Unquiet Slumber

by Paulette Miller

  Everyone shook their heads in resignation and went back to work.

  Tianna, while bathing in the river, pondered on the men she just met. She was confused because, unlike the men in her village, they didn’t fear her or stare at her. The one named Nathaniel said naughty things, but she didn’t mind. Although she had seen many men tease women in the village, this was first time it was ever directed at her. She knew it was inappropriate and part of her said that she needed to keep her distance, but another part liked this new feeling. For the first time a man found her interesting enough to tease and it made her almost giddy inside.

  When she stopped to analyze what it was about Nathaniel that attracted her, it wasn’t his good looks surprisingly. There was something else about him that she couldn’t put a finger on, but it was definitely there. Given her body’s reaction, she knew she wasn’t prepared for someone so obviously experienced with women. She needed to keep a safe distance. She shrugged her shoulders, smiled, and concentrated on her bath.

  Back at the camp, Seth returned from the paddock and asked, “Has anyone else noticed Tianna’s scent?”

  They all responded together with a “Yes,” and grinned at the unison.

  “I know what it reminds me of,” Seth said while everyone turned to look at him. “It reminds me of home.” There was a silent pause, and everyone’s gaze went blank as if they were reflecting on something.

  Seth continued, “When I catch her scent, I think of my mother as she’s working in the kitchen, making a meal and laughing.”

  Marcus responded with longing in his eyes, “Her scent reminds me of being in the arms of my Sharay while our daughter Isabella laughs at my feet.”

  Gabriel stood. “I think about the feeling when I heard each of my children cry for the first time as they were born. Even after losing three mates, I’d love to hear the first cries of another new child.”

  “I think you’re all crazy. I think of a naked woman laying beneath me as I press her body into my bed.” Nathaniel had a smirk on his face. Although that’s what he said out loud, in reality he was thinking very warmly of a particularly intriguing, silver-haired woman that climbs trees.

  Nathaniel was of the age to mate, but refused to do so lest he lose his freedom. Tianna’s smile warmed his heart and made him think thoughts of a home and family. These feelings were new to him and he was unsure how to handle them. He couldn’t have a future with a human, so he had to push his newfound feelings to the back of his mind, and quick. He had to take charge of his body’s reactions.

  The men continued their work in silence.

  Tianna spent more time than she had planned since she decided to not just wash her body and clothes but also wash her hair. By the time she headed back to the camp, it was fully dark and she could smell the meal. She had never had men wait on her before, so she was going to try to enjoy this.

  As she entered the camp, all four men stood and smiled at her. She had changed out of her climbing clothes into a simple dress that hung to just above her knees. It was made out of the same soft leather material as her previous outfit and enhanced her figure well. Her hair now hung wet and loose down her back.

  She asked, “I didn’t make you wait, did I?”

  “Perfect timing. We were just about to begin. Please come and sit.” Marcus pointed to a spot they had prepared for her.

  Everyone groaned silently as they noticed that her scent was stronger when she was wet. They were a bit dizzy, but they hid it well.

  Once they were all sitting comfortably, Nathaniel and Gabriel served everyone. Tianna wasn’t used to seeing men cook and serve and was surprised by how good the meal was. When everyone was finished, Seth as the youngest member of the quest, stood and began to clean up. Tianna instinctively began to rise to help him, but Seth waved her back down.

  “I could get used to being served by men,” Tianna said with a big smile.

  Marcus knew what was going to happen next so he quickly turned toward Nathaniel and said, “Don’t say it.” Nathaniel had his mouth open to speak but then closed it again without saying a word.

  Once everything was cleared away, the group relaxed and started chatting.

  Seth asked the first question. “Tianna, are all the woman of your village like you?”

  Tianna had to laugh. “I can honestly say that I’m unique among my people. Although I was born in Trille and have lived there all of my life, I’ve never fit in. I’m not sure if I ever will.”

  “What about your family?”

  “Well, my father is the local butcher and my mother is a seamstress. My mother taught me to sew.”

  Marcus asked, “Did you make the clothes we’ve seen you in?”

  “Yes, but my mother would never approve. I made them to be functional here in the woods. I spend much of my time in the trees and I needed clothes that could handle climbing through branches and bushes. The first time I tried to climb a tree in a normal dress, I got all tangled and it took me hours to get myself out. I decided that I needed to wear something designed for the task.” Although she found her outfits exceptionally comfortable and loved to wear them, she knew that the people of her village would be appalled.

  She looked down at her hands that were resting on her lap. “I never planned for anyone to see me in them as they really aren’t appropriate for a woman to wear.”

  “Don’t apologize. You look absolutely wonderful in them and I, for one, would love to see you in them every day,” Nathaniel said with a broad smile that Tianna couldn’t quite read. The intensity of his gaze made her catch her breath so she quickly averted her eyes.

