by Croft, Sky
Shale grinned, and pushed Blake slowly down onto the bed.
BLAKE AWOKE LATE, much later than she usually slept. She instantly missed the feel of waking up in Shale’s arms, and wondered where Shale had got to. She didn’t have to speculate for very long. As she opened her eyes, she saw that Shale was sitting at the foot of the bed, bending and flexing her injured knee, trying to strengthen it. Shale had her back to her, but when Blake stretched, Shale glanced over her shoulder and smiled.
“Why didn’t you wake me up?”
“You were tired. And you didn’t mention that you had any meetings this morning, so I didn’t see the harm in it.”
Blake yawned widely. “It’s because of you I’m so tired,” she teased. “If you weren’t so damned attractive, I’d get a decent night’s sleep.” Blake crawled over to a chuckling Shale, her hand snaking around from behind and covering Shale’s breast. “We don’t all have the stamina of a warrior, you know.”
Shale shook her head. “There’s nothing wrong with your stamina. I’ve been with warriors who’ve had a lot less than you.”
Blake was pleased to hear that. She began to play with Shale’s nipple, feeling it respond immediately to her touch.
Shale stopped exercising her knee. “Blake?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“I take it you’re not tired now?”
“No.” Blake grinned. “I assure you I’m fully rested.”
Shale turned, meeting Blake’s mouth with her own. “I might have to take advantage of that.”
“Please do.”
They kissed again, but were interrupted by a knock on the door.
Shale groaned, and with obvious reluctance, tore her lips away from Blake’s. “Not now, Kale,” she yelled. “Kind of busy at the moment.”
Kale was heard sniggering outside. “You told me to come round in the morning.”
“No, you said that. I said I’ll see you today, not necessarily this morning.”
“I get it. I’ll come back later.” Kale laughed. “I’m glad to see some rumors are true in this village.”
“Goodbye, Kale,” Shale said.
Blake chuckled, hearing Kale’s laughter fade as she left. “Now, where were we?” She answered her own question by kissing Shale passionately.
“AMBER, HOLD UP,” Kale called, jogging over to her.
Amber stopped. “Hi, Kale. What’s up?”
“You’re not headed to see Blake, are you?”
“Actually, I am. Why?”
“I’ve just come from there. They’re busy at the moment.”
“Oh. Are you sure? Blake’s expecting me.”
“Shale was expecting me, too.” Kale smirked. “Let’s just say they’re somewhat...indisposed.”
Amber burst into laughter. “Thanks for warning me. I’ll come back after dinner, I’m not going to risk disturbing anything.”
“That’s what I was thinking,” Kale said. “So are you free till then?” Since Amber had planned to spend time with Blake, and Blake was now busy, Kale knew that Amber was indeed free, but she asked anyway, giving Amber an out if she wanted one. At Amber’s nod, Kale said, “I am, too. Do you want to do something together?”
“Like what?”
“Go hunting, or for a walk, or we can spar a little if you like. Whatever you want, I don’t mind.”
“Well, I don’t fancy a busted knee, so sparring’s out,” Amber teased, causing Kale to roll her eyes.
“That happened once,” Kale said, her lips curling upward.
“Uh-huh, and I don’t want to be number two.”
“You will be if you don’t stop going on about it.”
“Ooo, that sounds like fighting talk to me.”
“It was, but a certain red-head’s too chicken to fight me.”
“And that certain red-head’s not stupid enough to fall for your baiting words either.”
“All right, what do you want to do instead?”
“I’m starving already, so...” Amber looked to Kale for her reaction.
“Hunting it is,” Kale replied. They walked the short distance to Kale’s cabin to collect her hunting gear, and she bumped Amber playfully with her hip. “I’ll bring something back for Shale and Blake, too. I don’t think they’ll be getting out much.”
Amber laughed. “They probably won’t have the energy.”
“YOU GO AND knock, I’ll wait here,” Amber said. “Here, I’ll take those.” She took the freshly plucked birds out of Kale’s hands before she could protest.
