Chapter 16 Hanne #3
He released a quiet moan against my mouth like I turned him on as much as he turned me on.
He guided himself inside me, and he was right. I was sore.
But I was also wet and desperate and anxious for this man, so I didn’t care.
His cabin wasn’t much different from mine, but his presence, even in his absence, made it infinitely more comfortable, so I drifted back to sleep after he left.
The fire had burned out, but light from the torches outside was visible in the cracks of the door.
In his blankets and sheets and wrapped in his scent, I could lie there forever.
But I was part of this tribe, and I needed to contribute just like everyone else.
I bathed before I started my day and looked at the bow that leaned against the wall, the one Morco had constructed with such meticulous carvings. My arrows were on the dresser beside it. They were quicker to make but required just as much attention to detail, because a bad arrow wouldn’t fly.
I got dressed then headed to the Gathering, the bonfire burning in the center, people eating their stew at the tables. Morco was at the edge of the clearing, working on one of the bows, so absorbed in his work he didn’t notice me approach the cook.
He poured me my stew, one that had extra potatoes to compensate for the lack of meat, and I stepped away and almost sloshed it all over the person who confronted me.
Allegra.
The second our eyes made contact, her stare dropped. “I just wanted to see if you’re okay.”
That moment was a blur, but I remembered when she’d rushed out and preserved my dignity with her blanket. She’d stayed with me as the fight between Krull and the others had ensued, until Morco returned to me. It felt so long ago now. “Yeah, I’m okay. Thank you for helping me.”
She nodded. “Of course.”
I continued to hold my bowl in front of me, lingering because it seemed like there was more to this conversation, even though it appeared to be over.
“I’m sorry for the way I spoke to you in the past.”
I hadn’t expected an apology for any of that. “It’s okay, Allegra. I understand heartbreak makes us behave in ways that are different from our true selves. You seem like a nice person.”
Her eyes flicked away again, as if shamed by the compliment. “I’m also sorry about your garden…and your bow.”
“It’s okay,” I said. “They’ve been fixed. No harm done.” We’d lost half the seeds I’d risked my life to gather, but I let the water pass under the bridge. Behind her, I noticed movement, and my eyes flicked up to see Morco drawing close since he’d noticed we were in deep conversation.
“You seem like a nice person too,” she said. “You’ve done so much for our tribe, and I was just jealous.”
Morco came up behind Allegra, but he didn’t interrupt our conversation when he realized it was a peaceful one.
“I know Morco meant a lot to you. If I saw him prefer someone else to me, I’d behave exactly the same way as you.” That was a lie, but I wanted to make her feel better when she drowned in her own shame.
Morco stared at me over her shoulder.
Allegra gave a sniff. “I loved him.”
“I know,” I said gently. “And I’m sorry. I know he is too.”
“He is?” she asked.
He seemed frustrated with the situation whenever he spoke of it, but she didn’t need to know that. “Of course.”
Morco realized he wasn’t needed, so he headed back to the other side of the Gathering to continue his work on the bow. His back faced us, and he picked up the blade once again to carve the wood.
“I’m glad we had this conversation,” I said. “We need each other right now.”
She nodded. “You’re right.”
I opened my arms and took a slight step forward, waiting to see if she would reciprocate a hug.
She hesitated before she gave a slight smile and then stepped forward to embrace me.
Our animosity was buried, and a friendship had bloomed from the seeds. The heaviness had been lifted from my heart, and peace lingered like low clouds.
She pulled away and gave me a smile. “I’ll see you around.”
“Yeah. I’ll see you around.”
She walked off, and then I faced the table where Morco had been.
He stood there, having clearly witnessed the hug. He showed no distinct reaction, but it was obvious he’d seen it.
I walked over and placed my bowl on the table. “Looks like I made a friend.”
He looked down at me, a hint of affection in his eyes.
“Only you could pull that off.” He set down the knife, circled his arm around the small of my back, and pulled me in for a quick kiss.
It was the first time he’d shown me affection so publicly.
The rest of the time, it’d been a look or the touch of a hand.
He turned away and got back to work, carving a bow made out of a wood so dark it looked black instead of brown.
I sat down and ate my breakfast, watching him work.
“Put out the fire!” Caius stumbled to the ground as he emerged from the path, out of breath and coated in sweat like he’d exerted himself the whole way here.
