Kaichen watched over his wife as she slept and Antuk watched them both. In this way, they passed the night with the light from the fire offering a sense of comfort that was welcome.
“Are we safe for now?” Antuk sought assurance from Kaichen.
Others might find the large man’s words amusing. He looked to be well capable of defending himself from any threat and in truth, when riled, Antuk became an almost unstoppable force. Kaichen knew the fear that Antuk had never shared with anyone else, darkness encroached upon Antuk’s peace each night. The darkness seemed endless and all powerful without the canopy of stars lighting the night from above. Kaichen understood and he did not speak against his friend for all men had their fears.
“Sleep, Antuk. I will keep watch until the first star rises.” Kaichen responded as he always did when his friend questioned him about the night.
If the moon was out, they would have enough light to see by and when the first star took its place Kaichen would find his rest while Antuk took watch.
Kaichen could not say what the next day would bring. He shed his worries as other men shed their clothing. They had survived much and the journey had only begun. It was enough. It had to be.
Amara woke suddenly with the image of her mother fresh in her mind. She gasped for air, though nothing stopped her efforts. She immediately scrambled to her knees as she rubbed her bruised wrists and took in her surroundings. Pain radiated up her torso, reminding her of the injury done to her ribs.
Kaichen and Antuk sat before her with solemn expressions upon their faces. They watched her with interest.
Amara nodded in greeting as Antuk’s face broadened with a smile. She noticed that his eyes were kind and seeking and although he offered friendship, she turned her gaze away. She told herself that she no longer trusted men that were far larger and stronger than she was.
Kaichen moved like a shadow though there was daylight inside of the small cavern that gave them shelter. Amara stood as he approached.
His movements were the movements of a predator. His every step held purposeful intent and determination. Amara inhaled sharply as Kaichen stood close to her. She was uncertain of her place amongst Kaichen and Antuk, but she refused to flinch.
Kaichen towered over her with his imposing height. The ripple of corded muscle upon Kaichen’s arms caught and held Amara’s attention as he lifted his hand seeking hers. When she did not move, he pressed food to her lips.
Amara reached up and took the offering from his hand. She chewed without speaking. Was she to prepare their meals in the morning? Amara did not know.
She nodded gratefully as Kaichen stepped away from her and returned to his place by the low burning fire. Amara immediately missed his presence though she called herself a fool.
“She is afraid.” Antuk spoke as if his words might offend the woman.
“She has every reason to be fearful, she was forced to become my wife and no one took her feelings into concern.” Kaichen noticed that Amara still eyed them warily.
“Is that not the way of our people? Women are given to the hearth of a man without regard for their wishes. How does your joining with her differ from what has come before now?” Antuk scoffed as if Kaichen were slow-witted. “You will not allow her to run from us, will you? She will face her death alone without a weapon or food.”
Kaichen did not speak as he watched Amara, his wife. At times, he could not believe that it was true.
Even covered with sand and grime she fascinated him. Her eyes were an uncommon color, though Kaichen thought that they were closely matched to the sunset, right before dark.
She was fragile and finely made. He thought that she looked like a small bird as she sat wary and watchful.
When Amara’s fingers moved upon nothing, Kaichen grew utterly still as he watched her. She seemed to sense his regard. With an inhalation of breath, she stared down at her own hands and then clasped them together.
“Her eyes are watering.” Antuk’s comment drew Kaichen’s attention as his friend chewed his portion of dried meat mixed with grasses and seeds.
He chewed upon a mixture made by many of the bands that roamed the land and it was commonly referred to as mesma.
Kaichen felt helpless at the mere thought of Amara’s tears. He continued to study her hands as she wound one around the other, until her fingers were once more clasped together.
“You have nothing to fear, Amara.” Kaichen let his voice carry across the fire.
There was much that he did not know about his wife. Did she hide her unusual gaze from them or seek to show her submission? Kaichen did not know. But he felt his body respond as a man responds to a desirable woman. He ground his teeth together as he tried to focus.
When Amara lifted her gaze, the fire that burned in her sunset eyes surprised Kaichen. In search of a distraction, Kaichen looked at Antuk and he saw that his friend held out the last of his mesma to the woman.
Antuk’s eyes were kind and friendly as he regarded Amara. Kaichen waited to see what Amara would do next, he knew that she had to be hungry beyond measure.
Kaichen began to think that she did not understand Antuk’s gesture but after a time she reached out one small hand and accepted the mesma. She chewed slowly as if savoring each bite.
Kaichen looked away as Amara ducked her head. Antuk smiled in satisfaction even as Amara raised her head briefly to murmur words of thanks.
“We will leave now.” Kaichen spoke to Antuk and then turned his attention to Amara. “With time we will come to know one another, but for now, I will need your trust. One of the warriors that took you was injured by an arrow to his thigh. Is it possible that he will try to come for you if he did not die from his injuries?”
Kaichen studied Amara as he waited for her answer.
