Honor Bound (5 page)

Chapter 4

Vaan managed to
block the confusion he felt. There were so many questions and sensations
pouring through him but he had no time for any of it. His Warlords counted on
him and the story the woman told was too strange to be untrue. Asleep for three
years. Years in which friends may have died. Battles lost. And most
disappointing of all, the treaty with the Desani gone.

He eyed the Raasa
woman. Her pupils contracted and dilated in an odd display. Fear glinted in the
diamond shaped green orbs though she tried to appear strong and confident. Vaan
admired her for it. Her actions were bold with no guarantee of success.

Her features
differed slightly from most of the women he came in contact with. She had no
eyebrows and no eyelashes to speak of but neither distracted from the symmetry
of her face. Sharp cheekbones, a smooth forehead and a pert nose completed his
initial assessment.

He touched on her
mouth and inhaled. Her lips were full and pink with a hint of fangs peeking
out. Fangs that could rip into flesh yet she hadn’t bitten him when he
threatened her with his weapon. He’d met Raasa before. A deadly but peaceful
people with the ability to shoot poisonous venom from their mouths. A dangerous
weapon for a people not known for their physical strength.

Raasa were a
slender race and she was no different. Her lean arms wrapped around her middle.
The yellow tunic she wore stopped at mid-thigh and her brown leggings revealed
long legs with an enchanting curve to them. A shapely Raasa woman in her prime.

The Raasa men
weren’t much different than their female counterparts in physical stature
although they tended to favor one another. The males were almost
indistinguishable with their hairless features and bald heads. Not a challenge
in any way physically to a warrior of Kaban.

Vaan gazed at the
flowing black hair that just touched her shoulders. He remembered the feeling
of the silky length when he’d touched the strands. It surprised him that the
cold blooded race had something soft about their nature.

The dark gold of
her skin confirmed time spent living in a warm climate year round. Overall, an
attractive package if one were inclined to think in that direction. It would
provide no hardship to lay with her to create children.

“We will go to
your holding. We will train your men to defend your home and we will end
Thenl.” Anger at the warrior who’d plotted against him knew no limits. “How
long before he returns for your answer?”

“A month. He is
due in a month to force my agreement.”

He nodded and
pointed at the other warriors. “The Warlords present are Ramar, Tolan, Kavan,
Balal.” He rattled the names of the others and ended with his best friend. “And
my top commander, Warlord Argan.”

Her lips parted
and her eyes shot to Argan in dismay. Vaan considered smiling. An unlikely
action but it was difficult to force back his humor. His men had told him of
her assumptions. “And I am Overlord Vaan Galip. But you may call me, Overlord.”

***

The journey from
the cave and down the hill to the Raasa strong hold took less than an hour.
Mikayla complained of the pace on behalf of the old man that joined them but
Vaan had Kavan carry him and the time was not wasted.

“Do you think she
speaks truth?” Argan asked in Kaban.

Vaan knew his men
listened intently for his response. They all worried, though they masked it
well in the presence of their enemy. “She believes the words she has spoken.”

“Three years
asleep in a cave. It is hard to imagine.” Argan cursed and spit on the ground.
“We can not take her word. We must see for ourselves, Vaan.”

“When we reach the
home where she resides and take care of the joining, I will send a scout. It
will be easy to ascertain if she lies.” Vaan placed his hand on the dagger
strapped to his thigh. “If she seeks to trick us, she will meet punishment at
the hands of the Overlord.”

Argan worried. It
was there in the crease of his brow.

“Speak your mind
friend. Ever have I listened,” Vaan encouraged.

The sound Argan
made was one of disgust. “Thenl proves you should not always.”

Vaan thought
deeply. Argan argued heavily for the warrior Thenl to reach Warlord status. If
any other pushed on such a choice, Vaan would not have listened. “A warrior’s
way is to err and learn. We learned.”

They both grunted
at this bit of truth. Still Argan pushed. “Perhaps, it is best to wait for the
scout to return before tying yourself to the female.”

