“What?” Dun asked, his expression serious. He looked around for a moment, realizing this might be a conversation better had in private. He held up a hand towards Fari, motioning towards his nearby tent before calling out orders to the rest of his clan.

  He started to send a messenger to Fui, to ask for Kos, but Fari shook her head, quickly saying she already summoned him. Nodding an acknowledgment Dun ordered his clan to stop preparations for the moment and to bring Kos the moment he arrived, before leading Fari and company towards the large tent that Dun claimed as his own.

  They entered the spacious tent, setting themselves down around its cozy fire. As he sat with Maria and Doron at his side, Tirr noticed that Fari’s daughter and the other warrior that had participated in the Clangang had both come as well. Koti smiled at him hesitantly, before turning as Dun questioned Fari once again.

  “What do you mean Rev’s disappeared?” He asked his voice ending in a slight growl as he sat legs crossed with his hands clenching his knees.

  Fari didn’t react to his obvious anger, looking more annoyed than anything as she sighed. “I mean he’s gone… Took his clan and left, plus it seems like he dragged that fool Onos with him too because Jacta left as well. We can talk more about it once Kos arrives…”

  “Is this a normal way to react to losing in a Clangang?” Tirr cut in sarcastically… making the two clan leaders even more dour…

  “No,” Fari finally answered him, “This is unprecedented. In all of the records, I’ve never read of a fool like this… The ancestors must be weeping that their blood runs through the body of one so pathetic….”

  Dun huffed, “You were the one on his side until last night…”

  The older woman glared at him, “Havo stands on the side of tradition! As keepers of the ancestor’s records, it’s our duty! You followed the traditions and won the Clangang according to the ancestor's wishes, so I have no complaints… Do you think I’m actually the same as Rev?”

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  The former mercenary shook his head, “No… We all knew he was a rat, using traditions as an excuse… Now he’s just finally shed all pretenses…” He called for some drinks as they waited for Kos, occasionally complaining about Rev’s stupidity and bickering with Fari for encouraging him even temporarily.

  Tirr had listened to them for a while as they argued over how much progress was good for the tribe when Koss and a couple of his clansmen arrived. The giant came in, breathing somewhat heavily as he came to the fire, “So the little weasel finally ran for it huh?” He laughed as he sat down.

  Fari immediately frowned and Dun launched into another round of muttered curses… Kos chuckled at their antics before suddenly turning serious… “So, what do we know?”

  The air around them grew heavy, Fari sighed as she spoke, this time giving more details as the clans available had gathered. “One of my clan members reported they were gone this morning... Both clan Krawl and Jacta must have packed up and moved last night or before dawn…”

  “Someone just happened to go by?” Dun asked knowing the answer already.

  Fari sent him a glare before explaining, “I sent them to make sure Rev wasn’t planning anything stupid, even I didn’t think he’d act that fast… When my runner arrived, the only thing they found was a short message saying that they couldn’t abide by the insult to the ancestors and were leaving…She snorted, “like Rev’s even read any of the records!”

  “So,” Kos started, then Krawl and Jacta have officially betrayed the Tribe, correct?” Both Fari and Dun went silent, their lips drawn tight…

  Seeing their expressions, Tirr grew curious, “What's the punishment for betraying the tribe?”

  “If I recall correctly…” Kos continued seeing Fari’s continued silence, “If the whole tribe participated, then they’re banished, and in some cases executed…”

  “No…” Fari said finally, “That was only once, and when a clan attacked another during the Moot. Rev might have runoff, but he hasn’t gone that far officially yet…”

  Dun nodded, for now, we need more information… Any idea where he’s going?”

  “Not for sure, but from my runners have reported their heading up the old mountain, into the sacred grounds…”

  The words send a chill down Tirr’s spine, his mind suddenly blank, “The sacred grounds?” he asked almost robotically.

  “Ah, that’s what it looked like,” Answered Fari, “Who knows where they might be intending to go after that though…”

  Tirr turned towards Dun, suddenly desperate, “That’s not the same place we went to right?”

  Realization seemed to dawn on Dun and Maria… The warrior nodded as he watched Tirr’s expression, feeling his own chills as he thought back to their trip up the mountain….

  Seeing the confirmation, Tirr suddenly stood, “We have to go!”