Page 22 of Destroyed Desire
Holy shit, I’m about to find out. He lifts a hand, brings it toward my head. My scalp tingles in anticipation of those long fingers digging into my hair and grabbing a handful—
“Gamalt! You are needed in the courtyard.”
He pulls away.
A small group of armed men have appeared in the entrance. “Maneshha has sent a messenger, and he demands to speak to you.”
Chapter Seven
“Youarenotcoming.”
Gam puts a hand to my chest as I begin to rise from my chair.
“Yes, I am. If you want me to have a face-off with this chick, then I need to be informed.”
He doesn’t look happy. Waving a guard over, he points to my hands and before I can blink, the guard has slapped the electric cuffs on me.
“What? Why?”
“For your protection. Do not argue and do not speak.”
I can tell by the hard set of his mouth and it’s not up for discussion. If I want to witness what this messenger has to say than I need to play by Gam’s rules. He walks ahead of me, flanked by the guards. I’m nearly running to keep up with him. I wonder what she wants. And why she sent a messenger instead of coming herself. It feels a little ominous that she would send someone else to do her bidding. Gam mentioned that she sectioned off a part of the tribe who wanted to follow the old ways. How does she hold so much power over her people?
Outside, two suns blaze in the aquamarine sky. There isn’t a single cloud to block the heat. My body quickly protests this insane climate. Despite the long sleeves of the tunic and the full-length pants, my skin begins to burn as if I’m lying naked in the open sunlight. Glancing around, I realize there’s nothing I can use as shade.
My personal discomfort is quickly forgotten as I spy the visitors waiting in the courtyard. Two men are perched atop animals that look like a mixture of a horse and an elephant. The trunk is quite stunted, eight ears standing alert and stiff atop their heads. A beautiful flowing mane almost reaches the ground and touches the tops of toed hooves.
The warriors have blacked out eyes like Gam’s. They each sit with confident regality is if they are ruling over the men standing before them.
“Brothers of Maneshha. How can I be of service?”
The male on the left raises his chin and looks down his nose. “I am here to discuss the debt owed to my sister. She will collect the bridal gifts and more. Your breach of contract demands a larger sum.”
“The bridal gifts are hers to choose, and hers alone. I will allow no one else inside the vault.”
The man scoffed. “You do not rule the vault.”
Gam crosses his arms over his massive chest. “You may not enter the vault without my permission.”
The guards flanking Gam pound the ends of their spears into the ground as if to emphasize his words.
“She will receive what I give her and nothing more.”
Both men scowl atop their mounts. “You are entertaining war.”
Gam exudes a calm and collected confidence quietly laced with controlled violence. The aura around him feels as if it might ignite into flame at any moment. But he controls it so well.
“Your tribe does not have enough men to entertain war. It would be a battle you have no chance of winning.”
The two visitors smiled at each other as if sharing an inside joke.
“The gifts. She will come tomorrow to collect. And she will not leave without the additional sum.”
If Gam is losing his patience, he doesn’t show it. “And just what is she seeking for additional retribution?”
The men grinned at each other again, and then both pointed their spears directly at me. “The portal traveler. Maneshha has use for her.”
Normally, in a situation like this, the blood would drain from my face, and I would get cold and clammy. Terrified, weak in the knees, nauseous, all that jazz. I do not handle confrontation well, nor am I particularly adept at handling other people’s strong emotions. Yet, I find myself moving closer to Gam’s side and scowling. I stare down the intruders as if lasers might shoot from my eyes. Too bad that wasn’t one of Assassin Krunch’s tricks.
