Daughter
A/N: A lot of comedic scenes in this one. Have fun.
Chapter 28 – Moving Day
Gracie stared at the great water pouring down from the waterfall. They were cuddled together in the cave, crystal walls glittering with the morning sun. A light snowfall had greeted them when they awoke and met here. The cave was their only shelter. She sat between Jasuf's legs with her head resting on his shoulder. His muscled arms wrapped around her protectively, adding an additional layer of warmth over her SGC-issued jacket.
They were quiet. Today was moving day. Neither was really ready to face it.
She felt him take in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Gracie knew Jasuf was getting ready to hurry them along. She dug her head into his shoulder more and shut her eyes, telling him no. His arms squeezed her to acquiesce.
"I found a single hut that is not in use," he said quietly. "It is in need of some repair."
"Hmm."
"With some effort, our builders may be able to make it livable by nightfall."
Gracie opened her eyes. She sat up a little to face him. "I would not inconvenience them. Maybe I should just ask Ishta to stay one more night in my own village. I do not want to burden your people," she said with conviction. The last thing she would do was draw anyone's ire. She hadn't cared what anyone thought before, because Jasuf didn't. But now that she would have to live in his village, things were different. She needed to conduct herself carefully.
"There is another option," Jasuf said hesitantly. "But I do not want you to feel pressured to accept it."
"What?"
"My father suggested that you simply stay with me."
Her eyes widened. "He did?"
Jasuf nodded. He let out a breath. His jaw moved side to side as he ground his teeth together. "He assumes too much."
She looked away, lost in thought. Agean and Idul's words about his self-control came to mind. He'd been honorable toward her thus far, never once demanding anything more than her warm embrace and passionate kisses. Gracie wasn't sure if living with him in his hut would change that. She had never given it serious thought before this order to move had been given.
She stared at him. "A dilapidated structure or your warm and cozy hut. It hardly sounds like a choice."
"And I would not force you to share quarters with Jaffa you do not know."
"Oh no. I'm not doing that either." This situation was awkward enough.
"I did not think you would."
She looked down as one of her hands began to toy with the opening of his fur overcoat. "I don't want to be a burden to you."
Jasuf tipped her chin up with his hand. He locked eyes with her. "You will never be a burden to me, EldaMalDoran," he declared with a smooth and confident tone.
His pleasant voice made her shiver. She felt herself flush at the sound. If he kept talking to her like that, they would lay together sooner rather than later. And Gracie wasn't going to tell him to stop talking. She liked how he sounded too much.
She would just have to see how this all played out, then. If and when he asked her for consent, she would be ready. But part of her was also curious to see how long he would wait. Because the longer he waited, the more certain Gracie could be that her sisters' suggestion about his feelings were true.
As for herself, well, she knew how she felt about him. And that was making the idea of leaving him behind to join SG-3 harder and harder to stomach. She was beginning to reconsider the whole thing. It wasn't an easy debate to have with herself. She wanted both Jasuf and the team. But Gracie feared she might have to choose.
For the first time in her adult life, she had a real, actual choice to make that could affect more than just herself and her mother. She didn't want to hurt him or to disappoint them.
This felt impossible.
Jasuf waited patiently when she didn't speak. He saw that she'd gotten lost in her thoughts. Perhaps she was worried about what staying with him would mean. If he had expectations or not. He kissed her gently, hoping to ease her mind. "We will make this transition to my village as gradual as you please," he promised reassuringly.
She sighed. "When are you going to make the pronouncement to your warriors?"
"I plan to delay that for as long as I possibly can," he admitted.
"So for now, no one really knows why I'm moving into your village?" she attempted to verify.
"No."
She took in a breath and nodded, deciding something. "Then we let them assume that you have invited me. And that none of this has anything to do with leadership on both sides making grand plans that will be unpopular." She left out the part about them being their leaders' puppets. As much as she loved the waterfall, she no longer trusted it as a secure place to talk freely. While here, Gracie only planned to say what she was willing her leaders to overhear. She presumed Jasuf would agree.
He considered her words. "They will assume much more than a simple invitation if you retire to my hut every night."
