Dzar-Ghan (Alien Barbarians of Vandruk #3)

46. Chapter 46

DZAR-GHAN

The Gathering took from sunup until sundown. Most of us wanted to rush to the portal and demand Ghan-Zhar’s instant release from the humans, but Tzar-Than’s clear-headedness prevailed. He pointed out once again that the humans wouldn’t have been able to capture Ghan-Zahr if he hadn’t allowed it. For now, we had to trust that he had some kind of plan. No matter how idiotic it might be.

Messengers were sent to all parts of Vandruk to inform the various demesnes that not only had the cave been opened and they were free to claim their loved ones, but that many of the believed dead gallies were still alive and would return soon.

With the messengers went our First Blades and a handful of warriors to ensure the peace would be upheld. Instructions were sent to the priests in each city to assure our subjects that Vorag had not forsaken us and that the Temple would be rebuilt soon. This was decided after a lengthy discussion, during which we concluded that most priests in the cities wouldn’t have necessarily known about our gallies. Some might avoid their punishments, but Dzur-Khan reminded them that they would still face Vorag on the day of their deaths.

“What about the humans and the portal?” Szur-Than brought our attention to the next subject on the agenda.

“Matt has volunteered to destroy the portal from the human side,” Tzar-Than explained.

“What will stop them from building a new one?” Tzun-Dhan wanted to know.

“Nothing,” Tzar-Than answered, taking a deep breath, still troubled by his friend’s plans. “And I’m sure they will. But it will take time. Time for us to regroup, gather our warriors, and forge alliances with one another. To unify the clans.”

“We know where the portal is now. How would we know if they opened a new one somewhere else?” Tzun-Dhan doubled down.

“We won’t”—Amber stood—“but you know this land. It will be important to have scouts out as much as possible. But, like Tzar-Than said, it is much more important for now that we stand as one.”

“We? You’re not a Vandruk,” Vzar-Khan, another khadahr, challenged.

“I’m here, aren’t I?” Amber pushed Dzur-Khan back down, who, from the looks of it, was ready to bring Vzar-Khan to his senses.

“We have our gallies back. We don’t need humans among us,” Tzun-Dhan shouted.

“I’m more than happy to demonstrate how much you will need my training against the humans.” Amber stood her ground, staring both khadahrs down. “I am a Vandruk Khadahrshi. I might not look like you, but here”—she placed her hand over her heart—“I am a full Vandruk.”

“Hear, hear,” Tzar-Than acknowledged, pounding his fist on the table.

I copied him, and so did Dzur-Khan and Grohn-Vhyn, followed by others until Vzar-Khan and Tzun-Dhan finally joined.

Next, we voted that Tzar-Than, Dzur-Khan, and I would be in charge of security around the portal and negotiations with the humans. Just like before, all the khadahrs would take turns watching the portal, only now there would be two of us at any given time, plus enough warriors to beat back any army the humans might send for us.

Amber suggested building a fortification around the portal, just like the humans had planned, only that we would control this one.

“First, wall it in, then build a large enough fortification, enough paces away so that the guns won’t reach,” Amber suggested.

It was an excellent idea, especially now that more warriors would be stationed there. Giving them some comfort would go a long way.

“What about destroying the portal?” Szur-Than demanded.

“We will not destroy it until Ghan-Zahr is back,” Tzar-Than asserted.

“If he was stupid enough to allow himself to be captured, I say we leave the fool where he is,” Vzar-Khan yelled. His statement was followed by some fist pounding.

“We don’t know why he did this.” I made myself heard over the noise. “I’m sure he had a reason and will bring back valuable information, and even if he doesn’t, we will not abandon one of us.” I had known Ghan-Zhar all my life. He was Mynarra’s brother. I could not in good conscience abandon him and bring more heartache to Mynarra.

More fist pounding followed my words.

Tzar-Than and Tzun-Dhan would take their armies to the portal and wait for word from Ghan-Zahr. Tzar-Than would ensure that Matt would accompany them and do what needed to be done when it needed to be done. I didn’t know how he was going to relay that message, but the two were friends, so I figured Tzar-Than would have a way of letting him know.

Dzur-Khan and Amber were going to see if they could find out what happened to Gisetta, while I would take Jenna home to show Catterground to her and allow my subjects to get to know their new khadahrshi.

It was dark by the time we took our leave, and I found out that Secylly, Halana, and Mynarra had already left with my brother Vhan-Ghor. I regretted not having had any time yet to talk to my sisters but consoled myself with the thought that now we would have a lifetime to catch up. Once we reached Catterground, I would make time for us and Jenna. I very much liked the idea of the three most important gallies in my life to become friends.

Jenna awaited me at the foot of the steps.

“How did everything go?”

It was a loaded question, one I would answer in time, but right then, I just wanted to hold and kiss her and chuck all the worries and burdens of the day off.

Just then, though, a contingent of warriors, with a bound Bzun-Lhan, Thlung-Rhan, and several other priests who had been found guilty without a doubt, marched by.

“What’s going to happen to them?” Jenna’s eyes followed the men through the gate.

“They are being taken to the cave; once the last body has been removed and buried, the cave entrances will be sealed off again and guarded, while these males will spend the rest of their days pondering what they did. Their souls will forever be bound to the cave, just like they had intended for our gallies.” I filled Jenna in on what we had decided this morning. Too many people had fought over the right to send Bzun-Lhan and Thlung-Rhan to their well-deserved deaths. Sending them to the caves and burying them there seemed more like a well-deserved justice.

“Good riddance.” Jenna nodded in agreement. “Now what?”

“Now I will take you to your demesne, Catterground, where you will charm our subjects until they love you just as much as I do,” I promised, kissing her.

“Hmm, just as much?” she teased.

“Or as close as possible,” I corrected, pulling into a tight embrace. “I love you, Jenna. Don’t ever doubt that, or let me forget to tell you.”

“No worries, I’ll remind you for the rest of our lives,” she promised, leaning forward and accidentally stepping on my foot. She was so light, though, that I hardly noticed.

“I love you.” I laughed.

“I love you too.” Her arms wrapped around my neck, and our lips met for a deep, passionate kiss.