16. Chapter 16

Tormented by nightmares, I woke with a start even before Szun-Var tried to wake me. His words sent a chill even down my spine.

"The sentries caught sight of a xythrax." This was what I had seen in my nightmare. A xythrax attacking Gwyn, and me running toward them. It didn't matter how fast I ran; I didn't seem to get any closer. A deep voice that I was convinced came from Vorag himself urged me to run. Kev! Kev! Tzar-Than, kev!

I was up and in my boots immediately. "Where?"

Szun-Var led the way, but men bearing torches to search the ground for tracks already indicated where I needed to be.

"Get five warriors ready," I ordered Szun-Var. "We'll follow these tracks. "

I caught Bra-Tar's eyes. "You, wake the other warriors. I want this camp fully patrolled. We're not leaving until this threat is dealt with. Also, ensure the hunting party does not leave today."

"Sa, Khadahr," Bra-Tar acknowledged and ran to spread my orders.

Satisfied that the humans would stay put, I took an offered torch and picked up on the visible tracks.

A xythrax was a fearsome beast, the most dangerous predator on Vandruk. Slaying one was a test a khadahr prospect had to pass.

It didn't matter if one was born of a khadahr—it helped—but that didn't automatically mean that he would follow in his father's footsteps. Like all the other young warriors, I had to pass many tests and bring home the head of the dead beast to prove my worthiness, no matter who had sired me. It was the reason why it was so important for a khadahr to father many sons, so that when the time came to step aside, his lineage was certain to be continued by one of them. Sons born with so-called deformities, like Bzun-Lhan, were forbidden to participate in the khadahr trials as it was certain that their handicap would lead to their defeat.

In Bzun-Lhan's case, a missing thumb made it impossible for him to fight as hard as was required, diminishing the victory of his opponent and allowing questionable victors to ascend to the next level, weakening the trials as a whole.

Satisfied that the camp would be safe, I followed the xythrax's tracks just like I had done several years ago. I hadn't killed one since that day, and my heart thumped hard in my chest at the chance of it. It wasn't only that I yearned to prove my worthiness to my warriors and myself once again. Nek, it was because I hadn't seen one in many years. Its appearance now announced Vorag's will to me. Just like killing one so long ago had changed the course of my destiny, I was convinced something was about to change now. Today.

My dream came back to me. Sa, Vorag had shown me his will; I just didn't understand what Gwyn's role in it had been. Had Vorag tried to show me that she was the one? Or… and here my heart began to pound like it had in the dream, was she in danger?

I shook my head. It was impossible. Nobody would leave the camp today, and the xythrax would not enter the camp. The dream had to have some other meaning, one I would ponder later. It was more important to take care of the imminent threat.

Xythrax didn't just appear out of nowhere. How many times have I traveled this path in the last years without even seeing a hint of one ?

The mighty predator was a singular hunter, only grouping up during mating season twice a year, which, if legends were true, resulted in a bloody orgy of sorts as males vied to be the ones to impregnate as many females as possible, who, in turn, allowed as many suitors as possible to mount them.

The sun was slowly rising, making torches unnecessary. I extinguished it and took a short break, taking sips from Szun-Var's offered waterskin.

"The tracks are getting fresher," Szun-Var observed .

I grunted my assent and handed the waterskin back to him. There was no reason to make small talk. All my warriors saw what Szun-Var had pointed out.

Anticipation ran hot in my veins. Today, I would slay a xythrax and bathe in its blood, renewing my strength.

"You don't have any sons yet," Szun-Var cautioned. "Stay back, Khadahr, and let us take care of the beast."

I nearly snarled at my friend before I caught myself. Szun-Var had addressed me as his khadahr, not as his friend, and whether I liked it or not, he was right. I had no heirs. Should I fall today, my lineage would die with me, as my brothers had already fought in the khadahr trials and failed. After a moment's deliberation, I gave him my decision.

"If I fall, my lineage was destined to die with me," I accepted my fate. "But I will not stand by and let one of the others slay the beast and challenge me."

"Your will be done, Khadahr." Szun-Var bowed his head slightly.

I didn't like the worry lines on his forehead. "Have a little bit of faith in your khadahr, old friend."

"I do." He still looked troubled, though. "We are at the precipice of a lot of changes, and without you, I fear…" He drifted off.

Without me, this entire venture would fail, I finished his sentence in my mind. And the humans I brought here will be doomed . I held no doubt that Bzun-Lhan would have them executed the moment he was informed of my demise. Was that what Vorag had tried to tell me in the dream ?

"Then, that is Vorag's will, and I bow to it," I finished our conversation.

"Sa, Khadahr," Szun-Var obliged, but his unhappiness with it was written all over his demeanor.

Szun-Var was the first male I introduced to my plan, and he was my staunchest opponent for a long time. It took months to warm him up to the idea. Once it took root, though, he came around. I think his yearning for a mate was even stronger than mine, which was probably why he had fought me so hard on it originally. I hated the idea of having planted the seed of hope in his mind only to destroy it now. But if this was Vorag's will, who was I to stand in his way?

There were only two possible outcomes today: the xythrax would die, or I would. It would either strengthen my belief that our mating with human females was the will of the gods, or the entire venture would fail. Vorag would show his will one way or another, and I was certain Szun-Var would take the appropriate steps until a new Khadahr of Farruk would be chosen.

I didn't doubt for a moment that Szun-Var would order all humans to be exterminated, no matter how much it would hurt him to see his hope of a mate die. But Vorag's will was not to be tested as my death would prove.

That was why he had sent a xythrax, a single-minded hunter who would never stop after having found a viable food source. He would stalk our group and pick us off one by one until nobody was left. He would come during the cover of night when we were at our most vulnerable, which was why one of us had to die today. For the sake of the humans, I hoped it would be the xythrax and not me.