Wind Demon Triology: Book II: Evil Wind (3 page)

"Necromanian,” Tyrian said. “I've never seen one. Very impressive."

"I am Kamau Taborn, Prince of the Royal House of Necroman and...."

"Nephew of Lares,” Cree said.

Fierce black eyes jerked from side to side, seeking the image of the one who had spoken. “Who dares to speak the name of the martyred one?” Taborn bellowed.

"On screen,” Cree ordered and the vid-com camera focused on the Reaper. “I, Kamerone Cree, speak the name of my friend, Lares, and since when did he become a martyr?"

The hulking black man at the other end of the transmission smiled broadly, showing a mouthful of shining white teeth. “You are alive!” he shouted. “We had heard you met your fate at the hands of those bitches on Rysalia Prime!"

"Thanks to your uncle that didn't happen."

Another face pushed Taborn's from the screen. “I am Zainabu,” a large-breasted woman spoke. “I am the J'Bai of Lares!"

"Uh, oh,” Cree said and his face turned pale.

"You say my betrothed is still alive?” Zainabu questioned. “Where is he?"

Sern, who was born with the gift of mind reading, scanned Cree's thoughts and what she saw there made her whistle.
"I wouldn't tell her if I were you,"
she sent to him.

Cree glanced toward Sern, frowning. “Lares,” he told the Necromanian woman, “is stranded on Terra."

Zainabu lifted her chin. “He can not return to Necroman?"

"The vessel which took us to Terra ran out of fuel,” Cree explained to her. “We barely had enough to reach our destination."

Taborn shoved Zainabu out of his way. “How come you to be on a ship crewed by Amazeen?” he asked. “What have they done to you, friend of Lares?"

"We captured him,” Kahmal said, bringing the Necroman prince's scowl back to her. “But...."

"You will hand him over to us!” Taborn declared. “Now, wench!"

"For what purpose?” Kahmal snapped, waving Cree to silence when he would have spoken.

"For what purpose?” Taborn repeated, his dark eyes blazing. “To prevent him from dying in a Multitude bonfire!"

"That isn't going to happen,” Kahmal denied.

"Nay, it will not!” Taborn snarled. “We will await his transport to our ship."

"Prince Kamau,” Cree spoke up, “these women are no longer my captors. They have agreed to help me rescue my bloodkin from execution on the Feast of Alluvial. I...."

"Amazeen are not to be trusted!” Zainabu said, jockeying once more for main position on the vid-com screen. “They are treacherous bitches who lie out of both sides of their ugly mouths."

Kahmal stiffened. “How dare you insult my Sisters!” she yelled. “We are just as honorable as Necromanian warriors and we do not lie!"

Zainabu snorted. “Every word out of your mouths is a lie. It was an Amazeen who testified against my J'Bai and was responsible for sending him to Helios 12!"

"I thought he was sent there for killing a Domination priest,” Cree said.

"This is so, but he did not murder the priest. An Amazeen accused him, but it was a lie."

Cree wanted to tell Zainabu that her betrothed had confessed to him that he had killed the man he had labeled a pesky priest, but decided to keep his mouth shut. He held up his hand when Kahmal would have continued the argument.

"These women speak only the truth,” he assured the Necromanians. “I would know if one were to lie to me."

Taborn shoved Zainabu out of the way. “If you say it is so, then it is so, Kamerone Cree.” He spread his hands. “Will you not at least visit my vessel and allow me to express my gratitude for the saving of my uncle's life?"

"It was he who saved my life, Prince Kamau,” Cree corrected. “Had it not been for the reed necklace his J'Bai had given him when they were children, I would have died."

Zainabu pushed Taborn so hard those on the bridge of the
Alluvia
heard the crash he made as he careened into something on his ship. “Explain!” she demanded. “How did what I made for my beloved aid in saving your life?"

Cree winced for he had a momentary impression of Kamau Taborn's pain. “I was being hanged when I was transported to safety and could not draw air into my lungs. A breathing tube was needed. Lares did not think twice. He snatched the necklace from him and a reed was used to save my life."

The glint of tears shone in the black woman's dark eyes. “Lares treasured the zawadi I made for him,” she said and fingered a similar necklace she was wearing. “For him to destroy it there had to be a great reason.” A smile wavered on her lovely face. “He must have great love for you, Reaper."

