Primal Quest Read online

  A warrior strode toward her, coming from a narrow space between two tents. He had long, golden hair that was clubbed back at the nape of his neck. He was tall and muscles corded his arms and legs. He wore a sword at his hip, but it remained in the sheath.

  Maybe he didn’t consider her a threat. She tried her best to look nonthreatening. She already knew that she couldn’t pull off cute.

  Startlingly clear green eyes stared at her in an assessing way for a few moments. “You may enter our camp, Lady.”

  Caidi slowly rose to her feet and entered the camp.

  The man walked beside her. He looked down at her. “You travel alone?”

  Caidi bobbed her head in an affirming motion, not knowing of any other way to answer the question.

  “I don’t see a bag or any sign of a pouch on you. Do you need something to wear?”

  Caidi again nodded in the affirmative. She might find this funny if it weren’t so damned frustrating.

  “If you will just follow me, I will take you to a tent and you can change. Then we can see about finding you something to wear,” the man said easily. “After you have some clothing and can actually talk, someone will answer the questions you doubtless have and you can answer ours.”

  Be careful!

  Caidi followed the warrior and acknowledged Raven’s advice even though she thought that it was redundant. She had been nothing except careful and cautious since she had first smelled these shifters. Nervous energy boiled through her, the entire situation was chancy. She knew nothing about these shifters, even the name of their people, and she was alone here. She would be careful.

  The warrior stopped in front of a tent and waved her inside it. He held the flap open for her.

  The woman inside the tent apparently hadn’t been warned about her impending visitor. She screamed and jumped onto a chest, clutching a cloth to her chest. Caidi felt humor rise.

  The warrior poked his head inside the tent to reassure the woman, albeit a little late. “This is a female shifter. She is traveling alone and needs some clothing. Loan her some after she changes.”

  That was all he said to the woman who was shifter, but had probably never seen any other shifter except those her own kind. The woman didn’t appear reassured. Caidi wondered what the woman thought she would do.

  The man lowered the flap of the tent and strode away, whistling. The black-haired woman cautiously climbed down from the trunk, casting suspicious glances at Caidi. She was slim and sleek of form, a little shorter than Caidi, but her clothing would probably fit.

  “I don’t think that I will have anything that would fit a woman as big as you must be. Your shifter form is huge.” The woman hovered nervously near the trunk.

  Caidi’s laugh both at the woman’s obvious nervousness and the remark about her shifter form came out as rolling chuff as she changed form. The shaggy hair receded even as her body reformed. Bones and muscle contorted and reshaped until she stood before the woman in her human form.

  “The size of my second form isn’t an indication of my actual size.” Caidi pushed her hair, which was rather wild, back from her face. It always was after the change.

  “Oh, you’re normal,” the woman said without censoring her thoughts. She blushed a fiery red when she realized that she had actually spoken those words. “Um, I have some clothing that should fit you. The Charal should be back in camp soon. I am certain that he will help you if you are in any kind of trouble.” The woman dug into the trunk and handed Caidi a shirt and a skirt.

  “Thank you,” Caidi said as she accepted the clothing with a smile. She doubted that she’d have to explain what she was—at least to the men. The Zarain second form was very distinctive and they’d probably seen it before.

  “You can wash up before you dress if you like,” the woman offered, pouring water into a bowl and placing a cloth beside it.

  “Thank you again. A good wash sounds like heaven. I have been traveling for a while in my second form.” Caidi took the clothing over to where the bowl sat on the floor. She knelt, but turned to the woman. “This is going to sound very strange, but what planet is this?”

  “Astien.” The woman gave her a questioning look, but refrained from asking anything. She turned and left the tent, pulling the flap closed quickly to protect Caidi’s privacy.

  While Caidi washed and dressed, she took the time to contact Raven. He would want to know even the small amount of information that she had gathered. He would want more, but Caidi knew that she wouldn’t get much more until the Charal arrived and that might be very soon or much later.

