CHAPTER 34

He straightened his back, making sure to let his stomach control his racing breath. The stone was cold against his skin, but not enough to make the hair on his body stand. For once he thought he could lure them away, he thought he could keep them from hurting the one he loved. But all his effort ended up to be nothing but foolishness. So silly was the plan that thinking about it now, made him wish for death. He was like the proverbial fish that jumped out from the cooking oil into the cooking fire.

Ikedi stroked his brow, trying to get rid of the sweat on his upper eyelid, but the liquid only smeared and covered his eyes. He cursed as the peppery feeling of the salty liquid blinded him. He was forced to bend his head, so he could wipe the fluid with the helm of the animal skin rounding his waist.

The night could not be called barren of noise, not after the disaster he had seen and heard. Not after the havoc, he had caused.