Bikendi had been out checking his traps, he had set them the other day for something to do, rather then for a dire need for meat, without a wife to care for, and no other family to feed he often hunted not for himself, but for the tribe stores. Quite a lot of hil kills went to Ekain, as his friend and leader was rarely able to hunt for himself, which was a shame as the man was a born hunter.


He had never been jealous of Ekain, despite the fact that the man not only had the kind of jainko that Bikendi had always dreamed of, but as Warlord had been able to marry for love, not once but twice. When Nekane had been taken the man’s anger and fury had been like the wrath of Egzuki, some might whisper that he had overreacted when he killed off the chief, but Bikendi had understood, the loss of his best friends sister and wife had been more then just a personal blow, but a loss for the tribe. She was more of a healer then Aitor was, and even though they were at peace now, her skills were always in demand.


It had not taken long for him to collect his kills, and reset the traps. His traps rarely let the animal escape or were triggered without a kill. Some said it was just luck, but Nekane had said that he was more like his Jainko then people thought. The armiarma* spirit, that guided him gave him a quiet strength that was far less showy then the spirit animals of other warriors. When he returned to the camp, he deposited his kill, into the cold cellar-like storage area cut into the earth to help keep the meat cold and fresh until it could be smoked or turned into jerky, which was the easiest way to store meat long term. As he exited the storage area he heard a whisper of conversation between two women. IT seemed as though Ekain had up and left the came to patrol, after leaving Maite’s side. Concern for his friend zinged through him, he had never liked the viper like woman in the first place, but had hoped she would make Ekain happy.


He reached the surround and called out to his horse a sharp series of whistles pierced the air. The large dark shape of his mare detached herself from the herd and thundered toward him.. “Bittori, biholtz nerune**, shall we go after him then love?” he asked her softly knowing that she would gladly take any excuse to run. He tangled his fingers in her mane and pulled his body up on top of her even as she began to move forward picking her way through the camp. He knew if he turned toward the border Bittori would find Ekain. That always seemed to be the way of things.

* Spider spirit
** My own heart.

Ekain wasn't very far out. He was going at an easy pace, taking the time to think things through. Because of it, he hadn't even been riding a day when he first noticed he was being followed. Either someone had amazing information on his movements and was coming to ambush him, or it was someone from his camp. He brought Sendoa to a halt near a stream, letting him drink as he slowly circled around. His pursuit would think him taking a break and try and approach him, hopefully without it being noticed that they themselves were being approached.

Bow in hand, he made a wide arcing semi-circle as he slipped past his target, whomever it was, slipping in behind them while careful to remain downwind. Just as when he'd been hunting with Miren, his body moved with a lithe, feline grace as he prowled the woods, circling behind the target. He knocked an arrow, but didn't draw yet as he got closer still. As soon as he parted the foliage to gaze at the one who'd been following him, he grinned. Bikendi was never fond of getting snuck up on, mostly because it was such a rare thing. There were very few of the Ekaini that could outhunt him, but Ekain was one of the select few who held that capability. Quietly he drew the arrow back in his bow, sighting very carefully.

It was true he was better with an axe than the bow, but that was active combat. In hunting--and, consequently, the rather similar skill of ambushing--He ranked among the best. Tracing the path of Bikendi, he waited until the angle was juuuuust right.

Letting go of the string, his bow twanged and the bronze-tipped missile hurled right for him, whistling just past his face to slam into the tree directly beside him.

"You know," He spoke afterwards quickly, so as not to be mistaken for someone trying to kill him, "I'm going to keep doing this 'warning shot' thing until you learn how to find me first..."

He stepped clear of his covering foliage, slinging the bow across his back, an easy grin on his face. Bikendi, like a brother to him, was one of the few he could be playful with. He needed to be serious in front of most warriors, but Bikendi was one of his finest and most trusted, and one he considered a good friend. As he approached the warrior, his gait relaxed and his posture relatively unstressed, he waited until they were close before speaking again.

"What brings you out this way? Jainko feeling a bit restless, or were you worried about me as usual?" His gaze suddenly grew serious, his eyes solidifying from teasing to concerned. "Or is there something wrong at the camp?"

It was a good thing that he actually had a purpose for setting out of camp, because otherwise with the light wind and the sun shining down on his back Bikendi would have like as not become distracted. As it was he was more focused on the road ahead then he was on the things going on around him. Searching for Ekain was always easier for him then for many of the tribes warriors, some would say it was just that the two were closer then brothers, and Bikendi seemed to always know where to find his friend. In truth it was the fact that unlike most of the warriors Bikendi rode a mare, and not just any mare, but the herds head mare. Bittori with her beautiful coloring and sweet temperament had always been his favorite from the moment he had helped her into this world, when he was on foal watch with Ekain several years ago. She had far more of a heart for battle then some of the high-strung beasts the others rode, and with her, he could always find Ekain, as Bittori was drawn toward Sendoa like a moth to an open flame.


Perhaps he should have been paying more attention, perhaps he had allowed himself to become distracted by the warmth of the day, and the relaxation of sharing that time with Bittori. Or perhaps it was just the fact that Ekain was that good. His eyes widened when the arrow sped past his face. He hadn’t needed Ekain’s voice to know it was him. He would recognize the fletching of the arrow any where. Bikendi chuckled as he brought Bittori to a halt.


