Part 50: Vicious

Note: This item has been rewritten and edited. All text in rose is BRAND NEW MATERIAL for this chapter of the story. In addition there are many minor changes to the original text itself. Please enjoy this new, expanded version of Part 50 and be on the lookout for updates to the next parts!


CAPTAIN FE'KHERU STRODE at the lead of the three newcomers to the Great Red Tribe, red lappets swinging and an unreadable look upon his face. Lieutenant Meteri walked just to his left; Lieutenant She'hekha, somewhat behind him and to his right. General Mahakhi led the procession, and a growing group of his men followed behind the four of them, hands on their swords. Meteri glared back at them every so often; She'hekha appeared to be more interested in the walls and columns than in anything remotely related to their reason for being there.

Fe'kheru continued looking straight ahead, but as they walked his eyes shifted from side to side. He counted the rooms they passed, and the guards at their posts; judging by the size of the household, and of the tribe itself, he made a rough estimate of their numbers, and bit the inside of his mouth. He looked again at Mahakhi as he walked, his tail flicking from side to side, and suppressed a wince at a twinge of pain in his arm. He rubbed at it without even knowing; it was only when Meteri turned his head to look at him with a small frown that he noticed his own behavior, and lowered his hand.

"We have made a mistake," he murmured under his breath.

Meteri blinked, then furrowed his brow. "Lord...?"

"There are too many of them." Fe'kheru kept his voice just low enough that Meteri could hear him, yet none of the others, not even She'hekha, could; one of Mahakhi's lieutenants, stepping up to him and speaking to him, served as a further distraction from their own speech. "I did not count on their numbers being so great after the battle...I assumed they would have suffered greater losses. I made a mistake."

Meteri's brow furrowed further. "There are still more of us than of them, Lord," he whispered. "We outnumber them! Easily! And they cannot have been training nearly so hard..."

"They can, and they have." Fe'kheru's eyes shifted to look at the guards standing off to the left side of the hall, and Meteri followed suit. "We cannot win this battle," Fe'kheru murmured, and Meteri's head jerked around to look at him again. "Not without sacrificing the River Tribe itself."

Meteri's mouth opened and no sound came out. "L...Lord," he finally whispered, disbelief in his voice. "What do you mean--?"

Fe'kheru didn't answer. At that moment, General Mahakhi halted in his steps, turning to look back at them before opening up the door to the war room and striding inside.

* * * * *

Mahakhi's war room was a flurry of activity. Kana sergeants and lieutenants hurried to make the place presentable to the three enemy Kana who had arrived from the north, threatening to attack the tribe. They all now made their way to the room, Mahakhi's own men taking up the rear, lest the three try anything. Lieutenants Resikh and Djuta especially eyed the newcomers with open hostility, but refrained from addressing them. Djuta tensed when Resikh leaned close enough to touch him.

"Why do they insist on talking? I thought they were here to slaughter us. This makes no sense, no matter what that sergeant says."

Djuta shrugged slightly. "I understand it even less than you do." He nudged his way ahead to reach Mahakhi, and had to jog a little to keep pace with him. "Lord," he whispered; Mahakhi's ear flicked. "I realize I am in no position to request such a thing--but I ask that you rethink this idea. Enemies do not come to speak or bargain. Especially not after what happened with this tribe the last time." He peered back to see the captain and one of his lieutenants whispering to each other, then turned back to Mahakhi. "Even now, how can you be certain they do not plan something--?"

"You are right," Mahakhi muttered. "You are in no position to request such a thing. Go back to your place, Lieutenant, and allow me to make my own decisions. You are still not quite right with me, after that stunt you pulled with that female."

Djuta bit the inside of his mouth to keep from retorting, and fell back into place behind the group, ears flattening. Resikh gave him a sympathetic look that made him want to snap even more than he already did; he blinked when he noticed the older lieutenant, She'hekha, looking back at him, and before he could turn away the other Kana's mouth twitched as if in amusement. Djuta scowled and turned to face forward again.

"I have spoken with Binena before and he seems to know of what he speaks," he said under his breath. "Let us see if he is right this time or not."

Resikh didn't seem convinced, but neither did he offer any objection. He pulled away and frowned to himself yet remained silent.

They entered Mahakhi's war room, which quickly filled with the general's men. Mahakhi himself took a seat in the largest chair available, across a long table used to display maps and battle plans. Captains Tas'hukh, Ahen, Rik'hia, and K'tasai, Lieutenants Hiath'ikh, Ahai'ikh, Nehef, and Tas'eta, and Sergeant Binena were present, moving to stand at various points about the room; several other captains and lieutenants were present as well, including the members of the grand tribunal. Resikh and Djuta entered behind Fe'kheru and his lieutenants, so they could see the way the older captain glanced from side to side, suddenly noticing at how much of a disadvantage they were. Still, he said nothing to indicate that he felt threatened, instead crossing his arm to his breast in a salute and nodding his head forward. Mahakhi nodded as well but again failed to return the salute. It was an obvious insult, but still Fe'kheru didn't acknowledge it.

Mahakhi glowered and crossed his arms. "Captain Fe'kheru. You arrive to threaten my tribe, and then ask to be granted an audience. It is only in deference to outsiders that I grant it to you. Speak quickly, before I lose my interest. If it were not for your own tribe's foolish actions, I would have nothing to do with you at all, and as it is, it is only as enemies that we meet."

"General Mahakhi," Fe'kheru said, his voice level and calm. "I am Captain Elite Fe'kheru, and these are my lieutenants, Lieutenant Elite Meteri and Lieutenant Elite She'hekha. You already know that Lord She'hekha hails from the Yellow Sands Tribe. We have banded together, for the moment, to pay back in kind what your own men have done to us. Your last meeting with our tribe was a horrendous act of slaughter. Most of our Kana, young and old, were massacred this day. Lord Meteri's father and brother were among them, as were many more of our closest kin. If you have remained true to the pattern ascribed to you, then I would not doubt it if you yourself were responsible for the death of my brother, Sut'khut."

Mahakhi blinked and started. So did almost all of the rest of the Kana in the room. The general shook his head and attempted to compose himself, muzzle wrinkling.

"Despite the closeness of your blood, Captain," he growled, "Sut'khut was a vile creature who got what he deserved. I too have heard rumors upon the wind, and this name was not cherished among even your own tribe. A braggart, a traitor to his general, and a defiler of women, he has been called, by your kind."

"This may very well be true," Fe'kheru replied evenly. "Still it does not excuse the atrocities you committed upon us. For every braggart, traitor, and defiler you killed that day, you killed three good Kana." He gestured at the younger lieutenant standing to his right, an intense look upon his face. "Lord Meteri's father among them. He was an honorable soldier, good to his Moru and a beloved friend of mine. Now he shall not see his son bring him honor. His elder brother, too, was a good Kana, and has now left behind a young pup of his own with no one to care for him. Find a way to excuse this, General."

"I will not," Mahakhi retorted. "Your tribe attacked my own! We had no plans to assault your city, if you had simply let us be."

"We are to believe this, then?" She'hekha cut in. He took a step forward, ahead of Fe'kheru, who frowned. "For years we have heard of your tribe's plans to assail our own! Explain this, General. You deny you ever had plans to wipe out my tribe--?"

"Whether such plans existed in the past or not is not for me to say!" Mahakhi snarled. "The fact remains that up to that day, we had no active intent of attacking ANY tribe!" He turned to Fe'kheru and his look darkened. "Your brother changed this fact, Captain. Rest assured that any assault you may launch upon us will be met in kind. We ourselves have allies to the south. We will call upon them if need be, to finish what Sut'khut started!"

Fe'kheru's own eyes darkened and his hand grasped the pommel of his sword. Nehef and Ahai'ikh stepped forward, doing the same, but Binena cut in front of them, holding out his arms.

"Lords, please." They all looked at him in some surprise; he turned to Mahakhi and bowed. "General, I ask to speak a word with you, freely."

Mahakhi snorted. "Go ahead! This day is ruined enough as it is!"

Binena bowed again, then stepped aside so that he could face either Mahakhi or Fe'kheru. "General, despite what the situation may look like, I am of the mind that Lord Fe'kheru has not actually come here to destroy the Great Red Tribe."

"Who is this, who attempts to speak my mind?" Fe'kheru exclaimed.

"A sergeant of the West Oasis Tribe, allies of our own, but uninvolved in this affair until recently," Mahakhi growled. "Let him speak! Perhaps at least one of us this day will make some sense."

Fe'kheru's frown grew but he fell silent. The sergeant offered a third bow.

"Gracious apologies, Lords. But as I said, I do not believe a slaughter was what Lord Fe'kheru had in mind when coming here. We would not be speaking within the war room if this were so."

Mahakhi glanced at Fe'kheru. The captain held his arm to his breast.

"You had perhaps best listen to the sergeant, then. For he speaks some of the truth. Despite our need for vengeance, I had hoped to avoid that which you did to us."

Both She'hekha and Meteri looked at him as if not having expected him to say this.

Mahakhi's lip curled back. "With all due respect, Captain, I can do very well without you insinuating at every turn that somehow this is all my fault! When it was your supposed brother who started the whole thing!"

Fe'kheru lowered his arm. "I apologize then, General. I had not known I was doing any such thing. Grief and anger may load the words of a man against him."

