Page 28 of Chieftain
"Will somebody tell me what the hell is going on?" Emmy poked a finger against my shoulder, the toes of her boots kicking against my shins.
“What happened?” Dixa rushed into the room as I set Emmy on her feet.
"Emmy bumped into a Kerzak, and now he claims her as offense," Siemba explained, closing and bolting the secondary door.
"Shit!" Dixa understood. "Shit! Shit! Shit!"
“What the fuck?" Emmy stood with hands on hips, her glare touching each of us. The one she gave me contained the faintest hint of betrayal that made my chest hurt. "I am not going anywhere with that grizzly bear.
“Of course not," Siemba grumbled. His voice held a twinge of growl like the Kerzak, but the Stranac were a civilized breed. Siemba's mastery of the planetary common language was better than my own. "But six Kerzak against one Vak and a Stranac is not a fair fight.”
“I could take at least three Kerzak," I felt the need to point out. The creatures were a head taller than I stood, possessing exceptional strength but could be clumsy and slow.
“No doubt, my friend” The Stranac laid a hand on my shoulder and squeezed, this dark gaze boring into mine. He wasa primal species with a human mate. He knew my ignoring the desire to defend Emmy with blood was a physical pain. "But you'll forgive me if I don't want to get bloody today. This is a new jacket.”
Emmy gave a huff and rolled her eyes. Her demeanor suggested she would like to see the Kerzak bleed as well. I felt the faintest urge to smile.
“The Kerzak are primitive—a barbarian tribe,” Siemba explained. “They consider anything that affronts their person an offense, payable only by blood.
"That's comforting," Emmy scoffed, trying to appear brave, but I detected the acridness of fear invading her floral scent.
Dixa stood at her side, arm about my tiny human’s shoulders. "Lartie! We need a go bag!”
“You’ll need to leave out the back way." Siemba strode toward the door. I could see the tips of his ears twitching underneath the thick mane. It was said that Stranac has a hearing radius of over a meter. "Stay in the alleys near the trash. You’ll need to cover her scent as much as you can.”
“Will somebody tell me what the hell is going on!” Emmy stomped a tiny foot against the wooden flooring, face flashing angrily. It was cute and filled me with pride I didn't understand.
"We are running from the Kerzak." My warrior blood boiled at the thought, but it was safest for Emmy. For her safety, I would go against my training—my very nature.
Her mouth fell open as she gaped at me. "I thought the Vaktaire are warriors?"
“We are warriors, we are just not—what is it you humans say—idiots. Siemba and I might win a battle against six Kerzak, but I would not risk your harm.”
“Nor I Dixa’s.” Siemba agreed.
Emmy blinked rapidly and blew out a deep breath. "Then we run." She moved from Dixa's grasp to stand beside me, her tiny hands clutching my bicep.
My arm snaked around her shoulder, pulling her flush against my side. I hated this. I hated running from a fight—if my council or just Daicon were here, the Kerzak would not be so dangerous an opponent. But I could not fight the creatures without my attention diverting from Emmy—from her safety, and I would not risk her.
The female Framaddi appeared holding a leather bag which she thrust into Emmy's hands.
"Larte, take them out the secret way to the alley," Dixa ordered, and the old woman jerked her head. Her brown eyes turned to me, and she issued a slow nod. "You know where to go."
"We will buy you as much time as we can." Siemba stepped forward to offer me his arm. I clasped near his elbow and pressed forward, bumping his chest with mine in the greeting and goodbye gesture of my people for those we hold dear.
"Khaion won't let anything happen to you." Dixa was telling Emmy as they stood wrapped in each other's arms. "I'll see you soon."
The women broke apart, and Emmy strode to my side, her tiny fingers connecting with mine.
“Come,” Larte grunted.
The Framaddi moved quickly, although I knew she was considered elderly for her kind. She led us down another long hallway toward something I knew Dixa called a kitchen. It was as spacious as the lounge, lined with shelves of crockery and food. Siemba spent freely to give his female the comforts of her Earth. I glanced down at the tiny human at my side. What might she miss from her home planet? Would there be something I could do to fill the void?
"Here," Larte hissed, pulling at a shelf stacked with crockery. "Help me."
I shooed the old woman aside, yanking the shelving a few feet from the wall to reveal a dark, cramped tunnel beyond.
"Thank you" Emmy touched the Framaddi's arm, and the old woman's features seemed to melt.
