Primal Encounter

by Rebecca Airies

  Has she been taken too? Logan asked. Who took you?

  I’m not sure but I suspect I’ve been taken by the same people who took me to that arena. Dari hasn’t been taken. She was hit and left. Rygar felt the anger rise in him. They’d hurt her. He wanted to kill them for that.

  Just tell me where she is, I’ll go get her. Don’t worry, Logan assured him.

  That’s the problem. She’s not waiting and I don’t know where she is right now. She’s determined to help. Rygar twisted his hands, testing the tightness of the steel around his wrists. He could turn his hand relatively easily but he couldn’t slip free of it.

  Help! What does she… Well, it does fit with what we’ve seen of her. At least we know she can defend herself. Logan’s tone started off sharp but then softened. We’ll catch up to her.

  I hope you do. Worrying about her is ripping into me. The stubborn woman won’t listen to reason and thinks she can handle anything that comes after her. Rygar fisted his hand. He loved Dari but life with her was anything but normal. Most of the time he loved that.

  Are the other men with you? Logan asked.

  Yes, in the wagon with me along with a couple of men I don’t know. Rygar could smell them as well as sense them.

  Get me a location for her if you can and for you. We’ll start with the arena but it’s not the only one that takes warriors and uses them for sport. Logan’s voice sounded reassuring.

  I’ll try. She’s not exactly at her most cooperative right now. Just get to her before she tries to take apart the whole arena by herself. Rygar could easily see her doing something just like that.

  I’ll do my best but you know that’s not a bad idea. Logan’s humor carried easily on the mental path.

  Letting her do that is a horrible idea. Rygar didn’t hold back the growl building in his throat.

  Not Dari. Destroying that arena is a good idea. It would send a message. Too many shifters end up in there, Logan explained.

  They’ll just rebuild, maybe in another place if they think someone might come and stop them again.

  I know but while they’re rebuilding no one will be fighting and possibly dying in their games, Logan said fiercely.

  You figure out how you’re going to do that. I’ll see if I can get Dari to listen. Rygar looked up at the canvas as it billowed slightly in a gust of wind. He didn’t have much hope of succeeding there. She’d been adamant when he’d talked to her.

  I’ll talk to you later, Rygar. Contact me as soon as you have any news. Logan’s terse order was classic.

  The connection faded and Rygar moved onto his stomach. He tensed his arms, straining. Metal dug into his wrists. He gritted his teeth ignoring the pain. The chain stretched taut. He felt blood wet his wrist. The links held. He relaxed. The chain wasn’t going to break.

  “Are you okay, Rygar? I smell blood.” Dren’s voice was whisper soft.

  “The manacles cut into my wrists.” Rygar turned onto his side. Nothing to do now but wait for an opportunity to escape and make these men pay for what they’d done.

  Chapter Ten

  Dari looked up at the high walls of the arena. She knew that the bag she carried made her stick out a bit but she hadn’t wanted to waste time if Rygar wasn’t here. She could hear the roar of the crowd. The games had started. Was this where they’d taken Rygar? Was he meant to satisfy the bloodlust of these bored citizens again? She hadn’t felt any shifters in the area but could still be too far away from them yet. She sighed. The only way to get closer now was to go into the stadium.

  She headed for the entrance. Taking a deep breath as she neared the entrance, she squared her shoulders. She really didn’t look forward to going into that crowded stadium. Suddenly she felt the presence of one shifter coming down the street.

  “Ah, there you are, Dari. Your brothers have been looking everywhere for you.” The voice sounded just before a hand landed on her shoulder.

  She tensed and turned to look over her shoulder. Sian stood there smiling. She wasn’t going to resist. She’d known Logan would have rushed to get to her and not just to relieve Rygar’s worry. The male need to protect would have urged him to hurry. She just didn’t know how they’d gotten here so fast. She hadn’t exactly taken her time.

  “Well, we can’t keep my brothers waiting if they’ve been looking for me. I’m sure they have plenty to say to me.” She turned and smiled at Sian. It wasn’t his fault and she wasn’t going to take her anger out on him.