  Raven, the woman I talked to said that I am on Astien. Caidi didn’t wait to hear a greeting from her mate.

  Astien? Are you sure? His astonishment flashed back to her.

  Caidi understood his doubt about the truth of her location. If this truly was Astien, then the Bavaok had taken her a very long way from home regardless of which gate they used. Astien was a distant location even from Askara and Caidi had only heard of the planet because there had been some atrocious things done to some shifters on this planet a long time ago.

  I asked the female shifter who was elected to loan me some clothing and that is the answer she gave me. I don’t think she would have a reason to lie. I will ask again and get more details about my location when I finish dressing, Caidi assured Raven. She could feel his worry for her. Do you know which shifter group has a Charal for a leader? The woman said that the Charal would help me if I needed it.

  You have found a group of Kaden. You will be safe with them. They are likely a mercenary troop, much as my band was. His impatience grew with every new piece of information. Damn, he wanted her close enough to hold again. Now, hurry up and get dressed. Go talk to some of those people and get more information. My allies are waiting to come to you. All they need is to know where you are.

  Caidi smiled at his arrogant tone, but then gasped as he sent her a mental picture of chains. She didn’t need him to interpret the warning. He didn’t want her going after Mandi. If she was caught, she could lose her life and even if she managed to get Mandi free, her troubles would just be beginning. She’d probably have an escort at her side for the rest of her life.

  She finished buttoning the light purple shirt and adjusted the gray skirt. She didn’t have any shoes, but just having clothes on felt better, safer. She took a step, shifted her shoulders and glanced down in irritation at the shirt. She pulled at the shirt and then sighed. No amount of pulling and tugging was going to make it bigger across the chest. The clothing fit and that was really all that mattered, but the way the shirt pulled across her back and chest made her feel a little self-conscious.

  Caidi left the tent with a smile on her face. It was time to formally meet and thank her gracious hosts. A gust of wind blew a strand of hair over her shoulder. She had finger-combed the wild mass of her hair into a semblance of order and felt presentable. After so many days in her second form, it felt wonderful to be clean and somewhat groomed.

  From the moment that she had stepped out of the tent she found herself the focus of every eye in the camp. She couldn’t help feeling a little amused at the surprised stares. With a twinkle in her eyes, she silently acknowledged that she was probably not what they expected to see coming from the tent when a large beast had walked into it.

  “I assure you that I am a perfectly normal shifter. I am relatively harmless,” Caidi said with a smile to the group of warriors gathered near a tent. They seemed to have been waiting for her.

  Caidi saw the green-eyed warrior she had talked to earlier, but it was yet another green-eyed warrior who stepped out of the mass of soldiers to greet her. Caidi hadn’t seen him among the warriors who were here when she had arrived. He was golden- haired and golden-skinned like the other warriors in the camp, but he seemed to have a harder edge, a more commanding attitude than the others around him. This was the Charal.

  “You are harmless relative to a Zarain male. To almost everyone and everything else, I am sure
that you can be positively lethal. I am Charal Aran Ak’el Nevin. I offer you sanctuary in my camp.”

  “I am Acine Caidi Talinian of the Oroyai Pack. I thank you for helping me when you know nothing of my situation. I am in your debt,” Caidi said. “The woman who kindly loaned me some clothing told me that this planet is Astien. I was wondering if your camp is near any of the gates.”

  “How is it that you are here and don’t know what planet you are on?” A frown creased the Charal’s tan face.

  “It is a long story, but I was taken by an enemy. I was knocked out and drugged and woke in a building on this planet. I escaped from the people who held me, the Bavaok, however, they had taken my clothing from me and weren’t kind enough to inform me of where they had brought me. Needless to say, I need to know where I am, before anything else.” Caidi kept her answer light, unworried.

  “You are on Astien. There is a gate about a day away from here. It is the secondary gate, but you shouldn’t be traveling anywhere on your own,” the Charal explained.

