Chapter 1: Salira's Jest

Arizira Ahmanae crouched low against the harsh blow of nightly wind. The gust, blowing from the east, ruffled her silver-blonde hair and forced her to pull her light leather jerkin tighter around her body. Feeling the chill carried on Salira's breath, Arizira entertained a passing wish that she'd brought along her deer hide cloak. The dagger-like bites of the wind's teeth pricked her flesh and forced her to keep herself from shivering.

She could do nothing to give away her position, lest she run the risk of being noticed by the newcomers in the valley below. Her Nai'iris, or honored elder in her native tongue, had tasked her with learning all she could about the presumptuous and audacious settlers that had taken up a position so close to her tribe's lands.

Arizira inhaled a slow and controlled breath and wrapped her fingers, more for comfort than for reaffirming her grip, around the ashwood shaft of her longbow. Her normally bright blue eyes were alight with a silver glow as she used her people's inherent night vision to make out the many shapes beneath her.

Tall, dark skinned, and powerfully built forms went about their duties on the plain far below her. With her enhanced vision, Arizira could make out the dark hair and elaborate tattoos of the men and women setting up bedding for the night. She brought her right hand down to her side and felt the rough leather wrapping that held one of her favored blades, Daisir. The name, in her people's language, meant "death seeker." A second similarly curved blade hung at her other side. Its name, much the opposite of its twin was La'nu, or "hopeful in life."

Though she much preferred her bow and ranged combat, Arizira could wield the long-bladed sabres with expert proficiency if melee combat was required. She continued her watch of the strangers in the valley. Their physical characteristics told her much of what they were, but little of who they were.

For all of Aitla's infinite grace and wisdom she could not reconcile what she was seeing. The figures in the valley looked to be Esu, but how could that be? The Esu were nothing more than stories and myth. They did not truly exist, yet how else was Arizira to explain their appearance?

She cocked her head quickly to the left. There was a commotion coming from a section that seemed to house several of the clanswomen. Ariziria watched, her eyes glowing with more intensity, as a tall woman with exotic features shared heated words with a shorter and more stout figure. Though she could not understand the words, that being by no fault of her extraordinary hearing and having more to do with her ignorance of the language spoken, Arizira made out enough to deduce that something was amiss in the camp.

The taller woman, she noticed, was without any tribal tattoos. Her hair was ebony and wavy and hung down her back. Though Arizira knew little to nothing of the dark skins or their traditions, she knew enough to take note that the woman's lack of markings was probably significant. The woman threw her hands up and marched away from the shorter figure, their spat having met its end.

Arizira leaned forward, away from the base of the tree she'd been kneeling against, and watched the woman with no markings head into the woods along the eastern edge of the plain. Salira had blown from the east only moments before.

What game do you play this night, Lady of Air and Wind? Arizira thought to herself. Her keen ears, pointed and shaped like the leaves she loved so much, strained to make out any other signs of pursuit for the woman who had departed.

When she felt confident that the other members of the dark skin clan were not going to follow their wandering clanswoman, she quickly and silently left the tree's company and blended into the forest around her. Where her feet touched the ground, no sound was born. It was as if the forest itself masked her footsteps. Her agile and lithe form ran effortlessly down the hillock that had given her a clear view of the newcomers. Salira continued to assault her as she moved deeper in the direction she'd seen the tall woman take.

Arizira did not know what she hoped to accomplish by following one of the dark skins. Perhaps it was her curiosity. All Arniran children knew of the Esu, the dark skinned peoples said to be from the South. She herself had grown up hearing tales of how the Esu were the antithesis of her own people, the Arnira. Where her people were creatures of the night and worshiped Aitla, the Moon, the Esu were beings of the day and gave their thanks to Esuval, the Sun.

The Esu were said to be strong and powerful, able to withstand forces thought of as only legend and myth. They were excellent craftsmen and built their homes out of rock and stone instead of using the trees like Arizira's people did. Yet that was not the strangest thing about the Esu.

No, the Esu were different from the Arnira in another very distinct way. They had esu'lat, or men, in their clans. There was no name for man or men in the Arniran language. They had adopted a name using supposed Esulan words, lat being the name for a male, or so the old tales went.

Arizira's people were all female. Aitla, the mother Moon, blessed them with child when She deemed it time. Yet, the Esu laid together and brought about their children in a different way. Their society was ruled by esu'lat, men. The idea was strange to Arizira. Though she knew nothing of esu'lat, she couldn't imagine the women of the clan not claiming their birthright to be hunters and protectors. They acted nothing like the women of the Arnira.

Arizira came to a slow stop as a wide clearing spread out before her. The thick copse of trees she was hidden in gave way to a circular area with various plants and flowers of vibrant shades. The light of Aitla parted the clouds above and shone down on the glade in a lustrous glow. Arizira knelt behind the base of a tree and placed her hand upon its trunk. Closing her eyes, she communed with the spirit of the ancient oak. The elder tree said little to her, apart from expressing its gratitude for her company.

A sound like that of a twig snapping in heavy underbrush forced Arizira's eyes open. Sliding further behind the oak, she attempted to steady her breathing. Someone was approaching. Her hands slid down to her sides and grasped the large, leather bound handles of her twin sabres. "Gei'orei Aitla," she whispered, the words being a warrior's prayer to Aitla.

Leaning against the tree, Arizira turned so that her eyes could survey the nearby area. With the Moon's light shining down, she had no need for her night vision and her eyes returned to a shade of light blue, though they still retained a silvery luster. The sound or movement came to her ears again and she stiffened. If one of the newcomers had followed the woman with no markings, there was a chance she'd have to fight her way out in order to give word of what she'd learned to her Nai'iris.

Clearing the sabres of their bonds, she held her breath and waited for the heavy-footed intruder to make themselves known.

A moment passed and the person in question finally came into the glade.

It was the woman Arizira had been following. She wore plain clothes of simple cloth, her attire telling Arizira that she was no warrior. Her gait, however, did not match her homely clothing. Though she walked heavily, Arizira noticed a grace and an ease of movement that was common among her own people.

The woman sighed, the sound being picked up easily by Arizira's hearing, and sat herself down on a large cropping of rock along the northern side of the glade. Silence fell around both women. Arizira noticed that Salira no longer blew against her. The wind was finally at rest.

Allowing her blades to fall back to her sides, Arizira leaned around the tree and took in the woman's features again. Despite being a dark skin, Arizira thought the woman was beautiful. Her coloring was a stark difference compared to her own and her eyes were a deep brown or black. Such traits were unheard of among the Arnira and Arizira found herself enthralled with the woman's dark features.

She noticed the Esu female was larger than she was and more muscular. Everything about the woman was enchanting to Arizira. She wished for a moment that she spoke the woman's language. Did the Esu, if that was what they truly were, even know about her people? Did the woman know that her clan had settled in Arniran territory? Did she even know of the Arnira?

Time passed and Arizira remained an unknown spectator to the Esu woman. The woman did nothing that indicated she was a threat or a possible threat. Feeling bold, and thinking that perhaps the encounter had been blessed by Salira and Aitla, Arizira quietly stood up and turned away from the powerful oak.

The woman, noticing movement, looked up with wide eyes. "Eto nuleywa?" The words were unknown to Arizira but the inflections in the woman's tone informed her that a question had been asked.

Stepping into the light, she held her arms away from her body and crossed them over her head at the wrists. The gesture was a common Arniran symbol of peace and friendship. Her bow and quiver were still strapped across her back and her twin sabres hung at her sides. Any of the weapons could be easily grasped if the need was great.

The Esu woman took a step back and regarded her with great curiosity. Arizira was unsure if the woman knew anything about her people or if she was just as stunned by her own appearance as she had been of the woman's.

Arizira, hands still above her head, knelt on the ground before the Esu. Her act was another gesture of her people. By lowering herself before the woman, Arizira was showing she was not a threat. Blue eyes regarded brown while both women remained awestruck. Arizira lowered her hands slowly and pointed to herself.

"Arizira Ahmanae," she said, her voice light and mellifluous. Pointing toward the woman she asked, "Tai?"

The tall woman stood up and continued to look upon the newcomer. She'd never seen a creature so fair. Eyes the color of the sky stared back at her. In them, her own curiosity was mirrored.

"Tai?" the woman asked again, her brow furrowing.

Before anymore words could be exchanged, the sound of many feet bounding through the forest brought both women back to themselves. Arizira looked up, startled, and then made eye contact with the Esu woman. Quickly, she was back on her feet, body taut and curved blades in her hands.

The dark skinned woman took another step back, unsure what to make of such fluid movements. She looked in the direction of the voices and knew her people had found her. When she spared a glance back toward the center of the clearing, the mysterious woman was gone. In her place, a strong gust of wind blew through the area.

Chapter 2: Rae'kir

Arizira found herself back upon the hillock from which she'd first gazed upon the Esu settlers. The sudden reality of her situation, as the dark skinned woman's people had come looking for her, had forced Arizira to take flight into the wooded realm around her. One moment she'd been trying to establish a dialogue with the beautiful woman before her, and the next she'd been running along familiar paths and endless stretches of grass.

Peering back into the valley beneath her, Arizira searched for the Esu woman with no markings. She knew she needed to return to her people. Her Nai'iris would be wanting to hear word of what she had discovered. Scanning the camp below one last time, Arizira conceded defeat in the endeavor and silently left the shelter of the towering tree she'd been sitting under.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Talliea followed behind the three Lat'sa'val, or Men of Light, in front of her and tried to keep her head down. The Lat'sa'val were guardsmen and leaders of the clan. Through Esuval, they wielded magnificent powers of the Sun. The extent of those powers was unknown to Talliea; being merely a woman, it was not her place to understand the divine gift of Esuval.

Still, she found herself envious at the ease in which the men of the clan could come and go. Were she like them, her whereabouts would have been her own business. She would be free to move at her heart's desire. As it was, she was not and so her comings and goings were monitored closely by the Lat'sa'val.

Talliea let her thoughts drift back to the woman she'd seen in the glade. Her hair had been nearly silver like the moon, but traces of yellow and gold had been present. Unlike her own dark skin, the woman's had been fair and smooth, seeming to take in the glow of the night's stars. Talliea had never seen someone who looked anything like the enigmatic woman. Her eyes had been blue, nearly pale, and her ears had tapered at the top.

Who was she? What was she? The closest thing Talliea could come up with to explain the woman's appearance was an Arniran, mythological faeries thought to possess near infinite powers. Tales of great battles between the Esu and the Arnira had been told for generations around roaring Esu campfires.

The Arnira were described as being deceivingly beautiful and cunning. Once caught in the snare of their gaze, all individual thought left a person and they were doomed to become thralls to the Arnira's pagan goddess, Aitla.

Talliea had always found such tales of old to be awash with danger and mystery and intrigue. A whole society of women, ruled by women, with a female god? The women of the Arnira were fighters, proficient with a number of weapons.

Or, so the old tales went. She had never believed the stories to be anything other than myths and fables. Until now. Had she actually come across such a creature? She had stared into the Arniran's spectacular eyes and still held sway over her own thoughts. She was no slave to any pagan deity.

Yet, she could not keep her thoughts from falling on the woman from the clearing. Before the Lat'sa'val had come near to their position, Talliea was certain that the woman had been trying to communicate with her. Had the Arniran been attempting to give her name?

Talliea could not remember the first word the woman had spoken. It had been too foreign for her ears to recall. The second word, Ahmanae, stayed within her mind. She knew the word. It was an Esulan word. Though it had sounded slightly different coming from the Arniran's lips with her strange accent, Talliea had picked it up and understood what it meant.

What she couldn't get to settle in her thoughts was how an Arniran, if that was truly what the woman was, knew an Esulan word.

Ahmanae.

Beautiful whisper.

Talliea found the name fitting.

*  *  *  *  *  *

"You have returned," Talyn said in a clear tone of voice. Arizira lowered her eyes and dipped her head in deference of the older woman. "Nai'iris," she said in way of greeting.

Several pairs of eyes from around the inside of the hollowed out tree fell upon her and a heavy silence hushed even the shy whisperings of the wind. The structure Arizira stood in was the base of a once massive Rae'kir tree. The giant tree stood some two hundred feet high and had been hollowed out over the course of many years to become the home of Arizira's people. Several smaller trees lined the area around Rae'kir and housed different groups of the Arniran tribe.

The Rae'kir tree was the most sacred of the Arnira and so was reserved for the Nai'iris. Special ceremonies and rituals, as well as important talks and negotiations with neighboring tribes, all took place inside the Rae'kir tree. Its red coloring was the focal point of the entire village.

After Arizira had left the Esu woman, it had taken her a day and a half to return to her people. Her tribe was located at the northern-most stretch of forest and nestled beneath the shadow of a vast and imposing mountain.

"What words have you on the strangers along our borders?" Talyn asked, her voice resonating within the Rae'kir.

Arizira, kneeling before her Elder, looked around at the faces of the other women present. Each face belonged to a member of the ruling Elders of the tribe. Taking a breath, Arizira braced herself for the outcry she knew would follow her declaration. "The strangers are day walkers, Nai'iris," she said evenly.

Collective gasps sounded around the base of Rae'kir. "Day walkers?" Talyn questioned.

"Yes, the Esu walk among us, I am sure of it."

A scoff met her statement. Arizira cut her eyes to her right and found the source of the noise. An older woman was seated against the wall of Rae'kir's base. An ornately decorated staff rested between her wrinkled palms and several finely crafted beads hung around her neck. Her hair was snow white, but that was no indication of her age. Apart from Arizira, all of the Arnira had silver or white hair with green or purple eyes.

The woman with the staff, dark green eyes boring into Arizira, shook her head. "Esu, say you? What proof is carried on your shoulders that would convince us gathered here that fabled creatures of myth now walk along the edges of our forest? You are young, Child of Whispers, and cannot possibly possess any information on the Esu. I dare say that there are none gathered here now that can recall the dark skins from the South, if truly they ever once existed."

Murmurs of approval sprang about around Arizira. Talyn raised a hand and silence quickly fell about the tree once again. "Ma'nolira speaks true, child. Our people have not encountered the Esu for many, many generations. Dreams they are now to us, nightmares of wars fought long ago. The Arnira alive today know not if any of the old tales are even true."

Arizira felt her heart beginning to race. The words of her Elders were not without her consideration, but she knew that the strangers she had seen were Esu. How else could she explain their appearance?

"Nai'iris," she started softly, "my eyes were not deceived by some trick of Co'ta." Co'ta was the spirit of the forest and was believed to be quite the jokester, often times appearing in the form of a fox. She and the Lady of the Wind, Salira, according to Arniran myth, were thought to be responsible for any type of mischief. "I saw the Esu in the valley along our borders. They are among us and they have been setting up camp. It is not hard, for even my own young eyes, to see that their skin was dark and their eyes without the light of Aitla. If not day walkers, then what are they, I beg to ask?"

No one present had any words of wisdom to offer. The women around the tree turned toward one another and spoke in hushed voices. Talyn eyed Arizira closely but refrained from speaking her thoughts. After a moment, she raised her hand again to speak. "Your voice is strong and pure and tells me of your beliefs. I shall send out a group of our hunters on Aitla's next rising. They can confirm your tale. Meanwhile, I want you to mind your feet, Arizira. Do not wander where you should not be led."

The Elders around the room stood and slowly began to depart. Arizira was unsure of Talyn's parting words. Why could she not join the hunters? She very much desired to see the dark skinned woman again. She was certain, given enough time,  she would be able to get the woman to understand her. Something about the tall and striking Esu refused to part from Arizira's mind.

First Salira and now even Co'ta herself has caught me in her trap of misfortune, she thought to herself before standing and leaving Rae'kir.

Chapter 3: Heated Discussions

It had been nearly two days since Talliea's encounter with the stranger in the glade. When she'd returned to the settlement, the Lat'sa'val questioned her actions and then sentenced her to confinement. During that time, she had been unable to commune with the rest of her people or have any sort of visitors. A watch had been set for her and her every action observed.

Sighing, she looked up at the starry nighttime sky and wondered if the Arniran’s goddess, Aitla, truly had ensnared her senses. The moon shone down upon her face and its light reminded her once again of the woman she’d seen in the forest. What was it about the mysterious stranger that held her so intrigued? Who was she? Where was she? Did she lead such a lonely existence as Talliea?

“There you are. What madness took you to have you traipsing off into the night? Was it worth the solidarity?”

Talliea turned and saw a shorter woman walking up to her with a look of fury crossing her features. She was too tired to endure another fight. Since being released of her punishment, she only wished to, ironically, be left alone. “I’ve said all I wish to say to you, Mother.” She turned away and headed toward a nearby campfire.

The fire was strong, surrounded by a ring of heavy rocks, and gave off enough light to match that of the moon. Around her, the other clanswomen went about cooking and working cloth or watching their young. What a boring existence, Talliea thought.

Her mother came up behind her. “Your will is strong, but it avails you nothing, Talliea. Your time for joining has long since come and gone. Why will you not take a mate and relieve me of the burden of shame your actions have cast upon me?”

Talliea sat down near the fire and absentmindedly poked at the embers and kindling with a stick. The flame’s light lit up her face and warmed her from the night’s chill. Her mother’s arguments were nothing new to her. For three summers, she and her matron had held similar feuds over her refusal to join with a man of the clan. Always the arguments were the same and always Talliea was left feeling alone, indentured, and misunderstood.

“Your clear skin is enough for everyone to know that you are without a man,” her mother continued. Turning, Talliea met the other woman’s eyes. “And why should I have need to join with a man, Mother? What little bit of freedom Esuval has given me will be lost, gone forever, once I have been marked! My free will is my own so long as I remain un-joined.”

The women of the Esu had very few rights and privileges among the clan. Their primary duties were the rearing of the young, cooking for the clan, outfitting the other women, bead work, and of course ensuring that the men were satisfied. Strangely enough, the laws of the Esu allowed women some small measure of freedom before she joined with her life mate. So long as Talliea remained without a man, she was able to keep the tiny amount of freedom she so coveted. As soon as she was joined and her skin marked with her mate’s house markings, all the rest of her life would belong to him.

She’d never be allowed to walk among the trees again or stare up at the nightly sky with wonder. Her nights would be spent engaged in an entirely different manner.

“You forget your place, daughter. Esuval does not look kindly upon your unwillingness to do as you must!”

“As I must? Who are you to interpret the will of Esuval?” Talliea’s mother looked livid. “Who are you to question it?” she countered

Sighing heavily, Talliea turned back around to gaze into the flames dancing before her eyes. She could say no more to her mother. The older woman would never understand her feelings. “I’ve said all I wish to say, Mother. The moon is high. Should you not be asleep with you mate?”

Her dismissal only infuriated the shorter woman. Turning quickly, she crossed the settlement in a hurry and disappeared inside a low hanging temporary lodging. Talliea let her eyes become unfocused as the flames jumped higher inside their ring of rocks. She felt that she could practically hear the fire’s complaint at being confined as it was.

She could sympathize.

Where are you, I wonder, Ahmanae? she thought to herself.

*  *  *  *  *   *

At Aital’s rising the following night, the hunters Talyn had called left the Arniran village and made for the borders of their forest. Their task was simple: observe the strangers' settlement and either confirm or deny Arizira’s claims. Arizira had requested to lead the party of hunters, but Talyn had refused and so she now waited like the rest of her sisters.  A day passed after the hunters had left. The other women around her went about their business without so much as a hitch in the night. Only she seemed to be on edge about the possible future the hunters' task portended.

Around her, she watched her sisters and the village come alive as Aitla rose higher in the sky. Being nocturnal by nature, the Arnira mostly slept during the day and used the dark hours for their everyday tasks. A group of archers off to her left practiced their art with expert skill. To her right, she watched a group of young girls listen to the tales of the tribe’s Dream Speaker.

Turning, her silvery-blue eyes began to glow as Aitla was momentarily shaded by cloud cover. A small gathering of women behind her sat around a small fire and wove beads through a thin piece of string. They laughed and talked amongst themselves as their adroit fingers worked, seemingly without their knowledge, on their individual pieces of jewelry.

“Your thoughts are a burden to you this night.”

Arizira turned back around and smiled when she noticed the Dream Speaker from before staring up at her. The woman, even by Arniran standards, was old, older than even Talyn herself. Her purple eyes were nearly white and her hair was a silvery shade. Wrinkles crossed her face and a large sea-shell necklace hung around her neck. Several rings hugged the woman’s fingers and their polished shine caught the light of the moon.

“Cynra, Honored One,” Arizira said, dipping her head to show the proper level of respect due.

Dream Speakers were rare among the Arnira. Aitla was said to speak to them during the day when they slept and, through Her, the Dream Speakers acquired vast amounts of knowledge on a wide variety of topics ranging from best harvest times, the conception of children, and prophecy.

Cynra was the one who schooled young Arniran children on the past.

On the Esu and their history.

Arizira had spent many moon turns sitting by a fire listening to the ancient woman weave tales about the dark skins of ages past. The stories had always captured her imagination.“Your thoughts?” Cynra asked with a sly smile cracking her lips. Arizira smiled in kind and glanced up at the moon. “My thoughts are not a burden, Dream Speaker, yet I admit I am having difficulty in reigning them in tonight.”

“Your mind drifts to the Esu?

Arizira lowered her eyes and looked into the faded purple of the older woman. “Yes, the stories you told me as a child have proven not to be myth at all, but fact.”

Cynra smiled again and her drawn up fingers played with the necklace about her neck. “Not myth at all,” she said, more to herself. Arizira looked at her more closely and furrowed her brow. “You hold some bit of information.” The words, though a question, appeared more a statement in their delivery.

Cynra turned back to look at her and her old eyes were alight with a mischief that would have matched Co’ta. “Perhaps I do, but I shall hold onto it a little while longer. The hunters have returned and their news will be ill-received.”

*  *  *  *  *  *

Arizira followed Cynra and several other important members of the tribe into Rae’kir and settled around the base of the tree. A protruding section, slightly elevated above the rest of those in attendance, held Talyn, the Nai’iris.

“Silence,” Talyn said as the last of the Elders and hunters made their way into Rae’kir. “What news do you bring on the matter of the day walkers?”

Her question was addressed to a tall, fair-skinned hunter in the center of the tree. The woman was taller than most other Arnira and her hair was pure silver. Eyes of an emerald green shade were slightly slanted and gave her a haughty expression. Her green and brown forest garb was beautifully decorated, and a large curved yew bow was held in her right hand.

“The day walkers have come from the South, just as Arizira said. They are in the early stages of setting up a more permanent settlement. I would guess they have been in the valley no more than fourteen of their day cycles. Myth they may have been thought, but that myth has come alive again and our borders are no longer safe.”

Voices sprang up around Rae’kir. Looks of alarm or outrage colored the faces of those present. “How can this be?” an elder woman spoke up. “The Esu, even the southern regions themselves, are nothing more than myths spun into being by the tales of the Dream Speakers.”

Cynra chuckled to herself and walked slowly into the center of the tree where she stood next to the hunter who had spoken of her findings. Looking in the direction of the disbelieving Elder, she waited until she was sure all attention was on her. “Myths spun around, you say? From myth, there is always a grain of truth. Where do you think the old tales come from? My mind is no longer as young as it once was, and the effort required to invent such elaborate stories would be beyond me.”

Arizira fought back her desire to laugh out loud. Though Cynra was no Elder among the ruling council, she was the oldest living Arnira in the village and, as such, all those present awarded her a great deal of respect.

“Cynra,” Talyn called down from her post, “your words have always been tempered with wisdom. Though many of us have grown into womanhood enjoying your epic tales, there are few of us who ever actually paid the stories any other mind. You are saying the Esu are not legend, but fact?”

“I am saying I am too old to be so colorful. Four of our number have seen the dark skins. If not Esu, how are we to explain their appearance? I have not seen them with these old eyes, but they are obviously not as we are.”

Silence followed the Dream Speaker’s words. It was difficult for anyone in Rae’kir to admit to the knowledge being given them. Though several of the Arnira had possibly wished in secret for the old tales to be true, more perhaps for the valorous deeds and songs brought about by their people, few of them had ever actually thought they would live to find such myths to be true.

Bela’luin, the lead huntress in the center of Rae’kir who had just confirmed Arizira's story, stepped closer to Talyn and spoke up. “We haven’t the time to discuss tales of myth or fact, Nai’iris. Whoever the strangers are, it is obvious they are day walkers. Several of their number slept while we watched from above. We must decide how to go about removing them from our borders.”

Murmurs of approval met her words. Arizira stepped forward quickly. “With all due respect, Nai’iris, we know nothing of these people’s intentions. They are only along the farthest reaches of our territory. It is possible they know nothing of our people.” She allowed herself to omit the fact that there was at least one Esu who knew of the possibility of others in the forest.

“So we are to just allow them to establish their settlement, build their arms, and learn our forests while we do nothing?” Bela’luin said, turning back to look at Arizira with fire in her eyes.

“Enough!” Talyn said, her voice carrying over those of the two women arguing. “The other Eders and I will need to confer on this matter. Until such a time as a decision is made, no one is to go toward the Esu camp.”

*  *  *  *  *  *

Arizira, several hours later, sat high up in the branches of one of her favorite trees. The view from so high up allowed her to see much of the forest. With the moon soon to be at rest again, Arizira knew her people would be making ready for their own slumber. Her time was quickly coming. If she hoped to learn what she could, she knew she would have to do so during the daylight hours. That was the only way she could hope to move about unseen by her fellow sisters. It also increased her chances of happening onto the Esu woman again.

Feeling the first rays of the sun upon her skin, Arizira squinted her eyes at the sting and looked down below her. The women of the village were milling about before retiring for the day. When the last of her sisters had disappeared from view, she effortlessly dropped from branch to branch until her feet were once again on solid ground.

Holding her breath for a moment, she turned her head to ensure no sounds of movement could be heard. The sun was rising quickly in the sky, and the area around her was soon aglow with its near blinding light. Arizira spared one last glance behind her at her village and hurriedly made her way back toward the glade she’d met the Esu woman in three days before

With any luck, the dark skinned woman would be just as curious about her and be wandering in the woods again.

Chapter 4: Names in the Light

Talliea awoke the next morning feeling lighter than she had the day before. The dugout she looked around had been excavated into the slope of the hillside with a roof of strong wood and grass. The front of the structure held an open doorway covered with oiled hides that could be parted to the side for entry or an exit. Two square windows were on either side of the door and they, too, were covered in the same material as the doorway.

The light of the early morning sun could be seen behind the coverings trying desperately to pour its golden shine into the dark interior. Talliea stretched and rolled away from her low sitting bed. Apart from the bed, her space was sparsely decorated. Her people had been on the open wilds for many seasons and their livestock had suffered on the journey to the North. Each family had been required to aid as much as possible in building the dugouts that would serve as their temporary homes. Once the settlement was established and secure, then the work of increasing their food and animal supply could begin and more stable homes built.

The Esu had been in the valley boarding the forest for two week, or alu in their language. Measures were still being taken to secure the perimeter. None of the clans-people were knowledgeable about the wilderness around them and until the settlement was completed, most were content to let  the woods encircling them be.

Talliea stepped through the flap of her dwelling and looked around the camp. A few of the women nodded in her direction, but their attention was quickly called back to whatever chore they were about. The sound of stone being worked could be heard in the distance, and a few of the clansmen were barely visible along the forest’s edge busily hewing wood. Talliea saw no sign of her mother and for that she was thankful. A nearby stream that ran around the curve of the valley offered communal bathing for the women. Farther up, nearer to the mouth of the stream, the men held their own area aside for such tasks.

Talliea had no desire to bathe among the other women. Such a simple task would only prove to be a means for the others to ask questions of her they had no business asking in the first place. They would want to know her reasons for running off several nights ago, as well as why she was behaving so obstinately, even for her. Talliea had no such desire to humor them this morning.

Walking to the eastern side of the camp, away from the other dwellings, she peered into the dense forest in front of her. So thick were the trees and plants that she could make out no definite shapes between them. The tranquil serenity of the woods seemed to call to her. Above her, birds flew high over head and sang songs of hopeful and tempting freedom.

Talliea looked back over her shoulder and noticed the sounds of the camp were dulled from so far off. No one paid her any attention and still of her mother there was no sign. Deciding a bath in the clear pool along the glade would better serve her, she quickly disappeared into the welcome hands of the forest.

*  *  *  *  *  *

The sun was a most distracting foe. Try as she might, Arizira had not been able to escape it. Her day's trek had been bothersome when the sun had held the sky.  Stealth was always her ally, the trees her friends, yet with the sun above her such movement had proven to be more difficult. She knew she had little to fear so far from the Esu settlers. Even if one of the younger members of the clan chose to go off exploring, they would be without her knowledge of the forest. She knew each tree and each blade of grass.

Her agile form could scale one of the many pines without any difficulty, and be away from any prying eyes before they had need to question matters. Still, Arizira would have felt better were the eyes of the moon on her back and not the sun. Coming to the clearing quietly, she knelt by the oak she’d communed with four moon risings ago. Once again, she placed her hands upon its trunk and tried to speak with the ancient sentry. The oak, as before, was just as light hearted and gave her no indication of what she sought.

"Salira has blown through your boughs one too many times, my friend", she whispered softly to the tree with a small smile on her lips. A sound, faint, came to her ears suddenly. Stepping away from the oak, Arizira moved into the glade and opened her senses to the world around her. Sounds and smells, vivid to her kind, washed over her. Slowing her breathing, she turned around and surveyed the circular area for anything out of place.

