The flap of the structure they were in flew open, and an older man with white streaked in his grey hair entered.

"It's been long enough, Kymir," He said as if The injured girl lying before him wasn't even there.

"I know!" She exclaimed. "But she was hurt and-"

"It's been long enough!" He said in an authoritarian tone of voice. "I will expect her in the square shortly." He turned his back to them and strode out of the tent.

His abrupt visit stunned Kiela. "Who in the name of Eursa was that?" She asked.

Kym glanced at her in sympathy. "I'm sorry." She said with a note of regret in her voice. "I delayed for as long as I could."

"Delayed what?" Kiela asked, but Kym ignored her.

"You'll be gone!" Kym wailed. "Dead by morning! I'll never have another friend again!"

"What?" Kiela gasped. Panic rose in her. She jumped out of the bed, wild with the fear of being trapped that every wild thing possesses, but collapsed in pain.

Kym stared at her, startled into silence. "Please, Kym." Kiela gasped. "I'll be your friend. Just tell me what is going to happen to me."

Kym nodded. "When ever a new person comes to our Kithna, they are tested to see if they are worthy of being granted a home here. Jarvosk creates a task for them to do."

Kiela nodded. That didn't sound too bad. "What's wrong then?" she asked, confident in her ability to outlast anything that they gave her.

"He is sick, Kiela." Kym breathed. "His mind is twisted. He spends his time coming up with the most horrible things he can for a person to endure. We get so few visitors that the task is often terrible. When I was but five years of age he put a hot coal on top if the visitor's shoe. He watched an laughed all day while it burned down to his foot. The man still has the scar. He also forced a woman to sleep the night hanging from a tree by her feet."

Kiela filled with horror. "Who is this man?" She asked.

"You saw." Kym replied. "He is the man who entered the tent earlier.

---

Squinting at the bright sunlight, Kiela stepped out of the building for the first time in five days. The people they passed glanced at her curiously as she passed.

"Bow your head." Kym commanded.

"No!" Kiela growled back. "To bow is to submit." She glared defiantly at anyone looked too hard.

Kym made as if to reply, and then thought better of it.

"I should tell you about the chief" she said. "He is vey wise and kind, and tries to do the best for his people. Beware though, he angers quickly. You are not unlike him in that regard." She kicked at the grass with one of her feet.

"How do you know so much about him?" Kiela asked suspiciously.

"Because he is my father." She answered. "Now stop talking."

A thousand questions on her tongue, Kiela hurried forwards. Father? Is that a...a...parent? She thought.

They entered a cleared area in the centre of the village. Like spokes radiating from a wheel, so paths radiated form this centre area. near the middle there was a raised area on which stood a man seated in a chair. Jarvosk stood, stone faced, behind him. A crowd of people gathered underneath it, murmuring and gossiping with each other. Their chatter was a far cry from the ways of Kiela's people, who were always silent when gathered together. She felt the noise to be disconcerting.

Jarnvosk leaned forward to speak to the man who was seated. His dark hair spilled over his face and hid his heavy features in shadow. When Kiela was younger, one of her child-friends had traced the outlines of her eyes to try and imitate the dark lidded gaze of the elder Marin. They had played around imitating him for days, but the unbeknownst to them the charcoal had given them angry rashes under their eyes.

Looking at Jarnvosk, Kiela was reminded of the way that the charcol had make her eyes look. Jarnvosk's eyes were like that. They looked as though they had been outlined in black. His long, dark hair was held back from his eyes by a band, but his bangs were left free. His skin was slightly darker then hers, but not as if it was tanned, but as if it ha been covered in black powder. Handsome he was, but in a cruel and haughty manner.

The man in the chair stood up, and Kiela realized that this was the chief, Kym's...father?

"My people!" He exclaimed. A hush fell over those watching. "Today a new child joins us. She came injured and weak, but now is strong from her care."

His gaze shifted to Kym. "Kymir Wildheart, have you nursed her to full health and agility?"

Kym bowed her head. She turned to Kiela. "I'm so sorry." She whispered, so quietly Kiela almost missed it. "Yes." She replied in a strong and clear voice. "I have nursed her to her full strength. From my care she is now as she once was."

The cheif nodded to her. "Very well. Jarnvosk?" The man stepped forward. "Have you decided a task?"

Kiela's heart pounded and a wave on anxiety washed over her.

"Yes." Jarnvosk replied. "I have."

With no mention of what the task was, the cheif spoke again.

"Leave all of you from this place. In four days' time you will either have another member of our tribe or an expulsion."

The people walked away, chatting merrily as if nothing wrong had happened.

Kym yanked Kiela's hand and pulled her up onto the platform. "Chief Samah, Jarnvosk, this is Kiela." Kiela had told herself that she would never bow before anyone, but faced with the two stern visages of the men she was forced to incline her head. She ground her teeth, hating every moment of her submission.

Jarnvosk stepped forwards. "Well," he said. "There is no reason to delay. Your task will begin immediately." He handed her a glass of clear liquid, which she sniffed suspiciously. His eyes flared, as though she had just confirmed something for him. "Drink this."

"What is it?" Kiela asked, but the two men ignored her question.

"Father, what is her task?" Kym asked. Jarnvosk smiled, a terrible, gleeful expression.

"She'll find out soon," He responded, voice as cold as snow. "Now drink up."

Kiela raised the flask to her lips and took two gulps of the icy liquid. It tasted sharp, like pine needles, and burned her throat as she swallowed.

Suddenly, the world began to swim around her, and she swayed on her feet.

"Kiela?" Kym asked, her voice high pitched and panicky.

The world seemed to slow down, an Kiela's eyes slid shut. She crumpled to the ground, and everything went black.