Asha hurried as best she could in the hopes of reaching her destination before the regular work schedule caught up with her. Repeating her plan over and over again in her mind was not helping either but it was the best chance she had at getting some "alone" time with Verik, they could at least be in the same place at the same time for more than just a few minutes if nothing else. If her plan worked they would be together all day long for at least a week or two depending on how things went which was a joyous prospect to her. Things were looking somewhat hopeless as everyone had become a little more leery towards his slowly growing warband, at first no one had cared but now that he was becoming more brutal during training it had begun to make him new enemies.

Enemies he did not need.

Not that he was making a great many though from what she and a few others had noticed, it was more that he made those who were already opposed more deeply rooted in their dispositions. Then on the other hand those who did not care one way or another were raising eyebrows as the warband had gone from losing every single bout they were placed in to something Asha did not know what he had meant with his odd words but a rift was growing as the victors rapidly became the defeated.

It made her little plan all the sweeter too because by pulling him out of the growing fire that he had put them in it would allow heads to cool. A week or two doing something less threatening that also did not involve beating someone with a stick would give everyone a chance to breathe. Or at least she hoped so. The chance remained that things could go the other way as they normally did in her life but things had been looking up for some time lately and as she hiked up the hill nearing her destination Asha took a deep breath, this was just one more step in her plan and it was important that it succeeded.

"Not care what they say, make them agree."

A very simple fence made of rushes and sticks nearly surrounded the small hut that she was facing, it was near the top of the hill where it was safest from the surrounding world as well it should be. Despite its small size it also had one of the only doors in all of Wete but it was three quarters of a door and not a full one, meant to keep them in and not out. So far it had always worked for the majority but not all the families took advantage of this simple hut as they preferred to keep them with the elders of the family. However, as times got harder and more had to go back to the fields or take up tasks despite their age it meant there were less hands available so the small hut was now becoming a bit... Overused.

Poking her head into the hut and looking around Asha watched the various little mobs of foals bicker, play or amuse themselves in various ways. Most were probably outside in the sealed in area so they could not get away without a great deal of effort or a shovel. Or maybe a torch. One had gotten rather creative once and caused a commotion that nearly set the place on fire and looking around she hoped they were not one of those present.

The plan was to get Verik somewhere out of the public eye for a while and let things simmer down but also, as Sibi had suggested earlier: allow them both to have some valuable insight and experience. Asha had already dreamed up the plan but upon mentioning it to Sibi the mare had turned slightly with a half tired look but also mixed with a deep smirk that had made a lump form in her throat. Maybe it would work out and yet that smirk had worried her, but it was too late to change her mind not to mention this also remained the only way. That or get him assigned to weeding the fields and if Tendaji found out he would probably yank him away and put him back on "construction duty" for however long it took to complete the various projects.

"Hello?"

Sitting up against the wall an exhausted zebra looked sideways and waved at her.

"What you want."

"Need to speak with one who-"

"Already have volunteers."

The way the mare said that word made Asha flinch a little, everyone who had foals were required to take turns at the simple little "duty" of watching them be it voluntary or otherwise. Quite a few had figured things out though by getting out of back breaking labor by signing onto the invisible list that existed while others did it to spend time with their offspring. Those who genuinely volunteered had their reasons which varied heavily but Nuru and her grand-daughter had been quick to make certain at least someone on the list was there by force of threat. No one really understood the shamanesses reason but Sibi and Jelani had given her their best guesses which boiled down to this: It kept those few from trying to pass off their responsibilities to someone else.

"Want to trade place with others maybe."

"Why?"

The zebra stared blankly waiting before shifting around to grab two foals and pull them apart as they fought and scrambled at each other on the dirt floor. It was the perfectly example of organized chaos in the room but as Asha watched them break up the dispute the hut had been purposefully built to avoid problems with everything not foalproof out of reach.

"Married and want to learn before having foal of own, want to learn now not later."

"No."

Asha scowled angrily at the zebra mare as they continued to work quietly at keeping the foals from forming a full on riot. "Why? My right to learn, you not deny!"

"Suspect you want that one to join you yes?" Staring at her blankly for a moment they returned to their duty quickly snatching one up and moving them to the side. "Thought so, too dangerous. No."

