by Sara Gaines
“Your overdeveloped manners will do you more harm on these roads than good if you offer a meal to everyone you come across.” Kahira’s eyes had softened, albeit slightly, and I noticed for the first time that her speech was slightly accented.
Ori took a step to stand beside me, obviously unhappy with Kahira’s tone. “We are offering dinner to a woman who helped us, as is customary. Even people the likes of you should show some semblance of manners. Should that be above you, however, then continue on your way.”
Kahira saw Ori’s hand resting on the pommel of his sword. The woman’s eyebrow arched as her green eyes flicked over the guard’s aggressive stance, further highlighting the tattoo she wore. “Relax. I have no reason to kill either of you.”
I felt the air thicken as Ori stared at Kahira. A smirk spread across the woman’s face when Ori was unable to release the white-knuckled grip he had on his sword.
“Fine.” Kahira sighed and relaxed her body, effectively calming the aggressive spark between her and Ori. “Help me bury these men, and I will join you for dinner.”
The way she agreed convinced me she only did so to aggravate Ori further.
“Why do you care if they are all buried?” Ori’s voice still held an air of suspicion.
“All?” The woman laughed slightly. “I couldn’t care less about the men you seemed to know. However, the men carrying Dakmoran blades belong in the ground.”
Ori grunted in response, as if a question he hadn’t even asked were answered.
Kahira had not even waited to see if Ori and I would help before she chipped away at the soft ground. My guard glanced at me, his silent wish that I order his refusal to help plainly etched on his face. Determined to repay this woman for saving our lives despite how Ori was now treating her, I urged him on. Soon, a still tense Ori was at her side, digging another shallow pit. It wasn’t long before Ori and Kahira managed to dig suitable graves without much difficulty. When the disguised Dakmorans were covered in dirt, Kahira knelt between the two graves, uttering words I could barely hear, but which seemed as though they were in a different language.
As soon as he could, Ori returned to my side. Addressing the woman still hovering over the disturbed earth, he spoke.
“I do believe we owe you a meal.”
The woman ignored him, turning toward us only after she had finished whatever rites she was performing.
“As I said, you and your wife offer more than you should on these roads.”
“He’s not my—” I cut off, completely forgetting that a married couple would bring less suspicion. I hoped the woman had not noticed my slip, but the amused look in her eyes told me otherwise.
“So, unmarried then, but too well-spoken to be a simple peasant girl running off with a trained soldier. I guess you really are the pair those men were asking about. And here I thought they had mistakenly sprung their trap on the wrong travelers. Maybe I will actually enjoy joining your camp tonight. I am always a fan of a good story, after all. Especially if you can tell me why men carrying Dakmoran blades were dressed in the colors of Halvarian nobility.” Kahira sent a shrill whistle into the forest, causing me to flinch and the large dog to jump to its feet with a bark.
“You risked your life to help us; we do owe you some sort of an explanation. I am—” I paused, realizing I should not reveal my true title. “Aleana.”
She tilted her head slightly, obviously amused at the hiccup in identifying myself. Ignoring her reaction, I continued.
“This is Ori. Until we are warmed by a fire tonight and have time to explain the rest, let that information be a show of good faith.”
“Very well then, Aleana, I look forward to hearing the rest.”
The loud rustling of movement in the trees interrupted my annoyance at the woman’s colloquial response to my introduction. However, reminding myself she had no way of knowing who I really was, all was forgotten as a large black horse stepped onto the road. It was clear Ori also recognized the horse from the stables.
“He’s a beautiful animal. How did someone such as yourself manage to buy him? I didn’t think they were traded around here.” Ori’s unspoken accusation fell heavily on the already strained tension.
“They aren’t.” Kahira grabbed her horse’s reins and offered another smirk. “And who says I bought him?”
“WE have to be careful, Aleana.” Ori whispered the low warning as he placed the wood for our fire.
