Sand. Skye had seen nothing but sand all night. And yet, the silence was far worse. Its substance was oppressive, weighing down every part of his body as he walked. He made a constant, conscious effort to keep his head up and his body moving forward.

He’d seen nothing move or breathe since entering the Gais Desert. There were no plants, animals, or wind to be found. The lack of any sensation was unnatural, and he constantly looked over his shoulders in the hope of seeing movement of some kind, any kind, small or large.

All through the day he had kept watch for a chance to escape. It was essential his escape occurred before another day dawned. Their group would reach the underground entrance just before the sun rose.

The pakas never left their masters’ side except when they scouted the area. Their reconnoitering never took long and was sporadic in the length of time they were gone. Skye had yet to figure out how the animals told Nyah and Neal what they found. Rolling his head on his neck to loosen the muscles, he chanted to himself he would escape soon. His hands were tied in front of him. If they untied him at dawn, he’d have his chance. All he needed was patience.

He feigned docility after leaving the tunnels, giving the impression he accepted his fate. After all, he had barely completed his training. His behavior worked to lower his captors’ vigilance. Nyah now walked ahead of him while Neal kept a nonstop, one-sided conversation with his paka. Skye thought the man half crazy, though he couldn’t help but like the Kurite who reminded him of Dane. Neal was easy-going and loved to laugh, mostly at his own jokes.

Catching a movement from the corner of his eye, he glanced away from Neal. The two pakas were gliding away after Nyah called a halt. The two pakas searched for the hidden entrance.

Skye watched his two captors go about pulling foodstuff from their packs with him sitting in the center of their makeshift camp. Even after his cooperation, they didn’t trust him—as well they shouldn’t. He’d have considered them fools as well as heathens. They didn’t bind his legs. It was their first mistake. Slowly, so as not to attract their attention, he shifted into a better position for when the time came.

A short time passed, and his luck changed. Both their backs were turned away, both busy pulling clothes and flint out of their travel bags to notice his movements. Soundlessly, he stood up to leave the camp. He wasn’t two feet away from his resting place before Nyah turned around with a shout. Adrenaline shot through his system as he realized he’d have to fight his way free.

Facing them both, he dropped into a fighting stance. They split apart, forcing him to edge back to keep both within his sight. They had to make the first move. They had the advantage of carrying swords.

Aside from taking the few steps backward, he gave no indication of changing his position. He’d determined Neal was the weak link between the fighting pair and would most likely break rank first. If he could grab the Kurite’s weapon, he had a chance.

When Neal brought his sword around, Skye feinted to the right, missing the swipe from Nyah’s sword as well. His feint positioned him almost within reaching distance, surprising the man with the move. With a quick step forward, his elbow caught Neal across the jaw, sending the man reeling backward. At the same time, he took possession of the man’s sword.

Almost too late Skye turned to fend off Nyah’s fierce attack. As close as she was, she held the advantage because of her smaller size. With the knowledge he held and a weapon in his hand for the first time in days, his confidence soared. A smile swept across his face while he waited for her next move. He wasn’t prepared for the speed at which she struck. Her movements were not of strength but agility and speed. Nyah also fought using a different technique than he’d ever seen before. Making minute adjustments to his blocks, he realized he was allowing her to take control of the fight.

Feinting, he struck out with his foot, hooking his foot behind her front ankle while at the same time blocking yet another blow. He then went on the offensive. From the block, he smoothly thrust his blade through her protective circle, scoring a cut on her arm as she twisted away.

Two eerie screams cut through the silence. One pair of glowing, yellow eyes came streaking toward him. He was unprepared for the attack from the paka, but was able to raise the sword in an effort to keep from being clawed by the animal. With his block, the paka drew back, giving him a moment to take a deep breath. He risked a quick look toward Neal and saw the other paka hovered at his side, hissing in agitation. All four, human and beast, began circling him, and he couldn’t keep all four in his line of sight. Grinning at the unbelievable turn of events that had led him to this point, he laughed.

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Nyah calmly stated, “You are surrounded and will not win this skirmish. We’ve no wish to harm you unless you force our hand.”

