Avarice Secret Unquiet CH 31

Into the Lion's Maw

Monarto Safari Park is the largest open-range safari park in the world outside of Africa, spanning more than 3700 acres, and is home to more than 50 species of exotic and native animals.

The four travelers had skirted the settlements of the subhumans in the south and ridden past the Wolf Lord's fortress, all without incident. They were currently only some three days distant from the valley, and Aran's forbidding tribe. No one had dared to speak about their plans once they reached their destination. Understandably there was an undercurrent of tension in the group.

The mallee trees gradually thinned out as they reached the dune country. Ironstone rocks and small promontories of the same dark reddish stone rose up from the undulating, orange sand, which was scattered in low spinifex grasses and saltbush, and the occasional flowering eremophila.

Aurianne had kept her distance from Aran for the entirety of the journey. His animal stare and barbaric ways reminded her she needed to be cautious, and her senses were on heightened alert as they drew closer to their destination. She really didn't feel she could trust him. Her other two male companions though were an entirely different matter, and she had used this excursion north to speak to both of them at great length. She found that she would alternate between riding alongside the affable Jhary, or the mysterious Kario, and she would pass the long days of travel and monotonous scenery with hours of conversation. Now she knew them both better, it was easier to meander through various topics as they rode under the warm sun, and the young woman inadvertently learned much.

The day previous she had questioned the bard about his younger life, before the war and his crushing loss. "You know Jhary," she had said, "if the world had not gone to hell. I am sure that you would have been on the radio, or fronting some popular band. You are really very good."

The bard smiled at her, his clear brown eyes the color of rich bourbon twinkling. "Well thank you, milady, but I really owe my talents to my dear mother. She was a professional singer."

"Really!" Aurianne replied in surprise. "Do you have your mother still?" Aurianne's unchecked reply got the better of her, the young woman almost regretting the question as soon as it was uttered. It wasn't the usual safe topic to bring up given the totality of the war, and she hoped she had not offended her friend, or caused him undue pain.

However, Jhary appeared unfazed at her off-the-cuff remark. "You know, I'd like to think she is, but in truth Aurianne, I do not know. You see the day before the war she was in Mt Gambier for a concert. So I imagine she is probably still there, at least I hope so."

He didn't seem unduly upset so she probed further, her growing feelings for this beautiful, and deeply creative man made her want to know him, all of him. His past, his expectations for the future, the good, along with the bad.

"Don't you ever think of trying to travel there to see if you can find her?"

"I've given it some thought, but it's very far, so I never have. But perhaps one day I shall."

"What about your father, was he musical too?"

Jhary looked pensive for a moment before he answered. "I cannot say, you see I never knew him, my mother raised me alone, she didn't talk about him. Not ever. He seemed to me as though he was a taboo topic. Apparently I didn't take after him at all. I never even saw a photo of him. I guess my mum was pretty angry at him for leaving. She does have an angry streak, and you don't want to get in her bad books!"

Both Aurianne and Jhary chuckled in unison, they both knew what strong-willed and opinionated mothers could be like. That conversation made the young woman feel even closer to the charismatic entertainer, knowing they both had grown up without a father figure, but each possessing a wonderful and resilient mother to raise them. Yes, they had much in common.

The ever-inquisitive Aurianne later that same day rode alongside Kario. She found his company reassuring, though she hardly knew why, as he was not a large nor powerful man. He was mostly quiet as they passed the miles, but occasionally he would converse, mostly about mundane things he sighted along the trail.

Aurianne sensed though whenever he spoke he was holding back. After the few awkward conversations of weeks earlier, and Jhary's troubled disdain for what Kario had tried to explain to them after the event of the black rain. The dark man had for the most part been very reserved with what he revealed about his past. Kario knew that some of the things he said bothered his companions, and it was by far, easier to be silent. So he was not expecting Aurianne to bring up the subject of his mother.

The young woman picked up immediately the light in his eyes at the mere mention of her.

"My mother is exceptional, I love her like no other." He said softly, it was easy to see he held her in very high esteem.

Aurianne could not imagine Kario as a mommy's boy. The thought just didn't sit right.

"So she is still alive?" The ever-curious redhead asked.

