Mother’s Heart was swollen with Nora who had travelled from as far as Mother’s Crown. Runners had been sent from the Embrace to the outlying settlements, any and all who could leave coming the moment dawn broke, arriving after a full day’s march just as the sun was setting. The matriarchs ordered all the campfires burning brightly and hunters had brought in many boars to roast on spits. While they effectively fed the large number of Nora, Zo was struggling not vomit from the smell.

“It’s worse than Erend’s drunken fry ups.” She gagged.

Kotallo quite enjoyed the meat on a stick but made sure to steer clear of Zo and kept an eye on Erend to make sure he did the same.

The sun was making its final bow when the horn sounded for the Nora to assemble in the meeting place. Erend told Kotallo it was where the ceremony had been performed the night before the disastrous Proving that Aloy had barely survived.

Teersa and the other High Matriarchs were on a stage with lanterns lit around them. When the Nora were gathered, standing room only, she held up her hands and the crowd hushed respectfully.

“First, let me thank you Nora, for heeding the call of the horn and for listening to the urgency of the runners,” she said warmly, “we would not have called some of you so far from your homes if it wasn’t urgent and important. After months of wondering in silence, we have received word from Aloy the Anointed.” There was a surge of excited chatter at this though Kotallo noticed a few grim expressions in the crowd and recognised that not all accepted Aloy’s title and prestige…least of all Aloy herself he thought. “Her message was brought from the united mouths of three separate tribes, the Oseram, the Utaru and the Tenakth.” Teersa gestured to them. “The Anointed faces yet another battle…but one where it is not necessarily strength of arm but strength of mind and will that shall prevail…and she is asking for volunteers to aid her.”

Her hands went up before the listeners could start surging forward.

“Before you lend your aid…hear this. The details of this quest are known to the Matriarchs and we are sworn to secrecy. Only those who volunteer will learn of what it entails but there are some things we can tell you.” Teersa’s eyes were old, watery but kind. “Those who volunteer must travel west with Aloy’s messengers, farther than almost any other Nora has been before.” Kotallo could feel the recoil of the Nora and marvelled at the level of disdain they had for anywhere not within the Sacred Lands, so deep it had to be fed into them as children.

“In order to be permitted to leave the Sacred Lands…and because of the nature of the work…those who volunteer will be made Death Seekers.”

The mood that had been hesitant suddenly turned sombre and heavy. Kotallo could almost hear dozens of hearts clanging to the ground.

A nervous hand rose into the air, shaking in fear that it might be considered a volunteer but desperate to ask a question.

“High Matriarch Teersa, do you mean if we volunteer…we may never return?”

“When you are made a Death Seeker, your soul and spirit is committed to the Embrace so that you will never lose the favour of All Mother,” Teersa explained, “though you will never set foot in the Sacred Lands again.” The silence was deafening…and as heavy as an avalanche. “I would have you know that, if not for the sake of the future of all tribes, including the Nora, we would not have laid this choice before you,” Teersa added, “but your Anointed has called,” Kotallo heard a man with a hard jaw and bitter filled expression sneer and none too discreetly, “and it would be remiss of us not to give you the chance to heed the conviction in your heart at her urging.”

“First she is a motherless curse,” the man who had sneered spoke up angrily, “then her presence at the Proving sees most of our young braves slaughtered! Before we even had the chance to recover, those that hunted her sent dozens of machines into the Embrace, reducing our tribe to the elderly, the infirm and children! Now you’re asking Nora to aid in her quest in the forbidden west, beyond All Mother’s Embrace! This is insanity!”

“Resh,” Jezza said in a warning tone, “you are out of line.”

“Sona,” Resh turned to the dark skinned woman with the downturned mouth, “you lost your daughter to the curse’s madness and your son followed her, abandoning All Mother! You cannot agree with this!”

“You have never spent even one day beyond the Embrace…and if you had, watching what Aloy did, how she cut down those who killed our people and the way she fought at the Spire in Meridian, you would still not be able to comprehend the big picture,” Sona said angrily, “because you are small, petty minded and selfish…and you dishonour my son and daughter with your public opposition.”

Erend leaned towards Kotallo. “Ouch.” He whispered and Kotallo nodded.

“I am not the only one who feels this way!” Resh exclaimed and pointed at Lansra. “Lansra, you opposed Aloy at every turn! You knew she would only harm the tribe! You can’t stand with the High Matriarchs and condone this!”