  “I won’t be traveling anywhere on my own. My mate would object to that.” Caidi smiled at the mental image which rose in her head, although his overprotective attitude generally irritated her.

  “If you will tell me the name of your Achan and where to find him or one of his allies, I will send one of my men to find him and bring him to you. You shouldn’t be wandering around while your enemies might be searching for you.” The Charal gave every indication of a man instructing a young foolish woman.

  Caidi wondered if the overprotective nature was part of every alpha male’s character. “Your offer is very kind, but you won’t need to send any men to find my chalon. I can contact him and he will contact his allies who are waiting to come to me. It will be faster and easier on us all.”

  “What do you mean?” The Charal frowned, but then his brow cleared. “You are more than Zarain?”

  Caidi nodded. “I’m going to contact Raven now. So don’t think I’m ignoring you if you say something and I don’t respond.”

  Raven? Caidi concentrated on her mate, waiting only a moment for him to respond.

  I am here, Caidi. The impression that he had been waiting for the information he had demanded was very strong.

  I am on Astien as the woman said. The Charal told me that their camp is only a day away from the second gate on Astien. He has offered me sanctuary. Caidi worried about Mandi. She hadn’t expected it to take so long to find safety, help. How soon can your allies get here? Where are they?

  Tell the Charal that my allies will be waiting at the gate at dawn the day after tomorrow and that I would be in his debt if he were to have someone there to lead my allies to you. Raven reveled in the relief for only a moment. He then changed the subject to one that he considered more important. The woman had yet to agree to follow his orders. I hope that you have finally begun to see some sense. Do you know now that you can’t go to rescue that Indiri woman, with or without an escort?

  After a lot of thought and consideration of all of the factors of the situation, I have decided that I will allow your allies to free the Indiri who aided me, although I do have my doubts that she or her slime of a next-father will be there when the men find the house, Caidi assured him with a sigh. It wasn’t such a big thing to surrender.

  We will find the Indiri who helped you, my chalie. I found her sister. She is a sweet girl, an Indiri with Bavaok blood, but untouched by their blind hatred. Raven had been surprised to find someone like her among all of the hatred festering in her people. Tell me what made you change your mind about going to get the woman.

  Caidi smiled, relishing the news that she was about to impart to her arrogant chalon. There were a few things that made the decision an easy one. I never knew that I was the heart of the pack and I also decided that I should let someone else do this since I am pregnant.

  Caidi could actually feel his stunned surprise washing over her in the moment of silence that followed her announcement.

  Pregnant? Happiness, joy rushed through him. His only regret was that she was so far away from him. He couldn’t hold her, touch her, and make love to her as he wanted to do.

  Caidi sent him a flood of all of the happiness, the joy that she felt about carrying his child. Mandi, the Indiri, told me. Now, we both have things to do right now. You had better contact your allies and I need to tell the Kaden Charal of your request.

  We will talk more about this later, my chalie, Raven said and sent her a mental picture of him holding her and a return of his happiness.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Caidi blinked away the unexpected tears flooding her eyes. “My chalon, the Achan, has informed me that his allies will be waiting at the second gate at dawn on the day after tomorrow. He asks that you send some of your men to escort them here so that they will be able to easily find me.”

  “If you don’t wish to stay here, my men could escort you to the gate so that your chalon’s allies could take you to him,” the Charal offered.

  “It isn’t that I don’t want to stay here. I am sad, because I want Raven here with me right now. He knew that I wouldn’t accept going any further than I already have. That is why he didn’t ask it.” Caidi gathered her emotions, taking deep breaths. By the Gods, she needed to be near Raven again. It was as if something within her was missing when she was away from him.

  “Ah, so he will be coming to get you.” The Charal nodded, although it was clear he didn’t understand what she meant.