"I believe so, but I cannot be certain."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

There was silence for a time, just the sound of the horse's hooves whispering on the soft sand, and the creak of the saddle leather beneath them.

"So what was your father like?"

"He was just a... hum..." Kario fumbled unusually with his words and suddenly stopped speaking.

It seemed to Aurianne like he had checked himself before he let out something he shouldn't, before he added.

"Well he wasn't in my life at all. I didn't know him."

He said no more, and Aurianne didn't press, her intuition told her that she was entering a place she shouldn't, but it seemed such a strange coincidence, in a group of four unrelated people, that three of them had the same parental situation. Most peculiar.

*****

Curiosity got the better of her caution as they settled down to camp. The night was a lovely desert evening, the stars shone brightly overhead and a light but pleasant breeze caressed and cooled the skin. Jhary had gone to gather wood for a fire. Kario, watchful, lurked on the periphery as he had promised, he swore he would not leave Aurianne alone with the blond warrior. Of that Aurianne was glad.

The large man was skinning some rabbits, making short work of the animals with a very sharp blade. At least with Aurianne along he had not had the sole responsibility of hunting for the group. She was just as good of a hunter as he was, and often caught as much game as he did. Aran had little sympathy for helpless men and was often exasperated by his male companion's lack of survival skills. Completely forgetting it was Jhary who so expertly navigated all the social situations when the group needed to venture into a settlement.

The redhead squatted down next to him and lent a hand in the meal preparation. The skins came off swiftly, and in no time they had their catch threaded on sticks ready to roast over the evening fire. Aurianne was carefully cleaning her blade in the sand, ever mindful of the huge man who squatted next to her. She looked sideways at him and he turned to capture her glance in his green-eyed stare. It was difficult to meet his gaze, especially so after the desperate struggle in the cave, however, meet his eyes she did.

"Tell me," she said, thinking she was well and truly on to something, "did you know your father?"

"Yes." The big man replied putting his knife carefully back in its sheath. "Why?"

"Oh, no reason. I was just curious." She replied lightheartedly, realizing now her theories were kind of foolish.

*****

The cloud cover had increased in the small hours toward sunrise. The following morning was darkly overcast and windy, it was going to be a difficult day for travel. Aurianne didn't want to get out of her bedroll, but she could see Aran was already beginning to break camp. Kario too was up and saddling his pretty horse. Jhary was imitating Aurianne's reluctance to rise, laying in his blankets doing his futile best to shield his face from the whipping wind.

Begrudgingly she pushed back her covers, and began packing her possessions. She squinted into the squall. Intuition told her that perhaps some kind of storm was incoming from the north, bringing with it possible rain. The clouds were very dark in that direction, and sadly they would have to ride into the approaching weather. Still, there was nothing else for it, as there was no decent shelter in this place.

Isabou was close by, she nickered softly in recognition when she saw Aurianne approach and stepped toward her. The large mare's cream mane and tail whipped about in the blustery wind. Aurianne rested her outstretched hand on her mare's warm wither, scratching at her back before throwing the saddle blanket over her. When suddenly the woman realized she had not seen Beauty this morning. She looked around and called for her hound a few times into the rising wind, but Beauty was conspicuous by her absence. Aran was already astride his gray gelding impatiently waiting on the others. He would have been long gone if he didn't need the young woman. Aurianne refused to be rushed by the obdurate warrior. He could wait.

It bothered her that she had no concrete plan as to how they would proceed once they encountered Aran's people. They simply hadn't spoken of it. She was afraid this whole episode would end in gratuitous violence, and she would feel guilty. It was after all at her insistence the others were present. She really had to confer with them, and soon. Perhaps this evening she could pull them aside, but for now, she was both worried and agitated by her loyal hound's absence, and the encroaching bad weather.

"Have you guys seen Beauty?" Aurianne inquired of the others.

Aran didn't answer, and her other two companions shook their heads.

"I'm sure she will be along shortly," Jhary said, tying his bedroll to his saddle. "She knows our scent and will follow, she's probably out chasing rabbits."

