LW Browning - Krystile Warriors 01 - Warlord's Honor

by LW Browning

  From the window she looked down into a beautiful garden filled with flowers and blooming trees. Trails meandered through the garden, easily seen from the window. She smiled when she discovered a fountain in the garden. Claire had always wanted to hear the sounds of a fountain. She had read about it, but never heard one for herself. The water was supposed to make a tinkling sound. She had no idea how long she was lost in reverie when Koda opened the door.

  "We go down for the last meal now. You look very beautiful." He wore dark blue pants that clung to his thighs and black leather boots with metal coverings that extended up to cover the front of his knees. His dark blue shirt formed a V in the front. He wore his sword and a jeweled dagger at his waist. His long blond hair flowed down past his wide shoulders. She had never seen a finer looking male.

  "I have no gloves," Claire whispered. Did she even need gloves anymore?

  Koda produced a pair of gloves he must have found in her backpack. She pulled them on under the long sleeves of the dress. Still furious with him for the loss of her empath sense, she did not meet his eyes. What good was an empath without the ability to read emotions?

  He led her downstairs and into a dining room. People were seated at the long rectangular table that dominated the room. They all stood when she entered on Koda's arm.

  "This is my claimed and mated female," Koda announced.

  All the males stood. She felt every pair of eyes on her. Claire knew some of the people from the trip although others were strangers to her. She received no emotions from any of them. It was strange to be alone. Was this what the normals felt like all the time? They must be lonely in their own way.

  After guiding her to a chair on his right, Koda took his place at the head of the table. Osiria was already seated to her right. When Koda sat, all the males sat down as well.

  Claire looked at no one during the meal. The food was good with a variety of vegetarian dishes along with fish and fowl dishes close to her. Servants in white robes walked around to present meat dishes to Koda and the others.

  She looked up at the male across the table from her when Koda introduced him as Veck, his uncle. Without her empath abilities, she was vulnerable in a way she had never experienced before.

  The males discussed agriculture, trade, and all the news that had occurred in Koda's absence.

  There were five other females in addition to Osiria. They talked about mundane things. Claire was left out. She had no idea of how to contribute to their conversation.

  When the meal was done, Veck leaned back in his chair, looked at Claire and said, "How much did you pay for her, nephew?"

  Claire's hand trembled. She set her glass down and hid her hands under the table without looking at Koda. They discussed her as though she were some new farm animal just purchased. Her own anger rose so that she had to shove it down, breathe deep, and wait.

  "I gave a fair price uncle," Koda said.

  'A fair price.' Surely he meant a fair price for her services.

  "She is lovely," Veck said as he sat back in his chair. "Very beautiful. I claim right of first night."

  The room went quiet. Out of the corner of her eye, Claire saw Var put his hand on the dagger at his waist.

  First night. First night – what did he mean? Claire felt her face heat as panic replaced her anger.

  Koda's look was unreadable. "You are out of line, Uncle. I do not share what is mine."

  "Ah, but I had no opportunity, nephew." Veck said. "I am told you mated and claimed the girl while on the trail. With one so lovely, I can understand patience might be a problem. Nevertheless, I claim her for this night. If nothing else, I want to know that you got your money's worth, to borrow a very old expression." Veck smirked.

  Dren and Ache stood with their hands on their daggers. "The Warlord Leader has already responded to your request," Reaf said.

  Veck leaned forward, his gaze intent on Koda. "She cannot give you an heir. The MX do not breed. She can bear you no offspring to be raised as Warlord Leader. The leadership will default to me and my line. I will have the right of the first night."

  Claire saw Koda's jaw muscle move as he clenched his teeth.

  Koda had to know that she was unable to have children. If Koda wanted an heir, he had made a bad choice to choose her for a mate. But he had not chosen her. She was a mistake, a very costly mistake if the lack of an heir caused him to lose his place as Warlord Leader.

