The stirring in my gut makes no sense. I have no claim over this woman. Our song did not start the first time I saw her.
But then she let me hold her through her panic. She kissed me. Gods, I’d never tasted anything so sweet. I was surprised when she let me teach her how to fight and bind her wound.
She’d told me that I didn’t know how to care for humans.
I wasn't practiced in matters of the heart, but the thought of drawing her close to me and holding her seemed nice. Even if it was likely she’d reject further advances.
Not wishing to dwell any longer, I get up to hunt. It doesn’t take me long to find a rabbit. It takes even less time to kill and clean it with a conjured stone knife.
When I start walking back to the camp, I try to follow the same hidden path. I assume there are no giant warriors. But as I cross over the fence covered in foliage, I am abruptly pulled back by a large hand.
“Where did you get that?” the growling voice of one of the giant guards demands.
I look up at his towering form. His dark cloak blends in with the shade between the trees, and his dark hair is even harder to spot.
Though Melisa hadn't mentioned hunting as something to avoid, I've obviously made a mistake.
“I got it in the forest,” I swear.
He spits on the meat. “You know that hunting is against the rules. You eat what’s given to you.”
A smart remark sits at the tip of my tongue. Seeing the men today was bittersweet. These people look at death like it would be a merciful escape from life. I should keep my mouth shut, I really should, but...
I'm not good atnotvoicing my opinion.
"So I can either eat poisoned food or nothing,” I bite back.
That earns me a violent shove to my knees. The gritty snow bites into my flesh, and the knees of my pants tear. Cold dampness soaks through, stinging my cuts.
“Shirt off,” the guard demands and draws out his whip.
It's dark. I could kill him. The hunger for his blood brews under my skin, but Melisa’s face enters my mind. All the strange emotions from earlier return. If I kill him, I’ll be taken away, and then how will I be able to protect her? She would become just another person I couldn't save.
Midnight also draws near. I have one of the glamour stones in my pocket, but I worry it won’t be enough.
Slowly, I take off my shirt and angle my chest away from them so they don’t have any chance of seeing my glamoured Fuegorra.
The first lash comes, but I don’t cry out. Not even when the skin splits, and I feel blood run down my back. Painfully hot. When it’s over, he kicks his dirty boot into my back and pushes me fully into the icy ground.
“Next time, your punishment will be worse," the guard bites out.
My back aches, but I remain there on the cold, hard ground.
My Fuegorra begins to heat my chest, and I worry about what is or isn't visible with this glamour.
The guard leaves, sure to kick me in the ribs one last time.
I want to snarl at him, but instead, I wait until the Fuegorra finishes healing my back and let him walk away.
Chapter 19
MELISA
The next morning, I find the herbs I had carefully tried to replace after my bath are gone, but I’m pleased my wound isn’t infected. A thick, deep red scab has formed.
Hibsej told me to wrap it well because I would be going to Eneko tonight.
Pulling on a new dress, acid pools in the pit of my stomach.