The Last Sundancer (9 page)

“What has happened?” One of the men shouted for Azin to come. 

Amara saw Kaichen brace the older man’s elbow, allowing him to stand quickly before releasing his hold.  She shivered when his dark eyes
fell upon her.  His look was possessive and she was surprised to find comfort as a silent understanding was reached between them.  He would protect her with his life.  She accepted his protection. 

It was ephemeral
and unspoken but a promise all the same.

“Remain with Antuk.” Kaichen raspy voice drew Amara’s attention. 

Amara nodded as Kaichen ran forward to join the shouting villagers.  She turned slowly and would have fallen backwards if not for Antuk’s large bulk.  He braced her with a light touch upon her arm and when she gasped he pushed her behind him. The sight confronting them was more terrible than she could have ever imagined.  Standing with his legs spread and a malevolent sneer upon his face was the man that had taken an arrow to his eye.  He spoke in a voice that made a mockery of their language but Amara could not know this.  All she knew was that all eyes turned toward her.

“A woman was taken from me and I demand her return.” 

“You left one of the men alive?” Azin’s displeasure was made known by the angry tone of his voice.

Kaichen rarely saw Azin’s anger, but when it was upon him he was transformed into a great force of nature.   

“I left two men alive.  You did not give me a chance to explain all to you.” Kaichen kept the frustration from his voice as he considered the man before him. 

Why would an enemy come to their village armed only with the spear of his fallen companions and request the return of one small woman?  His desire to protect Amara doubled and grew until he thought that he would explode with fury.  The woman had lost her mother, her village and her entire way of life.  Yet, this man who had been cast out from his own band was bold enough to walk into their village and demand her return. 

“What is your claim to the woman?” Azin did not offer a greeting to the armed raider nor did he look away from the man that challenged them with his boldness.

“She is mine and I demand her return!” The man stepped forward and each man that encircled him raised their spears against him.

Azin breathed deeply, seeking calm.  What type of man did not fear the sharpened spears of two hands of men?  He looked into the raiders cold eyes and he saw at first glance that the man had lost his footing long before now.  There was nothing good or kind left within him.

“The woman has been claimed by another.” Azin spoke slowly, buying time. 

It was true that they could simply slay the man where he stood, but th
ere were visitors within their village, people that would go their way and spread stories of what happened on this day.

“Then I will fight this man that has taken the woman from us.” The man’s words solidified that which Azin already knew. 

There were more displaced men that had banded together to form a band of raiders.  They would seek vengeance for their fallen companions. 

Azin did not glance at Kaichen, but the man stood ready to defend Amara.  Only his respect for Azin, as the leader of their village, held Kaichen back. 

With the words that he spoke next, Azin knew that their lives would be forever changed. 

“It will be just as you have said. Prepare for battle!”

Kaichen spared a glance for the circle of men around him.  They nodded their heads respectfully, but there was uncertainty amongst many. 

He had saved a woman from a fate worse than death, but was it his place to do so?  He had already placed their village in danger by unknowingly leading the raider to their village.  The man watched him in the way that a predator watches prey.  His right eye was uninjured, but the left eye was a mass of blood and puss. 

It was obvious to Kaichen that the man should have already succumbed to his injuries. 
Although he did not understand the force that drove the man confronting him, he focused solely upon his opponent. He had no doubt that he faced a fight that would not end until one of them gave up their life to the other.

“I am Aka’ih.
You should know the name of the one that takes your life this day.” The raider spit upon the ground, openly showing disdain for the villagers watched him.

At first
glance, it appeared that Kaichen was at a disadvantage, despite the other man’s serious injury.  His opponent was tall and muscular and his movements were controlled and confident.  Kaichen’s visual search of the man’s body proved futile as he looked for any sign of weakness other than the damage done to his eye.   

Azin said nothing more than the warning that he had already given Kaichen.  “Remember the warrior’s way.”

With a cry of vengeance the man ran forward raising his spear to strike.

Kaichen used his short spear
far differently from his opponent.  He rolled at the last minute, dodging a quelling blow and hit the raider in the back with his full force behind the swing of his spear. 

The man’s mouth was still open in a cry of pain as Kaichen whirled and struck again, hitting the man behind the knees.
Fury drove his opponent to let loose a bellow that rivaled a cry of war.  The man spun as he tracked Kaichen’s movements with his good eye. 

His face was a mask of hatred and still he ran forward, eager to slay Kaichen.  This time the man was ready when Kaichen moved to dodge the thrust of his spear
and he compensated landing a glancing blow to Kaichen’s shoulder. Kaichen never lost stride as he hit the man with three successive strikes to his midsection.  Each blow caused the man to stumble back and when Kaichen went in for the kill the man deflected the blow.  Aka’ih gnashed his teeth and shouted in a guttural tongue as he once again faced his opponent.

Kaichen refused to respond.  He was not certa
in that he could win the battle, but he knew that Azin would be forced to hand Amara over to the raider if he lost.  Honor demanded that Azin satisfy the terms of their dispute.  If Azin failed to hand Amara over, those of their village would never trust him again. 

Kaichen knew that Azin had done what he thought was best.  By telling him to remember the warrior’s way he had also given Kaichen silent instructions.  Kaichen would fight for his life or die fighting.  When his opponent charged with savage thrust of his spear, Kaichen was ready.  Kaichen reared away from the spear thrust, but he kept his footing. 
The raider lunged past him and Kaichen thrust his short spear up and into the man’s side, he ended the man’s life with a brutal twist of his spear.

