As the two crescent moons hung in the sky with little more than a sliver remaining in view, Sutama looked at them in worry as the others stoked the fire and readied the camp. His mind fell on Nuyani and Cuganwa. His boy was saved by her and now abducted by her. Or was he saved once more? The man could not tell.

  ‘Great Lord, why is my family plagued with this curse? What reason has it come to us?’ the old hunter questioned as he then retrieved the second blade held in a quiver.

  Whispers then reached the man’s ears from other fires. “He must be planning it. How else did she get the blade?” one man questioned.

  “No. He was willing to risk his life for his son and wanted to go alone. He was even ready to give his position to Odaru. He’s honest,” another defended.

  Someone scoffed. “If that’s the best reason then why is the witch still living? His first wife is dead because of her,” another stated far louder than he intended.

  Sutama’s blood raged on as he shot up from his seat gripping the quiver tightly as it creased under his grip, the man released the blade, stopped, and turned to face the others.

  ‘To the sands with you,’ Sutama thought as he started toward the group. The old hunter halted in his steps when a loud thwack sounded. To everyone’s surprise, Selsaj was standing over a guard lying on the ground.

  “Don’t ever talk about such things so casually. People have lived because of his guidance and devotion to the lord. Don’t flaunt his trials around so easily just to laugh,” Selsaj ordered as the other man held his cheek and sat back up.

  The others grew quiet as a few looked up to see Sutama standing by. They looked away with a sense of shame in their eyes. A few shot dirty looks at Selsaj seeing the young hunter scolding his elder but still correct. Sutama said nothing as he too turned from them and sat with questions plaguing his mind. ‘Great Lord, what is the reason for this trial? Am I to be judged for Huloat? I will accept that fate but, please spare the boy,’ Sutama thought to himself. Sutama pulled the quiver into his lap and pulled out some of the blade, letting the fire and moons light gleam on the polished surface as he caught his reflection.

  Footsteps sounded from his side catching the man’s attention. Sutama looked to see Gamaunda approaching him with two small water skins in hand bearing his usual cheerful grin. ‘Perhaps a word before we start, “The chief said as he handed one to the hunter. Sutama retrieved the quiver and took up the small water skin nodding back in thanks. “What do you suppose the witch was doing with that blade?” Gamaunda started as he caught his reflection.

  The old hunter shook his head as he untied the water skin’s thong. “I don’t know. Going for heavy-horns is nothing new but, to go to wherever that place was to get a blade is beyond me. Lord Kelvert’s will, we can find an answer,” Sutama replied.

  “I don’t mean to pry but, why haven’t you tried to kill her all these years?” Gamaunda questioned. Sutama froze and looked at him. The chief merely stared back waiting.

  “I couldn’t,” the hunter stated. “After I…killed Huloat, how could I?” Sutama lowered the water skin. “She looks like her. Sounds like her. Even in the drylands. Nuy…” Sutama paused realizing how easy it was for him to speak her name. “She…is the last thing alive to remind me of her. I had destroyed that peace. Lord Kelvert has not willed me the conviction to harm her. Every time I have seen her, I thought of an excuse, a reason, to attack when she was already gone. Her eyes hold hatred. Outside the village, she is no threat.”

  “She could’ve been,” Gamaunda countered.

  “And yet she hasn’t,” Sutama said shaking his head.

  Gamaunda’s stare grew harder. “What do you think keeps her from doing anything?” Sutama looked to the water skin. His lips grew tight as the question rattled in his mind. A moment of silence rose before the man shook his head.

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  “I don’t know,” Sutama said still looking for an answer. His eyes gleamed brighter. The swirling memories brought only pain to the man as he tried to answer the question.