“It is a small
debt to pay. What price would you put on the life of fifteen Warlords and your
Overlord?”

Argan had no
answer, letting silence flow while deep thoughts weighed heavy. The appearance
of her home in the distance brought a deep sigh of relief from the female. The
large rectangular structure reached two stories high yet paled in size to his
home in Kaban but it looked a sturdy dwelling with its amber colored stone work
and red tiled roof. From their approach, Vaan studied the massive framework of
the gate surrounding the entire property. A wise security precaution. His own
home had no such gate.

As they approached
the gate of the Raasa’s home on foot, the first thing Vaan noticed was the lack
of guards around the perimeter. No one stopped their entrance into a home that
harbored defenseless women and children.

He sensed his men
were troubled by the like as well. Their eyes betrayed disgust at this basic
measure.

“There is much to
accomplish if we are to make this a formidable spot.”

Argan’s words were
truth. Vaan thought of his own compound and the warriors who patrolled the
Galip stronghold throughout the day. At no time could anyone enter his home
without his knowledge. He faced the woman who maintained a set distance between
he and his Warlords. She fairly reeked of her woman’s anger and again, Vaan’s
humor made an unusual appearance, causing him to keep his head angled away so
none would question his smile.

The Raasa female
was not pleased with Argan’s deception. She believed him to be the Overlord and
was dismayed at her error in judgment. Still with fifteen warriors to choose
from including the man she’d thought was the Overlord, she’d selected Vaan and
he admitted to pleasure at the fact, though he could not say why.

Vaan shifted his
attention to his best friend. Argan’s reaction he could not explain. His right
hand Warlord remained firm in his distrust of her and wanted to kill the Raasa
and be done. Argan’s irrational anger made Vaan view everything with a second
eye. He’d already made one bad decision and could ill afford another. Vaan
would be more cautious with their second chance at life.

When they crossed
the threshold there were shouted greetings. The massive gate opened at their
approach without question. They entered her hall unchecked and Raasa bowed in
their presence murmuring, “Su-Su.” The term was unfamiliar to Vaan, though he
knew a few words of the Raasa speech. The split at the end of their tongue made
it impossible to mimic the sounds completely. Add in the clicks and hisses and
it was not an easy language to learn.

Women in brightly
colored tunics surrounded Mikayla and cried out, their arms touching her
familiarly. A few caressed her hair. The men approached, bald heads angled down
in admonishment and welcoming smiles on their faces. Vaan forced himself to
remain still but when the men attempted to add their touches, he pulled his
sword and slid it between Mikayla and the nearest Raasa male that thought to
approach. His men followed his action and the sound of fifteen weapons being
drawn filled the hall.

“Overlord, what
are you doing?” Her eyes bounced back and forth from him to her people.

“They are too
familiar with your person. I do not accept this.” If they were at his home,
servants would not have dared and clearly, these were servants and not her
family. Permission would have been requested prior to any daring to touch a
leading member of the family. Those here would learn early of what he expected.

Vaan spoke in the
standard tongue and by the shocked looks on their faces, no one mistook his
words. Only Mikayla dared to step closer to him, pushing away the sharp edge of
his weapon as she did so. He allowed the disrespectful gesture. The Raasa men,
he noted did not get any closer to her.

“They worried for
me. I was gone longer than expected.”

Vaan eyed the
three women and four men. “Then they should have sent scouts to search for you.
Otherwise, their concern is without merit.”

She gasped in
outrage but even his men nodded. “They would have but I am back.”

One of the Raasa
men broke away from the group. He bowed to Vaan. “The Su-Su avoided her guards
today. It will not happen again.” His green eyes promised sincerity but Vaan
did not like the way they rolled in Mikayla’s direction with heat.

Vaan would watch
this one closely. With a subtle lift of his head, he signaled Argan who smiled
grimly. His trusted friend would keep this one under watch as well.

“Show me to our
room, Mikayla. We must settle matters between us. My men will wait down here
and begin preparation to fortify your home.”

“What is he
speaking of, Su-Su?” The old man they’d carried down the hill spoke up as Kavan
lowered him to his feet.

