Rise (War Witch Book 1)

by Cain S. Latrani

  Sometimes, it was the little things that meant the most.

  That aside, she couldn't deny that she wanted that kind of relationship with Leto. He was kind, strong, sweet and thoughtful, the kind of man she'd always preferred. He never rushed, or pushed, letting the world around him move at the pace it desired, tackling his goals with patience, and certainty, not missing a chance when it appeared.

  Ramora realized she was smiling at herself in the mirror. Yeah, she wanted him. Stupid Rabbit.

  It begged the question again of why she hesitated. Even her own reasons were starting to sound thin to her. It was obvious he was interested, and as long as she laid out some ground rules, it should be fine.

  Ramora rolled her eyes at her own reflection. Ground rules for a casual sexual relationship. That sounded stupid to even her, and she'd thought it. Not doing so, however, left the door open for one or both to get hurt, and she didn't want that either.

  The life of a Blessed was short enough without hurt feelings on top of it. Besides, she chided herself, he deserved better than someone just interested in a romp, and nothing more.

  Stupid morals.

  Leaning on the dresser, she thumped her forehead against the mirror. Why did everything have to be so confusing?

  Looking at herself, she admitted she could just ask him what he wanted. The heat that spread through her face, and the flush she could see in her reflection settled that. Not going to happen, not now, not ever, nope.

  Pushing back, she shook her head. This was going nowhere. As always, it sent her brain into an endless circle from which there was no escape. She figured she should just have her romp with Izra, have it out of her system, and get on with tracking down Draco so she could shove her sword through his face.

  Face stabbing, her Rabbit sang.

  Ramora sighed. Chara really did get it from her after all.

  Putting on a smile, she headed for the door. Everything would work itself out. Until it did, she could put her urges on hold. It wasn't like they were going anywhere.

  Little did she know, next door, Leto was getting a most unusual visitor.

  Having woken with the light of his God on his face, Leto was feeling in a good mood as he sat rubbing his eyes. Staring out the window for a bit, he was sure this was going to be a great day. Something about the way the sunlight filtered in made him sure of it.

  Standing, he had a good stretch and started for the bathroom when someone whistled at him. Jumping, he spun to see the tall form of Talbor sitting in a chair by the door, giving him an appreciative look.

  "Good morning, sunshine, indeed," the demigod smirked.

  "Who are you? How did you get in here?" the Blessed of Grannax demanded, taking a step forward, trying to be as menacing as possible in the buff.

  "Sorry," Talbor sighed. "I'm Ramora's Ascended, Talbor by name. Nice to finally meet you, Leto."

  "Um," Leto managed, feeling very off-balance.

  "Sharp one, aren't you?" the Ascended chuckled.

  Frowning, Leto looked around for his pants. "You caught me off guard. What can I do for you?"

  Talbor eased up, sliding across the room to snag the garment he knew the poor lad was looking for. "Oh, I just wanted to have a little talk with you, that's all, about our mutual cupcake, Ramora. Let's call it a little quality man-on-man time."

  "Cute," the Blessed of Grannax snorted. "Give me my pants."

  "In a minute," Talbor grinned. "What's the rush, anyway? Not like I mind seeing what you're swinging there."

  Flushing, Leto tried to find a way to stand that wasn't humiliating, failing miserably. "I'm not sure how I'm supposed to react to that."

  "Most people go with flattery, but this embarrassed thing is working nicely for you," the demigod laughed. "I like the way you've gotten all rosy-cheeked, by the way. Just adorable. I can see why she has such a thing for you. I bet you would be unforgettable. Not as much as me, of course, but still, up there, for sure."

  "What are you talking about?" Leto asked, feeling somewhat justified in sounding plaintive.

  "Ramora, my boy, or were you not paying attention?" Talbor replied.

  Nodding slowly, he held out one hand. "I'd be more comfortable having that conversation in clothes."

  "Spoil sport," Talbor shrugged, tossing him his pants.

  Shrugging into them, he glanced over to find the wolf-tailed immortal grinning, and wagging happily. Noting that at least it wasn't just Shana who was free-spirited, he fastened up.

  "Now," he said, trying to smile. "What can I do for you?"

