Night had fallen over the village.
Every house was dark.
No voices.
No footsteps.
Not even the usual sound of the wind moving through the wooden walls.
Traveler walked beside Seris through the narrow street.
Seris kept looking around.
The village felt different.
Too quiet.
Traveler noticed it too.
But he said nothing.
Behind the closed windows, people were watching.
Waiting.
The chief stood inside his house.
He lifted one hand.
The signal.
Three men quietly slipped out through the back of the building.
Then three more.
They moved through the darkness without speaking.
One carried a bow.
Another carried a spear.
Two carried heavy axes.
And two of the largest men carried something different.
A massive hammer.
It was almost as tall as one of them.
Its head was thick iron, old and scarred from years of use.
The weapon had been kept beneath the village storehouse.
It wasn't part of the Light Whip.
It was meant for one purpose—
to bring something powerful to its knees.
The men carried it behind the houses.
They surrounded the building where Traveler was expected to stay.
One man positioned himself behind the eastern wall.
Another waited near the rear entrance.
The two carrying the enormous hammer crouched behind a stone structure.
They waited.
Inside the chief's house, the chief looked through the window.
Traveler was approaching.
Seris was beside him.
The chief turned away from the window.
"Everyone ready?"
The men nodded.
"Do not attack until I give the order."
One of them looked toward the hidden chamber.
"And the whip?"
The chief's hand rested near the concealed entrance.
"Ready."
He looked toward the door.
"Remember."
His voice became low.
"We need him alive long enough to bind him."
Traveler reached the chief's house.
The door opened.
The chief stood there.
His expression had completely changed.
There was no hostility.
No anger.
Only calm.
"Come inside."
Traveler studied him.
"You changed your mind?"
The chief shook his head.
"You were right."
Traveler said nothing.
The chief stepped aside.
"You and the woman can stay here tonight."
Seris looked at Traveler.
She clearly didn't trust the offer.
Traveler remained silent for several seconds.
Then entered.
Seris followed.
The door closed behind them.
Click.
The lock slid into place.
Traveler glanced toward it.
The chief smiled faintly.
"For safety."
Traveler looked around the room.
Nothing seemed unusual.
A table.
Several chairs.
An old fireplace.
A few wooden shelves.
Nothing more.
Seris remained close to the door.
The chief pointed toward two chairs.
"Sit."
Traveler sat.
Seris remained standing.
The chief poured water into two cups.
He placed one in front of Traveler.
Then one near Seris.
Neither touched them.
The chief watched.
Outside—
the villagers tightened their positions.
The men with the enormous hammer waited beside the wall.
The weapon rested against the ground.
Heavy.
Silent.
Ready.
Inside, Traveler looked at the chief.
"Why are you helping us now?"
The chief lowered himself into a chair.
"Because I don't want more people to die."
Traveler studied him.
"Then keep your people away from me."
The chief nodded.
"Of course."
A long silence followed.
Seris looked toward the window.
Something felt wrong.
She couldn't explain it.
Her serpent instincts had returned partially, and they were warning her.
She whispered:
"Traveler."
He looked at her.
"Something is wrong."
The chief's expression didn't change.
Traveler slowly turned his eyes toward the room.
Nothing.
No movement.
No sound.
He looked back at Seris.
"Stay calm."
She nodded.
The chief stood.
"I'll prepare another room."
He walked toward the hallway.
Traveler watched him disappear.
The moment he was gone—
the chief's expression changed.
He entered the hidden chamber.
His hand wrapped around the Light Whip.
The weapon began glowing.
Outside the house, the villagers tightened their grip on their weapons.
The men holding the enormous hammer slowly lifted it from the ground.
Inside—
Traveler remained seated.
Completely unaware.
Seris stared at the closed hallway.
Her instincts screamed.
Something was coming.
Then—
a faint sound came from beneath the floor.
Clink.
Traveler looked down.
The sound stopped.
He slowly raised his eyes.
The room became silent again.
And behind the walls—
the villagers waited for the chief's signal.
The trap was already closed.