"Greetings, Elder Routh," a middle-aged man bowed. Routh nodded. Mateo and Isabella followed behind him.
Heads turned as Routh walked straight into the center of the gathering. The two muscular men dragging Merchant Griford froze.
"Elder!" Griford began, but Routh raised a hand.
"No need, Merchant Griford." He turned to Granny Mo. "Both of you are members of the trading post. I will settle this matter here."
Routh took out three pieces of Nash Silver and pressed them into Granny Mo's palm. She tried to refuse.
"Elder, I'm not stone-hearted. I already have my money back."
He insisted with a gentle smile. After some convincing, she accepted.
Elder Routh dispersed the crowd. He asked Merchant Griford some questions as if he was confirming something.
"Mateo, Isabella, please escort Merchant Griford to the shrine," Routh ordered. Then he looked at the merchant. "Your situation is understandable, but you have still disgraced our ancestors and the Venerable's teachings. That can't be overlooked."
The muscular men untied Griford's wrists. Griford regained his freedom.
"Go and repent. With the information you've given me, I will handle this personally and make sure your wife and child are returned safely."
With that, Mateo, Isabella, and Merchant Griford left the trading post and headed toward the shrine that sat atop a gentle hill at the northeastern edge of Amala.
The couple walked beside the older man, feeling painfully awkward.
The path from the marketplace to the shrine was surrounded by a breathtaking forest; towering trees on the right-hand side stood along Third Igarape. Beautiful birds with multiple colors sang beautiful songs capable of chilling a dying man.
By the time they reached the shrine hill, dusk had settled. Two figures were descending the stone steps: an elderly man and a young man. They were both dressed in white robes, each with a black belt coiling around the waist.
"Well, if it isn't the one and only Amala's favorite birds." The young man welcomed them with a smile.
"Brat, greet the guest first," the elderly man said. He looked at Griford. "Merchant Griford? You don't look well. Isabella, Mateo, what happened?"
Mateo quickly explained everything; of course he skipped the slap he received from Isabella. It was embarrassing. Even rats had some sense of pride enough to avoid saying some things.
The elderly man, Shaman Zu, nodded and turned to the young man. "Zara, tell Jefferson to prepare a newborn lamb for the offering."
"After that, please do prepare the altar. Mr. Owa has left for Olivill; it will be your job before he returns."
Zara immediately took his leave for the chore.
"We will be at the farmhouse. It has been long since we saw Caterina and Mama Valentina," Isabella said. They took the route around the shrine hill toward the farmhouse.
After Mateo and Isabella left, Shaman Zu guided Merchant Griford up the hill.
---
Deep in the forests between Amala and Norai…
"This should be the location. They might not be hiding far from here."
A tall, well-built man with heavy iron chains coiled around his upper body spoke calmly. Elder Routh walked just behind him, flanked by two archers and a scoutmate.
A huge wolf sniffed the ground near the remains of a ransacked caravan, then trotted toward the treeline.
"Follow the wolf," the chained man ordered.
The team slipped into the forest.
"Let's be quick. I don't want to be here when it gets fully dark," the man said.
"Swish!" A rabbit burst from the bushes. Everyone's hands flew to their weapons.
"Hah, it's just a rabbit," one archer muttered.
"Do not attack. It's my scout," the scoutmate said. The rabbit leapt onto his arm and climbed to his shoulder, whispering in his ear.
"Tribe Leader," the scoutmate reported, "the bandits are fifty steps northeast."
"Quite smart, Rafael," the chained man, Village Head Thaine, praised with a grin. "So you had another scout ahead of us."
Rafael blushed at the compliment.
After his devastating losses in the search and rescue mission a month ago, he had spent each and every day working on recovering his losses.
He had learned something from that close-call battle with a Kindled maledict at condensation stage. And he had come with Elder Routh here to test his newly gained experience. Without knowing it, he was already showing results.
---
Back at the shrine
The altar stood at the heart of the pavilion on a raised platform. The scent of fresh lamb blood filled the air. Fire flickered in the chamber beneath the altar.
Two figures knelt before five stone sculptures. At the center stood the tallest one: an elderly man with a long beard, heavy robes, and a closed scroll in one hand. The four smaller figures beside him were hooded and mysterious.
Venerable Mola and ancestors, the Four Oracles of Mola.
Ancestors were people who had carved their legacies into the history of Amala. Each of them had single-handedly altered the course of Amala during their era. Ancestors were the only Consecrated Seekers to ever walk the Mayu T'aqa Valley.
"I, Zulon Mathias, a lowly and humble descendant, kneel before Venerable Mola and the Ancestors," Shaman Zu intoned. He dipped his fingers in the bowl of blood and flicked it across the stone figures, then passed the bowl to Merchant Griford.
Soon the smell of burning blood rose. Thin smoky vapor curled upward from the wet stone.
"Praise be to Venerable Mola. Praise be to the Ancestors," Shaman Zu said, his voice full of joy. "This lowly son of yours will do great deeds."
The blood had burned away completely, a clear sign of forgiveness.
Merchant Griford bowed deeply.
After the ritual, Shaman Zu gave him the last of the blood. "Smear this on your wife and child before you sleep, while thanking the Venerable and our ancestors. They have already extended their protection."
Merchant Griford took the bowl with trembling hands, eyes bright with hope.