Retaliation

The day dawns red. If the member of a clan kills the member of another, justice must be done and balance must be restored. A man approaches our ruler's tent, rapid breathing, his hands almost trembling. He states that one of our people has murdered his younger brother, and he demands compensation.\nOur leader nods in silence, and points to the offender's tent. Other members of their clan come soon after with a severe expression; they follow him. This is not about solely revenge, it is about harmony, about life itself. The souls of the dead cannot rest at peace until blood is spilled in exchange of their own. That foreign man raises his arm, a knife tightly held, a scream, someone cries - then silence.