The General and the Princess

Chapter 35 || Kiva

Kiva was quiet for the remainder of that day, mulling over Tal's words. There was something suspicious about him, but she also recognized his wisdom. She tried to ignore him and enjoy the solitude of their trip, but she could not help but find new meaning in his observatory glances. As the day of hard riding drew to a close, they found themselves in between border garrisons and forced to sleep again in the open around a campfire.

As a matter of habit, Raul and Riyel gathered wood for their fire while Trysti began to pull together their rations, which were growing more meager by the mile. With joy, Kiva anticipated a hunting trip the next morning to gather fresh meat. While the miles had been good for Kiva, she could tell they were wearing on her dear friend. Trysti was strong and bore it without complaining, but her frame had grown haggard and her eyes looked tired.

Meanwhile, Tal was scribbling furiously in a small notebook; curious, Kiva wandered next to him and sat down, blatantly spying on his jotted notes, "What do you write in there?"

Tal looked up sharply, so caught in his own world that he had not even noticed her arrival, "Oh. Here, look."

He opened the pages, showing first a map of the world, more detailed than Kiva had ever seen. The names of the countries and people charted there were unknown to her. He also included a map of all of the garrisons they had visited with detailed accounts of everything he had noticed there. He included lists of people, names she had never heard, along with notes and lines connecting them. The next set of pages included madly jotted notes entitled only "ideas." Kiva pointed questioningly to the page, raising an eyebrow.

"These are what could make the Lavri Resistance free."

Although curiosity tempted her, Kiva stood up, unwilling to be complicit in the many secrets before she was certain of her decision. She joined Riyel and Raul who were starting the campfire, throwing her hide down in front of it to gather its warmth. Trysti passed out cornbread and smoked rabbit from a few days before. Raul threw out the canvas he slept on and Trysti joined him.

Oh, for this beautiful peace to last forever.

As the fire crackled and they gathered around, Tal distanced himself, turning his back to the group and jotting frantically. They had grown used to his detachment and hardly noticed his distance. Riyel sat close to Kiva, hooking an arm around her knee and pulling her close. Kiva felt her face burn a little at the open affection, the first that had been seen by the rest of their companions, but she couldn't help but lace her arm under his and lean against him, resting her head on his shoulder. 

He was so near, but she trusted him. The fear still prickled under her skin, but she could subdue it. I've finally gained power over it...or maybe he has. Either way, she could be content leaning against him. Trysti remarked the touch with a smile at Kiva. Things are good.

Gently touching Raul's leg and eliciting a longing gaze, Trysti asked, "How did you come to the Resistance, Raul? We all have a story. What's yours?"

Raul looked at Trysti and seemed unable to look away for a moment, finally turning to pick frayed leather from his boot. His low grumble of a voice caught Kiva's attention; she had hardly heard the man say more than a few sentences, and nary a word about himself.

"I'm old and I sometimes grow weary. I have seen far too much of this world to smile easily. It's been a long road to here, and it will be a long road on. I like to think it's the right road, and I am more sure now..." He wandered off, saying nothing, but his voice had cast a spell over his audience, and they were enthralled, "I was born on a ship in the middle of the ocean betwixt Brenlyn and Sari and raised aboard a great ship. My mother was a scruple-less wild woman who never intended to have me, but who stayed long enough to raise me and my brothers. Once we were old enough to defend ourselves, she disappeared at port and was never seen nor heard from again. My father was the captain of a fleet of ships, a pirate who went by the name of Igor. He haunted the oceans like a black shadow, stealing souls from every vessel sent. He plundered and ravaged and murdered. My brothers and I were employed as sailors from the moment we could walk.