Page 24 of Infala: The Alien's Bond
Heydar nodded. “Very few are.”
“And you? How did you come to be among them?” the hunter asked.
“Captured in battle and held for longer than I care to admit.”
Adzus nodded solemnly. “Then you would do well with a proper meal and a hot bath, both of which the Oraku will gladly provide you. Come, our village is no more than a few hours trek from here.”
“Thank you, Adzus, your hospitality is much appreciated,” Heydar replied.
“Yeah, thanks,” Darla added, wondering what new sort of strange alien situation she’d just landed in.
CHAPTERTEN
The trek back to the Oraku village was a surprisingly smooth and easy one. Having locals intimately familiar with the terrain certainly didn’t hurt. It was nevertheless a fairly long walk, and by the time they reached the primitive home of their new friends, Darla’s legs were aching.
She had done her best to mind her tongue as the hunters talked quietly about her, thinking she couldn’t hear them. One thing she had always had was a keen sixth sense and an equally attuned ear for bullshit. And this band of sweaty, muscular hunters were talking their fair share, even as they carried their kills between them, the dead and cleaned animals slung on a long pole.
Where Darla was concerned, it seemed that once they got past her smaller stature and decidedly unusual coloration, the curves of her body had managed to draw a different sort of notice, and from more than one of them.
It seemed that there was something of a skewed ratio of males to females in their tribe, and the arrival of fresh meat was making more than one of them stare with barely hidden interest.
“Do not worry about them,” Heydar said. “You are a novelty, but without theInfalamarked on your body there is no hope for a union.”
“The what? Oh, you mean that tattoo you were talking about.”
“It is more than just that. The living pigment within the rune bonds its owner to their mate, though it is often a difficult process finding them.”
“What, so your magic markings don’t pull you together like magnets?”
“You feel the draw in the general area, but until you lay eyes on your mate’s Infala, you are left to wonder upon whom it resides. Andwhere.”
“So, it’s like an Easter egg hunt.”
“I do not know what thisEaster eggis. But it is a hunt of sorts, yes.”
“And that’s how you found your partner? A random feeling drawing you together?”
His jaw twitched. “I am unbonded. But that is how it works, yes.”
This tidbit was news to her, but then learning all about the strange alien mating rituals was more than a little out of her depth. All she did know was that so long as she wasn’t all inked up, the interest of the hunters was merely academic.
Or so she hoped.
Heydar hadn’t said anything about casual encounters, however, and judging by the glances coming her way there was always the chance one or more of them might get ideas. Fortunately, the village came into sight when they rounded the next small hillock, and the hunting party’s demeanor shifted to that of macho bravado as they returned from their task.
It was a rather quaint looking home. Rustic and old-timey. Buildings were made of branches and vines, some covered in mud to shield from heat or cold. Others were no more than large tents or yurts. The overall feel was quite tribal, though the pale green alien inhabitants were certainly not from the Wild West.
Tall trees bordered one side of the encampment, while another abutted a cluster of rocky outcroppings and small hills, their tops dotted with vegetation. There was the faint whiff of moisture in the air, which explained how everything was so lush. Darla couldn’t help but find the whole setting kind of pleasant, all things considered.
The hunting group led them into the village, weaving between the structures until they reached what was just about the center of the village. Long communal tables surrounded a dormant fire pit. Shirtless males were busy preparing wood for the evening’s fire while others scrubbed the table with buckets of water.
An old woman approached them, her body covered in fine lines and runes, many of them in an almost glowing pale ink, while other less active colors played second fiddle. She walked with the bearing of a woman who was used to getting her way. Darla took a liking to her immediately.
“We are returned, and we bring friends, Rohanna,” Adzus said.
The men carefully lowered their kills and dropped to one knee. Heydar followed suit, bowing his head in respectful greeting. Darla, however, stood tall, locking eyes with the woman. For her part, Rohanna took the human female’s insubordination quite well. In fact, after so long having others tiptoe around her, it was quite a refreshing change of pace.
“Come closer,” she directed the strange newcomer. “I would take a better look at you.”
