The Last Sundancer (11 page)

Kaichen knew a moment of defeat as the sandstorm whipped around them.  Antuk shouted as he called out words that were now indecipherable.  Kaichen could no longer hear his own thoughts, every action was instinctive, visceral and wild.  

He felt the wildness that lived inside of him take over the man that he had become.   He knew a moment where he was not in control at all, but controlled
solely by the instinct to survive. 

He forced his horse to turn and they ran parallel to the storm.  Sand blinded him
as his horse screamed and Antuk shouted only to have his words swept away by the shriek of the wind.  Kaichen forced his horse to run blindly and the animal responded to his command.  

He pressed forward despite the blinding sand and suddenly they were encased in complete darkness.  It took Kaichen several moments to understand what had occurred. 

He could not say exactly when he had sensed the large overhang that now shielded them from the storm, but he had recognized their chance for escape by his sheer will to survive.   His horse had instinctively run for shelter and he heard Antuk’s heavy breathing behind him. 

Suddenly
, Antuk’s laughter filled the cavern and Kaichen grunted as Amara shifted beneath him.  They were shrouded in darkness as the storm raged outside.  The donkey brayed loudly causing the horse to rear. 

Amara
reared back against him with a strangled gasp.  Kaichen clicked his tongue and murmured to the animal until it grew calm.  He slid from the back of his horse and pulled Amara along with him.  She did not protest, perhaps she could not gather the strength to do so. 

Antuk immediately spread
his sleeping blanket upon the ground and then piled Kaichen’s blanket on top of it.  Kaichen lifted Amara and settled her upon the sleeping furs.  She pulled her knees up to her chest and huddled there watching him. 

He knew that she had curled her body into such a position because his hands were still upon her.   He turned her lose as Antuk began to make a small fire.  They were not out of danger
yet. 

The storm could lash the cavern where they took shelter and there would be no escape.   The noise was deafening as the wind howled but Kaichen had to believe t
hat they were safe.  For now.

He stepped away from
Amara and spoke to Antuk.  Kaichen went to rub his horse down and see to the donkey.  Antuk handed Kaichen his full waterskin and watched as Kaichen pooled the water in his hand and offered each animal a drink.  

Amara
looked around warily as sand caused her eyes to water.  The horse drank thirstily.  She could hear it and see dim shadows which spoke of the man’s actions. The donkey pressed his nose against Antuk’s chest, butting against him in dissatisfaction after having only a sip of water, when much more was needed.

The first tendrils
of a fire started with smoke which Antuk mistakenly inhaled.  He coughed and sputtered as a spark flew and caught.

Kaichen watched
Amara as she stared at the growing fire.  He could not begin to guess at her thoughts but when she threw him a grateful glance, his concern eased.  Kaichen finished seeing to the animals and he slid to his knees beside Antuk.

A sound from
Amara captured both men’s attention.  Her nearly inaudible sigh sounded like a shout to their ears as the storm suddenly died out.  Kaichen watched with raised eyebrows as the woman he had taken as his wife slumped over onto her side.  

A flash of fear startled him. 
He was instantly at her side only to see for himself that her chest rose and fell with sleep.  For a moment, he thought that she had given in to the injuries that still plagued her and when he saw that she was only sleeping the relief that flooded through his body stunned him. 

The shadows under her
eyes told him that she was exhausted and no longer able to keep her eyes open.  Though their travel must have been difficult on her, she had not uttered a single complaint.

Kaichen watched over
his wife as she slept and Antuk watched them both.   In this way, they passed the night with the light from the fire offering a sense of comfort that was welcome.  

“Are we safe for now?” Antuk sought assurance from Kaichen. 

Others might find the large man’s words amusing.  He looked to be well capable of defending himself from any threat and in truth, when riled, Antuk became an almost unstoppable force.  Kaichen knew the fear that Antuk had never shared with anyone else, darkness encroached upon Antuk’s peace each night.  The darkness seemed endless and all powerful without the canopy of stars lighting the night from above.  Kaichen understood and he did not speak against his friend for all men had their fears.

“Sleep, Antuk. I will keep watch until the first star rises.” Kaichen responded as he always did when his friend questioned him about the night.  

If the moon was out, they would have enough light to see by and when the first star took its place Kaichen would find his rest while Antuk took watch. 

Kaichen could not say what the next day would bring.  He shed his worries as other men shed their clothing.  They had survived
much and the journey had only begun.  It was enough.  It had to be. 

Amara woke suddenly with the image of her mother fresh in her mind.  She gasped for air, though nothing stopped her efforts. She immediately scrambled to her knees as she rubbed her bruised wrists and took in her surroundings.  Pain radiated up her torso, reminding her of the injury done to her ribs. 

Kaichen and Antuk
sat before her with solemn expressions upon their faces. They watched her with interest.

Amara nodded in greeting as Antuk’s face broadened with
a smile. She noticed that his eyes were kind and seeking and although he offered friendship, she turned her gaze away.  She told herself that she no longer trusted men that were far larger and stronger than she was.

Kaichen
moved like a shadow though there was daylight inside of the small cavern that gave them shelter.   Amara stood as he approached. 

His movements were the movements of a predator.  His ever
y step held purposeful intent and determination.  Amara inhaled sharply as Kaichen stood close to her.  She was uncertain of her place amongst Kaichen and Antuk, but she refused to flinch.

