Chapter Thirty-One
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Even wide awake, the nightmare haunts me. What little sleep I do get is restless and unsatisfying. It wasn't real, I tell myself over and over. It was only a bad dream.
Still, I can't shake the feeling that it was a warning too. It shouldn't be ignored.
I wait for the sky outside of our tent to change from pitch black to dark plum, hinting that the sun will soon rise. I tap Ewar's shoulder until he stirs in his sleep. He barely cracks an eyelid.
"Hmm?"
"I'm still worried."
He rubs a hand down his face and stifles a yawn. "Why?"
"I can't stop thinking about the Soul Eaters. They're supposed to be these terrifying warriors, so they must have engaged in plenty of hand-to-hand combat. Now, compare them to us. The people on our side don't have that kind of experience."
"You forget that many of us have trained for battle," he answers wearily, still struggling to wake up.
I lick my lips and shake my head. "It's not the same. Training is one thing; actual combat is another. How many real battles have you fought, Ewar? How many people have you killed?"
His eyes are fully open now.
"None," he says softly.
"See? You're not like Ora. You don't go around killing people for the fun of it. Don't get me wrong - I love that about you. But in this one small instance, it makes me afraid too. What will happen if you're in the middle of the battle and you discover that you don't have it in you to take anyone's life? They'll use your compassion against you."
He doesn't respond right away. As we lay on our sides in the muted light of dawn, his finger begins to trace the contours of my face.
"Do you remember when the cave lion found our village?" he asks out of nowhere.
"Of course I do."
"Tell me what happened."
This takes me off guard. Why is he switching the topic of our conversation?
"I heard a scream before the lion showed up," I answer hesitantly. "It sounded human. Since you were supposed to be tracking the lion, I thought it had found you and..." I suck in a breath, barely holding myself together as I relive in my mind that horrific incident. "When it came creeping into the village, I grabbed a spear."
"Why?"
"Because I was angry. I thought you were dead! I wanted to punish that damn lion for taking your life!" On the edge of hyperventilation, I force myself to calm down enough to finish my train of thought. "I also didn't want the lion to hurt anyone else."
"Had you ever fought a cave lion before?"
"No."
"So, you stabbed that lion even though you were afraid and had no prior experience. Even when you knew you may not survive. You were willing to risk your life for the people you cared about - to protect them with everything you had. Correct?"
"Yes."
He nods. "You and I are alike in that way."
"I guess so..."
"Then you should have faith in me, Bella. Whether it be the Soul Eaters or a cave lion - if my family is in danger - I will not hesitate to kill that threat. Ask any man here and they will say the same."
He speaks so passionately that I have no choice but to kiss him.
As my lips pull away from his, my worries sneak back. "I still don't like how the Soul Eaters have an advantage over us. We have the same weapons as them, but they have more experience using them in battle. I wish we had an advantage too. Something that would-"
I let out a gasp, my mind racing. Why didn't I think of this sooner?!
Ewar squints at me. "Is something wrong?"
I'm so excited, I can only shake my head. Is something wrong? No. I just need to find my clothes!
I'm scrambling around on my hands and knees, searching high and low. By accident, I come across Ewar's loincloth first. "Here, put this on."
I'm holding it out for him to take. He brushes it aside.
"Why should we get dressed? It's early." He slips an arm around my waist and nuzzles my neck. My exposed collarbone becomes the center of his universe. "I think we should stay in bed a little longer."
The playful lilt in his voice promises that we won't be doing any sleeping. He made a good point just now. I mean, who needs clothes anyway?
While the proposition is tempting, I somehow find the strength to overcome his seduction. I locate my tunic hiding underneath the blanket and shove it over my head. With my nakedness concealed from his admiring eyes, I toss the loincloth in his direction
"Get dressed, Ewar. We need to have another talk with Alistair."
His answering groan makes me want to laugh. But he doesn't argue. I guess he knows this must be serious if I'm turning down sex.
Very few people are up at this time. Through the dim light, Ewar and I weave our way through the maze of tents. Alistair's hut is the only one with smoke billowing from it. I had a hunch he would be awake.
He looks faintly surprised when we show up on his doorstep. Nevertheless, he invites us inside for a bowl of porridge. Onya still sleeps. We maintain quiet voices so we won't disturb her rest.
"What brings you here so early?" he asks good-naturedly.
"We need to talk about weapons."
Ewar shoots me a confused look. "We have plenty of weapons, Bella. Why do we need to talk about them?"
"Because the Soul Eaters have the same weapons as we do. But, what if our side had something no one else has? Something so new and deadly it makes the Soul Eaters' spears and clubs look like ancient history? We would have an advantage over them for a change. They'd probably be too busy pissing their pants to bother fighting back!"
Alistair smiles. "Excellent idea! You and I can use our knowledge of future technology to assist. May I ask what weapon you have in mind?"
"The bow and arrow."
"That would be a hard sell, Bella."
"I know. But there must be some way for us to convince our side it's safe to use. No god or goddess would give a shit about what weapons the people down on earth are killing each other with."
He scrunches his face. "Once they get suspicious about something, it's difficult to break them out of it. At any rate, the bow and arrow wouldn't work in this case. Archery takes months of practice before most people are skilled enough to be a decent shot. I'm afraid we don't have that kind of time."
