In due course, Dema has a child by him.

As always with the Lamia's line, it is a daughter. This elicits some disappointment from the people, who by tradition had hoped it would be their leader's firstborn son.

Dema admits that she will not bear him a son, and learns then that tribal custom demands he must take another wife.

Dema is willing to accede to this demand, for the sake of the tribe.

Cern is in no hurry, so for a while things continue as before.

The women of the tribe take pleasure in helping Dema raise her daughter.

Having a daughter of her own, Dema now spends more time with the children.

One of the younger boys is different, quiet and withdrawn, but very perceptive in his way.

Dema sees that this one could bring something special to the tribe, perhaps become a shaman in time.

But the child is guileless, and speaks a truth one of the older boys does not want to hear.

The older boy reacts with violence and contempt.

The child's mother, missing her young son, comes crying to Dema in despair.

Dema is horrified when she realizes what has happened.

She goes out looking for him, only to find his tiny broken body, which has been dragged off deep into the brush.

The other women are strangely silent about who the killer might be.

Confronting the older boys one by one, Dema discerns which boy's brutish nature has led him to the murder of an innocent.

He is the son of the Seer.

She confronts this rival woman and demands that tribal justice must be dealt to her offspring.

The Lamia's justice is to send the murderer away, make him an outcast from the tribe.

The mother resists, saying that what is done cannot be undone, insisting that her boy is strong and will in time be a valuable member of the tribe.

Cern supports Dema, sadly and somewhat reluctantly because he foresees the tribal politics that may ensue, of which she is unaware.

When the boy is told of the verdict, he is resentful and refuses to comply.

Although he is indeed no helpless child but grown nearly to his manhood, and quite capable of surviving on his own, he rages against the judgment.

He admits the deed but dismisses it, saying the child was a worthless weakling.

In the face of this behavior Cern becomes more resolute.

The boy then turns to his mother, begging her to intercede, alternately raging and weeping as he does so.

The woman, reacting with rage of her own, points to Dema and says that it is the Lamia who has brought this fate upon him.

The boy turns on Dema with murder in his eyes.

As the young brute comes charging toward her, arms raised to strike, she takes on her Lamia aspect.

Pale as death and snakelike below the waist, she repeats to him the ancient vow that those who shed the blood of the innocent shall not escape her wrath.

At this the boy stops his onrush, drops all pretense of bravery and runs whimpering off into the deep woods.