Jakatra stretched his fingers in some gesture of dismissal. Or maybe it was an announcement that he was done with the argument.
Eleriss nodded to Temi. “I thought it might be the case when I read about your sport. With the stick and the ball. Sports can be a good way to learn coordination and balance.”
Temi tried not to feel like he was talking down to her. She didn’t want to offend her only cheerleader here. “Yes, I’ve heard that.”
“It is likely that you’ll be able to continue your training for a few days more,” Eleriss said.
“Nobody’s found out I’m here yet?”
“Correct. My own long absences from the family have been questioned, but that is for me to worry about.”
“Nobody’s missed Jakatra?” Temi asked. He had been gone as long as Eleriss, and he was spending all of this time with her. What if someone came looking for him? And what happened if someone who wasn’t a part of this little help-the-humans program found her anyway? Jakatra’s rant from the night before made her wonder if she might be in danger of more than deportation.
“My presence is not requested at political or social gatherings.” Jakatra flicked a hand toward Eleriss. Implying his was?
“Oh? Are you grumpy around your own people too?”
Jakatra gave her a grumpy look for a response.
“Artemis, let us talk a moment.” Eleriss headed toward the trees and waved for her to follow.
Jakatra frowned but turned his back and propped his hands on his hips. For some reason, Temi hesitated, reluctant to go off and have a private conversation without him. It wasn’t as if these last twenty-four hours had caused them to form some lasting coach-student bond—that hadn’t gone well for her last coach, and she’d be loath to inflict it on anyone else, species regardless—but at the same time, she found herself reluctant to speak about him behind his back. Maybe Eleriss wouldn’t have that in mind.
“I know Jakatra can be… grumpy,” Eleriss said as soon as she joined him. So much for her hope. “But are you being treated fairly? Is your house adequate?”
She gazed over at Jakatra, whose back was still to them, thinking of all the times she had mentally screamed at him in her mind during their marathon training session. She might not like him much, but she wouldn’t call him unfair. “Everything is fine.”
“Please learn what you can from him, but do not allow him to deflate your spirit. He was born a pessimist.”
“Yes, I’ve gotten that impression.” And that he hated humans. “May I ask you a question?” Temi asked, not wanting to discuss Jakatra further. She wasn’t even sure they had moved far enough away to keep him from hearing. Who knew what the points on those ears did? He might have twice the auditory range of a human for all she knew.
Eleriss did his signature head tilt. “Yes.”
“Can you tell from here if my friends are all right? Or if there’s another monster out there to worry about? You’ve implied several times that more would be coming.”
“And you’re eager to return and combat them?” Eleriss asked brightly.
Uh, right. She decided not to mention her thoughts of intentionally flunking the training so she could go back to the tennis circuit. “I apparently have the only sword that can fight them here. I’m afraid they might try to do something about a monster if one showed up, even if they weren’t properly equipped.”
“Yes, they are curious humans.”
Temi wasn’t sure whether he meant curious as in nosey or curious as in strange and unique specimens. Either could apply.
“A new jibtab has not yet appeared,” Eleriss said.
“Good.”
“It may happen soon though. I fear many will be coming.”
“You said you don’t know who’s responsible for them?” Temi got the feeling he knew a lot more than he had told her or Delia. Might it even be one of his people? Or… She frowned at Jakatra, remembering his implication that there were numerous races in the galaxy, none impressed with humanity.
“I do not,” Eleriss said. “If I did, perhaps I could… “ He paused and contemplated the grass at his feet. “No, perhaps not. I cannot act openly unless… Politics, you understand. We cannot interfere. It is true we used to visit your world, but it has since been agreed—a very strict law was made…” He grimaced. Remembering that he was violating this law? “We cannot have anything to do with your people. Not anymore. But I thought if we could point you to a useful weapon that already existed on your planet, from a visitor of old, then it would not violate certain rules about interference.”
