by B N Miles
“Very well. I’ll inform my father about what happened here.”
“Theus, you and the others bind Tatur’s wounds, wrap him in cloth, and carry him to one of the carts. Tonight, we’ll build a pyre for him.” Dagan looked around at the gathered men. “Any objections?”
Nobody spoke.
Theus silently gestured at a couple of the men. Together, they knelt and gently lifted Tatur’s limp body and carried him off.
Cam stood there for a moment as the rest of the men dispersed. A wide, black and red pool of blood sat in the dirt where Tatur’s body had rested. Cam watched the blood seep into the earth. Dagan stalked off in search of Kraed, leaving Cam alone with Miuri. Birds called in the nearby trees and there was a soft breeze over Cam’s skin, but he just kept staring at the blood on the ground.
He had told himself no more death. And yet he was powerless to stop it.
When he looked up, he saw a strange look on the Elf’s face. She looked off into the forest, frowning like she could see something out there Cam’s eyes couldn’t. “Something’s off here,” she said, her voice soft.
“I agree,” he said. “The wolves wouldn’t kill with blades.”
“But they could.” She stepped closer to him. “How many of your people believe mine were responsible?”
“Three for sure,” Cam said. “The three that walked off. Rador might be the worst of them.”
“Is he the one you struck for me?”
“Yes,” Cam said.
“I will inform my people to be careful around them. I want to avoid any violence if possible, but they will defend themselves if Rador tries anything.”
Cam let out a sharp breath and nodded. “It won’t come to that.”
“It might.” She looked at him, her eyes hard, and Cam could see the warrior beneath her soft, delicate exterior. Her expression softened as she slipped a hand through his arm and hugged her body up against his. “You know, Cam, if you keep defending me like that, I’m going to owe you much more than just my blade and my body.”
He couldn’t help but laugh a little. “There’s more?”
“Oh, sure. I’ll have to be your little slave. I’ll cook meals for you, prepare your bed each evening, let you use me as you wish.”
Cam stared at her in shock before she burst out laughing. She moved her hand away from him and shook her head, putting her fingers to her lips.
“Oh, not you too,” he grumbled.
“Sorry. Key told me you were easy to tease.”
“You were speaking with Key?”
“We ate together earlier.” Miuri dropped her hand and rested it lightly on the hilt of her sword. “She’s a good one, Cam. You chose her well.”
“I don’t think… I didn’t choose…” He trailed off and shook his head. “Miuri, this whole thing is very strange for me. You realize that, don’t you?”
“I think so. Humans look at relationships very differently than Elves, but I’m starting to get it.”
“Can you at least tell me what you mean when you say you’re pledged to me? I’m not sure I understand it.”
Her smile faded, just a touch, as she tilted her head toward him. “It’s very simple,” she said. “As long as you’ll have me, I won’t leave your side. It doesn’t mean we’re in some sort of physical relationship, but it does mean that I’m pledged to honor and defend you until you release me from my word.”
Cam frowned a bit. “I can release you?”
“Of course. Whenever you wish, you can send me away. But… I don’t want you to do that.”
“Will you tell me if you do?”
“Yes,” she said with a smile. “I promise, if I want to be released from my pledge, I will tell you.”
“Good.” He stared into her emerald green eyes. “I don’t want to release you just yet. I haven’t gotten my fill.”
That big smile slipped across her face again. “We’re going to have a lot of fun together, Cam.” She took a step closer and kissed his cheek. His body burned and he wanted to grab her and hold her tight, but there were still some villagers watching them. She turned away and faced the column. “Come, we should go find my father and speak with your Elders about this.”
Cam nodded and together they walked side-by-side back along the outskirts of the column.
He noticed people watching them as they walked. Before, he might have assumed they were just curious about the Elves, but now he was starting to wonder if there was something more going on.
Fear, uncertainty. People didn’t know the Elves, didn’t know what they wanted or what they were capable of. And now he was sure there were those among the village that would send the Elves away or kill them if they could.
