“Being the nosy individual you are.”
I tried to wither him with a stare. “I found Feria. Wounded. She, of course, couldn’t speak wolf, so I changed clothes–”
“Changed clothes, hmmm. That’s an interesting way to explain the procedure.”
“Do you want to listen or continue with the commentaries?”
“I’m all ears.”
“All mouth, more like.”
“Bite me.”
“I convinced her I was harmless–”
Tashira opened his mouth until I growled, daring him to speak. He shut it, his eyes laughing and his tiny ears perked forward.
“We shared the cow, as through her I had a decent meal.”
“Being the generous fellow you are.”
“The next day, I healed her wounds. Just as I healed my own. We stayed together for a couple of weeks, hunting as a team, eating well until–”
“What, dammit, don’t bother with the pauses to add suspense.”
“An old enemy of Darius’ trapped me, seeking to avenge herself through me.”
“Herself?”
“Chovani,” I said, scratching an itch behind my ear. “A witch. She used a sinkhole to tumble me into a hidden cave, bound me with cables to the floor where she planned to torture me. By killing me, she thereby sentenced Darius to an eternity in prison.”
“How’d you get out?”
“Changed clothes and got in a couple strikes with my knife. While she bled, Feria dropped in to cut her face to ribbons.”
“So Chovani’s dead?”
I flapped my ears. “Negative. Witches sell their souls to daemons and gain great power. She can’t be killed easily.”
“Ah, so you ran for your life?”
I laughed. “Let’s not make it sound so cowardly. She started an earthquake to stop me.”
Tashira froze. “Hmmm.”
“Hmmm?”
“I passed a valley that looked like the gods dropped an explosive device in it.”
“That’s the spot.”
“So,” Tashira said. “You saved her life, she saved yours. Right?”
“Right.”
“Thusly, you and Feria are even,” Tashira went on. “Just as we are.”
“Indeed.”
“So where is she?”
My heart dropped. I shut my eyes, unable to speak of the grief when I convinced her to forget me.
“Raine?” Tashira’s voice prodded.
“I sent her away,” I said, staring into the fire. “I had to, or she’d have died. If not the weather, then Ja’Teel would have killed her.”
“Ah, his latest trap. I see.”
I growled, looking up at him. “You see–what?”
Not the least bit intimidated, Tashira’s eyes danced. “Give me some credit, I didn’t actually see him capture you. Had I been closer when he did, he’d be minus his head now. Along with all those boys you sent on their merry way.”
“And you were–where?”
“I crested a hill to your west,” Tashira said, “just in time to see you rise up and kill that sorry human standing over you. How did that bloody magician manage it?”
“Some potion or other he concocted,” I replied. “He used a needle. I’d no wits, no strength, nor any power to resist. After Feria–”
“You didn’t want to.”
“Nope.”
“What gave you the will?”
“Darius created in my head a vision,” I replied, halting. Though I couldn’t exactly sweat, I gulped, panted and went on, “a vision of Ly’Tana, in torment–”
Once more I shied from the word ‘raped’, “–screaming for me. It let my rage start me up. I used my magic’s fire to burn the drug from my blood. Only then could I fight.”
Tashira turned about to face me fully. “Had you not saved yourself, he still would have no prize to take to his master. Those idiots he left behind–”
His luminescent eyes darkened to red. “–let’s just say they’re very fortunate you woke when you did.”
My heart burned. Not with grief, but with a sudden surge of joy. Tashira’s love and loyalty crossed the short span of the cave to hit me, like a brick, between my eyes. In the glow of his eyes, my broken heart healed, just a little.
“I heard what you and they said,” Tashira continued. “I watched you send those boys on their way, with the mutts.”
I suddenly stood, my head and tail high. “You sent those horses west. Didn’t you?”
Tashira laughed, his eyes glowing bright. “You were right, of course. Those poor beasts would find a better life following the brats than going home. I merely suggested they catch up and find a new destination. They seemed to think it a good idea.”
“You slay me.”
“I suppose you want to know what’s been going on with the others.”
