"Do not worry. I am unharmed. What angers you so on this fine day?"
He let her go, stepped back and studied her. Something about this young man confused Dale. She longed to confide in him, explain where she was from and her need to return home to Thea, but he probably wouldn't believe her. If she hadn't lived through it herself, she wouldn't believe it either.
"Nothing really. Just stress. I was worried about Shadow."
"But he mends well?"
"Yes, of course. It's just ... I don't know. He frustrates me so."
Thom's grin transformed his seemingly ordinary features. His gray-green eyes sparkled with laughter. “He is a man. Of course he frustrates you. Men are totally illogical creatures. They think with their little heads, not their larger ones."
Dale stared at the boy and realized her mistake. Though Thom dressed in male attire and cut his hair short, Thom was no more a boy than she was. Thom was female. That's why she understood Dale's exasperation with Shadow.
"You're a girl."
"I know.” Thom quickly masked the sudden fear in her eyes.
"But why do you hide it?"
Thom shrugged. Her casual gesture was at odds with the fists clenched at her sides. “When I was young I lived on the streets. At that time, Dramon was in the midst of a rebellion and the streets were dangerous for those unprotected by power or family. Until Dolan took me in I had neither. By the time he learned my sex I had already begun as his apprentice. Even now, people would look askance at a female crystal smith, so I maintain the charade. I am good at what I do and do not wish to give it up to please some man. Few are allowed to know my secret."
"I'm honored to be in that company. Your secret is safe with me."
"Good. I deal harshly with those who betray me or mine.” Thom cast a glance toward the mountains. “Come, let us return to the compound. With the melting of the snow the mountain passes will open. It is not safe to be out alone and unarmed."
Dale eyed the sword hanging at Thom's waist. “You're hardly unarmed. That blade looks fairly lethal to me. Do you know how to use it?"
"Of course. To create a proper weapon a crystal smith must know how to use one.” Thom's head lifted in affronted pride. “Though young, both Mozin and Amme are training in the use of weapons. We will no longer be easy pickings for any slaver.” Bitter anger and a cold warning rang in Thom's voice.
"I'm sorry about Dolan's wife and baby."
"Saree refused to learn to wield a sword. The soul of peace and harmony, she was an odd choice of lifemate for a crystal smith, but a good woman and mate, nonetheless. They were taken just before the last fall of snow. When we found them gone, Dolan and I followed, but the storm closed the pass. When it opens we will find them and return them home."
Talk of family made Dale's heart ache for Thea and what she must be suffering. She had to get home.
Maybe she could go into the mountains with Dolan and Thom? Once there she could hunt for her necklace.
Had it made the trip with her from Earth? Maybe it was lying outside the spinner cave. Or had it vanished into the maelstrom of sound and light that had brought her here? She had to know. And if she found the strange stone, would it help her go home? She had to try.
"I'll come with you."
Thom threw back her head and laughed.
"What's so funny?” Dale demanded. “I managed to bring Shadow down the mountain by myself."
"So you did. You are to be commended for that feat.” Thom stifled her amusement with obvious difficulty. “But that is different than going after slavers. You are such a tiny thing. The slavers control the mountains. There might be fighting. You could not even lift my sword, let alone swing it in battle. No, you can stay here. Dolan and I would accept your help in caring for the young ones."
"A person doesn't need great size or large weapons to protect themselves.” Dale cocked her head and looked Thom up and down. She had seven inches on Dale's five feet three inches and outweighed her by about thirty-five pounds. “Take off your sword and I'll demonstrate."
"You wish to wrestle?” Thom sounded amused by the idea, but untied the scabbard from her waist and set it carefully aside. “Even though I am not oversized, I will crush you."
Dale grinned. “We'll see, won't we?” Could she take her? Out of practice since she'd sold her half of the martial arts academy to her partner Scott, Dale wasn't sure. But she still knew a few tricks. Even if Thom did crush her, she'd give a good accounting of herself first. Maybe enough to convince her she was a good companion to have along.
