Chapter 32 #2
She collects her meal, giving Aelric a small smile and a pat on the hand, then waltzes to a secluded area by a few trees bathed in a light layer of fog, away from the warmth of the flames.
I find this a little odd, as it’s a chilly morning.
Frost still clings to some of the tents farther from the fire.
I watch her as she plops onto a fallen log and digs into her eggs.
I collect my food, thank the woman handing it to me with a gracious smile, then start toward the girl.
Caene gently grabs my arm, stopping me. I look into his malachite eyes.
“I’ll be right back.” His eyes flit back and forth between the girl and me, clearly trying to decide if he should let me approach her.
I can’t blame him either; she’s a damn good fighter.
Though it’s not like he can stop me either.
“I’ll be fine.” I tell him, patting his hand. He nods and releases me. I saunter toward the small copse the girl is in.
“Hello.” I cringe at the too-sweet tone in my voice.
She looks up at me with her big blue eyes. Still, I see no contempt in them, though she doesn’t respond.
“May I sit?” I ask. I really hope I’m not scaring her or making her uncomfortable. She doesn’t need that after everything we’ve unknowingly put her through. She nods once.
“I’m Vayna,” I say, sitting beside her on the log.
I immediately feel the frost on it soak through the butt of my trousers and suppress a groan.
Ignoring the uncomfortable sensation, I dive into my meal.
The eggs alone are enough to shut me up for a while, and don’t get me started on the sausages.
But I need to talk to her. To apologize.
She doesn’t respond to me, and I begin to wonder if she even can.
I can’t remember if she spoke at all that night.
I decide to throw caution and discretion to the wind. Pussyfooting isn’t going to make this any easier. “I’m sorry about your father,” I blurt. She snaps her head to me, eyes wide. Alright, clearly she didn’t expect that to come out of my mouth.
“My friend felt he had no choice.” I push on.
“I know it isn’t an excuse but it is a reason.
You shouldn’t have had to see that. For that, I am truly sorry.
” I don’t expect her to respond. I want to reach out and take her small hand in mine, to comfort her in some small way, but I doubt she’d appreciate it coming from me.
She stares at me unblinking for so long that I begin to shuffle my feet and shift my damp ass, feeling awkward. I clear my throat, returning to my food. She stares long enough that I’m positive her breakfast has gone cold.
Her small voice finally breaks free. “Why did you say that?”
I chew on my words for a moment, then turn my body to face her fully.
“I know how it feels to lose a parent. Worse, I know how it feels to see that parent lifeless at your feet. I know how difficult it is to let go. And I know it must have been extremely difficult and painful to come back here without him.”
Her loud guffaw makes me jump.
“What’s so funny?” I’m well and truly confused, and I’m sure it’s written all over my face.
“My father was a bastard! I’m glad he’s dead.
” She wipes a stray tear, regaining some composure.
I’m a little unsettled by this little girl.
To be so young and so apathetic. “I don’t need your apologies or your pity.
I should be thanking you! That man hurt me and my mother every chance he got and no one could stop him. ” She sighs. “Believe me, they tried.”
She looks off into the trees, clearly thinking, remembering.
“I shouldn’t even have been with him. It’s against our rules to send someone as young as me on a raid.
They’re dangerous and bloody, as you and your muscly friend proved.
He dragged me with him as punishment for not wanting to kill a chicken.
I love the chickens. I didn’t want to hurt any of them.
He said”—she lowers her voice to sound more masculine— “‘If you don’t appreciate where your damn food comes from, you can come get your own!’ He knew what could happen out there, he knew I could have been killed.
I think he was hoping I would be. One less mouth to feed. ”
She shakes her head. “You and your annoyingly handsome friend gave me freedom. Gave us freedom and peace. Thank you.”
I stare at her, mouth gaping. To be this jaded is heartbreaking, but I guess that’s what this world does you to, what her father did to her. I close my mouth, deciding she doesn’t need my judgment or my concern. I know I wouldn’t have wanted it at her age.
“Your mother doesn’t seem to share the sentiment.”
She shrugs. “She will. She’s just angry and scared right now. She’s worried the Liberated will kick us out. I’ve told her Ryfin would never do that, but she’s hardheaded. At least that’s what my father used to call her. A hardheaded pig.”
I scoff. Prick.
