The Warlord and the Assassin: A Fantasy Romance Novella (8 page)

Amina blinked. Had she missed something just now?

Kietesh raised a single, disdainful eyebrow, but kept quiet. His expression was colder than winter frost, and Amina wondered if her sister was safer in the Palace of Arches than in the company of this man.
 

But Tarak trusted him and even called him brother.
 

She would just have to hope that this man could bring her back safely.
 

“It’s settled then. Amina goes with me. Thank you for your consideration, Elders. I will not disturb your peace again.” Tarak moved to Amina’s side, putting his arm around her waist. Arin and Temeka’s eyes grew wide, but they said nothing. Amina didn’t resist the gesture. She recognized it as a message, a possessive act.
 

Tarak was marking his territory.

And she found she didn’t mind that at all.
 

~~~

The journey back through the forest was uneventful, apart from the fact that Tarak couldn’t keep his hands off her. They made love under the dense, all-knowing canopy of the Arama forest, dappled light playing over their naked flesh. They bathed in a crystal clear stream and made love again, exploring each other’s bodies.

Amina was shocked to see the mass of scars across Tarak’s back. He didn’t say much when asked about them, only told her that he’d been in slavery as a child, and had been whipped countless times. That was the only time she caught a glimpse of the darkness within him. It showed in the way his voice became chillingly hard, his eyes like black diamonds.
 

Kietesh had disappeared in the general direction of Adalan, seemingly as comfortable in the woods as the Inue who had dwelt there for centuries. They shared common blood, but as far as she knew, it was the first time the silent man had set foot in the forest. She only hoped Mira would be safe with him.
 

As they reached the edge of the forest, atop the hillside that became the western edge of Varanada town, Amina reached out with her
qwi
. Dusk was settling over the forest, deepening shadows, and coaxing out the nocturnal forest creatures, who threaded the cool air with their calls.
 

She stopped at the same time as Tarak, holding up a hand.
 

They had both sensed something.

In mutual understanding, they disappeared into the trees.
 

The sound of footsteps reached them first, then voices. “Whaddya think the commander wants us to find, eh Polgren? There ain’t nothing out in these here woods. Just trees and animals and Ourephos cursed mosquitoes.”

“He told me he’s looking for a hidden village.”

“What, some secret Inue village? That’s all a myth and you know it. Those Inue savages are hiding in Varanda Town, just like the Varanese, cowardly scum that they are.”

Amina glanced at Tarak, who rolled his eyes. Two Eratean soldiers came into view, armed with longswords and crossbows. They hacked at low bushes crossing their path, navigating erratically through the trees. Tarak made a signal with his hands, indicating she should take the one on the left. He would take the bigger man, on the right.
 

As the soldiers neared, Amina and Tarak appeared beside them, silent as ghosts. Amina grabbed the man’s neck, holding a dagger against the point where his carotid artery pulsated. “Don’t move,” she whispered. “Or I’ll slit your throat.”

Tarak wasn’t as subtle. He punched his victim in the face. The man dropped to the ground with a thud. He tried to sit up, groaning in pain. “Nine hells,” he spat, his nose smeared with blood. Before he could move, Tarak was atop him.

“Akuna!” The soldier’s eyes grew wide.
 

Tarak bent over, his hands around the man’s neck. With the Warlord’s full weight holding him down, the soldier couldn’t move.
 

“There’s no such thing as a hidden village.” Tarak’s expression was mild, a trace of a smile crossing his face. The soldier struggled and tried to spit in his face. Tarak tightened his grip around the man’s neck, causing him to choke.

“Akuna bastard,” the soldier spat. “Go ahead and kill me. It won’t change anything. Your cursed Warlord is dead and our army is surrounding your people as we speak. Why don’t you run back to Varanada and save your brothers, savage?” He obviously hadn’t recognized Tarak.

“How about I carve you up and take your heart and liver, instead, soldier?” Tarak’s smile transformed into a vicious grin. The soldier squirmed, his face draining of color. “Erateans are good to eat. It’s the rich diet, I think.”

The man froze, and Amina felt the overwhelming terror in his
qwi
. It seemed Erateans feared being cannibalized more than death itself.
 

She had heard stories of the Akuna, but she had never thought them to be true.
 

In that moment, Tarak’s face seemed to transform. Gone was the mild expression. He looked every bit the terrifying, bloodthirsty warrior.
 

The soldier froze, like a rabbit caught in the jaws of a wolf.
 

Tarak’s
qwi
filled the air, surrounding them with a fierce killing intent. Even Amina felt her heart quicken, a sliver of fear rippling through her.

Then, as quickly as it rose, the sensation was gone, and Tarak was on his feet, his features carefully controlled. “Lucky I’m not hungry right now, soldier. Why don’t you go back to camp and tell Jerik Garul that you didn’t find the village. Tell him also that Tarak Chul is dead and that we Akuna are leaving Larion Fortress to take the body of our leader back to our homeland. The Erateans can have the fortress on the condition they don’t disturb our funeral march.”

The soldier rose to his feet, shaken and trembling. The man beside Amina swallowed, the skin of his throat kissing the sharp edge of her blade. She could hear the breath rasping in his throat.
 

“Curse you, Akuna savage,” rasped the other soldier, bringing his hands to his neck. There were large, red marks where Tarak had held him. Tarak’s hand dropped to his sword hilt.

