When Given a Lemon

Part 35

Others had teased me for some of our traditions before but usually Bill and Kipol, and earlier Mirth, were there to refute their words. I felt a little silly watching him laugh at my home customs, even knowing how it sounded to someone else. Lemon, for their part, puffed out their chest and pointed at Cayeol.

“It’s not funny. It’s their way of celebrating the springtime! Other places celebrate fish or bears emerging from their dens and those all are just different versions of the same story.” Cayeol paid no mind though, waving his hands as if to help dissipate his laughter.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh. I’m not laughing at you or the custom. It’s just that a neighbor owned the world’s meanest goat growing up that always tried to eat anyone and anything that got too close and the thought of them bringing the spring is just too funny to imagine!” He started to chuckle again, covering his mouth but I found myself laughing too.

“I think we’ve done enough with the stretching,” Lemon cut in, rising up from their haunches and pulling me to my feet. “Let’s have a try with sparring then?”

‡

I limp back to my tent covered in welts and bruises. That was nothing like any sparring match I have ever had before. Trying to take turns sparring with Lemon and Cayeol when both were vying for full attention turned horridly against me. And here I thought it would help them make a more positive connection!

The only positive connection either of them seemed to make was when hitting my body because I had the terrible misfortune of being in between them!

We must have made quite the scene, even several of the other soldiers out training had stopped to watch, our display gathering a bit of a crowd. By the end, many were openly guffawing at the disaster our training match had become!

I was just getting over being sore from all the stings and bites I had suffered on behalf of the buzzballs, and now I'm right back where I had started! Covered in swollen, aching, marks. When I'd finally had enough and threw my wooden weapon at both of them –well, it bounced off one and hit the other– I stormed off without waiting for either of them to follow. I'm hoping they didn't. I would be happy to not see either of them for a while. They could be killing each other right now for all I care!

Back near my tent Obert and Denyel cross paths with me. I was hoping no one would see me so I could sneak by and go hide in my tent, but my luck is obviously shit these days. They both gaze up at me, eyebrows lifted. I must look like a complete mess!

“Please don't ask.” I get out before they have a chance to. Obert snaps his mouth closed, about to do just that. Denyel cocks his head to the side, nodding at the distance where I can hear someone walking up behind me. It's Cayeol. He stops when he is next to them, shaking his head in response to their questioning gazes. His eyes reach me for a second then quickly flit away. For a glimmer of a second I was worried I had pissed him off, but those are not angry eyes. If anything, he looks confused.

Whatever about that sparring session he finds confusing, I don't get to know because he merely sighs, shrugs, then disappears into his own tent. I'm starting to believe that Lemon's animosity is one sided. If only they would say what had transpired between them to make things this uncomfortable so that I could find a way to fix it or at least avoid the issue so I don't get stuck in the middle of it again.

I cough and it hurts my ribs.

I silently wonder if the front lines are not a better option compared with here.

That night Obert forced me to let him check all of my minor cuts and bruises from today before I can retire to my tent, focusing mostly on my back where he sighed in relief after helping me out of my shirt.