Mina, Edvard, and Yuila come upon a grim scene in the woods, and gain a fourth traveler.
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The day had dawned bright and hot, devoid of any clouds or breeze. Travel was pleasant until noon, and then the heat of both suns made movement uncomfortably warm, and the humidity rose with the hour.
Edvard pulled up short as they followed a curve in the more heavily treed trade road. The stench met them first, and then the massacre came into view. At their appearance, twenty viuda birds left the carnage of six covered wagons. A score of dead and rotting horses, mules, and oxen lay about the turn in the road, mostly on the south side.
"Take Yuila to the trees," Edvard said, pulling the gelding to the north shoulder of the road.
Mina looked to the grisly scene still a hundred yards away. The distance wasn't enough to blur the hideous site. She gasped and tried to catch a whimper. "Who did it?" She looked around at the trees, her arm tightening on him. "Are they still here?"
He shook his head as he dismounted. "This was done a day ago, at least."
Mina eased into Neito's saddle and motioned to Yuila, who sat awe-struck at the scene. When the girl didn't move, Mina reached over and grabbed Sova's reins, and then urged Neito with her legs. The horse seemed to understand, and they moved to the trees. Mina dismounted and went to Yuila, pulling on the girl's skirt to get her attention.
"Listen to me, Yuila," she said as the Crone dismounted. "You stay here, and don't be scared. Whatever happened here is over," she said, bolstering herself and the girl. "Understand?"
"I told you someone was going to die," the girl said quietly.
Mina swallowed uncomfortably. "You heard Edvard," she said, although she wasn't sure Yuila had comprehended him. "This was done before we saw the viuda birds. I'm going to help him look around. Stay here, and—"
"No, don't leave me," Yuila implored, her focus now sharply on Mina. "Stay here."
Mina looked around at the almost mockingly peaceful day. She spotted some berries in the thicker part of the trees. "There. Take a basket from Makka and—"
"I don't want any berries from this place."
The calls of the viuda birds rose swiftly, and then they all took flight in unison.
Mina and Yuila looked up at the birds and then to where Edvard was picking through the abandoned wagons and slain animals.
A baby's cry rose from the carnage.
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