“It is possible. He vowed to bring me to his leader, they all did.” Amara’s voice was raspy with thirst. Kaichen walked toward her and knelt in the sand.
“I will give you fresh water as soon as I can, but for now this will help lessen the need for water.” Kaichen handed the woman a small pebble and he noticed that as she accepted the small token she did not shy away from his touch.
“Thank you.” Amara met Kaichen’s eyes and her heart beat furiously at his closeness.
She thought that his voice was full of the warmth brought by the warm season and his eyes were the color of the darkest night. She did not expect to notice such things but Kaichen held her rapt attention.
Amara reached for her flute, which remained in the place where she had slept but the voice of the larger man took her by surprise.
“Why did they take you?” Antuk interrupted the pair as they stared at one another.
Amara did not care to repeat the terrible stories told by her people. She did not want to call evil to her by speaking of it. The distress in her eyes must have communicated itself to Kaichen because he shook his head slowly, telling her that she did not have to speak.
“We leave now. Make ready.” Kaichen was tempted to smile as Antuk lost track of the question that he had just asked and hurried to prepare for their departure.
He was almost disappointed that Amara had not been forced to answer. Perhaps in time she would trust him enough to share her secrets with him.
Yet, Kaichen felt a sense of urgency that was undeniable as he readied his horse for their journey. Everything within him called for action.
He would return to the village of his birth and nothing would stop him from the course that he had set for himself.
Chapter Five
Amara rode Kaichen’s horse, though her ribs ached with each of the animal’s footsteps. The beast that carried her was well made and strong. The animal heeded its master’s commands though Kaichen rarely spoke.
She noticed that Kaichen indicated that the horse should follow him simply by shifting direction or placing his hand upon the horse’s mane. At first, Amara clung to the animal until she realized that her tense muscles caused the horse to grow agitated.<
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They followed a dry riverbed; all around them were reddish-brown cliffs that rose high into the sky. The land was not barren and devoid of life as it appeared at first glance. When Amara looked closely, she saw that discolored shrubs clung stubbornly to the cracks of the dry canyon floor while the elusive scent of pine hung in the air.
As they traveled, she relaxed into the natural rhythm set by the horse. The men did not speak and so Amara was alone with the thoughts that spiraled in the silence of her mind.
She knew that she should be grateful that the raiders had not taken her honor. However, they had subjected her to other humiliations that she did not wish to remember. At times, she thought that she would never feel safe again.
For the time being, as they walked through canyon after endless canyon, she felt protected. Kaichen was always alert and watchful. He appeared to be as tall as the canyon walls and just as strong.
Amara gazed directly at the sun and then cast her gaze away. Her eyes fell upon shimmering rock and the haunting loveliness of the world around them. Up above the great sky was filled with an endless blue. Clouds were rare and yet today there were fine, gossamer clouds that spread across the heavens. Rain.
Amara was not the only one that hoped for rain. Even the small river that ran beside her village had become almost dry. The creek bed bled muddy red soil in places where it had once run with clear water.
No one knew why it was so, but most understood that they could not stand by and die of thirst. Those that cultivated the land had already moved on, searching for water. It was an endless search. Never ending. From the time Amara took her first sip of water until now she had been taught its value.
Not a drop was wasted and not a day went by that she did not beseech the heavens for water. Yet the rains had not come.
How long could the people of the land last under the drought that wreaked havoc upon both man and beast? What sin had the people committed that they were forced to endure the loss of the essence of life? Water gave life. All knew it.
Kaichen came to a stop and his horse halted, jarring Amara. She grabbed hold of the animal’s mane and slid from the horses back without waiting for permission.
Her actions had been hasty. She should have waited and she knew that she had erred even as Kaichen turned to face her. He towered over her and she stared up at him in morbid fascination as he lunged toward her. Amara froze.
Kaichen felt his blood run cold as Amara slid from his horse and stood before him. He snatched her up into his arms and spun around while placing his covered foot directly over the scorpion hole that Amara had stepped upon. He backed away swiftly as the scorpion emerged. It was larger than most and agitated.
The horse moved out of the way of the scorpion’s pinchers after a quick whistle from Kaichen brought the animal to him. Kaichen realized that Amara held herself stiffly and though he enjoyed the feel of her slight weight in his arms it would be best to set her down. He glanced around and saw that the ground was riddled with scorpion holes.
Amara did not see the scorpion or the hole that she had stepped on without thought, she only knew that Kaichen grabbed hold of her and lifted her into his arms without even a sound. She had never seen anyone move so quickly.
“Stand here.” Kaichen set her upon a rock and clasped her shoulders firmly.
It was only then that she saw him quickly skewer three scorpions. Amara gasped and clutched her chest. It was difficult to catch her breath as she realized the danger that she had been in. She shuddered at the thought of dying from such a sickness as that inflicted by the deadly scorpion.
“Scorpions taste good without their stinging tails. You will see.” Antuk reassured her though she could not understand his words, he accepted the skewered scorpions from Kaichen with a nod. “Tell her that she is safe now.”
