Ci’tali was not expecting to see the two men entering the hut together. By Ay’len’s attitude during the last days, she could swear the healer was as good as gone from her family life.
“Woman,” Ma’ki spoke calmly, “kneel in front of my first wife and swear obedience.”
“What?!” she cried out. “I won’t do such a thing,” she tossed her hair over her shoulders.

“Yes, you will,” the hunter continued, as before. “You can do it here, or you can do it in front of the whole tribe. Choose.”
Ci’tali could not believe her ears. Ay’len was not looking at her. With his mouth agape, he was staring at Ma’ki.
“But why? Me and Ay’len, we respect each other, there is no need to …” she tried, hoping to get the healer’s attention on her and get him to help.
“I say it is. On your knees.”
She slowly obeyed. She felt her cheeks ablaze with anger. She had never been humiliated like this. No one had ever dared to tell her what to do.
“I obey,” she touched the ground before Ay’len with her forehead. When she tried to rise, her husband’s voice stilled her in place.

“Take that thought out of your head, that I will ever leave Ay’len for you. I will take care of our child. He will grow to be proud of his family. And I will take care of you. But one son is enough. I will never come to your bed again.”
Ci’tali felt as if someone stabbed her with a long, sharp knife through her chest. “But, husband,” she begged.
“I said enough. You will be respected by everyone in this tribe. You will have everything you need.”
“But not you,” she reproached.

“Not me,” Ma’ki confirmed. “You should not have wanted a man who was taken. If you want, I can release you from your vow. You will return to your tribe.”
“And be dishonored?” she spat. “I will stay. I am your wife”, she rose proudly this time. “And it is my right to seek your affection.”
“You’ll waste your life in vain,” the hunter added. “No one can ever come between me and Ay’len. And no one ever will.”
“Not even your son?” she asked, still not wanting to believe.
“He cannot do that. He will be raised to respect his parents. All of them,” Ma’ki’s words left no room for interpretation.
Ci’tali clenched her teeth. Very well, if Ma’ki wanted to be destroyed along with Ay’len, it would be her pleasure. She had no love for him, anyway. Whatever dreams she’d had about him, they were now long gone.
“You’ve been so harsh,” Ay’len murmured, as they sat down by the river, away from their hut.
“She must learn her place,” Ma’ki spoke, a sullen look on his face. “It’s not the life I wanted; you know that, Ay’len. If she ever grows tired of it, she is free to go.”
“And the child?” the healer asked, not wanting to hear the answer, but needing it, nonetheless.
“I won’t separate a child from his mother. He will go with her. But if she chooses to leave him here, he will be raised as a proud son of our village. And he will be our son”, he dragged the healer in his arms, to embrace him.
As they stood there, little did they know how Ci’tali was putting her plans in motion.
“Why are you so sad, Ci’tali?” the old woman caressed her hair.
She knew where she could find the best support and the best place to sow the seeds of wrath and gossip.
“It is Ay’len, he just doesn’t like the child or me,” she complained.
“Why would you say that? He stood with you through the birth of your son”, the woman tried to convince her, but the ugly smile creeping on her colorless lips was telling otherwise.
“He does that only so that the others will say that he is kind. He is not like that when we’re alone”, she continued. “He tells Ma’ki that I insult him, and my husband does not even come into my arms,” she let a single tear fall.
The old woman hurried to comfort her. “Now, now, Ci’tali, you are a beautiful woman, and he is nothing but a man. Your husband will come around. How can he prefer that skinny, deformed man instead of your embrace?”
“I don’t know, but I think … that he puts something in his drink”, she said rapidly, and the woman slapped a hand over her mouth, in surprise.
“Now that’s how he keeps Ma’ki …” the old woman spoke. “I should have known it was something unnatural about that boy. Ma’iala kept saying he was the one born under a blue moon and that he would protect us. But, as I see it, he only tries to make people unhappy.”
“Yes, I know, Di’rah, but what can I do?” Ci’tali whined. “He is making Ma’ki be mean to me. He puts all kinds of ideas in his head. And everybody thinks that he is the soul of the eagle god, and he is the healer and …”
“He is not the only healer in this village. We, the old women, know how to pick a herb and give it to someone who’s ill. Just that we do not get the same respect because Ma’iala chose him. That old witch …” the woman spoke with disgust in her voice. “She was no longer in her right mind when Ay’len was born. And we all know that it is a lucky sign to be born under a blue moon, but she didn’t have to make him the next healer”, she added with venom on her tongue. “He could have used his luck to protect the village by hunting and doing things men do. He should have taken a wife, and have children, too. This was how he should have helped the tribe.”