The sound from before was picked up by her keen ears again. It was closer. Different. She thought she caught a familiar scent, but Salira decided at that time to blow away from her and she lost the elusive fragrance. Again, the noise sounded in her head and she realized, belatedly, that she had become caught up in her senses. Someone approached her from behind. Quickly and without any struggle she turned on her heel, bow flying into her hands in the process, while a feathered arrow locked into place. Her form was perfect.

A pair of startled brown eyes looked down at the beautifully crafted and etched arrow. Thick and wet black hair hung around the newcomer's face and water could be seen collecting on a dark skinned neck. Arizira faltered a moment at the sight, but did not lower her bow. Her eyes were just as wide as the Esu’s before her.

Both women remained frozen, Talliea covered in her damp blouse and skirt and Arizira adorning the leather jerkin and breeches befitting her calling. Talliea swallowed and despite the situation, a small smile tugged at her full lips. She had thought of this faerie for two sunsets. Slowly, she began raising her hands over her head like she’d seen the other woman do so many nights before.

Arizira tightened her hold on her bow string, but  made no move to stop the Esu woman.

Talliea succeeded in bringing her arms over head and crossed them at the wrists. She was unsure what the gesture meant, but she hoped it was something that would show the Arniran woman she meant no harm. Her heart was racing in her chest and her thoughts were chaotic. The fair woman was even more beautiful in the light of the sun. The blonde in her hair seemed to catch the rays of Esuval and made her appear as some herald of prophecy, some harbinger of hope.

“Ahmanae?” Talliea said in an unsteady voice. Arizira cocked her head to the side and regarded her with curious blue eyes. Talliea smiled again and lowered her hands. She pointed to the Arniran and tried again. “Ahmanae?”

Releasing the tension she had on her bowstring, Arizira allowed the string to slacken and brought the bow down to her side. Nodding, she placed a hand on her chest and said, “Ahmanae.”

Talliea smiled and a small laugh left her lips. The woman understood what she meant! Arizira looked upon her face and was struck with how perfect the Esu woman’s smile was. It made her appear even more beautiful. A strange fluttering sensation welled up inside of her. “Tai?” she asked, indicating Talliea.

The Esu woman looked confused and licked her lips nervously. Was the Arniran asking for her own name? Perhaps she wished to know what she was doing so far from her settlement? Arizira pointed to herself again and said, “Arizira Ahmanae.” Bringing a hand to Talliea’s chest, she asked, “Tai?”

Talliea looked down at the slender and delicate hand on her flesh. The difference in their coloring amazed her and she was struck with the feelings the simple touch caused. She realized the Arniran was asking for her name. “Talliea Aldis,” she said, looking back into sky blue eyes.

Arizira stepped back and turned her head in a curious manner. Talliea noticed the other woman’s movements were more fluid and feral than her own, but she found that fact only added to the mystique and intrigue.

“Tah-li Aldis.”

Talliea laughed at the Arniran’s attempt to pronounce her name. Even though, she thought the woman’s voice musical and she liked the way her name, however accented, sounded coming from her. Nodding, she asked, hoping hearing the name a third time would help her in understanding it, “Tai?”

Arizira looked surprised for a moment but a smile finally lit up her face. If it was possible, the act only enhanced her astonishing features. “Arizira Ahamane,” she said slowly. Hearing the name again, Talliea found, did not help her any. The Esu did not have any "z" sounds in their language.

“Ari,” Talliea said with a nod of her head, the shortened variation being the closest she could come to pronouncing the strange name.

Both women realized that there was very little else they could say to one another. Obtaining the other's name was trying enough. Still, Talliea was not disappointed. Her eyes could not seem to look at Ari enough. Every time she retraced the slender figure’s features, she found something else to be amazed about. There was something, she discovered, keeping her from moving away, from listening to the  voice in the back of her mind telling her that this woman was a stranger, an unknown.

Stepping closer, Talliea got within arms reach of the smaller woman and raised her right hand. The movement raised alarm in the Arniran and her eyes widened with uncertainty. Talliea allowed her hand to stop in the air between them. “I won’t hurt you,” she said, though she knew the other woman could not understand her words. After a moment, she swallowed her anxiety and moved her hand toward the Arniran again. Though the other woman still looked unsure, she made no other attempts to stop her. Arizira’s curiosity over what she intended was overriding any other instinct she had.

Talliea’s fingers stopped by Arizira’s face and slowly, ever so slowly so as not to startle the woman, she traced her fingers over Arizira’s left ear. The touch was hesitant, but gentle. Smooth did not begin to describe the feeling of the Arniran’s skin. The delicate arch of her ear was beautiful to Talliea. She had never seen anything so unique. Touching Arizira was the only way she could prove to herself that the faerie, the Arniran before her, was real and not some fevered dream. She smiled again and looked down into bright blue eyes. They regarded her with a measure of reserved humor and something else Talliea could not quite place.

“Ahmanae,” she said softly, and truly that was what she thought Arizira was. A beautiful whisper, something so quiet yet so fair.

A different kind of whisper came on a gentle breeze a moment later. Arizira's ears strained to pick up what she’d heard. Her senses and connection with the forest were all attempting to tell her of the same thing: She was being given a warning. It was more of a feeling than any actual words, but she understood the message in any form. Was there possible trouble? Danger? Arizira slowed her thoughts and opened herself more fully to the forest. The wind blew again and the warning it carried touched her mind.

Someone was trying to contact her. One of her sisters perhaps? They were all supposed to be asleep. Had one of them awakened and found her missing? It was possible, for she had been away for more than a day. She could not risk such a thing. It was better if she parted company now. She looked back at the Esu woman and noticed her unsure expression. How she wished the barrier of language did not hinder them so! “I must go, Tah-li,” she started, but her words were only greeted with a lowered brow. “The day is not for my kind. The trees send a message on the wind. I am called back to my village. I will find you again.”

Despite knowing that the Esu woman could not understand her, Arizira felt better explaining herself instead of just rushing off toward her village. Securing her bow over her back and replacing the arrow in her quiver, she took one last look at the beautiful Esu woman and sighed. “No’rei Aitla," she said, placing a hand over Talliea’s heart. The words were a blessing. Arizira was asking Aitla to bless Talliea.

Without sparing another look over her shoulder, Arizira disappeared deeper into the forest before Talliea had time to even ponder her words.

Chapter 5: Language of the Trees

Mid-day found Arizira approaching  the farthest borders of her village and she cautiously slowed her stride. She was still half a day or more from the village proper, but from her current location she could make out no sounds of livelihood coming from the trees, and took that as a good sign her sisters were all still asleep. Jumping lightly over a large rooted branch, Arizira landed on a nearby rock and crouched on top of it. Again, she opened her senses to the forest around her to assure herself that things were as they should be.

When she'd departed Talliea’s company, her feet had been swift in their journey and she had made good time in returning to a safer and less questionable location. Birds cawed overhead and the breath of Salira blew through the tops of the trees. The occasional howl of a wolf or cackle of a fox were far off sounds along the fringes of her hearing, but otherwise there was no indication of that which had alerted her in the glade.

Slouching and releasing a heavy breath, Arizira looked out at the gentle slopes and rolling hills around her. The forest was beautiful in the day light, even with the sun dying in the west; not nearly as so as when the moon touched it, but the vibrant colors and hues of the trees and plants did seem to glow more brightly with the aid of the sun.

Arizira thought back to the Esu woman. Her name was strange. Tah-li was the closest she could come to pronouncing it. Even still, it was an appropriate name for the striking woman with such exotic features. When she had smiled at Arizira, the forest itself had seemed to take notice. A hush had fallen around them and all the spirits of the wilds had taken notice of so beautiful a gesture. Arizira had felt her breath catch when Talliea’s smile lit up her features. Everything about the Esu woman held her captive.

“It is rather early for star-gazing. With the sun holding the day for a few more hours, I am at a loss as to what could have you up at this hour.”

The sudden voice was an intrusion upon Arizira’s deep thoughts. So unexpected was it, that the lithe and agile woman jumped and found herself on the bed of pine needles around the rock. Cynra smiled down at her with an amusing smirk.

“Dream Speaker…wh-what are you doing about at this time?” Arizira asked, her eyes wide. Walking around the weather worn rock, Cynra reached a hand down and helped the youngling to her feet. “I ask the same question of you. Do your thoughts still wander to the Esu, or perhaps it is your feet that carry you away?”

Swallowing, Arizira stalled for time and regarded the face in front of her. Cynra’s smile was still in place and her eyes were squinted with a knowing quality. Had Cynra been the one that had sent a warning for her? Was the older woman aware of her day time movements? “I could not sleep. I…have been hunting,” she lied.

“In the day? With the sun in your eyes?” Cynra questioned. Looking at the arrows in Arizira’s quiver, her smile grew on her face. “Had difficulty in bringing down your hunt, young one? No arrows have flown from your bow this day, for the normal twenty are still with you.” Arizira could do nothing but appear as a fish out of water. Her mind stumbled over itself while it attempted to produce a more convincing explanation.

“Fear not, child. I know you are curious about the Esu. The time of the sun, though, is not the most inspiring time to go wandering about the forest in search of them. Were I you, I would look upon them with the moon as my guide.”

Arizira nodded and dipped her head. It was obvious that Cynra knew, at least partially, about her activities. Part of her wished to confide in the sage old woman and ask for her advice and wisdom on how to handle the Esu she had met, not once but twice. Caution kept from her thinking too much on that wish though. The Nai’iris had forbidden all from going near the Esu camp. Her curiosity would not hold any favor with the Elders.

“You are wise, as always, Dream Speaker. I shall keep myself out of the sun.” Cynra smiled and turned to walk up the hill that would lead toward the village. With her back still facing away from Arizira, she said, “Dream Speaker is not just a title, child. Aitla brought me out of my rest this day with images of you, so I asked the forest to aid me in finding you when I discovered you not present. I know not what you seek, Arizira. I know only that you feel hindered. Aitla tells me it is in your words that you find yourself limited.”

Arizira held her breath. Cynra was the one who had alerted her while she’d been in the glade. But, why? What vision had the older woman seen, and why did Arizira get the feeling that Cynra knew more than she was telling? There was something, something hidden and veiled, in the Dream Speaker's words that told Arizira she knew more.

“A bit of advice, if I may?” Cynra was speaking again, her old legs still slowly leading her up the hill. “If words fail you in whatever you endeavor to do, know that the trees speak many languages, child. They can be your guide in finding the words you need, if indeed the words are yours to know.”

With that, the Dream Speaker walked away from Arizira and disappeared over the slope of the hill. Arizira looked around her at the many towering trees and smiled to herself. Cynra truly was wise. She did not speak Talliea’s language, but the trees had been listening to the Esu settlers from the moment they had come along the borders of the forest. They knew the words the dark skins used.

All she had to do was get one of them to impart their wisdom and she would be able to speak to Talliea. That was easier said than done as the trees viewed necessity quite differently than the Arnira. What was paramount to them varied greatly than what was perceived as useful to Arizira's people. Still, there was hope of future communication if Arizira was successful.

But, what had Cynra meant about the words being Arizira's to know?

* * * * * *

Talliea, after meeting with Ari again, had returned to her clan’s settlement and swiftly gone about her chores. The hours had passed quickly. No questions had been asked and she had kept her face down to avoid the chance of any being raised. As the sun became more dim in the sky, Talliea  quickly made for her simple dugout dwelling.  Sitting herself down on the mat in front of the structure, she picked up the shawl she had been mending and immediately set about her menial task. She hoped that by appearing busy no one would feel the need to bother her.

As she worked the cloth, the warm sun on her face washed away many of her worries and reminded her of the Arniran woman she’d met again.

Ari.

The woman was enchanting. She was elegant and wild and free. Her attire was more elaborate than what Talliea herself wore, and the way pieces of the forest had been woven into her armor had both intrigued and unnerved her. It was obvious by the way Ari moved, and the skill with which she had wielded her bow, that the woman was a warrior. That part of the old myths appeared to be true at least. The Arniran was a protector of her people. She was deadly, yet she had not harmed Talliea. She had allowed Talliea to touch her and express her wonder. She had smiled at Talliea and it had been more breathtaking than the Esu had been prepared for. Dimples had accompanied the gesture and they had only heightened the Arniran’s already wondrous appearance.

Before she'd left, Ari had placed a soft hand on Talliea's chest and uttered slow and melodic words to her. What those words meant, Talliea could not say. The longer she sat in the sun working on the simple shawl, the more she yearned for liberation, the more she yearned to be like Ari. She found herself smiling at the thought of meeting the smaller woman again. Language was still a barrier for them, but Talliea hardly found that mattered much. She enjoyed, for reasons she could not say, the Arniran’s presence. It was comforting and asked nothing of her in return.

In her life, there was always a price attached to everything. That price was her time and her free-will. Once joined, her days would be laid out for her before they ever began. She would belong to her mate and anything he asked of her, she would have no choice but to give. Her movements would be more closely monitored and her flippant attitude, a trait sorely disliked by her people, would no longer be tolerated for any reason. For all intents and purposes, Talliea would be a slave.

Arizira asked nothing of her, however.  Her actions required nothing from Talliea but that she be present. There was a gentle calm about the fair-skinned woman that Talliea could not seem to erase from her mind. She had two seasons left to her before she would be required, by Esu law, to finally take a mate. Then her chance at learning more about Ari would be gone forever. Sitting against the wall of her dwelling, Talliea vowed that she would spend her last moments of freedom-- however limited that freedom was --learning everything she could about the mysterious woman that had so attracted and fascinated her.

She would visit the glade, their glade, every sunrise and every sunset until she was no longer able.

Chapter 6: Release in Words

Several days passed after Talliea's and Arizira's second meeting in the glade. True to her word, Talliea had managed to sneak away from her settlement early in the morning and again deep in the night. She'd gone to the clearing and waited for Arizira to return, but thus far the other woman had remained elusive. Every time Talliea had entered the glade and found no sign of the Arniran, her heart had sank and the world seemed to close in around her.

She could not explain her connection with Arizira. Maybe it had more to do with what the smaller woman represented than with anything spiritual or divine. All she knew was that her life was, somehow, enhanced by just the chance to be around Arizira. Was it the secrecy she enjoyed? The knowledge that only she possessed? Or was it something more?

She could not deny that she found Arizira beautiful to behold. Everything about her was as if some otherworldly image out of a dream. She was exquisite. She was different. She was a spark of life in Talliea's very mundane existence.

On the sixth night since their last encounter, Talliea carefully made her way through the woods to their secret glade. She found it rather humorous that the Lat'sa'val had yet to take notice of her nightly activities. Entering the open area of the circular enclosure, she looked around for any sign of the Arniran. The moon was high in the sky and a bright shaft of light shone clearly down between the trees. Stars twinkled and lit up the inky blank canvas surrounding Aitla.

Sitting down on the rock facing the pool she'd bathed in nearly a week before, Talliea wondered if she should give up in her desires to meet Arizira again. She was risking her own safety by continuing to come into the forest so late at night, not to mention the possible repercussions therein for sneaking away from her camp without leave so many times.

What was she hoping to accomplish? Perhaps there was nothing to accomplish. Perhaps she only thrived on hoping. For once in her life, she was doing something for her. For once, there was someone who made her heart beat faster and who intrigued her. She had something to look forward to in the possibility of seeing Arizira again and that made all the difference in the world.

Around her, the sounds of the forest were lively and obvolute. Night larks sang, insects chirped, frogs croaked and the wind howled softly and brushed through the trees. Peaceful freedom descended upon Talliea, but she still found anxiety heavy in her heart. She wished for Arizira's presence. She wished for that connection. Unbeknownst to her, a silent observer had taken notice of her entry into the glade. The observer had watched her come to the clearing the past several moon risings. They had taken in her appearance and noticed the hopeful longing on her face. Each time she had come into the glade, the observer had remained silent and only been a witness to her actions.

Arizira braced her weight on the branch she was perched on and smiled to herself as she continued to watch Talliea fidget with the edges of her skirt. The dark-skinned woman appeared nearly dejected as she looked around the glade with sad eyes. Arizira had disliked not allowing the Esu woman to know of her nearness the past six nights, but she'd not wished to make herself known until she was certain she could communicate. Finding a tree that was willing to impart unto her the knowledge of the Esu language had been trying. Most of the spirits she'd communed with had seen little benefit in parting with the information, and had been more interested in speaking to her about the coming winter.

Once she'd found a young tree, a sapling, she'd managed to express her desire to learn the Esu language and the small fir had happily obliged her. She had been slightly perturbed at the ease in which she learned the Esu words, but nonetheless overjoyed. Though she was still working to sort through the information she'd received, tonight she felt confident enough to attempt communication with Talliea.

She watched Talliea look up at the moon with a desperate longing. Aitla's rays of light bathed the Esu in an ethereal glow and Arizira could not help the awed smile that touched her lips. It seemed as though her goddess was smiling her own smile at the Esu woman.

Quietly, Arizira lowered herself to another branch without so much as rustling the leaves. Talliea continued to look up at the night time sky with wonder. Again, Arizira lightly jumped down until, with a silence born of her kind, she landed in the center of the glade in front of the other woman.

Talliea jumped at her sudden appearance and held a hand to her chest. A look of surprise mixed with one of happy and hesitant excitement. Blue eyes, slightly aglow with a silver fire, took in the contours and lines of Talliea's face. "Tah-li," Arizira said slowly, a confident smile pulling at the corners of her lips.

Talliea stood up, smiling herself, and quickly moved around the shoulder of the rock. A laugh, bright and happy, bubbled up from her throat as she came to stand in front of Arizira. "Ari...Ahmanae." She took in the silvery glow coming from the Arniran's eyes and could do nothing but openly stare. The light shine enhanced the face Talliea already found pleasing to look upon. It gave Arizira the appearance of a goddess. "I have waited for you," she  started. "I have...I want so much to learn about you. I...I mean...you...you can not understand my speech, yet I find myself desiring to speak with you. I feared I had imagined you. I came here every night hoping to..."

She stopped herself. Words were passing her lips, but she knew they left in a task that was complete folly. Arizira could not understand her words. She had no idea what Talliea was saying to her. The perpetual smirk on the Arniran’s face, and the light coming from her eyes, seemed to be ploys designed to pull the words, however useless, from Talliea's mouth. Suddenly, Talliea felt very foolish. Her only thought for six nights had been just to see Arizira again. She had not planned much further in exactly what she would do if she actually got the opportunity. Seeing the Arniran looking at her with such a perplexed expression only heightened her sense of dread.

What was she doing coming so deep into the woods, in the dark of night, attempting to make contact with a being from myth that could not speak her language? What madness, as her mother had called it, had possessed her to behave so rashly? "I-I do not know why I have come here. This was a mistake," she said, backing away from Arizira.

Before she could take another step, a soft and gentle hand wrapped long fingers around her wrist. "Tah-li, I can...see your words," Arizira said slowly in broken Esulan. Talliea faltered and open confusion washed over her face. Eyes narrowed and focused on the smaller woman keeping her from moving away. "H-how?"

Arizira, fingers still grasping a smooth wrist, smiled and looked up at the trees towering over the two of them. She was still having difficulty in the placement of certain words in the Esu tongue and several phrases had many different meanings, but she was filled with hope at knowing Talliea had understood her. "I learn," she replied, pointing to the branches covering them both in slanted and dancing shadows. "Trees listen to your people. They watch you. They hear you. I hear them, thus I learn. I see your words, Tah-li"

Talliea shook her head and looked above her. The tress had taught her words to Arizira? She was unsure what the Arniran could possibly mean by that and wondered briefly if the smaller woman had spoken incorrectly in her language. She had never heard tale or story or myth that spoke of trees as anything other than what they were. How had the trees taught Arizira anything? It had only been a short amount of time since last they met.

"You can understand me?" she asked wanting to convince herself. Arizira dropped her wrist and walked closer to her. Her eyes were wide with curiosity and the smile on her lips seemed disinclined to part. Stepping around Talliea, Arizira looked her over with a steady gaze. "Yes, Tah-li. I see you words."

Talliea nodded and continued to stand in the middle of the clearing while Arizira walked around her and took in her appearance. She replayed the Arniran's words and ascertained that "seeing" was Arizira's way of affirming she understood. The lyrical accent that accompanied the other woman’s speech only enhanced Talliea's attraction.

A soft hand suddenly traced an open palm over the outside of her right arm and caused her to jump. She turned her head and caught Arizira's silvery-blue eyes. "I mean no harm, Tah-li," the Arniran explained. Her hand glided down Talliea's arm and back up again. "Your skin does not burn?"

Swallowing at the unexpected sensation such a simple gesture evoked, Talliea watched Arizira's long, fair fingers move across her arm and wondered why her breathing was becoming more difficult to maintain. Arizira's words, again, made little sense to her. She was unsure how to answer. Surprisingly to her, she found her skin did burn and tingle the longer Arizira's fingers moved across her flesh.

"Do I not speak your words correctly?" Talliea shook her head. "You speak them well enough. I am just not able to offer you an answer. Why would my skin burn?" Arizira removed her hand and walked around to stand in front of Talliea again. She studied her face intently. "You are a dark skin," she explained, her tone stating that was answer enough.

Talliea laughed. Because her skin was dark, the other woman assumed it was painful? The child-like wonder and innocence contained in the unassuming question was as if some beautiful wind whispered on a cold morning. It was refreshing. "My skin does not burn, Ahmanae, just as I'm sure yours does not often give you a chill."

Smiling and accepting the answer, Arizira remained silent for another breath before raising her right hand and running her fingers over the bridge of Talliea's nose. The slight gasp from the Esu caused her to halt in her actions. "I hurt you?" she asked.

Talliea could not understand the feelings overtaking her. She did not know Arizira. She knew nothing about her people apart from what she'd heard around a blazing fire. In fact, she was still unsure if she even knew for certain what Arizira was. Despite having only encountered the other woman on three separate occasions, she found herself trusting her with an almost blind disregard for anything else. There was a pull she could not deny that was drawing her ever closer to Arizira. Her gasp had been brought about due to the forward nature of Arizira's touch. "No, you do not hurt me."

Arizira cocked her head to the side in a feral manner and observed her for a moment before resuming her earlier actions. Her fingers lightly ran over Talliea's cheek bones and softly traced over her eyelids. "You are able to see me plainly?"

"Yes, of course."

"Your eyes are not gifted with the light of Aitla. Shadows do not take your vision?" Though it was difficult to understand completely what Arizira meant, Talliea took the question as similar to the one about her skin color. "You think my eyes cheated due to their color?" Arizira nodded and looked up at her. "They are not?" she asked.

Smiling to keep herself from laughing again, Talliea replied, "No, shadows hinder not my vision for I am able to plainly see you in front of me, Ari." Clouds from above them moved and briefly dimmed the light shining down upon the glade. Arizira's eyes took on a brighter silver-white glow to compensate for the difference. Insects and woodland animals called out into the night and, somehow, the air seemed heavier about them.

"You are wondrous," Talliea whispered before she could stop herself, and her eyes continued to look intently upon the glowing orbs in front of her. Arizira's smiled widened and she stepped away from the Esu woman. There were so many things she wanted to know, so many things she wished to say and to ask. Yet, being so close to Talliea was clouding her thoughts much the same way Aitla was being masked above her. She had never felt so intense a connection before. Everything in her wished only to be closer to Talliea, but she could not understand why. It was alluring, but at the same time, a cause for caution, for what connection could possibly exist between two strangers?

"You are Esu, yes?" Arizira asked, breaking the silence. Talliea watched her walk around the glade on light feet. Barely a sound could be heard. Her movements were graceful and measured. "I am. You know of my people?"

"Myth is what I know. Unless you are a dream, a myth is what you should be to me." Talliea turned so that she could continue following Arizira's steps. "A dream I am not, but if I were, then you, also, would be as that to me."

Arizira stopped and turned to look at her. "What do you think I am, Tah-li?" Without hesitation, Talliea answered, "A faerie, Ahmanae." Laughter, beautiful, full and rich, echoed into the clearing. "I should think the faeries I know would take offense, for I am much too big to be as they." Smiling again, Talliea chose to answer in more definite terms. "You are Arnira and a myth you are also to me."

Both women said nothing as the information was processed by each. Talliea was amazed that her own people were myths to Arizira. How could each of them know of the other as figures of some great legend? How was it that she was seeing such a figure and interacting with her?

"You believe Arnira are faeries, Tah-li?" Arizira spoke up removing Talliea from her deeper thoughts. The Esu woman noticed that Arizira had begun to move again. "I know only what I have been told,” she answered.

"And what is that?"

Talliea scanned her eyes across Arizira's fair features once more. She found herself completely captivated by her companion. "Arnira worship Aitla, the moon. There are no men in their clans and they choose roles that are unfit for them. Esuval banished them in the yester years for their disobedience and for their unwillingness to lie with men. It is told among my people that the Arnira mate with one another, and it is that abomination that gave them their appearance. Great wars were once fought with the followers of Esuval and the pagans of Aitla. According to myth, the last of the Arnira were cleansed from the world many, many generations ago."

At the end of her telling, Talliea looked up and saw a concerned expression etched across Arizira's face. Lines marked the corners of her eyes and her lips were no longer curving into a playful smile. "You think my appearance some curse? You view the way my people love as abhorrent?"

Talliea shook her head and stepped forward, but Arizira moved away from her. The words that had left her lips had come so freely. They were words similar to what she had grown up hearing and learning. "It is only the tales known to my people, Ari."

"You do not share their tales? Believe them?"

"I am unsure. I know that I do not view your appearance as a curse, nor could I ever believe, were that true, that any curse could be so fair." Arizira's posture relaxed and she moved back into the center of the clearing with Talliea. Stepping close, she looked up at the slightly taller woman. "Aitla's blessing is no curse. She blesses us with life. We move through Her forests. We befriend Her children. Our love does not lie with the flesh, but in the spirit. What you have been told varies greatly from what the Dream Speaker has told to me. Heathens and pagans we are not, Tah-li."

Talliea did not know how to respond. Parts of the other woman's words made little sense to her. She was unsure what it meant to "love with the spirit," and a Dream Speaker was a title that barely fit within the confines of the Esu language. It was obvious, by Arizira's answer, that the Esu's version of history gave very little dignity to the Arnira. "Offense was not my intention, Ahmanae. I would learn of your people if you are willing to speak of them to me."

"Then you should first shed the skin of lies that have been told told to you. The world is more than I believe you see it, Tah-li. You must learn to see me as something other than a creature smitten by your god. My world is very different from yours."

Talliea looked back into the bluish eyes staring so deeply into her own and smiled again. "Show me your world, Ahmanae."

*  *  *  *  *  *

Several paces from the clearing, sitting along a narrow stretch of an elevated hill,  an unknown figure watched both women with disdain and suspicion. Words spoken were difficult to make out against the din of the forest, but the figure found little interest in them anyhow. What did settle in the mind of the figure as important was that they knew one of the women in the glade. Unfathomable to the figure was why the woman they knew was conversing with one such as the second person.

Protection was what the figure sitting upon the hill had been charged with,  protection of their people; protection of the annals of history; protection of the bloodlines. Stepping away from their perch, the figure faded deeper into the shadows around them and farther away from the two women in the glade. The information the figure now held would have to be known only to them until such a time came as it could prove useful.

Chapter 7: Doira'Liim

Two days after Talliea's and Arizira's first conversation, Talyn called a communion in Rae'kir to discuss the Elders' ruling on the matter of the Esu. Arizira tapped her foot nervously as she waited for the rest of the tribe to gather inside the large tree. Bela'luin cut her a passing glance but did not hold her eyes for long. A hand on her shoulder caused her to look to her right.

Cynra stood beside her. "You have been absent of late." Arizira looked around the base of the tree before finally meeting Cynra's amused expression. "I have been alone with my thoughts, Honored One. The forest allows my mind to wander and gain clarity. Much there is ponder in this time of upset." Cynra watched as the rest of the tribe spoke to one another and waited for the discussion to begin. "You have spoken with the trees, child?" Smiling to herself, Arizira nodded. "Yes. The young ones were much more willing to appease my need."

"Good. Their information proved useful?"

Talyn held up a hand to call the women present to attention. Arizira was thankful for the interruption. There was something about Cynra's line of questioning that made her slightly uneasy; it was as if the older woman possessed more information than she was willing to say. Did she know Arizira had met with Talliea?

The two women had spoken at great length two days before. They had each been fascinated with the other and asked questions regarding myth and fact. Despite their seemingly easy going conversation, it had been noticeable to Arizira that Talliea was hesitant about answering certain questions, just as she herself had been less than forth coming with information about her tribe and their location.

Since that night, neither woman had been able to meet the other again. The connection Arizira felt with Talliea was still present. It was strange and unnerving, yet almost comforting and welcome. Talliea had answered her questions about the Esu as best as she could. At times, she had appeared to be uncomfortable and had turned Arizira's questions around so that they never got answered. Her uneasiness and obvious tension over the matter of the men of the Esu had both intrigued and confused Arizira. She could not fathom why Talliea had been so reluctant to discuss with her the nature of the Esu men and the mating habits of the Esu as a people.

Time had slipped away from both women, night fading into a new day, and they had both parted company promising to speak again as soon as fortune played in their favor.

