A week later, and two more attacks like the ones at the tower, no one had figured out anything about the attack. It was rubbing everyone's nerves, but they tried to hide that from Rachel. Rikash was giving her a hard enough time as it was.
He was trying to teach her how to use the bow still, but she wasn't very good. That was fine, except that when he rebuked her, she flinched, as though expecting a blow, and apologized. It was annoying the hell out of him.
"Look," he sighed before the fifth lesson started. He handed her the weapon he had gotten from Alanna. "Let's see how good you are with a sling."
Rachel took the sling and the rocks. She loaded the sling, swung, and hit the center of the target. Rikash wasn't sure whether to be pleased or furious.
"Now why can't you do that with a bow?" he asked.
"I'm sor-."
Rachel's apology was cut off by a hand being placed over her mouth. "Shut-up," Rikash said. "No apologizes, don't act like a coward, and don't answer rhetorical questions. I don't expect an answer. Now let's try with the bow, again."
Finally Rikash had to give up. "You can keep practicing or not, but I'm going in side."
Rachel fought tears as Rikash left. He's mad at me, he hates me, she thought miserably. She collected the arrows and went back to where Rikash wanted her to shoot from. Rikash and Alanna watched with interest from the shadows as she shot all the arrows. All hit the target, and half hit the center. That did nothing for Rachel's mood. She could do it, but not when anyone was watching.
"Evidently, she doesn't do well under pressure," Alanna said as she and Rikash went inside.
Rachel explored the castle a bit and discovered a way onto the roof. After supper, she still couldn't look at the person asking her a question, she climbed up. She settled herself against a low wall that she guessed was were archers stood if the castle was under attack. She brought her knees up to her chest and rested her forehead on them.
As Rachel highly doubted that she was going to die in some form in the next two minutes, she let a few tears fall.
I can't do this, she thought. I'm weak, clumsy, stupid and a coward. Why do I have to be here? No one here is like me. This is the difference between me and them, the tears started to fall harder. I cry and get beat. They're strong and can win. This is why I had to get beat, because I'm weak.
It was too much. She wrapped her arms around her legs and cried. The tears came silently and fast.
Rikash pulled himself up onto the roof. There was Rachel, and she was crying. Rikash felt like he was being stabbed with a dagger as he went to her. He touched her shoulder and her head jerked up. The tears continued to fall as they stared at each other for a moment before Rikash pulled the girl into his arms. He pressed her face to his shoulder and held her as she cried, gently rubbing her back.
When she was done crying, Rachel just relaxed against him and closed her eyes. She breathed in his soft sent and felt his hand continue to rub her back.
"Thank you," she whispered. Rikash said nothing but moved so that he was sitting. He pulled her so that she was settled along his side with his arm around her.
"What's wrong?" he asked gently.
Rachel told the same thing she had told Alanna. Weak, clumsy, different, and everyone was so nice…
"Rachel," Rikash said once she was done. "Not every one is a powerful sorcerer, or a noble. And, I have no problems with you not being in the Riders, or not having a lot of magic." He pulled her face up so that she had to meet his eyes. "There's nothing wrong with the way you are, except that you're too hard on yourself."
Then he kissed her. Just softly, no demands. Just comfort. Rachel felt warmth go through her, and when he pulled away, she couldn't think. Rikash stood and helped her to her feet.
"You should go to bed." He led her to the room she was staying in, kissed her cheek and left. Rachel went in the room and shut the door. She let down her hair, got into the night clothes, and curled up on the bed. She smiled as she pressed a hand to her lips and fell asleep.
Kitten climbed in with the girl in the middle of the night and curled up on the pillow. When Rachel woke in the morning, the first thing she saw was a dragons head, scant inches from her head. Her heart stopped and she paled. The dragon opened her eyes, she licked the girl's cheek and went back to sleep.
Moving cautiously to avoid waking the dragon, Rachel got dressed. Her clothes had been brought over from the tower because Numair and Daine needed to be at Pirate's Swoop after the attack, and no one wanted another attack were Rachel was undefended. At the Swoop, she could be protected. No one had told that to Rachel yet.
