Sun's Heart

Chapter 10.2 - Relics of the Past

Gale hardly blinked as she stared through the tent flaps. Behind them, Dain and Wil were talking about something too low for her to hear. Wil must have woken up a short while ago, or she would have heard of it earlier.

She'd been standing at the entrance long enough for her legs to warrant shifting her weight. She took another deep breath, filling her lungs until they ached, and then let it out slowly. Her racing pulse slowed with the exhalation, but rose again when she inhaled.

Come on. It's just a quick conversation. In and out, and you won't have to do it again.

Part of her quailed, but she firmly strangled it before it could rise into panic. You had no problem talking with Haburnah. What happened to that?

Well. Haburnah didn't make me nervous.

Another lungful of air. A quick word, then I'm out—

The tent flap rustled. Her heart burst into action like a rabbit's. Her entire upper body stiffened in rebellion against her feet, which took a step back from the boy peering at her with eyebrows raised. "Well?" Dain said, holding the flaps open for her. "You were standing out there so long I thought you couldn't figure out how the ties work."

She flushed, but ducked into the pleasantly cooled interior. Wil was scooping a pale, pulpy handful of the tribes' staple food item, ruus, into his mouth from a beaten metal bowl. He looked up when she sat down across from him. He looked to be recovering from the healing well, if his appetite was any sign. Dain stretched out on her other side and frowned at his nails. "Green-Man and I were just talking about you."

Wil grimaced at him, setting down his empty bowl. "It'll never stick," he muttered.

"Well, considering Selias made a big deal out of it, it most certainly will."

Gale focused on her hands. "Green-Man?"

Wil sighed. "The tribe children decided to call me Yanto. Green-Man. Apparently they've never seen green eyes before. And Selias is saying that's my name, now, because of some obscure tribal traditions, and I have no choice in the matter because I've officially been adopted. Dain, of course, thinks it's funny."

She blinked. It had to be the most words she'd ever heard him say at once.

"No, I think it's hysterical." Dain sniffed his bowl of ruus. "Gah, this smells like old armor."

Gale frowned. "What does old armor smell like?"

His glower shut her mouth. "I haven't forgiven you for your little trick out there. If I end up with welts across my back, I will get revenge."

Wil arched a brow. "It was a harmless prank."

But Dain suddenly snapped, "The last time someone pulled a 'harmless prank' on me, I nearly died."

"It's a game they play," Gale said. Inwardly, she cringed when he flicked hard eyes at her. "I-I'm sorry."

"Tell me why you did it."

There was no room for argument in his tone. "Because I..." A part of her she hated more than anything wanted to cry, shrink in, and avoid his gaze. She curled a lip, sighed, and looked him straight in the eye. "I don't like how you make fun of me."

His face twisted. She braced herself. Wil didn't move except to wipe his fingers on a rag. Dain said nothing. She looked at his face again, and blinked. It wasn't anger in his face, but absolute confusion.

"...Make fun of you?"

"Yes. All the time."

"No, that's not—You did all that because of some verbal jabs?"

"Yes."

He blinked. "Well, remind me not to do anything more serious to you, or I may have to go into hiding. Perhaps wear a disguise. Change my name."

"It wasn't that bad," Wil said, as quiet as usual.

"It was awful!"

"Dain, tell me honestly: have you done anything that can be considered physical labor in your entire life?"

"What do you think?"

"I think you're being dramatic."

"What aren't you understanding about any of this? It hurt. I will have bruises. And then those will hurt."

"Then maybe you should learn to apologize sometimes."

Dain thinned his lips and glared at an unblinking Wil. Gale looked between them. It was like seeing a nobleman forced to beg on the streets. Pitiful, yes, but also...cathartic.

June would be proud of her for remembering that word.

Over the buzz of her own thoughts, she heard Dain mumble, "Well, it's not like she has a sense of humor anyway." Wil sighed and, without changing expression, chucked his empty bowl at Dain. Gale's eyes widened. "Alright, fine! Gods, you're like a nagging mother. Gale, they're just jokes. Let's call a truce. Agreed?"

She squinted. It was almost an apology. "A truce?"

"Yeah." The ghost of a smirk. "I get to be as charming as always, and you get to walk away knowing that I don't mean any of it."

"But that means nothing will have changed except that I know you're not serious."

"Exactly. Sounds like a win-win to me."

She fidgeted. It wasn't quite meeting in the middle. At least I got to see him faceplant. A short and sudden laugh escaped her as she recalled the way his legs had gone up behind him as his face skidded in the sand.

"Alright," she nodded, still grinning.

Dain let out a breath. "Good! Because if it wasn't, I fully planned on setting my new army on you until you were defeated."

"The kids," Wil said when she opened her mouth to ask what he meant.

"Anyway, what did you need in the first place?"

"Oh!" She straightened. "Haburnah showed me someth—"

Above the tents on the other side of the rocks, someone shouted, the words indistinct. Wil sat up. "A warning?"

More cries rose. People hurrying past their tent, worried whispers and sharp words.

Haburnah darted into the tent. Her chest hitched and her eyes were grim.

Dain half-stood with mouth open and a worried expression, but the woman said, "Shadowbeasts. Many of them."

***

Thanks for reading.

If you liked it, please consider voting so that others can find this story.