  Ignoring his comment, she continued, “I guess I was too determined to get that pig. He’s been destroying gardens in my village for months, so I came out here to resolve the problem.”

  She scanned the camp, examining her guests for the evening. She was very interested in finding out more about them. “Now you know why I’m in the forest, but you haven’t told me why you’re here. Where are you headed?”

  Marcus responded. “We’re on a quest.”

  Gabriel added, “Our people have been battling for a very long time with a race of cold-blooded creatures. We’ve lost many people we hold dear and we desperately need to bring an end to this awful war. We have a woman among our people who can prophesize future events. We call her the Seer. She told us that there’s a warrior we need to find that will help bring peace to our land.”

  Nathaniel jumped into the discussion. “The problem is we don’t know anything about this warrior. We don’t know his name, description, or location. We know absolutely nothing.” He had a look of complete frustration on his face.

  Seth joined in. “We were told that when we meet him we’ll instinctively recognize this warrior as one of our own.” He added with some disbelief in his voice. “So, we’ve been traveling from village to village for many months searching for a sign.”

  Tianna thoughtfully suggested, “Tomorrow, I can take you into my village and introduce you to my wizard master. He’s very powerful and has traveled all across Lagrangia. Maybe he can help you find the warrior you seek.”

  Marcus said gratefully. “Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. We’ve been away too long and yearn to return to our home.”

  “Where do you come from?” Tianna asked with interest.

  Marcus answered, “We each come from separate villages but our main home is called Haven. Each of us brings special skills to this quest. Gabriel’s our warrior and helps protect and lead us if battle is required. Nathaniel, besides annoying women, is an exceptional healer. Seth has a gift for tracking and maps. I bring leadership and knowledge of the land’s history.”

  Tianna sighed. “I’d love to come visit each of your villages someday. Other than occasional trips into these woods, I rarely leave my village. I’d love to see the world and have adventures.”

  She caught Nathaniel gazing at her again and she began to ponder further on what it was about him that attracted her so much
. She thought, “Perhaps it’s our shared gift of healing?” Whatever it was, she needed to regain control on herself, so she shook off the thought.

  Marcus stood, walked over to his saddle bags, and returned with a bottle resembling a dragon. He took a drink and handed it to Gabriel.

  “What’s that?” Tianna asked.

  “Fire Wine. It’s made in my village, but don’t try to drink it,” Marcus warned. “We’ve been drinking it all of our lives and are accustomed to it. If someone from outside our village tries to drink it, they’ll just get a mouthful of fire.”

  Given that she saw smoke coming out of Gabriel’s mouth after he took a drink, she decided to heed Marcus’ advice.

  Seth asked, “What’s your role within your village? Since they don’t know that you can hunt, what do you do? Do you have a husband and a family?”

  “No, I’m not married nor do I have any sights on such an arrangement. I, like Nathaniel, am a healer. I’m also an apprentice to the village wizard. He’s getting older and I’m being groomed to take his place.”

  Nathaniel sat up straighter, seeming interested. “You’re a healer? Do you raise your own herbs? Some of my supply is running low. If we come to your village, would you be willing to share?”

  Tianna smiled and nodded enthusiastically. “Just before leaving on this trip, I harvested some of my herbs. I’d be happy to share with you.”

  For a few minutes, she and Nathaniel had a nice, adult conversation about what herbs she had and what he needed. He gathered a mental list of what he planned to collect while at her village. They both were impressed by each other’s knowledge of healing, but she didn’t share with him that she had the ability to wield a healing blue fire. They seemed to like her and she didn’t want to risk frightening her new friends away.

  As Marcus listened to their discussion, his eyebrows raised. “A healer and a wizard? You’re an unusual woman. Usually those gifts are given to men. I look forward to meeting your master and learning more about your talents.”

  As they continued to talk about some healing spells and other healing related potions, Nathaniel saw a large, spiny spider crawling on the ground near his foot. He was about to squish it under his heal when Tianna cried out, “No! Don’t kill it.”

  She scurried over and scooped it up in her hand, letting it crawl out of her palm. “Not everything comes in beautiful packaging and you need to look beyond the surface.” She nodded toward the spider that was now crawling up her arm. “Take this spider. Although it may not be attractive and many cower from it in fear, it’s beautiful to me. It helps me protect my garden because it eats the bugs that destroy my plants. It will always be welcome at my home.”

  She walked over to the edge of the camp and released the spider into the undergrowth. As she headed back to Nathaniel with the scornful look of a mother scolding her child, she instructed, “Everything in nature has a purpose, so don’t jump to conclusions based on what you see. Likewise, don’t be deceived by those things you find initially attractive. They can hide real ugliness under their beauty. Take the time and discover what may be hidden within.”

  Nathaniel gave her a nod and a smile. “I apologize for my ignorance, my lady.” He now longed to discover what secrets were hidden within her packaging. The research would be quite pleasant.

