29. The Sogumaour #2
Fintan smiled down at her. “Yes, it’s quite easier said than done.”
She laughed quietly.
“Hmmm, now there’s a winning sound,” Fintan said.
She wrinkled her brow in question.
“Laughter,” Fintan used his arm to nudge her in a teasing motion. “It is good to finally hear yours.”
Aradia smiled. “I suppose some of you aren’t all that bad.”
“I know Rhydar is probably your favorite. He certainly knows how to win over the people. It’s why we keep him around.”
Her stomach growled again as the wind pushed the savory smell of dinner her way. “Oh, is that all?”
“Well, he’s also got a good singing voice.” Fintan winked. “But don’t tell him I told you or he’ll never shut up.”
Aradia laughed, which brought a wider smile to Fintan’s face. She was surprised at how easy it was to converse with him. He wasn’t so bad at winning over people either. Her smile faltered as she found Cahira’s gaze fall on her. The crinkles around her eyes vanished as Cahira watched them both.
Aradia recognized the subtle glance Cahira threw at Fintan.
She had seen enough of them in Gail when she walked the streets with Quinn.
Jealousy or curiosity. There was no reason why Cahira would be curious about Fintan helping her and she didn’t peg Cahira to be the jealous type.
Which only begged the question; was there something unspoken between the two of them?
She caught Fintan watching Cahira. Their eyes locked in a conversation she was certainly not privy to. Yes, they definitely had some history or perhaps it was current. Aradia’s eyes traveled to the black tent which stood by itself. Quietness lay beyond the entrance.
She willed for the flap to open and shifted in surprise as Kaiden opened the entrance and stepped out.
His strong gait was filled with confidence and power.
A man used to being in charge. He clasped hands with Rhydar who offered him a strip of meat.
Aradia watched as he tore into it, licking his lips and fingers.
It shouldn't have bothered her, but it did. Why does every movement he make bring a reaction out of her?
“Light is often drawn to the darkness,” Fintan said.
“What?” Aradia almost jumped.
He smiled and nodded toward Kaiden. “It’s okay to also be drawn to the unknown.”
Aradia crossed her arms. “The only thing I’m drawn to is dinner. Shall we?”
Fintan nodded, knowingly. A ghost of a smirk across his face. He held his arms out like a perfect gentleman at the balls Quinn would always complain about.
Aradia hesitated slightly.
“Here’s to taking chances,” Fintan said.
Aradia flashed her best smile and placed her hand around Fintan’s arm. She felt her heart beat with every step closer to the fire. The chatter quieted but never stopped, thank Eos. Rhydar placed a bowl of flatbread with a strip of meat soaking in sauce in front of her.
“Alrighty lass, put some muscle on them bones of yore’s.”
In no way was her frame elegant or dainty. She had worked her entire life and ate heartily at the Lazy Lunar. Compared to the inner circle however, she supposed they valued hard-cut edges compared to her ample curves.
“Thank you.” Aradia bit into the meat. “Wow, it’s delicious.”
“Surprising, I know,” Cahira said. “When Rhydar isn’t trying to poison us, his food is actually tasty.”
Laughter cracked around the fire.
“Where are you from?” Aradia asked Rhydar. “Your accent, it’s not something I’m familiar with.”
“Most people call it the Western Wasteland. I call it home.” Rhydar laughed.
Fintan shook his head, Cahira rolled her eyes and Kaiden smiled behind his bowl.
“Here we go again,” Cahira said. “Get comfortable.” She leaned back, settling in for whatever Rhydar was about to say.
“In my country,” Rhydar began. “They call me the Sogumaour which means —”
“Storyteller,” they all said in unison, even Jasper.
Aradia hid her smile with another bite.
“Fer centuries my people lived their lives in the cold, brutal land of Norvik. A country full of bountiful hunts and fish from the sea. Where the seas would freeze over, so thick the little lads and lasses would spend their time ice skatin’.
But the summers, ah lass, no country could ever compare with my country’s summer.
After the first frost, when the purple daisies push against the snow, the jays sing a new song from the northern lands.
