Tribal Dawn: Mordufa: Volume Three Read online

  Zura didn’t look the same without robes swamping her and her hair loose to her waist. It was now pinned up in typical Kreiess fashion, decorated with feathers and braids. When she reached for her cup, her dress displayed sewn amber leaves on the top half, the bottom flowing green, clinging to her figure, rather than drowning it. She caught Vakaar’s eye and sat back immediately.

  Vakaar scanned for the man he needed. Nizam was on the other side of the circle, speaking to his fellow warriors. He needed to talk to Zura. There were rumours that deaths were regular at this event. While considering a way to approach her, a retching came from the crowd. A man stumbled forward, vomiting on those around him, clutching his stomach. Nyah rushed to the clearing and nursed him back to consciousness. He was lucky and taken away on a stretcher. Apart from his family, no one was bothered and the revelry carried on.

  Vakaar made his move, grabbing cups on the way. Women danced in his face and men duelled with their brothers. Couples stripped each other on the floor, mating in animalistic fashion, uncaring of the attention of others. He was a short distance from Nizam. The warriors were half drunk and laughing at each other’s jokes, none of which Vakaar found particularly funny. Maybe he hadn’t drunk enough yet.

  “… Dafari slammed into a tree riding the deer! We pissed ourselves laughing! This is our future Chief!” Nizam bellowed, hammering his fist on a stump table.

  “Iz better than… than… Sheeka,” another responded. “He’d ask the starz to fight it. Pah!”

  Vakaar sat, his back to Nizam, cup identical, and listened to the men. A happy family covered his movements.

  “No one will beat Pazade,” an older man joined.

  “Therez Tau. He’z all… good. Good fighter.”

  “He’s in a war. He’ll get blown up before he comes back.” Nizam put his drink down. Vakaar poured a quarter of the mixture into the cup. “I’d prefer to skull-fuck Zura and take the title myself.”

  Vakaar twitched. Skull-fuck Zura? It was going to be less painful. He emptied the rest and made the switch. Sipping his drink, he smiled at a dancing old lady. Using her as a distraction, he skirted back to the other side.

  He reached his space and guzzled another bitty, fruit ale. As much as he hated to admit, it was growing on his taste buds even more than his fancy Sun tribe wines. Waiting for his plan to come together, a familiar face edged away from her cluster of family and children, wearing a grass skirt and thin vest. She had braids and a lip piercing. He tried to remember her name.

  “Hello, Kaari is it?” she asked, standing ever so sweetly.

  “Yes… Arda? Am I right?”

  She giggled flirtatiously. “So, I made an impression on you?”

  “Hardly an impression. I struggled to remember your name.” She was insulted. He grinned. “What can I help you with?”

  “Actually, it’s quite embarrassing, Kaari. You see, I’m a Moduma, and we can’t misbehave in front of the children we care for. I didn’t want to come here alone and witness this passion around me.” Arda kneeled and traced a finger on his scarred chest. “Because I know I’d want to share a night of it with someone. I see you’re alone, too.”

  Vakaar leant forward. “Mhmm. Go on.”

  “The problem is, my friend Zura said you were bound. I don’t see anything on you that says you are.” She scratched his chest lightly and lowered her voice to a seductive whisper. “If you are, I can keep secrets.”

  Vakaar’s jaw tensed. It’d been months, and this woman was pretty, young and a Moduma. No worries about having to kill her for his seed. Offers like this didn’t come all the time. He growled and turned his head away. “Ah, I can’t. I want to, but I’m afraid Zura is right, I’m bound.”

  Arda straightened and wiped the dirt from her knees. Offended, she looked down on him. “Shame. I would’ve let you do everything to me.”

  Vakaar choked on his drink. “Nah, sorry. It was tempting, but now it just makes me think your pussy will be sagging from the others you’ve let have you. I won’t break my bind to be lost in a cave. Sorry, Arda. I wish you luck in finding pleasure for the evening.” He raised his glass as she slipped away towards a group of men.

  He stared at Zura, trying to get her attention. A berserk roar came from the crowd. Nizam was beetroot red, veins popping, grip tight on his weapon. He charged out of the masses to the top table, people screaming and pushing away their children.

