“It’s going to be a warm summer,” he commented lightly.
“Ya think? Warmer than Elliar or Mystern?” Bryn frowned, picking up a log. “Everything is so wet. We’ll have to find a good cave if we want to keep any wood dry for our hunt.”
“No, it’s not warmer than Elliar.” Mat could still remember that overbearing heat, how it came down from the sun and rose up from the sands. “Just warm.” He thought about their hunting plans, considering a nearby cliff. “We might have to deal with a bear if we want a good cave this time of year.”
“Mave would like one of those too, I bet.” Bryn grinned. “A bear is easy game.”
Mat laughed as they trudged, the forest growing darker and darker, eventually finding a cave without a bear. Mat had to bend down to keep his wings from dragging against the ceiling. He started the fire while Bryn went out to get more wood. It would have to dry by the fire before it was usable, but it was something they could use for now. When the fire was started, he tossed their bedrolls down.
“Fuck!” Bryn exclaimed outside the cave. Mat rushed out there, hoping the rogue was okay.
“Bryn?”
“Whoa! Don’t stab me!” someone else said loudly.
“Hey, let him go!”
Mat hurried into the dark brush and found Bryn holding a young male from their patrol unit by the throat, a dagger pressed to his belly. Another was holding a sword on Bryn.
“Bryn…what’s going on?” Mat stepped closer carefully.
“They spooked me,” Bryn answered, pushing the other Andinna away and sheathing his dagger in one fluid motion. “What are ya doin’ here, boys?”
“We…remembered the gryphon and—”
Mat started to laugh. “Oh, no. Neither of you is experienced enough to take on a gryphon with a two-man team. Do you have any backup?”
“No. We figured it would make us look good. Get some respect back at the village.”
“Get out of here,” Bryn said.
“We have as much right to this hunt as you do,” one of them growled.
“Fine.” Mat shrugged. “To the best hunting group. Get away from us, though. You’ll scare away all the game.”
Bryn laughed and grabbed his friend, pulling him back toward their cave.
“Just when I thought The Hunt wasn’t going to be interestin’, they show up. Sorry for bein’ loud. I was pickin’ up wood and not payin’ attention.”
“The fact that you weren’t paying attention surprises me.”
“I was thinkin’ about Mave and what she must be doin’ tonight.”
Mat wrapped his arm over Bryn’s shoulder.
“Hopefully, thinking about us.”
“That’s what I thought too.”
17
Mave
“Drink!” females screamed in the dining hall. Mave leaned back, watching the revelry unfold, Senri laughing beside her. Before them, two females were having a drinking contest, each holding large mugs of mead to see who could finish first. Both were young, younger than even Mave. Both had been born after the War, with not a single war scar on them.
A few months ago, Mave would have judged them for that, but she was letting go of it. These females were living the life that had been given to them, much like she did. They did their best, upheld the traditions they knew, but they were sheltered because they had to be.
One of the young females coughed, giving the other the win. Cheers rattled the dining hall.
“This is the second night of this. Is it ever going to calm down?” Mave asked her friend. Senri patted her thigh.
“No. When the males start coming back, it’ll get even wilder since they’ll be high from The Hunt,” Senri explained. “But when the week of The Hunt is over, we go and tend our fields and get to work. Enjoy this while it lasts.”
“Oh, great,” Mave sighed. “I’m not one for parties.” Most she’d seen were Elvasi parties, and those never boded well for her.
“My sister.” Senri rubbed the back of her hair. “Right when I think I’ve gotten you to loosen up, you retreat behind those walls again.”
Mave pushed her hand away, a smile forming. “What do you suggest?”
“Drink.” Senri grabbed a mug of mead and slammed it in front of her. “Drink, relax, and enjoy this.” Mave didn’t pull away when Senri drifted a hand over her cheek, touching the black line of her tatua that covered the only scar on her face.
