Kylari Way

"Damn them! Damn them to hell and back again!" Jed exclaimed with hate.

"That’s too good for the bastards," I choked out, fighting back sobs.

"Nat, that could have been us," Jed mumbled as his rage subsided.

"I know--I know," I barely managed to reply.

We sat staring for a long time before Father started down with the rest of us close behind. "Be alert," he warned quietly. "The Sharone can’t be far off."

Moving cautiously, we approached the gutted remains of the outskirts of the village. The first body we found seemingly gave lie to our belief in a Sharone attack. The feathered evidence jutting up from a ruined forehead was easily recognized.

"That’s a Kylari arrow!" Salthazar exclaimed with shocked disbelief. "A Santwani clan arrow. See the crest?"

"I see it, Salthazar," Father breathed incredulously. "This cannot be! Let’s go."

Abandoning caution, my father dismounted and ran amongst the bodies, the rest of us following suit. Scattering out to cover more ground, we searched the fallen for signs of life. The tenth body I checked was the one I was dreading to find. Saranee, whom I had only so recently held in my arms, was pinned to the ground with a Kylari war-lance between her lovely breasts, a horrified expression forever frozen on her lifeless face. Near to her lay her mother, close to what used to be their home. Esteban was nowhere to be seen.

For a moment, I stood over her, choking on my pain and rage. With a swift jerk, I pulled the lance free and cast it violently aside. Kneeling, I ever so gently lifted her and cradled her head against my chest and cried. That was how the others found me some time later.

Heavy footsteps vaguely reached my ears through my grief. With deep pain in his voice, Jed said softly, "Nat."

I could make no answer other than to sob and shake with rage. Soon my father and the others joined us. Kneeling down beside me, Father laid a hand on my shoulder and tried to console me. "Son, I’m sorry, but she’s gone. Come on, Son. We have work to do," he urged gently.

"Why, Father?" I asked bitterly. "Why would Kylari do this?"

"No Kylari kills this way, boy!" Katar spat with disgusted rage.

Inflamed by his words, I gently laid Saranee back on the ground and slowly rose. A black rage flooded through me and something snapped forever. I slowly placed my hand on the hilt of my sword and drew it partially. With a voice from which the youth in me had fled, I grated, "Call me a boy once again, Katar, and I will show you how a Kylari kills!"

The tension in the air was like that before a thunderstorm. No one spoke or so much as moved while we glared at each other for long moments. Katar read the death in my eyes and knew that he had at last gone too far, something that he had not thought possible.