The Northern Tribes

9

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When we stop outside a large, heavy wooden door, Karia knocks forcefully and I feel a presence on the other side of the door. When the door swings open, there is a beautiful girl with black flowing hair and dark crimson eyes. One side of her head is shaved and she has a few dreadlocks like many of the others. Her full red lips draw attention to her naturally pouty mouth and I am enamored for a moment. Tattoos also line her body, but they seem slightly different than the others somehow. She looks vaguely familiar and I realize I probably saw her briefly during the sorting. She speaks with Karia briefly in their native language and then when they turn to look at me I see her expression turn sour with disdain.

"So you are her then?" she says to me with a bitter tone, her accent making it almost difficult to understand her. Her tone, however, is unmistakable. Karia looks at me, gesturing to the girl.

"This is one of the other Personals, Meja," she tells me. I can tell already that she absolutely hates me. But I am not surprised. Most people in these lands have heard of my disrespect by now, and they all seem quite displeased by it.

"Hello," I say quietly. She glares at me and makes a humph sound before turning and retreating into the room, speaking softly to others I cannot see yet.

But when I follow Karia into the room shortly after, I realize who she's speaking to. It's their Reth and his blond sidekick.

When he glances at me and what I'm sure is my post-sparring disheveled appearance, he seems to have an amused air about him for a short moment. Then it is gone and he looks at Meja again, leaning back into the large chair at the head of a huge table. He nods at her, and she moves aside as Karia and I enter further, approaching him.

Karia forces me down to my knees first, following quickly after.

"Reth Valaric, may I present to you once again, Esme," she says in my language. I stare at the ground in front of me.

"Hello again, Esme," he says to me in that deep, unfittingly mature voice. I am nervous, but I fight the nerves, knowing I have to face him eventually in order to get my revenge. So I force myself to glance up at him. I am momentarily proud of my success in making eye contact with his light blue eyes when I feel Karia elbow me in the ribs.

"H-hello, Reth Valaric," I force myself to speak although I can't maintain eye contact any longer. I make sure to say his name the same way I heard Karia say it and when I sheepishly glance up again, he gives us a quick nod, his expression and aura well guarded.

Karia stands, pulling me to my feet too.

"This is Kami, my closest advisor," the Reth says to me, gesturing with his gloved right hand to the young blond standing next to him. She stares at me blankly, the first person I have met since coming here that doesn't regard me with hatred or disgust. She simply nods her greeting to me, maintaining the blank expression she wears constantly.

"H-hello," I say nervously, feeling immense pressure from her blank gaze. Thankfully, a small door in the far corner of the room swings open and a woman enters, giving the Reth a quick bow before placing food in front of him. He watches her silently.

And I when I get a good look at her, I realize she's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Her beauty surpasses Karia and even Meja. She appears to be about Karia's age, and she has dark red hair with natural highlights that cascades around her shoulders. She is one of the only people other than Kami that I've seen without any dreadlocks. Her beautiful green and gold eyes are surrounded by thick lashes and she has a dark freckle by the corner of her mouth on her creamy impeccable skin. Her tattoos match Meja's.

"Moorian Karia," she says, giving her a quick, feminine bow. Her voice is soft and alluring.

"Demda Aven," Karia greets her back, their interaction being much more formal than the one with Meja. "This is the Demda trainee, Esme," she says. "This is the only other Personal, Aven." Karia speaks to me more politely than usual, but much less politely than to everyone else in the room. Aven's enchanting eyes turn to me. I realize I am openly staring and feel my cheeks flush as I look at the ground again.

"Hello," I say softly.

"Hello, trainee Esme," she responds. When I work up the courage to glance at her again, I notice she isn't watching me with malice like I expected. She is looking at me almost kindly and I am taken aback. I feel my cheeks flush even more and avert my eyes. I definitely wasn't expecting to be the object of kindness anytime soon and I don't know how to react. Movement draws our attention as the Reth leans forward to begin eating the food he was just served.

"My Reth," Karia starts, and he looks up at her. His gaze is somehow so unnerving no matter what he is looking at.

"Would you like us to leave now that introductions have been made?" she asks.

"No," he answers, glancing back down at his plate and picking up a piece of food. "I want the trainee to stay and observe." Karia nods deeply.

"Yes, my Reth."

While Karia and I stand off to the side, the Reth glances at his two Personals.

"Sit," he tells them, before taking a bite of food. I am surprised he is still using my language, but I assume he wants me to be able to fully understand their usual protocol. Meja and Aven sit on either side of him at the table, while Kami remains standing right next to him, same as when I first saw them.

There is an uncomfortable silence that inhabits the room for long moments. Then he looks at the girls at the table with him, as if he is expecting something.

"How did the advisors react to the news?" he asks them cryptically.

"The ones I told didn't seem very pleased, my Reth," Aven responds obediently and softly. Meja nods in response. Valaric reacts with a smile creeping up from one corner of his mouth. His expression surprises me. Although it's not a pleasant smile, and I hate to admit it about my mortal enemy, he is... he is handsome when he smiles. Even for a half-smile. But then it is gone.

"Is that so?" he asks quietly, an air of amusement hanging around him as he continues to eat. The girls share a look I don't understand.

"Lunch, dinner? What's the difference? They're just being childish," Meja observes. Valaric looks at her, remaining silent as he eats.

"It's because they hate not being in control, sister, you know this," Aven says quietly. This time their Reth glances over at us quickly with his impossibly light blue eyes.

"Enough speculation," he says between bites.

"Apologies, my Reth," Aven responds meekly. Meja simply nods in response, still brooding.

Kami watches everything with her usual quiet aloofness, her incredibly dark eyes surveying the others. Silence settles in the room like heavy clouds as the Reth eats. Meja is the one to break the silence.

"Saber has been restless," Meja states. Valaric looks at her now, and then glances at Aven who nods in concurrence. He finishes his food and downs the rest of his drink and sighs a little, leaning back in the large chair again.

"He'll have to wait to go out until things calm down more." Valaric speaks softly, staring at the table, seemingly lost in thought. He idly brings his hand up to his mouth and I ponder the reason for his black glove. It seems to be significant somehow but everything here is so shrouded in mystery. I wonder what he's thinking about and what is even going on. Because although I'm supposed to be observing their daily routines, it is all lost on me. It's like looking through a window at another family, one that will forever remain strangers. I have no interest in joining this routine in the future. I only have interest in one thing. As if he can read my thoughts once more, he looks over at us again while Aven is taking his dishes away.

And he simply watches me for long moments with his bold stare and icy eyes, making me feel rather nervous. It's as if he can sense my bloodlust every time. Then he looks at Karia and nods slightly.

"That's enough for now. Leave us," he orders. And she bows to him, making sure I do as well.

"Yes, Reth Valar."

And with that, I follow her from the room, feeling only more confused than before we had entered.