The Warrior Woman

by Evelyn Lederman

  Franclyn looked between the two women. He appeared to consider his options. An evil smile crossed his face. “You are welcome to come visit Chartail as often as you desire. However, you must fight for the privilege of my queen’s presence.” The bastard held all the cards where Chartail was concerned.

  “I look forward to it,” Candy replied. To Chartail she said, “We will find a way to get you released. If you know what he desires more than you, tell me.” Alex had mentioned Chartail had linked into the pathway that opened when the three of them were in the orphanage. It had surprised the other two when Chartail joined their telepathic conversations.

  “There is a woman that comes and visits him. I know nothing about her. He has not seen her since I have been here.”

  “I have no idea how far the telepathic channel will reach,” Candy shared with her. “I will stay in touch with you to the best of my ability. Even if I have to do serious damage to one of these men.” Actually she looked forward to such an eventuality.

  Candy embraced Chartail and joined the contingent from Utopia. Wedged between Tolfer and Kelog, they prepared to leave the portal guardian village. Candy felt the familial relationship between her and Alaura would negate the agreement reached. At no point did Candy look in the direction her grandmother stood.

  No words were interchanged as they left the encampment with nothing, just their lives. Candy wondered what these people had to give up to manage their release.

  The path they took narrowed as they entered the forest. Kelog pulled back and walked beside his uncle, leaving her to continue next to Tolfer. There was a momentary reprieve between being hostages to whatever they found in the Utopia village. Candy knew she needed to distract herself from what would happen once they reach the settlement.

  “So, Pup,” she used their soul mate channel, “what’s the deal with the name Scotty?” She glanced at Tolfer. A warmth spread over her as she watched him grin at the name Franclyn had given him. Candy knew they were the same age, but he looked younger at that moment.

  “Butterscotch is my favorite candy,” Tolfer confessed to her. “Scotty just seemed to fit. Although I have only known you a short period of time, I figured ‘baby’ or ‘darling’ would not please you.” He was right about the latter. However, she did not like the name he came up with.

  “Think again, Pup.” His grin had bloomed into a full smile when she called him that name again. Candy had never noticed the dimples that graced his face until that moment. How she wanted to kiss each of those adorable indentations.

  She was still engrossed at looking at his face when Tolfer grabbed her arm and stopped walking. Her grandmother stood before them.

  “I would like to walk a while with my granddaughter, young man,” Alaura said. “Get to know my guards while I do the same with my girl.” Jeryl Jarlyn had called her the same name. Perhaps it was a generational expression used to address younger family members. Drawing any other comparison between the Prime Ruler and her grandmother was not a road she wanted to travel.

  Tolfer left her side with no resistance. Alaura came alongside her without missing a beat in her step. Her grandmother was almost as tall as she was. Finally she knew where her height came from. Considering how women started to shrink when they reached a certain age, Candy figured in her prime Alaura was taller than she was now.

  “How did you know I was in the village?” Candy asked her grandmother. It was so odd conversing with a member of her biological family. She had never imagined this day would come. Alex and Shirl had always been her family. Her two friends had found members of their family in the Troyk universe. She had to get dragged into the penal colony to find hers. Whether Kelog did her a favor when he pushed her through the portal was still debatable.

  “Your thoughts were leaking through my familial link,” her grandmother answered. “Never thought I would hear another voice in that channel.” Her grandmother stared ahead at Tolfer. “You really care for that boy.”

  Candy now knew what it was like to be cross-examined by a parent over a new beau. When she was in high school she would listen to acquaintances complain about the interrogations. Secretly, she would have changed places with them in a heartbeat.

  “He is caring, nurturing, and has a killer smile.” Candy had never thought about Tolfer’s qualities. Continually her focus had been on the all-consuming pull of the soul mate connection. She always took care of herself, never wanting to rely on anyone. The characteristics she described were things she thought she would never want. The need to be cared for by Tolfer really shook her.

  “Yes, you really have it bad for that young man. What does he do for a living?”

  Candy smiled at her grandmother’s continued questioning of her relationship with Tolfer. Then it dawned on her that her grandmother did not ask her about her mother or any particulars about herself. Her smile faded.

  Her grandmother nodded. “You think I am cold not asking after Shelaura. In this world you have to deal with the here and now in order to survive.” Her grandmother patted her on the back. “You must learn to manage the familial pathway. Your young man has been remiss.”

  “I did not know I had a familial pathway,” Candy replied under her breath. She never minded being corrected if there was a reason for it. Candy also did not appreciate her grandmother criticizing her soul mate.

  The animosity that was developing between her and her grandmother troubled her. Candy decided to ask a factual question about this world. Something that was not personal would hopefully curtail the friction.

  “Are there other settlements other than yours and the portal guardians?”

  “Various people broke off from us over the years. Some did not like the proximity to the guardians. They felt they could live without what meager supplies the Troyk universe sent through that ultimately landed in their laps. Some ventured farther into this world. We never saw them again. There is another settlement half a day’s walk. People in that village do not use their telepathic abilities because it was that ability that led them to being exiled here.”