She went down to breakfast and was badgered into eating. She was gaining some weight, but not much, and she had caught up on her sleep. Sarra offered to take her down to the beach, and Rachel accepted.
"Umm, Sarra?" Rachel started as they walked down the rocks. "Why, why is Rikash so rough?"
Sarra helped Rachel down from the rocks so the girl wouldn't fall before answering. "When we were growing up, Ma and Da weren't always around. In fact, hardly ever. They loved us, but they were busy. So Rikash was always getting into trouble at first, then he started to behave, but got more distant. There may have been more to it, but I doubt it."
"Oh." Rachel thought he was lucky, at least his parents loved him.
Later in the day they were joined by George, Alanna, Daine, Numair, Rikash, Raoul, Buri, and Alan and his wife, Lady Knight Yvenne (A/N she's mentioned in Squire on pg. 309. yes it is sad that I know this) complete with a picnic lunch.
After they ate, Rachel settled in the shade to hide from the hot sun. Rikash came over to join her, lay down, and rested his head in her lap.
"You don't have to turn so red," Rikash said and closed his eyes. "It's not like we're sleeping together." That wasn't entirely reassuring.
Sarra smiled as she saw Rikash lay down. Rachel wouldn't be able to look him in the face for a week. Her idea changed when she saw Rachel hesitantly stroke Rikash's black hair.
Well then, thought George. Maybe he wasn't paying as close attention to his godschild as normal.
That night, Rachel made the mistake of being caught outside and alone. She tripped over a root or something and there was laughter. Three boys appeared from the shadows.
"Well, well. A little mouse. What's a little mouse doing out here all alone?" asked one of the boys.
Rachel muttered something and tried to get up, but one of the boys had come up behind her and gripped her shoulders, keeping her down. He leaned forward and whispered in her ear:
"Don't go any where little mouse. We just want to play a bit."
"Yes, just like a cat plays with its food," drawled a voice. Rikash.
"Oh look," said the boy who had spoken first. "The freak."
"Yes," agreed Rikash coolly. "Let go of her."
"What, you want her? Why would any girl want to go with you? You aren't even a real man."
"Do I need to knock you out?"
"Well, how about this. You fight fair, and we'll fight fair. Then who ever wins gets the girl. Unless you're too scared." The boys laughed.
Rikash shrugged. "All right. But I think you're the ones that are scared. Three on one? Hardly fair. But if you insist."
Rachel blinked twice and the fight was over. Rikash picked her up and carried her back to the Swoop. Rachel healed the bruise on his cheek.
"Why are you out here in the middle of the night?" Rikash demanded.
Rachel hung her head. "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking."
"Evidently," snorted Rikash. That annoyed the hell out of him, but he didn't say anything, feeling her shake.
"Are you mad?" Rachel whispered.
"Not at you. I'm just a bit annoyed with you. But I am furious with those boys." Killing them wouldn't have been a good thing to do in front of Rachel.
Rachel wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. Apologizing again wouldn't help anything, but she felt stupid. Rikash slipped inside the Swoop and set her on her feet once they were inside. Rachel went to the library to read some and Rikash sat with her.
Neither of them paid attention to the time, but when Daine found them there the next morning, she wondered how long they'd stayed up. Neither Rikash nor Rachel gave any explanation when questioned.
Sarra wondered how quickly they were falling for each other when she saw her brother give Rachel a quick kiss. Was she missing something, or what? But as she paid more attention that day, she started to notice the little things. The gentle touches, the time spent talking, how kind Rikash was to the girl.
Rikash was being nicer to her, Rachel noticed. But… she would have to tell him.
"Rikash?" Rachel climbed up onto the roof and was relived to see Rikash there.
"Evening," he greeted her as she settled next to him. Rachel stared at the ground, unable to look at him. "What's wrong?"
I have to tell him, I have to tell him. "Nothing. But, umm, thank you. For saving me last night."
"Welcome." Rikash didn't buy it, but if that was all she was going to say, there was nothing he could do about it.