"You lie, it not dangerous."

"Not lie, that thing bad example and cause commotion if left to look after foals. Foals of some who hate him."

"He watch them and nothing happen it prove he not dangerous and-"

"I say no."

Asha ground her jaw a moment because their say was indeed final as Nuru was too busy, as were most so one had been assigned off to take care of things on a more "permanent" basis not long ago. The only ones capable of changing that were far and few in between, namely Tendaji and Nuru but Asha hesitated at asking either of them. Asking the chief to change something like this was rather petty and would put him in a bad position while Nuru would probably do it just to see what would happen, then again it also meant agreeing to something else down the line.

Narrowing her eyes Asha gave them a fake smile. "You say no not because of that but because you one who not like him too hm? It not your right to deny other who want to learn."

"Learn? Learn what?"

"How to take care of foal!"

"Hah! Not same, gods forbid you have foal with that thing!" The zebra stood and walked over to the door where the foals were less likely to hear and glared at Asha. "Not possible, no, not possible. Not let you adopt either, only fool allow."

"Not your choice, that choice of Nuru and Tendaji! Who you to say it not possible?"

"Pray hard then. You mate and breed with that thing it make nightmare, better it not exist."

Asha's mouth hung open a little. "Hell with you! That not stop from trying!"

They waved a hand at her dismissively. "Yes, Yes... Maybe you right, can put you on list but not him. It be a long, long, long wait though see? Very long wait."

"Bitch."

"Not on list at all now, must learn to watch tongue in front of foals."

"Still true, I find way."

"Will pray you not. Besides, you not able to have foal with that thing so you have no reason. No reason no one agree."

Asha wanted to strangle them but it would only make things worse and now her break had been wasted. There was no other way of getting on the list without pulling on strings better left untouched and that meant it was impossible to forcibly get Verik out of training and construction. Growling at the sky Asha laid her ears back and stormed away from the creche cursing to herself, out of all the plans this was the only one that would have at least gotten them into the same area.

Now they were back to being so exhausted at the end of the day they would have enough energy to eat and sleep but nothing else again. Sefu was rigid in his training and exhausted them relentlessly each and every day while her own duties continued to shift so rapidly that few breaks presented themselves. Even with the canals freeing up more and more workers as time went on they were all immediately put back to work on other back breaking tasks.

Bowing her head and letting out a small, dejected whimper Asha turned and made her way back to her assigned area for the rest of the day. Everything had failed, gone up in smoke and as the other had pointed out quite clearly: it was out of her hands. Had anyone else asked they would have agreed or made it work out but with the recent changes she had made enemies that she never knew existed and it exhausted her.

She could try and get assigned to construction with Verik but even now one could already hear Tendaji refusing because it would result in "preferred treatment." That and part of her did not honestly like the idea of working on the new support wall while he watched and another part of her knew Verik wouldn't allow it either. So where did that leave her? Nowhere. Right in the middle of nowhere and this had been the best plan, she wanted to scream.

Asha nearly jumped from her hide when a massive hand thumped her on the shoulder. Letting out a startled yelp she turned and looked up at Sefu who was starting down at her curiously.

"Say name many time but you ignore, what wrong?"

"Make plan to get creche duty with Verik but say no, not allowed."

"They refuse because of Verik yes?"

Nodding quietly in response Sefu let out a sigh. "Making those who hate him hate more, now this... He see you like this after today it make things even worse and not want to put up with bigger headache after what he do."

"What he do?"

Sefu's tired face sparked a moment before his eyes quickly shifted back to Asha and with a quick wave of the hand brushed the question off.

"Not important. He need time away from training and say he have plan but..." His eyes focused on the hill. "Think I have better plan now. Make him disappear for time, cause trouble but less than other ways. Come."

"What he do?"

"No mind that."

"Tell."

"He win too much, say no more."

"Poor losers."

"He worse than they when lose."

"Ah. Verik and others go savage again?"

"Stop. Headache from problems, not want to think about it."

Asha smiled. "You and Jelani train him though."

"Enough."

