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The only predators that dared to attack a whaross were the drycors—shark like creatures—who attacked in packs, driving sick or young ones away from the herd to kill them. The herd usually rallied around the intended victim though, and more often than not, it was the drycors who lost their lives, which didn't seem to deter them from trying again though. I figured they were risking it because one whaross would feed a pack of drycors for weeks.
Fortunately, over the course of the next few days, due to our diligent exchange of vocabulary, Chrissy and I began to have small conversations. Her curiosity over the wharosses didn't die down, and eventually, I was able to fill her in about the creatures that fascinated her so.
I also taught her how to use the broadsword, and she impressed me with her growing strength. I vowed that once we returned to Thyre, I would order a custom-made blade for her that would be lighter to lift and wield but strong enough to withstand a blow from a warrior.
She would probably never be a match for a Thyre, but once I finished training her, she would be able to hold her own long enough to get out of a dangerous situation.
Not that she would need it, because if I had it my way, she would sit at home in my stronghold, Dokkymburg, and be safe, but I was realistic enough to acknowledge that she was a warrior deep in her heart, like me, and would never be happy sitting at home doing embroidery or even tending animals like Alahna or caring for needy kallinies like Damaris.
There was much to admire about her, from her beautiful body to her alert mind and adventurous spirit, so similar to mine.
Days passed, and I took great pleasure in teaching Chrissy while learning about her and pleasuring her beautiful body.
We were lucky, despite it being the cold season, that we didn't run into any major storms, and by the end of the fifth day, I spied land.
"Chrissy," I called her up from the deck below where she was preparing a fish we hooked earlier.
When she came on deck, I pointed, "The land of the Vandalls."
Her features turned tight at the realization that we were about to reach our destination, turning back into the soldier kallini I met at Grymburg.
"Where are your soldiers camped out?" I wanted to know.
"We landed further inland. Uthar's men captured me in a village a day's travel from the shore. Unfortunately, I have no idea where Uthar's harbor is, but from there, I can lead you to our FOB."
"Good," I nodded. Thanks to having paid heavily for any information on the murderers of my brother, I had already known where Uthar's harbor was, even before he drew me a map at Grymburg.
It was good to know the wily leader of the Vandalls had been forthcoming. Not that it mattered any longer. If Uthar wasn't killed in our war with the humans, he would find his fate at the end of it by my hand.
"We will anchor here and wait for the cover of darkness before we draw closer to the coast," I decided, not wanting to draw any unwanted attention from Chrissy's brethren. She told me that the Terran Confederation hadn't shown any interest in Uthar's harbor, but I wasn't willing to bet our lives on that or that this hadn't changed since she had been taken captive by the Vandalls. Which, from what I understood, happened over a month ago by now. Many things could have changed since.
The gods knew I would rethink my strategies after one of my most trusted lieutenants had been ambushed and killed, as her superiors must have assumed. Even if they had orchestrated it.
"What's the plan?" she asked.
That was something we hadn't discussed yet. I suspected once we did, we would be at odds with one another, and I wanted to keep our peace for as long as possible. We had plenty to learn from one another during our journey, the language only being one thing. Us fighting would have complicated things and made everything more difficult.
I sighed. It seemed that time had passed.
"We will land and walk to the harbor. From there, you can tell me the way to your FOB," I explained my plan.
"Why would I explain the way to you?" she asked suspiciously. "I can simply show you."
"I don't want you to go there," I stated.
She tilted her head. "I see. And what will you do once you reach the FOB? Fight a thousand soldiers on your own?"
"A thousand?" I raised my eyebrow. This tidbit was more information than she had given me so far. Her jaw moved forward, showing how irritated she was with herself and the mistake she just made.
"Never mind. You can't fight a hundred or a thousand by yourself."
"I'm sure I can take a hundred," I boasted, a bit hurt she didn't think me capable of taking a hundred puny humans.
She groaned inwardly. "They have guns. Did you listen to Uthar when he told you how we decimated their numbers?"
I had and now it was my turn to clench my jaw. The gods were my witness that I didn't harbor any sympathy for the Vandalls, but even they didn't deserve what the humans did to them. According to Uthar, he had lost about three-quarters of his population in the span of a single month.
Vandalls were fearsome fighters, large, strong, and cunning. The humans' technology had to be formidable indeed.
