Rohit glared at him, but the boy simply grinned.
"Well, show me you haven't forgotten what I taught you," Hiro said. "Fight with Gaia."
"Why would I fight a boy half my age?" Rohit protested.
Hiro raised his eyebrows and Rohit knew better than argue with his sword-teacher. He snorted and unsheathed his saber.
Gaia unsheathed his sword and bowed. Rohit attacked, but Gaia parried and then fought back. The boy might be young, but he definitely knew how to handle his northern blade. Rohit was impressed by the boy's prowess.
"Ajay, you take Gaia's place," Hiro ordered. "You both need a lot of practice."
Ajay moaned, but obeyed. Rohit felt more confident with his usual sparring partner and the mock duel ended quickly with Ajay's defeat.
***
"So, what do you think of the local prince heirs?" Hiro asked, seated on the floor of his empty room. He didn't have furniture except a thick carpet to sleep on and a low stool he used as bed-table for an oil lamp and a basin.
"Two prince heirs, how twisted is that?" Gaia muttered. "One would be already dead in the north!"
"And they're not even real twins like their fathers." Hiro chuckled. "What do you think of Rohit?"
"He's good-looking and probably your best student so far, but why does he think I'm a boy half his age?" Gaia answered, a little puzzled. The trays they'd brought in from the kitchen lay empty of food in front of them.
Hiro chuckled. "Because over here names ending in 'A' are usually male. And you don't look much like a woman, yet. More like a boy half his age!"
"Thank you, Hiro!" Gaia snorted. "Why don't you explain to him that I'm a northern warrior woman?"
"He'd feel threatened, Gaia, dear. You're here because I'm passing you off as one of my students, and they all assume you're a boy. I doubt the twin kings would approve of a foreign mercenary at their court."
"Warrior woman."
"There's no such thing here and further south."
"See why we consider them barbarians?" she snorted again. "They use women only for one thing!"
Hiro burst out laughing. "Tell that to our soon-to-be betrothed Prince Rohit! And yes, I know you're not a breeding cow."
Gaia rolled her eyes. "We're not all like your wife," she grumbled. Hiro's wife had died in childbirth, but Kenuwee hadn't even made it to the altar yet. Hiro's cousin, Kenuwee, had been even more unlucky with women.
"One day you'll find a man you want to spend your life with," Hiro said. "Your concern for Kenuwee is touching, but he could say the same about you. Still unattached at your age... you'd be considered an old spinster over here."
She scoffed. "Glad they think I'm a boy, then. I'm not marriage material."
"And neither is my cousin, so stop worrying for him."
Gaia thought Hiro could be very frustrating, but he was probably right. She shouldn't worry so much about a fellow mercenary. She knew what their lives were like. Both of them had lost loved ones.
"If I decide to explore further the southern kingdoms, should I pass myself off as a boy?" she asked, thoughtful. She'd had enough of the cold northern winters, she wanted to try the south and see if she could find a place to call home.
"You could, but traveling alone isn't safe." Hiro shook his head. "I should finish my work here soon, so if you want, we can go together. I'm sure the king will recommend me to the other kings after I show him how good Prince Rohit is."
"It's because you're a good teacher." She smiled.
"And I arrived here when the old sword-master died. I filled in a void. I was lucky."
"You'd be back in the Islands Empire already if you hadn't stopped here." She pondered. "Maybe I should try to reach the Amazons Country. That's probably the only place where I could be a sword-teacher."
"If you've had enough of wars, that's a solution." He nodded. "We could take a ship to the Islands Empire and from there you can continue to the Amazons Country."
"So you've had enough of the southern kingdoms."
"Let's say I miss my home country. I've been away for too long. I should take a second wife and try again to start a family."
Gaia sighed. She might be sick of mercenary life, but she wasn't ready to settle and start a family either.
***
Rohit had promised his father he'd give a demonstration of what Master Hiro had taught him after the betrothal. But he needed to prepare – not that he'd lost any of his prowess during his trip, but he wanted to make sure everything went smoothly – so he trained alone every day with his teacher.