Temi thought about pointing out that bringing someone here to train with that weapon might be construed as interference. But Eleriss doubtlessly already knew he was walking a fine line with his people.
“It is unfortunate we cannot give you far more training,” Eleriss said, “but a week is as long as I dare keep you here. Also, you are right to be concerned for your people. More danger is coming.”
“Is there a reason we have to stay here to train?” Temi waved toward Jakatra. “We have meadows on Earth too. Granted, Arizona’s meadows are on the dusty side, but that shouldn’t matter.” She would rather not stay here if there was a chance someone would stumble across her presence and find it less than pleasing.
“Your world lacks suitable predators to train on. You will move from combating Jakatra to combating dangerous animals soon.”
“Like the black shaggy things from last night?”
“Yes, except bigger and fiercer. Those were domesticated.”
How comforting. Even though she didn’t say it out loud, he must have guessed her concern.
“Do not worry. Jakatra will train you first and watch from nearby when you confront these animals. You will do well. I am certain.”
Temi would be more comforted if Jakatra was the one saying that.
“I wonder if it was indeed an accident that brought you to us,” Eleriss mused. “Humans also believe in… what is the word in your tongue? Fate?”
Temi nodded, though she had no idea what the original term was he was trying to define.
“I believe you’ll be a good champion for your world.”
A champion for her world? What a thought.
“You barely know me.” Or so she assumed. If he had researched her—and he had mentioned tennis—then he might know far more than she would have liked.
“You are calm,” Eleriss said. “In many situations. When Jakatra is pressing you aggressively. Also, the night you slew the jibtab. You seemed almost indifferent to that accomplishment.”
How could he know that? He and Jakatra hadn’t been there to witness that underwater fight.
“I’m not serene. I’m just…” Not that invested in this, Temi thought. Was that it? Not exactly, but the last time she had wept for joy had been when she won Wimbledon, and the last time she had wept for sorrow had been the same night, after her coach’s death. Everything since then had affected her less profoundly. Or maybe all the reporters, all the questions, and all the anger directed at her had forced her to wall herself off, to stop feeling. “I’ve been through a lot in the last couple of years. I think I’m just numb to everything anymore.”
Eleriss did not respond, but he gazed thoughtfully after her when she headed back to the meadow. Jakatra had his sword out and appeared ready for more training. Temi braced herself. She had better be too.
Chapter 6
Temi had never been on a hovercraft, but the vehicle Eleriss drove through the trees fit the name. The truck-sized craft had a pair of seats up front, where the elves sat, and a cargo area in the back with two benches along the sides. Temi sat on one, watching the forest as the craft, floating several feet off the ground, zipped in and out of the trees.
Birds squawked at their passing. There was more wildlife out here than there had been near Temi’s meadow, including bird-sized insects. Something that looked like a flying tarantula landed on Jakatra’s shoulder. He brushed it off, as if it were of less c
onsequence than a mosquito. Temi gulped. If the insects were that big, what kinds of higher-order predators would be lurking out here?
Here and there, narrow animal trails meandered through the brush, but Temi had yet to see anything that qualified as a road. She had yet to see a house, either, aside from her small tree abode. The elves had to be deliberately keeping her out in the wilderness so no one would see her. Delia would be peppering them with questions about their world, how populous it was, how many languages they spoke, and Temi felt remiss for not asking such things. Jakatra probably wouldn’t answer, but Eleriss might. But she had other things on her mind.
It was nearing the end of her fifth day here, and for the first time, Jakatra had let her sleep in. Because they were to hunt tonight. Temi would have been more enthused at the prospect of hunting during daylight hours, but the pale yellow sun was setting, the trees casting shadows miles long on the forest floor.
To the side of the hovercraft, leaves rustled, and wood cracked. Something large bounded through the brush. Neither of the elves did more than glance in that direction, but whatever was making the noise didn’t go away. It paralleled them, crashing through the foliage and keeping up with easy lopes. The leaves obscured it, but Temi glimpsed long, powerful legs, a broad head and snout, and sleek fur. It was bigger than the domesticated bear things that had been part of her first test.
