Page 99 of Mates for the Raskarrans #1-6

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Vantos

“ W elcome, sister,” Darran says.

His voice is thick with emotion, and I know, like Gregar, Darran sees what Rachel and her sisters mean for the future of his tribe.

“She does not speak many of our words,” I say when Rachel remains mute. “She is trying to learn. She has a sharp mind, but it has been a lot for her to take in, arriving in these forests. Learning our ways.”

“And her sisters are mated to your brothers?” Darran says, releasing Rachel’s hand at last.

My jaw relaxes a little. I do not like him touching her.

I do not like that I do not like it. It is not my place, and Darran was a mated male before the sickness came.

He lost his linasha and his younglings both.

His heartspace will always belong to them.

I have no reason to fear his claiming Rachel.

I have no right to fear anyone claiming her.

“They are. My chief, Gregar, is mated to their chief. Her name is Liv. Already she carries his youngling. Anghar is also mated to one, a female named Ellie. The females have been tired, weak after their ordeal in getting to our village. We hope there will be many more matings to come now they are recovering.”

A murmur passes through the gathered crowd.

Surprise, hope. Darran’s tribe suffered greatly in the sickness.

They lost many of their younger males along with their females.

They are more a tribe of elders than young hunters and warriors, but Calran is not the only member of the tribe who could still take a mate.

Those males press forward now, their eyes on Rachel.

I imagine they are taking note of her sunset hair, the softness of her pale skin. The beauty of her forest green eyes.

It is an effort to keep my hands from her shoulders, her back.

I want to touch her constantly, and my treacherous headspace thinks much on how this is to help Rachel, to support her.

She does not need my support. She stands straight and proud, enduring their gazes.

And though I know she is nervous, I think this is only because I know her well.

I doubt the other males detect that she is uncomfortable under their attention.

“It seems we have much to discuss, brother,” Darran says. “But before we can sit and talk, please tell me what I can do to please Rachel. I would like for her to be comfortable in our village. What do her kind like? What would make her feel welcome?”

He says her name the way Shemza used to say it. Ra-CHEL. And I am a selfish male, for I do not correct him.

“In our village, she has been training as a healer,” I say. “I think she would like to see the healer’s hut. I think that would make her smile.”

Darran nods, then waves at a very elder male.

He is stooped with age, his face much wrinkled.

The kind of male who should be spending his days sat around the fire, regaling younglings with tales from his youth, not working as a healer still.

But that is the curse of the sickness. Beyond just taking our females, so many of our brothers, it has meant hardship and sadness for those left behind.

Rachel and her sisters change all of that, and I know Darran understands this deeply.

I do not think it will be difficult to convince him to leave his home and join us in ours.

Encouraging Rachel to leave my side and go with Darran’s healer is difficult.

Not because she does not understand the meaning behind my gestures.

I just do not wish for her to leave my side.

I see the hungry way the unmated males look at her, and though I trust they will treat her well, have no fears for her safety, part of me wants to snarl and snap at them, to bundle Rachel in my arms and run from this place, back to the caves where we can be alone again. Where we can touch again.

“Come join me by our fire,” Darran says, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Speak to me of these females you have discovered. And I assume Gregar did not send you with Rachel just to gloat?”

He says it with good humour, no annoyance in his tone, but his words remind me that Darran is a sharp male.

The long years of grief have not dimmed his headspace.

I think this works to my advantage. He will understand the importance of combining our strength to protect the females and the future younglings they are carrying.

But he will also notice if my behaviour toward Rachel is less than honourable.

I must be careful. If she is to mate to one of his tribe tonight, I would not wish that mating to begin with anything other than happiness.

Rachel deserves happiness. She does not deserve my longing for her clouding her path.

She has a kind headspace. She would not wish any argument to occur between me and her mate.

The memory of her body trembling in my arms as she peaked threatens to burn away all my good sense. I should never have touched her. Should never have given in to that desire. But it is too late now. I can only make the best of this mess I have put both of us in.

