Alliance Forged by Kylie Griffin Page A

waiting for their return? What had changed his mind?
    Ahead he heard raised voices and shouting. Putting on a burst of speed, he took the last turn and almost barreled into a group of people clustered at the head of the pathway. Several adults, human and
Na’Chi
, were herding young children away from a commotion in the middle of the communal area.
    “You’re outnumbered, Light Blades. Move aside….”
    Three Light Blade warriors stood shoulder to shoulder in front of the closed door of a house. All were alert, their stances wide, their weight balanced on the balls of their feet.
    Jole took half a pace forward. “This isn’t a wise move, my friend.” He gestured to his left. “Listen to Lisella.”
    “Rystin, you promised to wait until Varian returned.” Through the press of bodies, Lisella moved in front of him. “Give the scouts more time to find him and Kymora.”
    “We’ve waited long enough. He’s not here.” The warrior nodded to one of the half dozen other
Na’Chi
standing with him. Lisella wasgently but firmly drawn away from the brewing confrontation. “Someone has to take charge.”
    Arek moved to intercept Rystin, his thumbs hooked in the belt at his waist, relaxed, unthreatening.
    “Back off, Rystin.” He kept his voice calm. “These rebels remain under our protection.”
    “I told you they’d protect their own.” The scout’s lip curled. “They’re not interested in justice.”
    An uneasy murmur swept through the gathered crowd, and three other
Na’Chi
moved forward to join the group with Rystin. Arek’s gaze narrowed. Ten against four and the
Na’Chi
possessed superior strength. Not good odds.
    “Last time I’m going to ask…” Rystin growled. Sunlight caught the edge of a blade in the
Na’Chi’s
fist. “Your move.”
    “No, Rystin!” Lisella tried to break free of the scout who held her.
    Jole stepped forward and Arek flung out an arm to stop him taking the offensive. “Hold!”
    Another voice echoed his order, the deep voice coming from his left. The
Na’Chi
spun on their heels as Varian and a small party of six, including Kymora, emerged from between two houses.
    Arek released a silent breath.
Thank the
Lady
. He and Lisella shared a relieved glance before he homed in on Kymora. Other than an ugly bruise on her jaw and looking a little tired, she seemed fine.
    Varian strode into the village center. What was going on here? His nostrils flared at the combined odors eddying around the gathering. Anger, fear, bitterness, and resentment, the strength of each clearing the tiredness from his body and charging it with adrenaline. The rush was enough to wake the beast within.
    It was hard to tell what emotion came from which person. Varying degrees of unease and tautness etched everyone’s faces. Rystin was the only one with a blade drawn, yet hands rested close to the hilts of daggers or on belts close to their weapons. The crawlingsensation on the nape of his neck said they’d all been only moments away from conflict.
    “Put away your weapon.” Varian issued the command in a quiet but hard voice.
    Rystin’s black-flecked gaze darted from Jole to Arek, then to Varian, then he turned his back on them and dropped into a half crouch to face off with Varian, the move an offensive one. The scout had a temper, but surely he wouldn’t attack?
    Arek’s soft, sharp inhalation registered. Varian kept his gaze on Rystin, but from the corner of his eye, some within the crowd exchanged uneasy glances. Lisella’s expression went from concern to raw fear.
    “Unless you’re challenging my leadership, I’d sheath that dagger, Rystin”—his gaze dropped to the warrior’s weapon, then lifted, one eyebrow arching—“and tell me what’s going on.”
    “Someone has to look out for our people,” Rystin snarled, fingers flexing around the hilt of his weapon before tightening again. “Your
leadership
killed two of our own.”
    Varian’s frown deepened and he glanced to