  Talbor smirked at him. "Oh, it isn't for me, luscious lad, it's for my sweet, adorable, kind of spiny little sister, Ramora, that you can do something for. Namely, wake up like that next to her."

  "That's kind of..." Leto stammered.

  "Suggestive?" Talbor offered. "Why yes, it was. Possibly because it was meant to be."

  "I can see that," Leto admitted.

  "Point is, my young friend, she's got it in her head that she should stay on mission and not take a little time out every now and then to decompress, unwind, and savor the joys of life," Talbor told him. "Right now, more than ever, she needs to, and I was hoping you could help me out with that by scratching her itches."

  Leto flushed again. "Is it just me, or do all Ascended not grasp the concept of restraint?"

  "It isn't just you," the demigod shrugged. "We really don't."

  "I've noticed," he replied dryly. "And while I get what you're trying to do here, I'm not interested in being pimped out by a demigod, so I'll pass."

  Talbor blinked, then laughed hysterically. "Pimped out! By the Gods, that's just what I'm doing, isn't it? I feel so rotten now. Ah, me. I never was very good at the subtle euphemisms that normally go along with something like this. I apologize, that wasn't how I meant it."

  "Not many other ways you could mean it," Leto pointed out, feeling a bit insulted.

  The demigod gave a chagrined nod. "True enough. Please, allow me to refine my request."

  Reluctantly, Leto waved him to go ahead, saying, "Just try to keep it in the ballpark of decency, please?"

  Giving him a salute, Talbor grinned. "Yes, Sir, my General!"

  "And don't do that again, either," Leto pleaded.

  "Right," Talbor sighed. "Okay, so, here's the thing, buddy. Tomorrow is Ramora's birthday. This is always kind of a rough time for her, since she lost her family and all on her birthday."

  "Oh," Leto gasped. "She never told me that."

  "She doesn't like to talk about it, for obvious reasons," the Ascended admitted. "It was two years before she told Ramor, and she staunchly refused to be given a party of any kind, or gifts, even after that. It's a day she usually spends in mourning, you see, and while I can understand that, I can't stand watching her grieve herself on a day that should be celebrating her."

  "Makes sense," Leto admitted. "How do I fit in to this, though?"

  "I'm asking you to throw her a party," Talbor replied with a wolfish grin. "Get the other Blessed involved. Chara and Esteban as well. Make a day of it."

  Leto thought about that for a minute. "What if she doesn't want a party?"

  "She never wants a party," he sighed heavily. "She wants to forget all about it. Act like the day means nothing. It doesn't, though. For me, for Ramor, it's a very special occasion, and try as we might, we've never gotten her to see that. Maybe you'll have more luck."

  "I can't say I'm entirely comfortable with this," Leto admitted. "If not thinking about it is what she wants, then I'm not sure I have a right to step on that."

  Frowning, Talbor shook his head. "I knew I should've brought it up to Chara first. Ah well, I gambled on you and now I seem to have lost. One last thing before I go?"

  "What's that?"

  "Are you really okay knowing she's going to cry herself to sleep tonight?" Talbor asked before vanishing in a swirl of lights.

  Leto stood for some time, pondering that. In the end, he found he really wasn't okay with it at all.
After that, his decision was easy. He just hoped she didn't get mad and kick his face in.

  She had really long legs, after all. She could do that. Probably could put her foot on his shoulder. She seemed nimble enough. He wouldn't mind if she did, when he thought about it.

  As the foursome wrapped up their morning meal, Chara gave Esteban a little nudge and a smile, getting a bored look in return. Leto and Ramora were being cute and awkward around each other again. While she found it adorable, he was rather tired of it. He'd learned since arriving in Lansing that he wasn't much of a busybody, something his beloved seemed to take a great deal of delight in.

  As they readied to depart for their daily practices, Leto's mind whirled with a way to talk to Chara and Esteban without Ramora overhearing. All the guerrilla tactics in the world didn't seem to help him now as he sought for a tactful, believable way to get the woman to leave them alone for a bit.

  Lucky for him, Chara answered that question, saying, "Hey, Ramora, don't forget that it's your turn to help Rills set up the training area. Get a move on."

