Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
I hold her gently, fear tearing at my mind. “Can you eat something?”
“No food.” She shakes her head, looking frail. “Just give me a moment. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
She is not fine, though. Every day that passes without her having a khui is another day she is nearer to death. Her eyes are dark and lifeless, and I cannot sit here in the cave and waste time when we need every moment. I cup her face in my hand, turning her cheek to examine her carefully. She has no injuries. It must be the khui sickness. How long was she down here before I arrived? I try to recall what the others said. Shorshie—the Croatoan chief’s mate—remained mostly healthy until she got her khui because V’ktal kept pushing food upon her. The other humans nearly died before they received their khuis, and it was less than two hands of days.
I fear R’slind is going to decline before my eyes and I will be helpless to do anything about it.
I stroke her cheek with my thumb. “I will get you out of here soon, I vow this. And then you will get better.”
She smiles up at me. “I just need to rest for a moment.”
“Of course.” She does not know the truth, and I am not going to tell her. Not until she has a khui safely inside her chest and the danger is gone.
R’slind dozes off and on throughout the day. Sometimes she awakens shivering, and I hold her until her quaking goes away, worried. The last of our food is gone, except for the ruined food brought by the enemy. I grip the small spearhead while R’slind sleeps curled up against my side, and I watch the bars of our cage, waiting.
Whoever returns to feed us, I must make him let us go. It does not matter if it is Set’nef or the other scarred stranger. I will try reasoning with them, and if that does not work, I will use force.
R’slind cannot stay here much longer. It is too hard on her.
She’s asleep when I hear the soft sound of feet on stone. It must be Set’nef, because the other skulks and hides in the shadows, whereas Set’nef approaches without subterfuge. He appears with a sack in his hands and approaches the bars.
I move toward him, and when he holds the bag out, I grab it—and then grab his wrist. “We must talk, friend.”
Set’nef jerks at my grip, and when I do not let go, he narrows his eyes at me and leans in. “I have four arms and could crush you like a snail with the other three. You do not want to try this, R’jaal.”
I gesture at R’slind. “My female. She is sick.” I point at my eye. “She needs a khui.”
He pauses, glancing over at the sleeping hyoo-man. “She is cursed. I am sorry that you sing to her, friend, but there is nothing to be done. Make her comfortable if you can.” He shakes his head. “I have brought you food. It does you no good to share it with her, but I know you will anyhow.”
“No, I can save her. She needs another khui.” I gesture at my chest, where I am vibrating with resonance, and then at my eye again. “I must get out of here.”
“I have seen this curse before,” he says slowly, watching me. “I do not know about your people, but mine suffered greatly from a sickness four hands of years ago.” He raises one of his free hands and gestures. “Those that were cursed with it lost the light in their eyes. Once they did, they died not long after. Your mate will not last long…”
He trails off as I shake my head again, gesturing. “I can fix it. I know how! You must let me out!” I make the motions of him opening the cell and letting us leave, and then indicating that R’slind’s eyes would be full of light again. I feel like a fool for all the gesticulating I do, but Set’nef watches me with intense concentration.
The ancestor pulls his hand from my grip and shakes his head. “I think I understand you, but I cannot free you. My chief has not yet given the order. If I go against his wishes, I will be permanently outcast like Kin’far the Tainted. He is the one with the scars that guards you when I am not here.”
I growl at the mention of his name. “Kin’far?” I gesture that Set’nef needs to wait, and then I storm over to the far side of the cave where we discarded the bag of food. I bring it over to Set’nef and indicate that he should smell it.
He leans in, and then recoils, raising a hand to his nose. “That is Kin’far the Tainted, all right. There is a reason he is in exile.” For a moment, Set’nef looks torn. “I would free you if I could. I want to learn from your people. I want to know what the world holds above.” His eyes glitter with yearning. “But I cannot. Not without the chief’s say-so. It is not only my fate that is at risk, but that of my brother.”