is far from ready.`

　　She turned. She could easily walk around the only man who was in her way, but instead she glared at him. The lesson had been learned and the man moved. Talon, Sosa and Kala stormed from the room.

　　We sleep somewhere else tonight,` Talon said.

　　What about your mother?` Kala asked. She sounded worried, her earlier bravado was draining. He knew the feeling.

　　She`ll be fine. She`s been fed, she won`t notice that we`re not there. She`ll probably be asleep now anyway. No one will try to harm her. They`re stupid, apparently, but not that stupid.`

　　You can stay with Dorrel,` Dorrel said with a shrug. Plenty of room.`

　　Kala stopped and gave the woman a hug, though her hands barely met on the other side. Thank you Dorrel, but you`ve done more than enough. I don`t think you`ll ever know how much you just saved us. I won`t put you in further danger.`

　　Dorrel looked back at the doorway of the council chamber with a frown. Dorrel didn`t hurt anyone. Dorrel only moved the one who was in the way.` She turned back with a shrug. Dorrel`s fine. You come any time.`

　　Come on, this way.` Sosa said and they hurried away. The hearthers lingered, just blocking the way out of the council chamber to stop anyone who might try to follow the family out.

　　I think we gave them something to think about.` Sosa said and led them to the woodstore. It was a good, out of the way place to spend the night.

　　I think we`ve caused a lot of trouble for ourselves.` Kala said. I don`t like that we`re having to hide now, we should be able to go home.`

　　Talon found himself laughing. It`s all your fault.` He prodded Kala on the arm.

　　I wasn`t the one who tried to take a swing at Elder Jode.`

　　I didn`t!`

　　I thought you were going to at one point though.` Now they were both stifling nervous giggles.

　　Will you two take this seriously!` Sosa was still ahead of them. They might actually try and kill us.`

　　Sorry,` Talon said.

　　Sorry,` Kala added. Then they both started giggling again.

　　They hid behind the pile of wood in a half empty store. It was just about big enough for them to rest in, though they`d probably not sleep well.

　　It was after some discussion of what might come next, who they could turn to for help and what their strategy might be, that sleep began to creep over them.

　　If they could create enough argument in the council to ensure Jode`s removal then no one would pursue the allegations of blame against him and Sosa. That was all driven by Jode and no one else. Presumably it was all an attempt to make people forget about the temporary nature of his reinstatement, and the questions about Hora`s death. It all depended on what had happened to Roo, Talon supposed.

　　He hoped Kala`s new friend was okay, but she`d been gone for too long now. If Eleris had lied to them and Gris was not gone, then things might be more complicated, but the first priority was to have Jode removed. After that everything got easier.

　　Kala had slipped into sleep, Talon was not far after but he could see Sosa was still sitting up and awake.

　　What`s wrong with me?` Sosa asked.

　　What do you mean?` Talon wiped his eyes and peered at her.

　　I shouted at the chief.`

　　He`s not the chief. And so did I.`

　　But I should be frightened and& I`m not.`

　　He`s a pompous old man. I`ll kill the man who comes to try and take you.`

　　I`ll kill him myself,` she said. But that`s not the point. Or, maybe it is.`

　　There`s nothing wrong with you. There`s nothing wrong with any of us. We`re just& different now, I think.`

　　Sosa thought and then nodded. Her eyes closed. Before too much longer all three were asleep leaning on each other.

　　The first scream pierced the dreams of every villager. It was prolonged, as if the pain that caused it was steadily intensifying.

　　It dragged on several moments too long, then dropped to a jarring silence.

　　Talon, Sosa and Kala sat up, staring and reaching for each other in the dark. A second scream arose, this one higher in pitch.

　　This time, it didn`t stop.