Page 58 of Scarred

“A scout just came back from the north, and there is a second group of five witches coming toward us,” Mavuto answered. “It took this scout longer to reach us. I believe both groups will reach us at the same time.”

“What do you need from me?” he asked.

“I need your mate to try to get us more information,” Ru said. “I have sent word to Qunic, and I know Volt will send some warriors to help defend our home, but he will need to have a few remain there to protect his own.”

Suni growled in frustration. “My village is too far, or my brothers would answer the call to battle in a second. How long do you think we have before we hear back from Qunic?”

“If they run, they will reach us around the same time the witches do.” Ru answered.

“That may be a good thing,” Mavuto said. “They will be behind the witches and come as a surprise.”

“Suni,” Amma said as she walked to his side. “We have a problem.”

“What is it, my mate?” Suni asked.

“That group of witches coming from the north are followed by a larger force of warriors under their control. We have until the second sun reaches its highest point before they will be here.”

“It better not be the same village we fought before,” Ru growled. “This time I will not spare their lives.”

Jo stroked his arm. “Calm down. It doesn’t matter who the warriors are. We must fight them and win.”

“What is he talking about?” Amma asked.

“When I dropped into this world, I fell onto a battlefield,” Jo replied. “I fought and killed one witch then, and another later when we reached Ru’s home.”

Amma nodded. “I’d heard that you’d killed two of theirs. I didn’t realize that it happened so soon after your arrival. No wonder they are marching on this village. You’ve encountered controlled warriors in the past too?”

“Each time the enemy witch had over a hundred warriors under her control. The first time involved most of the males from a nearby village,” Jo said.

“I didn’t count how many warriors were with the witches. Should I check?” Amma frowned.

“No need,” Ru said. “You have done well. Mavuto, go and spread the word. I want it impossible for anyone to get to our noncombatants.”

“Yes, Chief.” Mavuto struck his chest with a fist before sprinting away.

Ru turned to his mate. “Jo, I wish I could tell you to go back home and wait, but you would not listen.”

“As I’ve said many times, my place is by your side. See?” Jo held up a hand and allowed her magic to sparkle across her fingers. “You need me.” She paused for a moment, turned to the side, and emptied her stomach. “And I need some water.”

Ru turned to Suni and shrugged. “These human females are headstrong.” He handed his mate a full skin of water.

Suni opened his mouth, but closed it again when Amma looked at him with an eyebrow lifted. He was a smart male. There was no way he was going to step into a trap before battle. “They are beautiful and strong, yes.”

“Good save,” Amma snorted. Jo glanced at her from the corner of her eyes and giggled.

Time dragged as warriors and scouts trickled in and out of the market area. Suni had never realized how slow the suns moved across the sky until he kept glancing up to see if they had moved.

“Sit down.” Amma said. She patted the space next to her. “You are making me tired with all your pacing.”

“They are taking too long,” Suni mumbled as he sat down. “Something isn’t right.” His right leg started to shake and Amma squeezed his thigh.

“I’ve checked in with Flix and nothing has changed,” Amma said.

“I have a feeling,” he said. More times than he could tell, his intuition had saved his life in battle and during hunts. “Can you check one more time, for me?”

She smiled and said, “For you, I would do anything.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Suni shuddered at the creepy way her eyes whited out, but he held her hand and waited.

After a minute, Amma blinked and her eyes returned to normal. “Shit. Jo, they have a pepesa witch. I don’t know how she was able to hide the first time.”

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