Forty
“Welcome to the council meeting” the dirty old man from the Maiden Hunt said as I nodded in reply. His name was Admon, with Orel description of those in the council with him, I could recognize them all by matching what I was seeing with his description and although his description was a bit funny when he was giving it, I could see that it is right. Admon was not a dirty man as I had first thought. No, his skin naturally was that brown and he has a few scars on his face which made him look fierce and he was fond of grey or brown clothing which was why I had given him that nickname in my head. I glance at the others and took note of the differentiating factors
“Thank you.” I replied after wetting my lips, I was nervous because even though I had the time to get used to Orel being a warlord and all, I never thought that I will join the rulers of Dar in their meeting room where they make decisions that affect the empire.
“I am sorry for dragging you away from your daily activities but we need to know what the alliance between the empire and Northshore says.” Admon says ignoring Brogan snort and I used my hand to cover Orel fists, he was angry at the disrespect which Brogan was showing and more annoyed that he has the moral principles not to treat Brogan wife, Catherine the same way because she was a sweet lady. I had gotten closer to Mary Ann and Catherine and we always spend time together.
“It’s alright.” I smiled then proceeded to tell them about the alliance and all and when I was done I grinned at them again. The deal was better than any of them would have gotten and they knew it.
“So it is true that you are a seer.” Brogan shifted forward in his seat to look at me.
Orel stood up and stood in my front.
“You need to stop antagonizing Orel, he will lose his temper one of these days.” The master healer, Baxter who was fit although on the lean side, he has a kind of ethereal beauty around him, if he was beside his wife, I was Sure that they would turn heads although he could achieve that feat all on his own.
“It is the truth. I just want her to affirm it.” Brogan defended himself.
“My wife will not be a performing act for you, when you need to broker deals with others.” Orel said.
“She got us an alliance that nobody ever had before, that will make others think twice, we should have just asked for a small number of their warriors so that we can show case our alliance with them.” Cale said.
I carefully went through my words in my head before I opened my mouth. “They will be there when we will need them.” I said as they all looked at me including my husband.
“Do explain.” Admon looks at me speculatively.
“I cannot. I am sorry.” I stated lowering my eyes to play with my hands which were laps.
“Prophesies and visions of the future have one thing in common. They don’t fully reveal themselves. Well at least we have that reassurance.” Admon shrugged not acting disappointed by my inability to explain more, his actions tried to hide that he was disappointed but his eyes were not hiding it.
“So when will the war start.” Brogan asked.
“It has started. News of it will soon get to us” I blurted out and tried to cover my mouth with my hand but it was too late.
“I will have to start preparing.” Orel said.
“And how did you know.” Brogan asked looking at me with something close to suspicion in his gaze.
“I just do.” I answered him with a shrug, hoping that I have not started to make them think that I was a traitor.
“And don’t start suspecting her, that’s how she does sometimes.” Orel said as Baxter, Cale and Admon nodded but Brogan was still staring at me. I would need to watch myself around him.
Then again I might not need to, we will soon be leaving the capital for the commencement of the war.
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The news did get to us that evening and Brogan concluded that I was a witch no matter how much Admon tried to change his perception. It took us five days to gather the supplies and to start moving towards my former tribe village. We were close to the boundary but not the last settlement which shares a border with Erisea, now we were the last. The settlements between my tribe and the borders has been razed, refugees were now camping in my village and it was about to get more crowded since the army was moving there. We got there in four day of hard riding and the sight was even worse than I envisioned.
“Are you okay?” Orel asked watching me as I watched my tribe.
“Yes, I am, it is not like it has been razed to the ground has it.” I gave a nervous laugh.
“I wasn’t talking about the sight of the village housing others, I was talking about you being back in a place where they sold you out even though you didn’t do anything wrong.” Orel whispered fiercely.