Sometimes the strange foreign boy watched them, sometimes who knew where he was. Rohit knew Master Hiro would leave after his final exam and couldn't blame him for taking on another student.
A few days before the betrothal and final exam, he came up with a few questions and doubts, and decided to talk with Hiro before the teacher left for good. The almond-eyed man had spent almost ten years at the Amrendran court, teaching princes and young noblemen, but Rohit felt like he didn't know him at all.
So he headed to the swords-master's room in the servants' wing of the palace, but found him in the servants' courtyard, seated on a bench with his blue-eyed student.
Rohit stopped dead in his tracks, noticing how intimate the two seemed to be. They were not related, as far as he knew, so it wasn't a brotherly or fatherly relationship. Hiro had one arm around Gaia's shoulder and the boy had put his head against him, as if looking for protection. Maybe they weren't lovers – yet – but Rohit narrowed his eyes and clenched his teeth, all questions and doubts forgotten.
"You think he likes men?" Ajay protested when he told him. "But he never tried anything with any of us!"
"Maybe he likes them very young," Rohit replied. "I think Gaia sleeps in his room."
"But it's disgusting! Have you asked Gaia what's going on? If he's been abused by his teacher..."
"He didn't look abused." Rohit pondered. "I will have to ask either of them, and since Master Hiro intimidates me, I guess I'll have to talk to Gaia..."
***
Gaia was surprised to see Prince Rohit walk straight up to her. She rose from the carpet she was sitting on – those southern barbarians didn't use stools, damn them! – and waited, wondering what he wanted.
"Master Hiro is not here," she said hesitantly.
"Good! I mean, I want to talk to you," Rohit said. He added something too fast for her to grasp the question.
"Slowly, please." She'd become good at understanding the Amrendran dialect, but she still had problems finding the words when she needed to speak. Rohit cleared his throat, obviously embarrassed by what he'd come to say. He repeated the question slower and this time she got it.
"You... sleep with Master Hiro?" he asked.
"I sleep in his room, yes. On the floor, like him." Well, on the thick carpet with a couple of pillows – which was normal for Hiro, but she was starting to miss the cots and beds of the north. The Amazons Country sounded more civilized than Amrendra at the moment. Although maybe Amrendrans did use beds, it was just Hiro who... but why was Prince Rohit so nervous?
"Are you lovers?" he blurted out.
"Gods no!" she replied without thinking. She'd known Hiro for a long time, but there was never anything between them. Just the normal camaraderie between men-at-arms. No lust whatsoever. If she really had to choose, she preferred Kenuwee to Hiro.
Prince Rohit looked relieved, and Gaia suddenly realized what that was about. Since she was about to leave, she thought she could admit to the prince she wasn't "a boy half my age."
"Prince Rohit, sorry for misunderstanding..."
"Oh, no, no, I'm sorry I thought..."
"You thought because Hiro not explain."
"Explain what?" Gray eyes widened in surprise. Gods, the prince was handsome!
"Gaia is for females in Gallian," she explained.
"Oh!" He looked more puzzled than ever. "You're a woman?"
She nodded. Not that she was as curvy as the loca
l women, especially since she didn't wear their tight-fitting bodice but loose tunics and breeches, but still... nobody had ever mistaken her for a boy in the north.
"A warrior woman?" he insisted. The concept was too alien for him. Women were forbidden to touch weapons in his kingdom.
She nodded again.
"Ah!" He stared at her, then shook his head. "Barbarians."
She chuckled. "Why? Because everybody can defend home? Because women go hunting with men?"
"They do? It's not natural! A warrior woman or a huntress..."
"Tell that to the Amazons."
"It's a land far far away, must be a legend. You come from our neighboring kingdom. Only a river and a few hills divide us, not the ocean."
Gaia sighed. "We rose from the ashes of the Moren Empire. We have harsh country. Wild beasts. Demons: Witches. Bandits. We had dragons. Of course we must defend our home. Men and women."
