Khon’Tor told Acaraho what Akule had relayed from the High Council. Acaraho listened and then spoke, “If the Waschini are riding that hard, they are most likely on their way somewhere specific and therefore just passing through.”
Acaraho and Khon‘Tor agreed it would be wise to bring everyone but the watchers inside and to forbid anyone to leave Kthama until they knew the Waschini riding party had left the territory.
Within moments, word had spread that Khon’Tor was calling yet another general assembly. Because it came on the heels of the previous night’s event, everyone was convinced it had something to do with the drama that had happened between their Healer and their Leader.
Everyone was in place well before the assembly horn blew, and both Khon’Tor and Acaraho took the stage, standing side by side. Adia could not keep her eyes off the High Protector. From where she was standing, she had full view of both males, and it was impossible not to make a comparison. She noticed their similarities: how exceptionally tall they both were, with their broad, well-developed shoulders and chiseled physiques. Both were males of power and authority, and in size and strength they were almost interchangeable, but their hearts could not have been more different.
Khon’Tor raised his left arm in his usual signal for silence, and immediately the room hushed. Acaraho stood next to him, staring straight into the crowd.
Khon’Tor began. “Not long ago, I stood before you with Ogima Adoeete, High Chief of the Brothers, and brought you news from the High Council about the threat presented to our people by the Waschini. At that time, I also shared what we know of the Waschini—their cruelty, their savagery, their disregard for the rights of the lives of others. Though the Ancients did not know of the Whites, their having not yet come to our shores, they did know hard times would come to the People through some threat.”
No one was looking around; they were all hanging onto Khon’Tor’s every word. Many were trying to understand how what he was saying could be connected to the events of the night before.
“The watcher, Akule, brought word from the High Council that a Waschini riding party of some size has entered the outer edges of our territory. We believe they are only crossing our land as a means to their intended destination—though we have no way of knowing where or how far that lies,” he continued.
“As a precaution, we are bringing everybody inside except the watchers. I am ordering each of you to stay in Kthama. We have every confidence that the Waschini will pass through without incident.
“We are not and have never been a people of aggression like the Waschini, and we will not engage them. We will not harm them. We will allow them to go on their way, and I will let you know when the threat has passed. To make sure there is no misunderstanding, anyone leaving Kthama without my direct permission, or the permission of Acaraho, will suffer serious consequences for their actions.”
When Khon’Tor finished speaking, Acaraho stepped forward. Adia noticed he did not have to raise his hand to command the attention of the People.
“Anyone and everyone currently outside, other than the watchers, is being located and brought inside as I speak. This is a time for all of us to come together in support of each other and in support of Khon’Tor,” Acaraho announced.
After a couple of seconds pause, he added, “All my males in attendance here, report to my meeting room now. Thank you.”
Before he stepped down, Acaraho lowered his eyes to break eye contact with the crowd, the signal he was done speaking, and then after a few seconds looked up and directly in Adia’s direction.
On his way out, the guards started gathering around him. Acaraho surveyed them, then stopped and pulled aside First Guard Awan. Pointing in Adia’s direction, he was obviously assigning Awan to her protection in his place. Adia realized that under these circumstances, Acaraho would be needed in his position as the High Protector. It was not lost on her that even with everything going on, he had not forgotten his commitment to protect her.
Adia wanted to get to her quarters quickly to let Nadiwani know what was going on, and she turned to leave, only to see Nadiwani and Khon’Tor’s mate, Hakani, standing at the back of the room.
Where is Oh'Dar? Then Adia saw he was in the sling on Nadiwani’s hip. She had no one to leave him with since everyone was ordered to attend. All the offspring are here, but thank goodness he is being quiet. The tide of favor had been turning in Oh'Dar’s direction, and this was not the time for everyone to be reminded there was a Waschini in their midst.
The crowd remained for quite some time, discussing Khon’Tor’s announcement.
One by one anyone outside was rounded up and brought inside by Acaraho’s team.
Still early in the day, but tired from her lack of sleep the past night, Adia returned to her quarters to lie down to rest. She lay there replaying the events of the past few days.
Do the Waschini really pose a threat? Or are they riding through as everyone thinks? I know what they are capable of. I will never forget the sight of Oh'Dar’s massacred parents. Slaughtered, butchered, left as carrion for the predators. But, Oh'Dar, there is no part of those monsters in you. I know it.
Just as she was about to fall asleep, Adia remembered the bag she had found among Oh'Dar’s covers, the one which held the hard, oval-shaped item with the likenesses of Oh'Dar’s parents in it. She had forgotten about it all this time, forgotten how she had stopped to bury it at the Healer’s Cove, not daring to bring it to Kthama. Oh no. What if the Waschini discover it? It could lead them here. They could find Kthama. They could take him from me!
