T'ala cast an odd look at Dale and both women started to laugh. Their laughter faded as they curled together next to the fire, Ava between them.
In minutes Raf could tell they were asleep.
T'Mal looked at him over the women, his expression echoed Raf's own confusion. What did the women find humorous about keeping watch? The raider could still return.
"I will fetch the captive to where we can keep watch over him,” T'Mal said.
"He is..."
"I have no need of directions, human. His stink is strong in my nose."
The Shakar disappeared into the dark. Raf considered following him, but did not want to leave the women alone and unprotected for even a moment. He would have to trust the Shakar not to kill the man. A muffled scream sounded. Raf tensed. Then came another. Closer. Raf let himself relax. The Shakar would take his revenge, but the man would not die tonight.
* * * *
Dale woke with a start, the sound of a gurgling scream in her ears. Her eyes flew open as she jolted upward. Ava let out a squawk.
She sat up and looked around. Sunlight bathed the valley. The dead men were gone, along with the gruesome bundle of furs. In a shaded glen of trees the ground was freshly turned and mounded. Five quinar grazed peacefully on the lush grass alongside the river.
Next to her, T'ala stirred. “What is the matter, tui, friend?"
"Someone screamed."
T'ala sat up. “T'Mal and your man question the raider. Shall we go watch?"
Dale shuddered at the thought and shook her head.
"You think me cruel and heartless to enjoy the screams of my tormentor?"
"No, of course not. You're entitled. I just don't think I can watch.” When another agonized scream echoed through the valley, Dale was glad her stomach was empty. The man deserved whatever pain he suffered, but it upset her to know Shadow was the one inflicting that pain.
T'ala touched her shoulder. “You have a gentle, innocent heart. Mine was once so. I will ask T'Mal to muffle the man's cries so they will not disturb you.” She stood and headed toward the trees where the screams came from.
Dale feared the sound of screaming would haunt her forever. This was a violent, brutal world. She longed to go home.
But was Earth any better? Both her young husband and father had died at the hands of a man who beat his wife and children. Police officers, they had been on a domestic disturbance call. When they announced their presence, the man had pulled a gun and shot her father. He died instantly. Steven's return fire killed the man. While kneeling at his father-in-law's side, he didn't see the man's wife pick up her husband's gun. Steven lived long enough to pump two more bullets into the woman.
Only Thea and Cathy's constant care had kept Dale from withering away in grief.
Time and Thea helped Dale regain her will to live and her zest for life, but neither had given her the courage to risk loving a man again.
Now Thea's life depended on her returning home.
What seemed like hours later, Shadow, T'Mal and T'ala returned to the campsite. Dale looked over to where they'd left the raider tied. Though bruised and bloody, the man appeared alive and intact. She refused to further consider his fate.
The three seated themselves around the fire.
"The children must be rescued,” T'ala said.
"The other village must be warned first.” Torn between two duties, T'Mal's voice was rough with emotion.
T'ala turned pleading eyes to Dale. “Will you help?"
"I-I can't. I have to get home as quickly as possible. My child's life depends on me. I'm sorry."
"We don't have time to track the raiders,” Shadow added.
"Please,” T'ala said.
"Do not beg these humans for help. Why should they care for the Shakar or our children?” T'Mal's green eyes blazed with frustrated rage.
Faced with the immediate peril to the Shakar and their children, Dale's reasons felt inadequate. Could she live with herself if she did nothing to help these people? “We could warn the village.” How long could it take to ride in and out of a Shakar village and warn them?
Shadow shot her a hard look but didn't object to her offer.
"Tell us where it is. Shadow and I will take the message to them."
"Why should we trust you?” T'Mal growled his question.
"Your offer is generous, but the village is well-hidden and guarded.” With her explanation, T'ala attempted to ease the growing tension between Shadow and T'Mal. “You would not be able to locate it. Nor would you be allowed to enter."
Shadow leaned forward and stirred the embers to life. “The raiders had no problem."
"As your captive told us, we were betrayed by a human we mistakenly trusted.” T'Mal glared at Shadow.
