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Chapter Eleven

S irius

By the look of things, this celebration could go on long into the night. I wasn’t allowed access to spirits during my annums as a slave, and I didn’t find the need to imbibe in the single lunar of my freedom. I have no desire to drink and dance right now. What I do want is to find out what the drack a rockshun is. By the look on Aliyah’s face, I know one thing—I’m not going to like it.

I lean down to whisper in her ear, and can’t prevent my finger from allowing a strand of hair that’s escaped her braids to curl around my finger.

“I wonder if you didn’t tell me about the rockshun on purpose,” I scold.

“I didn’t realize until you left the hut earlier, but yes, you should know.” She looks contrite.

“Want to dance some more?” I offer, even though it’s the last thing I want to do.

She wraps her arm around me. “I’ve always imagined this night would end with a walk among the trees.”

“I’d do anything for you. Even a rockshun , whatever that is.”

“A walk under the moons, maybe a kiss,” she slides her eyes toward mine, “then an explanation about the rockshun and a sincere apology I didn’t tell you sooner.”

I slip an arm around her waist and tip her head onto my chest. The pride and possessiveness coursing through me is a revelation.

I don’t want to wander too far from the tribe. Perhaps letting Klinkk live was stupid. I wanted to be the better male. I hope I didn’t put anyone in danger. He could be hiding in the shadows out there, even though he’d be an idiot to try anything. I make a detour to Aliyah’s hut, grab my knife, and finish our stroll.

We’re walking through thick woods. The canopy of trees almost obscures the moons. It’s like we’re in a safe cocoon. Aliyah pulls me down, tips her head back, and kisses me with passion. Her craving for me sparks something inside. It lights a fire that spreads along my veins.

“Aliyah,” my voice is husky. I scrape her lips with my teeth, taking care not to use my pointed canines, just the blunt front teeth. I press into her with my tongue, claiming her, arousing her until she’s panting for breath, clinging to my shoulders as if she can no longer stand.

I pull back, then kiss her gently, tamping down the eager desire we both feel.

“Tell me about the rockshun. ”

Aliyah

I’m so nervous I’ve barely been able to breathe all day. The sun is high in the sky, and the drummers are drumming. It’s not the fun call to dance we enjoyed last night. It’s slow and solemn. I know Sirius is strong and able, but he’s so much smaller than every male in the tribe.

All of the People are here, although, by the looks on some faces, they drank too much martaberry wine last night.

Poppa stands on the stump. He’s wearing his headdress and robe, carrying the chief’s staff. Legend has it that every chief for hundreds of annums has used this limb from the hallowed cheobab tree.

The most sacred tree of the People was struck by lightning during a storm so severe almost every longhouse was destroyed. When the tempest passed, the entire village was decimated and all that was left of the sacred tree was this branch. Every chief for generations has carried this limb to remind us how fragile and precious life can be. It’s only used for our most sacred ceremonies.

“People,” Poppa solemnly intones, “Sirius Far Wanderer wishes to mate with Aliyah of the Stars. He’s agreed to engage in rockshun with some of the finest, strongest males of the tribe. May the Gods give him the strength of a bleer , the stamina of a dareen , and the swiftness of foot of the eram .

“Sirius, males seldom win every competition in their rockshun . It isn’t expected of us, and certainly isn’t expected…” He lets the thought drop, not saying what everyone in the crowd must be thinking—that Sirius is so much smaller and weaker than every male in the tribe.

“The rockshun isn’t about winning so much as it is a statement of the lengths to which a male will go to protect his mate. We’ll begin with the race. Leef will compete against you. The two of you will run to the far side of the forest.” He points toward where Sirius and I walked last night. “You’ll see a tall boulder with two large red sticks at the foot. The first to bring back their red stick will be the winner of this match.”

Sirius

I’m faster than Leef and can run farther without tiring, but I don’t know where the big boulder is. I lope at Leef’s side until I see the boulder up ahead, then I put on more speed. After grabbing the red stick, I rush back to the village, barely breathing heavily. Leef races in several minimas later, sweating and panting.

Aliyah looks surprised. She still doesn’t understand my genetics or capabilities. She was so anxious when she told me about the contests I would engage in today. Perhaps after this she’ll understand me better, although I still worry that if she truly comprehends my differences she’ll be revolted by me.

“Well done!” Duraxx says. By the tone of his voice, he didn’t expect me to win.

“The next feat will be a test of strength. Ferneet has been chosen for this match.”

Ferneet is huge. He’s half a head taller than Duraxx himself, and his shoulders are twice as wide as mine. His biceps are as thick as a small tree trunk.