Adia had pushed herself so hard since rescuing Oh’Dar. She was determined to prove Khon’Tor wrong—that she could fully shoulder her responsibilities as Helper, as well as handling the primary responsibility for Oh'Dar. Already past her physical limits, the last few weeks had brought her to emotional and psychological exhaustion. Adia was convinced that if she did not go and retrieve the little bag and its contents, some great tragedy would ensue.
Even though she was not reasoning properly, she was still thinking— I have to go and get the little pouch. But what about First Guard Awan? How am I going to get away from him? She knew Acaraho had picked him as one who, if need be, would put his life on the line to protect her. Awan would not miss her leaving and would certainly not fall asleep at his post.
Adia had some time, knowing that her plan was best executed after nightfall when the darkness would be a disadvantage to the Waschini.
As she lay quietly putting together her plan of escape, Hakani was putting together a plan of her own.
She had stood in the back of the room listening to Khon’Tor address the People. Khon’Tor had stripped her of her position as Third Rank, and she was no longer recognized by him, or anyone else. She was effectively invisible. She had lost favor with the People through her actions with the Waschini offspring, though she blamed Adia and Khon’Tor for that outcome, not herself. Everyone knew Khon’Tor had expelled her from his bed. She was humiliated. Everything had turned against her.
In contrast, everything seemed to be going Khon’Tor’s way. Whatever the Rah-hora between him and the Healer, Khon’Tor had come out on top. His announcement of the Waschini threat validated everything he had warned them about since returning from the High Council meeting. He had spoken well and authoritatively. He had once again established himself as a great Leader in the eyes of the People.
While everything was turning in his favor, she was losing more and more ground. Something must happen to bring Khon’Tor down. I cannot stand seeing him parade around like the glorious Leader. If only he would do something wrong. Something terribly, terribly wrong. Something so over the line that the People would never be able to overlook it—not even for the great Khon’Tor.
Hakani knew that though he was riding high at the moment, it had been a long hard road of highs and lows over the past few seasons. She could see he was physically exhausted. He had to be close to his mental breaking point.
Everyone had a limit—even the strongest of the strong. If Hakani could only push him past his limit— No matter what she might have done wrong, she was still a female. And females were revered among the People. The People’s laws and customs were established to honor and protect them. There were severe penalties for any male, no matter his station, who would strike a female.
Hakani knew she was walking a very dangerous line because Khon’Tor was a male of incredible strength. She was no match for him in any regard. If she drove him too far, too far into a rage, there was a risk she might pay for it with her life.
I have to chance it. Now is my opportunity to turn the tide against him. I might not get another one. He is at breaking point, I am sure of it. There might never be another period with so many challenges strung one after the other.
She had only one card left to use against him, and she had to make it count for all it was worth. She was ready. She was prepared to risk everything. All she needed now was for him to come back to their quarters.
And to hope she was as clever as she thought she was.
In the meantime, Adia had figured out her plan. Though she could not elude the guard, she might be able to trick him long enough to make her escape.
Nadiwani had come back to their quarters, but thinking Adia was finally sleeping she took Oh’Dar and left to visit Haiwee, giving Adia peace and quiet, hopefully to get the rest she so urgently needed.
Adia opened her eyes. She could tell that twilight was closing in by the quality of the light over the workspace. Though strangely unsteady on her feet, she hurried around her quarters, gathering up the items she needed and then scurried through the door to where Awan was standing.
As she stepped out in front of him, the First Guard brought himself back to full attention, looking straight over her head as was the custom. Knowing he would follow her, Adia walked down the tunnel from her quarters toward the main assembly area, the Great Chamber. But just before reaching the main room, still carrying the bundle she had brought with her, she took a turn down a different tunnel.
The guard stopped dead in his tracks.
Adia smiled. She knew exactly what the problem was. She had entered the tunnel to the females’ bathing area. It was forbidden to males, without exception. The guard could not go with her.
Adia looked up at him and blinked. “It’s alright, I understand. You may wait here.”
So he took his position there and waited, knowing there was no other exit.
Except that he was wrong.
No one knew the tunnels as well as the Healer did. Not every twist and turn. And when it came to the females’ personal areas, the males barely knew them at all. Some of the other females might know what she did about this particular area—if they ever thought about it—but they were not there.
Adia padded down the tunnel into the bathing area. She looked longingly at the clear, cool water, wishing she had time to stop and bathe. She was perspiring and felt overheated. Her body was starting to ache.
The Mother Stream was the lifeblood of the People’s existence, bringing in as it did plenty of oxygen and fresh water. This private bathing area that Adia now entered was one of the modifications made by the People over time.
Inflowing water has to flow out or become stagnant, and Adia knew there was an exit through the channel which returned the stream to the outside. She also knew that because the opening had been manually constructed, it was large enough for someone to travel along without having to get into the water. Once outside, the stream had been diverted away and there was a little private alcove, protected from the watchers’ eyes by an upper outcropping of rock. The females used this area to dry more quickly in the summer heat without fear of being seen.
