“Are you hungry?”
I shook my head then quickly changed my mind. “I guess a little.”
“I’ll go get something to eat if you want.”
“I should get up,” I said, still unmoved.
He chuckled. “If you say so.”
We overheard voices outside. “No, he’s not here.”
“Then where is he?”
Rain darted out of the tent.
“He left? That’s strange,” I said, pulling the covers up over us.
“Wolves are strange.” He moistened his lips and swallowed, unconcerned.
“Nik?” a voice came from the other side of the curtain.
Nik put his finger to his lips, telling me to be quiet.
“I know she’s in there. The pup told me,” Paw announced.
“Shit!” I whispered, covering my face.
“Then come on back,” Nik invited him, “there’s nothing to see here.”
Paw pulled back the curtain just as I rolled away from Nik’s embrace. “Do you know what this looks like?”
“Like we just woke up?” He sat up and took the band from his hair to retie it. “What do you need, Paw?”
“The Council Meeting?” He petted Rain.
Suddenly sobered, Nik’s posture straightened.
Paw scowled at me. “I’m not surprised that you forgot.”
I hid my face in one of the pillows as Nik moved to the edge of the bed.
“Una, will you excuse me?” he asked, pushing himself onto his feet.
I nodded my head, peeking at him through my tousled hair.
“Nice blouse.” Paw rested his eyes on my chest.
“Don’t be an idiot.” Nik glared at him, tying his trousers properly. “I’ll see you later for training, Una.”
Paw cleared his throat, but a stern look from his colleague kept him quiet. They left the area, but Nik paused before he closed the curtain to give me privacy. “Stay as long as you like. Everything that is mine is yours.”
I rolled onto my back and covered my face with my hands. No matter how much I wanted to stay, lying around would only busy my mind with past regrets. Still, after two days on horseback, Nik’s bed provided welcomed rest, and his tent gave me the gift of invisibility. I flopped over, hugging the pillow under my head to give myself one last chance to fall back to sleep. Stubborn as ever, my consciousness refused to give up its hold on the day. A rumbling from my stomach caused me to finally commit to getting up. After making the bed and erasing the evidence anyone had been in it, I headed to the kitchens, hoping they’d have something to eat.
* * *
Nik had assigned my mother to the children’s area across the camp, near the family tents. Nibbling on what remained in the kitchens after lunch, I welcomed the greetings of the other residents on my way to find my mother. The drizzle of rain didn’t bother me at all; in fact, it helped tame my hair and gave a decent excuse to be unkempt. Weather like this never bothered me much. The grayness of the sky mirrored my melancholy attitude. Being back at camp set things right, somehow making my experiences in the valley seem like they happened in a different reality. Hiding from that reality, or at least taking a break from it, was a gift I was willing to accept.
The children’s area, complete with waist-high walls and childproof latches, had tables made of sawhorses and wood planks and rugged stools made of wood rounds and pegs. Handmade toys, old dolls, and roughly cut blocks filled baskets on one side of the room. In the other corner, pillows propped up mesmerized children hanging on to my mother’s every word.
Letting the child on her lap turn the page, she continued the tale of the two beggar mice. Propped against one of the structure’s pillars, I watched her expressions change as she acted out the various parts of the story. When she finished, they begged for her to read again, but another adult directed the children to a different task. Mother stood and brushed off her skirt before she noticed me staring.
She got the attention of the other woman. “I’ll be back in a moment.”
The teacher waved. “Hello, Miss Una.”
I waved back, having no idea who she was or how she knew my name. Mother hugged me then stepped back to assess my outfit. “You are so lovely, little bird. That looks like it was made for you!”
“It is a gift from a friend,” I admitted. “So, Nik gave you a proper assignment?”
“I’m having a wonderful time with these children.” She glanced back at them, now counting stones.
“They seemed to enjoy your story.”
“I read it three times already!” She shook her head. “I can recite the entire thing by heart now.”
“What tent are you in?”
“One hundred four. It’s small, but it’s for young married couples according to your friend, Hainen. We’re not newlyweds, but as our children are grown enough to dwell in the ‘singles’ tents, your father and I don’t require anything larger.”
“That’s not a bad thing.” I laughed. “I heard they are the quietest corner of the camp. Where’s Father?”
“He’s helping set up the mill.”
“Do you know where?”
“He said somewhere in a cave?” She shrugged.
“Oh, I know where that is.”
The children were getting restless, and the teacher had trouble focusing their attention.
“Can you join us for dinner?” Mother asked.
“Sure.” I hugged her. “I’ll let you get back to work.”
“This is anything but!”
Knowing how easily my mother adopted Marsh and me, I’m not surprised she enjoyed her assignment. She loved children and would probably have filled ten houses full of them if she were able. I thought it strange Nik didn’t assign her straight to the health center. That’s where I would have sent a Healer. Once again, he proved his good judgment. No wonder he made the assignments.
I have a lot to learn.