Aurianne realized that the bard was probably right, giving Jhary a warm smile as she mounted her horse. She called Beauty's name a few more times into the rising wind, but no black hound appeared. She didn't wish to ride away without her gold-eyed friend, but the others were already moving forward. She wheeled Isabou about in frustration and tailed her companions into the dunes.

The howling wind and driving sand stung their faces and made all but the most rudimentary conversation impossible. By what was most probably midday, it was difficult to tell with the heavy cloud cover. They made an early camp in the lee of a large promontory of rock, to wait the storm out. At least the large ridge of standing stone kept them from the worst of the wind, and the stifling sands blown before it.

The horses all huddled together heads down and rumps into the tempest. Aran set his back to the large outcrop and threw his blanket over his head to stoically sit the rough weather out. Aurianne, Jhary, and Kario did likewise, but the trio sat close so they could at least occasionally converse in low voices.

Heavy droplets began to fall begrudgingly at first. Aurianne peered out momentarily from her blanket shelter, the sky was ominous and dark, and the sparse raindrops almost hurt, feeling unearthly cold as they fell on her exposed face. She squinted up into the heavens as lightning rent the sky. It was then the unusually icy deluge fell upon them, they were sodden in mere moments. There was nothing to do but wait it out, and hope that when it had passed the weather would subside and they could resume their journey.

Aurianne fretted for Beauty, in this weather she was afraid that her loyal friend would lose their scent and become lost. Left to hopelessly wander. She didn't want that fate for her friend, and with those thoughts, the young woman became more and more troubled. She decided that Aran was sufficiently out of earshot, and she would confer with her friends on the status of what they thought they would do once they were close to the valley.

"We really need to get our heads together, that valley is not far. We have to plan for all contingencies. I don't trust him,' Aurianne said worriedly. "He killed my people without flinching, you might have a history with him Jhary, but I cannot forgive what he did."

Jhary gazed at her as she sheltered under the now-sopping blanket. Her cheeks flushed with high color, was it from the driving wind, or rather emotion? She was right though, Aran would most likely side with his clan, and that left them in a very precarious position. They must work together, and plan for all contingencies. "I feel as tense about it as you do Aurianne, trust me. If the rest of his clan..." He looked over at the blond giant, "... are half as fierce as he is I'm not sure how we will fare. I got to be honest."

Aurianne sighed. "I'm really wrestling with this. I don't know what to do, I'm worried he will turn on us last minute. My mind is at a complete blank as to how we should proceed. But I have to try to rescue Darius!"

"Well I don't think any of us, or even the three of us could overpower him honestly. None of us know enough about the local plant life, or tinctures and poisons to disable him either. I'd say let him get drunk, and we could bind him, but we don't even have any wine."

"What do we do!" Aurianne said exasperated.

"It will be alright," Kario finally spoke up, "remember, I promised I'd protect you."

Jhary and Aurianne both looked at Kario, and the dark man could see their disbelief. He sighed, closed his eyes, and smiled to himself underneath his wet covering. If Aran went rogue he would be ready.

*****

They were all cold, wet, and tired that evening. For that reason, the group built an unusually large fire in an attempt to try and dry their blankets. Aurianne figured that they had to be close to Aran's home, as she could sense the urgency in the big man's increasing pace all that afternoon. If he was going to try anything it would be shortly. She was so very set on edge, and Beauty had never returned. Aurianne felt a deep sense of loss coupled with increasing nervousness as the hours passed.

Her blanket was a little drier, but she was sure that her sleep tonight would be very minimal, and the dampness of her clothing would not help. It was probably a good thing though this wakefulness, she must be ready.

Seeing as sleep was probably not in her best interest, she decided to go and check on her mare who was tethered in a cluster of trees. She stood in the darkness, feeling the warmth emanating from the big animal's presence, solid, comforting. The other horses were also nearby standing quietly. Aurianne often preferred the comfort of her fellow creatures to those of humankind, tonight they soothed her like a balm.

*****

Jhary was fussing with his wet possessions, attempting quite unsuccessfully to dry them by the roaring fire. Kario simply sat, looking into the flames, black lashed eyelids half closed, watching the trail of angry, orange sparks climb into the black backdrop of the night sky. He may have appeared sleepy or disinterested, but he was neither, and his mind went into full wakefulness as he saw Aran get up and leave the fire in the direction the young woman had taken. Jhary had noticed as well, he gave Kario a knowing look but said nothing.

