by Narro, B. T.
“You came here to make sure no armies left for Ovira,” she’d said. “This is our chance to do not only that, but to help everyone here.”
When she wanted to be, she was unfairly beautiful. She’d learned how to give Cleve a look that caused his breath to catch in his throat. Even now, with dirt on her face, in her hair, and on her clothes, she could set his heart on fire. Just the thought of it as he looked at her made something stir in his chest.
She looked at him questioningly, then took his hand. “I know it’s been a while.” Her throaty whisper made it clear exactly what she was referring to. “And I know you want to kiss me right now. I want to kiss you, too. But I think we shouldn’t while we’re here. It’ll cause too many problems. I’ve never really feared men before, but I’ve also never been somewhere like this. I can sense it among the other women. We don’t feel safe.”
We don’t have to stay, Cleve almost blurted without thinking. “What do you think these men might do?”
“I don’t know yet. But I think we’ll have a better idea after we see what happens tonight.”
“You might be safer sleeping beside me in the men’s quarters.”
“I might be, but being the only woman in there certainly would bring unwanted attention. And I don’t feel the women are truly going to be in danger tonight, just that desperate, horny men are going to try something.”
“This is the first in a long time we won’t be sleeping beside each other.” Even as they traveled, they’d never been far apart while they slept. Reela liked to press her back into his chest with his arm draped over her. The thought of sleeping without her touch made him not even want to try. But it likely would be days before the inevitable attack. Cleve would have to learn to sleep without her.
“It’s going to be hard for me, too,” she said.
Chapter 24:
CLEVE
“The beds in the Kyrro dungeon are better than this,” Cleve said when he settled onto his miserable straw pallet.
“Bed when I with Krepps worse,” Vithos said beside him.
The Elf fell asleep soon after. Cleve stirred, unable to find comfort as he listened to the endless noise of men grumbling and shifting their weight on the straw.
Eventually, his body went heavy with drowsiness. He came in and out of sleep, each time wanting to feel Reela beside him.
He fell soundly into slumber until screams awoke him. He jumped to his feet before he could tell where the sounds were coming from. Shock struck him when he realized the painful yelps were coming from the other men. We’re under attack! Cleve grabbed his sword and ran. It occurred to him he wore only his underwear and a thin shirt, but it would have to do.
Others were jumping up and grabbing their weapons to join him. They turned as they piled out into the corridor outside their room. The shouts led them deeper into the bunker and straight into the women’s sleeping quarters.
The women were swarming around like bees, many pointing their palms. In the middle of them, Cleve found men writhing on the floor.
“What’s going on?” people were shouting.
Cleve looked for Reela but couldn’t find her. He did see Klaiya, though, as she took it upon herself to explain. She came from the cluster of women, unabashed in her white sleeping gown that molded to the shape of her body.
“These men came in here and tried to get into bed with us.”
“Stop!” pleaded those who were being pained.
“So now we can do whatever we want to them, as Raymess said.” Klaiya fiercely pointed at everyone who’d just come in, including Cleve. “Get out of here. Everything is under control.”
Like the others, he didn’t feel right leaving. Were the women going to kill these men? Their screams were worsening.
Cleve’s heart jumped when those beside him pointed their swords at Klaiya.
“Let them go,” one man ordered.
“We’ll cut you,” another threatened.
“They won’t be injured,” Klaiya said, not backing away. “Only punished with pain. And you’ll be next if you threaten us.”
Grunting and laughing bitterly, many didn’t take kindly to her comments. A few even dared to step toward her.
Klaiya snapped her finger at them. “Don’t make this any worse.”
Bare chested, Peter put himself in front of Klaiya. Wearing a look of disgust, he shouted, “What are we still doing in here? She said they’ll only be punished with pain, not with lasting physical injuries.”
“And how do we know she isn’t lying?” a shout came from the back.
“She isn’t!” Peter yelled, his teeth gritted. He was ready to fight.
