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Authors: Marie Harte

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“I
don’t like them.” Hidden carefully behind a fragrant shrub, Thais pushed
several white petals aside for a better look. She glared with disdain at the
pale skinned foreigners. Males. She rarely trusted them, but this group aroused
her suspicion more than most.

“Neither
do I,” Yara whispered, so as not to be caught by Thais’s mother standing close
by.  

The
thick jungle that served as their home seemed oppressive under the weight of so
many stares. Thais glanced at herself and Yara, still not understanding such
extreme curiosity. The brief leopard-hide loincloth protected her sex, while
the snug halter top gave her the support she needed for running through the
jungle.

She
wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead. The brevity of garb also gave her
respite from the intense humidity. She took a perverse sense of pleasure
watching the males in their long pants and heavy shirts sweat through their
clothes.  

Thais
shoved her knife into the sheath at her waist. A gift, the dagger marked the
anniversary of her birth just three days and eighteen years ago. On this very
day that should have marked her passage into the warrior’s circle, she was
forced instead to watch their queen entertain men from the Territories, a place
she’d never even heard of.

Absently
brushing a pink-toed spider the size of her fist from her shoulder, she
continued her perusal through thick green leaves. She whispered to Yara, “They
look as if they rarely see the sun. And their language is so ugly. It’s a
wonder anyone can understand them. I sure can’t.”

A
subtle breeze wafted through the air, bringing with it the scent of vanilla tea
and pork cakes flavored with ginger. Thais’s mouth watered. She’d been so busy
avoiding the foreigners, she’d forgotten to eat.

A
rumble of thunder took her attention. Above, the darkening sky heralded
oncoming rain. The canopy overhead would shield some of the village; the bamboo
huts would cover what the trees didn’t, with the exception of the meeting ground.
Sweat dripped down Thais’ back. She welcomed the rain, if only to ease the
stillness in the air.

 “If
we hope to visit The Cave tonight, we must go before we are missed,” Yara urged.
“If your mother or any of the other guardians see us, we’re doomed to sit
around the fire and pay tribute for hours.”

Thais
and Yara looked at one another then hurriedly backed away from the thicket. Grabbing
the sacks at their feet, they tossed the bags over their shoulders. Yara set
off into the jungle to meet their friends who had departed earlier. Thais
finished sweeping their tracks and turned to follow when a large spear tapped
her on the shoulder.

 

Shaken
by the memories she could never quite escape, Thais woke with a start,
trembling. After calming herself, she drew in on the strength that had promoted
her to royal guardian just four short years ago.
No fear of the past, only
faith in myself, in the here and the now. Horses and vores. You were thinking
about them.

An
image of the warrior’s mighty black vore popped into her mind, and she settled
back down, holding onto the creature like a talisman against unwanted memories.
What it must be like to ride a wild stallion, as opposed to the brown mare
she’d recently acquired.

Thais
preferred walking on her own feet, despite the discomfort her boots afforded. But
foot travel took too long. Already two fruitless months had passed searching
for the Territory men and their heartless leader. She only had four more months
before she met back with her sisters to exchange information. Best to get on
with what she could.

She
shifted in her bed and heard a long, drawn out moan drift through the wall.

“Yes,
Lorie, oh yeah, baby. Suck it hard.
Shit, yes!

Uncomfortable
at thoughts of Lorie sucking anything on her partner’s body, Thais buried her
head under the goose-down pillow Kitty had provided. Though the room smelled
fresh, the thought that women bedded men in here made her uncomfortable. In
addition, the bed suddenly felt way too soft.

Dragging
a few covers and the pillow with her to the wooden floor, Thais tried to sleep,
but it was a long night.

The
morning sun cut through the window right into her face. All night she’d tossed
and turned, blotting out grunts and groans from men who should have been too
tired to fornicate.

