narrow

to notice you. Males, even Leaders of the males’ houses, have no rights here and must be invited to speak.”
“This is too serious a matter for games of protocol.” Heyoka glanced aside at the sheltering mountains, all that stood between them and the flek. “This world has very little time left.”
“For countless generations, the pattern which rules the Meeting Ground has allowed us to come together without killing one another unnecessarily,” Nisk said stiffly. “We do not consider it on a par with a sport for untried cublings.”
Patterns again. Heyoka rolled his eyes wearily.
Nisk rode on, gaze solidly ahead. “Expect nothing from the Council. Do not even think of what you want, when you tell them what lies beyond Levv. Line Mothers care little for other voices than their own, but if you remember that you are only a male and know nothing of our ways, they may listen.”
The narrow track led up onto the broad top of the hill. The four yirn fell into single file, horned heads bobbing as they plodded up the incline. The great stones loomed, now close enough for even the incised patterns that covered them to be visible.
Just i