The sarlag twitched impatiently, still trying to buck him off, but Baralt clung tenaciously to its back. With another bellow, the animal took off, and her heart skipped a beat as the pair of them headed for the mountains without her. What if he never came back? What would she do? But even as she panicked, Baralt turned the sarlag in a wide circle until they were headed back in her direction. A relieved sigh escaped her lips, forming a white cloud in the cold air.
Just as they were about to reach the herd, the sarlag took off again, and once more, Baralt let him run before circling him back in her direction. After two more circles, the beast finally seemed to settle down, and Baralt rode him slowly over to her. She was right—he was grinning.
“It has been a long time since I’ve done that,” he said, smiling down at her.
“Did you do it often?”
“It was part of my childhood. We—” A brief flash of something that looked like pain crossed his face. “Never mind. Shall we go?”
She looked up at the mountain of animal, easily seven feet high at the shoulders. “How?”
He laughed and leaned down far enough to offer her his hand. She gave it a doubtful look but placed her hand in his. She squeaked as he swung her up through the air with astonishing ease and dropped her in front of him. The ground looked dizzyingly far away.
“Warn me next time before you launch me into orbit,” she muttered.
“Is something wrong?”
“You just startled me. This is actually kind of nice.” The animal’s body radiated heat, and she buried her hands in the thick, curly mane. Baralt provided even more warmth as he pulled her against him. The sarlag gave off a heavy, earthy smell, but it wasn’t unpleasant.
“Good. I should have considered this earlier. The ride will be easier for you.” He dug his heels into the creature’s side, and it bucked slightly, but then it headed off toward the mountains. When it threatened to return to the herd, Baralt used its horns to keep it on track, and she relaxed into the easy rhythm of its movements.
She studied the approaching mountains curiously but couldn’t detect any signs of civilization, even as they got closer.
“Are you sure your tribe still lives here?”
“Of course. They would never leave the caves of our ancestors. It would be a great dishonor.”
For some reason, even knowing how he had lived on Tgesh Tai, she had assumed that the term cave was more figurative than literal. A brief vision of a cold, dark cavern, dripping with water, flashed through her head. It didn’t seem appealing.
Stop that, she scolded herself. Although he had tried to conceal it, she knew Baralt had been reluctant to return to Hothrest. If he was willing to do this for her, the least she could do was be a good sport about the accommodations. She kept searching the horizon, looking for something, anything, that would indicate more than completely primitive conditions. She would have been satisfied with a plume of smoke or a light glowing in the darkness at the base of the mountains, but there was nothing.
Baralt guided the sarlag up a long canyon, the pale sky narrowing overhead as the rock sides of the canyon closed in on them, and it grew increasingly dark. He brought it to a halt in front of what looked like a rockfall and leaped easily down before reaching up to her.
“Here?” she asked incredulously. She couldn’t see anything except rock and snow.
“Yes, my aria.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” she muttered, but she reached down and let him lift her off.
Once she was on her feet, he gave the sarlag a slap on the ass, and it wandered away, back down the canyon.
“You’re just going to let it go?”
“Why would I keep it?”
“In case we need it again.”
He shrugged. “I can always catch another one. We keep a few close by for milking, but the majority of the animals roam free. Now come with me.”
Taking her hand, he led her around the rockfall into the dead end of the canyon. To her surprise, what appeared to be a wall didn’t actually extend across the width of the canyon, and he took her behind it to reveal a tall, narrow opening. Inside the fissure, it was pitch black, but he didn’t hesitate as he strode toward it.
“Wait a minute,” she protested. “It’s too dark to see in there.”
“I have excellent night vision.” He looked back at her, his eyes glinting, and she suddenly remembered that first night when she had touched herself in front of him and thought he couldn’t see her.
“You saw me, didn’t you?”
He didn’t pretend he didn’t know what she was talking about. “Yes. You were—you are—beautiful in your pleasure.”
Her cheeks heated, and she started to sway toward him, but then she remembered their purpose. “All right. But you’ll have to be my guide. I can’t see in the dark.”
“Of course. I would never let anything happen to you.”
He looked so sincere that her heart skipped a beat.
“I believe you,” she said softly.
He sighed. “I wish to kiss you, but I’m afraid that it would only delay our arrival.”
“Maybe later.”
“Definitely later.” He took her hand, and this time, she followed silently.
The passage through the rock was dark but not completely without light. As her eyes adjusted, she realized that the rocks above their heads shone with a faint luminescence. She would still have had trouble finding her way without Baralt guiding her, but at least she didn’t feel completely enclosed in blackness.
A faint sound came from up ahead, and she thought it seemed a little lighter. Baralt came to a halt.
“Is something wrong?”
“No. It’s just been a long time. Do not be afraid.”
“I’m not afraid,” she assured him even though her heart was pounding against her chest.
He tightened his grip on her hand, seemingly as much for his comfort as for her own, and started walking again. They passed around two more rock walls set at right angles and emerged into a large bright cave. The light had been blocked by the walls, and she stared around in astonishment. It appeared to be some type of garage with several fast-looking vehicles parked along the edge.