The general nodded curtly. "Go on with it. What is it you came here to do if not to finish us off? Speak quickly, for I do not know how much faith I place in Binena's observation."

"There are other means of revenge besides wholesale slaughter. I had hoped perhaps we could make use of one of these, and spare the bulk of our armies. My heart is already heavy with grief; I do not wish to see any more lost, no matter which of our tribes they may come from, Great Red or River or Yellow Sands or West Oasis."

"Speak, then! What is it you are even talking about?"

Fe'kheru paused, then his eyes wandered to look at all of the Kana ringing the table. The look on his face changed just slightly. Binena held up his hand again and took a step forward, drawing their attention. "Lord, if I may?" he offered. "I believe I know what Captain Fe'kheru is intending to say...I believe Captain Pekhten made use of such a method when our own tribe was once attacked. Thus I believe I may know of what Lord Fe'kheru speaks."

Mahakhi gave him an ugly look. "Spit it out, then, and hurry it up. My patience is wearing thin."

"Lord Tas'eta was too young to remember, Lord, thus he may not speak for me," Binena replied. "Yet our tribe was once assaulted by another to the west of us. They were of a greater number than our own, yet we somehow held them off. We reached a hopeless stalemate, however, and the only obvious solution was to fight until every last one of us should be slain. Despite anyone's motives, none wished for such a conclusion."

"And thus?" Mahakhi prompted, eyes narrowing dangerously.

"And thus our leaders met and proposed a single fight, one-to-one. Rather than sacrifice the lives of all of the men, and thus lead to the downfall of both tribes, Lord Pekhten and the commander of the offending tribe agreed to fight one another hand to hand. It did not matter what their advantage or disadvantage; the men of both tribes were to remain neutral during it all, and to accept whatever outcome arrived."

Mahakhi stared at him with furrowed brow, obviously perplexed. He glanced at Fe'kheru, then back at Binena. Everyone else in the room gawked at them in disbelief, but for Fe'kheru himself; the look on his own face was just as perplexed as Mahakhi's, as if Binena's words had caught him offguard.

Resikh leaned just slightly toward Djuta. "Is it just me...or do you think the captain was not even considering this at all? He seems most surprised out of everyone here..."

Djuta frowned. "I do not know...but I know his lieutenants were considering it even less, judging by their faces." They stared at the other two lieutenants, Meteri's brow furrowing and She'hekha starting to frown. Mahakhi spoke to Binena.

"You are telling me that we should duel? The two of us? While the rest of you watch on?" His face screwed up. "And just settle it with that?"

Binena bowed. "This is exactly what I am suggesting, Lord." He took a step back. "It only remains for Lord Fe'kheru to state whether this was his true intent or not."

Fe'kheru continued staring at the sergeant in open surprise. Mahakhi's eyes--and everyone else's--shifted to look at him. He frowned a little, then turned to look at Mahakhi; the others could see the general frown in return at the odd look there. Fe'kheru then blinked, shifted his eyes to observe the others in the room, then his face set and he offered another salute.

"Your friend the sergeant is right, General. I had hoped that you would agree to my request, rather than sacrifice more of my men, or your own. Look upon them; most of them are younger than ourselves, and do not even remember where the seeds of this enmity may lie. They deserve to live, whatever the sins of those of us responsible for them."

Meteri's brow furrowed even further. "Lord...?" he murmured.

She'hekha's eyes darkened and he took a step forward, his voice flinty. "Captain--?"

Fe'kheru ignored them. He gave Mahakhi a grave look. "If you will accept my challenge, I will settle our dispute in single combat with you, no more, no less," he said. "Whoever shall win shall determine which of our tribes is in the right, and which must turn away. Whatever the outcome, I will accept it honorably, and our tribes shall no more war with each other. Whatever the outcome, we will end this dispute once and for all, and never bother each other more."

Meteri's mouth fell open. She'hekha's claws dug into his sword and he scowled. "Captain," he said sharply, but Fe'kheru didn't respond to him. He kept his eyes focused on Mahakhi.

"Well, General...?" he prompted. "Your decision on my request?"

Mahakhi stared at him. The looks upon Meteri's and She'hekha's faces made it clear that they had not been party to Fe'kheru's decision. The younger lieutenant gaped at him openly, while She'hekha scowled and again stepped forward, turning to face Mahakhi himself.

"General Mahakhi," he said in a hard voice. "I wish to make it clear that I have not agreed with Lord Fe'kheru's decision. Whatever the possible settlement of disputes between the Great Red Tribe and the River Tribe, such a solution does not exist for the Yellow Sands Tribe. You will still have to face us eventually, and our dispute will not be settled so easily."

Mahakhi wrinkled his muzzle at him. "Do not worry, Lieutenant. You too will get your day, believe me." He continued glaring at him as he stepped back, before looking at Meteri. "And you, Lieutenant? What is your say in this?"

Meteri blinked and started, not expecting Mahakhi's attention. He stammered a moment before flushing, standing upright and answering.

"I--I honor the wishes of Captain Fe'kheru," he said. "I will serve him to the end."

Mahakhi nodded. "Very well." He sat back in his chair and folded his fingers, scowling. Everyone stood silent and waited for his decision. It wasn't too long in coming, though Resikh and Djuta had begun to fidget before it finally came. The general lifted his head and let out a blasting snort from his nostrils.

"Very well. I desire that the bloodshed cease just as much as you claim to, Captain. Therefore I will honor your request. The two of us shall meet in single combat at a time to be announced shortly. Whosoever of us shall win, shall determine the fate of the other." His eyes grew as red as blood. "I should warn you, however, that I have had much experience in such matters, and should it not be an insult for me to tell you this, but I believe I am in better physical health than you."

Fe'kheru bowed. "I will not take offense with your observation, General, as it may very well be true. However, I also have had much experience in this matter. What I may lack in strength, I may make up for in the abundance of grief in my heart."

Mahakhi glowered. "You are not the only one who grieves, Captain. I myself lost a dear friend upon that day, who was also the father of a lieutenant now present. Captain Nehekhi was killed by a Moru in league with your brother. His son, Tas'eta, shall now never see the pride he brought him." He waved at Tas'eta, who flushed and ducked his head, but not before Meteri's eyes fixed straight on his. "May we both keep in mind that the sorrow we feel is not ours alone."

The captain nodded. "Very well." He took a step back, indicating that he had stepped down from the matter. Mahakhi turned to Nehef.

"Lieutenant. Until we shall determine a time and day for our personal struggle, Captain Fe'kheru and his lieutenants are guests of the Great Red Tribe. You will find them adequate rooms within my household in which to stay until then. Their army shall await outside the city walls for now, though we shall send them out supplies so they may remain fed and in order for the time being. If this is acceptable?" He glared at Fe'kheru, who nodded.

"It is acceptable."

Nehef saluted, though his expression was one of confusion. "As you wish, Lord." He turned away and gestured at the three to follow him, Ahai'ikh accompanying. As they turned for the door Mahakhi raised his voice again.

"As you are guests, this means you may have access to all that is mine, within reason. Wish you for some wine from my cellar, or a Moru to keep you company, simply ask my lieutenants and we shall see what we can do."

The two lieutenants, and Fe'kheru and his two men, paused and stared at him for a moment. Indeed, everyone in the room did. Mahakhi simply stood and stretched his wings, heading for the opposite exit. Nehef turned to Fe'kheru and shrugged helplessly.

"Well...Lord? There is something you wish for, before we go?"

Fe'kheru shook his head. "I am settled as it is, Lieutenant. I wish for nothing."

"I am fine," Meteri said in a flat voice.

She'hekha glanced around at the rest of them, then placed his hand upon his hip and snorted. "If the general is going to be amenable," he said, loudly enough for Mahakhi to hear before he exited, "then I shall just take advantage of his thoughtful mood. I would like a Moru to keep me company for the night. But not one of this household. I should like to purchase my own."

Nehef blinked. He coughed into his palm and then shrugged and nodded.

"Er...very well, Lord. Let us show you to your rooms...and then we shall have someone accompany you to the market square. There must be some Moru for sale thereabouts, somewhere."

She'hekha nodded that this was acceptable. Nehef gestured for them to follow, and the five of them left the room, the rest of the Kana watching after. None of them, enemy or ally, were quite certain what to think.

* * * * *

Sandals clacked against the tiles as Nehef and Ahai'ikh led the three Kana down the hall. "We are a bit short on quarters at the moment," Nehef said, and the way he looked back at them when he said it told Fe'kheru that he was not telling the truth; the captain said nothing. "So I am afraid we will have to break you up a little bit..."

Meteri started immediately walking faster, almost running into the other lieutenants. "You will do no such thing!" he snapped, making them jump. "We arrived together, and we shall stay together! You have already separated us from our army. I can tell just from looking at this house how much room there must be. If you say you will have to house us apart from each other, then I know you are lying and that you just wish us to be even more vulnerable."

"Meteri," Fe'kheru warned, his voice weary.

Nehef and Ahai'ikh peered back at them again, the former fiddling with his necklace. "Well...I suppose we can place you near each other...though I know of only two rooms adjacent to each other, not three, so unless two of you wish to stay together..."

She'hekha snorted. "I do not give a damn where I am housed, just so long as I can take advantage of this free room and board your general offers. Let us see if he is a Kana of his word."

