As the men sped about the alleyways, Solomon went to the house of those who had been killed. There he found the village women gathered, their mouths opened toward the sky, howling in anguish. Nearby he saw two elder women seated upon a rock, too old to join the others. He went to them.

“Greetings,” he said. “I am sorry for your loss.”

The old women stared out through milky eyes. Chewing their empty gums. After a moment, one of them shook her head. “I told them not to go. But would they listen?” She snorted. “Ha! Not to an old woman. And see now what has come of it.”

Intrigued by her comment, Solomon spurred her on. “And to where was it that they went?” he asked.

The old woman’s blind eyes went wide. “Where, you say? To The Narrows, of course!”

Solomon froze. He looked about. Cautiously he asked, “Was it they who made the discovery?”

A man dashed by, waving his torch. He threw Solomon a suspicious look.

The old woman nodded. “It was,” she said. “And now the old ones have taken their revenge.”

Solomon was glad the women could not see the look of surprise that came to his face. “The old ones?” he asked, feigning ignorance.

The woman grunted. “I am only the great-grandmother,” she griped. “What do they tell me? But I am more clever than they!” she cackled. “And from my great-grandson’s whispers I learned that they found a clan of women, of healers, hidden away.”

Solomon’s head went light.

The other woman spoke up. “The men do not think them dangerous. But, I tell you, their powers are great!”

The great-grandmother nodded. “Yes! That is so! And now they have taken my beloveds!”

Overcome, Solomon excused himself and wandered off. The others dashed wildly about him as he trod with heavy steps, his mind a blur. He was glad that those who had discovered the caves could not share what they knew with others. Yet he was also saddened by the loss of life.

But who had really taken the men’s lives? he wondered.

He knew it could not have been the Sisters.

And he could think of only one other.

But was it possible?

The men’s shouting grew louder. A mob formed and came storming toward Solomon and the women. Above their heads they held a young boy aloft.

“He saw the killer! The boy knows the truth!” the crowd was shouting. They stopped before the house of the victims and called inside. After a moment, a thin woman with tear-stained cheeks emerged.

Someone lowered the young boy and pushed him forward. “Tell her what you saw,” another whispered.

The boy fiddled with his fingers.

“Tell her now!” they urged.