by Croft, Sky
Shale felt eyes on her, and glanced to Blake, who was looking at her oddly, head tilted slightly in thought.
Blake abruptly stood, excused herself, and left the lodge.
Shale frowned, wondering what that was about. She focussed on the others, grateful that Kale was taking care of most of their side of the conversation. Kale was answering the inquisitive questions patiently, and asking a few of her own.
A short while later, Blake re-entered, and placed a bowl full of hot soup in front of Shale.
Shale was surprised. She hadn’t thought she was that obvious. From the confusion on the others’ faces, she was certain that no one else had noticed. Blake was either very observant, or was giving her extra attention. Shale smiled up at her. “Thank you.”
Blake squeezed her shoulder, then returned to her seat.
Shale received an even sharper glare from Melaina, but she didn’t know why. Surely it should have pleased Melaina to know that she was in pain as a result of their fight. She dismissed it and dug into her soup, the liquid sliding down her throat effortlessly. She gave Blake another smile.
For the whole evening, Kale was a model Amazon, as Shale knew she could be, and kept everyone entertained with stories of their old tribe.
Shale listened with a wistful expression, prompting Kale whenever she left something out.
When it was time to leave, Shale paused outside, at the bottom of the steps. She dropped her voice to speak to Kale. “I’ll see you later at camp.”
“Why? Where are you going?”
“I’m going to walk Blake back to her cabin.”
“How gallant of you.”
Shale chose to ignore the sarcasm, and moved away before Kale had a chance to say anything further. She joined up with Blake, walking with her. It wasn’t very far, Blake’s cabin was opposite the main lodge, across the center of the village.
Shale was mortified when Melaina entered the cabin directly next door, on the right, but understood that it was tactically sound to have the best warrior close at hand should the princess need her. The queen’s cabin was on the other side of Blake’s, and Aris’s was directly next to the queen’s.
“You are certainly well protected here,” Shale said.
Blake chuckled. “I am, though I insisted they put those trees in.”
Shale spotted the line of trees that were in between each of the four cabins. “I take it you like your privacy?”
Blake nodded. “I do. But that’s about as much as I can get around here.”
“Always in demand, huh?” Shale teased.
Blake grinned. “Something like that.”
“Then I’m honored you’re giving this time to me.”
Blake’s eyes twinkled in the moonlight. “You should be.”
“Oh, I am,” Shale said in all seriousness, laughing when Blake slapped her arm playfully. “I guess that means I should make it count, since I don’t know when you’ll find the time for me again.”
Blake’s eyebrows rose curiously. “What did you have in mind?”
Shale coyly peeked at her from under long lashes. She stuck her arm out. “Walk with me?”
Blake took her arm. “Sure.”
It was a clear night, and as the moon was full, it cast enough light for them to see by.
“It is I who must apologise to you tonight,” Blake said, after they had passed by Melaina’s cabin.
“How so?” Shale asked, bewildered. “You didn't poison my soup, did you? Thinking I was Kale?”
Blake giggled. “No. I can tell you two apart.”
Shale already knew that, but it still pleased her to hear it.
“I’m apologising because it seems that I’m one of the fair few who can.”
Shale grew confused. “You’ve lost me.”
“You spent the entire night with those people, Shale, and at the end of it they still didn’t know who was who.”
Shale now understood. “That’s hardly your fault. Don’t worry about it, I’m used to it.”
“You shouldn’t have had to get used to it. I know you’re identical, but there are differences, you just have to look. Bar my mother, only Aris knew who you were.”
“You think it’s bad now? Wait till my bruises fade.”
“I don’t know how you put up with it, Shale,” Blake said. “It would drive me mad.”
“Don’t have much of a choice. Though I admit it gets tedious at times.”
Blake shook her head. “By the gods, imagine what it would have been like if your mother had given birth to three or four, there’d be utter chaos.”
Shale snickered. “It’s funny you should say that.”
Blake stopped abruptly. “You’re kidding?”
“No, my mother had triplets.”
“Wow.” She continued walking. “What happened to the third?”
“It was a boy.” Shale glanced at her. “In my tribe, boys were drowned at birth.”
It depended on the queen to make that decision: some opted for death, some allowed local villagers to take them in. “In ours, they’re given away,” Blake said. “My mother and I would never allow an innocent child to be killed, even if they are male.”
“But with our brother, an exception was made. Because we were triplets, our mystic believed we all shared the same soul, and killing him would harm all of us. She said, ‘Where one will be, the other will follow. When one is seriously hurt, the other will pay the price.’” Shale paused. “He was given to a farmer.”
“Do you believe that? That your souls are linked?”
“Mine and Kale’s are,” Shale said, without a shadow of a doubt. “I don’t know about Zale.”
“Zale?”
“That’s what Kale and I call him. He wasn’t given a name by our mother, but that’s what we refer to him as. It fits with our names.”
“It does.” Blake observed Shale closely. “I wonder if he looks like you? He must be handsome if he does.”
Shale bumped Blake with her hip. “Are you saying I look like a man?”
“No! Not at all.”
“Then what are you saying?” Shale halted, faced Blake, and put her hands on her hips.
