Chapter 10: Interests
Ki'ra could have sworn that it was pair of hands, gently caressing her cheeks, which roused her from her sleep. Yet upon opening her eyes and letting her body and mind slowly acclimate to being conscious again, she found that there was no one there. Leaning on one forearm, Ki'ra elevated her body as she rubbed her head groggily. She looked around, observing her unfamiliar surroundings. Though she did not know how long she had been asleep, she knew that she would no longer be in the Elder's Hut. In fact, Ki'ra had an inkling of whose hut she now inhabited.
It was an open domed structure created from long, sturdy bamboo beams lashed together with rope and paneled with planks of wood for walls. The roof was composed of thatched straw and broad leaves. With its large windows and entrances that allowed cool breezes and light inside, the hut was much more comfortable than the stuffy Elder's chamber. Even the décor, which included several animal furs, painted wooden figures, and drapings of beads, glass, bone, and bright cloth, made the structure much more inviting.
Ki'ra looked over the railing nearest to her bed and into the quiet village of Sen'jin. Beyond the roofs of the huts, she could see the beautiful sparkling waters of the Great Sea. The sun was no longer high above it, yet rather cresting over the far edge of the water, casting its light across the glittering surface and brightening the azure sky. Sunrise? Ki'ra thought as observed morning dew glistening on the leaves of the trees outside the hut. Had she truly been asleep for so long? She rose from her bed, a soft palette made from tiger skins stuffed with some fluffy material, and stretched languidly. Her body felt even more relaxed and renewed than it had before when she left the cove.
Padding softly across the wooden floor of the hut, Ki'ra began to curiously look around. She felt strangely at home in her new surroundings. She walked around the walls, taking her time to browse the various collected items arranged on shelves and hanging from wooden rods. Her fingers were gently touching a peculiar carved wooden mask when a gleam of light, reflected off of some metal surface, caught her eye. When she turned in the direction of the flickering light, she recognized the lustrous object as Akashii's own axe, mounted on a shelf on the far wall of the hut. She remembered its magnificent and large form, a wickedly powerful weapon that she was certain had seen many a battle. Next to it was another large object covered in a material that appeared soft and sparkly. Her curiosity getting the best of her, Ki'ra began to move toward the concealed item.
"Good mo'nin, mon."
Ki'ra jumped, startled, and turned toward the voice. Akashii was standing in the doorway, passing beneath the beaded curtain that covered the entrance. He was dressed in a colorful linen vest and kilt that draped down between his knees. His long muscled legs were clad in light leather pants and his arms in bracers of the same material. Around his neck was a string of feathers and small glimmering stones that rested against his broad sinewy chest. In his hands was a wooden bowl filled with a delicious collection of small fruits and a hunk of dried meat. Ki'ra wasn't sure which looked more appetizing, the Troll or the food.
"Oh, g-good morning!" Ki'ra stammered in greeting, blushing softly. She quickly ran a hand through her hair, suddenly regretting she was unable to check her appearance before the Troll came in.
Akashii smiled at her as he walked into the room and sat his bowl on a low wooden table. "Did'ja sleep well?" he asked warmly.
Ki'ra nodded. "Yes, thank you," she replied as she eyed the food. Her stomach growled loudly and she flushed redder. She had not eaten since she had been found in Stranglethorn Vale and there was no telling when she had been fed before then.
Chuckling, the Troll gestured to the table. "Dat's yours. I figured ya'd be starvin'."
"I am! Thank you!" the woman sighed as she eagerly sat on the floor next to the table and reached for a bright red apple and the meat.
"Here's some melon juice, too," Akashii said as he removed a water skin from his belt and handed it to her. He smiled as he watched Ki'ra drink from it deeply and eat heartily from the bowl. "Ya slept all through da day and missed dinnah. Been a while since ya had somethin' to eat, ya?"
Ki'ra could only nod, her mouth stuffed with food and drink. She blushed, a bit embarrassed with her manners, but Akashii laughed and did not seem bothered. He turned away from her, walking a short distance to a large sack Ki'ra had not noticed leaning in one corner. "Kanna brought ovah some things for ya," he said as brought the pack back to the table. "She figured ya'd be needin' some clothes and stuff like dat while ya…uh…well…" He scratched his head and a slight blush fell on his cheeks. "Gadrin asked dat you stay with me for a while. He and da—"
Ki'ra shook her head as she chewed on the deliciously salty meat. "You don't have to explain," she said. "I already know. I heard everything in the hut."