"Silence," Talyn called and her smooth voice resounded inside the hollow base of the large Rae'kir. "The matter of the Esu has been long discussed and will here now be spoken of plainly by the tribe and its Elders." A hush fell over the gathered and a palpable sense of anxiety could be felt. Talyn, standing tall and proud in the protruding extension she used as a platform, looked over the women before her and took a deep breath.

"The other Elders and I have been deep in thought the past several moon settings. Nearly two weeks have passed since first Arizira glanced the strangers in the valley. In that time, the matter of the Esu has been much debated and thought over. The Esu seem to have sprung from the deepest recesses of our imaginations. Myths and legends now walk along our borders. Some of the Elders think it wise to open communication, to try and learn of the Esu and reconcile myth with fact. Others are against any such endeavors. The stories that have been told from the lost years speak not highly of these dark-skinned peoples. If the myths are to be believed, then communication would prove a futile course. Striking early and in force seems a prudent action by some."

Murmurs arose around Rae'kir. Hunters and Elders and those gifted with a special affinity to Aitla all looked around at one another, their apprehension speaking volumes. "So what single voice of vote is there to be regarding the Esu?" Bela'luin spoke up. Talyn regarded her with a tight expression before replying. "The winter is fast upon us. It would prove to work against us to choose either option. Open war with the Esu while the bitter chill of Salira passes over the land would be folly."

"So we wait them out? If myth is to be believed, Nai'iris, then the Esu will prove quite stout in the winter. It will hinder them not," Bela'luin challenged. "Keep your place, hunter," Talyn countered heatedly. "The winter will allow us to continue to observe them. If a peaceable solution can be met, then all the more should we follow that course. At winter's end, should the Esu's will be set against us, we shall fall upon them with the full strength of the Arniran people. We will keep our eyes upon them while the winter breathes. This is the will of the Elders. Contact should be avoided until further instruction."

Arizira inhaled deeply and felt as if her Nai'iris was speaking directly to her. Despite warnings from the Elders to avoid open contact with the Esu, Arizira knew she could not stay away from Talliea. Everything about the other woman amazed her--her skin, her eyes, the coloring of her hair, the way she moved--everything.

Talliea was enchanting. Though she appeared happy and curious while with Arizira, the Arniran woman always detected a sense of melancholy when around her. It was that heavy sense of sadness that brewed just beneath the surface that kept Arizira seeking the Esu woman's companionship. She desired to understand its cause and eventually eliminate it all together.

Voices around her broke her internal thoughts and she blinked and looked around. Cynra had moved away and was speaking to a few of the Elders. Arizira noticed the way the Dream Speaker occasionally looked over her shoulder and cast her an amused smirk. Something in the older woman's eyes left her feeling exposed.

"The ruling surprises you?" The question shocked Arizira and she jumped slightly and turned to greet the speaker. Green eyes stared back at her with a playful air. Slightly darker than Arniran standard skin glowed in the light of the moon, while forest greens and browns covered a slender frame.

"Sed'dya, I did not expect to see you here. Were you not sent to trade with the tribe across the Menderway?" Sed'dya, her face long and her body lean, smiled at her friend and walked the two of them way from Rae'kir. Once outside, a chill wind blew through their hair and seemed intent on annoying them both.

"I returned two moon risings ago. I searched for you, but the others informed me you were hunting." Arizira felt herself blush as the heat rose to her face. She knew the night in question had been when she and Talliea had been together. "Forgive me. I have felt much need to wander recently. The forest allows me to forget the politics of our current situation."

Sed'dya nodded and continued walking around the tribe's center section. "So it is true then? The Esu have appeared like a mist after a storm?"

"Yes," Arizira replied, offering no other information.

"Bela'luin said you were the first to discover them?" Again, Arizira nodded, keeping her eyes trained on the trees surrounding them and trying not to appear as though she was withholding information . "Are they as repulsive as the old tales depict? As horrible as any savage servant of Esuval?" Sed'dya asked with a keen interest.

Arizira stopped and turned to regard her friend. The two of them had both been born close to the other and, early on, had developed an easy friendship. As they had gotten older, their trust and respect for the other had not diminished. Arizira had shown more aptitude for weapons and hunting while Sed'dya, by no means being inefficient, had shown a propensity for the healing arts. She was skilled with a bow and in tracking, like any Arniran, but medicinal plants and remedies were where she truly shined.

"Repulsive?" Arizira questioned. Sed'dya nodded innocently. "I have not gotten a closer look," Arizira lied, "but from what I have witnessed, repulsive would be the last way I would choose to describe them."

"Then how would you speak on their appearance?"

Pausing for a moment, Arizira allowed herself to envision Talliea. She saw in her mind the curve of the other woman's hips and the intense coloring of her skin. She saw Talliea's nearly black eyes and the fullness of her lips and the lush fall of her rich dark hair. Smiling to herself, Arizira looked up into Sed'dya's questioning green eyes.

"They're...remarkable. Exotic...different."

*  *  *  *  *  *

Talliea rolled over in her bedding and sighed. The night was high and all was nearly silent in the camp. The sound of crackling fires mixed with the rustling whistle of the wind, while night owls called across the landscape into the darkness surrounding them. Staring up at the low roof above her, Talliea exhaled sharply again and let her mind drift to Arizira. Try as she might, she could not seem to keep the other woman from entering her thoughts. When first they'd met two weeks earlier, Arizira had been some magical and otherworldly creature out of her imagination. Her inspiring beauty had captivated Talliea and left her more than intrigued.

The night Arizira had spoken to her in her own language had, somehow, made her more real and tangible. Her accent had been lyrical and melodic, and the way she had moved and walked around Talliea had been fluidic and graceful. The two of them had talked about legends and myths and tried to understand better what each race was individually.

When Arizira had asked her about the men of the Esu, Talliea had found herself unwilling to venture farther down that particular conversational avenue. Speaking of men would have brought about her societal obligations and that, in turn, would have forced her to speak of Markahn, the man who had claimed her. She had not wished to talk of her worries and pressures with Arizira.

The Arniran woman made her feel different. She made her feel alive and free. The whole world had opened up to her by just meeting Arizira, and Talliea had not wanted to change that for anything. With Arizira, she could be a different person, a person not hindered by strict rules and social stigmas. She was her own person with Arizira and Arizira asked nothing of her in return.

Sitting up, Talliea pulled the oiled skin away from the doorway of her dugout and peered outside. Three Lat'sa'val patrolled the eastern edge of the camp. A welcoming and heavy cover of silence greeted her. The men watching the borders walked aimlessly about their route, none of them truly believing any danger awaited them. Talliea felt the icy chill of a sudden breeze and shuddered. Reaching back inside her dwelling, she grabbed a heavy wolf hide cloak and threw it around her shoulders. The long silvery grey material covered her entire back and laid heavily across the front of her chest. Once outside, Talliea quickly ran in the opposite direction of the Lat'sa'val. She never once glanced back over her shoulder to see if she had been spotted.

When the dense thicket of trees and underbrush met her, she slowed her pace and watched as her exhales left her lips in a heavy fog. Her fingers were stiff from the cool temperatures and her teeth were slightly chattering. Perhaps dashing off like she'd done was not the best use of her sudden spontaneity. Very quickly, the wind picked up and was now blowing around her with a chilling touch. The sound of its howl cut around her and caused her to gasp. Was she hoping to meet Arizira? Perhaps. It had been three days since their last meeting. Would the Arniran even be out in such weather?

Talliea was used to dreadful winters. In the south, warm and humid days were common but come the winter, ice and snow and nearly sunless days were coupled with heavy cloud cover and biting wind. Despite not being unaccustomed to the changes of a coming winter, Talliea still very much disliked the way the wind continued to assault her. She began to walk again at a brisk pace in the direction of the glade. Her thoughts were fragmented, but her body continued to move. Perhaps Arizira desired to see her as well? Before she could fully enter the clearing, a hand on her shoulder nearly stilled her heart.

"Salira likes you."

Talliea turned around and was pleasantly surprised to see the glowing bluish-silver eyes of Arizira. The other woman was wearing thick pants of treated leather and a heavy jerkin lined with a soft fur and beads. A simple, but effective, tanned cloak hung from her shoulders and was clasped at the neck. Boots, tall, curved, and lined with the same fur as the jerkin, hugged Arizira's feet. Talliea saw no weapons, save for an elegant long sword hanging on her left hip.

Smiling, she stepped closer. "Salira?" Arizria nodded and looked over her appearance. "Yes, Salira is the spirit of the wind. She is known for her playful nature as well as her innate mischief." Talliea laughed as the wind chose that time to pick up and toss her hair around her face, as if confirming Arizira’s statement. "So I see," she said raising her fingers to brush her hair from her eyes. A pair of cool hands stopped her.

Arizira was standing mere inches from her face and her hands were gently brushing her hair behind her ears. Talliea stilled her movements and let herself become lost in the moment. Arizira hooked her hair around the shell of her ears and allowed her fingers to lightly trace over her jaw.

The touch was simple and innocent, yet electrifying. "You will catch your death in the forest if you only bring a cloak for warmth," Arizira chastised. Talliea, coming back to her senses, shook her head and looked down at her attire. The other woman was correct. Apart from the wolf hide cloak she'd sewn together some time ago, her clothing fared little better than she against the harsh winds. Her thin cloth night shirt barely hung to her form while her skirts continuously blew up against her legs.

"Why do you wear this inefficient material?" Arizira asked stepping still closer and running her fingers along the waist band of Talliea's skirt. Talliea fought to keep her heart from pounding too loudly inside her chest. Why was her body responding the way it was to Arizira? She'd never felt anything like the sensation currently sending shivers up and down her spine and into her fingertips. Was she feeling attraction? Arousal? Markahn had never made her feel like Arizira was. How was she to differentiate?

"All women of the Esu wear this type of dress," she finally responded. Arizira scoffed to herself and walked around Talliea. Her eyes traced over the flimsy clothing and the open skirts and the loose fitting shoes. Why would such clothing be allowed in so cold a wind? More than ever, Arizira found herself curious as how the men of the Esu conducted themselves. Were they the ones who allowed their women to be so...under dressed?

"All women?" Arizira asked, her hands taking the front of Talliea's cloak and wrapping it around her more tightly. "Why?" Shivering, Talliea watched every movement Arizira made. The winds were depressing and the temperature was steadily dropping. Somehow, in the Arniran's presence, she hardly seemed to notice.

"Easier access," she stated simply. Arizira's hands stilled at the implication in the words and she looked up into dark brown eyes. Talliea said nothing more, but her tight and grim expression was enough. "Let us get out of the wind, Tah-li. Come, follow me."

*  *  *  *  *  *

Arizira led them quickly and efficiently through the darkened woods. The light of the moon was dying as the clouds above became more and more abundant. Talliea was nearly and completely blind. The only thing that kept her from tripping and falling was Arizira's hand in hers. The Arniran stepped lightly and assuredly and moved them both deeper into the forest.

Arizira's eyes glowed fiercely in such a lack of illumination and Talliea was mesmerized furthermore. They walked for long moments in the opposite direction of the glade. Arizira spoke little during their trek as her thoughts were on getting Talliea to shelter.

Finally, the two women came to a stop. Talliea realized they were standing before a massive canyon. The moon's rays shone down briefly in a futile attempt to offer assistance. "Wait here, Tah-li," Arizira said before moving away into the dark and foreboding area around them. Before Talliea had time to panic, Arizira returned. In her hand a blazing torch was held and its light, more than the moon, offered her an unparalleled view of the landscape around her.

Five to seven feet in front of her, the land dropped into the deepest recesses of the canyon before them. Steep cliff walls rose on either side of the formation in vivid colors of red and brown. Talliea could just barely make out a stream in the bottom of the canyon. Far into the distance, her vision failed her and she could see no more.

"This is called Li'nas Dei by my people. In your words, Tah-li, it means Light's Way. On the other side of the canyon, there is a delta I have often ventured. I will take you there sometime. Your eyes can not appreciate this place without the sun. Tomorrow, you will see."

Talliea smiled as she looked around and into the canyon. The way the flickering flames of light from the torch lit up and danced across the cliff walls, she was unsure how the place could be any more awe inspiring. "Thank-you," she whispered, turning to look back at her companion. Arizira nodded and gently grasped her elbow. "Thank me when we are both away from Salira's taunts."

Talliea once again followed Arizira a short distance away from the canyon. They went up a steep slope to the left that raised them slightly above the cliff's face. The light from Arizira's torch allowed Talliea better movement and she noticed a cave come into view.

"Quickly, Tah-li. When Salira behaves this way, rain is sure to follow." Talliea picked up her skirts and held them against her body so she could easily and more quickly make the last few steps toward the cave. No sooner was she inside then a clap of thunder sounded in the sky and bounded off the many rocks around them.

Arizira moved them further into the back of the cave and into a wide center opening. A fire pit was dug into the ground and surrounded by many rocks, stones, and pebbles. Arizira laid her torch against the rocks and pulled a small pack from under her cloak. Talliea watched her remove a small bit of kindling before moving into the darkness of the cave. When she returned, her arms were full of several small logs of wood.

"You have been to this cave before," Talliea noted. Arizira placed the logs into the pit and then laid the kindling atop. She let the torch touch the pit and soon a blazing fire came to life. The torch, she placed into a depression in the ground next to the fire. "Yes. Li'nas Dei is a place for contemplation. It is said to light one's way when all other avenues seem in shadow."

Talliea looked around the cave and then back behind her where the wind was howling and rustling in the trees. Thunder continued to clap and crack in the far distant sky and a strike of lightning flared into being and lit up the mouth of their sanctuary. Arizira had been correct: rain was coming. Her sudden predicament came to her in a crazed rush. She had left her camp without thinking much on anything. She'd grabbed no supplies or let anyone know of her departure, not that she could have. Her thoughts had been on Arizira and before she'd fully been aware, her body had led her deep into the forest.

With the rains coming and her having no idea exactly where they were, Talliea realized she was stuck until Arizira could lead them back. What would her mother say when she awoke and found her missing? What would Markahn think? He had been more than patient with her summer after summer. Long had he desired to be her mate, and longer still had she denied him to retain her freedom.

He was not a bad man. Arrogant, perhaps and overly confident, but a bad man he was not. At times, Talliea felt that he was her friend, but then she would realize the absurdity of her thoughts and dismiss the notion. The men of the Esu did not befriend the women of the clan. They used them like any other tool or resource.

"Tah-li?" Talliea turned back around and swallowed her rising panic. What was she to do? She had been away from her people for hours, yet there was nowhere else in the world she desired to be than with Arizira. The reasons why were unimportant to her. She just knew she felt at home and at peace with the other woman.

Despite that, her reality hung over her head like a rain cloud and she was worried what would happen to her when she finally returned to her camp. "I should not be here," she said quietly. Arizira turned her head to the side in a curious manner. She sat next to the fire and its flames licked around the edges of their confinement in a playful dance. "Where should you be?"

Talliea walked over to the fire slowly and hugged her cloak tighter about herself. Something about Arizira's eyes made her feel as if the woman was seeing parts of her she had yet to identify herself. Coming to the outer rim of the fire pit, she looked down at Arizira and felt her throat constrict. She was so beautiful. Talliea could not understand her desire to do nothing more than look at Arizira. She tried to convince herself that her appreciation of the Arniran was purely that, an appreciation of life in all its forms, but she knew it was something more.

"I should be with my people. They will be angry if I am not there." Frowning, Arizira continued to look up at her with penetrating eyes. "Angry? You are not free to wander to your heart's desire, Tah-li?"

"No, my heart does not often have its whims met, Ahmanae." Arizira stood up and removed her cloak from around her shoulders. Walking to Talliea, she gently pressed it to her chest and wrapped it tightly around her. The two of them stood by the fire and listened to the soft pitter-patter of rain as it began to fall. "Tell me, what would your heart ask for if a request could be granted?"

Talliea, still standing in front of Arizira, smiled woefully and replied, "Freedom. My heart would ask for freedom." Arizira took in her words and felt her own heart tighten in her chest. Talliea did not act like a prisoner. Since their meeting, Arizira had thought the other woman had been allowed to spend her time as she wished. That she spent that time looking for her had only delighted the Arniran.

"You are not free?" Talliea shook her head no. "You are a...a..." Arizira struggled with how to say what she wanted in the Esu language. Try as she might, she could not produce the word she desired. It was...missing. "You are a hisulir? she asked finally.

Talliea scrunched her brows. "A what?" Arizira stepped away and the sound of heavily falling rain mixed with the howling chill of the wind. Thunder cracked in shattering booms and lightning occasionally lit up the dark nighttime sky. "I do not see your word for it, Tah-li. You are...hindered? Your life is not your own? You are obligated to another's will? You are a hisulir?"

Understanding dawned on Talliea and she nodded her head before stepping closer again to the fire. "A slave?" she questioned.

"Is this your word?"

"In a sense, yes. My life is my own, barely, for two more seasons. I have responsibilities after that of which I am bound. My life then belongs to another." Arizira frowned again and let her gaze get lost in the leaping flames. "You belong to no one, Tah-li. All the women of your people are this way?"

"Yes."

"And who do you all belong to? Esuval, your god?" Talliea laughed bitterly. Arizira's innocence moved her. To be so untouched by the world she knew was refreshing. How different they were! "No, Ari. Once a female in my clan takes a mate, her life is then an extension of his. She bears him children, keeps his home, and prepares his meals and clothing. Her desires are no more. She lives only to satisfy her mate."

Silence washed over the two women. Arizira's mind was buzzing with questions. Why would any woman wish to become part of such an establishment? The men did not value their mates? They simply used them for pleasure and comfort? "That is wrong, Tah-li. Your spirit can not soar if its wings are clipped."

Talliea said nothing. She studied the Arniran's profile intently. "Do you have a mate?" Arizira attempted to keep her voice even and her question innocent. Despite being told to stay away from the Esu and limit contact, something about this particular woman drove a madness into her being and kept her from adhering to her duties.

Swallowing, Talliea paused and looked down into the fire between them. Her heart thudded against the inside of her ribs and her mouth felt dry. She did not wish to discuss these matters with Arizira. Yet, how was she to deny someone who was so wholly interested in her in every way? Glancing back up, she noticed Arizira's amazing eyes were still watching her.

"I do not have a mate, but very soon I shall. There is a man in my clan who has...declared his claim to me. The rules of my people allow me some time to either agree to mate with him, or to wait for others to state their wish to take me as a mate." Arizira's nose turned up and her flawless features took on a sour appearance. "That is distasteful. You are not free to fall in love and allow your spirit to find that which completes it?" she asked.

Talliea swallowed and her dark eyes took on a sad light. "No, Ari. For Esu women, there is only duty. It is believed that we do our part for Esuval by giving ourselves completely to our men. Once a woman is bound to her mate, she then is marked forever by the tattoos of his house. What little freedom I have now will be gone forever once I am mated and my skin inked."

Arizira stood up and walked over so that she could kneel before Talliea. She noted the defeated sag in the Esu woman's shoulders, and the woeful cast of her dark eyes as she sat next to the fire. Someone so lively and curious and captivatingly beautiful should not be kept in a cage! "Tah-li, your life is your own. I will not speak against your belief, but I will tell you of my own. Aitla teaches that love is the highest emotion we can hope to achieve in our life. The women of my tribe believe that true love is a once in a lifetime occurrence. Attraction comes and goes, but it is thought by my people that true love is the ultimate goal of our lives."

Talliea smiled softly as she listened to Arizira's words. They sounded wonderful and beautiful and she wished her own life could be governed by them. "A few of us are gifted with finding our," Ari paused for a moment and furrowed her brow in thought, "Doira'Liim," she finally said. "What is that?" Talliea asked, her eyes staring deeply into the silvery-blue in front of her.

Arizira smiled and reached up to tuck a stray strand of hair back behind the Talliea's ear. "It means "spirit mate." It is shrouded in mystery because so few of us have ever actually experienced it. The bond is said to transcend earthly bounds. It is a connection more powerful than anything under Aitla."

Outside, the wind picked up rock and twig and leaf alike. Muddy pools sloshed against the base of mighty trees as the storm continued to ravish the landscape. Talliea could not seem to take her eyes away from Arizira's. The easy and gentle smile the other woman was offering her somehow seemed to calm her, and her thoughts no longer lingered on her dilemma. How strange it was that someone she had only spoken with twice before was able to elicit such a sense of tranquility in her.

"Your world is far more beautiful than my own, Ahmanae," she whispered.

"Then we shall make your world as mine." Talliea took a deep breath and sighed. Arizira made it sound so simple. Her world was so untainted and pure it made her heart ache. "My life is only mine for two more seasons. What worth is beauty if I can not keep it?" she asked, saddened once again by her limitations. Arizira studied her face and every wrinkle in her expression. Silence stretched between them for some time. Finally, Arizira spoke up. "Would you prefer to become an animal in a cage so soon, Tah-li?"

"No."

"Then, I shall continue to show you my world until such a time comes that a decision must be made on your part." Talliea turned her head to the side. Arizira's manner of speech was captivating to her. The other woman always spoke with such conviction. Her words were sure and straightforward. It was a welcome change.

"What decision would that be?" Without hesitating, Arizira replied, "Whether or not you shall lead your life by your own choosing or have another enslave your will."

*  *  *  *  *  *

Elsewhere...

"Yes, she is with her again. The prophecy is holding true."

A pause and the speaker began talking once again.

"The child is coming into her name. All is as it should be. Soon she shall understand. She will see. The two of them will unravel everything. The Child of Whispers has met her goddess..."

Chapter 8: Markahn

"Tell me more about the...Dorah Lim." Arizira smiled at Talliea's pronunciation and cast her eyes across the fire until they met deep brown. "The Doira'Liim," she corrected with an easy tone. "There is not much more that I could impart, I'm afraid. So few of my people have found their Doira'Liim that many of us have grown to believe it nothing more than fanciful boasts of our more colorful tribeswomen."

Talliea laughed at Arizira's words and felt much of her tension leave her body. The rain still poured heavily outside, much as it had the past hour. Upon realizing that she was going to have to accept the consequences of her actions, she had decided to appreciate the extra time the storm was allowing her to spend with Arizira.

"What I can tell you," Arizira was speaking again, "is that a woman's Doira'Liim is the apex of her life. She will live only for her spirit mate, as her mate will live only for her. They become a part of one another in so vital a way that great feats have been said to transpire when the need was high."

"So, a person's spirit mate completes them?" Talliea asked. Staring into the fire, her eyes shifting from blue to silver, Arizira nodded. "Yes. It is believed that our spirits have several life cycles and, if we are lucky, they meet their other half in the form of a powerful mate. One's Doira'Liim can be found again and again, from one life to the next."

Silence settled around the two women. The storm raged just outside the mouth of the cave, lightning and thunder creating a din of spectral amazement. Inside, the only sound was that of the fire as it crackled inside its deep pit.  "It's a beautiful idea," Talliea said at long length. "It is more than an idea, Tah-li. It is a great and life long search by several of my people who hold it to be true."

Talliea took in the other woman's words. They were spoken strongly and with immense earnest.  "You believe it to be true," she said, her words a statement rather than a question. Arizira finally looked up from the dancing flames and met her eyes. A strange tingling sensation fluttered up Talliea's neck and set her nerve endings on fire. She felt as if Arizira was looking deep inside her and truly seeing everything that made her who she was.

"Yes. I believe in the Doira'Liim, Tah-li. Something so beautiful can hardly be nothing more than a notion. Aitla made us and gave us life. Why then would She not also create our other half so that we could fully appreciate the gift She bestowed upon us?" Talliea was unsure how to answer Arizira's question. Was an answer even required? Women of the Esu were not permitted to discuss the will and teachings of Esuval. They were required only to submit and follow the tenets laid down by the Lat'sa'val. Discussing theology was a foreign idea to her.

"I...I am unsure how to respond." Arizira's face scrunched up and her ears perked back. "You do not know how to offer an opinion?" Talliea felt her face darken as she blushed. "The women of the Esu are not often asked their opinion. You are asking for mine?"  Rising, Arizira crossed the distance between them and came to stand above Talliea.

"Stand up," she demanded. Talliea looked up at her with an unsure gaze. "Why?"

"Do as I say."  Begrudgingly, Talliea did as she'd been instructed and rose to her full height. Arizira was slightly shorter than herself and she found she liked gazing down into the other woman's unusual eyes.  "Why did you stand?" Arizira asked.

"Um...because you told me to."

"But you did not wish to do so?"

"No, but you said--" Arizira stopped her with a finger to her lips. The unexpected contact caused Talliea's heart to flip inside her chest. She could feel her breathing trying to escape her.  "You preferred sitting next to the fire?" Arizira asked.

Talliea nodded and swallowed past her nerves.  "Then why did you stand?" Arizira asked again. Raising her hand, Talliea reached up and gently took Ari's wrist so that she could move her hand away from her lips. Swallowing again, she held the other woman's gaze for a moment. "You are attempting to show me the value of my opinions, yes? My desires? My wants?"

Arizira smiled at her in a coy manner and took the opportunity their closeness provided to study Talliea more intently. Her eyes trailed down the slope of Talliea's nose and back up to meet dark, intense eyes. Something unknown stared back at her but she avoided trying to name it. The air inside the cave became dense and time seemed to stretch as Arizira slowly took in Talliea's features. Her wrist was still grasped by a tentative hold, but that point was hardly noteworthy. Allowing her eyes to move again, Arizira trailed them further down Talliea's face until they met a perfect mouth with full lips.

She noticed the slight part in those lips and took in the slightly ragged way Talliea was now breathing. Was it possible that she felt the same things Arizira felt? To her knowledge, the Esu women never laid with one another. Perhaps Talliea's response was discomfort? Arnira were extremely tactile by nature. Arizira had never stopped to think how her actions would be interpreted by the Esu woman. Talliea's reaction to her could be nothing more than uncertainty.

"Do I make you uncomfortable?" she asked slowly. Talliea felt the question whispered across her lips and everything in her begged to fall into Arizira's touch. She was far from uncomfortable. Though she couldn't put a name on exactly how she felt, she knew for a fact discomfort was not what was making her heart beat faster.  "No," she replied in a husky tone.

Arizira shook her wrist free from Talliea's grasp and raised her hand to smooth her fingers across the stretch of tanned skin revealed by Talliea's night shirt. "Arnira are tactile, Tah-li. A lot of what we know and learn is obtained through touch. That sense tells us much. You must tell me if my nature offends you, for it is not my place to do with you as I wish. You are your own person and you have opinions, likes and dislikes, and desires. I will not treat you as others obviously have."

As she spoke, her fingers continued to glide across the sensitive expanse of Talliea's sternum. She could feel the other woman's heart beating unsteadily beneath her touch. Talliea said nothing for a moment and let her mind ponder over Arizira's words. She was unaccustomed to be treated as a...person. Her mother desired her to do her part for the clan. She cared little for Talliea's independence and headstrong nature. Markahn, though patient, desired for her to take her place with him and do as she was supposed to do. The few women Talliea spoke with from time to time did not share her outlook on life. They rarely asked questions about her or her perspective. To them, she was a problem, a heretic.

Here with Arizira, Talliea felt like a newborn babe come into the world. Suddenly, she was independent. Arizira treated her like an individual. She expressed concern in regard to her feelings. She asked her opinion and expected a different view. Glancing down, Talliea watched Arizira's fingers dip lower and trace along the edge of her collar. The act caused her stomach to tighten and a warm flare came to life somewhere below her waist. Despite Arizira telling her that Arnira were tactile, something in Arizira's touch spoke of something more...

Something deeper.

Just as she was about to speak, Arizira cocked her head to the side suddenly and her keen ears perked up to some unknown sound.  "Ari?" Talliea questioned. The Arniran stepped away from her and held a hand up between them, silencing her. Stepping in sure strides, Arizira quietly removed the curved blade at her hip and walked slowly toward the mouth of the cave.  The rain was still falling in heavy sheets and the wind continued to whip about, but the thunder had abated and lightning no longer lit up the inky black sky. Talliea noticed, as Arizira moved farther away from her, that the Arniran's eyes were glowing intensely.

Arizira made not a sound as she made her way to the exit of the cave. Her movements were smooth and flawless. Once at the open end of the cave, she crouched and peered out into the darkness beyond. The blade in her hand, beautifully crafted as it was, shined with an eerie light. Talliea remained where she was. She was unsure of exactly what had put Arizira on alert. Several minutes passed as the woman continued to look out at the darkened landscape. Finally, she stood and made her way back toward the fire pit.

"We are not alone. Two of your people are out in the weather. They move in search of something unknown to me, possibly you. Their feet do not lead them with strength in their direction. They are aimless, but they move this way. Douse the fire quickly and follow me," Arizira said, sheathing her blade.

Talliea was unsure what to do. Should she make herself known to the men heading their way? They were most likely looking for her, having noticed her absence. She was surprised they had ventured so far out. How much land had her clan explored? One part of Talliea thought it best to not risk exposing Arizira, while the other part of her wished no part in being led back to her camp like a beast.

"Tah-li! We must cover our being here. This is where you make a decision." Arizira was next to her once again. She leaned down and picked up her tanned cloak and fastened it around her neck. Dousing the flames of the fire, she turned back and her eyes glowed in the sudden darkness. "What do you choose, Tah-li? There is a passage in the back of this cave we may take. It will lead us to the outer edges of your camp where it opens into another cave."