Lansra’s mouth seemed to be in a permanent downturn of disdain and while she didn’t not agree with Resh, she didn’t oppose him either, remaining silent and taciturn.

“We are in agreement,” Teersa gestured to the three women on the platform, “that the option of a choice be given to the Nora. We will not tell you if you should go or stay. We trust in the conviction of your heart.” A nervous hand shot into the air. “Teb, you had another question?”

Teb swallowed. “Ah…no…I’m volunteering.”

Whispers of surprise rustled across the gathering. Teersa eyed him calmly.

“Are you sure, Teb?”

“You said that Aloy doesn’t just need strength of arm…but of will and mind,” Teb gave a small laugh, “well…we all know I never had it in me to be a brave and I’ve always said, since Aloy saved me when she was just a child, that I would help her one day if I could…today is that day.”

Teersa looked sad and Kotallo could see that, despite her willingness to offer the choice to the Nora, she would feel the loss of every Nora that left.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“I’m volunteering too.” A young woman with hair the colour of ashen straw, braided in a single strand in the middle of her head down her back, said. She had an almost sweet face except for several scars that spoke of physical suffering.

“Nakoa…no…” A young man who looked like her brother, protested. “You’ve only just been allowed back into the Embrace!”

“And while I am grateful to the Matriarchs for welcoming back all who were outcasts…it was because of an outcast that they did so.” Nakoa grasped her brother’s hand. “Yan, I want to help and this time, when I leave the Sacred Lands, you don’t have to fear for me…because my soul will remain here.” He sobbed and nodded.

“Given the severity of the price of a Death Seeker, you will spend tonight in meditation, making sure you want to do this,” Jezza announced, “at dawn any who have come to this decision will meet us here and receive the mark of a Death Seeker before leaving immediately.”

“I guess that’s a hint not to overstay our welcome.” Erend muttered.

The meeting was dismissed, Teb and Nakoa stepping forward to speak with the High Matriarchs. The rest of the Nora actively avoided Kotallo, Erend and Zo as if even getting too close might smear a Death Seeker mark on them.

Teersa left them with the other two and approached their threesome.

“Only two,” she said apologetically, “but if I am honest, I’m surprised there were any at all.”

“What happens now?” Zo asked.

“They will spend the night isolated so they can consider the enormity of what they’re choosing,” Teersa explained, “this means that we cannot tell them to stay and you cannot convince them to go.”

“It makes the choice theirs and theirs alone.” Kotallo nodded.

“Exactly,” Teersa sighed, “if any others arrive at dawn, they will receive the mark also. After that, I must ask you to leave as soon as possible.”

“We’ll be ready.” Erend promised.

“Though I cannot stop you, I ask that you do not explain the exact details of the quest to them until you leave the Sacred Lands.”

“We will honour your request.” Zo bowed.

“Thank you.”

The three of them returned to the lodge they shared.

“We should probably pack up our belongings tonight so that we’re ready to go tomorrow,” Zo remarked, “some of us have spread out a little…”

“And some of us needed to air our clothes a little.” Erend retorted.

“No argument here.” Kotallo murmured.

“What was that?”

“Nothing.”

“I’m going to see what I can trade for food,” Zo announced when they reached the steps of their lodge, “I think the matriarchs would like us out of the Sacred Lands as soon as possible and we’ll only lose time hunting.”

“Make sure you don’t just get leaves and twigs, alright?” Zo huffed and walked away without answering him. Erend looked at Kotallo. “What did I say?”

“If you don’t know, I can’t tell you,” Kotallo said sternly and saw something flicker on Erend’s face, “you do know…don’t you?”

“She’s just all emotional, you know?”

“Zo has seemed emotionally stable,” Kotallo followed him up the steps to the landing, “however, you are acting like an infatuated adolescent.”

Erend turned on him, eyes blazing. “Take that back.”

Kotallo folded his arms. “Make me.”

They glared at each other for a moment before Erend gritted his teeth and turned his head. “I…I dunno how it happened. She’s so damn infuriating that I didn’t see it coming!”

Kotallo raised an eyebrow at Erend’s rant. “Of all people…”

“I know…”

“And Zo…of all people…”

“I know!” Erend groaned and sat down so heavily on the steps the entire lodge jumped. “I know.” He said quietly. “I don’t know what to do…she’s carrying the child of my best friend, for forge’s sake!”

