“Company… Forward march!”
As one, the rows of warriors began marching up the street, the stomp of their feet echoing off the surrounding buildings. Several of the serving women were flitting about in the street, tossing flower petals out of baskets, and they hastily rushed out of the way of the lines of warriors. People along the sides of the road were tossing more flowers in front of them, some of them openly weeping, others cheering their heroes on. Beside her, Henrietta grabbed Gantalla’s arm in excitement. “Don’t they look splendid,” she gushed. “So brave and strong. Oh gods, we’re blessed to have such fine men.”
Gantalla smiled, forcing herself to watch the spectacle. How much carnage and bloodshed would be wrought by their hands? And how gut-wrenchingly tragic that the humans couldn’t see any other way to deal with the gate.
The lines of warriors continued to trickle past, the horses bringing up the rear, laden with supplies and more weapons. As the last of them passed by their vantage point, people swarmed into the road behind them, following them on their slow march out of the city.
But as Gantalla’s gaze drifted across the crowd, her eyes landed on one particular man, lingering at the edge of the square, who looked far from happy about the event. And then he spotted her, and his scowl turned into an outright glare. Nalyx’s expression was so fierce Gantalla felt like she’d just been scalded by a fire.
It shouldn’t have come as a surprise. She knew exactly why he was so angry with her. But even knowing what the outcome was going to be, she’d been left with little choice – even if she did feel a touch of guilt about what she’d done that morning.
Perhaps if she could just explain it to him? She started crossing the street, but Nalyx saw her coming, and he swiftly turned and walked in the opposite direction. “Nalyx! Wait!” Weaving her way through the crowd of people between them slowed her down considerably, and when she finally emerged on the other side, she couldn’t see Nalyx anywhere. Then she spotted him, his back just disappearing on the far side of the town square, heading for the barracks. “Nalyx!” she shouted, but he ignored her. Not wanting to lose him, she ran after him, holding up the bottom of her long skirt so that she didn’t trip over it. She caught up to him halfway across the courtyard that led to the warriors’ rooms. “Nalyx, please, wait. I just wanted to-”
He spun around to face her, fury written all over his face. “You selfish, conniving little bitch,” he snarled at her.
“I know you’re angry, but-”
“You went behind my back and told Captain Leefe that I wasn’t fit for battle,” he said, pointing an accusing finger at her. “Do you know what you’ve done? You may as well have just cut my heart out and served it to me on a plate.”
He stalked off again, heading for his room. “Please, can we talk about this?” she asked, hurrying after him.
“No.” He shoved open the door to his room and then slammed it shut, right in Gantalla’s face.
“Nalyx!”
“Fuck off,” came the angry reply from behind the door, and Gantalla considered just walking away. Perhaps she would have more luck if she let him calm down first? But leaving things on such a sour note might just let him simmer in his own anger, and if he started avoiding her, she’d never get a chance to explain. It was a risk either way, but she preferred the idea of tackling the issue head on than trying to sweep it under the rug.
Mind made up, she braced herself for another angry outburst, then she stepped forward and opened the door, feeling once more grateful that they didn’t have locks on them.
“Would you at least just listen?” she snapped, mustering all the authority she could manage.
“You want me to listen?” he said derisively. “To a woman who’s just stabbed me in the back?”
“To a woman who’s probably just saved your life. Even if you’re too blind to see it.”
For a split second, he actually looked surprised. “I don’t think any woman in this town has ever dared to speak to me that way.”
“Well, you always did say you liked the fact that I wasn’t like the other women. Or does that only apply when I’m doing you a favour?” If he was going to give her attitude, she had no problem giving it right back again.
Nalyx folded his arms. But she saw the faintest hint of uncertainty cross his face. “Fine,” he said, though he still sounded none too happy about it. “Explain.”
“I was trying to do the right thing,” Gantalla said. “I didn’t like telling Captain Leefe to pull you out of the battle. Truly, I understand how you feel, being forced to give up the thing that means the most to you. Even if it’s only temporary.” She’d been forced to give up far too much on her journey to the gate, and to put up with conditions that had made her shudder in disgust – sleeping in vermin-infested barns, eating scraps from other people’s plates.
“But it istemporary,” she went on. “Isn’t it better to wait another week than to go into battle and get yourself killed for the sake of your own pride?”
“Pride?” He levelled a cold glare at her. “You’ve got a nerve, talking about pride. Because you know what else I found out this morning? Hm? Word is, you’re going to marry Hallix.”
“Oh, gods,” Gantalla muttered. She’d all but forgotten about that, with the chaos of the gate opening. “Actually, that’s not-”
“You know, I actually believed you were different for a while there. You spouted all that nonsense about not wanting expensive gifts and just wanting the pleasure of a job well done. You didn’t ask for jewels, you play all innocent about not wanting a husband. And then you throw yourself at the first willing man who can give you a bit of status and a comfortable living. Am I just not rich enough for you, is that it? Does Hallix have a big new house? What else did he promise you? Jewels? The finest clothes money can buy? A life of fucking luxury with every shiny bauble your heart could desire? You wouldn’t let me lay so much as a finger on you, but you’re ready to spread your legs and let that fucking oaf rut upon you? You’re a damn hypocrite, Gantalla.”
“I don’t want to marry Hallix,” she snapped at him. If only the infuriating man would actually stop and listen!
“No? Then why are half the warriors crowing about a wedding at the start of the next festival? You’ve got half the serving women in a tizzy as well, all of them clamouring for status and promising favours to the men the instant they get back to town. And now you want to pretend you’re sympathetic about cutting off my balls and preventing me from doing the one thing that would let me gain back any ground against that arrogant bastard. Well, save your pretty words. I’ve got no reason to believe a single thing you say.”
“It’s not about money. Hallix didn’t even ask me himself. Captain Leefe more or lessorderedme to marry him.”
“And I bet that was such a hardship, wasn’t it? When he’s already started showering you with gifts?” He was staring at her chest, and Gantalla looked down. And her heart skipped a beat as she realised her obsidian necklace was showing. Damn it all to hell. She’d always been so careful to keep it hidden beneath her clothes, but it must have slipped out while she was running after him.