I huff. "Fine. We'll just think of another weapon." I pause, reminiscing about all those war movies I've seen - especially the ones set in the distant past. "What about the battle axe?"
"A version of that is already available. It's used for chopping trees and removing your enemies' heads."
"All right. What about the sword?"
"That requires smelted metal, does it not? That won't be available for - oh - another five thousand years at least."
"Fucking great. So that's out. And the sling, staff, and mace are already in use around here. What's left that hasn't been invented yet and would be possible for us to make?"
Alistair slumps his shoulders. "I haven't a clue."
As the two of us sink into silent depression, Ewar comes to the rescue. He takes my hand and strokes it with his thumb. "It doesn't matter, Bella," he says. "We don't need new weapons."
"It does matter. We have to think of a way to even things up between us and the Soul Eaters. After all the terrible things they've done, those knuckle-dragging, dingleberry dipshits deserve to go extinct."
Alistair chuckles under his breath. "My! Not even a suit of armor could protect a man from your sharp tongue. You come up with the most amusing insults!"
My startled eyes dart to his face.
Then, I break into a smile.
"Alistair, you are a genius!"
He tilts his head. "I've been called that before, but in this instance, I don't see why I should receive such praise."
"You said it yourself. Armor! If we can't make new weapons, we can at least give our side something to protect themselves against the Soul Eaters' weapons!"
"Oh! Quite right. I suppose I am a genius, then."
I laugh. Ewar still seems baffled.
"What is armor?" he asks.
"It's something you put over your body to deflect sharp or blunt objects." I glance at Alistair. "How long do you think it would take for us to make a suit of armor?"
"Sadly, that is out of the question, my dear. Even if we found a substitute for metal, it would be a miracle if we could produce just one suit of armor in a reasonable amount of time. And when you consider the number we would need to supply everyone on our side - well - it would be impossible."
I throw up my hands. "Great. Another idea down the drain."
"Now, now. All hope isn't lost. You are forgetting that any decent warrior - from the ancient Greeks to the knights of the Crusades - had something in their arsenal besides a suit of armor." He flips his empty porridge bowl sideways and holds it in front of his chest. "A shield!"
This perks me back up. "Are you sure we can make them?"
"Certainly."
"But we don't have any metal."
"Metal isn't necessary. The aboriginal people of Australia made shields of bark."
"Bark? We need something sturdy, Alistair - not a shield that will break into a million pieces after one hit."
He chuckles. "A bark shield is stronger than it sounds. First of all, the bark is peeled from a living tree in sheets. The sheets are then carefully bent into whatever shape you desire - with the rough bark layer on the back of the shield while the smoother inner layer faces outward. Once it has been allowed to dry, it becomes nearly as hard as the tree you took it from. It should make a sturdy shield if made correctly."
I twist around to Ewar. "What do you think?"
Ewar speaks slowly and carefully. "I haven't understood most of what you and Alistair have suggested. But, I trust you enough that I will agree with whatever you feel is best."
I kiss his cheek. "You made the right decision." I address Alistair again. "Shields sound like our best bet, then."
Alistair rubs at his chin, a sudden thought worrying him. "How do we explain it? The people will demand to know where the idea originated."
"Well, we better not say anything about you receiving it from the Great Spirits," I reply dryly. "The last thing we need is a repeat of what happened with the bow and arrow."
"We will tell them the truth," Ewar says. "You both are responsible for it."
It's as good of a strategy as any, so that's what we go with.
The announcement turns out better than I could have hoped. Alistair likens the shield to the protective covering of a tortoise. The explanation is perfect. Everyone gets on board with the concept, and no one bats an eye when he reveals it will be made from bark. One tribe says they build huts out of the stuff back home. Because of their expertise, Alistair puts them in charge of teaching the rest of us how to work with it.
We learn that certain trees are better than others. The willow produces the best bark. It is cut from the tree in large sheets, which must be harvested carefully, or else it tears to pieces. And once it is peeled off the tree, the bark must be kept wet. Otherwise, it will dry into an unusable lump before anything can be made from it.
Each tribe is responsible for making its own shields. Our tribe divides the labor depending on each member's strength and skill level. The strongest of us are tasked with sliding wooden strips through the middle layer of the bark. This helps the shield retain its shape and reinforces it. Those of us who aren't blessed with fully developed biceps get to do less strenuous tasks, like attaching the handles.
Since the bark needs to be kept damp while it's being crafted, the easy solution is for us to do most of the work by the river. Our tribe has taken possession of a prime location. It offers a nice panoramic view and easy access to the water.
I glance up from my work to rest my eyes momentarily. Enja, Afrin, and the other children of our tribe have found new playmates. They are pretending to be animals while Afrin "hunts" them with her toy bow and arrows.
Their game puts a smile on my face. But when I look elsewhere, my good mood sours.
Essa has snuck away... again.
It's been a daily trend for her. She spends an hour or so contributing to the cause but soon gets bored and wanders away. She tried integrating herself with the other tribes, though a majority of them told her to leave once they realized she only wanted to sit around and gossip. No one has that kind of time to waste.
The only people who have welcomed her are the trio of nomads - and I use the term "welcomed" loosely.
Lohr and Jaihem don't interact with her at all. That leaves Tora as Essa's only companion. At first, this puzzled me. They're so different, so why do they hang out so much? When Essa visits Tora, her mouth is constantly on the move. Yet, Tora rarely replies. I'm not even sure if she can hear what Essa is saying. That's because Tora is prone to gazing into space for hours on end thanks to her frequent dosages of hallucinogenic tea.
