LW Browning - Krystile Warriors 01 - Warlord's Honor (16 page)

I
t was one of those mornings when everything looked clear and the world felt right.

Claire had just finished her morning meditation when she felt Koda's presence and looked up to see him coming toward her through the garden. Her breath caught. She never tired of seeing his form and grace. Sunlight gleamed off his hair, roped muscles worked under his golden skin as he moved. Thinking of the muscles in his thighs brought heat to her face.

"Good morning, pita."

"Good morning, Warlord Leader."

Koda offered her his arm and they left the castle and crossed the road to the Gathering. The field had been transformed into a city of tents. Colorful flags flew from high poles to designate each tribe's symbol. In the center of the field, vendor booths were set up for trade. 

Pavilions were scattered through the field, as were benches and tables. Smoke from dozens of cook fires rose in the early sunlight. They went to the area where tents were set up for them.

Koda showed her their tent. "I hope you enjoy the gathering, pita. I have duties. I will be back later." 

"We are camping out across the road from the castle?" Claire asked. 

Koda smiled. "We host the event. We camp with all the other tribes. I have asked Mardalane to show you around." He winked at her before turning to leave with some of his warlords.

Claire looked around. Her stomach still had butterflies from Koda winking at her. She sighed. People gathered in small groups and large to visit.

Mardalane called to Claire. "It is so good to see you again. This is going to be a wonderful Gathering. Would you like to walk around with me?"

She smiled her relief. "Yes, that sounds like fun. Thank you."

Claire was glad she knew someone. She and Mardalane looked at the goods on display and paused to watch some of the events. Their stroll was filled with sights and sounds and pleasant odors from the cooking food. 

There was music and dancing. They made their way slowly around the entire gathering and started toward their group of tents as the sun set. They ate last meal together, she saw no sign of Koda. She and Mardalane enjoyed the music and dancing.

Emotions from the crowd swirled around her. She looked up to see Koda coming toward her. People moved from his path. She fought the urge to run. He was intense, a predator in search of his prey. Firelight danced off his golden hair and made the muscles of his chest and arms glow. When he reached her, he bent forward, pulled her to him and stood holding her legs. With her over his shoulder, he made his way to his tent. 

She felt the powerful muscles in his lower back as he carried her. Did he have to be such a barbarian? Inside the tent, he set her down on her feet. He was close. The tent was suddenly very small.

She took a step back from him, dropped her gaze and tried to stop trembling.

Koda sat down crossed-legged and looked up at her. He offered her a leather pouch tied with silver ribbon. 

Claire hesitated, but took the package and opened it to find the pouch held colored pencils and a pad of drawing paper. She stared at it for long moments.

"Are these – for me?"

"Yes, for your drawing."

"Th-thank you. That is, so kind of you." Unshed tears glittered in her eyes. "I have never had anything so wonderful." She longed to kiss his cheek, but was too shy.

He looked at her for long moments. "We wake early, pita. I thought you might need your rest." Koda indicated the pallet.

Not what she expected to hear him say. Not even close. He had made a spectacle and Claire was certain every last person in the camp thought he was ravaging her at this very moment. All of that, stalking and tossing her over his shoulder and carrying her back to his tent like he was some sort of ... and he gave her a gift and wanted her to sleep.

Claire wanted to touch him. If only she had the courage to touch his hair or... Instead, she knelt down to pull the cover from her sleeping bag. She started to lie down.

"No," he said.

She froze. 

"Take your clothes off, pita, and the gloves." 

Claire turned her back to him and slipped her clothes off before she lay down with her back to him. She was aware of him when he moved behind her and lay down. He lowered the lamp until everything within the tent lay in soft shadow.

"Have you enjoyed the Gathering, pita?" His voice sounded husky. He caressed her bare shoulder with his warm hand down her arm. When he reached her wrist, he moved his big thumb in slow circles over her pulse.

"It has been very pleasant," Claire managed.

"Why do you lie to me, pita?" His voice was soft in the near darkness.

"Why do you think I am lying?"

"I can smell the lie. I want to know why you are lying to me about something as simple as enjoying the gathering."

"It has not been awful. I was trying to be polite."

"Do you think lying to me is polite?"

Claire sat up, pulled the covers closer to her throat. Her bare back was to him. "I have no control over my life. I never have. I know you expect obedience from me. You did not invite me to this gathering. You told me of it. I am here. I appreciate everything you have done for me. I feel lost." She sighed. "It was the only life I knew. I see the pity in your eyes, all of you, when you look at me. And I feel the guilt that everyone has for me. I do not know if it is guilt for what you have done or what you will do to me in the future. I have not yet learned the rules here. Before, I knew what I had to do to sur..." 

"Survive," Koda finished for her.

