Draggah (22 page)

Rafe fell in beside Tiberius as they walked back toward the camp.

“
It looks like you
’
ve been busy,
”
Rafe said.

“
The entire tribe has been busy.  It seems they never killed one of the larger creatures before.
”

“
What do you think that thing was?
”

“
I don
’
t know, but there was something different about it.
”

“
Different from the creatures we fought in Avondale?
”

“
No,
”
Tiberius said. 
“
I wouldn
’
t say that.  I never engaged one of those creatures.
”

“
Nor did I.
”

“
But this one responded to my magic in a way I have never experienced before.  I wish I knew why.
”

“
Well,
”
Rafe said, clapping a hand on his friend
’
s shoulder,
“
the thing is downright delicious.  Best food I think I
’
ve ever eaten.
”

“
You
’
re joking.
”

“
No I
’
m not.  It
’
s exceptional meat.  Much better than Tamaka, and I thought that was good eating.
”

When the tribespeople saw Tiberius, they cheered.  By the time Tiberius and Rafe were halfway back to their shelter, there was a large crowd gathered around them.  The Hoskali were dancing and laughing, shouting and singing.  Drinks were pushed into Tiberius
’
hands and the crowd cheered him on as he drank.  The Kymis was a sweet drink, but there were also stronger spirits.  The ox milk could be distilled into strong liquor that was mixed with other drinks such as fruit juice or Kymis.  By the time he reached his shelter, Tiberius felt warm, happy, and relaxed.

Lexi and Olyva were asleep outside the shelter.  There was a bright fire burning nearby, and even though Tiberius knew they were using the last of their meager supply of Tamaka dung in their celebratory fires, he didn
’
t care.  They needed to pull up stakes and leave the watering hole the next day anyway.  They would have to find more fuel for their fires as they traveled.

He was led to a mat covered with pillows.  He sat down and his group of wives saw to his every need.  He might have been nearly drunk, but he saw the look of yearning on some of the younger wives faces.  They wouldn
’
t try to seduce him, but he knew it would only take a word on his part and he could be with any of the women he wanted.

They rubbed his shoulders and fed him.  Tiberius knew that Lexi would never stand for that kind of treatment if she had been awake, but she wasn
’
t and he was too tired to fight off his wives’ constant efforts to meet his needs.  The massage felt good.  It felt good to have his boots off and to have a delicious drink in his hand.  The meat harvested from the huge creature was surprisingly delicious, and Tiberius was famished.  He ate, drank, watched the tribal celebrations, and felt at home for the first time since he was a child.

“
Can you believe this is what life is like below the mists?
”
he asked Rafe, who was sitting beside him, enjoying the same treatment from the women of Tiberius
’
harem.

“
No,
”
Rafe said. 
“
I really can
’
t.  It
’
s unbelievable.
”

“
That
’
s what I said.
”

“
I mean, who would have ever imagined that we would be sitting here like kings.
”

“
Not me; I thought we
’
d be constantly fighting to survive.
”

“
Me too,
”
Rafe agreed. 
“
I didn
’
t even think we would be able to find food or shelter.  The blighted lands are supposed to be this terrible place that no one can survive in.
”

“
Well, to be fair, it is a dangerous place,
”
Tiberius said.

“
But wonderful too.  The air isn
’
t poisoned, there
’
s water and food if you know how to find it.
”

“
And people too.  I didn
’
t think there would be people.
”

“
Beautiful people,
”
Rafe said, smiling at the young woman rubbing his feet.

“
Maybe you shouldn
’
t be drinking,
”
Tiberius said. 
“
Aren
’
t you supposed to be on watch later tonight?
”

“
Sure, sure,
”
Rafe said, taking another drink from his mug of spiced Kymis.

“
I
’
m sleepy.
”

“
So go to sleep.  You
’
ve earned it.
”

“
I want to be woken at dawn,
”
he told Filsa. 
“
Don
’
t let me oversleep.
”

“
Of course, Tiswanee,
”
the older woman said. 
“
Let us make you comfortable inside.
”

“
No,
”
Tiberius said a little too loudly. 
“
That
’
s not necessary.  I
’
ll sleep out here, with Lexi.
”

“
As you wish,
”
she said, bowing her head.

