Bloodlines, page 19
part #3 of Amarok Series
The joke was on them. Amara hunted almost every night. The main purpose was to give her animal, irritated being within such close confines with humans, space to run but she always managed a successful hunt. She ate better, fresher meat than Nephi, a fact that didn’t escape his notice. Drinking didn’t appeal to her much, but Cleo had taken a shine to it. For her sake, Amara secured a supply by getting into brawls with the other companies who had brought their own supply.
Meat and drink. The mercenaries flocked to her tent, eager to mooch off the goods. Cleo enjoyed playing host, so Amara endured the noise. It was best to have a good reputation with the soldiers she would be fighting alongside. It never occurred to her that the men’s merrymaking could be taken as her trying to upstage the royal.
Nearly a month into their journey, Nephi changed tactics.
Amara knew something was wrong the moment she saw Massan’s apprehensive features as he stepped up to their tent. She patted Cleo on the shoulder to show she was stepping away, waving for the soldier to follow her off to the side. “What is it?”
“Nephi has invited you for a drink.”
“Ha! Would have never imagined.”
“…And Cleo.”
Amara scowled. “What is he planning?”
“I’m not sure, but he seemed very excited. Just go along with it. He may be willful and arrogant, but he is a decent man. This is merely an attempt to wind you up. Let him have his fun and he’ll leave you alone.”
Amara stuck a finger in his face. “Your job is to protect that boy. There’s a line here. To do your duty, you best ensure he doesn’t cross it.”
“What’s this about a line?”
Cleo stepped up beside them, looking between the two interestedly. “Did he make a pass at you? Sorry Massan. She likes her boys pretty and her girls prettier.”
Amara grinned at his stunned expression. “No. Our captain here has invited us to have a drink with his lord.”
“The one with the fire on his hands? I thought he didn’t like you very much.”
“He doesn’t.”
“Then that’ll make things interesting.”
She moved past them in the direction of Nephi’s tent. Massan shook his head as he watched her. “She’s very carefree.”
“Don’t let the act fool you. Cleo is very smart and understands exactly what kind of position she’s in. She’s relaxed because she’s come to the conclusion that there isn’t any danger.”
“Because?”
“Because I’ll be with her.”
“Huh. I suppose the two of you are…sharing a tent?”
Amara grinned at him. “We do, but not in the way you’re thinking.”
“I thought, with the earlier remark—”
“Yes, but not her. That would be…” Awkward barely described it. She’d basically raised the girl. Not that any human would believe it. The changers’ strong regenerative abilities meant she looked the same age as her charge, despite being nearly twice her age. “Shall we get moving? I doubt Nephi has the virtue of patience.”
“That he does not.”
-
Amara slowly sipped on the mug of wine she had been offered, reclining at the far end of the tent as she watched the comings and goings with narrowed eyes.
Cleo was given a place of honor beside Nephi. The two seemed to be chatting amicably enough. Unlike her guardian, Cleo was well versed in catering to egos and suffered the boy’s constant self-praise with a smile that did a convincing job of making it seem like she was interested.
He seemed enamored and each time the servant boy catering to them refilled her mug, he sidled closer. She could hear the subtle innuendo and knew this was only going to end up one way.
The moment came. Nephi leaned close and placed his hand on her thigh. Cleo’s smile never abated as she kindly moved out of his reach. “I couldn’t.”
Nephi didn’t let that stop him. “Why not?”
“I am promised to another.”
“He must not be much of a man if he would allow his intended to march in the company of killers with a sword on her hip. Besides, what man could measure up to me, the descendant of a god?”
Amara bit down on a laugh. Even Cleo’s impeccable façade cracked, her lips twitching, but she managed to hold it down. Gracefully, she got to her feet and strode across the tent to drop down into Amara’s lap, putting her arms around the changer’s neck.