"We found an injured man and nursed him to health. When he left the village, he sold information to the raiders,” T'ala explained.
"Did he know the location of the other village?” Dale asked.
"No. But the raiders took T'Mal's mate. She will be...” T'ala's voice broke. She took a deep breath before continuing. “T'Sela is strong, but eventually she will either reveal what she knows or die."
"We do not wish human help.” T'Mal stood and stalked toward the river.
Instead of relief at his refusal of help Dale felt determined.
T'ala's eyes filled with tears as she watched him go. She looked back at Dale and Shadow. “Forgive him, for he cannot forgive himself. It was he who brought the human into our village. I will go to him. He is right. The village must be warned. Then we can gather men to go in search of the children."
When T'ala left, Dale faced Shadow. “By then it'll be too late. The raiders will be long gone, and who knows what horrible things they will do to those children. We have to do something. Now."
"What would you have us do?"
"We can go after them ourselves."
"You forget that I am a slaver. Why should I trouble myself with the fate of Shakar children?” He refused to lift his head and meet her gaze, staring into the flames instead.
Dale grabbed his arm. “Damn you! Look at me!"
His head shot up, but Dale couldn't read the expression on his face. Hooded eyes regarded her without emotion.
"You're no more a slaver than I am.” The words burst from her lips with conviction. How could she have ever believed this man a slaver, when his every action said otherwise?
He lifted a dark brow. A corner of his lips twitched. “Am I not?"
"Of course not. Do you think I'm stupid? A slaver wouldn't concern himself with the safety of a family he'd never met. A slaver wouldn't rush to the defense of two strangers or chase down their captors.” She refrained from mentioning his restraint with her. No sense giving him ideas. “Actions speak louder than words."
"Do they?” He dropped the stick he'd been using to poke the fire.
Dale didn't like the glint in Shadow's dark eyes or the air of suppressed power coiling around him. She started to rise. “This conversation has gotten way off track. We need to get moving. While we sit here arguing, the raiders are getting farther and farther away.” And the longer it will be before I can get home.
Shadow's hand snaked out. His fingers fastened around her upper arm.
"Let me go."
"I think not.” He tugged her gently but surely toward him.
When she resisted, he gave a sharp jerk and she tumbled into his arms.
She struggled and sputtered a protest, which died as his lips closed over hers. Like an artist he painted her mouth with his tongue. Bold sweeping strokes outlined her lips until she opened them to his gentle invasion. Liquid heat flowed through her. Thoughts of escape and home melted under his assault on her senses.
She closed her eyes and gave herself over to the sensations coursing through her body. Not since Steven's death, so many years ago, had she felt so alive, so free. Her arms twined around Shadow's powerful shoulders, her fingers burrowing into his silken mass of hair. Long suppressed wa
nts and needs erupted inside her. Time-dimmed memories of physical bliss surfaced and demanded satisfaction. She'd forgotten this need to become one with another. Desire exploded inside her.
After long breathless minutes, his mouth started an exploration of her throat. To allow him better access, she threw back her head.
"Steven,” she murmured.
Raf tensed. In the heat of the moment, he had forgotten who this woman might be—Stefan Devros’ woman. Befuddled by her warm sensuality in his arms, he had nearly admitted his true identity, denounced his slaver status and undone moons of hard work.
That he should succumb to a woman's oldest trick angered him. Experience had taught him better. Women were not to be trusted.
Devros’ name on her lips while she moaned in Raf's arms shriveled his ardor. He surged to his feet. Unprepared for his sudden move, she slid to the ground with a thud.
"What the hell's the matter with you!” She scrambled to her feet. With her face flushed with unfulfilled passion, her hair mussed, her lips reddened, and her eyes sparkling in anger, she turned on him. “How dare you ... you..."
Words failed her. She stamped her foot and glared at him.
Her frustrated rage soothed his own. He didn't blame her for using whatever methods she needed to gain her ends. He was disgusted with himself for becoming her victim. A wry smile teased his lips.
"Don't you laugh at me."
Before he saw what was coming, she grabbed his arm. Next thing he knew he lay flat on his back gasping for breath.