Kotallo eyed the lamenting Oseram then sat down beside him. Night had fallen, the air was crisp and the Nora were escaping to their homes and lodgings, some heading to Mother’s Cradle and Watch while the others, from outside the Embrace, had been given places to stay within Mother’s Heart. A light fall of snow softened all sound, masking their conversation with white.

“Before Varl’s death?”

“I swear on my hammer, no,” Erend insisted, “she and Varl were a perfect fit and I found her frustrating and arrogant and…ugh!” Kotallo let Erend’s words sink into the snow. “After he died…she seemed softer…vulnerable and calm…”

So did you, Kotallo thought but had the presence of mind not to say it.

“We got along, bonded by our mutual grief. I thought travelling all the way east together would test whether or not this was a permanent change…but we got along fine. It wasn’t until we reached Free Heap, Petra’s old stomping grounds, when an Oseram asked if she was free to flirt with, that I realised I was extremely uncomfortable with it.” Erend looked at Kotallo. “Not that Zo couldn’t handle herself and didn’t need me to rebuff them…but the indignation I felt…it was wrong.”

“I see.”

“Honestly I thought the feeling would go as quickly as it came,” Erend explained, shrugging his shoulders, heavily clad with Oseram metal and leather, “I mean, I got over Aloy well enough.” Kotallo looked at him dryly. “Hey, I’ll admit to a pretty substantial crush on her,” Erend nodded, “but I realised that I’m too heavy to keep up with her and I don’t mean I’m…”

“I get it.” Kotallo assured him.

“I don’t think there’s a single man, without pride stuck in his craw, that hasn’t felt some kind of inclination towards her. I mean, there’s Avad for one and I know Varl was doe eyed initially, me…Teb, Morlund back in Las Vagas…” Kotallo cringed, waiting for his name to be said but Erend didn’t mention it. “But then we get over it. I mean, Aloy’s like a sister to me and I guess I hoped that maybe…”

“You would shake off feelings of romantic love and recognise that you care for Zo as a sister.”

“Yeah.” Erend sighed. “I…I’ve been a bit of a brute…and I’ve gotten annoyed at you a couple of times.”

“I noticed the looks.”

“Yeah, sorry,” Erend pushed his fingers through his hair, “I was so relieved when I saw you at Daytower and then you did something nice for Zo and I thought…and then I thought…Oh I don’t know what I’m thinking.” He stood up and grunted. “Just a big, dumb blunt axe falling for the wrong girl all the time.”

“I wish I knew the words to say to help,” Kotallo confessed, “but I do not.”

“Just don’t tell Zo, alright?” Erend begged. “I mean, she already thinks I’m a lug head but we get along for the most part. I don’t want it to get awkward.”

“You have my word.” Kotallo promised.

“Alright…I’m gonna go get my things together before my mess annoys her anymore.”

Kotallo stayed on the step, letting Erend have some space in the lodge. He honestly didn’t know if what Erend felt for Zo could ever be anything more than one sided and Zo was still too close to her grief of losing Varl to see what Erend was feeling.

The sky hadn’t a drop of blue left in it by the time Zo returned to the lodge. She had a pair of bags over her shoulder, laden with produce from the traders in the marketplace. Kotallo watched her come up the path towards the lodge then saw a shadow following. He stood up, pressed against a pillar of wood, blade in his hand as the shadow caught up with Zo. It grasped her arm and she gasped and pulled away, ready to defend herself.

The figure held up their hands then slowly put one inside their cloak, drawing something out. It was handed to Zo who seemed confused rather than alarmed by it. The figure grasped her hand and put it in the Utaru’s grip then darted away, disappearing into the village.

Zo looked down at the gift, turned and walked back to the lodge.

“Zo,” Kotallo said urgently and she looked up, “are you alright?”

“I…yes, I’m fine.” Zo licked her lips. “She didn’t hurt me.”

“Who was it?”

“Sona.” Zo came up the steps, Kotallo taking the bags from her shoulder.

“Parting angry words?”

“No, she said nothing,” Zo held out the gift, “but she gave me this.”

It was a Strider carved from a single piece of wood and a soft doll in a tiny Nora styled tunic with a blue triangle painted over its right eye.

“A child’s toy?”

“I think it was Varl’s.” She trembled. “I don’t think her pride could acknowledge her son’s child, not as a Nora…but as a mother…”

“She wanted to give you something of his for the baby.” Zo shivered and Kotallo urged her inside. “It’s something at least, a connection to him…”

“It is.”