Nehef shrugged. "Very well, then." He glanced at a door they passed, and waved at it. "This room is empty."

Ahai'ikh's mouth fell open and he grabbed Nehef's arm, Fe'kheru having to stop to avoid running into them. "'Hef!" he exclaimed in a harsh whisper. "That is the room where I'anen--"

He cut off in a gasp when Nehef elbowed him in the gut. "Looks acceptable," She'hekha said, turning to look at it. Ahai'ikh scowled and moved toward the door.

"Allow me to ready it for you, Lord..."

"There are two empty rooms in the opposite hall," Nehef said to the captain. "I suppose we can house you and your lieutenant there."

"I do not much mind where we are housed," Fe'kheru replied. He felt like rubbing at his eyes, yet refrained. "I wish only for this all to be over."

Nehef's brow furrowed. "Well...I will go on ahead and ready them for you, then...if you will remain here with Ahai'ikh until he is done. Then you may move in immediately."

"Thank you," Fe'kheru said, at which Nehef turned about and started walking away. He muttered something under his breath as he went, and Fe'kheru pricked his ears; it sounded something like, "Gods! You'd think the boy was his mother or something, with the way he clucks about him like a hen..."

Meteri scowled. Fe'kheru let out his breath, while She'hekha leaned out of his room as Ahai'ikh straightened it out.

"Lost your babysitter?" he inquired.

"He is merely going to attend to his duties," Fe'kheru sighed. He did rub at his eyes now. "I do not even wish to spend one night beneath this roof...would that we could get this over with right this minute, I would be a happy Kana."

She'hekha's ear twitched. "You speak for yourself best of all." He started to turn back to his room. "Perhaps, in the future, Lord," he stated, and Fe'kheru and Meteri both looked at him, "you will consider letting others know of your changes of plans, ahead of time. One finds more faithful allies this way." With a chilly salute he vanished into his rooms, and Fe'kheru and Meteri were left alone.

Fe'kheru let out his breath and felt his wings sink. "He is right, Lord," Meteri said quietly after a while. "This was no such plan of yours. At the least, if it was, you never informed me of it."

"It was not my original plan," Fe'kheru murmured, staring at the floor. "Yet it is better than the alternative."

Meteri scowled. "What alternative--? Seeking our vengeance? You heard what they said! They despise us and would kill us the first chance they have!" His eyes darkened. "Forgiveness for saying so, Lord, but I do not agree with your decision. I do not feel such a flimsy thing would ever end this hatred between us."

"I do not intend to end hatred," Fe'kheru replied. "I wish only for an end to this bloodshed."

Meteri started to scowl. "You are also not the one who lost your father and your brother, Lord," he said, and turned slightly away, watching Ahai'ikh finish readying She'hekha's room. They waited until the lieutenant had finished, after which he jogged out and saluted them breathlessly.

"If you wish to be shown to your own rooms now, Lords--"

She'hekha stepped into his doorway and crossed his arms. "I had thought I was to be allowed to go and purchase a Moru--?" he inquired; Fe'kheru saw the wince pass over Ahai'ikh's face, and he turned back to salute the Yellow Sands lieutenant.

"Ahm...I realize this, Lord, yet we can hardly allow you to set out on your own..."

"Oh?" She'hekha raised an eyebrow. "What do you expect me to do, slay all the merchants?"

Ahai'ikh opened his mouth to speak, then turned his head at the clatter of sandals; Fe'kheru and the others followed suit. Two of the other lieutenants who had been present in the war room approached, casting curious glances at them as they came. Ahai'ikh's face lit up and he dashed toward them, grabbing one by the wrist and pulling him forward before he could protest.

"Lieutenant Djuta would be more than happy to show you to the market," he exclaimed, at which Lieutenant Djuta's mouth fell open, and he looked ready to start yelling at the top of his lungs.

"This is acceptable," She'hekha said again, yawning and starting off up the hall. Ahai'ikh let go of Djuta, who scowled while the remaining lieutenant furrowed his brow in confusion. Ahai'ikh saluted Fe'kheru.

"If you will follow me, Lords, I'll show you to your rooms."

Fe'kheru and Meteri looked at Djuta, but he just shut his mouth and scowled even darker, turning sharply about on his heel and storming after She'hekha. The last lieutenant just gave all of them a lost look before sighing and continuing on his way. Fe'kheru tapped Meteri's shoulder and they followed Ahai'ikh.

"I apologize about all the confusion, Lords," Ahai'ikh said as they walked, "yet of course, you caught us at a bad time, and we have...well...never had the duty of putting up...ah..."

"The Kana of the enemy," Fe'kheru filled in; he saw Ahai'ikh's ears go pink. "Do not worry overmuch, Lieutenant. If you can provide me with a papyrus I will pen a note for you to take to my men outside the gate, to explain what is going on. They will not act but on my orders."

Ahai'ikh peered back at him, brow furrowing. "Very well, Lord," he said, and turned to face ahead again.

They were roomed in the south hall, overlooking one of the ubiquitous courtyards, and passed another Kana standing in a doorway; they both glanced at him, to see that he was a young private with pale fur, and he stared at them with large blue eyes. As soon as he noticed Meteri he seemed particularly interested, and even took a step forward as if to address him; then with a loud clacking of sandals one of the captains from the war room emerged from the room next to his, grasping his arm and snarling at the other two. Fe'kheru and Meteri jumped a little, but the private merely furrowed his brow, casting a glance at the captain and then back at them as he was shooed back into his room, the captain giving them an evil look before the door slammed shut behind them. They looked ahead again.

Ahai'ikh waved at the next two doors down and rubbed at his neck. "Ah...apologies for that, Lords. But you must understand that we..."

"Are not on the best of terms," Fe'kheru filled in again, and nodded patiently. "I understand, Lieutenant. My tribe would likely react in the same way." He waved at one of the doors and Meteri stepped toward it; Ahai'ikh fiddled with his belt and pulled out a small square of papyrus which Fe'kheru took into the other room with him. The lieutenant waited in the doorway while he fetched a pen from a scribe's set sitting in the room and quickly jotted a note and signed it. "Please make certain they are fed properly," he said, handing the note to Ahai'ikh, who saluted and then walked away. Fe'kheru waited until he was out of sight before letting out a great breath and leaning upon the table. He looked up at the bed and flicked his tail, wishing he were with Ikhi'et, and felt a pang.

There was a soft shuffling noise and Meteri appeared in the doorway. "This was not a wise idea, Lord," he said with a frown. "I do not like the thought of us housing with the enemy, especially with the army out of our reach. Who is to say that Kana will even deliver your message?"

Fe'kheru suppressed a sigh; the lieutenant's suspicion was starting to wear on him. "We have practically nothing left to lose as it is, 'Teri-Kana," he murmured as he rubbed at his eyes. "In any case the army is likely even safer than we are. At the very least there will not be a slaughter."

"How can you know this?" Meteri stepped into the room and held up his arms. "Lord, I fail to see how you can trust them so implicitly. And why you have changed your plans thus! I thought we had come to avenge our fallen. Instead you wish for single combat? What of the rest of us? What of Nehara's men, and of me? You do realize that I had wanted revenge as well, don't you? And She'hekha? How can you deny us that?"

Fe'kheru stared at the table. "I am sorry that you lost your family," he said at last, his voice quiet. "But you must remember what I am thinking of now. The rest of our families. I do not want Nehara-Kana's Apsiu going fatherless and brotherless. I do not want your nephew to be left with no one to provide for him, and I do not want Khanef-Kana to have to tell Ikhi' that I will not be coming home to her again. This is what I am thinking of right now. Not how best I can kill the one who killed Sut'khut, or even the one who killed your father and brother. I am thinking that I want someone out of all of this to live for a change."

Meteri stared at him for a very long while. After some time his eyes darkened again and he looked almost ready to cry; instead he scowled and turned back for the door.

"I obey your orders, Lord, but I do not have to agree with them," he said in a voice which cracked--"My father taught me this"--and disappeared, the door swinging slowly shut behind him.

Fe'kheru stayed standing at the table. His lappets hung before his face and he finally let out a sigh and lifted his head to stare at the courtyard, the pool outside glimmering in the growing day. The water looked so soothing, that he would have loved to go out and bathe in it. As it was, his wings hurt too much to bother, and with another sigh he made his way to the bed and lay down upon it, staring at the canopy instead and listening to the sounds of Meteri moving about in his room. He shut his eyes and hoped for at least a little sleep.

* * * * *

The task of taking She'hekha to the market had fallen to Djuta, for some reason, and the lieutenant wasn't very happy about it. He assumed perhaps it was meant to be part of a continuing punishment that he had never expected, and grudgingly led the Kana out into the streets, half-hoping some cart or Sha would run him over and end his duties. Whether he hoped for the Sha to run himself over, or She'hekha, it did not matter, so long as one of them ended up dead. Perhaps the tribunal had found him not guilty for a reason.

At least the Yellow Sands lieutenant wasn't very talkative. Djuta would have hated making smalltalk with the enemy...

"Is it always quite so squalid or did we just happen to arrive at the wrong time?"

Well, there went that thought.

"I would hardly call it squalid here," Djuta replied to the question, though he suspected a reply was not expected. "Considering what the state of your settlement probably is."

