The Empty Ones (Fantasy Romance)

9. Invasion

Intentions don't matter, only actions do.

It was yet another lesson I learned growing up in the priory that applies very well to every part of life and every social setting. Only people that love you care enough to consider your intentions, feelings, and circumstances. At that point, I wasn't sure anybody in my life did. Maybe Mairi, but she was trying very hard to bury all possible feelings so deep that nobody could suspect she actually had some except hate and anger.

Brooding for days after what happened, she spent more time with me but was moody and aggressive. More moody and aggressive than usual, I mean.

She still didn't like Fera being around and the poor girl also had to put up with her sour mood.

Every time I tried to talk to her about Chioma, she dismissed me very upset.

"I don't want to make up with her," hissed Mairi when we were getting water for breakfast and I touched the issues again.

"Why? Because she did that kissing thing with Nadaria and not with you?" I ask her somehow curious but also exasperated. "You see, I think it's more to that than meets the eye."

I hoped, that time she would not walk away as she usually did when the subject came up, managing to avoid me almost two blue moon circles.

"What my eyes meet, is that she did something dangerous and forbidden and she didn't even care enough to let me know about it. I thought we were in this together, me and her, but she is only doing her own thing as everyone here does."

"I am not doing my own thing," I answered genuinely.

"You are a child."

"I am only a star circle younger."

"But have the life experience and cunning of a child of five. You cannot even hold a knife and I cannot rely on you in a fight."

"I think I am cunning enough," I mumbled feeling slightly irritated. "Well then teach me to fight. You said you would. Now listen to me. You don't understand and seem to not want to understand her and consider the circumstances. A really bad thing happened to Chioma."

"Bad things happen to all of us," she said unsympathetically.

"This is different," I continued hesitantly. "I didn't know at first what it was but now I have a clearer picture. I think Sahib Aldam made her do bad and forbidden things, the ones that our gods, likely most gods, condemn, to please him the previous year when he had been here. And she kissed Nadaria because apparently these things can also be nice and she wanted to see if she can still find them nice. I think she didn't tell you because you cannot control yourself and you would just do something stupid, or she was ashamed and didn't have the courage to tell because you are very harsh sometimes and hurtful. So I need you to swear to me that you will not do anything without thinking."

While I was speaking I saw the blood drain from Mairi's face bit by bit.

"He raped her?" she asked in a faint voice.

"I think that's how ti it's called. I am not sure to what extent but yes... something in that direction."

"I'm going to kill him," she whispered almost inaudibly but full of determination.

"You know you cannot do that," I answered but she was already running, likely to Chioma.

I assumed, quite wrongly, as I would notice, that the problem would be solved now and they would make up and resume their relationship.

The only thing that happened was that Mairi and Chioma had yet another fight and Chioma stopped talking to her and me. After that, she was spending her time with Itotia, the big loner of the priory.