bands that roamed the land and it was commonly referred to as mesma.
Kaichen felt helpless at the mere thought of Amara’s tears. He continued to study her hands as she wound one around the other, until her fingers were once more clasped together.
“ You have nothing to fear, Amara.” Kaichen let his voice carry across the fire.
There was much that he did not know about his wife. Did she hide her unusual gaze from them or seek to show her submission? Kaichen did not know. But he felt his body respond as a man responds to a desirable woman. He ground his teeth together as he tried to focus.
When Amara lifted her gaze, the fire that burned in her sunset eyes surprised Kaichen. In search of a distraction, Kaichen looked at Antuk and he saw that his friend held out the last of his mesma to the woman.
Antuk’s eyes were kind and friendly as he regarded Amara. Kaichen waited to see what Amara would do next, he knew that she had to be hungry beyond measure.
Kaichen began to think that she did not understand Antuk’s gesture but after a time she reached out one small hand and accepted the mesma. She chewed slowly as if savoring each bite.
Kaichen looked away as Amara ducked her head. Antuk smiled in satisfaction even as Amara raised her head briefly to murmur words of thanks.
“We will leave now.” Kaichen spoke to Antuk and then turned his attention to Amara. “With time we will come to know one another, but for now, I will need your trust. One of the warriors that took you was injured by an arrow to his thigh. Is it possible that he will try to come for you if he did not die from his injuries?”
Kaichen studied Amara as he waited for her answer.
“It is possible. He vowed to bring me to his leader, they all did.” Amara’s voice was raspy with thirst. Kaichen walked toward her and knelt in the sand.
“I will give you fresh water as soon as I can, but for now this will help lessen the need for water.” Kaichen handed the woman a small pebble and he noticed that as she accepted the small token she did not shy away from his touch.
“Thank you.” Amara met Kaichen’s eyes and her heart beat furiously at his closeness.
She thought that his voice was full of the warmth brought by the warm season and his eyes were the color of the darkest night. She did not expect to notice such things but Kaichen held her rapt attention.
Amara reached for her flute, which remained in the place where she had slept but the voice of the larger man took her by surprise.
“Why did they take you?” Antuk interrupted the pair as they stared at one another.
Amara did not care to repeat the terrible stories told by her people. She did not want to call evil to her by speaking of it. The distress in her eyes must have communicated itself to Kaichen because he shook his head slowly, telling her that she did not have to speak.
“We leave now. Make ready.” Kaichen was tempted to smile as Antuk lost track of the question that he had just asked and hurried to prepare for their departure.
He was almost disappointed that Amara had not been forced to answer. Perhaps in time she would trust him enough to share her secrets with him.
Yet, Kaichen felt a sense of urgency that was undeniable as he readied his horse for their journey. Everything within him called for action.
He would return to the village of his birth and nothing would stop him from the course that he had set for himself.
Chapter Five
Amara rode Kaichen’s horse, though her ribs ached with each of the animal’s footsteps. The beast that carried her was well made and strong. The animal heeded its master’s commands though Kaichen rarely spoke.
She noticed that Kaichen indicated that the horse should follow him simply by shifting direction or placing his hand upon the horse’s mane. At first, Amara clung to the animal until she realized that her tense muscles
Kaichen felt helpless at the mere thought of Amara’s tears. He continued to study her hands as she wound one around the other, until her fingers were once more clasped together.
“ You have nothing to fear, Amara.” Kaichen let his voice carry across the fire.
There was much that he did not know about his wife. Did she hide her unusual gaze from them or seek to show her submission? Kaichen did not know. But he felt his body respond as a man responds to a desirable woman. He ground his teeth together as he tried to focus.
When Amara lifted her gaze, the fire that burned in her sunset eyes surprised Kaichen. In search of a distraction, Kaichen looked at Antuk and he saw that his friend held out the last of his mesma to the woman.
Antuk’s eyes were kind and friendly as he regarded Amara. Kaichen waited to see what Amara would do next, he knew that she had to be hungry beyond measure.
Kaichen began to think that she did not understand Antuk’s gesture but after a time she reached out one small hand and accepted the mesma. She chewed slowly as if savoring each bite.
Kaichen looked away as Amara ducked her head. Antuk smiled in satisfaction even as Amara raised her head briefly to murmur words of thanks.
“We will leave now.” Kaichen spoke to Antuk and then turned his attention to Amara. “With time we will come to know one another, but for now, I will need your trust. One of the warriors that took you was injured by an arrow to his thigh. Is it possible that he will try to come for you if he did not die from his injuries?”
Kaichen studied Amara as he waited for her answer.
“It is possible. He vowed to bring me to his leader, they all did.” Amara’s voice was raspy with thirst. Kaichen walked toward her and knelt in the sand.
“I will give you fresh water as soon as I can, but for now this will help lessen the need for water.” Kaichen handed the woman a small pebble and he noticed that as she accepted the small token she did not shy away from his touch.
“Thank you.” Amara met Kaichen’s eyes and her heart beat furiously at his closeness.
She thought that his voice was full of the warmth brought by the warm season and his eyes were the color of the darkest night. She did not expect to notice such things but Kaichen held her rapt attention.
Amara reached for her flute, which remained in the place where she had slept but the voice of the larger man took her by surprise.
“Why did they take you?” Antuk interrupted the pair as they stared at one another.
Amara did not care to repeat the terrible stories told by her people. She did not want to call evil to her by speaking of it. The distress in her eyes must have communicated itself to Kaichen because he shook his head slowly, telling her that she did not have to speak.
“We leave now. Make ready.” Kaichen was tempted to smile as Antuk lost track of the question that he had just asked and hurried to prepare for their departure.
He was almost disappointed that Amara had not been forced to answer. Perhaps in time she would trust him enough to share her secrets with him.
Yet, Kaichen felt a sense of urgency that was undeniable as he readied his horse for their journey. Everything within him called for action.
He would return to the village of his birth and nothing would stop him from the course that he had set for himself.
Chapter Five
Amara rode Kaichen’s horse, though her ribs ached with each of the animal’s footsteps. The beast that carried her was well made and strong. The animal heeded its master’s commands though Kaichen rarely spoke.
She noticed that Kaichen indicated that the horse should follow him simply by shifting direction or placing his hand upon the horse’s mane. At first, Amara clung to the animal until she realized that her tense muscles
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