15. Sek’su

15

SEK'SU

I follow the Urr'ki, watching him while my thoughts dance around my treasure. I know it is not good to split my attention like this but keeping her out of my mind is impossible. The smell of the Urr'ki does help to keep me focused. He has a terrible odor that offends my nostrils.

"There," he grunts like an animal.

I grimace as I move to his side and stare at where he is pointing.

"What is it?" I ask.

"You are as blind as your blood is cold," he huffs taking a step forward and kneeling.

It is all I can do to not punch him in the back of the head. Right there where the head and neck connect, one blow and he would be done. I would no longer be forced to travel with him. I could claim he was lost in a conflict…

I stop that train of thought. The Al'fa has ordered that we work together. It is not my place to disagree. The Al'fa has defended his position for more years than I can remember. Every cycle when the arena is opened, he reaffirms he is the one to lead us, I can do nothing else but follow.

Even if I hate it.

"What?" I growl while repeating the question.

He shakes his head and stabs forward with his thick, green finger. I stare where he indicates and then I notice it. The dirt has been disturbed. It is subtle, but now that I see it there is no doubt in my mind.

"See it?" he asks.

"Yes."

"About time," he huffs, standing up. He looks around the tunnel we're in while rolling his neck and shoulders. "Patrol was through here. Recently."

"Heh."

"Heh?" he asks, stopping what he is doing to turn and look.

"What is it you would have me say? Oooh, I am very scared," I say, shaking my hands. "The bad Urr'ki come?"

His eyes narrow and he growls. His lips curl back from his teeth and his tusks tremble. An urge to punch him in his broad, flat nose comes so hard and fast that I cock my fist and only barely stop myself from acting.

"This is close," he says, speaking slowly. "Too close. The Shaman is looking for us. For my brother and I, and our humans. If you will not protect them, then you are every bit the worthless coward I assumed you were."

The bijass surges in my head. The only thing that stops me from destroying this green-skin monster is Wren. If I do this, I might never see her again. The Al'fa will not accept excuses. He has ordered I work with the Urr'ki, and I must.

I growl, forcing my fists to unclench, though my tail slaps the floor with a rapid-fire tapping. He narrows his eyes, growls himself, and then takes a step back.

"What do you suggest."

It's not a question but more a command, still it is better than my fist in his face.

"We do not have to like one another," he says by way of answer. "But we must work together. My dragoste is in danger. That cannot be."

I do not understand the word he said. It was not in my language, though I know he speaks it well enough. I frown trying to decipher his meaning. I think I know what he means, but I must be sure. If he does… then the Urr'ki… do they… no. It cannot be.

"What does this word, drah-gos-te mean?"

I sound it out trying to make sure I say it the way he did. His eyes widen then narrow again. He shakes his head and then stops mid-motion, not finishing the action.

"You would say treasure," he says with a reluctance that makes it seem as if he is admitting the deepest secret he has.

"Treasure?" I ask, shaking my head in disbelief. "No. Urr'ki do not… no. It cannot be, it is not the same. You are wrong."

I was distracted by my own train of thought and miss him moving. His hand is around my throat, and he forces me back to the wall. His other fist is cocked, ready to fly at my face. I growl, grabbing his arm as I swing my tail around towards his legs.

"No," he says before my tail strikes.

He lets me go and steps back, but my tail is there, and he trips over it, falling backward and landing on his ass with a growling grunt. His head whips back to me and there is rage in his eyes, but this was an accident. He was stopping himself. I step back and away, raising my hands between us.

"Enough," I say. "Accident."

He stops partway off the ground, glaring. I move forward slowly and offer my hand. He stares at it for a second, then grasps it by the wrist, like a warrior. I help him to his feet. He dusts himself off, rolls his shoulders and neck again, then cracks his knuckles before looking at me.

"Is same," he says, slashing his hand through the air. "But better. More."

"More than treasure? How? That makes no sense."

"Because Urr'ki know real love. Tajss gives this to us. We are first born. Beloved of the mountain and of Tajss."

I snort, shaking my head and laughing.

"First born? You are barely more than an animal," I say, but there is no force to my words.

"An animal?" he asks, arching an eyebrow and shaking his head. "We think the same of you. Lizard."

I growl then stop. What right do I have to be angry at him? I just called him an animal and he called me something back. I sigh, shake my head, and step back.

