23 Their Hostility

My hand trembled as I let the parchment slip from my fingers. All the false smiles from the elders back at the gathering stung my eyes. I had been uncomfortable during my rare visits to trade supplies and this knowledge now revealed their contained hostility. What were they whispering behind my back? I had not cared but now the memory pricks me. We were a threat that had cost his life.

The Master had walked into the yard as my mind had become absorbed in my past. He paused a few paces away as he spoke. "Yes", his voice reached me in a solemn tone. "I was there that day. I was not able to save him. Your father charged me to stay away if anything were to happen to him." At first his expression seemed hardly changed. I peered closer to see the lightly furrowed brow and damp eyes. "He sent you away too, didn't he? To save you from his fate?"

My eyes dropped to the ground. Why did he have to cross those that would kill him? Couldn't we have lived our lives away from that evil amongst the gathering? Couldn't we stay silent? But what fruit will my silence bear forth. Must I ally with my captor before me or will I throw my pain to the wind? With my face set to stone again, I slowly knelt before the Master Hunter. I looked up to see him hand me a parchment and ink pen. I returned it with the writing "which course to vengeance?". A mutual glance was exchanged as he held his hand out to me. With a strong grasp he lifted me up to a path which hopes to set my heart at peace.