  Koda's brows knit together and she saw a muscle jerk in his jaw. "I formally refuse your claim. The female is mine. I do not share. I will hear no more of this." Although his voice was quiet, the steel beneath his words sliced through the room. Even Claire could feel the tension.

  Veck leaned back and smiled. "You refuse to honor the long held custom of our people. As Warlord Leader, you must recognize the importance of adhering to our traditions. I will, of course, expect you to take Mardalane for the night as is our custom."

  "You speak to your Warlord Leader, show respect," Var said as he stood up and leaned forward to emphasize his words. Claire winced at the scar down the side of Var's face. His pointed features made him look evil. He would have been menacing even without the scar.

  "It is an antiquated custom and has seldom been practiced by warlords," Reaf said. "We do not share the mated and claimed females." He was the peacemaker, Claire decided.

  Veck looked at Claire. "I will have her, nephew, for one night."

  "You. Will. Not." Koda stood. "If you wish to challenge me for her, we will move to the courtyard now," Koda said.

  When Koda stood, all the warlords stood. Claire looked up to see they all had their hands on their daggers. Challenge for her. What did they mean?

  "There is no need for battle this night, nephew," Veck snarled. He stood up and dragged his female up with him. She lost her balance and almost fell. "Your impudence will cost you and your people!"

  They could hear Veck's shouts after he left the dining room and made his way down the hall.

  Koda held up a hand to stop Var from going after Veck.

  "He is an insolent coward," Var spat out.

  "And he is way out of line," Reaf said.

  Koda was the picture of control. He moved to Claire's chair and pulled it back for her. "We will retire now," he announced.

  Claire experienced a moment of clarity. Her empath abilities were gone, but she understood her own thoughts and emotions better than ever before. She must make this right. It was possible she might be able to repair the damage and avoid consequences with the MX Facility.

  "I will go with Veck," she announced. "I came here to help you, but instead, I have broken many rules for my kind. Now I have caused trouble for you. If I can prevent violence, I must do so. Perhaps I can redeem myself in some small way with the Facility. I can save your people distress." Claire whispered her plea in a monotone. She showed no emotion.

  Koda's eyes narrowed as he looked at her. "You are new to our ways. There is much you do not yet understand. I will correct that error. Come with me. Now."

  When he offered his arm, Claire refused. She turned to walk back to their apartment.

  She did not feel Koda's anger, but she saw it. What had she missed? Did he not understand she was sure to suffer the consequences for violating so many MX rules? Or did he even care? The thought of being with Veck disgusted her, but she was no longer capable of feeling anything when someone touched her. She had a chance to make this right or at least better.

  Why was Koda angry with her? He had only done the claiming ceremony because he made a mistake that first night. She was doomed to pay the price to preserve his honor. Inside the apartment, she turned to continue her argument. She had to make him see reason. "It is no great sacrifice for me to be with him."

  "You spoke out of turn. Females do not enter into a discussion between males," Koda said.

  "Even when the discussion is about the female?" Claire asked.

  Koda did not answer, but looked at her as if he had much to consider. "You b
elong to me. I made a decision. I spoke it. If you have anything to say, do it privately. Now go to bed."

  "Ah, so your sensitive feelings were hurt? You spoke of me as if I were not even present in the room."

  "You forget who I am," Koda said.

  "I am not chattel." Claire raised her voice.

  They stood glaring at each other for long moments.

  "I can make this right. It is a chance I must take," she started to walk around him to the door.

  Koda bent forward and grabbed her. When he stood, she was over his shoulder. He strode into the bedroom and tossed her on the bed. She rose up on her knees.

  "I am not a child to be put to bed." She moved to get off the bed.

  Koda turned on his way to the door. "If your feet hit that floor, I will turn you over my knee and spank you until your lovely ass is a bright red."

  Claire froze, her eyes open wide.

  Koda turned and left the room. The door to the bedroom closed behind him.

  Reaf, Var and Dren waited in the sitting room.

