Bastial Frenzy (The Rhythm of Rivalry: Book 4) (25 page)

They passed more enemies, some slowing for a confused glance but most too focused to notice.

“What are we doing?” Zeti asked.

Zoke didn’t know how to answer. She kept pace with him as they reached the house. The door was locked.

“What’s happening?” she insisted.

“We need to talk away from the battle.”

He tried a few more doors nearby, but they were locked too. Finally, he got fed up and kicked the next locked door with his heel until it burst open.

A frightened woman cowered in the corner at the sight of Zoke and Zeti.

“You won’t be hurt,” he told her in common tongue. “I just need to use your house for a moment.”

“You…” Her eyes found the blue tunic in his hand. “You’re with Kyrro!”

“Don’t scream, and you won’t be hurt,” he said. “Just let us talk.”

Zeti turned him toward her. “What are you saying?” she asked.

The twist of his body caused pain to shoot up his spine, and he winced.

“You’re hurt,” Zeti said.

“It’s fine.”

They stared silently. The woman started to sneak out of the room. Zoke pointed at her and shouted, “Stay here where I can see you. I don’t want you alerting anyone from Tenred that I’m here.”

She stopped and huddled back into the corner.

“You’ve changed,” Zeti said. Her tone hurt him deeply.

“I haven’t. But I see that you have physically. Your
pra durren
turned out nicely. Your skin is a pleasant shade, and you’re taller and stronger.”

She smiled. It made him feel like his heart had been cracked since he’d left, and it had just now been mended.

“Life has been difficult to endure without you,” Zeti said. “So many have died, Grayol—your Humans killed him.” Her eyes squinted as she held back tears. “I don’t understand how you can fight with them.” She sounded furious. “Have you been living with them as well? Are you friends with the weak Humans?”

He didn’t want to answer her questions. “How did Grayol die?”

“There was an explosion here not long ago. He and I were atop the Tenred castle. He fell.”

“That pains me to hear.” Zoke allowed a moment of silence before he spoke his next thought. “Neither of us belongs in this war.”

“I disagree. Your Humans are stopping us from getting to the Slugari. They are the ones interfering.”

“Your Humans lied about Kyrro even knowing of the Slugari,” Zoke retorted. “They just wanted the Krepps to join their army, and it worked.”

“Are you saying your Humans don’t care about the Slugari? If so, they should make it clear and all of this can end. Then you and I can share a hut again.”

She seemed so hopeful, it hurt him to reveal the truth. “Now Kyrro does protect the Slugari. They’ve made an alliance. We can’t share a hut until this war is over and Doe and Haemon are killed. I’ll never be welcomed back into their army.” A thought struck him. “But you—you can join me.”

“I won’t live with Humans.”

“Then let’s just leave.”

She already was shaking her head before he could say more. “You should go. Then I won’t have to worry about you dying when we kill your Humans.”

His knees buckled, her words nearly crippling him. “I don’t wish to leave Vithos…and these Humans are stronger than they seem. I care for them. But I care for you most. If the only way for you to be safe is for us to leave and go somewhere else, then that’s what we should do. I don’t want you fighting in this battle, or any battle after.”

“No. I won’t flee. Your Humans must pay for what they did to Grayol. And I need Slugari meat. I know you can’t understand, because you’re unable to smell.” He was thankful at least that she didn't call him a
gurradu
. “But it’s a craving my body longs for as badly as air and water. Doe is the strongest creature I know. He’s a great leader and will bring the Krepps much happiness. I wouldn’t abandon—”

“How can you say this?” Zoke interrupted, thinking of Terren and Marie, the Human leaders he’d encountered. They were infinitely better than Doe. “Doe and Haemon don’t care about you or the Krepps.”

“Brother, listen.” She stepped toward him. She was far closer to Zoke’s height than he was used to. “You’ve always protected me, and I know you must still feel it’s your responsibility to keep me safe. But I’m an adult now. Don’t coddle me.”

“Keeping you from being killed is far from coddling.” Zoke swallowed the urge to spit.

She shook her head with a sad smile, showing her sharp teeth. “My life isn’t yours to keep safe. And there are others that I won’t abandon.”

“Father?” Zoke asked incredulously.

“Of course not.” Zeti spat.

The woman watching from the corner grumbled.

“I told him never to speak to me again,” Zeti continued.

“Are you speaking about a
seshar
then?”

“I haven’t chosen one yet. But I’ve been considering Keenu. He’s the one I can’t abandon. We’ve been spending much time together since Doe has given me more responsibilities.”

As Zoke remembered Keenu, it brought him back to the tribe. He visited Keenu each week to receive a report on which Kreppen scouts to collect for punishment. He could see himself with the tribe, wearing his official cloak that brought on stares of malice.

It felt as if his body was sinking into the memory, his head as heavy as stone, his eyes shutting.

“Zoke,” Zeti called. “What’s wrong?”

“Some potion for the pain.” He felt as if he could sleep standing up.

“I don’t know what to do now,” she nearly whispered.

“Come with me. Fight with me.” Zoke reached out his hand.

“I already told you, I can’t do that. I’m staying with Doe and the Krepps. But you should leave.” Her eyes went wide. “You should join Suba and the other Krepps who abandoned the army. They went north to Merejic. Join them, and when all of your Humans have been killed and the Slugari have been captured, I’ll visit you!” She was excited by the idea.

“I can’t leave Vithos or the others to fight on their own, not unless it’s the only way to ensure your safety.”

Zeti was shaking her head again, her eyes down at her feet. “I wish you were never chosen to go with Vithos.”

She seemed to be waiting for him to agree, but he couldn’t—not after everything that had happened. He was in the right place. It was Zeti who wasn’t.