I tilted my head back so that I can stare into my husband eyes and what I saw in his eyes made me suck in my breathe. Orel was furious. He was furious that my tribe sent me to be the maiden of the hunt. He was furious that my leader could be that cowardly to want to get rid of the real chief family. “It is okay, I didn’t put up much of a fight besides, it isn’t that bad, and I got to be yours.” I lay my hands on his face placating his mood.
He leaned into my touch as he replied me. “You might not have put up a fight and not have died, still that doesn’t make what they did right?”
“True but then again I would rather be a Maiden of the hunt than to marry the new chieftain and be his second wife.” I shudder at that thought.
“Explain” Orel commanded me as I rolled my eyes at his heavy handed way of doing things.
“The new chieftain will not have allowed me to go scot-free. It is either the maiden hunt or let him get me with child and be either his concubine or Wife and I knew that his first wife is a nasty woman so there was no option, death or be his broodmare and slave, I chose death.” I shrug trying to act as if I was not affected by my decision then, like I was not affected by returning to this place that never showed me an ounce of mercy.
Orel face Darkens with rage. “Oh, they are going to pay and pay dearly.” He vowed as he squeezed my hand before ordering his warriors to round everybody up.
I gripped Orel arms as he placed me besides him as he gave orders upon orders. Dyane, Elison and Gwenn joined up, at first the latter two was confused at their friend behavior, he was acting as if a fire was lit under him. When they saw his scowl, they realized that a fire was lit under him literally, they put two and two together and they came up with the answer. My tribe sent me out to get me killed, we are in my tribe.
“Put her and Dyane in the carts, I don’t want the tribe knowing of their presence yet and also one of you should stand guard.” Orel ordered Elison and Gwenn before moving to make his wishes known to others. Elison and Gwenn exchanged guards before Elison cursed and led me away while Gwenn went to take a place beside my husband, an irrational bout of annoyance passed through me but I ignored it after all, Gwenn was married and I knew that nothing will ever happen between them.
“Why does he wants to hide you from your tribe?” Elison asked me as he helps me and Dyane into a wagon which was used for storing of possessions.
“Because I think he wants to shock them and maybe rub it on their face that I am better than them now which isn’t true.” I frowned in thought.
“You are better than them.” Elison said as I smiled.
“Of course I am, I have always been better than them, I didn’t just turn better than them by becoming accepted as a true Dar citizen.”
Elison looked shocked at my words but didn’t say anything on the issue, instead he continued his thoughts process about the actions of my husband. “No, that is not it. Orel is not the type to rub something in people face and even if he does, it is unintentional. Most time when he does it, he is not even aware that he do anything of such. It could be that he sees them as a threat to you, that they may harm you so he is removing you from their sight to prevent that.” Elison looked so pleased with himself that he had discovered the reason that I didn’t Dare open my mouth to tell him that any threat Orel perceive to me don’t survive unless I beg him to forgive or at least forget and I have not done something like that for my tribesmen’s.
Elison remained with us in comfortable silence until Orel came and took me still in an angry state which I was sure that I had nothing to do with and dragged me with him to my former home, he led me to my room as tears filled my eyes.
“How did you know?” I asked him as his lips went up.
“The new chief was staying here, I checked out the rooms and this had your mark over it, like it was yours but your reaction proved me right.” I pushed myself into his arms as I hugged him. “This pleases you”
“Yes. This pleases me much.” I tell him with a smile. The look in Orel face told me that we were going to Christianized my former room right then and there and I didn’t have a problem with it. It was close to night and I was tired and a little hungry. There is no way which I will have something to eat now so I really could not make anybody go out of her way to cook for me.
“Are you hungry?” Orel asked as he lifts up the tray of food besides the vanity to show me some food that was one tray I missed.
“How?” I stared at it in shock as Orel gave a smile.
“The chieftain and his wife were about to take their dinner when they were rounded up.
“My hero.” I giggled at Orel explained just why he took the food from them. He might want to punish them for what happened to me but I was grateful for what they did. They pushed me into his arms.