Above the Storm

by JMD Reid

Vel caught up, seizing her arm.

  “Let me go!” She jerked hard, ripping out of his grip. “And if you try to kiss me again, I will—”

  “Ary’s at the Friendly Maid.”

  She froze. “What?” Her mind struggled with that. “No, he’s in our bed. Sleeping.”

  “I just saw him, Lena. He’s at the Friendly Maid and . . .” Vel grimaced. “I hate to tell you this, but he was dandling an Agerzak maid on his lap.”

  Her insides went cold. “What did you say?”

  “He had one of the whores on his lap.”

  “You’re lying,” she whispered. He has to be lying.

  “Go see for yourself. He’s still there, drunk and cavorting.”

  “He wouldn’t do that.”

  “It’s the truth. He probably thought he could get away with it while you were out on your training flight.”

  Her insides twisted into knots. Have I lost him? Were his roots that shallow? Or was my mistake that great? She trotted, almost running, as she led Whitesocks to the stable. She had to know. Whitesocks neighed as she led him into his stall, her fingers working fast to uncinch his saddle and remove his bridle, her hands shaking.

  “I’m sorry, Lena,” Vel said, leaning on the stall’s door.

  “Go away,” she hissed at him, her fear and frustration mounting. This was all Vel’s fault. If he’d never said he loved her, she’d never have started thinking about him, wondering, aching. “I don’t want to see you right now!”

  “What’s going on, Lena?” Zori asked, peering out from Dancer’s stall.

  “Ary’s at the Friendly Maid.”

  “No he ain’t,” laughed Zori.

  “Yes, he is,” Vel insisted.

  Zori narrowed her eyes at Vel. “And why are you telling her this?”

  “I’m just trying to be a friend.”

  “Right,” sneered the short woman. “Come on, Chaylene, don’t listen to him, he’s—”

  “Why would he lie? You know how Ary’s been lately.”

  “So he’s having a drink?” Zori shrugged.

  “He’s not.” Vel sounded so certain. “You don’t want to go and see him. It’ll just hurt too much. What you need to do is—”

  “Out of the way!” Chaylene’s anger gusted through her. Whitesocks reared, neighing loudly as she closed his paddock door. She stormed past Vel and stalked towards the section of broken fencing everyone used to sneak out of the camp.

  “Lena . . .” Vel said.

  “Leave me alone, Vel!” Her anger, guilt, and fear boiled through her. “I don’t want you!”

  She marched into the night.

  “Where are we going?” Zori gasped when she caught up to Chaylene.

  “The Friendly Maid.”

  ~ * * ~

  Ahneil’s lips pressed hot on Ary’s, her body light and wiggling upon his lap. Fire burned in his foggy mind. He knew this was wrong. He shouldn’t be kissing her. No matter how wonderful she tasted, felt. He had a wife.

  Chaylene.

  He loved her. But she dallied with Vel. Right? She denied it, but why else would she sneak off to see him at night? Lovers always did that in the stories. So why shouldn’t he have his own dalliance? Ahneil was surprisingly lithe for her height. Her body ignited his desires. He could rent a room, take her right here, and hurt Chaylene.

  His stomach curdled.

  He pushed Ahneil off his lamp. She tumbled to the floor with a grunt. She looked up, blinking. “What?”

  “I’m married,” Ary groaned, pushing away from the table, the world swimming.

  “So?” Ahneil stood, stumbling and knocking over his mug of beer, spilling a foamy flood across the splintered tabletop. “That didn’t stop her.” She grabbed him, her fingers strong, her face leaning in for another kiss.

  He seized her shoulders and pushed her away. “I love her. I married her.”

  “Fine. Go back to your cheating wife.” She slumped into a seat, grabbed a mug of beer, and gulped it down.

  “Sorry, Ahneil.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re just an idiot. Half the camp knows about it. They snigger in their hands whenever you pass. She’s made a set of horns for you. So what do I care if you want to wear them?”

  “She didn’t cheat on me. She loves me.”

  Ahneil laughed. “Rusting metal, you are an idiot. Go back to her. But don’t come crying to me when she cuckolds you again.”