  Vakaar rushed over. Dafari stepped forward, challenged his roar with his own fearsome call and slashed his grand greatsword through the warrior’s throat before he got close. The crowd groaned. The body collapsed with a fountain of blood sputtering from its neck. Dafari picked up the head and threw it on the fire. Everyone cheered and the healers scuttled across the clearing to take away the remains.

  Zura blinked in shock, frozen, before Nyah tugged her dress. Vakaar met her away from the table and grinned. “This celebration is great.”

  “Nizam… he was friends with Dafari.” The olive green of her eyes glittered. “What did you do?”

  “Me? Nothing. He went to attack the Chief. It was Dafari who killed him.” He glanced over her shoulder. Dafari was stuffing his face, three platters laid before him. “Somehow, I don’t think they were too close.”

  Vakaar thought she was going to burst into tears. Instead, she smiled. The leaf-shaped necklace resting on her collarbone sparkled amber. Her eyes were painted red and white, and for the first time since he arrived, she looked like a woman of high standing. “Thank you,” she whispered. Zura wrapped her arms beneath his shoulders and hugged his chest.

  Vakaar hissed and let her. Maybe it was the sounds of people fucking around him or saying no to a mating offered on a plate. Either way, it was a pleasant closeness. He rocked slowly, watching the fire, entranced by the flickering despite the glaring of her parents. He could smell the ale on Zura. “I’ve got one left, Kreiess. It’ll take a while, though.”

  Zura didn’t say anything. She watched with him, swaying in his arms in a world of her own. The feathers in her hair tickled his chest.

  “I’m bound, am I?” he asked.

  “I didn’t want you to have distractions from the job. Arda is searching for a man to bind with. I saw her approach you.” Her last words were quiet as if she was in trouble. She tucked in tighter and rubbed her cheek affectionately on his chest.

  Vakaar’s hand trailed beneath the dress straps and caressed her spine. “Mhmm. You witnessed me tell her no, then.” She softly sighed. His jaw clicked. Zura was blissfully unaware, smiling. “Considering I’m bound, I’ve rejected your friend, and your parents look like they’re about to release the giant hungry beast on me, I don’t think it’s the greatest idea to stand like this, Kreiess.”

  Zura pulled back. Her yearning gaze drew to his lips. Vakaar cradled her neck and stroked her cheek. He rested his thumb on her lower lip and pulled her closer. Her heart was pounding on his.

  Zura flinched and pulled away. “I’m sorry. Sorry.”

  Vakaar awkwardly glanced around and rearranged himself. “That’s fine. We’ve had a drink and, well…” He nodded in the direction of a couple not hiding anything they were doing. “There’s a lot of fucking and closeness happening.”

  “Yes. Yes, you’re right.” She clasped a hand over her mouth. “The children are here! They would’ve seen me doing that!” Her pacing back and forth quickened.

  “A man has been decapitated. That’s worse. You’re looking for something to worry about.”

  Smiling bashfully, she pointed at the barrels beside her family table. “I need another drink. Why don’t you come sit with us?”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Why not?” Zura stumbled forward and grabbed his hand. “There are plenty of seats.”

  He didn’t want to draw attention to himself, but the drink was warming his blood. The fun and carefree attitude she was letting loose was new. She hadn’t been trusting. Anxious and concerned, she’d been that every sing
le day. She couldn’t play with the children under her care like the other Modumas for worry. He saw in the twinkle in her eye as she held his hands that tonight her adult side craved fun. She stopped by the barrel. He bumped into her. He brushed his hand by her waist and grabbed the cups. Leaning over her shoulder, he poured their drinks, noses inches away from touching.

  “I needed to ask a favour. Another one if you don’t mind,” Zura whispered.

  “As long as you don’t want me to emerge from my abode wearing full black gear, wave my dagger and scream what I am, I’ll do it.”

  “I need to visit some ruins, but Shadow tribesmen wait near it. It’ll take some time for me to adjust to walking out of the perimeter, but when I’m ready, would you escort me?”

  Vakaar swirled his drink. “I can kill them with my dagger?”

  “Yes, I suppose.”

  “Darling little Kreiess, you’ve made my night. I’ll take you, but you cannot be shocked by my attire. Let your pretty head know I can’t kill you.” He smirked, arm balanced around her slender shoulders. “Now here’s a question for you. Here you stand, graceful, innocent and tiny. How did Dafari turn out huge?”

