Page 101 of Sun Warrior

“My Lord! Save me!” Lizard cried.

Death tossed the piglets into the brush behind Him. “Iron Fist! Do not let them get away!” Then He bent and took the Lizard’s face between His hands. “Know that you have helped save your People.”

“But I want to live!” he gurgled through bloody froth that spewed from his lips.

“Ah, but Death has called you. I honor and accept your sacrifice, your strength, your spirit.” The God kissed Lizard’s forehead softly. “Behold Death’s merciful blow!” In one motion the God twisted Lizard’s head, cleanly breaking his neck.

Then the God faced the charging sow, shaking out the rope He’d carried wrapped around His waist. She didn’t seem to notice He no longer held her babies. Her eyes were completely red with rage, just as her muzzle and teeth were red with Lizard’s diseased blood. She came at the God. Again He sidestepped easily, this time throwing a noose around her head, jerking it tight, and pulling the huge creature off her feet. Placing His knee on her neck, He pinned her to the mud, staring into her eyes.

Death smiled.

“I see myself already within you. The rest will happen quickly. I am sorry for your suffering but know it is not without reason.” He raised his voice, calling into the thicket above the squeals of the terrified piglets, “Do you have them, Iron Fist?”

“I do, my Lord!” Iron Fist stood, holding the struggling, squealing piglets tightly.

“Come closer, but only near enough for the sow to see that you have her young.”

Iron Fist obeyed. The God turned the sow’s head, lifting it so that she could see her screaming babies.

“When I release her, run toward the City in the Trees—lead the sow to the Others!”

Understanding flashed through Iron Fist’s eyes. “I will, my Lord.”

“Now!” the God shouted as He freed the sow. She surged to her feet. Roaring with rage, she ignored Death. Choosing her young instead of revenge, she charged after Iron Fist, who sprinted away.

Back as they had come.

Back to the hungry, wounded, waiting Tribe of the Trees.

Content, Death stepped over Lizard’s body, leaving it to sink into the blood and the mud as He went to the stream, washing Himself while he anticipated the return of Iron Fist and the beginning of His People’s new future.

“Four days,” He said to Himself. “In four days the disease will have fully infested the Others. Thaddeus will be completely mine. Then will be time to strike. Then I will lead the People from the ruins of the poisoned City and into the trees. AndthenI will awaken my Consort, who will rule beside me for eternity, whether She desires to be awakened or not!”

CHAPTER 23

Mari woke slowly. She had no idea how long she’d slept, but by the cocoon imprint she’d made in her side of the pallet it was obvious she hadn’t moved all night.

My side of the pallet…

Mari’s eyelids went from heavy and sleepy to wide open as she turned her head, expecting to see Nik beside her. Sifting back through her dreams, she thought that he’d cradled her all night in his arms. Laru had been at the foot of the bed, and Rigel had been snuggled close on her other side. Surrounded by love, she’d slept better than she had since her mama’s death.

But now she was alone.

Mari sat, rubbing her eyes and trying to tame her wild hair with her fingers.

“Rigel?” she called softly, and just before he came galloping through the woven curtain that separated the main room of the burrow from her sleeping chamber and the well-stocked pantry that stretched behind it, Mari was pretty sure she caught the scent of rabbit stew.

The young Shepherd bounded up on the pallet, grinning his tongue-lolling, puppyish smile and covering her face in licks.

“Okay! Okay! I see you. Good morning to you, too.” Mari laughedand hugged the half-grown canine, kissing his muzzle and trying to avoid as much of his slobber as possible.

Laru stuck his head through the curtain and gave a softwoofof greeting.

“Hello, handsome!” Mari opened her arms in invitation. The big canine didn’t need to be asked twice. Two jumps and he’d joined his son on her pallet, licking her as the Shepherds wagged their tails and wriggled like they were both still puppies.

“I see I have competition.”

Three sets of eyes turned to the doorway where Nik was standing with a cup of steaming tea in his hand, grinning at the knot of canines and Moon Woman.