Pursued (25 page)

“Are you related to them on your father’s side or your mother’s side?” Elise asked, trying to make conversation.

Merrick gave her a level look. “Why should you care? It’s not like you’ll ever see them—or me—again, after we get done with this.”

“Merrick, I’m
sorry.”
Elise longed to explain to him why she was doing what she was doing, but she couldn’t. Any explanation would require talking about the past and she desperately didn’t want to do that. “I’m sorry,” she said again. “But I
do
care. Please tell me.”

“Fine.” He blew out a breath and ran one large hand over his skull-cut hair. “They’re my father’s kin. His older brothers. They tried to get my mother to stay here after he died but she wouldn’t—she wanted to go back to her home planet of Tranq Prime. I met up with them again when I left there. I stayed here on Rageron for a while, but it’s been years since I saw them last.” He frowned at her. “Now you know a piece of my past. Want to tell me a piece of yours in return?”

Elise shook her head. “No,” she said in a small voice.

“Didn’t think so.” He looked her up and down. “You’re gonna want to change out of those ridiculous clothes, you know. We’re going into the fucking jungle and it’s going to be Goddess-damned hot. You’ll sweat to death in a second in those. Why did you even put them on in the first place?”

Elise bit her lip. How could she explain that she’d put on the least revealing clothes she could find? The set that Olivia’s sister, Sophia, had given her on the off chance they wound up going to a colder world like Tranq Prime?
“When you’re with a Kindred, you never can tell where you might end up,
she’d told Elise, smiling. And her words were already proving to be true. Elise knew where they were geographically, but emotionally, she was utterly, hopelessly lost. She’d put on the clothes to reveal less, to keep from tempting both Merrick and herself to repeat what had happened the night before.

“Never mind.” Merrick’s face grew hard when she didn’t answer him. “I think I can guess why you put them on. But it’s pointless, baby—I’ve already seen it all, remember?”

With that he turned his back and strode away, leaving her to wonder what the hell she was supposed to wear to go out into the jungle and how she was going to manage a week with him, when they were at each other’s throats all the time.

“Shuura, Tongs, it’s Goddess-damned good to see you two!” Merrick enveloped his kin in a warm embrace, pounding them on their backs with a fist to show his delight.

The brothers of his father returned the embrace, their golden eyes glowing with fierce joy.

“We thought never to see you again after you left, Merrick.” Shuura, the older of the two spoke quietly. “What brings you back to Rageron after so many years?”

Merrick opened his mouth, trying to think of a way to explain without actually giving anything away, but he was rescued by Tongs.

“Well, he just couldn’t stay away from us. Could you, you little bastard?” It was an affectionate insult which he’d used back when Merrick actually was small compared to the brothers of his father. Now he towered over both of them by more than a foot. But Tongs’ grip on his upper arm was as strong as ever.

It reminded Merrick of when he was a boy and Tongs would challenge him to an arm-wrestling match. He would grunt and strain and gasp and then finally declare that Merrick was just too strong for him and let him win. Merrick had only been a very young child at the time but the game had always delighted him. And he found he was just as delighted to see his kin now, even after so many years had passed.

“Would you introduce us to your female?” Shuura asked and Merrick turned to see Elise standing there at the end of the short gangplank, which extended from the ship like a tongue. She was wearing a much more reasonable outfit—a short dress with straps that went over her shoulders and left her arms bare and a slight pair of open toed sandals. Merrick frowned when he saw those—he’d have to find her some more protective footwear before they went into the Deep Blue. The razor grass would cut her feet to ribbons if she wore those ridiculous things she had on now.

“This is Elise,” he said, lifting a hand toward her. “And she’s not exactly my female but she
is
under my protection.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Elise said in a soft voice. She stepped forward, holding out her hand. Tongs took it at once and rubbed his cheek against it in the traditional Rageron greeting. He inhaled deeply as he did so. When he released her hand, he raised an eyebrow at Merrick.

“Not your female, hmm? Then why is your scent all over her?”

“It’s a long story,” Merrick growled, feeling a bit less delighted to see his kin. Tongs always had been one to speak his mind.

