tunics of roanskin and necklets and armbands of horn and bone. Few of them wore wolfskins or tails, and none had wolves of their own, for they were still too young.
The women followed close on their heels, always glad to see newcomers, interested in anything and everything, their dark eyes flashing with excitement.
They were dressed in a wide variety of styles. Some wore full overblouses, bare of ornamentation, that hung in shapeless folds to the waist, and long, full skirts that swept the ground, giving each the charm of a fat bear. Others wore softly tanned tunics that clung to the body and gave more than a hint of the charms contained within. But despite their appearance, their behavior was circumspect, for the Wolf Nomads would not tolerate licentious behavior from their women. At least not in public.
The men came last, strolling leisurely, unwilling to sacrifice their dignity by increasing their stride. The men, all those old enough to have passed through the initiation, wore the usual male nomad attire: sleeveless leather tunics that reached from throat to mid- thigh, tall, knee-high leather boots, and little else.
Many wore wolfskin cloaks, for the season was well advanced and the days were becoming chill. A few wore leather helms, adorned with wolf ears. Others wore full wolf skulls perched atop their heads. Most wore wolf tails in some manner, dangling from the sides of their braid, hanging from the earlobes or simply attached to the edges of their helms.
The men wore jewelry more often than the women, ornaments of bone, horn and fangs fashioned with great skill, and using copper, gold, and silver inlaid with precious and semi-precious gems. This ornamentation was outward evidence of their bravery and courage, prizes taken in battle or won through adventure, for bravery and courage were much admired among the Wolf Nomads.
Clustered at the fore of the men were the chief of the clan, and the senior shaman and magic-user.
Behind these two titular heads of the clan were a gaggle of lesser chiefs, all of whom were to be accorded the proper note of respect, and none of whom mattered to Mika, for his attention was taken by a lissome beauty with dark, curling hair and a lascivious smile. She looked direcdy at Mika with a promise in her eyes.
To Mika's delight and absolute confusion, he felt definite stirrings of interest! It was suddenly obvious that the curse had not yet ruined him completely. He threw his shoulders back and grinned at the girl, anxious to hold her to her promise, whatever it might be!
But first there were all the boring rituals to be gotten through. He sighed and turned his attention back to the far less-attractive men and, following Hornsbuck's lead, he raised his hand in greeting.
'Welcome, brothers,' said the chief, a tall, thin man with a beaked nose and sharp eyes; a fur cloak comprised of the pelts of winter weasels hung around his shoulders. The fur was thick and luxurious, and white like drifting snow, but all of the heads, tails, feet, and claws had been left on when the cloak was stitched so that it seemed like the man was covered with scores of litde, dead bodies. Their empty eyes stared out at Mika, and the litde feet that had once sped through the forest so lighdy dangled lifelessly against the man's chest.
'We do not see many visitors here in the Phantom Forest, and we welcome you to our humble camp. You honor us with your presence. Refresh yourselves, and when you are rested I would be honored to welcome you properly at my fire.'
'It would be our honor, noble one,' replied Hornsbuck, bowing low in the saddle before the chief. Mika mimicked the older man, knowing that tradition demanded complete and utter respect be shown a chief.
The chief nodded and withdrew, leaving Hornsbuck, Lotus Blossom, and Mika to go with any one of the many women who volunteered their dwellings for rest and refreshment. A woman so chosen would achieve great esteem, and Mika and his companions were besieged by those clamoring for the honor. Mika had no difficulty making his choice. Leaving Lotus Blossom and Hornsbuck surrounded by matrons of dubious charms, he dismounted and started toward the dark-haired beauty who hovered silently at the edge of the crowd.
'Mika,' hissed Hornsbuck, laying a cautioning hand on Mika's arm. 'Do nothing foolish,' he warned. 'Clean up. Eat. Be polite, stay out of trouble, and meet me back here no later than sundown.'
'Fear not, Hornsbuck,' Mika boomed in his new, deep voice. 'I shall do nothing wrong.'
Hornsbuck stared at him a minute longer, then shaking his head and sighing deeply, he allowed himself to be drawn into a conversation with Lotus Blossom and another woman of similar girth.
'Come, Tam,' boomed Mika. Smiling at the s oman, he set out to discover just how much damage v J curse had exacted.
CHAPTER 15
The woman was waiting. Without speaking, she held out her hand to Mika.
Mika took the small, soft hand and drank in the sight of her as happily as a drowning man views the sight of land.
She was tall, rising nearly to his chin, her hair a mass of tumbled curls the color of ebony and shining with blue highlights. Her eyes were dark brown flecked with gold and her wide, generous mouth a delicate shade of rose. A sultry smile lifted the corners of her mouth and there was little or no need for conversation, so implicit was their unspoken understanding.
Her name was Starr, and she wore a tunic of some dark blue material, shot through with a sparkling, silver weft. Although it covered her modestly from throat to knee, it was impossible to disguise her more than ample physical endowments. She was shod with tall, roanskin boots trimmed with long fringe dyed blue to match the dress. A silvery blue shawl completed the outfit.
Mika cleared his throat several times, feeling himself fill with lust just looking at her, wanting more than anything in the world to wrap his arms around her and hold her tight, to lose himself in her and never return.
But of course that was impossible, for he could feel the eyes on him, watching from all directions. As always, there was the game to be played and others' needs to be satisfied before his own.
Behaving most circumspecdy, they walked hand in hand through the village, trailing the roan behind, talking politely of things that did not matter and did not interest them until none but children watched them; then they silently stole into the forest that surrounded them on all sides.
They tied the horse to a tree and left it to graze. Tam and the princess were left to their own devices as Starr led Mika deep into the heart of the forest to a small, mossy clearing obscured from sight by tall ferns and dense bushes.
Overcome by his feelings, an equal mixture of joy and lust, Mika completely forgot his fear of the curse, or rather, the condition of his body assured him that if he were going to be stricken, it had not happened fully, yet.
He detached the beautiful, blue cloak from the shoulders of his tunic and laid it down on the thick carpet of moss. His tunic quickly followed, and then his soft boots, leaving only the magic gem on its thin, gold chain and his cumbersome metal gaundet. Thankfully, she took no notice of his deformity.
Starr gazed at him openly. Her eyes widened with appreciation, and her breathing became more rapid. She reached for him, her desire as open as his own.
He put out his hand and stayed her gendy, smoothing her silky hair with his gloveless hand. She obeyed him, standing proud and still, allowing him to slowly undress her with fingers that shook with longing.
The dress dropped from her shoulders, and Mika gasped with pleasure at the sight of her beautiful, proud body. She held her arms gracefully at her sides, allowing him to caress her with his eyes, even though she shivered as the cold air stroked her naked body.
Mika smiled down at her, stepped forward, fitting his body against hers, and wrapped him arms around her. He felt her warm breath on his shoulder as the soft points of her breasts pressed against his chest.
His mind was enflamed, and his knees buckled as he sagged down onto the cloak, bringing her with him. The dread curse was forgotten, mind and body enflamed with the need for gratification.
Then his body began to move on its own, ignoring his frenzied mind, following age-old commands that needed no thought or direction. His soul sang with joy, and he was but a heartbeat away from the final moment of ecstasy when something… some great, heavy, oppressive, black force intruded, thrusting its way into his concentration and shattering it completely, like plunging a red hot sword into freezing water.
He felt the prickle of unfriendly eyes on his back. The short hairs on the nape of his neck were electric with