Talliea struggled to control her rising panic. Everything was happening too quickly. Just mere hours ago, she'd been lying in her dwelling thinking of her life and Arizira, and then she'd been dashing through the forest with the cold nip of the wind at her back. Now, her people were delving deeper into the woods around them searching for her and heading in her general direction. Arizria watched her, her sight not hindered by the pitch black around them. Her ears continued to track the footsteps of the approaching Esu. They were getting closer.

"We can not linger here, Tah-li. Stay if you must. Your people will not react kindly to the knowledge of my presence. I must go." Talliea shook herself from her thoughts and turned in the direction of Arizira's voice. Reaching out blindly, she was gratified to feel a soft hand take her own. "I will follow you, Ahmanae."

The two of them quietly headed farther into the dark corners of the cave.

*  *  *  *  *  *

"Here!" Lao'dahn called over his shoulder. The rain was beginning to calm, and through the failing sheets of rain he could easily make out the outline of a shadowed cave. "What is it?" a voice called against the weather. "A cave. It may provide us shelter while we decide on our course."

Markahn stepped up next to Lao'dahn and peered up the side of a steeply rising hill. When he'd crossed by Talliea's dugout on his nightly patrol, he'd hoped to find her awake so that the two of them could speak of their imminent joining. What he'd found was an empty sleeping roll with no trace of his betrothed.

Standing tall and powerfully built, Markahn cut an impressive figure. His skin was dark, enriched by the sun, but not nearly as deep as Talliea's. Dark black hair, pulled back into a short braid, fell against his back. His eyes were unusual for an Esu. Instead of the brown worn by so many, his were an eerie shade of grey. Dark tattoos crossed over his chest and spanned across his back. The black ink also colored his face, vertical lines falling over his eyes and down his cheeks.

To many of the Esu women, he was pleasing to look upon. A fine provider and future father he would most assuredly make. That he was intent on mating with Talliea caused much strife between several of the women. They  viewed Talliea as unclean and unworthy of one such as Markahn.

"She would not be so far out, Lao'dahn," Markahn said in a voice that was both deep and carefree. "With the moon being blocked by the storm, she would have stumbled in the dark. There are no signs of her having come this way." Lao'dahn sighed, rain dripping from his brows down the steep slope of his nose. His features were lean and cut. His nose was slightly hooked and his brown eyes were a smoky almond shade, giving his long black hair, pulled into a tail, a darker hue. Shorter than Markahn, but more compact in stature, he was a strong man and a boon to the Esu clan.

"Either way, we need shelter from the storm. The rains are easing but the respite could be short lived." Markahn conceded and followed his fellow up toward the cave. Peering inside, his eyes were met with nothing but tenebrous and foreboding blackness. He held his hand out in front of him and closed his eyes. Muttering a near silent invocation, a soft and dim light began to form around him. It engulfed his body and lit up the area immediately inside the cave. Lao'dahn, upon noticing the action, placed the torch he'd been carrying against the lip of the cave.

If anything was inside, two hands bore better chances of victory than one. "Let us go," Markahn said, walking inside the cave. The light around him continued to illuminate his path.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Arizira stopped against the wall of the narrow path she and Talliea were traversing and turned her head back toward the center of the cave. She felt Talliea collide into her back. "Why have we stopped?" the Esu woman whispered next to her ear.

Arizira allowed several moments to pass while she listened intently. Faint sounds could be heard coming from above. Voices were speaking but their words were muffled. Turning to look back at Talliea, she paused when she realized how close the other woman was. Her companion's nearness set Arizira's body aflame with sensations.

"Your people are sharing space with us, Tah-li. They now venture where we have parted." Talliea's body seemed to sink into itself as tension sprang inside her. She was suddenly fully aware of the trouble she'd gotten herself into and in no way found it amusing. What was wrong with her? She was acting rashly, even for her! Her life may not have been ideal, but it did offer stability. Her late night excursions and obsession with a woman she barely knew, let alone understood, had landed her in a world of uncertainty.

Yet...

Despite knowing the dangers, the thrill and excitement in the whole matter could not be denied. Talliea found her time with Arizira exhilarating. The bright glow of Arizira's eyes was looking back at her, and their shine offered Talliea a brief bit of illumination. Her entire body was flush against the smaller woman's back and her right hand was still confidently held in Arizira's left. "What do we do?" she asked, speaking as softly as she could.

Arizira listened a moment more. One voice, deeper than the other, exclaimed about something she could not make out. Footsteps picked up once again and grew louder by the second. "They have grown agitated," she said, staring into Talliea's eyes. "Their steps are heavy and move with purpose. They are coming."

*  *  *  *  *  *

Markahn entered the cave and moved cautiously inside. The light glowing about his body afforded him an unchecked view of the interior. A few paces in front of him, he noticed what looked like a recent fire. Stepping closer, he paused when he heard Lao'dahn step behind him. "This cave has been used before," Lao'dahn noted.

"It would appear that way. Have any of our men come this far?" Lao'dahn shrugged. "I am unsure. Only a few small scouting parties have attempted to spread into the woods." Markahn grunted and turned back around. He stepped once again in the direction of the fire pit he'd noticed. A deep shallow had been dug into the dirt and several smooth faced rocks and stones encircled the area. The smell of smoke dying away assaulted his nostrils.

"A fire burned here not long ago," he said. Lao'dahn looked around the low walls of the cave wearily. Slipping his hand behind his back, he deftly removed the long bo-staff that hung there. "None of the Lat'sa'val have been out tonight," he said, eyes still taking in every shadow and curve of his surroundings.

Markahn held his hands over the forgotten fire and studied the area with the light provided. He noticed a tall torch set into the ground, its life also having been snuffed. Someone had been in the cave.

Recently.

Very recently.

They could very well still be in the cave. Looking around on the floor bed of the cave, Markahn scanned the vicinity for any footprints. Very quickly, he noticed an unusual set. They were not deep, nor were they easily read, but they were present. The person they belonged to appeared to have shuffled and moved around nervously. Could it have been Talliea? Had she ventured out into the storm and sought shelter in the cave? If she had, where was she now?

Markahn followed the few fleeting prints in the dirt until they stopped suddenly a little further into the back of the cave. "Someone was here. The tracks are hard to read, but they lead in this direction. Come! It could be Talliea."

*  *  *  *  *  *

"They will overtake us ere we depart," Arizira said and her voice was anxious. She turned her head back and perused the unyielding tunnel around them. A short way in front of her the path split. One way led them into a slightly larger tunnel that would eventually meet the other side of the cave. The other way was a dead end. It was barely high enough to walk through and its sides were more narrow than her current shaft. It also was covered in a great darkness, deeper than normal night, and held a small niche that rock shielded against unwary intruders.

She heard the footsteps of the Esu drawing ever closer and a soft light could just faintly be made out by her perceptive eyes. Quickly, she made a decision and prayed for the best. Ensuring her hold on Talliea's wrist, Arizira tugged the other woman with her in the direction of the dead end path. She heard a slight gasp from Talliea but continued to force them through the tight gap and into the well-placed niche.

There was barely any room for her chest to breathe as she found herself completely against Talliea's front. Leaning forward a small amount, she brought her mouth to the other woman's ear. "We must remain very silent. If they pass this way, our fortune will hold if we draw no attention to ourselves. My eyes will lead them to this section. It will be dark, Tah-li, but I have you. Fear not."

Arizira closed her eyes and the two of them were thrown into complete darkness. Dropping her head, Arizira allowed it to come to a rest on Talliea's shoulder. She opened up her other senses and kept the one arm she could still move wrapped around the Esu woman's waist. The quick thrum of the Esu woman's heart was pounding into her own chest, and she could feel shallow breaths as Talliea fought to keep her breathing under control. The footsteps came closer and no longer sounded muffled. A soft light flared just outside where she and Talliea stood. Arizria, with her eyes still closed, could not see the light fully but was aware of its existence.

Talliea's heart quickened and she felt Arizira gently squeeze her hip. Feeling the Arniran so very close to her, and having her pressed so intimately against her body, was doing strange, yet wonderful, things to her. Talliea could not name the sensations she was experiencing, but she knew she was enjoying them. A sudden voice intruded upon her thoughts.

"Do you see anything?" Lao'dahn asked. Markahn peered into the farthest reaches of the cave that his light provided him. The tunnel they were in was narrow and confining and extremely restricting. His tall frame could not stand upright and he already had difficulty turning around. "No, no...I see nothing. Whoever was in the cave must have long since departed. She did not come this way."

Talliea bit her lip to hold in her gasp of surprise. She recognized the voice of the second person. It was Markahn. He knew she was missing! Her sense of dread rose tenfold. Conflicting emotions coursed through her. Excitement warred with anxiety while despair raged against apprehension. She could feel Arizira's hair as it tickled her nose and smell the calm, woodsy scent. The other woman's head on her shoulder stoked an unknown flame deep within her. Being crammed into a tiny niche, barely able to breathe or move, was less than her idea of a grand time, but being so wonderfully close to Arizira somehow made up for that in small measure.

"We should return to camp. Perhaps she has returned or been found by another," Lao'dahn suggested. Markahn looked around one last time before sighing and turning to follow his friend back up to the center of the cave.

Arizira remained as she was for another long pause. She followed the sounds of the two Esu's footsteps until she could no longer hear them. Opening her eyes, she blinked a few times and looked up at Talliea. The other woman was biting her lower lip and a stricken look marred her features. Arizira moved and slowly eased away from her. "I will lead you back to your people. Mayhap they will arrive once you are safely back."

Talliea nodded but did not move. "They did not notice our presence, Tah-li. I will have you back soon. Tell them you were out by the stream that runs along the western edge of your settlement." Talliea turned her head to look at Arizira. How much did the Arniran know about her people's whereabouts? She had yet to learn if there were any other Arnira in the area. The only thing that kept her to the belief that there was, was Arizira's talk of 'her people'. She did not speak of them in a passing manner, nor did she come across as one who had lived alone for many seasons. She spoke of her people in a way that led Talliea to believe that there was a whole community of Arnira somewhere in the forest. A tribe.

Arizira speaking of the stream the women of the Esu used for bathing told Talliea that she had been watching their campsite. How many others knew of her people's existence? Was she endangering her clan by refusing to let her curiosity over Arizira die away? A hand on hers brought her out of herself. "Come, failira, the way is not far off."

Talliea allowed herself to be led through the darkness. She did not speak again, nor did she ask what Arizira had called her. Her thoughts were heavy as she moved closer to her camp. Once at the end of the tunnel, Arizira helped her out of the cave and showed her a thin path that would lead her back down among her people.

"Take heart, Tah-li. All hope is not yet fled from the world." Turning around, Talliea took in Arizira's features. She appeared conflicted. "Will I see you again?" she asked. Arizira smiled. "Is that your heart's wish?"

A blush, but silence.

"I will find you, Tah-li, if my world you still desire to see." Talliea nodded and turned to follow the trail with her eyes. It would be easy enough to sneak back into the camp without unwanted eyes gazing upon her. She could tell Markahn and the others that she had been bathing and decided to follow the trail into the woods out of curiosity. They would be slightly upset, but most likely chalk it up to her simply being her.

"Ari, I--" Turning to where the Arniran had been, Talliea realized that the other woman was gone.  She had disappeared in the night.

Chapter 9: Places of Concern

The following days proved to be trying times for both Talliea and Arizira, though for different reasons. The Arnira began their annual winter preparations: increasing their food supply, mending and re-lining thick and sturdy articles of clothing, sharpening blades and tightening bow strings and such. Many winters Arizira's tribe had seen and each woman knew her part well to ensure the overall survival of the tribe.

Arizira, with the extra demands her calling required, had been unable to search for Talliea. Each time she'd thought of losing herself in the forest, one of the other hunters had required her aid or the Elders had tasked her with added duties. Many times, she'd thought of Talliea and wondered how things had gone once the other woman had returned to her people.

Looking down at the heavy blanket in her lap, she smiled. Though she was in no way a outfitter of any ability she did, like most Arnira, know the basics of the skill. It was required learning for all Arniran children. The winter did not play favorites or deal out any grand gestures. One caught out without proper warmth one would soon find an early death for their insolence.

The blanket she was working on was thick, soft, and made from the hides and fur of two white wolves. She had hunted the pair over the course of several days and followed their movements. Bringing them down with her ashwood bow had been easily accomplished. The others of the tribe had remarked upon her skill and thanked her for the added provisions.

Arizira planned on presenting the blanket to Talliea. She had noticed the wolf hide cloak the other woman wore from their last meeting, and hoped the wolf was a symbol of some kind. Perhaps Talliea felt an affinity to the animal or thought the wolf a powerful protector? Holding the blanket up to eye level, Arizira checked the seams and ran her hands along the underside to check for even texture. It wasn't anything remarkable, not of old Cynra's skill for sure, but it would provide much needed warmth to Talliea with the approaching winter.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Talliea had followed the westward trail down along the gurgling stream and entered her clan's camp without being noticed. She had made a show of pretending to have been bathing and, once discovered by Markahn and Lao'dahn, confessed to them that she had been exploring the area and gotten away from herself.

The story had been easily believed by Markahn, who had taken her into his embrace and thanked Esuval for keeping her safe. After scolding her for her carelessness, he had kissed her and walked her back to her dugout. Talliea, upon passing Lao'dahn, had noticed the dark and drawn expression on the young man's face and shivered against Markahn's side.

Lao'dahn had not believed her tale.

Nine days passed in a slow and painful turn for Talliea. She was closely watched and her mother set her extra chores to be about. The days bled into one another while her nights were filled with Markahn's hands exploring her body. Though the two of them, by Esu law, could not lay together as a man and a woman until they were joined, Markahn took every opportunity he could to feel her skin and caress her breasts and thighs and show her all the benefits of becoming his mate.

She hated every minute of it. Markahn was never rough with her. He never touched her directly between her legs or forced himself upon her in too intrusive a manner. He kissed her, and ran his hands along her breasts, and let her feel his arousal against her thighs and with her hands.

Though she despised the entire act, there was little she could do about it. As a woman, it was not her place to deny a man, especially the man who had claimed her as his mate. So for over a week, Talliea suffered through Markahn's nightly visits and hoped she would eventually learn to enjoy them. Ever her thoughts were cast upon Arizira. She wondered where the other woman was. She wondered if Arizira had ever been touched against her wishes or forced to participate in something that made her feel ill.

Recalling the few times Arizira had touched her, Talliea wondered how different it might feel to be caressed by a woman instead of a man.

*  *  *  *  *  *

On the tenth night following her return to camp, Talliea was lying in her dwelling lost in her thoughts. Markahn had yet to show up and she found herself grateful that her body was still her own. It was late and sleep was heavy in her eyes. Just as she was about to drift off, thinking Markahn had decided to let her be, firelight suddenly drifted into the room as the oiled hide covering her doorway was yanked open.

She turned her head, expecting to see Markahn, and was surprised to look into Lao'dahn's smoky eyes. "What are you doing he--" she started, but he was upon her in a flash. He clamped his large hand over her mouth and settled himself across her hips. His free hand grabbed her right arm and slammed it into the ground, effectively pinning her beneath him.

"Who are you to question my movements?" he spat into her face. She struggled against him and felt hot tears prick the corners of her eyes. "How dare you think you can speak as if you are my equal! You are a woman! Why Markahn insists on putting up with you is beyond my thought. You forget your place, but I will remind you!"

His words were spoken with barely restrained vehemence. They sparked fear and panic inside Talliea's stomach at a vivid level. She tried to move her left arm, but Lao'dahn leaned forward and the arm keeping her mouth shut cut off her efforts. She felt him become aroused and a new wave of panic washed over her.

"You think you're so very clever, don't you? We have been aware of your sneaking off into the woods."  Her eyes widened. Did they know about Arizira? "Oh, yes, we've watched you leave many times. Where your feet take you we are unaware."

Talliea felt a minute bit of her anxiety fade away. The Lat'sa'val did not know about Arizira. That at least gave her a small amount of comfort. "Who do you think you are?" Lao'dahn asked. "You are a woman! You are no different than cattle! Your existence is to service us! I've watched Markahn summer after summer wait for you! You!"

Lao'dahn rocked his hips and she felt his erection push against her. Her stomach twisted itself into deep knots and new tears fell from her eyes. She could not believe what was happening. Lao'dahn could not take her. He would be banished for having relations with her since another man, Markahn, had already clamied her. Unless he challenged Markahn's claim, Lao'dahn was in violation of Esu law. What was he thinking?

"You're a beautiful woman, Talliea. I'll give you that. It is your mouth that gives you trouble. You use it too often and not in a way that is enjoyable. I won't allow you to continue to defy Esuval. You need to be reminded of your place."

Talliea continued to struggle against his grip and managed to free Lao'dahn's hand from her mouth. "Y-you can not do this. Markahn will have you banished," she cried, her voice thick. Lao'dahn laughed at her and used the hand that had been covering her mouth to reach down and roughly squeeze her breasts. He rocked his hips against her again in a forceful thrust. "You feel that? That is the power of Esuval, woman. It lives in us. In men!  As a woman, you can not fully appreciate that power, even when we mate with you, but, I'll show you."

Talliea watched as he reached down to his pants and pulled loose the strings around his waist. "Don't think about calling for help. I will tell Markahn that you came to me. Who do you think he will believe? A whore who can not do as she should or a man of the Light?" Talliea knew he was correct. Everyone in the clan believed that she was a problem for many. Her refusal to join with Markahn summer after summer had branded her a near heretic. None would believe that Lao'dahn, so adored, would have forced himself on her.

"That's it. You're learning your place," he said, rising up slightly to lower his pants around his thighs. Talliea felt bile rise in her throat when Lao'dahn's erection stood between them. She did not know what he intended, but the powerlessness that she felt was enough to cause her tears. Lao'dahn grabbed his length in his hand and used his other to grasp her around the neck. She struggled to breathe through his tight grip and turned her head to shut her eyes.

Lao'dahn squeezed her throat tighter. "You will keep your eyes upon me. Do you understand?" he rasped angrily. She swallowed as best she could and nodded. Never in her life had she felt so alone and humiliated. Markahn touching her was bad enough, but he never made her feel like Lao'dahn was. He was trying to strip her of her independence, her dignity. He was forcing himself on her and degrading her just because she had been unfortunate enough to be born a woman.

For her free thought and free will, she was being punished by a man who sought to teach her her "place." Lao'dahn looked down at her, his hand still grabbing himself, and began to pump his length hard and fast. She watched him rock against her, each movement bringing his erection closer. Each harsh thrust roughly pressed her back into the cold dirt. His hand on her throat kept her from moving away and repulsion flared inside her in a hot wave. Though she'd felt Markahn's erection against her before, she'd never had it so close.

This was her first time and it sickened her. The thought of Markahn mating with her in their future brought her to new levels of despair as she watched Lao'dahn through watery eyes. Grunts issued from the man's mouth and a sick smile spread across his face. He was rocking against her so hard that her back was scratching along the dirt and rock beneath her bed roll. Pain coupled with her fear. The longer he pumped himself, the harder his grip on her throat became.

Just as she felt she was going to pass out, Lao'dahn jerked violently on top of her and a hot, thick liquid spread across her chin and neck. Very quickly, that warmth began to cool and become sticky. Lao'dahn sighed contentedly and slipped his pants back up to his hips. "This is Esuval," he said, touching the evidence of his ejaculation. "This brings life into the world. You are only the vessel. You carry our seed. That is all."

Talliea was horrified. She felt dirty and ugly and used. Even being unsure of exactly what had happened, she still felt that she had just been assaulted. Lao'dahn released his hold from her neck, revealing red prints where his fingers had been, and reached over her to a small basin of water. Grabbing a piece of cloth, he dipped it into the liquid and quickly washed away the evidence of what he'd done.

Talliea remained unmoving while Lao'dahn roughly cleaned her chin and neck. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and a ball of painful sickness was welling up in the pit of her stomach. She wanted to scream and cry and lash out, but she knew any one of those things would upset Lao'dahn.

"I have been merciful to you this night," he said tossing the piece of cloth aside and quickly tying his pants. "Esuval guided my actions and it was He that showed you gentleness." Talliea, unable to stop herself, scoffed at him and opened her mouth to speak. Before she could do so, Lao'dahn leaned down against her, shoved his hand between her legs and cupped her sex through her skirts. He brought his mouth against her ear and whispered harshly. "Were it not for Esuval and for the fact that Markahn has claimed you as his, I would have put myself inside you and shown you the full strength and power of our god! I would have driven you into the dirt where you belong, woman! Esuval kept me from doing so, otherwise you would have had difficulty walking. I would have made sure of that!"

Talliea felt her jaw begin to tremble and fresh tears begged her for release. Lao'dahn rubbed his hand between her legs before sitting back up to look down at her. The feeling of his fingers in so intimate a place was enough for Talliea to wish for death in that moment.

"Do you accept the mercy of Esuval, Talliea?" Frozen with panic, Talliea was unsure how to respond. Did he really want an answer, or was he only trying to intimidate her farther. Lao'dahn moved his fingers between her legs and painfully pinched her. She went to cry out, but he placed his hand over her mouth again.

"Do you?" he demanded. Talliea nodded, her eyes closing, as her tears slipped past her closed lids. "Good. Esuval will allow you a second chance to remember your place. Waste not that chance on whimsical ideals."

Lao'dahn stood and left without another word. Rolling over, Talliea brought her knees up to her chest and cried.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Several hours later saw the break of the sun upon the horizon of the world. Life began anew for the Esu clan, and fires were soon surrounded by small groups talking, cooking, and sharing stories. Talliea walked around the settlement with her head down. Small progress had been achieved on the stone houses the Esu men were working to complete, and winter crops could be seen on the plains beyond. A group of women worked to treat several rough animal hides while another group peeled a variety of vegetables.

Talliea walked over to a lone fire and sat herself beside it. A brisk early morning wind blew through her hair. Around her shoulders, her cloak was wrapped and she nuzzled into it further to block herself from the blowing chill of wind.

Markahn walked up to her and came to stand beside her. "Talliea," he said in an even tone. Shoulders hunched and eyes downcast, Talliea responded, "Yes, Markahn?"

"Look at me," he said and she did as he told her. "You have two seasons left to you before we join or you are banished." She nodded. "Yes."

"I would greatly desire that you be happy when we are mated." Talliea could say nothing in return. She knew happiness would be ever elusive to her. What would make her happy would be to become her own person. To love who she wished. To be valued and appreciated. There was nothing Markahn could say or do that would ensure her happiness when they joined. She wondered if he would be rough with her like Lao'dahn had been. Would he move against her in so harsh a way that her back would be covered in bruises like it currently was? Where was the happiness in that existence?

"Of course, Markahn," she said and hoped it would be enough to send him on his way. After last night's events, she wished she could disappear and never be looked at by another person again. Markahn glanced around the camp and saw his friend, Lao'dahn, coming toward them. He smiled and called out to the man. "Lao'dahn, a moment. I would have you bear witness to these words."

Talliea, upon hearing Lao'dahn's name, jerked her head up in a wild panic and looked over her shoulder. She watched as the man smiled crookedly at her and came to join them. "Markahn," he greeted warmly before allowing his gaze to land on her. "Talliea."

"I have words that Talliea will greatly wish to hear," Markahn said. Talliea looked back down and kept her eyes cast upon the fire. She could feel Lao'dahn's eyes on her back and his presence brought to her mind the night before. Whatever Markahn's words were, she wished he would say them quickly so she could get away from Lao'dahn.

"Talliea, you have two seasons left to you," Markahn said again. "I give you those two seasons to do with your life as you please." Looking up suddenly, Talliea met his eyes. She heard Lao'dahn's gasp of disapproval behind her. "Markahn, you can not speak truly. You are giving Talliea complete freedom? After her actions?"

Markahn nodded and smiled at his betrothed. "Yes, I am. She is, from this point forward, until such a time as we join, free to come and go as she so desires. None will stop you, Talliea, but know this: once you leave the borders of our camp, you leave also our protection. It is my hope that you will sate your wanderlust so that other lusts can then fill your mind."

Talliea could do nothing more than stare up at Markahn in complete bafflement. He was giving her freedom? She no longer had to worry about getting caught? She could meet Arizira anytime she chose and have not the worry of time? She could get away from Lao'dahn?

At the thought, the man stepped around her and moved to Markahn's side. "This is a mistake. She will bring only trouble!" Markahn dismissed his friend's words. "Then trouble she will bring, but only to herself. It is the risk she must take if her freedom she desires so greatly. Mayhap it will show her the value of our clan and of her place within it."

Though he spoke to Lao'dahn, his eyes remained locked on Talliea's. "I am without the bonds of my position?" Talliea asked and Markahn nodded. "When?" she asked.

"As of right now. I will speak of my decision to the rest of the clan. Lao'dahn has borne witness to my words and so their truth is verified. Go as you please when you please." Talliea stood up on shaky legs and started into Markahn's grey eyes. His generosity unnerved her. He was granting her free reign over her own life? For two seasons, she had only herself to answer to? Looking into his eyes, she wondered if perhaps she could grow to love him. He was not without kindness and he was so very different from Lao'dahn.

Thinking of him caused her to turn her gaze upon the man. Lao'dahn eyed her with open contempt and disgust. She fought the extreme urge to laugh at him and instead stepped around the two men. "Then I choose to depart now," she said.

"Then go," Markahn replied before turning around and taking Lao'dahn with him. As promised, none tried to stop her when she crossed the borders of the camp, just as none followed her once she was safely among the towering trees of the forest.

* * * * * *

She moved through the forest for many strides. Time became lost to her as she stepped over stones and passed through tangles of vines and fallen leaves. She headed in the general direction of the glade she'd first discovered, but soon turned her feet farther north. The glade was too close to her camp. It was too close to Lao'dahn.

Moving along the northern edge of tall trees that housed the glade nearby, Talliea noticed a small stream of water that most likely stemmed from the pond in the clearing. Following it, she soon came upon a wide and very open area. Rock formations, silvery-grey and white, rose high towards the sky and reflected the shadows from the tall pines around them. She stepped down a small incline thick with pine needles, and walked further into the secluded section.

All she desired was to put as much space between herself and Lao'dahn as possible. She did not desire to give him an opportunity to follow her. His actions, the way he had moved on top of her, were still too vivid in her mind. She was cold and her feet ached from so much walking, but still she kept moving. Despite being hungry, she moved deeper into the forest and the secluded section she'd stumbled across.

Far in the distance, rising above the horizon's rim, Talliea noticed a great peak capped with fine white snow. As she came fully into the area, she realized that at its center was a huge body of steaming water. Flat rocks broke the surface of the pool in a strange pattern, and the heat coming from the pool enticed her closer. She bent down once at the water's edge and gingerly dipped her fingers into the steaming spring.

It was hot but not overly so. She'd discovered a thermal spring! Shedding herself of her clothing, Talliea quickly submerged herself into the inviting heat. She did not stop to think on her actions. She felt the warmth of the water mix with the rising steam and nearly all of her sorrows melted around her. Dipping her head under the water, she scrubbed at her face and neck until she felt confident that Lao'dahn was no longer on her skin.

As she looked up at the trees and rocks keeping guard over her, she sighed and smiled happily to herself. She was free to remain as long as she wished. No one was looking for her and there was no worry of having to sneak back into the camp later on. Her feelings of anguish from the night before seemed so far removed that she could almost convince herself the experience had never happened. When her skin began to burn slightly with the heat of the spring, Talliea waded back to the edge of the water but stopped.

Her clothing was missing. Had some animal come amongst her while she'd allowed her mind to drift? Perhaps Lao'dahn had followed her? The thought left a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Scanning her eyes around the spring, she held her breath as near silence met her ears. Apart from the gentle lap of water and the songs of birds, there was nothing else to help her understand what had become of her clothing. Though the spring was warm, she knew once she was on dry land again, the chill of winter would have her.

"Missing something, Tah-li?" A voice startled her from behind causing her to jump in the water. Turning around, she looked up and saw Arizira sitting on a low tree branch that extended over the spring. In her hand were Talliea's missing articles of clothing. The other woman was smiling down at her with a playful expression, and over her shoulder was a white fur cloak or blanket of some kind.

Talliea briefly wondered how it was that Arizira seemed always to know where she was. Her thoughts drifted for a time until she realized she was completely naked. How long had Arizira been watching her? "Give me my clothes," she demanded, keeping her body under the water.

Arizira turned her head to the side, unsure what to make of Talliea's tone. All playful mischief drained from her face and she lightly let herself fall from the branch and onto a flat and smooth rock above the water's surface. "Of course, Tah-li. I was merely having fun and meant no insult." She left Talliea's clothing on the rock and jumped to the land around the spring in one easy motion. Keeping her back turned, she waited for Talliea to dress.

No sounds of movement met her ears and she turned back around to find the other woman in the same spot, her eyes still looking in her direction with suspicion. "Tah-li?" she asked. Talliea looked from where her clothes were to where Arizira stood. "What are you doing here? Have you been following me?" she asked in a cold and accusatory tone.

Again, Arizira shrank back from Talliea's blunt response. She could not understand why the Esu woman was so upset with her. She had not been following Talliea. No, she had set out the day before, once her tribe was fast asleep, and wandered through the forest in deep thought. She'd grabbed the blanket she made for Talliea just in the hopes she would stumble across her.

