Keeping With Destiny

by Stephan Knox

  Tannin turned her around, so he could take over the second wash, taking his time to gently massage the aches from her arms and shoulders but avoided the bruise of her neck.

  He stilled when he saw the depth of her eyes and the idle storm of emotions that stirred within them like the lulling rolls of waves on a sea, just waiting for a break in the weather.

  “That’s the only way he could have died, because she had to died herself first.”

  “No—” Tannin whispered. He took her chin and lifted her eyes to him. He caressed it with a brush of his thumb. “He died because I killed him. And I killed his two sons, so they could not take his place.”

  “I thought it was you.” She sucked in a deep breath and let out a heavy sigh. “Did you see her when you were there?”

  “I had only seen her once from a distance. She did not look well, but we met each other’s gaze in that brief moment and I knew she was not there by her own will. She wanted freedom, but she had been waiting for me to arrive. Of that, I can say nothing more about her life from just that brief glimpse.”

  “will you tell me how it happened?” she asked softly.

  He released her chin and went back to washing her. He rubbed more of the soap mixture in his palms then spread the lather over her shoulders and down around her breasts, enjoying the feel of their roundness in his palms as he did. His eyes watching, taking their own fill of her as he continued. “I was there looking for a weakness that would give me the chance to bring him down. One of the women employed inside the fortress to attend your sister, had also once been a friend of my mother. She had sent word for me using the code talkers that the Blood Lord’s bride had committed suicide. I rushed through the city crawling under their feet to reach the fortress unseen, where the woman let me in through a back entry and told me where I would find them. Before the sun rose, I killed Margrethe and his sons.”

  “I’m afraid, Tannin. If I give myself to you, will you promise to always protect me?”

  “No, Aari. I won’t accept these terms.” His hands ceased their wandering and he looked at her solidly. “I am not that man anymore, Aari. I lo—” his words, along with his breath, abandoned him just then. Looking down in her face, still weary and frightened yet hope lifted in her eyes: one a multifaceted burst of brown and copper, the other, blue like the sunlit sky. His chest heaved with the pain of an emotion he could not explain.

  Aari pulled away with the rejection, but Tannin caught her up in his arms and pulled her to him. His arms wrapping around her so tight she melted inside them. Whatever his words tried to mean, his arms said just the opposite.

  “I don’t know what I feel for you, Aari, but I have not been dishonest about it either.” He kissed the top of her head. “But know this too, you don’t have to give yourself to me for my protection. I will always protect you. I swear it upon Destiny, I will always protect you, but not because you gave yourself to me. Not that. Just don’t expect me to ever let you out of my sight again,” he vowed and then kissed the top of her head several times more, cradling her in his arms as some animal instinct had him nuzzling against her. Even his sym started purring to comfort her. Or perhaps to comfort himself. Whichever, having her back in his arms, alive, was comfort enough.

  They soaked in the hot pool until they were both pruned from the water and finally Tannin wrapped her in one of his tunics, then carried her to the bedroll he’d set out for them. Like his sword, it was one of those things he’d managed to hang onto. In the morning he would look around for any materials available to help fluff it up a bit. But for now, the familiar hide would do. It wasn’t much, but she never fussed, and frankly his body was generating enough heat on its own to keep her comfortable.

  “Can we sleep with your sword?”

  Tannin didn’t bother to question it, he didn’t need an explanation. If she wanted it there for extra security, it was hers. If there was another reason, he didn’t care. He reached overhead to where it rested against one of the packs and brought it down in front of her. Her fingers instantly clutching around the scabbard, scooted farther back against him and into his arms where she fell asleep almost right away. Tannin’s mind seemed to wander half in and half out. His thoughts ticking away like counting cogs of an old-world machine— this— then that— this— that— all while outside the rain came down, and the small leak safely on the other side of the room tapped out a rhythm like a cicada.