The animals reproduce for the fall hunt, and the air warms with the renewed sun that glows from beyond the mountains. ”
Aradia was transfixed. “This country sounds as if the gods and goddesses themselves dwell within.”
Rhydar smiled proudly. “Many believe Eos, Keres and Decimus will come to visit durin’ the changin’ of their favorite seasons.
“If Norvik was such a paradise, why did you leave? Surely Peraynia pales from the beauty of your country.”
Rhydar nodded in agreement.
“You’re right. Still, there are many new beauties I could never experience in my homeland. We became restless and in need of expandin’ our territory.”
“Naturally.” Her comment earned a snicker from Cahira.
“For years we journeyed overseas and conquered land in the north. Expandin’ our fortune and wealth in land and trade.
It was my grandfather who dreamt of sailin’ east. East was unknown.
In the West was the future. My grandfather and father sailed with a fleet of sixty-five ships.
Forty-two made it across the journey and when they arrived, they had landed on Arkan’s coast.”
Aradia looked between them all. This was how they had become friends.
Kaiden’s eyes found hers and he winked.
She broke eye contact before her face could warm.
All except Jasper smiled at Rhydar as he went back into his story. The best part was yet to come it seemed.
“A war of your own had broken out in this land. One we were not prepared for. After weeks at sea we were in no condition to fight against the might of Arkan’s full army in the peak of war. So, the king at the time, their grandfather, offered us an option.”
“How civil of him,” Aradia said.
“He was a better man than our father,” Cahira said quietly.
“We could either join him and help turn the tide of the war in his favor or be slaughtered before our boats were fully docked,” Rhydar said.
“So he joined?”
“That he did, lass,” Rhydar grunted. “It would be two years before I would see my father and grandfather. When they returned, the new King of Arkan, their father, was in tow.” He pointed to the two heirs.
“It was the year of my fourth and ten, but I had grown tall and strong like my father. Once again, my people were given an option. Only this time both would benefit us. In return for warriors our people would receive riches and land guaranteed in the new eastern country called Peraynia. Warriors who fought for the king would receive titles which would pass down to their families. In return, any raid against Norvik, we would have Arkan as a forever ally.”
Aradia gaped at the realization. Arkan’s reach ran to countries she had no clue even existed.
“Arkan truly does have the greatest army ever seen,” she whispered. “So you were to be one of the warriors?”
“Oh, what the king had in store for him was much better,” Kaiden said.
“I was to be a companion for this welp. He had just reached his tenth summer when I met him.” Rhdyar nodded toward a smirking Kaiden.
But his voice was filled with nothing but pride and love.
“The king took one look at me and knew my worth. So with my father’s blessing, I traveled with the king to learn the ways of Peraynia and to teach them all a couple of new tricks. ” Rhydar winked.
“And teach us he did,” Fintan laughed.
“I still have the scars,” Kaiden said, shaking his head in remembrance.
“He fought like a madman.” Jasper’s voice was like midnight and Aradia glanced at the man and the first sentence he had spoken in days while in her presence.
“Not caring whether it was a man or a woman. The first to truly respect a female warrior.” Cahira smiled at Rhydar. “For all the times you’ve knocked me on my ass, you’ve also had my back.” She saluted Rhydar with a flask as the others said “Hear! Hear!”
Rhydar raised his cup in salute before drowning his drink with a satisfied sigh.
“And that, lass, was how I came to Arkan, and the people you see here … they’re the reason why I’ve stayed,” Rhydar said.
“I can see why they call you the storyteller.” Aradia had never felt the warmth of those words. Yet here, amongst the inner circle, was a family who had walked through the depths for each other. Her throat tightened with her emotions. “Excuse me,” she whispered.
She laid the bowl down quickly, turning toward her tent.
An awkward silence followed behind her and she knew their confused stares were on her.
Only when she dropped the flap down, curled underneath her blanket, and heard the small chatter begin did she let the tears fall.
Never in her life had she felt a bond as strong as theirs.
The hushed sobs racked her shoulders, engulfing her in the loneliness she had felt her entire life.