The Lord of the Plains

by Sarah Chapman

Chapter 61

  Aerlid was somewhat dubious about Riley’s plans to try and teach the children teamwork. She hadn’t proved herself to be the best teacher after all. Riley spent most of her time away from the tribe out in the grasslands with the children. Her mood improved markedly after only a few days of this, and Aerlid quickly decided it was a good idea.

  The downside was that he was put in charge of the tribe while she was away. Mostly, he just glared at any gemengs who approached him. It worked surprisingly well. But it also meant he actually had to spend time with the tribe.

  At the moment a large, ugly gemeng woman was approaching him. Well, he thought it was a woman. He was really only guessing at that; it could just as easily be male. That reminded him he needed to talk to Riley about the rules regarding courtship. She had given her permission to none of the couples that had come to her. Mainly that was because no pair had come to her where both wanted to be together.

  Aerlid fixed the gemeng with a steely gaze. He was a tall man, Riley only came up to his shoulder, but this creature towered above him.

  His glare did not deter the creature.

  ‘Do you need something?’ he asked coolly when it did not immediately turn tail and run.

  She only smiled in response.

  ‘Well, do you?’ Riley asked.

  ‘Do I?!’ He cried. How could she even ask that?!

  The large ugly brute of a woman was standing next to him grinning an ugly, toothy smile. ‘That a yes.’

  Riley glanced at the woman. ‘That is not a yes. Yes is yes. Nothing else is a yes.’

  The woman’s smile didn’t fade. ‘That a yes.’

  ‘It’s a no!’ Aerlid cried. ‘No, no, a thousand times no! Are you mad?!’

  Riley raised her eyebrows at him. Then she turned her attention to the woman. ‘That’s a no.’

  The woman’s smile faltered, became a growl. ‘He mine.’

  ‘No. He said no. Now leave.’

  Aerlid drew his sword, it gleamed like moonlight. ‘Can I kill her? This creature is a brute. The world can only be better with her gone.’

  ‘No!’ Riley cried, alarmed. ‘No, Aerlid.’ she scolded. The scathing look she gave him deflated him.

  ‘That’s a no to both of you. No mating, no killing. Now get out of my sight. I’m very disappointed.’ and she shot a glare at Aerlid.

  ‘Riley,’ Aerlid began carefully, ‘how could you possibly ask if I wanted to-to… ugh, how could you even ask?’

  Riley was gazing at a long, curved claw in her hands. She looked up at him. She shrugged. ‘Well, how would I know what you want?’

  Aerlid’s only recourse was to hang his head. ‘What is that?’ he mumbled while his head was hanging between his knees. ‘That claw?’

  ‘It’s from a leaper.’ he heard a smile in her voice. ‘They leap out and attack you! Do you think ocean gemengs would give me more trouble?’

  ‘Well as you can’t swim, yes.’ Then he added quickly, ‘you’re not fighting in the ocean.’

  There was silence. Knowing her well, that was a very scary silence to Aerlid.

  ‘Riley.’ he said.

  ‘Yes?’

  He knew that tone. It was the I’m-going-to-go-play-with-giant-man-eating-cats-without-telling- you tone. ‘Where did you get the claw?’ he asked desperately, ‘was it a gift?’

  ‘Yes.’ her tone changed, the pleasure and excitement drained out of it.

  He looked up and met her eyes.

  Clearly, she wasn’t going to elaborate of her own accord.

  ‘From who?’

  She looked away. Her lips were pressed together tightly in a frown.

  ‘Do you miss whoever it was?’

  ‘No.’ her eyebrows shot up into her hair. ‘No. Perhaps a little but…’ she said in a softer tone. ‘Not really, actually, it’s almost a relief to be away…’ she trailed off.

  Aerlid knew he didn’t know the whole story here. But if she felt being apart was a good thing, that was all that mattered. He didn’t need the story.

  ‘You know,’ she suddenly said, ‘I wonder why she asked you. Usually they all seem afraid of you.’

  ‘Well,’ Aerlid knew a good opportunity when he saw one. ‘You’ve rejected all the other requests of courtship. Maybe I was the last one she hadn’t asked about. Riley, I’m afraid your rules regarding courtship may be too stringent.’

  Riley was startled for a moment, then she frowned.

  ‘You’ve rejected all the couples that have come to you. If this continues the tribe will die out.’

  Riley didn’t say anything. Her expression of not quite understanding hadn’t changed.

  ‘Riley, what may be a horrible violation to you or I is a regular part of life here. It doesn’t affect them the way it would you or me. Perhaps you should step back and allow them to continue as normal, at least with this.’

  Her eyebrows crashed down. Her eyes darkened dangerously.

  ‘No.’ she said. ‘No. Never.’ She pressed her lips together tightly, as if struggling to keep her words in.

  ‘And if you never give your permission to any couple?’ he ventured on, calm in the face of her storm.

  ‘Then the tribe dies out.’