  "We are a passionate race," Claire heard Reaf say. "Claimed females can be difficult. In the days of my youth, many warriors and a few warlords stole their mates. Newly claimed and mated females are notorious for their bad behavior. Being abducted and claimed by a warlord requires some adjustment. She is high-spirited, but she will be fine, in time."

  "Adjust!" Claire whispered the words so they would not hear her. She had moved from the bed to listen at the door, a small act of defiance. She was relieved that Koda did not want to share her, but she felt nothing, less than nothing. She could not win against him. With a deep sigh, she moved to the bed and realized it was much too high for her to get on with ease. Still angry, she went to the chair and leaned her head back. Anger left her empty of even her own emotions. Her breathing finally slowed. Exhaustion pulled her into sleep.

  She woke to hear voices in the sitting room. Koda stood in the doorway, Lodi behind him.

  "We need you," Koda said.

  Claire followed them to the sitting room.

  A beaten and bloody female lay on the sofa. She was a mass of bruises. Her face was covered with cuts and she struggled to breathe. Lodi looked up at Koda, then at Claire.

  "Can you help her?" Lodi asked.

  "I do not want Claire to heal her. She has already been through too much," Koda said.

  Claire ignored Koda and moved to the female to kneel down beside her. "I am sorry for your pain." To Lodi she said, "I cannot help her."

  "But you healed me," Lodi said with a frown.

  "In order for me to heal someone, I must feel what they feel. Since my empath abilities have been... " Claire shrugged. "I am no longer an empath. I cannot help her."

  "What do you mean you are no longer an empath?"

  "Your claiming ceremony rid me of my empath ability. My world went silent after..."

  "Why did you not speak of this to me?" Koda asked.

  "Did you not do it on purpose? Did you not know that your bite and the ceremony would take away my abilities?" Claire's voice broke. "You are protected from me, but I am useless to you now."

  Koda and Lodi exchanged a look.

  "I will get Dare and Dren," Lodi said on his way out the door.

  Claire examined the battered female's face. She was Mardalane, Veck's female. The horror of what had happened to her made Claire ill.

  "I did not know you lost your empath ability. If I caused that, I am sorry," Koda’s voice was gentle.

  Claire went to the kitchen and returned with a wet cloth. She bathed the female's face, careful not to make eye contact with Koda.

  Koda frowned in puzzlement. "I did not intend to stop your empath abilities."

  Claire said nothing.

  Dare and Dren entered the room behind Lodi. Dare looked at the bloody female on the couch and then at Koda. "What is the problem?"

  "Claire has lost her empath ability," Lodi answered. "She needs it so that she can heal."

  "When?" Dare said while he worked with the clear device in his hand.

  "You have the prophecies on that?" Lodi asked.

  "He has everything on that," Dren said.

  With no way to know how serious the injuries were, Claire gently placed the cool cloth on Mardalane’s face.

  Dren pulled Koda aside. When they were done, Dare handed the device to Dren.

  "Touch the mate mark on her neck, while I read. She needs to drink this." Dren handed Koda the silver chalice and began to read in the old language.

  Claire stiffened when Koda put his hand on the mate mark. Heat passed through his hand into her. Hot. Koda held the chalice to her lips. Claire drank the bitter contents and shuddered. Her empath world began to open. By the time Dren finished reading, she was aware of everyone in the room, especially the injured female.

  She did not look at them, but removed her gloves and put her bare hands on Mardalane's arm.

  "Wait," Koda said. "You do not have to do this."

  Claire was careful and gentle when she touched the female. She tried to hold back a strangled scream. The bruises on Mardalane's face appeared on Claire's. Wherever the battered female bled, Claire bled also. Claire uttered a yelp of pain as her arm began to contort. Bones crunched and moved. The female's broken arm straightened. As she was healed, Claire's body took on her wounds and her pain until she healed as well. Tears trickled down Claire's cheeks.