Duraxx steps off his perch and motions us over. We sit on opposite sides of the stump and are told to arm wrestle the best two out of three. I try my hardest, but Ferneet’s strength is prodigious. We’re locked in stalemate for long minimas , but eventually he overpowers me and wins the first of the three contests.

I win the second. Perhaps my genetics allowed me to recover from the first test of strength more quickly. The third contest lasts longer than the first two combined. First, we tip in one direction, then the other. I almost win, just inces from pressing his green knuckles to the tree stump, but eventually he prevails.

“Well done,” Duraxx crows. “Excellent showing on both parts. Next is the tree toss.”

Tree toss?

Two males carry in a tall, straight tree trunk shorn of its bark. They place it far from the circle of people. It’s as wide as my handspan and about twenty fiertos long. “Born, show him how it’s done.”

Two males stand the tree up on its end, then Born bends down, heaves it up onto his shoulder, and thrusts it away from him in a prodigious show of strength. An elder marks the spot where it landed with a brilliant scarlet leaf.

The same two males retrieve the tree and stand it in front of me. Despite my primate strength, it takes monumental effort to lift it and hurl it as far as I can. It far exceeds Born’s toss.

“Match to Far Wanderer,” Duraxx announces. “The final test is the boulder throw. I call Greeg to compete.”

It takes two males a great deal of effort to bring the boulder from the edge of the tree ring. It’s fairly round and about one fierto in diameter. Greeg hefts it to his shoulder, then heaves it toward the tree line. My throw a moment later lands farther than the scarlet leaf that marked Greeg’s effort.

There’s a wide smile on Duraxx’s face when he announces me the winner of three out of four matches. Everyone in the tribe cheers loudly. I sneak a glance at Aliyah who’s clapping and jumping up and down. Her eyes are sparkling with pride.

“You’re so scrawny, I never thought you’d win even one match,” Duraxx murmurs in my ear. “I would have been proud to call you my daughter’s mate even if you had failed them all.” He looks at me with affection, a twinkle in his eye.

For a quick moment, I want to remind him how damaged I am. He should hate me or fear me, certainly not welcome me, but I clamp my lips together and stand motionless.

I let the applause of every male, female, and child in the tribe roll over me. I look, really look, into Duraxx’s face—it’s so open and accepting. I glance over at Aliyah, a happy smile on her face.

The origins of my birth do not determine who I am. I am not the product of my genetics. I’m the product of who I’ve made myself. I’m Sirius. Indeed, I am a Far Wanderer. It doesn’t matter that I was born of a test tube and raised on a genefarm. I’m standing here right now, a strong male who’s earned the love of a wonderful mate. I warrant the respect of this new tribe. And by all the Gods, I deserve it!

I raise my hands and accept the cheers and accolades being heaped upon me by the People. I fight it at first, but finally command myself to let the caring and appreciation and acceptance penetrate me to the very core of my being.

Hot tears prick the back of my lids. At first, I push it away, then I welcome this, too. I’m not a “product,” I’m a person. A complete person with emotions. I can feel pride and sadness and the fullness of love.

I glance at my lovely Aliyah. Yes, my love for her is overflowing. It fills me up to the depths of my heart.

I motion for her and she’s at my side in an instant. She’s basking in the acceptance her people have for me. How lucky for both of us that we’ve been taken in and sheltered and nurtured by this tribe. We’d both be dead without them.

Every member of the tribe approaches me and welcomes me in some fashion. I’ve never known a home. Now I have one.

“Time for you two to go,” Duraxx tells us as he approaches. “Newly mated pairs journey to the Peacefield. Get to know each other. Enjoy the pleasures of the flesh, but learn each other in every way. Come back in a hand or two of days. Then your life together will begin in earnest.”

Duraxx leans over, hugs me, and kisses my forehead. I’ve never known anything but pain at the hands of a male, but I understand this. It’s his final approval of me as his daughter’s mate. I don’t try to hide the warm liquid threatening to spill from my eyes.

He pulls Aliyah to him for a long hug. He whispers in her ear for at least a minima , then kisses her forehead. When she pulls away, her face is red in embarrassment. Was he preparing her for her wedding night? A deep pang of sadness slices through me. Because of me, she won’t need those instructions.

I shake those thoughts from my head. I can give her other pleasures. She knows her own mind, and she chose me.

We sling bows and quivers over our shoulders and Aliyah fills two packs to the brim with jerked meat, seeds, and nuts that were left at our doorstep by members of her tribe. Our tribe, I remind myself.

We stride out of the village, ready to start our new life together.