by Croft, Sky
“WHERE ARE THE twins?” Melaina asked.
Blake looked up from the parchment she was reading. “Which one do you want?”
“Does it matter? They’re both the same.”
Blake bristled. “No, they’re not. They’re very different. You’d see that if you only took the time to get to know them.”
Melaina didn’t look at all convinced. “I know enough. Now, where are they?”
“As I said, which one? Shale’s over at the healer’s, Kale went off in that direction.” Blake pointed south.
“You mean they’re not together?” Melaina asked sarcastically. “That’s a first.”
Blake frowned, pushed off her cabin steps, and got to her feet. “Shale and Kale are finding it difficult enough settling into a new tribe as it is, without comments like that.”
“Why don’t you just refer to them as ‘the twins?’ It’s easier than saying their names all the time.”
“Because they’re more than just twins, Melaina. A lot more.”
“Well their names don’t help matters, it confuses things further.”
“I’m sure they didn’t get to pick their own names. Besides, I think it’s sweet.”
Melaina snorted. “I think you’re sweet on her.”
“Who?”
“The twin. Don’t ask me which one, ‘cause I can’t tell.”
Blake’s eyes widened in sudden understanding. So that’s what all this is about. She sighed. “Melaina, I’ve told you, several times, I’m not interested in you like that. Sorry, but that’s just the way it is.”
“I could certainly give you a lot more attention than she’s going to give you. You’re always going to be second to her twin.”
“That’s just it, Melaina, I don’t want your attention.” She paused for effect. “And I don’t want to hear about this again. Ever. Now, please, move on.” Before Melaina could reply, Blake descended the wooden steps and marched off.
As Blake rounded the cabin, she practically collided with Shale, who was leaning heavily on her right leg, using the cabin for support.
“Shale?” Blake was still mad from her confrontation with Melaina, and it came out through her tone.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. Normally I would’ve just left, but...” She tapped her leg. “It took me forever to get here.” Shale gave a small, embarrassed smile.
Blake’s anger dissolved instantly. “It’s all right. I’m just sorry you had to hear that.” She took a breath. “How come I didn’t see you coming from Appollonia’s?” The healer’s lodge was practically opposite hers, and even though it was across the village, Blake was sure she would’ve noticed Shale heading her way.
“I went to my camp first.”
Blake shook her head in disbelief. “Shale, you’re supposed to be resting that leg.”
“I wanted to make sure you were all right. I didn’t want you to leave, I just wanted to tell you that.”
Blake smiled. “I know.” Shale really was wonderful. Here she was with a serious leg injury, and she was checking to make sure Blake’s feelings weren’t hurt.
A warm expression appeared, and Shale rested a gentle hand on Blake’s shoulder. “Thank you for defending Kale and I. It means a lot to me.”
Blake reached upward and squeezed her hand. “You’re welcome.” Her smile faded when Shale shifted her weight, and a flicker of pain, though brief, crossed her face. “Here.” Blake stepped closer and wrapped an arm around Shale’s waist. “Lean on me.” She was pleased when Shale didn’t offer any argument, simply complying by draping an arm over her shoulder. Blake helped her forward. “Let’s get you off that leg.”
THEY HADN’T GONE very far when Shale stumbled, lost in her thoughts rather than concentrating on where they were going. Her focus was purely on Blake, her touch distracting. The feeling of another woman holding her was different, but pleasant, and that surprised Shale. She was only used to Kale’s contact, so when others touched her, including previous partners, she often found herself uncomfortable. Shale thought she would find this experience similar, but she didn’t. Blake’s smaller frame fit into hers nicely, and she was amazed at how good it felt to have Blake’s arm around her.
“Shale?”
Shale snapped out of her musings, and peered down into concerned green eyes, realising bashfully that not only had Blake been talking to her, but they had actually come to a complete standstill. Shale wondered what was happening to her, she was usually so alert and focussed. It only happened when Blake was around—the woman was too much of a distraction. It’s a good thing she’s not a warrior, Shale thought, or I’d likely get my fool head chopped off!