Akashii blinked. "Y-you did?" he asked with a confused expression. "How?"
The woman shrugged as she took another drink from the water pouch. "I don't know really," she murmured after taking a deep gulp. "I remember blacking out, as if I were sleeping. I would have thought I was had it not been for the fact I could still hear. I couldn't feel anything though. It was like…I existed only as my mind and my body was gone. But I heard your whole conversation, right until the end. It was only then that I felt myself fall asleep completely."
"Ah, dat was da herbs, da ones burnin' in da brazier," Akashii told her. "Gadrin was tryin' to use dem to open ya mind and help ya wit your memory, but it did'na work."
Ki'ra nodded, remembering the witch doctor's words. "I could feel him…trying to probe inside of my head. I wanted to let him in so he could help me, but something would not let him." She paused as she held her half eaten apple in her hand. "I could feel it inside me…warding him away. It was so…powerful…"
Akashii stared at her, observing the puzzled expression Ki'ra wore on her face as she looked thoughtfully down at her hands. She knew that the Troll probably had burning questions to ask of her concerning what Gadrin had revealed. Yet Ki'ra knew that there none she could answer for everything the witch doctor had revealed was just as foreign and shocking to her.
A prophecy, revealed by spirits, had been made. And she was the center of it.
The knowledge was overwhelming. Ki'ra could not begin to fathom why these shaman of a people she did not know were sent visions concerning her. She had no idea what purpose she could possibly serve them or why she was so important. Because of her inability to remember where she came from or who she was, the possibility was not impossible; yet the idea was incredulous and her head ached with a thousand queries and anxieties. Yet one stood out above the rest:
Who was she?
"I gotta get goin'," Akashii suddenly coughed, rousing the young woman from her thoughts. "Der be food dat needs gatherin' for dinner tonight and I've got to go huntin'. Feel free tah make yourself at home. I'll be back tah fetch you befo'—"
"Take me with you," Ki'ra suddenly interjected, popping the last of her cheese in her mouth.
Akashii cocked his head. "H-huh?"
"Take me with you," Ki'ra repeated as she tried to suppress laughter, tickled by the dumfound expression on Akashii's face. "You have been gracious enough to offer your home to me. I'd like to be of some use. I could help."
The Troll scratched his head and smirked. "Well…uh," he chuckled. "Do ya even know how to hunt? I mean, I be goin' to da Echo Isles. Da creatures out der ain't nuthin' to me, but dey be pretty fierce for someone who don't know what dey doin'."
Ki'ra frowned and folded her arms. "Well, I think if I were able to handle those Gurubashi Trolls, I could handle a few measly beasts!" she huffed indignantly. "I am sure I could manage!"
Akashii suddenly laughed heartily and slapped his knee. Ki'ra smiled, enjoying the sound of his laughter. "Ya only could do dat 'cuz you used dat crazy fire," he chided her with a smirk. "We don't need our food burnt befo' it's even dead."
Ki'ra blushed coyly as she stifled a giggled. So he has a sense of humor, she thought. The Troll laughed again and his lips curled over his teeth. He was quite attractive when he smiled. The woman flushed more. "I just don't want to sit here and do nothing," she muttered. "I have been treated with such warm welcome and I want to show my appreciation. Until Master Gadrin tells me what must be done next, I have nothing to do. Besides, I'd love to see and learn more of your village."
Smiling softly, Akashii stared at her for a moment. Ki'ra grinned back at him and watched as his own blue skin flushed with red. "Alright den," he conceded with another chuckle. "But ya won't be able to do nuthin' in that leetl dress of yours and wit nothin' to defend ya'self. I think Kanna put some leather armor in dat sack. Get dressed while I go get a weapon ya can use."
Ki'ra smiled and nodded excitedly. "Alright!" she exclaimed, unable to hide her enthusiasm.
The Troll laughed again and shook his head before turning and disappearing behind the beaded door of his home. Ki'ra sighed in relief. She was grateful that he was allowing her to come with him, for if she remained behind and alone, she would most likely do nothing but ponder the unanswerable questions in her mind. For a while, she thought as she opened the sack and began to sort through it, it would be nice to release herself from her fears and uncertainties.
The woman was, to say the least, interesting, Akashii thought as he walked a short distance through the village. She was showing more of her personality, which was friendly and good natured. She had a bit of a fiery side to her, he could tell, but that made her all the more likeable. For a forced house guest, she was thankfully pleasant.