She hoped she used the right words. He seemed to understand. He still looked at her as if she'd turned into a dragon, but she noticed also a new respect.
"How old are you?" he asked, frowning in concentration.
She smiled. "Older than you. I was mercenary for ten and five years." She showed her hands, since she couldn't remember how to say "fifteen".
His eyes widened again. "Fifteen... years?"
"I'm a veteran yes. And I'm tired of it."
"Will you stay here and rest?" he suggested.
"Doing what?" she asked, puzzled.
"Whatever women do in time of peace in your country," he said.
They breed, she thought sourly. Although I wouldn't mind trying your bed, if you have one, my charming prince...
***
In spite of being very busy with his betrothal and princely duties, Rohit still had time to think. He'd spent a couple of months abroad, exploring the world, but nothing had prepared him for what he'd found upon returning home.
A warrior woman. That was something he had never dreamed of. He couldn't even imagine one – until Gaia had revealed to be a woman and not a boy. Yes, he had heard of the Amazons, but he really thought they were legend. And now he had discovered there were warrior women very close to home as well. He should have known, considering how proficient she was with her sword. She was obviously an expert, albeit used to a different kind of warfare and weapons.
More and more often his thoughts went to her, and curiosity bit him. He really wanted to know more about her, but didn't have time to linger when Laxmi of Lakeshi reached the palace and they prepared for the betrothal.
The ceremony took place in the great hall, with all the noblemen of Amrendra attending – but not his sword-teacher or the warrior woman. Ajay was there but would leave the morning after for his tour of the southern kingdoms in search of a bride.
And then Princess Laxmi was settled at the palace, waiting for the wedding, and Rohit had his final exam with Hiro, in front of King Daruka Dahana and their court dignitaries.
Unlike the other southern kings, the rulers of Amrendra didn't wear a bejeweled turban, but a golden circlet. Even the clothes were slightly different since the weather was more temperate. While Arquon, Rajendra, and Akkora were swept by a seasonal monsoon, Amrendra had four seasons and dressed accordingly.
They imported fabrics from the south, unlike the northern barbarians, and women wore long gowns but covered their bellies, and their veils were not as long as the southern sari. Princess Laxmi was an exception at the Amrendran court, with her gown in the Lakeshi style, but when the winter arrived, she'd probably have to cover her body a little more.
It was still summer when Rohit fought Hiro in the main courtyard under the sun. He did the sword dance concentrating on the steps, but as he bowed at his father and uncle, he wondered what a real duel would be like.
"Your Majesty, I have nothing else to teach your son," Hiro said with a proud smile. "Unfortunately I couldn't do much with the other heir," he flashed a smile at Rohit's uncle, "so I ask your permission to leave and go back to my home country."
The king exchanged an amused glance with his twin brother who was trying to remain serious.
"Ajay is a man of letters, much like me," Dahana said. "Rohit is the warrior, like Daruka."
The twins were identical, but Rohit could tell his father from his uncle. He smiled at both and bowed, wondering if Ajay had reached his first destination yet.
"You may leave," the king said with a benign nod to the foreign teacher.
"Don't leave just now," Rohit whispered threateningly as they left the kings' presence. "Not without a proper good-bye."
"I will leave soon, though," Hiro replied. "I need to check with the captain when the next tide is."
"You already found a passage home?" Rohit protested while they put away the weapons in the armory and refreshed themselves at the water basins provided by servants.
"I've known this day would come for two weeks now," Hiro reminded him with a smile.
"Why don't you stay for my wedding?"
"Because I won't be able to attend, just as I couldn't be present at your betrothal."
"I'll ask my father..."
Hiro put his hand on Rohit's mouth, silencing him.
"I'm not a noble and not interested in royal weddings. It was a pleasure teaching you and Ajay, but now it's time I move on. Your cousin is a poet, not a warrior, like your uncle said, and there's nothing else for me to do here."
Rohit sighed and his shoulders slumped.
"I need to go now, but don't you dare leaving without a proper good-bye," he repeated.
