The lodge was noisy for a good long while. People chatted, drank, and joked. There were even hunters with enough energy to roughhouse. It was all in good fun though; a way to drain any leftover nerves from the hunt.

I helped butcher the musk oxen and confirmed there were no obvious spells to learn from them. Whatever they used to Charge, Iron Fur, and Blood Burst was beyond my (and Yuki’s) ability to discern. What a disappointment.

Charge, at least, would’ve been cool. I wasn’t sure how Iron Fur would’ve worked on me, but there was a hunter spell called Collaut’s Hide that did something similar for skin. As for Blood Burst, it was a gruesome ability. Did I want to be the kind of man who exploded enemies from the inside?

Well, maybe it’d be a little cool too.

Three large tubs full of water were moved into the courtyard behind the lodge, and the meat and organs were run through them, one tub after the other. The water smelled and tasted medicinal. Tegen let me know that the alchemists’ cleansing potion was expensive and only brought out when there was enough meat to make it worthwhile.

I asked after the potion’s ingredients, but they were a trade secret. The Alchemist’s Lodge bought many different kinds of ingredients, and it wasn’t clear which ones went to their various creations. The process was fascinating, and I lingered to watch.

Afterward, the meat was taken to the smokehouse. I’d get my share later. It’d be a bigger portion, since I belonged to a team that handled one of the more dangerous musk oxen. There’d be no financial bounty though. These lodge-wide hunts every two tendays were considered an obligation due to the land knight. A work tax, as it were.

Throughout, I watched. I learned. I mingled. I stuck around until everyone was gone except for Inleio and my team. The Lodge Master had asked us to stay behind.

He gestured for us to sit. “I have news, but first the good: well done. Your sharp spears and swift arrows are the pride of Voorhei. You brought our hunters back safe. For that, I am grateful.” Inleio’s expression turned somber. “What’s next is less pleasing: the messenger to Albei has returned with confirmation the Hunter’s Lodge there received the Healing Water spell.”

“And?” Mumu asked. “What did they say?”

Inleio sighed. “They were vexed. Don’t misunderstand--the spell itself greatly pleased them, but negotiations with the Healer’s Lodge for the Anesthetic spell haven’t gone well. And our Grandmaster foresees further difficulties.”

I frowned. “What’s the problem? Is the Healer’s Lodge afraid the hunters won’t need their services anymore?”

“Not quite, but the Healer’s Lodge made approval of the Anesthetic spell contingent on a price increase for their services.” Inleo clenched his fist. “To make up for any potential losses. As if hunter lives can be counted in coins.”

“And the Healing Water spell will worsen the negotiations,” Tegen said, thinking ahead.

“It will,” Inleio said. “They will likely break down completely. The Alchemist and Soldier lodges came to our aid, but the other lodges are arrayed against us in this. They take the healers’ side.”

“What if we bypass them completely and make the spell available to everyone?” I asked. “That way no one could control it.”

The suggestion surprised the others. I’d be giving up the chance to profit from the spell, but I wouldn’t anyway if things played out like Inleio said. Besides, I never did like monopolies.

“Not many can cast mana spells,” Tegen said, considering the idea. “Only a few would benefit.”

“But there are hunters who could, right? As long as the spell was available.” I looked to Inleio for guidance. He knew the players best.

“The problem is the other services the Healer’s Lodge provides,” he said. “Anyone learning Healing Water now that it’s been brought to their attention risks being banned. Moreover, their lodge wields great influence. The healers have saved the lives of many people.”

“So we could do it,” I said, “but the threat of retribution would scare people away. At least openly.”

“That’s right. And if someone did learn the spell in secret, the moment it became evident to the healers, that person’s whole lodge would be punished.” Inleio sighed. “Fortunately, we were able to share the spell with our village before this happened. We, at least, will benefit.”

“Did you know this was coming?” I asked Inleio.

He shook his head. “No. I was unaware that things had become this bad between the lodges.”

Well, dang. I was looking forward to my reward for the spells. “What about Anesthetic?”

