Acaraho looked at Adia whose eyes were wide with terror. He looked up at the two guards and ordered one, “Take her back to her quarters and tend to her. Nadiwani—” he said, and Nadiwani nodded that she would also go.
He turned to Awan, “Stay here. No one comes down this corridor to her quarters until I return, understood?”
The First Guard nodded. “Yes, Commander.”
Then Awan quickly put his hand on Acaraho’s shoulder in the People’s demonstration of brotherhood. Acaraho took the seconds needed to place his hand on the other male’s shoulder in the return gesture. It was the same gesture that Kurak’Kahn of the High Council had made to Acaraho at the end of the hearing.
Acaraho took off at breakneck speed, traversing the tunnels and corridors toward the Great Chamber. As he entered, he shouted—just as he had the night Is’Taqa found Adia lying hurt in the cold outside.
“Guards!” Within seconds bodies came pouring into the room from all directions.
“Spread out. Search everywhere. Even the female’s bathing area. All protocols are suspended on my authority. Hakani has taken the Healer’s offspring. If you find her, use whatever force is necessary to ensure the offspring’s safety.
“Does anyone know where Khon’Tor is right now?” he shouted. “Search for Khon’Tor, too, and if you find him let him know what has happened. But the offspring’s safety is your priority.”
The guards had sworn to allegiance to both Khon’Tor and Acaraho. They looked at each other, unsure of what to do.
“Commander,” one of them asked. “What if Khon’Tor has—” and his voice trailed off.
“Secure the offspring, whatever it takes. Leave Khon’Tor to me,” snarled Acaraho.
* * *
Any doubt in the guards’ minds that Acaraho was the father of Adia’s offspring was now completely dispelled. Every male with a family knew that in Acaraho’s situation, he would react the same way.
They disbanded in all directions.
It did not take them long to find Khon’Tor in his satellite post. A guard came to the door and knocked abruptly.
“Adik’Tar. Your mate is nowhere to be found, and neither is the Healer’s offspring.”
No, Khon’Tor said to himself. There is no way she could have overheard Adia shouting in the corridor. But as the thought formed, he knew he had to be wrong. And if so, he knew in his gut that there were no limits to what Hakani would do.
“Acaraho has dispatched the guards in all directions to look for them,” the guard told Khon’Tor.
But if Khon’Tor’s thoughts were correct, he was certain Hakani and the offspring were no longer within the walls of Kthama.
* * *
Back in her quarters, Adia was still shaking. Her worst fears had been realized. She had been afraid all along that Hakani might hurt Nootau and she was now filled with regret at having confronted Khon’Tor, and so close to his quarters. She knew that if Hakani had heard anything of what they had said, it was the reason for her disappearance with Nootau.
As she sat trying to think, a window opened up in her mind. It was Urilla Wuti. Then she remembered that if either of the offspring were in danger, Urilla Wuti would know it before Adia did.
It took all of Adia’s will to slow her breathing and calm herself down. She did as Urilla Wuti had taught her to open the Connection slightly deeper. As she succeeded, she knew Nootau was somewhere outside. She could hear birds and feel the cool air. And dampness. And something else—the sound of a waterfall.
Adia’s eyes flew open. “I know where she has taken him!” She scrambled to her feet and flew out of the door as fast as she could move. Awan saw her coming. “Healer, where are you going?” he shouted.
“I know where Hakani has taken my offspring,” she shouted back as she ran past him. Awan quickly followed Adia, shouting to the other guard to take over his post and let no one enter the Healer’s Quarters.
On her way to Kthama’s exit, Adia passed Khon’Tor, also on his way outside. He took off after her.
She turned just enough to see Khon’Tor following her but could do nothing to stop him. She prayed to the Great Mother that when she found Hakani and Nootau, Khon’Tor would have the decency to help her rescue the offspring. If he did not, there was no way she could prevail against both of them.
Adia exited Kthama and took the first path to the right. She knew exactly where she was going.
Khon’Tor could have overtaken her but to what avail. He followed her.
