26. Sodalite
Last night, I had to corral nearly every male in Enduvida and effectively send them home before dark. Tensions are running high—not in a malicious way, but the curiosity gnaws on them.
This morning, we will perform the dual”moraan for each human who wishes to receive their Fuegorra and stay under the mountain.
I should be with my wife, but instead, Vann came to my room to escort me here. The men, it seems, wanted permission to join our trek to the cavern. That led to a hearty discussion about rules.
It’s been nearly an hour, and I’m still looking at the hunters, stone benders, and craftsmen who have congregated in front of the armory.
“I said it last night, and I’ll say it again. You won’t speak to them until they have stones in their chest. Even then, I expect you all to behave.”
“But there are so many of them. I can count at least eight houses that must be repaired if we hope to expand with so many families,” one of the hunters, Faol, says, his tail swishing thoughtfully behind him.
A feminine voice enters the conversation.
“If you think that a house will be enough to sway a woman into your bed, you might be right.”
I turn and see the raven-haired human dressed in red.
“Melisa, I do not know if it is wise for you to be here.”
She looks at me unimpressed. “I wanted to know what you were scheming about. And, believe me, I’ve handled worse than all of you.”
A part of me believes her and has the good sense to be equal parts impressed and worried. “I am trying to explain why the women should be unbothered for a while.”
She raises an eyebrow. “Do you know where they have been?”
“My queen told me they all came from the breeding pens,” I say
“These women are not fragile flowers who will crumble at any man’s attention. We knew what we signed up for when we met Estela outside the Zlosian Palace.”
I look at her skeptically. “Not everyone seemed happy in that room with Estela.”
She shrugs. “They just finally have a voice. Don’t fault them for wanting to use it. But that doesn’t mean they don’t want to be here.”
Every Enduar watches her with almost painful intensity, and she takes every inch of attention with practiced grace.
“Estela is a wonderful woman, but she was never in the breeding pens.“ She looks at each man there with her black-brown eyes. “They consisted of a large expanse of rooms. Women were kept in close quarters, unable to work or leave for a period of four months while their cycles, temperatures, and bodies were monitored closely for signs that it was time for them to be placed in a room with a man.
“Then, they are left there for three days. Once the man is spent, the women are returned to their beds. If they are pregnant, they are gifted a hut. Some men go along with it, while others beat their women. Some forced them into any manner of painful positions.”
She speaks slowly, and I fist my hands, doing my best to hold back the mounting rage.
It hurts to think of anyone being treated in such a way. Each of the men looks up, utterly silent. They all hold similar expressions of disgust.
“So that is where all of these women come from—four small walls. Sure, they are wounded, some already carry children, and they all are tired, but don’t think for a second they aren’t strong. They want what Estela has promised—homes, mates, families—lives where they work for what they eat and nothing more,” she says.
Keio steps forward. “I will gladly care for a woman with a child. I spent all of last night arranging my things, and there is space.”
I step forward. “You do not even know if you will be mated to one.”
He shakes his head.
“I do not care.”
I raise my hands. “No one will claim any of the humans without a mating song that the woman has accepted. No men will touch the women unless they ask for it.”
Niht looks offended. “My King, this is already known. We don’t need your lectures.”
I shake my head. “Has Melisa not just explained the hell they have spent days living through? My Estela was a furious creature when she came to the mountain. I do not know how these women will react, but you must move slowly. And if I hear of even one single misstep, you will be banished from this court.”
There is silence all around.
“May we attend the ceremony tomorrow?” Faol asks.
I know their meaning. They wish to know if their crystals will sing.
I purse my lips.
“No. Undoubtedly, some of you will have mates in this group—but I have no way of knowing how many. Give it time.” I am pleased when even Melisa nods at this.
There is anxious shuffling all around, but I put it aside.
“Anything else?”
Vann, who has been tight-lipped since we walked to the training area, nods. It’s a short movement, almost imperceptible. It tells me he has something that he does not wish to speak of in front of others.
“You all may go back to your duties. We need extra meat for our newcomers,” I say.
“And soon, new sources of food because the ruh’glumdlor population won’t keep up, and the humans don’t like bats or spiders,” Keio grumbles.
Annoyed, I swat at him. “That is true. You should solve that while skinning the next cave rat and tell Ra”Salore.”
There are a few laughs, and I hear the word Ra’Sa leave the mouth of another. I don’t have time to dwell on that before Vann takes me by the arm and pulls me away.
“What is it?” I ask, noting that Faol follows us as we walk.
“There is something you must see,” he says.
I look back at Melisa who is smiling up at Keio. I don’t hear what they say, but Vann is already leaving, so continue across the walkways, up the tunnels, and out of the large golden door leading out of Enduvida. Ra’Salore joins me at my side, and I notice he’s retrieved a sword.
Whatever I was expecting, it isn’t the stain of red spread around the mostly mangled body of a human man. His arms are stretched wide and there is a message carved into his chest.
THlS lSN’T OVER
My blood runs cold.