Snickering a little to herself Asha followed Sefu up the path, a little secret had been going around that when Sefu needed volunteers to act as Verik's opponents during training that he most certainly got them. Almost all of them being those who wanted to get a free hit in and while they had gotten their share of hits the tables had turned in the past weeks till it was very one sided. Rumor had it most had quit only to be replaced by those curious to give it a try.

It made her happy and though no one would ever allow those four to know it was to remain a quiet, secret vengeance.

Standing in front of the creche again Asha looked at Sefu curiosly as he opened the door and walked in while motioning for her to remain outside. Staying out of sight Asha listened for a minute as the two talked and someone else was called for, the discussion continued for a little bit before she was called to enter. Sefu was sitting on the floor with a small foal on his leg while the other zebra from before looked back and forth between Sefu and Asha with a jumbled mixture of increasing hostility and confusion.

"You on list Sefu but not that one, already tell her no."

"Say yes now, also to Verik even if he say no."

"Not do that-"

"Know one who will trade with Verik and you trade with Asha."

"Why?!"

"Need to get Verik out of sight, this best way for now."

"It cause riot!"

"No, not tell anyone yet and if anyone say I know who tell them..."

"This my duty, you not have authority to replace me."

"Think Tendaji say no to own brother? Nuru probably-"

"Not think you do that."

Sefu nodded at the zebra mare but a strange smile crossed his face. "True. But if you force I force back too. Besides, you very tired. See it in face, eyes very tired and bags under eyes. You need rest, not wise to have watcher be so tired. I take your place, Asha take mine and Verik take other."

"Not so simple! Verik bad example! Say it yourself he causing problems and only wish to hide him, better to have him do other things."

"Maybe... But this way I keep eye on him, Tendaji and Nuru never say no to that and this perfect time."

"Only bring trouble here, others find out easily anyway."

"Maybe, eventually, but that only mean number of foal change. World not end. Canal bringing water very easily to fields now, means more workers for other tasks. No one miss a few who stay home to watch foal now and then. This solve many problems at same time, cause problem yes but solve many more."

It was the mares turn to grind her teeth together in annoyance as Sefu stared at her with his normal stone like expression, the foal watchers mind tried desperately to come up with something and her mouth moved but when nothing came out she finally nodded.

"Good. Have things to do now, you tell other yes? Good, Asha." Sefu removed the foal from his leg and ushered them off to the others before standing and leaving the hut, once outside he looked at Asha and let out a small sigh before motioning for her to follow. "Ask questions now."

"Why?"

"Many reasons."

"Yes?"

"She need break anyway as does your husband, it work better this way. You not get time alone and probably just as tired at end of day but know what you thinking. Also calm's other but anger some, they angry anyway so not care. Already headache for brother and me but this solve other problems that bigger. At least now not suffer alone."

"What you mean?"

"About what?"

"Suffer alone, what that mean?"

"I volunteer but this not as easy as you think, you not have foal's but I have many. Not know what you getting into but learn hard way, you want time together but doubt it happen. Maybe less tiring than fields or training but this different kind of tiring. Suggest you both learn now not later, I learn hard way many times."

"What about others?"

"Them..." Sefu stared ahead blankly. "Verik say he have plan, will talk later. They not focus of angry ones though so it work."

"Mm. Maybe not as close as want but close enough."

"Maybe."

"Why you say that to her though?" Sefu turned and looked at Asha curiously a moment. "Tired and fields."

"Good excuse as any no? Better than any she make. All true too, only reason not more workers is because of construction and training but that change now. Calm things down and allow them time to forget, not long enough but it will do."

"Wait... You mean we maybe get time off anyway?"

"Maybe." He smiled at her. "But this way make you both more useful and learn good lessons."

"Sound like Nuru."

"Not a bad thing but she agree if here, this maybe help you great deal so it better than other way."

"You not think Tendaji say no when he find out though?"

"Brother say nothing because I be watching Verik all time now."

"How long-"

"Week, maybe two."

Asha's ears perked up at the idea of getting at least a week together, maybe two and despite Sefu's quiet warnings the thought made her happy. Even one week together without it being a brief morning or night would be a blessing but that weird look on Sefu's face continued to creep up and haunt her vision.