Maybe that's the secret to their friendship. When you're high as fuck, Essa is much easier to tolerate.
I get back to work weaving a handle on the back of a shield. Several minutes pass. I'm so focused, I don't notice anything going on around me until Ehmay makes a noise in her throat.
"That man is staring at you again."
I sneak a glance in the direction Ehmay is looking. She's right. Jaihem is sitting on his haunches, his gaze pinned to my face.
In the days since our tribe arrived at the Cave of Life, he has interacted with me sometimes. It's usually only to share information and advice, or merely to say a quick hello. He even thanked Alistair and me for introducing the shield to the community. He seems like a decent guy for the most part.
Yet, there's something about Jaihem that nags at me too.
His eyes follow me frequently. When I catch him staring, he usually flashes a small smile and returns to his work. Weird, but nothing that screams serial killer. Then there's his willingness to talk to me. He doesn't go out of his way to interact with anyone else outside of his tribe. So, what makes me so special?
My puzzled gaze falls to my lap. "I don't know why he stares so much."
"Isn't it simple to guess?" says Shelba, her face lined with wrinkles. "He believes you are pretty. Some men can't help acting like a fool when there is a young and beautiful woman nearby."
A few of our tribe's women smile and nod in agreement. Oza, however, catches my eye. Her expression remains cautious.
"Have you told Ewar yet?"
I shake my head. "He has enough to worry about right now. Besides, what would I even say? 'Jaihem acts very nice and looks at me sometimes'? That isn't forbidden." A gust of air expels from my lungs. "If Jaihem ever says or does anything I'm not comfortable with, then I'll tell Ewar. But I doubt that will happen."
"Do you know what's strange?" Alie says, one eye squinting. "I don't see Jaihem and Tora together much. And when they are, they mostly ignore each other. I don't even think they sleep in the same tent."
Ehmay gives an indignant sniff. "No wonder those two are having trouble conceiving. Someone needs to inform Jaihem that he has to bed his wife occasionally if he wants her to have a child."
The ladies around us burst into giggles. "Mother!" Alie cries, half amused.
"What? It's the truth. If he gave Tora half of the attention he tries giving Bella, they would be parents by next spring."
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The shields are hung above blazing fires to cure. The heat slowly dries the wood so it won't crack. After a light coat of paint, the shields are ready to be tested.
Ewar volunteers to try it first. Jas agrees to be his sparring partner. The two of them have similar fighting styles and have trained together often. Ewar arms himself with a shield in one hand and a club in the other. In reality, the club should be called a mace since it features a heavy stone on the end. Jas forgoes the shield completely, choosing to battle with only his weapon. That should highlight the difference between the two.
A crowd gathers around to watch the "fight." The instant Alistair declares the match to have begun, Jas comes in swinging his mace. Ewar awkwardly deflects it with his shield, visibly rattled by the force of the blow. It is only a momentary setback. As Jas keeps on with the attack, Ewar learns to block. It becomes like a dance between the two of them. Aim, strike, block. Aim, strike, block. Ewar slowly gains confidence. He is no longer only playing defense. He discovers a hidden secret of the shield. It can be a weapon too. When Jas ventures too close, Ewar shoves the shield forward. It takes Jas off guard, hitting him square in the chest and throwing him off balance. Jas' weapon (plus himself) lands in the dirt. Ewar stands over his friend, weapon poised in striking position.
Of course, he never follows through with the death blow.
Ewar won the simulated battle.
After that, learning how to fight while carrying a shield becomes every man's obsession. Even those who were on the fence about the shield's usefulness changed their minds once they witnessed the demonstration. Every spare moment is dedicated to training. Ewar steps in as an instructor when need be. And when he isn't teaching, he is practicing until his limbs are sore. Grunts, flexed muscles, and dripping sweat are not unusual to see amid the training. I'm usually there on the sidelines - you know - in case Ewar needs help.
All right, that's a lie. I'm there to lust after him, first and foremost. Wiping the sweat off his brow comes as an added bonus.
Summer arrives. The wild roses are nearly in full bloom. Damara's festival will be held soon.
Before we can even contemplate preparing for the upcoming feast, the Cave of Life receives a surprise.
We hear a commotion at one of the guarded entryways into the settlement. A man responsible for scouting the area for threats says he saw a stranger on the trail headed this way. Based on the description he provides, the stranger has to belong to the Soul Eaters.
The news spreads like lightning. A Soul Eater here alone? And out during the daytime? The Soul Eaters prefer terrorizing people at night. Why is one roaming around when the sun is in the sky?
Although it is only one man, the emergency plan we prepared is put into effect. The people who won't be fighting will be herded inside of the cave. Onya will guide them to a chamber so deep within the labyrinth of passages, it would be difficult for anyone unfamiliar with the layout to find the innocent people. A line forms at the entrance. I am at the tail end of it.
The Soul Eater arrives right as I am stepping inside the cave. Common sense says I should continue to follow the line of people to safety. But it's curiosity that demands I hover near the entrance.
How else will I find out exactly what's going on?
The man's hands are raised to show he doesn't have any weapons. Two of our guards are accompanying him as he walks into our camp, their spears ready to impale him if he makes a wrong move. His face is painted with streaks of red. He stops in the middle of the settlement and lifts his voice.
