The Dog Master (10 page)

“You are challenging me, then, Duro, my friend?” Silex responded.

“Yes.”

Silex, like Duro, was standing with his spear held loosely in his hand. Now Silex turned as if to fully face his adversary, and in doing so smoothly raised his spear tip up until it was just touching Duro's stomach. The taller man paled, turning rigid.

“I am sure you have seen that when the dominant wolf is challenged by other males, punishment is often swift and bloody.”

Duro took in a shaky breath, staring at the spear.

“My father always said that among the wolves it is not always the strongest, but rather the most clever, who is the one who mates,” Silex continued. “But you would rather fight me now, spear-to-flesh, and decide who is best to lead the Wolfen on that basis?”

Duro looked unhappy with the spear-to-flesh part. “I did not think…,” he began in a hoarse whisper, stopping when the point of Silex's spear pressed forward.

“I do agree that you did not
think,
Duro. Do we want the Wolfen led by a man who does not always think?”

Duro licked his lips. Silex lowered his spear, shrugging. “If you wish to challenge me, let us simply ask what the tribe wants. I will not stand in your way.”

“But what of Ovi?” Duro asked when he found his voice. “It is not enough for me to lead. I still want to marry your sister, regardless of what your father said.”

“I must honor my father's wishes.”

“But I want her!” Duro protested.

Silex glanced at him. “Yes, well, that is a problem,” he agreed.

 

TEN

Baffled by Ador's odd behavior, Calli sought out her own mother, Coco, and found her kneeling in the tall, thin reeds that grew in the marshy area upstream where the banks became less disciplined and allowed the water to seep through the soil. Her mother favored the hairstyle of the older women, a simple strap of leather holding her hair back from her face, and not the more elaborate braid preferred by the women of Calli's generation. Her knot, though, had loosened, so that Coco needed to keep pushing the hair out of her eyes. Combined with her bent back, the gesture gave her a weary, old look.

Calli was, she knew, about to embark on the next phase of life—marriage to Urs would change everything. Yet, at that moment, what Calli craved was to be a little girl again, running at her mother's feet while Coco dug for the tender roots she would use in her cooking.

When Coco looked up, Calli joined her—but her mother knew nothing of any significant developments. Worse, she ordered Calli to help gather roots, so that mother and daughter toiled the day away while apparently huge events were taking place back at camp. Calli had never felt so frustrated!

It was not long until dark by the time Calli and her mother, their arms laden with moist roots freshly cleaned in the stream, walked out of the gloom and into the flickering light of the campfires. Bellu had been pacing anxiously, waiting, and dashed forward when the two cooks finally approached.

Coco, of course, insisted that Calli carry the roots to the fire and help arrange them so they would cook in the smoky heat. Only after this final chore did she release Calli. Bellu grabbed her friend's arm. “Come with me.”

They went to the women's side, finding privacy in the pooling shadows beyond the light of the fires. “What is it? Has something happened to Albi?” Calli hissed.

Bellu was nearly hopping up and down. “Albi? No, no, but she is very angry.”

“Angry?”

“Oh, I hardly know where to start. Where have you been all day?”

From her perspective, Calli could see into the Kindred's camp, and it was a very unusual evening. The men of the hunt had retreated to the men's side and were keeping congress, talking in a circle. Calli could see a few faces, but mostly she saw their backs, while shadows began to form in the firelight as the sun gave up its dominion. Likewise, the women who might normally gather and help Coco were missing, as if they, like Calli and Bellu, had withdrawn into small groups. To discuss what?

“I had to help my mother,” Calli replied, unable to keep the bitterness from her voice.

“Well everything has happened.”

“Tell me, Bellu!”

Bellu clapped her hands together. “Hardy called the hunt together.”

This was going to be a long story, Calli could tell. Bellu loved being the center of attention. Calli bit back her impatience and waited.

“He said he cannot see well enough to be hunt master. Which everyone
knew,
” Bellu announced. “So guess who is the new hunt master?”