She bit her lip. "Let them. The point of me coming here is to convince your people that the new training model is a step forward. We'll just have to quietly set more positive examples before you make the pronouncement. Then when you finally do announce the changes, they will have already been convinced."
He offered her an impressed smile. "You said you wanted to learn how Jaffa do things, and yet your suggestion is as cunning as any Jaffa plan I know."
She tilted her head. "I'm learning."
After Gracie brought her few possessions and personal staff weapon to Jasuf's residence, he led her to the eating hut. It was past breakfast, so only a few Jaffa sat present inside. He purposely waited until it was not bustling with people to bring her here.
Jasuf inclined his head to those who were present. He spied one of his guardsmen and his wife sitting together with their small child at a table. They motioned for him to join them.
"Jasuf," the guardsman greeted with a small bow of his head. His wife also inclined her head.
"Bier, EldaMalDoran," he introduced.
Gracie bowed with a small smile.
"My wife, Fen. Our son, My'ir."
The women greeted each other quietly and formally.
"Sit," the guardsman said, gesturing to seats across from them at the table. As the pair sat, his wife passed plates and bowls of food to them that were already on one end of the table.
Jasuf and Gracie served themselves and got started with eating. Neither of them was very hungry. But the ritual of sitting with others for a meal presented them an opportunity to introduce Elda comfortably.
She'd never been more nervous. She could stare in the faces of dangerous arms dealers and greedy smugglers without a problem. But a simple Jaffa and his family were almost terrifying at this point. So much weight had been placed on her shoulders. Gracie was afraid she would cause offense somehow before the meal was over and mess everything up.
She still didn't completely understand why she had been tasked with a charm offensive in the first place. If leadership wanted to make unpopular changes, shouldn't they have been the ones doing the persuading? Gracie wondered if human leaders delegated all the unpalatable tasks to their underlings, too. Did her father do things like this? Is that what leadership was really supposed to be like?
The little boy squirmed in his mother's lap. He seemed very young and was smaller than her little sister back home on Earth. She decided to focus on him. He was the least intimidating Jaffa here. She waited for her opportunity to speak before inquiring about the child's age as a way to be sociable with the mother. She wanted Jasuf to take the lead.
"First snow," Bier noted. As with humans, the best ice breaker was a comment about the weather.
"Yes," Jasuf confirmed. "Training will be suspended." Their village had no huts large enough to serve as an indoor training facility like the ones the Goa'uld used to provide for their Jaffa slaves.
"Likely the hunt would be unproductive. Surely most of the animals have escaped to warmer climates by now."
"Indeed. I will check our meat stores today. But I am certain we have enough to sustain us."
So far, the wife hadn't spoken. She busied herself with trying to feed her child, who seemed uninterested in the food and was trying to scoot off of her lap. Gracie quietly watched, remembering how her birth parents tried to convince her younger self to eat when she was acting like this. Her father placed food on a spoon and made noises to get her sister's attention. Then her mother chided him and reminded him that she isn't a baby anymore. Gracie found the exchange quite funny at the time.
She caught herself smiling at the memory. She quickly covered it with another bite of food.
"Tell me, EldaMalDoran, do all the Hak'tyl practice the sequences we observed you use in the match? I was unfamiliar with the last one you used against our brother."
Gracie made eye contact with the guardsman now. "That last sequence is something new," she admitted. "Jasuf and I have been perfecting it lately."
His guardsman looked to Jasuf now. "You concocted something new? And you did not share it?"
"It was not ready." His eyes flitted to Gracie. "I fear it is still imperfect."
"Funny, I seem to remember you being driven back while I applied it," Gracie said with a smirk on her face.
Bier laughed heartily. "Even she torments you, Jasuf?" He leaned in. "Perhaps you have lost your dignity, Brother."
Jasuf met his eyes with amusement. "The only dignity lost here is yours," he teased back. "You have not progressed in months."
"Find me a combatant worth my time, and I will show you progression."
Jasuf and Gracie glanced at each other. Maybe this grand scheme they had to pull off would be easier than they thought.
"Perhaps you would be available to spar, EldaMalDoran," Bier suggested.
Or not.
Gracie stayed very still and quiet.
"Bier," Jasuf warned. He suddenly had a fire in his eyes.
