Chapter 25

Chapter

Twenty-Five

GOVEK

G ovek stirred, waking with a deep breath that tasted crisp on the back of his tongue. The scent of meat roasting flooded his nose.

And he opened his eyes to find Miranda hovering over him.

He blinked, eyes and head still blurry. "Were you watching me sleep?"

"Yeah," she admitted casually, stroking her hand over his forehead. Gentle fingers he hopelessly leaned into. He closed his eyes again and wished the night wasn't over yet so she could come back to bed. Into his arms. "Good morning."

It certainly was. She braced her warmth and weight on his chest as she leaned in to kiss him. The oddity of feeling completely at peace while first rousing was not lost on him. He relished it as he pulled her in closer, drank her up. Stroked his hand down the back of her head .

"How late is it?" he asked, not bothering to open his eyes and look out the window. "Fuck, we're going to be late."

"Probably." She slid off the bed and disappointment flooded him. "I made a breakfast sandwich for you so you can eat while we walk."

"Why didn't you wake me?" His eyes fixed to her curves, which were accentuated by her gown as she walked back toward the doorway. She'd told him she wanted to wear pants, and blast, he probably wasn't going to survive if her legs were on display all the time.

He'd find a way to make her some as soon as possible.

"You were basically dead , Govek. The only reason I knew you weren't was the snoring. There was no waking you." She shot him a smile that eased the rebuke before she exited the room and went back into the kitchen.

He had his feet on the floor before he realized this woman had been sitting next to him, watching him, likely caressing him, and he did not wake once. Her presence was such a comfort that he felt not a hint of anxiety from it. In fact, he'd likely slept deeper with her nearby, surrounded by her protection. Her acceptance.

Her love.

He gathered his things quickly, pulled on clothes, and washed his face before joining Miranda in the kitchen. The food she'd made smelled incredible. Eggs and bacon and onions. He didn't even mind that the bread was almost as hard as stone.

"Thank you," he said, throat a little thick as the gorgeous woman he loved handed him food she'd made specifically with him in mind while allowing him to sleep in. This was unlike anything he'd ever imagined, even in his wildest yearnings.

These moments weren't passionate or intense like he'd always imagined life with a woman to be. Yerina had painted that image. He'd never known anything else.

But true fulfillment came from this. The quiet moments. The transitions in the day. The gentle touches and mild teasing. The bone-deep knowledge that through even the most mundane tasks, he would have her at his side.

"Are you ready?" She lifted the pack. He quickly took it from her and slung it over his shoulder. She didn't fight him on it, just took his hand and guided him out into the crisp, icy morning. He shut the door, ensuring the new lock he'd made fit snug.

"Do you think Karthoc will show?" she asked carefully, her tension obvious by her tight grip on his hand.

He turned away from the door and focused on her. "I am not sure. But if he does, I will make certain he does not try to interrogate you about Earth."

She pursed her lips, thinking. The women had already vowed not to bring up Earth unless Miranda did first. He wished he could protect her from this agony. He was well equipped to fight for her physical safety, but had no experience combating things he could not see, things that lived inside her mind.

He had his own turmoil to deal with. His own pains and truths coming to light. They'd kept him up through the night and caused him to sleep late.

But in the crisp dawn, he was still confident in the decision he'd formed.

"I do not want to become chief of Rove Wood. "

She looked up at him, expression easy, holding no judgment.

He took another breath. "Even if my isolation was built upon lies." Fuck, was it all lies? Had his father truly been the cause of all this? Govek shook his head. "Even if that were the case, I still would not want this role. Being a leader... it is not something I have ever wanted to do. Controlling others is not how I want to spend my life."

She nodded slowly, gripped his hand tight. "Using control is certainly how your father has led Rove Wood Clan, but it is not the only way to lead."

His brow furrowed, confusion lighting him.

Her smile softened. She reached up to stroke the hair on his forehead and he relished the simple touch. "I have no doubt, Govek, that you would find the right way to lead your people, should you choose to do it. But I also think that, after everything, you are in no way obligated to give up the life you want because of another's demands."