  Ary barreled out of the Friendly Maid. The quiet street of Shon swam about him. He shook his head, his blood boiling, his thoughts wreathed in foamy mist. He struggled to remember which way to go to get back to the camp. His bleary vision made everything look the same. He wanted to see Chaylene. He could kiss her.

  “Briaris!” a woman shouted, her voice angry.

  Ary jumped. “Ma? But you’re dead.”

  Two women strode up to Ary. One had hands on her hips, her ebony face twisted with anger. “What in the Sun Above are you doing out here?”

  “Hey, Lena.” Ary smiled, his fires still burning from Ahneil’s kiss. His wife always knew how to douse them. He stumbled towards her. “Missed you. Let me give you a kiss.”

  “Are you drunk, Briaris?”

  “Why you calling me that?” He glanced at Zori. “Makes her sound like my ma. But she’s gone.”

  “What were you doing in that whorehouse?”

  “Getting drunk.” It was so obvious, he wasn’t sure why Chaylene had asked. He reached out to grab her shoulder. She stepped back. His hand missed, and he almost fell on his face.

  “And who were you getting drunk with?”

  “My marines.”

  “And some Agerzak whore?”

  “She isn’t a whore,” Ary protested.

  His wife’s eyes widened. “So it’s true. You were cavorting with some hussy!”

  “I wasn’t cavorting. Just drinking.”

  “With another woman!”

  His eyes blinked. “You’re mad?”

  “Did you just now figure that out? Why, Ary? Did you think I’d be out longer? Are you mad at me still? Why did you buy a friendly maid?”

  “Is that what you’re angry about?” He chuckled. “I didn’t buy a whore.”

  “Right. You were just in a whorehouse on the night I had to do a late training mission. I was told what you were doing, Briaris! How could you do this to me?”

  “I didn’t do anything,” he protested. “She kissed me and—”

  She slapped him. “He was right! You did dally with another woman!”

  “Let’s calm down,” Zori said, putting a hand on Chaylene’s shoulder.

  Anger consumed Ary’s pleasant buzz. “I did not. I would never do that to you.”

  “You just said you kissed her.”

  “She kissed me. That’s it.”

  “Right,” sneered Chaylene.

  “You’re one to talk.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Let’s just—” Zori tried to say.

  “You know what it means.” His fists clenched, his stomach twisting. “You and Vel. Slipping off together. Making horns for me to wear.”

  “I never did anything!”

  “Right,” Ary muttered. “You just snuck off in the middle of the night to see your lover.”

  She slapped him again. “I was never his lover! I’ve only had one man, and he’s the drunken sow before me. Is this why you bedded the whore? To get back at me?” Emotion glistened in her eyes. “To hurt me?”

  “I’m gonna get Guts.” Zori announced, jogging towards the bar.

  “Nothing happened. You can ask Estan or Guts. They’ll tell you. We just drank.”

  Her third slap stung his face. “Stop lying to me, Briaris. You don’t come to this place to just drink. I know what goes on in there. You came here to bed a pretty Agerzak girl. With her pale skin and black hair.”

  “Stop slapping me! I did nothing wrong.”

  “Yes, you did. Vel told me. You were with some Agerzak who
re.”

  His anger flared. “Vel?”

  She flinched and shifted. “He, uh . . . saw you.”

  “You were with Vel?” His voice became ice, stomach twisting. “You weren’t on a training mission?” Then he stumbled to a nearby building as his stomach rebelled. He leaned against, his vomit splattering onto the ground, a vile, bitter taste cloying his mouth. She was with him again! She claimed it was over.

  Her hand touched him. He knocked it away and spat bile. “You accuse me of dallying, and you were with your lover tonight!”

  “I wasn’t with him. And he’s not my lover.” Pain thickened her words. “You have to believe me, Ary. He was waiting for me when we finished up our mission. He just wanted to tell me what you were doing.”

  “Which was drinking. If I have to believe your lies, then the least you could do is believe my truths.”

  “Stop saying that I’m lying. Please, Ary. I never did anything with him.”

  “And I never did anything with her. But you, Lena, you kept sneaking off to see him. You lied about it.”

  “But I chose you, Ary. Not Vel. You’re the man I want.”

