The shaman did not finish until sunset, at which point Thaggar was certain this had been done on purpose so they would stay the night. Those who looked at him turned away quickly because of his cross face.
"The ancestors require that....."the shaman paused to cough,"....the marriage be consummated tonight!"
Thaggar felt Akira's hand go limp in his own. Her palms also became sweaty out of panic and when he looked at her face, all he saw was pure fear. She avoided looking at him and instead turned to Rai and Tak. Her mother seemed to sympathize with her while Tak bore an expression she could not read through.
"We'll provide them with a hut but first we must complete the marriage ceremony." Kanaq said resolutely.
Thaggar nodded and tried to ignore the uncertainty Akira's emotions birthed within him.
'It was still going to happen.' he reasoned.
Rai came and undid the knot she had made to bind the couple then she took Akira away.
"We must get you changed as well, Thaggar. I'll explain what is to happen." Tak said to his would be brother-in-law.
Thaggar grunted and got up from his kneeling position. He followed Tak to Kanaq's home and listened to the instructions as he changed. He was made to wear a warriors regalia and had his forearms painted with patterns in black. He was basically just wearing leather pants with a sash drapped over his shoulder.
Once he was ready, he was lead to a clearing close to the ancestral tree and sat down and a stool in front of a bonfire. Everyone fell into a hush and the sound of drums filled the air. The tempo slowed and sped up several times before Akira finally came. He recognized her even though she was surrounded by other girls of her own age and stature. They all had their faces covered with various writings on their bodies, barely dressed but for the loincloths at their hops and beads over their bosoms.
They spread out and danced in perfect sync and with a wild grace. His eyes did not leave her for a single moment, even when his view of her was obscured by the others he would still find her.
"Now!" Kanaq shouted and before he could react, a greenish smoke blown by two young boys invaded his nostrils and blared his vision.
'What?' Thaggar asked himself in confusion before he remembered Tak's words about having to find Akira.
The music stopped but his mind was still noisy and distorted. He looked at the group of women standing in front of him and tried to focus to find Akira but they all looked the exact same. He grunted and stood up, swaying slightly. The drums burst to life once more and with each beat it felt like someone was hitting his face.
The girls were dancing once more and interchanging positions quicker than he could follow. He cursed under his breath as they started to circle him.
"Akira..." He said under his breath, turning this way and that way looking for her.
Upset and fed up, he started grabbing them one by one, trying to recognize her by the feel of her hands that he'd held onto the entire afternoon. After holding nearly half of them, he finally felt the familiar touch and recognized her. She was shaking, her chest rising and falling from the dancing. The music stopped and the other girls walked away.
"I found you...." He whispered almost to himself.
"Thaggar, the feared warrior of the North and Akira, daughter of Maki! You are now joined to one another for life!" Kanaq bellowed and the crowd came to life with loud shouts and ululations.
"Have this." Akira said softly as she handed some a herbal drink to Thaggar who was now sitting at edge of the straw bed.
He nodded and took it, gulping it down without question. His hazy mind begun to clear and his gaze became more focused. Akira still had her face covered as though she didn't want to be seen by her own husband.
"Is there a tradition I'm still unaware of?" He asked putting the cup on the floor.
"What?"
"Won't I get to see my wife's face?"
Akira shifted her gaze elsewhere and decided to get busy. She picked up the cup and placed it on a small table in the opposite corner. She could feel Thaggar's penetrating gaze but she didn't turn and just stood in the corner.
"Akira, come here." Thaggar said his voice hoarse.
Akira shook her head feeling a new kind of fear because she was now alone with him. She didn't want this, not now at least.
"Are you afraid of me?" He asked a little hurt but he didn't let it show in his voice and she nodded,"Why?"
There was no answer from Akira but the sound of her heavy breathing and her nails grazing the table reached his ears. He stood up and made his way to her, stopping right behind her. The only source of light was that slipping in from the spaces left by the curtains from the bonfire. He placed his hand on her shoulder and she stiffened immediately. He sighed but didn't move away. He let his head rest on her other shoulder and inhaled her scent. She smelled sweet.
Even though Thaggar hated flowers, she had a floral scent he seemed to fall in love with immediately.
"Is it the rumors?" He asked, his voice an octave lower.
Hesitantly, Akira nodded. Thaggar nodded as well in understanding and turned her around. He placed his hands on either side of her, letting them rest on the table.
"The rumors are true." He said seriously focusing on her barely visible eyes behind the beads,"I kill man and beast alike without discrimination. I slew my own father for my chieftainship, it's my tradition. I hunt men as I hunt prey but.... you're not prey. You're Akira.....my Akira. You need not fear me. I won't hurt you or your people unless they offend me irrevocably."
"A-and me?"
"I won't hurt you.... even if one day you chose to betray me, I won't hurt you."
"Liar!" Akira exclaimed, having no faith in his words.
"Why?" He asked hurt and this time he didn't try to mask his dissatisfaction.
"You....you killed your own father."
"I didn't like him. He was unjust."
"You don't like me either." She retorted quickly.
"I do like you, Akira."
"Y....you haven't even seen my face...."
"Then show me and then let me prove just how much I like you on the bed."
A gasp escaped her lips and she tried to push him away but Thaggar was as stable as a wall. He took this moment while she was panicking and removed the crown that had the beads from her head. She gasped again but before she could do anything, his lips were already on hers, catching her in a hot and passionate kiss.