Akule was coming in from his watch when he saw Adia, Awan, and Khon’Tor racing up the Eastern path. This time the watcher was not going to keep silent. Because Awan was already there with Adia, he ran inside to find Acaraho.
When she found Hakani, the female was standing right where Adia expected her to be. She was holding Nootau in her arms and Adia was relieved to see that so far, he appeared unharmed.
Khon’Tor and Awan arrived just seconds behind Adia.
Hakani was glad they had found her. It made what she was about to do all that much sweeter. This way, they would know exactly what had happened to the offspring—their offspring.
“Do not come any closer,” she warned. She was within several yards of the edge of the path. Behind her was a considerable drop down to the waters below. Whether an adult could survive such a fall, Hakani was not sure, but she was certain an offspring would not.
“What are you doing, Hakani?” asked Khon’Tor.
“What am I doing? What am I doing? Asks the great Leader—a male who raped his Healer and left her to die?” she said, raising her voice.
Khon’Tor and Adia had their answer—she had indeed heard everything said in the corridor.
“Hakani,” Khon’Tor said, trying to calm her down.
“Shut up, Khon’Tor. You have told me your last lie. And to think how much I wanted you. And then later, year after year, I put up with you, thinking that it was somehow all worth it—to be the mate of the revered Avik’Tar Khon’Tor!” she spat out.
“I have known almost from the beginning it was she you wanted. I knew almost from the first day of our pairing that she was your First Choice. You did not want to lose face, to have others suspect the one you wanted was forever out of your reach, so you selected me at the last minute after she was named Healer,” Hakani continued.
“But you always win, do you not Khon’Tor? You could not have her, but you found a way to anyway, Without Her Consent.”
“The esteemed Khon’Tor, the revered Leader whose mate I was proud to be, does now not even leave me that. When they find out what a monster you are—” her voice trailed off and took up again.
“And you wanted a second mate, Khon’Tor? Good luck with ever finding anyone else once they realize how your sick appetites run. And do not count on whoever your next victim is to keep quiet, as I have,” she continued.
She turned to look at Adia.
“You are lucky. What the great Khon’Tor did to you happened once. It was nothing compared to what he has been doing to me nearly every night since,” she said.
Adia stood transfixed, frozen. She had been Khon’Tor’s First Choice? That was what it was about? Hakani’s jealousy? And what Khon’Tor did to her was not a fluke? If Hakani was telling the truth, Khon’Tor was a monster, and he was twisted in more ways than she realized.
What had she been protecting all this time? Not a great Leader whom the People needed. Had she suffered all this for nothing? And now her offspring might die because of a misplaced belief that some horrible circumstances or pressures made Khon’Tor snap and do what he did? But then, again, with Hakani, who knew what the truth was?
“Hakani. Hakani, please. The offspring is innocent. However much you are hurting, please do not take your anger out on him.” Adia was desperately trying to reach any corner of the female’s mind that might not be consumed by hate.
“Anger? You think this is anger? Oh, I am not angry. Not anymore. I have been. I have been consumed by anger. Rage. Night
after night, I planned my revenge. But now I am not angry. I am past anger. I see that there is nowhere for me to go from here. I have no place except at the side of a male who is about to be disgraced for all history. When word gets out about this, it will spread like wildfire,” she said.
Hakani turned to face Khon’Tor.
“You have left me with nothing. And so I will leave you with the same. No mate to torture and humiliate every night. No offspring born of the female you love. And no heir to your precious leadership, either.”
She moved the hand that was not holding Nootau, down to rest on her belly.
She saw Khon’Tor’s eyes follow her motion.
“That’s right, Khon’Tor. All those nights of taking me Without My Consent, you finally achieved your objective. I am at last bearing your offspring, your seed forced within me, an offspring conceived in hatred and bile. I have finally met the demand you made of me, to produce an heir for you. So you have two offspring. One by the female you wanted and one by the female who wanted you.”
“Too bad neither offspring will live past today.”