“Of course.”
“Ly’Tana’s chum had another go at her.”
I straightened instantly. “When Rygel tried to kill her?”
Tashira stiffened. “Rygel tried to kill her?”
“You don’t know?”
“I do not. I took off after you the same day you popped out of existence.”
“You first,” I demanded. “Tell me.”
“Within an hour of your disappearing act,” he answered. “A lightning storm blew up. Rygel threw her on Shardon and off he went.”
Tashira shook his ears. “That was one of the weirdest things I’ve ever seen. The storm followed after, thunder and lightning all over the place, but once Shardon and Ly’Tana went over the hills so did the storm. Once it was gone, it left the rest of us in bright sunshine.”
“Then what? Was she injured? How’d they escape?”
“Shardon outran it. Took her with him.”
I gaped, stunned. “Shardon outran lightning?”
“I don’t much like repeating myself.”
“Gods above and below.”
“I must admit, however,” Tashira said, his tone both amused and admiring. “Shardon is a lazy so and so, but when he wants to, that pony can run.”
“I reckon so.”
I lay down finally, disbelieving. Shardon outran lightning. The image still rocked me. “Do they know yet who is trying to kill her?”
“No. Rygel took them off to the northwest to find people who can tell them.”
“That’s why they’re going that way,” I said, absently, recalling the dreams of her riding away from Kel’Halla and not toward it.
“How’d you know?”
I lifted my muzzle toward him. “I see her when I sleep.”
“That’s new and different.”
“She sees me, too. I heard her scream a warning when the Farouk hunters chased me around the lake.”
“That trick might prove useful in the future.”
“If I knew how it was happening and how to control it, sure. But I actually haven’t dreamed of her for a while.”
“When was the last time?”
“Before–”
“Before Feria?”
I nodded miserably.
“Ly’Tana won’t like the competition,” Tashira said, amused. “So when did Rygel try to kill her?”
“In the midst of the Route,” I said. “She was disguised as a slave. Arianne was her owner, masquerading as Brutal’s cousin.”
“Clever.”
“Until royal soldiers accosted them. Arianne had to play along, or the soldiers would get suspicious. Anyway, Rygel, in a rage, beat her. Badly. I didn’t witness the entire event, just the aftermath. But–”
“But?”
“Somehow I knew what happened.”
“Did he stop? He must have.”
I wagged my tail. “By the blood I saw on his jaws, I suspect Tuatha persuaded him.”
“That little–” Tashira’s voice dropped in wonder and admiration. “He’s your son, all right. Tough bugger.”
“I actually haven’t seen her in my sleep since,” I said.
>
Tashira yawned. “Speaking of sleep,” he said. “I don’t suppose further catching up might wait until morning? I worked hard keeping up with you. I’m beat.”
“Your own bloody fault.”
His yawn was contagious. I stood up and stretched, then ambled over to my wood pile and chose a large log. Lifting it in my jaws, I dropped into the blazing fire and leaped back as the flames rose.
I dropped a few more into the conflagration before curling into a ball as close to the heat as I could get without setting my fur afire. Tashira also stepped closer before lowering his head and closing his eyes. “Time for a long nap,” he said, already drowsing.
I flipped my tail over my muzzle and sighed in contentment. Outside, the storm raged on. Inside, warm, no longer alone, I dropped into a sleep that for once held no wretched dreams of either Wind Spirit or Feria or Ly’Tana.
I slept without dreaming at all.
Beloved of the Gods
Chapter 4
Waking before the dawn and Arianne, I stepped outside our shared tent.
The sun peeped over the eastern horizon, tingeing the cloudless sky a dusky rose. I rubbed my arms against the desert night’s chill, my steel wrist cuffs clinking against my arm bands. I sighed and stretched, feeling wonderful in my warrior’s leathers, my sword once more belted to my hip. My gold torque and several precious necklaces again graced my throat.
