“Maybe her mother is overprotective too,” Nai muttered darkly, before regaining her previous train of thought. Her attention turned to the encampment below. “So, she’s down there. What happened?”
“Well you can ease back a hair, I told her no last night.” I told her everything that had happened, sparing no detail. “So now, I’m a little … confused.” I concluded.
“Because you thought you felt something.” It was not a question, and she hummed thoughtfully. “You know this makes you biased on the Lucas issue as well?” I waved her onward, dismissively. “Well, honestly, Andrew and his partner could probably give you better insight from a romantic perspective.” I nodded glumly. I’d had the same thought. “But I’ve kissed a girl, if that helps.”
“Who?” I sputtered.
“Claire, at last new year, after your parents took you home— vomiting off the back of your pony, if I recall correctly. Claire and I were tipsy and we kissed on a dare. It was no big deal.”
“So—but—do you like women?”
“Nope,” she said easily. “What I’m saying is that sometimes when you’re drunk you feel things, it’s ok to act on them. It doesn’t have to mean anything.”
“I don’t think it was the alcohol.” I shut my eyes, struggling to find the words. “It was her. She was charming, and she made me feel interesting.” If I thought about it, she had made me feel something before I’d drank at all. It had felt like I had been lit up from the inside, but you couldn’t say things like that.
Nai held up a finger. “Those well-versed in the art of bedding women often have good tricks up their sleeves.”
“Is that the lady-manual?”
She shook my shoulder lightly. “You don’t have to believe everything someone tells you about yourself. Besides, it’s not as though she’s staying. So, practically speaking, what girl in town have you ever had feelings for?”
If I were to have feelings for any girl in town, it would have been Nai. She was beautiful and funny, but no. It had never been in that all-consuming way that girls had crushes on boys and vice versa. I didn’t lose sleep over it, or get jealous when she kissed boys. How I felt about her had never been like what I felt last night. She was my friend. I shook my head and said, “I know you’re probably right. I mean, I notice when a girl is pretty, but that’s normal.”
Nai shrugged. “Sure, I’m always coveting what other girls are wearing or how they’ve done their hair.”
That wasn’t quite what I’d meant, but I didn’t say so. It seemed Nai didn’t understand, despite having more experience kissing girls than I did. Not that I understood either. So, what did it matter? I had the mad urge to defend the idea that I knew that I liked Aella, but at the same time it felt fraudulent to say so, and I wanted to deny it. All of which pointed to it being useless to continue to talk about any of it until I wrapped my own head around how I felt.
“Have you heard any news about Beth since last night?”
Nai allowed the switch in topics without comment. “Andrew came by this way close to dawn. He looked done in. I was waiting up, and I think I nearly killed him, jumping out the door as I did. He said she’ll live, but she hadn’t woken yet. One thing I will say, we were real lucky the mercenaries had that healer with them. Andrew said she studied at the mage school in the capital.” She yawned hugely and leaned back on the sun-warmed thatching.
“Did you want to see if they’ll let us visit her? I’ve got some time before I have to go to the field.”
She nuzzled her head back into the thatching. “Honestly? No. For one, I doubt momma will let me go, and for two, any blood that’s not coming out of my own body makes me queasy. I’ll faint and crack my head open and then Andrew will have two head wounds to tend to. Bad idea.”
Below, Aella’s tent shivered, and then a hand stuck out through the top and began to work the hooks open one by one until her whole upper body could stick out.
“Are you sure?” I asked, trying to keep my voice casual.
“Mm.” Nai still hadn’t opened her eyes, and I waved at Aella. Her eyes caught the movement with trained quickness, but her wary expression didn’t dissolve. I realized with the sinking feeling in my gut that I had expected a different reaction. She gave an exaggerated eye roll, complete with a complimentary toss of her head. When she gestured for me to come down I glanced at Nai.
“Are you sure?” I asked in a wheedling tone.
