Merrith laughed out loud and slapped her thigh. “I knew it. But it took little intelligence to predict that. If we go to search for Kerrick and find him, why then we may find Armun who went to join him. Once she knocked Nivoth to the ground with her fist, broke his nose, that is why it is twisted so. He has no desire to meet her again. It is very good to see his back.”

“You know everything about the sammads. You must tell me.”

“Not everything, but enough.”

“You will put your tent here?”

“Not tonight. It is rolled and on the poles, ready to leave in the morning.”

“Then you sleep in my tent.”

“No, it is the tent of your hunter, Newasfar. There can only be one woman in a tent. I will lie by the fire. It won’t be the first time.”

The fire was cold ashes by morning, but the night had been warm. Merrith lay, still wrapped in her robes, as the morning star faded over the ocean in the first red touch of dawn. She rose and had tied the poles of the travois into place long before the others emerged.

“If you sleep until noon you won’t get far today, Herilak,” she said as he emerged and sniffed the air. He scowled.

“Your tongue first thing in the morning is no pleasure.”

“My tongue only speaks the truth, great sammadar. Is it true, old Fraken joins us? His love for Kerrick was never that great.”

“His love of warmth is. He fears the winter here.”

“That I can understand. How far do we march?”

“Today, until we camp by a small river we have stopped at before. If you mean how far do we march to seek Kerrick, we march as far as is needed.”

“To the murgu city?”

“If we must. I know he is out there somewhere.”

“I have not gone there for many days,” Kerrick said, keeping his voice calm so his anger would not show.

“That is of no importance,” Armun said. “You are a hunter. A hunter goes where he wants. You can go there every day. But Arnwheet stays here with me.”

From where he sat in the shade of the large oak tree Kerrick could see across the clearing to the water. This island was a very good place to be. Both of the tents were hidden under the trees. The hunting was good, fresh water close by. There were duck, fish for the taking, berries carpeted the island. Armun and Darras had brought back baskets of roots and mushrooms. And they were all well, the baby growing. Even Ortnar, though he grumbled, was as good as could be expected. Only Nadaske’s presence caused Armun’s unhappiness; she would not let it rest. He was unseen—yet always seen by her. He was like a scab that she picked at constantly and made to bleed again and again.