“You’ll find,rei sarkia,” I rasped, my fingers brushing her curls once more, “that fucking lends itself very well to frustration and anger.”
Her breath hitched.
She was saved from answering when the first members of my horde became visible on the pathway, the nearer we rode towards the feast. They lined the road on both sides, awaiting our arrival. In their palms were little papery orbs of golden light.
“What…what are they holding?” she asked instead, distracted from the thread of our conversation. Her voice was soft, awed.
“Lanterns,” I told her, shifting, pressing her more fully into me as Okan treaded forward. “Tassimarasare about change. About new life.” My palm spread across her belly and she stilled. “The lanterns are filled with seeds. They are an offering to Kakkari and her earth. Our home.”
“Seeds?” she asked, not understanding. But in a moment, she would.
When we came into view, the lanterns began to lift. Bright little orbs that gently began to drift upwards, higher and higher. One after another, the horde released more and more lanterns as we approached.
Mina’s head tilted back and I could see the brightness in her eyes as she watched the lanterns. Her lips were parted in wonder. The light of them cast us all in gold, as if it were sunset and not a black moon this night.
Seeing the innocent delight on her features, at such a small thing, made something twist inside my chest. Affection?Nik, that couldn’t be right. Whatever it was, however, it was a soft thing. And I didn’t like the feeling of it.
Hands drifted over our legs as we began to ride down the lit pathway. Mina softly inhaled and looked down in surprise, watching as the first female lining the pathway blessed us. Then another. Then another. Palms, dusted in gold powder, brushed over our legs and down Okan’s sides. The light from the lanterns reflected the golden dust, luminous and beautiful.
Slowly, I led Okan down the pathway, presenting myMorakkarito the horde. About halfway down the road, I caught sight of Junira, standing beside her father, Besik, one of my bestdarukkars.
Junira kept her gaze averted as she ran her hands over us. I knew what the horde believed. I knew the rumors that had circulated. While I had not been ready to make a final decision regarding myMorakkari, Junira was one of the females I had been considering. In all likelihood, shewouldhave been queen of this horde. She came from a strong line of warriors. She would have given me an even stronger son.
Then Mina had appeared to me in the fog.
She had come to me and vowed herself to me in that beautiful, haunting voice. Her eyes had held me captive. She came to me and made me want her. Then she made meneedher, for the sake of the horde.
But it was thewanting, and not theneeding,that frightened me the most.
In the last two days, Besik had made his disapproval of my decision evident, though I had been too preoccupied to deal with the disrespect accordingly.
Now, as myMorakkarisat before me on mypyroki, as his daughter gave us her blessing, I watched asherefused to. He had not made his offering to Kakkari. He had not pressed his hands to us in acceptance. He considered my decision a slight against him, against his daughter, and by extension, his line. Even though he had seen Mina’s powers. Even though he had seen her strength.
Others didn’t even dare to look the human female in the eyes. That was the extent oftheirrespect,theirawe at what they’d witnessed.
I would deal with him later. Tonight was about thetassimara. Tonight was about the strength of the horde. Not the displeasure of a singledarukkar.
But I would not forget it.
Urging Okan forward, we soon reached the end of the pathway. Valavik stood there, hands behind his back. Behind him was the celebration feast. Long tables, laden with food, ran in rows. An area had been cleared for dancing and the drums had been placed. A raised dais at the front of the feasting area had been erected, a single throne on top. Fire basins roared with life. The smell of smoky meat filled the air.
The horde had been busy in seeing to the preparations for thetassimara.
When we reached the front of the line, I wheeled Okan around to face the horde.
In Dakkari, I bellowed out, loud enough for all of them to hear, “I present my chosenMorakkarifor Rath Rowin to see, under Kakkari’s night sky and with the goddess’ blessing. AMorakkarithat came to me under Kakkari’s guiding light.” I heard the murmurs of surprise that broke out at the words. “And when I saw her, I felt the knowing within me. I knew then that this female would change the course of my destiny. I knew then that Kakkari had revealed her to me for a purpose. That purpose has never been more clear to me than it is now.”
Mina had stiffened briefly when I began addressing my horde, but I had the sense that she was listening carefully. Picking out words she would memorize, words she would whisper in the dark later. Hukri had reported to me that Mina was interested in the Dakkari language, that she often asked the meanings of words.
“You all witnessed her power. TheMorakkariof Rath Rowin is meant to be a protector.Ourprotector. She makes the horde stronger.” A chorus of agreement, of cheers, rose to the sky. “On this night, we bind ourselves together. She will give me strong sons and daughters for the horde. She will serve this horde as I serve this horde. And together, as one, we will enter the uncertainty of these times with power and courage. The darkness that blankets the land is not something to be feared from this night forward. TheMorakkariof Rath Rowin will never let this horde fall.”
The cries were deafening, rising into the night sky as if they were the lanterns overhead. Exuberant cries to Kakkari. Cries of relief. Of grief, for since the fog had come, our lives had been changed. But mostly, I heard battle cries. War cries. For the horde believed that we now had a great weapon at our side to defeat whatever evil plagued this land.
When I tilted my head to regard Mina, I saw her lips were parted and she was looking at me, not at the horde before her.
Seeing her this night, in Dakkari ceremonial dress, with her long, wavy hair wild and soft, with her green eyes glittering…it unleashed the desire I’d tried desperately to keep locked away. Emotions got one killed. Lust had almost ruined my life’s work once before with her. I’d wanted to ensure it never happened again.
Yet, I lusted after myMorakkarinow.