Ci’tali was jumping with joy on the inside. On the outside, she was playing the innocent. She knew Di’rah could not stand Ay’len and everything he meant for the tribe. She was prepared for the next step.
Their lives were no longer the same. Ci’tali spoke very little when Ay’len was around, so it felt like they were just two strangers happening to be under the same roof. Ma’ki didn’t care, he was ignoring his second wife, even more than before, but the healer felt dread gnawing at his insides. He worried most about the child; how was he going to grow up in a home with his parents so far apart from one another? He had tried to become friends again with the woman, but she had remained cold and unmoving. Only Ma’ki’s short barks were forcing her to have anything to do with Ay’len, and even then, she made sure to show her displeasure. When the baby received the name Na’el in front of the tribe, Ay’len preferred to skip the ceremony, and Ma’ki let him be.
Slightly, the tension between the hut inhabitants was growing heavier and darker. In the meantime, Ci’tali was carefully preparing the grounds for getting rid of Ay’len forever. Without the healer, she knew Ma’ki was going to be destroyed, as well.
In one of her conversations with Di’rah, she let something slip.
“I am so afraid, Di’rah,” she complained, her hands pressed hard on her chest. “I’m afraid he is going to do something to my child. With the herbs he knows, he will poison Na’el one day. And what am I to do? I am just a poor woman”, she covered her face like she was ready to cry.
Di’rah caressed her beautiful hair. “If he does that, we will heal your boy. I told you he is not the only one to know the herbs.”
“But … but what if it’s too late, what if Na’el dies in his sleep?” she continued, sobbing, letting the old woman take upon herself what was she was about to offer. “I want Ay’len gone!”
“Ma’ki will not send him away,” Dinah pondered. “Unless …”
Ci’tali’s sobs stopped. “If I could just show everyone Ay’len’s real ugly face …” she bit her lip while watching the old woman’s face.
Di’rah squeezed her arm. “Are you prepared to do anything to protect your son, Ci’tali? You do not have to wait for Ay’len to do something.”
She closed her pursed lips to Ci’tali’s ear and murmured something so that only the young woman could hear her. Inside, Ci’tali smiled. On the outside, she jumped to her feet, like she’d just been bitten by a snake. “I cannot Di’rah! What if something happens to Na’el? I could never forgive myself!”
“Don’t you worry!” the woman caught her arm in a fierce grip. Ci’tali knew she was now afraid, exactly how she wanted her to be. “He will be fine, and by the time that happens, Ay’len will be away from our tribe. Or worst.”
The last two words had Ci’tali tremble with anticipation. She was ready to bathe in Ay’len’s blood if need be. But she would have to play her part, like usual. She pretended to be still torn about taking such an important decision, while the woman continued to convince her. In the end, when they parted ways, they knew exactly what they were going to do. Keeping the small pouch the old woman had given her, at her chest, Ci’tali was walking through the evening twilight, without a sound. An eagle made a few circles above her, crying, and she stopped for a brief second. It could be Ma’ki’s eagle, but she could not tell. How much she wanted to smash that bird’s head with a stone! It had been hard to convince her husband to never come inside with that cursed creature on his shoulder; she’d had to complain that she feared for her baby to determine him to do otherwise. But it was only a matter of time until she would get her revenge. And then, she would no longer have to worry about healers and eagles stealing her husband.
Ci’tali’s loud shriek made Ay’len jump from his sleep. Ma’ki yelled something at his second wife, but she did not stop.
“Na’el! He’s not breathing!” she cried, shaking her baby. “What did you give to him, you witch?” she yelled at Ay’len, lunging at him.
Ma’ki pushed her back and took the child from her arms, using his superior force. Ay’len hurried to see the baby. Alarmed, he noticed he was no longer breathing, indeed. But a faint pulse, he could feel, so he had to do something right away.
“Ma’ki, I have to go, quick! I must save him!” he pulled his dress over his body and hurried to the door. But Ci’tali moved faster than him, and she was out the door before Ma’ki, too busy with the baby in his arms, could do anything.
