Page 25 of Infala: The Alien's Bond
Darla stepped forward. “So, you’re the boss around here?”
“One could say that,” she replied with a chuckle, her tattoos shifting and brightening with her mirth. “I help guide the Oraku toward a more harmonious life.”
“Oh, I get it. The whole nature thing. I suppose that explains the primitive camp. Um, no offense. It’s lovely, really.”
Rohanna let out a laugh. “Oh, youarean amusing one. I am so glad Adzus brought you to me. But I can assure you, though we live a basic lifestyle here, we are not ignorant savages as it might appear at first glance. We havechosennot to engage with the others. To live without constant competition and pursuit of more.”
“Wait, you saidothers.”
“There are more races than ours on this world,” Rohanna replied.
Heydar lifted his head and stood tall. “You say there are others, wise one?”
“Please, you may call me Rohanna. And yes, my Nimenni friend, I am familiar with your race, though I have not seen the likes of your kind for some time. But this one, she is something new.”
“She is called ahuman.”
Darla bristled slightly. “I can speak for myself, you know.”
Heydar’s tattoos darkened slightly, almost as if he was blushing through his pigment. “Apologies. Of course.”
Darla looked back at their host. “My name’s Darla, and yes, I am what’s called a human. But my people aren’t really space explorers. Not yet, anyway. That’s why you haven’t seen us before.”
The old woman raised an eyebrow, curiosity clear in her expression.
“It was the Raxxians, Rohanna,” Adzus said. “We came across pieces of debris on our hunt. One of their vessels crashing down is what we heard the other day.”
“Raxxians?” she said with a sour look on her face. “We do not approve of the Raxxians. Brutish creatures, the lot of them.”
“You can say that again,” Darla agreed. “But it wasn’t just one ship that crashed. We were held on a transport. From what Heydar said, it broke up into pieces and landed scattered all over the place. There’s a very real possibility others might have survived.”
This bit of information piqued Rohanna’s interest. She turned to Adzus. “Your opinion, hunter?”
“If there are others, they are beyond our borders. Perhaps other tribes have encountered them. Or even some of the offworlder settlements. But we cannot say for certain.”
“Hmm,” was all the old woman said as she fell into deep thought. A moment later she turned her bright eyes to her guests. “There is much to discuss, it would seem, but you have both been through a lot. Please, follow my helper, Moraki. She will guide you to the nourishing hot springs. The minerals will soothe your aches and revitalize your spirits. Once you have bathed, we will dine and discuss things further.”
Heydar gave a slight bow. “Thank you, Wise One. Your hospitality is greatly appreciated.
“Yeah, what he said,” Darla added.
Moraki, the slender, young woman who had been shadowing Rohanna, stepped forward and extended her arm to guide the duo. “Please, this way. I will show you to the springs.”
“Excellent,” Heydar said. “We could certainly use it.”
CHAPTERELEVEN
The natural spring was situated in a rocky outcropping at the far edge of the village. Darla was pleased to note as they grew closer that there was no foul sulphur smell wafting through the air. She’d been to that kind of hot spring in the past, and while it had been refreshing, the lingering smell of farts and rotten eggs was less than desirable.
She and Heydar were drawing a bit of attention as they were led to the springs. With curious eyes emerging to gawk at the newcomers, Darla noted that there really was a distinct lack of women in the village. She was a guest of Rohanna, and as such none would think to offend her, but nevertheless she felt like a prize sow on display at a county fair.
It was not exactly a pleasant sensation.
“This way,” Moraki said, guiding them around a small clump of rocks. “Most of the others have returned home already. You will have much of the bathing pool to yourselves.”
Darla did a double take.
“Did you saycommunal?”