Calli frowned. Why was Bellu so excited? Was it one of her brothers? Mentally Calli ticked through them. All were known as good, capable men, but none were said to have the leadership skills required to be hunt master—not even the eldest, Mors, who was stalk master. Her brother Lux, for example, whose legend described a man who was a fierce hunter in daylight, was known to be afraid of the dark. Five brothers in all, they were something of a voting block, but Calli doubted they would be able to elevate one of their own kin, or even that they would want to.

“Do you not know?” Bellu pressed.

Well of course she did not
know.
Calli regarded Bellu, who was hugging herself. It was difficult not to resent the way Bellu was doling out information. “Who?” Calli asked a bit flatly.

“It is Urs.”

Calli inhaled sharply.

“My brothers came together and said he is the best hunter, and my father said so, and Hardy said so.”

Calli's pulse was pounding.
What did it mean?
The hunt master was a man to be reckoned with, even a new one, even someone as young as Urs. If he declared his desire for Calli as his wife, would Albi attempt to block the move? The women's council held sway over marriages, of course, but there was no real
reason
to stop Urs and Calli, not really, not now. Now that Urs was hunt master, it would be a political risk for Albi with no possible gain.

“This,” Calli breathed, “this is wonderful.”

“Yes!” Bellu spun in a circle. Calli's heart warmed, watching her celebrate. She never thought of Bellu as being particularly perceptive, but perhaps Calli and Urs were more obvious than they had intended. Bellu must be making the same connection: Albi would have a tough time stopping Calli and Urs now.

They would be married.

“And now for the best!” Bellu sang.

“What?” Calli blinked, pulling herself out of her thoughts.

“The best news of all, Calli, the most wonderful, most beautiful, most happy news of the … of the sky, of the water, of all the Kindred,” Bellu babbled.

“What is it?” Calli asked, baffled.

In the settling gloom, Bellu's dark eyes glinted with joy. “Urs. It is why my family supported him. It is all worked out.”

“What is?” Calli asked, her heart suddenly fearful.

“Urs,” Bellu repeated. “He and I are going to be married!”

*   *   *

The seductive odor of blood dancing on the air captivated the two wolves, consuming them. They had sustained themselves on mice and large insects but this was real prey. Though weak with the hunger carving at them from within, they drove themselves hard toward the scent, not slowing even when a threatening characteristic—the smell of man—lifted into their nostrils.

Then something else—fire—lent even more danger to their heedless pursuit of food. The large she-wolf felt the resolve of Mate, her male companion, fade. The closer they drew to the scent, the stronger the presence of man and flame tainted the air, and the more tentative Mate's pace. He whined anxiously.

When the mix of odors was substantial, when blood and fire and human were right
there,
the wolves finally halted. Though still out of sight, they could approach no farther without engaging the men—the canids' noses told them there were several of the humans. Mate touched his snout to the she-wolf for reassurance. They circled each other, sniffing, and finally curled up for the night. The empty pain in their stomachs wouldn't let them abandon the blood scent, but they were incapable of pressing any kind of raid.

As she fell asleep, the big female thought of the man who had given her meat once before. She could very definitely find his smell mingled with that of the other humans.

*   *   *

Calli was waiting for Urs at their secret spot, where the rocky boulders provided cover and the long grasses were so soft and inviting. Now yellowed and dry with the changing seasons, the grasses no longer appeared to be a lazy, warm blanket, but Calli could not help but think of Urs as she regarded them from the banks of the stream. She remembered so vividly lying with him on top of her, feeling him move within her, his back hot from the summer sun, his beard touching her face.

And then there he was, tall, slender, and handsome. Moving, to her eyes, with a newfound confidence. The hunt master.

“Urs,” she called softly. There was more anguish in her voice than she had intended.

He looked startled, as if they had not arranged this encounter with whispers exchanged by the cooking fires. No, not startled: more guilty, or something.

Calli more than anything needed to feel his arms around her. She flew to him, burying her face in his shoulder.