“Gods above and below Taryn—yes, I’m sure. I promise I’ll see her with you tomorrow, but honestly I’m still in a foul mood.” Her eyes opened so she could glare at me, but she didn’t sit up. From the corner of my eyes I saw Aella making her way towards the road.
“All right! I was only making certain!” I was a little taken aback at her outburst, but maybe she needed a little space. Ignoring the thought that I was excusing myself to go see Aella, I scooted over so that I could give her a quick hug. “I’ll give you all the details I can tomorrow.”
She hugged me back briefly. When I pulled away her eyes were over bright. “Please don’t think I’m being cold. I do want to see her, I just—I’m afraid of what she’ll look like.” She ducked her head away from me, as though the words had cost her something to say aloud.
I sat back. “You know, last night I kept thinking of how grateful I was that you ended up working at the inn last night.” I hugged her again and this time she squeezed me tighter before letting go. “It could have been you,” I finished.
“I know.” She rubbed her hands down the top of her thighs, staring at them without speaking for a moment. “It can’t have been someone from Nophgrin. You have to know that. If it was, then it ought to have been me who got attacked, not Beth. She’s younger, and she—she asked my advice when it came to Corey. She said she liked him, but she was getting other offers. I told her to look around. To have fun.” A fat tear drop rolled down her cheek.
“Hey, hey, hey,” I shushed her, rubbing her back firmly. “This is not your fault. This isn’t even Beth’s fault. The fault of what happened to Beth lays squarely with whoever hit her. Not with you, and not with Beth. There’s no law against flirting with two men at once, but there is one about beating a girl till she bleeds.”
She scrubbed at her cheeks furiously as more tears fell. “That Lucas and I were talking before Thomas asked me to help with the dinner rush. Gods, Taryn!”
It became useless to wipe her cheeks as the tears drenched them. I made more noises that I hoped were soothing. When she moved to rest her head on my shoulder, I let her soak my dress front.
“Nai, you know why we burn the attackers and not anyone else,” I said. She hiccupped an agreement, but I said it anyway. “It’s because that person alone carries the bad energy. If that person didn’t exist, then the crime would not have been committed, regardless of any other circumstance.” She sniffled and I felt her nod.
We stayed like that for a few moments, and the worst part of me felt impatient to leave her and try and catch Aella. My eyes strayed to the path the young mercenary had taken towards the road. I told that part of me to shut up and stroked Nai’s hair. She smelled like her mother, all spices and flour, and she was warm on the comparably cold rooftop. It was comforting. When she moved again I almost felt sorry for it. She dried her face with the edge of her skirt, and laughed wetly at me.
“I feel silly,” she said.
I shrugged. “It’s scary, and I’d rather this than you acting as though you didn’t care at all. I was a wreck last night.”
“I guess you’re right.” She looked at me speculatively, and my hand creeped to my neck.
“Do I have something on my face? Did you get snot on me?” I tried to joke when she didn’t answer immediately.
“About the Aella thing. You know you’re overthinking it, right? I’ve never seen you this confused about any of the lads I’ve set you up with. That alone says to me that this is something. Think about how it felt when she almost kissed you. It could be better if she actually did.
”
“Well, now I know you’re feeling better if you’re up for meddling in my love life.” I realized my fingers were touching my tingling lips, and I forced my hand back to my lap. “Gods, I don’t know. She’s not staying. Can’t you and I just live together? Sleep in separate beds and take care of each other in our old age? It’d simplify my life quite a bit I think.”
She flashed me her teeth. “I know, right? Unfortunately, my parents expect grandbabies.”
“Please, I’d never marry you,” I grumbled. “You’d walk all over me, we’d be penniless in a year, with sheep balded from all your new outfits.”
She seemed to consider this, “Now that you mention it, I do find you wildly attractive.” She batted her lashes at me.
I sighed ruefully. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore, is that ok? It’s too confusing.” It was easier to focus on my hands than her face.
She shrugged. “That’s fine. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make things weird.”
“You didn’t, trust me,” I took her hands and squeezed them reassuringly. “I’m the one that brought it up in the first place. However, I really do have to go. You’re sure you won’t come with me?”