  Gabriel stared down at several ugly scars on his arm. When he glanced back up, he found Tianna staring back at him with a smile that made an ache in his heart ease.

  Marcus was impressed with the level of maturity he found in such a young human. “You seem to have a wide range of skills. You must lead an interesting life.”

  Tianna couldn’t help but let out an exasperated sigh. “Actually, my story isn’t that interesting. My skills are not typical for a woman so, except for my healing abilities, I’ve had to keep most of my other talents a secret. I’ve tried to blend in, but I don’t think I will ever truly fit into my village.” Tianna sat back and closed her eyes for a moment as several unpleasant memories flashed in her mind.

  “I find you fascinating and would love to spend hours exploring your secrets.”

  Tianna didn’t have to look to know who said that comment. She felt a slight tingle in her body as he spoke the words to her, but she quickly brushed the feeling away. She had enjoyed their adult conversation, but the old Nathaniel was now back. His responses were starting to wear on her nerves, so she decided to confront him.

  She sat up, glared directly at Nathaniel, and said, “Does your rather colorful banter actually help you get women?”

  To her surprise, Seth responded. “Women fall at his feet the moment they lay eyes on him.” He shook his head, a mix of envy and righteous disgust on his face.

  Nathaniel leaned back on his arms and wore a very self-satisfied expression. “Ahhhh. Ladies are my specialty, and I’m sharing my wisdom with young Seth.”

  Tianna gave Seth a look of concern. “Please, don’t tell me that you’re listening to any advice he’s given you?” Tianna’s voice was pleading.

  Seth shrugged. “He does seem to get results.”

  Tianna surveyed Nathaniel’s body. “He’s an attractive man, and I can see how his looks could gain him the attention of any woman. She would have to be blind to not notice him.” Tianna had to admit to herself that she noticed him.

  Nathaniel stretched, enjoying the attention.

  She turned to Seth. “But is just bedding a woman what you’re looking for? I hope not. If you want to gain her attention and keep that attention beyond the bed, you need to take a different approach.”

  Seth leaned toward Tianna, wanting to learn more, while Nathaniel rolled his eyes in disbelief. Nathaniel waved his hand at Tianna and said, “Enlighten us, please.”

  Tianna had no experience with being romantic with men, but she was very observant. She loved to sit and watch people as they interacted. Since she didn’t want these men to know just how inexperienced she was, she decided to act like she had first-hand experience in the things that she had only observed.

  “Okay, I will.” Looking only at Seth, Tianna began. “If I was a man and I wanted to gain the affections of a woman, I’d first focus on the little things. Here would be my top three observations.”

  “One. When speaking to her, look into her eyes.” She glanced over at Nathaniel, whose eyes had wondered down her body. “Thanks for showing Seth an example of what not to do.”

  Nathaniel’s stare returned to her eyes. Seeing her disapproval, he replied sincerely, “I apologize for my momentary distraction. Please continue.” He gave her a nod, asking her to continue her instruction.

  Tianna sighed. “Two. Listen when she speaks. Respond in a way that tells her you were actually listening to what she’s saying. Three. If you want to touch her, do it in simple little ways, and only touch the parts necessary for the task.” She gave Nathaniel yet another glare, prepared for another inappropriate response.

  Seth was interested in what Tianna was saying, so before Nathaniel could offer a rebuttal, he drew her attention back to him by asking, “What types of tasks are you talking about?”

  “A task could be something personal like...” She paused, staring off into the trees, contemplating what to suggest. When an idea came to her, she said to Seth with a big smile, “Like helping with her hair.”

  Nathaniel let out a laugh. “Helping with her hair? I can think of better personal tasks to help her with.”

  To prove her point, she asked Seth to come sit behind her. He got up and walked over, looking confused. She sat herself down between his legs with her back toward him. Like Marcus on the horse, she could feel heat emanating from his body as he got close to her. She resisted the urge to lean back into him.

  She shook her head back and forth so her hair fell loose around her shoulders. She began to run her fingers methodically through and down her hair to get out any tangles. Seth noticed that the fire made her hair shine like molten metal.

  Turning her head toward Seth, she said, “I alw
ays re-braid my hair before I go to bed. I’m going to teach you how to braid my hair so you can help me.”

  Seth swallowed hard and nodded slowly. He was looking a little unsure, but was thrilled that his earlier curiosity would soon be satisfied, and his pulse sped in anticipation.

  Tianna seeing his unease said, “I’ll show you how it’s done and then you can try.” She proceeded to put her hair in a long braid, explaining to Seth what she was doing at each step. When she thought he was ready to try, she took the braid out.

  “Give me your hands,” she directed and Seth complied. Intertwining her fingers with his, she guided him in making a simple braid. Touching his skin made the heat from his body start to flow through her hands into her arms. It was going to be hard to stay focused.

  Nathaniel instantly shot back into a sitting position. Seeing how close Seth’s body was to hers made him very interested in what was going on in front of him.