“We’ll have to wait to learn how the negotiations proceed.” Inleio cleared his throat and looked me in the eyes. “I want it to be clear, though, that the events in Albei don’t diminish your contributions here. That includes the lives you saved today when you tricked the purple musk ox into targeting another of its herd.”

I snorted. “That’s not how it happened. I slipped and rolled down a hill. It was an accident.”

“Nevertheless, lives were saved. That makes you worthy of reward.” Inleio didn’t quite wriggle his eyebrows at me, but it was close.

“Ah. Oh. I see.” I caught on to his game. “I’m, of course, honored to be of service to the lodge.”

“Good.” Inleio leaned back and reached behind himself to retrieve the lodge’s spell catalogs. “I promised that you would be rewarded for your contributions. And so, for this aid you provided to your hunt brothers and sisters, the lodge grants you two spells.”

My team cheered. They patted me on the back and ruffled my hair, their joy spilling over.

Inleio watched his hunters, the pride evident on his face. “Normally, we would celebrate with a feast, but given the delicate situation, we can’t speak widely of tonight’s events.”

“Sure,” I said, grinning. “I understand. I’ll keep quiet.”

Inleio nodded. “I know you can. Now, I asked your team to join us, so that they can advise you on your choices.”

That settled the hunters down quickly. There was nothing they liked more than to talk shop.

Mumu kicked things off. “Eight’s One with the Land is very good, but not enough to handle enemies with strong senses. I recommend Camouflage and Scentless Hunter. They will serve our Eight well when among us and when he is out on his own.”

“I disagree,” Haol said. “He should take Scentless Hunter, yes, but also Spiral Pierce. His land is good enough for most hunts. He only needs to make up for where he lacks: hiding his scent and the weakness of his strikes.”

“The disagreement goes deeper than that,” Tegen said. “He should--”

“Actually,” I said, interrupting. “I meant to mention this earlier, but I didn’t want to say anything until I was more practiced. I...uh...I already have a handle on Camouflage and Scentless Hunter.”

The room quieted, and the hunters turned to stare. I smiled, embarrassed. I really did mean to say something earlier--it was important for teammates to know each other’s abilities--but I was looking for a good opportunity to surprise them.

Yeah, okay, this timing was pretty good. My smile turned from embarrassed to mischievous, and their reactions were as gratifying as I’d hoped.

Surprisingly, it was Teila who broke the silence. She whooped and jumped up, grabbed my shoulders to shake me, and then danced around the seated hunters. The young girl went around twice before the adults were able to gather themselves enough for coherent speech.

Mumu sputtered. “You little--”

“When? How?” Tegen asked.

“When I took the Blynx’s bones to Ikfael Glen. I also made it a priority to study the flow of qi in people casting the spells.” That it was Otwei, they didn’t need to know.

“But still…” Haol trailed off.

“Our Eight is a genius,” Mumu said, shaking her head. “A little devil and a pot full of questions, but still a genius.”

“Well, I couldn’t do it on my own. You’ll have to believe me about that. Just know that I’m grateful for everything I’ve learned.” I cleared my throat. “All right, let’s continue the discussion. Just know that I have One with the Land, Spirit Eyes, Camouflage, Scentless Hunter, Healing Water, Anesthetic, Dog’s Agility, and Cold Snap.”

The hunters sighed together. They shook their heads once more, and we began a long discussion.

###

There was consensus (eventually) that Spiral Pierce would provide a critical boost to my capacity to penetrate a target’s defenses. I’d also seen enough of the spell’s practical application to make choosing it an easy decision.

My other choice was less obvious.

Spark was useful for creating opportunities of attack. I’d seen it used on the purple musk ox, and the spell caused the animal to stumble and momentarily stop defending himself. Plus, there was the undeniable attraction of being able to throw lightning. I had a thing for thunderstorms after all.

Alas, I already had Cold Snap for creating opportunities, and the lure of lightning wasn’t enough to overcome the need to bolster my defense. Dog’s Agility was great, but it wouldn’t protect me in situations where the enemy was faster than me. Like, for example, the blynx.

That left Collaut’s Hide and Iron Heart, which were the two hunter spells dedicated to defense. The first thickened the skin, while the second boosted the body’s resistance to damage overall. Tegen used both to good effect, but then he let me know that Collaut’s Hide wasn’t compatible with Dog’s Agility.