I remember little after Smoke’s hand touched my brow the previous day, but his healing powers worked. Free of both pain and exhaustion, my wounds healed, I felt as light and free as a hunting hawk. Finally rid of the noxious slaves’ clothes and horrid boots, I could face the world a new woman.
By habit long ingrained, I looked first for Mikk. In the near darkness, he was difficult to find. Peering hard, I located his cream hide and dark mane, tail and legs glowing faintly in the pinkish light. Our horses, for a reason known only to them, grouped together in a grazing bunch rather than mingle with the native desert horses. Even the skinny pack horses, new to our crowd, seemed to know to which group they belonged. A pity we couldn’t stay for a month on that green, lush pasture. Those beasts won’t be skinny for long.
A nomad warrior rode his watch, sitting his horse between our closely bound herd and the more loosely scattered horses of the tribe. His dark eyes above his scarf watched me solemnly, but he didn’t acknowledge I existed.
Shardon raised his head from his grazing when I emerged from under the tent’s flap, his dark eyes and ears turned toward me. Had I spoken a greeting, I knew his keen hearing would hear me. I contented myself with a wave and stretched languidly, my arms over my head. My spine popped and I released a pent-up sigh of relief.
A faint whine, mid-stretch, halted me. At first, I thought Tuatha had followed me out and wanted me to pick him up. Like all of us, he had eaten well the night before and slept like a dead thing on a fur between Arianne and me.
I turned, and instead found Darkhan.
“Praise be,” I said, pitching my voice low as to not wake Arianne or any others nearby.
His chest against mine, I gathered him to me, my arms around his massive shoulders. He whined again, his tail wagging his entire rear quarter. His wet tongue warmed my cheek, his eyes gleaming in the dim light of the rising sun.
“I’m so happy.” I couldn’t help squeezing him tighter, knowing how narrowly we came to losing him. Had I not convinced him to want to live . . . a thought not to be borne. Though Darkhan wasn’t mine, I felt a closeness to him, an understanding with him, that I hadn’t felt for any other. Not even Thunder or Digger. For he loved Arianne with the same fierceness I felt for Raine.
He backed from my grip, his yellow eyes anxious and his tail stilled.
“What?” I asked. “Is something wrong?”
Tuatha tumbled from under the tent’s heavy flap, yawning mightily, his pink tongue curling at the end. Darkhan wagged a greeting and licked his tiny muzzle, then squarely met my eyes again.
“I know you’re trying to tell me something,” I whispered. “I don’t know what. Dammit, I wish I spoke your language.”
With a half-growl, half-whine, Darkhan looked over his shoulder, then back at me. I shrugged, almost frantic, trying to comprehend his message.
“I don’t understand you.”
Darkhan trotted away, then looked at me over his shoulder.
“What? You want me to follow you?”
Darkhan came back, licked my neck, then trotted away. Toward the north. He glanced back at me, his golden eyes filled with sorrow.
He trotted north.
The night’s chill landed in my gut like an anvil. “Gods,” I whispered. “You’re leaving. You’re going to him.”
His sharp yap answered me. Yes.
“But why?” I began. “Why would–”
The anguish in his yellow eyes answered me more completely than had I understood him verbally. He may have agreed to live, but his heart lay broken within his broad chest. Never in a million years could he compete with Rygel for Arianne’s affections. Nor could he stay and watch them together, knowing Arianne made her choice and that choice left Darkhan in the outer darkness.
What would I do if Raine found another? Could I sit by and watch his happiness grow with another woman in his arms? Would I watch him get married, sire another woman’s child? The answer to that left my innards stone cold. My body shook as if caught with a sharp ague.
“Dear one,” I choked, holding open my arms. “Come here.”
He obeyed, overflowing my limbs, his chest heavy against mine. Tuatha whined, bumping against my legs. He knew what Darkhan intended, and that knowledge distressed him. I buried my face in Darkhan’s ruff, my tears sticking his fur to my cheeks.
