AKLESH (Under Strange Skies) (32 page)

Fear gripped him. His father had been run through by one of these creatures during the hunt. He didn’t want the same thing to happen to him. He bore down and buried his face into the rising and falling muscles on the Rasclaan.

This distraction of the creature had given the twins the window they needed.

Flank!
came the instructions from their sister, and obediently Che came to the opposite side of the animal which was now focused on Kai firmly attached to its back while Chi stayed on the other side.

Steer!

Slowly, the twins began to guide the snarling animal away from the running herd. They were doing their best, but soon their nosses would fatigue and they would not be able to keep up the pace.

Although Kai was being bumped around like a sack of vegetables, he realized the problem as well. He had to do something to help them. From the corner of his eye he saw the cracked tusk on the creature’s right side, which gave him an idea. He was taking a good beating just from riding the animal, but he knew that if it paid off, any injury would be nothing compared to the victory.

In an instant he let go his right hand and grabbed the bony spike. Once secure he grabbed the one on his left with his other hand. It worked his arms hard as the movement corresponded with its powerful front haunches. Then, with all the energy and weight he could muster, he leaned hard to the right.

The result was more dramatic and wild than he had intended. The creature took a severe turn to the right and seemed to buckle a bit. This also threw Kai pretty hard and almost made him lose his grip.

But they were successfully able to pull the beast away from the herd.

Now they only had to run it a little farther.

The twins kept pace with the creature but gave it a respectful distance since it was snarling and snapping at them every moment it was not trying to throw Kai, who hung on for dear life.

They sped on towards a rocky outcropping a hundred yards away. From behind it came Tyro on his noss, blazing a path straight towards them. His spear was raised menacingly in the air. In moments he would be right on top of them. The twins kept the monster on its path and just as Tyro reached them, Kai pulled hard on the two tusks in his grip.

The creature reared onto its back haunches and its fearsome cry echoed through the plains.

“Now!” shouted the twins simultaneously as they received the command from Cho, who had been charging behind them.

Tyro thrust his spear with all his massive strength, and it flew with deadly accuracy, slamming into the neck of the creature with a sickening crunch.

The weapon went completely through, skewering the animal. The spearhead itself shot up past Kai, barely missing his head and spattering him with the Rasclaan’s blood.

Kai fell back and off the creature, hitting the white, grass plain with a hard thud that knocked the wind out of him.

The monster was making horrible gurgling noises as it flung itself about, moments from death. The heavy spear stuck up through its body at an odd angle and the creature was losing a lot of blood, which stained the white fur of its mane with crimson. Tyro and the twins had cleared back and let the huge creature thrash as it was going to in its dying throngs.

Kai felt a hand upon him as he labored to get up from the ground. Cho had finally caught up with them and had immediately gone to her fallen friend. With her assistance he was able to sit up, knowing he was going to hurt later.

Kai looked up from the ground to see the majestic animal rear up one more time then collapse in a heap. The young warrior felt a pang of sadness for the Rasclaan that had fought so hard against them. But, the feeling was soon replaced with one of great pride. They had succeeded in doing to impossible.

They had made a kill in the great hunt.

Among the tribe the big shock hadn’t been that two Rasclaans were brought down during the great hunt, but rather who had taken them down.

The hunters had come into the keep with their kills just as the sun was setting. There had been much murmuring as people gathered around the whole area, off both main balconies and anywhere anyone could stick out a head, to see the processional of warriors and their tribute.

At this point in the day, Gar had finished his work with Hatha and was helping Seema and the rest of those who had remained at the keep to prepare the evening meal. It was being held off until the hunters came back. Several of the keep’s better cooks had already eaten so that when whatever kill arrived, they would be able to start the preparations to serve it at the great feast the next day.

Gar hadn’t understood why so many people were needed to prepare the animal till he actually saw them approaching, each one being carried by eight warriors on both sides. He was quite impressed at how massive the beasts were. They would certainly be enough the feed a tribe. Gar had been told they were the centerpieces of the whole feast.

And since this tribe was frugal, no part of the animal was going to go to waste.

There was much cheering as the warriors entered.

Gar kept an eye out for his favorite team. He turned to Seema, who was standing at his side.

“Is it always like this?” he yelled over the din.

“No,” she said. “Sometimes there’s only one kill, sometimes there’s tragedy.” Gar knew what she was referring to. It had been explained that there were times when people did not return from the hunt and that it was a very dangerous undertaking.

“But more than one is very rare,” she continued.

“It’s a sign of prosperity for the tribe.” The two of them kept their eyes peeled and eventually he saw Kai, Tyro, Cho and the twins walking behind the great bodies, smiling and waving to the crowds who were elated by the day’s offerings. The hunters seemed as worked up as the people and were enjoying the attention being lavished upon them.

The second Gar’s eyes met Kai’s, he knew what had happened. The surge of feeling he received said it all.

Gar then turned and looked at Seema. who was in turn looking at her husband, for Gar had no better word for who Tyro was to her. She had tears running down her cheeks and a broad smile she tried to hide beneath her hand. She knew what had happened as well.

“They did it,” she said to Gar, though not looking at him. “They really did it.”

Considering the amount of noise going on around them, he was surprised he could even hear her.

“You doubted them?” he leaned over and asked her.

“Never,” she said, her heart full and happy. “Oh, never.”

In short order the animals were taken away from the warriors, who were then led to evening meal with their families and friends, who were waiting for them. The tired hunters would be wanting food and rest after their great adventures, but first they had to put up with the telling stories of how everything had happened.