She stroked her hand down his arm, taking his hand in hers. "I want you to know that no matter what you choose, I will support you. All I ask is that whatever decision you come to with Karthoc, you both take the children of Rove Wood Clan into consideration."

His whole body quaked, and he leaned down to press his forehead to hers. "I will, Miranda. Thank you."

"I love you," she said, and he kissed her, praising the Fades at the same time.

Blast, they really didn't despise him after all.

They walked on for a short span, the light breeze rustled the trees, the dawn brightened into blue sky and dazzling autumn color before Miranda broke the silence.

"Who would be named chief if both you and Ergoth died?" She flinched, let him go and looked around. "Knock on wood. Where's some wood?"

He watched, completely flummoxed as she went and rapped her fingers against a tree trunk. "What are you doing?"

"I mentioned your death, so I'm warding off the bad luck. The knocking scares off evil energy."

He paused for a moment before saying slowly, "I know that. I'm well aware. Did one of the women tell you to do that?"

"No." She came back to his side. "No, it's an Earth thing."

"That is a Faeda thing," he insisted. "Sometimes knocking can dispel magic. Especially negative magic. I thought you said you did not have magic on Earth?"

"We don't. But lots of people believed in energies. Both good and bad." She paused, taking a breath to search his face. "I guess you have it here too, huh? The same superstition. That's really weird. Maybe the Fades really did create the humans on Earth."

She said it so casually, but it struck him right through the gut.

"You should finish up your food." She tapped his half-forgotten sandwich, and he dutifully continued eating, relishing each bite, even as he considered what other parts of Faeda culture had been passed on to Miranda's world. What other connections would they share as their relationship progressed?

He could not wait to find out.

"Mostly, we did the knocking thing with the little kids." Her eyes unfocused as she fell into her memories. "Some of them, a lot of them really, had a hard time when they made small mistakes. Like tripping or spilling juice or coloring outside the lines. It got them distracted cause almost nothing was created from wood on Earth anymore. By the time they found their wooden thing and knocked on it, they'd forgotten about their mess-up entirely."

She had so many wonderfully sweet stories and he longed for the day she could share them without tears flooding her beautiful eyes.

It would take time. Mourning. She was in the thick of it and he knew of at least something small that might aid her.

"Would you like to speak a bard for them?" he asked. "For the children you lost."

"What?" She tipped her head, blinking tears out of her eyes.

"In my culture, we speak final words to those who depart. The rituals are long but hold great power, and once done, the Fades call their soul to come and sleep with them. They live in peace and harmony while they wait for waking and rebirth."

"That's beautiful," she said, as she hugged his arm again. She looked back to the tree canopy. "But the children I watched weren't even from here."

"I do not think the Fades would discriminate. I truly believe they made your people too, Miranda. The humans of Earth were also their creations, so of course they would allow the babies you loved to join them here on Faeda." He met her wide eyes. "In a way, that would make them closer to you as well. You could sleep easy knowing their presence was around you."

Her eyes flooded then, tears dripping down her face. "Oh Govek, that's so... Okay. Yeah. I would really like that." She paused in her stride to embrace him around his stomach, squeezing him tight. He relished the feel of her clinging to him. "Thank you, Govek. So much."

"Of course, Miranda." He hid his beaming smile against the top of her head, lest she take his deep pleasure the wrong way. But blast, this felt so good. Caring for her. Soothing her. Teaching her of his culture and using it to help bring her peace. It made him feel as if she truly belonged on Faeda with him, rather than simply being planted here by the Fades. Like her world and his were becoming one.

They continued on in easy silence, weaving through the trees toward the spring he and Iytier had agreed to have this competition at. Govek remembered the last time he was here with Iytier. Tavggol had only just left to try to do trade with Clairton. Govek's tension had been high, his thoughts muddled and unfocused on the task at hand.

And Iytier had thought they were competing.

The truth of it still made mirth bubble up in his chest and he chuckled over the ridiculousness of it.

"What is funny?"

Karthoc startled them both as he appeared out of the thick woods on their left. He'd been tromping through the forest rather than taking a path.

The warlord's expression wasn't overly tense. His eyes lingered on Miranda. "Woman, I wish to apologize to you."

