Chapter One

"Malekei! It is time for your evil to end!" Eagle Wind said angrily.

Chief Malekei looked up from the campfire he was tending in time to see Eagle Wind lunge at him with a knife. Too late for him to react. Malekei felt the knife plunge into his heart as he fell backwards to the ground with Eagle Wind’s weight upon him. His hands clutched at the knife before Eagle Wind pulled it from his chest amid spurting blood.

Quick Arrow came out of his home in time to see his father killed by Eagle Wind. He ran over to his father’s side as Eagle Wind walked away shouting, "The evil one is dead!" Quick Arrow reached for his father’s bow and one arrow. He nocked the arrow to the bowstring, aimed, and released. His arrow struck solidly in Eagle Wind’s back. Eagle Wind slumped to the ground on his knees and then pitched forward onto his face in the dirt.

Soft Feather went over to Quick Arrow. She said, "We must leave while everyone is confused."

"But my father’s burial!" Quick Arrow said, trying to object.

"You would condemn us all to joining him?" she asked.

He shook his head as he realized she was right. Their people wouldn’t understand.

***

Quick Arrow watched from the forest as his father was buried with charms meant to keep his spirit from rising and finding peace. He waited until everyone left before approaching the grave and paying his respects. He removed some of the more dangerous charms so his father’s soul could rise and find his peace. He placed them instead on the grave of another who was truly responsible for the evil credited to his father. The tribe wasn’t aware Malekei had tracked down the brave the day before and killed him. Had they known, Malekei and Eagle Wind might both still be alive.