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“Riak or the other one?” I ask trying to pull free but his grip is too strong.
He stops and looks down at me.
“You are clueless, outsider. You do not know the trouble we are both in now. All because Mazabuta shoved you into my house. I did not ask for this. I do not need the trouble you bring. Now come!”
He growls and roughly pulls me out the door.
6
NIYAH
Itry to keep up but Bhoja’s longer legs make it an impossible game. He jerks me one way then another every time I fall behind. He’s so angry that it’s coming off him like waves of heat. His grip on my arm is a steel vice, squeezing so tight I’ll have bruise marks of his fingers imprinted on my skin.
He’s all but dragging me through the maze of the building I was brought to against my will and acting like all of this is my fault. My only consolation is that when we pass other Urr’ki he is even gruffer and meaner to them. Grunting, growling, and even shoving one of them out of his way so hard that the guy slams into the wall.
Bhoja doesn’t bother to give him a second glance. He’s moving fast enough I have to almost run to keep up or I risk being dragged along behind like a broken doll because right now I don’t think he’d stop if I fell. Finally, we emerge from the building. I glance at it since I barely saw it when they brought me. It looks like a windowless stone fortress. We emerge onto a public street. I had hoped that once we got out of here he’d calm down but no such luck.
Panic is battering at my thoughts and around my head. I’m struggling to keep calm. Mazabuta put me with Bhoja saying he was a good man. That he would protect me, but what if Mazabuta was wrong? What if Bhoja is no better than the Maulavi and the ones who support the Shaman? That dark thought rams into every attempt I make to be calm, shattering my efforts and leaving me shaken.
There are lots of people on the street. All of them are going here and there on their own business. They press in on us making me feel even more claustrophobic than I already was. I swear that the walls are closing in. It’s hard to breathe. I know it’s all in my head. I tell myself this. Over and over. Still, panic rises. A cold chill races over my skin. Sweat forms on my chest and back. My stomach roils.
Keep it together. I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m fine.
No. I’m not fine. I’m in trouble. Big time.
Bhoja jerks me to the left so hard it hurts. Hard enough that it feels as if he’s trying to dislocate my shoulder. He keeps looking around us as if watching for some threat. Or looking for someone else to hurt. His lips curl back in a sneer and he growls. His eyes burn with what I assume is rage. Fear makes my stomach clench. Pressure builds in my head.
I can’t do this. I can’t. Why?
“You can do this Ni, you’re okay.”
I hear Greta’s voice countering the fear that threatens but she’s soft. A whisper. Not loud enough to drown out the rising tide of fear.
Another Urr’ki hits Bhoja hard enough to cause him to partially spin dragging me along with him as he does. Bhoja barks something in Urr’ki. It’s loud and harsh. Then the one who ran into him responds in kind. Out of nowhere, Bhoja lets go of my arm and swings.
There is a resounding crack and crunch as Bhoja’s fist slams into the other Urr’ki. The crowd closes in and I lose my battle for control. Panic takes over and I do the only thing that makes sense.
I run.
7
BHOJA
Anger is boiling towards rage as it fills my head. Mazabuta should never have gotten me involved in this. What was he thinking? What was I thinking when I agreed to do this? Now the Maulavi are watching. I suspected they were before but now I know.
And the last thing I want or need is their eyes on me. No, the last thing I want is the feelings that this tiny alien female awakens in me. I know it must be lust, but there is no denying she makes me want to protect and care for her.
Care for her, in this world! We are racing towards a doomsday either predicted or caused by the Shaman. This is not the time for such entanglements. Who has the time for matters of the heart? This world is ending and the next is coming. Gada, I’ve even finished my mudrosti.
All these thoughts swirling in my head makes me angry. Angry that these feelings should awaken now, of all times.
Why? Why now?
The street is full of people going to market or their days work. I push my way through the crowds while keeping her at my side. When I glance over to check on her someone runs into me hard enough that it makes me spin.
My grip on Niyah jerks her around so hard I am sure it hurt her and that stokes my rage even higher.
“You dare!” I roar, balling my fist and slamming it into the offender.