Miranda clutched Govek's hand in surprise, and the sensation mirrored what was in Govek's own chest. His cousin was rarely moved to remorse. Karthoc was oft more like a boulder barreling down a steep slope, crushing everything in its path and not looking back.

But the warlord lowered his head this time. "My arguments with the seer should not have been allowed to leave our camp. I regret bringing them out so openly, and that you felt discomfort enough to leave the hall."

Miranda glanced up at Govek, lips pursed. "Are you more upset about us being uncomfortable or that we all now know that Evythiken is fighting for you all to stay in the Rove Woods?"

Govek tensed as Karthoc's expression darkened, but the male lowered his head again with a deep sigh that vibrated through the surrounding trees. "Both. Fuck, the blasted orcs won't leave me alone now."

"And for good reason."

Evythiken made his way out of the tree line. Govek's guts twisted. Had the seer not done enough already?

Karthoc growled low. "I thought I told you to stay at the camp."

"And I thought I told you I would not," Evythiken said smoothly. He looked far less disheveled than he had the day before. He inclined his head toward Miranda. "Good morning to you both. I come to exchange pleasantries with Miranda."

"You come to muddy up the only reprieve I have in this whole mess," Karthoc muttered. "Your pleasantries are schemes."

"I think we can both agree that the scheming belongs to Ergoth."

Karthoc snorted, but met Govek's eye. "Yes, and I want to assure you we'll be hosting one of those judgments of Rove's soon, Govek. Perhaps tomorrow."

A shiver threatened to roll down Govek's spine. He could never have imagined that his father would ever be on the hard end of a judgment.

"Rest assured," Karthoc said, clearly noting Govek's discomfort. "You needn't worry about it. You don't even need to show up if you don't want to. Plenty of males have already come to me with complaints. Waves of them. Fucking forests worth. I've got Sythcol and Brovdir compiling them as best they can."

" Sythcol ?" Govek said with a shake of his head. The lead conjurer had always followed Ergoth's commands. He even invented the clearing and the binding under Ergoth's orders. "Are you certain he's trustworthy in this?"

"He is," Evythiken confirmed, rubbing at his temple. "He feels badly used. He is... satisfyingly vindictive."

"Satisfyingly vindictive?" Miranda repeated, brows raised.

"Miranda, I wanted to tell you I stripped your memories from the children's minds."

Govek could feel her sag with relief even as she tightened her grip on his arm. "Really? You can do that?"

Evythiken chuckled. "Of course, I can. Especially when it is willed by the Fades. Which it certainly was. This message is not for our young to experience, but for everyone else."

"Everyone else?" Miranda asked and Govek's guts began to twist up.

Fuck, wasn't she done with this? Why did she keep pressing?

"I have much to impart on you, but later. Let's keep today light while we still can."

"Agreed." Karthoc clapped his hands together. "I want to hear nothing of mergers or clans or Fades or bloody prophesies until after the winner of this fishing competition has bragged to the entire clan. Now, let's get going. The weather won't keep. "

Miranda curled her fingers around Govek's arm as they set out again. He relished it even as his mind worked for a way to tell the seer to fuck off and leave them in peace.

All he wanted was Miranda to heal. Was that really such a grand request?

Before long the pool came into view. A deep span of blue water surrounded by mossy rocks and a few fallen trees. It was part of the Spring of the Fades and thus often had many fish. Most of it was only waist deep, and the bottom was rocky, but slick.

Iytier and Estoc were already there with their mates and sons. Setting up blankets for their women to sit upon. Estoc's four older boys were taking turns jumping from a boulder twice their height onto the sandy ground while Roenia bounced their youngest, who was fussy.

He walked Miranda over. Savili spoke first, drawing the attention of the males. "Hello, Miranda, good morning. I'm so glad we got another pleasant day for this."

Govek could feel the tension leave Miranda in a rush as they approached the women. "Yeah, it would be pretty miserable out here in the rain. Viravia couldn't make it?"

"She wanted to rest, but she will join us for the cooking later," Savili said.

