As Cedric and I approached the river and the island from our high advantage I saw the plain white canvas of a sturdy warrior’s campaign tent illuminated from within by the flickering light of a brightly burning campfire. The tent was within the sacred circle. Surrounding the tent were tall wooden shafts of hackberry arranged in a perfect circle. On each wooden shaft a brightly burning torch glowed in the twilight. I knew who I would find sitting cross legged and patiently waiting within the tent. The landscape below us was a white monotone of virgin snow. Above us the heavens were without clouds. The cold of the growing twilight’s air was biting and the fires below inviting. Cedric, sensing I wished to land close to the silhouetted tent on the island, spread his wings and began circling th
