Page 53 of The Demon's Fire
Kole raised a hand in greeting.
The giant lowered his club. “Commander of the Firebrands of the Scions. Welcome.”
“Woodsman, I greet you. Take us to the elder of the Yeti.”
“Come.” He motioned for them to follow him into the pines where the camp was well hidden.
Sitting in a clearing on a large throne of tree branches was a man bigger than the others but older, if wrinkles were any indication. His skin was leathery brown from what Skyler could see of it under a white-streaked beard hanging past his waist. Twigs and moss tangled in his long, matching hair.
What surrounded him had her sidling slightly behind Kole. Near the giant was a semicircle of poles, each with a grotesque desiccated head impaled on it. “What are those?” whispered Skyler.
“Gagans.”
Kole had explained to her earlier how the Yeti appointed themselves managers, police, and the moral compass of Darque. Since they were Firebrand allies, they had a free pass through Scath as their reward. On occasion, they portaled through the Aeternals’ realm and onto Earth, where they amused themselves by giving rise to Sasquatch or Big Foot tales.
But apparently, they were fierce with their enemies, lobbing off their heads and impaling them on stakes for everyone to see.
“Greetings, Commander of the Firebrands of the Scions.” The elder curled gnarled fingers around the arms of the throne.
“Greetings, elder of the Yeti. I come with a guest.” Kole motioned for her to move beside him. “She is the Alliance’s chief legal officer, a human, a friend. She also greets you.”
Skyler took this as her cue to nod and smile, her expression dimwitted but gracious.
“Greetings to you likewise.” When the elder grinned, he exposed gaps between his front teeth.
Once again Skyler smiled and nodded.
Kole clasped his hands behind him, appearing at ease. “We ask to tour the village of the Yeti of the Woods.”
As if on cue, a young man exited a nearby hut.
He was a smaller, younger version of the throned chief. His hair, though darker, was not as long. Like the elder’s, it was knotted with twigs, moss, and leaves. His teeth were yellowed, his shorter beard black, his bare chest tanned, and he wore an animal pelt strapped to his hips. Fur boots laced to his knees. Like other males in the camp, tattoos decorated his arms and legs. “It is my honor to take you around our village.”
“My firstborn,” explained the elder.
Skyler felt Kole’s hand at her back, steering her as they followed their guide along the well-trodden, winding, narrow path. Lining it were large huts, some standing alone, some linked to others, creating small communities within the larger community.
“A single home houses one family, but multiple abodes may adjoin a main house if the woodsman cares for close relatives or has other mates with children.”
The guide pointed out a domed hut which was constructed of branches bound with reeds and weather-proofed with mud. Through an open doorway, Skyler observed a woman sitting on a bench at a massive wood table. A cooking pot hung on an iron arm over a fireplace behind her. At her feet, a child played on the floor. While sewing pieces of leather together, the busy mother nodded at the guests.
When they resumed their tour, Skyler tripped on a protruding root on the path. Instinctively, she grabbed onto their guide’s shoulder. Villagers sharing the winding road gasped while the young man drew away, his eyes wide.
Skyler froze. She had made a mistake. “I’m so sorry. Truly sorry…” She clasped a hand over her mouth.
Kole pressed a finger to his lips.
Skyler ignored the sign to shush. “I didn’t mean to touch you. Have I offended you?”
Again, neighbors and passers-by gasped.
“Now what did I do?” She blew out a breath. Of course, the young man did not like to be touched. She had followed up the firstfaux paswith a question.
Kole seized her elbow, whispering, “Zipper your lips.”
His long legs eating up the ground, his arms swinging, the guide sprinted back along the path toward the elder and the large crowd gathering around him.
Kole dragged a mortified Skyler to the throne. “The female touched your firstborn, a move intended to steady herself. In no way did she mean to indicate a desire to mate with him. Though I am sure he is most worthy.”