If she thought Nephi glared at her before, it was nothing compared to the venomous stare he pointed at her then. “You’ve just made this a lot harder for me,” Amara whispered, covering it with a sip of wine.
“Would you have preferred that I pretend and let him paw over me for a bit longer?”
“No. You should have just rejected him from the start. Now his little ego is bruised. Especially after that god line of his.” She snorted just at the memory of it.
“Yeah, that was a bit—oh wait, he’s looking at us. You mind if I do the usual?”
A sigh was her answer. Cleo grinned and brought their lips together. Amara did the minimum required to make it believable, rolling her eyes as her charge hammed it up, moaning wantonly. She had no doubts about her abilities, but she wasn’t that good.
When they broke apart, Amara noticed she had the entire room’s attention. Throwing a smirk in Nephi’s direction, she stood up, bringing Cleo to her feet. “Thank you for a wine, gentlemen but I think we’ll retire now.”
She didn’t wait for the courtesy to be returned as she guided Cleo out of the tent. “I think you enjoy that a bit too much.”
“Maybe…I would, you know. Be with you that way.”
Amara gave her a sideways look. “What’s bringing this on?”
“Nothing in particular. You’re amazing, capable, and I have no doubt that you’d treat me well. Isn’t that what every woman’s looking for? Besides, I’ve heard the sounds coming from your room when you find company in the city.”
Amara snorted. “Brat. There’s no way I could. Nothing against you. It’s—”
“Yes, I can guess. Shame.”
“Hmph. Anyway, it would seem other people plan to entertain us tonight.” She had noticed the footsteps following them from the moment they left the tent. Five of them. She doubted their intentions, following two women in the dead of night without announcing their presence.
Neither of them were armed as Massan advised carrying weapons into the presence of Nephi after being invited into his home, temporary as it was, could be considered a great insult.
She really hoped that hadn’t been a plot. If so, both of them had crossed the line of conduct she could forgive.
“What do you want to do?” Cleo asked. “Run for it? Fight?”
“Fight. Basic law of nature. You run, they chase. It’s animal instinct that exists even in humans.” Amara brought them to a stop, turning around. “You better be able to take care of yourself.”
“I could be offended by that.”
Their pursuers came into view. She recognized Nephi’s soldiers that had been drinking with them. Amara felt a little relieved not seeing Massan amongst them. It gave her hope he might not be involved. “Why are you following us?”
“Come on now. You ladies weren’t shy back there. We’re thinking you might like some company tonight.”
“I warned you before. Hurting your lord might cause me some problems but soldiers are irrelevant. I’ll kill you.”
“That’s fine. I like a woman with some spirit.”
The soldier approached her, hand outstretched. She grabbed his wrist and twisted. The man screamed, dropping to his knees as she kept hold of him. “This is why I hate humans.” She backhanded him with her free hand. Holding back, the blow still knocked him unconscious and he hung limply in her group. “Can’t tell when you’re outmatched. It’s like the lot of you are defective.”
She looked backwards toward Cleo. “Not you. I raised you better than that.”
“Wow. I can’t tell if that was a compliment or a threat.”
“A threat. If I ever catch you doing something so stupid…” Amara grabbed the unconscious soldier over the face, lifting him with one hand. The others blanched at the display of strength, leaping backwards when she threw their comrade toward them as if he were a doll rather than a man. “I’d drop you off a cliff.”
She turned back to the remaining soldiers, baring her teeth in an imitation of her animal counterpart. “Why are you idiots just standing there? Hurry up and get that piece of garbage out of sight before I rip out your guts and hang you with them!”
The soldiers scampered away, quickly disappearing. Amara waited until their heavy footsteps became whispers before nodding her head and gesturing for Cleo to continue on.
“You’re so cool.”
“I’m not. Don’t delude yourself into thinking I’m invincible or something. I could tear this entire war camp apart in a night if I wanted to but there are plenty of enemies I can’t win against so easily.” An echo of Rictus’ screams made her close her eyes as she fought back the horrible memories.