The guardsman got the hint. Jasuf was being protective, as was his right with her. He laughed merrily. He addressed Gracie. "Your mate regards you highly if he will not let you spar with me."
"Bier," his wife Fen now spoke. "No one wants to spar with you."
Jasuf smirked.
"You haven't bathed in days," Fen complained. "Our son's nappy smells fresher than you."
Bier raised his arm to smell at his armpit.
Gracie couldn't help herself. She began to laugh. Fen's eyes sparkled at her warmly. Jasuf observed this with relief.
"Perhaps I can take advantage of this, Bier," Jasuf pretended to say thoughtfully. "I would send you out into the battlefield in the first wave. Then our enemies would run in fear of your stench. We would win our battles in minutes," Jasuf jested.
Bier scowled at him while his wife and Gracie laughed.
"You would do our village proud," Jasuf added.
His guardsman had no further words. He simply shook his head slightly, effectively defeated this round. Gracie grinned. Jasuf wasn't kidding when he said he could handle his brothers.
Gracie spent the day following Jasuf around as he conducted his usual business around the village. It afforded her an opportunity to be introduced to more people. Everyone recognized her, but few had ever interacted with her. They regarded her with curiosity. All wondered who this human girl was that had captured the heir apparent's attention.
"Introduce me to that guardsman you mentioned to Idul. I want to know which one he is," she whispered into his ear. They were back in the eating hut again, standing in the entranceway. Jasuf had a protective arm around her waist as his eyes searched for a place to sit. The hut was busy with people there for the evening meal.
Eventually, Jasuf found the Jaffa in question. He saw there would be just enough room for the pair at the table. They hung their coats and ventured in that direction. "Lo'zim," he called out.
The guardsman looked up. He gestured at the open spots across from him at his table. His tablemates inclined their heads toward Gracie respectfully as Jasuf introduced her to them. All of them were men, most in the garb of guardsmen. As Jasuf and Gracie got started with the food that had been graciously passed to them, the Jaffa men carried on with their conversation.
Gracie observed that Lo'zim was the largest one here. Even for a Jaffa, he was quite big. Idul would be challenged if she had to engage him in combat. She wondered idly if they would ever be paired together for training. She figured that would be one way to get them introduced. She smiled internally, excited over her potential match-making project. It could be a fun side mission. And if she was successful, maybe that would get Idul off her back.
She was quite certain Idul was salivating over the idea that she had moved in with Jasuf. The Hak'tyl was probably busy making all kinds of naughty assumptions. No doubt she would voice all of those ideas to her the next time she saw her, just to see the look on Gracie's face.
Jasuf engaged in dialogue with his men naturally. Soon they were laughing together about some recent hunting exploit that had seen Lo'zim embarrassed. Gracie noted how he artfully steered the topic of conversation in the guardsman's direction. She smiled to herself. It's like he could read her mind.
"And just when Lo'zim thought the tok'tar was dead and approached, it snapped its jaw toward his hand!" one of the men recounted.
"He jumped back like a little hasshak!" The men, including Jasuf, began cackling heartily. Gracie smiled along with them, tickled by the absolute scowl overtaking Lo'zim's face.
"He needs that hand," another commented crudely, "for he has no woman to do the night's work for him!" His fellows continued to laugh, harder even now.
Jasuf glanced at Gracie, quietly apologetic for his guardsman's inappropriate remark. She shook her head with a small smile, not offended in the least. She understood the depths male banter would go for young men to entertain themselves. She had seen much worse things. She didn't let this sort of talk really bother her.
Now one of the guardsmen beside Lo'zim turned to address her. He leaned toward her boldly with a wicked smile on his face, neverminding that his superior was right there. "Should one of your sisters wish to oblige him, we would happily offer him up to her mercy." His fellows cackled in Lo'zim's direction. He was turning red with fury.
Gracie smirked. "The sister that defeats him in combat will eat him alive."
The men raised their brows, impressed with her willingness to meet their challenging words. They expected her to shy away from their vulgar banter. They offered Jasuf approving looks. He sat quietly with a smug expression.
"What say you, Lo'zim?" Jasuf said to his guardsman. He was very obviously goading him.