As she'd been walking, a sudden feeling washed over her. The feeling was the same one she'd experienced ever since meeting Talliea. Somehow, when Talliea was in the forest, Arizira knew about it and was always able to find her without difficulty. She could not explain how she did so.

"No, Tah-li, I have not shadowed your steps," she said cautiously. "I have just let my feet lead me where they may. Was chance that brought me to you." Talliea was silent for a moment while she digested the other woman's words. Arizira's eyes spoke of honesty, and her body language told Talliea that she was not sure how to handle her strong words. Relaxing slightly, she moved toward the rock where her clothes were.

Arizira turned her back again, sensing her friend's desire for privacy, but spoke over her shoulder. "Use your cloak to dry yourself, Tah-li, so your remaining clothes do not keep water. I have something that will aid in your warmth." Talliea did as Arizira suggested and soon found herself fairly dry. She dressed in her skirts and blouse and met the Arniran woman on dry land.

Arizira turned around and smiled shyly before presenting the blanket over her shoulder. "I made this for you," she said. "It will keep you warm while the winter holds the land." Talliea took the item and felt guilt consume her. She'd been rude to Arizira and spoken rashly. Her words had not truly been directed at the other woman, but with recent events, the idea that yet another person was choosing to violate her and her privacy had been too much.

"I'm sorry," she whispered and looked up into Arizira's eyes. With the sun so bright in the sky, the Arniran's eyes were a vibrant shade of blue. "Thank-you." Arizira smiled and nodded. Her eyes moved over Talliea's face. It had been ten days since they'd last seen one another and Arizira had missed Talliea greatly. More so than she believed she should. A darker spot along the Esu woman's neck caught Arizira's attention and she raised her hand before thinking. Her fingers softly grazed across Talliea's skin and instantly she was assaulted with a strong influx of emotions.

Panic.

Fear.

Desperation.

The emotions were not her own; that much she knew. They were Talliea's, or at least they had been. She heard Talliea gasp and her body tensed beneath her touch.

"Someone hurt you," Arizira said. Though her eyes were open, they did not look at Talliea. They seemed to look through her. She continued to move her fingers across the other woman's skin while the feelings relentlessly fell upon her. What was she experiencing?  Reaching up with her right hand, Arizira pushed Talliea's collar aside and brushed her fingers along the top of her breast. The touch was not sexual, but exploratory.

Somehow, through touching Talliea, Arizira was experiencing the feelings she had experienced when she'd received the marks on her skin; when someone had brought her pain. "Someone hurt you," she said again, hands moving in a search for answers. "They put these bruises upon her body."

Arizira's words were frantic and rushed. Her accent was heavier. She felt sick and saddened, but was unsure if the emotions belonged to her or to Talliea. "Who hurt you? Who hurt you?" she asked over and over again. Her fingers continued to brush across the bluish and black bruises of Talliea's neck and chest.

Talliea was frozen, unable to form a complete thought. Something was happening to Arizira, but she could not venture a guess as to what. She wondered how the other woman knew of her incident. Were Arnira able to read thoughts? Was that what Arizira meant when she'd told Talliea that Arnira learned through touch?

When a hand moved further down her chest and brushed across her nipple, Talliea's whole body tightened and she was immediately sent back to the previous night. She felt Lao'dahn roughly squeezing her breasts and she panicked.

White. Hot. Panic.

"No!" she screamed and pushed Arizira away from her. "No! You can not just touch me as you wish! You can not!" She was no longer seeing Arizira. Instead, her eyes looked upon Markahn who used her body night after night in the hopes that she would grow fond of him. She saw Lao'dahn on top of her, thrusting against her with his erection in his hand. She saw one more person taking advantage of her and she could not stop her body's violent reaction.

Arizira looked at her with wide eyes and felt her heart break. Her touch had not been meant to bring pain. She had only been trying to understand. When she'd realized someone had hurt Talliea, her mind had been lost to her and she'd only sought to help. Talliea's pain had been her pain.

Seeing the panic and the hurt in the Esu woman's eyes shattered Arizira and ripped at her heart. "Tah-li...I will not. Forgive me. I desired only to help you, to understand. I am sorry." Talliea cried at her words and her body shook as she wrapped herself in the blanket Arizira had given her. Falling to her knees, the full magnitude of what had happened to her finally broke from within.

"Ari," she cried. "Ari."  Arizira rushed to her and fell beside her on the ground. Talliea grasped her vest tightly and continued to cry.

Chapter 10: Remedies and Words

Arizira was unsure how to respond. Everything in her wanted nothing more than to hold Talliea close. She wanted to soothe away whatever had so frightened her and let her know that things were okay. That she was okay. Judging by how Talliea had reacted to her touch before, Arizira faltered and let her hands hover just above the other woman's shoulders.

Talliea was crying in ragged sobs and her hands were grasping at Arizira's vest and sleeves. Her touch was frantic and without direction and it pained Arizira all the more. Talliea's head was against her chest and her shoulders trembled violently. Deciding to risk deeper physical contact, Arizira slowly lowered her right hand until it gently met Talliea's wet and dark locks. She used her other hand to bring the blanket up further and secure it around Talliea's back.

"I have you, Tah-li. I have you. You are safe with me," she said in a soft whisper. Her hand on Talliea's head moved hesitantly as she tried to calm the upset woman. She kept her touch light so as not to startle her again. "You can not...you can not," Talliea cried.

Arizira did not know if Talliea was referring to her being unable to keep her safe or if she was still upset about her earlier touch. Something had happened, something horrible. That much Arizira knew. When she'd noticed the bruising, a heated and dark emotion had overcome her. Her hands had moved in an attempt to ascertain the extent of Talliea's injuries. She had not meant for that touch to bring about panic.

The emotions -- Talliea's emotions, that had come to life in her so vividly had both surprised and unsettled her. She had never experienced anything close to the encounter before.  Who had hurt Talliea and why had they done so? Had Talliea been punished for being away with her?

The thought brought a heavy sense of dread to Arizira. She suddenly felt responsible for whatever had caused Talliea such pain. Gently rubbing the Esu woman's neck, she brought her head down until it met the back of Talliea's and wrapped her arms about her tightly and securely. "I am sorry, Tah-li," she said, her voice heavy. "I am so sorry."

For several breaths, the two women remained huddled together on the forest floor. Arizira rocked Talliea in a gentle sway and hugged her tight against her body. Her hands soothed over Talliea's hair, neck, and shoulders in an attempt to bring her comfort.

Finally, after a time, Talliea's sobs lessened and her body began to shake with less force. Still, Arizira held her and tried to make her feel safe and secure. When Talliea lifted her head and looked into her eyes, Arizira saw a pain so raw and an ache so deep, she wished she could take them upon herself and spare Talliea anything further.

"I am sorry," she whispered again. Talliea looked upon her sadly and released a trembling sigh. She brought her right hand to Arizira's face and cupped her cheek. Her thumb, nearly against her will, ran a soft trail across her chin. "You did not do this," she said and her voice was hoarse. Her fingers gripped Arizira's chin, the contact somehow grounding her, and felt herself leave the dark place she'd gone.

"Someone hurt you because you were away, you were with me," Arizira pressed. Shaking her head, tears drying on her face, Talliea licked her lips and replied, "Your presence is not known, Ari." Hands dropped from Talliea's body. "Then why are you marked as you are?"

Talliea hesitated. There was no way she could explain what had happened to someone like Arizira. The other woman had never even encountered a man and her world was so very different from her own. Arizira was free and pure and without any restraints. Her childlike wonder about the world was too beautiful a thing for Talliea to tarnish in any way. "You would not understand, Ari."

"Help me to, Tah-li. Who hurt you?" Arizira insisted. Talliea let her fingers fall from Arizira's face as she sighed and backed away from her. The ground near the thermal spring was warm and the sun felt good upon her skin. "Please do not ask me to speak of it. I would not wish to upset your innocence. It does not matter, Ari."

Arizira's face showed her confusion and her eyes looked at Talliea with minor hurt. All she wanted to do was help. Why would Talliea not allow her to do so? "You are in pain, Tah-li, and you were frightened. That does matter. I felt what you felt. Why was this done to you?"

Struggling to keep her emotions in check, Talliea stood up and walked away from Arizira. The blanket wrapped around her shoulders was thick and soft and kept the wind's persistent bites to a minimum. It was clear to her that Arizira was not one to let an issue lie. She felt responsible for her ordeal without even knowing what exactly had transpired. Talliea could not handle what that meant. Her mind was a chaotic jumble of confusion and her heart was still beating slightly faster than normal in her chest.

What had Arizira meant when she'd said she felt what Talliea felt? How was such a thing possible? Turning back around, her eyes found the soft blue of the other woman and she asked, "You told me that Arnira learn through touch. Is that how you shared my feelings?"

Arizira stood up and brushed herself off. Talliea noticed, for the first time, a long curved bow slung over her shoulder. Her attire was similar to the last time Talliea had seen her, except for the fact that she was more heavily armed. Aside from the bow and quiver over her back, two slanted blades with large leather bound handles hung on either hip. A necklace of various gems and beads was around Arizira's neck, and her hair was pulled back away from her face with two small braids resting by her pointed ears.

"I...do not know how I felt your panic, Tah-li," she answered honestly. "Such a thing has never happened to me before." Talliea tried not to let her disappointment show on her face. She'd been hoping for a more involved answer. Such a thing would have taken her mind off of her current troubles and given her another matter to think upon.

"I am sorry I touched you as I did," Arizira continued. "Know that I would never seek to upset you in any manner. I was lost to the experience and my hands moved in a search for answers, not for anything more."

Talliea studied Arizira's face and, without a doubt, she knew the other woman was speaking the truth. The veracity was clear in her eyes. Arizira did not look at her like others did. She did not look at her as if she were property. She did not look at her as if she was less than anything or anyone else. When Arizira looked at her, Talliea felt like a person. She felt valued and important. She did not feel like a "vessel" or like "cattle".

No one looked at her the way Arizira did. No one. That alone was enough for Talliea to accept her apology. "Okay," she said, holding Arizira's eyes. An uncomfortable and uneasy silence moved around them. Talliea felt foolish for having taken out her pain and frustration on Arizira and Arizira was unsure how to approach Talliea without upsetting her.

Shuffling on her feet and beginning to feel the chill of the weather, Talliea ran her hands over the soft underside of the blanket Arizira had made her and marveled at the softness. "You made this?" she asked. Arizira blushed and smiled shyly before nodding. "I know it is nothing of great skill. Working hides is not a trade I have fully mastered, but I wanted you to have something warm. You always look cold to me."

Talliea felt a smile overcoming her face. No one had ever made her anything before. Never in her life had she been presented with a...a gift. Knowing that the woman before her had done something so selfless and without expectation moved Talliea. "It's beautiful, Ahmanae. How did you know I liked wolves? Did you feel that, too?"

Arizira began to walk around the thermal spring, her feet barely disturbing the pine needles along the edge. "No, I did not feel that, Tah-li. Your cloak is from wolf hides. I had hoped the animal was a guide of some kind for you."

Again, intense and strange feelings welled up inside Talliea. Arizira was not only kind, but observant. Knowing that observation and keen sense of study had been directed toward her caused Talliea’s stomach to flare inside itself and spread a pleasurable warmth down to her fingertips. "My people do not believe that way, Ari," she said.

Arizira turned her head in a way Talliea was quickly learning meant that she was curious or slightly put off. "What way, Tah-li?"

"We do not believe in animal spirits or guides. I just appreciate the beauty and power of a wolf, that is all." Walking over the rocks that lined the outer side of the spring, Arizira came to stand in front of Talliea. She came no closer and made no indication that she intended to do so. "Maybe your people do not believe that way, but perhaps you do, or perhaps the wolf favors you."

The wind slowed in its furious gusts and the sun rose higher into the sky overhead. The chill from early morning began to fade like a drop of dew upon a blade of grass, and a slow and shy heat began its first attempts to claim the day. Talliea regarded Arizira for a moment. "Are wolves important to your people?" she asked, unsure how to proceed.

Looking around  at the trees and rocks, her eyes following the movements of birds and insects, Arizira let her gaze fall upon Talliea before replying, "All creatures are important, Tah-li. Every animal in the forest has a personality."

"What is the wolf's personality?" Talliea asked. Arizira smiled at her, something so simple and easy and freely given, and took a cautious step closer before answering. "The wolf is thought of by my people as being Aitla's chosen. It has a strong heart and a powerful mind. The wolf is loyal and values intense bonds, whether they be toward family or otherwise. Wolves are skilled with communication and friendship. Anything I should desire to know about the forest, the wolf would be able to impart unto me. It is the belief of my people that the wolf is the way Aitla chooses to present Herself to our eyes."

Talliea was without words for many moments. Arizira's culture sounded so much more rich and deep and connected than her own. The idea that everything was alive and valued and thought of as an equal was incredibly appealing to her. Her people believed that Esuval placed the beasts of the wilds upon the world only to be used by them, to ensure their survival. They believed they were the masters of all things that swam in the seas, flew through the sky, or traveled across the plains.

"If the wolf is so important to you, Ari, why did you kill one to make this blanket for me? Would not Aitla think unkindly toward your actions if she was, indeed, a creature like them?"

Arizira laughed, her hands resting on the handles of her blades, and turned her head to the side again. "No, Tah-li. I did not take the lives of the wolves for sport or undue gain. They gave their spirits to the rest of the forest. Their hides are now keeping you warm, their teeth go toward adornments and charms for my people, the meat of their bodies now gives life to others. Whether for warmth or healing or idle uses, the wolves continue to live because my people have kept it that way."

Talliea did not respond. Arizira's customs and beliefs were beyond her scope of the world. Instead, she nodded and looked around the area they were in. Scrunching her shoulders up and stretching her back, she hissed suddenly when the action caused her a sharp pain.

"Tah-li?" Arizira asked, concern heavy in her tone. She closed the distance between them. "It is nothing," Talliea lied. Arizira walked up to her but kept herself from reaching out and touching the other woman. "Let me see, Tah-li."

"No," Talliea said, shaking her head and stepping back. She did not wish to be further reminded of the experience from the previous night. The thought of Arizira seeing what Lao'dahn had done sickened her.

"You are hurt. I can help to ease the pain but you have to trust me, Tah-li. I will do nothing without your permission." Arizira looked at her pleadingly and held out her hand. "Please." She did not know what had happened to Talliea. She knew only that someone had hurt her. They had left marks on her skin and brought a sadness to her spirit. The severity of the injuries was also unknown to her, but she knew she could help if only Talliea would allow her.

Talliea wrapped her arms around her body in a defensive gesture and felt her throat constrict. Her stomach hurt and was in knots and seemed intent on dropping into her feet. Did she really want to bring Arizira into her pain? Did she want to risk the other woman seeing the extent of her injuries and thinking her as ugly and dirty as she felt?

One side of her greatly protested against Arizira's help, while the other wondered if perhaps she could take away some of her pain. Talliea had not fully examined herself and was unsure of exactly how much damage Lao'dahn had done, and she was alone in the forest. Allowing Arizira to look over her injuries did have the potential to give her some peace of mind, as well as ensuring she did not have to return to her clan so soon after leaving.

Releasing a shaky breath, she nodded slowly and reached out for Arizira's hand. Arizira gently took it in her own and smiled, encouragingly. Talliea noticed her touch was not threatening nor was it overpowering. It was without any struggle. It was...

Innocent.

*  *  *  *  *  *

"We must get out of the weather. I do not wish for you to be hurt again, Tah-li. I will look over your injuries and leave you be so that you may return to your people."

The two of them were walking down a slight decline along the western side of the thermal spring. Arizira's hand still lightly held Talliea's as she led them toward warmth and shelter. Talliea walked slowly and cautiously. With every step, she was getting farther and farther away from her people. The trees of the forest all began to look alike to her and she briefly panicked wondering if she was only walking toward a greater peril.

Maybe she would be better off living out the end of her days in the woods of Arizira's people? As quickly as the thought came to her mind, she disregarded it. She was not skilled in survival in any way. If the cold did not claim her, then surely starvation would. Was death the price she was expected to pay for her freedom?

Hearing Arizira's words brought her back to herself and she shook her head to clear her thoughts. Such questions did not require an answer at present. "I do not have to return to my people, Ari." Arizira stopped in her tracks and turned around to look up at her. "I do not understand," she said with a furrowed brow.

Smiling, despite her situation, Talliea elaborated. "The man who has claimed me is allowing me to move as I wish for my last two seasons. None of my people will look for me if I do not return. I am free...or as free as I can be." Blue eyes stared at her in wonder and...happiness?

"If this makes you happy, Tah-li, then I, too, will share in that with you. Come, we are near," Arizira said turning back around and moving toward a low dipping rock formation. As the two of them drew closer, Talliea realized that the rock was an extension of the larger formations she'd seen at the spring. A low overhanging of stone stretched out in a steep arc and underneath it the ground of the forest gave way into the base of the rock. It appeared as if a cave, but was more shallow and not nearly as large.

"The heat from the spring carries in these rocks, Tah-li. No fire we will need. The leaves of the trees above us fall down into this structure and create a soft area for sitting. Many times, I have come here when rain, snow, or wind hindered my way."

Talliea, again, was amazed at how well Arizira knew the forest. The other woman was never lost and always walked with sure steps. The forest truly was her home and she moved about it with a freedom Talliea envied. That Arizira was showing her the world as she viewed it was a beautiful thing to her. A welcome thing to her.

The two of them stooped and entered the small area underneath the arch of rock. It was not high enough to stand upright, but it was wide and Talliea could sit up without difficulty. Arizira joined her and quickly started to remove her weapons. The rocks were warm to the touch and Talliea could not help but marvel at the formation. Very quickly, however, that heat made itself very much known and the blanket around her became a burden.

She removed it and placed it carefully behind her. Arizira had finished removing her weapons and was now looking through a leather pack. "Do you know what dohethra is, Tah-li?" Talliea shook her head and continued to watch Arizira intently. The other woman removed a few items wrapped loosely in simple cloth and a small phial of clear liquid. Next, she pulled a small wooden bowl from her pack and a thick rod shaped device with a heavy head.

"This is a mortar and pestle," Arizira explained when she noticed the confused look on Talliea's face. "It is used by my people for grinding materials for the use of remedies." Talliea reached out and picked up the wooden bowl. The sides were smooth and without any flaws in the wood. "You use this to heal?" she asked.

The Esu rarely used natural medicines. Apart from the Sage woman of her clan, no one relied upon such archaic practices. The Lat'sa'val used the power of Esuval to heal wounds and ameliorate pains, if Esuval deemed the person's life worth saving.

"Yes. I am no healer, Tah-li, but this will help your pain." Talliea handed the mortar to Arizira and watched as she unwrapped two of the pieces of cloth. Inside them, a whitish-brown bark laid. Next, she placed the bark into the mortar and poured a small amount of the liquid from the phial on top of them. A sweet scent met Talliea's nose and her worries lessened.

"This is dohethra, Tah-li," Arizira explained, indicating the liquid. "I believe, in your words, it means willow bark. This is an extract from the leaves of the tree. It eases pain. The bark is used to create a paste. Once it comes into contact with the dohethra, it becomes warm to the touch and is very soothing. I will need your permission before I do this, for my hands will be upon your body."

Pausing, Talliea looked up at Arizira and swallowed nervously. The last two people to place their hands on her had done so as if they had all the permission in the world. They had not thought of her feelings or how their actions would be perceived by her. Lao'dahn and Markahn had touched her because they felt they had a right to do so.

Arizira -- beautiful and pure Arizira -- was asking for her permission to touch her? Her touch was not even going to be in the same manner as the others, it was in a healing capacity, yet she was still seeking Talliea's approval beforehand. Talliea's appreciation and trust of the other woman grew and she felt a powerful connection with her.

"I desire only to take away your pain. You will not speak to me of the event but, please, allow me to ease your suffering," Arizira said. In that moment, Talliea realized that whatever happened in her future, her life had been made a tiny bit better for just having met Arizira. "O-okay," she finally said.

"I have your permission?"

"Yes."

"You must tell me if I make you uncomfortable, Tah-li."

"I shall."

Arizira was silent for a moment while she mashed and grinded the bark into the mortar. The liquid, the dohethra, mixed with the paste and soon made a very smooth and creamy like creation. It was nearly clear and smelled very sweet.

"Spread your blanket out beneath you, Tah-li." The two women moved around each other to allow Arizira's request to be met. Once situated, Arizira hesitated and looked up at Talliea. The other woman was facing her with an unsteady expression. "What do I need to do?"

Arizira replied, "I need for you to turn around with your back to me." Talliea did as she was asked and glanced back over her shoulder. Her hands held the front of her shirt. She heard Arizira move up behind her and tensed before she could stop herself.

"I will not hurt you, Tah-li."

Releasing a breath, Talliea tried to calm herself. It was not that she thought Arizira was going to hurt her. It was the vulnerability in her position. She could not see Arizira and that set her nerves on fire with apprehension. "I know," she breathed out.

Arizira reached up and slowly brushed her hair away from her shoulders. Once the thick locks fell over Talliea's chest, she said, "I need for you to remove your shirt, Tah-li."

Panic rose into Talliea's chest and she felt her hands tighten their hold on the front of her top. She closed her eyes and attempted to steady her breathing. The request wasn't anything less than what she should have expected. How was Arizira to apply the paste if her shirt was in the way? The rational part of her knew that, but the part of her that had been abused...

Breathing out her panic slowly through her lips, Talliea opened her eyes and began to undo the strings holding the blouse together. Once loose, she let it fall back against her shoulders. Arizira's hands came up, ever so cautiously, and helped her to lower it. Talliea felt the warmth from Arizira's touch and it caused something deep inside of her to react. Her stomach knotted itself, but it was different from the nervous feeling she'd experienced with Lao'dahn. Almost, it seemed as if it were...welcome.

Arizira lowered her hands and her fingers grazed across the dark skin before her. Her heart pounded in her chest and she felt herself start to tremble. What she assumed was normally flawless dark skin was, instead, marked with angry scratches and deep scrapes. Bluish-black bruises dotted Talliea's back, some with deep impressions, while red whelps crossed her shoulders.

She wanted to cry.

How someone could have hurt someone as beautiful and kind as Talliea was unfathomable to her. The other woman must have endured horrible pain to be covered as she was in such dark and livid marks. Her fingers lightly traced over a deep purplish bruise by Talliea's shoulder blade and she felt tears form in her eyes. "I am so sorry, Tah-li."

Talliea swallowed and held her breath tight inside her chest. She bit her lip and refused to let herself cry. Arizira's touch was so very different from what she had experienced in her life. It was gentle and tender and was not forced upon her. Arizira's fingers were soft, not rough like Markahn's and Lao'dahn's, even with her weapons' use. Where the others had made her feel ugly, Arizira was bringing to life emotions Talliea could not name.

"Do not be," she replied over her shoulder. "Why was this done to you?" Arizira asked, her fingers continuing to trace every scratch and bruise along Talliea's back. Grabbing the shirt around her waist, Talliea pressed it against her front to cover herself, and nearly gasped when she felt Arizira's fingers dip into the arch of her lower back. "It was a lesson, Ari, to remind me of my place," she ventured, hoping any bit of information would satisfy Arizira's curiosity.

Arizira shook her head and her unshed tears blurred her vision. The longer she studied Talliea's injuries, the more information that was brought to her mind's eye. Unlike before, the emotions were not as powerful or overwhelming. "Rock did this," she said in a far away voice.

"Yes," Talliea said, unsure how Arizira held that information. Her back arched when she felt Arizira's fingers graze the sides of her waist and a tightness formed between her legs. Arizira took the movement as one of discomfort and removed her hands from Talliea's body. "I did not mean to upset you," she said, reaching for the mortar.

She dipped her fingers into the creamy concoction and looked up at Talliea. "Are you prepared?"

"Yes." Talliea, though having said she was prepared, was however not prepared for how good the experience was going to make her feel. The paste, as Arizira had said, was warm against her skin and seemed to seep into her body with a cooling sensation. She heard a sound leave her lips and grasped her shirt in her fist.

Arizira's fingers, slim and delicate, were in fact strong and nimble. She massaged the paste both gently and firmly, into and onto Talliea's back in such a masterful way that Talliea could barely catch her breath. She felt her pain begin to fade the longer Arizira applied the medication. Closing her eyes, she fisted her shirt between her fingers and felt a small moan fall from her mouth.

"Tah-li?" Arizira asked from behind her, her fingers stilling for a moment. Talliea licked her suddenly dry lips and opened her eyes again. "Do not stop," she pleaded. Never before had she been taken care of as she was now. Never before had another brought her such physical joy.

The ministrations continued without another word and Talliea's body was alive with a plethora of emotions and sensations. She could not recall ever feeling something so wonderful. Her body, which had been sore before, was now feeling better than it had her entire life. She wondered how much of that truth owed its existence to the dohethra and how much was purely Arizira's doing.

Arizira smiled to herself as she observed Talliea's reaction. She could practically see the pain and tension in her friend's body melting away the longer she rubbed the mixture into her skin. Her fingers roamed across the expanse of beautiful, dark skin in front of her and she tried to keep herself from leaning into Talliea.

It had been nearly a month since she had stumbled across the confused Esu woman in the glade along her borders, and in that time Arizira had felt her attraction for Talliea grow. At first, she had convinced herself that her feelings were more curiosity than anything else. As she'd learned more about Talliea and began speaking with her, her feelings had proven to her that they were more than an eager interest. They were deeper and more profound.

She was attracted to Talliea and that revelation frightened her.

There was no future for the attraction she felt, and most likely Talliea would never be able to reciprocate her feelings. The other woman belonged to a society that was strict and paranoid and suspicious. She belonged to a people that treated their women no better than the dirt beneath them. Talliea herself had been claimed by a man and was expected to become his mate in the very near future.

No, her feelings for Talliea were without any hope of life. Whatever Arizira felt would have to remain hidden and buried. Talliea needed a friend, not another person who wanted something more from her. Rubbing her fingers into the muscles of Talliea's middle back, Arizira became mesmerized as she watched her fingers' movements. Her coloring was a stark difference to the skin beneath her touch and she could not help but become awed.

Trailing her fingers down Talliea's spine, she smiled to herself feeling the ridges and bumps of the bone. Talliea was beautiful and her body, despite its abuse, was equally so.

"Ari?" Arizira stopped her movements and looked up. "Yes?"

"Have you mated before?" Talliea asked. The question stunned Arizira. She was far from a prude and such talk was openly discussed among her people, but coming from Talliea it somehow made her blush. Perhaps it was the wording that gave her pause. Her people did not 'mate'. They had physical relations, naturally, but the act was viewed by them as more emotional and spiritual. They did not lie together for the sole purpose of procreating.

"Ari?" Talliea questioned and attempted to look over her shoulder. Resuming her massage, Arizira replied, "Yes, Tah-li, I have bonded with two others before."

Silence.

"Did it hurt?" Talliea asked and her voice was both small and unsure.

Twitching her head to the side, Arizira was at a loss as to the nature of the question. Pain was not something she had ever associated with such an act. It was beautiful and emotional and left both parties feeling good and alive and aware. It did not bring pain, or it had not for her. How could Talliea think otherwise?

"No, there was no pain, failira, quite the opposite." Another breath of silence as the information was absorbed and then, "Did you love them?"

Arizira's fingers grazed over the top of Talliea's shoulders. "Yes," she replied.

"Then I do not understand."

Arizira paused again and studied Talliea's profile. The other woman's brows were low and her nose was scrunched up slightly. "What do you not understand, Tah-li?"

"You said Arnira believe that love is a once in a lifetime occurrence?"

"Yes."

"Then how could you have loved more than one?"

Sighing, Arizira removed her hands from Talliea's back and waited for her to turn around. When she did so, Arizira smiled at her and her eyes traveled across her face and neck. She noticed that the shirt around Talliea's chest had slipped slightly and was now barely covering her breasts. The bruise along her neck was more vivid and Arizira noticed the imprint of a hand.

A large hand.

"Arnira will love many times, Tah-li," she said trying to distract herself from the mark on Talliea's neck and the amount of skin now visible to her, " but the intensity will vary. True love is a once in a lifetime occurrence and that love presents itself as our Doira'Liim. The women I have laid with were not my one true love. I cared for them and still think highly of them, but that was the extent of our connection."

As she spoke, she dipped her fingers into the mortar and scooped up more of the dohethra mixture. Eying the bruise marring Talliea's neck, she waited for the other woman to give her permission to continue. When a dark head of hair nodded slowly, Arizira raised her hand and gingerly began smoothing the paste across the discoloration.

She looked up at Talliea when she felt the fast paced thumping beneath her fingertips. Talliea's dark eyes held her gaze and refused to look away. She found herself falling into those deep eyes and her breath tried to hitch. Sitting up, she risked getting closer and was rewarded when Talliea did not flinch. The two of them were sharing air as they held each other's eyes. All the while, Arizira's fingers gently applied the willow bark remedy to Talliea's neck in soothing and soft circles. It was as intimate a moment as the two of them had shared.

Arizira's attraction flared inside her vividly. Despite wanting only to help ease Talliea's pain, her body was not allowing her to forget that it felt immense feelings for the person she was touching. Once satisfied that she had adequately applied the dohethra to Talliea's neck, Arizira glanced down between them. Talliea's chest was still covered by her shirt, but her hands had loosened their hold on the material and the tops of her breasts were now open to Arizira's view.