  They slept. For what seemed like days; perhaps it was. They lay in each other’s arms, but it had only been the span of one night and a day. Much of which Tannin lay there staring up at the ceiling, wondering why he didn’t tell Aari how he felt. He knew the moment he saw the men tearing her away like a rag doll, he loved her. Fear and rage besieged him. He would have leveled all of Terra to get her back. So why hadn’t he told her?

  Was it the possibility he was still afraid to admit she had won over his heart? But he knew that was not it, when he had gone to the death pit only to discover she was no longer there, he knew then. The night he had drank his fill of her honey and didn’t force her into union, he knew then. When she had come stumbling into the temple he fell to his knees and submitted to it.

  Perhaps his only hesitance was knowing even if he told her, his destiny would not provide a life with anything but violence and danger. Love only reminded them of that curse. Something Aari had more than her share of in her life. It changed nothing for them, but he didn't need to remind her of it either.

  Unable to settle his thoughts, Tannin slipped out to do some further exploring.

  He soon came across a door which opened to a narrow stairwell leading deeper under the lodge to a stone cellar. Cut deep enough into the rock strata, the small closet-sized room was considerably cold. He nodded to himself and decided it was time to take care of the deer.

  Another day passed and finally the rain let up. Their bellies were full of deer meat and they had a skin ready to be stretch out and tanned later.

  They shared another long soak in the hot springs where he tried again to work some of the tangled mats from her hair. Winning on only a few with the help of a hairbrush he’d uncovered in one of the upstairs rooms. The gift, though not making any great accomplishment with the task at hand, seemed to please her nonetheless.

  And once more they slept with his sword at her side while he held her.

  He felt her stir underneath him and he pushed up a bit to let the mid day’s light peek into the cave his body created around her. “Hey— you awake?”

  She brought her face around and bi-colored eyes blinked up at him.

  “Come. Let’s get some fresh air. I want to show you something.”

  Tannin’s pace quickened up the slope. Just like any other time, Aari found herself struggling to keep up, especially after a good half day’s hike just to get there. Yet there was no denying, something had him excited.

  “Tannin, wait up,” she called after him, nearly stumbling over the rocks as she tried to catch him. Her hands thrust forward catching at the jagged tors, aiding in the climb upward. Her breath creating fogging clouds in the cold air.

  “Come on! Hurry!” he called back to her.

  Aari grew nervous not sure if she should be frightened about anything, she had gotten used to his heightened senses, but if there was cause for alarm he would have said something or at the least sounded concerned.

  She lost sight of him as he made his way over the top, so she picked up her own pace not wanting to get left behind.

  When she came over the last ridge what she saw took her breath away.

  She stood at the peak of the incline of jagged rock and gaped out over the other side what was transformed into a smooth sloping field of grass all the way down into a wide savannah of more tall grasses now turned yellow in the wintering season but plentiful.

  The trees, which dotted the grassy plain, were so big and tall they might touch the sky.

  It was beautiful.

  But they wer
e not alone.

  Grazing side by side, in the tranquil setting, beasts of various kinds. Hundreds of them or perhaps thousands of them. The cool breeze that swept up the slope carried with it the scent of the herd animals along with fresh chewed grass, herbs, wild flowers, and even fresh dung. There were more patches greens, yellows, and variegated spots of color than Aari had ever seen in one place, made all the more astounding when she realized what she didn’t see. Not one scar or wreckage of old-world. There were no skeletons of machines or power plants lying about to remind her of what used to be. The height alone where she stood was enough to make her dizzy, but it was more just seeing something so beautiful and serene for the first time in her life that truly had her head spinning.

  This was Eden.

  She must have teetered a bit because she felt Tannin’s strong hand grasp her arm suddenly, holding her steady. Even when he said he wouldn’t be there for her, he had been, and she couldn’t help but smile up at him through a blur of weeping eyes. Whatever he saw in her that moment, it was apparently too overwhelming to not give into when he pulled her into his arms and hugged her powerfully against his chest as they both stood looking out in awe of Terra’s ability to survive so beautifully. This was why they had endured.