“This isn’t the Empire. This is sisters, aunts, mothers, and grandmothers having a laugh, enjoying their lives.”
“I thought I was doing well.” She hadn’t been down. She just didn’t think parties like this were for her.
“Drink.” Senri grabbed the mug again and shoved it at her. Mave took it, defeated.
“I’ve never been drunk away from the Company.”
“Now’s the time! I mean, what are you going to do sober? Go home and miss your males? No. You need to learn how to have some fun without them.” Senri stood up, grinning. “Ask anyone, I’m the master of being away from my males and enjoying it.”
“What are you doing?” Mave sank down in her seat as Senri climbed onto a table.
“Andinna! We have a sister who needs a push!” Senri reached down and grabbed another drink, moving to hold it over her head. “Our males have been gone for two nights! We should band together and help our sister enjoy herself during this.”
Mave’s face turned red as females began to cheer. Senri held out her free hand and bared her teeth at her friend at the table.
“Don’t! Get up here and compete with me!” Senri threw down the challenge with a grin.
Mave stood up slowly and grabbed Senri’s hand, defeated before she even got on the table.
“I’ve never done this before,” she announced to everyone around them. “I’m probably going to lose. Unheard of, I know.”
That received a round of laughter, but Mave felt only good energy in it.
“Drink!” everyone screamed.
Mave tipped her head back with the drink, taking the largest swallows she could. Senri didn’t let go of her hand, squeezing gently at some point. The alcohol was heady, making her warm and rushing straight to her head it felt like.
“DONE!” Senri roared. Mave stopped, coughing as she finally got a breath of air. Looking down, she saw she still had too much left even to consider she might have won.
Everyone cheered, and Mave raised Senri’s hand, igniting it further.
“You did well,” Senri told her. “Now finish that drink!”
Mave laughed, and in four big gulps, it was over, the empty mug was taken from her, and another taking its place. Releasing Senri, she jumped off the table before anyone could pull her back, but she took another drink of the mead, wanting more of the sweet alcohol. She sat down, sighing happily. Losing a competition relaxed her in an interesting way. Senri collapsed next to her, and they laughed as another pair jumped up on a table across the room and started the same game.
They weren’t alone in their corner for long. Jesvena and Allaina walked over, taking seats across from them.
“I’m glad to see you both enjoying the evening,” Jesvena said as she put her drink down.
“It’s a wonderful evening,” Senri commented brightly. “My favorite week of the year.”
“How you love them being gone, I’ll never understand.” Mave shook her head, then took another sip of her drink.
“It’s easy. I’ve been with them for over two thousand years, and you know what? This is the only week of the year I can get all of them out of my hair. Don’t worry, you’ll reach the same point one day.” Senri grinned. “Kian is the worst. Maybe it’s because he’s my first husband, but he’s a downright pain in my ass when he’s been cooped up too long.”
“I send mine out, and I’m grateful for it,” Allaina added. “They’re quiet, wonderful males, but this lets them go out and rough it when I always need them here.”
“I’ve never met any of your males.” Mave ha
d met Jesvena’s, but she never saw Allaina with hers.
“They work with Jesvena’s males to handle things around the village. The mayara of a mativa is just as important as the mativa. They prefer to be in the background, so I let them stay there.” Allaina smiled. “One lost a hand in the War, so he stays as far away from other warriors as he can. My other three follow his lead. They don’t want to be dragged into fighting anymore.”
“His sword hand?” Mave frowned. Allaina nodded slowly. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. He and I grew up together. He left for the War, and I told him not to. He came back a changed man, yelling for us to pack up. He’s been by my side ever since, and the last thousand years have been good to us. If anything, he would want me to pass along his gratitude.”
“Why is that?” Mave raised an eyebrow.
“You took Matesh. Those two never got along,” she explained. “You could probably imagine why.”