She placed her forearm across her forehead and flopped backward again. “No, I can’t come with you, but I promise I’ll pine in your absence!”
I ignored that. “I’ll leave the pastries in your room. Try not to sulk too long. Your mother means well, and she could do worse things to try and help you.”
She grinned at me toothily. “Be safe with your merc girl!”
Without commenting on that, I carefully eased myself back onto the ledge and back in through her window. I almost walked past the pastries, but veered back to snag one. I popped it in my mouth and moaned in delighted surprise. Eyeing the plate, I grabbed two more, leaving Nai three, and then jogged down the steps.
“Is that you going, Taryn?” Salma’s voice emanated from the kitchen.
“It’s me,” I agreed.
“Such a short visit?”
“I have to get on to the field ma’am. The pastries were amazing though. I’m taking one along with me.” I hid the other behind my back in case she poked her head around the corner, but she didn’t. The curve of her back was visible around the doorframe and it sounded as though she was rolling out dough on a counter. The pin made a slight squeak as it rumbled back and forth.
“That is very good. They will be available this week at the shop—tell your friends!”
“I will ma’am. Have a blessed day.”
“You as well dear. Stay on the main roads!”
Back out in the pale light of the morning, a breeze immediately swept my skirt up. I pushed at it with both hands and scanned the road. In the shadow of an awning, Aella leaned against the corner of the house opposite Nai’s. She saw me but didn’t move, so I walked to her.
“Good morning,” I said when I was close.
“Morning,” she said. Her eyebrows were low, and her mouth turned in a frown. She wouldn’t look at me full in the face, her gaze sliding to the right or left of me.
“What? I thought you signaled for me to meet you. Did I get it wrong?” My heart sank at this reception. Nai had gotten me excited to see Aella, and now it seemed she did not share my enthusiasm.
Aella opened her mouth and then shut it, twice. Finally, a smile replaced her frown. “You look like a kicked puppy.”
Her smile still carried an edge. It was my turn to frown. “You’re angry. With me?”
She ruffled her hair from her forehead backward. “Some, but it’s not all you. I’m sure you saw the hunting party left without me this morning. Ma had me stay here as a sign of good faith. Like I’m a token, not a warrior.”
“How did that happen?” I offered her the spare pastry, which she took. “Shouldn’t it have been Lucas who stayed, not you?”
“We had a few women follow their men to our camp as we were getting ready to go. They were carrying on, swearing that if we did anything to their husbands while we were out hunting they’d sic the gods and the law on us. Luke is a more experienced hunter than me, so he was needed in the hunting party. Nothing would shut them up until Ma promised I would stay in town with them until the party returned. Like any of you could hold me if I chose to go.” She flashed me a mean smile.
“They’re scared,” I said softly.
Aella’s reply was sharp. “That’s not my fault, and it’s not Luke’s fault.”
“That’s why you’re upset with me.”
“You’re cursed right! Why’d you rat him out like that last night?” she exclaimed.
I spoke in a heated whisper, glancing around to check if anyone was around to hear—there wasn’t. “I didn’t rat him out, I said honestly what I had seen. If I hadn’t then Maude would have, and I’d have been caught in a pointless lie.”
“You should have seen him this morning. He’s going to sleep in my bedroll tonight since he’s petrified you lot are going to drag him from his bedroll and burn him on a stake!”
Uncomfortable and unexpected jealousy sparked in my gut. I glared fiercely at her. “We don’t kidnap and burn people, Aella.”
“But you do burn them. No one here seems to much care what the truth is if the truth is that someone here is responsible.” She was close, her head cocked to the side, her arms crossed over her chest.
“If he’s innocent the gods won’t let him burn.”
“That’s not how fire works Taryn!”
We were shouting. I realized my hands were fisted at my side. I unclenched them and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “I don’t believe Luke hurt Beth.” Aella blinked and eased back. “I think it was her beau. Many people think it could be her father.” I glanced up, and saw Nai’s head quickly duck back behind her rooftop. I rubbed my forehead and sighed.