I look around, trying to see any sign of the giant scum that would’ve brought this to our door to deal with. There is none.
“Trouble in paradise?” Melisa asks from behind us.
I startle and turn around.
“You followed us,” Ra’Salore spits out.
I think of how Estela did the same thing when we first met, and step forward. “Shouldn’t you be preparing for the dual”moraan ceremony?”
“I was when I spotted you hurrying out of the cave. Your wife told me I was welcome anywhere,” she says, batting her lashes.
I grit my teeth. “You must tell no one that this has happened.”
She drops her sweet mask and narrows her eyes.
“You wish me to lie?” Her tone is haughty, but there’s a look in her eyes of almost disappointment.
She doesn’t like that I’m keeping secrets.
I don’t either— it makes my insides squirm.
“No. I am asking you to help maintain the peace. We are still at war with the giants. I can promise we will protect everyone inside, but right now, our actions need to be calculated. A story like this would cause unnecessary panic.”
She bites her lip. “And what if I tell your wife?”
“I will tell her myself,” I say firmly. Though, I don’t know if it will be necessary. Estela has been through so much—protecting her is just as important.
Melisa accepts my answer, then turns back to the body. “This is from the giants, yes?”
I nod.
“If they wish to fight you, why don’t they bring an army right away?”
I take a deep breath, but it’s Vann that speaks.
“Estela reported a nasty skirmish on the night of the coronation. That has likely strained lots of relationships. Rholker has been cut a lot of slack. It’s hard to tell how much more they will spare.”
Melisa nods. “I used to be the whore of Foreman Eneko. He’s one of the few giant supervisors in the slave fields and he has lots of information on Rholker.”
I grit my teeth.
“I… am so sorry.”
She looks up at me. “Don’t be. I do what needs to be done. Which begs the question, how do you solve a problem like this?”
I drag a hand over my face. “Information and allies, so that we might make a solid plan. We have already made great strides toward resolving issues with the information Estela brought back.”
She looks dubious. “What information?”
I adjust my shoulders. “She learned the names of several lords and some of Rholker’s inner workings, and it has already helped us begin to make a plan. Of course, the fight she started has caused complications. We need to know what those are.”
She scoffs and pulls out two books from her dress. “I bet she has barely scratched the surface. She gave these to me before we left. She’ll be wanting them back.”
“Thank you. I will give them to her.” Melisa’s words give me pause. “What do you mean ‘scratched the surface’?”
Ra”Salore looks at her as she swishes her body into a demure pose.
“As a comfort woman, I know many men. My master… loves to talk.” Every word is innuendo-laced.
“Would you share that information?” I ask.
She smiles. “I would do more than that. I would go back as your spy.”
I shake my head just as Vann and Ra”Salore start to protest.
“Absolutely not,” I say.
She frowns.
“If you love women so much, you must trust us to know what is best. I can do this—if it worries you, then let me bring one of your men.” She points a lazy finger at Ra”Salore. “Ra’Sa would make a handsome human.”
Ra’sa?She doesn’t know how to create a proper nickname, but Ra’Salore makes no move to correct her. I find it strange, but I push the thoughts to the side.
“Lord Ra’Salore detests the overworld. We will find someone else,” I begin to point to Vann or Keio when Ra’Salore turns to me with narrowed eyes.
“No need to search. I would do it, My King.”
My hand stills, then drops back down to my side. “You would volunteer to leave again? The last time you left, you hated every second of it.”
Ra’Salore scoffs.
“Give me one reason why you should go,” I say.
“I understand I was unpleasant, but now I have experience walking the land above. Besides, she pointed at me when she asked.”
Melisa smirks. “That I did. He seems good with his magic.”
I drag a hand over my face. “I suppose now we should figure out how we are going to hide a seven foot Enduar with a tail.”
As if on cue, Thorne steps forward from the shadows. I grit my teeth seeing Mrath’s assassin so close to me. “Pardon the intrusion.”
My lips press into a tight seam. “Anyone else hiding?” I call into the tunnel, frustrated.
“No need to get heated. Mrath sent me here to keep an eye on you. It seems like this delicious little human has an in with the giant lords. She’s even recruited a big blue bodyguard.” He grins, looking at a scowling Ra’Salore. “Glyni can glamour him into a human without any problem, but it would only last a few days at most. He’d need to bring some of the magic with him, and the mission should be short.”
We need every advantage and ally we can muster. And Melisa was wise with what she said earlier—my need to protect can’t snuff out her talent.
“Very well. You will leave as soon as you are ready,” I take another step forward. “But you will not be able to get the Fuegorra. Not yet.”
Melisa nods. “Something to look forward to then.”
I look back down at the grotesque message, feeling the regret pile up in my insides.
“What shall we do with his body?”
“Bury it. Burn it. Cast it in the sea,“ Melisa says over her shoulder before she walks back into the entrance of Enduvida. “Humans are not quite so sentimental about their mortal vessels. We spent too much time being treated as beasts.”