The Hidden Orphan (The Chronicles of Mistar - Book 2)

Fourteen · · · Mell

Pent's East, Casest Village, Rol

MELL COULDN'T SLEEP when she got back to her tent in Casest Village. Pent's East was still quiet, unaware of the events that took place just outside their small, new homes. Mell still couldn't believe what happened.

She rolled back and forth, trying to sleep, only to have Dest's scarred face flash through her mind. What made it even worse were Theo's orders. He knew how the Rol government worked so he told them to go back to Pent's East and find them tomorrow as he dragged Dest and Roppy off towards the capital city, Faz.

Mell could tell Ryn wasn't pleased but he walked back with Mell and Kast, grumbling the whole way. Kast had held her tight as if the man who had emanated fear was going to attack again. Mell didn't resist. If anything, she sunk into him, breathing in the scent of his sweat and his familiarity.

Because of this, it didn't surprise Mell when she turned in her blankets and saw Kast's eyes that had been staring at the back of her head. She tried for a smile when she saw him, the small lantern in the corner casting a dark orange glow.

Mell jumped when Ryn snored on the other side of her. Kast laughed at her reaction, pulling a hand through his blankets to cover his mouth.

Silence then swept throughout the tent as if a gust of wind. Both of their smiles left their lips and Mell felt suddenly colder in the already icy night, but she pulled her blankets off her and undid her hair. She didn't care what style it was in and forgot what it was away after it was finally taken out. If was braids, she wanted new ones and started to braid small braids that stuck to her head.

When Mell glanced at Kast, she could sense him watching her.

"What?" she asked silently. "I couldn't sleep and needed something to busy my hands."

Kast sat up too, his covers falling off his slim but thick, muscled shoulders. "I guessed... but can I do that for you?"

Mell gave him a weird look. "You know how to do these braids?"

Almost looking ashamed, Kast nodded his head. "Yeah... because of my sisters. Their hair is thick and curly. As soon as it was long enough, my mother made me learn how to do hair."

Mell laughed. "Wait. Really? I'm sorry, but that's kinda funny. I never pictured you braiding someone's hair. And, you have sisters! How come you never told me?"

Kast shrugged his shoulders. "Guess I never really had a chance."

"What are their names?" Mell asked.

Kast then moved to sit behind her. "First," he started to say, "may I?" Mell knew he was referring to the braids.

Mell shrugged her shoulders just as Kast did moments before. "Sure, why not. But you'll be there all night."

Taking her hair in hand, Kast finished the first braid quickly and nicely before he answered, "I doubt that. You haven't seen my braiding skills yet."

"Yeah right," Mell said with the added roll of her eyes. "Now, about your sisters."

"Oh, yeah," Kast said as he finished another braid surprisingly fast. His hands were gentle on Mell's scalp, not pulling too hard but still producing tight, efficient braids. "One is Phether. She is the youngest, only fifteen compared to Oceena who is sixteen, though she looks and acts older. Got get me wrong, Oceena can be mature but sometimes she acts like a little child."

"Do they look like you?" Mell asked. Her skin tingled when Kast's fingers skimmed her neck to gather her hair.

By the sound of his voice, Mell knew that Kast was smirking. He laughed when he said, "Uh, yeah. I guess, though their hair is a lot more curly than mine. We all have somewhat of dirty blonde hair and any variation of blue eyes."