31. Kerry

Chapter 31

Kerry

" N evarn. Kerry. There you are." I turned to find Firion striding over to stand at the end of our table. He gave us both a smile.

Such a gorgeous guy. Not as cute as Nevarn, but no one was. Still, his brother was pretty sweet. Maybe the gods would decide he deserved a mate as well.

I still wasn't sure what I thought about them kidnapping us and bringing us here, but as far as I was concerned, it had turned out better than I could've ever imagined.

Firion's attention landed on my nearly empty plate. "Just finishing the morning meal, I see. Is everything going well?"

"So far," Nevarn said. "I'm finished, Kerry. You?"

"Yes." I pushed my plate away, and both mine and his slithered into the stone surface before it smoothed as if our meals hadn't just sat in front of us.

We both stood, and Nevarn rounded the table to stand with me.

"Do you have time to meet with me?" Firion asked Nevarn.

Nevarn put his arm around my waist. "We do."

Firion dipped his head my way, his gaze full of respect. "I don't believe this will appeal to you, Kerry, though you're welcome to join us. It relates to the Veerenads. Their king sent an emissary to begin negotiations for a treaty with our clans to exchange goods and services, and I'm putting together the initial proposal. I'd love to hear your thoughts if it's something that interests you."

I wasn't particularly intrigued by treaty negotiations. "I could go back to our room and play with Molly."

"Let me take Kerry there and I'll join you," Nevarn told his brother.

I could hang out there or I could ask some questions. People might be more willing to talk with me than Nevarn.

"Would you mind if I wandered around the village instead?" I asked. "Assuming it's safe for me to do so."

So far, there'd been no evidence our follower had joined us on the island, though we'd be foolish to think they hadn't. But it was daytime. I'd remain near other people and once I returned to our temporary home, I'd lock the door behind me.

"I'd love to do some browsing through the shops," I added. "Embroidered tops and dresses sound lovely."

"I understand why you might hesitate," Firion told Nevarn. "While no one in my clan would dream of harming her, I'd be happy to send someone with her. A guard, if you will." His voice deepened, and a flinty look appeared in his eyes. "Well armed."

"This won't take long, will it?" Nevarn said, his voice tinged with concern.

"An hour or so? Not longer," Firion said.

Nevarn's face cleared. "That should be fine." He took my hands, squeezing them. "You'll remain in the market?"

Around others, he meant.

"I won't take any risks," I said.

Firion walked over to a nearby table and spoke to Khol, Nevarn's childhood friend I'd met yesterday. Khol's gaze met mine, and he nodded. Rising, he walked over to us.

"Khol will be happy to escort you around the market or wherever you'd like to go," Firion said.

"Thank you," I told them both.

Khol dipped his head forward before turning to Nevarn. "No one will cause her harm while I'm with her," he said grimly.

"Word has already spread that Nevarn is here with his human mate," Firion added, his voice light. "I believe you'll find most behave in a welcoming manner, Kerry. Ignore the rest." He pressed his fist against his chest. "And if any misbehave, Khol will let me know, and I'll speak with them. I was one of the traedors who traveled to speak with the gods, and I had full approval of my clan before leaving. We're all eager to add women to our village and find mates among them, and an insult to one of you is an insult to me."

I gave him a quick hug, and he patted my back.

Nevarn rubbed Khol's shoulder. "Thank you."

"Any time," Khol said.

Nevarn kissed me quickly and whispered by my ear. "I'll find you soon?"

"Yes, do."

The two males left, and I followed them outside, watching as they strode in the opposite direction of where Nevarn and I were staying.

"Where would you like to go?" Khol asked pleasantly, his hand on the hilt of the stone blade strapped to his waist. He wore a simple, black cotton tunic and dark pants, and he'd left his long silver hair down. A breeze caught it and swirled it around his head until he smoothed it and tied it with a scrap of leather at the nape of his neck.

"The market." In addition to looking over the embroidered items, it was time to do some investigating. Would villagers share information with me if they weren't eager to talk to Nevarn? I was about to find out.

Khol's arm swept out to our right. "This way, then."

We strolled down a narrow path and out into the bustling village square about the size of half a football field.

Vendors had set up tables with their wares on one side of the big open area, and I headed in their direction, stopping at the first display to admire jewelry made from tiny shells and precious stones.

Khol moved off to the side, facing me. His sharp gaze scanned the area, and I was grateful to have him with me. I could defend myself if need be, but this way, I could ask questions and look at the items in each shop without worrying about someone rushing up behind me.

"See anything you like?" the male standing behind the jewelry table asked in a cheerful voice.

"Oh, I don't have money. Coins." I doubted they used debit cards here.

