by LW Browning
Claire opened her mind and flinched. She received hostility that had boiled over to become violence. Bitterness, hatred, and greed were the strongest emotions she read. They were close and came from different people. She frowned as she looked around for the source.
"Are you ready to meet the foreigners?" Koda asked.
"Of course, Warlord Leader."
Koda spoke to her. "Whatever happens, remain calm and do not speak."
He nodded to Revi. "Bring them in."
Revi winked at Claire before he opened large double doors. A man dressed in flowing silks entered the room. Claire did not like his eyes. Behind the first man, five more came in dressed like men from her home society. They were large men, though not as large as Koda and his warlords. Their reaction at seeing her hit her senses hard. Dressed in black suits and shades even though they were indoors, Claire read that their purpose was intimidation. Two of them held a chain in their hands. The MX girl stood between them. It was Anna.
She wore green camouflage pants with a button-down camo shirt and combat boots. Her hair was a dark mahogany with bright red highlights. It was difficult to tell beneath the dirt, and bruises, and swelling, but her heart-shaped face showed a chin that was slightly more pointed than Claire's. Her citrine yellow eyes found Claire even though her expression remained impassive.
Claire felt the emotions of the warlords when they saw Anna. Bruises and cuts showed on her pale skin. Underneath the grime, Claire knew there were freckles.
Anna felt the hostility flowing off Koda's warlords. Claire communicated in her mind to assure Anna the rage from the warlords was not for her, but for the men who harmed her.
Dare sat at a desk with a computer, his shorter blond hair pulled into a queue at his nape. He nodded in answer to Koda's unspoken question.
"Greetings, Warlord Leader Koda," Benson effused. He was a rotund man with a dark swarthy complexion. He had little hair on his head and his small brown eyes darted from person to person around the room.
"Benson," Koda barely inclined his head in greeting to the portly man wearing the silk robe.
"As agreed, we brought the MX," Benson said. His voice was thin and reedy. He let his gaze rest on every person in the room. Claire read him. He wanted to be able to describe them later.
“She is damaged," Koda said.
"She killed two of my men," Benson whined. "I would have killed her, but I had already agreed to bring her to you."
"Was I unclear when I specified that I wanted the MX unharmed?" Koda said.
Benson blanched. "Her injuries are from a struggle with my men, she was hurt while killing them. I trust you will punish her accordingly, Warlord Leader Koda. Perhaps you can compensate me for the ones she killed."
“I already included a bonus,” Koda spoke flatly.
Claire noticed Benson shrink under Koda’s scrutiny. She thought Benson had almost wet himself before he recovered and picked up the wooden box Ache placed on the desk in front of him. His fingers fumbled when he opened it. The glow from the Krystiles lit his face in an eerie red light when he raised the lid.
Benson's demeanor become self-satisfied, arrogant. Claire read him, his thoughts matched the smirk on his face.
The two males who flanked the MX pulled her with them as they walked forward to hand the chains to Koda's warlords. The warriors stood with arms crossed over their chests.
"Drop the chains." Koda's voice cut through the tension like a sharp knife.
Benson moved his bulk faster than Claire thought possible as he and his men hurried to get away from them. When he was closer to the door, Benson turned back to Koda. "It's been a pleasure doing business with you Warlord Leader Koda. And good luck with these – things."
Claire wondered if the sneer was Benson’s most frequent facial expression.
"Another time, Benson." Koda dismissed him.
Revi closed the heavy doors behind them. "Pity you killed only the two," he said.
Claire removed her gloves as she approached Anna. "Anna."
"Claire."
"We are safe here," Claire began. "This is Warlord Leader Koda, and some of his warlords."
"Mercenaries," Anna commented. She and Claire clasped hands. The eyes of both females began to glow violet before they closed them. They stood for several minutes while the bruises and cuts on Anna's body appeared on Claire and then disappeared. When the healing was done, they opened their eyes. Anna stood straighter and breathed easier.
"Dren, get those chains off her," Koda said.
Dren moved forward and stood waiting. Anna held up her delicate wrist. The manacle she wore was huge, the chain attached to it, heavy. "A little overkill," Dren said. "They must have been terrified of you. This will feel warm, but it will not harm you."
Dren pulled a red Krystile from his leather wristband and touched it to the heavy manacle on her wrist. The lock dissolved. The chain fell to the floor with a heavy clank. Dren moved to the other side and waited for Anna to lift her other wrist to him. Once again, after a few seconds of the red Krystile, the metal fell to the floor.
Anna rubbed her wrists and scanned the room and the warlords.
"I am Koda, Warlord Leader. Welcome to your sanctuary."
Anna met Koda's gaze, "I am Anna, MX, thank you for sanctuary, Warlord Leader Koda."
"She is hungry and thirsty," Claire said.
Dren was already holding out a bottle of water, a small loaf of bread, and an apple.
Anna’s hands shook while she took a deep drink of the water. She began to eat the apple as she continued to take in the room. She and Claire made eye contact often.
Koda addressed Anna. "My people are having a meeting of some members of our tribes. It is similar to a fair in your society. You can come back to the meeting with us or you can go to our home with Dren. It is very close to where we are gathering. The choice is yours."