Akashii visited Trayexir, the village's weapons vendor, and asked the Troll for a simple weapon that could be used easily. Trayexir eyed him curiously, most likely wondering why such an advanced warrior would want a beginner's weapon. Yet Akashii was not in the mood for explaining himself and presented the vendor with a generous stack of silver coins. The money deterred Trayexir from any further snooping and he eagerly showed Akashii his collection of weaponry. After considering each piece, wondering which would be best for Ki'ra, he decided on a long and beautifully crafted spear. With the remainder of his silver he bought her set of throwing knives and a brown leather satchel from the general goods vendor and then made his way back to his home.
When he ascended the steps to his hut and prepared to reenter, he paused at the doorway, considering for a moment whether or not if Ki'ra was still dressing. Nudity was not taboo in Troll culture. In fact, men and women of his race felt more comfortable in their own skin and wore very little around one another. Yet out of respect for the woman who was a stranger to him, Akashii decided to wait.
After a brief moment however, his male instinct overcame him and Akashii could not help but curiously peer between the beaded curtain. Ki'ra had removed her long white robe and, clad in nothing but undergarments, was now pulling on a pair of bright leather leggings. Her body was beautiful, almost perfect by Troll standards. Her tall frame was lean and slightly muscled, a body made for quick movement and combat. She was curvy in her hips and bust, giving her form the feminine figure that was desired among Troll women. Even her tusks, which were small and pearl white with a perfect upward curve, were a mark of beauty to his people. Akashii's body grew hot as he watched her lace up the front of her leather vest, pulling the strings taught across her slightly large breasts. He would have to thank Kanna later for choosing such accentuating armor.
"I hope everythin' fit ya well," Akashii spoke, reentering the room when he felt it would be appropriate. "Kanna figured ya'd be about her size."
"Everything is perfect, thank you," Ki'ra replied with a smile as she turned to him. Damn right it was perfect, he thought as his eyes scanned up and down her body. It took every ounce of self-control to prevent Akashii from ogling her for too long, yet the tight leather armor only made her form more appealing.
He coughed and averted his gaze in order to keep himself from admiring her shapely bust or backside. "I, uh, bought ya dis," he muttered as he showed her his purchases. "I figured a spear would be best for ya. And I got ya some throwin' knives and a bag."
Ki'ra smiled at him. "Thank you, Akashii," she said with a smile. The Troll felt his knees quiver. Why did the mere sound of his name from her lips make him feel so weak? She took the bag and sheath of throwing knives from him, attaching it to the cinch around her slender waist, and then reached for the long spear. Her skin, soft and delicate, grazed his briefly as the weapon exchanged hands. Akashii's chest flushed with warmth and he immediately had a desire to touch the fingers that was so unlike his own.
Resisting, he sheepishly turned away and went to retrieve his own weapon from the wall. "We be goin' huntin' wit some friends of mine," Akashii told her as he strapped his weapon to the sling at his belt. "Dey all be powerful warriors, so you don't hafta worry bout nuthin'. We'll keep ya out of harm."
Ki'ra smirked as she held her new spear and placed a hand on her hip. "And who says I'll need protecting?" she asked in a playfully haughty voice. "I still think I'll be able to handle myself."
Akashii chuckled, turning to face her. With her lips turned up in a sexy smile and her hips cocked to one side, she looked very sexy. If she was part Troll, it was definitely present in her mannerisms as well as her physical characteristics. "We'll see den, leetl'un," he replied with an equally mischievous smirk. "Akashii gonna wanna see jus' how much you can handle ya'self. Hope ya got da skill to back up dem big words, mon."
Eying him with a narrowed gaze that made his blood boil, Ki'ra tipped her head and grinned. "Then let's get going…" she said flippantly. "…mon." She turned gracefully on her heels and sauntered out of the door, her hips twisting dramatically as she walked.
Grinning and shaking his head, Akashii followed. He didn't know who this woman was, where she came from, or how they were connected through the prophecy of his ancestors; but one thing was for certain…
She was going to bring trouble into his life. In more ways than one.
A/N: So ends the "I" chapters. You can think of the "F" chapters as Volume 1 and the "I" chapters as Volume 2. I wrote this chapter fairly quickly with only one revision of its contents. I kind of had it planned out for a while and wanted it to be a conclusive chapter in terms of the current going-ons of the plot so I could move on to the next part of the storyline. I realized that, in terms of the chronology of the story, these 10 chapters have only equaled 3 days! This was somewhat necessary, but from now on, time will pass a little bit more swiftly between each chapter. Enjoy reading, but feel free to leave a review! :)