Sorceress

Chapter 34:

I wake up half an hour later, as a man comes through into the roundhouse. I recognize him as one of the men who were drinking in a group earlier, he looks about nineteen. He has mussed golden hair, and I can't help noticing the muscular yet lean shape of his body through his shirt. He notices me, and is completely shocked. I shut my eyes, making it look as though I am asleep. "Who are you?" He insists, slightly drunk, 

"Aine," I reply, he nods, slightly slurring his words, 

"I am Call, I'll just sleep over here," he collapses down onto the ground, and falls asleep straight away. I follow suit, exhaustion completely consuming me. 

I am woken up at dawn, sunlight coming straight through the door, and I realize why Elif and his wife sleep behind a curtain now. Not able to get back to sleep, I get up, leave the roundhouse, and make my way through the sleeping village. Subconsciously I arrive at  the entrance of the stone wall that encases the houses, their cattle and people. The two guards are still there, and quietly as I can, without them noticing, I climb up the ladder I notice placed against the stone wall and pull myself up onto the top of the wall, looking out over the rising sun behind the hills. 

"You discovered my ladder," I jump, as a sober Call calls out to me from about ten meters to my left. He is sitting perched on the wall like myself. Call gets up, and walks along the wall to me, and places himself down next to me. In the morning light I see pale stubble lining his jaw. "My father, Elif, woke me up last night, and told me everything," Call places a cautious arm around my shoulders, "I am sorry- even though that can barely touch what you have been through," I lean into him, letting him comfort me. "It's strange; we are about to fight against this enemy that we have never met, and that we have no war with." He mutters to himself, "Such blind hate," Call looks at me, "Are you scared about facing them again?" I sigh, 

"No- I think I was, but it is time to tell them that this is not their land," Call laughs, his chuckles glancing across the stone,

"I know that I am scared, but what is wrong with being scared?" I smile, looking at the beacon about twenty meters out of the village, still blazing strong,

"Will all the tribes come?" Call deliberates about this,

"I should imagine that they will, but who knows, the last time that we had a meeting like this was five hundred years ago. But that was before what used to be the Southern- Northern tribe moved South, we need them to come as well, but I think that they will be the only ones not to turn up," Call smiles, "But we have the faerie sorceress, don't we," he laughs, I stare at him, shocked,

"Is that what they are calling me?" He nods, still cracking up at my bemused expression. I look behind me, as I see the village begin to stir to life, "We should go," I say,

"Just one second," Call smiles, tilts my head, and kisses me.