She could. Hearing that reminded her of when she had first heard that Allaina wanted Matesh to stop being a warrior. Now there was clarity. It made Mave wonder if the love there had been real for Allaina, and she hadn’t wanted to see another male she cared about brutally torn apart in the effort of fighting for their people.
They drank in silence for a long time after that. Young females dared to join them and ask questions, which Mave answered graciously.
“So, what does Elliar look like? Is it truly a white city?”
“It is.” Mave nodded, looking down at her drink. “Everything is white marble—the palace, the walls, the buildings, even the Colosseum. The only time you see color are the people. The markets are lush with bright colors, their clothing rich with it. They walk in a white world and have to add color. It’s like they want to paint the world in their own ways and not appreciate the beauty of the natural one.”
“Interesting take,” Jesvena commented. “Why do you say that?”
“There are no wild trees or bushes. Everything is…put together in a specific way. The gardens are trimmed and kept in line. The trees are kept at a certain height. There’s no grass growing naturally…anywhere. It’s all cut. The gardens at the palace are the best place to see that. Then they put giant walls around the city, and that blocks out the view of the world beyond.” Mave sighed. “I remember the moment I saw giant, ancient trees for the first time in a thousand years on a boat going down the river as we escaped the Empire.”
“It sounds beautiful,” the young female mumbled, looking down as if she felt guilty for her opinion.
“It is, but it’s cold, and it makes the people in it cold. There’s no warmth other than the sun. It’s hard. There’s no forgiveness for imperfection in a city that is considered perfect. It doesn’t suit us.” Mave shrugged. “Anything else you want to know about?”
“Did you really meet the bitch Empress?” another one asked.
“Meet her? I was her favorite prop,” Mave answered. “She would parade me around, make me stand with her. She likes to hear herself talk about her plans, and I was the prop she talked at. I watched her twist around Elvasi nobles for centuries to get them to give her what she wanted without needing to use force.” Mave shook her head, thinking about Shadra. “She’s a monster. If there’s anyone I would give that title to, it’s her.”
“Is it—”
“I think that’s enough for tonight,” Senri declared. “We should let Mave try to make the walk home.”
“I can walk!” Mave’s brow furrowed as she considered it. She looked down, wondering how much she had to drink. Her current mug was empty, and she couldn’t recall how many times she had an empty drink in front of her. “Sleep does sound good.”
“Exactly. You’ve had a lot to drink.” Senri took her empty mug and put it on the table. Standing up, Senri grabbed her and dragged her up as well. Mave swayed, leaning into her friend with a grin. Levity took over as the previous topic was completely forgotten.
“Shit. I’m drunk.”
“You are,” Senri agreed kindly, holding her. “Goodnight, everyone.”
“Bryn and Mat are going to be mad at me,” Mave whispered in her friend’s ear.
“Why?”
“I’ve never been drunk like this.” Mave couldn’t make it two steps without swaying again and stumbling over a chair. “I promised them I would get drunk with them one day because last time I was with Nevyn and Varon!”
“You’ll have a headache tomorrow, but don’t worry, you won’t be dying.” Senri helped her out of the dining hall. They weren’t the only ones trying to make it home. Some jumped in the air and wobbled as they tried to fly. Mave watched, her vision doubling as females landed and made it in their homes.
“I can’t fly right now,” she admitted, leaning harder into Senri.
“And I would never let you try,” Senri promised. “Come on.”
They walked slowly to the edge of the village and their cliffside. Senri walked her up the steps and helped her unlock her door. Mave didn’t miss how the other female mumbled about the lock and how no one ever used them. Mave stuck her tongue out like a child.
“Makes me feel better,” she said petulantly.
“I know, and anything that makes you feel better, my friend, is something I can live with.” Senri walked her to her bedroom. Mave was barely able to work her clothing and gave up, letting Senri pull her boots off. “Get some sleep.”
“Senri?” Mave reached out and grabbed her before she walked away.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
“For?” The confusion was apparent to even Mave’s drunk ears.