Aella leaned back against the house behind me. She seemed to consider my words. I was grateful that no one seemed to be home to hear our argument. “Are these persons prone to violent outbursts?”
“Her father, yes. Corey? Not any more than any of the lads in town. Still, he’s Daniel’s son—Daniel is the pig farmer—and he sure as the sun could be called aggressive.”
“Have you told your parents what you suspect?” She took a bite of the pastry, blinked in surprise, and then murmured in appreciation.
I scuffed a foot. “Well… no, not yet.”
She scowled again. “Of course not.”
“My parents have already considered her father, but he has less than half a chance of getting into these walls. Corey and his friends will hate me if I pick a fight with them. What if I’m wrong?” I tried to keep the whine out of my voice, but I knew I didn’t succeed when she wrinkled her nose at me.
“Then, I don’t know, the wrong man burns for a horrible crime. What a tragedy, right?” She snorted. “Lives on the line, and you’re worried about your reputation. Typical.” She finished her pastry.
“If you don’t like me, then why invite me over to talk?” I burst out in exasperation. “Because I was having a fairly stressful morning already without you telling me all the ways I’m lacking. Just to be clear.”
“Yeah, I gathered that, thanks. Who else am I supposed to talk to, my horse? It’s a close race, but she’s even less of a conversationalist than you.” She sneered.
I stared at her a moment and then turned on my heel to stalk down the street towards the north gate. At first, only the noise of my hurried crunch-slap on gravel and packed dirt cut through the chilly silence. Then an exasperated sigh dragged out from behind me, and I heard her trot to regain her place at my side.
Her hand grabbed my arm. I yanked it away, but I did slow down. “Come on—I don’t think you’re terrible. That doesn’t make you perfect though.”
“Oh, like you are?” I whirled to face her, and jabbed a finger in her chest. “Beth is my friend. You can’t even imagine how I’m feeling right now, and you don’t care. You’re just looking to get—” I ma
de a strangled noise of frustration and resumed my walking. Aella followed, close.
“You think I want to bed you?” Her voice was soft and incredulous. “Newsflash Taryn: you’re not that pretty, and there are easier lays in town, I guarantee.”
I flushed hotly, not slowing. “So, what is it that you want?”
“I … was hoping you might help me sneak out of town.”
That stopped me dead in my tracks. Again, I turned to face her, but this time more slowly, my face screwed up in disbelief. I spoke deliberately slowly. “Are you serious? What in the world makes you think I’d help you do that?”
She held her hands in front of her chest, palms forward. “It’s not to join the hunt or skip town, I swear. I go stir crazy if I stay inside walls too long—and so does my horse, Juniper. Please, Taryn, I’ll go mad being watched and whispered about all day.”
I had gone slack-jawed as she spoke, and when she finished, I closed my mouth. I looked around surreptitiously for open windows. Finding none, I spoke in a low whisper. “If it was just you, maybe I could sneak you out, but you and your horse? You’re a loon. It can’t be done.”
“Look, I’ve scoured about every inch of the town walls, and I couldn’t find a crack that could slip a horse out, but I know there has to be something. You all didn’t stay in at night as kits, did you?”
I crossed my arms stiffly over my chest. “I’ve no idea what people from town do to leave at night, if they do. I don’t live in town.”
Aella opened her mouth to reply and was promptly cut off by an airy voice that drifted down from the roof to our right. “I know how to get out of town with your horse.”
Both of our heads whipped backward so that we could look at the top of the roof. There, Nai sat cross-legged, looking as smug as a lesser gryphon with a mouse in its mouth. I scanned the rooftops leading back to Nai’s home. Even the ones farthest apart were close enough that a determined girl could leap the divide with relative ease. She had never shown me that trick. I glared.
“Come down off Miss Raina’s roof—you’ll get in trouble!” I hissed loud enough for her to hear.
Of Gryphons and Other Monsters (Taryn's Journey Book 1) Page 20
