Kelton lay on his straw mat as Opul settled. The hut's hide door was tied shut to limit the flying and crawling things during the night. It was little different from his early years with Gossamer. Here, at least, hunger was not a concern. The Waitland supplied nuts, berries, and meat in abundance. It was well varied, though Kelton did miss some of the flavors he had become used too at house Tarvakian.

"Lin'cy has asked me to query you on your sense of things," Opul said as she lay down. "It would benefit the tribe if others could see beasts behind trees."

"I would teach it if I could," Kelton said. "In truth, I have never felt a creature's intent before. It was as odd to me as it is to you."

"Intent?"

"The word used when first explained to me," Kelton said. "Before I came to this land, I could feel most others, well men and women. They could not hide from me. It was said to be a gift from the Goddess. More of a curse, I say."

"Here, they think it is a gift from the All-Father." Opul shifted in the dark, her words becoming louder as she faced Kelton. "This thing, it was stronger in another land."

"Aye."

"What land?"

"Aragonia," Kelton replied.

"I do not know of this land," Opul admitted. "It is across the waters?"

"Aye. Most know it here as the Dark Isle." Kelton heard Opul suck in her breath.

"A land of demons," Opul said.

"Demons, nay," Kelton said. "Though there are those who strive for darkness. Like this land, like every land, there are those who see power as profit." He sighed. "There are many who live as sheep there. Those who herd them about act as demons."

"Not so in the Waitland," Opul said.

"Taggert would think otherwise," Kelton said. "This place, these Nagada, are better than many, yet they too dance as demons when it suits their will."

"He was buried well."

"Aye," Kelton said. He wanted to argue the point but knew it futile. Nothing would breathe life back into Taggert. It was best to change the subject.

"What is the meaning of - Nav'ali bi sourinica trig 'livar?" Kelton asked.

"Farni?" Opul asked.

"Aye, when we bathed."

"It means she desires fire-headed little ones," Opul said with a chuckle. "It is difficult to translate. It speaks of the pleasure of you in her, and the beauty of the gifts the All-Father would provide the tribe."

Kelton felt his face flush as his stomach tightened. "I thought it something...less."

"Do you find her unpleasant?" Opul spoke as if it would be insulting to think Farni was anything but desirable.

"Nay," Kelton said quickly. "It is not a matter of beauty. It is that I cannot stay."

"Ahh, you do find her pleasing. Many here think she is worthy of planting their seed. She has chosen none, save you. "

"I cannot stay," Kelton repeated.

"It is not what she requests of you," Opul said as if it were obvious. "It is rare here when two who seek to join stay as one till death." She shifted again. "Do you know My'taa's true mother?"

"Nay," Kelton said. Now that it was mentioned, it did seem odd that My'taa's mother or father hadn't confronted him.

"It is because the tribe is the mother, father, sister, and brother to all. Once a little one leaves the breast, they have many parents. All love them as if they had birthed them themselves. Do you now see why what you have done was so important to the Nagada? You saved everyone's daughter."

"It is an odd idea," Kelton whispered to himself.

"Farni does not ask for you to stay," Opul continued. "She asks for you to lay with her and blend your seed with the tribes." Kelton could almost hear Opul's smile. "Her words promise pleasure in joining."

"I could not do such a thing," Kelton said.

"Join? Are your parts not working?"

Kelton fumbled his words. "Nay. I mean, aye, they work. Or at least they should. It is that I cannot stay."

"You have never joined," Opul said. It was an accusation spoken with humor. She was enjoying the conversation. Kelton wished he had never asked about Farni's words.

"I could not leave little ones of my making, no matter the tribe's love of them," Kelton argued.

"You have never joined," Opul repeated, this time sounding as if it were fact. "How is that so? Was it not allowed in your house?"

"Aye, it was allowed. It is just that, well, I did not." Kelton's thoughts were racing. For some reason, Opul thinking him virginal was upsetting. The idea never bothered him before. Yanda never saw it as weakness. That was what bothered him; Opul thought him weak because of it.

"It is not a burdensome task," Opul said. "Killing a vi'caven is far more difficult."

Kelton thought back to when Yanda offered herself. There was no weakness in his decline. There was strength in it. Had he taken her, he would have gained a moment of pleasure in exchange for destroying her strength and determination. He remembered no joy in witnessing the mounting of the woman on Sol' in De Marque's slave ship. Just the grunting completion of the deed and the weakening of the woman Kelton had unwittingly traded for Yanda's virtue. Though, physical desire did crop up now and again.

"It would be pleasurable," Kelton conceded. Farni pleased the eyes as a flower did. "But I will not. I cannot stay, and any little ones of my loins will know me as their father." Something akin to Joycelyn and Cory's family is what he desired. A small world of his own, where all in it were bonded by love and blood. There was great strength in that.

"There is another?" Opul asked. She had a strong sense of things in Kelton's mind.