The man backed away, holding up his hands in a placating gesture. “I’ll pass on your message to the Commander. Let my comrade go, woman.”

Amina looked at Tarak. He nodded, and she released the man, kicking him in the backside. He stumbled to the ground then stood up and looked at her companion. After a frightened glance at Tarak, they turned and fled.
 

Amina shot the Warlord a flat look. “You don’t seriously think Garul will buy that, do you?”

Tarak shrugged. “People believe what they want to believe.”

She sheathed her knife. “And your people don’t really, you know-”

“What?”

“You don’t really eat people, do you?”

Tarak’s stared back at her with an inscrutable expression. “Life on the mountain can be hard, sometimes.”
 

Amina shuddered. Tarak moved to her side and smiled. “Come, little Inue.” He brought his arm around her possessively. The smile transformed the hard lines of his face. “Let’s not worry about that now. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just got a bit carried away. It’s been a while since I’ve had a good fight. Let’s return to the Fortress and see what Garul is planning next.”

Amina leaned into his warm embrace, trying to forget what she had just witnessed.
 

Under the cover of night, they stole back into Larion Fortress. As they made their way down the narrow, winding streets of Varanada Town, Tarak saw entire families of Varanese pass them by on foot, wrapped in traveling cloaks, with satchels on their backs. They were heading for Akuna territory. Word must have gone out that the Erateans were on the move, and many Varanese had decided to flee the city, rather than risk living through the bloodshed of another Eratean invasion.
 

Tarak followed close behind Amina. She set a swift pace, running on silent feet through darkened alleyways and passages he never would have known existed. At one point they passed through an ancient underground stone corridor, becoming enveloped in complete darkness. Tarak relied only on the sound of Amina’s light footsteps and the faint tendril of
qwi
she allowed free, to guide him.
 

He marveled that she could find her way so easily in complete darkness.
 

When they reached Larion Fortress, they met his guards, who nodded in greeting. They eyed Amina with curiosity, but didn’t say a word. The warriors in his service were used to their Warlord’s coming and going.
 

“Everything ready, Sera?”
 

The captain of his Fortress Guard nodded her head, her dark braids swaying back and forth. “General Enkida has prepared the troops.”

“Excellent.” Tarak clapped Captain Sera on the shoulder in approval. He turned to Amina. “Come, Ami. You must be hungry and tired. Sera, send a message to Cook to have dinner for two sent to my chambers.”

Sera stared at Amina again, before Tarak shot her a warning glance. She averted her eyes. “Yes, Warlord,” she murmured. No doubt the Akuna camp would be ablaze with gossip tonight.
 

Tarak had never publicly taken a lover before.

As they made their way down the long, stone corridor, Amina kept in front of him. Tarak couldn’t help but admire the way she moved, every step graceful and economical. She walked with a killer’s stealth. He admired the curves of her toned legs and her well defined ass. Even after the long journey through the Arama Forest, he found himself becoming aroused.

Tarak led her to his chambers, and signaled to a servant to warm the bath.
 

“A different welcome this time, little Inue.” There was wine and dried fruits on the small table in his antechamber. He poured the wine into a pair of fine Varanese glasses as Amina shed her weapons. Tarak laid his sword against the table.

“Don’t call me that.” Amina’s emerald eyes flashed, but this time, they were full of mirth. Tarak marveled at the way her face changed, and he realized it was the first time he had truly seen her smile. A gentleness came over her hard features, and he suddenly craved the feeling of her rosebud lips on his.
 

Amina popped a dried berry into her mouth. “What are you planning now,
Katach
? Tomorrow, the Eratean army will be at your gates.”

Tarak sipped his wine. “Your attempt on my life has created a nice opening. One I intend to exploit. The Erateans think I’m dead now, and they’ll act accordingly. But they need to learn that these lands are not theirs by right. I will drive them back to Adalan, Amina. And in that process, blood will be shed.”

She studied him carefully, and Tarak felt as if he was being watched by a cat, waiting to pounce. He found her scrutiny impossible to resist.
 

From the washroom beyond, a voice called out. “Bath’s ready, Tarak.”

That was his loyal servant Magden, a matronly Akuna woman who had been a fierce warrior in her time. Now she supervised the day to day housekeeping. She appeared in the antechamber, drying her hands on her apron. Noticing Amina, her eyebrows went sky high. Tarak laughed.
 

Magden was always motherly around him, and now she regarded the Inue with a mother’s scrutiny.

“Magden, allow me to introduce Amina Sato, of the Inue. She’s my woman.” Tarak said the last words carefully, gauging Amina’s reaction. He was half worried she would reject his claim. Bloody Ourephos, this woman was making him act like a nervous lad who had just hit puberty. But a soft flush had spread across Amina’s cheeks. She stood and bowed, in the Inue fashion. “Pleased to meet you, Magden.”

Magden looked her up and down, before turning to Tarak. “About time you settled down with a decent woman, Warlord. Goddess knows not many would be willing to put up with the likes of you.”

Tarak rolled his eyes as Magden smirked. “Pleased to meet you, sister Amina. You’d better keep him in line, now.”

Amina smiled back. “Oh, he knows I will, don’t you worry about that, sister Magden.”
 