"I need to speak to the one who is in charge here! Which of you is Mayant-hattatar?"
Alistair steps forward. "I am. What business do you have with me?"
"My leader wishes to meet with you and Damara as soon as possible."
Alistair hesitates before responding. "I'm sorry, but Damara does not reside in this community."
"She goes by another name as well - Bella. We have heard the rumors of your friendship. My leader has good reason to believe that she sought refuge here with you after she and her tribe vanished from where we had them trapped."
Ewar elbows his way through the crowd and comes to stand at Alistair's side. "What does Ora want?" he says gruffly.
"To negotiate. He wants to discuss matters and settle things peacefully."
"Bella will not be involved in any negotiations," Ewar replies.
"Ora insists that the negotiations will only take place if he can speak with her as well. As a show of goodwill, you may provide the terms of the meeting. Ora swears that he will abide by any rule you demand... as long as Bella is present."
Alistair whispers to Ewar. Ewar shakes his head. But after another whispered conversation between the two, his stubbornness deflates. He gives a curt nod of agreement.
I wish I could hear what they're saying!
Alistair takes over from there. He insists that the meeting will be held today at a place of his choosing. Someone from our side will guide Ora and exactly three Soul Eaters to the secret location. As for us, we are allowed three men to accompany me and Alistair for our protection. Weapons and physical fighting during the meeting are forbidden. Once the meeting is over, both sides will go their separate ways.
The Soul Eaters' diplomat agrees to the terms. Alistair selects a local man to guide the Soul Eaters to the designated meeting place. The man accepts the assignment without argument, though his shaking hands hint that he is scared out of his mind.
The representative and the guide are gone when I come out of hiding. Ewar takes one look at me and sighs, entirely unsurprised to see me so soon.
"You heard all that, didn't you?"
"Yes."
He keeps quiet for a moment. Then, he looks around. People are watching us and presumably listening in. He gives them a slight glare before leading me away.
We come to a stop in an area free from eavesdroppers. He runs a single hand through his hair. The bronze strands I adore so much are clutched between his thick fingers. "I hate this," he mutters.
"I know."
"What is there to negotiate? The only terms I would accept are for Ora to be buried inside the deepest, darkest pit available. But Alistair insisted..."
"And he's right. Maybe something good will come from this." He tsks at my optimism, but I don't give in. I pull his hand off his head so he won't end up bald before he's thirty. "There are hundreds of people whose lives depend on what we do right now, Ewar. Even if the meeting doesn't help matters at all, we have to at least try."
He grunts, still unconvinced. I move closer. My head comes to rest over his pounding heart
"Everything will be all right," I say soothingly. "I'll have you there, and you'll have me. Remember: We're in this together."
He softens ever so slightly. "We are."
As we enjoy each other's company, something cool and hard slips into my hand.
It's a stone knife.
I glance from the knife to Ewar. "Why are you giving this to me? We're not supposed to bring any weapons."
"They agreed that the men couldn't be armed - nothing was said about you."
I give him the side-eye. "Ewar, I think the rule was implied for everyone."
He folds my palm around the knife. "I will feel better about this if you have the knife. Hide it on you somewhere. It's protection in case Ora goes back on his word."
His argument (combined with his puppy-dog eyes) convinces me. When no one is looking, the knife finds a home inside the waistband of my leggings. It won't come out unless it's an emergency.
Alistair gets us to choose the other two men who will be at the meeting. Ewar recommends Mett since his size alone is intimidating, and Jas because he always has Ewar's back. They both agree to accompany us.
The meeting place is a good distance away from the settlement. Alistair knows a shortcut through the hills, though. We arrive well before the Soul Eaters do. After we have stood around waiting for upwards of half an hour, Jas spots five figures coming this way. Ewar sticks to my side like glue, no surprise. Alistair looks vaguely worried. And Mett is rubbing his hands together in anticipation. Jas reminds him for a third time that this is supposed to be a peaceful meeting - he better not throw the first punch.
The enemy draws closer, stopping at an invisible boundary several steps away from us. Alistair dismisses the guide who led them here. Now, it's just us vs four members of the Soul Eaters.
All four are in good shape. Surprisingly, their infamous blood-red face paint has been scrubbed off for the meeting. Still, their general appearance remains disgusting. Their hair is a tangled mess. Their fingernails are ragged and dirty. And their clothes... Let's just say that if Alistair possessed a working microscope, he would probably discover a brand new species of bacteria evolving on the fabric.
Ora is easy to identify. After all, he's been in several nightmares of mine over the years. His eyes are still reptilian, cold and calculating. As Alistair introduces himself, Ora doesn't bother hiding the fact that he's checking me out.
"Hello," he says to me alone. "You don't know how long I have waited to see you again."
His attempt at sounding civilized doesn't impress me.
"Hmm. Really." I point at each individual Soul Eater and switch to English. "Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you. And a great big 'fuck you' to you, Ora."
Alistair squeaks at what came out of my foul mouth. But Ewar's lips are trembling. I'm pretty sure he's trying hard not to laugh. Everyone else is just plain confused.
Ora looks at an intensely nervous Alistair for answers. "What did she say? Was that the language of the Great Spirits?"
"Uh... Yes! Bella was greeting you in the traditional method of her homeland."