Sharing a meal helped though. He’d seen genuine laughter there for a moment, and he thought that could become the norm, if only they made a small effort to understand each other. It was possible for people to get over their preconceived notions, but he knew it would be hard.
He had to lead by example. He walked beside Miuri with his head held high, and he could have sworn she understood what he was doing, because she walked with her back straight, a hand on the pommel of her sword. She looked regal and caught his eye, a little smile on her lips.
“Princess,” Cam said with a grin.
“Shaman.”
She walked a little bit closer as they hurried to the front of the column.
31
After a short discussion with Haesar, it was decided that nothing would change.
The Elves and the Humans would continue to work together, but Haesar agreed his people should at least be aware of the anger toward them. Dagan wanted to be more proactive, wanted to force the Humans and Elves to work together, but Kraed shot him down.
“Force the relationship and you guarantee spilled blood,” he said, and Cam agreed.
He knew it was possible for their people to get along. But they were in the middle of dangerous territory, being hunted by angry wolves, and tensions were running high. They needed to reach the Mansion first, and then Cam could worry about building relationships between their two people.
Cam was put on sentry duty in the back of the column for the rest of the day. Rador remained in the back with him and the man didn’t say a word all afternoon. Cam thought that was a smart move by Dagan, since forcing them together meant Cam could keep an eye on Rador, and Rador wouldn’t have any opportunity to stir up trouble. Cam didn’t much mind, and almost preferred it that way.
The strangest part of the whole situation was that Rador wasn’t such a bad person. Cam had seen the man pitch in and help many times over the years. He could be headstrong and angry, but he took his friendships and his oaths seriously, and Cam had always respected him. He was a hard worker, kind to children, and gentle with animals. He didn’t strike Cam as the kind of man quick to violence.
But he knew the wounds were too fresh. Rador and Tatur had been friends, and Rador needed someone to blame for Tatur’s death.
The Elves were an easy target. They were foreign, strange, and enigmatic. It was almost inevitable that someone from the village would hate them.
The problem Cam kept coming back to over the long march was simple: someone had killed Tatur, and someone had done it with a blade.
That didn’t rule out the Weres. One of the Weres could have easily done it with a blade in his Human form to make it look like one of the Elves or another Human had killed Tatur. Cam kept mulling that over and over, and it felt as though it was the most likely possibility. Otherwise, one of Cam’s own people was beginning to murder friends and neighbors, or the Elves were picking them off one by one.
Cam couldn’t accept either of those scenarios. So in his mind, he began to work off the assumption that a Were had killed Tatur in Human form.
All afternoon, as the sun slowly sank and the ground beneath their feet began to slope ever upward, he worked on that problem. The trees thinned out more, though there was still plenty of cover. The underbrush grew sparser as w
ell, and their lines of sight into the forest got better. The sentries spread out further, walking among the trees instead of just at the edge of them.
The cart path widened out as they began to move down a more commonly traveled portion of the road. Markers began to appear at regular intervals, just large rocks shaped to look like arrowheads, pointing in the direction of the Mansion. Small signs for weary travelers to give them hope.
They were getting close. And Cam still couldn’t stop thinking about the Weres on their tail and the dead man wrapped in cloth in the back of the second cart, waiting to get his funeral pyre.
As the sun began to sink, Dagan called a halt to the day’s march at a wide bend in the path. They circled the carts in a looser formation than the previous nights, and villagers began to build Tatur’s pyre at the center of camp. Rocks were piled up in a ring and wood was stacked high enough to raise Tatur’s body up off the earth as a few precious drops of the lamp oil were added to the wood.
The Elves pulled away from the Humans and set camp further up the path. Their strange globe-like tents sprang up from the ground and Cam couldn’t help but watch with amazement as they worked in harmony together, setting up camp, building a fire, marching to the nearby stream to draw water. By comparison, the Human camp was a mishmash of barely contained chaos.
