CHAPTER ONE
HENRY
When I first heard the rumors that the barbarians weren’t all like the stories made them out to be, I was curious, but I never planned on doing much with that information. Even if they were kind, it was unlikely they’d want anything to do with me. I had my sister, my violin, and a little grove in our backyard filled with peach trees. What more could I ask for?
It was when Alice started courting that things began to change. She never said it herself, but I could tell my presence was holding her back. Her suitors didn’t want to take in a burden like me. And I couldn’t live on my own. I tried once or twice and somehow always managed to hurt myself. The burn scars on my arm were proof of that, as was the cut on my palm that still felt raised despite the years that had passed since that attempt at cooking for myself.
Alice told me I wasn’t a burden, and she wasn’t interested in any man who saw me that way, but I couldn’t help but feel like she’d do better without me.
Her most recent suitor had gotten into a screaming match with her the night prior, and I’d heard her crying in her room. I’d been considering another attempt at living alone—perhaps if I only needed her to make meals for me, the suitors would give her more of a chance—when I heard about the barbarian group visiting the town. Alice was working, she was a school teacher and wouldn’t come to check on me until lunch time, so I carefully made my way out of the house on my own, keeping my hand on the walls of the buildings as I made my way to the town square. Living in my town all my life, I’d learned how to get places on my own.
I heard the commotion first, the voices raised in outrage, while others whispered harsh questions I couldn’t quite catch over the noise. I had excellent hearing, but whoever was speaking was trying not to be overheard. I stepped closer, tipping my head as I listened, trying to figure out what was happening.
“...and you’re sure? I don’t want to be sold off to some man if I go with you,” the female voice whispered harshly.
“You won’t be,” a man answered, his words clipped but not cruel. “You’ll go to the clans to learn the language, the local laws, that kind of thing, then you can go to the capital or find a village if you prefer small town living. The clans are only a stopping point. They aren’t the final destination unless you choose for them to be.”
“A stopping point?” I murmured.
Someone jostled me, causing me to stumble, and my hands shot out to catch myself if I hit the ground. I didn’t, someone caught me before I could and righted me on my feet, a steadying hand on my shoulder as I regained my balance.
“Apologies,” I said automatically.
“For what?” the male voice from before snapped. He wasn’t the one who caught me, his voice was farther away, but heseemed to have been aware of the incident enough to comment. “That asshole shoved you.”
My lips twitched as I fought a smile at his incensed tone. He would change his tone when he realized why I was pushed aside. They all did eventually.
“He had to, I’m afraid. I couldn’t see him to move out of his way.”
Footsteps alerted me to where he stood, and I did my best to look in that direction. It didn’t matter, I couldn’t see him, but it made some people feel better if they thought I was looking at them.
“You can’t see?” he asked, his tone holding just a hint of skepticism. That was normal. According to Alice, I looked like anyone else. My hearing was good enough that I could usually pinpoint where a speaker was to look at them directly. It appeared for all intents and purposes like I was looking at them. I just couldn’t see them.
“Fever when I was a child took my sight. It never recovered. You’re the group from the barbarian clans, right?”
“That’s right. We’re offering safe passage to those who prefer same sex relations to Al Nuzem so they can live somewhere free.” He paused for a moment, and I cocked my head, listening to my surroundings. There was another speaker somewhere nearby talking to a few others about the clans, but the angry voices had settled a little. Where had they gone?
“What about you?” he finally asked. “Are you attracted to males?”
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “I have never had an opportunity to find out.”
I could feel attraction, most people didn’t realize it was more than just someone’s appearance that attracted them, but I’d never had a specific preference. My first point of attraction was the sound of someone’s voice, and I thought both female andmale voices could be pleasing. I’d never been approached for courting or a relationship before to be able to figure out if I had a preference beyond that.
The speaker seemed to consider my answer for a moment before replying. “Well, if you want to explore without risking persecution, then you might want to consider coming with us. It’s not legal here.”
I huffed, shaking my head. “I wouldn’t want to put that burden onto you. Thank you for the offer, though.”
I’d only come out here because I was curious. I hadn’t actually planned to join them. It wasn’t often that something exciting happened in our town, and because all the attention was on the visitors, I didn't have to worry about snide comments or aggression towards me for getting in the way.
A new voice next to me, I assumed the person who’d steadied me before, spoke so quietly that those around us likely wouldn’t have heard him. “D-do y-y-you n-need help to g-get h-home?”
Turning in the direction of his voice, I gave him a smile. “That’s kind of you. If you could just point me in the direction of the butcher’s shop? Once I find the wall, I can make my way home just fine.”
“It’s alright. I’ve got him,” Alice’s familiar voice interrupted, and a moment later, I felt her hand take mine. She carefully placed it on her arm, leading me away from the group, and waited until we were out of earshot before whispering, “What were you doing over there?”
“I was just curious,” I shrugged. “It’s not often that something this exciting happens in town.”
“Hey!” the voice of the first speaker called out over the crowded town square, making me pause. I heard footsteps as he jogged over, and his voice lowered when he got close. “We’ll be here for a few days. Our company is camped outside town, andwe’ll come back to pick up anyone who wants to go with us. If you change your mind, come back to the town square.”
