Page 184 of Sun Warrior

Nik blinked to clear his vision. He looked down to see Ralina, the Tribe’s talented Storyteller, struggling to lift herself to a sitting position as her big Shepherd licked her face encouragingly.

“Enough?” Thaddeus turned on her. “Enough?” Spittle flew from his lips as he yelled his rage. “All of this is because of him and his Scratcher whore!”

“Yes, so you keep insisting,” Ralina said. She had to pause as she coughed. Then she wiped her mouth and continued. “But if you want to use Nik to lure his Scratcher here, you’re going to need to keep him alive. Keep shooting arrows at him and, sooner rather than later, one of you is going to hit something critical. He’ll do you no good as bait if he bleeds to death.”

“Why the hell do I care if he bleeds to death?” Thaddeus smirked. “As soon as he doesn’t meet his Scratcher with the stolen Mother Plants, she’ll come looking for him—whether he’s dead or alive.”

“I told you,” Nik rasped, baring his teeth at Thaddeus. “Mari and her Clan have gone west, to Clan Fisher. I was supposed to join them on the coast. She won’t expect me for days.”

“And I told you—I don’t believe you!” Thaddeus shouted. “I don’t think that bitch would go anywhere too far without you. I believe she’s a lot closer than you let on.”

“For once, Thaddeus, you speak the truth!” Mari’s voice was a clarion call, blasting throughout the clearing.

Every Tribesman and woman turned as one. But Nik didn’t need to turn. Nik had a perfect view, and he would never forget the sight.

Mari strode into the Tribe with Laru and Rigel pressed against her sides. The big Shepherds had their teeth bared and were growling a warning to every canine in the Tribe:Stay back—stay clear—she is Alpha protected!

Her feather-dressed hair flew wild around her shoulders. She was bare breasted, covered only by a sun and a moon that were painted on her skin and by the glowing filigreed pattern of fern fronds that glistened as they captured the last rays of the setting sun.

“Get her! But don’t kill her—yet!” Thaddeus shrieked.

The Hunter named Andrew was the first to move. He lunged toward Mari. With blinding speed Mari took a rock from the bag strapped around her waist, fitted it in her slingshot, and with a flick of her wrist the rock flew at Andrew, smashing into his nose and sending him staggering backward to fall in a heap to the ground.

With a feral snarl, Thaddeus raised his crossbow, sighting at Mari. Nik shouted, “No!,” but before Thaddeus could fire he was shoved to the side so that he lost his aim and the arrow twanged harmlessly into the forest well over Mari’s head.

As the Tribe exploded into shouts and cries, Thaddeus rounded on the Storyteller, who had managed to climb to her feet and tackle the Hunter, foiling his shot.

“You bitch! What’s wrong with you?”

“What’s wrong with you, Thaddeus? You’d kill the one person we know can heal us? Really? Even though your sick and dying Tribe is strewn about you, weak and hopeless?”

“You don’t know she can heal you!”

“Of course I can.” Mari spoke with a calm authority that silencedthe Tribe. “Let Nik go, and I give you my word that I will heal anyone who wishes to be cured.”

“Your word? What good is the word of a Scratcher whore?” Thaddeus taunted.

Mari cocked her head to the side, as if considering his question. “Well, Thaddeus, I’d say my word is better than some of your Tribe’s.” She looked from him to his Hunters and the one Warrior who stood with them and then directly at Maeve before she continued. “Don’t you swear to your canines when they choose you that you will honor and love and care for them for their entire lives?” Mari didn’t pause but kept speaking, her voice rich with disdain. “And yet I see canines here, suffering at the hands of their Companions.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about!” Thaddeus snapped.

“See, that’s the problem, Thaddeus. I knowexactlywhat I’m talking about. I know more than these poor, sick men and women you have duped. I know about the Skin Stealer disease that has infested you—and how you have been flaying the flesh from your Companions as a cure.”

“What is she talking about?” Ralina said, looking wide-eyed from Mari to Thaddeus.

“She lies,” Thaddeus said.

Mari turned to Ralina. “If you weren’t so sick you’d have already realized it, but look at his men—those men who seem to be healing. Then look at their canines—their poor, wounded canines—and tell me what you see.”

“You don’t need to kill her to shut her up,” said the Warrior who moved to Thaddeus’s side.

“But if she is lying, why shut her up?” Ralina asked, and Mari noticed that several Tribesmen and women had managed to shake themselves out of painful stupors and were struggling to sit.

“If she can heal us let her!” said a young Warrior whose Shepherd was whining by his side as he pulled himself to his feet.

“Shut up, Renard!” Thaddeus shouted.

“I will not.” The Warrior moved slowly, stiffly, to confront Thaddeus.He pointed back at an older man who lay unconscious on a pallet nearby. “Father is dying. I’ve already lost Mother. I’ll do anything to save the rest of my family—even follow you, Thaddeus!”