  Gamaunda noticed the man’s solemn stare into the earth. The chief sighed before he answered, “A devout man must have raised a devout daughter.” Sutama’s brow rose as he started to turn toward the chief but stopped. His grip tightened on the quiver. He could not accept such a truce, especially when even the others assumed Nuyani was trying to win favor back into the village. Over the course of a decade made the argument weak to dispute the chief’s claim. “By the Great Lord’s will, you may have a child more determined to prove she is not a demon and aided you and your party.” Sutama looked at the man wondering why the fa?ade. “Let me be more direct.” Gamaunda sat closer with his grin disappearing and his tone growing serious. “There are other possibilities. Your daughter is either trying to buy your trust to get back into the village, or she has your trust and you’re using her to take over.”

  Sutama glared at the chief, the rage returning as his fists shook. The man then stopped as he looked at Gamaunda with a sense of annoyance. “Elder Yanuma would’ve warned you if I had such thoughts. Why are you testing me?” Sutama asked. He narrowed his eyes at the chief.

  “Because I must,” Gamaunda stated. “It was no lie, Sutama, that I trust your judgment but, I need to know where your mind is at. We are taking on someone more dangerous than any other person alive and probably as dangerous as the beasts that live out here.”

  Sutama replied, “You think I would turn on the village? By the Great Lord’s light, I…”

  “I haven’t decided anything aside from trying to get answers. Saving your son and apprehending the witch is the best to hope for in this situation but, remember all eyes are on you,” Gamaunda pressed. His brow was creased and his tone serious but, they contained his condolences, not spite as others would. “Tell me. Did she go for the sword to create a new village?” Sutama straightened his back and narrowed his eyes as he gawked at the chief. “Yes or no?”

  “No. How long is this test, dear chief? I’ve worked to preserve and keep my men and the village safe,” Sutama shot back.

  “Not a doubt in my mind but, a reason to ask,” Gamaunda said. “There are two blades and your men have talked the most about expanding the village.”

  “Iogda and Selsaj talk to fill the air and share their thoughts on the trail. Nothing about their comments is meant as a threat,” Sutama said.

  “Yet, they’re one of the few who speak of such things. I do not ask to find criminals, Sutama, but the timing is too close,” Gamaunda urged.

  Sutama wanted to snap at the man wanted to yell as the rage boiled in him, ready to burst. The old hunter leaned forward glaring at the chief. “Take only my life if need be, dear chief. By the Great Lord, I am the only thing of sin in this trial Not my men and not my family,” Sutama declared.

  “Does that family include the witch?” Gamaunda pressed. Sutama said nothing as the two merely leered at one another.

  The shuffle of footsteps sounded behind the two drawing their attention. One of the patrolling guards approached with widened eyes and his hands straining on the shaft of his spear as he looked out into the drylands.

  “Yes?” Gamaunda asked startling the man.

  “A-a spirit is close by, Chief Gamaunda,” the guard stated.

  “What?” the village leader asked as he rose from his seat and looked over the shrubbery to see a white light shining amongst the brush instead of the sky. “Did you check?”

  “Yes. This area is harvested by Piut’s group,” Sutama answered.

  Gamaunda shook his head and said, “This makes sense.” The guard looked toward the chief. “Remember one of the parties had a murder from an affair? We may have found the area.” The guard released a breath and lowered his spear as he looked back at the area. “The family cremated his body. By his shine, I wonder why he still lingers.”

  “W-what do we do?” the guard asked still shaken by the lingering spirit.

  “I will release him, and you will follow me. We are still out in the wilderness. I don’t think I’d want to try my luck,” the chief said as he flicked his wrist and the curved blade of the village poured from its containment. Before the two trudged off into the brush, Gamaunda then called out, “I don’t know what will happen, Sutama. Lord Kelvert seems to guide you. Just prove it so.” The two then set off into the drylands.

  Sutama looked back toward the flame. His mind flickered to the night Nuyani fled. Her glowing eyes gleamed like a fire revealing her pain and fear. The rejected gift of a daughter who did little more than work as her mother did as well. The man shook his head gripping the quiver in his hands. He removed some of the blade letting it gleam in the fires as another angle of its surface revealed his reflection.

  “Great Lord, who is the true sinner?” the old hunter wondered as he gritted his teeth.