Groggy,
she rose and used the water in the washstand to clean herself. After dressing
in the same jeans, a clean shirt, clean bandana and hat, she shoved stocking
feet into boots and walked outside for the lavatory. This one had a U-shaped
seat, a connected pipe and box mounted to the wall, and a pull cord, all housed
in a closet. Several of the tiny chambers sat next to one another, and after
she did her business she opened the door.

“Hey,
hon. How you doing?” Lorie, her vocal neighbor, stood waiting for the outhouse.
“You can wash over there.” She pointed to a small stream beyond Kitty House.

Thankful,
Thais cleaned herself and returned to the house, eager to begin her journey and
bring herself closer to finding Bartel.
And the queen’s crown. Don’t forget
what you’re really here for.

A
maid directed her to Kitty’s room the moment she entered the building. To her
surprise, Thais found Kitty and the blue-eyed warrior sitting together and enjoying
a meal.

“Come
on over Tay-iss,” Kitty drawled her name. “Sit next to Hinto. You met
yesterday, or so he says.”

Thais
glared at the male. She wouldn’t be surprised to learn he’d been one of the men
making so much noise during the night. He looked more than capable. Strong,
full of energy, and well-rested.

“I
did not know his name.”

“Hinto
Dakota. And you’re Thais.” He savored her name as if tasting a rare dish. The
comparison seemed just, and she watched him savor his food while he studied her
with what looked like satisfaction.

She
turned to the madam. “Kitty? I was hoping to talk to you again. In private
.

“Don’t
worry, honey. Hinto’s a friend.”

Thais
inwardly questioned the closeness of their friendship
and immediately
chastised herself for even wondering. “Yes, but—”

“You
know, Thais. Here’s the thing. I can’t say why, but I like you. And I don’t
like many people.  I know I asked you for a favor, but it doesn’t sit right you
going into harm’s way all by yourself. Hinto’s going with you.”

“What?”

“Killing
that scum-sucking rapist Gregor is one thing. But if you’re serious about tracking
anybody, you’re gonna need all the help you can get.” Kitty measured her with
concern. “Can’t say as I’ve heard of this Bartel fella, but a man matching his
description mauled a girl over at Delware’s, then had the nerve to insist I
hook him up with one of mine. I don’t imagine you’re pining over this prick.”

“No.”
Anything but that.

“Didn’t
think so.” Kitty pointed at a chair next to Hinto. “Sit and eat before you go. You
do that job you promised, and I’ll tell you every damned thing I remember about
the fella at Delware’s and that girlfriend o’ his, the one with the flower. I
can tell you she wasn’t quite right up here.” Kitty tapped her head.

“I
don’t need any help finding Gregor or Bartel.”
Not from Hinto, anyway
. Thais
did her best to concentrate on the plate Kitty filled with eggs, some yellow vegetable,
and fruits.

“Then
we don’t have a deal. You want my information? You take this one with you. Besides,”
Kitty continued, “Hinto’s the best tracker there is. He always hits his mark. Except
for Bob, of course.” Kitty snickered.

 “Bob?”

Hinto
glared at both women. “Never mind.” He concentrated his attention on Thais once
more. “So you need this Bartel found, and you think the woman Kitty told you
about will lead you to him?”

“Yes.”

“You
told Kitty you know her. Do you want her or him?”

“I
want them both.” Dead. Their heads on a slab.

“Right.”
Hinto stared at her until she flushed.

“What?”
she snapped and fiddled with her hat. She’d slept with her hair in a braid, as
she often did. But she needed a full bath to be clean. Just thinking about
Bartel and Pilar made her feel dirty.   

“You
and I can work out the details about Bartel after. Kitty’s got a man she needs
dealt with first.”

“Damn
straight, handsome.” Kitty winked.

Handsome?
Thais considered the male next to her and admitted his attraction. Perhaps that
was why she had a hard time holding her composure in his presence. She feared
no man, not even that demon Bartel. But no one made her feel as uncomfortable
as Hinto. His height, his muscle, the power resonating in the man could not be
mistaken for anything but strength of will. She didn’t like the way she felt
around him. Confused, off-center… nervous?