He’d come to realize that he couldn’t convince her to stop fighting. But maybe he could force her to stay in this woman’s house.

Noticing the room for the first time, Zoke found a shelf stocked with potions. “Are any of those sleep potions?” he asked her in common tongue.

“Why?” the woman asked.

“What’s happening?” Zeti asked suspiciously.

“Just answer me,” Zoke told the woman.

“Yes.” She retrieved one for him.

He took a small sip to make sure it was nothing toxic. It tasted safe enough, like sweet and salty water.

Holding it to Zeti, he said, “Drink this.”

But she’d backed away the moment he extended his arm. “Why?”

“Tenred is losing this battle. I know you won’t flee. So this potion will save your life.”

“How?”

“Trust me, Zeti.” He held the vial out to her again.

“No. I want to fight. Keenu is still out there.” She clawed at his extended hand. “Get it away!”

Zoke hated what he knew he had to do. Using surprise to his advantage, he jumped on top of Zeti and pried her mouth open.

“Get off me!” She nearly bit his finger, then clawed at his face.

He managed to get his knee on one of her arms, but her other flailed wildly and caught him on the cheek. His blood dripped onto her leather shirt.

His other knee found her free arm. Then he aimed the potion above her mouth and used his other hand to try prying her teeth apart. But she clenched tightly. He couldn’t get her mouth open.

Some of the red liquid fell into her nose as he continued to pour. He heard wheezing, then a choking sound. Her mouth opened to cough. He poured heavily in that moment.

She tried to spew it out, but her wild coughing made her lose control of her throat. She ended up swallowing some. Eventually, he emptied the bottle into her mouth and nose.

“How much does she need to drink to fall asleep?” he asked the Human.

“A few gulps. Far less than she’s had.”

Zeti was cursing at him, yelling for him to get off her.

“How long does it take to work?” Zoke asked.

“Not long.”

Zoke adjusted his knees so he wouldn’t hurt his sister. But he needed to keep her arms pinned. He’d seen this expression from her before. She would claw his eyes out if she could. Her legs thrashed.

“What did you give me?” she screamed.

“It will put you to sleep so you don’t fight.”

Again she began to curse him.

“Listen,” he interrupted. “Before you trust Doe, you should find out what really happened with mother to us. Doe killed her, and father said it was because she entered the eppil garden. But that doesn’t make sense. Why would she do that? Doe must’ve killed her for some other reason. He doesn’t care about our lives. Instead of working with him, you should want
vantikar
as I do.”

Zeti’s eyes began to close as Zoke finished. He felt her limbs become limp.

He got up and pointed his sword at the woman. She jumped back with a yelp.

“You’d better make sure she’s still alive when this battle is over, or I’ll find you.”

Just like I’m going to find Sawdar and Brady.

A spell of drowsiness hit him as he opened the door. He felt himself falling. Gripping the handle of the door as hard as he could wasn’t enough. He was blanketed in comfort as he succumbed.

Then he hit the dirt. His back and neck ached. Groaning, he pushed himself up to find a sword lifting his chin.

“What did you do with Zeti?”

The voice sounded familiar, but Zoke couldn’t lift his eyes past the Krepp’s knees to see who it was.

“She’s in the house behind me.”

Zoke heard the Krepp run by him. “Zeti? Zeti? What did you do to her?”

He found some strength to stand and turned around. Keenu was kneeling over his sister, listening for her breath.

The frightened Human had clenched her hands and crossed them over her chest. When Keenu drew his sword and started toward Zoke, she screamed and ran into another room.

“Zeti’s fine,” Zoke answered, though he drew his own weapon. “I gave her a sleeping potion.”

“You mean you forced it down her throat. I can see she didn’t want you near her, traitor.” Keenu pointed his sword at the wound on Zoke’s cheek.

“I don’t wish to hurt you, Keenu. Zeti told me she cares for you. She might ask you to be her
seshar
.”

Keenu’s hard expression didn’t change. “It would be an honor if she did, almost as much of an honor to be the Krepp that finally killed the traitor
gurradu
.”

Zoke knew he was outmatched, especially with fatigue making his body feel heavy. But even if he was in his best condition, he would avoid this fight.

Lowering his weapon, he said, “Kill me if you must, but I won’t fight back.”

“Why’d you do this to Zeti? What was said between you two?” Keenu kept his weapon ready.

“We were trying to find a way to be together, but she’s not willing to switch sides.”

“Of course she isn’t. She’s no traitor. But then why the sleeping potion?”

“Haven’t you seen?” Zoke pointed where he knew the battle still raged. “You’re losing. She’s too proud, sister to me. When the Humans of Tenred begin to flee, she won’t join them. I’m keeping her alive, and I ask that you stay here with her until the battle is over. If you go back out there, you’ll die. How many Krepps are left, ten of the thousand that came?”

“If that.” Keenu spat. “Because we’re not cowards.”

“And I’m proud for you and those who’ve died valiantly. I wouldn’t wish to flee either. But I can’t let Zeti be killed if I can help it.” Zoke took a step toward him. “And if you’re going to be family, then I must protect you as well.”

Keenu laughed. “Small
gurradu
, don’t insult me with such comments. I would never need your protection.”

“So you’ll stay with Zeti?”

“Only because she’s more important than any of the weak Humans out there, and I don’t trust what you or your allies will do with her. Not because I’m frightened of dying.”

I don’t care the reason, as long as he stays.
Zoke started out the door but stopped to turn and say, “Endure.” The word felt strange now, leaving a bad taste in his mouth.

“Endure.”

Zoke put on his tunic as he jogged back toward the fallen wall. There were many ways he didn’t wish to die, but one of the worst would be at his allies’ hand, mistaken for an enemy.