I resolve not to look back to her as we walk in different directions through the village.

I keep my eyes on the flames ahead of me, my headspace focused on Darran.

He sends for foods and questions what Rachel would like to be fed.

I tell him I am not aware that she has any favourite foods, and that makes my heartspace sting.

I should know such things about her. A good mate…

I bite my tongue, correct myself in my headspace. A good friend. Rachel is my friend, that is all.

That is enough.

“So,” Darran says, once we are seated and comfortable, “tell me, Vantos. How have your tribe discovered such a bounty in our forests?”

I tell him of the egg that fell from the sky - how it is a boat from another world.

That Rachel and her sisters have travelled across the stars.

Others in the tribe listen as I talk, muttering amongst themselves in quiet voices.

I hear their surprise and disbelief. But it is only the same shock that my brothers felt to learn that there are other worlds, and people capable of travelling between them. They do not doubt my word.

“And this boat was filled with just females?” Calran says. “Did their leaders send no males to protect them?”

I told him a little of the story when we encountered him at the edge of the village, but this is his first time hearing the all of it.

“There were no others. From what we have learned, their tribe chiefs were not good people. The females have not been cared for - they have hungered all their lives. All of them are too thin, too fragile, though they are starting to recover now.”

“Rachel does not look too thin,” Darran says. “You have taken good care of her on your journey here, brother. Lina will smile on you for it.”

He means it kindly. He cannot know how deeply his words hurt my heartspace.

“I have tried to keep her happy and safe,” I say. “It is my duty as a warrior. I may be limited in my ability to carry out some of my warrior duties, but not in this.”

“Limited?” Darran says.

I tell him of the attack of the Cliff Top tribe, how they spoke harshly of the females, their ill intentions. I see Darran’s jaw tighten, a muscle ticking as his anger builds. Calran’s expression is one of hurt.

“You speak of very different males to the ones I spent time with as a youngling almost grown,” he says, rubbing a hand along the tattoo he must have earned competing against their warriors.

Such exchanges were common before the sickness.

I might have gone on one myself if the interest had taken me.

Experiencing the different cultures among the tribes ensured good bonds of friendship were maintained, but the Cliff Top males have no interest in friendship now.

“Our Cliff Top brothers have abandoned Lina’s ways,” Darran says on a snarl. “I do not need to speak to Rachel to see that she is a thinking, feeling creature. How could they think to use her and her sisters so?”

“They would not accept the truth of the matings that had taken place. Would not believe that the females could be intended for another.”

The words taste bad in my mouth, for have I not been just as bad?

I cannot believe that Rachel could be intended for another.

I have touched her how she should only be touched by her mate.

The shame of it strikes me fresh, and I think I will have to do some penance for this.

Banishment from the tribe would be apt, but it does not help to keep the females safe.

Gregar would not do it. He is practical above all else. He would not want to lose my spear arm.

Rachel mating to another, having to watch her be happy with another - that would be apt, I suppose. Perhaps this is the punishment waiting for me from Lina. Perhaps Rachel will find herself in another’s dream tonight, and I will have to travel back alone. It would be fair, I think.

“You seem troubled, my friend,” Darran says, reminding me that he has a quick headspace, and does not miss much.

“It pains me to think of our brothers so lost,” I say.

“And to think of the females at risk to them. Gregar has sent me here to request that your tribe join its strength with ours. He fears the Cliff Top Tribe could return in force, that we have not the strength to push them back alone. Or that it would cost us too greatly. That whoever remained would be unable to provide for the females. They are so vulnerable. So new to these trees. They are like younglings in many ways.”

Darran nods. “I had guessed that would be Gregar’s request the moment I saw Rachel. He wishes for us to join with you before the big rains, yes?”

“Yes.”

“Does he make this request of Walset, also?”

“Yes.”

Darran grins. “He is wise for a youngling.”