"What are you called? Your name."

"Dilacs," he says, crossing his arms over his chest.

Now I remember. He is the one who was fighting with this brother and the human female was there. I didn't recognize him because I realize I hadn't really looked. He was an Urr'ki, not a person.

Pride lines his face and is clear in his stance. I know the pride of a warrior when I see it. I also recognize that he was skilled enough to get his hand around my throat and, though I think I would have come out on top in that tussle, it is still a noteworthy feat.

I don't like him, but I can respect him. And he has not done anything yet to make me not respect him. Yet.

"I am Sek'su," I say, offering my hand.

He stares at my offered hand, frowning deeply. When I am about to withdraw my offer of a truce, he snorts and takes it. His grip is firm, and we stare into each other's eyes in a challenging manner. If a Zmaj stared at me like this, we would end up in the arena. He may not be Zmaj, but the contest between us is clear.

"Well enough," Dilacs says, letting my arm go.

"You fight for your treasure," I say. "This I respect. I begin to see why the Al'fa allowed you to join us."

He snorts and shakes his head.

"Allowed? Needs us," he mutters, pointing ahead again. "Lizards are blind. You do not see the obvious. The mountain does not talk to you."

I bite off my own retort because it will accomplish nothing. I have watched Wrenlee interact with the other humans. She doesn't know this, I do not think, but it does not matter. The way she rises above them is fascinating. It is something to be learned. I apply the lesson now by not engaging with his barb.

"How long ago?"

"Two, maybe three handspans," he says. I frown not familiar with his measurements. He looks over and sees my confusion which makes him roll his eyes. "I do not know lizard measurements. We were made to learn your words, but not your maths."

The bijass surges, but I hold it at bay by thinking of Wren. The aloof way she looks when those pesky humans throw so many questions at her. She looks like the mountain itself. Imperturbable. Above the noise that they throw at her like spears. Each one is sharp and meant to cut or hurt, but she is impervious.

"Well enough," I say, shaking my head. "A long time or short?"

"Short," he says.

"Then we should investigate."

"Agreed."

I let him take the lead and follow in his wake. He remains in a crouch, moving slowly, and studying the ground before him prior to each step. We travel several wingspans down the tunnel when he stops and stands up.

"What?" I ask.

"Nothing. The tracks end and I find no signs of traps. It was a patrol only."

I study the tunnel myself. I may give him respect as a warrior but that is a long way from trust. Not only do I doubt, but I worry he might be a plant intending to lead us astray. Distract us long enough for the Urr'ki to launch an assault. After the quake, anything seems possible.

I crouch and study the tunnel, but nothing stands out to me either. I move a ways ahead and then work my way back, studying every detail. Still nothing. I stop when I am standing in front of him and nod my agreement.

"We should return," I say.

"Yes," he agrees, staring at me for a long moment.

"You have a… treasure?"

I narrow my eyes as every muscle tenses. I do not want to discuss this with him. It is a subject that is not for his ears. Why would I share with him my confusion? The way my heart and soul are drawn to her, and I know she feels the same, yet she demands we remain a secret.

Humans are a disruption to our way of life at a time when we can ill afford it. The Urr'ki are racing towards their doomsday scenario which is bad for everyone under the mountain. I know they think they will awaken their ancient blood god but all of us Zmaj think that is a myth. Is this yet another attempt to misdirect? Is there something here that I should have noticed, and he is hoping to keep me from seeing it?

He is watching me with wary eyes. Suspicions dance across his face too. How can he trust me when I know I cannot trust him?

"You say you do," I counter.

"I said I have dragoste. I told you it is not the same."

I make a dismissive gesture with my hand.

"Why do you ask me this?" I ask.

He frowns and the suspicions on his face disappear if only for a moment. He looks thoughtful and, oddly, intelligent.

"My world has been turned upside down," he says, speaking softly. "She did that. Changed everything."

"Oh," I say.

I should say more but the weight of his words is too heavy. More than their weight, they are too real. I understand what he means in my heart too. The moment I saw her, I felt the world shift as if another quake was happening but this one was only in my head and in my chest.

Dilacs is watching me closely then he grins. A toothy, animalistic smile.

"You know," he says, chuckling as he turns and leads the way back to the compound.

Yes. I do know. But what do I do with that?