I was in shock at the sight of him, but Morco was quick because his reflexes were always instantaneous.
Caius fell to the ground again. “No—no water.”
Morco sprinted away and retrieved a large black blanket. “Help me.”
Men ran forward and grabbed other corners of the enormous blanket, and together, they tossed it on the bonfire and put it out.
It went dark, so dark I couldn’t see the table where I sat. My heart palpitated in terror, but I didn’t know what to do, not when I couldn’t see, not when I couldn’t look at Morco’s face to assess his reaction. If he was scared, then I should be scared too.
A small candle was lit and then another, gentle lights dispersed through the Gathering and left on tables. We were still in the dark, but at least we could see some of our surroundings and one another’s shadowy faces.
Caius climbed to his feet again, and then Liam exited the path with some of the others and reached us.
Morco ran over to Caius. “What’s happened?”
He was still out of breath, barely able to pull words together to form a sentence. “Knives…scouting…followed us…” He stopped and panted for breath.
Morco stood still and waited for him to have enough air to finish.
“Lost them…and came here.” He heaved again, probably because they’d sprinted a long distance and then rowed nonstop to reach the island. “Took all the boats…hid them away from the shore…they shouldn’t know.”
Morco turned to the frightened tribe that watched the scene in horror. They’d just been socializing and playing cards at the tables, passing time because there wasn’t much to do. But now their world was destroyed. “Men, prepare for battle. Women, prepare to hide.”
My heart sank. Our sanctuary might be compromised.
Morco turned back to Caius, waiting for him to catch his breath so he could hear the tale without interruption.
Caius finally recovered and straightened.
“We noticed them days ago. We’d change our course and wait for them to pass, but they always came right to us.
They must be able to smell us…I don’t know.
I think it’s a scouting party searching for our camp.
After Hanne fell into the lake and we escaped, they probably found the secret passage in the wall and realized we were on the other side of the rocks. Now, they are searching for us.”
The guilt ripped me clean in two.
“They can’t smell us on water,” Morco said calmly. “And without boats, they shouldn’t be able to reach us.”
“I’m pretty sure we lost them before we got to the lake,” Caius said, still breathing hard. “But I’m afraid I led them straight here.” He bowed his head and dragged his hands down his face. “I—I didn’t know what to do. I’m sorry.”
“Caius.” Morco gripped his shoulder and straightened him. “It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay.”
“If they come, they come. You’re worth fighting for, Caius.”
His head remained bowed for a moment before he looked at Morco head on.
“You’ve sacrificed much for this tribe.” Morco pulled him in for a one-armed hug and clapped him on the back. “We will sacrifice for you.” He pulled away and turned to Liam and the others. “Prepare for battle.”
I’d witnessed him lead, but never in such a high-stakes situation. He did it so calmly and earned everyone’s confidence, even in fear.
“How many?” Morco asked.
“A dozen,” Liam answered. “Are the bows finished?”
For a second, Morco’s morale faltered. “Only two have been built. But the island is small, and the battle will be at close range. I don’t want to risk anyone’s life using a weapon for the first time in the heat of battle when they don’t have distance in their favor.”
Caius nodded in agreement.
“There are more of us than them,” Morco said. “Remember that.”
I remembered standing directly beside one, a mountain of a beast at seven feet in height, wide like a tree trunk, muscles that bulged with strength. Even if the numbers were in our favor, it would be a gruesome battle, and a lot of people would die.
Caius, Liam, and the others ran off to prepare for what was to come.
Morco issued orders to others, seeming to have forgotten me.
I stood by the table and remained frozen, silently criticizing myself for becoming so comfortable in a false sense of safety.
On that island, I felt safe from the rest of the Depths.
I never should have dropped my guard. I’d gotten so lost in the throes of passion with Morco, my life had become a dream, when it was really a nightmare.
Morco saw me by the table and came to my side.
I immediately reached for his hand and squeezed. “I’m scared.” I’d never been good at pretending to be something I wasn’t or hiding my feelings. I said what I meant and meant what I said. I should be brave like Morco and lead with confidence and morale, but I’d never been in a battle.
He didn’t appear annoyed at my confession, his dark eyes cradling mine with gentleness. “We will prevail.”
“But that victory will come at a cost. People will die.”