Dark Skye
Page 12
Sonarim nodded and took the cloak from me.
“We will travel in two groups,” I continued, “Cole, you will take Kumar, Markus, Clarissa and Sinamin. Your group will go first and clear the platform. The rest of us will port in one minute later. We will talk to no one on our arrival and will stay together, moving as a single group to the hall. With the fallen from Company Aphos having recently arrived, this shouldn’t raise any suspicions.”
The plan sorted out, I watched as the two groups separated, each placing a hand on their respective magus. Moments later Cole began the incantation which would move his group to Morland Fortress. Mera had one hand on Ruaa and the other rested on Skye’s shoulder. Sonarim was wrapped up tight and currently in my arms. Shea and Gema were still grasping Ruaa’s forearm. Shea took up our other side, placing a hand on Ruaa’s remaining arm. The magus looked at me and the sentinel hidden in my arms; he reached out and grasped my forearm. Ruaa looked over the group once more to assure we were all connected before speaking the spell which would move us to the fortress.
I’d had many years of experience with teleportation. Many times, I’d shared the burden of bringing back the wounded and the deceased, yet for some reason the pull of gravity felt much stronger than I could ever remember. Perhaps it had to do with the danger associated with the body I was carrying in my arms at this moment. I glanced down at my cloak as it covered Sonarim. She was doing well to stay as still as possible. My spirit swelled at the bravery of the small Lucenian magus. I felt Mera moving closer to my side to pick up her daughters feet. The others created a protective circle around us, and we began the march to Company Eclipse’s hall.
The streets were filling as we passed. People gave curious glances and called out condolences to the remaining sentinels of Company Aphos, but our procession was not impeded. The others did well in keeping together, avoiding the eyes of those who lined the street. The crowds were inevitable, it was like this nearly every time Eclipse Company would return from the fields.
My mind wandered back to when I had first met Skye. The Kauri Nabaru had challenged me, asking if it was not my voice that drew the people, that called to them and directed them. For a while I had been wondering if this was true. After Skye’s fall, I had begun to feel the tendrils of doubt crawling into the corners of my mind. As we walked, I took a moment to look around, taking in the faces of my people. The men and women that called Morland and its fortress home. These people carried hope, pride, and love on their faces.
The Kauri had been right. The gods had returned Skye, not only to the people of Eluna, but to me as well. I watched her as she walked ahead of me, between Kumar and myself. Her navy dreadlocks, laden with beads and small feathers hung heavily down her back. Her mane, the same midnight blue, rippled in the wind, silken and lightweight in contrast to the dense dreadlocks as it edged down her back almost to her waist. The locks moved gracefully with each stride. Her skin was a dusky indigo, complimenting her burgundy armor. She had been beautiful as a Lucenian. Her skin had been a mix of tan, flushed with dusky pink rose, her hair had been chocolate brown, long and separated into fine braids. But her spirit… that had remained the same. She was strong. She was courageous, even when she was afraid. Most of all, she had this amazing way of seeing a person’s fundamental nature; she saw everyone equally, not caring who they were or where they came from. Every person had her respect, equally… until they gave her a reason to believe otherwise. This was what attracted me the most.
We arrived at our hall and made our way to the area where the bunkrooms were located. After pulling the blinds and closing the door I helped Sonarim to her feet. We discussed the most immediate needs of the group.
It was decided that Mera and Sonarim would stay in the bunkhouse with the others. I made sure to place Sonarim’s bunk between Cole’s and Mera’s, just in case. The others claimed their own spots. I sent my troops to take over guard duty of the prisoner and the front doors for the time being. Kumar insured there were no random people in the company hall and from that point it went into lockdown. Admittance was only allowed by myself or my main team.
The group was given a basic tour of the bathhouse, kitchen and dining room, and our common room—the lounge and pub. I pulled Clarissa aside, “Would you all be wanting to send your people off tonight?”