The sudden and amazingly strong sexual tension was not lost on Arizira as her eyes took in the sight. Looking back up into Talliea's face, she realized that it was, however, lost on the Esu woman. Whatever she was feeling, Arizira could not say. Though Talliea's breathing was slightly ragged and her eyes were more than half-lidded, Arizira knew the other woman was most likely confused over matters.

With that thought in her mind, she swallowed and backed away. Talliea did not need her making matters anymore confusing. Someone had assaulted her body and marked her skin. They had taken advantage of her. Arizira would not be like them. She would not risk Talliea's trust by following through with what her body desired so badly. No, she would not.

"You will need to do your front," she said, her voice rough in her ears as she backed away.

As soon as there was a measure of distance between them, both women seemed to come back to themselves and the sounds of the outside world sang outside their shelter. Talliea shook her head, the haze from moments before beginning to lift, and looked down at herself. She noticed her shirt had slipped and quickly pulled it back up to completely cover herself.

Arizira set the mortar next to her and began replacing her weapons. "Have you eaten anything, Tah-li?" Watching Arizira and feeling her heart rate return to normal, Talliea answered, "No, I have not." Arizira crawled out of the long hanging arch of rock and stood up in the mid-morning sun. Talliea looked up at her, hand still holding her shirt.

"Rest, Tah-li. I shall find our meal. You will be safe here." Arizira turned and was about to head off into the forest, partly to hunt and partly to clear her head, when a voice behind her stopped her.

"Ari?"

Looking back, she saw Talliea peaking out from under the overhang of rock. A small smile formed on the Esu woman's lips. Her eyes still held a disconcerted glint, but otherwise her face appeared lighter than from earlier in the day.

"Thank you," she said earnestly, and Arizira smiled before leaving.

Chapter 11: The Path Before Their Feet

An hour later, Talliea found herself still alone with her thoughts. Arizira had yet to return and she was growing worried. She knew Arizira could protect herself. Though she'd never seen the woman in combat, she had been witness to her reflexes, her movements, and the quick way she could string a bow. Her worry was more for herself than anything else. Now that Markahn had given her freedom she realized she was unsure what to actually do with it. Could she stay out in the forest the entire two seasons? She very much desired not to see Lao'dahn again. The man had been upset with Markahn's decision and Talliea worried he would take out his frustrations on her.

Thinking back to earlier that morning, she realized her impulsivity had gotten the better of her once again. She had not packed any provisions or extra clothing. Apart from the shirt and skirts she currently wore all she had for survival was her cloak and the blanket Arizira had given her. Panic tried to take over her insides at the realization that she just might have to return to her clan. Had this been Markahn's plan all along? Was he trying to show her that she could not survive without his help? That she was weak?

If she were like Arizira, she would have no such worries. She would be able to understand the animals and the trees of the forest. She would be proficient in a number of weapons and know how to hunt for her own food. Medicines and clothing and protection would all be available to her.

If she was like Arizira.

Her thoughts lingered on the Arniran woman and as they did, she felt her body begin to react. A pleasant fluttering sensation started in the pit of her stomach and moved up to settle deep inside her chest. She felt it grow with every beat of her heart, and the gentle thump thump sent the phenomenon's electricity flaring down her arms and into her fingertips. An unknown sense of calm and peace came over her as her mind pictured Arizira and, unbeknownst to her, a smile formed on her lips.

Arizira was unlike anyone Talliea had ever encountered. Her passion for life was surpassed only by her kindness and gentle spirit. She was creative and curious and open. She was strong and wise. Her eyes only fell upon Talliea with wonder and fascination. She talked to Talliea, asked her questions, expected answers and thoughts, showed her the world as she knew it and treated her as an equal.

No matter how many times that thought came to Talliea, she could not seem to shake it or make it real. She was a person with feelings. She had likes and dislikes. She had opinions.

She had desires.

Just like Arizira had told her days before. She felt divided and unsure of so many things. Lao'dahn had abused her. He had touched her as if she had no feelings, like his actions had not brought her pain or discomfort. He had spoken to her like he would a beast of burden. She had been terrified and humiliated and he had not blinked an eye or thought ahead on what his actions would bring about for her.

Even Markahn, being more kind to her, still touched her against her will and expected her body to react as he desired it. She was not positive how Markahn thought she was supposed to react, but every time he touched her, he made it clear she was holding back from him. That was why he continued to visit her at night. He held the belief that she would eventually give him what he came for.

Expectations were all Talliea knew. Yet, Arizira's touch had shown her a whole other side to what her body could experience. She had not felt dirty or used when Arizira's fingers had glided across her back. She had not anticipated pain or roughness when her hand moved along the side of her neck. Everything about Arizira's touch had only brought about good feelings. It had brought her...pleasure.

Her heart had seemed to beat against her breathing and her body had practically vibrated with some unknown want or need. Even where the dohethra mixture had not touched her, her skin had still felt warm and flush. A tight throbbing had started between her legs and every touch Arizira made had only enhanced that feeling. When the two of them had been face to face and Arizira's eyes had lowered to her chest, Talliea had felt a wetness between her thighs and her fingers had ached to increase their contact.

As she sat just outside their temporary camp, she could not help but wonder what spell kept her so enthralled to Arizira. Perhaps the old tales about the Arnira were true. The feelings Arizira had brought about in her left her feeling as if she weren't in control of her own mind. All rational and free thought had abandoned her and, in its place, a deep and complete desire to listen only to her body had flooded her mind.

When Arizira had backed away from her and moved to give her space, her thoughts had been her own again and the heat in her body had slowly faded away. She'd been saddened by the loss, but thankful for her clear thoughts.

Looking up at the trees above her, she noted that they were different from ones she'd seen along her journey to the north. They were transcendent, almost as if they were guarding the secret of the Arnira from any prying eyes. Her own people along the borders of the massive forest had yet to learn of them and she wondered if Arizira's people were even aware of their new neighbors. Was Arizira the only Arniran who knew of the Esu or had others watched them and relayed their information back to the tribe?

Maybe she could parley with the Arnira leaders and be granted a place among them in exchange for information about the Esu?

Not likely. She would have no place among the Arniran women, what with having no abilities or training; she would be more a hindrance than any form of aid. As much as she despised her people's way of life, she could not be the cause of any harm coming to the innocent women and children that lived among the men. Who was she to gamble their lives in exchange for her freedom?

As her mind began to form one scenario after another, a familiar sensation slowly came over her. It was not strong, feeling as though it were shaded by other feelings, but it caught her attention and made her look around the woods. The sensation was identical to how she felt when she was with Arizira. It was light and fun and curious. It felt like home. It was a feeling of safety. She wondered why she was feeling as she was with the other woman not around.

"You are still here," the woman occupying her thoughts said, coming out from behind several trees with heavy branches. Talliea, surprising herself, did not jump like so many other times. She stood and smiled as she walked toward Arizira. The Arniran woman held a thin rope-like cord over her back and attached to it was the corpse of a fox-silver rabbit.

"Of course I am still here, Ari. Where would I go?" Talliea asked, closing the distance between them and taking the coney. Arizira said nothing and removed her bow and quiver from her back. Placing them inside the rock slope, she turned to Talliea who was removing the noose from around the rabbit's feet. "I hope your tongue appreciates the flavor of rabbit, Tah-li. The snares I set when the moon held the sky offered me the chance of a quick meal today."

Talliea placed the rabbit on a flat-faced rock and watched Arizira search through her leather pack. She pulled out a few carrots and tubers and a small pouch of some kind. "Why were you away so long if the snares you set last night?" she asked.

Arizira removed a small curved knife from the pack and a flint and tender. Smiling up at Talliea, she responded, "I had to pick these," indicating the tubers and carrots sitting next to her. "And I walked by the glade to refill my water skins."

Talliea watched Arizira remove one last item from her pack. The round wooden pot was similar to the mortar she'd seen earlier, but it was darker in color with a wider rim and a deeper bowl. Arizira passed the flint and tender toward her and asked, "Could you bring to life a fire, Tah-li?"

Nodding, Talliea watched Arizira for a moment. The other woman grabbed the rabbit and the small knife and began the task of skinning the creature. Smiling to herself at her fortuitous circumstances, Talliea walked away to start a fire.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Some time later, the two women were watching the wooden bowl that was filled with boiling water, carrots, tubers, rabbit meat and herbs that Arizira had picked. Both of them were beyond famished and the smell wafting from over the fire only caused their stomachs to yearn for sustenance even more.

Arizira occupied herself by salting some of the remaining meat. The hides, she had placed inside the rock formation so that the heat could dry them for later use. Talliea watched her from the corner of her eye and stirred their stew absentmindedly. There was a welcome and easy serenity that pervaded the two women. Time was theirs and demanded no payment from either.

Talliea continued to watch Arizira's skilled and dexterous fingers. It amazed her the amount of grace the Arniran woman held. "Ari?" she asked after a time. Arizira looked up from her work and met her eyes.

"How many winters have you practiced with your bow?" The silvery-blonde head turned to the side a moment before smiling and answering, "Nearly as many winters as I have seen pass, Tah-li." Talliea let the information lie between them for a moment as she stirred their stew once again. "Would you teach me?" she asked quickly.

Arizira stopped salting the rabbit meat and set it aside. Her blue eyes held Talliea's and she studied the seriousness in the other woman's expression. "You wish to learn your birth right as a woman? You desire me to teach you in the skill of ranged combat?"

Talliea nodded eagerly and with wide eyes. She greatly wished to learn how to defend herself, if not against Lao'dahn and men like him, then against the harsh wilds of the lands. A bear or a wolf could end her days as quickly as any Esu or Arnira with a mind to do so. Her whole life she had been dependant on others for her survival. Her clan provided food and shelter and clothing to her, as well as protection. She could mend cloaks and patch hides, and she knew how to start a fire and cook a simple meal, but aside from those things, she did not have a trade. The knowledge she possessed would not keep her alive for long under the canopy of tress around her.

"If you would be willing, then yes. I am afraid I have not your agile grace nor your light movements, but I would greatly like to learn the things that you know," she replied.

Arizira, sitting on a log around their quiet campfire, her knees bent and her arms resting on top of them, played with her knife and allowed the silence to draw out. She had not taken a student in her young life. Arniran custom allowed her to pass on her skills once she reached her thirty-third birth year. The number was thought of as an important milestone to her people. She still had six winters before she would be able to take on an apprentice. Would teaching Talliea basic survival skills be against her customs and beliefs, or would it be a matter of debate between herself and Aitla?

She had seen the bruises and the scratches on Talliea's back. She had noticed the deep press of discoloration on her neck. She knew someone, someone strong and big, had held their hand against Talliea's throat. Whoever had attacked her had done so with great anger in their heart. Arizira could not imagine the terror the other woman must have felt. She, herself, was not a creature prone to violence or quick aggravation, but she felt an immense desire to meet the person responsible for Talliea's marks.

They would not find so easy a target in her.

Talliea watched her and tapped her foot in a nervous gesture. Could she deny someone so willingly coming to her for aid? A part of her, the part of her responsible for her tribe and its protection, wondered if perhaps the Esu were as devious as age old myths spoke of them to be. Could Talliea be a spy working to understand Arniran battle movements and fighting styles? If so, could Arizira risk her people's safety by agreeing to teach an outsider?

The thought left her mind like a fading puff of smoke. She knew Talliea was presenting to her the truth of everything she was. The panic she had felt earlier could not have been feigned. She knew Talliea was lonely and scared.

Nothing more.

Opening her mouth, she finally responded, "If my skills you desire to learn, then I would be honored to teach you, Tah-li. We will have need of the forest before we can begin. Your clothing will not allow you the freedom and range of movement it will need."

Smiling, but still unsure, Talliea asked, "You will teach me?"

"Yes, but not now. There is much you have to learn before your fingers are ready to grasp a bow." Talliea settled by the fire again and watched the flames lick around the base of the bowl. For the first time in her life, she felt empowered and anticipated the opportunity to learn. The feeling was welcome and she allowed it to well up inside her.

After their meal, the weather turned ill again and the sun, which had been so high in the sky, fell victim to the clouds above and soon became obscured. The forest became quiet and the hush brought with it a slight darkness. The wind sighed through the boughs of the trees and hissed across the sharp jutting of high standing stone and rocks.

The shelter Talliea and Arizira were in was just barely deep enough to keep out the weather. The overhang of rock was far enough above them, and the small rounding of land inside just far enough in, to allow the two women to lie inside with their cloaks about them. With the natural heat from the formation, no fire was needed. Even if one could have been built, the wind surely would have snuffed it out before it could offer any other warmth.

Talliea sat against the back of the enclosure with her cloak tight around her shoulders. Arizira was next to her with her own cloak keeping the wind at bay and her eyes intermittently drooped. Talliea's mind was alive with questions she had for the other woman. Now that time was not an issue for her, she found herself wanting to speak to Arizira like never before.

After the initial shock of seeing Arizira again had worn off and the two of them had eaten their meal, a comfortable silence had overcome both as they each let their thoughts ponder their situations. Talliea looked over at Arizira and smiled when she noticed the other woman was fighting off sleep. "Ari?"

Blue eyes, slightly aglow with the darkness growing around them, looked up at her with an unfocused air. "Hm?"

"It is true that your people have no men?" Talliea asked, her mind asking the first of many questions she had.

Arizira blinked a few times and buried her nose into her cloak for a moment. Her eyes held Talliea's while her mind tried to understand the question. Had they not known each other long enough for Talliea to have her answer? "Arnira are only female, Tah-li. You know this," she answered slowly.

"But, why? How?" Talliea asked enthusiastically. Squinting her eyes in a show of confusion, Arizira lifted her head and pulled her cloak up to her chin. The weather was steadily progressing from bad to worse. Though it was still about mid-day, the sun had long since left the sky and a heaviness was all about them. No rain or snow could be seen, but the approaching darkness spoke of a possibility of either. "I do not understand your question, Tah-li."

Scooting closer, her eyes wide with interest, Talliea shrugged and held her hand out toward the wilderness just outside their shelter. "Nature has both male and female, Ari. Your people are a part of this forest. You encounter male deer and male birds, do you not?"

"Of course we do. We are aware of nature. I still do not understand."

Talliea shook her head and shrugged again. It was so simple to her. How could Arizira not see her point? Gesturing wildly with her hands, she tried to express what she meant. "If nature gives a male and a female for every beast and bird of prey, how then can your people only possess one half of that?"

Arizira, her hands under her cloak and snuggled against her chin, turned her head to the side and a tight lipped smile spread across her face. Talliea's curiosity touched her. It was warming to her heart to see the other woman so at ease and comfortable. The lines of worry that had marked her face on their previous encounters were not present and, if possible, Arizira thought her even more beautiful.

"Do your people lay eggs, Tah-li? Do your young hatch like the birds of the sky?" she asked, posing a question of her own. Talliea faltered a moment and furrowed her brow. The absurdity in the question baffled her. "No, our young come from us," she said, pointing to herself. "Do not your own come about the same way?"

"Yes," Arizira replied, still smiling. "If nature has the bird lay an egg, is it wrong that we bring our offspring about in a different way?" Understanding came over Talliea and she nodded her head. "Okay, point taken, but the bird still requires a male bird."

"So says nature and nature does not require that Arnira have a male. Nature is different, Tah-li. Some creatures build nests, some build dams. Some creatures fly and others swim. You are dark skinned and without the ability to talk with the forest. Does that then imply that nature erred in your making? No, it means that you are different than I. Different is not wrong, Tah-li. The bird does not fault the fish because it swims and cannot fly."

Talliea let her eyes travel across Arizira's face as her words solidified in her mind. They made sense enough, but still she could not let the matter drop entirely. She understood very little about the mating process. What she did know was that the men planted life inside the women like a seed in the earth and the women carried and nurtured that seed until birth. Did the Arnira perform a similar act? Seeing as they were only women, which one of them would carry their offspring?

Lao'dahn, when he had assaulted her, had told her that women were only vessels. They were cattle. When the sticky liquid had connected with her face, he had told her that it was responsible for life. It was the seed. Without it, if Lao'dahn was to be believed, how could the Arnira reproduce?

Suddenly, her simple question was anything but. She realized that during her internal ramble, her eyes had continued to look at Arizira. The other woman was staring back at her with an unsure expression and she shook her head, smiling. "You have given my mind much to think upon, Ahmanae."

"Thought is good, Tah-li."

Again, a silence stretched between them. The wind picked up and the clouds became heavier. The sound of a slow and steady rain could be heard occasionally falling from the sky to the trees and finally ending its journey on the forest floor. The temperature continued to drop and a chill began to set up along the edges of the rocks surrounding both women.

Arizira fought with herself to stay awake. Her people were used to sleeping during the day and her body was protesting at her late activities. She worried about how to explain her absence if any of her sisters discovered her missing. She did not have the same restrictions as Talliea. Her time was her own to manage, mostly. She did have responsibilities to her tribe and duties in regard to her station as a huntress, but her life and her time were free to her. Even still, with the discovery of the Esu, Arizira's people were on high alert. She was unsure how they would react if they knew she had been wandering the forest so much...and during the sun's reign at that.

Her desire to protect Talliea kept her from departing even when she knew she should. What would happen to the other woman if she left? Did Talliea even know what she planned to do? Would she remain in the forest? Try to make a life for herself away from her people? Or would her loneliness overcome her and send her back to a clan that treated her like a possession? Arizira very much did not wish to see Talliea return to the Esu. She did not know who had hurt her, but she worried of a similar incident happening a second time. Talliea did not deserve the life that had been handed to her.

That alone made Arizira feel responsible for her. She greatly desired Talliea to be happy. Turning to the other woman, eyes and body still heading toward sleep, she asked, "What is your path, Tah-li? You can not aimlessly walk in the woods while the trees above shadow your feet."

Talliea, her own eyes having become unfocused as she stared outside, slowly turned her head to meet Arizira's steady gaze. She had been dreading the question since she herself had thought of it. "I am unsure, Ari. I am afraid that I do not have the necessary skills that would ensure my survival in the forest. But I am more afraid of returning to my people. Rather that I should die free and on my own terms than bound and chained at another's will."

Arizira held her eyes and saw the conviction deep within. In that moment, she knew her fate was tied to Talliea's. There was no way she could watch someone that she cared for fumble through their life and worry about an ill-intended hand stabbing her in the back. Talliea had a strong spirit and a thirst for life that rivaled her own people's. Arizira hated seeing her so downhearted. How could anyone desire to stamp out such a vibrant life?

"You do not have to return, Tah-li. I will teach you what I know. I will show you the ways of the Arnira so that you will be able to survive as you wish." Talliea opened her mouth to respond, but was unable to do so as a wide and grateful smile broke out across her face. Arizira smiled back at her and felt her heart begin to beat faster.

Talliea truly was exotically beautiful.

"Thank you...thank you, Ahmanae." Arizira nodded and yawned. The need for sleep was gaining on her. "Do you not have to return to your people? Will they not worry for you?" Talliea asked, scooting closer. Yawning again and blinking to stay awake, Arizira looked next to her and realized her companion was closer than before. "I will have need when the moon returns to the sky, Tah-li, but you need not worry yourself about the affair. I will not abandon you."

Talliea smiled again, something she was doing more and more while in Arizira's presence, and patted her lap with one hand. With the other she reached around Arizira's shoulders. "You fill me with hope, Ari. Sleep. I will be okay to watch over you."

Arizira hesitated a moment, her heart reminding her that it felt more than a friendly emotion, but the soft look in Talliea's eyes finally caused her to give in to the request. She leaned into the warm body next to her and slowly settled her head on Talliea's lap. The dark skinned woman pulled her cloak up to her shoulders and began to soothingly run her hands through her hair.

Her body flamed to life in vivid sensations. Talliea's hands, moving so gently, felt miraculous to her. She felt the other woman's movements trace along the side of her face and up to her ears. Curious fingers trailed along the outside of her ear and down the side of her neck. The touch increased her attraction to Talliea but once again, she put her feelings aside and tried to settle her mind.

Before long, the rhythmic melody outside coupled with the calming glide of Talliea's fingers, lulled Arizira into a welcome and peaceful state of sleep. Just before she let herself completely leave the conscious world, she whispered, "Lirra tai rei, failira." The phrase, in her tongue, told Talliea that she was special to her.

Elsewhere...

"Their bond grows."

"Yes. The two become stronger without their knowledge."

A pause and the first voice, unlike any earthly sound, spoke again. "One is aware of her feelings. She has taken the first step toward her destiny."

The second person nodded, though whom they spoke with did not require such a gesture. "She will not speak of her desires and dismisses the words spoken about her."

"As all great spirits do. Her love for the Esu child will lead her where she needs to go."

"She will not like where her path shall bring her. The issue of her parents has long been hidden from her, just as the history of the Arnira and the Esu has become lost to the ages."

The near angelic voice of the first speaker came again a moment later. "All will be revealed in time. Through the Child of Whispers, her goddess shall find her true strength and the two of them shall peel back the layers of history that lay lost to all."

Chapter 12: The Heart's Poison

Markahn walked around the large, wooden outer frame of what would soon become the first standing stone building of the new Esu settlement. Stone and metal and gems were not easily come by in the clan's new territory. Until the woods around them could be mapped, the stoneworkers were having to work with what they could collect from the lone mine along the valley's edge. The land surrounding the Esu camp was fertile and lush and, most likely, held an abundant amount of resources.

Markahn smiled to himself as he allowed his mind to envision the clan's future. Hard work would be required by all of the men and women, but he held hopes that their steadfastness would prove a great benefit to all of them. He watched the stoneworkers shaping and smoothing edges of large boulders under the dying sun while the woodsmen of the clan hewed and refined several logs not far off. Children played by a fire surrounded by a group of women chopping vegetables and leavening bread in nearby dough troughs. The sight caused him to smile. He valued family. Though many of the men in the clan valued only their role and the luxuries provided, Markahn had always been partial to the sense of unity a family represented.

Father, mother, and child.

It was important to him, though he rarely said as much among his fellow Lat'sa'val. Seeing the women talking and working, and the children smiling and laughing, only increased how badly he wanted those things for himself. He knew Talliea would be the perfect mother. She would be a wonderful mate to him if only her desire to remain obstinate would fade away. Why could she not share his ideals and his vision? The two of them would be able to provide a stable home for their children and he would not treat Talliea as other men of the clan.

She would have her place, naturally, just as he had his; it was the natural order of things.

Instead of starting a family, as his god said that he should, Markahn was still having to defend his position and sleep alone at night. Instead of teaching his children the values and laws laid down by Esuval he was, instead, holding out hope that the woman he desired would one day also desire him. Maybe he should relinquish his claim on Talliea and take another woman as his mate...

He shook his head as he walked away from the structure. No, Talliea was who he wanted. She was unlike any other woman of the clan. Her looks alone held him captivated. There was beauty and then there was Talliea. Even among the Esu she was deemed an extraordinarily exotic creature in her appearance. No other member of the clan possessed skin as dark. No other had eyes as deep.

None could match her. Markahn could not settle for another woman when Talliea was who he wanted. He had waited for her since her eighteenth birth year. Five summers he had sought to join with her. Now he had only to wait two seasons and then he would have her. She would be his and would have no other option or recourse unless she wished to be banished from the clan.

The thought of finally making her body his own thrilled Markahn to no end. Their night time affairs always left him frustrated. Talliea never appeared to become aroused when he touched her and that left him wanting her even more. He had never touched her between her legs, but he was sure if he had she would not have been aroused for him. Any other man of the clan would not have cared, but he did.

He wanted Talliea to want him as he wanted her. If she was aroused he knew it would make their joining all the more enjoyable for him. The possibility of that not happening angered him deeply. He did not know what else he could do to make her appreciate him. That was why he had given her freedom for her last few months. He held hope that it would make her see reason and end her frivolous pursuits.

So deep in his thoughts was he that he failed to notice Lao'dahn approaching. "Markahn, Talliea has not returned?" Markahn stopped in front of the shorter man and crossed his arms over his broad chest. "No, I do not expect her back so soon. The night has not yet fallen."

Lao'dahn looked around before returning his eyes to Markahn's. "Are you certain you did the right thing? She needs to learn her place, not be gallivanting off in such unknown territory. What if she fails to return?"

"That is no concern of yours," Markahn said in a heated and deep voice. His eyes were dark as he took in the man before him. "Talliea is my responsibility. I claimed her and no man has challenged that claim. Until such a matter occurs, her life is mine and I shall decide how she spends her time. I chose to impart to her what she most desired. She is not equipped to survive in the forest, Lao'dahn. She has not any food or supplies or clothing. When she realizes the security I can provide her, she shall return and all will be well."

Lao'dahn ducked his eyes and lowered his head in faux deference and acknowledgement. Markahn was his friend but his arrogance was staggering. It would be his downfall. "If you say so," he replied, looking back up. "We have yet to fully explore these woods. It would be easy for her feet to lose their way. She could become lost. I speak only from a desire to help you, my friend."

Markahn's glower left his face and he visibly began to relax. Placing a hand on his friend's shoulder he said, "I do not believe Talliea shall be gone long. She will likely only tread where she has previously been. Fear not, Lao'dahn, this land is ours. She will fill her spirit with wanderlust and return when she requires our aid."

Lao'dahn smiled as Markahn patted his shoulder and moved around him. He watched the taller man walk away and shook his head. Soon, very soon, he would challenge Markahn's claim and take Talliea for his own. Five summers he had watched the woman make a fool of Markahn and a mockery of Esuval. No longer. Markahn's gentle approach was too weak! He did not deserve a woman so beautiful! No, Lao'dahn was strong enough to teach Talliea her place. Esuval demanded as much! He would challenge Markahn and when he did, and Talliea was his, he would show her the power of their god. He would use her and her body the way Esuval taught.

No more would Talliea walk freely among the trees. She would do as he desired. She would lay on her back and spread her legs for him and do as a woman should! Markahn had allowed her nonsense to carry on far too long!

Taking a deep breath, Lao'dahn attempted to calm himself. It would not do to cause a scene. Not now. He had to bide his time. Esuval was on his side. He would not fail.

* * * * * *

Talliea looked down at the silvery-blonde hair resting in her lap and smiled. It had been several hours since Arizira had fallen asleep and though her current position was less than comfortable, she was more content than she could ever recall being. The gentle rise and fall of Arizira's chest as she breathed slowly and deeply was somehow endearing to Talliea's spirit. It was innocent and calming.

Brushing her fingers through the soft, long strands of hair in her lap, Talliea felt something inside of her stir. She could not place what it was or even put a name to what she was feeling, but she knew it was good. Her body desired contact with Arizira's. That much she knew. Every time her fingers brushed against the other woman's skin, her whole body flamed to life and demanded something more. It frightened her. Yet...

...it also fascinated her.

Though she was scared, she was also strangely confident. Whatever she was feeling, she knew it was pure and good and strong. It made her feel alive and sure, as though she were able to accomplish any feat, however harrowing.

She watched Arizira's eyes move beneath her closed lids. Long lashes rested on her cheeks and beautiful lips twitched as dreams played out before her. A hand rested on Talliea's thigh and occasionally flexed or grasped. Outside, the sun was falling to the west and darkness was beginning to return to the sky. Birds sang while insects chirped and the whole world hung between night and day.

Pushing Arizira's hair away from her neck, Talliea could not stop her fingers from moving across the warm, soft flesh that was exposed to her. A part of her felt guilty for touching Arizira as she was, but the other part of her greatly desired to explore all of the woman resting against her. Arizira was magical. She was intoxicating. Something about her drove Talliea to be far more bold than she normally would be.

Arizira continued to sleep while Talliea grazed her fingers along the underside of her chin and down the front of her throat. A near steady beat met her fingers and she smiled and stilled her touch. The rhythm was soothing to her. It was not fast nor was it too slow. The pulse was perfect in some unknown way. Removing her fingers, Talliea allowed her eyes to unabashedly take in every feature and expression line of Arizira's face.

Her eyes fell on pink lips and lingered there.

They looked enticing and soft to her. She wondered what it would be like to feel them against her body, against her own lips. Markahn had kissed her before and she had never enjoyed it. The man had always moved his mouth and lips in such a way that she could barely breathe, let alone try to contribute. His tongue had moved inside her mouth and nearly gagged her and she'd wondered what the allure was to such an act.

Staring down at Arizira, Talliea could not help but wonder if the other woman would be different. Would she kiss her the same way Markahn had? Would she be rough and demanding? She did not think so. Nothing about Arizira seemed rough or demanding to her. Raising her hand again, she slowly brought her fingers to Arizira's mouth but hesitated before touching her.

The sleeping woman continued to rest without any apparent knowledge of Talliea's actions. Spurred by that fact, Talliea's confidence returned and she lowered her fingers to Arizira's lips. They tentatively smoothed across the lower lip before trialing over the top. Releasing a breath, she felt her body awaken even more with a desire for something deeper. Arizira's lips were soft. They felt good against her fingers. The throbbing from before returned to settle between her thighs and a flush spread up to the base of her skull.

