“This way, if you please Honoured Pathwalkers,” an Unevolved prompts us shortly after we have exited and rejoined our party of Warriors and my other Bound. He leads us through the moonlit village to a hut off to the side.

  “Do you think your sister Pathwalker will mind me making some changes?” I ask Beast-tamer who joined us in our departure.

  “If they are easily reversible by her, I would imagine not,” Beast-tamer answers with a shrug of her tail. “If they are reversed before she is even aware of them, I expect that she won’t even complain about it.”

  I nod unconsciously. Good – this hut might be suitable for samurans, but won’t be comfortable for most of my Bound. The raptorcats would be fine, but Fenrir struggles with any sort of jump, and the entrance is too small for Lathani or the kiinas. Pride is a bit big too, especially with that sail on his back, though he can lower it if he chooses.

  Sinking my magic into the earth, I’m surprised when there’s more resistance than usual. I wasn't expecting to have the same reaction as I do at home since I haven't built a relationship with this area. Nonetheless it's even more difficult than when I start a new area. I have to put it down to the fact that there is another Earth-Shaper here who has already built a relationship with the earth. It's interesting that I didn't experience that even where Kalanthia had connected with the earth, though. Perhaps it's because of the better relationship between me and Kalanthia. I don't know this Earth-Shaper and, honestly, I didn't take to her in the discussion.

  Even if there is more resistance than I expected, I still manage to reshape the hut easily enough. I've barely used my magic all day so I've got plenty of mana reserves. I make a slope into the hut itself to help those of my Bound like Fenrir and then make the entrance far larger to allow the bigger creatures to enter. I make the hut itself far more extensive too because between the seven Warriors, five Pathwalkers, five kiinas, and the rest of our assorted force, the original size was far too small to be comfortable.

  Beast-tamer watches me in undeniable interest. When I finish my task, she wastes no time in asking me questions.

  “Is that an ability of one of your beasts that you're borrowing?” she asks.

  “No,” I answer shortly. Curiosity obliges me to ask a follow-up question to her own. “Can you borrow abilities from your Bound?”

  “Within limits,” she admits. “Though, I've never been able to copy a magical ability such as Earth-Shaping.”

  Which implies that she might be capable of something similar to what I can do with Transformation. I wonder if she could give me any tips. She seems to be thinking the same.

  “Is it true what I've heard that you're capable of taming even members of the People?” I don't like the look in her eyes. The same greedy gleam that I had seen in them in the Pathwalker meeting hut has reappeared.

  “It's true,” I admit. I don't see any reason why not to. It's well known among those who went to the Festival that the reason I was able to take such a large party with me was because they were all Bound to me. Though, I do wonder how Beast-tamer knows about this as she wasn't present at the Festival. And, thinking about it, how did they know we had killed a Tier 3 before? Perhaps samuran gossip chains are better than I thought they were. Are there inter-village trading routes?

  “Would you be willing to teach me?” the samuran asks avariciously.

  “I can't,” I answer her truthfully. I don't add that even if I could I wouldn't: I have no desire for that particular ability to be used more widely. She looks disappointed.

  “Perhaps if you show me how you do it I could learn,” she suggests.

  “I doubt it,” I answer shortly. “You may have noticed that I'm not a typical samuran.”

  She lets out a few grunting chuckles which almost make me reluctantly like her – just a little, though. I finish the transformation of the hut and prompt my Bound to go inside. Windy, of course, takes the lead as she always insists on doing. The other samurans follow her and then are followed in my turn by my Bound. At that I hear an odd noise from Beast-tamer next to me.

  “You let your beasts sleep inside with you?” she asks with incredulity in her voice. “And with the other Pathwalkers? Like they are as good as one of us?” The questions are not terribly surprising given what I know about samuran culture, but at the same time they completely negate any hint of amicable feeling that I’d felt blooming towards her.

  “They're my family,” I answer brusquely, “and in my eyes they are as good as any of the samurans.” I want to say, but refrain from adding: in some cases better. Certainly I would take Bastet over ten of Windy. She might not have the same power as the Tier three samuran but she's a good sight more reliable. And frankly if I've learned nothing else it's that having someone at your side who you can rely on is far better than having someone powerful at your side who you can't. Beast-tamer looks rather dubious so I don't pursue that line of conversation any further. “I believe your assistant was sent with the messenger to join us in our Village,” I say, segueing into a new topic. “I hope his loss won't tax you too much.”

  “Bares-claws?” she responds, “He was a good assistant and I will miss him but I can find another easily enough. Honestly I was considering replacing him anyway,” she continues, a little callously I have to think when I know what that would have meant for the samuran in question. “I had high hopes for him but ultimately he was a little too soft with his beasts for my tastes.”

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  “What do you mean?” I ask, frowning.

  “He coddled the creatures a bit too much. I'm sure you would agree that a firm hand is needed to control beasts with different agendas and different desires than your own. The two beasts he brought with him? I gave him the chance to try to create a Bond with them himself. It was a bit of a test, you see. Even for an Unevolved with no magic of their own, it's possible to create a nascent Bond with a beast who is handled correctly. The ability to do so is a good indicator that upon reaching Pathwalker status, that person may themselves become a Beast-tamer.”

  “From what I saw, he succeeded,” I comment, choosing not to let on that I know that that isn’t exactly true.