She started screaming, waking up the tribe. In the faint light of the dawn, she moved like a hurt animal, cursing and yelling, drawing everyone from their beds. Frightened, Ay’len stared for a second at Ma’ki, then he recollected himself.
“I need to pick some herbs from my mother. Na’el won’t die, Ma’ki!” he promised, and he hurried off the door left open by Ci’tali.
He did not manage to go too far. Old arms, bony and hard like vines, captured him and he was forced to the chieftain’s hut, as Ci’tali was crying, and other voices could be heard, cursing at him, threatening him. He could not understand.
“I need to save the boy! Let me go!” he struggled against the hands holding him.
“Didn’t you do enough?” a cruel woman’s voice spoke. “Do you want to kill him for good? Witch!”
Ay’len recognized Di’rah. The old woman had never liked him, and he had preferred to keep away from her.
“I didn’t do anything!”
“Witch!” a stone flew through the air, hitting him in the right shoulder and he thrashed against the hands restraining him. He had no friends here.
“We will take care of Na’el! We won’t let you put your filthy hands on him again!” Di’rah hissed into his ear. “But you will be judged!”
He was thrown at Ta’yee’s feet, who was just coming out of his hut, woken by the ruckus outside. He was staring in disbelief at the scene before his eyes.
“What is this?” he boomed.
“He tried to kill your grandson!” Di’rah spat. “We will save him, chieftain, but do not let this filthy whore touch him again!”
To make things worse, Ci’tali threw herself at Ta’yee’s feet. “My baby!” she cried and sobbed violently.
“Where is my grandson?” the chieftain demanded.
It was then that Ma’ki, alarmed by the cries outside, arrived at his father’s hut, with the baby in his arms. An old woman took Na’el from him, and he didn’t fight back. He was staring at his Ay’len, knelt in front of everybody. The curses stopped as he advanced towards his father.
“What is the meaning of this?” He helped Ay’len to his feet and held him close, throwing menacing looks around him.
“He tried to kill my son!” Ci’tali accused, turning her face, covered in tears, towards him. The people around them started to curse again.
The old women watching over Na’el started murmuring, as well. Di’rah announced.
“Na’el will be fine. He will open his eyes soon. But we should punish this witch!” she demanded.
Her words died in her throat, as Ma’ki moved so fast, no one could intervene. The sharp knife reflected her scared eyes, and she started to tremble.
“What did you say?” he said menacingly. A few men moved towards them, but he warned them. “One more step you take, and I will slice her like a pig!”
“You are out of your mind with grief, Ma’ki,” another woman spoke. “Don’t protect Ay’len; he tried to take your son away from you!”
“My mind is sharp as the knife I’m holding. Don’t you dare to tell me what I feel, old woman!” he boomed, without letting Di’rah from his hold.
Ta’yee tried to calm everyone down. “Ci’tali, speak, what happened?” he demanded.
“He gave my son a potion. I saw him last night”, the woman spoke with a trembling voice. “He said he gave Na’el something for his belly, but now, I know …” she choked like overcome with emotion.
“What did you give the boy, Ay’len?” the chieftain asked.
“I gave him nothing,” Ay’len spoke loudly and clearly. His head was buzzing, he felt his blood running stale, but he knew he could not just stand and let himself be accused by that. His mother had been right; Ci’tali was nothing but a viper.
“You heard him,” Ma’ki added. “Ci’tali lies!”
“Then who could give the baby the poison?” the same woman from before intervened.
“It could only be Ay’len!” another yelled.
Other voices started to curse, too. Ma’ki was staring around him in disbelief, his knife still at Di’rah’s throat.
“Father, don’t believe their lies,” he demanded, dropping his hand, and turning to face Ta’yee.
“Ci’tali is your wife, son,” the chieftain spoke, his eyes dark. “Na’el almost died. Could a mother lie about such a thing?”
“She can and she will, because she hates Ay’len,” he took another menacing step towards the woman knelt at his father’s feet. “Tell everyone you are lying, woman!”
“I’m not lying!” she yelled, rising to her feet to face him. Her eyes were burning. She was now all teeth and claws. “He is! Who do you believe?”
“I believe Ay’len. He would never lie!”
“You are blinded by him! You do not even see how he is trying to destroy your family! Your bloodline!” she gestured wildly at him but took a step back as he sought to reach her.
Several men caught him and pushed him back.
“Let the tribe decide!” she demanded. “Who do you believe, good people? Me or him?” she raised her arms towards the people around her.