  “Then why did you see him in secret? I need to understand.”

  “I was confused. He was your friend, and yet he wanted me. And then I liked how he made me feel. It was stupid. Deep inside, I . . . I knew I shouldn’t slip out to see Vel. And . . . and . . .”

  He stared into her eyes. They swam with tears, pleading with him. “You wanted him?”

  She flinched. He couldn’t be near her. He had to get away. His heart beat in his chest, every contraction tearing open new wounds. He stumbled down the streets of Shon, fleeing jumbled pain.

  “Where are you going?” she asked.

  “Barracks. I don’t want to look at you.”

  “I’m sorry, Ary.” She caught up, grabbing his arm. “But just tell me the truth, Ary. If it wasn’t to bed a whore, why were you out?”

  “My ma’s dead.”

  “Oh, no,” she gasped.

  The wracking sobs came, his legs buckling. Then he collapsed onto his knees. “She never got my letter, Lena.”

  She knelt before him. Her arms engulfed him, pulling him to her breast. “I’m so sorry.”

  He sobbed against her, his anger drowned by his grief. She held him and stroked his hair. He would never see his ma again. She would never know he forgave her. “She died thinking I hated her.”

  She soothed him. He let out all his pain, clutching her tight.

  “How can I tell her I forgive her now?”

  “I’m sure she’s up with Riasruo,” Chaylene whispered, kissing his brow. “She’s looking down at you. She knows that you forgave her.”

  Ary wanted to believe that.

  “Why didn’t I just write to her when the letter first arrived? Why was I such a fool?”

  “We’re all foolish sometimes. I shouldn’t have seen Vel. It was wrong of me to go behind your back. I’m sorry.”

  “When Ahneil kissed me . . .”

  “Ahneil?” she asked, confusion flickering across her face. “Vel must have thought she was a whore.”

  Ary ignored his name.

  “Well, I guess she is a whore,” Chaylene growled, anger swallowing the confusion. “I storming knew it!”

  Ary shifted, understanding his wife’s fury, then continued on, “When she kissed me, part of me wanted to . . . keep kissing her.” He looked into her eyes. “I’m sorry, Lena. I shouldn’t have enjoyed the kiss. I . . .”

  “It’s okay. I believe you, Ary. I understand.”

  “You do?” Ary’s voice cracked.

  “I do, Ary.” She looked into his eyes, pleading with him. “I believe you, just like you believe me.”

  Do I believe you? I almost slipped up with Ahneil. And you kept going out to see Vel? In the dark. With no witnesses . . . “I believe you.”

  Chaylene smiled.

  She has to love me. She can’t fake that affection.

  She’s a good liar. I never suspected she was slipping off to see someone on her walks.

  Ary wished he had never gone out that night. That he’d never found them together. His life would be so much simpler. He would trust her again.

  “Well, I am glad this is resolving itself,” Estan said.

  Ary jumped. He hadn’t noticed Zori, Guts, and Estan standing nearby watching them. His cheeks reddened in embarrassment.

  “Ahneil must have kissed him when I slipped out to the privy,” Estan added. “I wasn’t gone long enough for anything to happen, so you have nothing to be worried about.”

  “Thanks,” Chaylene said. “Ary, let’s just go back to camp and forget all about tonight.”

  Ary looked at her, his mind fuzzy from the alcohol and drained by his anger. “Yeah, okay.”

  Part Four

  Storms

  Riding tempest

  Storming steeds

  Howling madness

  Gleaming blades

  —Fragment of Reavers of the Tempest

  by Nzuuth sze Hyesk

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chaylene wasn’t sure she’d slept. She stared at the ceiling, trying to forget the night before. Everything was a mess. Questions spilled through her mind. What great trauma is Ary hiding? Why can’t he share it with me?

  Why did I ever sneak out to see Vel?

  No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t cross that void that yawned between them. No matter how hard she pleaded, she couldn’t convince her husband she’d never cuckolded him. I only wanted to. The tears came again. She sobbed silently beside her husband. I messed it all up. Why couldn’t I fight my desires? Why did I walk the skyland’s edge with Vel?

  Why was I the skies’ most downyheaded fool?

  Ary groaned beside her, his body trembling.