The sensation of a weight latching onto her arm brought her back to her senses. Cleo looked up at her with soulful eyes. After so long together, she knew exactly where Amara’s mind had gone.
“Don’t look at me like that.” Amara reached up and poked the deepest wrinkle in her brow. “If you worry too much, you won’t be able to get to sleep and we’ve got another long day of marching ahead of us in the morning.”
Chapter 19
After that night, Nephi stopped his games with her. He seemed intent to keep them as far away as possible, which suited Amara just fine. The soldiers took the same attitude after rumors of the fight spread.
The terrain changed to flat plains with tall grasses. Amara felt uneasy traveling through an area with such little cover, but the strong winds felt pleasant as the mild spring shifted toward a hotter summer. She imagined how great it would feel to run as fast as her legs could carry her and feel the wind combing through her fur.
Caught up in her fantasy, she didn’t notice the procession grinding to a halt. She bumped into a soldier in front of her. The man cursed but his tirade cut off short when he turned his head and saw who the offender was.
Amara rubbed her nose while she asked, “What’s happening?”
Cleo shrugged. “Not a clue.”
“I’ll go check it out,” Findle volunteered, breaking away from them to jog to the front of the army. A few minutes later, he returned wearing a puzzled frown. “It seems they’ve come across a shepherd. Massan and Nephi are questioning him now. I didn’t catch much of the conversation, but it seems the settlement everyone thought had been burned down by bandits is still standing. I think it’s close by too. What great news.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.” Cleo sighed. “Yeah, this is bad. Actually, it’s very bad. They’re definitely going to try and weasel us.”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“We were hired to fight off bandits, right? But if this village is doing so great, then there aren’t any bandits to fight. Someone’s going to try and argue that we never did the job, therefore we don’t need the gold.”
“What? But that’s unfair!”
“The world’s unfair,” Amara answered. “Cleo, don’t worry about it.”
“Oh, I’m not. I know very well no one cheats you out of your gold. I’m just really not looking forward to being on the bad side of a royal family. A divine one at that. Ah, this is going to suck.”
Despite her words, Cleo grinned, her eyes alight with excitement. Amara snickered at the sight. Her charge may have been human, but she had the same ferocity of the pack, even if it didn’t express itself in violence. Cleo was a schemer who dangled her hand over the fire, just far enough to not get burned while feeling the most heat.
“We’ll worry about that later,” Amara announced. “Come on. Focus. They’re marching again.”
-
“It’s really there.”
After two days, the army came upon the pharaoh’s settlement that supposedly had been destroyed. It was large enough that calling it a city would be more appropriate and the mud brick wall would hold against nothing short of an army.
Nephi and his guards followed the shepherd into the city to speak with its chief. Massan was left behind to organize the camp. He stood atop a small hill with Amara, who he had called to his side.
“You don’t sound very happy about that,” she replied nonchalantly, her thoughts focused on what prey she might find for dinner that night.
“This makes me nervous. If they are clearly so prosperous, why haven’t they sent any messengers? And how have they built so much, so quickly, with such a small workforce? My lord doesn’t care for suspicions as he knows his father will appreciate a functioning settlement more than a burned one but…”
“And? What do you want me to do?”
“I want you to pay attention.” He gave her an evaluating expression. “You’re skilled, perhaps even more than you’ve let on. I’ll be preoccupied making sure these men don’t run wild and seeing to the safety of my lord. I want you to look around. If there is something suspicious, report back to me.”
“No.”
Massan turned to her, dumbfounded. “What?”
“I was hired to fight off bandits endangering this settlement. The settlement’s fine. I’m taking my gold and going home.”
“I’ll pay you—”
“Nope. You’re right, this place is suspicious. I don’t want anything to do with it.” She walked away, waving over her shoulder. “Good luck with everything. Oh, and if you want my advice? Convince your lord to get off these plains. Tonight.”