Anna leveled her golden gaze on Koda. "I will go wherever Claire goes."
Koda nodded. "Do you feel well enough to travel now?"
"Yes," Anna replied,. "I can travel now."
Claire took one of Anna's hands. "It is different, their method of travel."
As the warriors closed around them, Koda took Claire's other hand while holding the light green Krystile.
Dren held his hand out to Anna. "We need to hold hands for the travel. It helps with the dizziness."
Anna gave her other hand to Dren. They stood in the center of the circle of warriors. The Kyrstile shimmered light green until nothing else was seen. Claire kept her eyes open to watch Anna.
Then they were back at the shelter in the woods. Claire was unsteady from the trip for only a few moments. Anna recovered soon after and nodded to Claire before she looked at the wooded area and the shed.
"Yeah, these people love camping out," Claire said.
Dren turned his head to hide a smile.
Koda turned to Anna, "Is there anything you need?"
Anna shook her head. "I am fine, thank you. They can see you, out in the open like this."
"They see us no longer," Dare said as he adjusted something on one of his many comlinks. "Shields are up."
"Strange looking horses," Anna said when she saw the mounts.
"Yeah, they uh – they like to travel on these things, but they call them paccar," Claire explained.
With Claire in front of Koda and Anna behind Dren, they started back. It was late morning when they arrived at the Gathering.
"I have some things to attend to," Koda said. "I would have you stay with Anna and Dren."
"Of course, Warlord Leader," Claire answered. Her voice broke. She felt a sudden welling of love for Koda. The barbarian had treated the wounded MX with dignity and compassion. He had saved Anna from horrible abuse and certain death. He had done what he promised her.
Koda pulled Claire aside and leaned down to whisper to her. "I have one question before I leave."
"Of course, Warlord Leader," Claire said.
"You said
you did not fraternize with the other MX, yet you and Anna appear to know each other," Koda said.
That was not a question, Claire thought. Koda missed nothing.
"We were housed together. I knew the other MX by sight though we were not allowed to speak to each other," Claire answered.
Koda took a long moment to digest this. He knew there was more to this story. Claire felt it, yet he and the other warlords left them alone with Dren and Revi. She was going to have to explain to him. Soon.
"If you would like a bath, we have a building for that," Dren spoke.
After Anna soaked off the tension and dirt from her ordeal, Claire handed her a wrap-around dress of a pretty gold color that matched her eyes.
Claire laughed when Anna struggled to get into the garment. "These people, they um – do not believe in buttons, and although they can travel fast and far with the Krystiles, they prefer camping out and traveling on their paccar."
"Who knew mercenary barbarian warlords were so eccentric?" Anna laughed as they left the bath house.
Claire led Anna to a shade tree. Dren followed them, a little closer than usual.
"Are you always guarded?" Anna asked.
"Yes, always," Claire smiled.
"Do they protect you or prevent you from escaping?"
"It is difficult to tell," Claire answered with a rueful smile. "Perhaps both, but there is no place to go if I were to escape."
"You avoided a complete answer to Koda when he asked how we knew each other," Anna said.
"Koda is curious about our special abilities. He is worried we might present a danger to his people," Claire said.
"You'll have to explain that to him eventually," Anna said.
"No contractions." Claire reminded her with a smile. She proceeded to share with Anna what she knew of the people here, the society and its customs. In time, Anna shared with Claire how she had escaped with her life, on two separate occasions. They had both been close calls.
"Benson was going to sell me to someone,” Anna said. “His customers were going to kill me. I wondered why he changed his mind about that."
"It must have been Koda," Claire decided. "The Krystiles are much sought after and people will do anything to possess them."
"And Koda controls the Krystiles. Why does Koda want MX?"
Claire shook her head and looked down. "I do not know for sure. He has told me that he wants us to integrate into this society. These people are a mix of several different races and cultures. They have a prophecy. I think he expects us to mate with his warlords."
"Mate with... What? What is your relationship with Koda?" Anna asked.
"Koda has taken me as his mate. They call it claiming. It is similar to marriage although I think I may be some sort of concubine. He calls me 'pita', some sort of endearment."
Anna looked at Claire with one eyebrow raised. "You cannot be serious."
Claire met Anna's gaze, "Oh, but I am. In this society one is mated and claimed and there is a binding ceremony done."
"MX do not mate." Anna's voice trailed off. "By all the fates, you have mated with him?"
"Yes," Claire smiled.
Anna took some moments to absorb this information. "What was it – I mean – what is that like?"
Claire mused, "It is – different. At first it was very strange and it hurt. The emotions, his emotions are raw, very strong. That was difficult. However, I have come to enjoy it."
"Claire, perhaps you should trust Koda. My sight says that he is trustworthy," Anna said.
"Perhaps you are right," Claire said, thoughtfully.
"Meanwhile, I will decide which one of them I want," Anna laughed.
Claire smiled, "I am not sure what they expect, but choose whichever one you want. They are warlords and aggressive, you might not even have to ask."
Anna smiled. "I want that one, with the tattoos on his right arm. He's been following us all day."
