Closed for Nordican

[Ohia_Lehua]

The entire army was at the clearing and I smiled at every friendly face and pointedly ignored the faces belonging to those who I knew wished for another Warlord but didn't have the rank or skill to challenge me to change it. In the middle of the large clearing there was a bonfire taller then the tallest warrior and thicker then a horse. It was the largest bonfire there but if you looked around you could see other unlit wood piles that would later be lit from the center fire once it was lit.

"Citus." I called under my breath and used my chin to point at the raised platform. There was an oversize chair in the center of it with another seat in the same size but less decorated set to the left. Sri stood there between the two chairs and a step behind. "Zhuǎn dào Sri." I told him. "Sri." I pointed with my chin again and Sri up on the stage waved mutely to Citus. I would have to lite the fire alone and I needed Citus to go to Sri.

I stopped where the last warrior stood holding a burning torch and before taking it motioned to Sri again to Citus. I should have gone over what would happen but I didn't know how and hoped that he would get the clues that me and Sri was sending him.

"Arnost." I took the torch from my second in command and grasped arms and touched foreheads in respect. Arnost said nothing as he stepped back and gave way to me as I walked up to the bonfire. "May the skies always watch over us. The soil keep us in touch with all that was and will be. May the wind be ever at our backs and out blade sharp in our hands." I prayed for all my warriors. "Hi-ga!" The cry was echoed and I dropped the torch to the pre-soaked wood and it blazed to life with a hungry whoosh.

Runners came forward with unlit torches as everyone cleared the area and left a huge open space as outer fires were lit. I turned and quickly took my seat as the first squad filled the open space and started a dance that featured fire. I clapped and cheered when appropriate and picked from plates of food that were passed to me. As one that sat by my side no one but me and Sri actually handed anything to Citus.

A dance with a stretch of rope finished, then one with spark blades started then ended. My favorite was the one with the smallest number of dancers that fought with each other with scarves the color of a lightning storm but I made sure to show my favoritism as the last dance ended.

It wasn't the first time that I wished I had the words to talk to Citus about the different dances. As the dancers cleared away warriors skilled with musical instruments filed in and the army broke up to find what filled their moods. Warrior wanting to listen to the music and dance moved in and I spotted Aello before she even approached the dais. She didn't even look towards me as she held out her hand for Citus. And my body sang with tension at what it meant for Citus. She was making a point that he wasn't a claimed person and didn't fall under my rank and protection and Aello approached him as such.

I didn't even look out to see who was watching because I could feel the shift in the crowd. It was dangerous what Aello did but technically I had no base to challenge because Citus was a repatriation of knowledge gifted by the Elders.

"Gēn wǒ tiàowǔ." Aello purred her hand waiting for Citus to take it.

Just like Aello didn't look at me I didn't look at the pair of them and picked more intently at my plate of cheese and lamb stuffed peppers. I didn't know what Citus would do but my mind was replaying the moment we had together in the tent and what that meant for him and if it meant something to me.

 

[Nordican]

I followed Sri and Kahina to the large stage and watched as the festivities got into motion. It was a wonderful display and was strange to see the hardened warrior people being so exuberant with their celebrations.

I heard her call out her second in command and saw them exchange a sign of camaraderie. Then the bonfire was lit ablaze by Kahina and I watched intently and soon enough the roar of celebration began. People danced through the large space and it was nice to see Kahina enjoying herself so I joined in as well. I tried out the dishes that were brought to me. The food was good and the dances quite enjoyable, an assembly of fire, ropes and sashes it was quite outstanding. We had nothing of the sort back home. Our dances were fairly stiff save when you went to the more impoverished areas like where I grew up. There the wilder and definitely more risque dances were done under the cover of darkness to strong ecstatic beats. Beats close to the drums here but definitely apart on their own.

Then I saw Aello approaching. The look in her eyes was not hard to notice and I noticed how she looked right at me. In my seat I pondered what to do or even say. My mind went back to Kahina and the feel of her finger over my face.

"Xiexie Aello...." I said and paused holding up my hand trying to be polite. "Kaber erst Tanz Ick muss mit Kahina tanzen." I said and then turned my head to nodd to Kahina. First dance must go to Kahina as host. I tried to keep my face friendly and warm but resolved. I hoped she would understand I was being respectful. Much as I felt that doing so may have been a way to cause some disorder amongst the army the thought of going with her and leaving Kahina didn't sit right with me. Not that I wouldn't have minded dancing with her once I knew how to dance, but I would still dance with Kahina first.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

I felt like a child winning their first mounted race. I didn't know what his words meant but my name was clear in his language and I looked to Aello for the first time. The smile on my face was predatory and I stood from my chair showing Aello that I stood above her. There was no love lost between my warleader and me but for the woman that my warleader was I watched out for.

For a long moment Aello met my stare and nothing was said between us. I could see her mind work as she sized me up. My eyes darted to her bare left arm and the last empty stop on her arm. She had lost this season's fights to be marked as a Warlord and I knew that challenging me for this Prize and accomplishing what the Elders wished would finish her line of honor. But I was the first of this season's Warlords and there wasn't much of a chance she would win against me.

"Warlord." She bowed her head and submitted, her left hand turning palm up.

"My warleader of the Beat, Protector of our Herd and Master of the Blood. Be at rest for tonight is a celebration that we return again to the Heart of the Plains. Eat, dance and rejoice in this festival and pray to all the Elements and the Four Directions that we can fight a new day." I was proud in my own way as I brush away her beseeching hand. "I am at peace with you and feel no offence has been given." My voice is quieter as I crouch down my smile returning to my face. "Xiànzài." I warn turning my back to her as I take my seat.

I watch with narrowed eyes as Aello leaves the dais and grabs a warrior and dances with him and placing herself in a spot where she can easily be seen by me and Citus should he look.

"Citus?" I make his name a question and motioned to the area of dancing warriors. "Tiàowǔ?" Dance. I ask. I am not a warrior skilled with dance but I make up with my lack in the art of languages and singing. It's not something that many know but in the privacy of my own company I sing and hum the legends of our people. But this was about Citus dancing with me, him picking me after another had already asked and also about my own curiosity. I would give him my body to lead and I would follow in his manor of dance. Then maybe I would show him a few of our moves in return.

 

[Nordican]

I watched Kahina rise up from her chair and then what could only likely be her making a reassertion of her dominance over Aello. I saw the other woman bow and bare her arm to Kahina. Then my host seemed to dismiss her and Aello walked off the dais and grabbed a man to dance with.

I hoped that I had not made an enemy out of Aello. I could see the hunger in her eyes when she looked upon me then and earlier. It was not so set in a safe place that I could easily dismiss those who might wish to use me for their pleasure but the potential to angry Kahina was not something I could do, or wanted to for that matter.