  Giving the other woman a snide look, the warrior priestess shoved a cinnamon roll in her mouth and jumped up, jogging out of the inn. Leto watched her go with a mixture of relief and appreciation. That camisole really did nice things for her, especially when she hurried, and he was suddenly glad he'd worn loose pants.

  "I swear," Chara muttered. "If her head wasn't attached, she'd forget it somewhere."

  "I seem to recall your mother saying the same about you," Esteban snickered.

  Chara turned a disapproving look on him. "Oh, look who wants to sleep on the floor tonight."

  The big Cat coughed softly. "Never mind."

  "I need to talk to you guys about Ramora," Leto blurted.

  So much for tactful.

  Giving him a curious look, Chara ordered another coffee and leaned back. "Okay. What did you want to talk about?"

  Steadying himself, he said, "So, you guys know tomorrow is her birthday, right?"

  Chara and Esteban gave each other surprised looks, but it was the Cat who spoke first. "We had no idea."

  "Really?" the Blessed asked. "Aren't you her best friends?"

  "In case you've missed it," Chara snorted. "She's kind of tight-lipped."

  Leto gave her a withering stare. "Very funny."

  "Actually, Chara is correct," Esteban said. "Ramora doesn’t talk about herself often. Wasn't it Talbor who told you of how she came to live with Ramor, beloved?"

  She nodded, giving a weary look. "I doubt I'd know now if he hadn't, too. She's not big on being open about things. Which is kind of annoying."

  "Yes, well, speaking of Talbor, he's the one who told me about her birthday coming up," Leto admitted.

  "When did this happen?" Chara asked, a little miffed the Ascended hadn't come to her.

  Leto shrugged a little. "This morning. He was in my room waiting for me to wake up."

  "That sounds awkward," Esteban chuckled.

  "You didn't wake up, how should we say, happy, did you?" Chara snickered.

  Flushing, Leto repressed the urge to crawl under the table. "Can we stay focused on the subject, please?"

  "Ramora's birthday, got it," Chara nodded. "So, when's the party?"

  "That's what I wanted to discuss with you two, actually," he said.

  "I'm not sure that's a good idea," Esteban interjected. "If she didn't bring this up herself, I'm not certain we should be doing anything."

  Leto sagged a bit. "I said the same thing, especially when Talbor told me that Draco attacked her village on her birthday."

  "Definitely we shouldn't do this," Esteban grunted. "Very bad idea. She'll get mad and kill us all."

  Chara tossed him an annoyed look. "No, she won't."

  "I hope," Leto sighed. "Point is, Talbor fears that she's avoiding making new, good memories, because of the bad ones."

  "Obviously," Esteban said. "I would think watching your family get slaughtered isn't the kind of thing you ever get over. Seems reasonable to me we leave it alone. She'll deal with it in her own time, and her own way."

  Chara punched him in the arm. "Or her family, meaning us, steps in to help her move past it."

  Esteban rubbed his arm. "I think I just said it wasn't something a person could ever really move past."

  "Yeah, but you’re a Cat, so hush," she chided.

  Giving her a sour look, he sipped his coffee and let the two plot their own demise. He and Ramora hadn't always gotten along, but he knew her well enough to know that if she hadn't brought this matter up herself, or even made a single mention of it over the almost year now she and Chara had been friends, there was a good reason for it. He wasn't about to stick his whiskers in the middle of that.

  "So, will you help me organize a party for her?" Leto asked Chara.

  "Damn right I will," she said. "Best damn party she's ever had, too!"

  Esteban sighed heavily. This was not going to end well.

  Bit fell to the floor, gasping for breath. "Bloody Hells, woman. No wonder you've got a Were for a lover. No normal man could keep up with ya."

  "Remember that, too," Chara scolded him.

  "Can we eat?" Izra whined. "I'm starving!"

  Giving the Elf another of her now infamous looks of disapproval, Chara shook her head. "Are you going to want to stop in the middle of the battle to have a snack?"

  Chastised, she pouted. "No."

  "That aside," Rick cut in before the young woman could upbraid the Elf any more. "I think now's a good time to break for lunch."

  "Fine," Chara muttered. "We'll stop to eat."