“These warriors
are here to help us. When Mikayla returns downstairs, she will explain all.”

The women looked
fearful but more men joined the growing circle. Some of them looked at Vaan and
his warriors with horror and disgust. This would not go smoothly. He wondered
if she expected another reaction.

Mikayla sighed and
pushed her hair back from her forehead. The mass tumbled around her shoulders.
She used no tie or ribbons to hold its length as Kabanian women were known to
do. Vaan would show her as a sign of his willingness to help her be a model
female. She sucked her bottom lip in thought and then shrugged. “Follow me.”

The one bold Raasa
put himself in Vaan’s path when he turned to go after Mikayla. “Miki, what are
you doing?”

Vaan assumed the
term Su-Su to be an honorific of some sort. Miki would then be the short form
of her name. One he did not care for. “You will not address her thus.” He
instructed the Raasa and placed his hand on his thin chest to push him back.

Vaan admitted to
not putting much strength behind the move, but the young man stumbled back
several steps. His lean form provided no match for a Warlord.

“Tesai!” Mikayla
ran to help the man to his feet but Vaan’s grip on her arm stopped her. “You
can’t do that,” she snapped at Vaan.

“I am Overlord,”
Vaan corrected for he could do what he wanted. He pulled her resisting figure
toward the stone stair case he’d spotted earlier. Sleeping rooms typically ran
on the upper level of most homes. He would head there. As for her apparent guard,
any young man worth his weight could pick himself from the floor without aid of
a woman. To his men he said, “No one comes up until we return. Kavan stand
point. Argan begin plans for fortification.”

  The old man came
forward. “Of course, Su-Su. I am Eran and have been with Miki as her noan since
she was a youngling. We will all help.” He pointed a brief bow in Vaan’s
direction.

“I am Overlord and
will be addressed as such.” Vaan was proud of the title he’d earned on the
battle field and wouldn’t change it, no matter his soon to be station among the
Raasa.

“Of course,
Overlord.” The old man adapted easily.

Ignoring the
glares aimed his way, Vaan dragged a protesting Mikayla up the stairs. Half way
there, she finally gave in and stormed ahead. Vaan followed at a slower pace,
allowing her to lead him once they reached the top. A narrow hall led to
several doors on both sides.

Vaan frowned. Not
a wise design. The very nature of the hall would minimize a warrior’s ability
to fight adequately. Mikayla stopped in front of the last door at the end of
the hall. Vaan crossed the entrance as she flounced to the single bed and sat
with a huff. He studied the door and noticed the lack of a lock.

“Are all of the
doors open to any who may enter?”

She bit her bottom
lip, the tips of her fangs flashing. He could tell she debated whether to
answer. Vaan waited. Patience had always been his strong suit. “Yes,” she
admitted. “A closed door means don’t enter and an open door is an invitation
for any.”

“I will have the
men add a lock to ours.” He had no intention of sleeping with just a wooden
barrier between him and those he trusted not.

“Ours? You’re
going to share the bed with me?”

Vaan wondered if
he should be offended by the question then brushed the thought aside. “It is
your way, is it not?”

She sputtered then
stood and walked to the small window opening. Her hand roughly pushed at the
thick covering, allowing the light from the day’s sun to beam through. “It is a
fact that Kabanian males do not sleep with their females.” She spun to face him
and leaned her hip against the ledge. The smirk on her face cast doubt on his
race. “They do not trust anyone when their guard is down. Not even the females
they profess to love. Isn’t that
your
way?”

Her words were
correct but Vaan countered. “We are not among my people and it is the Raasa way
to share a bed each eventide with one another.” An ill thought out action to
his way of thinking but he’d not shame her by forcing her to adapt to things
all his way. He could compromise and this was a huge concession.

Vaan planned to
rest with his blade under his pillow until he could fully trust her not to kill
him in his sleep. He did not think it was a serious concern, considering her
wishes but he’d watch her carefully and decide how much honor she truly had. He
was committed to their course of action and nothing would deter him from his
vengeance against Thenl.