  He looked surprised and she took satisfaction in that. His hand released her shoulder and gestured for her to move in front of him. She laughed softly and walked forward. Untrusting male. She wasn’t going to try to dash off. He should know that. She just wanted Rygar free. She would love to actually help free him but she knew it wasn’t going to happen. Helping would keep her from worrying. She hated sitting and waiting. It was a thousand times worse than facing an enemy.

  Sian led her through the city. As they went, two more men joined them. She wasn’t surprised when they left the city. Logan wouldn’t stay anywhere close to an area he considered an enemy stronghold.

  The men stopped only to get the mican they’d left next to a small river. Dari mounted the extra mican they’d brought. As they rode, the men positioned their animals around hers, guarding her from danger. She rolled her eyes. These men were armed and on their guard. Only a fool would attack them now.

  It was almost sunset when they arrived at the Zarain camp. Dari would swear that all work stopped when the lookout noticed the mican approaching. She saw Logan come to stand near an opening on one of the tents. As they rode closer, she tried to read his expression. She expected anger or disapproval but his face was a set mask, giving nothing away. She dismounted slowly. Taking a deep breath, she trudged over him. She didn’t expect this to be easy or pleasant. In fact, Logan was probably very angry.

  Logan raised an eyebrow and stared down at her. A corner of his mouth quirked up into a small smile. “Surprised to see us?”

  “A little. I didn’t expect to see anyone for a day or two. I knew you’d have to organize things,” she admitted.

  “We came ahead. The necessary equipment will be brought to us. We were in something of a rush. Rygar was worried about you.” Logan folded his arms across his chest.

  “He’s a little overprotective. Other than some stares, I had no problem on the journey. He’s the one who was taken.” She looked around the camp. Just from the large tents and the sheer number of men, she wouldn’t have said that they were rushed at all. This wasn’t a bare essentials camp.

  “Meaning we needn’t have rushed. What were you planning to do?” Logan asked.

  “Nothing too serious at first. When Sian found me I was just going to see if Rygar was there.” She shifted a little uncomfortably under his unwavering stare.

  “Come on. You can sit down and tell me why you were so adamant about not waiting. Rygar and the other men weren’t going to be hurt. They had definite plans for them.” Logan half turned and stepped to the side, gesturing for her to walk in front of him. Dari was thoroughly confused. This wasn’t what she’d expected at all. She’d expected yelling or at least growls of displeasure. He seemed rather sedate. As far as she knew, he wasn’t playing games or hiding his emotions. She’d thought that the least that would happen was he’d put a guard on her until they freed Rygar.

  She walked over to the center of the camp and settled on a small pad. Logan came over and settled on another pad not too far away from her. She turned to face him.

  “Now why didn’t you wait?” His head tilted and he looked genuinely curious.

  “Would you have waited? If you weren’t the Achan and you were in my position?” she asked, her head cocked to the side. She knew the answer. He wouldn’t have hesitated. She just wondered if he’d admit it.

  “I probably wouldn’t have waited but it’s different for me. I’m a man.” Logan shrugged and seemed unconcerned.

  She growled, didn’t try to hold it back
. Glaring at him, she folded her arms across her chest. “That’s the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard. Do you think male Zarain are the only ones who have instincts?”

  “No, I know female Zarain have instincts but they’re not the same as a man needing to protect his woman,” Logan said.

  “They’re not? What’s a mother going to do if her baby’s threatened? We have the same instincts. We’re just not called to use it that much because we usually have you big, strong males around ready to rush in and save the day.” Her voice hardened and she glared at him, incensed.

  Logan’s lips pursed as he apparently gave it some thought. “Yes, mothers protect their children. I’ll give you that.”

  “I’ll protect those I care for in any way I can. I’m not going to stand by when I might be able to help in some way. No matter who disagrees with me.” Her hand sliced through the air. That wasn’t going to changer no matter what punishment he decided to give her.