She wondered if Arizira felt similar sensations around her. She wondered what else she could feel and how she could express what her body seemed to want. Matters were so confusing to her. Her mind did not understand what her body so obviously did. Lost in her desires Talliea continued to run her fingers over Arizira's lips. She guided them along her chin and across her jaw and up to her nose. Her fingers moved nearly against her conscious will. She wanted only to touch more of Arizira.

When her thumb glided over a moist bottom lip and her hand gently held a warm cheek, Talliea was sure the sound of her own heavy heartbeat would awaken the woman in her lap. She was startled when a hand snapped up and grabbed her wrist, stopping her movements in the process. Blue eyes, alight with a silvery-white fire looked up at her. The air around the two women seemed to be pulled from their shelter and all was quiet.

Arizira had felt Talliea's fingers on her skin. She had been aware of the other woman keenly observing her. When her hair had been brushed away from her neck and Talliea's fingers had explored the skin there, Arizira had nearly gasped. The curiosity in the touch had been plain to her, but it had also felt good and been welcome. As soon as she'd nearly fallen back to sleep, the touch had vanished only to return a moment later on her lips.

It had nearly been her undoing. Her breathing had threatened to give her away and her heart had pounded loudly in her ears. A tight knot of anticipation had formed in her lower stomach and Arizira had fought with herself to not close the distance between them and allow Talliea to feel her lips in a different manner.

Now looking up into dark brown eyes, Arizira was unsure how to remove the tension that had sprang up around them. Talliea's hand was still holding her cheek and her thumb was resting against her lower lip. Dark and unsure eyes stared down at her.

"Tah-li..." Talliea smiled at hearing her name, the breath she'd been holding being released as she nodded her head shyly. "I'm sorry. I did not mean to wake you."

Arizira swallowed and glanced down at the thumb that now grazed her chin. Everything in her demanded that she just kiss Talliea. The look in the other woman's eyes told her the advance would most likely be returned, but she still found herself hesitant. Talliea, from what she had gathered, had very little experience with interpersonal relationships. Her people were governed by their men. The likelihood that she had sexual experience, let alone with another woman, was nearly infinitesimal.

Her advance would still be just that. An advance.

Talliea was confused. Arizira could see that in her eyes. She was unsure what she was feeling and was probably mistaking gratitude for something more. Arizira could not take advantage of her state no matter how badly she desired to do otherwise. She also could not risk exposing herself to someone so uncertain on who they were and what they wanted. Talliea could be misinterpreting her feelings of friendship. She could be desiring something more from Arizira because their physical contact was something she was unaccustomed to.

How could Arizira give in to what her heart desired when it was so obvious what her heart wanted was toxic? Nothing good could come from pursuing matters. What Talliea needed was a friend,  someone to listen to her and aid her and help guide her on her path to discover herself. She did not need another person who craved her in a physical sense. She didn't need another person who only viewed her in a one dimensional manner.

As Arizira's mind raced, her heart began to feel heavier and heavier inside her chest. What she wanted could never be. The thought saddened her. Arnira were not normally so shy about detailing their feelings. When two Arnirans felt an attraction to one another, they spoke of that feeling freely and without concern. If deeper feelings developed, both women thanked Aitla and continued with their lives. The Arnira believed in expressing positive feelings and perpetuating good emotions. The act of bonding with another was both beautiful and desired and thought of as needed for a complete and balanced life. The only thing that was stronger or more sought after was love and the idea of the Doira'Liim. Arizira had been attracted to many women in her young life. Not every woman had reciprocated her feelings, but never had interactions become awkward. With Talliea, Arizira did not feel that she could express her growing attraction.

The other woman was from a completely different world compared to her own. Love and sex, or at least sex, were tools designed to control another person in Talliea's world. Her beliefs and customs were vastly different than Arizira's. How could she express to Talliea her feelings of attraction and possible future love when Talliea had never, to her knowledge, experienced those sensations herself? Would Talliea be repulsed to have a woman desiring her in a physical sense? Would she wish to leave Arizira's company and return to her own people only to join with the man who had claimed her?

Arizira could not risk so much when uncertainty seemed to be at the end of every trail. She could not be the reason for Talliea's discomfort, and she most certainly could not be responsible for sending her back to her clan. Not when someone had hurt her as they had.

Suddenly, Arizira was too close to Talliea. Matters were too difficult. Sitting up, she gently pushed the other woman's hand away and moved out of her space. "Did I do something wrong?" Talliea asked, stretching out her muscles and rolling her shoulders while her eyes stared at Arizira's back.

Arizira busied herself by packing up her supplies and securing her weapons. Her hands shook slightly as she tried to maintain her composure, and her heart could barely keep its own beat inside her chest. "No, you have done nothing wrong. My eyes needed to see the world again. I wished to leave earlier so you would not be alone for long. As it is now, I shall have to depart immediately. "

As she spoke, she kept her back to Talliea and continued to gather her belongings. The sun was an orange and red disk far to the west and its light created a dim haze over the landscape. A gentle breeze brushed past the trees just along the overhang of rock above her, and Arizira cursed Salira for her playfulness. Securing her bow and quiver to her back and ensuring that her sabres were tight at her sides, she finally turned back around.

Talliea's eyes were wide with some unknown fear and her hands were toying with the loose material of her skirts. Her bottom lip was between her teeth as she nervously bit into the flesh. Arizira's stomach dropped at the sight. She could not stand to see Talliea upset. It was not her fault Arizira was in such a tumultuous state.

"Tah-li, you did nothing wrong," she said again hoping to ease the uncomfortable air around them. "Nothing, okay? There is some dried rabbit meat if you require food and a small amount of the dohethra mixture left if your pain returns. You should try to rest whilst I am gone. Aitla holds the sky now. She shall ensure your safety."

Darkness was rapidly growing around the two women and a sudden sting of fear crept up on Talliea. How long was she to be alone and without Arizira? Her discomfort must have shown on her face, because a moment later Arizira spoke again. "Aitla's light favors this spring. You will not be blind to Her forest, Tah-li. I shall speak with my people and return with as much haste as I am able. The night is for your people to be at rest. Take advantage of your slumber while you can."

A smile, full of mischief and humor, came over Arizira's face. "Why?" Talliea questioned. She could not understand the obvious change of mood in the Arniran woman. Her stomach felt as if it had dropped inside of itself and her heart felt empty without Arizira next to her.

"Because when next you see me, I shall be your Siidu'lav -- your teacher."

Talliea chuckled and a bright smile overcame her face. Whatever was shadowing Arizira's thoughts, her playful smile and easy joking manner seemed to ease her worries. Her anxiety from before was all but washed away as she stared at Arizira for a moment longer, before scooting down to the floor of rock and using her cloak as a pillow. Tossing the blanket Arizira had made for over her body, she sighed and watched the other woman crawl out of their shelter.

"How long will you be away?" Arizira pondered the question for a moment before replying, "Two days, possibly three. I gathered extra nuts and berries, and you can ration the rabbit meat. If you follow the thermal spring, you will find the glade where we met, and there cool water will await you. I will return as quickly as possible, Tah-li."

Talliea nodded her head and tried to quell her rising panic. The thought of being alone in the forest for three days frightened her, but Arizira had at least ensured she would have food and access to fresh water.

"Ahmanae?" she called softly before Arizira could depart. Silver-blue eyes ducked back down to regard her with curiosity. "Earlier, you said something to me as you were falling asleep. I did not understand it because your words were not my own. What did you say?"

Arizira inhaled as her eyes took in Talliea's form. She remembered the words she'd uttered. They had slipped from her mouth so freely and without any sense of worry that, had she been more aware and not nearly so tired, she would have surely chastised herself for saying them. They had not been words of praise or declarations of love. They had not been vain or hurtful or intended to bring about any sort of reaction.

They had been the truth. Plain and simple. The words had been what her heart had felt. Despite that, Arizira found herself unwilling to speak of them or their nature to Talliea. One word in particular she knew she could not define for the Esu woman.

Failira.

Its meaning was difficult to define, even in the Arnira tongue, let alone translate into Esulan.

It was a word with many various meanings depending on the context in which it was spoken. The word was a term of endearment and high respect. The only two words in the Arniran language that held a higher status were Nai'iris and Aitla. Between friends, failira was the utmost term that could be used to describe a strong connection and sense of companionship. For teachers and students, the word held more of a respect or honored connotation. It could refer to someone who was thought of as highly important and greatly regarded.

For lovers, failira was the single most desired word used to describe someone who was special, precious, or nearly as dear to an individual as Aitla herself. No other word could come close to describing the immense and staggering feelings believed to overcome a woman when she was in love. Failira, among lovers, was used to describe feelings of adoration, appreciation, respect, commitment, and desire.

The word, in all actuality, was rarely used in present day Arniran circles. Its roots were older than time, and the only way most young Arniran children knew of it was through the legend of Ir'ra and Tareya. Old tales spoke of a great love that was said to have existed between Ir'ra, a beautiful Arniran acolyte of Aitla and Tareya, her mysterious mate of unknown origins. Stories surrounding the idea of the Doira'Liim were believed to have originated with Ir'ra and Tareya. The two women, according to Arniran legend, were said to be the first and, according to some, the only couple to discover the enigmatic bond. Tareya, although little was known of her, was believed to have possessed untold and unimaginable power.

That power, according to legend, was said to have stemmed from the love the two women shared with one another. Very little ancient Arnira writings had survived throughout the ages, but for the story of Ir'ra and Tareya. Though most of the characters on the parchments containing Ir'ra and Tareya's tale were now difficult to read, one word, failira, was repeated several times and remained in clear view. The word was always near Tareya's name and used as a term of endearment.

So it was that failira, over time, came to be used as a high form of praise or respect depending upon the context in which it was spoken.

For all her short life, and even during her own trysts with other women, Arizira had never once felt the compulsion to use the word, and a compulsion was how it felt. Failira seemed to fall from her lips without her consent whenever she was around Talliea. The reasons why were unknown to her and for that alone, she knew she could not translate her earlier statement.

Looking over her shoulder as the moon, full and white, came into her view, Arizira shook her head and turned back to Talliea's curious face. "I fear that I do not recall, Tah-li. Perhaps time will bring the words back to me. I must depart. Sleep. You are safe here. I shall return as soon as I am able." With that Arizira turned away and left. Her steps felt as heavy as her heart and thoughts.

*  *  *  *  *  *

The observer watched Arizira quietly leave the sanctuary of the thermal spring and pursed their lips. The first time the observer had seen the two women, they had held out the belief that the encounter was a one time occurrence. Now, sitting up in the trees which towered above the rock formation, the observer questioned their original deduction. It appeared increasingly so that the Arniran woman was deliberately meeting up with and protecting the Esu woman.

Why?

The observer could not begin to venture a guess. Why was the Esu woman away in the woods and why was the Arniran woman continuing to meet up with her in secret? How were the two of them communicating? Was a coup being planned?

Slowly and quietly, the observer lowered themselves from the tree and softly landed on the forest floor. They glanced back toward the darkened rock cliff that held the sleeping and unknowing Esu woman, before turning their eyes northward. Quickly, the observer started off in the direction that Arizira had taken. Their feet were silent as they headed deeper into the woods...

Chapter 13: Dreams and Visions

Talliea rolled over onto her back and was suddenly aware of a weight above her body. Startled, she opened her eyes and looked up at the person hovering just above her. Full wakefulness came back to her at a rapid pace. Two eyes looked down at her and a confident smile spread across the face of the person perched over her waist and hips.

"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice heavy and raspy. Her previous state of sleep gave her tone a slurred quality. The person above her smiled wider and leaned over her causing their faces to nearly touch and their chests to press together. "Do not be afraid," the person said.

Talliea swallowed and tried to calm her breathing. She could not comprehend how matters had come to be as they were. It seemed to her only a short time ago that Arizira had left and she had fallen asleep. Now, she was awake and in a completely new situation. "I am not," she replied and her words rang true. She was not afraid. It was not fear that coursed through her system, but confusion. Confusion and arousal. She could not understand what had caused the sudden brazen attitude to come out in the woman above her.

Arizira smiled softly and gently traced her fingers down the side of her face. "You are very beautiful, Tah-li." Talliea inhaled and felt the pulsating throb between her legs intensify. The way Arizira was looking at her was unlike anything else she could describe. Arizira was not looking at her the way Markahn had in the past. She was not viewing her as a prize to be won. She was not looking at her like Lao'dahn had when he had assaulted her. He had only seen her with eyes that beheld a possession to be claimed.

Arizira looked at her like a person. She looked at Talliea with desire and respect and...lust. The simple feeling of Arizira’s fingers as they smoothed down the soft plane of Talliea’s cheek set her heart to racing. "Ari?" she questioned, trying to understand what had come over the Arniran woman. Arizira trailed her fingers down her chin and neck and brushed them over the hollow that met her chest. Her touch was not forceful or intended to be used to control her. It was soft and reverent and awoke every nerve in Talliea's body.

"I have feelings for you, Tah-li," Arizira said and her voice sounded different. It held a more husky quality and the sound of it was intriguing. Drooping her eyelids and feeling her breathing becoming more erratic, Talliea licked her lips and looked up into silver-blue eyes. Her hands were resting somehow against the outsides of Arizira's hips and she tried to control the urge she felt to knead the flesh there.

"F-feelings?" she asked, her own voice sounding heavy. Arizira nodded and slipped her fingers under the first button of Talliea's top and deftly undid the restraint. "Yes, but I do not desire to force myself upon you. We must share in this experience. You must also have feelings for me." Talliea's eyes closed and rolled into her head when she felt Arizira's soft touch graze across the top of her left breast. The hands resting against Arizira's hips began to flex and her heart skipped a beat when she heard the smaller woman hiss at her touch.

Her rational mind tried in vain to get her to think upon the consequences of her actions. It tried to get her to question what had brought Arizira back so soon and why she was initiating such intimate physical contact. The other, more wanton, side of her told her to throw caution to the wind. It begged her to enjoy the moment and give into what her body had been so desperately searching for.

That side of her won out and she glided her hands over Arizira's hips and across her sides before finally allowing them to rest on strong yet slim shoulders. "I have feelings for you, too, Ahmanae, but I fear I do not know how to express them to you," she admitted truthfully.

Arizira's smile grew as her fingers undid a second button of Talliea's blouse. Her breath was warm and sent shivers across the Esu woman's skin as it washed over her face and across her neck. "That is okay, Tah-li," she said before moving her fingers lower and cupping Talliea's full and heavy breast.

Talliea lost her breath and arched her back up in an attempt to increase her contact with Arizira. Her eyes closed and she heard herself let out a deep moan. Her entire body was thrumming and vibrating with the nearness of the woman on top of her, and she could think of nothing more affirming or beautiful than the moment the both of them were sharing. Opening her eyes and looking down, she watched Arizira's hand squeeze the flesh of her breast while her fingers swirled around and teased her taut nipple. She could not believe how unbelievably good the sensation felt. Never had another made her feel what Arizira was. Markahn had never once caused her to feel anything close. When Lao'dahn had touched her, he had brought her pain. Not pleasure.

Pleasure.

That was what she was feeling now. Pure, undiluted pleasure. Arizira leaned closer and her lips softly brushed across her cheek. The feel of them heightened, if possible, Talliea's desire for the other woman.

"Tah-li, I want you," Arizira whispered. Talliea turned her head until her mouth was nearly touching Arizira's. Their breathing mingled together in ragged pants and their eyes met with a smoldering heat. Unconsciously licking her lips, Talliea felt her heart pounding inside her chest at her own proximity to Arizira. She was unsure how to advance their contact and the feeling of Arizira's fingers as they continued to tease her breast was wreaking havoc upon her mind.

"Ari..."she moaned, but she knew not exactly what she was asking for. Arizira closed the distance between them and Talliea felt the tip of the other woman's tongue teasingly glide along the underside of her top lip. The limited contact flared to life in her a stronger desire than before, and the throbbing between her legs increased. She felt a wetness she'd hardly ever known before spread from her center and it only seemed to become more noticeable the stronger the throbbing became.

"You feel good, Tah-li," Arizira whispered against her lips. Her fingers left the inside of her blouse and moved back up to splay across the front of her throat. The touch was so very different from the way Lao'dahn had touched her. When his hand had been at her throat, he had crushed the air from her lungs and left a bruise on her skin. Arizira's touch, though full of passion, was not applied in anger or frustration. Talliea felt her hips moving of their own accord and every time they came into contact with the body above her own, a pleasurable electricity shot through her abdomen and between her thighs. She wrapped her hands around Arizira's shoulders and nudged her nose with her own.

"Touch me," she begged. Arizira's tongue left her mouth again and, as before, lightly traced over her top lip. Before Talliea could complain about the limited contact, lips were softly and fleetingly caressing her own in a shy and hesitant kiss. She moaned at the embrace and opened her mouth. Unlike kissing Markahn, Talliea's kiss with Arizira was not awkward. Each moved their mouth in rhythm with the other. When Arizira pulled away, Talliea opened her eyes and looked up with heavy lids. Her lips tingled and her breathing was interrupted by the pounding of her heart.

The kiss had not been long enough for her and she greatly wished to feel Arizira's tongue in her mouth. She watched Arizira move her hand from her neck and slowly trail it down over her chest and through the valley of her breasts. For a reason not known to her, her body became tight with some unknown anticipation and she felt her legs spread apart without her consent. She was breathing so heavily and so raggedly she could barely stay awake. Her eyes were lidded and everything that made her who she was felt alive and on edge.

The sensations were intense.

She moved her right hand from Arizira's shoulder and tangled it in her silky smooth hair. Arizira leaned closer to her again and kissed her. Unlike their previous kiss, it was not chaste or short. The two of them allowed their lips to meet over and over again, and when Talliea felt Arizira's warm and wet tongue gently enter her mouth, she tightened her hold on the hair in her hand and moaned loudly. Her own tongue glided across the velvety softness and sucked at it. The sensation was magical to Talliea. She had never experienced anything like it. "I want you, too," she whispered when the two of them parted.

Arizira looked at her. Her eyes were glowing in the darkness around them, but Talliea could make out the blue beneath. It was not the light hue she was accustomed to. Instead, it was dark and almost a violet in color. Without saying another word, Arizira kissed her chin and braced herself on her left arm, which was resting slightly above Talliea's head. Talliea looked down the length of her body when she felt Arizira's hand begin to move again. Fingers easily undid the remaining buttons of her shirt before lowering to the waistband of her skirt. They smoothed over her stomach and dipped into her navel before going farther down. A slight panic overcame her as she remembered the last time someone had touched her in a similar way, but it was quickly overcome with lust when she glanced back up into Arizira's eyes.

The other woman's fingers slowly untied the strings at her waist and, before she could question what happened next, slipped inside her skirt. They moved lower and the throbbing between her legs was nearly unbearable. She could feel the wetness from before collecting on her thighs and she felt as if she was about to come undone. Arizira's fingers moved still lower and hovered just above the source of her pleasurable throbbing.

"Ari..." she moaned before waking up suddenly and blinking into the darkness around her.

Sitting up, Talliea licked her dry lips and struggled to get her breathing under control. She ran a hand through her hair and looked around at her surroundings. She was alone. Arizira was nowhere to be seen and the night still hung heavily to the sky above. The moon was high and its light shone directly outside her temporary shelter. Talliea blinked in an attempt to clear the vivid images of her dream from her mind. Things had felt so real. Her body was still humming and throbbing and vibrating, and the wetness from her dream, she discovered, was actually present in her wakeful state.

She squeezed her thighs together and tried to quell the persistent pulsating she felt between them. Her entire body could still feel Arizira's touch and her lips ached to taste the other woman's again. Throwing her blanket away from her, Talliea became aware of how warm she was. The longer she was awake, the more her reality came back to her.

She had not kissed Arizira, nor had the woman in question ever touched her like Talliea had experienced in her dream. Her mind had conjured the visions while she slept and, somehow, her body had reacted as if it had been real. Struggling to understand what the dream meant, she crawled away from her bedding and to the mouth of the rock formation.

Deep night was all about her. The area that the moon's light covered was bright and eerily beautiful. The plants around her and the rocks above seemed to reflect that light and cast the surrounding forest in an ethereal glow. Talliea crawled out of the overhang and let the cool night time air connect with her overheated body. Sitting against the rocks just outside the thermal spring, she wrapped her arms about herself and looked around.

What had awakened her, she wondered? No sounds came to her ears and nothing of interest made themselves noticeable to her eyes. She could not understand why she had suddenly awoke. The hush around her was nearly deafening but, also, was a welcome difference to what she was accustomed. Movement abruptly caught her attention to the east and she whipped her head around to the right.

Squinting against the darkness, Talliea tried to make out what had caught her attention. A slight break in the clouds covering the moon awarded her a fresh stream of light and the object of her curiosity came into view. Far to the east, sitting upon a slightly raised hill, was a large white wolf. Two intense blue eyes stared back at her and took in her activities. The wolf did not move or show any indication that it planned to attack her. Talliea held her breath as she watched the wolf watch her. She was afraid to make any sudden movements and so remained completely still and as she was. The wolf looked up at the moon and then back down at her. Standing up, it tossed its head back and seemed to shake off its own curiosity of her. Talliea watched it turn around and head in a direction that led it away from her camp.

She stayed in her position a moment longer and tried to convince herself that any and all chance of danger had passed. When she was satisfied that the wolf was not going to reappear, she crawled back into the shallow dip in the rock and settled atop her blanket. Her mind was immediately overcome with images of Arizira and what she had experienced with her in her dream. Smiling, she let the images overcome her before falling back into a deep sleep.

*  *  *  *  *  *

The following morning, Talliea enjoyed a walk through the forest. She picked berries that looked similar to some Arizira left and searched for edible nuts and plants. The morning was cool, but not unenjoyable. The blanket Arizira made for her was wrapped over her shoulders and offered her extra warmth. She was not sure if the plants and berries she was picking were harmful or helpful, but she had wanted to do something other than sit alone.

Her dream from the night before had given her mind much to think on. Never before had another invaded her thoughts as Arizira had. The images from her dream, and the vivid way her body had flared to life, seemed to hang upon every thought Talliea had. Despite herself, she could not seem to shake them.

In her heart, she knew she did not wish to do so. Thinking of Arizira, dreaming of her, somehow made her feel secure and safe. She could not put a name to her feelings, nor a reason for her dream, but she knew Arizira made her feel good. For now, that was enough.

The sun was beginning to warm the world the longer Talliea walked. She made certain she only traveled to places that had visible landmarks she knew. The glade. The hot spring. Her current dwelling. It was nice to be the master of her own time, to be free to walk and wander and think and explore. There were no menial chores to complete, no disapproving looks or overeager hands that wished to touch her body.

Later after her walk, Talliea ate a bit of the rabbit meat Arizira had dried along with a few berries she had picked and deemed edible. It was not the most satisfying meal she'd ever partaken of, but it was some bit of nourishment. Despite her lack of more filling food, Talliea was happy for the first time in as long as she could remember. This was what freedom felt like.

* * * * * *

After eating, Talliea bathed in the hot spring and returned to her camp before nightfall. She missed Arizira and often found her thoughts wondering about her companion. Had she made it to her tribe or was she still traveling? How soon would she return? Was she thinking of Talliea as Talliea was thinking of her?

Sleep came not long after the moon took the sky. Wrapped up in her blanket, Talliea watched the dying flames of her fire where it sat just outside the overhang of rock she was under. Her first day on her own had come and gone just as her second was now soon to become a memory. A wolf howled somewhere nearby, but Talliea did not feel fear. As with the white wolf she'd seen the night before, the knowledge of such a creature close by brought about a sense of security, as though the great animal were in some way her protector.

The flames of the fire began to diminish, their dancing orange hues becoming smoldering  dark embers. Talliea's eyes began to droop. The wolf howled again, this time sounding closer, and then sleep overcame the Esu woman.

Thoughts and visions of Arizira followed.

*  *  *  *  *  *

"You wish to embark upon the Spirit Quest at this time?"

Arizira silently nodded to herself and looked back up at Talyn. The other Arniran was sitting before her in a chair which had been carved from the tree it was a part of. Its high back and deep seat gave Talyn the appearance she desired: that of a leader. Leaves and vines grew around the base of the chair while ivy and various flowers crawled across the back.

Arizira, kneeling before her Nai'iris, shook her head with more determination and replied, "Yes, Nai'iris. My thoughts have been very chaotic and at times have seemed to be against my own will. I desire to learn more of myself and calm the upset that my spirit has recently come upon."

Talyn looked down at her with an arched brow. Feathers were woven into her silver hair and her inquisitive eyes were large and held much wisdom and age. A headband of a deep green shade covered her forehead and a single opalescent gem sat in the center. "You feel that now is such a time for this quest? With the approaching winter and the threat of the Esu, I am reluctant to have any of our sisters out in the forest without the strength of the tribe behind her."

Arizira bowed her head in acceptance of the wisdom spoken. Talyn's words were not without her own consideration. She knew the threat and the danger that would be present in requesting such a personal endeavor. Winters in the north were harsh, but Arizira had lived through her share and she was not without her own skill in the Wilds of her country. Embarking on a Spirit Quest would allow her the time she needed to be with Talliea. She would be able to be alone and on her own for several weeks without the tribe worrying about her or her whereabouts. All of her fellow sisters understood the necessity of such a quest and none would question her desire to commence any such venture.

She would be able to teach Talliea what the other woman wished to learn. Time would not weigh on either of their minds. They would both be free. Their respective peoples would have no reason to search for either of them, though she knew said search would be for very different reasons for each party. Though her mind begged her to remain cautious and to think things through, her heart compelled her to remain close to Talliea. It desired the Esu woman even knowing pain and heartache could await it. Something about Talliea had captured her from the very first minute she had spied her in the Esu camp. That nagging feeling had led Arizira to learn the Esulan words, befriend a woman who belonged to her people's fabled enemy, risk herself and the integrity of her calling, and agree to teach Talliea her skills for protection.

Despite everything her sense of duty begged her to consider, her heart would hear none of it and pleaded for her attention. Feelings she should not have for Talliea weighed heavily on her. She could not understand how she could feel so strongly so soon. She honestly barely knew Talliea. Somehow, even holding that information, Arizira felt that she did know the other woman. She felt it and believed it deep inside of herself.

The feelings she kept for Talliea grew with each passing day. They had continued to grow since the two women first met. Arizira had never felt something so strong and all consuming. It devoured her from the inside out but, instead of feeling less, she felt more. She felt greater than she was, stronger. She would not dare to admit it to herself, not yet, but Arizira felt that she was slowly beginning to fall in love with Talliea. The thought unnerved her. She could not fathom how she could possibly love someone she had known for so short a time. The idea was nonsense. Love was an emotion that had to be nurtured. It had to grow and thrive. It could not just exist without any foundation.

Could it? Swallowing and looking back up at Talyn, Arizira realized the older woman had been awaiting an answer from her. "Forgive me, Nai'iris, but it is my place to decide the course of my life. I am aware of the risks involved and choose to undergo the Quest freely and of my own volition. The state of my inner peace is what I stand to lose. Balance has been disrupted in my life of late and I must do all that is before me to see that it is restored."

Talyn was silent for a moment as she weighed the strength of Arizira's argument. Sighing, she pursed her lips and stood up before slowly nodding her head. "You are correct, young one. Your life is your own and how you choose to direct its course is, naturally, laid upon your shoulders. I would urge you to reconsider your timing. The Esu do not venture from the valley, for now, but Aitla only knows for how long they shall remain."

Arizira stood up and regarded Talyn. The elder woman almost seemed worried for her. "I am aware of the poor choice of my timing, but still I wish to begin as soon as possible." Nodding somberly, Talyn walked closer to Arizira and placed a motherly hand upon her shoulder. "You are the Child of Whispers. All your short life we have watched over you believing you to be Aitla's chosen. Now, the dark skinned Esu have arisen from the deepest and darkest shadows and I fear the dawn of your fate draws ever closer."

Arizira remained silent. There was very little she could say to such words. She was used to the whispers about her. For as long as she could recall members of the tribe, her fellow sisters, had spoken of her and what her unique appearance could portend. None that were alive today could remember an Arniran being born with eyes the color of the sky and hair that shined like the sun. Arizira, as the years had passed, had come to be known as the Child of Whispers. The name was apt and spoke truly enough, but Arizira had never believed the words that others spoke of her. She was nearing her thirtieth winter and her life had been no different than any of her other sisters.

She was a master with a variety of weapons. She was one with the forest and the spirits of the trees, but the same could be said for many of the other Arnira. To Arizira, there was nothing definitive that set her apart from her sisters. Still, the whispers about her had always led her to believe that perhaps, just possibly, her life was key to certain important events. She did not believe that she herself was important per se.

"Perhaps you are correct, Nai'iris. Only time shall grant us any such wisdom on future events. I choose, however, to focus on the present and my life as it is now." Talyn smiled at her and a full and hearty laugh sounded around them. "You are one of a kind, Arizira, and I shall miss you while you are away. Your presence has always been admired. May Aitla watch over you while you go on this quest for inner peace. I would ask a favor, if I may?" Arizira nodded and prompted Talyn to continue. "Return as soon as you can. These are sure to be trying times for all of us and I, personally, will feel more at ease with the knowledge of your safety."

Smiling and promising to do as Talyn requested, Arizira turned away from her Nai'iris and made for her own home. A part of her felt guilty for lying to the other woman, but she knew what she was doing was right.  Once she gathered extra equipment and provisions, she could return to Talliea and truly begin to understand the role the other woman was to have in her life.