* * *
As Hakani was addressing Khon’Tor, her eyes locked on his, Adia was slowly and carefully inching toward the path’s edge. From the other side, next to Khon’Tor, Awan was also watching and listening. As Hakani spat out her threat, Awan took a noticeable step forward. Hakani’s head snapped in Awan’s direction.
At the exact moment Hakani turned her attention to Awan, Adia threw herself forward, grabbing the bundle of Nootau as she knocked them both to the ground. She curled around the offspring, making a cage of her body to protect him, and rolled as far away from Hakani as she could.
Hakani dragged herself to her feet and started toward Adia, who was lying just a few feet away, holding a screaming Nootau.
Even better! thought Hakani. It will take nothing to roll them over the edge together!
Awan started to move toward them, but before he could reach Hakani, or Hakani could reach Adia, a giant figure flew out of nowhere and landed squarely between Hakani and Adia. The ground seemed to shake from the impact, and dust filled the air.
A snarling Acaraho stood towering over Hakani, arms outstretched, muscles rippling, teeth bared.
“If you have caused harm to the offspring,” Acaraho growled, in the lowest register possible, “your life will not be worth living.”
“My life is not worth living now, Commander,” said Hakani calmly.
And with that, she quickly closed the few steps between herself and the edge of the path. Locking eyes with Khon’Tor for a second, she took a last step backward and disappeared over the edge to the roiling waters below.
Everyone froze, their minds not accepting what they had just witnessed.
Acaraho snapped himself out of it and rushed to Adia. He helped her sit up, cradling her in his arms while she checked the hysterical Nootau. Seeing that they were all right, if visibly upset, Acaraho slowly turned his head to look at Khon’Tor, who the whole time had been standing, frozen, to the side. He had not attempted either to help Adia or to stop Hakani.
Acaraho rose up and crept menacingly toward the Leader, a spine-chilling growl coming from his throat. Awan moved to join Acaraho, who put his hand out.
“No, Awan. Khon’Tor is mine,” he ordered.
Awan moved slowly to Adia’s side to ensure her safety in the bloodbath about to take place.
Khon’Tor was no match for Acaraho. Perhaps they would have been equals in regular hand-to-hand combat, but not with Acaraho like this. Not in this state of adrenaline-fueled rage.
Acaraho took another measured step toward Khon’Tor. Khon’Tor crouched, ready for Acaraho’s attack, and the two giants circled each other slowly. Acaraho ached to sink his canines into Khon’Tor’s neck. He imagined the satisfying feel of pulling the flesh away in strips and tasting Khon’Tor’s warm blood pumping out from the gash. He clenched and unclenched his fists, ready for the satisfaction of Khon’Tor’s neck snapping under his grasp. His glare looked as if it could burn holes in the Leader.
They continued to face each other, still circling. Acaraho’s rage showed in every aspect of his being. “You had no right. Maybe Adia will not hold you accountable for what you did. But I will. You are going to pay for your crimes. And do not expect any more mercy from me than you showed her.”
Khon’Tor had only seconds to live.
“You can kill me, Acaraho. But then what? Is this the legacy you will leave Adia? The father of her offspring eviscerated in front of her? Is that what you want to leave Adia to explain when her offspring is old enough to ask what happened to his father?” he shouted, hoping his words could penetrate the storm blazing in front of him.
Acaraho knew Khon’Tor was saying something, and some of it seemed to be making sense.
Adia was watching wide-eyed, holding Nootau close. “Acaraho, no, please stop!” she called out. Then, using all her willpower to tear herself away from the scene in front of her, she closed her eyes.
All of a sudden, Acaraho was overcome with what could only be described as a glowing current of warmth seeping through some opening inside him. The warmth increased, and suddenly he was aware of the deep and abiding love Adia had for him.
He had known she cared for him, but this was different. This was an experience of her love. It was physical, it was real, and it was unmistakable. It spread through him like a warm silvery liquid carried through his veins to every cell. It was beyond description.
He glanced over to see her staring at him. Adia was willing him to hear her message.
