The Last Sundancer (28 page)

They had gathered around a fire circle built in the center of a large cavern.  It was the central gathering place of
Tamol’s band. 

The cavern was large enough to fit three hands of men, with half as many women and children.  Kaichen had known a moment of uncertainty as he traveled along a rope that was interwoven into a bridge.  The interlocking structure was secure beneath his feet and it allowed him to walk pressed close to the rock until he reached the central place of
Tamol’s band. 

In this
way, Tamol’s people were not so different from his mother’s band.  They too had a central place where all gathered for ceremonies, the telling of stories and sharing of concerns.  

Kaichen reasoned that if he did not show courage and bravery his entire purpo
se would be thwarted.  Tamol would not respect a man that could not keep up with the pace that he set as he climbed hand over hand until he reached the opposite end of the rope bridge. 

Kaichen’s face was impassive and calm as one of the men lit a torch and held it low to the rope bridge.  The light from the torch was enough to illuminate the way and Kaichen took advantage of the moment by scrambling over the bridge after
Tamol.

Kaichen
was his father’s son and as such he was born to feel at peace up high where he could imagine that the luminaries were within reach.  Yet, Kaichen had never lived the way that Tamol’s people did, high up above the land. 

The men descended when necessary to hunt and bring back fresh meat
and the women often took shelter within the caverns that they had claimed as their own. Each day the people worked the land below, caring for the land that would in turn feed and nourish their bodies.  

Kaichen understood the necessity of such a way of life, but he could not imagine limiting himself to the caverns claimed by
Tamol’s people.  He took in the sights, scents and sounds of the people around him and though they cast only furtive glances his way, he knew that they also observed him just as closely.   

The mention of guests caught Kaichen’s attention and he
struggled to remain calm as he took in a sight that defied explanation.

Two figures were cast in shadow as they were prodded forward.  Kaichen did not have to see their faces, offset by firelight, to know who stood before him. 

Amara and Antuk shifted forward as one and Kaichen felt his entire body grow tense with alarm. 

He had meant to keep them at a safe distance while he implored Tamol for help, but instead he had put them directly into harm’s way. 

“I always check the
enemy’s trail, to see if anyone else is hiding in wait.  Did you think that I would simply entertain you for well into the night after determining that you had not sought us out to join us?” The man that spoke stepped forward so that he was highlighted by the fire. 

Kaichen felt that he should know this man that spoke to him with reason in his tone.  Suddenly
, it occurred to him that he knew the man by description alone.  His mother had often spoken of another close companion of his father’s whenever she mentioned Tamol.  The man called Farren stood before him, observing his reaction. Watchful.  

Farren was as lean as he must have been in his youth. 
He was the leader of his own band, an offshoot of the band that followed after Tamol.  Smaller bands were more practical when it came to the harvesting of food and the feeding of so many.   

Kaichen remembered that his mother had called Farren a wise man
though he was given to fits of nervous laughter.  He did not sense amusement in the man’s intense gaze. 

He saw
Tamol’s eyes narrow as they took in the sight of Amara and Antuk. Kaichen knew what caught Tamol’s interest.   

Amara
kept her eyes cast down toward the sand and rock of the cavern floor.  Antuk made no move to reach for the many weapons strapped to his body and his eyes never left Kaichen’s face. 

“A rare flower, this woman that is ripe as any wild growing fruit.”
Tamol’s eyes were not upon Amara, instead they were watching Kaichen closely.  

“Do not touch her.” Kaichen started to rise and two of
Tamol’s men moved swiftly, locking strong hands around his arms and shoulders. 

“I will not be ordered about by you, a man unproven and unknown to me.”
Tamol looked at Farren and the men nodded.  They had known each other for a lifetime and their thoughts were easily evident to one another.  

Kaichen saw at once that he had all but challenged
Tamol in front of his entire band.  He uttered a silent curse as he thought furiously.  Tamol would need to save face before his men.  Tamol would be forced to not only show his superiority but also a display of anger.  Kaichen saw that the women had quickly drawn away to the farthest recesses of the cavern and a few of them pressed their children behind them, though curious eyes still watched.   

Sweat trickled down Kaichen’s neck to pool between his shoulder blades.  From across the fire he saw Amara stiffen as
Farren moved to stand in front of her. 

Kaichen hated to see the fear that caused Amara’s slight form to tremble.  Antuk’s face held no expression at all.  He simply watched Kaichen as if observing his friend while he faced unbeatable odds was commonplace. 

Farren stepped close to the young woman and he lifted one finger to touch the fine angle of her chin.  With deliberate intention, he forced the woman’s head higher until her upturned face was lit by the firelight.  Kaichen knew at once what they saw.  Such beauty.  Such fragile innocence.   

Farren was curious to know if the woman’s eyes
would hold fear, resignation or something more.  He was impressed by her show of will.  What woman did not know the fate that awaited her as she stood before a band of enraged men?  Yet, this woman kept her eyes carefully lowered, they were not squeezed shut in terror, but cast downward so that her black lashes shielded her gaze from them. 

Kaichen struggled inanely against the men that held him. 

“She is my mate, my wife.” Kaichen’s voice was firm as he laid claim to Amara. 

Amara’s eyes flickered open as Kaichen’s words caused those around him to murmur in surprise. 

Amara had managed to hide her unusual eyes from the men when they had come upon her and Antuk.  She had stood bravely and walked without cease.  Unlike with the raiders, she could not sense the intent of these men.  It did not escape her notice that they had not taken advantage of their superior position.  Yet.  

Antuk had not balked or put up any
resistance when the men stood against them.  They did not even have to bind his hands and Amara was stunned to see him go along with the men without a sound of protest.  She had managed to keep her silence and force her eyes to remain low to the ground.  Until now. 