  “That’s clear. What would you have done to help him?” Logan asked.

  “Oh, please, I could have gone almost anywhere without question. I’m a woman and I was alone. There aren’t that many men who would have thought I’d have posed any threat,” she scoffed, shaking her head. Most men saw females as weak and stupid and treated them accordingly. Logan didn’t see her as weak but he certainly didn’t see her as capable.

  “No, they wouldn’t have seen you as a threat. They’d have seen you as a victim. Easy prey because you were alone.” Logan’s voice had a clear snap to it.

  “I’m not—” she began.

  Logan growled and stood. “That is not the point. You are not alone here. You have a responsibility not only to the pack but to your mate.”

  “I was going to help.”

  “I know what you were trying to do but you didn’t think of anything other than what you wanted, what you felt. Rygar was frantic with worry about you and he couldn’t do anything about it. We had to rush, chasing after you.” Logan paced. “Your attempt could have gotten not only you but someone else killed.”

  She licked her lips. She honestly hadn’t thought about someone else getting hurt. “I didn’t think about anything beyond getting to Rygar, that’s true.”

  “You have a responsibility to your pack too. Sometimes, the most helpful thing you can do is do nothing. You have to think of the example you’re setting especially when you have others who look up to you.” Logan turned and stopped, leveling an intense stare at her.

  “I’m not in a leadership position. I don’t have people looking up to me.” She shook her head. She’d just joined this pack. She hardly knew anyone, much less had made the kind of impression where anyone would look up to her.

  “Don’t bet on it. The women know about how you took down that man and they’ve heard about how you weren’t at all concerned about being thrown into that prison.”

  “I knew I had a pack and that if you, the Zarain I felt as I was led through the city, didn’t help they’d eventually find me. If I didn’t escape on my own first.” Dari knew he wasn’t lying. As much as she tried to seem unconcerned what he was saying was getting through to her.

  She had to admit she’d gone a little wild since the men had joined and Oroyai pack had been formally formed. She might not have been traveling and doing everything she wanted to do but that hadn’t stopped her from much. She hadn’t had any real responsibility since that happened. Not on the level she’d had before. It had been wonderful not to have to worry about being attacked or raided. All of that had fallen to the men. Now that she thought about it, she realized she’d been feeling a little unsettled and out of place for a while, as if she didn’t quite belong.

  “You trusted them, relied on them and your knowledge of the Zarain that time. You didn’t this time. Want to tell me why?” Logan took a deep breath and his voice returned to almost normal.

  “Because I only reacted. He’s too important to me. I don’t want to lose him.” She bit her lips. She hadn’t trusted him or the others even though she knew Logan would immediately come to his aid.

  “Important how? If you’re going to use your feelings for him as an excuse I want to know exactly what you feel. Is it guilt because you weren’t able to help him or is there more to it?” Logan folded his arms across his chest and smirked.

  The arrogant man probably knew exactly how she felt about his brother. She was half tempted to tell him if he wanted to punish her to just do it and stop the interrogation. She wasn’t quite that irritated or out of her mind.

  “I love him,” she said, amazed that she got it out without stuttering or hesitating. She’d known what she felt but the thought of talking about it had been enough to make her heart race. She’d been a little afraid that if she told Rygar, she’d lose him.

  “And that excuses your behavior?”

  Dari was a breath away from saying, “Yes, it excused everything,” but held back. She knew it didn’t. “No, I still endangered others. If it was only me it would, but the risk to others makes that not good enough.”

  “Pack’s also about understanding and forgiveness. I know about your sister and I know of your fear. It doesn’t mean you’re going to get off easily. You’ll have guards here and when you get back, a month of confinement to the Taivain, plus whatever punishment your mate gives you,” Logan said.

  Dari nodded, not arguing about it. Not this time.

  “Your tent’s right over there. Our meal will be a while. Why don’t you go rest until it’s ready.”