"I have great affection for him, as well, milady,” Cree admitted.

"You must come to our ship! You must be feted in traditional Necromanian fashion!” Taborn stated, easing Zainabu aside this time. “We must praise the man my uncle calls friend."

"They aren't going to take no for an answer,” Sern said just loud enough for everyone on the
Alluvia's
bridge to hear.

"I will not step foot on the ship of any woman who dares to call me a liar,” Kahmal grumbled. Or any man who dares to call me wench."

"You were not invited, white woman!” Zainabu barked. She tossed her thick fall of glossy black waist length hair behind her.

"I appreciate your offer, Prince Kamau, and I am honored but we have but a short time to reach Rysalia Prime. The fate of my bloodkin has great concern for me,” Cree reminded the Necromanian warrior.

"You will need help in rescuing your kin,” Taborn said. “We can be of assistance to you."

"How?” Kahmal snapped. “Will you station your dreadnaughts around the perimeter of Rysalia Prime and threaten to blow away the Daughters to the Four Winds? The Multitude will know there are men nearby and destroy your vessel in the blink of an eye."

"Nay, but my vessel will be at your back when the Winds lift the wings of your ship,” Taborn pledged. “We will run interference for you as you escape."

"The Rysalians will know you are in the vicinity,” Kahmal stated. “You...."

"We will be invisible to their sensors, wench,” Taborn boasted. “We can not be seen until we are ready to be seen!"

"You have cloaking technology?” Kahmal asked, eyes wide.

Taborn grinned. “A marvelous gift from our friends, the
Scaans
,” he said.

"Your assistance is greatly appreciated,” Cree said for Kahmal. “I don't think the Daughters are going to let me go with a fond fare-the-well and a see-ya."

Taborn threw back his head and laughed, a booming sound that reverberated through the vid-com channels. “I would think not, Kamerone Cree! You are high on their foig list!"

"Will you return to Terra when you rescue your kin?” Zainabu asked.

"Aye,” Cree said then could have kicked himself for he knew as surely as he was standing there what was about to happen.

"Then you will take me with you to be reunited with my J'Bai!” Zainabu said, her face lighting up for the first time.

Dorrie groaned for the man in question was already married—to Dr. Beryla Dean. She put her hand over her mouth and looked at Cree.

"I will send Zainabu over to you now!” Taborn said and every woman on the
Alluvia
heard the relief in his voice as he spoke.

"Wait!” Cree said but it was already too late. In a matter of seconds, the statuesque black woman was standing on the bridge of the Amazeen ship.

Kahmal's back was ramrod straight as she glared at the tall black woman who was only marginally less muscular and tall as Kahmal. With very large breasts and an oversized ass, the Necromanian was an imposing sight. Before anyone could move, the dark woman marched over to Cree and flung her arms around him, picking him up from the floor in a bear hug as though he was a child.

"Cree, boon friend of my J'Bai!” she greeted him. “It is an honor to meet you!"

Dorrie tried not to laugh at the grunt that escaped the Prime Reaper's lips as he was being mauled by the large woman.

Sern could hear the gears grinding away in Cree's brain and was hard pressed not to laugh, as well. She had intercepted the wayward thought that he now had still another female for whom to be responsible and knew the Reaper was inwardly groaning.

"It is an honor to meet you, too,” Cree managed to say before Zainabu released him.

"I will protect you with my life, Reaper!” Zainabu swore.

Kahmal had to look away, biting her lower lip to keep from bursting into laughter. She remembered all too well Cree's answer to Chanz’ pledge to protect his life with her own.

"You find my vow humorous, Amazeen?” Zainabu demanded, starting toward Kahmal.

"No!” Cree shouted. He put himself between the two women. “The Major is laughing at me."

Zainabu stiffened. “She had best not laugh at you, Reaper!"

"It was something I said awhile ago that she finds laughable,” Cree was quick to tell her. “It has nothing to do with you, milady."

The black woman narrowed her eyes at Kahmal. “What was it he said that brought about such a reaction, Amazeen?"

"A typical Cree-ism you will get to know well, Necromani. He had saved not only my life but the lives of two of my crew,” Kahmal replied.

Zainabu nodded. “Attribution. I am familiar with such.” She glanced at Cree. “That he acted in such a way merely re-enforces my vow to keep him safe. Continue."

Cree groaned and shook his head.