Raf watched from the door to the bathing hut as the two squared off. “They are going to fight. I must stop them. Dale will be injured."
Dolan placed a heavy hand on Raf's shoulder. “Thom will not hurt your woman. They but test one another."
"Why?"
Dolan shrugged. “When they are done, we will ask."
Raf stiffened, then forced himself to relax. He was not ready to confront Dolan, and he wished to see how Dale handled herself. Her strength and skill constantly amazed him. What other tricks did she conceal beneath her fragile appearance?
Dale stood easily, body poised, hands held loosely at her sides. With a grunt, Thom lowered his head and charged. Strong arms sought to grab and tackle his smaller opponent. Arms closing around empty air, he tumbled forward. Surprise flickered across his face as he straightened and located Dale standing a few yards away. Again he charged. And again Dale sprang easily out of reach.
Giving an angry growl, Thom changed his tactics. On his third charge he turned midway and caught Dale around the middle. Raf tensed as the two went down. The soft ground cushioned and coated them in mud as they rolled. Other than by size he could no longer tell them apart.
Thom twisted and slid free. He stood. His foot shot out toward Dale's belly. Dale caught that foot. In a blur of motion their places were reversed. Thom lay face down, helpless on the ground, with Dale's foot on the back of his neck.
Relief, then confusion, flowed through Raf. Where had Dale learned such warrior magic? Never had he seen this method of fighting. Size and weight of the opponent mattered little, even worked against them. If a larger adversary also knew those tricks, would the outcome be the same?
Dale lifted her foot and reached down toward Thom. Hands clasped, the two stood side by side. Then they both headed toward the bathing hut built into the side of the mountain's base.
Raf and Dolan followed.
Dale entered the steamy dim enclosure first.
"You fight well for a midget,” Raf heard Thom say. “Next time you will not surprise me with your tricks. I will squash you."
"Probably,” Dale admitted with a laugh.
"You are welcome to fight at my side anytime, Tiguer."
Small warrior. Thom's name for Dale fit. But for which side did she fight?
"Thank you, Amazon."
Raf tasted the unfamiliar word and found it, too, fit.
Before he and Dolan could announce their presence, Thom disrobed. Raf swallowed his gasp of surprise. The boy was a woman. He glanced at Dolan. With his mouth set in a hard line, the man stared back, but he said nothing. Raf looked back in time to see Thom slide into the inky water of the bathing pool.
"Will you teach me this unusual fighting technique?” Thom asked.
"Be glad to.” Dale's skirt and blouse fell into a muddy heap.
Thoughts of Thom's sex vanished as Dale turned her naked body toward him.
Arms folded across his barrel chest, Dolan leaned against the rock wall. To allow the women a measure of privacy, he kept his gaze leveled squarely on Raf. Raf found he could not do the same. Instead, he drank in the sight of Dale.
Her skin, where not covered with drying mud, glowed pale pink in the steamy lamplight. A fine sheen of sweat glistened on her chest. Her nipples were soft in the warm air. Would they pucker for him to suckle?
With a contented sigh, she eased herself into the heated pool.
"This is marvelous."
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"A benefit of living close to the base of the mountains. But it hardly outweighs the risk,” Thom countered.
"When do you and Dolan leave to track the slavers?"
"At the end of this tenday, the children will go into the village to stay with Dolan's mate's family. Then we will go."
Raf looked at Dolan. He and Thom planned to chase the slavers into their stronghold. How foolish could they be? If not killed outright, they would find themselves on the auction block. Since First Minister Cathor had abandoned his mountain castle, Devros’ claim on the mountains was uncontested. He didn't suffer interlopers. So far, all attempts to rout him had failed. He was well hidden and protected. With each raid, his strength grew, along with his boldness.
Even if Prince Ash hadn't set Raf the task of finding and destroying the slavers’ operation, annum ago his feet had been set on this path.
Slavery was an abomination—a disease—that destroyed people and nations. To see an end to slavery he would gladly die. And if his plan to find the slavers’ stronghold and send his message to Dramon's troops failed, he most likely would die or wished he had.