  She giggled. “I don’t know. My father wondered the same.”

  “When I looked out for your brother, I assumed he’d be slim like yourself, or at most one of those alpha-looking men like your father, or Tau.” He sipped his drink and didn’t notice her double take.

  “Tau? You know my brother?” The playfulness disappeared. Instead, a different kind of hopeful smile spread on her face.

  He twitched and wrinkled his brow. Over the years of staying in places to learn of his prey, he’d never slipped up that easily. Then again, this was the longest he’d stayed in a location that wasn’t the sanctuary. “Yes. We taught each other tricks.” He downed his drink and refilled. “He doesn’t resemble your parents either. You look like him across the eyes.”

  They walked slowly to their seats. “Tau is renowned in our tribe for his striking resemblance to our grandfather. He was his hero. You know, he used to promise he’d kill every Silen—” Zura stopped in her tracks.

  “He tried. Several times,” Vakaar whispered as warriors strolled past. “I fucked up. I did some… bar work in the Sun tribe. Turpu, actually.” Zura gasped. He held his hand up. “Shhh. Tau arrived before me. I did what needed to be done. I didn’t realise how deep the hatred ran between your tribes. He was young, and I believe wanted the kill for your kin. He chased me through the forest until I faked a fall and tackled him. I knocked him out, dragged him to where’d be found and left. Of course, Tau still lived in the capital, and there were times I needed to return.”

  “What happened? Tau used to hate—” She double checked no one could hear. “—your work. I can’t see how he’d change that.”

  “I was young myself, and the regular jobs bored me. Tau gave me a chase. Workloads were cut on the borders of the Sun tribe. I’d find him and taunt to chase me. One time, I misjudged and ran into a group of feral bandits. One stabbed Tau in the leg and sliced my chest open. Lucky he was a weak fucker, or we’d both be dead. While we healed in their camp, we spoke a bit. I burned some food, and he took over. We ended up staying there for several days. Then the golden brethren came searching for him. I guess it became custom when we saw each other’s tracks, and we’d duel.”

  Zura chewed her lip, hiding her smile. “You’re the lunatic who poisoned Turpu.”

  “He called me a lunatic? Thanks, Tau, you dick.”

  Zura opened her mouth when Nyah drunkenly shouted, “Zura! Why don’t you come sit down with your friend?”

  Zura shimmied past her aunt and sat beside her parents. Nyah forced Vakaar to sit next to her. Her red robes wrapped around her round body and her frazzled, honey-coloured hair hung loosely. She reached for his cheeks and pinched hard.

  “Look at you! Such a handsome boy!” She snorted and threw a nut at Atsu. “Atsu, do you remember the days when you had looks?”

  The Chief was whispering and biting on an incredibly drunk Jocelin’s neck when the nut hit his chest. Jocelin threw her head forward, grabbing it between her teeth. Atsu grinned and took it from her with his tongue. Zura turned away, blushing, and grabbed some bread at random for a distraction. Vakaar smirked between the pinching. He found the embarrassments of parents amusing. It was one of many blessings of being parentless.

  “Oi! Don’t eat that! I asked you a question!” Nyah threw another.

  “What, woman?! I’m busy!” Atsu snarled.

  “Do you remember when you were attractive like this boy? Look at his lovely face!” Nyah squeezed Vakaar.

  “What the fuck are you talking about, ‘remember’? I still have my looks. The only nuts I want to be played with are my own. Leave us alone, your Chief is busy.”

  Nyah huffed and released Vakaar. “Ignore him. He’s just a big horny bastard.” She shoved a steak, berries and vegetables onto a plate and poured a wine glaze over it. “Eat up! You look starved, dear!”

  Vakaar grabbed the meat and tore a chunk out of it. He offered her a taste. “I must confess, Nyah, I don’t eat much.”

  She took a bite, swaying into his arm. “I binge eat. I must say, Kaari, I’ve seen thousands of scars over the years, some of the strangest kinds. May I ask about some of yours? They’re incredibly curious for a healer.”

  Her question piqued Zura’s interest too. Or maybe she didn’t want to witness her parents devouring each other. “I guess. Some are personal.”