She looked over her group and nodded, “Yes, that would be best, I think. But perhaps only after they have had a chance to properly bathe and eat again. Some of them still wear bloodstained armor. We have waited far too long.”
I nodded sympathetically. “I will see that you will have your space.”
At that point I turned to leave them, grasping Skye’s hand. “Come with me.”
She looked confused but followed along as I led her back to my quarters. We entered the room and her lips parted in surprise. “Lance?” The question said everything. She too, was covered in the dirt and blood of the battle. I’m sure she was looking forward to getting cleaned up as much as the others.
“Just a few minutes. I wanted to ask you how you are doing, and… I didn’t want you to feel the pressure of other ears upon your decision. I also wanted,” I couldn’t believe I was sweating. I’ve never stumbled around women before. There was a reason I had a reputation as a playboy, always cocky and arrogant. But I had never invited a woman to remain in my room. “I wanted to ask you if you would like to stay with me… here with me. Not just tonight. Would you…. It’s not much but would you like to make this your home also?” I swept my arm around the small room, suddenly wishing I had something more impressive to offer her.
I felt my foot tapping nervously and there was a twitching in my thigh as I awaited her response. Skye took her time answering. She walked around the room slowly, surveying it, so to speak. I don’t believe I had felt so judged in years. My quarters were spartan. Only the necessities, coffee and a little booze. No real décor of any sort. It was a bachelor pad in the truest form of the phrase.
Finally, she turned back to me. Her fingertip grazed her lower lip as her gaze slid from my feet, moving up my body slowly. “Remove your heavy armor. You’re in your home now.”
I cocked my head to the side, a lock of my blue-grey hair falling into my eyes as I complied and reached for the leather buckles which held my pauldrons on. Locking eyes with her, I released the first buckles, then slid my hand across my chest, reaching to release the bindings on the other side. I lifted the heavy metal pieces over my head, letting them fall onto the floor beside with a loud clang. Skye walked a slow circle around me, and a smile forced its way past my lips as I remembered doing the same thing to her… not so long ago.
She paused and pointed to the discarded shoulder pieces at our feet. “You’re not going to let that stay there, hang it up. I know you treat your armor better than to let it stay on the floor… General.”
I raised my eyebrow at the taunt. If she wanted to play.... Ideas began to race through my mind, but she’d had quite the week. I slowly bent and lifted the shoulder pieces, keeping eye contact with her as I moved across the room and hung them on their peg. “Cuirass….” Her voice ran over me like warm honey.
“I can think of a few things I would like to do with your ass.” I couldn’t help myself; the words just sprang out before I could stop them. I gave her my best heart-stopping smile. She stopped and tapped her foot impatiently. Silently, my hand moved up to the buckles holding the pieces together. I worked at them slowly, one at a time until they came loose. This time I placed them on the peg. I looked at her patiently. “Next?”
My cuisses and greaves were molded as single pieces for each leg, hinged at the knees for additional support. Her gaze slid from my eyes to my waist, then down to my toes and back to my waist. Her eyes lingered there, and she licked her lower lip momentarily. Her index finger tapped her lip lightly, right where her tongue had just peeked out. “Remove the armor from your left leg.”
She continued circling me as I loosened the bindings, allowing my leg to slide free.
My leather trousers were damp with perspiration. I hung the piece on the wall next to the other pieces. “Perhaps you should help with this last piece.”
She took one step towards me, then another, and then one more, until she was barely a breath away. I watched as she reached a hand to my chest, sliding it up and around my neck. Her thumb grazed my ear as she pulled me close, whispering huskily, “Perhaps I should go take my bath with the other women now.” Then she turned and moved towards the door.
She almost made it there too, before her words registered in my mind. I took two quick steps, nearly falling onto the door. I stopped her from opening it with my palms. Really graceful. “Please stay!” I hated how desperate I sounded.
She paused, turning her face from my gaze, but I’m sure I saw her smile. Evil woman! Gods, I would do anything for her.