"She's still got half a moon left before the babe comes, poor thing." Roenia patted her little one's bum. She gave Govek a smile that stunned him. Drew him abruptly into the realization that being greeted warmly by the women of Rove Wood was an oddity he would have to get used to. "Govek, Warlord, Seer, good morning."

"Govek, what kind of spear are you using?" Estoc asked gruffly, giving up on smoothing out the blanket as Roenia plunked down unhindered .

Govek's brow furrowed as Iytier's attention turned to him, obviously eager.

"Good morning to you too, Estoc." Karthoc's tone was laced with amusement, and Estoc wouldn't even look at him. "You look very chipper, as always."

Estoc turned away purposefully. "Vaiteg! What are you chewing? Spit it out now. "

Karthoc grinned, clearly amused by Estoc's distaste, as the male stormed off toward his son, who instantly dashed into the woods away from his father. Estoc cursed and broke into a sprint after him.

Before he could ask, however, Iytier cut in. "What spear did you bring to use, Govek?"

Govek snorted. "I'll just make one here."

"Are you serious?" Iytier muttered, eyes narrowed.

"Yes." Govek shrugged. He'd made so many of the blasted things in his life he could do it one handed and blindfolded. "What of it?"

"Oh, he's gonna make Estoc so mad," Roenia said to Miranda, though loudly enough that the males could hear. "My mate spent hours this morning going over each of his fishing spears, trying to choose the best one. I had to talk him out of bringing them all. Now Govek leaves it up to chance? Ha!"

Govek grinned.

"That's what he's always done. Is that not the norm?" Miranda settled down on the blanket where Roenia patted.

"No," Savili laughed, adjusting her baby so she could sit down next to Miranda. "It is not normal."

Govek's chest lightened as Miranda's mirth lit up the forest. Her smile was radiant, and her relaxed posture soaked into every one of Govek's muscles .

"There you are, Jehvlek!" Iytier bellowed as the male and his family appeared out of the woods. "We thought you'd decided you weren't good enough to face us."

Jehvlek met Iytier's taunt with a lewd gesture, but both males were grinning.

"Be good!" Aralie called as her twins hurried off to join Estoc's boys. Govek's eyes followed the young ones, soaking up their chatter, basking in their delight.

They were so alive. So vibrant. He realized then why Miranda enjoyed children so much.

"Evythiken? Are you well?" Aralie called and Govek glanced behind him to see the seer clutching his head.

"Fine," the male grated before he walked off into the woods.

"Should we help him?" Miranda looked at Govek.

"He'll be fine," Karthoc muttered, clearly undaunted. "This happens all fucking day. Nothing we can do to help anyway."

Miranda looked stricken, but before Govek could think of words to ease her worry, Karthoc demanded, "Let's get this going. Govek, hurry up and make your spear."

"What?" Estoc said, as he appeared out of the forest carrying his son over his shoulder like the boy was a rucksack of dried beans. His voice almost shrill as he followed. "You're going to make your spear? Right now?"

Govek snorted his amusement and walked over to snap a branch off the nearest birch without much thought.

Iytier burst with laughter and met Govek's eye. "This is why I like you, Govek."

Estoc cursed and barely noticed his son squirmed from his grasp and went to go roughhouse with the other boys .

"Language." Roenia snapped at her male and he went mum.

Govek felt his muscles relaxing as a chuckle rolled through him. He caught Miranda's eye, and she beamed at him, her pleasure so radiant that it brought his own higher.

This was from her. He was here , in these woods, with these males, feeling like this because of her.

Govek stalked over, bent down, and plastered a kiss to her lips. Kissed her with every breath of passion he had in him. Left her panting and flustered.

When he straightened from his smiling, blushing mate, Estoc stomped over to his own woman. He glowered at Govek before kissing Roenia.

Govek, unsure of how to respond to that, looked at Miranda and found her shaking from withheld laughter. He did not understand until Estoc stood back up and said. "Trying to show me up in everything, aren't you, Govek?"

Fades, was everything a competition to this male? Govek had to admit that he wasn't the least put off.

