When I turn around, I find Teo suspiciously missing, as are many of the men who were itching to pounce.
A part of me understands their desperation. I remember what it was like to see Teo with all the hope in the world when he first met me.
Liana stands at my side. “This will not be easy. But, if no one tells you thank you, let me be the first.” She bites a piercing in her lip and says, “This is not the ideal time to save our population, but fate waits for no one.”
I nod.
“I worry about the men approaching them too quickly.”
Liana’s eyes glitter. “Do you not think their mothers raised them with honor, dignity, and patience?”
I shake my head. “Who’s to say they even know their mothers? We all do ugly things when we are pushed against the wall.”
Liana wraps her arms around my shoulders. “Queen Estela, these Enduares are not pushed against the wall. They are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Our people are not cruel—we praise women. Each one of those slaves will be a queen in her own right.”
I swallow.
She’s right. I just… don’t know how to tell them that and let them believe me. Perhaps I can’t. Perhaps that falls to the Enduares themselves.
“Do you know where Teo is?” I ask.
Liana chuckles. “He has gone to speak to the hunters.”
I bite my lip.
“Teo is very good at making his men obey.”
Chapter 26
Sodalite
TEO
Last night, I had to corral nearly every male in Enduvida and effectively send them home before dark. Tensions are running high—not in a malicious way, but the curiosity gnaws on them.
This morning, we will perform thedual'moraanfor each human who wishes to receive their Fuegorra and stay under the mountain.
I should be with my wife, but instead, Vann came to my room to escort me here. The men, it seems, wanted permission to join our trek to the cavern. That led to a hearty discussion about rules.
It’s been nearly an hour, and I’m still looking at the hunters, stone benders, and craftsmen who have congregated in front of the armory.
“I said it last night, and I’ll say it again. You won’t speak to them until they have stones in their chest. Even then, I expect you all to behave.”
“But there are so many of them. I can count at least eight houses that must be repaired if we hope to expand withso many families,” one of the hunters, Faol, says, his tail swishing thoughtfully behind him.
A feminine voice enters the conversation.
“If you think that a house will be enough to sway a woman into your bed, you might be right.”
I turn and see the raven-haired human dressed in red.
“Melisa, I do not know if it is wise for you to be here.”
She looks at me unimpressed. “I wanted to know what you were scheming about. And, believe me, I’ve handled worse than all of you.”
A part of me believes her and has the good sense to be equal parts impressed and worried. “I am trying to explain why the women should be unbothered for a while.”
She raises an eyebrow. “Do you know where they have been?”