Klaiya stepped past Peter with her arms raised. “We’ll let them go with you, making this a warning to anyone else who’s thinking about coming in here.” She turned and yelled something in Elvish. The women dispersed, and the men’s screams finally ceased.
Cleve watched one woman step on a man’s back as he was getting up. In a heavy accent, she warned, “If you touch my breast again, you die.” She gave him a hard shove with her foot before walking off.
“Go!” Klaiya yelled.
Cleve left with the others.
Vithos was somehow still asleep when Cleve found their bed again.
He was eager to speak with Reela when morning came. He was up earlier than most others, though he dared not enter the women’s quarters. With nothing to do, he dressed and started out of the bunker, figuring he could catch the sun as it rose. As he neared the exit, he heard voices echoing down the hall from the stables.
“How are you still fat after being here so long?” a man teased.
“He must be eating the horses,” another voice said.
“Is that all you’ve got? I’ve heard that a thousand times already. Think of something else.”
“I’m seriously confused as to how you’re this fat! I’m not joking. I want you to tell me.”
“Just take your horses and get out of here.”
“I’m not leaving until you tell me your secret. Do you have food hidden somewhere?”
“He’s probably eating grass.”
“You shouldn’t eat grass, Seffry.”
Cleve decided to interrupt them. Just his presence in the room was enough, as the two young men stopped their chiding and dragged two horses out past Cleve. A portly man he assumed to be Seffry regarded him cautiously.
“I’m Cleve.” He offered his hand. “I came with the Elves.”
Seffry seemed surprised. It took a moment for him to shake Cleve’s hand. “I’m Seffry. I hope you’re not expecting me to give you a horse without permission.”
“No. I just thought I’d introduce myself.”
Silence followed, and Cleve decided it was time to leave. But as he turned, Seffry called after him. “You came in here to stop them from teasing me, didn’t you?”
“Just wanted to introduce myself,” Cleve repeated. It didn’t feel right taking credit for the men leaving, as he hadn’t done anything.
“You’re a good man…is that why you’ve come to Lake Mercy?”
Cleve turned back to face the stable master, unsure how to answer.
“Some believe this is all a trap,” Seffry continued. “But I’d like to think it’s not.”
Someone’s footsteps echoed behind Cleve. “He is a good man,” Jek said. “How are you this morning, Seffry?”
“Just fine, Jek.”
“Cleve’s an old friend of mine. He would tell me if there was some sort of trap planned.”
Guilt pricked Cleve’s heart. He said what he could. “There’s no trap.” But you’re not going to like what happens after this battle, whether we win or lose.
“Good. Were you going outside?”
“I was.”
They said goodbye to Seffry and left.
“Did you plant any of the evesal seeds?” Cleve asked.
“No. I spoke with Micah about it, hoping he had some ideas, but there’s just nowhere the plant can stay out
of harm where it would get enough light.”
“So you had another nightmare,” Cleve said.
“I’ve had one every night for years. I can take it.”
A fresh breeze tossed Cleve’s hair hanging over his forehead. From the high entrance of the bunker, they could see over the trees shrouded in shade. Long spears of clouds cut through the sky as the sun fought to burn through them.
“How’s Lisanda?” Cleve thought to ask.
“She’s taken her father’s death quite hard.”
A poor question, he realized. The Elf, whose orders I follow, is responsible for Jessend and Lisanda’s sadness. He figured Jek was thinking the same thing.
“When you met Fatholl, did you already know what he’d done to Danvell?” Jek asked.
“I did.”
“Why did you even speak with him?” There wasn’t only curiosity in Jek’s tone—there was judgment.
“We couldn’t think of any other way to find you and the Takarys, and we needed to know what was going on. Fatholl answered everything.”
“He thinks he has all the answers. I heard him speak when he took the palace. He’s far more dangerous than any of the kings he’s killed.”
“It depends on what you mean by dangerous.”