  “I was born in a world that does not have people with telepathic abilities. Now that I know about and have used it, I cannot imagine only communicating verbally.” She decided against mentioning the soul mate channel and the intimacy it provided.

  “We will meet tonight, once we are safe in the village. Then you can tell me all about yourself and your adventures.” Her grandmother stopped walking for a moment.

  Her grandmother pulled back her shirt’s sleeve. Two copper familial bracelets became visible. Alaura removed one of the bracelets and handed it to Candy. “This was your mother’s.”

  Candy held back the tears she felt building. Although Shirl and Alex both wore their mother’s familial bracelets, Candy figured Shelaura’s was lost upon her death. Without a word, Candy placed the cuff around her left wrist. “Thank you,” she managed to say. She did not want to start crying in front of her grandmother.

  Alaura embraced Candy and whispered in her ear. “Shelaura is dead. I sensed it years ago. Never mention her again.” There was such finality in her words. It was as if a door was now permanently closed.

  Candy never liked to talk about her parents. Now that it was forbidden, Candy had a consuming need to know about her mother. What was Shelaura like before she took that fateful step into the portal? She stared at her mother’s bracelet.

  Tolfer actually enjoyed walking and conversing with Alaura’s guards. An immediate camaraderie developed between him and these men. His friends in the Troyk universe were his brother’s, not his own. Rather than feeling trapped in this world, he felt like it was a new beginning.

  They came to the gorge he had been told about. He figured it was twenty yards wide. Looking down he saw a raging river surrounded by boulders on both sides. Ropes graced the face of the opposite side’s cliff. A man was climbing one of the ropes with the fish he must have caught. Several men were still at the bottom trying to catch dinner. It was probably a thirty-fo
ot climb to the top.

  A rope bridge connected the two sides. If Tolfer was a betting man, he would wager it was made of hemp. Candy came up alongside him.

  “We are going to cross the gorge on that? It looks more like a wall hanging than something that will hold our weight.” He had to laugh at Candy’s rich description of the bridge that crossed the canyon.

  “Scotty, where is your sense of adventure?” She threw him a dirty look. From that expression, he figured he would have to come up with another endearment for her. Tolfer never realized how difficult it was to determine an appropriate pet name for a girl. To be fair to himself, he had never had a relationship get serious enough for him to consider calling a girl anything other than her name.

  Tolfer watched as two men he talked with earlier started across the bridge. It looked like it would hold the weight of two people crossing at a time. Each person grasped both sides of the bridge as they moved forward. Reinforcing the bridge with wood would make the bridge steadier. Plans started to germinate in his mind.

  “Come on, Sunshine,” Tolfer addressed Candy with a new name. Whenever she smiled at him it was like a sunbeam in his heart. The new name was not greeted with any more excitement than the first. “Let us make our way to the other side. Your grandmother just finished her trip. You do not want her to outshine you.” Candy grunted at the pun as she walked toward the bridge.

  “You first, Pup,” Candy said as she extended her hand inviting him to go before her. Little did she know he was up for the challenge. He had watched the others before them and felt he had the technique down.

  Watching from afar was one thing, but actually stepping on the hemp bridge was quite another. It shook with each step he took. He grabbed the makeshift hand railings to steady his nerves, more than his body. The ropes once again gave way as Candy joined him. Tolfer took a deep breath and continued forward.

  “Speed it up, Pup,” Candy came up behind him. He could feel her breasts crushed against his back. “I want to get off this piece of pre-Colombian art.” He had no idea what she was referring to, but he agreed with her sentiment.

  “Keep calling me by that name,” Tolfer replied, gritting his teeth, “I will have you on your back and show you what kind of animal I am.” He had no idea where that comment came from. It created vivid images in his mind featuring him and Candy. Tolfer got a shot of adrenalin from the interplay in his thoughts.

  “Promises, promises,” he heard Candy mutter behind him. She matched him step for step as they made their way across and finally off the bridge. He had a momentary desire to fall to his knees and kiss the ground.

  Once he recovered from his relief of making it across the gorge, he was surprised to hear children laughing. He followed the sound, as Candy followed. There in the center of the village were a dozen children playing with a number of coconuts. Alaura joined them.

  “Children,” Tolfer said. He was not sure if he meant it as a statement or a question. It should not surprise him that men and women together in this world would reproduce.

  “The Troyk government not only sentenced us to this world, but our offspring. In all the care packages sent over the years, not once did they send diapers or other goods that would aid our babies. Your talents are more needed than you can imagine, young man.”

  “It would be my pleasure to work with the kids,” Tolfer shared with Alaura. “I also have some ideas how that bridge can be reinforced.” He was going to make the most out of being here. Back home he never considered using his hands to create anything. Here, it looked like it was going to become a necessity.

  “He can also cook,” Candy added as she came up and kissed him on the cheek. It was their first kiss. A kiss between friends. He was going to have to work with her on more intimate kisses. That would fill many enjoyable hours in their new home.

  “Any talents that will add value to our collective would be appreciated,” Candy’s grandmother said. “Tolfer, you and the other men will stay here.” The woman gestured to the hut they stood before.

