The village prepared for war. Messengers were dispatched to the new settlement, and all outlying families brought in their animals and their goods into the main village. Scouts fanned out in alldirections, while all able hands began helping to fortify defences, and to chip away at arrowheads and spears. Young boys gathered stones for the slings.

Three days passed, with no sign of Angulimaal's men. Then at dusk, the scouts at the southern end gave the alarm. Vayu, Hamza and Sena were in command. At time of war, Rashida had put them in charge of defenses. She would hold the village. Vayu came seeking Asha before he left for battle. She sat with Aarti and Suma, minding a small group of youngsters, and a little toddler was sitting on her lap. Vayu watched her for a few moments, thinking with a pang that here was what would make him whole again, a family of his own, someone to care about and someone to live for. He would do anything to protect her.

Asha looked up and saw him. Her eyes lit up, and she smiled. Vayu walked over, and saw that she had come armed, with her knife, and her bow and a sling. " I don't know why Rashida gave me this duty!" she complained. "I am a very good shot with the sling, and I could make a difference in the fighting."

"Please, Asha, stay where you are stationed, I am sure we will call on you if the need arises. Besides we need someone who can protect these kids if needed." Vayu did not tell her that he had asked Rashida to keep Asha far away from the fighting.

She nodded, and said with a smile, though her heart was gripped with anxiety for Vayu, "I shall expect you to come for me when it's all over. God protect you and all the others, Vayu. Stay alive for me, and return victorious."

"it's a promise." he replied, and then he turned, and was gone. The war god's promise was in his heart, and he prayed to Vrika silently as he ran to the front, calling on the God to honour his word.

Angulimaal's men approached the village. In the clearing outside the circle of houses, the villagers had lit a great fire.

"Who approaches thus, bringing war weapons to this village?" called Sena in a loud voice.

"It is Angulimaal....I have come to offer this village a choice. Join me, and live...or refuse, and die." His voice was resonant in the falling darkness.

"You may change your name, Iral, but you can't change who you are inside." Vayu's deep voice came from Sena's right, and he stepped into the light. His face was stern, and Angulimaal started when he saw who had come forward.

He stepped forward now, and he was fearsome to look at. He had painted his face with red and black, and around his neck he wore his grisly necklaces of human fingers in various stages of desiccation. He was a powerfully built man, and he was armed with a spear, as well as a long knife.

"So, you are alive. Criminal! You won't escape your punishment for long, killer of your own brother!" Angulimaal growled.

"Enough talk, Iral. We know who really killed Arun." Hamza's voice was hard. Angulimaal stepped back, momentarily taken aback. His men grew uneasy, and stepped back also.

Then with a bloodcurdling warcry, Angulimaal ordered his men forward.