"Aye," Kelton said. It was easy to just agree without explaining Juno. He would never see her again, but the dream of her was proof of desiring more. It would be easier for Farni to accept another, he hoped. Juno would cherish her little ones as Kelton would. The Nagada way was not the path he desired. There was no weakness in admitting that.

"Know that declining is not seen as a permanent thing here," Opul said. "Farni will respect your desires this day, and have no apprehension to query you again." She chuckled. "Unless her mind shifts to another. You may regret your decision. There is much pleasure for both when the joining is done right."

Kelton was pleased that Opul had been correct. Farni did not harbor ill will, nor show anger at Kelton's decline of her offer. She continued to train him in the ways of the Waitland, and in turn taught him the Nagada language. Once Kelton was able to join Korvin's teachings to the pronunciations in actual speech, things progressed quickly. The language barrier fell in a single cycle of the moon, though the intricacies would still take time.

"We learn footing," Farni said, once Kelton had finished his morning yiv'n, a seared leaf rolled with strange green fruit. The sweetness overwhelmed the leaf's slight bitterness, combining to please the tongue as well as the belly.

"Footing?" Kelton asked. With the constant rain, there was little labor being done. Water didn't need to be acquired since it fell without effort. Hides didn't dry, so hunting was curtailed. The rain brought an abundance of vegetation that fed the tribe well. It was the season of simple gathering and teaching.

"Aye, warrior stand strong," Farni said, then laughed as she pushed Kelton playfully, almost knocking him off his feet. His strength had long returned, and he shoved back. Farni had to take a step to maintain her balance and avoid finding the ground. At first, he thought he pushed too hard, but she seemed pleased with his counter attack. Warriors never shy from conflict.

Lin'cy and Tavvy, both wearing the twin-tails, took Kelton and Farni deep into the Waitland. Tavvy was a short man built like a squat barrel with arms the size of tree trunks. His movements through the jungle were unhindered by his short legs. His compactness did nothing to impede his agility.

They crossed over two fast-moving rivers via the rope bridges. Kelton found the crossings to be exciting and proof that he was himself again. His arms and legs did as they were told, unhindered by the scarring that marred the right side of his body. The last remnants of the vine's influence had fled, and with it, the bleakness it had instilled. The future was once again unwritten and held promise.

They reached a clearing, and Tavvy produced two leather cords. Lin'cy took Kelton and Farni's spears and leaned them next to a tree. Lin'cy grinned when Tavvy handed him the cords.

"Balance game," Lin'cy said, signaling Kelton over. "Hands on back," he added a gesture for Kelton to turn around.

Kelton's hands were bound with crossed wrists as Tavvy scrapped his feet along the ground, marking a large circle as wide as two men tall. Farni was tied next, her expression showing she had expected the game.

"No leave circle," Lin'cy instructed. "No use head. Knock other down or out." Both Tavvy and Lin'cy moved outside of the circle. Their smiles made it clear they meant to enjoy Kelton and Farni's efforts. The confidence in Farni's eyes made Kelton believe it wasn't the first time she had been in such a circle.

Farni moved like a reed in the wind, her body slinking around Kelton as if he were prey. Kelton turned in a stiff, measured way in order to remain facing her. He felt his height and weight were an advantage. Keeping his feet planted firmly and advancing only when Farni was off balance was his best strategy. At least, until he got a feel for the game, his confidence in armless combat was not high.

With a quick strike, Farni moved close and slammed her shoulder into his chest. Kelton was ready and lifted his lead foot to place in between her feet. The plan, developed in the meerest moment of thought, was a good one. She would be unable to adjust her balance as he drove forward with his superior weight. Unfortunately, Farni's plan was better. Kelton's foot never found the ground as she twisted and pushed her knee behind his, forcing the joint to bend as it was designed to do. He found himself on one knee and teetering toward the ground. She helped him complete he fall by pushing with her hip.

Farni's victory dance was one of joy. Tavvy's laugh was deep and echoed into the trees. Kelton had no choice but to accept the loss with a smile. He had to admit it was beautifully executed and turned his weight advantage into weakness.

"Wait for enemy, enemy win," Lin'cy said as he helped Kelton to his feet. The Nagada way is to attack, not defend. Lin'cy chuckled as he brushed leaves off Kelton's jerkin.

"She is fast," Kelton said. He looked at the happiness displayed on Farni's face and bowed his head in respect.

"And you slow," Lin'cy agreed. "Nagada fast." He stepped out of the circle and signaled for the battle to continue.

Kelton wasn't about to play statue again. When Farni moved, he countered and shifted to lessen the space she could maneuver, shrinking her portion of the circle. Farni feinted, and Kelton stepped into it, surprising her. She had to duck under his upper body and slither past his side to remain standing inside of the circle. After she created some distance, her foot came up and kicked at his side with more force than seemed prudent for a game. Kelton twisted at the last moment, and she found only air. He drove forward before she could reestablish her balance, and it was Farni's turn to find dirt.

"Good, good," Tavvy congratulated.