“Shale?” Blake repeated, louder this time.
Shale blinked, she’d done it again. “Sorry,” she mumbled, literally giving her head a shake.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes. I was just thinking.”
“You were completely out of it.” Blake felt her forehead, as if checking for a fever. “That’s the second time that’s happened. First, with your knee, and now this. I’m taking you back to the healer.”
“No, there’s no need,” Shale said. She knew the reason she was distracted was standing right next to her, but she could hardly tell Blake that.
“I really think you should be checked over.”
“I just was. Except for my knee, I’m perfectly fine.” Shale started to walk on, but Blake’s hand on her chest stopped her. That really isn’t helping matters, she thought. To her annoyance, Shale felt herself blush.
“If you’re ill, you need to let Appollonia treat you.” Blake’s voice was firm. “I insist.”
Shale tried another tack. “I have a lot on my mind at the moment. I got distracted by it, that’s all.” She hadn’t lied, it was all true. She’d just failed to mention that the distraction was Blake herself.
Blake’s face softened. “Of course you do, what with your tribe...” She closed her eyes briefly. “All right. Not much farther now.”
They set off again. It was then that Shale noticed the direction in which they were heading. “Where are we going? My camp’s that way.”
“My cabin,” Blake replied.
“There’s really no need, I can make it back to camp.”
“Maybe so, but you’re coming with me.”
From her tone, Shale knew not to argue, not that she wanted to anyway.
It was slow going, but Shale was finally settled on Blake’s double bed, long legs stretched out in front of her.
She glanced around curiously. On one side of the bed was a wooden chest, and above that, halfway up the wall, were several shelves. They were long, reaching from the bed and extending to the end of the wall, then continuing on the other, filling the corner completely. Blake, it seemed, liked to keep most of her things there, as the shelves were stocked with everything: from various trinkets and knickknacks, to more practical things like her hairbrush. Though the shelves were full, it was far from messy, and Shale smiled at that, she had expected Blake to be well-organised. In the corner opposite was a table and chair, and Shale suspected Blake would do most of her work there. Directly above the table was a lovely picture of a field filled with flowers, and she wondered if Blake had drawn it herself. The only other thing on the walls was a grey and white wolfskin, which was hung near the doorway. At the end of the bed lay a large brown rug, and she recognised the fur to have come from a bear. Shale liked the cabin immensely, it felt like a home.
Her eyes landed on Blake, and her mind drifted. Shale felt awful. Not because of her knee, but because Blake’s innocent comment had unsettled her. It should be the loss of her sisters that was distracting her, not Blake. Or Blake’s eyes. Or her lips. Or her... Shale shook her head again. It was terrible what happened, she still had nightmares over it, but there was nothing she could do to change things. She and Kale were fortunate to have not been killed themselves, and though they would have happily died with their tribe, as the warriors that they wer
e, Shale wasn’t about to waste the life that the gods had graciously given her. If being around Blake made her happy, then she would spend time with Blake. Even if she knew nothing more than friendship could ever come of it. And whether Kale approved or not.
Blake placed a cloth in a bowl of water, soaking it through. After wringing it out, she laid the cool compress carefully on top of Shale’s knee. “I’m here if you want to talk, Shale,” Blake offered. She indicated the cloth. “How’s that?”
“It’s good. Thanks.” Shale always talked to Kale about her problems, but she certainly couldn’t tell her she was in love with Blake. That said, she couldn’t exactly talk to Blake about her feelings either, since it regarded her directly. She would just have to work through this herself. The problem was, she had never been in love before, and was completely overwhelmed by the feelings she had for Blake.
When she didn’t take Blake up on her offer to talk, Shale saw a flash of hurt in those beautiful green eyes, and instantly wanted to take it away. “I’m worried about Kale,” she said. It was true, though that wasn’t what was distracting her. “We had a fight.”
