When the shock wore off from what they had just witnessed, Maisen and Daysha readied themselves to leave. In departure, the Chieftain explained that they would need to present a gift to Giovanni.

From the hanging canopy of shimmering treasures that dangled from the ceiling of his hut, the Chieftain retrieved the items. He reached above his head, grasped one of the hanging baubles and with a tug as if picking an apple, snapped the sinew strand which bound it to the roof. The thatching held well, but rattled and set the whole glittering canopy swinging.

As his arm extended for another, an attendant promptly presented him with a blade to cut the strands for less violent results. Five times over, the Chieftain did this without a word. The trinkets lay dwarfed in his open palm, he lifted them one by one to show and explain their use.

"This is copper." He lifted two flat, light-brown circles the size of seashells.

Replacing the two in his palm he showed them one silver token and the other two, "Gold. These are the most valuable. One of these is to go to Giovanni. The other, if you can manage it, should only be given to one whose assistance you will need the most. It’s impossible to know now who that will be, so save this wisely and don’t let on that you have two of them. I’ll also be sending you with some prized skins for Giovanni.”

Maisen confirmed that he knew the way. The following morning, they would follow the river south, cross over the rock cliffs and camp near the Southern Embankment. The Chieftain encouraged an early rest and a ready morning, reminding them that the Southern Embankment would be their last sure taste of water and wooded refuge until they reached their final destination.

The three left the Chieftain’s hut and returned to their own to pack for their journey. They had spent nearly the entire day with the Chieftain and the light of The Chased cut low across the encampment, casting long shadows. By readying themselves tonight, they would be prepared to leave first thing in the morning.

Once they reached their hut, Daysha began packing a torso-length leather bag with duck eggs, cured meat, nuts and dried fruit; all foods that would keep should Maisen’s hunting not suffice.

Keti folded multiple herbs into a binding to be tucked beside the food. Speaking aloud, but mostly to herself she gave an account of each item as she collected them, "To chew for energy." She stowed a bough of richly green, tongue-shaped leaves.

"For sleep. For fever. For bargaining." Flower blossoms, seed pods, and finally, a cluster of spongy mushrooms went one by one into the pouch.

Maisen took to stowing their bedding.

One cup, one shell utensil, and one knife were brought to share, in order to keep their packs as light as possible. Daysha's pack held the Chieftain's gifts to Giovanni, winter tunics for each of them, extra foot bindings, a skin for wine, another for water, and on its underside a bundle of fresh straw strapped with sinew-bound leather straps that held to the pack. The food bag, Maisen explained, would be his to carry in case it attracted animals.

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The three of them bustled about the hut, stripping it of all the bare necessities. Maisen proved to be the most adept at packing for long, arduous journeys. He reminded Keti to stow his flint stones, dusty and stored away as they were, being that most fires in the camp remained burning continually. He had Daysha help him fold and pack a tanned and treated bull hide for shelter.

“We shall hope for nights under the stars, my love,” Maisen winked at Daysha, “but I much prefer this over a bough-covering.”

“If you think we may need it, let’s bring it.” Daysha agreed, repacking Maisen’s loosely stowed bedskins to make more space.

“Keep your foot bindings dry as long as you can,” Keti urged, “Lay them out to be worn again for a day or two. When the straw is too flattened, use it for bedding and add to it collected brush, if you can. Turn it to kindling only as a last resort. Save what you’ve stored for as long as possible. Better to have it and not need it.”

Maisen nodded his head in agreement while he coiled a long hemp rope.

With everything fully packed, the three exchanged tired glances.

“I will be back in the morning to see you off,” Keti embraced Daysha, clinging to her a moment longer than usual. She smiled at Maisen and exited the hut.

Daysha breathed in deeply and Maisen looked at her with a tilted smile. At first, Daysha feared that the night may not be restful at all, with all the anticipation and excitement. But she was quickly relieved to find that all the food, the wine, and the overwhelming bombardment of new information exhausted her to the core. Sleep would come quite easily.

She and Maisen reclined on the bedskins, side by side.

“What a day,” he breathed. They both released nervous chuckles which turned to rolling laughter. The tension of the day erupted from them with joyous emancipation as they gave in to the absurdity of it all.

“Can you believe it, Daysha?” Maisen caught his breath. “It’s all real. They’re not just dreams.”

Daysha laughed from her belly, even as it started to ache, “I know. And the Chieftain. We feasted with the Chieftain today!”

Maisen wiped his eyes, still snickering, “We sat in his presence!”

The two burst out in howls once again. Before today, nothing would have seemed sillier to them. And so they laughed until Daysha’s sides and head ached. They both finally understood what the Chieftain and Giovanni had found so amusing.

“Oh,” she groaned, “This is only the beginning, Maisen…”

“Yes. And it’s all… happening… very quickly,” he puttered through steadying breaths.

“I am nervous,” Daysha admitted.

“Me too.” Maisen reached for her hand.

With gentle assurances they comforted one another. They settled their bodies into the bedskins beneath them. Heaviness in their eyelids overtook each of them in turn and, before long, they drifted off to sleep.