The male nodded. “Straight to the underground caverns. This is no drill. We have intruders on the periphery.”
Watta blinked. “Yes, Arghet.” She took Mandy by the hand and raced with her toward the cluster of women gathered by the children.
But before they could get close, another woman gestured them to go another way. She looked different, the paint lines on her face and her empty expression one that made Mandy hesitate.
“Please, come,” Watta said. “I must make amends. If I offend you or your mates by not offering you the proper protection, my life is forfeit.”
Mandy hustled after her, joining the woman and Watta as they raced in another direction.
“Don’t worry. This is an alternate route to the caverns,” Watta explained.
The woman with them wore a ragged xechelln tunic and had no shoes, unlike Watta and Mandy. She stopped suddenly, and Mandy ran into her back.
“Oh, sorry.”
The female turned, her expression no longer blank, but angry. “Your debt is paid. Be gone.”
Mandy turned to ask Watta what the heck the woman meant, but Watta had already run away.
Mandy had a bad feeling and turned to go, only to run into four large warriors she didn’t recognize. One was bigger than even Talzec, full of muscle and riddled with scars. He didn’t smile, talk, or frown. He just stood there, intimidating, his chest full of brightly colored tribal markers, and one particular flashing tattoo that flared red under his left cheek.
The smaller ones—Zehn- and Lore-sized, which wasn’t saying much—appeared menacing. One had a scar across his face, another had a slash marring his chest, and the fourth she knew. He had one eye and had fought against Zehn before they’d reached safety.
He was… “Nasuhl,” she whispered. Before she could set fire to anyone, the giant clamped a large hand over her right shoulder, took hold of her neck, and squeezed. And she knew no more.