Blake sat on the bed, alongside Shale, but facing her. “Is that why she came rushing out of the healer’s lodge?”
“Yes. You probably won’t believe me, but we hardly ever fight, or at least, we never did in our old tribe. It’s upsetting me.”
Blake rested her hand on Shale’s thigh. “Was your argument about me?” At Shale’s nod, she added, “I’m sorry.”
“And I’m sorry she’s being such a bitch to you. She’s not normally like this.”
“She’s been through a lot recently, perhaps she’s having trouble accepting what happened to your tribe?”
Shale was surprised to hear Blake defending Kale. “Maybe, but that’s no excuse to be rude to you.”
“And you’re both trying to fit in with a new tribe, some of whom, I’m sorry to say, aren’t exactly making it easy for you. Those are serious changes. I’m sure they would take their toll on most people.”
“I admit we’re both on edge,” Shale allowed. “But she’s being more difficult with you than anyone else.”
“Is it because I’m the princess?”
“No. She’s very respectful of hierarchy.” Shale glanced at her meekly. “Usually anyway.”
Blake shook her head. “I mean, if she feels like you did—that she’s to blame for your tribe, maybe she thinks she deserves to be punished?”
Shale’s eyes widened. “So she’s mistreating the person who can punish her, hoping that you’ll do so and it will lessen her guilt.”
“It’s the only thing I can think of that makes sense,” Blake said.
“It’s certainly how Kale would think.”
“Shale,” Blake locked eyes with her. “Do you still feel that way?”
“You helped me see that it wasn’t my fault, but I still carry the guilt.”
Blake nodded, then she reached up and ran her fingers through dark hair. She repeated the motion, smiling when Shale’s eyes began to close in response. Blake kept on stroking Shale’s hair, and it wasn’t long before Shale felt herself dozing off. She submitted to it, and let sleep claim her.
When Shale awoke, it was to the smell of rabbit stew, it had wafted inside the cabin. She was surprised by how much time had passed. It was early evening.
She noticed Blake heading for the door, and spoke up, “You put me to sleep.”
Blake jumped at her voice, and turned to smile at her. “You needed the rest,” she said. “I’m going to get us something to eat. I’ll be right back.” She again moved toward the door, but turned as Shale began to scoot off the bed. “What are you doing?” Blake swiftly returned to Shale’s side. “I’ll bring it to you.”
“I need to get back to camp anyway, might as well do two things at once.”
Blake kept Shale in place with a hand on her shoulder. “You’re not sleeping outside tonight, you’re staying right here.”
Dark eyebrows shot up, but Shale remained silent.
“The cold won’t help your knee any, nor will the hard ground. You can stay and rest it here.”
“It’s still warm out.”
“Yes, but it’s warmer in here.”
“Kale will get worried.”
“I’ll ask Kale, too. You and she can have the bed and I’ll sleep on the rug,” Blake said. “If Kale accepts, perhaps I can try to relate to her. I don’t like this tension between us, especially since it distresses you.”
“That’s really kind of you, Blake, but really, there’s no need.”
“Your swollen knee suggests otherwise.” Blake smiled. “I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t want you to stay, Shale.”
Shale swallowed, her pulse racing at the thought of sleeping next to Blake. She knew Kale would refuse the offer point blank, and also knew that she should, too. So she was surprised that when the words emerged, she said, “I’d like that.” There was no point in lying, Blake would be able to see straight through her anyway. Shale was a terrible liar, always had been, probably because she’d had no practice. She never lied to Kale, there were no secrets between them.
“Good. I’ll find Kale, then I’ll bring us some food back.” Blake scowled playfully at Shale. “And I don’t want you to move from this bed.”
Shale smiled, besotted. Was Blake the perfect woman?
Chapter Five
“I TAKE IT Kale said no?” Shale asked, when she saw the annoyed look on Blake’s face.