“A warning shot? I thought your skills had just dulled so much you missed me.” Bikendi grinned, before he continued quickly. “Nothing is wrong at the camp Jaunko,” Putting Ekain’s mind at ease, as he turned and watched his friend exit the foliage. He swung down from his horses back and stood in front of his friend, his face concerned. “So what exactly has driven you out of the camp to brood?” He rarely stood on ceremony with his friend when they were alone, no matter how serious he could be when there was work to be done.

Ekain let loose a chuckle at his friend's comeback, quicking a thick brow.

"If my skills have dulled, what does that say about your own if I still caught you guard?" He smirked as he listened to his friend speak, nodding in acceptance of the fact that nothing was wrong at camp, that it was instead a personal visit. He mulled over what to tell his rather forward friend, and eventually decided to be honest. After all, Bikendi was perhaps one of his closest friends and confidantes.

"It's just...this marriage, with Maite. The advisers pressed me into it, telling me I had little choice and that I needed an heir. At the time I saw their point, and I believed that I could make things work with her; that somehow we could be honest with each other and the love would come in time...but the more time we spent together the more apparent it became.

"It wouldn't work with her. She hides her emotions. She's not very honest about what she thinks or feels, she fakes interest in me...despite her beauty I just felt that it was wrong. That there was nothing between us except for physical attraction. So I'm annulling it." He sighed, hanging his head, feeling somewhat like a failure.

What kind of leader am I, if I lose one of my wives, can't make one of the others interested in me...?

"I just needed some time away from her and her expectations--and, perhaps, her disappointment and anger--while I come out and patrol the border, showing my face to the men I ask to guard out here and bolster their faith in me. A good leader would never ask his men to do something he would not be willing to do himself were the roles reversed."

He knew he was quoting an adage that Bikendi knew as well as he, but he felt like it needed saying...he was searching for a way to tell himself he was a good leader. It wasn't something he had heard much, recently.

“It says I’m getting old, that is what it says” Bikendi laughed and shook his head ruefully at his friends quip. He knew he was afforded more liberties then most would be given due to their long friendship. However, he also knew that there would be and had been times when his friend could not talk to him about what was troubling him. This did not seem to be one of those times though.

He listened to Ekain speak and nodded. Bikendi knew the circumstances that Maite had gone through before joining the tribe as Ekain’s wife, and yet he had watched as she tried to smile and fake joy, when it was obvious she was anything but happy. He had hoped, and was sure they all had hoped that she would at least share that pain with her husband, but it seemed as though their hopes had been in vain. To his friend however the blow must have been doubly hard, coming on the tail of Nekane’s loss.

“You are doing what is best for you, and although she may no know it now it is ultimately what will be best for Maite. She’ll get to return to her son, and for any mother that is probably the thing she craves most. Her pride is wounded now, but it will heal. Try not to let his get to you…my joke about being old aside, there is plenty of time for an heir. If the elders feel the need to push the idea of more wives on you again then this time you choose the new candidates, or ask Miren to select ones she thinks would mesh well, or Nekane when we get her back… and we will get her back.” He said shooting his friend a look. It really was not like him to mope, even this much; he was usually far more contained.

“I doubt there is much need to bolster other’s faith in you Jaunko, but I suppose there is nothing wrong with keeping a closer eye on the border tribes.” Especially considering that it had been one of them that had given Nekane away so easily. Bikendi had never thought he would have ever witnessed such rage as had flowed through his leader when he had been informed.

At Bikendi's words Ekain growled in frustration, wishing for a moment he had something or someone to hit. That damned Interloper King would do nicely, but alas, he wasn't present.

"I keep telling myself I'm doing whats best, but then I wonder how 'best' it truly is...if what I'm doing is honestly the right thing. I know I'm being selfish in wishing for a connection with my brides rather then simply bedding them to produce an heir and then leaving them be...I know the importance of securing a line, and yet I find myself wishing to mate with women I truly love and understand. It wasn't that there was a lack of attraction, Maite is indeed a beautiful woman...I just...I don't know, I need more." He sighed and shook his head, laughing quietly to himself. "I must sound crazy." He moved back over to Sendoa, replacing his bow and quiver, partially to conceal the look of pain that danced across his visage at mention of his missing sister-wife.

He was by far the most unguarded around Bikendi then with any of his other subordinates, partially because Bikendi was one of the strongest and most reliable men in the village, and one of Ekain's oldest friends. Even still, there were some things he didn't wish for Bikendi to see, part of which was how deeply wounded he was by Nekane's disappearance. Oh of course everyone knew he was displeased, that had been clear when he'd slain the man responsible for handing over one of the Ekaini's most prized Shamanesses. But none knew exactly how deeply losing her had affected him, and he didn't intend for any to find out, not even Bikendi.

"I just know that on the border, away from the main camp, it can get lonely and sometimes the people out here can lose their way, so to speak...I wish to ensure they continue to walk Eguzki's proper path...though witnessing the situation with the border tribes is also a reason for this visit...as much for the morale of our own people as to check on those who so openly despise us."