I stood, my back against the door as I removed the final piece of armor from my right leg. I remained still, grasping it tight with both hands. She had me captivated. My eyes danced over her, amazed at how beautiful she still was, despite the change.
My gaze ran over her, from her hair down her long body, to her clawed feet. She was still wearing the same armor, Nova’s armor, the crimson leathers of the rangers. It was still covered in dried mud and blood. Nova’s blood, her blood now too.
“Wait.” I held a finger up as I crossed the room to hang the last piece of armor. “As much as I want to rip both of our clothes off, we can’t do this yet. Not that I don’t want to, gods….” I ran my hands through my hair, removing the leather that held the ponytail at my neck in place. “Let’s get you clean clothes, and you should take the time to bathe,” She looked at me as I sighed and with reluctance added, “with the women.”
Then I dropped down to both knees and wrapped my arms around her hips. “If you would rather stay in the bunkroom, that’s fine… for now. But I am persistent. Know that I have claimed you as my own. I am confident that you will want to claim me too. Skye, I will do everything I can to be the only man you want. I will feed you. I will clothe you. I will protect you with everything I have. This I swear to the gods and to you. I couldn’t stop what happened before, and I hate myself for it. I nearly stormed into that hut, with or without my teams support. I will spend every day making up for my failure to you, making up for the losses you have suffered.”
At this point she surprised me. Skye knelt down on her knees, coming down to my level. Her clawed hands snaked through my hair and she grasped tight handfuls. She leaned her head to my neck and bit me lightly, just below the ear. Shivers crawled up my spine and I felt my mane bristle with the sensation. I leaned into her and groaned.
“Lance.” My name sounded like a prayer on her lips. “You are not to blame for what happened. The gods had this written out for me and it happened just as it should have. I believe this to the depths of my soul. And I believe you too. I will stay with you. Of course, I will stay.” Then she kissed me. It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t gentle. It was hard and demanding and I returned it with vigor, pushing her down onto the hard-stone floor.
We could have made love, I would have happily made her scream my name on the floor, even covered in the blood of battle. The thought of it turned me on more than I would say out loud to her. I was so hard it pained me to stop. But this wasn’t the time. Not yet. We were both panting as I stood and offered my hand to pull her up. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Chapter 22 - Eclipse Hall
~Skye~
SCRUBBED CLEAN AND IN new clothes, I would say that I felt like a new woman. But I was. I had been standing there, in the bathhouse, staring in a long mirror for the longest time. I was looking at my new body, my new face, my new hair. I was looking at everything new and trying to find some part of me that wasn’t foreign. Something that could remind me that I was still me.
Only my eyes were similar, but even they had changed. They were dichromatic still… again. Only the green was more of a warm mossy brown, and the brown was now a deep blood crimson. I sighed and ran a hand over my cheek. My face was longer, my nose was larger. My hair… the dreadlocks reminded me of my many thin braids, but they felt thick and pulled at my scalp, almost itching me in a way that I wasn’t accustomed to. And I couldn’t forget the long trail of hair extending down the nape of my neck into my spine. It was long, soft to the touch. When I was bathing, I had found small beads had been tied and knotted into the mane. It was all so foreign.
The others had passed me on their way out, saying they were headed to eat. I was finally dressed and just pulling on my boots when Gema paused as the others left the room. Clarissa gave her a nod and Gema let the door close. I felt my muscles coil and tighten. She still disconcerted me. I watched her from the corner of my eye as she leaned her back against the door.
“Umm… Skye?” Her voice was tentative, she was addressing me in the old language. I felt myself relax and I released a deep breath. “I wanted to see if you were okay.” This surprised me and I turned towards her. “You’ve been standing there for a long time now. I can’t say I’ve totally come to terms with all this.” Her arms splayed wide out in front of her. “But Nova was my best friend, and I thought that maybe….” She stopped speaking; her eyes were getting damp.