She'hekha raised an eyebrow. They walked abreast of each other, and Djuta was peeved that the other Kana wasn't showing the proper respect by walking at least a pace behind. "You do know, I know my way around marketplaces and hardly need babysitting," he said.

The comment reminded Djuta of Khetai for some odd reason. "I hesitate to admit that for once I agree with you, though this is hardly my choice," he replied. "One must be addled in the brain to think we would let enemy Kana wander freely about our town."

"So we are hardly 'guests' anymore, already?"

"To an extent, Lieutenant. This is all. Do not press your luck with me. I have had a bad month and hardly need more to deal with."

"Oh. That is right...this 'female' your general mentioned." She'hekha's look twisted into almost a sneer and Djuta wished he had simply not spoken. "What was that all about, pray tell? That a matter concerning a female should piss a general off so very much? Did he catch you playing about with one of his Moru? He looks as if he would be the petty jealous type..."

"You have an annoying mouth," Djuta said.

She'hekha smirked. "I have honestly never been told that before. How interesting. So I take it you were not fiddling with one of his Moru. Well then, has a female of your own gotten into some sort of affair--? I suppose this is it; you cannot control your own Moru?"

"Annoying mouths deserve what is coming to them," Djuta said.

She'hekha laughed. "I have never been told that, either. How odd that you can tell me so much about myself, yet nothing about you."

"This is because you have a big mouth that will not shut up," Djuta replied.

The other lieutenant just gave his odd smile and pulled at a pouch on his belt. "Why should it, when you are such wonderful company?" He opened the pouch and poked in it. "I suppose I will just have to assume that you and your general merely do not like each other much...and focus my mind on more important things. If I am going to be sleeping in this mudhole I will at least be doing it in decent company."

Djuta scowled to himself; hanging himself from the wall sounded like a wonderful idea, right about now. "So long as it is not my company, then I do not care how you spend your night. No wonder you have no mate, as she would have murdered you by now."

She'hekha shrugged and yawned. "Just lead me to your Moru traders and then find yourself something else to do. I can handle it from there."

Djuta's muzzle wrinkled but he forced himself to remain silent. He sought out Ukuti's tent, simply because the trader was so conniving; perhaps he would give She'hekha a bad deal. Perhaps he had a female Bakh'asu stashed away somewhere. He stopped outside in the sunlight as She'hekha went on ahead of him, yawning again and stretching so that his armor rode up a bit, baring his back. At first Djuta glanced at him and admired his form for a moment, before realizing what he was doing and becoming thoroughly disgusted with himself; then he frowned when he noticed something else. Far from being the smooth, flexible back he had expected of such a Kana, he saw now that it was crisscrossed with a pattern of overlapping scars, some faint, some deep and ugly. He stared at them for a moment with a morbid fascination, wondering what could have caused them--they looked to be lashmarks--before averting his eyes, his ears growing warm. It wasn't his business to wonder where or what they were from. She'hekha finished stretching and flexed his wings a little, disappearing inside the tent; Djuta waited outside in the glaring heat for a moment, before wincing and deciding to follow him after all.

"Welcome, welcome, welcome, Lords!" Ukuti cried, waddling forward and clasping his hands together with a radiant smile. "Lord Djuta! It is always fine to see you within my tent! I apologize profusely for that horrid affair concerning that big brute I sold you--that was purely an exception, I assure you! But I always knew you would come around someday and buy a companion for your little Rithukh'het. How is she, by the way? Dropped any pups for you yet, she has?"

Djuta couldn't keep his nostrils from flaring. "No," he said, a bit peevishly. "She has not."

"Ah...oh." Ukuti's smile dimmed a little. "Well...all in good time, I'm betting, all in good time! Ah! Hello!" He noticed She'hekha now, and his face lit up again as soon as he saw his money pouch. "You are here today for a Moru, Lieutenant...?"

"She'hekha," She'hekha said. He didn't look at Ukuti directly, rather glanced about his tent with a disinterested expression. "Yes, I am seeking a Moru to purchase."

Ukuti clapped his hands together. "Ah, then you have come to just the right place! Lord Djuta has very good tastes, he does! You seek a female, or a male?"

"A female...preferably." She'hekha's eyes rolled skyward, and Djuta found himself suddenly sympathizing with him.

"Very good!" Ukuti nodded hastily and grinned, showing two rows of gleaming teeth. "I have some of the choicest females you will find anywhere in the land! Simply follow me, Lords!"

"Quaint here, it is," She'hekha muttered as they walked toward the back of the tent. "He ends every sentence with an exclamation, does he?"

"Most often," Djuta replied.

She'hekha snorted. "They make weapons that can cure that."

"Here we go, here we go!" Ukuti crowed. He waved them toward the females' area. This time when Djuta saw them he felt sorry for the Moru, cooped here like cattle. One or two of them looked familiar, from when he had bought Rithukh'het, and he noticed how they looked at him. They recognized him, as well. "Take a peek! I heard on the wind that you are a visitor to our tribe! See anything you like? Should you find one to your satisfaction, I will make you an excellent deal!"

"The best in the land, I suppose," She'hekha said mildly. Ukuti's smile grew even huger.

"You know me all too well, Lord! Please, take your time to find the very best! There is anything in particular that you seek?" he prompted, when She'hekha showed no apparent interest in the females before him.

She'hekha replied, "I am seeking an aggressive female."

Djuta blinked. Ukuti did the same and his eyes widened, then he coughed. "Ah...oh." He looked mildly confused. "An, um, aggressive female?"

"Preferably," She'hekha said again. "The type which attempts to claw your eyes out as soon as you attempt nesakh'ai with her. Surely you have heard of such a thing?"

Djuta immediately envisioned Khetai clawing out She'hekha's eyes, and blinked again. Ukuti seemed even more flustered. "Hm...well...very well!" the trader stammered. "Just allow me to look around but a moment and I will find you something you like!" He vanished into another room of the tent and a series of crashing sounds commenced.

She'hekha turned around with another yawn. "I will not hold my breath, old man."

Djuta sighed. "Come," he said, waving his hand. "I know a more reputable seller two tents away. He actually has more of a selection than old Ukuti does, and I doubt he will overcharge you by too much, either."

She'hekha raised an eyebrow. He didn't ask any questions, but followed Djuta as he left. They heard Ukuti come running out after them, waving his arms and squealing.

"Wait, wait, Lords, come back! Where are you going? Just give me a moment! I will find you exactly what you want, surely! Wait...!"

The tent of the Kana Thekheni was not much different from Ukuti's, but Djuta had visited the Moru trader enough to know the difference. The Kana who greeted them was nowhere near as ingratiating or overbearing as Ukuti had been, though he did offer a bow and an oily smile, waving them inside even as he waved at a big Moru nearby to fetch a vase of beer.

"Welcome, Lords, to my humble tent," he said, his voice cool and flawless. "Please come in from the heat and have a drink to soothe your throats. I am Thekheni. May I ask your name, Lord...?"

"She'hekha," She'hekha said, with more than a little exasperation.

Thekheni bowed again. "Very good, Lords. Now we are all acquainted, and are strangers no longer." He handed a cup of beer to She'hekha, and one to Djuta, who refused it. "I assume you have come seeking a good bargain on a choice Moru. I assure you that my stock is of a quality much superior to old Ukuti's. You made the right decision coming here, Lords. If I may ask what it is, specifically, that you seek today? Then I may save you much time, and find it myself."

"He seeks an aggressive female," Djuta said in monotone. She'hekha glanced at him and Thekheni did the same, and for a moment it looked as if the request would be as difficult to meet here as it had been before. Thekheni scratched his neck and pondered for a moment before giving another silky smile and bowing.

"Please follow. I believe I may have exactly what you seek."

Once more, they went to the back of the tent, only this time they ventured into the far back, passing the males and females, who dwelled together here. The Moru watched them as they went. Thekheni led them to a closed-off section of the tent where a box of sorts had been constructed, wooden slats lining one side. He peered within, then waved them forward.

"Please take a look within, Lord, and tell me if she is satisfactory?"

"She?" She'hekha cocked his head and came forward, peering inside, Djuta following suit. The box wasn't empty. Rather, inside it sat a female Moru, her wrists and ankles bound before her and what appeared to be a harness over her muzzle. Bruises lined her arms and shoulders. She stared at them with large pale eyes as they stared back, growing puzzled.

She'hekha frowned. "She looks rather submissive, to me."

Djuta stood and turned to the trader, bristling. "Thekheni! This is hardly the proper way to house a Moru. What on earth is she doing in this state?"

"Ah, you do not quite understand, Lord," Thekheni was quick to say. "She is not quite like the other Moru. You see, she is--"

The box suddenly lurched forward, nearly toppling over on top of them, as the female lunged at the wooden slats with an ugly screech. Her shoulder slammed into the wood and she fell to the ground, but immediately regained her footing, ramming herself repeatedly into the slats. She bared her teeth and snarled and shrieked, but could not open her mouth to bite off the harness that bound her jaws shut. Instead she just continued flinging herself about the small enclosure, the sides rattling with each heavy blow. The three Kana jumped back in surprise.

"You see," Thekheni had to yell over the noise, still with a forced smile, "she is not one of our Moru. She was taken when her tribe, one of the tribes of the Free Apsiu of Antakh, was raided. She was raised in equality with her brothers and sisters, you see, and does not consider herself a Moru. She has been trained in fighting techniques and in the use of small weapons."

