Let’s Try and Make Friends
Let’s Try and Make Friends
The second day was much like the first, but the ground was steadier since we were descending the mountain slope.
The next peak we had to cross wasn’t as steep or high so the last part of our journey would be easier, especially as we now had everyone on horseback.
The second wave of dragons came to take the last of those on foot, leaving us with my guardians to watch over us in the air.
Vasin suggested it might be wise to have someone hide near the fortress to let us know if the Lost King was ready to attack us like we assumed he would. Having this information would also let me know how much time we had before he would start looking for where we went and if he knew about Sheca.
I called a halt to our trip early when we found a basin with a river and flat land that fit all of us.
This time, we lit fires and people gathered around them, warming themselves and chatting.
Having spent most of my time with the clan leaders or my guardians, I felt like it was a good idea to travel and spend time at the various fires, listening to stories and learning more about my people.
I don’t know if Becka and May talked to the guys, but they gave me space, letting my two female guards keep an eye on me as I wandered through the camp.
I settled at one that was mostly people around my age, trading stories of their first missions and the things they screwed up on.
“There I was hanging from the rafters, trying to pick the lock upside down, when the owner of the safe walked in on me. We both just stared at each other for a moment, shocked to find one another there. I almost burst out laughing at the look on his face,” one man shared, chuckling as he told his tale.
“What did you do? Were you able to finish the job?” another asked, fully invested in the story.
The storyteller leaned forward as if he were going to tell us a secret.
“I was in the wrong house. The one I needed to steal from was his neighbor. I misread the address of the home. All the houses in Errit are packed so close together it was a simple mistake. So, I hightailed it out of there, waited a few more days for things to settle down, and then went to the house I was supposed to be at.”
Everyone cracked up while those closest slapped the man on his back in approval. Then all eyes turned to me, and I realized they were waiting for a story about my first job, but I didn’t have one, not really.
“I haven’t had an official first job yet.
There was a group of us who went on a training exercise…
capture the flag, and during that event I was kidnapped.
Guess you could say that was a major failure seeing as I was far too trusting of those around me.
One of my own clan was working for the Lost King and sold me out to gain favor.
I woke up to find myself tied up in the back of a wagon, almost to the border of Errit, with no idea of what was going on,” I recounted.
This seemed to surprise everyone, but I guess those from the other clans didn’t really know all that much about me.
“How did you get free?” someone asked.
Thinking back, that time seemed so long ago but, in reality, was only a little over a week.
“From the information that was given to them, they knew I could communicate with Vasin silently through my mental connection being his pair-bond. To stop this, they drugged me for most of the trip. Once I woke up, they made sure I didn’t try to reach out to him.
I managed to do something they call a waking trance, where you keep your eyes open but zone out like you would when meditating.
I reached out, searching for my connection with Vasin, but I was too far away.
I then caught a flash of something’s presence and assumed it was Vasin.
The distance made it hard to connect. Well, it seems I actually was speaking to Tahir, Jade’s dragon. ”
“No way.” one of the women called out. “You can talk to other dragons? I didn’t think that was possible outside of the black dragon.”
“Is that why they call you the Dragon Queen because you can communicate with other dragons besides your own?”
“I can’t believe the Grim Reaper saved your life. He never does something without there being payment involved,” a guy sneered.
It didn’t take me long to see that the clans had a very poor opinion of Jade, but I knew who he really was and that there must be some reason that everyone saw him this way.
Someday he would tell me his story, but I wouldn’t press him for it.
That didn’t mean I would let others speak ill of him for no reason.
“Without even knowing who he was helping, Jade saved my life that night. Once I was free from the wagon, he had no reason to take it any farther, but he landed and came to check on me. Once he found out who I was, his only goal was to get me back to the clans safely,” I defended.
“What she isn’t telling you all is that our queen has a bit of a stubborn streak and wouldn’t let me keep her safe until she understood what was going on,” Jade interjected from where he appeared out of the shadows.
“If she hadn’t pressed the issue, we never would have discovered the Lost King or saved Prince Gavin. ”
“Are you telling me the two of you and a dragon attacked their camp?” the man who’d sneered at Jade helping me asked.
“That’s exactly what she’s saying and what we did. Of course, her blowing up the supply tent wasn’t part of the plan but worked out well for causing a distraction,” Jade boasted.
This seemed to get the whole group riled up, shooting questions at me left and right about the attack—how we managed to do it, if that’s where I hurt my leg, and how we made it out of there alive.
It would seem that this story I viewed as a failure was quite the opposite to them.
Some of them moved closer, trying to get my attention from the others, making me start to feel very uncomfortable.
I didn’t think they meant me any harm, but the intensity I was getting from them was too much for me, and I didn’t know how to stop it.
“Okay, that’s enough story time from the queen,” May cut in, silencing everyone.
It seems they feared my guardian enough not to push the matter and gave me my space.
“If you would like to hear more, then learn to mind your manners and not barrage her with stupid questions. She might look like you but remember she has us and a black dragon backing her up, so don’t get any smart idea about cornering her.
” Turning to me, she held out a hand, helping me to my feet, and gave me a small smile as her eyes sparkled with humor.