“Surely you don’t think they’re still at it?”
“I’m not chancing it. You go and see.” Amber pushed her toward the cabin.
“Why me?”
“She’s your twin.”
“Blake’s your friend,” Kale shot back.
“Actually, Blake’s our friend, but Shale’s only your twin.”
Kale opened her mouth to argue, but had nothing to respond with. She sighed. “Fine.”
Amber gave her a smug grin. “Make sure to make plenty of noise when you approach.”
Kale narrowed her eyes at the giggling Amber. “I don’t need to make noise, Shale will sense me.”
“And that’s another reason why you’re the one going,” Amber said, giggling harder.
Kale shook her head, chuckling. She jogged over to the cabin and went noisily up the steps. She glanced behind to Amber, who was doubled over laughing.
Blake opened the door before Kale had a chance to knock. “Since I know you’re trained in stealth, I’ll assume you’re making that racket on purpose.”
“Just checking.”
“Just checking what? That the steps are sound?” Blake noticed Amber, who was waiting across the village. “What’s Amber doing over there?”
“It’s safe,” Kale called, sending Amber into another set of hysterics as she made her way over.
Blake seemed puzzled. “Safe?” Kale’s droll look filled her in on what they were referring to. “Oh for Zeus’s sake. You two are worse than a couple of kids.”
That set them both off laughing again.
“We brought you something to eat,” Amber said, in between laughs. She handed the birds to Blake.
“Thanks. I’m starved.”
“I bet,” Kale muttered, receiving a slap from Amber as she dissolved into laughter yet again.
Blake shook her head, though she didn’t look annoyed. “Come on in.”
“Amber,” Shale greeted, clearly pleased to see her.
“Hi, Shale.” Amber gestured to the healing wound on Shale’s forearm. “You’ll get a good scar from that.”
“It’s definitely a warrior thing,” Blake noted despairingly.
Shale spared Blake an amused glance before replying to Amber. “Yes, it’s better than I thought it was going to be.”
“Am I the only sane person here?” Blake asked. “I’m the only one who’s glad it wasn’t any worse.”
“That’s not true,” Shale said. “Appollonia was relieved, too.”
Kale nodded. “And that’s merely because a smaller wound means less stitches, and less work for her. What’s your excuse, Blake?”
“Well excuse me for not wanting to see the remnants of where my partner was almost hacked to bits! I must just be sensitive about that kind of thing.”
Shale laughed loudly. “When you put it like that, it does seem kind of strange that we like them.”
“Thank you,” Blake said.
“Show her the scar on your back,” Kale said. “Wait till you see this one, Amber, it’s exquisite.”
Shale grinned and turned around, raising her top as she did so.
“Ooh, that’s a great one,” Amber said.
Blake buried her head in her hands. “I’m not going to win this debate.”
“THIS MEAT TASTES wonderful,” Shale said, around a mouthful. She clasped Kale’s shoulder, who was sitting alongside her at the table. “Thanks for bringing some for us.”
Kale grunted and tipped her
head. “So, Blake, do you have any other blood kin? Or is there just your mother?”
If Blake was surprised by Kale’s curiosity, she didn’t show it. “No, there’s only my mother.”
“What about you, Amber?” Kale asked.
“Just me,” she responded, a wistful smile appearing. “Though some of my friends I consider to be family,” Amber said, looking pointedly at Blake.
Blake grinned, and squeezed Amber’s arm. “Likewise.”
“We had a friend like that in our old tribe.” Shale started to chuckle, and she glanced to Kale. “Tell them about the time we went after those boars with Senna.”
Kale let out a short laugh, and eagerly leaned forward, resting her weight on her forearms. “When we were younger, and a lot more reckless—”
Shale snorted in amusement. “No more reckless than you are now.”
Kale playfully nudged her, then continued on, “We decided to try and impress our queen and the other warriors. We thought that if we brought a sumptuous feast home, we’d be the toast of the village.” Kale nodded to Shale, who effortlessly picked up the story where she’d left off.