  Aari felt her sym squirming in her back and it let off a burst of energy that made her want to suddenly run down the hill and just pretend everything was a better place than it really was. When she felt Tannin’s arms relax, she bolted from his hug, and took off full force down the grassy slope. She skidded a few times, her hands shooting out to her sides to catch the ground to keep herself up right as she let out a laughing yelp and kept on going.

  She chanced a glance over her shoulder to find Tannin coming down after her. She snapped her focus back to the direction she was sliding and running in. When she reached the flats, she took off sprinting across the field into the mingling herds of beasts.

  Play— it was as strange to her as some words. She had no memory of laughter or what few she did have were more mechanical and always overshadowed with the inner warnings that she could never truly be comfortable and free of her inhibitions there. But right now, there was just her and Tannin. The warrior who’d crossed the land to find her and did. And for this brief moment there was nothing chasing her except Tannin himself.

  It was wonderful!

  Tannin chased after her but when Aari suddenly dropped down into a ball, there was no chance of him stopping the force of his forward motion, and he was instantly tripping over her. He crash-landed into the grass, turning just as his skidding came to a stop to glance back to check she was okay. In the span of a breath, Aari was on top of him with a playful pounce.

  “Gotcha.”

  He pushed with his feet rolling them over until she was pinned under him, “I think I got you instead.”

  She stilled. A peculiar grin lingered on her lips. She reached up and touched his cheek. “Yes,” she whispered, “Yes, you do.”

  They were surrounded with a mélange of fragrances made of wild flowers and sweet grass, but none touched him like the perfume of Aari.

  He saw the invitation in her eyes and he lowered, kissing her soft and tenderly. Lips like soft pillows meant for catching his heart, heavy with love for her, and just then all the barriers that had been kept between them crumpled.

  “We’re safe here for a while, aren’t we?” she asked with a hushed tone.

  Tannin nodded against her cheek. “For a bit.”

  Her hands came up to clasp at his sides, fingers kneading into his muscles, pulling on him. He responded by dropping his weight down over her and between soft thighs that parted for him. Like tossing a torch into a barrel of fuel, Tannin’s mating needs surged up into a bonfire of rutting hunger and the kiss they shared became wild. He kissed deeper than she had ever given him, completely open and surrendered to him this time.

  Every shiver of her body told him she was more than complacent to give in to their union. She wanted him and the scent her body gave off made it impossible for him to think of anything else. It was a struggle just to keep the horde of predatory animals inside him under control, so that he didn't just ravage her on the spot, except tenderness did seem to escape him.

  The feel of her hips lifting to grind against him as they continued to kiss and pet, spoke clearly enough that this was not going to be a tender mating. Her body— her sym had held off the sexual drive for too long. Now, she had made her selection and she was ready to be mated.

  Tannin tore away from her lips, letting a growl rumble up from his chest, “Aari—” he pressed his face to the side of her head, deep breaths both tasting her scent and steadying his desires, “Aari—” he spoke her name again. By Destiny, he wanted her to know but doing so right now would only make it seem like the words were said out of lust. So once again he silenced his words and showed her with his attentive affections.

  The presence of his Symbiote made itself-known that he too was ready, but rather than try to overcome Tannin’s emotions, Sif purred just as it had while they slept. And Tannin realized that everything was just as it should be for them.

  But if he was going to mate with Aari tonight, he wanted to be able to give her at least one comfort.

  One final plunge into her mouth, licking over her tongue before stealing himself from the embrace, and got to his feet.

  “Where are you going?” She sat up with a surprised pout on her swollen lips.

  “To hunt down a gift for you.”

  “What kind of gift?” She looked confused.

  “A thick pelt of fur for our union bedroll.”