The People were not particularly fond of swimming. They were too muscular and had little buoyancy. But they did enjoy a soothing, cooling soak, and it was for this purpose the bathing areas had been built—one for the females and one for the males.
Adia set down the items she had brought with her. They were mostly meant as a distraction though, and because when she came back in, she wanted something larger in which to conceal the little bag with the oval picture frames. She planned to return through the same channel. Since there was ample walking area on each side, coming back against the direction of the water would not be a problem. She would not even have to get wet if she was careful.
Though she was exhausted, distraught, and now becoming physically sick, her mind had been working clearly enough to design and execute this plan.
I must hurry. I cannot be gone too long. I do not know when Awan might decide I am taking too long and find someone to send in and check on me.
The Healer picked her way down the side of the circulation channel and came out exactly where she had thought she would. She breathed a sigh of relief and started making her way to the Healers Cove.
Her plan was working perfectly.
Until Akule, returning from delivering the message of the Waschini riding party to the Brothers’ High Chief, saw her outside Kthama.
While Adia was congratulating herself on eluding her guard, Hakani was waiting for Khon’Tor to return to their shared quarters. She was counting on his exhaustion to drive him back there, despite their estranged relationship. He would need sleep, and the little bit of comfort provided by his own bed would hopefully prove irresistible.
Just before twilight, Khon’Tor did return to their room. He had spent the remainder of the day with Acaraho, and all the People had been accounted for. Only the guards were still outside, and Akule had not yet returned with word that High Chief Ogima Adoeete now knew of the Waschini riding party. Acaraho had arranged for scheduled updates, and now Khon’Tor was indeed exhausted.
He wanted only one thing—to sleep and not think another thought. Grateful that Acaraho was in charge of organizing everything, Khon’Tor was beyond doing much of anything right now, but certainly did not want anyone to know.
Though he had enjoyed irritating Hakani the night before, he was too tired to take up the sport again tonight. He hoped she would not be there when he returned, and he was disappointed to find she was. He decided he would try not to rile her, in hopes that he could get his much-needed rest.
Hakani could hardly contain her excitement that Khon’Tor had returned to their quarters. Her heart was starting to beat quickly. She knew she had to be very careful with her next moves so as not to trigger any suspicions that she was up to something.
She waited until he had finished his preparation for sleep; she did not want any distractions once she had put her plan in motion.
Sitting up on her sleeping mat, Hakani startled Khon’Tor by speaking. “Your speech tonight was impressive,” she said, though the word she used was a combination of the meaning of impressive, reassuring, and commanding as if befitting a strong Leader.
He did not acknowledge her remark. Last night she hated me, tonight she is praising me?
“I found myself wishing I was standing by your side again,” she added.
Khon’Tor snorted. I am too tired to try to keep up with this female’s changing moods. The last time she was nice to me, she created that debacle with the Waschini offspring. And our relationship has been in a downward spiral ever since, he thought to himself.
“I am exhausted, Hakani. I am turning in.”
He then lay down in his sleeping area, hoping Hakani would either leave their quarters entirely or at least lie back down in her area and leave him alone. It was unusual for him to retire this early, but he was drained and knew trying days were still ahead.
He stretched out, enjoying the welcoming pleasure of the soft bed. Other than mealtimes, it was his only physical comfort. He breathed in deeply, inhaling its pleasant, natural fragrance. He knew he would be asleep in moments.
Khon’Tor awoke to the warmth of a body pressed up against the full length of his back. It took him a moment to surface. Then he realized some female was in bed with him—Hakani. She had come to his sleeping a
rea and was nestled up against him, her arm across his in a position of embrace. He shook his head to clear the cobwebs. Am I dreaming this? What is going on?
Khon’Tor realized Hakani had intentionally woken him. She had slipped her arm across his shoulder and curled her fingers through the hair on his chest. She pressed herself up harder against him, an old signal between them that she wanted him.
There is no mistaking what she is doing. She has finally come to my bed. She has finally surrendered and is offering herself to me! He was almost too exhausted to respond, but the years of her denying him won out.
Khon’Tor rolled over to face Hakani and meet her embrace. No matter how much he still hated her, he needed this more. All the suppressed tension welled up in him, and he was immediately ready and fully enabled to complete the bond. If he had not been so exhausted, he would have had his guard up—but he was too far past reasonable thought. He was responding to a primal need—one that had gone unsatisfied for far too long.
As he rolled over to face her, she moved into a position that made herself fully available to him. Khon’Tor shifted his large frame over hers, completely covering Hakani’s body with his. He pressed himself against her. He was one motion away from mating her. His pulse was racing; he was breathing deeply and quickly in anticipation. In one movement it would be done, and then after all the frustration, built up over years of her denial, he would find some release. Finally.
As Khon‘Tor moved over her, Hakani raised her head against his neck, as if to meet his embrace. Her warm breath in his ear increased the pressure about to explode from inside him.
Khon'Tor's Wrath Page 14