“See!” she exclaimed. “What was that?”
His smirk widened. “I’m not sure you’ve earned it.”
"Will you read it to me instead?”
Nadir sighed softly, considering her with that mesmerizing gaze. “All the things in the world you could ask for... And you just want me to read fantastical stories with you?" he mocked.
"The stories are always there," Nyssa said, tucking her hair back. "Beautiful and constant. Holding truth and pain and desire with every turn of the page. I can hear a story one day and know that that story will not have changed when I go back to it. If there is one thing in my life I will always be able to control, it is that. I do not know a greater comfort."
"Says the one that didn't believe words were supposed to be so beautiful," he mocked, referring to words she'd said the night they spent together.
"I have never heard words be as beautiful as those you read that night," she admitted. "And my statement still stands: I think you bring that book to help you swoon women into your arms."
"You're the one asking me to read more books just like it to you."
"A small comfort and escape from the current reality around us," she told him.
Nadir watched her a moment, his smile soft, and then he whispered, "Hello, Princess."
It was the first time he'd said it since her arrival, and the two words made her heart warm.
"Hello, Commander," she whispered back.
Their words.
He huffed, his smile widening. It was all she could do to keep her composure as he wrapped his arm around the back of the bench behind her. She turned sideways in the seat, pulled her knees into her chest, and Nadir cleared his throat in his usual comical way as he opened up the book to the first page.
He read her stories well into the night, first in the old language, followed by the translation of some if she asked for it. She sat beside him, moving her body to tuck into his when she started tiring, switching to him lying in her lap when his arms became heavy, to finally her lying between his legs, her back against his torso as she held the book and he read... Until her eyes drooped, and she fell asleep to the sound of his words and the crash of the waves.
CHAPTER TWELVE
NADIR WASFAST.
Nyssa couldn’t pull her eyes away.
She didn’t know how the bantering male she’d found herself consumed with at one time was also this person. This…warrior… His blades whipped quickly in his hands. He moved and pushed the person back he was fighting, whirling with each advance, and finally, he swept his opponent off their feet.
The water splashed around them where they parried. It was a whirlwind of silver and iron and waves. She couldn’t help staring at every flex of his torso, every jolt and urge of his arms. His balance didn’t falter even when a wave crashed into his shins, and his opponent stumbled.
The other male fell on his back, and the first smile of the day rose on Nadir’s lips. He helped his friend up from the ground before the next wave could crash over him, clapping his shoulder and laughing about something. Nadir’s head shook, and then he began moving his arms as though showing his friend what he’d done wrong. The male nodded in appreciation to Nadir, and Nadir gave him an encouraging handshake before calling out to someone else. The new person ran forward. Nadir clapped his person on the shoulder, explained something to them, and then he grinned between them before moving on and leaving the pair to parry together.
Nyssa hugged her arms around her chest, feeling herself biting the insides of her cheeks as she observed how gracious and doting the Commander was on his people.
But Nadir caught her stare, and he paused at the edge of the water, gaze wandering so predatorily through her that her weight shifted, and she couldn't help the feeling of her lips daring to rise at the corners. Nadir whirled his swords once before the right corner of his mouth quirked upwards just a flinch… And then he gave her a quick wink as he turned on his heel and went to help another couple.
For most of the afternoon, Nyssa walked up and down the dunes and watched the legions train. Lex chose to train with them, insisting that if Nyssa wasn't ready to join, she would practice in her place. Nyssa knew it was only to keep her mind occupied. Lex had hardly shown any emotion since everything happened, but Nyssa had seen the exhausted sadness behind her eyes.
Nyssa only left the beach mid-afternoon to stroll through the middle of the village where the Honest people were bustling with goods. But... there was an uncomfortableness that she couldn't put her finger on when she did.
Women huddled together with whispers upon her approach, and a few men paused to watch her. At first, she was too interested in the quality and plethora of their goods to truly notice, but once she did, she felt her very existence was being scrutinized. Hushed voices. Tightened jaws. Hollow stares.
Her feet led her back out to the jetty once she'd become so overwhelmed with the looks that she could not stand it any longer. She noticed Nadir training once more on logs out over the ocean. His quick feet moved in unison with the rolling timber, bamboo stick knocking with his opponent. Every now and then, the two would waiver, nearly lose their balance, but Nadir never did. And when his friend fell into the ocean, Nadir laughed heartily, pointing at the male as he rose to the surface. He tried to swat at him, but Nadir jumped into the sea on his own.
Nyssa couldn't help her quiet chuckle as she watched the two grown males fight in the water. She heard the pair laughing from where she stood. Nadir caught her eyes then, and she gave him a small smile before starting out onto the rocky jetty to meet him.
Nadir pulled himself up out of the water at the end of it, hardly bothering to do anything more to dry himself than squeeze the excess water out of his pulled-back hair.
“Come to join?” he asked as they reached each other.