"Of what do you speak?" the big Jaffa asked in his booming voice.
"Care to challenge a Hak'tyl and see if she would win?"
"I have engaged them all already and won."
"You haven't challenged the one I'm thinking of," Gracie lied. She honestly had no idea if Idul had ever seen this Jaffa before in Exhibition. She'd have to follow up on that if she was going to move forward with her little scheme. Her heart thumped with excitement. It was even more fun with Jasuf quietly helping her. She didn't even have to ask him. He was just going right along with it anyway.
It was like she was working a mark, and he was her partner.
She could do this all day.
The men around the table oohed at Gracie's remark. They looked at Lo'zim expectantly, wondering if he would take the bait and agree to a match with the unnamed Hak'tyl warrior. They found it entertaining that Jasuf's mate was willing to offer up one of her sisters so easily.
She was already winning their hearts and minds with this.
Lo'zim sat straighter with a look of superiority. "I look forward to seeing your sister try, Hak'tyl," he said arrogantly to Gracie.
One of her eyebrows raised as her mouth drew into a calculating smirk. She wasn't intimidated in the least. "Prepare for your doom, dear Lo'zim," she responded dangerously.
Jasuf laughed loudly.
When the door to his hut screeched open, laughter overpowered its sound. Jasuf still had not gotten over what Gracie had done at the table. He couldn't have been more proud. He ushered her in and shut the door.
She smiled pompously at him when he turned around.
He didn't say anything as he grabbed her face and pulled it to his for a hard kiss. She responded in kind, not having had any time to do this yet today. She missed it. Their breaths tangled as their tongues battled. The chill from the winter air dissipated quickly with the heat they were generating now.
And then Jasuf remembered himself. He pulled away but didn't go far. He covered his sudden realization that she was about to spend the night with a comment about her antics in the eating hut. "I think my men like you already," he said with that low tone she loved so much.
She bared her teeth, eyes still focused on his lips. Her body was close. Almost too close. She seemed flush. He swallowed.
"That was the idea behind the task we were given, right?" she said playfully. "Endear myself to your people? Especially your warriors?"
"Great progress has been made already," he agreed.
"And what a bonus that we get to introduce Idul to her future Jaffa companion. Relief will soon be upon us both, my Jasuf."
"This supposed sparring match you arrange can be the example we mean to set. For the endevour our leaders wish to implement."
"I agree. There is an Earth saying I learned that applies here: Two birds, one stone."
He smiled. "How fitting."
She hummed in agreement, grabbing at his coat now to pull it off of him. He let her. Meanwhile he slowly unzipped her SGC-issued jacket and slipped one hand underneath to grab at her waist. Their mouths crashed together as he pulled the coat from her shoulders.
He considered taking her right now. But he had promised himself to show some restraint.
This was going to be much more difficult than he had ever imagined.
Jasuf broke off the kiss and smiled into her mouth. "Perhaps you should return to your village in the morning and find Idul."
"That would need to be very early, before she departs for her assignments," Gracie pointed out, not immediately realizing that Jasuf was trying to distract her.
"Indeed. But the seed needs to be sown early for the scheme to work."
"Hmm." She began to think of how she would word things when she met her sister.
"I am certain your Den Mother would also like to hear a report of how this day fared."
"Ugh. I would rather sleep in than have to trek early to the other village. I've had enough of leadership this week."
"It would be your duty, EldaMalDoran," he reminded her. "She assigned you this task. She would expect a report."
"Are you trying to kick me out?" she said suspiciously.
Jasuf bit his cheek, trying to think quickly. "Of course not. I want to see these tasks successful. The more capable we both appear at completing these orders, the more freedom we will earn."
At first, she looked at him dubiously. Gracie rightly sensed that he was trying to distract her from the heat of their fiery kisses just now. She quietly smiled. Perhaps she would allow him to calm them down. She did promise herself to see how long he could hold out. If they became intimate on her first night here, well, that would be telling her something she didn't want to be true.
If he wanted her for pleasure, he could have her.
But if he wanted her for love, as she did, she would have to wait.
"Tell me of Lo'zim's weaknesses. So that I may counsel Idul on how to defeat him."
