"Ha! Get away from that monster," Kindra yelled at the group of children crowding the fence where the horse was kept. He was chewing on grass, ignoring the children, but his ears perked at her voice. He made a noise that she could only describe as annoyance.

"Don't you 'puh' at me, Monster." She pointed her spear at him and glared. She didn't have the patience for an irritated horse today. Not with Monk, Gar and Wolf in Fie Obsid deciding her fate. "You hurt any of those children and I will have your neck."

The horse’s ears went flat, and he charged, stopping just before the fence. He reared with a thunderous scream and Kindra fell back in her haste to get away. The children scattered.

"That's it," she pushed herself up, spear in hand, and jumped the fence. "Sacred or no, I'm going to teach you who's boss."

The horse backed up, ears flattened, head down, but a voice from behind stopped them both. "Kindra Odion." It was the voice of the Goddess and Kindra shrank away from the horse.

"Stay back, Priestess," she said, but the woman walked right up to the fence and clicked her tongue. The horse walked over in curiosity, ears perked forward at the new person who was neither fearful nor threatening.

"Be careful," Kindra said, although it wasn't necessary. The horse was a sacred beast and the High Priestess was the Gods' chosen representative on earth. Who better to handle the creature?

The High Priestess smiled and pet his nose. As he began to relax and move closer, she stroked his neck and shoulders, urging him to peace. "There is a difference between taming and breaking, Kindra.” She scratched his neck and ears, shedding the dead hair and dust from his coat. "I remember another child of the God who was thought to be untamable not so long ago."

Kindra didn't speak. She didn’t know what to say to the High Priestess now that things had gone so poorly.

"He should have a name," the woman said.

"I've been calling him Monster, after my dream."

The priestess frowned. "This is a glorious beast; powerful, gentle, regal. He needs a name to match. We shall call him Eoin."

Kindra was shocked—that must be some sort of blasphemy, even if the horse was the God's sacred animal. Then again, every person in the tribe who didn't want to kill her had a blasphemous mark on their wrist. It couldn't be that much more damning to name a horse after the God.

"Eoin it is then." Kindra inched closer and ran her hand down Eoin’s long nose, studying the feel of it so she wouldn’t have to look at the High Priestess. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Whose side are you on? Your brother's, or mine?”

“I’m on Aleda’s side.” There was a smile in her voice, but it annoyed Kindra.

“Then whose side is Aleda on?”

The High Priestess touched Kindra’s shoulder gently, as if it would soften the blow. “Aleda does not choose sides. She is here only to give strength and comfort to those who would ask it.”

Kindra sighed. “Did you know your brother sold the Seven Tribes to the Obsidians? He killed my father to become chief.”

The High Priestess’ hand stiffened and fell from Kindra’s shoulder. She was silent so long that Kindra thought she wouldn’t answer. When she finally did speak, it was not with the confidence that her voice always held. “He told you this?”

Kindra nodded.

“I did not know. My brother and I have never been close, and he has only become harder for me to read since he became chief.”

Kindra faced her and saw Monk walking towards them from the village, his face dire. Her breath caught in her chest, heart pounding. What did Obsid say?

When he made it to the fence he stopped and bowed to them. “Priestess. Kindra.”

They nodded back, and Kindra pressed her hands together in front of her to stop them from shaking. “Well?”

Monk looked at her, and she saw it in his eyes before he spoke. “He accepts. On the condition that you go to Fie Obsid and tell him yourself that you will not back out and make a fool of him as your sister did.”

Kindra’s heart plummeted into her stomach as she heard the words, and it took a moment to process what it meant. “Go to…go now? I thought he would...what about Gar?”

The High Priestess looked from one to the other. “What have you done?”

Monk ignored her and continued to look at Kindra. “I’m sorry. You won’t have to stay yet. We’ll leave in the morning.”

“And Gar?”

Monk shrugged. “I wouldn’t seek him out right now.” He bowed to them both and walked back to the village. Kindra stared after him, feeling as if her entire world was shattering.

“Kindra Odion,” the High Priestess spoke, her voice rumbling like the Goddess. “What have you done?”

Kindra continued to stare after Monk. “I bought the Seven Tribes from the Obsidians.”