"One of my women pledged her life to him, as well, and he acted like the spoiled little boy he can be by telling her he did not need that kind of pressure. He doesn't like to think he needs the protection of mere women such as us."

"You are one more woman for him to feel responsible for,” Sern said.

"I see,” Zainabu stated. She swept her gaze over the Reaper and settled on his bare feet. “Why does he not have proper boots?"

"We like to keep our men barefoot and pregnant,” Dorrie quipped, ignoring Cree's warning growl.

Zainabu's lips puckered. “I can see the wisdom in that,” she agreed, “but it isn't possible, is it?"

"That's enough,” Cree said, aware that Prince Kamau was listening intently to the women's conversation. He turned to the Necromanian. “Your help is welcome and greatly appreciated, Prince Kamau. How will we be able to contact you when the time comes?"

Taborn smiled. “We have stealth capabilities, such as no other world has developed, and secure channels. We will not be far away, Kamerone Cree. Zainabu will call us when we are needed.” He arched a thick black brow. “What size boot do you need, Reaper?"

Zainabu sniffed, sniffed again, and then turned to look down at Ceatie. Her eyes lit up. “A were beast!” she said and rushed over to where the weretiger was sprawled out at Sern's feet. She went to her knees and buried her face in the old animal's fur. “I have not seen your like in years, Old One!"

Ceatie began purring so loudly it was hard to hear Cree answering Taborn concerning his boot size. He licked the ebony face pressing close to his and made a mewling sound that bespoke of his contentment.

"May I be a member of your pack, Old One?” Zainabu asked the weretiger.

Sern exchanged a glance with the black woman and in the space of a few seconds it was obvious to every woman there the two would be good friends.

The black boots materialized on the transport pad a few moments later and Cree swiped them up. He stalked off with them, muttering under his breath. He barely remembered to thank Taborn for the gift.

"Zainabu!” Taborn called out and when the black woman stood up and faced him, hands on her ample hips, he shook a finger at her. “Do not cause the Reaper undue stress and do not try to run his life as you tried to run mine!"

"Be gone with you, Kamau,” the Necromanian woman said. “We will call when we need you.” She dismissed him by turning her back and dropping down beside Ceatie once more.

"May the Wind be always at your back, Major Kahmal,” Taborn said. “You will need it with Zainabu close at hand."

With that said, the vid-com screen went black and in the twinkle of an eye, the four Necromanian dreadnaughts were gone.

"Your prince is a member of the Windwarrior Society?” Kahmal asked.

"A grand master, I believe, but I could not care less about such things,” Zainabu said with a sniff.

"Where did they go?” Deon asked with awe. She was scanning the heavens but the dreadnoughts were nowhere on her scope.

"They are out there, but I'll be damned if I can bring them up on the screen. There isn't even a blip,” Aegean said.

"Our stealth capabilities are impenetrable,” Zainabu bragged as she got to her feet. She looked around. “Where is the Reaper?"

"He went off to sulk,” Dorrie said, extending her hand. “I am Dorrie Burkhart, a Terran. I've known him longer than anyone else onboard so if you have questions, you can come to me."

"Why does he go to sulk?” Zainabu wanted to know, taking the proffered hand in the warrior way—forearm to forearm.

"He's a loner,” Sern spoke up. “He prefers to be by himself."

"And he wants to try on his new boots,” Chanz said with a snort.

Back in the lounge, Cree blocked out the feminine laughter that greeted Chanz's remark. He felt put upon and under even more pressure now that he had another female to try to keep from harm's way.

Kahmal had been searching for over an hour before she finally tried the image deck where she found Cree. When she opened the door to the suite he had programmed, she was shocked to find it resembled what she knew to be a facsimile of Helios 12. The suite was sweltering, with no wind and no moisture at all in the hot stagnant air. Cree was stripped down to a pair of cut-off britches, his bare chest glistening with sweat, the crisp hairs there sparkling, as he went through the intricate motions of some kind of martial arts regimen. He had dispensed with his new boots and she could not help but wonder why he felt the need to torture his feet in such a manner for the sand of the suite undulated with heat.

She didn't think he'd seen her yet for he appeared to be concentrating on each complex position that made his muscles bunch and ripple. Despite the suffocating heat bearing down on her, she stood there and watched him, mesmerized by the powerful play of his brawny body.