The sun rose higher, lighting the desert with its brilliance. Soon, its light and warmth would stir the sleepers into wakefulness. I suspected Darkhan wanted to leave without any pomp and ceremony. He also didn’t wish to see Arianne. I daresay I didn’t blame him. We both knew she’d try to convince him to stay. For her he’d remain, his heart bleeding afresh every time he saw them together.
Sniffing back my tears, I bent to pick up Tuatha. I tried to smile into Darkhan’s unhappy eyes. “Go, then, my brave Darkhan, and be well. Protect him for me. We’ll meet again soon.”
He kissed me, his eyes warm and a shade relieved. Perhaps he thought I would fight him, command him to stay, as his pack leader had every right to do. I could never.
He eyed the tent flap for a long moment, a low whine caught in his throat. He glanced up into my eyes and whined again.
“Yes,” I answered hoarsely, tears choking me. “I’ll tell her.”
My eyes filled to overflowing, I awkwardly wiped my cheeks as Darkhan turned and loped away.
“Wait,” I called, my voice low.
Darkhan paused, his right front paw raised to take another step toward the far north and his Chosen One. His tongue caught between his fangs, he turned, glancing toward me over his shoulder. Did he worry I’d changed my mind?
I grinned. “Don’t tell him we’re coming. Got it?”
His sharply cut off growl answered me. Got it.
Like dark lightning, Darkhan shot across the slowly wakening camp. His long, heavy wolf body scattered sheep, goats, camels and horses in every direction. Guards shouted an alarm while herd boys rose from their beds to grab sticks and dogs to round up the panicked flocks.
Tuatha in my arms, I watched as Darkhan splashed across the river, sheets of water spraying up pink under the new dawn’s light. On the far side, he reared, his front paws boxing the air much as Mikk often did. His ringing howl crossed the distance to me, his words understood by not my mind, but by my heart.
I will find him.
Back on all four feet, he raced away, between the river and the dunes. The desert swallowed him up.
“You did good.”
Bar emerged from behind my tent, his ears perked and his eagle’s eyes focused on the spot where Darkhan disappeared.
His immense wings furled over his lion shoulders, Bar’s black-tipped tail swung quietly from side to side. Shortening the distance between us, Bar’s beak parted in a griffin grin. “Maybe he’ll find the mate you promised out there.”
“I hope so,” I replied, sniffing. “Nice girls and all.”
I prowled about his huge body, searching out his wounds. “How are you?”
“Not bad,” he replied, turning his head over his shoulder as I peered at the injuries on his back, shoulders and haunches. Those I found appeared healthy, covered in ointment and well on their way to healing. “These people know their stuff.”
All three of us heard Arianne stirring from her bed within the tent, yawning, stretching, and searching for an absent Tuatha. Tuatha, the object of her search, licked under my chin and whined low, worried.
“She’s not going to like his little vanishing act,” Bar advised.
“Sucks to be her,” I snapped, under my breath. “She, and Rygel, are responsible for this travesty.”
“Well–” Bar began, but my finger in his face slammed home his beak and shut down whatever he planned to say.
“Butt out,” I grated. “Mind your own bloody business.”
“Damn, girl.” Bar recoiled from both my finger and my tone. “Who pissed in your porridge this morning?”
Arianne emerged from the tent’s inner darkness. Her midnight hair, unfettered and snarled, cloaked her to her knees. Smiling around a huge yawn, Arianne stroked down Tuatha’s ears.
I glared my answer at Bar before smoothing my features into casual blandness. “Sleep well?” I asked politely.
She nodded, too busy cooing over Tuatha for a more thorough answer. I half-feared Tuatha might squeal, inform her how her wolf had deserted her and even now galloped north. As Li’s wives had taken away her rich brocade gown, too filthy to be worn any longer, she wore a loose desert blue skirt, and soft boots. A shirt of thin cotton, far too big for her, she’d tucked under the gold chain belted about her tiny waist.
I feared in vain. Tuatha accepted her affection, his sapphire eyes so wide and innocent I choked on a laugh. I really should teach him subtlety. If I could read he harbored a secret, Arianne would surely have little trouble. Her instincts for deception were higher than I’d have thought.
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