Then I heard her voice cut through my mind. I turned to her and saw her motion to the dancers. I nodded my head and then smiled softly at her before rising up. I was unsure what to do so I merely walked a step to her and stretched out my hand and bowed my head slightly showing my respect and subservience for those to see and wondering if she wished for me to try replicating the dance of her people. It was definitely more wild than anything I had danced to but the urgency and press of limbs in some of the moments made my heart rush for a moment and I thought of Kahina's finger on my face again and the outline of her body just obscured by the small towel.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

Sri's breath sucked in and I tried not to feel anger at Citus' bow. It wasn't for him to lower himself to me and I reached out with as gentle of a hand as I could and raised Citus' head shaking my own 'no'. He didn't understand so I tried so relax the tight line of my lips and the frown in my brows and smile at him. I placed my hand in his and waited for him to lead the way. This was one of the few times that I was not bound by protocol and could just be a warrior within the army. Once I stepped down from the dais I wouldn't get up on it again and the only person that would be up there would be Sri and she would stay there protecting my seat.

"Citus' tiàowǔ." I spoke softly pushing aside the troubles of my mind. "Citus." I whispered his name and brushed my thumb over his bottom lip. I hadn't meant to touch him in such a way but now that I had I couldn't take it back and smiled at him.

 

[Nordican]

"Tiaowu." I said after realizing that I had done something wrong and I regretted bowing. Her hand moving up my chin confirmed the thought but I was walking blind as it was, and now about to be dancing blind. I guided her down from the dais after she took my hand and I led us to join the other dancers. Then she brushed her finger over my lip and I almost felt driven to rest my hand against her cheek but I held off.

But perhaps that was the way of things. Public displays were not very common back home. But here... well I would have to see. I started to feel my body move slightly to the strong beats of the music and I moved my hands to her hips slowly trying to match the movements of the other dancers as best as I could without just fumbling through the moves.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

I know it wasn't fair to judge but it was nice to have someone there dancing that was worse then me. It was obvious that this wasn't the way he danced and I wondered if his people even dance at all. "Citus." I speak his name softly and reach up to his face using my hands as blinders so that all he can see is me. "Kahina, Citus." I wag a finger between the both of us and use my other hand to wave off everyone else.

"Yīqǐ." I whisper to him stepping closer so that our bodies touched. "Nǐ hé wǒ." 'You and me.' And let my body relax to his movements, giving him a chance to do the same, relax and just move to the beats of the music. There was no right or wrong way to dance at this time, the purpose was to feel free and have fun. I wrap my arms around the back of his neck and play with the fine hairs there as I move with Citus.

The fact that I was having a good time and relaxing should have been my first clue. What clued me in was the thrown dagger that missed my foot by a hair. I knew that dagger and the black thread tied to the hilt of the blade.

"I challenge you Warlord Kahina to the prize of this man-child and the praise of the Elders." Rang Warlord Volundr's voice putting an end to the music and easy smiles.

"And who do you bring to second this challenge?" I snap stepping away from Citus.

"I will act as his second." Thorin, Volundr's second in command stepped forward.

"Then I accept this challenge." I kick the dagger free of the ground and flick it up into the air with my foot, catching it on it's decent. If I didn't accept then Volundr would have the right to take what I didn't not or could not defend and keep. Not only that but I would loose face with my warriors and he could call himself a great warrior then me and I was not going to give him the pleasure.

"And you will lose." Volundr smirked unsheathing his great tow handed sword.

"Have you not come in second to me in the past years?" I poke watch Sri rush off the stage to Citus' side. The atmosphere of the festive shifted as the warrior both dancing and playing music backed away clearing a space near the center bonfire.

"We will see." His slimy voice raise goose bumps on my skin and I wondered how Citus felt seeing the Warlord who captured him again.

Volundr was easily 6"4' with dark brown hair cut short to the scalp and soulless ice blue eyes. His shoulders were unusually wide and his body thick with hard compact muscles. But despite his size he was fast and before I had both of my slightly curved short swords drawn he rushed at me with his sword thrust forward in a mighty swing. The quick sudden attack caught me off guard and I leaped out of the way just in time, feeling the air currents cut by his steel press against my skin.

I shouldn't have been surprised that Volundr wouldn't even have the honor to allow me to draw my weapons. But I recovered fast and had a sword in both hands by the time his sword finished it's sweep. "Are you that mad that the Elders didn't trust you to the task of this man-child?" I teased knowing he was easy to rile. I was much quicker then Volundr but he was stronger and kept a tight hold on his openings. Still I bolted first one way then turned at the last second and bent at the knees to strike Volundr behind the calves but he parried with the broad of his sword and I flipped back over my body out of the way.

"I can't blame them for picking a woman more skilled with her mouth." He threw the insult at me with a smile that said I was I was more woman then Warlord in his eyes.

My eyes narrowed and I pushed closer to his strike reach baiting him with an easy kill. He was stronger then that and twisted in a circle bring his sword with him in an arc aimed for my head. I rolled under the blow and kicked out with my foot landing the first hit. It barely effected Volundr but a loud cry from my warriors echoed into the night.

"A child's kick." Volundr hissed bringing his sword around again in a fury of attacks.

The clash of metal hitting metal found a base of drums to play against as some of the warrior hold their instruments started up a quick beat with a low earthy drum line. It was after all a festival and few people died in a challenge and the army was finding entertainment in the fight between the two Warlords.

My arms vibrated with the force of Volundr's blows and I make a point of jumping, twisting and tumbling out of his way. At the last curve of his sword pattern I reached back and nicked my blade over the back of Volundr's hand.

"First blood as well." I snickered to the cheer of the warriors.

It was a number of things that lead me into this situation but I saw on his face that I was about to eat my words. I saw the muscles in his legs bunch and I watched in slow motion as his body stretched up in a giant leap with his sword held high in the air. I thought the move was a foolish one and slipped and flipped back nearing too close to the fire and loosing my footing. It was a mistake made because I was too cocky and as the fire's embers burned into my leg I felt a pain of a different kind of burn cut horizontally across my chest. Unable to use even a second to see how bad the cut was I braced off my hands and tuned my body and got to my feet.

There was some in the crowd that cheered for Volundr and I saw his ego bloat with his landed blow and the few that cried his name. "Do you submit?" He laughed holding his sword to his side assuming I would give. It let me know that my wound was pretty bad for him to be so smug. Of course I could feel the blood flowing freely from the cut and my the movement of the leather that it was soaked but chest wounds always bled.

"Am I dead?" I took an aggressive stance no longer playing with him.