“So we didn’t have to walk at all? Or ride?”
He shrugged. “Perhaps not. These would not have been permitted before I left, but apparently times are changing. At last.”
A wide passageway led out of the garage, and he headed for it. It, too, was brightly lit, and when she looked up, she realized that it was illuminated by small clusters of glowing crystals that seemed to rotate in slow motion.
“What are those lights?”
“We call them glow crystals. We cultivate them for this purpose.”
“Are they alive?” she asked, following the slow, hypnotic movements.
“Yes. They are a type of insect. We place a food source where we wish them to cluster.”
“Curiouser and curiouser,” she muttered as they resumed their journey.
The sound of voices came from up ahead, and Baralt’s hand tightened on hers again. She looked up at him, but he was focused on the end of the passageway, his face expressionless. They stepped out of the opening onto a balcony, and she couldn’t suppress a gasp of astonishment.
A series of caverns spread out below them, all of them glowing softly in the light of thousands of the glowing clusters. The cavern directly in front of them was huge, easily hundreds of feet across, and more were visible through arched openings along the walls. From where they stood, a wide stone path circled the walls, leading down to the floor of the main cavern. Around a large central pool, clusters of odd-looking greenery separated the area into a number of smaller spaces.
Baralt’s people were everywhere, talking and working together. The majority appeared to be males but there were a few females as well, easily distinguished by their smaller size and short fur. She even saw a few children darting about. One of the children looked up and saw them and ex
claimed in surprise. More people turned to look, and the laughter and conversation died away, a great silence falling over the space.
Someone disappeared through one of the side arches and returned a moment later accompanied by a tall warrior. Everything about the way he moved indicated that he was the leader, and people ducked their heads as he strode past. He stopped at the bottom of the ramp and looked up at them. Baralt stared back.
“Maybe we should go and meet him?” she suggested quietly.
“I don’t think he’s going to give us a choice. We’re going,” he said over his shoulder, and she jumped when she realized that two Hothian warriors were standing behind them. She hadn’t heard them approach.
They began a slow descent of the ramp, still accompanied by that eerie silence, and she had the sudden urge to giggle hysterically. She felt as if she was doing the walk of shame in front of a crowd of churchgoers. But she wasn’t ashamed, she reminded herself. Not of Baralt and not of her actions. Her chin came up, and she squared her shoulders.
“Greetings, Elder Njkall,” Baralt said to the tall Hothian when they finally reached him. The other male had not looked away during their descent.
“Greetings, Baralt. Why have you returned? And why have you brought an offworlder to our caves?”
“She is not an offworlder. She is my mate.”
Chapter Twenty
Mate? Izzie kept her face impassive as she tried to figure out what Baralt had meant by that. It sounded…important.
Njkall looked from Baralt to her, and she looked back at him, refusing to be cowed.
“It is forbidden to mate with an offworlder,” he said finally, his voice remarkably calm.
“Nevertheless, it is done.”
Somewhat to her surprise, Njkall let it drop. “And why have you brought her here?”
“I wish to spend some time in my family cave and show her our way of life.”
“Hmm.”
“It is still my family cave, isn’t it?” Baralt asked stiffly.
“Yes, but—”
“Baralt!” A blur of white fur came rushing toward them, and Izzie was pushed aside as a very tall female Hothian threw herself into Baralt’s arms. Her stomach churned as he looked first shocked, then delighted, and gathered the female close.
The familiar sense of abandonment swept over her. All this time he’d had a female waiting for him? And then he’d had the nerve to announce Izzie as his mate. She took a step back, suddenly desperate to leave before the tears burning at the backs of her eyes made their presence felt. A quick look around showed every path blocked by more Hothians, and she found herself looking at Njkall, hoping he would repeat his warning and banish her from the caves.
“Where have you been? What have you been doing? Why haven’t you contacted me in all this time?” The female was peppering Baralt with questions, and Izzie took another step back, but this time, Baralt saw the movement.
“Zemma, there is someone I want you to meet. This is my Isabel.”
“I’m not your Isabel,” she said defiantly, even though she could hear her voice trembling. How dare he try and claim her when he still had his arms around this Zemma person?
“What? My aria, what’s wrong?” He abandoned the Hothian female as he reached for Izzie.
“I don’t think this is going to work out. I want to return to the port. Alone. You obviously have other…interests here.”
“I don’t understand.” His hands tightened over hers. And he actually had the nerve to look bewildered.
A peal of feminine laughter interrupted.
“Baralt, you idiot. Didn’t you tell her about me?”
“No, he didn’t,” she said through gritted teeth.
“I’m Zemma. I’m Baralt’s sister.”
What? The world swayed as her knees weakened with the relief rushing over her.
“His sister?” she repeated.
“Yes, of course,” Baralt said. “What did you think— Oh.”
He looked embarrassed, and Zemma shook her head. “Males. And why didn’t you tell her about me?”
“Yes,” Izzie echoed. “Why not?”