"That is Dren. He is a holy man for these people. I give him to you," Claire laughed.
"Men are always the same," Anna said soberly.
"They call themselves male and female here. They are not human and are proud of that fact," Claire said.
"Considering how the humans behave, I cannot blame them," Anna smiled ruefully.
Changing the subject to give Anna time to digest the mating information, Claire asked, "Did you know they drugged us at the Facility?"
Anna's golden eyes flashed and there was tension in her stance. "Yes, my handler told me. I thought I had lost my mind at first. Hard to believe the normals deal with these emotions all the time. Maybe that is what makes them so mean and unstable." Anna considered for a moment. "Have you – mated with anyone else or just Koda?"
"Only with Koda." Claire looked into the distance.
Anna nodded. "So, he did not go insane from your touch?"
Claire smiled. "No, we have developed some sort of immunity to each other. I cannot always read him. He can read what I read when he touches me."
"This is interesting," Anna said.
"We always end up playing by someone else's rules." Claire shrugged her shoulders.
"Yes, we can rely on that constant," Anna agreed.
"I open myself up to receive every few minutes. These are a warrior people after all and violence is a way of life for them. For your own safety, you will want to do that. Not everybody is happy that we are here. Oh, and they have excellent hearing and their sense of smell seems to be more like an animal's than a human. I think they can even smell fear."
"I will keep that in mind," Anna said.
Anna and Claire talked until the pleasant aromas drifting from the campfires told them it was time to eat.
Claire led Anna to the cook fires where Osiria greeted them. She felt Osiria's curiosity when she saw Anna's citron yellow eyes.
"Osiria, this is Anna, a sister MX. Anna, this is Osiria. She has been a good friend to me here."
"I am pleased to meet a friend to Claire," Anna said.
After they ate, Claire said, "Shall we walk around and enjoy the fair?"
"We can do that? Just walk around?" Anna was amazed.
"Sure, Dren and Revi or some of the others will guard us."
Anna smiled. "I would love to look around. I have never seen anything like this, never even dreamed it. I could learn to like this place."
Claire smiled at Anna's enthusiasm. Considering the situation Anna had been in, being here would look like a very good deal to her. They walked through the campgrounds with Anna sampling several of the foods offered. There were candied apples, and something called cotton candy that had both Anna and Claire laughing as they ate it for the first time.
The two women watched some of the competitive events. Claire enjoyed the knife throwing while Anna was enthralled by some of the practice sword fights they witnessed. They got two mugs of hot chocolate and sat on a wooden bench under a tree. The breeze was comfortable as they feasted their eyes on the color and activity of the gathering.
"Why did Benson have you?"
Anna sighed, "He had my handler tortured and killed. He planned to make a profit by selling me to the highest bidder. Koda was the highest bidder. The normals are a greedy and bloodthirsty group." Anna thought a few minutes. "Since these are warriors, I guess they are violent."
Claire bit her bottom lip before answering. "They are, very much so, but other than mistrust and caution from some of them, I have not received any hostile intent from Koda's warlords. I think we are as safe as we can be."
"Yet Koda does business with males like Benson, a murderer and a profiteer," Anna said.
"That is why Koda and his warlords are called mercenary barbarians. And part of the reason it was difficult for me to trust Koda," Claire said. "I am so glad you are here."
Anna smiled at Claire. "I think we can trust Koda to help us," she said.
With the cooling breeze flowing over their skin, Claire contemplated their future and the events that had led them to this place. An
na yawned.
"I know you must be tired," Claire said, "we can go back to our camp now and you can rest a few minutes before last meal."
"What exactly do you do for them here?" Anna wondered aloud as they started back for the campsite.
"Not much so far. Koda is shrewd. He has had me read a few people for him."
Anna's eyes were compassionate. "How have you been able to stand it, to be alone here and to be with him? To touch him while mating, that must have overloaded you."
"It seems we adapt well to changing environments and situations." Claire used a phrase they knew well from their MX training.
Anna laughed as she looked over her shoulder. "Two of them are still following us," she said.
Claire nodded, "Yes, Dren and Revi."
"What a horrible job for a warlord," Anna said.
They returned to the camp to be met with the sights and sounds and smells of food cooking over campfires. Claire led Anna to a blanket where they sat to eat. Mardalane walked over with her plate of food and sat with them.
"I need to learn your customs and laws," Anna said to Mardalane.
"Koda is a great leader and females are prized in our society. Those are two of the main things you need to know." Mardalane smiled.
When Anna looked up at her, she added. "You will be safe and I think you will like it here. We all want you to be content with us."
After last meal, Claire and Anna moved under the tree Claire used for meditation. As they walked back toward the tents, they knew that Koda and Dren waited for them.
"Dren has offered to let Anna stay with him in his tent tonight," Koda said.
They were not smiling. Anna found Claire's hand.
"Anna might not be comfortable sleeping in a tent with a male," Claire spoke up.
Koda looked from one to the other of them. "It is not right for a female to sleep alone." His attitude brooked no argument.
"Can Anna sleep with the unmated females?"
"She will not be harmed," Koda directed at Claire. "Dren has offered to protect her."