Her voice broke, "Calks was... Until he sold me to you, he was consistent. What if you decide to sell me away to someone else? I don't know the rules anymore. Now I'm just..." She took a deep breath. "I do not want to seem ungrateful. There are so many people here." She hesitated. When had she stopped making sense?

"Sleep pita. You no longer have to concern yourself with survival. I am responsible for you now." Koda's deep voice was calm behind her. 

Claire's world had broken into a million tiny shards that lay about her like broken glass that cut her every time she moved. She jerked when he moved closer to her.

"Pita, I will not take you against your will. Relax, sleep. I know this has been difficult for you."

He massaged her shoulders until she fell asleep. She had to trust him, but would he still want the MX when he found out about their abilities?

The next morning she and Osiria watched a contest where the warriors shot crossbows at targets. They moved on to a wrestling contest that Osiria stopped to watch. Claire was shocked when she recognized Var as one of the participants. Both males were bare except for a small piece of cloth that covered their groins. When Var turned his back to them, Claire gasped at the horrible scars on his back. Var had been brutally whipped, the scars were old.

"By the fates," Claire whispered. She swallowed her horror and walked away.

When it was time for the midday meal, Osiria and Claire came back to their camping area.

Claire ate and then got her pencils and sketchpad and went to be alone. She had always been told what to do and when. The freedom she enjoyed here was a heady feeling. At the edge of the woods that surrounded the field, she found several small animals. She followed them. If only they would be still long enough for her to sketch them...

"Did no one tell you not to go into the woods alone, girl?"

She gasped and dropped her pad and pens. Her heart beat hard. She could not hear what else he said. Warriors surrounded her. Something broke in her mind. Alone and cornered, she hugged herself as she sank to the ground. She would not make it before the blackness took her. Sinking. Helpless. Powerless. Blackness. A scene from Ramil's mind flashed. She did not want to see it. With her last conscious thought, she wished for Koda.

She awoke to hear males talking, Koda's rich voice among them. She opened her eyes. He was there, on one knee, looking down at her in his arms.

"Welcome back." His deep voice was as smooth as velvet. He was beautiful with his ice blue eyes and blond hair down around his strong shoulders, and he was deadly, she reminded herself.

"Drink," he ordered as he held a canteen to her lips. She drank. When she tried to get up, he helped her. She brushed her clothes off so she would not have to look up at Koda or the warriors. He was angry with her. Again.

"Lodi will take you back to camp," Koda said.

She was eager to get away and followed Lodi meekly, with her head down.

"Are you injured?" Lodi asked as they walked away.

"No, just – again, I look like a fool to Koda."

Lodi sighed. "We try to keep you safe, sister. You do not make it easy for us." 

He was right. When Lodi said things they made perfect sense, but Koda was... angry. Back at the camp, she stumbled into the tent and fell to her knees. She hated her weakness. She was ashamed of the flashbacks that left her trembling and out of her mind with fear in front of others. In front of Koda.

***

T
here were sounds in the camp. Claire's head was heavy and thick. She had slept hard, if only for a short time. Her pencils and drawing pad were inside the tent. She brushed her hair and washed her face. 

Koda came in the tent. "Come, you need to eat."

The sun was setting. She must have slept through the midday meal and her stomach rumbled.

The warriors she had seen in the woods were there along with warriors from other tribes. Large fires burned and females chatted in groups. Males sat together with females moving through them bringing mugs of ale. 

Smoke from the fires drifted up into the tops of the tallest trees. Half naked females danced to music and drums. 

Koda led her to a group, sat down and pulled her into his lap. Her side was pressed close to him. Strong corded muscles rippled underneath his smooth skin as he talked to the other males.

Females carried small trays of food through the crowd. One paused in front of Koda. He selected a tray of fish and fowl. He lifted a bite size piece of fish to her mouth. Claire sat still, her back straight. He spoke with his mouth close to her ear, his breath tickled, "Eat, pita."

Claire's angry eyes flashed at him. He held a piece of fish against her lips until she opened her mouth. She turned her face to Koda and whispered so that only he could hear, Koda leaned down to put his ear closer to her lips, "I prefer to feed myself." He smelled like woods and evergreen trees and spices.

Koda's eyes danced with humor. "I would feed you from my hand. This way, I ensure that you eat. You are too thin."

His fingertips brushed her full lips. He pushed a piece of fish into her mouth with his finger. He fed her until she shook her head. "I can hold no more."

"You do not eat enough to keep yourself alive," Koda replied. His voice was rough, but he fed her no more. He placed a kiss on the top of her head before he handed her a tray of meat. "You may feed me now pita."

Claire was not able to stop her sharp intake of breath. 

