Keeley's POV
"He makes me nervous," I admitted reluctantly, not wishing to displease Dawson so soon after getting a warm bottom from him yesterday, and again this morning. I didn't like it though, so I dropped my head when he allowed it, and mumbled out my responses.
My fingers fiddled with one another, and I lowered my voice as I heard the rest of the procession pull up around us. "He's a bit...crude."
"Towards you?" he inserted determinedly, and I nodded. "Go on."
I managed half a shrug. "That's all, I guess. I mean, he's not kind, and I think he enjoys making people uncomfortable. But," I tacked on quickly, "he has known me awhile, he may be willing to discuss with us if I help—"
"Now, Keeley," Dawson scolded. "You were just punished yesterday for interfering; you're already talking about doing it again?"
"N-no, sir... Sorry..."
With a sigh, Dawson looked around, just as the remainder of his soldiers were saddled and ready to follow. When he spotted Grayson, he called him over silently, only a jerk of his head beckoning him over.
"Are we running into some trouble already?" he asked halfheartedly as his horse stomped to a stop next to ours.
"Keeley's informed me that our next camp is run by the kind of Berkelium that won't be likely to reason with us," Dawson told Grayson. "Perhaps we should save this one for last."
"Whatever you think is best," Grayson nodded with a shrug. "There's no reason for the camp to get any larger or more prepared within a few weeks, right?"
"That's what I'm thinking. Unless word gets around that we're in these hills, then perhaps they'll prepare better."
"He already knows," I carefully interrupted, obtaining the attention of both men. "Everyone knows, except maybe the ones further down hill, but I'm sure they know too."
"I suppose we haven't been very sneaky about it," Grayson muttered dryly to Dawson.
"You've had your Ruthenium troops in Berkelium territory for two years, of course everyone knows you're here..." I added, hiding a smile. It earned me a playfully scolding look from Dawson.
"You don't have to remind me how long we've been here," he teasingly chastised.
"Longest two years of my life," Grayson sighed dramatically. Dawson fluffed out the map one more time, bringing our attention back to the greens and blues of the Berkelium hills sketched out from a birds-eye view. I watched them study the map and wondered how they got here, specifically them, Grayson and Dawson, how any of them got here. Did they volunteer?
"This is the second closest," Dawson pointed to another camp, directly east of us. "There's a river between us and them though."
"Is it a deep river, Keeley?" Grayson asked me, and I studied the map for a moment.
"That's Lottie's camp," I said excitedly. "Well, it's not her camp, but she lives there. She was one of my dearest friends! I haven't seen her since Liam took me in. Can we go there next?"
"Keeley," Dawson addressed me carefully, his tone even. "We're not going under the best circumstances, it might not be the friend reunion you're imagining."
"Lottie's so sweet, she would listen to me, I'm sure of it."
"But what of her clan leader?"
"Angus was in charge when I was a child, but he was so old, his son has probably taken over by now. They keep to themselves, they don't really like all the politics of our countries' division."
YOU ARE READING
Unconditional Dominance
Romance"What do you say when I tell you to do something?" Breathless and whimpering, she answered: "Yes, Sir..." "You're not going to forget again, are you?" "No, Sir," her voice was soft, relaxed even. I was watching her actively slip further into a su...