  The Pathwalker grunts briefly in amusement.

  No. His soft-handed handling failed to create any Bond more magical than anyone else could create. I had to create the Bond myself.” She looks up at the moon for a moment, scratching at her throat scales before she lowers her chin and looks at me again. That said, she continues thoughtfully, I was able to transfer the Bond to him which isn’t something I’ve ever succeeded in before. Have you ever transferred a Bond before?

  “I haven’t tried,” I admit. “But I don’t think it would work.”

  Beast-tamer grunts again.

  Well, you’re welcome to try on my erstwhile assistant. He might be good for that if nothing else. She shrugs with her tail. Anyway, his failings meant that when Earth-former asked for volunteers to give up an assistant to offer as a gift for your village, I was willing to give up mine. There are no lack of Unevolved who wish to become a Pathwalker's assistant after all.”

  I don't like the implications of what Beast-tamer is saying and honestly, I think that Bares-claws has had a lucky escape. He will do far better in our village than he obviously would have in this one.

  “Let us turn our attention to the threat facing your village,” I say, changing the topic again. “Earth-former indicated that you would have a better idea of the Beast than she did.”

  “My scouts have indicated that it is much like three of the creatures you have tamed.”

  I frown.

  “Three of the creatures I have tamed? What? The beasts we rode in on?”

  “No, not them. The beasts with wings and four taloned feet,” she describes. My eyebrows shoot up.

  “Like Bastet?” I ask with incredulity.

  “I know not what you call them,” she answers, “and why you honour them with names I do not understand, but you have one Evolved of the species and two Unevolved from what I have seen. Similarly the pack which threatens us seems to consist of multiple Unevolved, a few Evolved, and the one Great beast.”

  It sounds more and more like this is a pack of raptorcats. I can't help thinking about the raptorcat matriarch that we encountered four months ago. But that was at least one other mountain away. What would have brought her this close? Abruptly, I wonder if her pack has once more started suffering from some type of illness and that they are searching for me – but perhaps that is a little egocentric. More likely this is not her at all and the pack is here for some completely unconnected business.

  Well, if it is raptorcats then we may find them easier to deal with than if it had been some completely unfamiliar beast. At least, the matriarch we encountered was easy enough to negotiate with when we realised that each of us had something the other wanted. Honestly, if we can resolve this issue without conflict I would prefer it. I feel great desire to be out of this place and back in our Village.

  “Will you be joining us tomorrow when we go to scout?” I ask the other Pathwalker.

  “Not precisely,” Beast-tamer answers. “My sisters are correct in saying that I am necessary for the defence of my village. However, I will send a few of my beasts with you to keep an eye on things. In need, you can call to them for assistance. But I wouldn’t suggest getting too close – everything I have observed of this creature and its pack indicate that it’s highly dangerous. Best to kill it quickly and from as far away as possible.”

  “I see,” I answer dubiously. Frankly, I don't mind the initial exploration being done without the presence of any of the local samurans. In fact, I’d be happy to not even have her beasts along. I can't shake off this sense that something is wrong and I would rather not have them where they could create trouble for me. I don't know why they would choose to do so of course – if they hadn't wanted my help they wouldn't have sent a messenger to ask for it. But all the same I'll be glad not to have them there unless their presence really is necessary. I'm even second-guessing my resolution to have a party of their samurans take part in the fight, if it comes to that. But I decide not to borrow trouble. Tomorrow will tell us whether conflict is an inevitability or not. Because no matter what Beast-tamer says, I’m not going to just attack first, ask questions later.

  After a few more words and a polite farewell, the other Pathwalker and I part company. I head into the hut and sit next to the small fire that one of my companions has created. It fills the hut with a welcome warmth and flickering light.

  “What do you think about our illustrious hosts?” I ask my companions. They shift and look at each other as if none of them wishes to speak first.

  I've known Ghost for many great cycles, though I do not know her well, offers Windy after a long pause and without her usual pomposity. Instead she seemed more thoughtful than anything else. She appeared…uneasy. As if something was bothering her.

  They all did, adds Dusty quietly.

  “Their village is faced with a threat,” I point out, playing Devil's Advocate. “Perhaps it is that which is bothering them.”

  Perhaps, agreed Dusty doubtfully. I don't blame her. Although everything on the surface seems correct, it appears I'm not the only one with instincts which are screaming at me.

  Perhaps we can speak to the Warriors tomorrow, suggests Catch. Maybe they would know more about what could be the reason for the Pathwalkers’ unease besides the obvious threat.

  “It's a good idea,” I agree. “We don't need to take everyone on the scouting mission anyway. I could take a smaller group with me – most of the non-samuran Bound – and the rest of you could investigate and find out what you can from our hosts. Pathwalkers, you can try to get the other Pathwalkers individually and try to squeeze them for information. Warriors, you try to talk to the other Warriors and any Unevolved who might be willing to communicate with you. They may know more than they should from overhearing or seeing something.”

  After a little more conversation in which the Warriors express their dissatisfaction with me going practically on my own into a dangerous situation, accompanied only by non-samuran Bound, we settle on our plan. I will take Catch and Poison with me of the samurans and the Pathwalkers and other Warriors will stay here.

  Plans made, it's time for us to sleep. But whether it’s the discussion or the unfamiliar surroundings, I find it takes me a long time to drop off.

  here!

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