“I agree, but if she were going to kill us, I don’t think she would have gone to the trouble of saving our lives earlier.” I watched as Kahira removed her horse’s tack and began grooming him, the massive dog resting only a few steps away.
Ori’s frustration spread to his voice. “Milady, she’s dangerous. I don’t care if she did save us, she’s Dakmoran, and a criminal at that.”
I knew the shock registered on my face.
The guard offered an explanation. “Did you see the color of her eyes?”
I nodded in response. Of course I had seen her eyes. I could not imagine how a person could look at her and not notice that peculiar shade of green.
“It’s a color found only among Dakmor’s easternmost citizens.”
I tried to process the information, risking glances at the woman still working through her nightly routine.
Ori continued. “The burial was another thing. We saw the Dakmorans performing those same rites for their fallen men during the war.”
“And you say she is a criminal?”
“Yes, the tattoo above her eye is a Dakmoran punishment for a crime.” Ori’s brow creased, obviously attempting to remember something buried deep within his memory. “I believe there are different tattoos for different crimes, but I do not remember what three dots would correspond to.”
I was annoyed at myself for needing to ask the questions. I was to be the queen, and yet there were obvious gaps in my knowledge of the land. That alone bothered me more than the thought of Kahira’s past crimes, whatever they might be.
Ori started the fire and began working on dinner. Each of us glanced at the woman across the campsite. Kahira had been the one who led us there, hinting at a great knowledge of the roads. It was yet another of the woman’s talents that did not sit well with Ori. I took over stirring the oatmeal we were cooking, wanting to feel as though I were aiding in some way.
“What of the scar on her arm? What would have caused that?”
“It looks like a brand, but I’ve only seen them on soldiers who had been tortured in the wars. I tried to get a closer look at hers back on the road. It’s a family crest, inverted, but I couldn’t make out the details enough to know whose crest it was.”
“You think someone tortured her?” I knew my concern was painted plainly on my face.
“I don’t know what else it would be.” Ori’s voice was cold, hinting at no compassion for what this woman must have gone through. “It was probably part of her punishment for her crimes.”
“She won’t hurt us, Ori. It’s only one night.” There was a voice that told me we were safe, but no matter how confident I could seem, I knew Ori wouldn’t abandon his mistrust.
“I hope you’re right.” The guard shrugged. “At least we have very little to steal.”
Admitting that Kahira might not be as great a threat as he believed seemed to make the guard relax, albeit a miniscule amount. Seeing he was lost in thought and knowing there was little I could do to ease his tension, I gave in to an urge that had been gnawing at me from the moment we stopped for camp. Ignoring Ori’s hushed protests, I stood and turned my back to the guard, trusting his abilities to finish cooking our food. Moving caused me to wince at the still present pain in my side, though it had thankfully dulled slightly. Determined to talk to the woman who had saved our lives, I hesitantly walked toward her.
As I approached Kahira, I could not decide if it was the bravest thing I had ever done, or the most foolish. Before I could determine the answer, the low growl of Kahira’s hound greeted my arriva
l.
“Enza, down.” A harsh command came from the animal’s owner, immediately calming the dog. Seeing me, Kahira left her horse’s side and walked over.
My stomach flipped as the woman came toward me, and the words flew from my mouth before I could even think about what I was saying. “You’re Dakmoran.”
The woman’s tattooed eyebrow arched in amusement as a smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. When she spoke, her voice was far softer than it had been before.
“Yes, I am. And which one of you put the pieces together?” Kahira laughed slightly. “That is what I get for taking the time to bury those soldiers.”
“Why did you have to bury them?”
I did not realize I had ignored her question until she was speaking again.
“My people believe a person’s soul fades unless the body of the deceased is placed in the ground and the right words are said.” She knelt to scratch her dog’s ears. “Without the rites, a soul is gone from this world, and all memory of the person vanishes along with it. It is as though the person is erased from ever existing. It is not that I cared for those men, but I cannot disrespect such traditions, even if the families of the men will never know. It is a habit I have never been able to break.”