“For being my friend. I’ve never had many of those. You and Kian, everyone. You’re all great. I love you, my sister.”
“I love you, too, my sister,” Senri whispered back. Mave felt Senri bump her forehead against her own. “You’ll always have a friend in me.”
“I hope so. I’ve never known other females. I never thought…”
“Shhh…” Senri rubbed her cheek. “You have a place here. You belong here. Mave, you’re the closest friend I’ve had in centuries. You aren’t the only person who needs to be thankful here.”
She threw her arms around Senri, holding tightly. When the hug ended, she smiled.
“Goodnight. Lock my door.”
“I will. Goodnight. Tomorrow, let’s maybe not get you this drunk.”
“Yeah…” She laid back as Senri left and closed her eyes, sleep coming quickly.
Mave jolted awake, gasping for air. She didn’t know what woke her, but she groaned as dizziness washed over her. Clutching her head, she reached out, looking for a candle or anything that might help her find some light.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
She growled. Someone was banging on her door. At this hour? After how much they all drank the night before? She was going to tear whoever it was to pieces.
She groped around and found her boots, yanking them on as the banging continued. She snarled as she pushed herself to her feet, trying not to get tangled up in the furs that made up her bed.
Something struck her as odd when she reached her family room, where the fire was going. Senri probably threw a few logs on, but they should have died overnight. She looked at the fire, noticing the logs seemed much too fresh. She looked at her door, where the wood was beginning to feel the pressure of whatever was hitting it, starting to bend.
She grabbed her swords slowly, walking quietly across her home. This wasn’t Andinna. There was no situation she could think of where one of her own people would be banging on her door without announcing themselves. Her mind was quickly trying to put it all together, but the alcohol made her feel sluggish.
“Get that fucking door open!” someone roared.
“We’re trying, sir.”
Mave’s stomach dropped—they weren’t speaking in Andena or Common.
Elvasi. The Elvasi are here.
Mave belted her swords on, drawing one, her hand shaking.
No. I’
m dreaming. This isn’t real. They can’t be here.
She walked slowly to her door, watching the wood begin to buckle, and the lock snapped. It swung open, and Mave froze as the colors of the Elvasi army appeared in front of her. She nearly dropped her sword as she found herself staring in shock at the equally surprised soldiers on the other side of her threshold. The smell of smoke wafted into her home, jolting her as one of the soldiers drew his sword.
She took a step back, unwilling to fight in the small way leading to her front door. The soldiers advanced into her home, their eyes on her.
“Is this her? The Champion?”
“I think so, but she never had the black face tattoos like the others before,” one of the other soldiers answered. “Remember, take her alive.”
“You’ll only take me dead,” she promised them.
“We’ll see about that.” A soldier jumped forward, charging her. She jumped towards a cushion, and kicked it toward the soldier, causing him to trip. She stabbed downward into his back, snarling at the others.
“You aren’t leaving this village alive,” she told them, yanking her blade out of the dead man’s back. “And you aren’t taking me.”
The Elvasi spread out over her family room, steel ringing as they unsheathed their swords. She did a headcount. Including the one she killed, there were six, probably more outside. She drew her second sword, her hands steady now.
They attacked at once, following the command of one who stayed near her door. Fools. That meant she only had four to fight. Four was child’s play.
She kicked one away while blocking a swing from another. She roared as she connected with a third, blood spraying onto the stone floor and gorgeous rugs Leshaun had picked out for her. She lopped the head off the fourth before they could recover. While her back was turned, steel sliced over her back, making her scream in rage, an arm wrapping around her neck. She flipped a sword in her hand and stabbed backward, killing the one holding her, and the arm went limp. That was three down. She ducked a swing from the apparent leader and thrust upwards, slicing open his groin and letting him bleed out as she turned on the last one. He tried to run, but she threw her sword, smiling viciously as it hit him in the back, sending him to the ground, dead.
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