Thirteen

Orel left the bed yesterday night.
I don’t know how I knew of this but I knew it was true, I wondered what he left the bed for but I didn’t say anything as he kissed my nose this time and told me that I will meet him at noon so that we could spend time together and that what happened yesterday will not take place today since he had informed everybody in the camp of my status, then he ordered me back to sleep.

I slept with a smile because I was getting used to him, with his mood and attitude, normally if it was someone from my tribe trying to pull such a stunt on me by ordering me around, I would have retaliated and it would not have been nice but with Orel, he made me feel safe with his actions, like I was cherished and well-loved although I know better than to give my heart to anybody. Including my husband, my thinking would be warped and centered on him that I will not be able to make the best decision for myself if it came to me against him.

I still need my senses around me, until I am sure that Orel will always take me as his equal and is irrevocably in love with me, that will be the only time, I might allow myself to explore the feelings he invoke in me.

It was the tent flap opening that woke me up and I sat up to see a small woman set a tray of food down then went to a far part of the tent and stood there to wait for me to be awake, not aware of the far that I have been watching her through my almost close lids while pretending to still be sleeping. “Who are you and what are you doing here,” I asked in a commanding tone as she gasp and lowered her head bowing to me as she gave me her reply, not once looking up to see my face.

“Good morning, my Lady. I am Eve, I am assign to be in charge of your meals, I was told to bring you your meal by this time today and to wait for you to be awoken and to keep your company before your companion arrives so you would not be alone.”

My face went soft at her words. Orel do think of me specially. I had a feeling that with his actions, my heart will soon be his, with or without my consent. I cleared my throat as I stood up from the bed to dress up in a trouser and shirt today, I needed to explore the camp so that I can familiarize myself with my new home and environment besides, it would not be good for my esteem if I managed to get lost again. That was something, I didn’t fancy very much.

After getting dressed, I settled down to eat my meal just as Dyane opened the tent flap with a wide smile. “Morning my lady.” She calls out with she came closer to me, like me, she also wore sensible clothes that will allow her easy movement but hers was gown in place of my trousers.

“You are in a good mood.” I stated starring at Dyane who nodded happily but guilt tainted her expression, guilt I didn’t understand.

“I spent the whole of yesterday, working on extracting the poison from that plant and also the antidote which work on other poisons too.” Dyane answered me excited about the progress she had made.

“That is very good work Dyane.” I said with marvel in my tone. “All within one day.”

Dyane expression of excitement faded to one of guilt. “I am so sorry, Lady Themis. I knew that I was supposed to be with you. That is my primary assignment and I allowed my personal hobby which you granted to overshadow my real work. I am really sorry Lady Themis.”

“It is okay.” I said with a smile. “It wasn’t your fault, I got to see the side of people that they would not have shown me if they knew who I was or rather who my husband is” I corrected myself wryly as Dyane cracked a smile but guilt was still in her eyes.

“And I got to bond with my husband stubborn horse and spent the day with my elusive, busy husband who doesn’t have time for anything other than warlord duties during the day.” I listed as Dyane nodded but still looked downcast. I lifted her chin with my hand as I smiled at her.

“Thank you for allowing me to have an adventure yesterday, although it didn’t seem like one then.” I said softly as she nodded and gave me a smile which shows that most of her guilt have diminish which was the best I could hope for as of that moment.

“We need a guide to show us around the camp, can you do it Eve.” I said as Eve body jerked in surprise that I was referring to her.

“Of course my lady.” Eve stammered out as I got up from the bed where I had taken my meals and walked outside with Dyane and eve by my side. When I got outside the tent.

This time everybody paused what they were doing and bowed to me first then slowed down in case I needed their help and that was when I noticed the two guards.

My lips thinned into a straight line, I hate it when Orel gave me two guards as if I could not protect myself, I would only allow him to do this today and when he gets back in the evening, I would tell him not to try this stunt again.

Dyane told me about her experience the day before and prattled on about how many of the warriors were meeting her for medicines and how much her side business was booming, I listen with half attention on her as my other half was taking in my surrounding and how connect it to a map in my mind so that I would not get lost again.

I learned that Orel was generous with Dyane as he didn’t make her stay in the servants tents since he wanted her close to me, he gave a tent of her own which she was using for her healing practice.

“Lady Themis.” A voice called out to me as I passed through the training fields where according to Eve, new warriors were practicing or being trained by a senior warrior. I paused and turned as I waited for the person who called my name to show himself, I was curious how the person knew me or what business he had with me.

I was disappointed to see that it wasn’t a he but a she, and she was somebody that I didn’t want close to me. What did Orel call her?

Gwenn, she was like his younger sider, this I learnt of yesterday and I also learnt that because she was like the younger sister of Orel and Elison she got away with a lot of this and easily rose up to the position of the third in command since she was trained along with Orel and Elison and that she was cunning enough to maintain her position. She was used to be the highest female in charge and she felt threatened when she learnt that Orel took a wife and didn’t inform her beforehand.

“Yes” I answered with my voice giving out no indication that I didn’t want her close to me.

“I wanted to apologize.” Gwenn said looking like she was sucking on a sour lemon which was forced into her mouth with a blade on her throat.

“What for?” I asked confused.

Gwenn looked angry for a while before she reined the emotion back under her control as she took a deep breathe. “Please don’t make this any harder for me than it has to be.”

I genuinely was confused and was sure I looked confused as well since her eyes widened in realization. “He didn’t tell you did him?”

My eyes narrowed at her as it came together in my mind, she was trying to make me angry at Orel for something, she wanted us to be at odds with each other and I refused to let her win. “I know that you don’t like me Gwenn, you think I am not good enough for Orel…” I started but she cuts me off with a shrug.

“I know for a fact, that you are not good enough for him.”

I gritted my teeth as I try to maintain some semblance of peace with this woman before me. “Anyway, you will try but you will not succeed in coming between me and Orel.”

It was Gwenn turn to look confused. “I am not trying to come between you two, if I wanted that, you will be out of this camp at daylight yesterday.” Gwenn said in a manner that said that what she was saying was the truth. My patience with this lady was certainly running thin.

“What do you want?” I said with a growl as Gwenn stepped back from me probably realizing that she was pushing me too far too fast.

“What I want is to apologize” she said with a shrug.

“For what, exactly.” I asked cautiously, I would not trust Gwenn as far as I could throw her even if I could manage to throw her pretty far too.

“For the stunt of yesterday morning, I redirected the people sent to you, I never meant for you to get lost or threatened, all I wanted was for you to feel a little hungry and lonely so that you will realize that this is not your world. My Lady.” Gwenn said as if she was stating the facts and discussing weather highlights not me being in danger yesterday.

I turned and walked away from Gwenn without saying anything because I knew that if I did, or I reacted anyway, our relationship will be worse than that of me and Lillian, the merchant queen.