"I can change that." His smug look was replaced by determination to see me dead. I knew eventually it would lead to this between the two of us but I didn't want to see him dead, yet. He was a great Warlord and his loss would be a hit to the Heart. I hated that I respected him thru my hatred of him. In my younger years he was the Warlord I wanted to be and when I became a Warlord my self he was the Warlord I pushed myself to beat and no matter how I looked at it he was still useful and had lots to teach and many to lead. I hated him it was true but if there was a new land to conquer he was a great warrior to have fighting with you at your side.

"AH!" I grunted clearing my mind of thoughts and paid more attention to my surroundings. I wasn't going to let him get the better of me again and give him a chance to kill me. I wasn't going to be that easy.

Like in all battles it felt like years but I knew only moments passed as we exchanged blow for blow. So he landed but none as deep or as painful as the first and I made all my hits count and drew blood or numbed nerves to near the ending of this fight.

I saw it when it happened like the first ray of light after the rainy season. Volundr advanced sword held level away from his body and his hips rotated to give a follow thru to his strike. It was a moved that left him open for just a second and I wasn't going to waste it. I rushed towards the swinging sword and pushed my weight into my own meeting his with a ring that traveled down my whole body but I didn't let it stop me. I used the jarring force of meeting him and rolled off his blade towards his body. He knew it then and tried to block it with a twist of his wrist, hoping to cut his sword tight to his body and clip me but he was too late. The sword that lead off Volundr's cut up his inner arm, matching his tattooed line perfectly on the inside. Blood instantly welled up from the deep slice and his eyes widened with pain and shock. It was a wound that could bleed him out and kill him but his face chanced just as quickly as I moved. In his mind he still had time to kill me and one of his hands left the hilt of his sword and balled up, heading for my face.

There was no other way, I wasn't going to loose my ground and took the punch to the face as my sword found it's way thru the top left side of his thigh and out the other piercing muscles that helped him stand. He crumpled to the ground his sword clanging in abandonment.

"Do you submit?" I stood over him my nose bleeding heavily, black spots dancing in my eyes and a sharp ringing in my ears.

"Never!"

"I WILL KILL YOU!" I screamed with rage. Volundr's face would have scared me if I wasn't the one standing over him armed. "Take back your challenge and leave with your life." I advised him. "Please do not make me kill you." I was still pumped with adrenalin and anger but my tone was calm and sounded far older then my years.

"I would like my dagger back." Volundr said after a long stare down. "I withdraw my challenge finding this Warlord capable and worthy of the Elder's gift and praise." He announced in a tired voice.

Sri was at my side with Warlord Volundr's dagger, I took it with a small nod pushing aside the worry and stress I say in her eyes.

"I give this dagger back with the life of the Warlord who owns it, proud to have him live and fight alongside him in battles to come." I didn't have to add the part of being proud to fight along side him but it felt right to say it as I handed the dagger to Volundr.

Now that the fight was over with and Thorin was carrying Volundr off the field the adrenalin was wearing off and the pain was doubling and my leg was killing me. Unable to remember being struck on the leg but not willing to show pain I held my head high as my army cried my name over and over. Many clapped me on the shoulder and grasped arms with touched foreheads. It was all part of being the victor in a challenge but right now I wanted to head back to my tent and tend to my wounds. But the way of my people were hard and instead I dealt with the pain eating what was handed to me, drinking what was passed to me and nodding to every congratulations that was given.

"Citus." Sri was still at his side and I walked to him once the warriors had thinned around me enough for me to see him. As badly as I wanted to give to the pain in my leg, left alone the searing pain in my chest, I walked tall and did not shift my weight from my injured leg or handicap my breathing to ease my chest. I did not have the words to tell him what was going on but the encounter with Volundr made it clear to me what needed to be done. I would have to place my name over his, sharing with him everything that my rank gave me. Power, voice, position and respect. I pulled my dagger from my leg and cut the bottom of the braid that was never undone from behind my ear. At the bottom of it was a copper bell folded in my own pattern that sang true. When tattoos were covered your arm, the token at the end of your braid told people who you were and where you came from. In my clan we used the bells on the eagles that we were known for and each person made a bell of their own to be known by. Some were made of silver, gold and even bone and each was folded in a way that further defined who they were. Very few people gave their clan token away and this would be my first but it was an important step in laying my name over his.

The crowd got silent as it became apparent what I was doing. "Wǒ bǎ zhège gěi nǐ zìyóu, wǒ zìjǐ de zìyóu yìzhì. Yǒule tā, wǒ yǐjīng hé zìjǐ de huì shì nǐ de. Wǒ de shēngyīn huídàng zài suǒyǒu nǐ shuō de, jiāng tīngqǔ hé zuòwéi, . Wǒ de lìliàng, zhíjí, zhíwù hé jiàn shì nǐ de, rúguǒ tā shì nǐ zìjǐ de. Nǐ shì xiànzài Citus xīnzàng de yīng." I knew he didn't understand what I was saying but I hoped in time he would ask and I would get to tell him. I reached over to Citus and took his hand in mine placing the bell in his palm and closing his hand over it. Later I would show him how to tie it in his hair if he wished but for now it was good enough that it was in his possession.

"Citus xīnzàng de yīng, dūjūn Kahina, tā shì yīnyǐng." Shouted Sri with a large smile on her face though the haunting of her worry and stress still lingered in her eyes.

"Citus de xīn diāo, yǐng dūjūn Kahina!!" Repeated the call by every warrior in the army over and over again. "Citus de xīn diāo, yǐng dūjūn Kahina!!"

I smiled through the pain glad that the army took to this new in such a happy way. It didn't make Citus a man or a warrior in the eyes of the army but it protected him and gave him more power then any other soldier in the army. In essence it gave him my power and any that harmed or offended him would have to be dealt with by me and my judgement. And now that it was over I had a reason to retire to my tent and Sri was at my side careful not to touch me or offer assistance. I motioned to Citus and waved to the entire army as they broke up again and continued with the festival. "Liú." And I pointed to the ground and gave a stay motion similar to the ones given to dogs. "Kahina, tent. Citus lái?" I stressed the question in my voice as I gave him an option to stay or come with me. I knew there would be more dancing and music, food and drink and most importantly there was Aello who he was free to couple with if he chose. He was only my Shadow not my Pair-Bond and was free to do as he felt with whomever he felt like. And to make sure he understood I pointed with my chin to Aello who was standing near the fire alone with big come hither eyes.

 

[Nordican]

Everything happened so fast. I felt the warmth of Kahina's body against mine as we relaxed together in the motions. Her hands tangled up around my neck and her fingers clung to the short hairs of my neck. Then suddenly a dagger was thrown past us and another older man came forth apparently challenging Kahina's right.