As a slave, Dolan's fate would be the illegal crystal mines, never again to see the light of day, working in the dark until the crystal crushed his body and spirit. Thom would spend the rest of her short life on her back with sweating shoats pumping away above her.
"I'm going with you,” Dale said.
"No!” Raf pushed away from the wall into the lamplight. It was past time he showed this woman who was in charge. If innocent, she would be far safer at his side than trekking into the mountains with Dolan and Thom. If in collusion with Devros, then Raf needed to keep her even closer.
Thom growled and grabbed the sword she'd laid next to the pool.
"Get out of here, you sneaky peeking Tom!” Dale threw her muddy blouse at Raf as he approached. “How dare you spy on us?” The blouse smacked against his bare chest and slid down to the ground, leaving a brown streak.
He frowned as he moved closer to the pool. Mouth open, she watched, mesmerized as with one hand he wiped away the mud and the other he slowly unfastened the buttons on his trousers.
"What do you think you're doing?” she sputtered.
"I was clean. Now I am again dirty. You may wash me."
Behind her, Thom scrambled from the pool and snatched up one of the towels kept on a shelf. She wrapped it around herself, gathered up her dirty clothing and started to leave.
"Where are you going?” Dale asked, still submerged in the water.
"This is between you and your man. Dolan and I will leave."
The two of them beat a hasty retreat.
"Don't go,” Dale called to their backs. She turned to face Shadow. “You can't come in here."
"Why not?” His trousers fell to the stone floor. She groaned and squeezed her eyes shut as he stepped out of them and continued toward her.
"I'm naked."
"So? I have seen you naked. And since you cared for me during my illness, I assume you have seen me naked as well."
Anger forgotten, she backed up. “That's different."
"How?” He slid silently into the pool.
At the feel of the water rippling, she opened her eyes. He was only a few feet away. “It just is. Stay away."
"What do you fear, Tiguer? Will not your warrior tricks work in the water?"
He moved closer. The heat of his body seemed to set the water around them to boil.
She backed against the smooth side of the pool. “My tricks as you call them, are hard earned skills. You'd never lay a hand on me,” she bluffed. A warrior of his size, strength and skill would soon overpower her.
He leaned toward her, placing a hand on either side of her head. “I would enjoy getting my hands on you,” he whispered into her ear. His breath felt cool against her heated skin. “Finish what you started earlier. Touch me, Tiguer."
"Don't call me that.” Only inches of water separated their bodies. Something hard and hot brushed against her belly. She trembled.
His dark hair trailed in the water creating black spikes from the shiny mass. His lips hovered over hers. She could smell the sweet cinnamon scent of gana on his breath.
"Call you what? Little Warrior? That is what you are. A pocket-sized warrior, full of passion and courage, if not much sense.” He pulled back slightly, but kept both hands bracketing her face. “I forbid you to go into the mountains with Dolan and Thom."
"You what?" She shoved her hands against his chest. He barely budged. “Who are you to tell me what I can and can't do? You don't own me."
Anger and some other emotions blazed in his eyes. His hands closed around her head. “Do I not? What do you know of me, Tiguer?” His voice rasped as if he forced himself to speak. “I found you in the mountains. Mountains controlled by the slavers. Does that not make you wonder?"
What was he trying to tell her? His nearness made her body sing and muddled her thinking. He couldn't be in league with slavers, could he? She searched her memory of what had happened in the mountains. Her glimpse of the men he rode with had been brief, but they'd had an unsavory look about them.
"You can't be a slaver?” No, she couldn't believe this man could be so low.
He chuckled, a rough sound, lacking in humor. “Can't I? Because I saved your life? Yours is a life worth saving. On the auction block you will fetch a tidy sum. Or perhaps Devros will fancy you himself. It does no harm to curry favor with those in power."
"No,” Dale moaned in disbelief. How could she have been so wrong about him? Why did he tell her this now? “I'll tell Dolan, he'll stop..."