"I do not think this is quite what was meant by aggressive!" Djuta barked, stepping back when the female pressed herself to the slats, snarling and foaming.

Thekheni shrugged. "With all respect, Lord, I doubt you will otherwise find an aggressive female anywhere among our Moru! What does Lord She'hekha have to say of her--?"

They turned to look at the lieutenant, who so far had only stood staring at the raging female as she battered herself about in the enclosure. The female's ugly growling continued unabated. She'hekha blinked, as if just waking up, and then turned to Thekheni.

"How much do you want for her?"

Djuta gaped. "I will be most generous with you, Lord, as I have been trying to get her off my hands for months," said Thekheni, his eyes lighting up. "None other wishes to buy her! I will sell her for five silver rings."

Djuta almost sputtered at the outlandishly low price. That was the amount often paid for a small child, or perhaps an old infirm Moru. Nevertheless, She'hekha fished in his pouch and handed the trader several silver rings as well as a gold, without bothering to count them. Thekheni's face lit up now and he turned to the swaying box, then hesitated. He gave the others a look.

"Er...perhaps you two had best assist me...?"

"I fail to see how you plan on getting her out without suffering grievous injury," Djuta snapped. Thekheni appeared to agree, and glanced about himself for a moment before snapping his fingers.

"I have it! Right over here. Hold just a moment." He dug around in a box sitting upon an old chair and pulled out a small bottle and a cloth. He held them up.

"Poppy. You two open the box and get her out, and I will give her this."

Djuta didn't like the thought of drugging the poor female, but it wasn't his decision to make; the thought of what she might do once she awakened again was enough to strengthen his resolve. He and She'hekha took up positions on both sides of the box, popping open the door and grabbing the Moru as she rushed out at them. Even bound and gagged, she was a formidable opponent, hopping and swinging her arms at their heads, teeth gnashing. Her screaming hurt Djuta's ears. Her eyes focused on his for the briefest second and he blinked at the look there before ducking his head and going at her. He grabbed her around the waist and She'hekha grabbed her under the arms so she was almost horizontal, kicking and flailing; Thekheni approached with the cloth dampened with poppy juice, and he pressed it to her muzzle before she could pull away. She jerked and hissed for a moment, her body twisting, but eventually her movements slowed and grew sluggish, her eyes glazing, before she sank limply against them. Her head rolled back and she looked for all the world as if she were dead. Djuta let go of her, no longer wanting to be a part of the gruesome scene; She'hekha propped her up so she wouldn't fall over, and looked to Thekheni.

"Has she a name, do you know?"

Thekheni blinked stupidly. "Name? Oh! Yes. Ahm..." He dug a moment through a few slips of papyrus he had tucked in his belt, before pulling one out and perusing it. "Ze'thet. This is the name that was given to me when I purchased her." He tossed the slip aside and rubbed his hands together. "Well, Lord! It was pleasurable doing business with you. I do hope you enjoy your new Moru, though I am afraid I must inform you, there are no refunds for this one!"

She'hekha nodded, no longer even seeming to be listening. He headed back toward the entrance without replying, carrying the unconscious Moru draped over his back. Djuta watched him leave, Thekheni rubbing his hands and letting out a gusty sigh of relief as they went. Djuta turned back to him with a frown.

"The Free Apsiu?" he inquired, eyes darkening. "Just how often is it that we participate in raids upon them? From what little I have heard the way they fight makes it hardly worth the bother."

Thekheni shrugged and smiled. "I know almost as little as you do, Lord. All I know is what I was told. Her tribe was raided some time back and she, captured; most others escaped. It was, as you said, hardly worth the effort."

"Has she any story to her?"

The other Kana frowned and looked at him closely. "Not much that I am aware of, why? She is just a Moru after all..."

"I am curious about her," Djuta snapped. "So if you know anything, why do you not spill it?"

Thekheni furrowed his brow but sighed again. "All I am aware of is that when she was caught, she was yelling some nonsense about being the brat of some important Apsiu...some general or something. It did not make much sense."

Djuta growled under his breath. "The Free Apsiu do not have generals! What sort of drivel are you feeding me?"

"It is just as I said, Lord, practically nonsensical. Perhaps she was taken from a tribe when little, or perhaps this is just how they like to brag about things among their sort. Who knows! I do not make it my business to speak with Moru!" He waved at the middle area of the tent. "If you are so curious about her--you should have bought her before your friend did! I am afraid I have no more of her sort to offer--though I do have some choice females of a different disposition if you are interested..."

"Do not bother," Djuta snapped, and turned about to stride for the exit. "You have already been useless enough."

Thekheni stood watching him go, but offered no more argument. Djuta walked past the rest of the Moru, their eyes watching him curiously as he went by them. He fiddled with his pectoral, scowling to himself; he had felt on edge ever since he had first seen the odd female, and had no idea why. The last time he had felt on edge without knowing why, bad things had happened.

I have never seen that Moru before in my life. And so why is it she seems familiar to me? We have never raided a Free Apsiu settlement once since I have been in the military, so I could not have met her anywhere. And so what does she remind me of...?

No answers were forthcoming here, at least, and he refused to even think of asking She'hekha to find out. It looked as if all he could do was remain stuck with this odd feeling, and hope that it would go away soon. He let out a gusty sigh and flicked his lappet back in annoyance, focusing on the dusty street outside.

As Djuta stepped out the entryway he just barely heard the Moru trader let out his own breath and mutter as if he did not know that he could still be heard.

"Thank the gods. That is one more problem I no longer have to deal with!"

* * * * *

Nehef and Ahai'ikh didn't even bother to ask what the enemy lieutenant was doing carrying an unconscious female over his shoulder when he entered the household. They did, however, look to Djuta for any explanations, but the Kana merely waved them off.

"Do not even try. I doubt I understand today any more than even you do."

The two guards glanced at each other and shrugged. With that they apparently forgot the whole deal, which was just as well, as Djuta really didn't seem to feel like explaining.

He followed She'hekha down the hall a ways, commenting, as he passed him while the other Kana stooped to unlatch his door, "I doubt she will offer much challenge in such a state."

"I know the effects of poppy, and it should wear off within a few hours," She'hekha replied. He glanced over his shoulder. "There is about that much daylight left. Perhaps you are done babysitting me now that we are back in the nest?"

Djuta snorted. "I was hardly looking forward to wiping your behind for you anyway. Just so long as you stay within this household, you should not end up with your wings clipped. Have a good night, and don't let her wear you down too much." He turned and walked away without another glance, and She'hekha flared his nostrils and turned back to his own room.

The furnishings here were spare, and it looked as if the place had not been lived in for a long time, even by guests. The air had a stale, dry, musty smell to it that She'hekha ignored, being used to desert travel; he deposited the unconscious Moru on the bed, cut loose her bonds, and made his way for the table, pouring himself a cup of wine. He preferred the sort of wine they made where his tribe came from, but at least it removed the dust from his throat. This whole place seemed too dry, even though it was closer to the river than his own tribe. He stared at the Moru as he sipped, looking her up and down; he stooped over her and pulled one eye open but she didn't respond. He snorted a little and finished his drink, having to keep himself from tossing the cup away.

He wasn't certain how, but decided to keep himself busy for the rest of the evening. He left his room for a short time to see to the whereabouts of Fe'kheru and Meteri; he was told that the captain was resting, while Meteri was being led about the household by others of the general's guard. He disliked how comfortable they were getting, but could say nothing of it; if they wished to endanger themselves it was no concern of his. He stopped by the courtyard to see another captain training a young Kana who fumbled a bit clumsily with the sword, though his skills did seem to be improving. When the captain spotted him watching them he glowered and paused, causing the private to do the same, peering back over his shoulder to see what had interrupted their session. He blinked at She'hekha and appeared to ask the captain something; She'hekha left them alone before he might see what the response would be.

He figured the older Kana would be wheedling the younger one into his bed sometime in the near future.

He made one final stop, at Mahakhi's wine cellar to see if the general possessed any sort like the kind he was used to. The guard there had to dig around in a bit of confusion before finding what he was looking for; he seemed reluctant to hand it over, until a passing lieutenant--She'hekha didn't bother to remember his name--snapped at him to give it up. He started on his way back up the hall, carrying the jar under his arm and studying the occasional paintings upon the walls as he went. Perhaps the wine would make the evening not drag on so slowly, or perhaps he could take a small nap until the female woke up. He figured he wouldn't be much in the mood for sleeping once that time came.

He took the long way, past the south courtyard again; the older Kana had disappeared, though the younger one was still present, sitting at the edge of the pool and rubbing his arms. She'hekha allowed his step to slow just long enough for the youth to glance up and notice him, and he blinked; She'hekha lifted the jar and shook it a little with a questioning look. The private blinked again, ears pricking; he glanced toward the household and chewed on his lip a little, then scrambled up to his feet and jogged toward the hallway, casting surreptitious glances toward what She'hekha assumed must be the older Kana's rooms. By the time he reached She'hekha he was panting slightly, and he offered a tentative smile; She'hekha didn't have the heart to tell him how foolish he was, if this was how he tended to greet strangers.

"Yes, Lord...?" he panted.