The sword rested between Temi’s knees, and she wrapped her hand around the hilt. She leaned toward the elves. “Is that what we’re hunting?” Another branch snapped. Or maybe that was a trunk being knocked over. “And, ah, is the hunt going to start soon?”
“Not until tonight,” Eleriss said over his shoulder. “This aramushua—truck?—is protected. It is unlikely the uruv-neshi will attack.” Apparently that second word didn’t have a translation. No Earth equivalent.
“But we won’t be protected when we hunt?” Temi asked.
“No.” Jakatra climbed into the rear of the hovercraft and sat across from her, putting his back to the creature. “We evolved here, alongside these predators. They used to hunt us until we developed weapons and armor to thwart their attacks. They can tell when we carry these protections with us, and they do not attack, because they would be harmed. Mildly harmed, but it is enough to convince them to leave us be. Our swords will not have this effect on them, even yours.”
“Because they know they can beat us if all we have are swords?”
“They will believe so, yes.”
“Because they’ve beaten a lot of sword fighters in past ages?” Temi wondered if many of Jakatra’s people still wandered around with swords. He obviously knew what he was doing, but was it actually common? It would seem strange from a people who could travel between worlds and heal wounds that could stump the best surgeons.
“They have,” Jakatra said.
“A lot of women, children, and men, also,” Eleriss said. “They find the taste of our flesh particularly appealing. Our ancestors had to be crafty survivalists to evolve on this world. One wonders if today’s generation would be so able.”
Jakatra looked at the back of Eleriss’s head with hooded eyes, as if to say he was plenty crafty, thank you. Temi hoped that would be the case, since they were to be dropped off in this forest to hunt—or be hunted—without any of the superior protections Eleriss had mentioned.
“If they’re that dangerous—” judging by the size of the one loping along beside them, Temi couldn’t imagine them being anything but dangerous, “—and you now have the technology to deal with them, why not eradicate them?”
Jakatra’s face grew flinty as his eyes turned back toward her. Even mild-mannered Eleriss frowned back at Temi, and she shifted on the hard bench, knowing she had said the wrong thing.
“To eradicate a species would be a heinous crime,” Eleriss said.
“But hunting a species for the purpose of training, that’s fine?” Temi asked, feeling a touch defensive at their angry—no, disappointed—expressions.
Eleriss held up a device, the one Temi had guessed was the equivalent of a phone a few days earlier. “We have surveyed the numbers and placement of all species of wildlife in the area and have chosen a hunting ground based on this information. To kill a couple of the large predators in the area will not detrimentally impact the ecosystem.”
Temi wondered if they had gotten permission to hunt the creatures or if she was going on the equivalent of a poaching trip in some big elven park.
The hovercraft slowed down. If they had arrived at a destination with something significant about it, it wasn’t apparent to her. More trees, more bushes, and more rustling undergrowth surrounded them. A bevy of large birds flapped out of a large shrub as they drew to a stop nearby. At least whatever had been chasing the craft had disappeared, or it had stopped tearing through the brush after them, anyway.
Jakatra grabbed his sword and a bag and hopped to the ground, landing lightly in a patch of low ferns. “Come,” he told Temi.
Eleriss hopped out of the vehicle, too, though he left it running, its engine making a soft putch-putch noise as it idled. Temi had no idea what powered it. She didn’t smell any exhaust.
Aware of Jakatra watching her, she climbed over the side of the craft, her sword in hand. It glowed more than usual, brightening the shadows deepening amongst the trees. Maybe it knew danger lurked nearby.
“You do not wish me to retrieve you until the morning, correct?” Eleriss asked.
“Yes,” Jakatra said.
Did Eleriss’s expression grow a touch doubtful? “You are certain you don’t wish me to stay nearby?”
“Yes.”
“It is possible you will be overwhelmed. The sarushnaka can smell our blood from miles away.”