"Everything is free."

The clothing, I understood, but these items had been handcrafted by this artist. "You don't charge for your work?"

"I do this for the joy it brings me," he said, shooting me a tusky grin. "I have no need for money or coins, though I understand some Zuldruxians use them for trade. Here," his hand swept out to the other laden tables nearby, "everything is free."

What an amazing concept. "You must accept trades, then."

"Sometimes. But there's no need to trade anything if you see something you'd like to claim as your own. If my friend, Argost here," he tapped the arm of the male I'd met who stood behind the table next to his, "wants one of my necklaces or something featuring jewels and shells to hang on the wall of his home or around his neck, I would give it to him. Later, I might admire one of his nicely embroidered tunics and he would give it to me. It all balances out."

"Yes, this." Argost said with a smile.

"We have three areas within the village where items may be chosen," the first male said. "Like your lovely dress. It looks good on your human form."

"Thank you. Have you lived on the island all your life?"

"I have indeed. My family has for many generations. We weren't among those who blamed the gods for the disease, so we've reaped the benefits of our relationship with the gods for longer than my family can remember."

"It's gorgeous here. You must love it."

"I do. It's cooler during the hot months when the mainland swelters, and more moderate when it gets colder. The sea helps with that. Such a vast body of water chills and heats much slower, and it shares . . ." He looked past me. "Ah, there's my mate." He grinned as she came nearer. "Marlesta? This is Nevarn's new mate."

"Kerry," I said, turning to greet the older female Zuldruxian.

She smiled and dipped her head forward. "Welcome. It's nice to meet you." She wore a tunic similar to her mate's, plus a skirt instead of pants. She'd pulled her hair up in a bun on the back of her head, adorning it with shells and jewels like those her mate used to make jewelry.

"It's nice to meet you as well."

"I came to see if you wanted to take a walk, Yestar," she said to her mate. Her gaze swept to me. "You as well if you'd like. I plan to pick berries."

"I can't," Yestar said. "But you two females go without me."

"I'd love to." This was perfect. I could get to know a new friend and pick her brain about what happened to Weela. Khol would follow, keeping us both safe.

"Do you mind leaving the village?" she asked me. "I understand if you'd prefer to remain close in case your mate needs you."

As the only human on the island, she must've heard I'd arrived here with Nevarn.

"How far do you plan to walk?" I asked.

"Not far." She pinched the fabric of her tunic draped over her chest and fanned it. "It's much too warm to walk for long. We could take the short loop that meanders along the edge of the western side of the island. The view is beautiful there, and if we're in luck, the berries will be ripe enough for picking." She hefted the basket she carried. "The gods make amazing food, but when I was a youngling, my mother used to cook a sweet dish with berries I adored. I'd like to make it to enjoy after our dinner."

Since I doubted Nevarn would be looking for me soon, I smiled. "That sounds wonderful. I'll be happy to help you pick enough berries."

"I'll see you later then," she told Yestar, and he leaned above the table to give her a kiss.

We turned and crossed the open square, strolling down a series of paths leading toward the western side of the island.

Marlesta peered back at Khol. "Why is he following us?" she asked softly.

"Nevarn worries about me and asked Khol to make sure I'm safe."

Her frown deepened. "Ah. I see."

"Is this a problem?"

"Oh, not at all!"

After walking through a big open archway in the wall, we continued on a trail that meandered toward the edge of the island where I was grateful to find a waist-high stone wall to keep anyone from falling off. Khol remained close behind, a stone spear in his hand. I doubted anyone would bother us, but it was nice to have him with us just in case.

"The gods built this." Marlesta patted the top of the wall as we walked the trail weaving along the side of the cliff. All around, the sea gleamed, whitecaps sparkling in the sunlight. Only the faint swish of water drifted through the briny air. "Our gods have watched over us forever."

"They're amazing." I wasn't a highly religious person, though I believed in some sort of being watching over us. The Zuldruxian gods appeared to do the same only in a more tangible way. Aliens or true gods? I wasn't sure it actually mattered.

"Are you enjoying your visit with our clan?" she asked.

We strolled along the wide path with tall grasses growing in a big open meadow on our left, the purple strands peppered with pink, yellow, and green flowers. Lavendar water and vegetation took time to get used to, but I was starting to find it soothing.

"Everyone has been friendly," I said, deciding not to mention Weela's parents or Vair.

"As they should be." She sighed. "Our people are dying, and your people bring hope for a better future."

I didn't even know if I could have children, let alone if I wanted them or not. I had an IUD. How would I get rid of that if I decided I wanted kids?

However, I could picture myself holding a child in my arms, a baby that was a mix of me and Nevarn, and the image made me smile.