Watching the fight and just standing by next to Sri was not easy. I wanted to help out in any way I could but the duel seemed to be based in ritual mandate. Interfering would only threaten Kahina or him, neither of which he wanted. So he just stood their and cringed when he saw the blade slash across her chest. Through it all I ground my teeth and swallowed back my fear.

Survive. I thought and clenched my fist as I watched. If she died then what would happen to me. She had to survive. Then it was over, but it wasn't over. Kahina came to me and gave me her braid after she cut it. My eyes studied the small bell and I realized there was deep significance to her movements and the chant. Feeling the eyes upon us and the shouts of the warriors I didn't know what to do save to nod and hold my palm shut around the gift she had bestowed upon me.

Then when she made off for the tent I nodded to her and began to follow. My eyes looked back to Aello for a moment but I did not feel I could just leave Kahina. I wanted to help with her wounds, I wanted to be close to her.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

I made my way from the clearing to my tent without assistance but the stinging over my chest that exploded with every breath I took and the fire burning spot on my leg were starting to win and the moment I stepped into my tent I took the first seat that I came to.

"Sri..." I began but she only brushed me off and left to gather what she needed from her area of the tent. In the privacy of my tent I let it show how much pain I was in. My face twisted and I locked my jaw turning to see the damage on my leg. It wasn't that large but the freed ember from the fire had caught in the thick leather of my boot and had burned it's way through the boot and the leather pants under it.

"Ahgh." My breath came out in a hiss as I unbuckled and pulled back the flap of the boot. The skin was glistening in a angry shade of red and parts were blackened where the ember had burned. It was roughly the side of my fingernail but it was a deep set burn that would take time to heal.

"Stop it!" Sri ordered in a gruff voice. I knew how it felt for her seeing me injured but it was our way of life and no amount of caring or loved could change that. "I won't have you pulling and messing things and making it worse." She swatted my hand away and looked at the wound. "Be glad it's on the outside and won't effect your riding." She sighed putting her hands on her knees. "Come on, lets have you up, undressed and in bed." She hooked her arm under my arm and hefted up and to my feet.

"Ah! Woman! Be gentle, I'm hurt!" I grumbled in a tone unsuited for a Warlord. I was cuffed on my shoulder and given a look that said I could shut my belly aching or she would have no problem hitting me again. "Sri..." I sighed giving into my watcher and dearest friend.

I was settled onto the bed gently and Sri made quick work of undressing me. She clicked her tongue as she slowly peeled the leather from my chest, cutting it when it wouldn't give enough to not injure me.

"Citus." Sri called his name and pointed to a basket at the back of the tent filled with jars, pots, soft absorbent fabrics and thick padding. It was her medical kit and I loathed the sigh of it. Some of the contents in the jars were for drinking and it was as foul as it smelled and the ointments she swore helped in healing burned at first touch as muich if not more then the wound itself.

I was naked and I looked down at the pile of soiled and torn leathers. I would have to make another one if Sri would allow me to. For the first time I looked down at myself. The slash across my chest started high on my left shoulder and cut downward to the upper curve of my right breast and ended just below the juncture of my armpit. I rotated my arm to test it's movement and earned myself another smack on the back of my head.

"Lay still." She warned me setting down a bowl of water to clean my wounds. This was not the first that would scar, I had marks all over my body that told of the journey it took for me to become the Warlord that I was today. But I could tell this would be the most impressive of my collection.

Sri took a small brown jar and poured the power into the water. From another jar she poured some oils and more ground herbs. She whisked the ingredients with her finger and wiped them on her pants. "Citus." She took a cloth and dipped it into the water mixture and lightly dabbed the slash on my chest. My lips puckered with the first bite of Sri's 'cleaning' solution. With a nod she handed the cloth to Citus and left to make more blasted concoctions in the back.

 

[Nordican]

Inside the tent I let my worry show just slightly in the corners of my face. Then I went to work helping where I could as Sri went about giving aide to Kahina. I remained closed by and cast a look back to the tent entrance hoping no one unwanted would cause more trouble.

Then Sri went to work to remove the leathers from Kahina's body as she lay on the bed. I reflexively looked away but a stern growl from Sri brought me around to help and I gave her a simple nod before I went to work with her. I grabbed the kit when ordered and I couldn't help but gaze over Kahina's nakedness as I passed on the supplies to Sri. The wound on her chest looked intense and painful and then suddenly the other woman handed me the cloth she was using.

I gave Kahina a look meant to give her comfort and then I leaned over her body gently running the cloth along the wound. Following Sri's example I lightly ran the damp cloth over the red jagged cut thoguh my eyes looked up to Kahina's.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

"Xièxiè Citus." I smiled for him as he cleaned my wound. He could have stayed at the festival or just stayed long enough to see me safely to my tent but he was here helping Sri. It meant more to me that I cared to admit and I allowed the emotions to soften my face in a rare moment that I knew made me look as young as my years were.

In my mind I went over the events of the day and found that I myself couldn't believe all that had happened in a single day. I recalled the sore tightness in Citus' body when he first came to me and I worried how he was fairing in all of his.

"Gàn de hǎo." Sri praised Citus with a pat on his back. In her other hand was a stone bowl with what I knew to be an off white nearly clear lumpy mixture that would help fight off infection and inflammation. She set it on the side table near the bed and looked over Citus' work nodding her head, a smile on her lips. "Tā zài zhè, nàme nǐ." She raised her eyebrows at me.

So what if he was better at this then me. I thought to myself. More times then not I had to patch myself on a galloping horse while being chased or chasing my enemies. Because I was hurt and knew she meant it only to tease I did the mature thing and stuck out my tongue at her as if I were a child. And to her I always was.

"HA!" She bellowed the last signs of worry fleeing from her eyes. Sri knew I would be fine if I was well enough to risk a sharp smack at acting below my age and station. "Citus." She showed him the goopy mixture that smelled foul and took the wooden spoon that was stuck in the thick paste and showed him that he was to coat the wound. She did a part of the wound motioning that he should put a heavy amount so that it covered the injury and it's surrounding area. She left the mixture by Citus' side and started digging through her medical kit. Her brows crinkled and her lips met in a thin line.

I made sure to look away from her. I knew what she was looking for and I remembered that I had used it to sew a ripped seam over the winter when I couldn't find any needles and hadn't put it back.

"Zhè shì nǎlǐ?" She grunted emptying the kit over the empty side of the bed holding the flesh thread. She double checked everything and turned it all over just to make sure. When she couldn't find what she wanted to turned to me and noticed my apparent interest in the side wall of the tent. "Kahina?" She sang my name as if I wasn't about to get an earful from her. "Wǒ de zhēn?" She held up the ball of fine but strongly made thread that was missing it's needle.

