Book 2 Season's Change Spring's Revenge

Part 9 Paired

Avriel woke up briefly with Katana tangled in his arms. He smiled a sleepy smile, glanced at the low burning fire and went back to sleep. When he woke again, he lay there peacefully and listened to her breathe and the embers of the fire crackle with soft orange light. He needed to get up and rebuild the fire and warm their food back up, but he was in no rush. He was content to lie there with Katana held securely in his arms. She had finally stopped crying. Her breathing was even and calm and smooth once more.

Her breath was hot on his chest. It made him smile and shiver at the same time, yet he was comfortable and warm, so he did not move. He didn't stop to wonder if he should be sleeping with her in his arms. It didn't strike him as odd, disconcerting or out of place. It was just the way things were between them. She was his friend. He would be remiss to not help her through her struggles in any way that he could. He wasn't certain what else he could do to help her recover what she had lost, or even if she would ever recover it at all, but he could hold her close when she needed to be held and comforted. When he held her, it calmed her and helped her to sleep. He just happened to fall asleep while he was holding her close because it calmed and comforted him too.

Though they often fell asleep on the training room floor after hours of training, close enough to reach out and touch one another, they rarely slept in each other's arms. It was only when they were under extreme emotional duress that they would cling to each other for support like there would be no tomorrow. He thought about that one for a moment. He couldn't help where his mind wandered. If he knew tomorrow would never come, and he didn't have to face the consequences of breaking his vow to his betrothed, he knew who he would break it with. He growled inwardly and put those thoughts away before it was too late to do so.

Contact with Katana had become so commonplace that a lack of it would have made him extremely uncomfortable. It would upset him in a way he didn't understand at all and leave him confused and concerned that he had done something wrong. Katana had become a part of him; not just a significant part of his young life, but a central part of it. All his days revolved around her and the time they spent together training, eating, hunting, talking, and praying. He felt like he was a part of her. There was simply no other way he wanted to live than with her by his side. He wasn't sure anymore that he could live without her.

He wondered at the complications that would incur, especially with his parents and his betrothed. As far as he knew, no woman wanted to share a man's heart. What problems would arise when it became apparent that Katana held his completely? He knew his rights as a man in his kingdom. He could have only one wife and so he would have. But he'd known men that kept a mistress. He despised them when he was younger and knew less of love and desire. He found that he had a better understanding of that conflict. His father was not one of those men, nor would he ever be. That simply would not happen. He would keep his virtue and his vow. What kind of a man would he be if he did not do that? Who would ever trust him? No, he would not betray his vow. It was his. He chose to honor the agreement his parents had made with a neighboring kingdom. He would marry that king's only daughter, but he knew he would not love her, that he could not. He closed his eyes and shut that out of his mind. It was difficult but he had decided that was what he was going to do. He did it. That was a battle for another day. He had a much more pressing issue at hand. He could not return home until he had fulfilled his promise to Katana. That brigand had to pay for his crimes. They had found him. They actually found him. He was surprised that they had found him so soon. It was the first time they had actively searched for him and there he was. He closed his eyes tightly and thanked the Goddess.

Katana's reaction to the sight of him was horrid but Avriel felt like his reaction was much worse. Maybe it was. He saw red when his eyes fell over that man, blinding hot red and a wave of anger like one he didn't know he could possess. He wanted that man dead, he wanted to murder him; just cut him down in cold blood. He imagined gutting him and instead of red blood, he saw black blood flowing from the wound because of the rot and decay of the man's wretched soul, or the fact that he didn't have one. Avriel had never wanted vengeance more, never wished anyone any harm, yet he wanted that man dead more than he wanted to breathe. Furthermore, Avriel wanted that man dead at the end of HIS blade. Even in the darkest of times or under a circumstance where a little bit of vengeance would be warranted, he never sought it, never thought of it. He had seen people he loved mistreated; people he didn't know treated unfairly but he never wanted the person that did the wrong dead. He'd been wronged and his pride stepped on, he witnessed the cruelty of others, felt it, and never once did he experience such emotion or carry that desire. He tried to shake the feeling. It would not leave him. He wanted that man dead.

He was distracted by Katana as she stirred in his arms and mumbled something softly against his skin. He felt a familiar warm shiver run down his spine and wrapped her tighter to him to stop her from moving. "It's okay," He quietly cooed at her and smoothed her hair with his hand. "It's me. You are safe now. I have you. I will always do all that is in my power to protect you and keep you safe."

"I know, Araguah. I know." Katana turned her head and closed her eyes. She let his strength surround and comfort her as he wrapped himself around her and pulled her as close to him as he could afford. She was warm and comfortable. She knew no one would ever speak truer words to her than her Stupid Human did as he held her in his arms. He closed his eyes and let sleep take him once more. His dreams woke him a short while later.