Page 43 of The Ranger
Markhel straightened, looked at her, then swung his gaze to Vale. “Save each other.” He moved so fast, Vale didn’t have time to dodge him. They went down, and Makama quickly joined the fray. They worked together to fight him, and Markhel’s inner heart began to feed. And as the two defended themselves against him, a thought occurred. If his heart was this hungry now, what was it going to be like once it fully wakened? He shuddered to think. Worse, how was he going to feed it then?
9
“We’re going to die,” Vale managed between pants. He was breathing hard, so was Makama, while Markhel wasn’t even winded yet.
“There’s two of us!” she griped. “How can he keep going?”
Vale pushed himself off the grassy ground. “He’s hungry.” He climbed to his feet and sensed they were no longer alone. Thank goodness! Perhaps the calvary had arrived.
Sure enough, Kwaku strolled around the huge oak tree, a silly grin on his face. “Prince Vale, you look tired.”
Vale gave him a little wave. “You know, I think you overestimated our capabilities.” He tossed a hand at Markhel. “He’s killing us, here.”
“Not literally,” Makama said, still on the ground.
Kwaku rubbed his chin thoughtfully as Zara joined them. She was dressed in period clothing, both were, and Vale sighed in relief. “Seriously, I’m not sure we can handle this.”
Kwaku, an Azurti warrior of ancient Africa from who-knows-when, looked Vale over, checking for damage. “Your bruises will heal before morning.” He studied Makama then smiled at him. “You protected her? She bears no marks.”
Vale shrugged. “I can’t help myself. She’s my mate.”
He smiled. “Yes. She is.” He turned to Markhel who paced back and forth like a caged lion. “And you, young cub. Let me take care of you.” Before anyone so much as blinked, Kwaku tackled Markhel so hard, they both flew into the creek with a big splash.
“Now that’s more like it,” Makama said. “Neither of us could have done that.”
“Kwaku has his strength back,” Zara said calmly. “He has been looking forward to a good tussle.”
“Tussle?” Vale’s eyebrows shot to the sky. “You call that a tussle?”
Zara glanced at the two huge warriors and shrugged. “They are well matched.”
“Yes, and so are Dallan and Simon Kells. They can handle Markhel because all three are Time Masters! In fact, I’d say they’re the only ones that can properly feed Markhel’s heart.”
Zara gave him a hint of a smile. “And as such, Kwaku will take care of feeding Markhel the remainder of the assignment. But watch for signs of how his future mate can feed him.”
Markhel burst out of the deepest part of the swimming hole, Kwaku locked in a choke hold, then the two disappeared under water again.
Vale cringed. “It’s like watching two alligators fight.”
“Fear not,” Zara said. “His heart is bound to adapt to his mate’s after they are joined, thus making it possible for her to feed it.”
“Good,” Makama said. “Because I don’t see Maida Comfort doing that.” She pointed at the creek. Markhel was thrown from the water and onto the grassy bank. Kwaku sprang after him, a gleeful smile on his face as he laughed.
Vale cringed again and looked at her. “Ouch, you’re so right.”
Zara smiled again then turned around. They followed her gaze as a familiar figure strode toward them. “Lord Councilor.”
“Zara.” Lany Mosgofian took her by the hands, placed them to his forehead, then put them over his heart. When he let go, he smiled at Vale and Makama. “How’s it going?”
Kwaku flew past them and smacked the huge trunk of His Majesty with a loudthud.He laughed then charged Markhel.
Vale shrugged. “As well as it can, I suppose.”
Lany watched the two fight. “Kwaku seems to be having as good a time as ever.” He smiled at them. “Some things never change.”
Tylahs crawled out of the left pocket of his jacket, scurried up to Lany’s shoulder and smiled at them. “Hellosssk!” He gave them a little wave.
“Tylahs!” Makama gushed. “Oh, let me hold you!”