That’s how I ended up picking Spiral Pierce and Iron Heart.

With the new spells in hand, that meant I’d eventually (once they were mastered) have two approaches to dangerous encounters. I could either:

Go full stealth and ambush with:

One with the Land Camouflage Scentless Hunter Spiral Pierce Poison from the chishiaxpe Spear or bow, but mostly bow

Or warrior up with:

Dog’s Agility Spiral Pierce Poison from the chishiaxpe Cold Snap Iron Heart Anesthetic

In the ambush scenario, I’d rely on stealth and range for defense. In melee, I’d depend on Dog’s Agility and Iron Heart. And if I got hurt, I’d use Anesthetic to fight through the pain and recover afterward with Healing Water.

Once all the talk was done, the team demanded I show them my Camouflage and Scentless Hunter. They couldn’t teach me anything about the spells, because I’d not earned them through the lodge, but that didn’t stop them from making observations aloud. And since I was showing off my Camouflage, Haol did too. Then the hunters started asking him general, roundabout questions about the spell. Clearly, they were all annoyed by the nonsense coming out of Albei and skirting the lodge’s rules for my sake.

The opportunity to study a second experienced hunter using Camouflage was helpful. Neither Yuki nor I had been able to figure out how to include our gear in the spell’s effects, and this gave us a chance to compare Otwei’s cast to Haol’s.

When Mumu saw me struggling, her questions became more pointed. She didn’t know the spell herself, but she grew up in the lodge. It was in her blood and bones, and her questions dug deep into the spell’s mechanics.

It was the first time I ever saw Inleio frown, but he didn’t say anything; only gestured for Teila to come away. I overheard him start the talk about the lodge’s purpose and how it should serve the people and not the other way around.

Partway, Tegen stepped out and came back with an armful of chicken skewers. He got a fire going and grilled them up, basting them with a fermented broad bean paste. It was tangy, herby, and delicious. Then there was tea, while Inleio taught Teila a new song and Mumu shared a story of a talking bird who tricked hunters into falling off cliffs.

By the time we were done comparing Spiral Pierces and Tegen finished showing me his Iron Heart, it was one in the morning. We all stumbled out of the lodge tired, but deeply satisfied. We’d survived the hunt today, and we’d work to keep on surviving.

The night air was brisk, cooling the sweat that’d stuck to my skin. There wasn’t much of a moon, so the stars stood out in the sky. I took a moment to wonder at what the stonewater serpent had seen among them. To me, they looked like a blanket covering the sleeping village.

Inside, Yuki buzzed from all the new spells and experiences. With a grin, I realized that there wouldn’t be any restful dreams anytime soon.

###

We were near Bihei’s longhouse, our Spirit Eyes open in case they informed our practice of Camouflage. The qi looped through us and into our clothes, and carried with it the intent of including our garments and equipment in our understanding of ourselves.

The world teetered and swayed with every step. Dog’s Agility was incompatible with Camouflage, and we were forced to simultaneously practice processing the extra sensory information without its help.

And so, the qi nearly slipped from our grasp when we saw the outline of a Camouflaged Otwei sneaking out of the longhouse. We quickly checked with the portion of ourselves inside her, but there was no sign of violent intent. She’d been bored waiting for something and used the time to search for clues to the location of the eilesheile. Not finding any, she stole Bihei’s best pan and planned to hide it in the neighbor’s yard.

There was nothing better for curing a village of boredom than strife between neighbors.

We molded ourselves against a nearby wall. A cloud passed across what little moon there was, and we used the opportunity to sneak closer. She looked around, but didn’t see us. Then, she let her Camouflage go and leapt over the low wall of the neighbor’s place. The pan was hidden under an old chair beside the front door.

Our body was tired, our mental reserves low. The long day was followed by a long night, but there was an undeniable thrill to testing ourselves against an experienced hunter like Otwei. There was a desire within us to reflect her mischief back upon her.

We tasted the desire and found a lingering spite hidden within it, an unaddressed anger at Otwei for the danger she represented. A decision was made to follow and test ourselves further, but that would be all. We would do no mischief. At least, not now. Not like this.

