Rider King part 13

We lose Dramon quickly. The jungle is so thick that he wouldn’t be able to fly very low. I’m scratched all over and itchy from when we crossed a poisonous plant, but uninjured.

Treysa comes to a full stop when we cross a pack of blue-eyed, growling predators. I quickly roll off her and jump to action. Although my weapons are gone, my mind is still sharp.

As Treysa kicks and stomps on two of the animals, I pick up a branch and rock and begin swinging. The branch is used to protect my forearm from snapping jaws, and the rock smashes a beast over the head. I have to make quick jabs and rely on my good leg to lunge from one side to the other.

Just as I try to avoid a bite, my hand is caught. I scream my pain and bring the rock down on its head. I hear a crack, and the animal goes limp. His friend uses that moment to lunge, so I pull the dead animal atop me as a shield. My good leg bends to kick at its forelegs, and I’m a panting mess as I try to get a good angle on its head.

“Ugh, you stink!” I groan at the set of teeth and hot breath in front of me.

Giving up on the rock, I grab the branch and stab at its neck until I get a good stab and send it down.

With a sigh, I crawl away from the blood and mangled fur.

Treysa walks over, shaking her scales free of blood.

“Good girl.” I scratch at her scales. She has been through hell for me.

“Not bad for a cripple, right?” I ask as I look over the dead animals. I wonder how quickly I could have Salina on her back, but shove the thought away. Salina is the past.

I find a safe spot to camp with Treysa. She’s exhausted, so I massage and clean her as best as I can. My pants are bloodied from my menstruation and my own muscles are exhausted, but the bite on my hand is what worries me. The puncture marks aren’t too deep but could get infected.

My mind is sharp through the night. After that close encounter with Dramon,  I can’t sleep. For the next hours, I wonder why he’s coming after me. Why is he scouting the skies away from his Clan and breaking all sorts of laws to get to me? He has a clear path to Salina now that I’m out of the way. She is his back-up Queen.

Is there something wrong with Salina? Can she not give him children? Maybe he wants me to complete that duty while he enjoyed her for everything else?

“From a Rider Queen to a breeder? Never.”

Treysa scoffs, as if agreeing with me. I snuggle against her side. We both stink. We’re covered in sweat, blood, and mud, but we’re warm against each other. That’s what matters.

—

That morning, I hunt three small animals for Treysa and I. She eats her meat raw, while I cook it over a fire. I rush through the morning, wanting to find Rexon before Dramon finds me.

Treysa seems more energized, so she leads me out of the jungle until I pick up movement on the horizon.

It’s people. A clan.

Rexon’s.

I pat my ripped pants. I tried to clean up as best as possible and even bound my hair in case there’s an unknown rule about it. I look like a disaster, but my chin is as high as ever.

With my stick, I walk down a slope until I’m spotted. Everyone goes silent. I’m not sure if they recognize me, but they surely know that I’m human.

I weave through the crowds of people with Treysa.

“Stop!” a man crosses me.

“Queen Venus?”

I turn and find Rexon. He’s beside three of his warriors, looking confused. His long hair hangs down his back, and his tunic is lazily tucked into his pants. After days away from Dramon, I’ve forgotten how enormous the Rider Kings are.

“Stand down,” he waves off the warrior that crossed my path while keeping his eyes locked on me. He scans me quickly, stopping on my injured hand.

“I apologize for my unannounced appearance.”

Rexon looks behind me. “Where is Dramon? I did not know your Clan was crossing mine."

“I’m here alone. I need a moment in private with you.”

Rexon’s lip quirks, and he places the palm of his hand on the grip of the sword at his hip. “I do not think your husband would like that. You know better to seek private audiences with a man with a profile as high as mine.”

He’s right. Dramon would go berserk with jealousy if he knew I went into a Rider King’s tent. I won’t speak in front of Rexon’s Clan, though. I’d rather return to the jungle than to spill my pitiful case.

“May the Fires be with you, then.” I turn to walk away.

“Stop.”

When I turn around, he’s closer. I catch a whiff of his scent. Earthly.

“Follow me.”

He leads me through his camp, and I struggle to look over his broad shoulders. His Clan scrutinizes me. I’m no stranger to this.

Rexon stops by a collection of rocks. He stabs his sword on the ground, and then he sits on one of the large rocks. I lower myself on one that is across from his, but not once does he look at my bad knee.

“Where is Dramon?” he gets right to it.

“I left him behind.”

“Why? Is the Clan—”

“The Clan is fine,” I clarify. “Dramon and I had a… disagreement. I needed to leave him.”

He expands his arms. “You have a whole planet to roam, and you chose to lead a raging Dramon here?”

“What makes you think he didn’t let me go?”

He doesn’t hesitate to answer, “Because I would not let you go. That is how I know.” He stands. “I cannot accept you. I do not want Dramon’s senseless war.”

“I never took you for a coward.”

He takes two quick steps toward me, so I swing my stick and press the pointy edge against his chest.

“Sorry.” I lower the stick. “Reflex.”

He leans closer, and I drop the stick to avoid hurting him. His hair curtains around us, and those crimson eyes of his sparkle with amusement.

“Someone will show you to your new tent. Actually, you will be led to mine tonight.”

He leaves me with that. I’m so confused that I don’t know what to say. He’s accepting me because I rudely tried to stab him?

And what the hell does he mean I'll be going to his tent tonight?