I don't know what I kept her around. Anyone else would never talk or treat me the way that she did. I was a Warlord but it didn't seem to matter to Sri. "Nǐ huì bù huì-" I very narrowly dodged the thrown thread as she got up from the bed and stormed out of the tent on a mission to hopefully find a new needle and not someone willing to kill a downed Warlord.

I sighed and smiled at Citus. The story between Sri and me was long and covered most of my life and I felt for the three deep lined scars on my right shoulder. She had been the one to make me as a woman. It was a dramatic even in our story but it wasn't the beginning but it was my fondest. Back then she had been a Warlord commanding her own army and I wasn't even a warrior yet, still recovering from the two born that I had just delivered and burn marks of the two to prove it. I remember standing before the Elders sweat drying on my naked body, the pains of labor making me weak. I was told to kneel and Sri advanced towards me, she was acting in place of the Elder of the Arms at that time and she announced me as a warrior and scared me to prove it. Three perfectly straight lines from the top line of my shoulder to my chest about a finger long. Angled in a way that they almost met but didn't touch the fourth and last line that ran down the back of my shoulder.

"Xīnzàng de yīng." 'Heart's Eagle.' She had whispered in my ear as blood poured from the cut and a sickly gray green salve was smeared into the wound to make sure it healed in a scar without puckering the skin. I was a warrior now and as much as I had fought it all the trials of that day washed over me and I fell to the dancing black spots in my eyes and the rushing dizziness. I had my five marks of birthing, I was a woman. I had my birth scars of my blood birth, I was a warrior. Now all I needed was my honor line of signs and I would be a Warlord like none had yet to see. But I passed out and to make it worse before the Elders.

I looked to Citus' clothed body and wondered if his body held scars of history and honor. In my mind I pictured us under a full moon, skin glistening with cooling sweat as I traced his scars with finger and tongue. I smiled like a woman and saw Citus as a Man. Even without scars, I thought to myself, there would still be many things to trace with fingers and tongue. And I was once again thankful that Citus had picked me over Aello for a second time.

 

[Nordican]

The pat from Sri helped me feel confident in my work and I didn't fail to notice the little creep of a softer Kahina that made it's presence known. She was still far from looking vulnerable that was for sure but it was enough to see that she was still managing the pain well. My nostrils flared at the scent of the next thing that Sri was handing to me.

I took the wooden spoon while she started to search for something. As I applied the other mixture over her chest I did my best to not let my gaze linger long on Kahina's naked breasts before me. She really was beautiful and I felt my own body betrayed me slightly and then I did my best to refocus and apply the goopy mixture.

Then Sri tossed a ball of thread at Kahina suddenly. I turned back and watched as the other woman raced away and then looked back and smiled at Kahina. I had a feeling from the little flash of a stuck out tongue that the recent little event was related to her but I smiled all the same.

As I finished applying the mixture I found Kahina smiling up at me. But this smile seemed different, I could swear I saw a little hunger in her sharp eyes and I remembered the feeling as her fingers had traced my face. I gently placed the spoon and bowl down and kept close to her my eyes matching her own and I didn't know what to say as we enjoyed the quiet moment.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

Time slowed and the air grew thick with tension. Never have I felt like this before and the closest thing I had to compare it to was the racing excitement and hushed breath before a coming battle. It was similar and different in everything that mattered. "Wǒ..." I was choked with tightly controlled emotions and my mouth ran dry. There was nothing that I could say to Citus even if I had to words and I swallow dry air through parted lips.

I heard the rear flap of the tent open and I knew Sri was back but in her own area. My heart skipped knowing someone else was here and knowing it was Sri didn't calm my heart but made it beat faster.

"Citus." I reached out and placed my hand over his. His hand was warm and the back of his hand smooth with fine hairs. I ran my hand with the grain of the hair and then against it watching the hairs stand up and then fall slowly. I was captivated by the touch and simple movement.

In the back of my mind alarms went off but I ignored them. Citus was a threat. He made me feel, made me weak and it wasn't something I could allow to happen. I had to be hard, , unforgiving and strong and laying here with Citus I thought of my choices I had made in my life. I knew he was physically attracted to me, I could see it in his eyes but as a person was I someone he would spend time with or was it the situation? So far he had picked me but was it because I was a leader and he thought his life depended on it? All these questions and more ran thru my mind.

I tried to sit up, cringing at the pull in my chest but I pushed through it and sat there closer to Citus. I thought being closer to him would make it clearer to me what I should do. I looked beep into his eyes seeking my answer and seeing nothing. It wasn't an answer that I got in return but a tightening of my stomach and a warm heat spreading through my body. This wasn't was I expected. I didn't see that this reaction was an answer in itself because it wasn't the answer I was looking for.

My hand reached out, the one that had been petting Citus' hand and touched the side of his face with the tips of my finger. "Zhè shì bù cōngmíng de." I whispered my voice gruff, my mouth still dry. But my hand didn't move from just above his jawline. This wasn't smart but it seemed I didn't have control of my body at the moment and I knew if he was to feel a woman of the Plain's body I wanted it to be mine and not Aello's or any other.

 

[Nordican]

I watched Kahina move and it felt like a slow drag of a blade on my skin when I saw the slight show of pain as she moved closer to me. I saw her eyes searching my own and my breathing became slightly shallow and apprehensive before I saw her hand reach out to caress my chin.

I didn't understand her words but I understood my own feelings for her, to taste those lips and be close to her that night. Understanding the full scope of why she had fought the other warrior would likely elude me but I knew she had risked much for my sake.

I wanted to return what she had done fore me, I wanted to help her and deep within me I knew I wanted her. Leaning I closed my eyes and kissed her boldly and without pause. The moment before I had thought to simply brush my lips against her in soft tease but softness in this culture seemed to be looked down upon. So I pressed good and hard and enjoyed the warm taste of her lips as my eyes closed and I savored every moment.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

The deepest parts of me had hungered for this and I knew I had let it go too long without. And with Citus' forceful kiss I was awaken to all my longings and urges. I craved the feel of another's body, to be filled with a strength that was not my own. I was weak and Citus was the only one that could feed the feelings within me and make everything normal again. "Citus." His name was moaned from our pressed lips as my mouth opened to him and my tongue slipped into his mouth exploring the taste of him.

My hands reached for him, clung to him as I pulled myself to him. Twisting my hips to get closer to him and bumping my chest into his his. "Ahgh!" I pulled back from the deep kiss with tears in my eyes a thin line of milky colored blood seeping through the mixture covering my wound. "Bù!" No. I shook my head refusing to accept this outcome. My body had reminded me that it was a woman and it burned. Burned... I kicked my leg and felt the tear of charred skin on my calf and hissed more in anger then in pain. I had blinded myself to this want and now that I saw it, felt it, I could not undo it.