Kario rose, he must be ready. He decided he would casually walk a little way into the trees and pretend he was answering a call of nature. He really didn't wish to be seen by the others after all. He didn't have far to wander until he heard the sounds of a scuffle over by the horses.

He disrobed hurriedly, took up his athame, and closed his eyes. Taking a deep breath to still his racing thoughts. He was slowly getting more artful, and comfortable with his shape-changing abilities. Not so easy when he knew his friend was in danger. He had performed this transformation before, and as he recalled it had taken much out of him. Yet he must call upon the spirit of the big cat again. He had held the change for a very long time, that first time in his dire distress. He hoped that this time the change would be of a much shorter duration.

He muttered a strange chant to the darkness of no earthly words, the dagger of demon steel felt warm in his hands as he called upon its power. His form wavered, dark smooth flesh giving way to a lustrous coat the color of midnight. His lengthy raven hair became a shaggy mane that cascaded over powerful feline shoulders. Graceful feet and hands transitioned to powerful paws, tipped with black daggers. Dark eyes opened, to reveal shining gold orbs of magnificence.

*****

Aran came through the darkness suddenly with brutal purpose and caught Aurianne's wrist in a powerful handhold. The horses shied and tried to back away at the sudden act of violence. "I don't want you to run," he said, in the low voice of a predator. "We reach my tribe tomorrow, and no one is going to mess this up!"

Aurianne struggled to be free of his grasp, as she tried to clumsily reach for her weapon. The canny warrior had made sure to imprison her favored hand. He blocked her with his body, and pulled her only weapon, her knife from her belt, throwing it some feet away into the bushes. Aurianne watched her dagger sail away into the darkness, the pressure he was exerting on her wrist drew tears.

"You are going to come back by the fire with me. I'm going to bind you and your friends. Tomorrow I am going to present you all to my clan, but do not worry, I will not let any harm come to you. For you are mine."

Aurianne didn't believe him for a moment. "You simplistic brute! She spat with vitriol. "Don't you understand... they will want vengeance on me, it's not that simple!" She was heartily struggling in his grasp, as he took a further handful of her abundant hair to prevent her from twisting free, as she kicked and scratched. He would drag her there whether she liked it or not.

In the distance, he could hear the hurried footsteps of the bard, as he crashed uncertainly through the darkness towards them. Aran though wasn't really worried about the others, neither of them were fighting men.

Confident he could handle the situation he was not ready for the unexpected. There was movement to the side of him, a flash of dark on dark. At first, Aran thought it to be one of the horses, the object had a similar size and bulk. He drew back suddenly as a huge beast sailed out of the darkness, its eyes glowed angry gold. A great black lion, some six hundred pounds of feline magnificence, it bowled the stout warrior over, and he lost his grip on Aurianne completely.

Aurianne didn't wait, she clambered after her knife, swiftly locating it in the brush. As she looked around to sight Aran on his back, arms pinned to his sides by the slavering beast. Its muzzle full of glittering teeth hovered threateningly over his throat. It emitted a deep growl, and its claws drew forth beads of blood.

Aran could not move, though he tried to valiantly struggle, he was truly pinned beneath the great beast with the golden eyes. Oddly though Aurianne was very much composed as though a huge black lion just belonged here, Aran didn't understand.

With much disturbance, Jhary raced upon the scene. "Shit!" Was all he said as he froze completely.

"We are going to negotiate with your people Aran, for Darius' freedom." Aurianne said with conviction.

The pinned warrior had a perfect view of her lovely long legs as she stood above him, arms crossed.

"Yes, negotiate, it does not mean taking anyone prisoner," she admonished.

"Aran growled and flexed his body, trying with all his might to push the animal off him, to no avail. The lion just stood, pressing his quarry to the still wet sand, its tail twitching intermittently, and its fetid breath in Aran's face promising threat.

"When we arrive tomorrow, you can greet them. They will see you have indeed returned with me, and we will work to peaceably obtain Darius' safe return. I understand how they choose to react is not in your control, but as of now it's all we have to work with. Are we agreed?"