Ora puffs out his chest. "I am honored."
Alistair just barely explained away what I did. He sends me a silent plea with his eyes. He wants me to behave. I release a heavy sigh in response.
Getting through this meeting is going to be tougher than I thought.
Ora takes a visual survey of the men on our side. Whatever opinion he holds of them is concealed behind a neutral expression. "We have abided by the rules you set, Mayant-hattatar. But, you should not take my word alone." He spreads out his arms and legs. His followers mimic his stance. "Send one of your men to search for hidden weapons, if you like."
Alistair and Ewar put their heads together. Afterward, Ewar nods at Mett. Mett grins and crosses the boundary between the two opposing parties. It pleases me very much to see the Soul Eaters intimidated for once. Mett towers over the tallest of them. And his hands are huge, like baseball gloves. A few sweeps is all it takes for Mett to frisk each man.
He finds nothing.
Since the Soul Eaters have proven that they have followed the rules, Alistair feels obligated to do the same. He says we can be checked for weapons too. This is when I recall a slight issue.
There's a stone knife hidden under my clothes.
I play it cool even when my heart is racing. Ora sends over a man to check Alistair first. Then Ewar, Jas, and Mett are frisked. He stops in front of me last.
"Spread your arms." He smiles like he just won the jackpot at a casino. "I will be gentle."
Ewar wedges himself between me and Mister Sleeze. "We followed the rules. She has no weapons on her."
"That may be true, but I was sent over here to make sure..."
"Any man who dares touch my wife will lose the hand he touched her with."
I can't see Ewar's face right now - but judging by how fast Mister Sleeze beats a retreat - I'm guessing that glare was a doozy.
Ora chuckles as Mister Sleeze returns to their side. Alistair is quick to change the subject to something less tense. Crisis averted... for now.
"I was told you wished to negotiate," he says.
Ora nods. "Despite what rumors you may have heard, I prefer to avoid confrontations."
Ewar snorts softly at my side, not buying it one bit. Attacking tribes while everyone was asleep is considered "avoiding confrontation"?
Alistair glances at Ewar before refocusing on Ora. "It pleases me to hear that. What is it that you want?"
He locks eyes with me. "Her. I want her."
Alistair purses his lips. "Bella is not some token to be traded back and forth. She is a living being. She belongs to no one."
"Her so-called 'husband' seems to believe that she belongs to him."
Ewar's hands turn into fists at his sides. "She is free to do whatever she wants. I don't force her to do anything."
"Pity. You have wasted her powers, then. She deserves a man who can use her to her full potential."
I can't keep silent any longer. I give him my best scowl. "I would never help you."
His smirk sends a cold shiver down my spine. "There are ways to change your mind."
Alistair clears his throat. "I thought we were here to negotiate. I have already said that taking Bella against her will is out of the question. If you have another idea, I am listening. If not, this meeting is over."
Ora takes a moment to think. "What if I can convince her to come with me? Would that be acceptable?"
"I... suppose it would be if she agreed," Alistair says reluctantly.
"Then allow me to share my story. I believe she will enjoy hearing it."
Alistair's head moves in an almost imperceptible nod. Ora immediately begins pleading his case to me.
"The Soul Eaters have a long and prestigious history. My ancestors learned how to capture souls, and with that, they enhanced our tribe's power. But we never grew as we should. We had only a few members for generations. I knew our tribe would disappear if nothing was done." He smiles at me. "The day I first saw you changed everything. I had never seen anyone perform such magic before. I knew right then that you would save us. You belonged with us. I wanted to take you right then." His smile is replaced by a sneer. "But my father was afraid of angering the Bat People. He didn't want to start a fight with them. He forced me to leave you. I wish I had killed him then!"
His angry outburst silences the chirping birds.
He calms down enough to continue. "I waited until winter to overthrow him. I planned to take over as leader and return for you. But a member of the tribe that I thought I could trust betrayed me. My father threw me and my most loyal friend out of the tribe."
Ora's hand falls on the shoulder of a stone-faced man. "Liks and I had to form a new strategy. In a way, I am glad my father ignored my advice and forced me out. The Soul Eaters in its past form could never have defeated the Bat People - and I would have lost you, My Goddess. But once I was free to develop my plan, things fell into place." His gaze turns glossy. "Liks and I went in search of people who could appreciate you the way I do. I spread word of you and your extraordinary power everywhere I went. Most people did not believe that Damara was living among us. A few, however, did believe, and they liked what they heard. They left their homes to join me. They wanted what I wanted - to take you for our tribe. We would become so powerful, no one could ever defeat us.
"We could not take you from the Bat People right away. My followers and I had to build ourselves up. Each soul we collected made us stronger. As my followers grew, so did our appetites. By last winter, there wasn't a tribe we could not overtake. I knew then that I was ready to claim the Soul Eaters' name." He chuckles. "I wish you could have seen my father's face when I showed up unannounced with my warriors. He said to me, 'Ora, what have you done?' I said, 'Taking back what is mine.' Then, I stabbed him through the heart." Ora makes a face. "He wasn't worthy enough to have his soul taken. I left him to rot."
That explains why Maru was the only corpse that wasn't cannibalized. How nice for him.
Ora takes a step forward, his hand outstretched, inviting me to take it. "I am ready for you now, Goddess. Join me and my people. You are meant to save us."
