“We will,” I reassured him. “But first, we need to choose where we wish for our tent to be. Uttin will be taking the clan leader’s tent near the community fire. We can choose wherever we wish to settle our tent.”
It’d been a long time since I’d had the freedom to choose where I lived. As clan leader, I was expected to stay near the receiving tent and the community fire so I was available whenever my clan needed me. For the first time in many years, I could choose to be farther away. To not be constantly interrupted when I wished to spend time alone with Cedric. I’d admit, I was looking forward to it.
“Oh! That sounds exciting. Where do you think we should settle? I’m not entirely familiar with everyone. Is there someone you want as our neighbors?”
I hummed, walking amongst the spots brothers had already claimed, listening to their laughter and excitement as they set up their homes. King Zohaib mentioned in the future that we could move into more permanent housing if we wished, but for now, we were happy to live as we always had.
When I saw a few of the male bondmates gathered together, I steered Cedric in that direction. Finn had told me once they had formed their own community and shared in their experiences together as the newest members of our society. I wanted Cedric to be able to share in that experience as well.
Finn looked up when we joined them, beaming at me brightly. “Orthorr! Have you found a spot for your tent yet?”
“Not yet. Have you?”
Simon made a face, waving a hand at where Uttin’s tent was being set up. “We were thinking closer to those two. Zakai will get jealous if we’re all neighbors, and he’s stuck all by himself.”
Patrick nodded, leaning on his cane. He always required to use it whenever we moved. The travel wasn’t easy on him. “I want to be close to the cooking tent, too. It’ll make it easier if the weather is bad.” He frowned suddenly. “Does the weather get bad? I know we won’t have to worry about snow, but are there other storms we need to worry about?
“Sandstorms,” I informed him. “Some of the guards will be teaching us how to handle such things. Being that we are here permanently, it is possible we can have fires in the tents like we do in the winter for if such things occur, but we felt it was best to make that decision later.”
We ended up nearer to the clan leader’s tent, but far enough away that I felt the separation. It was both a relief and a little odd for me, and I was glad Cedric had chosen somewhere closeenough that I could be nearby if Uttin needed me. He was still young, and while I had been training him for the role for some time, he still felt out of his depth at times and needed my counsel. I was happy to provide for him.
Of course, just because I was giving up the clan leader tent didn’t mean I was giving up the bed. I wasn’t lying when I told Cedric Uttin would need to get his own. He beamed as he noticed the thick pallet waiting to be set up, eagerly helping me drag it into place and flopping on top of it once we’d chosen the best place for it.
“Ahhh… You know, I think I might have complained more if I had to sleep on anything harder than this. I’m not as young as many of the people who’d left town. I would’ve woken up sore without this bed.”
Chuckling, I crawled into bed next to him, smacking a kiss onto his lips. “I would have helped you with your soreness, kolrav. Are you feeling sore now?”
He heard the purr in my tone and a sly grin crossed his face as he threw his arms around my neck. “I’m not sure. Perhaps you should help me anyway just to be certain.”
“Anything my bondmate desires.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CEDRIC
It took some time for everyone to get settled enough to even consider a bonding ceremony for me and Orthorr. I didn’t mind the wait, we were bonded in every other way we could be and the ceremony was just some fancy words and a necklace. I could admit I was excited though. I never in my entire lifetime thought I’d get to be married. I’d spent most of my life fighting for enough freedom not to be persecuted for falling in love. That was all I ever hoped for. I’d been prepared to love in secret, to maybe share a home, but never a name with my lover. And while the barbarians didn't have surnames, once I was bonded to Orthorr, I would be Cedric of the Northern Clan instead. I figured it was the same thing, and I was amazed that I’d be able to share that with him.
But it wasn’t just that. In the barbarian clan, I could hold Orthorr’s hand and kiss him whenever I wished to. We could have a sneaky tryst while bathing as long as we remained out of sight. I could sit in his lap if I wanted, and no one would even bat an eye. Not once since I arrived did I have to fear being caughtor hurt for who I was or who I loved. I was truly free for the first time in my life and living a lifestyle beyond anything I could have hoped or dreamed of.
On the day of our bonding ceremony, I woke up practically bouncing. It wasn’t a whole day event, the ceremony itself wouldn’t be until the evening but that didn’t make me any less excited. I couldn’t sit still through Finn’s lessons, even as he talked about barbarian bonding ceremonies and what would happen to invite me fully into the clan. And I was absolutely hopeless in Amina’s language lessons. The tent where we took our lessons was next to the community fire, and thanks to the hot weather, the sides were open to allow in a breeze. I kept getting distracted watching them set up for the ceremony, and when she tried to get my attention to answer her questions, I answered her in the barbarian language instead. She eventually shooed me off with a laugh and told me I could come back after I was properly bonded and could focus for longer than a few minutes at a time. I gave her a sheepish smile but didn’t argue with her. I wasn’t taking in anything she was saying anyway.
Finn found me trying to look like I wasn’t watching what they were doing while hovering near the edge of the community fire. He snickered and dragged me away to join him and a few of the other male bondmates to keep me distracted.
“Am I not supposed to see it?”
“Normally, I’d say it’s fine, but Orthorr mentioned doing something special. He’d expected you to be in lessons but asked me to distract you when he noticed you hovering about.”
I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. I hadn’t even seen him. I’d been so thoroughly distracted, imagining sitting in those big chairs next to him, or standing on the platform promising him forever, that I hadn’t looked around at who else was nearby.
The other male bondmates were near a fire that blazed despite the heat in the air. I realized why when I saw a few pots being fired. Simon was lounging nearby, hands tucked behind his head as he spoke to an older woman working at a pottery wheel. The rest were all scattered in the area, chatting or just enjoying the quiet of the afternoon. They only looked in our direction when Finn called out, “Look who I found.”
All the greetings I received were warm and friendly, so unlike how I was received in the town I grew up in. Most were only polite because they had to be in order for me to listen to their petitions. They didn’t care about me as a person. I think a few suspected my interests but most just ignored me. The towns weren’t like the clans. There was very little community despite living near each other. Everyone was out for themselves and would see their own neighbors starve before giving up their comforts. I was so glad I found the courage to leave. Being here, with these people, was a gift I hadn’t expected. I didn’t just get Orthorr. I got a family.
Zakai, who had gotten better at speaking the common tongue in his time traveling with Simon, looked me over curiously. “Is that what you will wear to the ceremony?”
I frowned, glancing down at my clothes. “Um… I hadn’t asked. Should I have something different?”
Finn waved off my worry before it could fully form. “Don’t worry. They make the outfits for you. Briar worked on yours.” He pointed at the man nearby who had a toddler with black curly hair in his lap, making the baby’s hands clap as he sang him a little song. Two women beside him clapped and sang too, making the little one laugh. Briar was one of the men who’d gone along with Uttin on his journey to free the townspeople. He hadn’t helped much with mine, since we were waiting when they arrived, but he was friendly, and I liked seeing him happy with his little family.