I watched as she held her breath, mashing her lips together as she tried to regain the ability to speak again. I spoke up, taking away the pressure of the words that couldn’t make their way out of her mouth. “It’s crazy strange for me too. I keep looking in the mirror, trying to find… anything that’s still… me. Anywhere.” I shook my head as I looked at her. “Listen, I don’t know what to say. I am so sorry for your loss. And I’m so sorry that when you look at me… those wounds rip right open again. If there is anything, anything at all that I can do to make this better, for both of us. Please, let me.” My hands moved up to my scalp where the dreadlocks were pulling and itching again, and I let out a small growl.
Gema’s eyes lit up and she laughed, small tears squeezed from the corners of her eyes with the movement. “Gods, she loved those dreadlocks. I don’t know how; I couldn’t stand the upkeep!” She sniffed and smiled. “I tried for years to talk her into cutting them off, but she always refused.”
I smiled back, shaking my head. “They are sorta driving me crazy!” For a moment we were grinning at each other madly. We had finally found some common ground. “Could I ask you to help me? I’d like to maybe get rid of these.” I cringed inwardly, I didn’t really want short hair, but I didn’t think there was any other way around it.
Her smile was all the reassurance I needed. “I’ll be back in a jiffy!” She turned on her heel and nearly skipped out the door. I believe it was the first time I had seen a genuine smile on the girls face.
Gema was back a few minutes later with scissors and a hairbrush. I sat on a bath bench with a towel draped over my shoulders. “How long can we keep it and still be able to brush it out?”
Her response was a shrug and a shake of her head.
“You don’t want to just shave it?” She was teasing. I hoped she was teasing. “Let’s try leaving a few inches and see if we can’t work it out a bit.” I nodded and she began trimming.” I watched as the thick matted cords fell to the ground at our feet. Occasionally small pings rang out as metal and bone beads hit the floor. “Hold on.” The brush was at my head, pulling. It felt like my neck was going to break.
“Is it working?” The question was pushed out through my gritted teeth.
I heard her sigh from behind me. “It’s gonna need to be shorter.” I shrugged and she began snipping again. The pieces fell onto my chest and shoulders. I picked one up and inspected the navy hair. It was course and wiry from years of tending the dreadlocks. I wondered what the true texture would be when we were done. Once again, she began working the brush through my hair. It hit me that I had just thought of it as ‘my hair.’ It was just a few inches long and she had a patch brushed out.
Gema paused and stepped back. “Take a feel, what do you think?”
“Sure, maybe this long at the top, and a bit shorter over the ears? I can try to let it merge down your neck. That way it can grow out more evenly if you want to.”
I nodded.
“Can I ask, what was your hair like… before?”
I smiled. “It was brown, like rich dark chocolate. I usually kept it in a series of thin braids. It was long, halfway down my back. Not quite as long as your friend’s hair though.” I paused. “Not as long as Nova’s.”
She stopped for a moment, stepping back. I leaned down, picking up a lock which was heavily adorned with beads and charms. Gema stepped forward with the scissors and resumed the chore of snipping and brushing.
I examined the beadwork on the length of navy hair, running my fingers over the tiny decorations as I studied them. “Would you like to keep these? Either the locks, or the beads or any part really. Is there someone who would want them?”
She sniffed and a wet tear hit my arm. “Yes, please. My brother, Kaven. He would want some. Her family too. Thank you.” The brush resumed, occasionally stopping for a small snip here or there. Finally, it began moving across my scalp freely. Gema moved around me, cutting small lengths of hair where needed. “Okay.” The towel was pulled from my neck and the hair was shook free. “Come look.” She took my hand and guided me back to the mirror.
Once again, I stared at the reflection, it was still foreign, but it was different. I’d never had short hair, not once in my memory. I ran my fingers through the short bob cut. “Can we cut the sides and back short… how about just shave them? Maybe this will feel more like a fresh start, for everyone.”