But another piece of the Ryfin puzzle slots into place. “So is Ryfin your leader then?”
She nods. “We call him the grand duke. He hates it.” She laughs to herself. “He challenged our last leader after he was caught taking bribes from poachers. Among other things.” Her eyes go dark and distant, clearly remembering something she’d rather not.
“What happened?”
She snaps her focus back to me. “Ryfin killed him.” That wasn’t what I was asking, but I don’t push. I look at Ryfin across the fire, laughing with Caene.
“Things are much better with him in charge,” she says, her voice and gaze full of admiration.
Watching the people around me, I believe her, but I can’t help but wonder what it was like before Ryfin. I want to ask her but I don’t want to pry. It’s clear she’d rather leave the past where it belongs.
“Where did you learn how to fight?” I ask instead.
“That’s the one good thing my father did for me.
He was once a guard for one of the Exalted patriarchs, so he was skilled.
Not skilled enough for Captain Handsome Pants over there though.
” She nods toward Caene and I laugh. Apparently, this young lady has a little crush on him. I can’t say I blame her.
Caene looks at us from across the fire, a smile spreading across his full mouth. Butterflies erupt in my stomach as I shove another bite down my gob, trying to smother them. My body needs to calm the fuck down.
He gets up and rounds the fire, approaching us. I can’t take my eyes off the easy way he moves, like he doesn’t have a care in the world, when I know that’s not true.
He reaches us and holds his hand out to me.
“Finished?” he asks, nodding at my empty plate.
I nod and hand it to him, grateful it’s out of my hands.
I was absolutely about to lick it clean.
He looks to the girl with his hand out to her for her plate.
Her cheeks grow pink and I cover my mouth to hide my smile.
She shoots me a glare as she hands over her nearly empty plate.
He nods at her and leaves with our crockery.
I watch as a group of men, Caene included, gather all the empty plates and make their way to a large wooden basin.
It looks like a repurposed horse trough.
As a team, they begin to wash and dry them.
My mouth drops open again. I’ve never seen a man wash a dish.
All the men I know would call it “women’s work. ”
I hear a giggle beside me. “We divide jobs here. Men, women, children, we all have chores. Today it’s their turn for cleaning.” I snap my mouth shut. I’m really starting to love it here.
My mind wanders to Isi. I think she would be safe here.
I could get her and bring her back to this place, then continue to Kanas.
I wonder if I could convince Feron to come too.
I’m sure Ryfin would find room for them.
I would stay here with them but I won’t risk the Montbeths coming down on this camp.
For the first time in weeks, I feel a glimmer of real hope.
I see a solution. I see a way to protect the ones I love and get my talisman back, to bring balance back to Lyclaven, as the Frai said.
A slow smile spreads across my face. This will work, but we have to get to Isi. Now.
“What’s your name?” I ask the girl.
“Peyra.”
“Well, Peyra. I hope I’ll see you again.
It seems you could teach me a thing or two about fighting.
” A large smile breaks across her face. I stand, then bend and squeeze her shoulder.
“Until then, keep practicing. You owe me a rematch. And keep yourself and your mother safe.” I leave Peyra sitting in the little copse of trees to find Ryfin and thank him for his hospitality.
I find him sitting with a small circle of men, their heads bent together in conversation. I pause for a moment, unsure if I should interrupt them. When the group breaks out in raucous laughter, their heads thrown back, I decide it’s probably safe to step in. I approach behind Ryfin.
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” I address the group. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I just wanted to thank our gracious host for his hospitality.” I place my hand on Ryfin’s shoulder.
He looks up at me, a small smile pulling at his lips. “Give us a moment, would you fellas?” he says without looking away from me.
The men stand and begin to melt into the crowd, but one stops.
He looks at Ryfin with a twinkle of mischief in his eyes.
“Let me know if my assistance is required in any way, Grand Duke.” He bows low with a flourish of his hand, as though Ryfin is royalty.
I press my hand to my mouth to stifle a giggle.
The man scurries away before Ryfin can respond, laughing as he does.
I sit next to a red-faced grand duke. “I hate it when they call me that,” he grumbles.
I can’t stop the laugh this time. “I’m sure it just means they respect you,” I say through the giggles.
“There are a lot of ways to show respect. A nickname isn’t one of them.”