“
You know I don
’
t mean any disrespect,
”
Tiberius said in an apologetic tone.

“
Of course not, Tiswanee.  Your trogooh wants only to ensure your every desire.
”

“
What
’
s a trogooh?
”
Rafe asked.

“
It
’
s my harem.
”

“
Oh, I have got to get me a few wives.
”

“
Don
’
t make fun.
”

“
I
’
m not, truly, this is how every man should live,
”
he said, waving his cup and spilling some of the Kymis he was drinking.

A few of the younger women giggled.

“
They didn
’
t ask to be my wives,
”
Tiberius explained. 
“
They inherited me and I
’
m going to make sure they have everything they need.
”

“
I
’
ll bet you are,
”
Rafe said, chortling.

“
I don
’
t think Olyva would approve of your attitude.
”

“
Don
’
t do that.  Don
’
t talk about her that way.
”

“
What way?  I was talking about you.  You
’
re making an ass of yourself.
”

“
I can do that,
”
Rafe said stubbornly. 
“
I
’
m allowed to have a little fun.
”

“
Well, have your fun more quietly,
”
Tiberius insisted.  I
’
m going to bed.
”

He lay down on the cushions beside Lexi.  He was so tired he had only one thought before falling asleep.  He felt like the luckiest man in the world.

When Filsa woke him up the next morning, he didn
’
t feel so lucky.  In fact, his head ached and his stomach quivered, threatening to reject whatever was left in it.  He got to his feet slowly.  One of the women brought him a bowl of water to wash his face in.  Another brought a soft cloth for him to dry with.

“
Shall we prepare food?
”
Filsa asked.

“
Nothing special,
”
he said. 
“
The more bland you can make it this morning, the better.
”

“
Of course, Tiswanee.
”

Tiberius immediately went to the edge of the camp nearest the carcass.  With each step, the smell of decaying flesh grew.  He threw up before he reached the Rogu who was standing watch, and he was thankful that he hadn
’
t done it in front of the tribal warriors.  He could see movement in the distance.  The huge carcass of the beast was clearly visible on the flat plains, even if it was too far to really make out details.  It seemed to move as the carrion birds rose and fell around the fallen creature.

“
We have to get out of here,
”
he said to the warrior.

“
Yes, Tiswanee.  The meat is spoiling.
”

“
Did you have any trouble in the night?
”

“
No,
”
the warrior said. 
“
The beasts are feasting.
”

“
Good, spread the word that we
’
re leaving and have Te
’
sumee meet me at my shelter.
”

When he got back, the women of his trogooh had prepared a simple porridge.  Lexi was awake and Olyva stood with her face turned up toward the sun.  Rafe was still asleep on the ground where he
’
d finally curled up beside Olyva.

“
Good morning,
”
Lexi said.

“
I
’
m glad you
’
re up,
”
he said.

“
I missed you last night.
”

“
You were asleep when I got back.
”

“
I was tired,
”
she said. 
“
Sorry.
”

“
Don
’
t be.  I was beat too.  We all were.  But we need to move on quickly.  You can smell the rotting flesh of the creature on the far side of the camp.
”

Lexi wrinkled her nose.

“
Filsa,
”
Tiberius asked. 
“
What can we do to help you be ready to move out?
”

“
Nothing, Tiswanee,
”
the older woman said. 
“
We will see to the shelter and your belongings.
”

“
Are you sure?
”

“
Of course, that is what we do.
”

She smiled at him and he bowed his head a little, the way he
’
d seen the Hoskali do to him as a show of respect.

“
No,
”
she said, shaking her head. 
“
Do not bow to me.  I am not worthy.
”

“
You take care of everyone here, including the four of us,
”
Tiberius said, waving his hand at Lexi and Rafe. 
“
We owe you so much.
”

“
But the Swanee does not bow to anyone.
”

“
I only wanted to show my appreciation.
”

“
You are different, that is good.  The Hoskali embrace new people, it is how we grow, but some things are better left unchanged.
”