"How is eating me 'for my soul' going to save your people?"
Ora and the three men surrounding him burst into laughter.
"Who said we would eat you?" he asks.
"No one. I assumed-"
"I would never eat a Goddess. You are much more valuable than that."
This takes me by surprise. I have trouble forming my next question. "Then, what do you want me for?"
"My men and I intend to worship you each and every night." Ora's smile is slimier than a slug's trail. "The Goddess of Fertility will help us grow our tribe. You will soon be the mother of many, many children."
At first, I can't make sense of what he said. The horror sets in slowly. But when it does come, I almost collapse from what he is suggesting.
"Fuck that!" I shout at him. "I've already got a husband. None of you are ever touching me."
Ewar pulls me closer, his arm slung around my waist. "You heard her. Bella doesn't want to join you."
Ora glances contemptuously at Ewar. "The Goddess is only frightened by the unknown. She will come to accept her fate."
My eyes narrow. "Listen to the next words coming out of my mouth, dickhead," I hiss. "I'm not a goddess. Because if I was one, I would have already blown your creepy ass to bits with a lightning bolt!"
He chuckles. "That only proves what I already know. Damara creates life - you could never take it away."
I am on the edge of unleashing a torrent of curses when Alistair pats my arm. It is a signal for me to keep quiet.
"You had your chance, Ora," Alistair says. "Bella has decided not to join you."
Ora sighs like he is bored. "Then you must convince her, Mayant-hattatar. You have until midday tomorrow to bring her to me. But if she is not in my camp by then, the Soul Eaters will come to fetch her ourselves. I promise you won't like the outcome."
The threat is easy to see. Everyone at the Cave of Life will be murdered if he doesn't get what he wants.
Ewar holds me tighter. "If you want a fight, we'll give you one," he practically spits. "This meeting is over."
Ora nods. "I agree. Nothing more needs to be said." He smirks at me one last time. "Please, rest well, Damara. You and I will have a long and fruitful night together tomorrow."
His taunting words hit their mark. Ewar is so mad, his entire body is shaking.
The two opposing groups part ways. A dark cloud hangs over the five of us as we walk. We say very little. Not even Alistair can find the light at the end of this tunnel. He tells us to keep the details of the failed meeting to ourselves for now. He wants to think of a nice way to break the bad news to the folks waiting back at the settlement. Good luck with that, Alistair.
When we arrive back at the Cave of Life, Ewar pulls Alistair to the side.
"I need to speak with Bella alone," he says. "May we use your house?"
"Certainly."
Alistair ushers us into the hut and closes the door flap on his way out. It's mostly dark inside. Only a few sunbeams filter in through the smoke hole in the roof. Ewar's tortured face is cast in partial shadow. He's staring at me in a way I have never seen before - as though if he blinks, I might vanish.
My mouth opens to ask what's wrong.
He pushes my back against the wall before the question can come out.
His lips are demanding and desperate. His tongue divides and conquers, slipping easily inside my mouth. His kisses may have taken me by surprise, but I am a willing participant now.
Later, he pulls back. "I'm sorry," he pants. "I had to do that."
I gulp for air, still dazed. "Don't apologize. You can do that to me whenever you like."
My flirting was meant to make him smile, but he doesn't. He looks just as miserable now as he did before.
His hands surround my face, holding me like a psychic would a crystal ball. What does he see when he gazes into my eyes like this? Our potential future together? My love for him? I hope he sees all that and more.
"I won't let Ora take you. Never." Fury darkens his tone. "The things he said to you..."
"...were the ravings of a madman. Don't even think about it anymore." Some emotion flickers across his face. I tilt my head in question. "What is it?"
He wets his lips. "I thought of something during our walk back to the settlement." Upon seeing my rising curiosity, he tamps it back down. "It's only an idea. I need to speak with a couple of people first." He pauses to fix my rumpled hair, smoothing it out after having messed it up from kissing me. "Go find Ehmay or Alie. I don't want you alone."
"All right. But I want to hear this idea of yours soon."
"You will."
Ewar and I leave in separate directions. I am headed for our tribe's campsite. As I make my way through the sea of refugee tents, someone else joins me.
"Hello, Bella," Jaihem says, looking straight ahead as we walk. "It's been a strange and stressful day today."
"It has. I'll be glad when all of this is over."
He makes a sympathetic face. "How did the meeting go?"
I hesitate before answering. "I'm not supposed to say anything about it yet."
"Seems unfair to be keeping secrets after meeting with the Soul Eaters. The rest of us have a right to know what's going on too."
"You're right, and Mayant-hattatar agrees with you. He will make an announcement later today. Everyone is invited to hear."
Jaihem smiles right as we arrive at my tribe's campsite. "Thank you for telling me. Would it be all right if I let Lohr know of this as well?"
"Yes. Spread the word to everyone you know."
"I will do that with pleasure." His eyes flick to where Ehmay and several others are gathered around the fire. She is watching him. His smile falters a moment before returning to its previous state. "Goodbye for now, Bella."
"Same to you."
Ehmay doesn't look away from Jaihem until he has left the vicinity. "What did he want?"
"Nothing much. He asked a couple of questions - that's all."
She hums but doesn't press for further information.
It's late evening when Alistair calls for everyone to assemble near the cave entrance. It's a tight squeeze fitting so many people in such a small area, but it's the only free space available. I'm crammed between Alie and Ehmay on one side; Oza and her kids are on the other. Ewar stands at the forefront of the cave with Alistair, as well as several other tribal leaders.
