“Okay, then, it’s settled,” she said with a conspiratorial wink. “I’ll see you back there in a bit. Enjoy the hike, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t.”
“That leaves me a lot to work with,” Darla said with an amused wink. She turned to her lover and leaned in close. “Come on, Heydar. We should pack up and get started. We’ve got quite a hike ahead of us.”
8
After several days ferrying the freed prisoners to their scattered homes, Kuxx lifted off for his final mission. He flew low and steady, landing the Dohrag craft outside the Oraku settlement, dropping it to the ground gently. The wiry, pale-green-skinned Oraku warriors were there to greet the new arrivals, not with weapons but rather open arms. Darla and her mate had returned on foot while Kuxx and Shalia were ferrying the other prisoners back to their homes and the Oraku were expecting their arrival. They had even fashioned a large camouflage net to drape over the craft to prevent any ships flying over from noticing it.
They were a village known to shun technology and live a simple life. A spaceship, even a tiny shuttle like this one, could draw unwanted attention. Especially where Dohrags were involved. The men all carried spears, the markings of their people clear on their exposed torsos. The designs of the runes were similar to the ones Shalia had examined all across Kuxx’s body, but he’d explained to her that every race had their own variations of the markings. The Oraku were a nature-loving people that tended to eschew technology. As a result, their designs had a more soft, organic flow to them than most. A man with moremarkings than the others stepped to the front of the welcoming group.
“I am Adzus. Leader of the Oraku hunters. Please, come with me. Rohanna is expecting you.”
The new arrivals fell in behind him and followed as he led them down a narrow path through the trees to the Oraku village. Shalia had been expecting something alien in design, but when they arrived at the settlement, it seemed to be a simple affair, consisting of what looked like adobe-type structures, tents, and some yurts, as well as a few larger buildings made of a mixture of wood and clay.
They walked to an outdoor receiving area with a simple chair rather than a throne resting upon a slightly raised platform. Seated on it was an older woman with particularly fine-lined tattoos made with a mixture of pale inks unlike what the others sported. She was a leader, clearly, and she must have been afforded special pigment as a result of her position.
Kuxx bowed, as did the hunters. Shalia respectfully followed suit.
“You are the ones Darla mentioned would be coming,” the woman said with a warm grin. “I am Rohanna. Please, come sit with me. I would get to know you properly and welcome you into our village.”
“Thanks. I’m Shalia, and this is Kuxx,” the human replied, taking a seat beside her. Kuxx remained standing at her side.
“A confident woman, I see,” the woman said with a grin. “Good. It is clear why Darla likes you. We women of spirit look out for one another.”
“I—”
“And she also informed me of your situation.”
“Yeah, I was abducted by the Raxxians, just like she was.”
“That is not what I meant,” the woman said, leaning closer and examining the woman’s caramel skin, as well as the sunburn that had recently set in. “Your lack of the runes, as required under Dotharian law.”
“Oh, yeah, that.”
“We will rectify that for you, as we did for Darla, though it will be our Skrizzit who will apply the pigment rather than her mate.”
“She told me that Heydar was pretty handy with the tattoos.”
“He is at that. But they are newly bonded Infala mates, and as such we have arranged for them to have some private time at the Gallavingian retreat.”
“The what, now?”
“It is a spa of sorts. Natural springs, ample expanses of serene nature, and, most importantly, privacy. They will not be back for a little while.”
“I hope they have a good time,” Shalia said, knowing full well they would undoubtedly be doing all manner of wonderful, unspeakable things to one another.
“Of that we are all quite confident,” the older woman said with a knowing chuckle. She looked up at the blue-skinned man standing beside the human. “You are welcome to stay with us, if you wish, though I know your people are not far.”
“Thank you for the offer. I would, but after so long imprisoned I feel a sense of urgency to return to my city. To inform them of the Dohrag threat.”
“But we put a stop to that,” Shalia protested.
“For the time being. But they will begin again, undoubtedly, once their next warship arrives. I would make sure my people are ready this time.” He turned to Rohanna and gave a little bow. “Again, thank you for the offer.”
“Of course.”
“And also for taking care of Shalia.”
“She will be well looked after.”
