Warrior's Soul (Book 3 of The Warrior Chronicles)

Chapter 36

With her disguise back in place, Leyla stepped out of the outpost. The Warriors who had escorted her into the Greenlands were now sitting with a few others around a large bonfire. Seeing their King behind her, they all stood in salute.

"At ease!" Alec said, stepping past her.

Leyla reached down to stroke Athiri who had started a low growl at the sound of his voice.

"If you'll lend me a horse, I'll be on my..." Leyla began, but there was no point in the request; Alec wasn't listening.

"Have some food brought for the Protector," he addressed Toke who rushed to his side.

"Yes, Sir!" The Warrior gave a quick nod.

"Is Captain Morten checking on the wounded?"

"Yes, Sir. He was also going to check if all the bones were collected." When one golden brow rose in question, Toke cast a quick glance in Leyla's direction: "The Captain agreed to gather the Bone Eater trophies for the Protector."

"You want them buried?" Alec asked without looking back at her.

"Yes," Leyla admitted, suddenly feeling like she had overstepped. "But I can collect them -"

"No need," Alec cut her off yet again. He wasn't looking at her either... was he angry? But his next words made that seem improbable: "Pass on my order. From now on, whenever a Bone Eater is killed the trophies on their bodies are to be collected and buried."

"Yes, Sir!" Toke replied before sending her a look that seemed to question what kind of relationship she had with Alec. It was a question Leyla couldn't have answered even if she tried.

How did one ever define a relationship? 

Leyla spent most of her childhood categorising people into those who were threats and those who were not. She didn't have family or friends, so things were simple. Then Alec came along and everything became murky. At first he was like a teacher, or maybe a real comrade... but what did those words really mean? Even if two people thought of each other in similar terms, words like friends, comrades, lovers... didn't they all mean different things to different people? And what happened when two people didn't feel the same?

Leyla saw the muscle in Alec's jaw twitch with tension and felt a tug of remorse. She didn't want to step into his world, but seeing him suffer was painful. No word she used to explain their relationship could express the truth. It just was what it was...

"I'm going to check on the wounded," Alec nodded towards the bonfire. "Let the Protector rest after eating, then pick a few men to load the weapons in the storage room onto the horses. You'll be travelling to the Protectorate at first light." Having said his piece, Alec left without a backwards glance and all Leyla could do was follow Toke to the fireside. 

The Warriors made space for her and Athiri happily; in their eyes, she was not only a good fighter, she was someone who was being treated with consideration by their King.

"I'll send someone over with food," Toke said once she was seated. The scar beneath his eye twitched as he watched her from above. It was a pity, Leyla had felt quite comfortable with the man, but he was now regarding her with suspicion. Not that she could fault him. Even if he hadn't witnessed Alec pushing her into a room, Toke was the King's personal guard; there was no way he would not have felt the Alec's foul mood.

"Thank you." Leyla said and watched the Warrior leave while scratching Athiri behind the ears. The weariness of the day was pushing down on her aching shoulders, but she couldn't let down her guard...not until she was back in the Protectorate.

Athiri shoved his big head on her lap and turned questioning eyes up at her.

"It's fine, we will return soon."

The animal scrunched his nose and snorted before lifting a giant paw to her cheek.

"Silly feline," Leyla smiled, pushing the soft foot back to the ground.

"Protector?"

Leyla looked up to find an unfamiliar Warrior holding out some dried meat and nuts in a wooden bowl. He was young and wore the badge of a fourth year recruit; probably one of the archers for the Greenland wall.

"Thank you." Taking the bowl gratefully, she was surprised when the boys soft fingers brushed against hers. With several years of training under his belt, he should have had rougher hands and calluses where he pulled the bow string. 

"My pleasure," the young man gave her a disarming smile, then pulled out a piece of thick paper from his pocket and opened it before putting it on the floor. Athiri sniffed at the raw meat, then looked from the crouching boy to her as if asking for permission.

Silly feline. Leyla leaned over his massive body to pull the paper closer to him. 

"Protector," the boy said softly. They were very close now, both leaning over Athiri's food. "We are here if you need anything."

Leyla blinked at him, her brows furrowed. The boy lifted three fingers to brush the hair away from his forehead, then gave her a last smile before standing up and walking away.

Face Changer! Raphael's people were here?

She leaned back as Athiri ate his meal, scanning the Warriors around the bonfire. Of course, didn't Raphael admit that there were Face Changers in the Protectorate? They must have  informed the Light spies within the Greenlands about her presence. We are here if you need anything... Just like their Prorex, the Face Changers were watching, but not interfering.

It made her feel... she didn't know what precisely. Bloody Diya, if she wasn't angry at Raphael she'd definitely be pleased to have capable allies around. And she was pleased...but it was also irritating.

Athiri looked up, sensing her discomfort. She gave the Hayvan a reassuring pat, then popped a nut into her mouth and chewed. This was not the moment to worry about anything. She had to stay vigilant for the next few hours. Once she was back in the Protectorate, she could think.