The way she spoke left no doubt that the two men she buried today were not her first.
Seeing an opportunity to learn more of this woman, I spoke again.
“But, what of soldiers? It must be impossible for every fallen Dakmoran to be treated with such kindness.”
Naming her acts as those of kindness only seemed to amuse her more.
“There is a belief that the spilled blood of a soldier will call to the earth to take him as long as his death was for a noble cause. I….” A sad smile flickered across her expression. “I just believe the men who die at the end of my blades deserve what I can give. I do not wish to be responsible for the extinction of a soul. Even if the man tried to kill me.”
She stood once more, taller than I had originally thought. The cream-colored hound whined, protesting her owner’s sudden lack of attention. Kahira must have caught my nervous glance as the dog climbed to its feet. Choosing to change the subject, she spoke again.
“Don’t worry, Enza is usually harmless.” The dog brushed her head against Kahira’s hand; the woman smiled fondly at her pet’s antics. “What you saw earlier is a side of her even I rarely see.”
“I imagine her presence alone would help you with avoiding a fight.”
Kahira offered another smirk. “Yes, but thankfully such a scenario does not happen much anymore, despite what you might think.”
I let out a strained laugh and swallowed the lump in my throat, afraid the young woman would see a look on my face that would make her assumption clearly true. To avoid her scrutiny, I turned my attention to her other companion. I reached out to her horse and ran my hand along his sleek neck. My heart jumped into my throat as I realized I had turned my back to someone capable of killing me in an instant. Even though I had told myself she meant me no harm, I could not help the chill creeping along my skin. I strained my ears, listening to Kahira’s footsteps approach. She was quiet, and when she spoke, I had no idea she was that close.
“His name is Taewin.”
My breath caught in my throat as I sensed her body so close to mine.
“Despite what I led you to believe earlier, I did not steal him.” Kahira moved to her horse’s front, gently rubbing his nose, but my pulse was still racing, “Not technically, at least.”
“I did not….” I faltered. “I wouldn’t assume….”
She let out a low chuckle, focusing all her attention on the large horse. “Of course you did. Why would you not think I was a thief? Really, based on your friend’s reaction, I think it’s safe to say you think much worse of me.”
She was marked as a criminal, a mysterious brand was cruelly burned into her flesh, and yet she had risked her own life to save mine. I did not know what to think of this woman.
“All I know, all I hope, is that if you intended to harm us, you wouldn’t go through the trouble of helping us to begin with.” I was thankful to regain some measure of calm within my voice, even if I was unsure how I had managed such a feat.
“You shouldn’t worry. I’m not going to do anything.” Her voice was incredibly even.
“Then, Kahira, tell me how you found yourself in possession of such a fine animal?” Her gaze met mine, and I felt the blood run to my cheeks.
She faltered for a moment, as if she were struggling with the decision to tell me anything. However, it wasn’t long before she moved to my side and placed her hand on the massive horse’s head.
“I came across him a few years ago, when Enza and I found ourselves facing our first winter alone. I heard the piercing cry of a terrified horse in the distance and followed it, simply because it was the only sign of other people I had encountered in weeks. The weather was growing cold, the trails had largely been abandoned, and I was starved. Thankfully, it didn’t take me long to find the camp where he was tied up. I don’t know how long he had been there, but he was obviously hungry, and he had fought so hard against his bridle that it had cut into his flesh.
“His cries distracted me at first, but once I calmed him, I finally listened to Enza’s barking and looked around the camp. Weak from traveling, the shock at seeing a body on the ground just a few feet away knocked the last remains of strength from my legs. Scrambling to put as much distance between the body and myself, I pieced together what must have happened.
“The man was definitely a Northern clansman, but the knight had died from something I didn’t care to guess. Whatever it was, even he didn’t see it coming, or he would have released Taewin. But, figuring the man was no longer in need of him, Taewin became mine. Of course, he was in no shape for me to ride, so I struggled to bury the knight in the frozen ground and stayed at his camp while Taewin recovered—along with Enza and me—using the knight’s remaining supplies.”