Blake’s mouth curled upward, apparently recognising that she was being teased. “I’m saying that you’re beautiful.”
Shale blushed, though she hoped Blake wouldn’t notice in the dim light. A bashful smile formed on her face. “As you said, there are differences between us, and I always thought Kale was the prettier.”
“Kale is very attractive,” Blake said. “I guess it comes down to personal taste.”
Shale wanted to know more about Blake’s personal tastes. A lot more. “And?” For some reason, it was very important to Shale for Blake to find her more appealing than Kale.
“And what?”
“What’s your opinion? On me and Kale?”
“I’ve already told you.”
“No, you haven’t.”
“I have.” Blake chuckled at Shale’s raised eyebrow, and waited for a moment longer before repeating herself. “Kale’s very attractive.”
Shale’s heart dropped.
“But I think you’re beautiful.”
Shale grinned from ear to ear.
“Please don’t tell Kale I said that though, I don’t think she likes me very much as it is.”
Shale was still grinning. “Give her time, she’ll come round.”
“I hope so.” Blake linked her arm through Shale’s, and they walked on. “I’m so sorry about your mother, Shale. I think you’re handling it really well.”
Shale realised that Blake thought she had lost her mother in the recent battle. “No. She died over ten years ago. I didn’t lose any blood family in the attack, Kale and I are all that’s left.”
“And Zale,” Blake added.
Shale tipped her head. “And Zale.” After a few more steps and a minor hesitation, she took a breath and changed the subject. “So tell me, Blake, why are you, the most eligible woman in the e
ntire tribe, single?”
Blake gave her a curious look. “How do you know that I am?”
“I asked,” Shale replied, point blank.
Blake smothered a pleased smile at Shale’s attention. “I don’t have the time. And I’m the princess.”
Shale smirked. “Oh, I know.” When Blake wasn’t more forthcoming, she said, “Surely that means you’ve got half of the tribe falling at your feet?”
“Quite the opposite, actually. Most are too afraid to try, and the only ones who dare tend to be warriors, and they’re too—” Blake stopped short, and gave Shale a sheepish look. “Sorry.”
Shale merely grinned, not even the least bit insulted. “Stoic? Reserved? Cold-hearted?”
Looking relieved, Blake laughed. “Exactly.”
Shale raised a brow. “To which one?”
Still laughing, Blake said, “All three.”
Shale chuckled. “Not all are like that, though I admit a lot are. Amber’s not like that.”
Blake nodded. “I know, that’s why we’re good friends.”
Shale tried to keep her tone neutral. “You’ve never thought about becoming more than that?”
A shake of blonde hair. “No, she’s like a blood sister to me.” Silence fell for a moment, then Blake said, “And then of course, there’s you.”
Shale hastily swallowed. “Oh?”
“You’re not like that either. Not in the slightest.”
“I should probably be offended, most warriors would be.” Despite her words, Shale smiled widely.
Blake returned it. “As I said, you’re not like other warriors.”
“YOU’VE BEEN GONE a long time,” Kale said as soon as Shale was in hearing distance of their camp.
“I was talking with Blake,” Shale said, getting inside the bedroll that Kale had already laid out for her.
Kale grunted. “Took her on a midnight stroll, did you.” It wasn’t a question. “How romantic.”
Shale rolled over, peering across the fire to look at Kale’s face. Kale had her back to her, and she frowned, sensing something was wrong. “Blake’s really nice, Kale. You’d like her if you gave her a chance.”
“If you say so.”
“I do.” Shale settled onto her back. She didn’t expect a response, and she didn’t get one.
Shale had the treasures of the night sky above her, but as they twinkled down at her, all she could think of was Blake.
“ARE YOU LISTENING to me?” Melaina asked testily. “Did you hear what I said?”
“Yes, but I really don’t think that’s the best course of action.” Shale studied the leaning fir tree with a careful eye. “It’s going to fall any moment now.”
“I know that, you idiot. That’s why you need to go and wrap this rope around it, then we can pull it the other way. It could dam the river otherwise.”
“Couldn’t we just wait and see what happens?” Kale said. “Surely we can still pull it free if it dams the river?”
“Then it would be weighted down farther by the water,” Melaina told her icily.
“True, but at least no one would be in danger of being crushed to death,” Kale said.
“That’s why I’m choosing you.” Melaina prodded a finger into Shale’s chest. She then tilted her head to Kale. “There’s a spare one in case things go wrong.”
Shale’s eyes narrowed. “You really are a piece of work, Melaina.”
“I’m your leader and I’m ordering you to do this. Are you refusing to carry it out?” Melaina lowered her voice. “I win either way.”
Shale grabbed Kale’s arm to hold her in place, lashing out wouldn’t help. Melaina was right, if she did as Melaina wanted, her life was at risk, and if she didn’t, she would be punished for not following her command.
Luckily, the decision was taken away from her when the tree finally fell, and it crashed to the earth, making the ground beneath their feet vibrate.
Shale and Kale smirked at Melaina, infuriating her further.
Aris, who had been on the other side of the tree, walked over to them. She took in Melaina’s annoyed posture. “What’s going on?”