And mostly, don't leave with Gaia without telling me. He'd noticed her in a corner during his mock duel, and didn't want her to leave yet. He'd have to talk her into staying a little longer.
***
Gaia had gathered her few belongings and followed Hiro into the servants' courtyard, headed for the exit of the palace, when the prince heir appeared. Gaia observed admiringly the handsome young man sauntering towards them with a determined expression.
"You're leaving already?" Prince Rohit asked, stopping in front of them.
"Yes, the tide will soon allow my ship to leave Delen's port," Hiro answered.
"And you? Are you going with him?" The gray eyes stared at her with worry.
"No, I not to go abroad for now," she said. "I am return to my homeland." It was complicated to explain why she wasn't ready to leave the land that had birthed her. Maybe she only needed a break from her northern routine, and now that she'd spend three months in the Amrendran palace, she felt ready to go back to the Gallian Kingdom. There were too many temptations down here, especially now that the charming prince was back.
"Why don't you stay a little longer?" he insisted. "I'm sure you can teach me other fighting tricks Master Hiro couldn't show me."
She chuckled. "You live in peace! What do you need to learn fight for? Master Hiro is the best swordsman alive. I not teacher."
Hiro smiled and shook his head. "Don't be so dumb," he said in Gallian. "You know what he really wants."
"Of course I do, and why should I comply?" she retorted.
Hiro shrugged. "You're a grown woman, do what you want." He switched back to Amrendran and bowed to the prince. "Forgive me, my lord, but I really must go or the ship will leave without me. I wish you joy and happiness for your upcoming marriage."
"Have a safe trip," Prince Rohit answered with a smile. He watched Hiro leave, then stared back at her. "So, will you stay or not?"
"I'm tired of sleep on the floor," she said.
"I'll give you a room with a bed," he said.
"Why, you have beds?" she asked. She should have known it was Hiro's habit of sleeping on the floor that meant there was none in his room.
She followed him and he took her to another part of the palace – more luxurious, with painted tiles and embroidered curtains and plush sofas.
"Not servant quarters," she said as he let her in an antechamber with two doors on the side walls opening on a balcony of
sculpted marble. The room wasn't as barren as Hiro's had been, with a thick carpet and cushions to sit on, a low table to eat or write, and a small library of rolls and parchments.
"No," he said. "This is my room. Bath chamber," he pointed to the left door, "and bedroom," he pointed to the right door.
She looked at him. "And you have a bed."
"Real bed," he assured with a dazzling smile.
"What about your betrothed?" she asked.
"She has her own room. We'll both move in a bigger apartment after the wedding, but you can stay here as long as you want."
"It's the prince heir's room."
He nodded. "Want to check it?" He waved towards the doors.
She averted her eyes from his slightly flushed face – he must be embarrassed or shy in spite of everything – and walked to the bedroom, determined.
A double bed with silken curtains! She dropped her travel bag and went to try it. So soft! These southerners know how to make beds! She sighed in bliss, lying down on the embroidered bed cover.
A real bed. With a handsome young man in it. Why not. She could extend her stay until his wedding – it would just be another month. It would be barely the beginning of the fall when she went back north, and she'd still have the winter months to relax in front of a fireplace with someone.
He lay down next to her and she could feel his eyes on her. She rolled on her side to face him.
"I never had such luxury," she said.
"But you've had men?"
"Of course. I told you I'm older than you."
"How come you didn't marry a northern warrior?"
She shrugged. "Not the marrying type," she muttered.
Mercenaries didn't live long. She'd been lucky. Both she and Kenuwee, but not the partners they'd found. When she thought that only she and he were still alive from their first warband...
"I'm sorry, not good with your language," she apologized. Prince Rohit looked as if he wanted to know more, but didn't know where to start. "I hope I'm not here to talk?"
He averted his eyes and chuckled nervously.
"No, yes, I mean, I'd love to get to know you better, but I don't know where to begin..."
"Mm... I see." She grinned. "Get the obvious out of the way first."
More Tales of the Southern Kingdoms (One Volume Edition) Page 3