The few voices trying to take Ay’len’s side were soon covered by the others. Ci’tali felt triumphant; her efforts to win them over had not been in vain. She just had to play her role a bit more. So she broke down and cried, all of a sudden, demanded her baby to be brought to her. The old women hurried by her side to comfort her, telling her that Na’el was in good hands and he would be in his mother’s arms soon.
“Silence!” Ta’yee’s strong voice finally intervened over all the chaos. “People, Ay’len is from our tribe. He heals our wounds. He buries our dead. He’s saved many of us, so many times.”
The curses subsided. A few disgruntled words here and there could still be heard. Ci’tali trembled. Were these stupid fools so easy to sway one way or another?
“But he tried to kill an innocent child!” Di’rah yelled, and the war of tongues broke loose again. “A mother would never lie over such a thing!”
“Kill the witch!” another voice, this time a male, was heard, and many others followed.
Ta’yee had to call for silence again. In the meantime, Ma’ki was struggling like a wild animal against the men holding him down.
“Then you will have to kill us first,” Kaa’sa took a step forward from the crowd, followed by her daughters and their families. They calmly made a wall in front of Ay’len, with their heads held high. Ci’tali was staring at them in disbelief.
“What are you waiting for?” she defiantly raised her chin, challenging them with her eyes. “You are quick to believe this stranger over my son, just because she gave you a few gifts. You are willing to sell your souls for so little!”
“You won’t be able to protect Ay’len forever, Kaa’sa,” Di’rah venomously spat. “Someone may try to correct the wrong you are doing now, by shortening his life with a blade, at night.”
“Will you be the one to hold that knife, Di’rah? You’ve never forgotten how Ma’iala favored Ay’len over you, haven’t you?”
“We cannot keep a criminal in our tribe!” an anonymous voice yelled. Ci’tali felt calmer and calmer. Di’rah did well; and she did well, having so many on her side. Ta’yee and Kaa’sa could say what they wanted; Ay’len was in danger, and they could not do anything about it. She eventually rose to her feet.
“I do not want Ay’len dead,” she spoke. “I just want him away from my child. I cannot stay under the same roof with him. If this tribe sends me away, I will let my father know of this injustice”, she launched her not so well veiled threat.
Ta’yee froze upon hearing her words. The woman was cunning well beyond her age; he could not believe Ay’len capable of such an act either, but, now Ci’tali was threatening to start a war between their tribes. She knew she could not have Ay’len killed by his tribe, so she was simply asking them to send the healer away. A sentence that was the same as death. Surviving in the wild was not something the fragile man could do.
It was the only possible thing he could do. He stood for a while, letting the men and women yell and curse. Ay’len’s life was in the balance with theirs; Ta’yee had sworn to protect them all, but, again, he was failing the only one who had given his entire life to the tribe.
“Would casting Ay’len away bring peace to this tribe?” he finally spoke.
“No!” Ma’ki yelled, with horror in his eyes. “Father!”
Kaa’sa turned to face Ta’yee. “Are you ready to cast Pala’ka away, too, Ta’yee?”
The chieftain could have silenced her, but he chose not to. He cast his eyes down. Ma’ki’s and Kaa’sa’s voices were soon engulfed by the roaring of the crowd, demanding to send Ay’len away.
Ay’len’s mother watched them, as her face turned into stone. She turned to watch Ci’tali, the ugly smile creeping on her beautiful lips showing her the naked truth. She grabbed the woman quickly by her arm and whispered to her. “Remember this, Ci’tali,” she shook the young woman. “Pala’ka never forgets, and he never forgives.”
“The tribe has decided,” Ta’yee’s voice was heard again. “Pala’ka have mercy if we are wrong,” he added, and he stepped down. He instructed two men to take Ay’len and escort him outside the village while ordering the others to stay where they were.
Those holding Ma’ki down could barely do so. The hunter was growling at them, showing his teeth, and struggling against them with all his might. Ta’yee could not look at his son. He was not condemning just Ay’len; he was condemning his own flesh and blood, as well.
The eagle’s cry sounded loud, everyone remained silent, following the bird with their eyes. He hovered over the gathered tribe and made a few circles; then he soared into the sky. Old tales would say that Ma’ki’s eagle left the tribe together with Ay’len that day, and some could even swore that he could be seen swiftly landing on the healer’s shoulder, as his slender silhouette was slowly fading away.