Shadow's fingers slipped around her throat. She gasped slightly at the pressure against her windpipe.
"Tell him and seal his fate.” He paused, a cold, calculating smile on his sensuous lips. His words left that fate to her imagination.
Even now Dale found herself wondering what his lips would taste like. “What do you want?"
"You will decline to travel with Dolan and Thom. Instead, you will leave with me."
"And if I refuse?"
"Best you not push me that far, woman."
"You're so sure of yourself?"
"Nothing in this life is sure but death. Would you dance on my grave?"
"I would spit in your grave. Does your promise mean nothing?"
For a moment his hard mask softened. Then he growled and pressed close. “I kept my word. I searched the area around the spinmaster's cave for any sign of your child. Another with your looks and spirit would bring me more gain. Sadly, there was no sign of her."
"You promised to find her.” Dale was glad caution had kept her from revealing everything to this man. Who knew what use he would make of her information.
"No, Tiguer, I promised to do what ‘I could.’ That I did."
Tears of betrayal stung the back of her eyes as she looked at him. “You play with words. If I go with you what do I gain?"
"I will leave Dolan and his family untouched."
"And when they head into the mountains after the slavers?"
"I will make sure they do not go."
"How?” She reached out and gripped his upper arm. “Promise you won't hurt them."
"But my promise is worthless, is it not?"
"Please.” The plea tasted sour on her tongue, when she longed to lash out at him instead.
He covered her fingers with his hand. “They will not suffer permanent harm. Do you agree to my terms?"
"What choice do I have? I agree."
Rage made her gut clench, banishing the pain of his betrayal. For the moment he held the upper hand. Her concern for Dolan and his small family tied her hands. But soon she and Shadow would be alone. Then he'd discover just how dangerous an angry, desperate mother could be.
Chapter Five
The next day, like playful ghosts, wisps of early morning fog swirled across the fields. As Dale and Shadow prepared to leave the Dolan farm, a faint blush of tender green touched the dark
rich ground, and the fresh scented air rang with cheerful bird song. Shadow's annoying pet bird circled the valley, its raucous cries the only discordant note.
A complaint bubbled to Dale's lips, but at Shadow's quelling look she swallowed it. None of her arguments or pleas had swayed the man. Though he said nothing more about being in league with slavers, he insisted that she travel with him. Finally she decided she had a better chance of finding her necklace with him than without him. But their truce was a fragile one. One she knew would end once they left this valley. Why waste her energy arguing with the man? Better to save it to escape from him and get home to Thea.
At least she was dressed appropriately for this trip and her escape. Butter soft leather pants covered her legs. A pair of sturdy, fur-lined, and hopefully waterproof, boots encased her feet. Her long-sleeved cotton blouse fit rather than draping her upper body like a shroud. A warm, hip-length brown suede jacket completed her wardrobe.
She sat atop one of the beasts Dolan had procured for them. Quinar, he called the creatures. With their massive heads and long, thick, brownish-black fur, they looked like a nightmare crossing of a Clydesdale horse and an American Bison with a touch of camel. Still, the beasts had gentle, intelligent eyes and seemed placid enough for her limited riding skills. Already her thighs protested the width of the beast's broad back. She could only imagine how sore she'd be after several hours of riding. Shifting to ease the growing strain, she groaned at the pull she felt. The saddle creaked.
Strapped behind her saddle were the supplies they'd need as they headed into the mountains—tent, blankets, food, etc. Because of his heavier weight, Shadow's mount carried only him.
Dolan sat on the porch of the farmhouse, his swollen ankle bandaged and propped on a stool. His ankle was sprained badly enough that trekking into the mountains anytime soon was impossible, but his injury was not permanent. Somehow Shadow had managed to arrange a small accident, without casting any suspicion on himself.
Shadow confused her. Why did he keep his word about Dolan and his small family? If Shadow was the slaver he claimed to be, why not kill Dolan and Thom and steal the children to sell into slavery?
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