When all was said and done, over a quarter of the Aledan warriors were burned on the pyre. They were burned together because there were too many of them to light separate fires for, and it was only Petoskey and the High Priestess who received separate ceremonies. Most of Pike’s friends had been killed—shocked immobile by the sight of their friend attacking them—and Kindra was one of the few new warriors to survive. They called her Monster-Tamer in public and River in private. She was impatient for her naming ceremony.

Her uncle, Pine, survived with few injuries, as did Kingfisher. Wolf was spared by his son, but neither Ocelot nor Gull lived.

Everyone knew Monk would be a good chief, but he was inexperienced, and it left the Seven Tribes weak and open to attack. The northern border was especially vulnerable, and the majority of the able-bodied warriors were put there in case of attack. The only thing that kept the Obsidians from striking was the injury to their chief, and the shame of those who made it home.

Kindra knew she could buy Fie Eoin time to regroup, at least, so while the pyres burned and Gar slept, she and Wolf took a canoe upriver to Fie Obsid, to visit her injured husband.

Corbin’s arrowhead bounced against her chest as Kindra jumped out of the canoe. Wolf pulled it onto the shore as she grabbed the bundle in the bottom. They were surrounded by Obsidian guards in moments.

"Tell your chief his bride is here with a belated wedding gift."

They waited next to the canoe until the guard returned and ushered them into the great house. Wolf waited in the center as Kindra ducked behind the curtain into Obsid's room. He was propped up on his bed, and although his face was pale, he smiled.

"Wife."

"Husband," she nodded. They were technically married, after all. "You left this in Fie Eoin." She unwrapped the package and held up the severed head of Corbin Marcello.

Obsid's daughter gasped and turned away, but he motioned his guard to take it from her. "That was my cousin."

"Then we are nearly even. You killed my parents and grandfather."

He smiled. “I can see this will be a beautiful marriage with no animosity.”

Kindra crossed her arms. "You expect me to believe your cousin followed an Aledan boy to Fie Eoin on our wedding day and you had no foreknowledge?"

"Are you saying I would let myself be injured if I knew they were coming? Corbin has always been jealous. It's convenient that you took care of him for me."

She drummed her fingers on her arm as she thought of that. "It’s clear that Eoin will not share his Bride with another man, so I break our truce. If you want the Seven Tribes, then you will have to fight for them."

"You propose war? You realize that wasn't my entire army."

"Nor was it mine. Late summer, before the harvest. That should give you time to heal before I break you."

Obsid's chuckle turned into a cough that spattered his chest with flecks of blood. "I look forward to it. Good luck, Bride of Eoin. If I take you alive, you’ll wish I hadn't."

"Good luck, Husband. I promise you will not leave the field whole." Kindra bowed and showed herself out.