“Nonononononono.”

There was no mistaking the meaning of her foreign words. And in case I had mistaken it, she reinforced it with the yanking of the dakrival hide over her beautiful breasts, and the tossing up of a hand between us, as if it were a wall. A tiny, soft wall that I could toppled with the flick of a finger. But a wall all the same.

My chest clenched, and I moved my hands to the sides of her face, staring into her wide eyes.

“Why do you refuse me?”

She did not get the chance to answer in her unknown language. Because at that moment, my ears twitched at the sound of irkdu moving across the sands towards our tents, and the calling of strange voices, answered by the angry shouts of my men. I heard the unsheathing of weapons, and immediately I stood, returning my loincloth to my body and turning from Zeezee. This conversation, if one could even call it that, would have to wait. If enemy warriors were approaching, then Zeezee, along with everyone in the tribe, could be in danger. A dark wave broke over me.

Perhaps Gahn Fallo has come back to claim the one woman his men did not retrieve.

The thought turned to molten ablik in my guts, burning then hardening everything.

Let him try to take my Zeezee. I’ll set Zaphrinax on fire, burn it all to the ground, before I let her go.

I spoke quickly, pulling two of my knives from the straps at my back.

“Stay still and quiet. I will return for you. Do not come out.”

Zeezee’s brows crumpled inwards in confusion, but I had no time to try to explain further. Enemies were circling us, even now.

I bounded out of the tent, knives tight in my grip, and the taste of Zeezee on my lips.

I RUSHED THROUGH THE tents towards the sounds. The evening fire was in my sights, and I could see the women dispersing quickly, pulling their cubs along with them. My warriors were gathered on the other side of the fire, looking out towards the sand, spears and knives and axes brandished and ready, waiting for my command. Galok was sprinting towards me, but he stopped when he saw that I had heard the commotion and was coming on my own. I caught up to him quickly, and we ran together around the fire, out past the tents, followed by the rest of my warriors.

“It’s Gahn Irokai,” Galok informed me as we stopped running, standing with our weapons ready. This surprised me. Gahn Irokai’s territory was days from here, at the base of the mountains at the very edge of the Sea Sands. Our territories did not border each other and we had no current cause for quarrel – no wars over land or resources had been fought between our two tribes in generations. I had been sure that this was Gahn Fallo, whose territory was nearest ours and whose men we often fought with. My warriors were shouting, showcasing their fangs and their blades as we watched the small group approach. I stared at the dark shadows of the intruders. It was a small party, like a hunting party. It was not the full force of Gahn Irokai’s men.

Gahn Irokai’s booming voice rose over the warning growls of my men. “Gahn Buroudei! I do not come in war. I ask safe passage into your tent. I must have words with you.”

My men stilled, watching me silently, waiting for me to make a decision. Any warrior who rose to the role of Gahn was mighty, and was to be treated as a threat. But the people of the Sea Sands were not usually deceptive. If Gahn Irokai was here for battle, he and his men would be charging at us with war cries, blades already flying. But they approached calmly, no weapons drawn. I stepped forward, sheathing my weapons, but keeping my eye trained on him and his men and irkdu.

There were only five of them. At the head, riding the largest irkdu, was Gahn Irokai, and at his side was his best warrior, whom I recognized as Taliok. I did not know the names of the others.

When they were within a spear’s throwing distance, Gahn Irokai and Taliok dismounted, followed soon by the others, crossing the last distance towards us on foot. Gahn Irokai hulked, his hair greying, but his eyes just as sharp as ever. Taliok strode next to him, a dark expression on his scarred face. They both raised their tails in respectful greeting, which surprised me and put me a little more at ease. I did the same, grunting, and my men followed suit.

I turned to two of the warriors standing just behind me, Malachor and Rawk.

“Take their irkdu to the peet grass between the boulders. Stay with the beasts and keep them from fighting.” Our irkdu were well trained, but, like their masters, were naturally territorial. They could easily be moved to aggression by the scent of these new animals. Malachor and Rawk raised their tails in acknowledgement, then led the creatures away from us, out towards the boulders. Gahn Irokai nodded at two of his men to accompany them, then approached, coming to a stop before me, flanked by Taliok and one other warrior.

“You see I have come with few warriors, and have not drawn weapons.”

I twitched my tail in understanding.

“I do. You and your men will not be harmed here tonight.” I paused, then continued, a slight growl colouring my voice. “But you should know that if you make a single threat, I will not stop my men and irkdu from tearing your party limb from limb.”

Gahn Irokai grunted. “As it should be among Gahns.”

We walked back around the fire, moving through the tents towards my own tent, the second largest after the healers’ tents. Gahn Irokai and I walked side by side, followed by Galok, Taliok, and Gahn Irokai’s third warrior. I heard the warrior tell Galok his name was Oxriel as we walked.

I kept my gaze firmly trained on Gahn Irokai from the corner of my eye. True to his word, he did not seem to be here for violent purposes. But I would not let my guard down yet. Especially when I now had something so precious to protect.

Even with this surprise, and the significance of receiving another Gahn here tonight, my mind kept moving back to Zeezee. With a jolt, I stopped, calling to a nearby group of warriors who had dispersed towards the fire after the threat had been gauged.

“Teelk and Vaxilkai, go and guard the healers’ tent. Make sure no one goes in. Or out.”

They knew better than to hesitate, but I saw the flash of confusion in their eyes as they moved to execute my order. Perhaps Galok had not yet told them about the news of Zeezee and the other women. I will have to ask him about that later.

We reached my tent. Galok pulled aside the hide for Gahn Irokai and me, and we moved inside, followed by the other three warriors. Inside, Galok lit two valok candles, placing them on either side of my seat, a large dakrival hide stool stuffed with peet grass and stones to make it firm and heavy.

“I do not have a seat for you, Gahn Irokai,” I said, noting the single stool. I had never needed a second one before. No other Gahn had ever come here in peace during my lifetime.

“A Gahn is not afraid of being seated on the sand like his people.”

I approved of this, and we all sat on the sand, Galok and I facing the three of them.

“Will you and your men take meat and valok? We were feasting when you arrived. I know it is a long journey from your mountains.”

Gahn Irokai moved his hand through the air.

“No. Not yet. Afterwards we will partake of your hospitality. But what I have to tell is too important to wait.”

My ears pricked, and I noticed Galok lean forward. Neither of us could ignore the fact that this was happening the day the new women had arrived. It could be no coincidence.

“I want to call a meeting of the Gahns.”

I heard Galok hiss in surprise next to me, but I kept my countenance calm. A meeting of the Gahns had not been called in many generations. Not since our population had begun to die off due to the actions of our ancestors. Our ancestors who had ignored the sacred Lavrika’s call. Meetings of the Gahns involved calling together all five Gahns of the Sea Sands. Historically, they either resulted in new pacts and alliances or ended in utter bloodshed.