"Take off the gloves. Use your hands." He was not smiling. The Tribal Leaders and most of the Warlords sat with Koda in a group. Though most had the decency not to stare, Claire knew they watched with interest and she wondered what this barbaric custom symbolized to them.

She lifted a piece of meat to Koda's mouth. Although she pretended to study the bowl, her attention was on Koda as he took the food from her hand and sometimes licked her fingers.

Tattooed females continued to move through the crowd with mugs and food. Several of Koda's warlords were sitting around the circle eating and drinking and more than one of them had a female on his lap. 

The tribal leader she had seen in the woods earlier wore a vest which looked as though it had been made of several different pieces of animal skins sewn together like a quilt. Typical of these people, Quilt man's hair was blond and his eyes were blue. "She is very beautiful, Koda. I have heard she has green eyes."

"She does," Koda said.

"She is a prize, Warlord Leader."

"She is my prize," Koda said. 

"I would offer your warlords some of the beauties we brought with us." Quilt Male smiled.

"Where did you find them?" asked Koda.

"Spoils of war, Warlord Leader, we brought them back from our last job. They are very grateful that we rescued them and very enthusiastic." Quilt Male sat back and puffed out his chest while he nodded his head in agreement with himself. Claire felt his smug satisfaction and despised him for it.

"Some of my warlords have already become better acquainted with them," Koda said.

"Did you stop feeding me, pita?" Koda's voice was low and close. She felt his lip brush her hairline. She chose another piece of meat and held it to his lips while she tried to give him her sweetest smile. Her eyes told another story. Koda stifled a laugh when he saw the ferocious look she gave him. The barbarian was having fun with this.

Was this Koda's idea of courtship? She had read of such things. The firelight accented his strong jaw and ice blue eyes. She was overwhelmed with the intimacy of his presence. Strands of his hair touched the bare skin of her neck and shoulders. His warmth and his scent surrounded her and his powerful muscles were a constant reminder of his strength. 

Her emotions left her confused. She felt anger, then lust, then guilt that her sister MX were in danger and she was sitting on the lap of this big barbarian feeding him with her fingers.

"I am still hungry, pita." Koda kept up his conversation with Quilt Male while Claire fed him bits of food from her fingers. They talked about things that held little or no interest for Claire, but she listened carefully. Information was paramount to survival. If she could learn anything to help the others, she had to be vigilant.

Claire realized it was full dark now. She sat in Koda's lap. His closeness kept her warm as the night became cooler. She watched the people around her, even as she was aware of every movement Koda made, every inch of her body that touched his. He put his huge warm hand on her back and made circular motions. Although some of the females showed no shame while they flirted with Koda, he paid them no attention.

Quilt Male said, "Does your female dance?"

Koda shook his head. "The people who raised her were barbarians and taught her nothing of dance or music. She knows little of our world, but she is learning. Her main problem is that she tends to wander off into dangerous situations."

Koda responded as if Claire were not hearing every word he spoke. She was more than a little tired of being talked about as if she were not present. Her bottom lip trembled and she could not stop the little noise in her throat.

"Then you must see to it that she learns, Warlord Leader." Quilt Male nodded. He agreed with himself. Claire read him in a flash. He thought himself very wise. She did not like the smug look on his face, nor did she like Quilt Male at all.

Another tribal leader with a jagged scar over his left eye spoke to Koda. "I was contacted last week by a gripper who was looking for information on MX. The black market price for them is higher every day. I have heard that the STS now offer a bounty so that they may compete with the black market." 

"Indeed." Koda smiled.

"They know this one is here," the scarred one said. 

"Did they ask about her specifically?" Koda sounded conversational, as if he did not care one way or the other.

"They did, Warlord Leader. Her former keeper says that you stole the girl away from him and that you have refused to give her back."

"Then they should know they waste their time asking about her." Koda's expression did not change. There was steel in his words and Claire felt the reaction of those who heard him. They had no doubts in their leader.

Koda did not appear to be the least bit concerned by whatever bounty he could get from selling her, either to the STS or on the black market. Claire wondered if he was that determined to protect all the other MX or if he was deceiving her in order to gain her help.

She opened her mind to receive. Koda moved his hand up under the coolness of her heavy hair. She felt his warm touch on her nape. His thumb brushed over the mate bite.

The tribal leader who had spoken was cautious. He was trying to give the impression that he was at ease, but he was not. Deceit. Claire concentrated though her expression remained impassive. The leader had a lot of curiosity about her. He wanted to touch her. She was revolted by the thought of being touched by the scarred tribal leader. He looked at the pendant on the lavaliere which showed that Koda was her protector. When Claire shivered and snuggled closer to Koda, his arm tightened around her.

She reached out further and gathered thoughts and information from many of the males who sat in their group. They were all happy, drinking ale and watching the dancers. Some looked forward to sexual encounters with nubile females later this night.