I hung my head ashamed that I was so weak in all things right now. I picked up Citus' hand and rubbed my cheek against his palm showing him that it wasn't him but me. It was a good time for Sri to walk in. Her brows crinkled in question then I saw the answer flash in her eyes.

As kindly as she could she shooed Citus away and leaned me back on the bed and sewed up the wound. Sri was quick with sure hands and it was done in a matter of just a few minutes. "Zú." She tapped my burned leg and pulled a box from a pocket and opened it, the scent of sharp tangy herbs wafting from it's open lid. She made quick work of cleaning it, slathering it in the clear glossy ointment and bandaging it. "Wǒ yào qù shuìjiàole. Wǎn'ān." Sri informed me. "Wǎn'ān Citus." 'Goodnight.' She smiled patting Citus on the shoulder before leaving for the night.

I knew Sri wouldn't be back and I sagged back against the bed. I ran my hand over my face and rearranged the pillows behind me so I could sit up and be comfortable. My eyes wondered back to Citus. Nothing was ever easy, it was all complicated and this wasn't going to be any different.

"Nǐ réngrán kěyǐ bǎocún nǐ de yèwǎn. Aello jiù zài nàlǐ děngzhe nǐ háo wú yíwèn." I pointed to the flaps that lead out of the tent and gave Citus a faint forced smile. I couldn't ask Citus to say here when I couldn't give him what he wasn't in the state that I was in. Not when I knew there was at least one warrior out there would could bring him to a pleasurable climax.

 

[Nordican]

Hearing the warlord moan out my name made my heart skip a moment. I lost myself in the lust of our motions as her lips returned the heat in mine. When I felt her tongue explore my own I felt it was so strange that a woman would do that but I loved it, I wanted it.

For a moment I felt her hands hold my shoulders and her breasts rubbed against my chest before I heard her yelp in pain and I chided myself. I had only meant to kiss her and not press further but I had done nothing to stop her rising up either. Before I could move to help her Sri pressed me away as politely as possible and then went to work mending her up.

I stood for a moment unsure of what to do and keeping myself angled so as not to show off my lust while Sri was there and then she departed with a simple word. When I saw Kahina's smile I shook my head and moved back to her side. I may have wanted to take her and for her to experience the depth of my gratitude for her but I would not just go to Aello and offer myself for her pleasure to sate my own. But I didn't know what to do either. I didn't want to coddle her or give her a meek rub of my hand over her chin. Neither did I feel I could just leave her.

But standing there was not an option and so I chose one action over others. I would not go to Aello and neither would I leave her. Ignoring the growing feelings of lust I moved onto the bed beside her and leaned forward planting another kiss onto her lips.

"Ich wild tich." I want you. I said and slowly let my lips fall as I rested next to her. I held off pulling a blanket over our two bodies not knowing if the air was needed to help heal her wounds, wounds I sorely wished to heal. My body had it's own wounds and aches and I knew sleep wouldn't be far off but I wished to remain by her side.

"Schafen Kahina." I said and then gave her a warm look and closed my eyes leaning against the bed to show her the movement for sleeping.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

It was hard to accept the fact that I was too wounded to do anything more then just lay here. I was worse then a child but Citus didn't seem to mind, he even stayed giving me another kiss. The more I knew about this person the more he confused and baffled me. Any other warrior I knew would have called it a fair night with me and left to find someone else to pleasure him. It wasn't a case about hurt feelings it was fulfilling a need that needed to be filled so it didn't distract you in battle.

I felt bad for Citus as he climbed into bed with me. While I had never felt what he must be going through at the moment I had heard it was an unpleasant feeling boarding on painful. "Xièxiè." The word was whispered as I counted the number of times I had said this word to Citus. Thank you was a hard enough word to say to a fellow Warlord and warrior and yet the word came easily to my lips for this person.

As part of my normal nightly routine I checked the weapons at the side of the bed, making sure they were easily accessible before I grabbed the blanket and pulled it up to m y chin and thought I wanted to roll to my side I stayed on my back. "Wǎn'ān Citus." I traded for his word of schafen which I took to mean goodnight.

I watched the burner in the middle of the room burn down and claim more until it was almost a thick darkness. My eyes closed and I listened more closely. Outside far towards the clearing I could hear the dull echos of the music. Closer the wind carried hushed moans and cries of lovers. Horses snot and their tails cut the air. Closer still the heavy breathing of Citus as he fell asleep. I opened my eyes and turned my head to stare at the man besides me. Never had I ever shared my bed with another and as strange as I would have thought it would be, it was comforting and relaxing.

All these thoughts and all these feelings were something that could be used against me and as that thing was a living breathing person it was likely that Citus would get hurt because of me. I would step back from all that I felt and close him off and learn what I needed to before handing him back to the Elders. And I fell asleep with my mind set on viewing him as nothing more then the livestock that we cared for.

The next morning I woke just before the sun. My swords were where I had left them but I felt as if I had already forgotten something. I blamed it on just waking up but when Citus moved I jolted up hands clutching the hilts of my blades and pointing at the man besides me. For a second I had forgotten that Citus was there. Just as quickly as my swords were out and pointed at him they were away and back on the ground at the side of my bed.

It wasn't that I had almost killed Citus that bothered me but the look on his face as he slept. Sri I knew was already up and had restarted the fire that lighted and warmed the tent. He didn't look like a lamb but it was hard to see an animal where he looked like a man at totally peace.

Knowing that Sri would frown against it but chancing it anyways I slowly got up and out of bed. I was still Warlord and the warriors needed to see that I was well and able after last night.

"Sri-" I brushed against the flap leading to her area before walking in. There was that look that I knew would come from seeing me up but I brushed it away. "Wèidào hěn hǎo wén." I nodded to the cooking food and picked at the mostly cooked meat on the fryer slightly burning my fingers in the process. "Ummm." I smiled sucking my fingers clean. Like always the food was delicious but I wasn't going to have time to stay and eat. So I gave Sri a good bye wave and left out the back of the tent.

Citus would need guards to watch him while I was busy with other things. My feet walked on their own and I nodded at the warriors that were up and stopped to talk with those who had a want or need. But before long my feet had carried me to Aello's tent.

"Warlord." She met me in front of her tent a new born on shaky legs besides her and the mother mare behind.

"Busy morning?" I tried to smile knowing that I fell short.'

"Nothing that I can't handle." The tone behind her words almost had me asking her what she meant by that but I let it pass. I didn't want to start an argument when I was about to ask her to do something that was outside of her duties.