A few of the women gasped and stepped closer, despite admonishing glares from the men.  Amara knew what they saw when they looked at her.  She had once peered into a still pool and watched as her reflection rippled before it grew still.  Her eyes were dark orbs, yet they were filled with shards of amber and gold that sparkled brightly in the sunlight.  Her eyes sparked with an inner flame, enhanced by the flickering firelight. 

Kaichen struggled anew as Farren grasped Amara’s chin and forced her face to turn toward the firelight.  Farren peered into Amara’s eyes for long seconds before turning to face Tamol.  He gestured for Tamol to speak as he released Amara.  

“You have chosen well if this woman truly is your wife.  But my men would fight for the honor of claiming such a woman as their own.  She would bring good fortune to a man of my band.”
Tamol put an emphasis on his words so that Kaichen would know that he had not dismissed the slight paid to him by his refusal to join their band.

“I would fight for her.” A man stepped forward so that all could see him.  He was tall and strong, an able warrior and he appeared to be evenly matched strength for strength with Kaichen. 
“She is not a woman that a man would overlook.”

“Overlook.” Antuk’s booming voice caused all eyes to look his way as he suddenly laughed. 

“What nonsense does he spout?” Tamol glared at Kaichen as if he expected him to answer his question.

“He speaks nonsense by using a word that means to look over and to fail to notice.” Antuk’s eyebrows rose high on his forehead as he shook his head back and forth.  “Who claims this foolish young man?”

“Pele is one of my sons.” Tamol appeared not to notice the insult that Antuk offered as he returned his attention to Kaichen and Pele. “ Would you fight to the death for such a woman?”

Tamol
stared hard at his son.  The young man was like him in too many ways to number, Pele often displayed a show of bravery that led him into trouble.  The sooner that he learned to stifle his unflagging bravado the better. 

Kaichen’s jaw was rigid with anger as the events around him spiraled out of control.  The rock mass beneath their feet trembled and a momentary hush fell over the people.  A large boulder crashed down the side of the spire causing wave after wave of shock to travel along their feet. 

“Do not anger the one that is blessed amongst all.” This was the second time that Antuk had spoken and Kaichen glared at his friend in silent warning. 

Antuk often found cause to proclaim that Kaichen was
especially blessed, just as he insisted that Amara was truly a butterfly.  It was nonsense and yet in this instance Kaichen held his tongue.  The people eyed him fearfully and the men that held Kaichen released him as if they had been burned. 

Tamol
’s eyes narrowed as Kaichen stood to his full height and glared at him.  For a moment, he saw Shale’s accusing stare and he knew a moment of grief that traveled through his body with the force of a blow. 

Shale
had asked only one thing of him and he had failed.  Tamol shook his head and the image of Shale receded as he once again faced Kaichen, the son of his friend.  

Tamol
had heard the whispered words of Denoa’s people and he knew that they still clung to the same belief that one man could save them.  A man of power, a man especially blessed by the heavens.  As he stared across the fire he considered the man that stood before him ready to battle, kill or maim to protect one small woman. 

“I am willing to die for the right to claim this woman.  But I will not die by this man’s hand.” Pele’s words broke through the haze that surrounded
Tamol’s thoughts. 

Kaichen’s posture was rigid as Antuk threw back his head and laughed.  It was the worst possible thing to do when a warrior challenged another man. 

Antuk not only laughed, but he scoffed at the other man and shook his head sadly, all but ensuring that Pele’s anger would rise up into his nostrils and overtake common sense. 

Kaichen wanted to wrap his hands around Antuk’s throat and squeeze, he wanted to pummel his friend for his addled sense of humor and failure to protect Amara. 
However, even as his face clouded with anger he knew that if any harm befell them, he would blame only himself.

“He is not who you think.” Antuk assured Pele and then he rested his hands upon his belly and said nothing more. 

Kaichen thought only of the harm that would befall his mother’s people if he killed Tamol’s son.

Pele waited for
his father’s signal and when the older man nodded he threw himself across the fire at Kaichen.  

Kaichen had a moment to brace himself as Pele’s full weight came toward him, he
used Pele’s momentum to throw the other man to the ground.   The fire sizzled as a waterskin was crushed beneath Kaichen’s foot, spewing water over the fire. 

Kaichen heard
Antuk’s laughter which sounded genuine and oddly amused.  He watched Pele as the man rolled and gained his feet.  A knife appeared in the man’s hands and Kaichen turned to avoid the first swipe of a carefully honed blade. 

Pele was a skilled fighter and he moved with lethal grace, skirting the fire circle and edging closer.  His weapon was clutched in such a way that he would be able to stab at Kaichen multiple times once he was close enough to inflict
the most damage. 

When Pele lunged, Kaichen feinted to the right and to the left.  He fell to his knees and rolled as Pele stabbed the air where Kaichen’s exposed chest had been.  Kaichen smashed his closed fist into Pele’s back and he felt the hardened muscle and bone absorb most of the impact.  Pele grunted but did not fall.
   

He turned swiftly as Kaichen brought the fight closer to the fire circle.  Light danced against the wall and their shadows rose up in
to the unreachably high ceiling of the cavern.  

Kaichen did not spare a glance for shadow or light.  He kept his eyes away from the fire and upon his opponent. 

Antuk’s strident laughter echoed through the cave and it ignited a fire within Pele.   A killing fire. 

Kaichen held on to his breath, letting it roll within him, just as he had been trained.  His muscles were lose and relaxed, in part from the
strain of the climb and from well-remembered training.  His shoulders were low and his head titled down as he used his chin to protect his neck.