Skye took a deep breath, though he didn’t stop smiling. “I’ve vowed to the true Goddess. I will not be taken captive without fighting for my freedom.” Neal’s paka, who attacked him, gave another scream, almost as if in answer to his words. Nyah’s paka froze, watching and waiting for an opening. They were at a standstill. He refused to put down the sword he’d taken. Seconds ticked by, and they didn’t attack.

<< >>

None of the Kurites wanted to fight Skye. When they’d taken him captive underground, Neal had produced a steady thread of magic to reduce the warrior’s willingness to fight. Seeing him as a young Gharran trainee, they had underestimated his fighting capabilities, Nyah most of all. Nyah, though not the Kurites’ best master swordsman, was one of its masters. Now, Nyah wasn’t certain she could take the Gharran in a fight to the death. The few minutes of fighting had shown their captive’s abilities were significant, perhaps reaching the level of master. She was uncertain who would win, which unsettled her as she’d not lost a skirmish in a number of years.

The two Kurites had too much sensitive information that must reach Jaure. Neither Neal nor she could afford the time it would take to chase Skye. It was imperative they reach Luthis. Originally, she thought they could extract information from the Gharran. Now she realized their error. The young Skye had fooled them all. With his bumbling walk these past few days, all four Kurites had let their natural wariness drop. It was a mistake that could cost Nyah her post and the post of her Ai. Because of Skye’s swordsmanship, the cost might include the lives of her friends.

Nyah said, “Chazo, get Cai and both of you drop back toward his blindside. I will keep him occupied while you settle into position. When I move forward, match my position at his back. I want to box him in so he is unable to use the sword. My Lord, watch his blade, he is skilled.”

Rather than waste time replying, Chazo flowed toward the other side of the circle. Cai joined him a few seconds later. The tall man eyed their maneuvers but didn’t seem overly concerned with the action. She was hoping his naiveté would bring his downfall. He didn’t understand the pakas could communicate with humans. She sent her own grim smile toward Skye. Beware what you do not understand, young Pyranni.

“Understand, Pyranni, you will be much worse off if you do not surrender Neal’s sword.” She edged her way forward, never taking her eyes off the man standing so still in front of her. He reminded her of the Ilat snakes right before they struck. “Put your sword down, and I won’t be forced to kill you.” She took another step forward. Chazo and Cai mirrored her steps. Nyah sprang forward at the same time she said, “For the love of the Goddess, Pyranni, put down your weapon.”

With no other option than to block the blade, he grudgingly went on the defensive. With her attack, she ensured his attention stayed focused on her and not the two pakas. She gave him no quarter as she forced him to give ground.

<< >>

Skye felt the sharp claws swipe across his calf muscles, and he lost his balance, dropping to his knees. He fought off Nyah’s attack from his vulnerable position. A hiss sounded behind him, then another swipe of claws slashed across his right shoulder. Pain seared through his shoulder as his arm became nothing but meat. The injury was such he could no longer hold the sword in front of him.

Disgusted with his inability to fight off his attackers, he spat out, “I yield.” Skye lowered his weapon to the ground and raised his hands. He glared at the woman as she stepped forward to take the relinquished weapon.

As Nyah grabbed the sword and gave it back to Neal, he tried to slow the blood by putting pressure on the shoulder wound. The two Kurites were talking quietly to each other while the two pakas guarded him. It was uncanny being guarded by intelligent animals. Twisting around, he shook his head when he saw his calf muscles. They would heal but use of the muscles would be painful for a week or more. Pain Skye could handle. His defeat he could not.

Disgust rolled through him. A woman and a couple animals had brought him to his knees. It was unthinkable.

Standing in an aggressive stance with one arm set on her hip, the woman stared down at him. “Chazo did not wound you too deeply. However, I must wrap your wounds, so we don’t leave a trail. Chazo is standing guard so do not try anything untoward. If you want to continue living, do not tempt him further. Although you will bring us yet another of our people through the bartering of prisoners, he has no qualms about killing you now.”

Chazo stalked forward, and Skye studied the paka. The paka stared at him much like the woman had while threatening him. It was unnatural. In that moment, Skye knew without a doubt the paka was willing to die for his master. The paka’s threat was powerful for all its lack of speech. There would be no escape tonight. If Pyran had an animal such as these to train, they would defeat all of their enemies.