“Oh Urs,” she whispered. “What are we going to do?”

He took a deep breath, holding her back so that he could look into her eyes. He saw the tears in them, and bit his lip. “Calli. Do not cry. Please.”

“How did this happen?”

He shook his head. “All I have ever thought about was being hunt master, but I had no idea it would happen so quickly,” he murmured.

“Urs!”

He focused on Calli.

“I think that is wonderful,” she told him. “I really do. And when I heard, I was sure that it meant we would be together always, because the women's council would never go against the wishes of the hunt master. He could pick his wife. You, Urs, you can do so, you can pick your wife.”

His eyes searched hers.

“It is true,” she pleaded desperately. “Can you not see? We were afraid that Albi would turn the council against us, but now you are hunt master. When we return to winter camp, we can have our wedding, you and I. Just as we promised.”

“But,” Urs responded slowly. “What about Bellu's brothers?”

“Listen to me now,” Calli said urgently. “Everyone says this is the best choice. You are the one who killed the lion that attacked Hardy. You are the man everyone looks to. Who do you think they would pick? Palloc?
You lead the hunt.
If you say that your heart belongs to me, they will all listen to that. Even the brothers.”

Her face was beaming and hopeful now.

“What of the women?” he asked after a moment.

Calli shook her head. “Albi is furious that she had no say in this matter! If you declare your choice now, today, I will go to Albi and suggest to her that this is how she might regain control over what has become a near rebellion. When the council does meet, there will be confusion, but with my mother, and Albi, and me all standing together, we will have no trouble with the women. Believe me, they love to meddle—for them to step in now will give a lot of them something to chatter about all winter long. This will work, Urs! We will be together!”

Urs stared at her. “You think everything through to the end.”

It was far from an endorsement of her plan. “You do love me?” Her voice quavered, dreading his answer.

“Yes,” he answered firmly. “I love you, Calli. I could never love anyone else.”

She gasped her relief into his chest, taking in a shuddering breath, then raised her lips to his. Within seconds their breathing tightened, their hands stroked each other, and an urgency stormed into their blood. They had not managed to find their way together to this spot for many, many days.

When his hands worked their way under her tunic and touched her breasts, she moaned, feeling herself moisten, feeling the tingle start. Her need was wanton and certain and without caution. She tore at his skirt, yanking at it with shaking fingers. She gasped when she finally freed him and saw how ready he was to take her. She fell back, pulling him with her, unable to think, already throbbing. It was fast and hot and urgent. Calli felt the pleasure seize control and peak within her, and then clutched Urs and smiled when he called out and shuddered. This was how it should be. Urs, her love. Husband and wife.

She stroked his hard muscles, his long lean back, gloriously relaxed, now. It was, she decided, as if their passion was lightning and their mating was the thunder—the brighter the flash the more quick and loud the noise that came after, shaking bones, driving out the very breath of a person.

After several moments of just lying there panting, she kissed his face. He seemed dazed. “We will do this again and again,” she promised him. “Just like that. As … powerful as that, as wonderful as that.”

“Yes,” he grunted.

“I have never felt this way, Urs.”

“I felt weak and strong at the same time.”

“Yes! That is it exactly. I love you, Urs. You are the only one for me. I love you and want nothing more than to be married to you.”

“I love you and want to marry you, too.”

“Then we will do as I have planned.”

“All is good. I will tell the council I have changed my mind, that I want to marry you.”

“You may be hunt master to the Kindred, but for me, you will always be my master spearman,” she said.

They laughed together, pulling their clothing together as the wind licked the sweat from their skin and made them cold.

 

ELEVEN

Though it had been many days since the hunt had been successful, Palloc still retained some reindeer meat, which he held over his fire on a stick. As food ran low among the Kindred and the families turned to Coco's communal stews and soups, it was considered ill manners to create such succulent odors at one's own home fire, but he was in a foul mood and did not care what anyone thought. With his other hand he stroked his beard, which was a normal dark color and had not paled in the summer sun like the rest of his hair.