Chapter 132
Gregor became even kinder the next day, checking on me often and making sure I had enough to eat. He even brought me a warm cloak, thicker than the others I'd been given. He brought me some clothes too, comfortable ones. But his kindness unsettled me more than anything. I didn't know how to repay him — or if I even should.
It was clear he wanted something from me, I just wasn’t sure if it was something I could provide him.
I had a life. I knew I had a life before and it must have been important. I could have been married to someone, since I was expecting. A husband that might be desperately looking for me. Family that love me and can’t wait to see me.
I could have other kids. The possibilities were endless. I was desperate to remember something, a semblance of who I once was. But anytime I tried to, anytime I tried to think hard, my head came up blank. Blank and empty.
There was nothing in the memory of mine. Nothing but my name. Ariadne.
The children in the clan started to gravitate toward me. They were curious, whispering behind their hands about the outsider with no memory. They seemed to like me, occasionally they would stick around while I did my chores around the clan. One little boy, Jarek, followed me around constantly. His bright blue eyes reminded me of something — or someone — but the memory stayed just out of reach. All I remembered was his eyes were very familiar, but I couldn’t tell who had them.
One afternoon, Jarek tumbled down a rocky slope while playing. His leg bent awkwardly beneath him, and his screams pierced the air.
"Jarek!" I ran to him, heart pounding. The others gathered around, murmuring.
"He broke his leg," an older woman said grimly.
“Won’t he heal? He’s a wolf isn’t he?”
The woman shrugged.
“He’s still a pup. He hasn’t fully come into his powers. We'll have to set it. It'll take weeks to heal."
Jarek was sobbing uncontrollably, I couldn’t bear the thought of the happy boy being sad for weeks or having to be in such pain.
Without thinking, I pressed my hands to Jarek's leg. Heat bloomed under my palms. I felt it — a pulse of something warm and bright, like sunlight breaking through clouds. His cries softened, and when I pulled my hands away, his leg looked... fine.
Gasps filled the air.
"She healed him," someone whispered.
“I did?” I said in surprise.
The old woman looked at me and smiled a bit.
“I have heard about the magic of your kind, I thought it was just a myth, but it seems it’s true.”
“Magic?” I repeated incredulously.
She nodded.
“Your kind has healing powers. I didn’t know it was so significant.”
A woman with dark braids pushed through the crowd — Jarek's mother. Tears glistened in her eyes. "You healed my son. Thank you. Thank you."
More murmurs followed. For the first time, the stares didn't feel hostile. People looked at me with something new: hope.
That night, Gregor and some clan members returned with a massive boar. The clan prepared a feast, laughter and warmth filling the air. I stayed near the fire, helping prepare herbs. My hands moved automatically, but my mind was elsewhere.
"I hear the Alpha King of Zaire is still looking," the chief's voice drifted over the crackle of flames.
"For his missing queen? Is she really missing or is this an opportunity for him to pick a fight with the Empire? I find it hard to believe that she would have just disappeared.” A man said.
A chill ran down my spine.
"The search hasn't stopped," the chief said. "They say she was taken in the night. The Alpha King believes his brother has committed treason. Some think she ran. But nevertheless, we do not concern ourselves with issues of others. Especially of Zaire.”
One of the men glanced at me. I could see the question in his eyes. Was I the missing queen?
“What are the odds? You find a woman in the woods being taken by some soldiers. What if she’s the one they are looking for?” The man said quietly.
Gregor's voice cut through the talk. "How could she be the one they’re looking for? She's an Otsayak. Besides, like you said we don’t concern ourselves with issues of other kingdoms. Let us focus on our own issues.”
The chief grunted. "Still. Strange coincidence, isn't it?“
The word Zaire pulled at something deep in my mind. My head ached trying to grasp it. It had to mean something right?
Could they have been right?
Was I a queen?
Gregor had sounded dismissive about the whole thing, but if there was a woman missing around the same time I was missing, could I be that woman?
My mind drifted away from the gathering, deep in thoughts wondering who or what I could be. Children and women alike danced around the fire in excitement, but my heart was somewhere else.
Someone was looking for me. Someone out there was calling to me.
Who was it?
Gregor approached me later, his voice low. "How are you? And the babe?"
I touched my belly. Small, round and firm. I wondered how far along I was.
I stared into the fire. "I am well. The meat was delicious.”
Gregor smiled.
“I was the one who delivered the killing strike. Boars are tricky when hunting in human form, but I enjoy the hunt.”
“Have you thought about my offer?” Gregor asked.
“don't know. You've been kind, but I don't even know who I am. How will this work? What if I remember everything?”
"Then you can decide whether or not you still want to stay with me after," Gregor said softly. "You're a strong woman Ariadne. I don’t want to see you hurt ever again. And I meant what I said — I'll take care of you. Both of you."
His hand hovered near my stomach, but he didn't touch me. He never did.
"I'll think about it," I murmured, even though the nagging feeling in my heart and my head was telling me no.
As the children danced around the fire, laughter echoing into the night, a memory sparked in my mind. A face — blurred and shadowed, but familiar. A man, crippled, on a wheelchair. His voice echoed faintly.
“Ariadne."
My heart raced. I knew him. I just didn't know how.
But I knew him.
Gregor watched me quietly, his expression unreadable. The weight of his proposal hung heavy between us, but the shadow of the past was starting to stir. And somehow, I knew — it wasn't done with me yet.
I would remember who the crippled man was. And how important he was to me.
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