Page 86 of Planet Zero
“She’s unattached,” Klarm mumbled, confirming indirectly what Sav claimed was true.
“But you’re not.” The High Counselor turned to Illied. “Were his attentions welcome, Illied?”
Illied sobbed, hiding her bruised face in her hands. But a single, barely perceptible nod of her head was affirmative.
With a furious shout, Sav leaped forward with her entire body, managing to surprise Vuskas and break free of his hold. He lunged after Sav’s flying form, but the woman was quick as a flash. She reached Illied and snatched handfuls of her hair, pulling it with all her might before Vuskas took hold of her again.
All throughout the tussle, Melmie remained motionless and expressionless. Addie put her arms around the girl's shoulders - sturdy and tall - and hugged her.
“I’m sorry for your pawi, Melmie. What Klarm did was wrong. He exploited her loneliness.”
Melmie peeked at Addie from within their embrace, and her face was set in hard lines. “You’re a good person, Addie. You always see only good in other people. You don’t have to make excuses for my pawi.”
“But Klarm…”
Melmie shook Addie’s arms off and stepped back. “Klarm took what was freely offered to him. What was dangled in front of his face like a fat juicy fruit in front of a hungry man. She meant to mate him.”
Addie’s hands dropped to her sides. She glanced again at Illied who had sidled closer to Klarm and farther from Vuskas holding Sav. “But why?”
Melmie shrugged. “She always makes everything about her. She looked for a new mate after Wixab perished, and Oh’nil didn’t want her.”
“But Klarm was already mated,” Addie said inanely. She understood adultery happened, yet remained incredulous that it actually had, and that Illied was involved. The quiet, weak-willed Illied schemed to steal someone else’s husband. It simply boggled the mind.
Next to her, Melmie drew a long-suffering breath, like she often did when Oh’na annoyed her with her silly childish questions. “Yes, Addie, he is. She knew it.”
“I… am sorry, Melmie.”
“For Sav?”
“Her, yes. And for you. She’s your pawi. It must hurt you to watch her humiliated so publicly.”
Melmie only rotated her head owlishly. “It isn’t about me. No longer. I have my own mate to think about. I’m no longer her responsibility, just like she always wanted.”
Before Addie had a chance to respond, the High Counselor stepped up to Sav. “Are you going to attack Illied again?”
Sav threw Illied a look full of so much venom that even Vuskas cringed. But not Illied. She wiped her tears and stood straighter.
“I am done with her.”
“Release her, warrior,” Chemmusaayl ordered Vuskas.
Slowly, Vuskas released Sav.
She walked up to Klarm and stopped in front of him, elbowing the High Counselor aside. “I’m done with you.” She pointed her finger at her chest. He still wouldn't look at her.
“Hush, woman!” the High Counselor admonished from the side, raising his stick at the chest level. “Klarm will decide. You are to stay away from him, as is she.” The stick pointed at Illied. “All three of you will take time to…”
Sav pointed her finger at the High Counselor’s chest. “And I’m done with you.”
Chemmusaayl sputtered, but Sav turned away and started walking to her teepee. Passing Vuskas and Chief Net’ok unchecked, she threw at them, “I’m done with you, too.” She turned to address the people who randomly appeared from between the teepees only to disappear again. “I’m done with all of you, you hear? I hate this tribe.”
Tears slid down from her eyes, no matter how hard she tried to hold them back. “He wasmymate!”
“He still is,” Chemmusaayl pointed out.
“My trust in him is lost. He’s of no value.”
No one stopped Sav as she ducked into the teepee she shared with Klarm and promptly reappeared, holding a handful of furs, a pot, and a small axe. “I’m leaving.”
