Winter Land: The Tiger Brothers

Chapter 2 - Toklo

The man crossed his legs under him, his eyes fixed on the woman who lay on the bed across the room, her long-lashed eyelids closed. After a while, he sighed and downed water from a large wineskin.

He could hear the faint sound of his brother’s voice as he discussed with the umialik (whale boat captain), most likely sending out orders for another whale hunt, since all the bones of the whale the hunters had brought in a few days ago had been exhausted in building new dwellings.

He pulled his fur-lined parka tighter against his body and diverted his attention to the fire blazing on the other side of the room, close to where the woman lay. The small fireplace was the only part of the room that was well illuminated, and the rest of the room was cast with shadows.

“Where am I?”

He slowly shifted his gaze to the woman who lay on the bed, covered with a thick animal skin blanket.

“You’re awake.” The man smiled.

He stood up abruptly and strode to where she lay on the bed, settling down on a small stool beside her.

The woman closed her eyes. She opened them again. The man watched her closely. “You were unconscious when you were found. You were injured too. And I reckon any more of that cold would have turned you into a pillar of ice.”

The woman tried to move her leg and winced.

“Are you alright?” He asked. He reached out to help her, but the woman recoiled, muttering a silent "I am alright, thank you."
He sighed and placed his hands on his  knees, animal skin stretched taut against his huge joints. “The healer dressed your wound, but it will still sting for a while.”

The woman nodded and suddenly smiled, almost uncertainly. “Thank you for saving me.”

“Not me.” The man replied, smiling back. “My brother.”

Her thick eyebrows raised in surprise. “Your brother? Well, you look very much alike.”

“We were birthed on the same day.”

“Oh. You’re twins.” She nodded. The fire crackled close to them, and the man could see her relax in the warmth it offered.

“Are you famished? Would you want something to eat?”

"I do not think so..." But her stomach grumbled at that very moment, a loud embarrassing sound. Red color seeped into her otherwise white face. "I suppose I wouldn’t mind some food.”

The man smiled again, a lop-sided grin, and stood up and made to walk away. He turned back for a second. “My name is Toklo.”

The princess nodded and smiled.

“I'm...Aurora.”

***.          ***.          ***.      

Aurora watched Toklo’s large retreating back as she relaxed into the bed. As much as she was not comfortable in this strange place, she couldn't help the feeling of gratitude that overwhelmed her when she remembered the last thing she had seen before losing consciousness- a white tiger.

The beast had been huge, and had gouged the life out of someone before her very eyes. She surely would have been next, The Princess thought sourly, if it were not for this man- or rather, his twin.

It was ironic that the tiger also saved her, in a sense, else, by now, she would have been in captivity once again, on the way back to the outlaws’ den.

Several houghts flooded her mind, and caused her head to throb harder. She exhaled slowly, letting her head hang limp against the pillow.

The roughly rectangular piece of animal skin covering the entrance into the room whipped open, interrupting her thoughts, and Toklo walked in holding a chunk of meat in one hand and a wineskin in the other.

Aurora’s sat up laboriously.

The small fire flickered in the corner and Toklo’s huge frame cast a dark shadow on the ground.

Toklo smiled and walked closer. “Don’t worry too much; the meat is very tender.”

“Alright then.” Aurora collected the hunk of meat and the wineskin from Toklo. She shifted in the bed and sat up properly. “Well…” she began, her face flushed.

Toklo shook his head, looking amused. “Don’t mind me.”

Aurora smiled and began tearing at the meat. The fibers of the meat split easily and it tasted spicy. It was warm, she realized, and it went down well in her throat.

“If I might ask, where were you headed to when my brother found you?”

Aurora debated whether to tell him or not to. She eventually decided to answer, since he was her saviour...for the meantime. She observed him as she answered, her gaze travelling down his thick braided locks of hair. “I was being pursued.”

“You were being pursued?” Toklo suddenly looked serious and wary.

“It’s a long story.” Aurora sighed.

“Would you mind telling me about it?”

Aurora put the wineskin carefully down by her side. There was a lump in her throat that was definitely not the meat, as she spoke. “There was a...war in my kingdom- a hostile takeover by my traitorous uncle.”

Saying it all in one sentence did not do justice to her feelings, and she felt a sudden strange urge to start ranting. But she suppressed the urge. She did not have the strength for it, anyhow.

Toklo seemed bothered by what she said but Aurora decided to continue speaking.

“My father sent me away with Adrian- my personal guard- and friend- to protect me. But I was captured by some men whom, I suppose work, for my uncle. But I managed to escape after weeks of captivity, and I ran for my life…” Aurora's grip tightened on the drumstick she held, her knuckles going a sickening white. “…thank you for saving me, else, they would have captured me again.”

“It was not I who saved you.”

“Thank you, all the same.” Aurora looked away. “Adrian remains in my uncle's hands. I do not like to think of what would happen to him.”