Alistair begins his announcement. The echoing cave helps amplify his voice.
"As many of you know, I spoke with the Soul Eaters today. I had hoped we could come to an agreement to end the suffering. I am sad to report that nothing good came out of the meeting. They believe Damara lives among us, and they demand that we give her to them. If we do not, they will attack this settlement tomorrow."
There comes panicked gasps and cries from the crowd. Voices shout a dozen different questions. One individual makes herself heard above the rest.
"I know who you're talking about!" Essa points at me. "It's her they want! They think Bella is Damara!" Hundreds of heads turn to scrutinize me. Essa eats it up. "What are we waiting for? Give her to them before it's too late!"
Several people back her up. Even drugged-out Tora gathers enough cognitive function to nod along in agreement. Traitor. I gave her free advice about how to help with her fertility problems and this is what she does in return? At least Jaihem doesn't agree with Tora. In fact, it looks like he wishes he could strangle her right about now.
"Shut your big mouth, Essa." Alie wraps an arm around my shoulders in sisterly solidarity. "You know Bella isn't a goddess!"
Essa waves away Alie's statement. "It doesn't matter. If the Soul Eaters still think she's a goddess, what's the point in arguing? The smart thing to do is to turn Bella over to them!"
More people voice their approval. The tide is turning against me. Now I understand what it felt like to be falsely accused during the Salem witch trials.
Alistair raises both arms high in the air. "Settle down! Settle down, everyone! No one - I repeat - no one will be turned over to the Soul Eaters. That is not our way."
"Why not? It's the answer to all of our problems. We turn her over, then we all can finally go home!"
Ewar steps forward. His furious eyes sweep around the gathering, settling on Essa last. "You would give the Soul Eaters a woman who has done no wrong - to live the remainder of her life in the greatest suffering - just for the possibility it will save yourself? If that is what it means to be a part of this tribal alliance, then I want nothing of it. I would rather live among the animals of the plains. At least they would never willingly hand over a member of their own herd to satisfy the lions."
Those who were previously calling for me to be the sacrificial lamb are now looking down at the ground in shame - except for Essa. She is unrepentant, her arms crossed like a child's.
Ewar continues speaking to everyone. "Even if we were to give the Soul Eaters all they desire tomorrow, our troubles would be far from over. Never forget - they are hunters of man. They stole the lives of many of our friends and loved ones, all in the name of enhancing their power and glory. Make no mistake. THEY WILL TRACK DOWN EACH TRIBE AT THIS GATHERING AND TAKE EVERY LAST SOUL!"
His shout reverberates through the crowd. Not a single person moves, paralyzed by his words.
Ewar exhales, yet his somber mood remains unchanged. "The Soul Eaters' hunger for blood will never be satisfied. Our only chance at survival is for us to come together and fight."
He turns his head and meets Alistair's eyes. A silent message is exchanged. Alistair nods and takes over.
"Our meeting with the Soul Eaters did have one benefit." He clamps a hand on Ewar's shoulder. "My good friend has thought of a plan... a trick to take the Soul Eaters by surprise. I have sent a message to Ora, their leader. The message says that we have changed our minds. Bella will be delivered to him tomorrow at a place of my choosing." Alistair smiles at all the confused faces in front of him. "Of course, nothing of that sort will occur. We will have a decoy in place of Bella. When Ora and his most trusted men show up to collect their prize, our side will come out of hiding and surround them. The battle should be short. Ora is our main focus. With no leader in place, the remainder of the Soul Eaters will most likely flee back to their homelands. If they don't, we will take care of them as well."
I am the first to ask a question. "Who's the decoy?"
He beckons a familiar figure with a curled finger to stand at his side. "Seti! You and he are of similar height and build. Even your hair is the same shade and length! From a distance, Ora wouldn't be able to tell the difference."
Seti chuckles. "I never thought I'd be waging war while pretending to be a girl, but here we are!"
I break free from the audience. I come to a stop in front of Ewar and company. "You can't do this. Seti is only a child!"
Seti's smile vanishes. "I am not! I'm a man now."
"It's true," Alistair says. "The ceremony inducting him into manhood was performed last autumn, and Seti passed the test. He is a man."
"He's barely in his teens! I don't want him risking his neck for me."
Ewar tilts his head forward, capturing me with his intense gaze. "Bella, he is going to take part in the battle either way. Did you not see him training with his shield?"
The information slaps me in the face. Seti has a shield too? How did I not notice?
"No... I..."
The three of them wait for me to finish my thought, but my mind is filled with static. Something inside of me has broken. I can manage one head nod of acceptance and nothing more.
I shuffle back to the crowd. There, I listen silently as final decisions regarding tomorrow's battle plan are made. People that I know and care for deeply are given their assignments. Many will be hiding in the hills, ready to descend on Ora and his men when the time is right. Arl. Akob. Mett. Jas. Even Bannar, with his gray hair and limp, will be taking part.
I am gutted.
I pull Bannar aside and plead for him to remain here with the other elderly men and women - where it is safe. He merely smiles indulgently and says that he cannot do that. Fighting - even possibly dying - for his people is the greatest honor.
