Warrior's Mind (Book 2 of The Warrior Chronicles)

Chapter 12

The sun was low on the horizon by the time they landed their Rezeg birds just out of sight of the Akrepa encampment. It had taken a while for them to find the correct location as the desert tribes moved their settlements according to the patterns of the shifting sands.

"Descend!" Jara called out when the last of the birds had folded its wings into its body.

After observing the Bird Riders, the Prorex dismounted effortlessly. Leyla followed suit, her boots sinking gently into the soft red sand.

"Feed the birds while we are gone," Jara handed his reins to Siti.

"Mahsap, you may need me," Siti said, concerned.

Jara took off his helmet, shaking out his auburn hair before throwing the protective gear at his right hand man. "Do you forget who I have with me?"

The Bird Riders all turned in Leyla's direction and Siti looked instantly contrite. "I apologise, Utan...no, Mahsappa La-La. May you leave and come back like water. "

"Don't worry about your Mahsap, I will keep him safe," Leyla assured the men, who laughed heartily.

"Traitors!" Jara muttered in mock anger, then he was waving her forward. "Let's go, Mik-Has."

Leyla narrowed her eyes at endearment, then passed her helmet and reins to Siti.

"It will just be the three of us from here," she told Raphael, then motioned for him to follow.

The Prorex fell into step with her as they climbed the closest sand dune. "Do the tribe members not like Rezeg birds?" He asked suddenly.

"I'm not sure," Leyla admitted. The Bird Riders had made first contact with the Akrepa tribe after she and Michael had left Asch, so what little she knew was limited to what Jara told her the night before. "They are a small and skittish group who refuse to trade with anyone. Jara is hoping to change that, which is why we are here."

When they reached the top of the dune, the tribe came into sight. A smattering of white tents were positioned in a circle around a large extinguished bonfire. Women moved from one tent to the other, strange tools swinging from the rope belts that adorned their glimmering blue-green dresses. Tall and slim, their shaved heads bore large blue tattoos in the shape of an eight-legged arachnid.

"Those dresses...is Jara after that material?" Raphael asked as they drew closer.

"Yes, it's known as Goddess Cloth. They weave it from the scales of an arachnid called Akra and it is said that the material can't be pierced by arrows or blades." Leyla took note of the five women who were holding long spears and appeared to be guarding the camp. Their arms were toned, their leg muscles long and lean; they were likely fast and strong, but their posture spoke of mediocre balance.

One of the guards spotted their approach and whistled low. It had taken far longer than it should for their approach to be noticed; they had a problem with their lookout numbers and positioning. Leyla checked for Jara's reaction to the ensuing commotion and saw him slow his step. She followed suit, knowing the Prorex would do the same.

"They don't seem pleased," Raphael murmured.

He was not wrong. The tribes women had stopped to watch their arrival, and their gazes, which were fixed on the men, were not friendly.

"The Akrepa don't hold men in high regard, that is why there are no males amongst them. Once a year they raid neighbouring tribes for breeder men who are brought back to the village, used, then set free." Leyla kept her eyes on the woman who now stepped out of the largest of tents. Unlike the others, she wore a floor length Goddess Cloth dress with a blue turban on her head and was flanked by four spear carrying guards.

"Breeder men?" The Prorex turned that idea around in his mind. "And what of male babies?"

"Left on top of sand dunes as a sacrifice to Goddess Akra," Leyla replied, then she picked up her pace so she was one step ahead of both of her companions. She didn't like walking into this camp unarmed, but Jara had insisted they not appear hostile. If something sudden happened, she would grab the spear off of the guard to the left of the village elder who was particularly distracted by the sight of the Mahsap.

"Elder!" Jara stopped a sword's length from the tribe leader and smiled while placing his fists on top of each other.

"Mahsap," the woman acknowledged his greeting with a narrow-eyed nod. "I told you many moons ago that I will not sell the Goddess Cloth to anyone. So why have you come?"

"Indeed, indeed. You did tell me that, Elder." Jara kept his smile, then his eyes shifted briefly to the guard on the left. "We were merely passing by and wanted to pay our respects."

Leyla was starting to wonder what he was driving at when Jara held his hand out towards her. "Ah, Elder. Please let me introduce, my owner, La-La."

A gasp travelled around the congregation and it was only years of training that kept Leyla's expression from showing her own surprise. What in Gaia was he saying?

"You are this woman's breeder?" It was the guard beside the Elder that spoke, her high-pitched voice laced with incredulity.

"Pashtu, be quiet!" the Elder warned.

"No mother! Jara refused to be my breeder and why? For this small woman?" The girl stepped forward, glaring at Leyla as she raised her spear to the sky. "Under the watchful eye of Goddess Akra, I, Pashtu, challenge you to battle."

As cheers rose all around them, Leyla caught the feigned look of surprise on Jara's face.

The audacious jerk!

This was exactly what he had been hoping for.