Acaraho turned his attention back to Khon’Tor. He closed the distance in seconds. Khon’Tor was prepared for his attack, but before he could defend himself, Acaraho drew back and hit him on the jaw as hard as he could, knocking the Leader several lengths to the ground.
He followed, and Khon’Tor scrambled a few feet farther away. Acaraho closed the distance easily and straddled the disoriented Leader as with one hand he grabbed him by the neck and dragged Khon’Tor’s face up to his own, wrapping the other around Khon’Tor’s throat. His face inches from Khon’Tor’s, Acaraho released the bone-chilling Sasquatch roar that declared his right to kill his defeated opponent. Khon’Tor tried to cover his face with his arms and turned away from the ear-splitting howl.
The sound echoed across the hills and down to the moving waters below as they followed the river channel along the winding length of the Great River.
Then Acaraho growled at Khon’Tor. “I should take my rage out on you as you lie there defenseless—just as you did to Adia. But you are not worth it, Khon’Tor. I refuse to become the monster you are.” Acaraho released the Leader’s neck, shoving him back to the ground.
And he stepped over Khon’Tor and returned to Adia and her offspring.
Just then, Akule appeared around the bend, running blindly. He came to an abrupt stop, scattering dust and stones everywhere.
He looked down at Khon’Tor crumpled on the ground, still recovering, one hand to his aching jaw. Then Akule looked over at Adia rocking a shrieking offspring, Acaraho crouched protectively behind them both, and First Guard Awan standing guard in front of them.
“Where is Hakani? Did she take the offspring after all?” he asked.
Awan answered, “Yes, Hakani took Adia’s offspring. But he is safe now, as you can see,” nodding over in Adia’s direction.
“But where is Hakani?” Akule asked again, looking around.
“Hakani is gone. She stepped over the edge to the Great River below, of her own volition,” said Awan.
Akule looked from Awan to Acaraho, incredulous.
“It is true; it is as he said,” confirmed Acaraho. Adia nodded in assent.
“I doubt she could have survived; I doubt anyone could have. But to be sure, we will send a complement out to search for her,” said Acaraho.
Khon’Tor stumbled to his feet. Acaraho stood and helped Adia up. She was shaken up and dirty but appeared to be uninjured
. She had shielded Nootau from harm, taking all the impact herself.
“Do you need me to carry you?” Acaraho offered. Adia declined, saying she preferred to go home under her own steam if at all possible. Acaraho walked beside her, steadying her along the way.
* * *
When they arrived at Kthama, Acaraho called off the original search for Hakani and started a new one along the riverbank below. If she had fallen into the waters, her body would have been carried far downstream in a matter of moments. As Acaraho had said, he doubted she had survived, but on the off chance that she had, despite her crimes, he would not leave her to die, injured, as Khon’Tor had Adia. And no matter what their standing, each one of the People deserved to have their return to the Great Spirit honored appropriately in the crossing-over ritual.
As the guards dispersed, Acaraho turned to address Khon’Tor, who was sitting slumped to the side on one of the seating benches in the Great Entrance.
‘What happens to you from this point on lies in Adia’s hands. As it always has. If it had been up to me, I would have fought you to the death long ago, Khon’Tor. It is only her protection that has kept you alive. Whether you live to take another breath rests with her. You would do well to pray for her mercy.”
“Regardless of whether Hakani is found alive or not, Khon’Tor—” said Adia, moving forward and looking him squarely in the eye, “—her claim on my offspring is forfeit. And no matter what you, or the High Council, or anyone says, I will never relinquish his care to someone else.
“If you do not agree, I will be happy to change my mind and let Acaraho have his way with you right here and now,” she said, intentionally creating a play on words for Khon’Tor’s benefit.
“Very well,” said Khon’Tor.
“The offspring is yours. For what it’s worth. I certainly stake no claim on it,” he added.
Only a handful knew the High Council had ordered that Adia could not keep the offspring and raise him herself.
The Healer’s Mantle Page 21