With nothing else to keep me busy, I wandered back to the kitchen to see if there might be any work to be done. The small woman running the unit bowed and politely declined my offer to volunteer even though there were soiled dishes stacked ten high behind her. Not wanting to press the issue, I thanked her and the staff for having items ready for people like me who slept too long for breakfast.
“It’s our pleasure, Miss Una.” The baker winked at me.
How do all these people know my name?
“Una!” Trisk called from behind a large pot. “I thought I heard your voice!”
The baker permitted me to enter, not to work, but to see my friend. She greeted me with a half-hug while she stirred a stockpot larger than I’d ever seen.
“Can you grab that for me?” She pointed to a bowl of chopped green herbs lying outside her reach.
Sniffing the contents as I approached, I stated the obvious. “Your day in the kitchen, huh?”
“Yep! Guess I’d been out long enough. Everyone’s got to pay their dues.” She laughed. “How are your parents getting along on their first day?”
I dumped them into her broth. “Fine, so far. I ran into my mother at the children’s area. She’s so happy.”
She tapped the spoon on the edge of the pot and set it on the resting tin.
“I’ve not seen my father yet, but he’s putting together the mill, so I’m sure he’s enjoying his job as well.”
“Good afternoon, Miss Una.” A woman carrying a basket of vegetables walked between us.
“Hello,” I replied, but the woman had already passed. “Trisk, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“How does everyone know my name?” I whispered.
She chuckled, dipping her pinky into the broth to taste it. “You don’t know?”
“Apparently not.”
She added more seasoning to the pot. “You’ve been nominated for Council.”
“When did that happen?”
“At the last Community Meeting.” She put her hand on her hip and squinted her eyes c
uriously. “You really didn’t know?”
“No,” I answered slowly.
“You’re a terrible Seer. Now I don’t know if I should vote for you or not.” She pushed my shoulder playfully.
Her comment, meant to be witty and sarcastic, didn’t matter at all. The news about the nomination is what shocked me. Why would anyone recommend me for Council? Why didn’t Nik mention anything to me about it? I didn’t want to be part of the Council. What made me qualified for such a task?
“Will you excuse me?” Without giving her an opportunity to answer, I left to figure out a way to undo what had begun without my permission.
I am not interested in a position of leadership, and I would have made it known if anyone had asked my opinion about it. Shouldn’t there be some sort of training? A test perhaps? A proper candidate should know the law. The only thing I know is Scabs are put to death for breaking them. Not only am I under qualified, I’m unaware of how my name came up in the first place. What is a Community Meeting, anyway? Shouldn’t knowing that be the first requirement to be on the Council?
The closer I got to the cave, the angrier I grew and the shorter my salutations became to passing residents. Out of breath from the pace I kept to get there, I pushed past the guard who attempted to verify the reason for my visit.
I warned him to step aside, not with words, but by a heavy growl birthed from my bared teeth. He didn’t prevent me from my destination but followed close behind to testify that he tried. He could escort me inside or walk off the side of the cliff; I didn’t care. Without regard to his attempt to announce me, I threw the canvas door of the Council tent open and took the floor in the center of their meeting. The Councilmen stopped mid-sentence when I demanded we have a conversation.
“Greetings, Miss Una,” Oyal greeted me. “How may we help you?”
Panting from the combination of the brisk walk and building frustration, I glared at the men of the circle. Hawk, Paw, Lark, and Nik waited for my answer, but I wasn’t sure what to say.
“Miss Una?” She raised her eyebrows.
“Who did it?” I accused them all, but my stare bore into Nik alone.
“Who did what?” Hawk asked.
“I just found out one of you nominated me for your club. Nobody told me. Nobody even asked if I’m interested.”
“I did mention it,” Nik said.
There it was: an admission of guilt. He let something slip in passing, but no discussion took place about my role here other than helping with the assessments. I had enough of others making my decisions for me. The time for that ended when the mud flowed into the valley.
“You didn’t mention anything about an election. You didn’t say everyone would get an opinion but me!” I put my hands on my hips. “I want to know right now which of you nominated me, Nik.”
“That’s Council business,” he replied.
“Council business? Do you share a brain or a single set of—”
“I nominated you,” Oyal interrupted me.
Her confession shocked me. “You?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “Please, have a seat.” She stood and offered her chair.
“No thank you. I’ll stand.”
“Your choice.” She stood behind her chair, casually supporting her folded hands on the back of it.
“You don’t even know me.”
“I know enough. I know you took a beating so that Hawk could return to the Authority; I know you then offered to sacrifice yourself to save him when you met Paw. I know that you are smart, and will fight to survive, but are prepared to die for your principles. I know that you don’t mind working hard and have a strong sense of duty, justice, and charity. You’re willing to forgive but will carry out judgment when it is deserved. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that you’re a Seer, though not yet a competent one.”
Her compliments made me uncomfortable, as did her criticism. I’d done the things she mentioned for different reasons at the time they happened. Her evaluation of the situations were made secondhand to the events themselves. I had made the choices out of instinct, but the results were nothing short of luck. Had she known me better, she’d have come to another conclusion.