May didn’t give a rat’s ass what other people thought of her as long as they didn’t cause trouble.
I had no doubt that if they started something, she would end it faster than they could remember their name.
May was no lady-in-waiting like Becka could be.
No, she was a warrior through and through, reminding me how lucky I was to have her at my back.
She was hard to get to know, not really one to share or have girl talk with, but she proved to be in my corner with situations like this.
Having her at my back meant I was safe no matter where I was, and that was something you didn’t often find in another person.
We moved to another fire, and this one is where I found the clan leaders with their partners or other family members still with us. Ballard’s wife, Helena, stood and hugged me, making me feel welcome as she pulled me to sit next to her.
“Goodness, child, you are a hard one to spend some time with these days,” Helena teased as she squeezed my hand.
“How exciting is it that we get to venture into a new land? Well, I guess it’s new to us, seeing as this is where we originally came from.
Is there anything you can share? I know what’s said in your meetings is for the leaders’ ears only, but I’m just bursting with curiosity. ”
I frowned at her as I looked at the other men around the fire, stopping on Ballard last. “They haven’t told you anything?” I asked Helena, even though I was looking at her husband.
“Oh, it’s nothing to fret over, dear. I’m used to finding out with everyone else what’s going on around us,” she shared, patting my hand, trying to ease my distress.
“Nothing that Zan or I have shared about Sheca was meant to be kept hidden from everyone.” I shifted my gaze to Acton. “You weren’t asking on behalf of your people you so claim to protect?”
“Your Highness—” Acton started to speak, but I held up a hand to stop him.
“No, I don’t want to hear excuses from you or anyone else.
You call me your queen, but I don’t actually think you believe it or respect the title when it comes to me.
I was just informed that Paxton was taken in and interrogated by you, but not once have you mentioned it to me.
Now why would that be? Did you not question him in an effort to protect our people, or was it for some other reason that you felt the need to drill him for information?
A trusting person might see these small missteps as nothing to worry about, but I am not that trusting or that stupid, which you would know if you paid attention to things other than your own status.
” I rose to my feet and looked all the clan leaders in the eye for a moment.
“Consider this your final warning. The title of clan leader is no longer needed. Once we get to Sheca, things will change. You can change with them, or you can be left behind outside the circle of protection I offer. That is up to you. Goodnight,” I retorted.
I went to walk away then paused as Helena reached out to me. “Might I have some of your time tomorrow?”
“I would enjoy that,” I answered with a smile. “Until tomorrow, rest well and stay warm.”
Deciding I was done interacting with people, I headed to the fire located near where my tent was set up, surrounded by my guardians.
I plopped down on a folded blanket waiting for me, dropping my head into my hands and letting out an irritated grunt.
Becka and May settled in beside me, lending their silent support while the rest of my guardians appeared out of the night to join us.
After some time, I was tapped on the shoulder and handed a cup full of hot, sweet-smelling liquid.
I took a sip, and it burned the tip of my tongue.
I had to blow on it, but the warmth was welcome.
It was thick and rich, made with chocolate and something else that added a bit of a kick to it that warmed my tummy when it hit.
“Make sure to drink that slowly so you don’t get a hangover tomorrow,” Dayson advised.
“It’s something we Bronze Reapers drink on those cold winter nights up in the mountains when we’re snowed in for the day.
Drink too much of it, though, and you’ll be tossing off clothes faster than you realize, standing in the middle of a snowbank buck-ass naked. ”
May snorted. “I think you’re the only one dumb enough to do that.”
“Ha! I recall a time not so long ago when I caught you behind the woodshed with your tongue down someone’s throat while his manhood was seeking shelter in a different hole,” Dayson shot back.
“You’re forgetting we ended up back at his home, where his wife joined in on the fun,” May said with a grin. “Ah, the things chatla will open your mind to once it breaks down your inhibitions.”
Intrigued, I leaned in and whispered, “You take both male and female partners to bed?” I’d heard of people doing this, not caring if they were the same sex or not, but it was never spoken about in the environment I grew up in.
“It’s simple, Cassarah. I like who I like and love who I want to love.
If they are willing, then so am I. The world puts too many rules in place.
I feel like it’s my duty to show others there is another way to live.
It’s not for everyone, but sometimes all a person needs is to know other like-minded people are out there,” May explained.
“Like you, not all women can take more than one love and have things work out. But you, you have such a large heart, you can’t help but share it.
The world will tell you it’s odd or different, but I say follow your heart because your head isn’t always right. ”
I sat there stunned at what she’d just said and how it seemed to hit home on one of the things I’d been worried about.
I knew it was more accepted for me to take more than one lover, but that didn’t mean everyone would agree.
It had been centuries since Miranda and her men lived, and from what I’ve seen, most people only kept one partner.
Yet here was May, unattached as far as I knew, taking life by the reins and doing what made her happy.
“Woman, I think that is the most I have ever heard you say at one time,” Becka joked. “How much chatla have you had?” May just gave her a look that sent Becka into a fit of laughter as she brushed off the visual threat. “Down, girl, down. I’m just impressed, is all.”
May’s response was to grunt and sip her drink, ignoring my best friend completely. The interaction brought a smile to my face as I enjoyed the warm drink… carefully.