Blake kicked her cabin door shut, since both her hands were full, then returned to the bed, sat down, and gave one steaming bowl to Shale.
Shale nodded to her gratefully, and took a mouthful using the wooden spoon Blake had provided.
“That, and she accused me of keeping you here so I could seduce you,” Blake said.
Shale nearly choked on her stew. “I’m so s—”
“Don’t, Shale, you didn’t say it,” Blake snapped.
It went quiet for a long moment.
“Maybe I’d better go,” Shale said, though she had hardly moved when Blake’s fingers encircled her wrist softly.
“I’m sorry. Please stay, Shale, I don’t want you to go.”
Shale tipped her head. “All right.”
Blake let out a relieved breath.
“Where did you find Kale? Back at camp?”
“No. She was getting stew, too. She was with Amber.”
Shale was pleased. It made her feel better to know Kale wasn’t alone. “She gets on well with her, they’ve become friends.”
“I’ve noticed. Amber’s a good friend to have.”
“Exactly Kale’s type, too,” Shale said.
Blake’s mouth quirked. “And Kale is Amber’s type.” She smiled mischievously. “So, do you two share similar tastes?”
“Not in that area, thank Artemis.” Shale chuckled. “Imagine how awkward that would get. I hear you’re Melaina’s type, lucky you,” she said sarcastically.
Blake laughed. “Actually, I’d forgotten all about it until she brought it up earlier. It seems that it’s my fault she’s been giving you and Kale such a hard time.”
“Because she’s attracted to you? What’s that got to do with us?” Shale suddenly recalled something that Melaina said to Blake. “Ah, I get it. She thinks you’re sweet on one of us.”
“That’s right.”
“First, Amber, now you, Kale sure is popular around here,” Shale teased.
“Who said it was Kale?” Blake smiled suggestively.
Shale unconsciously returned it. “And all this has been about that?” She whistled. “That’s quite a jealous streak. I wonder how she’d have reacted if you had actually been involved with her?”
Blake grimaced. “I’d rather not think about being involved with her.”
“Oh, come on, Melaina’s not all bad.”
Blake looked alarmed and put down her bowl, then reached over and felt Shale’s forehead. “Are you feeling all right?”
Shale playfully slapped her hand away. “She’s got one thing going for her,” she said furtively.
“Which is?”
Shale couldn’t help herself. “She’s got great taste in women.”
THE BODIES OF her sisters were all around her, and the stench of death smothered her. Shale went from corpse to corpse, seeing in vivid detail how each had been brutally slain. Bile rose in her throat, and she heard Kale’s cry of anguish—a horrific sound that was scorched into her memory forever.
Shale turned as her name was called, searching intently for the owner of that voice. She found no one. Thinking she had imagined it, she continued checking the bodies.
The next time she heard her name, it was louder, though incredibly gentle, and she recognised Blake’s tone instantly. What was Blake doing here? Shale became frantic, her eyes darting around for Blake’s form. Was she injured? Was she dying? A whimper escaped her at the thought alone. She had to find her.
The voice grew more insistent, and Shale found herself being pulled toward it.
“Shale, wake up!” Blake said anxiously.
Shale bolted upright, gasping for breath.
“Easy, Shale, you’re all right. You were dreaming,” Blake said, tenderly brushing Shale’s sweat-soaked hair behind her ears.
“Blake?” Shale was beyond confused.
“Yes, Shale, it’s me. I’m here.” Blake was pulled into a fierce hug, Shale clinging to her desperately. “You’re all right, Shale, it was just a dream.” Blake rubbed her back as she held Shale close. “Shh,” she whispered, calming her.
“Thank the gods you’re all right,” Shale said quietly, withdrawing to look at her.
“I’m fine, Shale.”
Shale cupped Blake’s face in shaking hands, needing to confirm Blake’s words with touch. “Thank the gods,” she repeated.
Blake gazed at her in concern. “Shale, was it about your tribe?”