Free Coyote: The Outlander (with FREE second screen experience) by Chantal Noordeloos

cough again. She put her fist to her mouth. “Can’t you just give it to me straight?”
    “Alas, I cannot.” Tokala lowered his eyes and shook his head. “I am bound by rules.”
    He added more wood to the fire, which immediately grew brighter. Larger flames flicked into life in an instant, illuminating more of the darkness, casting the rest of the hut in contrasting shadows. The fire released a sweet fragrance mingled with vapor that hit their lungs, tickling and scratching like invisible fingers. The smoke poured out of the fire in a strange, thick mass, which rolled in dark clouds over the ground, crawling toward her like a hungry predator. Coyote stared at the phenomenon, hypnotized, her eyes watering and her mouth dry.
    “Coyote.” Tokala’s voice was distant now, as though he were calling her from miles away. “I know why Caesar is here; he will follow you to the ends of the earth. He is your guardian and your shadow. His Loa led him to you, but his loyalty is beyond his duty and it’s now built in love. Not because you’ve saved his life those many years ago, but because he sees you in a way others can’t.” Tokala’s voice sounded deeper, slower, as if the darkness itself had seeped into his vocal cords.
    “Is this why you want me in here? To talk about my relationship with Caesar?” she asked irritably. “I’ve saved Caesar’s life many times, and he has saved mine. He follows me because we are friends, and we make a nice living out of this job.” She bit her lip, not believing a word of what she said.
    Tokala sighed. “What made you choose to seek me out? Why are you here, Coyote?”
    She shrugged. “An Outlander named Qu’arth Slevanko.” A cough sent pinpricks of pain through her chest and throat, and her voice sounded strangled, like she were trying to talk with her mouth full of cotton.
    “No, that is only your mission. You have sought something else. You come for answers.”
    “I don’t,” Coyote said irritably. “I need to know how to destroy this Outlander, and you always help me find the answers. That’s all I want from you.”
    “But it’s not all you need from me. Search inside you, Coyote. Look for the question, and find the answer.” The disembodied voice pierced through the fog.
    The sweat lodge swelled with a thick, dry heat. Moisture beaded on Coyote’s forehead and ran into her eyes, the salt stinging and making her blink. Little pearl drops glistened on every inch of her skin, illuminated in the bright colors cast by the flames.
    Her mind swam in a feverish haze. She hated the sweat lodge and wished Tokala hadn’t insisted on using it. There were other private places where they could talk that weren’t so… so stifling. The thick scent of fire teased her every pore, making her long for fresh air. Her body sagged, searching for a more comfortable position, but that was difficult in the sweltering temperature.
    “Just tell me about Qu’arth Slevanko,” she repeated, her voice sluggish and thick.
    “That is a Sihnon name.” The shaman’s voice was filled with emotion; she could hear it from the way he spoke an octave higher.
    “Sihnon is your world, right?” Coyote fought for air. “Do you know of him?” The smoke filled the lodge, clouding the figures within. Long wisps of grey twirled through the air like hypnotic snakes, making her drowsy. The voice of Tokala sounded even further away.
    “Indeed, my world. I have not heard of this particular individual.” The disembodied voice was deeper and slower now, and she could barely recognize it as Tokala’s “But it is a name of the Quavar.”
    “Tell me of the Quavar?” She wondered if he could understand the slurred words that came from her mouth.
    “The Quavar are very dangerous.”
    “I hear this one has a taste for infants.” Her own tone sounded deeper, just like Tokala’s; it reminded her of a man’s voice. Her eyes burned, and rubbing them only increased the sting. The heat affected her