  “Where is Candy staying?” Tolfer inquired. He did not like being separated from his soul mate. Living apart from her when she resided with his parents was one thing. This was something totally different.

  A knowing grin crossed Alaura’s face. “There is a new hut we just constructed closer to the gorge that has not been assigned to anyone as of yet. The two of you can share, if you desire.”

  “It is desired,” Tolfer replied. He grabbed Candy’s arm, looking into her eyes, daring her to object. Rather than defiance written on her face, he was met by a neutral glance. Tolfer was not sure how to read that look.

  “It is yours then,” Alaura stated as she walked away chuckling. Candy followed her grandmother leaving him behind.

  “Brave move, my friend,” Kelog replied. Tolfer glanced at the man next to him. He needed his friend to explain why he went through the portal and took his soul mate with him.

  “You could not possibly have known what was on the other side of the portal. What possessed you to walk into the event horizon and take Candy with you?”

  “I was always envious of your family, Tolfer,” Kelog explained. “When you had me over, I was overwhelmed by the love your parents and brother had for you. Even Tarsea’s friends would have done anything for you. My parents gave me to distant relatives to care for when they started their anti-government activities. The Potts never wanted me and were staunch pro-government supporters. I never knew what happened to my parents. They could be here.”

  “But why Candy?”

  “Her family is here, Tolfer. When I found out today who she really was, I knew what I had to do. She should be with her family.”

  Tolfer shook his head. “Shirl and Alex are her family.”

  “Alexia?” Kelog questioned. It was not long before the realization of Alex’s true identity came to his former friend. “But how were you able to hide who she is?”

  “She is my brother’s soul mate, as Starc is Shirl’s,” Tolfer shared with his former friend.

  “And Candy must be yours. Why else would you follow her into the portal?”

  Tolfer did not feel obligated to reply to Kelog’s assumption. “Regardless of my relationship with Candy, I still have not determined whether or not I am going to kill you for what you did today. You could have condemned her to a life of prostitution or worse. Just watch your back.” He walked away from his former friend. There was not a homicidal bone in his body, but Kelog did not know that. To compensate for his act, he imagined Kelog would do everything in his power to assure Candy was protected. The true question was whether he was strong enough to protect his soul mate.

  Candy walked around the hut her grandmother left her to explore. It was hard to believe her grandmother had agreed to her and Tolfer sharing a lodging. Alaura told her she would be back later with supplies and to accompany them to the evening communal meal. This place was barely large enough for one. How was she going to share these close quarters with Tolfer?

  “Cozy, Stretch?” her soul mate said as he entered.

  “Enough with the ridiculous names, Tolfer,” Candy replied. “I’ll strike a deal with you. I won’t call you Pup, if you just call me Candy.” This tiny place would have the two of them at each other’s throats before the day was out.

  “But, Blossom,” Tolfer had come up behind her and whispered in her ear. “Everyone calls you Candy.” He was caressing her neck, driving her crazy. Maybe these stupid names weren’t so bad after all.

  “Shut up,” Candy said, as she turned around and her lips found his. After everything she had been through today, she really needed this.

  Candy had kissed boys before, but they never felt like this. Even Ervin’s kiss paled in comparison. She almost came undone when Tolfer deepened the kiss. He tasted like something she had never experienced. A touch of citrus from the orange he had eaten this morning, spice she could not place, but most of all he tasted like a man, not a pup after all.

  She felt his ha
nds on her, exploring her back and hips. It was the first time they had really touched and he was respecting what he must have felt was her need to take it slow. To hell with slow! She wanted fast and hot.

  “Take the damn tunic off me,” she communicated through the soul mate link without breaking the all-consuming kiss. She wanted to feel his flesh against hers.

  Tolfer followed her instructions, but it meant breaking the kiss as he lifted her shirt over her head. He made short work of removing his tunic as well. For a teacher and a cook, Tolfer was more ripped than she thought he would be. He was absolutely gorgeous. Candy felt his eyes on her, exploring her body as she gazed on his. There was need in his eyes. A need she would make sure was fulfilled.

  Candy slid back into Tolfer’s arms. She wanted to devour him. They kissed as before. Deep and wet. Their juices intermingling as their hands continued to explore naked flesh. Tolfer finally found one of her breasts. She moaned as he gently massaged the mound. He released her mouth and leaned down to take her breast. Her knees became putty as he continued to suck through her bra. Together they melted to the dirt that constituted the hut’s floor.

  Tolfer placed his weight on his elbows, not wanting to crush her. She wanted to feel him on her. Her arms encircled Tolfer and brought his mass down to her. Candy wrapped her legs around him, bringing the rest of him to lie against her. Damn, they should have gotten rid of their leggings.

  “Your thoughts are leaking through our pathway,” Tolfer said. “We are going to have to work on that later.” He rose to his knees and started to remove her leggings. Rising to remove his own, Candy took off her bra. She noticed him walk over to grab the animal pelts that lay in the corner. She was relieved, since lying in the dirt was not her idea of the romantic setting she had envisioned would be their first time together.