Book of Valors

10-Reo

    After listening to Calliope's story, a strong urge to protect her enters his heart. The sight of her tears and the fear on her face when she thought he would leave her made his heart ache.

Later that night, the duo is sitting around the campfire eating dinner with Ashra, Mr.Atiyeh, Lia, and Seni. Calliope seems to be feeling better. She's calm and she seems engrossed in Mr.Atiyeh's story.

Once everyone finished, they head to their respective wagons and tents to retire for the night. Reo and Calliope have the wagon to themselves. Calliope falls asleep pretty much immediately, leaving Reo alone with his thoughts. The closer they get to Allori, the more his anxiety grows. Ashra and her family are kind people, but maybe too kind. If there's anything he knows about the Suna, it's that they're good at betrayal. Another question that's been eating at his mind since he started this mission: Why on earth would Clementine, a normal person want The Book of Valors? There's nothing for her to gain from it, her son isn't a valor either. He decides that for now, it's best to wait and see and gets ready for bed.  He stays a respectable distance away from Calliope, facing her. He stares at her sleeping face. Her already sharp, beautiful features made even more breathtaking by the softness of sleep. He wishes that he could just reach out and touch her, to hold her close to his body. He shakes the thought from his mind. There's no way that she feels the same way. She's too amazing for a guy like him. He finally falls asleep, realizing that he's falling for her.

    They spend the next week travelling with the Atiyeh caravan. Ashra tries to be as kind to Calliope as possible even though she insists that she forgives Ashra. Reo, Calliope, and Ashra spend a majority of their time together, growing close. Reo can't speak for the rest of her family, but he has a good feeling about her. It seems Calliope does too. The two girls go off one day to do who knows what, leaving Reo alone in the wagon. He starts to whittle a petrified acacia branch  that he found while they were camping the previous night. He's interrupted by a little boy crying outside. It's Ashra's little cousin, Jarro who is no older than eight. Reo kneels to get to his level.

    "What happened?" He asks softly. Jarro sniffles, wiping his tears away.

    "I was playing and I fell and scraped by elbow." Jarro lifts up his arm to show him.

    "Wait right here." He says,  quickly grabs his satchel and a flask of water. He cleans the cut with water, then pulls out some Allori herbs that Nita gave him before he left. He picks out an herb that looks like a dainty yellow flower. Jarro stares at it in wonder.

    "I've never seen this one before."

    "It's called guio liljak. They work well to heal cuts and scrapes." He finds a mortar and pestle by the cooking supplies and grinds it up. He waves his hand over it and it responds by glowing with a muted golden light. He dabs the crushed herb lightly on Jarro's cut while mumbling an Allori healing mantra. He finishes with wrapping it tightly with gauze.

    "Thank you!" He says excitedly before running off. By another tent another Atiyeh family member, a young man stares at Reo with cold, angry eyes before practically slithering away. That small exchange weighs on Reo's conscience like a lead weight throughout the day. That night they're all sitting together at the campfire talking and laughing when Calliope visibly shudders, looking around frantically Mr.Atiyeh seems to notice. He stands abruptly and looks around. The group falls into a tense silence. The sound of horse hooves and yelling men can be heard. Mr. Atiyeh motions for Ashra to go check it out. She returns moments later, her face void of all color.

    "What is it, child?" Mr.Atiyeh asks in Suna.

    "The ju haleer." Ashra's voice trembles. Reo's stomach drops to his feet. Calliope stares at him with a horrified expression, her eyes fearful. Mr. Atiyeh grabs Ashra's arms and pulls her to him, whispering in her ear. She nods quickly, then she grabs Reo and Calliope's hands and drags them away. She brings them to their wagon. She flings open a compartment under the front seat. Calliope gives Ashra an incredulous look. "Just go!" She hisses. Calliope jumps into the compartment with Reo following. The two of them squeeze in to try to fit which results in Calliope sitting snugly in between Reo's legs curled up, laying against him, her head under his chin. Ashra closes the compartment, then locks it. In complete darkness, the two of them remain deathly silent. All that Reo can hear is Calliope's light breathing. She's trembling slightly. Reo's first instinct is to squeeze her hand in hope to calm her. She relaxes slightly leaning even more into him so now she's flush against him. Reo's heart starts to pound in realizing their proximity. The sounds of people approaching their hiding place makes Reo's breath hitch.