Aran was silent, he simply stared up at Aurianne acrimoniously. He struggled to understand what was going on. None of it made sense. The lion, was it really working in collusion with the others? Aurianne seemed unfazed and in control, and the warrior's skin crawled. He was missing something here, something the others all knew and he didn't.

He was not going to win against the force of the great beast, so reluctantly he agreed to Aurianne's demands. He felt the animal shift its weight, and in moments it had turned and run back into the darkness. He lay there for some moments inspecting the real damage the claws had rent on his skin. Yes, there was real blood, and real claw marks, that lion was not trickery. Aran rose, he stood for a while watching Aurianne and Jhary walk back towards the roaring bonfire, they were talking but he could not hear what was said.

Aran much troubled, spent the next hour wandering about the outer perimeter of the camp in the darkness. He had always possessed very good night vision, and he attempted to try and track the beast. He managed to follow the lion's spoor for some distance, but then it became indistinct and intermingled with human footprints not far from the camp. None of this made sense. He stood up and listened, but nothing came to him but the usual sounds of the desert night.

Slowly the warrior made his way back to camp, part of him was angry, and part of him felt an uncharacteristic twinge of unease. He disliked situations where he didn't understand what was happening. Still, it didn't matter what he had just agreed to under duress. He would bind his companions and present them tomorrow to his tribe. He fondled the haft of the knife in his belt wishing he had Blacksteel by his side. If he had, that lion would have made an incredible trophy.

Aran sauntered up to his three companions who sat close together by the roaring blaze. The coal bed was large and hot, it radiated off his skin, but after today's downpour, it felt decidedly good to him. He looked at the trio through lidded eyes, and he could not help feeling like he had been the brunt of some poor joke.

"So what the fuck was all that?" Aran finally gestured to the darkness behind him and looked back at Aurianne, the firelight painting his thick hair, and tanned skin a devilish shade of orange.

Aurianne shrugged. She said nothing to placate him.

Surprisingly it was Jhary who spoke up. "I'm sure it was one of the Monarto animals, you can't tell me they didn't all escape. Master Jacques even had one that fought in the pit. I'm surprised we haven't seen more of them honestly. They can live eight to fifteen years you know, even longer in captivity."

"So why didn't it eat me?" Aran said suspiciously in a challenge. Gazing again at the rents in his flesh where the blood still oozed, they hurt and they were very real.

"I guess you got lucky," Aurianne finally answered.

"Or maybe you just didn't taste good," Kario dared to add.

"Well I don't know what the fuck is going on, but tomorrow I present you to my clan, nothing has changed lion or no lion."

Kario read the danger in the man's voice. It was fortunate the transformation had been for a short duration. He felt a little odd and had a small headache in his temples, but it was obvious his talents would be required again. He prepared himself to act.

The big man moved swiftly, Aurianne reared back and twisted her body, trying to escape his sudden reach. He grabbed her by the ankle and pulled her with one mighty heave back towards him and the circle of firelight.

Jhary had risen and now had a dagger in his hand. Aran fiercely struggling to subdue the woman spun about to see his threat. "I wouldn't do that," he snarled. Jhary never good at conflict paused, he knew he could not engage this man and win. The last time he had tried he had been well and truly defeated. He didn't know what to do.

Aurianne however did not pause in her attempt at escape. Aran had to work hard to keep a handhold on her shapely ankle, as she kicked at him and flailed at him with her dagger. Sand flew, but he held on doggedly, avoiding her wild swings with the knife. Finally, he grabbed her wrist as she tried to strike him, and twisted the weapon from her grasp. Aurianne cried out in pain, he was angry and his attack was merciless. Aurianne was strong, but even she could not hope to prevail.

"I wouldn't do that." Came Kario's confident and sultry voice from behind him.

Aran turned, still holding Aurianne now pressed beneath him, as he prepared to bind her wrists.

The dark man simply stood, his arms to his sides, he didn't even possess a weapon unless the letter opener in his sash at his waist could be construed as one. His confidence was strange, unlike the bard who looked very uncomfortable at his inability to help his friend.

Aran almost found the strange man comical, and probably would have if he had not had such a stressful evening.