“And one which should be saved for another time, I’m certain.” Shuura took Elise’s hand and made the same formal greeting. Then he smiled at her. “I hope you’re hungry, my dear. Tongs and I have spent the day cooking and we have a feast fit for a starving
yager
laid out back at our dwelling.”

“That sounds delightful.” Elise gave him a faint smile. “As a matter of fact, I
am
rather hungry.”

“Well then, what are we waiting for?” Tongs stepped forward and bowed from the waist, offering his hand.

Elise took it and then gasped in surprise when he immediately swung her up to sit on one of his broad shoulders. “Oh my!” She looked back at Merrick uncertainly. “Um…is this…is he supposed to…”

“Be at ease, my dear,” Shuura said, nodding at her gravely. “Tongs is merely showing you respect.”

“Shuura’s right,” Merrick said, even though the sight of Elise touching another male—even his own kin, in a completely harmless way—made his jaw clench and his stomach tight. “It’s the way they treat honored female guests here on Rageron. Your feet won’t be allowed to touch the ground until we reach their dwelling.”

“Well…” Elise looked down at Tongs who was grinning up at her. “If you don’t think I’m too heavy…”

He laughed. “Too heavy? Of course not—why, you’re
tiny
.”

Merrick saw the sudden blush that colored Elise’s cheeks and felt his heart clench like a fist. Those had been almost his exact words to her the night before, when he’d invited her to climb up and lie on him. For a moment their eyes met and he knew she was remembering too, was reliving that warm, intimate moment when their bodies and souls had touched and held, when their hearts had been perfectly aligned…

Then she turned quickly and settled herself more firmly on Tongs’ shoulder and the moment was gone. Merrick sighed as they tramped through the blue-green grass at the edge of the landing field back in the direction of town.
Gods, what a mess…

Irritated with himself for his misery, he tried to forget about his conflict with Elise and renew his acquaintance with the planet he had once called home. Everything looked the same as when he’d left it—wild and untamed. The people of Rageron weren’t great builders—they believed in changing the natural environment as little as possible. Which was why the path to the town zigzagged around trees and boulders rather than running in a straight line. And why several of the houses had trees growing out through the middle of their roofs.

This was a time-honored Rageron tradition. If a sapling took root in the floor of a dwelling, it wasn’t pulled up and killed. Instead, it was watered and, when it grew tall enough, a hole was cut in the roof to accommodate it. Such a house was considered to be blessed by the Goddess and also the lesser jungle gods, and was much envied by others.

The town was surrounded by all three sides by the jungle and on the fourth it was edged by a wide, murmuring purple-blue river. The vegetation was mostly dusky gray-blue or pale sky-blue with a few lavender and light green flowers. Even the dirt underfoot had a bluish cast to it as did the sunlight flooding down from Rageron’s sun which was a blue dwarf star.

Merrick heard Elise and Tongs murmuring together and saw the brother of his father pointing out the houses with trees growing out of them. No doubt he was acquainting her with the local culture and explaining Rageron customs. His hands clenched into fists at his sides.
I should be doing that. She ought to be riding on
my
shoulder.
But by disavowing her as his female, he had automatically relinquished that right. There was nothing he could do but walk silently behind and try not to listen.

“So,” Shuura murmured, breaking the silence. “Do you want to tell me why you’re actually here, Merrick? I’m guessing it isn’t because you missed this place—you were always restless on Rageron.”

Merrick sighed. “I’m restless
everywhere
because I don’t fucking belong
anywhere
. As to why we’re here…” He took a deep breath. It would have been nice to be able to keep his purpose from his kin but he would need their help if the mission was to succeed. “As to why I’m here with Elise, it’s because we need to go into the Deep Blue and bring back a
skrillix
branch.”

“What?” Shuura gave him a look that plainly said he must have lost his mind. “You want to take an unmated female into the Deep Blue and try to rob the Ancient Ones of their most sacred plant?”

“Nobody said anything about robbing,” Merrick growled. “I’ll pay my respects and honor their customs.”