“You’ve proven yourself to be a fair and trustworthy person, and the people like you. We, as a leadership body, need to make sure in the coming seasons that we stay true to the course fate has set for us. I’m pretty sure you’re not convinced you belong here, but I think you do. I think you can help this Council avoid the corruption we’ve come to expect in Ashlund, and I’m certain the people agree with me.”
“The people out there don’t know me any better than you do,” I argued. “And you don’t know me at all.”
“Trisk knows you. Alci knows you.”
“Alci? The talking mute girl from prison?” I glanced at Hawk, who sat stoic in his seat.
“Yes, and Favish.” She came around her chair, redirecting my attention back on her. “They survived because of your influence. Of course, there are others. Several, in fact, that lived because you fed them, and a few observers from the neighboring cells inspired by your determination.”
To some, what I did may have seemed like a labor of generosity, but they’d be wrong. I volunteered at the prison to eat. What I earned had been determined by the guards, not me. If I’d done the same job and not shared my reward, the others would have turned against me like I’d seen them do for much less gain. I saved myself by pacifying them. The bread paid for my protection. In the end, they let me be beaten unconscious by a madwoman. Food or no food, I couldn’t even save myself.
“I’m not a leader, Oyal. I’m just a Scab.”
“And yet you stormed in here, in the middle of our meeting, to address us because you questioned our actions. I’d say you’re pretty brave.”
This woman is delusional. Can’t she see this for what it is?
“It’s not bravery when I know four of you well. Geez, I’m related to one of you.”
“And now you’re sleeping with one of the founders,” Paw mumbled quietly enough so the others wouldn’t hear him but loud enough to insult my honor.
My hair stood on end as I stepped toward him. Oyal moved between us, suggesting I wasn’t the only one to hear his quip after all.
“What did you say?” I barked over the Healer’s shoulder, ignoring her attempt to defuse my anger.
Paw smirked, making his declaration louder than before, “And you slept—”
Before he finished, I shoved the woman aside and slapped the Communicator across the face, drawing blood with the edge of my pinky nail. “You don’t know anything.”
I waited for him to apologize, but he didn’t. His eyes drifted down to my abdomen, and before he could make another comment, I spat in his face. He lurched forward, but the others acted quickly to restrain him. Silly. They feared the wrath of the wrong person. I’d just as soon rip his throat out if he took a step in my direction. He didn’t call my virtue into question; he doubted my loyalty to Calish.
I’m not the unfaithful one!
I inched closer to him as he struggled against the hold of his compatriots. Oyal grabbed my arm to stop me, and I yanked it from her grasp. “You may want to reconsider your nomination, ma’am. It’s pretty clear that if there’s not a problem already, adding me would cause one.”
I stormed out. If I walked any faster, I’d be jogging just to put as much distance between me and those people as I could. Returning to my tent wasn’t an option, and Nik’s would never be again. No one could even leave without Lark finding out about their departure. Still, it was worth a try.
To my surprise, the front entrance stood unmanned, and therefore no one questioned my motives to pass. I ran, slowing only to open the gate and shut it behind me. Climbing up the hillside, I found the overlook to the camp and propped myself up against a tree.
If I leave, where would I go?
There was nowhere to go. Not anymore. As hopeless as it all seemed, there were no tears fighting to wet my cheeks.
I’d cried too much already, and what had it done?
Nothing.
The sun still rose, and the rains still came. Neither had been affected by me or my mortal problems. They acted independent of human condition and the casualties of our desires. Perhaps my escape from the valley had been an oversight of the gods, or maybe they let me be for their amusement.
Who cares?
Not me.
Nevertheless, the ground stayed dry enough up here and kept me far enough away from them. I decided to stay under the tree overlooking the camp.
A place no one else has permission to go.
I promised myself I’d remain there until I figured out what to do next, no matter how long it took.
Or leave in the morning and figure it out elsewhere.
Chapter 29
The great horn sounded, waking me from a black and dream-free night. As a child, I cherished the adventures my mind created. I thought of places far away, where the beasts were different. They talked, and I flew. Strange to know some of that came true. Things like that stayed in my youth, and instead of relishing in colorful and imaginative worlds, I hoped to see nothing but the back of my eyelids.
The light that blinded my waking eyes warned me of another day of unknown destinations. An agenda confirmed when Nik sitting an arm’s distance away became apparent. Under the dry cover of the evergreen, the rain fell around us and the lands beyond. Like an offering, he brought pastries and sausages, and when I sat up, he set them between us.
“I thought you might be hungry,” he said, picking at his muffin.
“Thanks.” I pushed off the blanket he’d covered me with at some point during my slumber. Good thing he isn’t a robber. I could have been killed in my sleep.
“Here’s a canteen of water. I’ve already opened it for you.” He reached to hand it to me. “Paw asked me to apologize to you for him.”
“Coward,” I mumbled before taking a swig of the water.
“He won’t remember it, though.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Lark took care of it, of everyone. No one knows we were together the other night.”
Season of Hytalia Page 34