But once the pyre was built and Tatur was laid to rest on top of it, the village gathered once again for the funeral of a fallen warrior. Kraed spoke the Ur prayer and the fire burned bright. Tatur’s soul spiraled up with the smoke, spreading out among the pines. Cam knew it might be a bad idea to produce so much smoke, since it gave their position away to every wolf nearby.
Then again, he was sure the wolves already knew exactly where they were.
After the funeral was finished, several more fires were lit, and people began to sit down for the evening meal. The food was doled out in the small clay bowls, and Cam found himself sitting around a fire with Key. She pressed close to Cam, her hips against his. Theus was on sentry duty along with Key’s father and her mother, leaving them alone with each other.
“We’re getting close,” she said, looking at her bowl but not eating.
Cam nodded and frowned at the stars. He could smell crisp mountain air and pine sap mingled with the smoke of the campfire, the stench of unwashed and scared villagers, and Key’s own light and earthy scent.
“Another day. Two at most,” Cam said.
“We’ve made good progress,” Key said. “So much has happened so fast. I’m afraid… I’m afraid the village is never going to be the same after this.”
“I think you’re right,” Cam said. “I don’t know how it could be. After everything that’s happened and everything we’ve lost, I don’t think we can ever go back to the way things were.”
Key nodded and rocked against him. She stared at the fire and Cam watched her face, at the light flickering and playing along her skin. He reached out and touched her cheek with the tips of his fingers and she smiled at him, turning her face and pushing her cheek against his palm.
“I’m just afraid,” she said. “After all the horrible things we’ve seen, and we still have men like Rador acting out. Whatever comes next… I’m afraid it’ll be worse. I’m afraid we’ll lose each other.”
“I don’t know about that.” Cam moved closer to her and put an arm around her shoulder, hugging her tight. “We’ve seen a lot of bad, you’re right. But we’ve also seen so much good. The men have come together like I never dreamed they would, and everyone’s been fighting so hard. There isn’t a single person in the entire village that isn’t helping out, except for maybe Kraed, but even he’s doing his duty.”
She smiled a little. “You’re right. Kraed doing work is a miracle.”
“I’m just saying, bad things always lead to change, but the change doesn’t always lead to more bad. We can take what we’ve got and make something good out of it.”
“You really believe that?” She turned her chin toward him, her lips close to his. “You think you can make something out of all this?”
“I’m going to.” He leaned toward her, brushed his lips against hers and kissed her. She returned that kiss, a long and slow thing.
But they were interrupted. A shout rang out from the perimeter of the carts. Cam released Key, put his bowl down on the grass, and scooped up his spear. He stood just as Key climbed up and together they rushed toward the carts, moving between the gaps. Several warriors were lined up just a few feet away, between their camp and the Elven camp.
Lined up before them were several Elves. Cam recognized Miuri right away, along with some of the other females and a couple males. They had left their armor behind and Cam realized it was the first time he was seeing any of the other Elves without it. Cam stared at Miuri, at her form-fitted tunic with scrolling vines and leaves stitched along the borders, the top two buttons undone to show her chest. Her hair was pinned back and swept over one shoulder, and she wore the same simple brown boots she always had on.
The other Elves were dressed in similar outfits with some variation. He saw animal motifs on one of the men, what looked like a horse and an elk. Another woman had a lake motif, and another had mountains. They were not wearing weapons, but they were holding something in their hands. At first, Cam thought they were clay funeral urns, and a chill ran down his spine.
Cam got closer and pushed his way through the men. “What’s going on here?” he asked.
“Shaman.” Godug was standing at the head of the warriors. “I wasn’t sure what to do. These Elves wanted to come into our camp, but…” He trailed off, frowning at Luccus, who stood nearby and glared death at the unarmed Elves.
