The hunter’s silence drove her to fury and she pulled at the skins. But he had sealed them together tightly from the inside. She wanted to shout to him just what she thought of his actions—but desisted. It would only provide amusement for the onlookers. There were other ways of finding out the truth about what had happened. She spun about and the nearest hunters turned away to avoid her anger. After this she stamped away between the tents, toward those of Sorli’s sammad, to find Sorli himself where he sat by his fire with some of his hunters, sharing the smoke from a stone pipe. Armun waited until all had smoked and the pipe was laid aside before she stepped forward. Her anger was still there, but well under control now.

“I have heard of how long and hard the path was, Sorli. You and your hunters must surely be tired and in need of rest.”

Sorli waved a negligent hand. “The hunter who cannot walk the trail is no hunter.”

“It pleases me to hear that. Then the great hunter Sorli is not too tired to talk with Armun.”

Sorli narrowed his eyes as he looked at her, feeling that he was somehow being trapped. “I am not tired.”

“That is good, because my tent is far distant in the snow and there is something there that I must show you.”

Sorli looked around for aid, but there was none. The pipe was being lit again and none of the other hunters were looking his way. “All right, to your tent, but the day is late and there are things to be done.”

“You are very kind to a woman alone.” She did not speak again until they had reached their destination and had entered the tent. She secured the flaps behind him, then she turned about and pointed to the sleeping infant. “That is what I wanted you to see.”

“The baby . . . ?”

“Kerrick’s son. Why did he not return with the rest of you to his son, his tent, return to me? Herilak will not speak of it and turns away. Now you will speak of it.”

Sorli looked about, but there was no escape. He sighed. “Give me water to drink, woman, and I will tell you. There is bad feeling now between Kerrick and Herilak.”

“Here, drink this. I know that—but you must tell me why.”