~~~

After they had enjoyed fine Varanese wine and a hearty meal of goat stew and roasted sweet potatoes, Tarak led Amina to the bath. The woman called Magden had set heated magestones in the water, and a fine mist of steam rose into the air.
 

“Come, lover.” In a few swift movements, Tarak had shed his black robes and the loose traveling pants. Amina took a moment to admire his magnificent body. His bronzed skin gleamed in the flickering magelight, the sculpted lines of his chest and stomach rippling as he bent to feel the water’s temperature.
 

Amina shed her traveling clothes and came to stand behind him, tracing the network of scars that covered his muscular back. She planted soft kisses along the lines of his scars. Tarak turned and took her into his arms.

“Forget about that,” he murmured, bending to kiss her mouth. Amina responded hungrily, enjoying his hot, demanding kiss. Tarak brought his arms around her and lifted her, as if she weighted nothing. He stepped into the steaming bath and gently lowered her. Amina admired the swell of his cock, erect and fully aroused.
 

Gods, he was huge.

He slid into the water beside her, and Amina rolled over and brought her body on top of his, moving against his erection. Tarak buried his fingers in her hair, and brought her down in a deep, savage kiss. Breaking free, he growled. “On the eve of a battle, you distract me, assassin. Is this another ploy of yours?”

Amina responded with a hungry kiss of her own. “I think you’re the one who’s trapped me with your ploy, Warlord.”

She slid her hands down his hard stomach, her fingers encircling his shaft. Tarak moaned, his strong hands wrapping around her waist.
 

Fierce, savage need rose in Amina, and she moved her hips against him, bringing him inside her. Pleasure coursed through her as she rocked back and forth. Tarak’s hands guided her, pushing her faster and faster against him.