“He doesn’t like it when I stay out too late. Even when I’m with Sarah and Talia, he chastises me.”
“Is that the only reason why you stay out late? Because you’re hanging out with Sarah and Talia?” I’d noticed that the three of them had become fast friends, but I doubted that was the only thing keeping her out late at night.
“Well no...sometimes I’m hanging out with Favalor,” Vianna admitted.
“And Zander doesn’t like that,” I presumed.
“No, he hates Favalor.”
“Why does he hate him?”
I’d grown to like the young sirret hunter. He’d protected Tabby from Dameron and even went as far as to sneak her into our cabin to reunite the baby with Gabby when we had been held hostage.
“He says anyone who remained loyal to Dameron should be banished. Zander doesn’t care that Favalor only stayed so he could be a spy. He says there was no honor in what Favalor did, but I don’t see it that way. He was just trying to help by passing information along.”
“I see,” I nodded. “Well, if you think getting some space between you and your brother will help, you can take my corner of the cabin. I’m moving out.”
Vianna’s face lit up in a bright smile. “Really?”
“Really,” I confirmed. “Just give Zander some time. I’m sure he’ll come around eventually.”
“I don’t think so,” Vianna shook her head ruefully. “Zander can be pretty stubborn, but maybe you can talk to him,” the young Sirret woman’s eyes lit up.
“Me? Why me?”
“Because he likes you, A LOT. He talks about you all the time at home.”
“He does?” That was interesting...
“Oh yeah, he’s been asking me if his clothes look aright or if he should brush his hair for a third time every day, he even had me braid it this morning hoping it might catch your attention.”
The idea of Zander stressing over his appearance made me blush.
“I, uh,” my throat had suddenly gone very dry. I cleared it and tried again. “If the topic of Favalor comes up, I’ll put in a good word for him.”
“Thank you, Fatima! You have no idea what that means to me!” Vianna embraced me in a tight hug.
“You’re welcome,” I squeezed her back.
“Go tell your brother, you’re moving in, and I’ll gather my stuff,” I instructed.
“Will do! Thanks again, Fatima!” Vianna shouted over her shoulder as she hurried home.
I gathered my things into a pack and walked down the path to the first abandoned cabin. These houses had been occupied by the hunters who were banished. The younger children had been tasked with periodically dusting the empty houses and making sure none of them needed any repairs.
The first house I came across was nice. It was smaller than the one I’d shared with the other women, but it was cozy. There was a fireplace, a tripod with a cauldron-like pot for cooking, and an outhouse that was easily accessed through the back door, and a curtain separating the bedroom from the rest of the house.
“What do you think, little one?” I asked aloud as I patted my belly. It was still mostly flat, but I liked the idea of my baby learning my voice even if I was just talking to myself.
I set my pack down and unrolled the mound of blankets I used as my bed. I knew I should probably keep exploring. I really should check out the other houses too, but I was just too damn tired.
“This is good, right?” I asked as I laid down. “We don’t need to be picky. Besides, this house is the closest one to Taylor.”
Visions of play dates and shared meals flooded through my mind. I knew she wouldn’t be able to help me right away since she’d have an young baby of her own, but eventually we would be able to hang out and parent our children together.
I thought about what Vianna had said too.He likes you A LOT. The idea of asking for his help was tempting, and there was evidence that suggested he’d be more than willing to do so, but I still couldn’t bring myself to ask. What if I became dependent on him and he suddenly bailed on me and the baby? I imagined being stuck in the middle of winter or a bad drought, sitting in this house hungry and scared as I watched Zander arrive back in the village with a fresh kill for someone else. At the end of the day he had no real reason to help me. Sure, he had a crush, but that could change. If life had taught me anything, it was that I could only rely on myself.
Zander and I weren’t mated, there was no biological connection between us, and I wasn’t convinced that love would be enough. No, I had me, and that’s all I needed.