“Do not bury this man.  Burn his body far away from our village entrance.” Azin’s words were for the men that rushed forward to offer their assistan
ce.  His wise eyes never left Kaichen’s face. What he saw before him was a man that fought to protect what he had claimed as his own. 

Amara walked forward with Antuk at her side.  She had been unable to catch her breath as she watched Kaichen battle for his life.  Though he had saved her once before, she had never seen anyone move as Kaichen moved while in battle.  What was more, he had kept his unspoken promise at the risk of his own life.  She could think of no other way to show her regard and so she walked forward and gently clasped his hand. 

Azin turned to the pair that had eyes only for each other.  The communicated much without speaking, reminding him of his youth and love that he had once known with his young wife.  He knew that Kaichen would not appreciate his interference, but there was no time to delay.  Decisions had to be made quickly or soon all would be lost. Azin spoke in a loud voice as he addressed the crowd of villagers.

“Kaichen has brought a woman to join his hearth circle and make it complete. 
He does not offer a gift to the woman’s family, but he has already shown that he is willing to protect her with his life.  We welcome you, Amara, as the wife of Kaichen.” Azin smiled broadly as Kaichen rocked back on his heels and Amara gasped tightening her hold upon Kaichen’s hand. 

Kaichen gently deposited Amara upon his sleeping place.  She was exhausted beyond measure and the events of the evening had only caused her more anxiety.  

He tried
to ignore the thrush of desire that swept over him as his body responded to the swell of her breast and the curve of her body as she sought warmth.  When he placed her upon the furs that were already set in place she woke slowly and then stiffened within his embrace. 

She feared that he would take her as a man takes a woman.  Kaichen wanted nothing more than to seek her woman’s warmth, but he hoped to win her heart first.

“Rest.  Let tomorrow take care of itself. You are safe.” Kaichen’s words were soothing but his heartbeat skittered against his chest so hard that he was surprised she did not feel it. 

When Azin asked him if the woman appealed to him Kaichen had thought nothing of it.  He would not be a man if he had not recognized her feminine
allure. 

Even Antuk appeared captivated by the woman’s delicate features and small size
though he showed nothing more than a mild fascination.  When Azin asked Kaichen about Amara’s family and village he had not considered that the older man was already planning his future. 

If he had bristled
angrily when Azin mentioned that the young men of his village would be willing to take the woman as a mate based upon her looks alone, then he was not certain what reaction Azin expected. 

Kaichen thought that
Amara was like an exquisite creature of old.  When he looked at her he saw the first woman born of creation and he saw a path to his future.  How was it that Azin had spied out the inner workings of his spirit?  What had he said or done to make the man think that he wanted Amara as his wife?

“Is it true?  Did the leader of your village join us as husband and wife?” Amara’s whispered words were full of trepidation. 

“This is not my village, but yes, it is true.” Kaichen’s words were unnecessary, Amara had fallen asleep, lulled into slumber by her exhaustion as the villagers celebrated their joining. 

She shifted, blinking her eyes open and she immediately sensed her husband’s presence by her side. 
Her husband.

She tried to find some sense of outrage over her current circumstances but she was
simply numb.  Anger and fear had been her constant companions when she was taken captive while her village was decimated.  When she voiced her concerns Azin had simply told her that what was done could not be undone.  Kaichen had remained silent.

Amara considered what she knew of the man that had taken her as a wife. 
The heat from his body was soothing, calling to her and as if he knew that she was awake, he shifted so that she was cradled more comfortably within his embrace.  Kaichen’s manner was far different from anyone that she had ever known but he had not caused her any harm. 

Even now
she could feel the coiled strength within him, but he did not allow it free reign.  He had simply set her upon his sleeping place and urged her to rest. 

“The warrior that you injured will never stop looking for me.  He will never cease unless death stops him first.  You have brought danger to your village by rescuing me.  I am a curse to you.” Amara’s words were slurred but her concern for those that welcomed her and celebrated her joining with the strong man at her side caused her to speak.

Exhausted beyond measure, sleep clouded out her thoughts and swept her away.

Kaichen
felt Amara relax into slumber.  He felt the undeniable need to protect the woman that slept in his arms but he also felt the burden of responsibility that was always with him.  He was careful of her injuries as he encircled her with his arms.  She awakened all of his protective instincts and though she did not know it, he was captivated by her every movement.

Taking his own advice, Kaichen checked to make certain that his throwing spear was close at hand and that his hunter’s knife was within easy reach and then he closed his eyes
and forced his body to rest.

“How can it be that we are joined as husband and wife?” Amara’s words were directed at Kaichen and he glanced up with concern upon his face.

During the night he had come to terms with Azin’s solution.  Amara was a woman without family or loved ones to see to her welfare.  She had also shown herself to be full of spirit and courage.  She would make a fitting wife for him.

He was convinced that Azin had chosen Amara as his wife with the wisdom of a lifetime lived with
both joy and sorrow.  Azin had only hastened what Kaichen would have done on his own, if given enough time.  The problem was that there was not enough time. 

Kaichen’s
time with Azin had come to an end. His heart ached with the need to tell Azin how much he meant to him, how thankful he was that he had been able to come to him and live amongst his people.