  * * * * *

  Rygar lifted the sword and faced his opponent. The noisy crowd seemed to fade as his focus tightened on the man facing him.

  He absolutely hated this. He could have lived the rest of his life without having to fight and possibly kill for the enjoyment of these people.

  The man opposite him lifted his sword in a small salute. The blade sliced through the air. Rygar raised his sword and met the slashing strike. The metal rang as the blades clashed. Rygar danced back, cursing under his breath as the man leapt forward, swinging wildly. Rygar didn’t want to kill the man but he might not have any choice. He blocked the blows and began to move forward, determined to take the offensive.

  Rygar’s sword slammed against the metal of his opponent’s blade, driving him back. His opponent didn’t have the opportunity to do more than block and keep some distance between them. Rygar’s next blow hit low on his opponent’s sword. The blade flew from the man’s fingers to hit the hard-packed earth at the center of the arena. The man stumbled back but the foolish idiot made no move to surrender.

  The man’s eyes darted to the sword. Rygar shook his head and put his body between the man and the fallen weapon. The stupid boy was going to make a try for his blade. It hadn’t even been that hard to disarm him because he had no real skills. There was no satisfaction in beating someone with only the most basic skills. Just a city boy trying to be a warrior. The man sneered as he crouched, circling, looking for an opportunity.

  It was at that moment that he noticed the silence in the arena. Not a shout could be heard and that was unusual. There was always oohing and ahhing. Not to mention the shouts to finish it. He looked up and saw the entire top row of the arena filled with warriors. Far more than he’d ever expected.

  Rygar, watch out! Logan’s voice burst into his mind, sharp and urgent.

  Rygar’s eyes snapped down in time to see the man rushing him. Rygar tossed his sword aside to avoid skewering the idiot. The man’s shoulder slammed into Rygar’s stomach, driving the breath from his lungs and his body backwards. Rygar’s hands clamped onto his opponent and he swung him around as they both fell. Rygar landed on top of the smaller man. Rygar levered up and before the man could catch his breath slammed his fist into the younger male’s chin, twice. The man’s eyes rolled back and his body went limp.

  Rygar stumbled to his feet and picked up his sword, dragging in harsh breaths. He searched the warriors, looking for his brother. He spotted Sian sitting on the wall that separat
ed the arena from those watching the fight. Sian dropped down into the arena and headed toward the doors into the housing cells. Rygar followed, wanting to get everyone out of there before anything went further. He knew Dari was safe. He’d talked to her a few times since Logan had caught up with her. It didn’t take long to get the four Zarain and three human warriors out of the cell. Everyone was more than ready to leave. Rygar smiled as they left, knowing that this was the last time this room would hold men. The entire arena would be demolished before they left the area.

  After getting out of the arena, Rygar went to find his brother. He didn’t have much trouble. The sound of raised voices in the near-silence drew him and he quickly recognized Logan’s. His brother had found the leaders of the city and maybe even the people responsible for the games. Rygar walked into the cloth-covered portion of the stands.

  “Looking a little worse for the experience, brother,” Logan said with a short glance over at him.

  “Fighting for the sport of others tends to be wearing.” Rygar folded his arms across his chest and stared at the men sitting in cushioned chairs.

  The people within this tent had all the comforts they could want. Bowls of food had been placed within easy reach. He saw a woman lounging on cushions near the feet of one of the men. From the collar at her throat, she wasn’t there by choice. Rygar went over and released her. She looked up at him for a moment and then ran from the tent.

  “You’ve got your people out. Leave.” A short man stood, his hand on his hip. His flowing shirt and pants hung around his thin frame.

  Logan’s smile turned chilling, pointed teeth flashing. The pale-skinned man gasped, took a step back and fell into his chair. Logan stepped forward and his eyes swept the group of people gathered under the awning.

  “Do you see all the men around the top of the arena? There are hundreds more outside these walls. Men from three groups of warriors whose men have been taken and used in these games. That’s not going to happen again.” Logan gestured to the warriors standing to the sides of the covered area and then beyond to the walls.