We reached a large cluster of tall bushes covered with purple-pink berries.

"Here we are," she said. "Try one. They're delicious."

Khol leaned against the wall, studying the area, but nothing moved but us and a few tall bushes swaying in the wind.

I picked a berry and popped the marble-sized lump into my mouth, savoring the tart-sweet flavor that was similar to a blackberry.

Marlesta's tusky smile filled her face. "I can't wait to make my treat and share it with Yestar. He enjoys my cooking though I don't do it often."

"Where I come from, we do all our own cooking, or we buy food from those who have jobs preparing food."

"Your gods don't provide for you?"

"I'm not sure what our gods do. Many people pray to them, asking them for healing or to make something they long for work out, but there aren't really signs that prove the gods have intervened, not like seeing your meal emerge from a table or clothing appear on a rack before you even realize you need it."

"How strange." She placed a handful of berries in her basket.

I added some and kept picking, speaking in a low voice. I wasn't worried about Khol overhearing, but you never knew who might gossip. "Do you remember much of what happened three years ago?" I wasn't sure how else to ask other than spit it out. "With Nevarn's first mate, Weela."

Her hands stilled on the berries before she began picking again, dropping handfuls into the basket. "Some things are better left buried in the past."

"Not if they still have a dreadful impact on the present." I sought her gaze, and she must see the steel in mine. "Nevarn didn't kill her. Nothing anyone says will convince me of that."

"I don't believe he did either."

That eased my burgeoning irritation. "Who do you think did?"

Her gaze flicked to Khol before returning to the bush. "I don't know who did it, but I do know I saw Weela leave the village that morning with someone and they returned without her."

Her lover? "Who was it?"

"I didn't see his face."

"But you think it was a male."

"From his build, yes." Frowning, she scraped the tips of her tusks across her upper lip. "I saw her leave the village many mornings with someone, and they appeared to be taking care not to be seen together. When someone is trying to hide something, it's clear they have no good intentions in mind. He wore a tunic with a hood that created shadows on his face, and they slunk through the back paths rather than boldly striding out in the open. Her, I could identify. Him . . ." Her frown deepened.

"What about him?"

She sucked in a breath and released it with a sigh. "He walked with a subtle limp."

"Who here has a limp?"

"No one I can think of at the moment. Believe me, I've wondered about that detail ever since."

"Did you tell the traedor you saw her with someone that morning and that he returned without her?"

"I did, but it was hours after Nevarn was found with her dead and his bloody knife lying beside her on the ground."

"How did someone get his knife?"

"I imagine his weapon was inside his home like most of ours are. Few of us travel armed unless we leave the island." Her gaze slanted toward Khol before returning to me. "We don't need to here, only when we venture into the sea or journey to the mainland. No one would dream of harming another."

Except whoever killed Weela.

"There are no sky predators?" I'd seen a few huge birds fly over the forest.

"Our ryvars chase them away."

"Someone took Nevarn's knife and used it to kill Weela, knowing that he'd be blamed." Such a simple way to frame someone and obviously, effective.

"I assume so. Our traedor didn't believe Nevarn, nor did many in the village. My husband and I, plus a few others, spoke up for him, but our elder made the final decision, convicting him of the crime and sentencing him to three years banishment." She placed another handful of berries in the basket and moved around to the side of the cluster of bushes to pick more, facing me. "Few survive such a thing. Nevarn has done well, which tells me that the gods saw the injustice and protected him. Some in the village believe this as well, which is why he was welcomed back."

"Do you think your gods saw her murder?"

"I doubt it. She was found out in the open, not within the village walls, and even if they did, they don't speak to us, not like some gods I've heard of in other parts of Zuldrux."

They appeared to watch what happened and listened in order to deliver something if a Zuldruxian asked for it. Was there a way to ask them to speak out about this?

"I see what you're thinking," she said, topping off the basket with more berries. "You hope that the gods will tell us who killed her."

That would clear his name in a definitive way. "Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Marlesta smiled sadly. "It would, but they won't intervene in this manner."

"They kidnap women from Earth and bring them here to gift to your warriors as mates. I imagine if they wanted to, they could do whatever they pleased."

"Perhaps. I suppose there's no harm in asking them, though you need to be prepared for no answer." She waved to the trail. "We should head back. I have a dessert to make."

We took the path toward the village, her pointing out various plants and even identifying the creatures creating splashes in the ocean in the water below.

As we entered through the open stone archway, she tugged on my sleeve, pulling me ahead of Khol and into the shadows behind the wall. He was out of view for only a moment, but it was long enough for her to lean close and whisper.

"Tell Nevarn that Khol was Weela's lover."