Thicker than Water

Chapter Eight

The warmth of the afternoon sun washed over us as we crossed a clear patch without trees.  We'd been riding about four hours already and my body was beginning to feel it.  Although I knew how to ride my body wasn't used to it at all.  My lower back and inner things burned from the saddle.  I had taken the wrap off my hand quite a while and instead used it to cover the blister on my ankle.  The parts of the saddle I didn't sit on earlier were scalding hot so I couldn't adjust my position anymore.

Selka trudged through the tall grass slowly and calmly.  She must've been as worn out as I was.  She would toss her hair out of her eyes when she got the chance, but otherwise it hung in her face unless one of us moved it.  We were not far behind my brother's horse, who from what I could tell was only walking slow for our sake.  My brother didn't rush me to go his pace, but instead went to mine.

"Hey, Big Brother," I called to him.  He glanced back to me and I nudged Selka forward to walk beside them.  His face showed faint signs of exhaustion in his eyes and expression.  Whatever I was originally going to say went out the window, so instead I said, "Hey, are you tired?"

His green eyes watched me for a moment and got greener as we came under the cover of the trees again.  "I'll be fine," he told me after a moment, "but let's stop and take a break for an hour or two."  He pulled his horse to a stop and I copied him.  "We'll rest here for a while."

I got off my horse and looked at the trees around me.  They weren't as dense as the ones I was taken through last night and allowed much more light to leak in.  The sweet scent of cedar filled my nostrils and nearly smothered me as I collapsed by a tree's base.

My brother tied his horse to a nearby tree then turned to me.  "Aren't you going to tie her up," he said, pointing to Selka.  In response to him, she laid down on her side defiantly.  "Guess not," he murmured.  I retained my laughter so as not to embarrass him, but I did smile.

He came to stand in front of me, blocking some of the sun that was heading through.  I squinted up at him.  He looked older than the last time I saw him.  He wasn't lean and lanky like when he had left, but now was broad shouldered with good muscle tonnage.  His face even looked different.  "Can I help you," I said to him.

He got to my level and sat on the ground next to me.  "I was going to ask how everything was at home," he said and stared off into the trees.  "How's father exactly?"

"He's more lively, but not well," I told him.  "He usually stays in bed looking at photo albums and documents from the capital.  Ivan tends to him a lot of the time, so I usually don't get to see him."

My brother leaned back and looked at me.  "What about the others?  Your mom and Luke?"

"Last I saw Luke he was giving me these."  I pointed to my hand then nose.  "He usually stays out partying and drinking.  My mother...."  I trailed off in thought for a moment, then said, "When I actually think about it, I don't know what she does during the day."

He smiled lightly, but it quickly faded.  He reached over and touched my cheek softly, stroking the bruise under my eye.  "You're poor face," he mumbled.  I could feel heat settling into my face, but he didn't say a word about it.  "I'm sorry I've put you in so much danger."

"Nothing could be done about that," I told him and took his hand off my face.  "I'm glad you actually asked for my help.  Besides, I -"

"Hey, Rogue," he interrupted.

My body froze and I stared at him.  "Yeah?"

"Do you love Victor?"

I was silent for a moment as I thought about it, then I said, "Are you that concerned?"