Jasuf smiled at her shrewdness. He could not have chosen a more cunning partner than this EldaMalDoran. Whoever she really was.
"Idul," Gracie called.
The Hak'tyl cracked open a single eye to glare at her sister. The sun had not even begun to rise. Her sister was suddenly here, hovering over her in her sleeping mat. She had shaken her shoulder to wake her.
"EldaMalDoran," she began, voice full of sleep. "Leave me be. You can tell me of how you conquered Jasuf's body another time." Apparently only sleep overpowered Idul's insatiable thirst for gossip.
Gracie laughed at her, quietly though, so as not to wake the rest of their hut-mates. "That is not why I am here." She shook her head. She just knew that Idul would assume she'd done such a thing.
"Go away, Sister," Idul grumbled. She turned over to let her backside face Gracie.
"I met Jasuf's guardsmen yesterday," she softly reported.
Idul suddenly turned over. Her eyes were wide awake now. She pulled Gracie down to join her on the sleeping mat, scooting over to give her room. They faced each other lying down.
"Tell me what you have learned," she whispered forcefully.
Gracie nearly laughed aloud again. She used a hand to cover her mouth briefly. "There is a guardsman named Lo'zim. He is tormented by his brothers for being without a mate."
Idul listened intently.
"He wrongly thinks that there is no Hak'tyl who could defeat him in combat. But the one who does will surely overpower his heart." Then she added, "As I did with Jasuf." That part made her feel just a little self-important.
"How can one defeat him?" Idul grabbed at the SGC-issued jacket Gracie was wearing with two fists. "Tell me you have discovered this information."
"I have. And I will share it."
Her sister's face slowly drew into a devious smile. "You honor me, Sister. What have I done to earn such loyalty?"
Gracie reached up to sweep unruly hair away from Idul's face affectionately. "You are my sister. You need not do anything." She placed a kiss on her forehead. Then Gracie smiled to herself. Her plans were going well.
"How did you fare in Meil'nor's village, kal'ma?" Ishta asked over tea in her hut. It was just the two of them here. She was impressed that Gracie was here so early in the morning. She had not instructed her to come make a report. But if the girl was smart enough to take such an initiative on her own, that was an encouraging sign. She wondered now if Jasuf's influence on her would allow Gracie to be groomed for a role in leadership.
"I fared well, Den Mother." Gracie took a sip of tea. She savored the warmth it brought her. Trudging through the dark in the cold was no way to start her morning. "Jasuf introduced me to his guardsmen and many of the villagers. We shared meals with the warriors and engaged them in conversation."
Ishta inclined her head in approval. "What are your plans for this day?"
"I do not know yet. Jasuf rose early. I reported straight here."
"And what of Jasuf? Did he make a pronouncement to his men?"
"He feels it would be premature at this stage. We have strategized together and decided to gradually bring some of our sisters and his men together in sociable circumstances. That may make them more cooperative when the time comes to pair them."
"An interesting strategy, EldaMalDoran," Ishta said with a conniving smile.
Gracie almost narrowed her eyes. But that would have been disrespectful. She strongly suspected that Ishta did spy on her in the cave with Jasuf. Somehow. The Den Mother hardly seemed surprised by their supposed strategy, which she was sort of making up right now as she went along.
It was a half-baked plan.
"We have also set in motion opportunities for the Hak'tyl and the Jaffa men to spar, without the need for Exhibition. That should get them used to the idea of training together regularly before it becomes a rule. It will begin with Idul and a guardsman."
Ishta's brow rose, now even more impressed. "Your initiative is notable. Your strategies appear sound. Proceed." This girl was effortlessly planning to manipulate those around her to reach her objectives. It was more than just an encouraging sign. Ishta was now certain that Gracie was destined for a leadership role. "Shal kek."
Gracie bowed from her seat on the floor. "Den Mother."
Ishta watched her carefully as she rose and left the hut. She smiled to herself slightly, new plans now formulating in her mind.
"Daniel."
"Jack."
"Put your little space pirate on the phone. I know she's with you." Jack could hear shuffling as the cell phone was handed over.
"Hello?" a smooth voice answered.
"Princess."
"Jack."
"How goes it?"
"It goes fine. You?"