Jek scoffed and glared. “Dangerous to this continent! Dangerous to you, me, Lisanda, Reela, and everyone else.”
Cleve disagreed. But he said nothing, watching the sky instead as the clouds parted just enough for a piece of the sun to ignite, painting the sky red at its horizon.
“I forgot how little you speak,” Jek complained. “You don’t want to talk about him?”
Not yet. “Not at the moment.”
Jek sighed and went silent as he and Cleve watched the brightening sky.
Cleve had figured Jek would be angry with him for agreeing to help Fatholl, but at least they were allies again. Cleve looked forward to fighting beside the Sartious mage. Never had he met another who could cast spells of SE with such mastery.
“I’m sorry,” Cleve said. “I wish I’d found you under different circumstances.”
“Do you promise everything will make more sense soon?”
“I do.”
“Then it’s fine.”
Movement caught his eye to the north. Trees swayed as something brushed against their tops. It was going south, toward their bunker, yet it was still too far for Cleve to see clearly. All he could decipher were wooden poles. He pointed them out to Jek.
“Any idea what that is?”
“No. We’ll check on it when we go into the forest today.”
“Am I going with you?”
“Why wouldn’t you?”
“I guess I never thought of it,” Cleve said. “What do you do exactly?”
“Hunt skunks, although today will probably be different if we’re going toward that thing.”
Chapter 25:
CLEVE
Although guards atop the bunker would also see and report the unknown object, Jek told Cleve he was going to tell Micah about it himself. Cleve wasn’t sure why Jek wanted to volunteer to investigate it instead of letting Raymess decide which group to send. But Cleve said nothing about it. It was probably just Jek’s nature.
Figuring breakfast would be served soon, Cleve walked to the dining hall. He searched for Reela among the half-empty tables. Last night’s vigor was gone, at least for the time being. Bulky, bearded men sleepily rubbed their eyes and scratched their cheeks.
“Cleve,” Reela called to him. She stood and gave him a long hug. Afterward, he sat across from her and Vithos.
“Did anything happen to you last night?” Cleve asked.
“No, I was fine. But some of the other women were groped.”
“There’s room in our bed,” Vithos said slowly. “Want to lie with us?”
Reela laughed. “Thank you, but I’m alright with the other women.”
“I say a joke?” Vithos asked.
“You mean, ‘Did I say something funny?’ ” Reela corrected him. “And yes. To lie with someone means to have sex.”
Vithos chuckled.
“Is your brother telling jokes again?” Klaiya asked. She sat next to Reela and surprised Cleve by kissing her cheek.
Reela smiled. “What was that for?”
“I’m in a good mood. I slept well after we showed the men what happens when they crawl into our beds.”
“Have you sex with Human before?” Vithos asked.
“Vithos!” Reela chided.
“Did I say it wrong?”
“Yes, but I don’t even want to correct you. It’s not polite to ask questions like that.”
Cleve was intrigued by Klaiya’s indifferent expression. “I don’t mind,” she said. “No, Vithos. I haven’t. What about you?”
“I…” He looked at Reela. “Is it rude to answer?”
She shrugged with a grimace. “No. This is just an uncomfortable conversation.”
Cleve felt the same way, though he was curious to hear what Vithos had to say.
“I haven’t sex.”
“You haven’t had sex with a Human?” Klaiya tried.
“I haven’t had sex with anyone.”
Klaiya’s mouth dropped open. Cleve was shocked as well.
“He lived with the Krepps until less than a year ago,” Reela said.
Klaiya swung her head in each direction, searching. The dining hall became noisy as it filled. Without a word, she left, walking briskly toward a table of Elves. The three of them watched as she sat and pointed at Vithos. Everyone at the table gawked at him. Then Klaiya left for another table. Then another.
“Why aren’t you embarrassed by this?” Reela whispered to him.
“Why would I be embarrassed?”
“She’s telling everyone! Don’t you want to stop her?”
