Free The Last Sundancer by Karah Quinney

still trembled inside when she thought of her mother and the rest of her village.  What had become of those that she loved?  The man called Kaichen shifted almost imperceptibly and Amara struggled to keep her eyes straight ahead. 
    She was drawn to the warrior kneeling at her side, almost as if an invisible thread tied them together, pulling them toward one another. Amara’s feelings were jumbled up inside her chest, bringing pressure to bear, making it difficult to breath. 
    She recognized kindness in the wise elder ’s eyes as he looked upon her.  His eyes roamed over the men and then returned to rest upon Amara’s upturned face. 
    A sound of alarm came from the entrance to their small village.  All eyes turned to Azin as all around them commotion broke out. 
    “What has happened?” One of the men shouted for Azin to come. 
    Amara saw Kaichen brace the older man’s elbow, allowing him to stand quickly before releasing his hold.  She shivered when his dark eyes fell upon her.  His look was possessive and she was surprised to find comfort as a silent understanding was reached between them.  He would protect her with his life.  She accepted his protection. 
    It was ephemeral and unspoken but a promise all the same.
    “Remain with Antuk.” Kaichen raspy voice drew Amara’s attention. 
    Amara nodded as Kaichen ran forward to join the shouting villagers.  She turned slowly and would have fallen backwards if not for Antuk’s large bulk.  He braced her with a light touch upon her arm and when she gasped he pushed her behind him. The sight confronting them was more terrible than she could have ever imagined.  Standing with his legs spread and a malevolent sneer upon his face was the man that had taken an arrow to his eye.  He spoke in a voice that made a mockery of their language but Amara could not know this.  All she knew was that all eyes turned toward her.
    “A woman was taken from me and I demand her return.” 
     
     
     
    “You left one of the men alive?” Azin’s displeasure was made known by the angry tone of his voice.
    Kaichen rarely saw Azin’s anger, but when it was upon him he was transformed into a great force of nature.   
    “I left two men alive.  You did not give me a chance to explain all to you.” Kaichen kept the frustration from his voice as he considered the man before him. 
    Why would an enemy come to their village armed only with the spear of his fallen companions and request the return of one small woman?  His desire to protect Amara doubled and grew until he thought that he would explode with fury.  The woman had lost her mother, her village and her entire way of life.  Yet, this man who had been cast out from his own band was bold enough to walk into their village and demand her return. 
    “What is your claim to the woman?” Azin did not offer a greeting to the armed raider nor did he look away from the man that challenged them with his boldness.
    “She is mine and I demand her return!” The man stepped forward and each man that encircled him raised their spears against him.
    Azin breathed deeply, seeking calm.  What type of man did not fear the sharpened spears of two hands of men?  He looked into the raiders cold eyes and he saw at first glance that the man had lost his footing long before now.  There was nothing good or kind left within him.
    “The woman has been claimed by another.” Azin spoke slowly, buying time. 
    It was true that they could simply slay the man where he stood, but th ere were visitors within their village, people that would go their way and spread stories of what happened on this day.
    “Then I will fight this man that has taken the woman from us.” The man’s words solidified that which Azin already knew. 
    There were more displaced men that had banded together to form a band of raiders.  They would seek vengeance for their fallen companions. 
    Azin did not glance at Kaichen, but the man stood ready to defend Amara.