As we passed the Cliffs of Uruzai, I muttered an excuse to Gahn Irokai and fell back, slowing until my irkdu trawled along next to Galok’s. Zeezee smiled at me, her face shaded by the hood of her human cloak. Her skin was bluish-white, like it had been the first time I’d seen her, and she had strange black shells over her eyes that I had never seen before. She must have seen me looking because she took them off, waved them around, then slapped them back on her face.

“They’re called sunglasses. They protect my eyes from the sun.”

I stab of dismay went through me. The sun didn’t just hurt her skin, but also her eyes? How truly fragile was my pretty mate?

“Do you need to stop and rest?” I asked, suddenly worried. It wasn’t in the plan to stop, but I could convince Gahn Irokai to do so if needed. But Zeezee shook her head.

“No, I’m OK. I’m sure I’ll be stiff, but this saddle is great, and I’ve got water and snacks and everything.” Her tone grew hard, then. “I want to get there as soon as possible. I want to get my friends.”

Pride replaced my dismay. My little warrior, willing to go to such lengths for her people. I urged my irkdu closer to Galok’s, and reached for her. She reached, too, our hands brushing momentarily across the distance. Though it was difficult, I tore myself away and returned to the front with Gahn Irokai.

“You brought your mate?” He grunted, not looking at me. But I felt Taliok’s gaze upon me as I spoke.

“Yes. She is the only one who knows both languages and she can speak to the other females for us.” I paused then, sighing. “She insisted.”

Gahn Irokai made a gruff, amused sound.

“So they are like our women in at least one way, then.”

I cast him a questioning look, and his lined face broke into a small smile.

“Stubborn.”

I thought I noticed Taliok urge his mount to go a little faster.

It did not take long before we officially entered Gahn Fallo’s territory. We all became more tense, our gazes constantly tracking the horizon. Each tribe had vast areas of land, and it was impossible to patrol the whole area daily. But there was still the chance of being seen by a patrol or hunting party. I held my axe in one hand, my spear in the other. The landscape changed as we moved further, the sweeping desert becoming more hilly, rindla flowers, thorny axrekal berry shrubs, valok plants, and peet grass dotting the ground. Beyond these hills, where the flat ground met a great sheer wall of rock, were the tents of Gahn Fallo’s tribe. We would be there soon. The sun was already beginning its descent, lining the world with shadows.

We snaked through the hills, our pack forced into a thin line in places. Eventually we cleared the hills, reaching the flat plain that butted up against the cliff where Gahn Fallo made his home. In the rapidly dimming light, I could just make out the tiny shapes of tents along the rock face.

I slowed, once again drawing back to reach Galok’s irkdu. This is where I would leave Zeezee. She would be somewhat sheltered in the hills we’d just passed through.

“It is time,” I said, bringing my irkdu to a stop. Galok did the same, and the other warriors went around us.

Zeezee nodded gravely, pushing back her hood and taking off her sunglasses now that it grew dark.

“Be careful,” she whispered, her eyes shining.

I had planned not to do this. I had planned to break from her easily, without too many words or touches. The things that would make this harder.

But when I saw her sweet face, the tremble of her lips, I could not help myself. I bent across the space between us, gripping her about the waist and yanking her over to my mount. Her rump landed directly between my thighs as she faced me, her legs draped over mine.

Our mouths met like the thunderheads of a rare Sea Sands storm. Hard and explosive. I gripped her hips as her hands found their way to my jaw, and she arched against me. She muttered little words between the crashing of our lips, words like “I love you so much,” and, “Don’t get hurt.”

I wanted to give her everything, promise her everything. But I could not promise her that. This battle would be bloody, I had not doubt.

I would have stayed there all night had I not heard the warning shouts coming from the group that had moved away from us. Galok stiffened, and I immediately hoisted Zeezee up and over, dropping her into his arms. He helped get her settled back into her saddle as she looked around wildly.

“What’s happening? Buroudei, wait!”

But there was no time to wait. A patrolling party had spotted us, and Gahn Fallo’s forces were heading this way even now. Galok clicked his tongues, turning his irkdu sharply, and they sped away through the hills. As they moved away, the last thing I saw was Zeezee’s terribly pale face as she turned and leaned around Galok, looking back.

Now was not the time for pain of the heart. Now was the time to fight. Fight, and be victorious, so that I could see that small, pale face again.

With a savage roar, I turned my mount and raced towards the battle.

I caught up with our group quickly enough. We were plunging forward over the plains, trying to get to Gahn Fallo before he and his men were fully prepared. But that did not quite happen. Before we reached their tents, the tents that likely housed Zeezee’s people even now, irkdu began moving towards us from the crags in the cliff face. Battle cries rang out from both sides, and in moments, our forces met in a Zaphrinax-shattering crash.

I dodged the deadly launch of a spear, howling, bending and urging my irkdu to move even faster. I would take out any man. I’d take out a thousand men if I had to. I would do this for Zeezee and her friends.

All around me, men and irkdu fought. One warrior came my way, blade in hand, ready to be thrown. I ducked just in time, hefting my spear up as he leaped from his mount onto mine. As he landed, I drove my spear into his guts, then yanked it back, letting him fall to the ground. Another warrior came for me, and another, but I made short work of them. The triumph of battle rushed through me, a song in my blood, as I hacked through the crowd. In the fray, from the corner of my eye, I saw Gahn Fallo and Gahn Irokai on the ground, locked in vicious combat. A snarl ripped from my throat as Gahn Fallo bested Gahn Irokai, sinking his blade into Gahn Irokai’s chest. I started moving toward them, and saw Taliok was doing the same. But Gahn Fallo was quicker than the both of us and quicker than the injured Gahn Irokai. He plunged a second blade into Gahn Irokai’s guts, then slashed, spilling blood and organs to the sand.

Though Gahn Irokai was not of my tribe, he was my ally in this fight, and the sight provoked a brutal rage. I cried out, urging my irkdu faster, faster, until I was almost upon Gahn Fallo. I pulled my axe from my belt and threw my spear as I leaped from my mount.

Gahn Fallo watched me jump, pulling a blade from his back as he dodged my spear. His laughter split the air.

And then I was upon him.

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CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN Taliok

Gahn Fallo killed my Gahn. Right in front of me. Gahn Irokai, who’d trained me as a warrior, who’d treated me as a son, was butchered, his guts spilling to the sand like the vines of the veroar plants of the mountains. I never roared in battle like other warriors did. The promise to exact vengeance, vengeance like this world had never seen, was a silent one.

I watched Gahn Buroudei leap from his mount in pursuit of Gahn Fallo, and I moved to follow so that I could slay the other Gahn myself when I heard it. Gahn Irokai saying my name.