Kaichen
towered over her with his imposing height.  The ripple of corded muscle upon Kaichen’s arms caught and held Amara’s attention as he lifted his hand seeking hers.  When she did not move, he pressed food to her lips. 

Amara reached up and took the offering from his hand.  She chewed without speaking.  Was she to
prepare their meals in the morning?  Amara did not know. 

S
he nodded gratefully as Kaichen stepped away from her and returned to his place by the low burning fire. Amara immediately missed his presence though she called herself a fool. 

“She is
afraid.” Antuk spoke as if his words might offend the woman. 

“She has every reason to be fearful
, she was forced to become my wife and no one took her feelings into concern.” Kaichen noticed that Amara still eyed them warily. 

“
Is that not the way of our people?  Women are given to the hearth of a man without regard for their wishes.  How does your joining with her differ from what has come before now?”  Antuk scoffed as if Kaichen were slow-witted. “You will not allow her to run from us, will you?  She will face her death alone without a weapon or food.”  

Kaichen did not speak as he watched
Amara, his wife. At times, he could not believe that it was true.

Even covered with sand and grime she
fascinated him.  Her eyes were an uncommon color, though Kaichen thought that they were closely matched to the sunset, right before dark.  

She was fragile and finely made.
  He thought that she looked like a small bird as she sat wary and watchful. 

When
Amara’s fingers moved upon nothing, Kaichen grew utterly still as he watched her.  She seemed to sense his regard. With an inhalation of breath, she stared down at her own hands and then clasped them together.  

“Her eyes are watering.” Antuk’s comment drew Kaichen’s attention as his friend chewed his portion of dried meat mixed with grasses and seeds.  

He chewed upon a mixture made by many of the bands that roamed the land and it was commonly referred to as mesma.

Kaichen felt helpless at the mere thought of Amara’s
tears.  He continued to study her hands as she wound one around the other, until her fingers were once more clasped together.  

“
You have nothing to fear, Amara.” Kaichen let his voice carry across the fire.

There was much that he did not know about his wife.
Did she hide her unusual gaze from them or seek to show her submission?  Kaichen did not know.  But he felt his body respond as a man responds to a desirable woman.  He ground his teeth together as he tried to focus. 

When
Amara lifted her gaze, the fire that burned in her sunset eyes surprised Kaichen.  In search of a distraction, Kaichen looked at Antuk and he saw that his friend held out the last of his mesma to the woman.

Antuk’s eyes were kind and friendly as he regarded
Amara.  Kaichen waited to see what Amara would do next, he knew that she had to be hungry beyond measure. 

Kaichen began to think that she did not understand
Antuk’s gesture but after a time she reached out one small hand and accepted the mesma.  She chewed slowly as if savoring each bite. 

Kaichen looked away as
Amara ducked her head.  Antuk smiled in satisfaction even as Amara raised her head briefly to murmur words of thanks. 

“We will leave now.” Kaichen spoke to Antuk and then turned
his attention to Amara. “With time we will come to know one another, but for now, I will need your trust. One of the warriors that took you was injured by an arrow to his thigh.  Is it possible that he will try to come for you if he did not die from his injuries?”

Kaichen studied
Amara as he waited for her answer. 

“It is possible.
He vowed to bring me to his leader, they all did.” Amara’s voice was raspy with thirst.  Kaichen walked toward her and knelt in the sand. 

“I
will give you fresh water as soon as I can, but for now this will help lessen the need for water.” Kaichen handed the woman a small pebble and he noticed that as she accepted the small token she did not shy away from his touch.  

“Thank you.”  Amara met
Kaichen’s eyes and her heart beat furiously at his closeness.

She thought that his voice was full of the warmth brought by the warm season
and his eyes were the color of the darkest night.  She did not expect to notice such things but Kaichen held her rapt attention. 

Amara reached for her
flute, which remained in the place where she had slept but the voice of the larger man took her by surprise.

“Why did they take you?” Antuk interrupted the pair
as they stared at one another.

Amara did
not care to repeat the terrible stories told by her people.  She did not want to call evil to her by speaking of it.  The distress in her eyes must have communicated itself to Kaichen because he shook his head slowly, telling her that she did not have to speak.

“We leave now.  Make ready.” Kaichen was tempted to smile as Antuk lost track of the question that he had just asked and hurried to prepare for their departure.  

He was almost disappointed that Amara had not been forced to answer.  Perhaps in time she would trust him enough to share her secrets with him. 

Yet, Kaichen felt a sense of urgency that was undeniable as he readied his horse for their journey.   Everything within him called for action. 

He would return to the village of his birth and nothing would stop him from the course that he had set for himself. 

Amara rode
Kaichen’s horse, though her ribs ached with each of the animal’s footsteps.  The beast that carried her was well made and strong.  The animal heeded its master’s commands though Kaichen rarely spoke. 

She noticed that
Kaichen indicated that the horse should follow him simply by shifting direction or placing his hand upon the horse’s mane.  At first, Amara clung to the animal until she realized that her tense muscles caused the horse to grow agitated.

They followed a dry
riverbed; all around them were reddish-brown cliffs that rose high into the sky.  The land was not barren and devoid of life as it appeared at first glance.  When Amara looked closely, she saw that discolored shrubs clung stubbornly to the cracks of the dry canyon floor while the elusive scent of pine hung in the air.