  She sighed, wiping her eyes. Another dream.

  “What’s coming?” he groaned. His face tensed in his sleep, his jaw locked, fighting the words. “What danger? What are you talking about?”

  Danger? She frowned. This was new. Was it the same dream?

  “Stop talking about the storming chains! Give me some answers. What is coming? What danger? If you won’t answer my questions, then just leave me alone!”

  “Ary,” she whispered, shaking his body.

  His skin burned to her touch. Feverish sweat beaded his forehead as he thrashed. The bed rocked. Fear gripped her heart. Are you sick? Did your illness come back?

  “Please, Ary, wake up.” She shook him harder.

  “I don’t care who betrayed you. What did you mean by something’s coming? Speak to me!”

  She cupped his face, stroking the strong lines of his chin. His stubble rasped beneath her fingers. “Ary! It’s a dream. You need to wake up. Please!”

  His red eyes snapped open. “What . . .?” He bolted up and looked around, his eyes wild. “Chaylene,” he sighed, crashing back down to his pillow. His breath exploded out of him in ragged gusts.

  “What’s going on, Ary?” she whispered, touching him, the made heat bleeding out of his skin.

  “Just a dream,” he muttered. “Go back to sleep.”

  He rolled onto his side, putting his back to her.

  “Your body was feverish, Ary.” She pressed against his back. “And now the heat’s gone. In heartbeats. That’s not normal. You have to tell me. You can’t keep hiding this from me.”

  “You hid Vel from me.”

  She flinched at his words. “I . . . How many times do I have to apologize for that? It was stupid. I should have told you. But these dreams, Ary. Why are they so intense? What’s coming?”

  He let out a growl and rolled out of bed. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  But she needed to understand. Letting him have his secret would help mend the rift, but a prickling need drove her on. “Well, I need to.” Her heart thudded. “I’m scared for you.”

  “Are we just going to fight again?” he sighed, sinking down into a chair. The room had g
rown brighter. Dawn approached.

  “I just need to understand, Ary. Why won’t you talk to me? Do you hate me?” I hate myself. I’ve made such a mess of things. I was a stupid girl. I promised to be your wife. I failed to live up to my vows. She tried to say those thoughts, but only sobs escaped her lips.

  “I don’t hate you.” He said finally, his face stony. “I just . . . I can’t tell you, Chaylene. Okay? So just drop it.”

  “Why can’t you tell me?” She slipped out of bed. “What’s so terrible about this secret? Does it involve your ma? Is that who you dream about?”

  “Just drop it, Chaylene!” he roared, an angry boar looming over her. “You don’t want to know.”

  She did not flinch. “I do. I care about you.”

  He slammed his fist on the table. Wood cracked. “If you cared about me then you wouldn’t have seen Vel behind my back!”

  “We only talked.” She was growing tired of saying that, her heart breaking at the pain in her husband’s voice. “Do you . . . still love me, Ary?”

  “Yes! Theisseg help me, but I do. I joined the Navy for you, Chaylene. You’re in my blood! You beat in my chest. I wish I could rip out my heart so it would stop hurting. I just wished you loved me.”

  Her legs almost collapsed. “I do love you, Ary. I married you. You, not Vel. I made my choice. You’re the man I wanted. You beat in my heart.”

  His eyes bored into her. “You chose me? What are you talking about?”

  She hesitated.

  “What choice, Chaylene?”

  “After the draft, Vel asked me to marry him before you did.”

  “What?”

  “When he came after me. He . . .” She gave a laugh. “Riasruo Above, he told me you weren’t coming. And then he kissed me.”

  “He said I wasn’t coming? But I sent him after you to bring you back. I had to enlist before it was too late.”

  Ary sent him? Chaylene looked back on all of Vel’s actions. He’d lied to her in the alley. And last night, he’d lied again about seeing Ary carousing with a whore. She believed Guts and Estan’s story about the night. Vel was just trying to seduce me. Like those deluded girls he would bed back in Ahly. He tricked each one into thinking he loved her. And I almost fell for it.

  How could I be so stupid?

  She gave a bitter laugh. “He’s a liar.” Another sob escaped from her lips. “I’m such an idiot, Ary.”