Page 45 of Alien's Eternal Mate

I bit back a nasty retort. I had to remind myself that Lo was not my enemy. He was, in fact, a friend and ally. He was only asking a very reasonable question.

“We will need cleverness to overcome their numbers. I have an idea of how we may achieve that.”

I spoke to myself as much as Lo, nodding. Yes, my idea could work.

“Lo, tell me, where do the warriors gather after a raid like this one? Surely they will want to regroup and consider tactics.”

“The warriors have gone home, to their families, those that have any left…”

He swallowed, and looked up at me anxiously.

“I’m sorry.”

“Never mind that. Go on. Why have the warriors gone home? Are they not planning a counter attack?”

“War Chief Paegus has sent them home. He is not planning to help those who were taken?”

“Why not?”

Lo shrugged.

“It is the way of a small tribe like the Starlost. When a larger tribe conducts a raid, you pick up the pieces and try to go on with what they didn’t steal. You start over. It’s the way of things.”

I stopped cold in my tracks. I felt as if I’d been smacked with a fist full of ice.

“What’s the matter?” Lo asked.

“It’s the way of things,” I muttered in response. “I heard that phrase many times in my life. It’s just the way of things. Well sometimes you need to find a different way.”

I shook off the lingering pain in my skull and faced him squarely.

“Take me to this War Chief Paegus.”

His eyes went wide.

“You’re going to challenge him for the War Chieftainship? I mean, everyone always thought you would, one day, until…”

“Until I lost my memories. Perhaps those prophecies will come to pass. All I care about is saving Arael, and all of our people. If I can do that and still have Paegus remain War Chief, that’s fine.”

He clucked his tongue as he gestured toward our path.

“Paegus lives near the Engineers Vault. His house is in the shadow of their tower at midday.”

“You seem dubious, Lo.”

“I’m quite dubious. I fear that by the end of the day, you or Paegus will lie dead.”

I grunted in response, my throat dry and guttural. I’d been going on pure adrenaline, but now I realized how thirsty I truly was. Lo purchased a bottle of watered down juice. We passed it back and forth as we traveled to Paegus’ house.

Feeling refreshed, I spotted Paegus’ home right away. The practice dummies hanging from the rafters kind of gave it away. For a War Chief, he hadn’t cliaimed a very large dwelling for himself.

I walked carefully between carefully cultivated rows of foodstuff plants to reach the front door. Masari custom is not to knock, but rather to bellow out at the top of your lungs. I didn’t like it, but a knock could have been greeted with confusion or perhaps even aggression.

“War Chief Paegus! Gro of the Sages has called upon you. Will you answer?”

I waited. A moment later a set of shudders on the second floor opened up and an aging female Masari thrust her head out.

“I am Paegus’ lifemate. He will answer.”

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