The Beast Within Us

Chapter 9: ↭ Yara

↭ Yara let herself into the room with the tray balanced on her arm at the hewan's soft answer. Her dark boots clacked lightly against the wooden floor as she crossed the room to set the tray on the neatly made bed in the room. The wardeness sat on the edge of the mattress beside the metal tray and handed the wooden bowl to Chala delicately.

The pair ate in silence for some time and Yara's gaze remained on her meal as she sat in thought. The silent lulling of her chewing helped her thoughts roll freely through her own headspace and she subconsciously picked through her meal by layers as Chala's steel gaze watched her. The woman had a habit of picking at her food, often her grazing was compared to a bird as she picked through most of her meals by the different types of flavors. The way she ate contributed to her slim form and she was known for her habit of not finishing her meals often.

Chala had completed her bowl hastily and with obvious enthusiasm. Yara frowned as she looked over at the huntress and then back at her own half-eaten bowl. Had they not been feeding the poor woman? Lady Wheiler should have known that none of her charges would willingly feed the hewan without direct order to do so, and Yara made a mental note to ensure the girl was properly fed from there on out. She held out her bowl to the girl, offering her serving to Chala as if the gesture was between friends.

"You never told me what you wanted from me, Warden...or perhaps you do not know?"

Yara let the question settle between them before attempting to answer. She was not in a rush to push Chala into her confidence and she did not want to pressure the hewan into feigning acceptance of her new role. She picked gingerly at her fingernails, rubbing small sores into the soft skin around her cuticle as she tried to imagine an answer that didn't sound daft.

"In truth, I would rather have nothing with, from or to do with you. Like I have said, however, we both have found ourselves in an uncomfortable position. If I was able to free you from our binding, you have my word I would, but that is not an option. You were a gift from the king, the man I am betrothed to. You are not from Audor, but you must see how dangerous it could be for me to free you. "

Yara had found her footing again and began tracing a small path around the room with her hesitant steps. The sound of her footsteps resonated clearly with her words and served as a heartbeat for the tone of the conversation, which currently beat steadily in sync with Yara's calm and formal tone.

"While I did not ask for you, I do not deny you are beneficial to me on this journey. Hewani are a strong and powerful race, and their shifting abilities make them capable protectors. Our country is on the brink of war and you could prove yourself useful by my side. Perhaps that is what I need from you."

Yara's pacing quickened slightly as her thoughts came rolling through the air between them, and although she was entirely unaware of her venting, she kept her eyes trained on Chala's expression.

"I am betrothed to King Serell, which means I will be his wife. He has long asked to nudge the process of our courtship along and perhaps that can be persuaded. I am an honorable woman and honorable people do not own slaves. Seeing as I cannot change my courtship I can hopefully at least persuade him to allow me to free you after you have protected me diligently through the war and I agree to marry him sooner in exchange." Yara's thoughts concluded in harmony with her footsteps and she turned to face Chala again, her expression questioning the rationality of her statement. ↭