  Koda leaned forward and narrowed his eyes when the physical signs of abuse showed on Claire. He still touched the mate mark and felt the injuries and the power of the healing through the touch on her neck. Finally it was over, with Claire and Mardalane both restored.

  Veck's female looked at Claire. "That was – your hands were cold. Thank you."

  "Your gratitude is owed to Koda. I was only able to help you because he allowed it." Claire stood, unsteady and shaking, surprise on her face at Koda's anger.

  He kept his hand on her. "I am glad your empath abilities are restored."

  Claire moved away from Koda’s touch and felt the shock that always came when they broke skin to skin contact. She saw from Koda’s face that he felt it too.

  Since it was Koda’s fault she had lost her empath abilities in the first place, Claire wondered why he apologized now. She felt the relief of all those in the room. They were all less tense since Mardalane was healed.

  Mardalane sat up and looked around the room to smile at Lodi.

  Claire turned to the males with fire in her eyes. "She suffers injury repeatedly. I think you all very cruel if you allow this to continue. All I have heard is how cherished females are in your society, yet I see no evidence of it."

  "It will not continue," Lodi interrupted. "She has appealed to me for Saman Protectorate and I have granted it."

  Koda nodded his approval.

  Claire went into the bedroom.

  Claire looked at Lodi and Koda just before she slammed the door shut.

  "Females." Lodi grinned.

  Koda looked at the door before turning his attention to Mardalane. "You will stay here under my protection. Lodi, will have a room prepared for you."

  Lodi winked at Mardalane and helped her up. He handed her off to a female servant in the hall and then stepped back inside.

  "What of Veck?" Koda turned his attention to the warlords.

  "He ran," Lodi answered. "Went to the stable where he beat Mardalane, got his carriage, and left."

  "He is a coward," Dare said, as he rocked a straight backed chair back on two legs against the wall.

  "That is true," Lodi added. "We will have trouble from him."

  "I would know what went wrong." Koda looked at Dren.

  Dren leaned his head slightly. "The mate mark has more power than we thought. It will protect you from her, but it also gives you much power over her. When she drank your blood during the claiming, it must have set off a chemical reaction in her. I do not understand how it all works," Dren answered.

  "It must have been like the loss o
f sight and hearing for one of us," Lodi said.

  "I do not think the little MX will like that you have so much control over her abilities." Dare crossed his arms over his chest and stretched his long legs in front of him.

  Koda felt as if he had been hit in the chest by something large and heavy. He never intended to inhibit the girl's abilities. "I did not know."

  Dare shoved off the table. He and Dren left Koda to his own thoughts and his unhappy MX. Lodi followed them into the hall.

  ***

  When he entered the bedchamber, he found Claire in the overstuffed armchair on the other side of the bed. She looked out the window at the night sky. Koda felt his heart move. He could not imagine how difficult this situation had been for her. Everything here was strange and different, but she had shown courage. He had always borne the burden of Leader. Since his father died before he taught his son all that he needed to know, Koda had worked hard to learn. He took his responsibility to his people very seriously. He had used female pleasure slaves, but had been close to none of them. Now, he had feelings for this little female that were new to him. The problem was, he had no idea how to tell her how he felt. He sighed and knelt in front of her, his forearms on the arms of the chair. She did not look at him.

  "Pita, it was not my intention to cause you harm."

  Silent moments went by. Her hair moved as if stirred by a breeze.

  "Are you restored now?" Koda waited. She looked vulnerable. He scented her fear. He wondered again what they had done to her at the MX Facility to make her so afraid. Her face was impassive. He studied her behavior, her breathing, the pupils of her eyes, as well as small telling movements that she made. The girl was terrified most of the time. He had done little to alleviate her fear. Still, she had to learn how to behave here.

  "I will have an answer, girl." Koda’s voice was soft.

  "I have my empath abilities again, yes," Claire said. "I am ready for you to take them." Her voice cracked on the last word.

  "You think I will do that again? I did not take away your gift on purpose," Koda said.