The burning sun scorched the landscape in the southern border of the Dominara. A hot gust of wind kicked up a pocket of sand over a dune. In the shadow of this particular dune, there lay a cluster of colorful cloths fastened over structures. The tattered cloth from the tallest building flapped in the wind like a war torn battle flag. The heat rose off the sand at such a high tempurature, that Leto could feel airflow of the heat rising into his clothes. His calloused feet were more than enough to insulate him from the assault, but still, he wore thin leather wraps as an extra barrier of protection.

His walk was purposeful. A few of the dwellers were sitting outside of the largest tent, apparently on guard. They were entertaining themselves with a game which consisted of a cloth and three differently colored stones. As Leto marched closer, one of them took note, and stood quickly to acknowledge the battle-master. The other two noticed and quickly followed suit.

"Where is Uthgar?" Leto commanded more than questioned. The first soldier gestured toward the opening of the tent, and before he had a chance to turn back towards Leto, Leto was already though the door.

It took a moment for his eyes to adjust, but when they did, he found Uthgar sitting in meditation on the ground. He moved about the tent quietly, but still took the initiative to refill his canteen at the sight of fresh water on a table. He took a long, bubbling drink from his canteen, and filled it once more. The water wasn't cold, nor even cool, but even tepid water was a godsend at this place. Leto longed for the day when he could kill King Ector of the Dominara and restore his peoples back to their rightful land. Uthgar rose and regarded Leto in a way a father may regard a son after a long anticipated homecoming. They bowed and embraced. 

"Uthgar," Leto said before returning to his water. Uthgar nodded in response. Leto scanned the old warrior's face with a compassionate intent. It was a common practice for the dwellers to regard each other with compassion when they were about to engage in a meaningful conversation. This opens up the heart, and with an open heart, comes an open mind. With an open mind, you learn much more than you would with a narrow viewpoint. At least that's what the elders had always taught. Leto took a cleansing breath.

"A betrayer has fallen at the hands of the dommies," he said. It came out more flat than he had intended, but he continued, "Brutal murder. He was beaten to death."

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Uthgar studied a small decoration swinging from the ceililng of the tattered tent for a short while before responding.

"His name?" He asked.

"Jarovi."

Uthgar took a deep breath with his eyes shut. He looked peaceful, but even one as enlightened as him was not immune to the pain it could have brought him. The room was dead quiet, save for the wind blowing against the tent walls. Leto respected Uthgars moment of silence.

Finally Uthgar said, "We will prepare for a ceromony when we reach the foothills. Until then, reflect deeply on the matter, and come up witha plan of action."

"Reflect deeply?" Leto raged. "My brother was murdered at the hands of a dommie who was sworn to protect him!"

Uthgar made not reaction to Letos momentary loss of control, which helped Leto regain his composure. He waited for Leto to take a mindful breath before responding.

"Murdered, accidental death, old age, none of that matters. He is one with the wind and the trees now."

Leto thouoght about it for a moment. He knew Uthgar was right. He still felt angry with the Dominara folk. Even though Jarovi was a betrayer to his people, he only did so because he thought that was the best thing to do at the time. Jarovi had a vision and he acted upon it, and it took much reflection and pondering by Leto to come to the conclusion that regardless on whther or not he agreed with his brother's decision, he had to accept it. He felt proud that his brother had a vision to reshape the culture of the Dominara kind. He also felt shamed to have been associated with one of the betrayers of the tribes. Leto knew that the general population of the tribe did not care what a betrayers intentions were. They judged betrayers on their actions. By leaving the tribe to assosiate with the very people who pushed their ancestors out of the land, they had forever shamed their tribe. It was a regarded as a sign of weakness to leave the exodus of the peoples to settle with the dommies, plowing their fields, cleaning their houses, and raising their children.

It was true, the majority of betrayers did so out of cowardice. Most simply grew tired of living off the land, in a land that was not suitable to live off of. So they opted for the easy way out. But not Jarovi. Jarovi was influencial. Jarovi was powerful. Jarovi had a vision to change the dommies, the way the dommies sought to change the dwellers. But all of that was over now. Jarovi would never reach his goal. The betrayer was betrayed.

"Come back to me, son." Uthgard said in a gentle tone. It was all that was needed. Leto was instantly back to his breath. He took a deep, cleansing breath. In through his nostrils. Out through his mouth. When Uthgar was sure that Leto was grounded once again, he reiterated, "After you've reflected much, tell me what you plan to do."

Leto looked Uthgar directly into his eyes and vowed, "I'm going to destroy Jarovi's killer."

Uthgar watched with a tinge of sadness as Leto vanished from the tent opening in the flutter of cloth which draped over the doorway. Then he sat down upon his meditation cushion, closed his eyes and breathed deep. In through his nostrils. Out through his mouth.