I could not blame her; this area was rough terrain and measuring it was not an easy task. Luckily, I took a statistics course at university, and we had to use the entire western region to calculate an average rock extraction to present our next semester’s materials to the faculty for approval.
Fortunately for Karisha, I had a good memory, and I had always been extra thorough with my studies, which was why I remembered most of the information she needed for her camp organisation and expense calculations.
Which was… a lot.
What surprised me the most, however, was that they were paying everything in solid gold rather than using local currencies. Which made sense, since, judging by what I had seen, they didn’t stay long in one place.
There was a long line of regions along the coast they had been travelling through and, from what I had seen on the reports, my guess had been correct. They were moving towards the North.
Slowly, surely, and undetected.
A knot twisted in my stomach at the thought that my hometown would be next. That, even though I knew about the upcoming invasion, there was nothing I could do to stop it.
It had become clear to me that the drake camp knew how to remain undetected, and they must have had guards and spies all around. There wasn’t a way for me to leave, move unnoticed or even send a message. The only thing I could do was to get closer to the people in command and, maybe, just maybe, try to dissuade them from their progression. Or at least, try to change their direction.
Damning another region to save the one I lived in wasn’t a better resolution, but it was the only option within my reach. If I could save the university, the market, my pupils and every mentor I ever had, the town square and the sports arena, the park above the hill where I used to study in the afternoon and the small coffee shop by the school I had started visiting every day, then I could at least do my best and try that.
“Is it just yourself that has to issue these reports or does Markos help too?” I tried to pose another innocent question, disguised as a new way to gather information.
“Markos and Dahr go to the monthly meetings and receive new orders. Captain Xadom is the one who decides territory advancement, not them,” Karisha was too experienced for her own good and saw right through me. Her hand travelled acrossthe table to find mine and she squeezed my fingers slowly, as a silent apology.
I did not let go of the pencil and withdrew, deciding to focus on the reports. Her explanation, however, sparked another question.
“I thought Markos was the tribe lord,” I lifted my gaze to find Karisha’s. “Why does Dahr have to go too?”
I still didn’t understand Dahr’s status in the camp, how he was revered by everyone, yet he acted like another soldier. He had the central tent in the camp, three or four times the size of the tribe lord’s, yet he did not seem to share in any of the responsibilities of leading.
“Grannicus is also a leader of this camp,” Karisha offered, “though his responsibilities differ greatly from Markos’.”
I was surprised that she used Dahr’s formal title, which I had heard many others utter at some point, but by the way her lips pressed together, I knew this was the only information she was willing to share.
Our relationship was weird, to say the least. One minute Karisha chatted to me as though we’d been friends since birth and the next, she turned cold and fierce and spoke to me as one does a stranger.
I couldn’t blame her, really, since I probably presented a risk to be around. Yet, she had shown me nothing but kindness. She made sure I had a new change of clothes every day, even if they consisted of the krasta and srysha everyone else but her seemed to wear. I was starting to get used to the leather-made garments and the comfort they offered, and I knew I had drawn the long end of the stick by spending most of my day in Karisha’s tent, since I could make good use of her bathtub and her lavish soaps.
I had three meals a day, drinks and a friendly woman to talk to. I had earned enough confidence from my captor to be left to my own devices and had a comfortable bed to sleep in. Asprisoner scenarios go, I wasn’t living the worst one. I was even appointed tasks and was becoming very good at them too.
“I insist we pause for the evening,” Karisha said as she started pulling the notebook away to physically stop me from writing. “It’s late! Your eyes are so droopy they’re going to fall asleep over the papers,” she argued. “You’ve been at it for over five hours,” the tribe lady said, this time softer.
“But there’s only a few hundred calculations left, I can finish them tonight,” I protested, overwhelmed with the need to complete something. To tick an achievement off my list.
I had always been the studious type, the one that spent long hours into the night caught up in a project or an idea. I liked to get lost in a task and not stop until it was completed to perfection, so I was not too happy when Karisha insisted that I stop for the evening.
“The men will be returning from training soon,” she pointed, waking me up from the trance I had let myself fall into.
Right… the last thing I wanted was for Markos to find me all cosied up with their camp reports. Karisha must have thought the same, because she looked at me apologetically. Even if I had earned her trust, I still had a lot to work on with her mate. If I ever got there at all…
“I’ll see you tomorrow?” I forced a smile and stood from the table where I had been perched over for the entire afternoon and hugged Karisha goodbye.
“Bright and early,” she grabbed me in her arms and squeezed tightly. Tighter than the day before. “I still need you to finish this so I can take all the credit,” she giggled.
I hadn’t realised how tired I was until I started walking back to the main tent. I refused to call it Dahr’s tent, especially since my mind was still struggling to settle all the feelings and emotions that surged through me at the sight of him.
Today, however, they were all being put to an abrupt stop, because as soon as I saw the freshly made bed, I abandoned myself into its embrace and forgot about everything else but the need to rest.
It had been a while since I had to put all my energy into a project, and it seemed, doing the camp’s inventory took a heavier toll on me than expected. At least that night I wouldn’t have to worry about hiding from Dahr, I thought to myself as I let sleep cover my senses.
There was a low grunt that pierced my ears, forcing me to stop. It moved around the tent with a rhythmic stance, slashing and slithering through the air. My eyes shot open to observe the tendrils of the night that still lingered in the room. Chased by that sound, which spun all around.