Antuk spoke to Kaichen and waited patiently until Kaichen relayed the words to the woman in her own language.
Amara nodded as she thanked Kaichen for his help. She knew to watch out for scorpions and other dangers but she had been distracted by grief which weighed upon her every footstep.
Kaichen knew that he must reach his mother and their people before the first harvest came to an end. He did not wish to consider the dire consequences should he fail. His mother’s message delivered by Cohtzen had been clear, their village was in danger and Kaichen was all that stood between them and annihilation.
Without another word, Kaichen lifted Amara onto the back of his horse. Her body was stiff in his arms and she trembled slightly. He felt a moment’s sorrow over her fear.
Amara watched Kaichen’s eyes darken with resolve. He was a study of hard lines and rippling muscle though his body was lean.
The hard plains of his face showed no hint of softness, even his lips and chin appeared to be chiseled from stone. His nose had a broad ridge and his eyebrows were naturally winged though his face remained remote and expressionless.
Would he ever come to love her as the wife of his heart? The silent question took her by surprise.
Antuk threw a smile over his shoulder as if he heard her unspoken thoughts and Amara looked away. She knew that she was only as safe as those that offered her their protection, with Kaichen she was safe.
While Amara had remained at her mother’s side she had been safe. The people of her village often complimented her face and form, though she did not seek such words of praise. She had come into her time as a woman over the past season of cold and her mother would have found a suitable mate for her over the next few moons. There was no one that Amara favored yet she knew that she would have followed her mother’s direction on the matter.
A strong hunter would bring meat to their dwelling and her mother would also be well taken care of by such a man. Amara was thankful for all that her mother had done to see to her wellbeing.
They had very little to call their own, but her mother had done all that she could to make certain that they had a place to sleep and enough food to sustain them. The other villagers shared what they could, though it was very little.
Amara bit her lip as she thought of her life up until now. She had not complained. Her mother would have taken another mate if she could have, but the men of her village were either too old to consider taking on a woman and her child or they were already joined.
“I have never seen such a wide open space before, does the world continue on without end?” Antuk stopped his donkey and shouted his words to Kaichen.
Amara could not help but turn around and stare at the grinning man. She had never seen anyone as large in size as this man.
Yet, somehow Kaichen seemed even taller and stronger. He appeared immovable. Amara saw no softness in Kaichen and she thought to herself that she had never known a man that fascinated her more.
His silence called to her and his resolve beckoned her to his side. Who was this man that had taken her as his lifemate and why did he affect her so?
Amara did not know what to make of Kaichen’s silence. She clenched the horse’s mane within her grasp as tension stole through her body.
Kaichen glanced up at her for a long moment and Amara was held in thrall as he held her gaze. The moment seemed endless and for a time she felt as if she was seared by more than the heat of the sun.
A shiver coursed down her spine. Power. She recognized the touch and taste of it, but by what measure had it been given to this man? She lowered her gaze until she no longer saw Kaichen or Antuk.
She saw only her clenched fists as they gripped the horse’s mane. Amara exhaled as she released the tension in her body.
She had been rescued from a cruel fate only to fall into the hands of a man blessed by power. The only question in her mind was whether or not she could fully confide in him.
The man that had escaped would not allow a wound to his thigh to stop him from finding her. As surely as she breathed, she knew that he would fulfill his quest, he had been ordered to bring her to his leader and he would not accept failure.
A
mara clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and the horse sped up slightly, putting distance between the place where they had started out and hurrying toward the place that they were headed. She would have to share all she knew with Kaichen as soon as possible.
She would have to learn to trust the man that she now called husband. It seemed that she had made a decision and she could only hope that it was the right one.
Kaichen felt the presence of his ancestors as he stepped foot upon the high bluff that overlooked the valley below. He had left Antuk behind with a request that he protect the woman from harm.
The fire in his bones told him that he must climb to the top of this bluff and satisfy the thirst of his soul. He did not explain his actions to Antuk and his loyal friend did not require an explanation. He seemed to understand that Kaichen stood in both worlds at times, the world of men and the world of power. Kaichen had long ago learned not to deny the blood that flowed through his veins.
It was only as he closed his eyes and looked at the world from within that he felt a deep connection with the man that was more legend than flesh and blood.
At times, Kaichen wished that his father was still here to offer guidance and wisdom. His mother told him the stories of his father from the first day of his birth until she had sent him to live with Azin. In this way, his father had been as real to him as a man of flesh and blood
Kaichen held his palms to the sky as he opened his mind and body to the world around him. He could hear the sound of the trees as they spoke to one another. Their leaves were like hands holding on to one another.
He could smell the scent of sand, dust and pine which made up the essence of his world, but there was more. The land was dry and thirsty; balance had been lost long ago. Kaichen did not know whether balance could ever be restored and he doubted that he was the one that could offer such a gift to his people.
The Last Sundancer Page 8