Kitty
continued. “Hinto, you help Thais find Gregor for me, and I’ll throw in DeeDee’s
contract as a bonus on top of what we agreed. But I’m telling you, the girl
won’t quit. She likes it too much.” She cast a speculative look at Thais. “Sometimes
it just takes the right man to light a woman’s fire.”

“Yeah,
and sometimes only the right man can keep it burning,” Hinto growled back.

Not
understanding them and at this point, not wanting to, Thais did her best to appreciate
the food Kitty graciously shared. Avoiding the fluffy consistency of her eggs,
Thais ate her fruits and vegetable and washed them down with a large glass of
water.  

“You
done?” she asked Hinto, eager to find Gregor so she could end their association.

“I
guess I am.” He took a swallow of a hot, bitter smelling drink and pushed back
from the table.   

Kitty
stood and escorted them to the door. “I want Gregor’s pistol. Bastard never
goes anywhere without it. You bring me that and I’ll know he’s dead. Now you go
on, Hinto. I need a short word with Thais.”

“Fine.
I’ll be waiting out front. Don’t be long,” he warned in a low growl and turned
on his heel.

Already
he thought to take charge. Thais would have to disabuse him of that notion. “What
is it, Kitty?”

“I’ll
put out some feelers of my own while you’re gone. But you be careful around
Gregor. One look at you and he’ll want in those pants, sugar, sure as I’m
standin’ here.”

“I
can take care of myself.”

“I
figure you can. But Hinto will help. He’s a good man. You can trust him with
your life… and anything else you feel like sharing.” Kitty’s voice softened
when she said, “Stay safe, honey. Let Hinto help you. Men aren’t the evil you
think they are.”

If
Kitty only knew.

“I’ll
bring back Gregor’s gun.” Thais nodded her good-bye and grabbed her pack from
her room. She met Hinto waiting out front and forced back the shiver of trepidation
working its way up her spine. Looking at him, she had a feeling her life would
never be the same.

She
straightened in rebellion and shot him a frown. Thais could do without any more
changes. She’d had enough the last few years to last a lifetime.

 

An
hour later, Hinto walked with Thais to the stables. A visit to the mercantile
gave them enough food and supplies to last the four day ride to Morrow, the
last place Gregor had been seen. After saddling up their mounts, Hinto and
Thais rode out of town.

The
sun blazed in the early morning, promising a warm, dry day. Hot enough to draw
a light sweat, but not hot enough to forego long sleeves.

They
rode in silence for some time. Hinto didn’t press her, though he did enjoy
looking at her. Beast seemed reasonably calm, and more than interested in
Thais’s mare. Figured she’d ride a female.

“New
to horses, hmm?”

She
grunted.

“So
where are you from?”

“Not
here.”

“I
gathered that.”

“Where
are
you
from?” she asked, as if not expecting an answer.

“Shine.
Up in Big Sky Territory.”

She
glanced at him.
Finally.
“That’s north of Four Corners.” She spoke as if
reciting her lessons. “One of the six territories.”

“Yeah.”
Her accent, her unfamiliarity with customs and places…  Where the hell was she
from?

“I
spent a year in Temeco.” She grimaced. “A very strange place.”

“Talk
about a hell on earth. Half the things living down there in the dry areas could
give the monsters in the IZ nightmares.”

“IZ?”

“You
know, the Impact Zone? What most folks call the Divide? The area that separates
the Territories from the East? How do you not know that?” Everything about the
stubborn woman made him itch to know more. He didn’t like the feeling.

“I
know about the Divide. I just didn’t know IZ meant the same thing. Most people
call it Impact Zone or Divide.” She didn’t answer his question, and her accent
thickened with irritation as she spoke.

BOOK: Tip of the Spear
2.11Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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