“They questioned my orders. Things would’ve been a lot easier if they had followed my lead.” Melaina pointed to the fallen tree. “It was just sheer luck that it didn’t block our water supply.”
Aris gave first Kale, then Shale, a sharp look. “I don’t know how your old tribe worked, but in this one we don’t question our leader’s orders.”
“Even if they’re wrong?” Kale said.
“Melaina didn’t get to this position by being wrong,” Aris said. “She’s been my second in command for many years, and has never given me reason to doubt her.”
She probably bullied her way into it, Shale thought, and knew Kale was thinking the same thing from the slight curling of her lips.
“Now I won’t accept you undermining me, or my second. In a battle, it could get us all killed.”
“I didn’t mean any disrespect,” Shale replied levelly. “And you’re right, warriors can’t hesitate in battle, I’m not ignorant of that.”
“Could have fooled me,” Melaina said. “Just because you can fight doesn’t mean you can lead. You come into our village and try to tell us what to do. What makes you think you have the right?”
“Actually, you’re wrong. We can lead,” Kale said angrily.
Melaina stared dumbly at her.
“You led your old tribe?” Aris looked back and forth between them.
Shale nodded. “We did.”
Melaina folded her arms over her chest. “That doesn’t change anything.”
“I now understand your reluctance. It’s difficult to follow orders when you’re used to making them.” Aris paused. “But my second is right, it doesn’t change anything. These are my warriors and I’m their leader. If you want to be a warrior within this tribe, you must submit to me. You must follow my command.” Another pause. “Is that understood?”
Kale glanced to Shale, a wealth of communication passing silently between them.
“We will follow you,” Shale answered for them both. Aris was speaking the truth. If they wanted to stay here they would have to try and make this work. It would be the same within any tribe.
“I’ll let it go this time,” Aris said. “You’re new, and things are different here. But if there is a next time, you’ll be punished. Have no doubt about that.”
“THEY WEREN’T FOLLOWING orders, and that’s why Melaina’s so mad.”
“I was told they put the whole group of warriors in danger.”
“The whole group?”
“Everyone. Our water supply was nearly cut off, too, because they thought they were above orders.”
“They make me nervous. If half of what I’ve heard is true, Zeus only knows what they’ll do next.”
“Ladies,” Blake said, sitting down at the table with them. “And who are we talking about?” She knew exactly who of course, but wanted to hear it from their own lips. Blake detested gossip, rumours were difficult things to control, and were rarely ever accurate.
“The twins,” one of the less quiet Amazons spoke up.
“Shale and Kale,” Blake said.
“Yes.”
“What about them?”
The woman directly opposite Blake replied this time, “Apparently, they’re not following orders.”
“And who told you this?”
“Melaina,” another informed her.
That didn’t surprise Blake. “And you don’t think Melaina could simply be sore about Shale beating her in a fight? Warriors do have a lot of pride.”
The table went quiet and Blake stood, intending to leave them to it. She had said what she’d needed to make them think. Blake left the dining lodge and headed for the training ground, intent on getting to the bottom of this. Shale and Kale would never settle in if malicious rumours followed them everywhere.
“Aris,” Blake called to the chief warrior, who came over instantly.
“What’s this I hear about Shale and Kale not following orders?”
Aris looked startled. “How do you know about that?”
“Word of mouth. Now is it true?”
“Yes, Blake, but they’ve both been dealt with.”
Blake could tell something wasn’t right. Shale wasn’t the type to defy orders, Kale maybe, but not Shale, not without good reason. “What was the order?”
Aris frowned. “Does it matter?”
Normally it wouldn’t have, but Blake had a hunch. “In this case, yes. They both used to lead, Aris, they wouldn’t question without good cause.”
Aris reflected on that, then nodded. “I wasn’t there. It was Melaina’s order they defied.”
Blake sighed internally. Things just kept getting more and more complicated.
“I’ll get her for you.”
Blake shook her head. “No, it’s all right, Aris.” She looked to the twins, who were off to one side, sparring with each other. “Why are they separate from the rest?”
“Warriors have a strong code of honor, Blake. Following orders is part of that code. By defying Melaina, they’ve dishonored that. They haven’t done themselves any favors with the other warriors.”
Blake’s forehead creased in thought. “Surely both of them would’ve known that? And still they didn’t follow Melaina’s order.” Another shake of her head. “That doesn’t make sense, Aris. They’re trying to fit in, not cause trouble.”
Aris raised a brow.
Blake smiled. “Though I grant you, they’ve caused their fair share. Or at least Kale has.” She walked forward. “I need to know what that order was.” Blake held up a hand to stop Aris from following, knowing that she would likely find out more if she were alone.
Shale and Kale were sparring fiercely, and Blake was amazed when they stopped in perfect unison and looked at her.
“Blake,” Shale greeted.
“Princess.”
“Shale. Kale.” Blake gestured toward the rest of the warriors. “I see you’ve managed to alienate yourselves quite nicely.”
Kale scoffed, either missing, or ignoring Blake’s teasing tone. “We’ve already been scolded by Melaina and Aris, we don’t need to hear it again.”