The Aklesh warriors were greeting their loved ones all around them as Tyro and Kai approached.

Seema did not wait when she saw her joined and rushed into his arms, kissing him passionately. Of course, Tyro responded in kind.

Kai and Gar looked to each other and started to reach out instinctively, then both stepped back awkwardly. A moment of strangeness hung between them.

Gar could feel the energy of excitement and adrenalin vibrating from Kai.

“Proud of yourself, huh?” teased Gar, to break the tension.

Kai responded with a broad smile that split his face from ear to ear. Suddenly he let out a whoop and threw his arms around Gar, lifting him into the air easily and swinging him around in his excitement.

Gar had always noticed how strong Kai was, but this was the first time he felt his arms around him.

His muscles were firm and the surprise of Kai’s effortless strength took his breath away for a moment. As he put Gar down, the prince could feel the heat in his own body rise, a feeling that had become all too familiar recently. The young Aklesh was breathing hard as well and they both stared at each other. They were surrounded by celebration but all of that seemed to fade. Gar could only hear the sound of his own breathing as he worked to bring his emotions under control. It was as if they were feeding off each other’s mutual energy, which came from different places but added to what the other one was feeling. Gar knew that Kai must be able feel his attraction, his lust.

But the native only stared at him with bright glistening eyes, an expression of elation written all over his face.

“I’ll take that as a ‘yes’ then,” Gar said.

Soon after, they were all taking their meal up on the first platform. Tyro and Kai were relating the whole story for the third time to Seema, Tilo, Gar and several others who were leaning in to hear.

Although they were probably famished, neither of them had really touched their food in the excitement of relating every gory detail. As people passed there was much congratulating and hearty slaps on the back.

Everyone was amazed that the underdog of the hunting groups had pulled off a kill.

Gar, at one point, snuck a glance over to Vol’s group. Although many of them partook of the meal and welcomed refreshment, their exuberance was not as great. Vol herself sat sullenly and looked as if she had just eaten something incredibly sour. He had been told that her team had not made a kill.

The other mark had actually gone to an older hunting group who had made kills in the past. Their triumph was not unexpected, although they were partying as well as anyone. But the real excitement was centered on Tyro and his group.

The meal stretched on as night rolled in and the central fires blazed high into the starlit skies. Gar wondered that if this was the meal before the feast, what kind of party must the actual feast itself be?

After a while a drink concoction was brought forth from a large vat. It was soon spread around to the warriors and then the rest of the tribe took part.

Gar noticed that as the wooden cups were being passed around, only the adults drank. Finally a cup came to him.

“What is it?” he shouted to the jubilant Kai, who was about to start another round of his brave story to an eager new group of Aklesh who hadn’t heard it yet. The celebrating tribe had become rather raucous.

“It’s called Amsu” replied Kai. “I’d be careful if I were you. It can have a nasty effect for those who have never tried it.”

“Please,” said Gar, waving off the warning. “I’ve been immunized to every possible poison in the galaxy. Historically it’s the best way to kill a monarch, you know, not excluding an all-out execution.”

“Immunized?” asked Kai, wrapping his mouth around the word, which he often did when Gar said something that didn’t quite translate.

“Basically, I could drink thruster plasma and I wouldn’t feel a thing, “ Gar replied. “If it wouldn’t burn a whole through my body first. What’s this stuff supposed to do, anyway?”

“It lifts the spirits,” Kai said before he was nagged enough by his tribesmen to tell the story. Gar left him to it.

Besides, he knew booze when it was described to him, and that was definitely something Gar hadn’t had for a long time. The best kind of drink was always the kind made locally and without any regulations. When visiting another planet and out from under the political eye, he always made it a point to try the local ‘fruits of the vine.’ This would prove to be a great treat. He brought the wooden cup to his mouth and took a hard swallow of the thick brown liquid inside.

Kai had been right, the stuff wasn’t meant for amateurs.

It tasted like fermented tree sap, and he probably wasn’t far off the mark. For a moment he thought he would have been better off drinking the thruster plasma. With a strong burning sensation the Aklesh liquor immediately stripped his throat. He coughed hard, thinking he was about to lose his dinner.

After a moment of hacking and choking, he recovered himself. Several of the Aklesh who had been watching enjoyed a good laugh at his expense.

“The stuff’s not so bad, once you get used to it!” Gar shouted to Kai when he was at last able to speak…

…then promptly passed out.

***

Wake up!

Gar grumbled as he dragged himself from the dark depth of sleep into consciousness.

Wake up, Gar!!

The prince could have done very well not having Kai’s mental voice ringing like bells in his brain.

It felt like he was shouting into a cave and the echoes were ricocheting off every surface. Gar pried his eyes open, instantly feeling as if he was going to throw up.

Gar had been hung over before, many times in fact, but at that moment the dull ache was so acute he felt as if he’d crashed his shuttle all over again.

Wake…

He slammed a hand onto Kai’s head, not hard, but enough to get the point through.

“Kai, you’re killing me with the thought stuff. Lay off, will you? I’m not feeling well,” he grumbled, pulling himself to his elbows on the cot. “What’s wrong?”

Gar looked around. They were both in Kai’s hut.

Obviously, he’d passed out and Kai had brought him back and put him to bed. That was about all he had done since Gar was still fully dressed from the day before. As the spinning room gradually ground to a halt, he took a look out of the little window. It was still dark outside.