She found Koda's thoughts. His emotions assaulted her. Though he appeared calm, he was not. His arm tightened around her. He received everything she read and he did it on purpose. How? Suddenly, Claire could no longer feel Koda's emotions or thoughts. It was as if he closed a door.

How did he do that? She did not get very much from him before he shut her out, but his emotions were strong ones. She needed to understand. Koda definitely read the things she received while he touched her.

"It is a wise decision you have made to collect as many MX as you can," said Claire who was jerked back into the conversation as the one with the scar over his eye continued to probe Koda for information.

"Foolish foreigners seek to hunt a species to extinction because they fear they cannot control them," Koda replied.

One of the other leaders nodded. "Fear is the primary emotion of the foreigners."

"One wonders if we can control them," another said.

Claire heard Revi's laugh close by and behind her.

"We have the benefit of prophecy," Quilt Male said.

"We have all seen the signs," the first male agreed.

"The foreigners are their own worst enemy. In their lust for power, they have harmed themselves more than those on whom they made war," the scarred one said.

"Let us not forget the greed of the Conglomerate has been good business for us," Quilt Male added, then raised his mug. Several others also raised drinks to their good fortune at the expense of the foreigners.

Another added, "Do not forget their fear, my friend. Fear and greed make good business for us." They raised their mugs again.

"They need energy now. Their avarice caused them to squander their own energy. Now they sell us their souls for the power of the Krystiles so that they might survive another day." The tribal leader shrugged and smiled.

Claire looked at Koda. "But that is..."

"Hence the term 'mercenary' my little dove," Koda smiled.

Did Koda see her as just another profit center? Was his plan to rent her out as the Facility had?

One of the dancing girls came close to Koda and displayed her attributes in his face. He tilted his head down and whispered in Claire's ear, "No, pita, I do not want her."

Claire shivered. Did he read her emotions now or did he use his keen senses to know what she thought?

"Your people did not treat you well, pita. I will treat you much better," Koda whispered. He moved his head down and brushed her cheeks with his lips.

Claire looked up to see the first meteor streak across the night sky. It was followed by a spectacular meteor shower. Everyone stopped what they were doing to watch, with mugs raised to the sky. Many of them shouted in a language she did not know before they drank.

Koda stood and helped Claire to her feet. The other tribal leaders stood to bid them good night. These people were brazen with their stares.

"Good night, Warlord Leader, I wish you the best of luck with your endeavor," Quilt Man said.

The scarred one agreed.

"Rest well," Koda answered them. He took Claire's elbow and led her away. People were strewn all around the campsite. When she stumbled, he tossed her over his shoulder and continued on his way to their tent. Claire protested only a little.

Koda ducked into the tent with her and set her on her feet. Off balance, she plopped down on her rear end.

She had no idea how long they had visited with the others. She was thirsty from the spicy fish. Claire had drunk nothing since her foray into the woods much earlier in the day. She retrieved the canteen from the tent floor and drank deep. Claire projected her relief at quenching her thirst. It was a small projection and one she should have controlled. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Koda's body stiffen.

She wanted more, instead she pulled the canteen away from her mouth. The emotion that poured off of him now was almost violent.

"Pita, why did you not ask for water?" Koda's eyes sparkled like diamonds in the lamplight of the tent. She had no answer, did not understand why he was upset with her.

"I would hear an answer to my question, pita."

Claire looked down. Why had she not told him she needed water? He was a thoughtful male. Had he waited for her to ask? "You were busy. I did not want to intrude on your conversation."

"You did not want to intrude so you sat thirsty all evening while others drank in front of you?" Koda's voice was brittle. 

Claire stood up then and looked him in the eye as her hands moved to her hips. "I am unfamiliar with both your fluctuating moods and your barbaric social customs. From what I can see, females speak only when spoken to. I did not want to incur your wrath with inappropriate behavior. You are already displeased with me. Everything I do is wrong and you humiliate me every chance you get by pointing out my shortcomings. Do you honestly think I would risk irritating you further by asking for water?"

She shook with anger. Koda fisted a hand in her hair and pulled her to his chest. He held her there and wrapped strong arms around her. She pushed against him. It was like pushing at a mountain.

"Pita, it is my responsibility to care for you, to provide for you. I am as unfamiliar with you as you are with me. How can I provide for you when you are afraid even to ask me for a drink of water?" Koda continued. "It was my error, I should have offered it. I am sorry I caused you distress. In the future, if you need something, I would have you ask me."

His voice was low, soft and sincere. He rubbed her back with his hands. "Do you not understand that it hurts me to know you were sitting in discomfort all that time, afraid to tell me what you needed? I am your protector. I will take care of you. Talk to me pita. Trust me."