Vithos shook his head. “Elven women are pretty. Maybe this make it easier have sex.”
“It won’t,” Cleve said.
Jek sat beside Reela in the spot Klaiya had just left. “Hello.”
“Hi, Jek.” Reela showed him a warm smile. “Did you plant the seeds yet?”
Jek looked at Cleve.
“I didn’t get a chance to tell her that you couldn’t while we’re here.”
“Too busy talk about sex,” Vithos blurted.
Reela put a hand over her face. “Anyway, Jek…” She let down her hand and scowled at her brother before turning to Jek. “I’m sorry you can’t find a place for the seeds while you’re here. I was looking forward to hearing about your first night sleeping without a nightmare. Cleve has told me all about your darkness.”
Jek nodded. “You’re very kind.”
Calvon and Peter came to their table and sat next to Jek. Just after they exchanged greetings, Klaiya and an Elven woman Cleve didn’t know by name walked over to them. The Elven woman sat beside Vithos, not looking at anyone except him. Cleve had seen them speaking many times during their trip from Goldram.
“True is it, you are yulil?” Her accent was thick.
“Yes,” Vithos.
She took his cheeks in her hands and kissed him passionately. Feeling as if he should look away, Cleve glanced at the others at the table. They had the same expression he could feel on his face, utter confusion and embarrassment.
Finishing her kiss, the woman got up and started to leave.
“I’m a yulil!” Calvon called after her. She ignored him. “What’s a yulil?” he asked the table.
But Peter interrupted him. With his eyes locked to Klaiya, he motioned at the empty space on the bench beside him. “Please sit.”
She smirked as she dipped her chin, her eyes rebuking him flirtatiously.
“Why Baylee kiss me?” Vithos asked Klaiya. “She want sex?”
This time Reela covered her face with both hands. Cleve was getting tired of feeling awkward, too. But he couldn’t chide Vithos. It would be like scolding a child for asking how women get pregnant.
“She likes you, and sh
e knows you like her,” Klaiya said. “But don’t keep talking about sex or you’ll die a yulil.”
Vithos had a wide grin as he got up. “I’m going to sit with Baylee.” He practically skipped off, leaving Cleve alone on his side of the table.
Servers brought in bowls, and everyone standing hurried to be seated. Again, Peter extended his hand for Klaiya. But she turned and sat at a different table.
“Is she annoyed with me?” Peter asked Reela. “Or does she like me? You can tell with psyche, can’t you?”
Reela stood and walked around the table to Cleve’s side. Looking firmly at Peter, she told him, “I’m not going to tell you what I can sense of Klaiya’s feelings.”
“What do you want?” Peter asked her.
“Excuse me?”
“What do you want for the information?”
A server came to their table with a tray of bowls. He set five down in the middle for each person to take one.
“I’ll give you half my bowl of oatmeal,” Peter said. “Just tell me what her thoughts are about me. She thinks I’m handsome, doesn’t she?”
Reela smiled in disbelief, even gave a laugh. She clearly knew something, piquing Cleve’s curiosity. “I’m not going to answer,” she repeated.
“All of my oatmeal,” Peter offered, pushing the bowl toward her.
“No!” Jek and Calvon objected.
Luckily, Reela showed no interest, shaking her palm at him. “I’m not going to say anything, so you should just eat your breakfast.”
“I can tell you’re a caring person.” Peter looked at her poignantly, raising a finger as he continued. “So you would certainly say if I was wasting my efforts, but you haven’t yet. This must mean I have a chance!”
Reela didn’t look up from her bowl. Even as the whole table watched her, she concentrated on her meal, bringing her spoon carefully to her mouth, moving her lips around it, and then bringing the spoon down for another mouthful. But Peter just stared, waiting for her to glance at him. When she finally lifted her eyes to find him still staring, she cupped her mouth with her free hand, her eyes giving away a big smile her hand was hiding.