Miranda gave his hand a squeeze as she lost her battle against laughter and Estoc stormed off, yelling over his shoulder. "Hurry it up, I'm starting now. "

Roenia pressed her fingers to her lips and whispered to Miranda. "I don't know if I should thank you or not..."

Miranda cackled.

"Go right ahead, Estoc," Iytier called. "I don't mind giving you a head start if you need one. I'm sure Govek doesn't either."

"Fuck you!" Estoc snapped, though he stopped at the edge of the pool to wait.

Iytier kissed his woman as well, though with much less passion than Estoc had. Jehvlek also followed suit, and then they all moved into the water. Govek carved his spear as he went, using his claws to sharpen the wood, readying it without needing to take pause.

The water was cold as it lapped around Govek's legs. They all picked spots a good distance from each other and Estoc's children set up baskets on the bank for them to throw their fish into.

They began spearing without preamble, and Govek found that his concentration was easily broken by the laughter of the children. He watched between strikes, as the sons raced each other to the fish that didn't make it into the baskets. Estoc, Iytier and Jehvlek were all missing on purpose to give the boys more to do. Govek followed their lead.

Govek could hear the swell and taper of Miranda's voice as she chatted merrily with the women. Expertly bouncing both the babies on her lap as she exchanged advice and told stories.

Some of Earth. Lighthearted ones he'd heard before about some of the children she'd worked with—sassy two-year-olds and boys who liked to hide in the oddest places and the struggles of getting them to sleep for their naps.

Estoc's second youngest, Yavil, raced around trying to keep up with the older boys. He noted the frustration as he failed to get to yet another fish before his kin. Govek's memories swelled to his own frustrations in his youth. To the constant disquiet he'd tried so hard to stifle.

The boy stomped his feet and proclaimed how unfair this game was and Estoc spoke up. "Change the rules. Younger boys, stand at our baskets and try to catch them before they make it inside. Don't let them slip through your fingers. Older boys, keep racing to catch the ones that don't make it in."

Govek felt his throat tighten.

How odd this was. To see this boy vent his frustration without being silenced or told his outburst was wrong or frightening or crude. To have his father advocate for his son instead of pushing him away.

Govek wondered what his life might have been like had he simply had a different father.

He felt Miranda's eyes on him, and he met her gaze, took in the warmth of her smile. Allowed himself a breath to bunch his fists and slink out his claws and let the anger burn in his chest.

And then he released it and went back to his spearing.

The day weaved long. The baskets filled steadily, and the friendly banter drew him to distraction when he should have remained vigilant.

"Ha! I've hit fifty," Jehvlek said triumphantly.

"I've got fifty- three !" Estoc said, only to have his face fall. "Fifty-three fucking fish that we're going to have to eat. Why didn't we go hunting for hare?"

"You wouldn't have won at hare either, Estoc." Iytier grinned. "I've got sixty-one."

"The hall's going to smell like fish for moons," Savili said.

"The hall? Try the whole clan ." Miranda laughed.

Roenia added. "They'll probably smell it all the way over in Oakwall."

"We could ask Sythcol if he needs it for his conjurings?" Aralie offered.

"What conjuring requires so many fish?" Roenia asked .

"Don't ask!" Iytier called over. "We'll just leave them on his doorstep. He can figure it out from there."

"Best we leave it tomorrow," Estoc said. "So the stench will cover our trace."

Govek bellowed with laughter. "Fuck, Estoc, you're a genius."

"Hey," Estoc said sharp, "Govek, you didn't say your count."

Govek grinned.

Miranda said, "Maybe we should wait two or three days and leave them on Ergoth's..."

The scent caught Govek too late, like drenched fur and oozing pus. Thick, rotting.

Blighted.

Panic seared his spine, shook his limbs, and he barreled out of the water, toward the bank, toward the women who were not yet on their feet in alarm. They didn't know what was coming, but they couldn't sense it.

But they did see him. Aralie instantly bounded to her feet and rushed away from him in panic. Roenia and Savili stood too, backing away. The males roared, demanding to know what he was doing.

And Miranda stood alone, her eyes wide with shock. Unprotected.

He'd only just made it to the bank when the boar burst out of the forest, heading right toward them.