She'hekha's nostrils flared. "I am hardly 'Lord.' I'm not even of your tribe, in case you didn't realize."

The private shook his head. "Oh--I know, Lord. Tas--um--I was told what happened at the gate. You are one of the River Tribe lieutenants--?"

"I am actually of the Yellow Sands Tribe. Lieutenant She'hekha."

"Private Ri'hus," the other Kana said, and smiled again. She'hekha had to bite his lip not to make some sort of pissy comment; it would have been far too easy, and probably would have gone over the youth's head anyway. With a small sigh he waved at him and started walking.

"I have this jar of wine, and an hour or so with nothing to do. It appears I am under house arrest and cannot even set foot outside to find something to pass the time, so I guess you are the next best thing."

"I...I really should be back in my rooms..." She'hekha glanced back at him as he hesitated, chewing his lip again, but as soon as he saw the way the older Kana arched his brow his face lit up and he hurried to catch up with him again. "But--well--I suppose a tiny time away will not hurt too much..."

"That captain keeps you chained up in your room?" She'hekha inquired.

Ri'hus flushed. "Of--of course not! He is my sponsor, that's all. He is also training me."

"A sponsor, hm? You are without a father then?"

"No--" Ri'hus flushed, then ducked his head. "Um...I mean...yes."

She'hekha looked back at him. Ri'hus kept his head lowered, wings hunched; She'hekha's mouth twitched and he turned away again.

"Do not worry," he said. "I know the feeling."

Ri'hus peered up at him again. They reached the north courtyard and stepped out into it; She'hekha could see his own room from here, but decided it might be best to keep the youth from seeing Ze'thet; the private had probably never even set eyes on a female before. She'hekha broke the seal on the jar and took a drink, then passed it to Ri'hus; the private blinked, then accepted the jar and took a drink of his own. He sputtered and coughed.

She'hekha's mouth twitched again. "I take it you are not used to palm wine."

Ri'hus flushed and wiped at his mouth, looking embarrassed as he handed the jar back. "I...I am used to...d-date wine, Lord," he hiccupped.

She'hekha shrugged and took a drink. "It is an acquired taste, I suppose." He set the jar down and wiped his own mouth. "So. I take it you have lived here all your life."

Ri'hus looked up at him with a puzzled frown. "Well...yes. Why, Lord...?"

The lieutenant shook his head. "I merely ask because I am bored out of my skull, and was wondering if you had any interesting things to share about this tribe. Do not be too flattered," he said, when the private cocked his head. "You are merely the first person I met after I acquired this wine, and I have not much taken to the officers around here."

"Oh." The poor Kana didn't even seem to be aware that he'd just been insulted; he rubbed at his ear, then shrugged. "Very well then...though I do not gossip so much, and not many people tell me things...I've spent a lot of time here lately, and not outside..."

"A cooped-up bird can still hear things. There is anything you can tell me about anyone here? That captain of yours, for example. What is his name? He seemed very pissy."

Ri'hus's mouth popped open. "He--he is not pissy! That is Captain Tas'hukh! He is an elite! He promised to train me after my--after I lost my funding. He just looks out for me, this is all."

She'hekha nodded and didn't bother asking when the two of them might decide to have nesakh'ai together; that, too, would be too easy. Perhaps the boy didn't even know what nesakh'ai was yet. "Very well. Your general, then. Mahakhi. Know you anything about him?" When Ri'hus just gave him a blank look She'hekha waved at him. "Do not put much thought into it. Should I ask after someone, just say the first thing that comes to your mind. Rather like a game. What can you tell me about Mahakhi-Kana?"

Ri'hus furrowed his brow. "Mahakhi-Kana--? Well--he has plenty of females, I know. How he even keeps track of them all, I have no clue."

She'hekha blinked, then started laughing. Ri'hus blushed and lowered his head but the lieutenant merely waved at him again. "No--this is exactly what I meant. Good! I will toss out another one and you will tell me what you know. Those two lieutenants of the general's--the yappity one and the uptight one."

"You mean Lord Nehef and Lord Ahai'ikh--?"

She'hekha nodded. "These are the ones. What can you tell me about them?"

"Well..." Ri'hus looked thoughtful, then lifted his head again. "Well, Lord Nehef--he is always harping on poor Ahai'ikh to go out and get soused, or find a female, with him, yet I can hardly ever see him with a female in his company--and Lord Ahai'ikh, I do not think he even allows himself the time for a female, he is always so busy doing things..." She'hekha started cackling with laughter and the private trailed off. The lieutenant took a drink and waved him on.

"Go on! Who else here do you know? Just toss out a name, I am not so well acquainted as you."

"Well..." Ri'hus's face screwed up as he thought. "There is Lord Resikh...he always hangs about with Lord Djuta, and his family is quite well off, and he helped me in the barracks once...there is Tefkha, my barracks lieutenant, but he does not live here, and I have not seen him in a while, since he is always out in the taverns drinking and going off with the men...there is Lieutenant Hiath'ikh, who serves Mahakhi, but he is even more strict than Ahai'ikh is, and frets over everything..."

She'hekha sipped the wine. "Know you anything else? Come on, there must be something. You have yet to much mention Lord Djuta. Surely he has some interesting things about him?" Ri'hus lowered his head again, eyes shifting to the side and fingers fiddling; She'hekha cocked his head to the side. "Come now, there must be something. What was this business with a 'female'--? I heard his general speaking to him not so kindly."

"Oh. You must mean Khetai-Moru." Ri'hus lifted his head again. "She was a Moru Lord Djuta got in some trouble with...you see, she had pretended she was a Kana, for several years..." She'hekha gawked, then started laughing again "...and once everyone found out, they were quite upset, and Djuta vowed to take her as his mate..."

"I know you are leaving plenty of things out," She'hekha had to keep from sputtering.

Ri'hus shrugged. "It was quite a large affair! I was rather wrapped up in my own things at the time, as well. I do not know all the details!"

"Come now, tell me how this Moru got Lord Djuta into such trouble with the general. Did the general want her for his own collection--?"

Ri'hus scowled. "Of course he did not! It was quite the opposite! He was very angry with her. I have never seen anyone so angry except for--um..." He paused, then went on, apparently hoping that She'hekha hadn't noticed. "Lord Djuta had just been found not guilty, but he stepped forward then, and--"

"Wait a minute!" She'hekha waved his hands at the air. "Now I KNOW you are skipping details! 'Found not guilty'--? What sort of stuff is that?"

Ri'hus flushed. "I do not like gossiping!" he exclaimed, but the lieutenant gave him such a look that he cringed. "It--it was a big affair anyway. Anyone else could tell you if you ask!"

"But you are not 'anyone else,' and right now I am not inclined to give up your company so easily," She'hekha said, and Ri'hus sank in on himself miserably. "Come on now, either way I will learn it somehow. There was some sort of trial here? I take it Djuta and this Khetai-Moru were involved--?"

Ri'hus nodded even as he kept his head low.

She'hekha put his hands on his knees. "Come on now, what was it? Who was on trial and for what?"

Ri'hus sighed. "Khetai-Moru--for impersonating a Kana, of course. There was a sergeant there named U'heta, for going after Khetai-Moru, and Lord Djuta was there for--for going after U'heta-Kana, after U'heta went after Khetai."

"He was on trial for saving this Moru from attack?"

The private shook his head. "No, he pled guilty to this--"

"Then of what was he found not guilty?"

Ri'hus looked stricken, then his face went brilliant red; She'hekha had to pause. It looked as if he wanted to drown himself in the pool. "It was nothing," he said at last. "Which is why he was found not guilty. Must we go over this?"

She'hekha arched an eyebrow, but didn't press the point. Judging by the youth's look, and his build, and what few details he'd given of himself so far--the fact that he had been helped in the barracks by Djuta's friend, and had lost his funding, and now had a private sponsor--the lieutenant believed he could fill in the blanks. How odd, that he had not sensed such a feeling from the other lieutenant. "Very well. I am more interested in this Moru business anyway. Why on the earth is it that he took her for his mate--?"

Ri'hus let out his breath. "He did not want them to sell her to just any Kana, from what I gather--so he vowed to take her for himself. The tribunal would not allow it unless he took her as his mate, so she would have to bear him a pup." He lifted his head. "She had one year from the time of the trial...it has been a little while now. I do not know how they are doing. But Mahakhi-Kana was furious. Lord Djuta had not told him immediately once he found out her identity. Supposedly he was trying to protect her."

She'hekha ran his claw along the edge of the jar. A Kana who attacked a private, then tried to save a female...interesting. He took a sip of wine. "Your general has things against Kana who try to set wrongs right?" he inquired. When Ri'hus gave him a blank look he waved toward the household. "This issue with this U'heta fellow--I take it that had some bearing on the affair?"

Ri'hus shrugged. "I do not know all the details...merely that U'heta-Kana found out about her...and was attempting to punish her, but Lord Djuta stopped him...but apparently he was not so quick to fill anyone in on what was truly going on...I mean, she was female, and no one even knew..."

"Your general and Lord Djuta do not seem to care for each other overmuch."

"Oh, this is not the issue at all, Lord!" Ri'hus shook his head adamantly. "Lord Djuta is one of Mahakhi-Kana's best men! Mahakhi-Kana cannot hate him. But I do feel he is exasperated a lot of the time, especially regarding Khetai-Moru, for I can imagine how it would feel to be fooled for so long..."