Kelton tried to duplicate Farni's dance of victory. His lack of her suppleness made it a silly thing, but it wasn't wasted on Lin'cy who laughed as he helped Farni up. She was all smiles as she shook off her tumble and retook her ready position. It was as if she knew something Kelton did not.

The battle became a tangle of flowing feet. No longer was the upper body able to get close to its opponent, unless it wished to taste heel. Kelton was stretching muscles he didn't know he had, trying to stay upright as they traded full-legged feints and struggled to find an opening. It didn't take long for Kelton to realize Farni was stalling.

Kelton moved forward, deciding to use his longer leg to push Farni out of the circle before she implemented whatever she was attempting to do. Instead of a quick victory, he found his ankle grasped by two free hands, one with the leather tie still dangling below it. It was Farni's grin he found most disturbing, as she lifted her arms, and thus Kelton's leg, forcing him to his backside, least he land head first.

"Nagada find way," Lin'cy chuckled.

Kelton hadn't realized the ties were merely a hindrance, not a rule of the game. Farni helped Kelton up and touched her forehead to hers.

"You strong. I smart," Farni said. She stroked the side of his head, her finger following the path of his scar. She did the same to her scars, the ones the beast left on her cheek. "We strong, smart together." In a sense, she was correct. Had she not slowed the beast, Kelton's strength may have come too late for My'taa. They were a good team against that opponent, even though the side effects were less than desirable.

"Aye," Kelton said as he tested his bindings. They were as secure as when first tied. He wondered if they were tied the same. She pushed off of him as Tavvy came forward.

"I tie good," Tavvy said. He turned Farni so Kelton could view the binding. It was done about the wrists, looking as tight as Kelton's felt. There didn't seem to be any inherent weakness in the method.

The fourth bout was marked by more of Farni's evasions. Kelton could see her shoulders working hard, as she struggled against her bindings. She dodged his attempts to end the combat quickly, bending in ways Kelton could only dream of doing. He attempted freeing his hands, giving up when it became apparent he would have to separate his wrist from his arm to succeed. It wasn't long before he once again fought armless against the fully armed.

Kelton started laughing as he lay on his side. Farni stood above him, her wrists red and sore, and dropped the cord that once bound her on his head. Another victory dance, this time, leaving no doubt she was feminine.

"You last longer," Tavvi said, as he lifted Kelton to his feet.

"I will tie it this time," Kelton said. Lin'cy nodded and released Kelton's hands.

Farni leaned into Kelton as he bound her wrists. She whispered something that he didn't understand. Instead of asking for clarification, he stepped back to keep a good handle on his task. Kelton dug into his memory and found the knots that Simbawla taught him during his first ship voyage. He chose one that was meant to tighten as more stress was placed on it. When he was done, it was Farni who laughed as she tested the binding. Nothing moved in the knot. It was time to see how long she could dodge, now that he didn't need to worry about her hands.

With his hands re-bound, Kelton went to work. This time, Farni was forced to attack as well as duck and swivel about. All in all, Kelton found it an even match. Her agility against his strength and weight. When he committed, she countered and avoided the center of his advance, nullifying his weight. When she attacked, Kelton leaned into it with planted feet, like a well-rooted tree. The odd dance that ensued began to wear on Lin'cy and Tavvy. They had a hushed conversation, glancing at what was happening in the circle and pointing now and again.

After an eternity of strikes and counter strikes, Kelton found his opening. Farni had dodged his latest advance, spinning low and attempting to kick out Kelton's legs from behind. He had learned her maneuvers and leaped over the attempt, leaving Farni overextended with only one foot down. Turning into her, he pushed his knee forward into her shoulder. To his shock, her hands came free, and she hugged his lower leg, bringing them both down to the ground.

"Long, long time," Tavvy said with surprise.

"Tie well," Lin'cy agreed.

Kelton realized that Farni was gifted with the skill to break bonds. This was not the first time she demonstrated the feat.

"Good tie," Farni said. Sweat sheened on her skin as she raised the arm that still held the cord. She smiled at Kelton as they lay together in the dirt. "Smart." It was a compliment.

"You show tie," Lin'cy said as he helped Kelton to his feet and began to unbind his hands. Tavvy was examining what was left of the knot on Farni's wrist. For some reason, they found it intriguing.

Kelton spent time teaching two of Simbawla's knots. The one he used on Farni, and another that allowed a rope to be pulled taught between two rigid poles, or trees. He thought it might be an improvement for the rope bridges, which tended to sag and sway when used. It pleased Kelton to pass on Simbawla's knowledge. The man died, and the world barely noted it. Now, he will live in the minds of the Nagada. At least it felt that way.

"All learn this day," Lin'cy said. "You learn Nadada move in battle. We learn new ties." He laughed. "A good day."

"Aye," Kelton said. "And I learned Farni cannot be tied."

Farni smiled at the compliment. "We stink, we bathe." Kelton rolled his eyes and followed Farni to the pool. He had long learned that arguing with a woman about bathing was a useless endeavor. It had only been three days since the last bath. Surely, it was unnecessary.