Cha'rai was thrilled to be back among her own people again. After Aeronwyn, Bron and Keri had left for the Western Kingdom, Cha'rai had hopped on the Thugard's Luck. Barik had supplies to deliver to the Sessailaine colony and one very unhappy prisoner to drop off, so Cha'rai convinced him to let her hitchhike. Truthfully she had been a little anxious to see Bha'mak again as well. The colony had existed before Aeronwyn rescued the Skyfolk children but once she had, Biort had ordered that the large island be used to house the Skyfolk as well.
Arth, Thugard's mate who had captained the trader vessel to deliver the children safely to the island, had been tasked with overseeing the building of a village. The Sessailaine people's generosity was all that gave Cha'rai's people any hope of rebuilding their fragile race. She wasn't sure what effect, good or bad, Moiril's decision to have her father placed on the island would be. Barik would insure that Arth was aware of Moiril's restrictions, so Sor-Arhan would either help or starve. Cha'rai just hoped he didn't cause any problems.
Bha'mak was showing her their progress. While many of the children were still young, Cha'rai and Bha'mal were of mating age. She hoped, as the only male of her species near her own age, that he would show some kind of interest but so far the tour had been all business.
"You can see that we have the longhouses where we eat and sleep. Arth asked for and got a couple volunteers from among the unmarried Sessailaine to stay as kind of house parents until we have more of our people that are older. Over there," Bha'mak pointed at a wooden square structure, "is where we have our teaching time. Sadly, we know so little of our own history but we learn wisdom from the Sessailaine."
Bha'mak smiled as the two of them turned a corner. Cha'rai saw an open arena where most of the children were handing wooden swords as a Sessailaine was teaching them to fight. She could see targets at the far end for archery practice but what made her smile and nod was the ropes. Skyfolk, even without their wings, were faster and more agile than even the best Sessailaine sailor. Teaching them how to climb and fight from a height was a first step in restoring her people's skills as warriors.
Bha'mak noticed Cha'rai's smile. "I thought you would like that. Last trip Barik was telling us stories of how you flew about the rigging of the Luck so the children insisted on learning how to climb!"
As Bha'mak spoke, a few of the children noticed Cha'rai's arrival. Screaming out her name they dropped their swords and ran towards her. Within seconds, Cha'rai was surrounded by over two hundred excited Skyfolk children. Laughing and crying at the same time, she tried to touch the hands or the heads of each one in return for the love they were showing her.
A rough voice behind them spoke up. "Did I give you permission to leave the practice field?" The voice was harsh but as Cha'rai looked up she saw the Sessailaine warrior smile and wink at her. His name was Afi and he was a Sessailaine sailor who was retired from the sea . The children responded immediately by acknowledging their lack of discipline then, running and laughing with promises to see Cha'rai later, they returned to the field. Afi looked stern as he followed them and resumed the practice.
"His name suits him. It means grandfather and that is what he is to our people. The children love him! He also doubles as one of those who teach us history by telling stories of the wars and battles of the past." Bha'mak explained.
"Wars and battles? I suppose, from a Sessailaine point of view that mostly what history is. I wonder how our involvement with these brave peoples will shape our future?" Cha'rai mused.
Heading back to one of the longhouses, they went inside so Bha'mak could show Cha'rai where she would be sleeping. There was a chair in the room so he sat there andasked about Cha'rai's travels, Aeronwyn, Bron and the other mages. Cha'rai sat on the bed and began speaking. When she told him the details of the how they crashed the trader into a warship, how they then almost were caught alone only to be met by the Nereus and the ensuing engagement, his eyes were wide. When she described how she was tossed from the riggings of one ship only to catch herself in the riggings of the other, Bha'mak gasped.
"We were told some of this, but you make it sound so terrifying! Weren't you scared?" Bha'mak asked.
"Scared? Actually, no. Before the battles, yes, I was. Once the battle begins you don't have time to be scared. You are too busy fighting and making sure the other guys lose to be sacred." Cha'rai said.
Cha'rai looked at Bha'mak. He was staring at the floor and frowning. She stood up, frustrated. "Bha'mak, what is it about me that you don't like?"
"Don't like? What? What makes you think I don't like you?" Bha'mak looked confused.
"You won't look me in the eye. You stare at the ground. You frown. Oh, I don't know...what do you think?" Cha'rai said sarcastically.
"May I be honest?" Bha'mak asked.
"I expect nothing less from you, ever. I would never want even a half-truth. Yes, please." Her tone was blunt. Cha'rai thought to herself, Here it comes. This is where he says he can't stand to be around me.
Bha'mak hesitated, then looked her straight in the eyes. "You terrify me. It was you, not anyone else, that led our people to safety. You go on adventures and casually talk about battles and killing like a Sessailaine warrior. You, Cha'rai are our leader and we all know it. Hate you? Not at all. I, we, all admire you so much. We were all raised as slaves yet you are showing us that we can be free, not just from the whips, but from the mindset of slavery. Every one of those children want to be you. Hell, I want to be you! I just know that I can't. I don't have what you have."
Cha'rai was stunned. She looked at Bha'mak for a few minutes then, to his surprise, she was crying.
"Cha'rai, I didn't mean to make you cry. What did I do wrong?" Bha'mak was completely confused.
"Wrong?" she said between sobs, "Nothing! It's just that I never expected to be seen the way you described! Bha'mak, you have honored me with your words more than the praise of Aeronwyn herself could have done. It's just that...." The words trailed off as Cha'rai turned away from Bha'mak.
He didn't know what to do. She was still sobbing, so he stood up clumsily reached out his hand and put it on her shoulder. She turned back when he did and he found himself inches away from her face. When he looked into her eyes, he thought, Oh Gods! Why didn't I notice? She's in love with me! Gently he kissed her full mouth with his own.
He was surprised when she returned the kiss passionately but he didn't hesitate. Feelings he knew were there but that he had buried flooded through him as he poured himself into that kiss. Then, to his delight and astonishment, she started tearing off his clothes. He helped her with her own and within a few seconds they were entangled in passion on her bed. When they joined together, hesitantly at first but then with greater intensity, her cries of joy were matched by his own. Bha'mak felt the moment coming and as he poured himself into her the two young Skyfolk became lost in the flesh and the scents of their passion.