"I can imagine," She'hekha echoed, taking another swallow and then setting the jar down. He stretched his wings. "Well--I certainly do not wish to drag up more bad feelings. And your captain is probably wondering about you by now." Ri'hus glanced up with a blink, then looked back over his shoulder. "I will just take the rest of this back to my room if you do not want another sip." The private shook his head, so he stood, and the younger Kana followed suit. "And then we may all be on our way." Ri'hus nodded this time, and they started walking back toward the hallway. "Surely your Mahakhi-Kana has more patience than this, to let such a trivial affair bother him so," the lieutenant mused aloud as they walked. "One would think he has a grudge against his own Kana."

"This is not the case at all, Lord, it is just that Lord Djuta has somewhat unfortunate luck lately, and had an issue with another Moru some time past."

"Another female--?"

Ri'hus shook his head. "Oh no, Lord--a male. I do not know much. But he supposedly killed one of the Kana, who worked for Tas'hukh-Kana, and he is also supposedly the one who ran off to conspire with the River Tribe against us. From what I hear he and Lord Djuta shared words, then the next thing we all know, he is being killed in battle. Perhaps Mahakhi-Kana is sore about this still."

I take it that more than words were shared, She'hekha thought, but said nothing of it. "Quite interesting," he murmured instead. "Well, far be it from me to keep you from your sponsor. Thank you for an entertaining evening."

Ri'hus bobbed his head and blushed. "You--you're welcome, Lord. Please enjoy your stay!" He turned and jogged off through the household before She'hekha could even arch a brow at the comment. He took a drink of the wine and snorted.

"'Please enjoy your stay'...please enjoy your sponsor sticking himself in you, whenever he should so choose."

He snorted again at this, mildly amused by the image, before wandering back toward his quarters. He found Ze'thet lying exactly as he'd left her, though her breathing had become more pronounced. He considered setting the wine aside for now and seeking out one of the better taverns, just to piss off the lieutenant, then reconsidered. They would be full of other Kana by now. He much preferred not to get too cozy in the heart of the enemy's territory.

A soft moan interrupted his thoughts, and he turned to see the Moru moving slightly. She moaned again as consciousness slowly came back to her, and She'hekha went to stand beside her, staring down into her face. He swirled the cup of wine he'd poured himself and sipped at it while she lifted one hand to groggily rub at her eyes. After a moment or two she finally opened them, and, seeing his shadow looming over her, blinked a few times, squinting.

She'hekha's mouth twitched. "Sleep well, pretty one?" He took another sip of wine.

Ze'thet stared up at him for another moment, eyes wide. She seemed so genuinely confused as to how she might have gotten here that he truly didn't expect it when she shrieked and lunged up at him, knocking the cup from his hand and sending it flying across the room. He had just enough time to look surprised before she was upon him, clawing and screaming and punching. Her weight carried them to the floor and She'hekha landed with a crash, the splinters of one of the room's many boxes gouging at his arm. He hissed and held both of them up to ward off her blows, but she was too quick for him. She lashed out at his face and just missed hitting him in the eye before he could finally grab hold of her wrist.

That was the easy part. It wasn't so easy to try to get to his feet and subdue her. She still had one hand free, and used this to her advantage, circling and hopping beyond his reach, hissing and lunging out every so often. He couldn't defend himself without letting her go, so she managed to strike him a good number of times. As diverting as that might have been, it hadn't been exactly what She'hekha had had in mind for the evening. He swept forward and grasped her other wrist, bringing her arms up in front of her. With that he dragged her back toward the bed and dumped her down onto it, pinning her down with his own weight. She hissed and struggled, looking far angrier than frightened; he just barely managed to grasp both of her wrists in one hand, and kept them pressed down above her head. Ze'thet merely bared her teeth and let out a feral sound unlike anything he'd ever heard a Moru utter before.

He hadn't even noticed, until now that he had the chance to, how excited he already was. It had happened quickly, but that was all that was needed; he hadn't even been planning on doing anything just yet, but he didn't much mind the change of plans. His breath came fast in his throat, and not just from the brief struggle; with his free hand he now reached down and worked at his kilt, fumbling to pull it up and then likewise struggling with his loincloth. A sharp, throbbing ache pulsed between his legs, begging for release. Ze'thet noticed the motion, and her eyes finally showed a trace of fear. For the briefest moment, She'hekha was disappointed.

Then she lunged upward and sank her teeth into his ear.

"AAAGGGHHH!!" She'hekha yelled. He yanked his head back and tried to shake her loose, but she wouldn't let go; tears shot into his eyes and he just barely managed to see the smirk on her face before he shut them and ground his teeth in agony. He had to use his free hand to strike her in the shoulder, driving her back; but even as he did so he could hear a sickening tearing sound, and when Ze'thet fell back to the bed her mouth was lined crimson. She snarled silently and the look in her eyes was now triumphant; he could see bits of flesh in her teeth.

She'hekha transferred her wrists to his other hand and reached up to touch his ear. He winced as he pulled his fingers away and found them red with blood. He stared at his glistening fingertips for a moment or two, panting harshly, eyes wide. Her teeth had torn right through flesh and cartilage, mutilating his ear. He could feel the blood begin to well up and trickle down the side of his face, and his breath came harder. His hand started to shake and he looked down at Ze'thet.

Her own triumphant look now faded into uncertainty, as if she questioned the intelligence of her actions; he felt her muscles tense in preparation, right before he lunged down at her.

Ze'thet's mouth opened and she looked ready to shriek. Instead she gasped with surprise when She'hekha's muzzle met her neck, his teeth scoring against her flesh. He sucked at the hollow where her neck met her shoulder, then moved across her throat, a heated growl rising in his own. She lay still for a moment, too startled to react, before he reached down to drag her dress up her legs. Then her fighting instincts came back, and she began to scream and kick in a rage.

No matter how strong or well trained she might be, She'hekha was still stronger. He ground his knee into her thigh to keep her from squirming away, then knocked her other leg aside with his other knee. Her increased struggles only fueled him on; his tail swished like a whip and his wings fanned the air, musk thick, as he finished loosening and pulling off his loincloth. He hitched his kilt up over his hips, baring himself, panting heavily at her ear; he surged forward and Ze'thet squinched her eyes shut, turning her head aside and steeling herself for his inevitable entry.

She'hekha's hips met hers and he grunted, gnawing at her neck again and pumping furiously. Ze'thet only continued cringing and again he was disappointed by her reaction; it was only after a moment had passed that one of her eyes opened, then the other, and she turned her head toward him slightly, giving him a baffled look.

The Kana grinned, his breath coming harsh in his throat. "What is the matter--?" he rasped. "Have you suddenly turned from a lioness into a mewling pussycat--? I thought I paid for a better Moru than that."

She appeared to understand what he was doing, now, and her fury returned tenfold. With an enraged scream she bucked upwards at him, flailing and struggling and shoving. She still couldn't get him off, but she was certainly trying. Pleased, he pressed his muzzle once more to her neck, and continued thrusting between her legs, giving a low growl of pleasure.

One of Ze'thet's hands slipped free--or did he let it slip free? Either way, her claws raked across his face as soon as he lifted his head, and again he yelled; again she had just missed his eye, though she laid open the skin of his cheek, a wound to match the one already done to his ear. While he was tending to that she slipped one leg free and kneed him in the testicles, knocking the wind from his lungs; he gasped and wheezed, bowing over her, his groin on fire. She let out a weird sound that might have been a laugh or a bark; but he didn't give her the chance to struggle loose. Indeed, although now he was in excruciating pain, his excitement only grew; panting harshly, he pinned her arms down hard to prevent her from clawing him again, and joined his hips to hers, thrusting and grunting rapidly. Ze'thet hissed and squirmed and bared her teeth at him but could do little else until he was done.

She'hekha felt the liquid fire inside him that indicated his release was near, and with one last grunt tilted his head forward, hunching his wings, and pressed his hips to Ze'thet's. She hissed and went rigid; his thighs tensed and his buttocks quivered as he released, his seed spilling in the hollow between her legs to dampen the bed below.

Whether she was still iat'ah or not, she remained, at least in one manner, untouched.

She'hekha let out his breath as his flow ceased and sank down over her, but just for a minute. She lay panting as well, and he couldn't be certain if his climax had excited her or not. It didn't matter. After she had recovered from her surprise at not being violated--at least not in the way that she had expected--she began anew to struggle and hiss, snapping at him in the strange tongue peculiar to her tribe, a mix of Kana and Moru and Kemeti jumbled together so as to be almost incomprehensible. Still, he felt he could understand the general meaning of it.

"Swine! Filth! Scum-eating dog! Filthy swine!"

She'hekha lifted his head and smirked at her, his breath still slowing. Ze'thet was absolutely outraged. She fought the whole time he pulled his kilt and her dress back down and sat up, still clasping her wrists and bringing her up with him, away from the bed; he pressed his free hand against his cheek and flinched, pulling his fingers away. He peered at her and saw the hatred in her eyes before licking the blood from his fingertips and smirking at her.

"Not quite so disappointing as I'd thought you might be," he commented.

Her muzzle wrinkled and her ears flared back. "Little pussy!" she snapped in return, and he found himself surprised that she could speak Kana. "What is wrong, your cock is so small you could not find your way in--?"

