AKLESH (Under Strange Skies) Read Online Free Page A

There also appeared to be some of this color on their forearms as well. The firelight was too dim to tell if this was tattooing or the nature of their pigment.

    On the center of their foreheads was a sort of strange protuberance. It was a small bump of flesh less than half an inch around, the same color as their markings, something like the spiritual marks of certain religious groups on the planet Orestus.

    None of the men wore shirts although the girl had a strap of leather across her breasts. Their only clothing consisted of loin cloths that wrapped around their waists and leggings made of the same tan material.

    The one closest to him was lean and muscular. He was shorter than his companions and about Gar’s own age, he presumed. An overwhelming feeling of concern emanated from him.

    Like his companions, his eyes were a cloudy grey and his hair white. It had been shaved off on both sides and was a matted mess on top, which was apparently the way the primitive men wore it.
    The female’s pale hair was pulled back and braided into two rings.

    The two men standing behind her bore such a close resemblance they were almost mirror images of each other, obviously identical twins. The final member of the group, the one standing farthest away, was by far the tallest and most intimidating.
    His expression was very dour. There was no mistaking his displeasure. Although his form was formidable, his face was youthful. He couldn’t have been much older than the shorter one nearest to him.

    The short one by Gar’s side, somehow sensing that they were being scrutinized, gently made introductions.

    “We are Aklesh of the Western Forest Tribe.” He paused, then looked Gar in the face and stated very plainly. “We are not savages.” The prince regarded him curiously. It was an odd statement considering what he had just been thinking.

    The large one in back spoke abruptly. “How is it you know our language?”

    Gar tried to get up, but his vision swam again and he broke an immediate sweat. The one close to him helped him lean back. “Nanites.
    Injected at birth. Interprets and translates to the brain directly. Learn one language you learn them all if it’s a culture in the Galactic Linguistic Database.” Gar turned his head towards the group.

    They stared at him without reply. Of course these simple people wouldn’t understand such advanced technology. He forced a smile and said in a voice laced with sarcasm. “Magic.”

    The tall one scoffed.

    “Hey, just where exactly am I?” Gar asked.
    “Do you have names?” He addressed this to the tall warrior in back, who seemed to be in charge.
    He responded.

    “I am Tyro’shal.”

    He pronounced the space in the middle with a short glottal click. Then he introduced the remaining members, indicating the girl first and the twins who were obviously her brothers. “Here is Cho, Chi and Che’fhal. The one next to you is called…”

    “Kai,” Gar said, surprising himself and those around him. There was an awkward silence as the tribesmen all regarded each other nervously.
    Their behavior was very suspicious.

    “I’m right, aren’t I?”

    Again, none of them would respond. The prince grew agitated.

    “Why do I know what his name is? Why am I hearing his voice in my head?! What the hell is going on?!!”

    He tried to lean up on his arm. Gar wanted some answers, yet his quick rise to temper made him suddenly very woozy. He stopped, lay back and took a few deep breaths.

    The one called Kai looked as though he was going to be sick himself. Tyro glared at the shorter tribesman as if expecting some sort of action. In a few tense moments something was decided between them. The girl named Cho broke the silence.

    “Kai will explain everything. Please trust us, no one meant you any harm.”

    “What do you mean, no one meant me any harm?” Gar asked warily.

    Kai lifted his hands to Gar’s face. He flinched at first but then allowed it. The feeling that the