“But you don’t know what that might entail,” Shuura protested. “You may be tested. They may even demand a sacrifice of pain. What will you do about that?”

Merrick rubbed his jaw wearily. “I’ll do whatever I have to do. I’ll take their test and give them what they want. I know it’s dangerous, Shuura, but I
have
to do it.”

The brother of his father shook his head. “Very well. Then Tongs and I will do our best to help you.”

“Thanks.” Merrick nodded gratefully. He was glad his kin hadn’t asked why he needed the sacred plant—that would have been a bit too awkward to explain. He fixed his eyes on Elise again, swaying gracefully as she rode on Tongs’ shoulder, and tried not to think about what the next step of their adventure might bring.

* * * * *

Elise was charmed by the small jungle town and she had a bird’s eye view of it, riding as she was on Merrick’s uncle’s shoulder. Tongs was an excellent guide, pointing out local landmarks and giving her tidbits of town gossip until she forgot to feel awkward about her precarious perch and just enjoyed the ride.

She was glad she’d changed clothes as Merrick had suggested. The air was warm and muggy and the pale blue sunshine was hot on her bare shoulders. Everything seemed to have a bluish cast to it, from the quaint thatched houses—some with trees growing out of their roofs—to the jungle itself, which surrounded the town like a loosely cupped hand.

Here and there, Elise saw the other inhabitants—all with the same black hair and golden eyes as Merrick’s uncles. There seemed to be more males than females, which she supposed was usual in any Kindred settlement. Their clothing was simple, yet beautiful—a loose, open weave which appeared to be made from some kind of plant fiber.

The garments reminded Elise of macramé and most were the same blue-gray as the rest of the jungle though some had been dyed other, more brilliant colors. She wondered what they thought of her own red sundress and matching sandals. Most of them seemed to be wearing some kind of tough leather boots, maybe for tramping in the jungle.

“Well, here we are.” Tongs came to a stop in front of a tall house with not one but
two
trees growing through the roof—one coming out of each end of the long structure. The thick blue-gray trunks poked through the thatch, reaching for the sky. Their branches were covered in jewel-like greenish blue leaves so large Elise could easily have used one for a blanket.

“Wow,” she said, honestly impressed. “This is
amazing
.”

“Our house has been doubly blessed by the Goddess.” Tongs smiled up at her, his white teeth glinting in his dark face. “And now that
you’re
here, my lady fair, we can count ourselves triply blessed.”

“Very nice, Tongs,” Merrick growled behind them. “But the tour’s over—you can put Elise down.”

“Not until we cross the threshold. Duck,” Tongs said, glancing up at Elise as he opened the rustic wooden door.

She did, but she didn’t have to duck very far. The doorway was high—built on a Kindred scale, just like the ship they’d traveled in to Rageron.

Inside, the house was nothing like what she’d expected. Elise had been sure the interior would be rough and unfinished—like a grass hut or a log cabin. Instead, the house had a natural grace and charm that surprised and pleased her.

On the floor was what looked like a soft blue-green carpet. But when she looked closer, Elise saw it was actually a blanket of tiny flowers and closely clipped grass. The blue-gray trunk of one of the trees that pierced the roof was situated in the middle of the living area and she noted that its branches had been clipped short, probably to keep them from filling the entire room.

The walls were smooth and pale blue and the furniture appeared to have been made from the horns and hides of animals. There were no pictures on the wall although she did see a ferocious looking animal head that looked like a cross between a bear and a bobcat with two-foot long fangs. It was mounted over the archway that appeared to lead to the kitchen and dining area. From where she was, Elise could see the trunk of the second tree was located there. It looked like a circular table had been built around it, making it a focal part of the dining room.
It looks like a hunting lodge,
she thought.
Or some kind of bachelor pad.
Indeed, there was a distinctly masculine feel to the space. For the first time, she wondered if Merrick’s uncles lived alone. And if so, why?

After allowing her a long look around, Tongs set her down gently and knelt before her. “Be at ease, my lady fair,” he murmured, looking up at her. “May I remove your shoes?”