“We set off early morning, and came across some boar tracks. We followed them, and were lucky enough to find an abandoned piglet. It had fallen into a hole made by an uprooted tree, and since it was raining, the piglet couldn’t get out of the muddy trench, so the sow had left. Senna got the piglet out easily enough, but we weren’t satisfied with one. We all agreed to let it loose, hoping it would lead us back to its den.”
“By this point,” Kale pitched in, “it was raining so heavily the boar tracks had been washed away. The piglet was fast for such a small creature, but we managed to keep up. It led us straight to its den, but unfortunately for us, it contained four sows, and no less than ten piglets.”
“Uh-oh,” Blake murmured.
Kale snickered. “We didn’t realise until we were on top of them, and we sprinted right into their nest.”
Amber’s eyes widened. “What did you do?”
“We turned and sprinted right on out,” Kale said, amidst laughter. “The roles had suddenly reversed, and we were being chased by them. Shale and I bolted up a tree, and Senna tried to follow.”
Shale spoke up once more, “Since it was slippy, Senna couldn’t manage to get up the tree. We grabbed her wrist and hauled her up, but not before one of the boars skewered her with its tusk. Right in the backside.”
“Ouch,” Blake said, obviously amused.
“I think she cursed all the gods on Olympus,” Kale said. “And instead of bringing home a feast, we brought back an injured Senna.”
“We never lived it down,” Shale added with a chuckle.
“I bet Senna wasn’t proud of that scar,” Amber said drolly.
“No, but she was always showing it off,” Shale said. “She had a great sense of humor. Never afraid to laugh at herself.” Shale realised that this was the first time she’d thought about her tribe without being overwhelmed by sadness. She recalled several other fond memories, and met Kale’s eyes for a long moment.
Twin smiles appeared—they were beginning to heal.
Chapter Eleven
“I WISH I could have met Senna,” Blake said quietly, her mouth close to Shale’s ear.
“You and she would’ve got on well,” Shale said.
“How close were you?”
Shale lifted her head to look at Blake. “Do you mean were we ever intimate?”
“Yes.”
“No. Kale neither. We all grew up together, she was like another sister.”
Blake kissed Shale’s collarbone consolingly. “I’m sorry.” She snuggled into Shale, feeling the arms around her tighten as she did so. Blake was nearly asleep when Shale next spoke, but the question roused her completely.
“Do you think she’s mad at us?”
“Who?”
“Senna.”
Blake’s brow creased, and she peered up at Shale. “Why would she?”
“Because we haven’t avenged her or the others. For settling down here and building a new life, without killing the people who slaughtered them first.”
“Shale, you know why you couldn’t do that. If you had followed those tracks you would have put us all at risk.”
“I know, but that doesn’t change what happened to them. They still need to be avenged.”
“And we will avenge them. All of them,” Blake said. “But when the time is right.”
“When I pass over, I want to be able to look them in the eye, to tell them that we got the bastards who did this.”
“And you will. Senna won’t be mad at you, sweetheart, she’ll just be glad that you’ve found a new home. She would want you to be happy.”
A smile touched Shale’s lips. “I am happy.”
Blake kissed her. “Me, too.”
“YOU DO REALISE I’m going to be the laughing stock of the whole village,” Blake moaned.
“Why?” Shale asked, an innocent expression on her face.
Blake narrowed her eyes. “You know exactly why, Shale. Look.” She indicated the love bite on her neck.
Shale held back a grin. “It’s hardly noticeable.”
“It’s huge!” Blake said. “I’ve got a meeting with the counsel first thing. And my mother’s going to be there.”
Shale broke into laughter, suppressing it when Blake glared at her.
“If my mother asks, I’m sending her straight to you,” Blake said.
Shale sobered instantly. “You wouldn’t?”
“I would,” Blake said, though her twinkling eyes gave her away.
“I’m sorry. I got a little carried away.” Shale smirked. “Next time, I’ll make sure it’s where no one can see it.”
