Song of Dangerous Power

Chapter 11

Leiyra

I wake up sometime around nightfall. A headache beats behind my temples and makes me sit up, groaning. Confused for a moment, I look around until it dawns on me that I'm in a tent. With a sigh, I let my hand graze for the candle that should normally be next to me on the stand. My fingers graze the wax candle and then I feel for the candle holder-looking for the tab to hold it. Only then do I realize that I have nothing to light it with so I put the candle back and lie down again. Staring at the ceiling.

After a few moments of lying still, I decide to venture outside. I grab the blanket to wrap around my shoulders and then sweep my hair behind my ears.

I pull the flap away and am greeted by an unknown man sitting on a stool next to the tent. He looks up at me.

"Hi," I mutter. I can't see his features clearly but notice that this is quite a young man. His hair brown and thick and I can still just make out bright green eyes. I notice that he is in uniform. The dragon on his armor shines in the glow of the great fire burning further down the path.

"Lady." He nods politely but says nothing else. His eyes go to the fire in the distance where several figures sit animatedly around it. They are talking, laughing, and eating by the looks of it. My stomach makes the loudest sound I have ever heard. With startled eyes, I look at the man who is now looking at me with raised eyebrows. I smile sheepishly at him.

I want to open my mouth to say something but then see a familiar figure strolling toward me. The reddish-brown hair can't be missed, the same goes for his predatory grin.

"Join us, Leigh, you must be hungry." He beckons me with his outstretched hand. I cast a glance at the man on the stool but he looks uninterested in front of him.

Hesitantly, I place my hand in Gylbarde's. His warm fingers close around mine and then he drags me along to the large fire. Large tree stumps are arranged in a circle around the fire.

"Almost all the evenings, all the soldiers and the Guard come together to eat, dance, laugh or just sit quietly in thought. It depends on the day we've had." He bestows a lopsided smile that makes me smile back hesitantly.

He pulls me along and sits with me on one of the stumps. The fire crackles pleasantly and sends a pleasant shiver down my spine. I lean a little closer, desperate to catch more of the blissful warmth. I slide my feet, which are still bare forward to warm up. With one hand, I hold the blanket close under my chin and try to ignore the squinting, curious glances.

"Here." Suddenly my boots thud down in front of me with a plunk. I look up at Gylbarde in surprise. "The Commander told me to give you boots since you've been walking around here barefoot the whole time." I nod thankfully and immediately put on the familiar boots and let out a pleasant sigh.

After a few seconds of staring at the fire, I find my voice again. "So everyone is here around the fire?" I ask as I glance over the many faces, some clearly visible and others shrouded in shadows.

"Not everyone," Gylbarde admits and, with a thank you accepts two wooden bowls from a passing woman. She gives him a flirtatious smile and then moves on. He holds one out to me and immediately my stomach begins to growl which elicits a laugh from him. "There are some troops on a trip, and when they get back another group is leaving. On the plus side, it's better this way, then it's not so populated all at once."

I poke my spoon into the stew and bring a big bite to my mouth before asking the next question.

"And on the other side?" He looks at me obliquely and first brings a spoon to his mouth, chews slowly, and then swallows.

"Going on a trip is not a fun event."

I want to ask why but am interrupted by upbeat music that begins to play. Someone plays the flute while another beats a drum, a corded instrument joins in and leaves me speechless. The music is uplifting and after a while, several people stand around dancing. I watch in amazement.