She leaned over him. “With or without you, I'm going after those children. And then I'm going to find a way to go home to my daughter.” She whirled around and stomped toward the quinar.
The sound of T'Mal's laughter rang in the air. A furry hand reached down.
"Your female is a warrior. Do you follow her? Or stop her?” T'Mal asked.
Raf accepted the Shakar's hand and let himself be pulled to his feet. “I fear once she sets her mind only the Eternal One could sway her.” She might be a spy for Devros, but in this she was right. No matter the risk to his mission, he could not in good conscience ignore the plight of the Shakar. “Where shall we return your children when we find them?"
T'Mal's grip tightened and his gaze locked with Raf's.
"Trust me, T'Mal. I'll not betray you."
Slowly, reluctantly, T'Mal nodded. He gave Raf directions to the Shakar village. “I take T'ala there first. I will tell them of your quest. Runners will be sent to the other villages. Then I will gather men to track the females taken from my village. May the Eternal One guide our steps."
Raf touched T'Mal's shoulder. “Live hard. Die well, warrior."
T'Mal returned Raf's brief gesture. “Live well. Die hard, friend."
"How sweet. They've kissed and made up."
The rapport between them shattered at the sound of Dale's sarcasm.
She approached with two, saddled quinar. “I'm leaving. Are you coming?"
She struggled to hold the animals as they shied nervously away from the scent of the Shakar.
Raf grabbed the reins of his quinar and swung himself astride. He looked down at T'Mal. “I gift you with my captive.” Under Raf's persuasion the man had revealed all he knew. He and his comrades were not Devros’ men. They acted alone. Raf had no further need of the man.
"You have my thanks and my gratitude, Shadow Warrior. May the moons always light your way.” T'Mal's smile held little humor as he started toward where the captive lay bound and helpless.
Dale's face paled, but she offered no protest. She mounted her quinar and stared in the opposite direction.
Chapter Eight
Dale hunched her shoulders against the cold drizzle that plastered her hair to her head and trickled down her back. Numb fingers gripped reins she could no longer feel. An icy wind churned the low, charcoal gray clouds darkening the late afternoon sky. Wet and hungry, Dale let her quinar follow Shadow's.
He stopped, dismounted and crouched close to the ground.
"Three quinar traveled this way."
Dale blinked to clear away the moisture from her eyelashes. “How can you tell?"
"Their hooves are hard enough to chip the soft shale. See the marks?” He held up a piece of gray rock.
"If you say so. Are we going to stop to eat?"
"No. A storm approaches."
"A storm? What's this then?” She swiped at the rain streaming down her cheeks.
"Does a bit of water douse your zeal? Would you have us abandon this quest?"
His questions made Dale frown. Would he turn back from rescuing the Shakar children? She couldn't allow that.
"Of course not. We gave our word. I'm just hungry.” If he could handle the discomfort, so could she. She clenched her teeth to keep them from chattering, but she couldn't stop her stomach from rumbling.
His grin grated on her frozen nerves.
"Here. Eat this. We must follow their trail before it is obscured."
With ill concealed distaste she accepted the chunk of slightly soggy hard bread he dug from his pack.
Oblivious to the cold and wet, he remounted and they moved on.
Above the tree line where nothing but stunted, prickly bushes grew, she forgot hunger as she gasped for breath in the thinning air. Heads lowered, the quinar plodded along. Hours passed. Without Shadow she would be hopelessly lost. Whatever made her think she could track and rescue two children from their captors? Or find the two men who might or might not have her necklace?
Camping with Thea in the safe, placid parks and forest preserves of Illinois hadn't prepared her for this strange and hostile environment. Though her martial arts training had toned her body, it didn't give her the strength or stamina to deal with the altitude. If she died of exposure here on this blasted planet what would happen to Thea? She bit her lip to keep from crying out in frustration and despair.
A fat white flake landed on her cheek. It clung to her chilled flesh. Another floated past. In minutes they swirled in the air, blocking her vision. Her quinar stumbled to a halt and refused to move.