  Aari screwed up her face, looking up at him before getting up to her feet as well, “You can’t tan a skin in a day, even if you could it will smell.” She squashed her face into a scowl, then pouted up at him, “I don’t want my union on a rotten smelling hide!”

  Tannin grinned and leaned down for a brief kiss. “Trust me,” he whispered, then took off in a run.

  Aari followed for a bit until she saw his hand silently signal her to a tree they were coming up on. She darted for it and before she knew it, Tannin practically vanished in the tall grasses of the field. Not until she stopped along the tree and climbed up to one of the lower curving limbs was she able to make out the occasional movement of his dark hair.

  Just ahead of him, a dozen or so feral llamas grazed with little concern of his approach. Only Tannin didn’t pull his knife and he had no bow with him. Instead she saw the bolo swinging over his head. A moment later, he’d wrapped the legs of one of the llamas taking the common pack animal to the ground— still very much alive and kicking.

  Aari ran to join him and together they thinned out its thick pelt of fur then set him loose. Together as a team, and two more llamas, they’d cultured enough of the soft downing to make a sizable bedroll for them without putting the animals at risk of freezing through the winter.

  On their return to the lodge, Aari spotted some late growing blueberries even for this far south. She lifted the hem of her top to use it as a basket, and filled the oversized tunic, with as many berries as she could while Tannin sniffed out a wild onion to be mixed into a stew of deer meat that was still left over.

  Aari had his sword laid out over her lap while he cooked their meal, deciding that it was best he fed her first. As he was certain that once she gave her body to him in union he wasn’t going to be letting her back up for quite some time. They had much to make up for.

  He watched as her fingertips danced lightly over the shiny smooth surface of its blade.

  “How did you get such a thing?” she asked.

  Tannin drew in a deep breath, sharing in the admiration of the weapon. “One of the Symbiote in our Tribe had this magnificent gift for folding metal.”

  She looked up at him, squinting up her nose as she often did when she didn’t believe him, “Folding?”

  “That’s what it’s called. See, iron is very hard, but it’s also brittle, s
o you add copper to it, which is softer so that the metal blade doesn’t shatter.” He twitched his face drawing up his boyhood memories. “I used to sit there and watch him every chance I could. He’d melt the metal in these stone pots inside massive hearths until they glowed like molten lava. Then he would pour it into molds just dug into the ground clay. The swords were hideous looking, at first. I remember thinking that this man didn’t know what he was doing. There was no way these clunky looking slates of burnished metal would ever turn into a sword. But over the next several days, he would reheat them just by stabbing them into the hot coals of his hearth until they glowed, then hammer them into shape over and over again— turning the hot red blades over after every few sets of pounding against an anvil and his heavy hammer, which was as big as my fist. All day long from sun up to sun down, he’d slam the hammer down on the rough blade then flip it again and hammer it some more.” He grinned at her as she watched and listened so enthralled. He’d nearly forgotten what it felt like to be gathered around a fire, sharing stories. “At some point he would decide he was done hammering at it and then he would start to polish its surface until they shimmered like silver water. The final task was when he sharpened them to hold a cutting edge.”

  He reached over, taking the sword from her hands and flipped it up so it pointed upward towards the ceiling. “This one he made special for me.”

  “What was his name? The Symbiote, I mean.”

  “Stands on Stones.”

  “Stands— what?”

  “Stands on Stones,” Tannin chuckled. “That was his name.”

  “What kind of name is that?”

  Tannin shook his head chuckling, “I have no idea, but he let us call him Stone for short.”

  The stew was ready, and he dished out large portions onto broken bits of tile he’d procured while searching for anything to serve as a stew pot. He considered their luck when he found the lodge’s actual kitchen filled with the scattered remains of many pots, rather surprised the place still had anything left of good use. But not a single plate of dish worthy of using, so he broke of pieces of tile from the wall for them to use. He handed her one of the plates then sat down next to her as she sat on the hearth step.