Lib Novel Page 53
Sten rose and froze.
“Oh, no.” Carys gripped his hand.
A dozen tall, powerful warriors with red skin were glaring at them, holding bows filled with glowing red bolts.
The boy let out an excited squeal, then ran. He was scooped up by a tall man. He babbled at the man, his hands waving.
Sten stepped in front of Carys.
“Get back in the tunnel,” he murmured.
“They’ll shoot you.”
“Carys—”
The warrior set the child down and patted the boy’s head. Then he stepped forward.
“You saved my nephew from the Gek’Dragar.”
Sten could understand him. The translator detected his language.
“He’s a child.” Carys pushed past Sten, looking regal.
He gripped her waist to stop her from moving any closer.
“The Gek’Dragar are our enemy,” she continued. “We couldn’t let them hurt the boy.”
The warrior inclined his head. “Thank you.” He studied them, his dark gaze narrowing. “You’re Oronis.”
“Yes,” Carys said.
“We are the Ti-Lore.”
“This is your planet?” she asked. “Ti-Lore?”
The man nodded. “There are not many of my people left.”
The warrior switched to another language, the one the boy had used, and spoke to the men behind him. The other warriors all lowered their weapons.
Then he looked back at Carys and Sten.
“I am Azulon. Anyone who cares for my family is a friend. Come.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Sten was watchful as they followed the Ti-Lore warriors.
“They seem friendly,” Carys said.
“We’ll see.”
She hid her smile. Her grumpy and untrusting knightguard.
They followed a well-trodden path through the hills. Carys tensed at the sound of snorting animals.
Ahead, a small herd of goat-like creatures milled, nibbling on the sparse grass growing between the rocks. They were sturdy, with large bodies and huge, curled horns on their heads. They were covered in dense, white fur, and all wore small saddles.
She watched the warriors swing onto their backs.