  “It’s your eye and throat. Whenever a person has come to me with an injury as thick as the blade would’ve been to make that, their voice is afflicted, yet you speak with a soothing tone. And your eye… is there any damage to it? Can you see well?”

  Vakaar uneasily swallowed. “My sight is unafflicted though, since the incident, I’ve had a twitch. Something very nasty and sharp hit my face. My throat…” He rubbed his scar. “I’m afraid that is one of many personal stories. Other scars…” He motioned to the scratches and marks on his front. “These are from blessing rituals. The ones on my back are self-explanatory.” Nyah crammed meat sticks and fruit into her mouth, nodding. Before she could ask another question, a robed figure escorting another injured tribesman on the sidelines took Vakaar’s focus. “Excuse me, it’s getting late, and I’ve drunk more than my weight for the night.” Zura smiled as he walked away.

  He waited for the messenger to dismiss his charge into the care of a young woman. When he was sure he was on his own, Vakaar whistled sharply. “Such a caring messenger, Rudo… is it? Then I again, I hear the guilt of traitors runs deep.”

  Rudo spun around, flustered, his bulbous eyes almost popping out of their sockets. “Excuse me, young man, are you throwing accusations at me? That can get an outsider in a lot of trouble.”

  “Can it now? The way I see it, Atsu has a gut feeling there is something shifty about you. We all have our secrets, particularly those who worship Mordufa.” Vakaar pulled the sleek hair away from Rudo’s eyebrow, revealing the scar carved there. “We have the biggest ones, don’t we?”

  Rudo batted his hand away. “Why are you here?”

  “It’s not to harm your Chief. You already know that, though, don’t you? Tell me, Rudo, what was it like to hear the cries of Pazade’s daughters after you murdered their father?”

  Rudo fiddled clumsily, eyes shifting to his surroundings. “You’re awfully judgemental for a cold-blooded killer.”

  Vakaar patted him on the shoulder. “Cold-blooded? We are children of Mordufa. When our job is done, we get another. You stayed and witnessed the grief. That is more cold-blooded than several things I’ve done. Several. Not all.” He tightened his grip and grinned manically. “Leko has been sick, and the grand master calls for him. He’s probably dead now. I’m taking his place.”

  “Good for you, little boy. You can leave me alone.” Rudo pushed away his arm.

  Vakaar dug his nails into his shoulder blade. “Until you die, you owe Mordufa
a debt. You betrayed him. Your messages will come to me. I want you to do more. This tribe has enemies who want them dead, and my brethren have hungry blades. Every time the Chief, his mate and their children travel, I want to know where they’re going.” Vakaar released Rudo and patted him on the cheek. “Sleep well, messenger. Luaani may have blessed your life so far, but know that Mordufa always watches.”

  - CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO -

  Not long after Tau returned to the hot barracks, a healer dressed in black followed. She held Unika’s personal wrist wraps, carved by the Moon tribe, very different to their golden Solianga ones. He insisted they brought him luck.

  The healer didn’t say a word. She pulled Tau to the side, gaze on the ground when she handed them over. Tau gave her some coins for her efforts. Disheartened, he stared at the swirling silver details and white moonstone. He didn’t notice Ebhi standing beside him.

  “They belong to Unika,” Ebhi said and reached out.

  Tau looked at the ceiling and blinked. Regaining his composure, he nodded. “Yeah. They tried their best. I guess with the heat and the infection, they couldn’t do much.” It was the first time since he’d arrived at the Sun tribe that he’d seen the faces of warriors in the barracks empty. They were fatigued, sickly and didn’t care if they lived or died. Their group of five had been close-knit and hadn’t been cursed by grief. They’d stuck together through the toughest training and battled the strongest of enemies, or so they’d thought. “I’ll be back soon. I’m going to get Rura.” He shoved the bracers to Ebhi, picked up his weapon and left the gloomy building.

  Outside, the dusk air was tainted. There was no respite from the copper scent and rotting bodies. This was the first day, and already he wanted to be anywhere else in the world. This was what he’d signed up for, not the drinking and harsh training in the capital of the world. He wanted to be on the frontlines of war and save people’s lives. He’d seen his brothers die in training and undertaking small jobs. To lose someone close to him was different.