We walk in silence, with nothing but the bustle of people passing us and the common sounds of the cave to break through my disappointment. When we arrive in a massive hall with mushrooms lining the outer walls, he pauses, and I step away.
Looking up, I see Teo and Estela cooking food like commoners. What a sight.
Ra'Sa breaks away from my side.
“Be well. We will likely see each other later,” he says abruptly, then disappears.
I purse my lips and find some other women already arriving at breakfast. I walk into their huddle, greeting them brightly. Some look frightfully pregnant.
My sympathies.
Abi and Paoli are chatting near the feasting tables, and I go to stand near them.
"Afternoon!" they all say brightly to me as I approach.
I smile and nod. “Hello, friends. Hope you all slept well.”
They share a look.
"You left before all of us. I was surprised. Hell, I could hardly slide out of bed after all the walking we did. Did your mating song call you?” Abi asks, her tone verging on excited.
Something clicks in my mind. That's what Ra'Sa had been talking about. A new strain of nerves slither through my ribs.
"I thought mating only happened with those stones in your chest," I say absently when I catch three of the other rescued slaves watching us across the pavilion. They whisper and narrow their eyes.
I frown at their reaction. Back in Zlosa, there had always been a general mistrust of comfort women. Hilarious to think that a woman who shares a man’s bed also shares his ideals, but the prejudice runs strong.
It surprises me to see it here, seeing as how they wouldn’t have escaped without us.
A new woman joins our conversation, and I’m happy to see not all share their sentiment.
"I heard the queen’s song started before she had her stone. And someone told me Lola started to feel poorly last night when they all rushed out of their houses," the pregnant woman says while easing herself onto a bench.“Suddenly, she was too hot, and she swooned right into the arms of a tall man.”
I twist my fingers, wondering if that's true. Ra'Sa is unattached. Will one of the other humans be mated to him?
Probably.
It’s time to let the idea of him go.
Most of the women have washed, and all of them look much better than we did while traveling. One even looks like Seranya, with her oval face and broad lips.
A wistful memory returns, and I try to let some of the pent up feelings flow away. Life is never so bad that I can’t find a way out.
I take a deep breath, straighten my shirt, and then turn to the people cooking our meal. King Teo hovers around Estela like he can’t help but keep her close. It’s somehow endearing, especially when he wraps his hands around her waist while she cuts.
I sit and watch for as long as possible, taking in all kinds of Enduares as they filter into the pavilion.
One with an elaborate, crystal-laden dress saunters around. I smile when I hear the crystals clink and chime with each step. She's regal. Proud. With toned arms and a rod-straight spine. This is the kind of woman you take drinking.
Then, another woman enters. This Enduar is different from all the rest, with a grey tone to her blue skin and strikingly silver hair. It’s pulled up tight in a bun—meaning she’s unmated—but she pulls out a set of knives for chopping and sets to work. Her quick, precise cuts are fascinating.
“I want to work with her,” Abi says, breaking away from her conversation.
I smile and nod. “You probably will soon.”
When a little troll girl comes to join them in their cooking, something bursts in my chest. I know her—she said hello to me the night before.
Rila.