Conversation is brisk during the evening meal. For me, the food sticks to the roof of my mouth. Alistair sent a messenger to Ora, and a reply was given. Ora has agreed. He and a small group of men will meet Ewar, Alistair, and what is supposed to be me (but will really be Seti dressed in drag) at the same place we spoke with him earlier today.
The plan is already in action. There's no backing out of it now.
I claim a headache and crawl into the tent at my first opportunity. Worrying is easier to do when you're left alone. Of course, that doesn't last long.
Ewar has followed me.
He comes to rest on his side. I can feel his eyes on me as I stare at the tent's ceiling.
"You have been too quiet this evening," he says. "What are you thinking?"
"She was right, Ewar."
"Who was right?"
"Essa. I should turn myself over to Ora."
Even in the muted light, I see a flare of anger in his gaze. "No! Why would you ever say such a thing?"
"People will die tomorrow because of me. And I... I can't handle the guilt."
"And what then, Bella? We turn you over to Ora and he keeps you forever?"
I shiver at the thought. "Ugh, no. I'd rather be eaten than live as a sex slave the rest of my life."
"Then what would be your plan?"
"I was thinking maybe I could sneak in a weapon - like you and I did before - and I could... um, stab Ora as soon as I was alone with him."
Ewar shakes his head. "I won't let you do that. It's too much of a risk."
"You don't seem to mind putting yourself at risk," I grumble.
"Bella," he says half scolding. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes."
"Then why don't you trust me when I say that I'll come back to you?" Words stick in my throat. He takes advantage by pulling me into his embrace, my head tucked under his chin. "The plan will work. Tomorrow you will help Onya keep the people here calm and organized. I will deal with Ora and his maggots masquerading as men. And come this winter, you and I will be too busy to even think back on this terrible time."
I angle my head so I can see him better. "What will you and I be doing this winter?"
"I don't believe it." He sighs and shakes his head, a mock frown on his face. "My wife has forgotten our deal! Weren't you the one who suggested we would be making love all winter long to achieve some goal?"
For the first time in hours, I smile. "I remember. We decided we would start working on having a child of our own."
"That's right. So, I have many reasons for winning this war before winter, don't I?"
I give a faint, humbled nod. I want to focus on that happy future more than anything - but it's so hard when disaster could take it away!
Sensing my lingering anxiety, Ewar takes me by surprise. He appears on top of me, his muscular thighs trapping my legs. He hovers above, lips ghosting down my face.
"Do not worry," he says between kisses. "Our side will win. We have something the Soul Eaters do not."
His assault on my skin is distracting. I just barely gather the wits to decipher what he said. "Oh yeah? Something other than shields?"
"Yes. The Soul Eaters fight for only their own selfish gain. But we... we fight for our families, our friends, and our tribes. We fight for love. The Soul Eaters don't realize that it makes us stronger. Love is more powerful than the souls they believe they collect."
More than a little awed, my palm meets his stubbled cheek. "How did you get so wise?"
"The most beautiful woman in the world taught me everything I know," he replies, looking straight into my eyes.
"Huh. I'm sure Ehmay will be flattered when she hears that you think so highly of her."
He growls at my joke and nips at my earlobe, making me gasp. His warm breath tickles my goosebump skin. "Bella, you are the most beautiful, most frustrating, most... lovable woman I know."
"Mmm. Prove it then."
His mouth covers mine. My arms weave around his neck, bringing him closer. The switch flips. Our kisses go from slow and gentle to heart-racing in a matter of seconds. Wandering hands disappear underneath my clothes. He plays it cool, merely skimming over the areas I want touched the most. It is exquisite torture. In retaliation, I begin running my hands down his back. His ass is my paradise, firm and toned to perfection. He groans as my fingernails sink into his flesh.
After that, we stop playing around and get serious.
He yanks the tunic from his upper body. My clothes are tossed to the side. We are more than ready to enjoy a night of bliss.
GROARGHRRR! PHEW-WOO-WOO-WOO!
GROARGHRRR! PHEW-WOO-WOO-WOO!
Our lips pull apart at the unexpected noise. It sounds like someone is doing an impression of a chainsaw in action. It doesn't stop. It happens again and again. That's when it dawns on us.
Someone in the tent next door is snoring... loudly. I'm pretty sure it's Mett.
Ewar collapses on top of me. He and I dissolve into hushed, body-shaking laughter. Each time we attempt to pick up where we left off, the neverending snores snaps us out of the moment. Making love in these conditions is impossible.
Ewar rolls off of me and moans, giving up for the night. As for me, I am seriously displeased - and I'm not afraid to say it.
I raise my voice so the snoring neighbor might hear my words even in his dreams. "Thanks a lot, cockblocker!"
Ewar squints his eyes. "Do I want to know what 'cockblocker' means?"
"Probably not. Goodnight, Ewar."
"Goodnight, Bella."
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A/N-
So, Bella doesn't have a mental shield in this story... but she did help "invent" a type of shield. Go Bella and Alistair!
Want to know what their nifty new shield looks like? Behold my inspiration - the Enderby Shield! It's a 2,300 year old bark shield that was discovered during an archeological dig in Great Britain back in 2015. For funzies, the British Museum recreated one from scratch. Search on YouTube for Curator's Corner S8 Ep7 if you want to learn more about it.
The battle starts next chapter! Just, um, get ready for the unexpected. *Biting off fingernails*
Thanks for reading. :-)