"Fine and dandy. Listen, I'm comin' to town, but I might need a babysitter. You in?"
"What do I get out of the deal?"
"Quality time with a bubbly toddler?"
"Does this quality time include cash and a weekend getaway?"
"You've been watching too many game shows."
"I have a lot of free time."
"Well I got a perfect way to fill up that free time."
"How do you know I have time to babysit?"
"You just told me you have a lot of free time."
"Oh. Right."
Jack smiled. "So?"
"So."
"Can you babysit Gracie?"
"Jack…" Vala made it sound like she was about to refuse. But then she said, "I would love to watch her again. We'll keep her here at Daniel's place. He can help me."
In the background, Jack could hear his friend complain, "Uhhh, what?"
"Darling, the SGC is no place to watch a little girl. Unless you want me to bring her offworld again."
Both Jack and Daniel simultaneously and emphatically said, "No!"
"Idul!" Gracie pretended to be surprised. "What brings you here?" She regarded her sister, who had just appeared from the brush, with an enthusiastic smile. She held her personal staff weapon vertically at her side, completely relaxed. The waning sunlight was casting an orange glow upon the sky. Light snow covered the ground, interrupted by the boot tracks from their forest patrol.
Jasuf watched them without expression. His guardsmen around him appeared perplexed that this Hak'tyl had arrived on their lands.
"I come with greetings from the Den Mother," she lied. Idul focused her attention solely on Gracie, not even bothering to make eye contact with Jasuf near her. At minimum, she should have acknowledged him politely as a Jaffa in a known leadership role.
He didn't take offense. This was all part of the plan.
His guardsmen took offense on his behalf. They glanced at each other disapprovingly over this rude Hak'tyl.
Gracie stepped closer to her sister with a continued smile. "I warmly return the greetings." She inclined her head.
Idul nodded. "There is more. She wishes me to tell you that should any of these so-called warriors challenge you in combat, I am to stand in your place."
Gracie's eyes sparkled. She had delivered the line perfectly. "I humbly send my thanks to the Den Mother for her concern for my well-being."
"It was not only concern for your well-being that drove this message, Sister. She showed much more concern for theirs." Idul's tone was particularly contemptuous.
Jasuf held out an arm when he sensed his men stepping forward in more offense. He hid a smirk. This Hak'tyl was good. He decided that he was going to like this friend of Elda's.
"Perhaps her concern is misplaced, Idul. Jasuf will only allow me to spar with him." Gracie turned to him. "Is that not true, Jasuf?" She temporarily suspended her independence as a woman to pretend to be deferential to her man. She could stomach it if it served a higher purpose.
He bowed his head. "It is true." He glanced behind him at his men. "None of you may touch her," he warned possessively.
They all crinkled their eyes. But they wouldn't argue. If their superior wished them to leave his mate alone, they would comply. The men bowed their heads to acknowledge the order.
"Nonetheless," Idul continued. "Should you feel the need, I will be your champion, EldaMalDoran."
Gracie stepped forward to place a hand on Idul's shoulder reverently. "The Den Mother could not have chosen a more worthy champion. You have bested even me in combat, dear Idul," she lied. They'd never actually sparred against each other. They were in different grades. But the men didn't need to know that. Gracie was leaning in to her celebrity status as Jasuf's equal in combat, declared by none other than Meil'nor himself. And Jasuf was considered one of the best warriors in his tribe.
The guardsmen glanced at each other. They were now silently competing for the chance to challenge this Hak'tyl right here, right now.
Gracie could hear their boots shifting behind her. She shared a look with Idul, who dutifully kept her eyes away from the men. Ignoring them. Enraging them. Idul was pretty good at making others mad. She was perfect for this ruse. Gracie's eyes told Idul she was doing well and to keep it coming.
"EldaMalDoran, you honor me. It has been far too long since I have had a worthy challenge such as you. Not even Exhibition afforded me an opportunity to test my limits." Her last statement implied that the men were inferior to her.
"Then let me test your limits now, Hak'tyl," a confident male voice cut in.
Gracie recognized it as Bier's. But that was the wrong guardsman for this arrangement.
Jasuf reacted immediately to salvage their situation. "You have spoken out of turn, Bier," he said icily. "For that, you will do nothing."