“I am aware of this. They are territorial, so it is unlikely we would face more than a female and its mate, at the most.” Jakatra pointed to the hovercraft. “The sooner you leave, the sooner we can begin training.”
Eleriss hesitated, then tilted his head. His “yes” tilt was a little different from his “I’m confused” tilt. “As you wish.” He looked at them both and said, “What is the phrase? Have luck?”
“Good luck,” Temi said.
“Yes. Good luck. And do not play with each other’s bodies.”
Temi almost dropped her sword. “What?”
It wasn’t as if she had never heard sexual innuendo before; it was just that she hadn’t heard any of it from either of the elves, and she wondered if she had misunderstood. Or maybe Eleriss had translated something poorly. Jakatra didn’t look confused by the statement though. He merely gave his buddy a flat look.
“There is a tale among our people,” Eleriss said, “that speaks of young lovers going out into the wilderness to find privacy from disapproving family members, only to become distracted by their ardor and turn into easy prey for predators.”
“We’re not planning any ardor,” Temi hurried to say.
Did Eleriss think there had been something more than sword training going on out in the woods? As if she would have any interest in someone who thought humans were idiots and had been so dismissive of the idea that one of his people had apparently found one of her ancestors appealing.
“No?” Eleriss asked. “Females usually find Jakatra attractive.”
“I don’t.” Not exactly true, but… “Even if I did, I wouldn’t do anything that could get him hurt out here. The last time something like that happened, I lost my coach.” She shook her head, trying to push away the memories that rushed into her mind, memories she had already relived far too many times.
It was only then, in glancing at Jakatra’s sour expression and Eleriss’s surprised one, that Temi realized he had been teasing them. Or teasing Jakatra, more specifically. Her cheeks heated with embarrassment. Why had she answered them so seriously—so personally?
“No ardor,” Jakatra confirmed. “Only hunting.” He turned his back on them and strode away from the hovercraft.
“Be careful,” Eleriss
said, more somber now. “We do not have time to train another, and I have heard… it is possible your presence on our world has been noticed. We will need to send you home soon. Before you are in danger from more than hungry animals.”
Just in case she hadn’t had enough to worry about.
Temi followed Jakatra into the brush, her hand clenched tightly about her sword.
Chapter 7
Temi waited, knees bent slightly, weight resting on the balls of her feet. Just like getting ready to return a serve. Except the thing racing toward her at a hundred miles an hour wasn’t a tennis ball; it was a shaggy brown animal with fangs like daggers.
It pounded through the shadows on four legs, crushing foliage with heavy paws, ignoring branches that scraped at its fur, staring at her with hungry yellow eyes. Every instinct told Temi to run, but Jakatra had warned her not to turn her back, that it would sense her fear and pounce. As if it wasn’t going to pounce now. It was covering the ground as fast as a car on the highway, its maw opening wide in anticipation.
Twenty meters. Ten meters.
Sweat dampened her palms. An image of the weapon being torn from her grip popped into her mind, but there was no time to wipe her hands. She squeezed down on the hilt.
Five meters. Temi held her stance, waiting until it was too late for the creature to alter its course.
It leapt into the air, paws stretching toward her. A throaty snarl burst from its throat. Claws like switchblades sprang from its digits.
“Now,” Jakatra ordered from a nearby tree.
Temi was already springing to the side, whipping the sword at the creature’s shoulder as she did so. The throat would have been an ideal target, but its limbs were longer than hers, and she couldn’t hit it as she sprang away. But a wound was a start. Setting up the point so she could take advantage.
Her blade sliced into the flesh of its shoulder, as she had hoped, but the blow didn’t keep it from twisting in the air and swinging at her with one of those massive paws. Temi jumped back again, jerking her head to avoid those slashing claws. She landed on sure feet, glad she had studied the ground and knew there was nothing behind her that would entangle her. She backed up further, to a tree the thickness of an aged redwood.
Destiny Unchosen Page 4