"Good. I have something to ask you but before I do that I want you to know that you can refuse it with no ill feelings." I made it clear to her that it was not an order. "Citus needs guards and I was wondering if you would like to take charge of that."

I saw the shock on Aello's face. "I would be honored."

"He shouldn't need more then half a squad." I nodded with a sober face. "You can pick them. He's at my tent and I give you allowance to give to him by your own hand."

Against shock but Aello recovered well. "I promise you his safety."

I said nothing more because I felt like there was nothing more that needed to be said. I would go to the Heart today and settle some matters before we set out to the coast. Aello I watched make her way to my tent where she would wait in the meeting room for Citus to wake. I wondered distantly how he would receive his new watcher and protector.

 

[Nordican]

I woke up the next day to find Kahina was not there. I wasn't that surprised and pressed away any ill feelings. She was a warlord and she would have her duties to handle. I was just her prisoner, nothing more it would seem. Perhaps her movement last night had been nothing more than just a passion born from the fight and she would have nothing more from me.

I shook my head running a hand through my hair and felt a small stiffness in my manhood just thinking about her. I felt weak at that moment and concentrated on the food that was presented to me by Sri. I thanked her for it and dressed in the clothing I had selected before I heard the flap of the tent once more. I thought perhaps Kahina had returned but instead I was surprised to find Aello.

I rose from my seat and stood before her. I did not know what she was doing here but I did not forget the look her eyes had given me during the dance. Once more as I looked over her body I felt my shaft stiffen, it felt like a betrayal even as small a motion as it was. I was Kahina's something, her property in a way. But I remembered seeing her dance and my own frustration, small as it was that Kahina had been injured. But it wasn't her fault. Greater still Kahina was a warlord, Aello was the master of horses as it seemed and not the better of the two for a chance to escape in my mind.

I greeted her as I collected myself.

"Hello Aello."

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

Business in the Heart didn't take as long as I had hoped and just after noon's lunching I was dragging my feet back to my camp. I knew the reason for my sluggish pace back but it didn't make me feel any better. Citus affected me and it was unnerving. I didn't like that he confused me and left me wondering. If there was something that I didn't know I found out about it and the reasoning behind it. But it seemed to work against me with him. I chewed on my bottom lip as I thought about it more in depth. I didn't like Aello and the way she looked at Citus yet I have given Citus' protection to her in my absences. I knew it was because I wanted space between Citus and myself but knowing that he had half a day with her without my watch enraged me. I wanted him to be away from me but I didn't know of anyone that I would want him with. I had picked Aello because I knew she heated for him and that as a man Citus would heat for her. I had wanted them to burn for each other so I wouldn't have to deal with the thoughts and feelings that had suddenly awoken in me but now I was regretting my rash decision.

"Rahah!" I screamed, the stallion under me waking from his dozed walk to a heightened prance of eagerness. On any other day I would have let the stallion run out my mood but my leg bothered me still. IT was feeling much better and I could walk confidently on it but it was a wound still mending and I feared tearing it and having to deal with Sri. So I calmed the stallion but picked up the pace a little as I neared camp.

Before going to my own tent I stopped at my warleader's tent. The first tent I stopped at was Bellona's. She had given me a list of things that she needed that she couldn't get on her own and while in the Heart I had acquired them and now all she needed to do was pick them up. Next was Iiro, warleader of Magic and Healing. Again it was a case of last minute things that he needed and him having to pick them up. The last two tents that I stopped at was Ludovicus', warleader of Operations and Cay's, warleader of the Scouts. I picked up Love first and brought him to Cay's tent and talked to them together as we planned tomorrow's hunt.

With everything all done with and nothing else to delay me I headed to my tent. I wasn't looking for Citus but I couldn't help the fact that I kept a look out for him. I didn't know what Aello would do with him or where they would be but I it didn't stop me from searching for him as I slowly rode through camp.

 

[Nordican]

The day was interesting to say the least. I spent most of it with Aello and learned new words and enjoyed her company. I could still see and feel the desire in her eyes for me and did my best to steel myself whenever her eyes fluttered or her hand would linger on me when went about the day. I asked her to help me learn more about riding and she felt that it would be best if we rode together with her in front but I politely declined saying I had to do it for myself.

So we rode about, myself on my black stallion and her on hers. It was relaxing and peaceful and helped distract me from thinking about Kahina. It was difficult to do all the same. I wanted her and I knew how she had reacted to my touch when we lay together. If not for her injury I would have joined my body with hers in an instant.

As the horse jumped over a few rocks I cursed when the saddle crashed into my stiffness and that worked to keep my mind off her for a time. Then the ride was finished and we returned to the holding area. I patted my stallion on the hose smiling at him and my own progress. Aello said they'd make a rider out of me yet and one more times her eyes asked the question. I could see us huddled together out in some secluded spot while the horses raced on. Aello was very stunning in her own right and resisting the temptation was wearing on me.

I left her and found some food once the other warriors and people came together to eat. After I returned to Kahina's tent still a bit sweaty from the ride and the sun upon me. Wanting to be ready for the Warlord's return I asked Sri if she would prepare a bath for me. She gave a small nod and then set out and I slowly took off the horse hide shirt from my chest as I rolled my head relieving the tension.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

"Citus-" The last place I expected to see him was in the tent and yet here he was, shirtless. My eyes automatically scanned over his body, the sweaty sheen of his skin, the messy hair and the way his pants hung to his hips. I heard Sri in the back and from the noise could guess that Citus was about to take a bath. Realizing that I was staring I looked away and nodded to the bathing area a question on my face. "Yù?" I said the word for bath and went blank on his word for it. The image of him standing there as he was... I smiled to myself. Could a man look any better then work worn and sweaty? All Citus needed was a smear of blood from his fallen enemy and he would fit right in.

Sri moved quickly from the her area of the tent to the privy quickly with pitchers of water. An afternoon bath was taken with water warmed by the sun on nice days like this and with a few more pictures of water his bath would be filled and ready for him. Sri brought the last picture and called for Citus, his bath was ready. She didn't wait for Citus and returned to the back of the tent again.

I smiled at Citus keeping my eyes on his face. I would speak to him when he was finished with his bath. Navigating a conversation about hunting would be tough and needed time that a waiting bath didn't have. "Wǒmen jiāng tǎolùn hòu." I nodded telling him that we would talk after even though I knew he didn't quite understand yet.

I sat on the bed and removed my boots as Sri came back with a cup of strong tea and fried bread, rolled sun baked sweet fruits and chopped meats. I had long ago stop trying to figure out how Sri knew my every need and now just went along with it as a leaf does in the wind. I hadn't eaten anything but that bit of stolen meat from her pan this morning and dug into the food without even a thank you.