Blake raised a single eyebrow. “Oh you will, will you?”
Shale nodded cockily. She got out of bed, limped to where Blake was dressing, and wound her arms around Blake’s waist. Shale drew her close, kissing her gently. “Forgive me?”
Blake linked her hands behind Shale’s neck. “Only if you kiss me again.”
Shale smiled. “I’m sure I can manage that.”
“I’M NOT QUITE sure I understand.”
“What’s to understand, Kale? I merely want to go for a walk, get some exercise. Now are you coming or what?”
“Sure. Though I’m surprised you’re up for any more exercise. I thought Blake was keeping you pretty busy.”
“On second thought, I’ll go myself,” Shale said, heading outside.
“All right, I’ll be good.”
Shale shook her head at Kale’s mischievous grin. “Why don’t I believe you?”
“Trust issues?”
Shale scoffed. “That must be it,” she replied wryly. “Will you fetch me a staff?”
“There’s no way you’re sparring, Shale. Blake would kill me if I let you.”
Shale chuckled. “She’d kill me, too. It’s to lean on, for support.”
Kale frowned at herself for the misunderstanding. “Of course. I’ll go and get one.”
Shale found a blank piece of parchment on the table and wrote a short note, explaining where she had gone. She didn’t want Blake to worry.
Kale soon returned, staff in hand, and tossed it to Shale, who caught it nimbly.
It wasn’t until they had left the village that Shale had to use the staff, and she was quite pleased by her progress. She pushed on, determined to go as far as she could.
They walked a good distance, Shale having to stop and rest three times before she accepted defeat. “That’s it. I’ll have to turn back.”
Kale patted her shoulder. “You’ve done well.”
Shale grinned at her, and they started to retrace their steps. They hadn’t gone very far when Shale stumbled, though it wasn’t down to her knee giving way.
Kale’s fast reflexes saved Shale from falling, her strong hands keeping her upright. “Steady.”
Shale didn’t acknowledge her words, her head whipping aroun
d to look behind her. She stared into the surrounding trees. Her gaze flicked to Kale, then back to the trees, confusion ruling her features.
“Shale?”
“You are here, aren’t you, Kale?”
“What?” Kale frowned. “Of course I’m here.” Her hands squeezed Shale’s waist to verify her statement.
“Then how come I can sense you over there?”
“What?” Kale asked again. “I don’t— What?”
“You know how we can sense each other’s presence?” Shale didn’t wait for a reply. “I know you’re here, but I can sense you over there...only, it’s not quite you...it’s slightly different.”
“Have you bumped your head recently? Maybe when making love to Blake? It’s easily done, in the heat of the—”
“Kale, I’m serious.”
“I know. That’s what’s worrying me.”
“Just see if you can pick up on it,” Shale said.
“How am I supposed to sense myself?”
“Just do it. Besides, I told you, it’s not quite you.”
“Well that makes all the difference,” Kale said. She appraised the area briefly. “Nothing.”
“Try, Kale. Focus.”
Kale sighed, but did as Shale wanted. She concentrated, her gaze going inward. After a long delay, Kale shook her head. “Nothing. There’s nothing near us.”
“I didn’t say it was near us, it’s right on the edge of my senses. Try searching farther away.”
Kale hesitated, then tried once more.
“Hurry, it’s fading.”
Kale abruptly straightened in surprise. “Something’s there. It’s like you, but... It’s gone.”
Shale sat down, her legs suddenly shaky. “What do you think it was?”
“Mass hysteria,” Kale quipped.
“I think it was Zale.”
“What? Are you mad? What would a farmer’s boy be doing on Amazon territory?”
“It’s the only thing that makes sense.”
“None of this makes sense.”
“That would explain my dream, too. I had man’s hands, Kale.”
“Not that again. You need to let it go.”
“I think he was there when our tribe was killed. That’s why I saw it happening, through his eyes. He gutted Senna. He’s an animal.”