Taking the Knife

drunken wave into his thoughts. Then it was over, and she stepped back, black eyes regarding him calmly.
    He let out a breath he'd been holding. His entire body quivered as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. The reaction in his groin rose like an old memory. He could take her right now. Push her down and do what he willed. The feel of a woman around him…
    Not a woman. A flame runna .
    Lurching to one side, away from her and his desire, he pressed his lips with his fingertips. "What is this?"
    "I told you. Spirit healing." She stood immobile, her gaze fierce.
    He lifted the tip of his spear against her chest, ready to impale her with it in place of his manhood. A trickle of crimson blossomed against her breastbone and traced a line toward her belly button. She curled backward, sucking herself away without actually moving.
    He made a noise deep in his throat. He wasn't sure if he wanted to fuck her or eat her. Maybe both. Maybe neither. Her magic had him confused. "This is a black thing."
    "How? You're standing."
    The snarl contorting his lips relaxed a fraction. He was standing, straight, his pain as distant as wisps of clouds. No remedies he knew of could work like this. His breath came short and fast, but not because of discomfort. He felt quick as a child again. The desire to leap and run around the clearing flashed through his mind. To rouse his brother and race to the river. To catch the tribe. To be a man again.
    She looked up at him through thick, black lashes. Licked her lips. "You want the magic? Then keep me safe. Keep the secret of my power, so no men may harm me to steal it. And I'll give it to you freely."
    He lowered the spear and closed the distance between them, brushing her breasts with his chest. As he looked down into her face, elation coursed through his veins like a spring flood bringing life to the Tox . He should take her, right now, just to prove he could do it.
    She cowered before him, her face scrunching in terror, and he was pleased. No one had been afraid of him in a long time.
    "It's not … good … if you take too much." Her voice had lost confidence, wavering like it had the first time she'd spoken.
    A niggle of pity shook him. He spun away from her and paced to the opening in the amarantox that led back to the foot trail. He had to think this through. He could take her for a slave. Although she was a flame runna , he thought the tribe would allow it, at least until they called a Hunger. But spirit healing – dare he court such dangerous magic, just to avoid the Knife? She’d rendered Medo completely helpless. She could do the same to him – and the rest of the tribe.
    He twisted side to side, as if limbering for a run. The pain was still there, but dull, taken by the spirits to another realm. Turning, he found her backed to the other side of the clearing, as far as the rope would allow. Tossing his spear from hand to hand, he strutted around the glade. "How long will this healing last?"
    She shrugged and tilted her head toward Medo . "Depends on how much you take."%L14igh
    A rustling in the amarantox behind him made him level his spear, legs poised for action.
    Armin, the leader of the tribe, appeared between the leaves, the status feathers at the head of his spear dripping river water. He spotted Sefe , moved forward, then noticed the girl. His eyes widened and he pulled back slightly, turning his face to the sky.
    Sefe bent and grasped the flame runna's rope, euphoric at the ease of movement. With a quick step he moved between the newcomer and the girl.
    Armin’s gaze returned to the clearing. He coiled into an aggressive crouch, then leapt toward the green skinned prisoner, his spear levelled . "Kill it now. Before more come."
    "No!" Sefe crossed his spear in front of him, ready to deflect a thrust. "She's mine to claim."
    Armin licked his narrow lips. "I thought to find you dead, so far behind." He'd long been hinting that Sefe's inability to heal himself proved it was time to take the Knife. "You've got a duty to the tribe. But first I would taste flame runna flesh."
    Sefe repeated, "She's mine to claim." His heart beat so loudly he was sure the other man could hear it.
    The bone piercings in Armin's eyebrows lifted in anticipation. He pressed his spear against Sefe's . "The tribe needs to eat. It's your duty to provide. One way or another."%L14igh
    With unaccustomed strength, Sefe drew his shoulders back and widened his stance. "The Hunger's not called. Not