"And what are you going to do about it?" Aran challenged, even managing a mirthful chuckle.

Kario didn't answer, he just locked eyes with the large warrior. Aran found the man's behavior quite odd and felt the reality of the world about him melt away. It was almost like he was no longer there, as he stared into the pools of dark, like the sight of raven's wings. He desired to look away but found he simply couldn't.

"You will sleep," was all Kario said softly, as though lulling a child to slumber. "You are tired... you will sleep long..."

Aran fought to keep that heavy lidded feeling of tiredness from overtaking him. He felt like his mind was being invaded, he could not focus or think. Everything in the present was suddenly so far away.

The brute is unusually strong. Kario thought, much stronger than I had deemed he would be. As he struggled for control of the barbarian's mind.

A sudden jerk like a fish being caught on a line. Aran tried to free himself, but it was only for a moment, as the two men's consciousness's dueled.

Aurianne was still pinned beneath Aran's weight. She too lay still, staring up at the dark, long-haired man whose features were to her merely a silhouette against the backdrop of the bonfire. He almost looked otherworldly, like a black magician making evil at Beltane. Jhary watched the strange interplay taking place, never in his life had he seen something so inexplicable.

Strange, Kario thought, he is most difficult to subdue for a human, however he could feel that at last he was winning, and the big man sunk to the sand with a soft thud, his eyes closed.

Kario stepped back, "That should last a while. You had better tie him well, he probably won't fall for it a second time. Now if you don't mind I need to take a rest." He made to turn and go to his bedroll.

"Thank you," Aurianne said with deep sincerity. She had dearly wanted to question what had just happened, but she was so grateful to her friend for living up to his promise to her, she felt it would be rude to bombard him further with her questions. So she desisted and focused her full attention on binding the sleeping warrior securely to a nearby tree. However, later she would have much to ask.

Jhary though was not quite so quiet. "What the hell did I just witness, was that first grade hypnotism? How did you do that! Oh... and the lion, that was the same lion that was in Master Jacques' arena that day! How!"

Kario just nodded at Jhary's accusations and climbed into his bedroll. "I've done the hard work, you two can plan what you need to do tomorrow, but right now I need sleep." He turned over with a blind ear to Jhary's line of questioning.

The bard just looked at Kario's impassive back frustrated. "Did you know he could do that? He turned to Aurianne, who had risen and was rearranging her sand-filled attire, trying to blow and brush the dust and sand from her well-fitting leather bodice.

"No I didn't," she said honestly. "But I think at times if we had cared to listen, he has given us some very big hints he isn't quite like us."

"Not kiddin," Jhary said, still in shock, followed by a sheepish apology. "I'm sorry Aurianne, I simply couldn't protect you from him."

Aurianne could hear the hurt in his voice, she understood his pain. In a reflexive response, she put her hand around his shoulders and gave him a warm hug. "It's quite alright Jhary, I don't think any less of you. There would not be many men that could take Aran on and live, you do not have to apologize."

She then felt his arm also encircle her, albeit somewhat hesitantly, and the two spent long moments silent just embracing and staring into the coals of the now dying fire that still gave off fierce heat. Aurianne a full head taller than the man of song, looked down at him and smiled. Jhary was captivated by her sparkling blue-gray eyes, and perfect skin, he so wanted more yet he knew it was not time. He wondered if was this a nurturing gesture, meant to soothe him, or was there something more? Either way, he must wait, there were so many perils they must navigate yet.

Reluctantly he removed his hand, though he did not wish to. Aurianne felt warm and reassuring, and he realized he had missed this kind of physical closeness. As he did he caught sight of his simple wedding band, the fading firelight making the gold appear an even warmer hue than it should be. He hoped that Rachel would not be angry at him, but after seven years Jhary had finally felt that just maybe there could be someone else for him again. A someone who he could not even move to defend, he felt great inner shame at this. It was just like last time, and the last thing he wanted was a repeat of the past.

"So let's talk about tomorrow shall we?" Aurianne said brightly, pulling him from his deep-seated shame. "We need to understand exactly what we are going to do."

"Yes, we do."

The two sat again by the low-burning coals and discussed what tomorrow would bring.