In the privy I could hear Citus bathe and my mind wondered about the look of him. It was a pleasing thought and I laid back on the bed once my stomach was full and all the food on the tray was gone. But I wasn't one to just enjoy a thought because soon Aello had joined him in the bath and washed him as he her. My jaw locked and I calmed myself, it was only a thought. Aello wasn't truly there. Still I listened for the sounds of another in there and wasn't satisfied with what my mind told me verses what I knew to be true.

But I had the hunting party to plan and finalize to distract myself. A bull from the hunt would be given to the Heart and the army will spend the rest of the day cutting and drying the meat. Skins, horns and bones will be given to the right leaders. There would be a night of silent prayers and dimmed fires. It was a quite moment before one left the Heart and the morning of next the camp will over on it's way to the coast and the boat.

 

[Nordican]

The bath was nice but I didn't linger long. I couldn't help but want to go back and speak with Kahina to check on how her wounds were. I told myself it was prudent to make sure that she was okay and doing alright since she was still largely my best and only means of surviving with these people. But deep down I knew it was more than that. I had not missed the way her eyes lingered on my body and felt that at least I looked respectable and seemed to fit in and did not appear quite so foreign as I had before. But my own thoughts did not ignore her form and beauty and recalling how she had felt when our lips touched last night and felt her body just tough mine only to be pulled back because of her injuries.

These we what occupied my mind during the bath and it was not pleasant company as I scrubbed and cleaned enjoying my Yu.Soon enough I rose up but I had to wait a few moments to ensure that my fixation would not be completely blatant. Pulling up some pants with dark markings and a simple shirt I moved forward from the privy area and found Kahina waiting on the bed.

I greeted her and and then stood before her not knowing how to act or how exactly perhaps to bring up what had happened last night or what it had meant. More than just our attempted encounter I know things had changed in my status in the camp. I was hers in a way or at least I believed.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

"Citus." I got up from the bed when he walked my way. There was tension in my body as I rose that I couldn't get ride of. I wanted to question him about his activities today and demand answers. I needed to know what he and Aello did today but knew asking would make me weak. "Nǐ wán de kāixīn jīntiān yǔ Aello?" I asked him instead, question if only he had fun. There was nothing more I could ask him without losing face.

Thinking that he kissed her the way he kissed me. That his hands touched more of her then they had me- I gritted my teeth and took a deep breath in. It was my fault they were not in such close quarters and I needed to find a way to live with it. In moments like this I cursed my damned pride. If I was less of a warrior and Warlord not, then I would be able to speak freely and tell Citus that there was an interest in him that I wished to find out about. But I was not those things and I could not say all that passed through my mind.

So I turned instead to business. I needed to find a away to tell him of the hunting planned for tomorrow. I opened my mouth then closed it. He wouldn't get my words and there was too much to try to teach him for him to understand. "Ahs." I clapped my hands together. I would tell him with pictures and made my way through the flaps to the smaller front room and sat on the table with paper and charcoal. Seats to both side me of empty and free.

"Míngtiān zǎochen." I started when Citus followed me. In the top left corner I drew a new sun rising over a line. "Wǒmen zhuībǔ." I quickly drew some tents with little people in front of them grouped a few together off to the side with two bigger then the rest. I pointed at one on the paper and then to Citus and then pointed to the other and myself. The next picture was of a group of buffalo like animals. I copied the group of people with the two large figures and armed then with weapons and placed them on horses as if chasing the buffalo. "Shuǐniú." I told him the word for the pictured animal and pointed. Sure that he at least understood the basics of my conversation I abandoned the paper and charcoal and simply spoke.

I told him how we would wake before the sun and break the army up into tasks. How it was our responsibility to lead the hunting party and that he would be at my side. It was harder to explain the hunting patterns and the methods we used to hunt but I figured that as long as he followed me he would be okay. I also told him that we would go to the supply tent after this and give him something to use to hunt with.

"Nǐ míngbái ma?" I asking wanting to know if he understood any of that.

 

[Nordican]

I listened to Kahina and gave her a simple nod when she asked me if I had fun with Aello. I informed her that we had just gone riding and she had taught me a few more things about control and life in the Heart. But the look on her face told me more than her question. I could see it under her lips, she wanted to ask that which she could not as if someone would hear her and punish her. She was a slave to tradition as much as I was her slave.

I listened and watched as she went about drawing the various pictures and telling me the words with them. Some stuff was easier to understand than others but I seemed to get the basic idea. We'd be going hunting, the two of us and others at least and I'd be right with Kahina in the lead.

when she asked me if I understood I nodded and then I just rested my eyes on her for a moment. Seeing her back to business I still longed to see the softer side that I had glimpsed earlier. I could see the strain in her movements and I leaned forward in my chair resting my hand on hers.

"Kahina...Vist du vanku?" Are you alright? I asked and my eyes trailed down to her stomach where her wounds had been before I looked back at her eyes.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

I was glad to see that we were understanding each other better and was about to get up from my seat when I felt Citus' hand on mine. It stilled me and I looked from the hand to the man that it belonged to. I saw his eyes go over my healing chest wound. I knew that he asked after me and my well being and I nodded my head. "Wǒ hěn hǎo." I am fine. I smiled at him placing my hand over his. The womanly part of me wanted to show herself again and I stared into Citus' eyes searching for an answer.

Would the army understand if I took this man-child as mine? No. The voice in my head answered before I have even finished the thought. I would lose face and with it strength in my army. I would be challenged more and as good as I was there were only so many battles you could win before someone got the better of you.

I turned my palm up under his hand and held it between mine. I knew without knowing that I could be gentle with this person. That there could be kind words and light touches without it meaning a lose in something but rather a growth in other things. Like happiness and companionship. While it was true that I had Sri's companionship in the means of a mate it was something completely different. Never before had I ever felt like this but I suddenly understood why people would leave the army for some time to mate and bond. It was more then just having someone by your side always fighting for you like another pair of arms but more like the soil that helps a tree grow and be strong. The better the soil the stronger the tree.

The weight of this new feeling and knowledge weighted heavy in my chest and for the tiniest of seconds I hated Citus for showing this to me. But it was a passing feeling as I released his hand and took mine back. "Citus." I smiled and knew that it a pale reflection of what a true smile was. I needed to know something before I let this go and being that kind of person that didn't' let things go easily I leaned slowly into Citus. I wanted to know what it was like to be kissed by Citus in his own way. Our last and only kiss he had met me in what I needed but I had a feeling things were different where he was from and I wanted to how the difference, to feel it and judge it as I felt it.