“I come bearing gifts,” Miuri said in a pleasant tone. She smiled huge at Cam and lifted up a large jug. He realized with a start that they weren’t holding funeral urns at all, but instead brought jugs of wine.
Cam couldn’t help but smile as he turned to his warriors. “When was the last time you all had a good drink?” he asked.
He saw a few confused faces then a murmur of excitement moved through them.
“Is that what they’re holding?” Godug asked.
“Oh, yes,” Miuri said. “Elven wine. Cam here had a taste, I think he can tell you if it’s any good.”
“It’s delicious, Godug. Like our harvest beer, but stronger,” Cam said.
Godug frowned for a moment then turned to the Elves. He bowed his head and gestured at the camp. “Ladies, gentlemen, I apologize for the way we reacted. If you’re sharing drink, we’re sharing our camp. Please come join us.”
Miuri laughed and a few of the Elves grinned at him. Godug seemed abashed, but he managed to smile back.
Luccus spat on the ground. “I won’t drink that Elf shit,” he said. “And you’re all pig fucking idiots if you touch the stuff. They just want—”
“Shut up, Luccus,” Marap said. “You stupid ass. Don’t insult our friends. Not when they come bearing gifts.”
“You’re all going to—” Luccus began but his protests were drowned out by the rest of the warriors telling him to shut his stupid mouth.
He glowered then backed down. He spat on the ground again and stalked off. There was a brief moment of silence until Miuri and the Elves came forward, mingling with the warriors and handing over their jugs. The mood was dampened by Luccus only for a moment as the whole group walked into the center of the carts, holding up their jugs of wine and proclaiming a night of drinking.
A cheer went up as the men began to pour the jugs of wine. Wooden cups were passed out to everyone, and Cam made sure he grabbed three before steering Key back toward their fire.
32
Miuri followed and joined Cam and Key at their fire. She lingered on Cam’s left while Key sat on Cam’s right, leaning back on her hands, her long, lean legs stretched out in front of her. Miuri bowed her head at Cam and offered her jug before sinking down cross-legged.
“If you’ll allow me, I’d be happy to pour your drinks,”
Miuri said.
Cam took the jug but shook his head. “That won’t be necessary, Miuri. We’re capable of pouring our own.”
“Oh, that’s a surprise,” Key said. “I thought you were a big, bad shaman now. Don’t you need a bunch of beautiful Elven Princesses to cater to your every whim?”
“Don’t tease him,” Miuri said. “It’s not his fault the magic gave him an enormous ego as well.”
“That’s true.” Key laughed and nudged against Cam. “Don’t look so glum, we’re only joking.”
“I know,” he said. “Come on. Let’s drink before this gets any worse.”
In the firelight, Miuri looked almost delicate and gentle, her thin frame and sweeping cheekbones making her look younger than she likely was. Her pointed ears poked through her hair and Cam was tempted to touch them, but held off, figuring it was rude.
All around them, Elves joined Human campfires and offered drink. As the alcohol flowed, the conversation got louder, and soon Cam began to relax. He was worried someone might try something stupid with the Elves, but it seemed as though their presence was being accepted after all. It probably helped that the Elves had come without weapons and armor, which was a gesture of good will in itself.
“Whose idea was this?” Cam asked Miuri as he finished eating his evening meal. It had gotten cold from neglect, but he was still hungry.
“Gwedi, if you’d believe it,” Miuri said. “Haesar wanted to come himself, but Gwedi convinced him just to send me and a few others. She figured it would be less formal that way.”
“Sounds like she wanted to keep your Lord away from us,” Key said.
Miuri blinked in surprise then laughed. “I didn’t see that, but I think you’re right.”
“Which means she sent you to your deaths, in her mind at least,” Key said through a mouthful of food.
Cam nudged her. “Cut it out.”
She shrugged, grinning, and Miuri laughed.
“Don’t worry,” Miuri said. “I don’t think Gwedi would actually want any of us dead. She’s a good person, once you get past that… rough exterior.”