  “There is still much to do here and Raven has promised me that it will be done, that another debt I owe will be paid before we leave the planet.” Caidi crossed her arms, wishing they were Raven’s arms around her. “My Achan has assured me that he feels exactly as I do. We owe you a debt. You too will be repaid.”

  The Charal tried to dismiss it as a common courtesy. “It is a small thing to offer shelter to another shifter in need when you are more than capable of doing so.”

  “I don’t consider it a small thing that you have offered me clothing, food, shelter, your protection to me and my unborn babe until my chalon’s allies arrive. You freely offered it, before I had to ask for it.” Caidi looked into his eyes, letting him see just how much that had meant to her.

  “Most of us have needed help at one time or another. It was obvious that something was wrong. Females don’t travel without escort.” Aran gave a nod, but his eyes were watchful.

  “I knew that the slimy ortha-slug and his minions didn’t follow me from that house, but you gave me protection without hesitation or question of what or who I was running from. For the kindness you have shown to me, you have only to ask it and if it is possible, I will see that you get what you want.” Just the thought of what could have happened ensured that this man had her gratitude.

  Aran didn’t reply to her impassioned speech. He smiled and informed her that the meal would be ready in only a few moments.

  Caidi accompanied him and eagerly took the plate of food that they gave her. She ate the first full meal that she had had in days. While she had been traveling, she had eaten nuts and berries for the most part. That readily available food had satisfied most of her hunger. She hadn’t wanted to waste too much time or energy hunting, just in case someone had decided to track the large beast walking away from the river. She had known that she had to keep moving. Finding a way off the planet and clothing for herself had been her first priority.

  Caidi didn’t hear a word about who was moved into which tent with whom, but the Kaden Charal gave her a tent of her own. She didn’t know why the Kaden were on Astien. She didn’t even know if her being here was interfering with any plans they had to move the camp.

  It seemed to be well-established. They had been here at least two or three days, probably longer. A small party of warriors left the next morning and Caidi began to get acquainted with the people who had offered her shelter without a qualm.

  It was the women of the group of Kaden who sought her company the next morning. She was si
tting on a mat in front of the remains of the fire, enjoying the morning breeze and the kiss of the sun on her face. When they came to her as a group, she knew that they were curious about her, about the strange shifter in their midst.

  They introduced themselves as Sera, Briana, Lori, and Kala. They sat down across from her, changed positions nervously for a few moments, trying to get their courage before Sera finally spoke.

  “Um, we heard the men talking around the fire last night.” Sera nervously squirmed on the mat. “They were saying that the way that you communicated with your mate—you know, when you talked with your mind—that it wasn’t a normal ability for a Zarain, Acine Caidi. They said that you had to be part of Sha…a Shatanai pack to be able to do that. They said that you weren’t simply a Zarain.”

  “That is Shadatai pack and yes, I am Shadatai Zarain. Every shifter group has a branch that has more abilities, that is more than merely shifter. I know that the Kaden has its Apral Kaden.”

  “Have you found a world that will accept your pack? Everyone knows that the Zarain are fierce, a Shadatai must be more so. Have you found a place with other shifters that don’t fear being ruled or perhaps killed by your pack?” Kala, a blonde, had a hopeful look on her face. It was only then that Caidi realized that this pack was looking for a home.

  Caidi smiled, but managed not to laugh at the lack of knowledge of the number of uninhabited worlds there were on the gate path. “I know a secret about finding a home and I will share it with you. The secret to finding a place to settle is to go where you don’t need to ask permission.”

  “What do you mean ‘don’t need to ask permission’? What about the other shifters on the planet?” Kala frowned. “There is always someone else on the planet and most of the time they fear us.”

  “I traveled extensively before I found my mate. There are many planets out there that are unpopulated or very nearly so. What you have to know is where they are and how to get to them, because some of them would be impossible to reach for most.” Caidi gave the women a bright smile. “There are places where others wouldn’t give you a problem.”