  Blessed and City Guard alike sighed in collective relief, drawing an unhappy look from their taskmaster. Rick just shook his head in wonderment. Never would he have guessed such a young woman capable of driving seasoned veterans to beg for mercy.

  "Ramora," Chara called. "Go let the kitchen staff know we'll be taking our lunch out here today."

  The warrior gave her a pathetic look from the shady spot where she'd just collapsed.

  "Don't give me that," the young woman barked. "Double time, soldier!"

  "I'm going to kill you for teaching her that," Flick muttered to Rills.

  The Lieutenant sagged. "Please, do, and make it quick."

  Giving her friend a snide look, Ramora drug herself up and trudged towards the castle entrance, slapping at one of the heavy hay-filled obstacle course dummies as she went. With their teamwork at an all-time high, Chara had organized the mad, half-mile long affair to help them build stamina, speed, and agility.

  The warrior couldn't help but notice the other woman had never run the damn thing. Probably because she knew it was borderline torture. Which made Chara a sadist of sorts. Even if it did get Leto all sweaty. In the sun. Where he took his shirt off.

  Picking up the pace, she hurried into the castle.

  As soon as she was out of sight, Chara turned, grinning. "Huddle up! Leto has an announcement."

  Groaning, the various Blessed and soldiers drug their aching bodies over as the Blessed of Grannax moved to stand beside their tactician. With a thankful smile, he took a deep breath, and set about pitching his idea.

  "Okay, so, here we go," he said, clapping his hands and rubbing them together. "I've learned that tomorrow is Ramora's birthday, and that's she's a bit hesitant to celebrate it. I thought we could throw her a party, get her some gifts, and take the whole afternoon off to celebrate our good fortunes at having her in our lives."

  "Sounds good to me," Bit nodded. "Anything to get away from the wee harpy over there and her bloody lash of a tongue."

  "Hey, now!" Chara cried, getting a laugh from the gathered group.

  "I agree," Izra nodded. "We should take the time to celebrate that she's with us."

  "I'm for it," Flick agreed. "Any reason to drink is a good enough one for me."

  The guards murmured their assent as well, with Rills quickly volunteering to help in any way possible, before realizing they were all be
ing asked that, and sitting back down, embarrassed.

  "Tanna," Leto called. "What of you?"

  The Troll hesitated a moment, then nodded slightly. "I suppose. I'm not really one for parties, but for Ramora, I will make an exception."

  "Well, you can count me in," Rick chuckled.

  "I don't think so," Sabra grunted.

  Everyone paused, looking at the gruff Ogre, before Chara asked, "Why not?"

  Shaking her head, the Blessed of Verea stepped forward. "If we're making these plans while she isn't present, then I can only assume you mean to surprise her."

  "Well, yeah," Leto admitted.

  "Did you stop and ask yourself if she wishes such a surprise?" the Ogre asked. "Perhaps she does not wish a party at all. If this isn't something she's requested, then I'm left to wonder if it's a wise course of action."

  Esteban scooted away from Chara to join Sabra. "I'm going to be with her on this. After all, you have yet to tell them that she lost her family on her birthday."

  "What?" Sabra roared. "This is not a good idea. To ask her to celebrate while she carries the memory of that, it should not be done."

  "We're hoping to remind her that there are good things in life, too, especially on this day," Leto replied softly. "To help her think of her birthday as more than a tragic event in her life. We're all grateful that she was born, Sabra, and we want her to know it."

  "It isn't that I don't understand," she said slowly. "I do. I would wish to toast her myself, for as a warrior, she has lived another year, but we must also respect what she lost on this day, and let her remember her family as she sees fit."

  Tanna scowled slightly. "Sabra has a point, Leto. Perhaps we've not thought this through."

  "Thought what through?" Untar asked as he sauntered up, waving the guards off before they could even kneel.

  "Ramora's birthday is tomorrow, and we want to throw her a party," Chara told him. "But we've got a couple of wet blankets."

  "I see," the King said. "I take it there's a good reason for that?"

  "Just the tragic massacre of her home and family," Sabra grunted. "No small thing to get past on the anniversary of both one’s birth, and one’s greatest loss."