"When we start-"

"Two day. Plenty of time for Verik to make plan with other three and time to be ready." Sefu stopped walking, turned and looked down at Asha before putting a hand on her shoulder. "This not like work in field yes?"

"I know."

"You dont but will learn... Remind Verik of that yes? This be different kind of exhausted."

Asha nodded and Sefu gave her shoulder a pat before walking away and leaving her to stand there chewing over his strange words and actions. Sefu was many things she knew but this was unheard of and the look on his face before he walked away made her wonder if this was such a good idea. However, just as quickly as the doubt crossed her mind it was gone and a large smile graced her face.

"Is that all captain?" Altayih raised an eyebrow as Verik finished explaining the plan.

"Yes. That simple."

"So we are to continue training as normal only... Train them as we have trained..."

"I have every confidence in your ability. Besides I dont think they have any understanding one way or another of what we have been doing and how spectacularly we have failed in some of the tactics I read about."

"That very good thing." Shahid sat with his eyes closed and Raswan nodded in agreement.

"Anyway... I dont know what Sefu will come up with but I doubt very much you shall be seeing me for a week or two, most likely not until everyone's nerves have calmed down a tad. But... There is something else I want you to know about now and be on the lookout for."

"We are all ears captain, what is it you fear?"

"After the crap we have been through there is very little I fear Altayih." Verik looked around a moment before letting out a sigh. "It came to my attention some time ago that Fareed or Tasid, maybe bother working together... I dont really know which, but they have a spy here somewhere."

Ears perked up and turned towards Verik quickly as the word "spy" left his mouth and Raswan was quickest to step forward. Head turned slightly, eyes narrowed with a marked degree of suspicion the young zebra approached Verik and got close before stopping.

"Saying spy in Wete is big claim, dangerous too. Not taken lightly, if lie not only make you many enemy but I too-"

Verik raised his hand quickly. "I talked with Nuru first and Nuru being Nuru, she had her reasons for not helping but there is indeed a spy here somewhere."

"Who? We tell Tendaji and he-"

"No! That is exactly why Nuru wont say who they are and why we wont lift a finger either. A dead spy is a giveaway and will bring Fareed down on us but a live one who is kept in the dark is none the wiser."

"But all those plans you make, he maybe know by now!"

"They would know nothing as the only ones who know any kind of truth are a tight knit little circle that includes Tendaji, Nuru, Sefu, Jelani, Asha and ourselves. Most of them have no idea what my plans are anyway and no one else has a clue as to what is really going on."

"Need more to complete plan and this make it very hard!"

"Not at all because I think I know who it is."

"Think is not knowing."

"Very true but you see some others already killed the last spy that was here and no new ones were added. Maybe? However, one happens to stand out more than the rest and while I dont know their name you can help on that end. Discretely! The last thing we need is a spy knowing we are probing for them and word travels very fast here when you start asking questions..."

"How are we to find the spy without asking questions?" Altayih leaned his head back. "It is impossible to find out who we seek without asking but if asking gives us away we are doomed."

"First off they were a warrior from Asha's village, the ONLY surviving warrior who just magically got away and reappeared much later. Asha was quite specific in that the warriors of her village did not make it but somehow this one did. That narrows it down considerably, all we need to do is find that one warrior and we have our spy."

"Oh that easy." Everyone turned to Raswan who waved Verik's question off.

"As Altayih said, we are all ears Raswan."

"Tikam."

"Clue us in would you?"

"One that has funny limp. Always guarding fields or village."

"Dont suppose you could... Point him out for us? Maybe tell us what his mark looks like?"

Raswan sighed and nodded.

"Alright that was easy, too easy..."

Shahid stared at Verik curiously. "Why say that?"

"Because, Shahid, I doubt Fareed would allow a spy to just go missing without at least attempting to replace them. We have one by the short-hairs now but something in my gut tells me there is another running around somewhere and will probably be a heck of a lot harder to find due to Wete taking in so many refugees."

Altayih watched a moment before shrugging. "Spy hunting is not in my repertoire captain so I will be of little help."

"None of us have ever hunted a spy before but I have a few simple ideas that might help and now that we know, we need to be more careful."

"We are waiting captain."

Author's Notes:

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!