His guardsman stepped back, admonished. Gracie looked back at Jasuf lovingly, congratulating him for his quick thinking. Her eyes told him she would reward him handsomely for this later. He didn't miss her message, heart now beating with anticipation. He unconsciously licked his lips.
Gracie now spoke again, this time addressing Bier. "You would not want to challenge her, Bier. Idul is a great warrior. I would not want Jasuf to send an injured Jaffa to your wife. She is already busy enough with your child." She said it with as much compassion and consideration in her voice as she could muster. The Jaffa's eye twitched, but he said nothing. He was afraid to incur Jasuf's wrath if he spoke out of turn to her.
Idul bit her cheek behind her, nearly losing her composure. Elda was too funny.
"Then perhaps," Jasuf now said, "we should offer Idul a Jaffa with no woman to burden in his hut tonight."
The other guardsmen began to snigger. They looked directly at Lo'zim. He was already red in the face. Out of all of them, he was the one most easily offended. By anything. The Hak'tyl girl's rudeness and arrogance were enough to bait him. He wasn't the only unattached male in the group, but he was the one they made fun of the most for it, precisely because it was a guarantee he would become so upset that it was entertaining.
And the Jaffa liked their entertainment.
The men forcefully pushed Lo'zim forward to Jasuf. He flexed his muscles to display their power. Jasuf raised a brow then turned to the Hak'tyl women. "What say you, Hak'tyl? Does he look worthy enough?" he said with challenge in his tone. His men thought they heard Jasuf's unwavering support for them in it. But really, he was stringing them along. Jasuf was enjoying this special brand of mischief that Elda had instigated.
Idul finally spared the men her attention. Her stare toward Lo'zim was intense and cold. Gracie watched her with fascination, trying very hard not to burst out laughing. Idul's eyes took in the sight of the big Jaffa, undressing him in her mind. As if she were identifying his weak points. Imagining how she would easily best him within two moves.
The men did not fail to notice the way her eyes seemed to rip him apart with just a look.
The duration of her cold, hard stare was so long that even Lo'zim swallowed.
Finally, Idul spoke. "No."
Lo'zim blinked.
Jasuf pretended to be incredulous. "You do not find him worthy?" He reached over to bang a fist on the other Jaffa's hardened chest. "This? This giant of a Jaffa?"
She repeated her answer again. "No." Now Idul sounded bored.
Lo'zim turned a deeper shade of red in rage. He snapped his head to Jasuf, silently demanding the opportunity to speak.
Jasuf inclined his head, granting permission.
"You insult me, Hak'tyl," his deep voice boomed. His arm muscles flexed as he gripped his staff weapon harder, knuckles turning white.
"You are lucky I even granted you that, Jaffa. I will not have my time wasted," she responded condescendingly. Idul turned to Gracie. "Sister, you say these men are safe because Jasuf forbids them to engage you. I will return to our Den Mother to report that her fears are unfounded. None shall have to suffer the wrath of a Hak'tyl tonight." She glanced briefly in the men's direction. "How fortunate for them." The insult in her tone was unmistakable.
Gracie bowed to Idul, perhaps a little lower than she normally would. But she had to convey her congratulations to her somehow. She had won. What they had just done was the most entertaining manipulation job she'd ever been a part of. Who knew Jaffa could be such great actors?
Idul disappeared into the brush without any further acknowledgement toward Jasuf, as she should have done.
Lo'zim nearly busted his top, made apparent by the large amount of steam coming out of his ears. Jasuf laid a hand on his arm to calm him. He fought the smile that was threatening to form on his face. Instead, he pretended to scowl in the direction Idul had gone.
Soon they continued their patrol, but not without considerable grumbling from all of the men over Idul's daring insults. Lo'zim was especially enraged. Jasuf let them complain as much as they pleased. He didn't once admonish them for making too much noise while on patrol. Gracie remained silent, only smirking when no one was looking, pretending to keep her powered staff weapon at the ready for intruders she was certain would not come tonight.
The only intruder was Idul. And she had played her part magically.
Later as they cuddled in bed, Jasuf and Gracie laughed together hysterically until they fell asleep.