"Shadow.” Her teeth chattered. She couldn't see him.
"Call again. I will come to you."
"I'm here,” she screamed. The howling wind whipped away the echo of her words.
Like an ermine fur, snow covered her head and shoulders. She shook with cold. Beneath her jacket, Ava's huddled form provided the only bit of warmth. Blinking against the now stinging pellets of snow she peered into the mesmerizing maelstrom of white.
How easy it would be to close her eyes and surrender to the lethargy stealing over her. Was she doomed to die in this frigid hell? Inside her, panic's wings fluttered to life. Without her, what would happen to Thea? Angry denial lent strength to her voice. “Shadow, where are you?"
"Here."
She gasped as Shadow's arm encircled her waist and pulled her in front of him on his quinar. In a whirl of black, his cape settled over her. Snug between the thick dry material warmed by his body and the heat radiating from him, Dale gave a tired sigh and sagged. Beneath her cheek his heart beat a reassuring cadence.
Like frozen crystal bands, Dale's arms wrapped around Raf. Silently, he cursed himself. Lost in his thoughts he had become oblivious to the changing weather. While his eyes searched the ground for tracks, his mind ran in circles, trying to find a way to keep the search for the Shakar kits and Ava's injury from delaying, perhaps even ending, his mission
Though filled with flaws and risks, his plan was their last hope. All other attempts to find and rout out Devros had met with failure. Informants told Prince Ash that the country of Blagden already massed an invasion force along Dramon's border. They just waited for the slavers to begin their raids and cause chaos before they struck. With Dramon under siege from within, it would fall easily to Blagden's superior force. Once that happened Blagden would feel free to cast its covetous eyes on the tempting prize of Mardelan.
He had a mere two tendays left to locate Devros
and lead Dramon's troops to wipe him out. After that it would be too late to halt either the slavers or the invasion. Raf was determined not to fail. Too many lives rested on his success.
Though Dale's inner strength masked the fragility of her slight woman's body, it did not excuse his carelessness in allowing Dale to fall prey to the elements. Until he learned her identity and purpose, he was responsible for her well-being.
Self-recrimination did no good. They needed shelter from the storm. He clutched her tight and scooped up her quinar's reins. With his knees he steered his reluctant mount toward the rock wall of the mountain rising above them. Left to their own devices the quinar would simply fold to the ground, tucking their heads and limbs beneath them to wait out the weather. If he couldn't find a cave quickly, Raf would let them do so. Though not the best solution, covered by his cloak, he and Dale could lie between the beasts to keep from freezing.
Fortune smiled on them. For a brief moment the sheet of snow parted and a dozen arm lengths ahead he caught a glimpse of a dark aperture on the sheer cliff wall. The wind shifted obscuring his view as he headed his quinar toward their salvation. Only when the quinar's head disappeared into the opening did Raf realize that the cave was already occupied.
He pulled the now eager beasts to an abrupt halt. The scent and heat of a scrub wood fire didn't drift far beyond the cave's entrance, but it gave ample evidence that no animal resided there. Slowly he moved his quinar to the side of the entrance. A low warning growl made him pause. He dropped the reins and slid his sword free of its scabbard.
Their senses alert, the quinar shifted nervously. Unable to pinpoint the danger through the roar of the wind, the snow clogging their nostrils and freezing their heavy eyelids shut, they put their trust in the human guiding them.
Raf squinted into the swirling snow. A mere man's length away crouched six Falin, snow cats, their white fur rendering them nearly invisible. A dozen ice blue eyes dared him closer, but they made no move toward him. Frozen blood coated their muzzles and bared teeth. No longer did Raf have to be concerned about the raider who had escaped. That man and two others lay dead, their bodies ripped apart by the Falin.
Holding his sword ready, he urged his quinar into the cave. Whatever threat lay inside he would handle. Burdened by Dale's limp form, he would stand little chance if the cats chose to attack. Quick and strong, snow cats hunted only during storms, hibernating through the warmer months. This late spring storm must have roused them from their rest. And a disturbed snow cat was nothing to trifle with.
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