Kahira finished her story as Taewin dropped his head toward a patch of grass. Leaving her horse to his dinner, Kahira turned her attention to me. A haunted glint flashed in her eyes.
“I would love to have a horse like him.” Without the large animal for us to focus on, my nervousness began to return.
“You’d be surprised. He can sure carry a lot of weight, but his gait is not as smooth as what you can find in the breeds around here. It took me a while to get used to.” Kahira looked toward Taewin’s saddle and the rest of his tack. “Took me even longer to get used to heaving that onto his back.”
Ori’s shout, informing us our dinner was ready, killed my response to the woman in front of me. Turning toward Ori, I realized his blade was at his side, ready to come to my aid had Kahira given any indication she might hurt me. However, I was not foolish enough to believe he could have done anything had she wanted to harm me.
“Go ahead, I’ll be there in a minute.” The harsh tone I first heard in Kahira’s voice started to return.
I tried to offer Kahira a smile before I walked away from her but could barely manage one. Ori raised his eyebrows to me when I reached the campfire. His mood had obviously not improved in the time he spent alone. As I sat next to Ori, accepting the warm porridge he handed to me, I struggled not to whimper at the pain in my side.
He must have noticed the clenching of my jaw. “Milady, are you well?”
“Ori, just call me Aleana.” I checked over my shoulder to make sure Kahira had not heard the honorific. “I was kicked in the side earlier. I’m fine, though, just sore.”
The lie had slipped out with little thought.
“How is your head?”
“I’ve had far worse.” Ori reached up to touch the now bruising cut on his brow.
Kahira’s appearance at our fire interrupted the easy conversation between Ori and me. Even with the large dog at her heels, the woman seemed much less threatening without her leather vest and vambraces. Still, the simple undershirt she wore
with pants and leather boots made her more intimidating than most people could achieve even when trying. Her choice in attire made me realize two things: she would look out of place wearing anything else, and even though she’d be able to hide it, Kahira chose to display the scarred flesh of her arm.
“You two managed to tempt me here, but I hope feeding me is not too much of a strain on your supplies.” Handing one of the two bowls she had retrieved from her saddlebag to Ori, she let him signal that we had plenty to eat by filling it to the brim. “Thank you, Ori—it was Ori, yes?”
“You are correct.” The guard’s voice had not eased in the slightest, but then again, neither had Kahira’s now that she was talking to Ori once more.
Kahira sat, pouring a hearty portion of her porridge into the second bowl and placing it before Enza. She caught Ori’s look and, shrugging her shoulders, she explained, “Why should I eat if she does not?”
I smiled without knowing entirely why and let silence fall on us as we ate. After several minutes, when our stomachs were full and drowsiness began to seep in, Kahira spoke.
“So, you’ve obviously been trained well enough to stay alive when facing three armed men. And you”—Kahira shifted her gaze from Ori to me—“have not learned how to injure brutish men grabbing at you, meaning you definitely are no peasant girl, for if you were, you’d know a well-placed kick would have freed you. All I know is there were men in the uniforms of a Halvarian noble carrying Dakmoran blades in lands they should have no business in, asking questions about a man and woman. I’ve heard things about political shifts of late, so now I’m curious as to how you two fit in.”
“Political shifts?” I tried to keep my voice even, but I knew I sounded worried.
“The Meloran family in Eniva tried to start a war, from what I hear.” Kahira stretched herself out and scratched Enza’s ear. “The men I overheard talking said the duchess decided to secede her lands rather than marry the future king of Halvaria. However, there were apparently too many guards loyal to the Halvarian kingdom, and so they started a rebellion, removing the duchess from power—probably by sticking her head on a pike on the city’s walls—and placing their captain in charge. There were also whispers that whoever is leading Dakmor now sent troops into the duchy as a show of good faith to Halvaria and to stomp out the last of those wishing to start another war.”
