As they moved closer, he could make out a series of rope ladders and planks. His eyes roamed; they were everywhere! A complete series of treetop transportation. Men ran lithely through the canopy with their bows, arrows pointed. The soldier-like tribesmen were painted in greens and blacks, making them hard to see until they moved.
Rozaria cupped her hands over her mouth and sent upa high-pitched call to the trees, making the same yipping-chirping sound. The men up high gave a cheer.
Unease rolled through Paxton. It was one thing to fool a single woman. To fool an entire tribe and royal family was bound to be a bit more difficult. Especially if he was expected to perform further acts of atrocity.
Paxton took a silent, deep breath, and followed Rozaria through the maze of jungle to the fortress entrance. Around the grounds were wooden stakes with pointed tips, a barrier wall of them. The wooden gates swung wide and music poured out. Inside was a veritable festival.
The first thing he noticed was two people in multicolored outfits with oversize hats walking on wooden stilts above the crowd. Everywhere were bright colors, festive flags and banners strewn across the streets between rooftops, masks of wild animals worn by adults and children alike, scents of grilling food from street vendors. His stomach gave a deep growl.
Rozaria turned to him with a look of pride. “Welcome to the royal fortress of Kalor, hunter.”
“I’m surprised they allowed me in without question,” he said.
Rozaria grinned. “It is because you are with me. Nobody enters or leaves the fortress without permission.”
He nodded, tucking that information into his mind, feeling a noose of entrapment tighten around his neck. Escape from here would be nearly impossible. His facade of loyalty would have to be stronger than ever. He inclined his head to atiger walking on his hind legs for its master. “Is it always like this?”
She watched the spectacle fondly. “Only when we are celebrating.”
She said nothing more, and in truth he was afraid to ask what was being celebrated. They moved at a slow pace through the crowded streets. Paxton sighted their destination ahead: a tiered building faced with smooth terra-cotta. Each level was smaller, topped with a dome on the fourth level.
When they neared the entrance, they slid from their horses and gave them over to eager stable boys. Paxton and their entire party followed Rozaria up the grand palace steps, where ornately dressed guards pulled open heavy doors for them. Straight ahead, down the wide hall, Paxton could see into their great room, where a man sat upon a golden throne at the top of a set of regal steps.
From afar, Paxton could make out no details except the long black hair, red robes, and scantily clad women flanking him. Before they could move any closer to that room, a woman dressed in bright green walked into their path, stopping.
She eyed their group and said something in Kalorian, pointing to an adjoining room to the left. And then she motioned Rozaria forward to the great room. Rozaria looked at Paxton.
“Go and eat with the others, hunter. I will find you tonight.” She disappeared into the great room, with Nicolaa step behind, and its gold-trimmed doors shut tight behind them.
Paxton followed the other men toward the smells of spiced rice and marinated, roasted meats with vegetables. They set upon the table of food like animals. The maids could not refill their platters and glasses fast enough. Even Paxton found himself immune to basic manners in that moment.
Afterward they were ushered into guest quarters, which consisted of stalls of washbasins and a warm room lined with soft-looking pallets. As Paxton cleaned his hands and face he heard laughter and mumbles in Kalorian. The wordLochsonstood out to him. He tensed a moment before continuing. They were speaking of the king. He wished he could understand.
He listened intently as he made his way to a pallet, but it was no use. Only a few words here or there were recognizable. Paxton lay his head on the downy pillow and forgot to listen anymore as sleep swiftly took him.
Chapter
22
Aerity and Harrison rode fast along the tree line that separated Kalor and Zorfina. Several times they’d passed traveling Zorfinans, who watched them with interest or suspicion, but nobody tried to stop them. Twice they’d run into a Zorfinan border patrol and had to explain their situation. Aerity was thankful for those moments to pass along the dire information to local authorities.
Water was scarce on the Zorfinan side. On the rare occasion when they came across a dawdling stream, they drank until they might pop, then filled every container they had.
They’d opted to ride through the night, much to Harrison’s dismay. The chill of the night air, along with sheerdetermination, had kept Aerity awake. And now in the late morning sun, lack of sleep was finally catching up to her. Several times she’d slumped forward as they rode, only to be awoken by the wiggling creature in the pack in her lap. And the princess couldn’t help but notice that the pack was much tighter and a bit heavier; the little beast had grown overnight. Now he poked his sleepy head out and licked across his enormous teeth with a long, pink tongue. His big, black eyes stared up at her.
“I think he’s hungry,” Aerity called. She patted Jude’s wide neck. “And the horses are tired.”
Harrison slowed his horse and they pulled to the side of the path among short, stout trees and brush. He eyed the creature warily as Aerity climbed down and tugged it from the pack. It immediately bounded into the bushes, sending birds scattering upward.
“He needs a name,” Aerity commented. She scooped a handful of oats into a cloth bag and fed Jude.
Harrison’s voice was gentle. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea to name it, Aer. It seems harmless now, but it’s not a pet. We have no idea what to expect of it.”
Aerity watched as it prowled low to the ground and then pounced on a bush. Some birds escaped, but the little beast grabbed one in its mouth midair and set to chomping it with ferocity, feathers flying. Aerity pulled a face.
“I can’t help but think that if we raise it not to be a killer of humans . . .”
“Some things are in an animal’s nature.”