Otwei wandered through the village. Here and there, she took from a yard and placed the item elsewhere. She stumbled across Haol and Mumu kissing outside his longhouse. Her annoyance was interrupted by Dena, Haol’s wife, poking her head out the front door and telling them to come inside out of the cold. Didn’t they know how late it was? Did they get a chance to eat? What happened at the lodge to keep them so late--

The rest was lost to the closed door. Otwei was tempted to defecate in their garden, but it wasn’t worth the risk that Mumu or Haol might sense her or somehow track the scat back to her. A stone hanging on a cord around her neck pulsed with warmth and interrupted her thoughts; the signal for which she’d been waiting.

We returned our consciousness back to our body and followed Otwei as she started to move more intentionally. Soon, she disappeared into Camouflage, and we were forced to reopen our Spirit Eyes.

The village’s ghosts watched us. Without Dog’s Agility, their forms tilted and distended, like looking at a person’s reflection in a fun-house mirror. Walking through the village with our Spirit Eyes open was like walking through a maze of those mirrors.

We snuck through the village maze; from where the longhouses were made of logs to the cluster of stone buildings where the more wealthy residents lived. Where Ghitha lived.

Otwei took up position to watch his house. She (and we) made it just in time to see the door ease open and someone slip out. He paused in the house’s moonshadow to make sure there was no one about, then snuck his way toward the path between houses.

We tasted his spirit and knew him to be Borba, the hunter Ollie/Eight had trained with once. He led one of the lodge’s hunter teams. What was he doing visiting Ghitha’s longhouse? And so late at that?

We followed Otwei following Borba. There was a moment when he paused along the village’s paths, when Otwei’s interest spiked and she wondered if he would turn toward Inleio’s house, but he didn’t. Borba’s hesitation passed, and he continued home, slipping stealthily into his own longhouse.

Otwei kept watch for another hour, and when she was sure he wouldn’t go out again--sure that he wouldn’t reveal his involvement with Ghitha--she went back to meet with her team.

###

“How did it go?” The voice belonged to Banan.

“Easy. He went straight home.” Otwei fiddled with her hair. “Borba might have second thoughts, but he wouldn’t be useful if he didn’t. He’s trusted by his hunt brothers and sisters. I’ll keep watching him.”

“They’re all weak,” Ghitha said, “and need a strong hand to lead them. If my brother were alive and the Lodge Master, Borba would never behave this way.”

“What can he do?” Otwei asked, grinning. “You have him caught, sir. You can bend him as you will, like a little doll, and there’s nothing he can do. Not unless he’s willing to risk the lodge’s wrath.”

“Loyalty is an illusion,” Banan said. “The only truth is self-interest.”

Ghitha laughed, the sound grim. “And I have your self-interest well in hand, don’t I?”

“Yes, sir,” Banan said. “Our agreement’s firm. We’re all going to be rich. Borba’s done well to convince the lodge to participate in the lightning bear’s hunt. Now, we just need him to get that Eight to tell what he knows about the eilesheile.”

“He’s just a boy,” Ghitha said. “Moderately Talented, that’s all. Eventually, he will slip, and we’ll have what we need.”

“And poor Borba,” Otwei said, grinning. “He won’t be needed anymore, but he’ll still be trapped, a doll in a cage. We can ask him to do anything, and he’ll do it. All because of a woman.” She turned to Ghitha, her curiosity rising. “Was Kiertie really that beautiful?”

There was a pause then, and the blotch that was Ghitha shifted. “Yes.”

Otwei heard the pain in Ghitha’s voice, and she delighted in it. Not that she’d show it on her face. Not now. She’d tuck it away, though, and bring it out later. Had Ghitha loved Kiertie too? Otwei hoped so. It would make the whole situation that much more delightful.

The rest of the conversation turned to the team’s plans for tomorrow, none of which impacted us. We slipped away.

A brief detour retrieved Bihei’s pan before we snuck into our longhouse. The Family didn’t rouse as we undressed and slipped into bed. Our dreams that night were supposed to be of Camouflage, Spiral Pierce, and Iron Heart, but we spent it thinking instead.