Njkall shook his head. “From the way the two females are glaring at you, I believe that additional explanations are in order. But perhaps in more comfortable surroundings? And more private?”
Izzie looked around and saw the crowd of Hothians watching them. They didn’t look hostile, exactly, but neither did they look welcoming.
“We can talk in our cave,” Zemma said quickly.
“You are letting him return?” a voice said from the crowd. Izzie found the speaker, a heavyset Hothian male who was glaring at them. “With an offworlder?”
“The Elders will discuss the matter once I have all the information,” Njkall said with calm authority. “I believe your suggestion would be best, Zemma.”
He offered Zemma his arm, and the two of them led the way, Baralt and Izzie falling in behind. With the two guards behind them, she realized with a quick peek over her shoulder. The crowd of Hothians parted to let the small procession through, but she heard a few muttered comments that did not sound pleased.
They passed through two more caverns after leaving the main space, watched the entire time, before climbing another ramp and entering a smaller cave, remarkably similar to Baralt’s quarters on Tgesh Tai, even down to the pink velvet on the couches. Not velvet, she realized as Baralt sat down and pulled her down beside him. She suspected it was actually a type of moss, but it felt warm and soft against her skin.
Njkall sat down across from them. “Why did you leave, Baralt?”
Baralt stared at the Elder. “Why did I leave? What choice did I have? Akhalt was dead as a result of my actions. I knew there would be no forgiveness.”
“There is always forgiveness for those who are truly sorry.”
“You do not think I am sorry?” Only Isabel’s hand on his arm kept him from jumping up.
“I know that you are sorry. But I think at the time you were too filled with anger to let yourself acknowledge that.”
Njkall’s words had an uncomfortable ring of truth. He had been angry. Angry and guilty and filled with pain. That morass of feelings had fueled all his original fights. But at some point the anger had faded, leaving only guilt and a lingering sorrow.
“Perhaps,” he admitted.
“And why have you returned? With a human?”
Njkall recognized Isabel’s species? “How did you know?”
“I have encountered human females before.”
“Really? Are they still here on Hothrest?” Isabel asked eagerly.
Njkall shook his head. “No. One left some time ago. The other only a short time before you arrived.”
“Were they slaves?”
“Not when they left, although I suspect both of them had…troubled pasts.”
“But there are places where humans aren’t slaves?” she asked eagerly.
Njkall’s eyes sharpened. “Are you here against your will, Isabel?”
“I was taken from my planet.”
A growl erupted from Njkall’s throat as he glared at Baralt, and Isabel’s eyes widened.
“I didn’t mean by Baralt. Derians took me. Baralt is…helping me.” She gave him an uncertain look.
“She is my mate,” he said firmly.
Njkall looked from one to the other, then his posture relaxed. “I see.”
Baralt wondered uncomfortably exactly what the other man meant. The Elder had always been remarkably perceptive. He glanced up to see his sister watching them thoughtfully, unusually silent. She had still been a child when he left and now she was an adult. How much he had missed.
“And are you planning to stay here?” Njkall continued.
“For a time, at least—”
“A long time,” Zemma interrupted.
“At least until we know if Isabel is being pursued.”
He felt her shiver and put his arm around her shoulders, drawing her closer.
> “Who would be chasing her?”
“A male named Relkhei. He is the fight master to whom she was sold.”
“I see,” Njkall said again, tapping his claws together thoughtfully. “There are some here who will resent your presence.”
“Like Durgal?” Durgal was the male who had objected earlier.
“Yes. And there are others. Your brother was well liked.”
“And they blame me.” The familiar feeling of guilt washed over him.
“They’re wrong,” Zemma said immediately. “I may have been only a child, but I knew that no one ever made Akhalt do anything he didn’t want to do. He was just as eager as you were to end our isolation and explore the port.”
“Has that changed?” he asked. “I saw the speeders above. And a shopkeeper in town said that Hothians were frequent visitors until the Chotgor incident. What happened?”
Tension suddenly filled the room, and he saw his sister’s hand shake.
“What happened?” he repeated, anger threatening to erupt.
“This is not the time for that discussion,” Njkall said reprovingly. Baralt wanted to pursue it, but in the face of Zemma’s obvious relief, he let the matter drop. He would—at last—have all the time he needed to talk to his sister.
Njkall cleared his throat. “However, you were correct about at least one point. Choosing to ignore the rest of the Empire does not guarantee that they will ignore us.”
He should have been gratified at the acknowledgment. Instead, he only felt resentment for all the lonely years he had spent away from Hothrest.
“There has been an attempt to create artificial sothiti,” Njkall continued, and Baralt couldn’t hide his shock. The herbal medicine was Hothrest’s most valuable trade good—so valuable that it had allowed them to negotiate a very favorable deal with the Empire that kept the majority of the planet off-limits to anyone other than native Hothians.
“Did they succeed?”
“We don’t believe so, but they were close. And if it’s occurred to one group…”
“It’s occurred to others,” he finished.
Izzie and the Icebeast: A Scifi Alien Romance (Alien Abduction Book 9) Page 12