She'hekha started laughing; she flinched, then scowled when she realized that he wasn't hitting her yet. "Thekheni-Kana was ripped off," he managed to get out. "You should have cost far more than a few silver rings."

Ze'thet hissed and clacked her teeth together, making him jerk back. "Prick! Will show you how much I should cost!"

With this she started fighting again, and it took everything he had this time just to keep her wrists in his grip; she wasn't as big as he was, and didn't have wings, but every bit of her wiry frame seemed to be solid muscle as she thrashed against him. Her snarling noises sounded just like a mad cat getting its tail pulled and he started laughing again as they fought.

"Truthfully, I do not want to take you at least until I have you within the comfort of my own quarters--on neutral or friendly ground. It's unwise to grow too comfortable in such a place, you should know."

"Do not care what the hell you cum-drinkers do with each other!" she snarled. "Go jerk off one of your Kana-lovers if you want comfort!"

He pulled on her arms to keep her from making her way across and over the bed. "Now, now. Don't you know what becomes of Moru who do not watch their tongues--?"

"Don't you know what becomes of Kana who do not watch their balls--?" she retorted, and twisted herself up onto her haunches, bringing her knee down at his lap. It ground against him and She'hekha's eyes nearly fell from his head, his mouth flying open and a pained wheeze escaping him; he accidentally let go of her this time, and she jumped from the bed--a second later a box met his head with a deafening crash. She'hekha had to grab at the bedpost to keep from collapsing backward, his vision blurring and breaking apart and then coming together again; he blinked and shook his head dizzily, feeling his skull start to throb. He managed just barely to get to his feet, staggering to the side before regaining his balance; Ze'thet stood a few paces away, wielding another box, her face positively ugly. He had to blink a few more times since for a moment he could have sworn there were two of her.

He winced and put a hand to his head. "You are beginning to grow tiresome," he muttered, trying to shake away the throbbing. The pain in his groin returned and he grimaced and nearly doubled over.

The Moru just snorted and smirked. "Maybe so--want something different?" She dropped the box and dug around in it; while she was bent over he started stumbling toward her, reaching out for her arm to grab onto her again before she could find something else to drop on his head. As much as he didn't mind what she'd done so far, there was only so much one could take.

He didn't get to grab hold of her in time before she jerked back, jumping up again and flinging her arm at him; She'hekha's ears pricked and his eyes grew when something bit into his arm, and he yelped and drew it back, rubbing at the welt which had arisen there. He blinked at it in confusion, then looked up again, just in time for the Moru to bare her teeth and fling her arm at him again--this time he saw the whip she held in her hand, and it sailed through the air, licking at the side of his face and stinging like a hornet, letting out a crack like the sound of a branch snapping.

She'hekha's eyes goggled, his pupils dilating, and he jerked back from her, nearly stumbling into the bed. He tripped in the sheets and fell to the floor, scrabbling his feet and trying to pull himself back up. The Moru blinked at the look on his face, her own eyes surprised, before slowly grinning and lifting the whip again; her teeth glittered redly.

"What's the matter?" she taunted in a singsong voice. "Afraid of a little lashing...?"

She flailed it at him again; he raised his arm and the lash bit into it this time, making him yelp. Ze'thet started laughing as she continued cracking the whip, even after he'd managed to get to his feet and stumble around the foot of the bed. She even followed him, cackling loudly; the whip snapped across his back, and even though he was still wearing his armor, he could feel its sting as clear as day, and cried out again, falling hard onto one knee. The Moru finally came to a staggering halt, almost doubling over, she was laughing so hard.

"Pussycat, pussycat!" she crowed. "Little pussy pussycat! Pussywhipped--!"

She lifted the lash and flung it forward. It sliced through the air, straight down at She'hekha's wings--but his arm shot out and his fingers curled around it even as the leather cut into his palm, and he twisted it around his knuckles, yanking on it hard. Ze'thet's laugh cut off and she gasped, stumbling forward; her head popped up just in time to see the look on his face, and she blinked again. She'hekha lifted his own head and his eyes were livid, yet his muzzle twisted into an ugly smile, his tusks jutting and glinting; a second later he shot to his feet and gave the whip a great wrench, yanking her toward him. She was too surprised to even let go of it, and fell against him; he grasped her wrist in one hand, nearly making her drop the whip, and then grabbed hold of the other. Ze'thet gawked, then started struggling.

She'hekha let out an odd huffing noise that might have been laughter. "Thekheni was ripped off," he said, his voice coming out as a harsh rattling whisper, "you were worth every ring"--and before she could react to what was going on, he had thrown her down onto the bed again, wrenching the whip free and using it to tether her arms above her head. The Moru gaped up at him in astonishment before even thinking of trying to break free, and she did so only halfheartedly, her former fury gone--but by now She'hekha didn't much care. As she tried pulling her wrists loose he at last tore off his kilt and unfastened his armor, tossing it aside so he knelt over her naked; she saw his sheath, swollen both with pain and with lust, and her face went brilliant red before she shut her eyes tight and fought against the whip even harder.

"Cocksucker!" she screamed, her voice cracking with what might have been fear. "Cum-drinking whore!!"

She'hekha let out the huffing noise again and bent down over her, grazing his claws against her face so that she grimaced. "Do you know who else once called me that--?" he whispered, his voice hoarse but amused; she shook like a leaf but managed to open her eyes and glare up at him. He smirked. "There are only two Apsiu who have ever made me feel this way--and you are one of them." He sat up on his haunches, and, grasping her shoulder, rolled her over onto her belly. Ze'thet tensed, then started growling and struggling; the lieutenant pinned her thigh down again with his knee and clutched her hips, straddling her so his shaft pressed down between her tight buttocks. She tensed again but then resumed her screaming and thrashing, her teeth gnashing in rage while he panted and moved heavily upon her, knees bent and head hanging forward in concentration. He went quickly this time, he was so heated with excitement; after perhaps twenty minutes or so he shivered and came again, pulling up to spurt over her back. he couldn't be certain, but he thought he felt her tense in return, a slight gasp escaping her; he would have laughed, had he had the energy to. As it was, all he could do was let out a guttural groan and let her go, rolling off onto his own back, the two of them lying still and catching their breath. He wasn't certain if she had truly enjoyed it after all, or if her response had been purely physical. Whichever it was, he found he didn't really care much by now; the blows she had dealt to his groin and to his head were beginning to hurt again, now that his excitement had passed, and he hardly felt like thinking it over for too long.

While she was still lying spent and panting, he sat up and fished beside the bed for his loincloth, wincing slightly as he tied it back on; it wouldn't do for anyone to step in and find him completely naked. He did reach out to pull the Moru's dress back down; she growled and bared her teeth at him, but he didn't mind, though he did make certain that she was tied loosely enough to turn herself over should she have to, yet tightly enough so that she would not kill him in his sleep--hopefully. He was yawning already, their struggles having worn him out; he stood up, stretching, then made a face and rubbed at the back of his head. It was only then that he remembered his wounds, and stepped to the waterbowl to lean over and look at them. She had slashed his cheek open, and the top half of his right ear was torn ragged beyond repair. He frowned; from the corner of his eye he saw Ze'thet curl in on herself, slightly.

She'hekha merely stood straight again, cupping his hands in the water and splashing it against his face, then pouring some over his groin and shuddering at the sting as it soaked through his loincloth. He sought out a jug of beer--it must have been left by one of the lieutenants--and poured some onto a cloth, pressing it to his tattered ear with a wince and a sigh. He looked at the Moru and the look on her face was indescribable. His mouth twitched.

"I suppose I shall give the physician something to look forward to in the morning, shall I not, pretty one?"

Ze'thet blinked at him. She'hekha set the bloodied cloth aside in favor of a strip of linen, binding his ear as best as he could until morning, or whenever he could have it tended to. He approached the bed and again the female curled up, cringing as if in expectation of a blow; the Kana simply lay down beside her, yawning and flexing one wing a bit before settling in, blowing out the nearest lamp, and shutting his eyes. A short while passed, and his breathing became slow and regular, his wings sinking in sleep. The room went silent.

Ze'thet stared at him for a little while longer, as if expecting a trap. When a half hour passed and he still hadn't moved, she finally allowed herself to relax, just a bit. She eyed the scars lining his back and knew that pain probably meant very little to this one. Trying to kill him in his sleep would not likely be a wise idea.

She decided to wait until morning.

With that thought, Ze'thet too allowed her eyes to close, and, wrinkling her nose against the scent of him, lapsed into sleep herself.

Continue:

"Part 51: Fury" 


Please REVIEW if you rate.
Please DO NOT rate if you won't review.
Thank you!

This item is NOT looking for literary critique. I already understand spelling/grammar, and any style choices I make are my own. Likewise, I am NOT seeking publication, so suggestions on how to make this publishable are not being sought.

This item IS looking for people who are simply interested in reading, especially in long/multipart stories, and who like to comment frequently. My primary intent is to entertain others, so if you read this and find it entertaining, please let me know so and let me know why.

If in the course of enjoying the story you do find something that you feel could use improvement, feel free to bring it up. Just know that that's not my primary purpose in posting this here.

If you have any questions about the story or anything within it, feel free to ask.

I do hope you enjoy! :)