-
The mercenaries lingered as Nephi conducted his business and the men began to feel restless. Amara sympathized with them. Another day of mindlessly watching clouds drift by and she’d run off, gold or no gold.
She was strolling through the fields when she heard voices. A lone tree broke the uniform landscape and she could see two shadows beneath it. As she got closer, she made out Cleo and Findle. They weren’t speaking at a volume meant to be overheard, but she picked up the tension in their voices.
Amara dropped down, holding herself an inch off the ground. Obscured by the tall grasses, she prowled forward until she was in range to make out words.
“I don’t understand. I thought the two of us were getting along well.”
“I get along well with a lot of people.” Cleo’s voice sounded irritated. “That’s not much of a basis for me to marry you.”
“I may not be the first son, but my father is fairly successful. Back home, I’d have my own land, stable income. I will make a fine husband.”
“And I’d make a terrible homemaker. Findle, I’ve had the blessing and grave misfortune of traveling with a truly incredible person. I have to risk my life daily just to keep up with her. I wouldn’t even know what to do in some quiet little village.”
“You can’t plan to do this forever. Most sell swords die about our age. Don’t you want to build a life, a family?”
“No. I don’t know what you think about women but not all of us are struck with maternal yearning. I love traveling with Amara and yes, I would do so forever if I could. That’s all I want.”
“…You’re in love with her. The way…a man loves a woman.”
Cleo snorted. “Don’t joke. We aren’t that way.”
“Then--”
“No, you’re right. I love her. Unquestionably. But not like that. Well, not just like that. Ah, gods! She’s a lot of things to me okay? It’s not something anyone else can compete with it.”
“I understand.”
“I’m sor...and he’s already moving. At least let me try to apologize idiot. He hates me now. Umhmm. Definitely hates me.”
Amara pushed to her feet as Cleo sighed, jogging towards her. Her charge sat leaning against the base of the tree, her features pensive. She looked up as Amara crouched beside her, grimacing. “I take it you heard that?”
“What, your passionate confession? Yup. Every word.”
Cleo groaned, hiding her face in her hands. “Forget it. Forget it all now.”
Amara clapped her hands together, widening her eyes theatrically as he leaned over. “It’s not something anyone else can compete with!”
“I said forget it!”
She endured Cleo’s punches with a smirk. “I’m touched.”
“You’re a horrible tease, is what you are.”
“…But it also made me a little sad.”
Cleo paused her meager assault, frowning. “Why?”
“Twelve years and I barely look like I’ve aged a day. I know you’ve realized it by now.”
“That you’re going to outlive me by several years and look good doing it? Yeah, I figured that out. Your point?”
“Well, like Findle said. You can’t do this forever. Don’t mistake me here. I’m not saying you should have run off with Mr. Fine Husband over there but a part of me would like to see you tucked away, safe. Growing old in peace. And your kids would be pretty cute. Brats, but definitely cute.”
“I’m sure they would be. Right up until they start terrorizing the other children, brandishing the little wooden swords you’ll no doubt have given them.”
“Hmph.”
They lounged in silence, enjoying the sunshine and cool breeze that stirred the grass. Unconsciously, they leaned toward one another. Amara smiled gently as Cleo’s head came to rest on her shoulder as nostalgia struck her. “You wouldn’t sleep on your own for years after I found you. Nightmares.”
“I’ve got plenty of memories to fuel them,” Cleo replied drowsily. “Though there’s a lot of good ones now. More good than bad.”
“That’s good.” Amara leaned over, nuzzling her charge in what could only be described as an animalistic nature. “But you’ve got to make me a promise. That loyalty? It comes second. You look after yourself. You’re human, I’m pack. I look after you and if you want to look after me, then you look after you too. Whatever it takes. I can handle myself.”
“…I know.” Cleo wrapped an arm around Amara’s waist, curling into her tighter. “I won’t make you worry about me.”