Arizira looked around her single room abode. She had gathered an extra dagger, another quiver of arrows, a second pack filled with medicinal and cooking supplies, a second skin for water, a bar of soap consisting of cypress oil and animal fat, some cured hides and leathers, and an extra set of gloves for Talliea. She glanced around the simple room and, once satisfied that she had grabbed everything of necessity, headed toward the wooden ladder that would lead her back down to the floor of the forest.

She secured the extra dagger to the inside of her left boot, and the second pack of supplies was strapped over her back close to the first pack and underneath her bow and quiver. She wrapped the extra quiver in a light cloth and tied its end. It, along with the gloves, she held in her hand as she stepped through familiar underbrush and grass and past tall and welcoming trees of various types. None of the other women attempted to question her or stop her. Each of them knew of the sanctity of a Spirit Quest and how important it was to the one embarking upon it. Several of the women nodded at her or lowered their heads, but none spoke or stepped in her way. She was nearly to the borders of the village when the sound of feet upon fallen branches caught her attention. She turned around and looked back toward the tribe, but none of the women were close enough to have caused such a sound.

Frowning and turning back to the open forest, Arizira was startled when she nearly bumped into Cynra. The Dream Speaker was smiling up at her with a knowing air and her pale purple eyes were brightly glowing in the dark. "Honored One, you frightened me. I was not aware of your presence." Cynra clasped her hands behind her back and continued to look at Arizira with an inquisitive expression. "No, I would say that you were not. Mind already walking paths your feet have yet to meet?" the old woman asked.

Arizira sighed and smiled at the older woman. Normally she would have been thrilled to engage in a deep and philosophical conversation with the wise woman, but tonight was different. The longer she was away the longer Talliea was alone. She still had a day's walk ahead of her, at least, and she greatly wished to return to Talliea sooner rather than later.

"I was lost to my thoughts, yes. That is the reason for my departure."

"Is it really?" Cynra asked, her eyes widening and the playful tone to her voice increasing. Unsettled by the question, Arizira turned her head and regarded the older woman more closely. "It is," she answered. "Unless you know of something that I do not." Cynra shrugged her shoulders and stepped out of Arizira's way. When the younger Arniran began to walk again, Cynra fell into step beside her and picked their conversation back up. "You would feel lighter in your steps if your heart was not such a burden to you."

Arizira faltered slightly but continued her brisk pace. She was unsure what Cynra's words could mean, but they struck very near to the truth and that caused her some concern. "My heart is fine. It is my thoughts that have set me on this quest," she lied. Cynra nodded again. Though she was far older than Arizira and usually walked slowly, this night her steps were light and she easily kept up with the fast pace the younger woman set.

"Your thoughts may have set you on this quest, as you say, but it is because your thoughts are troubled by what your heart speaks." Stopping and sighing, Arizira pinched the bridge of her nose and looked down at the smiling woman next to her. It was obvious to her that Cynra was intent on following along until she gave up some bit of information. What that information was she could not say. Again, she found herself wondering if, somehow, Cynra knew of Talliea and her budding feelings. "You speak in riddles, Honored One, and tonight I do not have the time to figure out their meaning. Haste I must use this night. I am sorry for being so forward--"

Cynra laughed, shook her head and interrupted her. "I am not. More of us could stand to be so. But tell me, what saddens your heart so greatly?" Arizira chewed her bottom lip in thought. She knew she could not tell Cynra of Talliea or their interaction over the past month. Her time was short and it would not allow for her to fully recount everything that had happened between them. Besides, she could not risk Talliea or her safety by speaking of her existence to anyone. Not even someone as respected and honored as Cynra.

Still, Cynra was not like the other women Arizira knew. She was far more wise than any of the Elders combined and her ability to learn and see a vast array of things through her dreams gave her a quality unlike anything else Arizira was aware. The older woman had helped her before when she'd been lost in how she could communicate with Talliea.

Maybe she could help again...

"Dream Speaker, you are correct. My heart is burdened, but there is little I can do to alleviate that feeling." Cynra smiled softly at her and placed a hand on her upper arm. "Your heart desires to beat with another?"

"Yes," Arizira answered honestly and emphatically. It felt good to admit the truth out loud, even though it did nothing to ease the pain still beating in her chest. "My heart desires something it can not have." Stepping closer, Cynra frowned and looked around them. "Why can your heart not have that which it desires, child?" Arizira shook her head, sighed, and smiled ruefully. "Because what it wants lives only in dreams and nothing good can come from pursuing something so unknown. It is complicated, Honored One."

Cynra regarded her with a strange intensity and Arizira could not help but feel more exposed than ever before. She suddenly regretted speaking to Cynra at all. The wizened woman seemed always to see more of Arizira than she intended upon giving away and that always unsettled her.

"The heart always knows what it wants," Cynra said. "It does not lead us when our bodies simply require a physical release. It does not interfere when lust addles our minds when we are young. The heart speaks to us only when it meets someone with the capacity to change us forever. It chooses freely and desires unity and comfort. The heart will only burden us when it notices that those things are near. What you want, child, lives only in dreams because once you achieve it, that is what true love will feel like. A dream. A perfect, never waking dream."

Arizira stared at Cynra, completely captivated by her words, and was unable to form any of her own. She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came forth. Cynra smiled at her again. "You should not be so quick to dismiss what your heart asks of you. If things are meant to be, they shall be." Turning around and looking back over her shoulder, Cynra groaned and took a heavy step away from Arizira. "Hmm, a walk in the forest is always nice."

Without another word to Arizira, the old woman slowly began walking back toward the village. Arizira watched her for a few moments longer before turning back toward Talliea's direction. The Dream Speaker's words had given her much to think about. As she set her pace once again, she was grateful for the time alone her trek would afford her. It would allow her mind time to process all of Cynra's words and, hopefully, shed light upon their deeper meaning.

Chapter 14: Prophecy

She froze, a disbelieving and stunned expression passing over her face and through her eyes. The arrow head and part of the shaft protruded through the front of her chest while the rest of the arrow, feathered end and all, jutted from her back. The pain was immense and agonizing. As she felt herself fall to her knees, her eyes sought out the face of the person she'd taken the arrow for. Blood seeped through the front of her clothing and she tasted its metallic tang in the corners of her mouth.

A blood curdling scream tore through the forest, but she barely registered it. There was commotion around her. Voices, both Esu and Arnira, mixed together in the background of her thoughts. Despite the chaos, she noticed a deadened hush overcoming her senses. Her left hand came up beneath the arrow head and the warmth of her own blood startled her. She could not believe her life was ending so. How could this be her destiny? She had found love. She had been happy. Things were not supposed to end as they were, and ending she knew matters to be. She was dying. She could not tell if time was moving quickly or slowly. Her thoughts were only able to focus on the arrow and her body's reaction to it. Breathing was a laborious task. As her eyes finally focused on her love's, she smiled.

She had saved her. The arrow slowly taking and claiming her life would not be tasting the flesh of her beloved Talliea. Her world spun harshly around her and for a moment everything went black. When she opened her eyes again, Talliea was next to her, face full of pain and shock and denial. Her brown eyes were wet with tears and she trembled when she touched her.

"No, no, no...no, please...Ari? Ari? Stay here with me, love. Please...no...no." Hands traveled across her body and her face. Talliea's touch was searching and frantic and her words were laced heavily with anguish. "Fai...lira.," she muttered. Talliea cried harder and shook her head. Around her, the sounds of battle sounded, but she could only concentrate on Arizira. Her love was dying in her arms and her body felt so much pain, she could barely stand to suffer it. There was an emptiness trying to overcome her. As her hands ran across her lover's chest, the shocking warmth of blood met her fingers and a new wave of agony ravished her body.

"You should not be here, Ari-sera! I was trying to keep you safe, love! Why? Why?" Arizira coughed and with difficulty managed to place her hand on top of Talliea's which rested on her chest."I...m-missed you. I...promised...t-to keep you s-safe."

Tears fell from Talliea's eyes and pooled in the crook of Arizira's neck. She could feel her love's breathing coming farther and farther apart. Her skin was pale and quickly cooling and blood was drying on her lips. "Not this way, Ari. Not this way." Arizira attempted another small smile before wincing with pain. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes and Talliea realized the light within them was fading. "A-always t-this...way, f-failira. My e-eyes are...g-g-gladdened to...s-see your...f-face again. Y-you are...s-safe. T-this is...e-enough...f-for me."

"Ari-sera...no...please. I can not walk this world without you. P-please! Stay here. Stay here with me." Talliea's heart could not decide if it wanted to continue to beat or cease all attempts and join her love's. She had waited her whole life for Arizira. She had found herself in the other woman. Love, happiness, physical fulfillment--all had been achieved for her through Arizira. The two of them had found one another. They had become friends. They had become equals.

They had found love and become lovers. The thought of never experiencing any of those things again terrified and saddened Talliea beyond all imagining. She could not live her life without Arizira. She couldn't. Their two separate lives had become one over the course of their time together. The bond they shared was unlike anything she had ever known. She knew she'd never find that type of connection again. "I'm going to save you, love, do you hear me? Just stay with me," she pleaded, before attempting to pick the smaller woman up.

Around them both, the sounds of steel meeting steel rang out in the silence of the forest. Voices called out to their fellows and resounding commands were issued afterward. Occasional flashes of light flared to life in various areas but, for the moment, no one attempted to interfere with Talliea or Arizira.

Arizira cried out when her love tried to move her. Pain shot through her chest and fanned out into her arms and fingers. Fresh blood spilled from the wound in her chest and her vision darkened. "Do...n-not, Tah-li...d-do n-not," she panted out. She knew the Esu and Arnira would soon be upon them and she desired her last moments to be spent with her love rather than in pain because of some futile attempt at flight. Talliea loosened her hold on Arizira's body and let her head fall onto her neck. She needed to be close to the woman who had brought her to life and healed her heart.

"I love you so much," she whispered in a ragged breath against Arizira's neck. Kissing her pulse, she let herself feel the enormity of her crazed emotions. Everything assaulted her at once and she cried as someone who has lost a most vital part of themselves. Her spirit felt like it was being ripped from inside her only to be replaced with a deep, black, and unforgiving void. She grasped Arizira's shoulder and squeezed her arm almost painfully in her desperation to keep them together.

"Failira..."Arizira croaked. Her voice was deeper and slower and Talliea knew their time together was coming to a fast end. Pulling away and running her fingers across her lover's face, she tried to clear her tears so that she could see Arizira's eyes more clearly. "Y-you a-are...my...life's...g-g-great...est...d-desire. I...l-loved...y-you...f-from...the...m-m-moment...I...s-saw...you. Y-you...c-compli...mented...me...a-and I...w-was...great..er...w-with...you...t-than...I-I...e-ever...w-was...a-alone. I...l-love y-you..f-fai..l-lira. A-always..."

Talliea watched the dull glow of Arizira's eyes finally dim and fade away. A glossy sheen seemed to cover them almost immediately and her body slackened in her arms. A deep rattle like sound came from her throat and in the next moment, she was still and quiet. "No! No! Oh, please! No! Ari? Ari? I love you...please!"

Elsewhere...

"This is what must come to pass?" The voice, the angelic voice that did not belong to the rest of the world, answered back softly, "It is how she shall come into herself."

"I was not aware of the pain involved."

"Through pain comes strength. This shall prove to be the catalyst she needs to find her strength."

"There must be some other way. The ethereal voice paused for a moment before, "There is not. Her power will manifest itself when the need presented is great enough. Death shall be that need."

"She deserves to know. They both do."

"They can not. The prophecy would veer off course and things that must come to pass would not. You shall not interfere. All forks in the road do not lead away from the forest."

Silence.

"I would never question you unless I thought it best."

"I know."

Another beat.

"They will fall in love and experience a bond not felt in ages only to end as you have shown me?" The question was met without an immediate answer.

"One is very dear to me. I have watched her for all of her life. I shall continue to do so, but from you I require your trust and your faith."

"You have it. Always you have had it."

"Then trust me again. The Child of Whispers must experience death if her goddess is to find her way to me."

*  *  *  *  *  *

Arizira finally came to the rock formation early the following morning. The moon still shone in the sky above her, but its light was fading as the sun attempted to claim the day. Red and pink colors spread across the horizon and a light fog could be seen in the forest where the sun's rays fought to reach the ground. All was quiet as she approached and the peaceful silence was welcome to her.

Just as she was about to bend down to check on Talliea, the sound of a wolf howling caught her attention and forced her to search for the source. She looked straight ahead and noticed, far away on a hill top shrouded in heavy mist and fog, a great white wolf. The wolf's head was thrown back as it howled at the dying moon. Its great body was pure white without a speck of silver or grey. It howled, turned to look at Arizira, and then howled again. The sound was deep and rich and seemed to echo the lament she felt herself at the night's passing. Finally, the wolf finished its cry and turned to face her. Something about the creature seemed different, but she could not place what that was. She felt a connection with the wolf, as though the great beast knew her in some way.

For long moments, blue eyes held blue eyes. The wolf sniffed the air as the sun finally took over the sky above. Arizira looked up at the slowly gaining light. When she turned back to where the wolf had been, she was surprised to find it no longer present. Looking around, she hoped to spot the majestic creature, but her attempts were met with disappointment.

The wolf was gone.

She sighed to herself and took the wolf's appearance as a good sign for the day. Wolves were special to Aitla. With that thought in her mind, she felt as if her goddess was somehow blessing her decision to aid Talliea. She crawled inside the rock structure and was immediately grateful for the warmth the spring provided. The night had been cold and her journey through the forest a trying trek. She was happy to no longer feel the sting of Salira's icy bite.

Talliea was on her side, facing her, with the wolf hide blanket pulled up to her shoulders. Deep and even breaths signaled her state of sleep and rest and Arizira smiled at noticing how peaceful she appeared. Reaching out, she let her fingers brush away a few strands of dark black hair that had fallen over Talliea's face. Her fingers lingered a moment by her ear before Arizira stopped herself and pulled her hand away.

Cynra's earlier words to her had been wise and given her a lot to think about. They had been fanciful and filled with hope, but they had also confused her immensely. Despite what the Dream Speaker said, Arizira knew she could not just blurt out her feelings, nor could she take advantage of Talliea's youth and innocence of the world. If she chose to pursue Talliea, she knew she would have to approach her differently than she would an Arniran woman. She would have to take things more slowly and cautiously if she hoped to win Talliea's heart.

Arizira knew that was what she wanted. She was not seeking just a physical accord with Talliea. Her body was not craving that beautiful release of the flesh that she had experienced in the past. Though those couplings had been fulfilling to her, Arizira was not desiring that type of encounter with the Esu woman. She was searching for something deeper and more meaningful. It was not her body that reacted first when Talliea was near her. It was her heart, her spirit.

She knew there was definitely a physical attraction present and her body did react to Talliea's touch, but those things were not the first sensations she noticed. There was something different about Talliea. She felt at times as if she had always known the other woman. When their eyes met and all was quiet, Arizira was sure the two of them were sharing a moment they had many times before.

It was strange to her, her feelings. They truly did leave her unsettled. When Talliea was close to her, her fingers practically hummed with a desire to caress that dark, bronze skin. Sitting against the right side of the deep impression of the rock formation, Arizira let the warmth from the surrounding spring seep deep into her bones. She knew the two of them would be needing to leave soon. They could not stay where they were. The structure provided little protection against the elements, and if a heavy snow or a rain passed through the forest the formation would quickly be filled and the two of them easily trapped inside.

They would need to find a more permanent shelter, some place far enough away from both of their peoples, but close enough to familiar hunting grounds and sources of water. With the winter ever approaching, Arizira knew she and Talliea would need to stock up on as much food as they could. Water would not be as hard to come by. There were several rivers and springs and creeks throughout the wide forest. Though they would freeze in the cold, the water trapped inside could be melted down and stored in skins for long periods of time.

Arizira found herself going over their needs. Shelter was first on her list followed by searching for and securing as much food as possible. She would need to go hunting. The animal she would kill would provide food for them, which could be dried for later use, as well as more adequate clothing for Talliea. The Esu woman could not run around the woods, in the winter, with only a thin cloth shirt and a flimsy skirt. She needed extra protection against the changing seasons.

Shelter. Food. Clothing.

Watching Talliea sleep, Arizira felt excitement well up inside her. The two of them were free to do as they wished. She could get to know Talliea without the worry of the Esu in the back of her mind. The Wilds were a much wider place than Talliea knew. She had only seen a small sampling of the forest. Arizira thought of all the places she wished to show her. The beauty around them was never ending. When the snows came and covered the world in a blanket of soft white, Arizira felt Talliea would still be able to appreciate what she wanted to share with her.

Yawning and stretching, Arizira let her eyes close for a moment. She would need to learn to share the day in the light of the sun if she hoped to teach Talliea what she knew. The Esu were not able to see during the night as her people were able to see during the day. She and Talliea would both need to sleep at night and travel during the day. The sun was slowly growing in the sky outside and Arizira let her body relax against the rocks behind her. A small nap would help her to keep herself for the day ahead. As her eyes closed, she let them focus on Talliea's face.  A small and contented smile was present on the other woman's full lips and Arizira wondered what dreams she witnessed to cause such an expression.

Smiling softly to herself, she reached out her hand and placed it on top of Talliea's. Sleep came quickly to her and the world awoke outside with the sounds of birds and animals.

Their journey together was finally beginning.

Chapter 15: Taetylona

Talliea stretched and rolled over onto her back. A bright glare against her eyelids caused her to squint and she mumbled to herself in annoyance before forcing her eyes open and looking around. The sun was large and full in the sky beyond and its radiant light filled the rock formation with a warm glow. Birds called to one another, and the sound of small creatures scurrying in the treetops and along the forest floor calmed her and caused her to smile at the simplicity.

Rearing up on her elbows, she braced her weight and let her eyes take in her immediate surroundings. Arizira was nowhere to be seen, but the evidence of her presence was easy enough to spot. Her bow was leaning against the far side of the underground slope while two quivers, one wrapped in a tight cloth, sat on the floor beneath it. A jeweled dagger with a ruby quartz in the center of the handle laid against the quiver wrapped in cloth, and a tanned pair of gloves was next to it. Talliea noticed Arizira's leather pack sitting by her bow and wondered where the smaller woman was.

Throwing her blanket away from herself, she crawled to the exit of her shelter and peered around. Leaves fell in a foreign dance through the wind that whistled high above, and the smell of grasses and flowers met her senses, but of Arizira there was no sign. She looked to her left and then to her right, but she found no trace of her companion in either direction. Panic clutched her heart and her mind was suddenly assaulted with vivid images of what could have happened. Had Lao'dahn followed the two women? Had he found Arizira unawares? The idea that Lao'dahn could walk up on someone as perceptive and skilled as Arizira did not seem likely to Talliea. Still, the man had proven to her that he was not without a vicious and cunning nature.

She reached back behind her and grabbed the dagger Arizira had left lying in the depression. Stepping out of the formation and standing to her full height, Talliea decided to search the perimeter of the thermal spring. She had no idea what she would do if she actually happened upon Lao'dahn or anyone else for that matter. All she knew was that Arizira was not with her. The other woman had obviously returned during the night or early morning. Had she gone hunting? Why would she do so alone? She was supposed to be teaching Talliea her skills. It would prove more beneficial if they both hunted and tracked their food.

Her thoughts fought within her mind. She attempted to calm herself and focus on the important facts. Allowing her imagination to fly in every direction was not going to help matters. What was important was finding Arizira and ensuring she was safe. Walking around the east side of the towering faces of rock, Talliea paused and listened for any abnormal sounds.

There was nothing. She sighed and once again wished she was more like Arizira. If she had the Arniran's keen sense of hearing, she was sure she would have picked up on sounds other than that of the wildlife around her. "Ari?" she called as loudly as she dared.

When no answering call came back on the wind, Talliea gripped the dagger in her right hand tighter and steeled herself. Just as she was about to continue heading farther away from the formation, a strange feeling settled over her. It was nearly like a vaporous wave that settled softly on her shoulders. She noticed her fingertips tingling and a sense of absolute sureness came over her mind. The sensation floated away from her and she blinked when she became aware of its absence. Shaking her head and looking around, she started in the direction the feeling was guiding her.

Never once did she stop to question herself. Whatever was leading her seemed to be coming from inside herself. There was no other way to describe it. She walked over small ledges of rock and through heavy beds of fallen leaves, and all the time she never felt fear or panic. What she followed was good and peaceful. It required no second guessing. When she came to a small and gentle drop off in the earth, she stopped and came back to herself. Looking around, she realized she recognized her surroundings.

She had come to the thermal spring she'd visited before. The monolithic rocks around her climbed high above toward the sky and several trees swayed in the easy breeze. From her vantage point, Talliea could see down into the water of the spring. Steam rose over the flat faced stones that broke the water's surface and in the center, amid the columns of aspiring mist, Arizira waded with her back to Talliea. The sound of her gentle singing and humming came to Talliea's ears and she realized the words were unknown to her. They were lyrical and musical and utterly captivating and at once she knew them to be in the Arnira tongue.

Arizira's fair and unmarked skin glistened with small rivulets of water and her silvery blonde hair, golden in the sun, was a deeper shade with the water having darkened it. Talliea watched her dip her head back into the water and spread her hands and arms out to her sides. The tops of her breasts peaked over the top of the water and Talliea felt herself blush.

Arizira was naked! Completely. Naked.

She turned away and closed her eyes. Why was that fact so shocking to her? She should have known! Arizira was bathing. The throbbing between her legs came back in an instant and she breathed out through her mouth slowly to calm herself. Turning back around, she let her eyes find Arizira again. Despite feeling awkward by her body's reaction, Talliea could not help herself from openly appreciating the woman before her.

She felt her heart skip a beat in her chest as she watched Arizira trail her fingers over the surface of the water. She was beautiful, like some mystical creature out of imagination and wonder.

Smiling, Talliea sat down against the tall pillar behind her and let her mind and her heart and her body appreciate the perfection so close to her. She wondered why she felt as she did when around Arizira. Her body always reacted pleasantly, but something else responded, too.

Something inside her. Something stronger. Something deeper.

She noticed, as she sat watching Arizira bathe and sing, that her mind and her spirit were completely at peace. There was no urgency or anxiety or worry plaguing the background of her thoughts. Her entire being was focused on nothing but Arizira. It was calming. Though the Arniran woman's back remained to her, Talliea was satisfied just being able to witness the smoothness of her gorgeous skin. The throbbing between her thighs still ached for something she could not name, but her heart was steady and without fear.

Strange, she thought. Deciding that she had intruded on the other woman's time long enough, she stood up and was about to walk back to their camp when a voice called to her.

"How long do you plan to remain in the cold, Tah-li?" Spinning back around, Talliea saw that Arzira was now facing in her direction in the water. Her chest was partially covered and the water licked at her skin.

"I...uh...I was not. I mean, I came to...t-to find you," Talliea stuttered, shocked at having been caught. Arizira smiled and squirted some water between her palms. The spray shot high into the air before splashing back into the spring. "You have found me," she said in a deadpan voice.

Blushing furiously, Talliea wrinkled her skirts in one hand while the other squeezed the handle of the dagger. "You should come down and join me. I have soap and can clean your wounds for you," Arizira called.

Talliea felt conflicting emotions war inside her. Her dreams from the last few nights had made her more aware of certain...feelings? she had toward Arizira. The steady pulsating between her legs was enough to remind her of the heated and vivid images she'd experienced. She found herself wanting to discuss the dream with Arizira, but the thought that the other woman would view her differently, or feel awkward around her, was too much of a gamble.

On the other hand, she was still slightly apprehensive about being touched. The dohethra had worked wonders for her pain, and Arizira's skilled touch had eased much of her body's tension, but there was still the lurking sense of dread that seemed always present when there was the possibility of another person placing their hands on her.

Could she expose herself to Arizira again? Especially after her erotic dreams?

"Tah-li, the water is warm and we have a long day's walk ahead of us. You would do well to allow your body this pleasure while it is available." Talliea blushed a deeper shade of red. Pleasure. She laughed to herself. Arizira had no idea.

Shaking her flustered thoughts from her mind, she smiled to Arizira and steadily made her way down to the edge of the spring. Arizira's intense eyes followed her every movement and the way they glowed softly set her heart to racing. She stopped and felt uneasiness well up inside her. Communal bathing was nothing new to her. All of her life, she had bathed with the other women of her clan. Many times, when she had been younger, the baths had been some of her favorite moments. The women had laughed and spoken to each other and played games in the water. Life had been much more simple back then and she had not carried the worries she currently did.

Bathing with Arizira, however, was something entirely new to Talliea. Given the way her body reacted to the other woman, she was surprised at her own nervousness when it came to the idea of being naked. She was being silly. She had seen naked women before and she was sure, given the fact that Arnira were all female, that Arizira had seen the same.

"Come, Tah-li, the day wears on and we have much to do, but I would enjoy hearing your story since I have been away," Arizira spoke up. She held her hand out to Talliea and smiled encouragingly. Fidgeting a moment, Talliea finally said, "T-turn around."

Arizira cocked her head to the side and furrowed her brows. A lost expression crossed her face before understanding dawned on her. Talliea was nervous about her body. Did Esu women not bathe together like Arnira did? The thought had not even crossed her mind. Even though her attraction to Talliea was ever present, the idea of the two of them bathing together had never once come across to her as anything other than what it was.

Was Talliea afraid to be naked around her or was it just a general sense of uncertainty? Arnira bathed together often. The act was a further way to bond with individual members of the tribe and the simple task of washing each other's body and hair was seen as a gesture of respect. Talliea's reaction stopped her.

"I will leave, Tah-li, if I make you uncomfortable. You may have the spring to yourself. I shall return and prepare our supplies so that we may depart once you are finished." Arizira began swimming closer to the edge of the spring, but Talliea's voice stopped her. "No. Please do not go. I am still...I-I still find myself wary when it comes to my body. Please understand. It is not you."

Arizira took in the words and let her arms tread the water. Her eyes looked up and stared into Talliea's for several long moments. Again, she found herself curious as to what had actually happened to Talliea. Her suspicious and cautious nature when it came to herself was something Arizira had a hard time understanding. Finally, she nodded and turned away from the Esu woman before swimming into the center of the pool.

Talliea swallowed her anxiety and breathed out her relief. With Arizira's back to her, she quickly stripped herself of her clothing and stepped into the warmth of the spring. Slowly, she lowered her body into the heated water and allowed herself time to adjust. As the times before, the spring felt amazing and her mind's worries began to fade away. Arizira remained with her back facing her and her head floated back against the water. Talliea noticed her eyes were closed and the sun seemed to cast her in a halo of gold. Wading through the water, she came up behind Arizira and tapped her shoulder.

When blue eyes whipped around to meet her, Talliea smiled and splashed water into her face hoping to ease the situation. Arizira squealed and shook her head. Water bubbled around the two women as they each took turns splashing the other. Laughter and high-pitched cries of excitement sounded high up above them and resounded off the standing guards of rock that shadowed the spring. For a moment, neither woman thought of their heart's conflicts. They did not think of their peoples or their troubles.

They laughed. They enjoyed one another.

Water continually bubbled around them and sprayed into their eyes. Hands moved and connected with the water in the hope of outdoing the other. Finally, Arizira turned her face to the side and cried out, "You win, you win! I surrender!"

Talliea splashed her one more time and the two of them smiled at one another as they tried to catch their breath. Arizira, turning back to face Talliea, was struck with how flawlessly beautiful her smile was. She had not been witness to it often and never in so open a display as she was looking upon now. The beauty of the other woman stilled her heart for a moment and she found that she could do nothing but stare.

Talliea, cheeks sore from laughing so fully, shook her head and held Arizira's gaze. The sounds of their hands lapping the water was all that could be heard. She was mesmerized with how stunningly perfect Arizira was. Her laughter and her smile and the simple way they had played in the water were things she was not used to. They made her happy.

Arizira made her happy.

"You have a beautiful smile, Tah-li. I would desire to see it more often." Talliea blushed and ducked her eyes. She felt her heart constrict and a warm feeling spread throughout her limbs.

After another moment, Arizira swam a short distance to one of the flat stones above the water. She grabbed her soap from atop it and swam back to Talliea. "Among my people, Tah-li, it is considered a great sense of honor and respect to bathe a close friend and wash her hair."

Talliea quirked an eyebrow and looked from the bar of soap to Arizira. "Is that what we are?" she asked, the status of their relationship having never been defined. Cocking her head to the side again, Arizira nodded, "Yes, Tah-li, for I would like to think so."

Talliea smiled and bit her lip. "I have never had a true friend," she admitted. Arizira swam closer to her and studied her face a moment. "Now, you do. We are friends. As your friend, allow me this honor. Please."

Swallowing again, Talliea turned around and let her arms come up to rest on one of the stones breaking the water's surface. Arizira had never, in her short time of knowing her, done anything to harm her, disrespect her, or bring about pain. Always, she had brought her relief and happiness and, without her knowing it, pleasure. She trusted Arizira like she trusted no other.

Whatever else she felt, she knew that trust was foremost in her thoughts. Arizira came up behind her and brushed her hair away from her shoulders. The touch, though simple, was electrifying. She inhaled against her will and bit her lip.

"You are still in pain?" Talliea released the air in her lungs and smirked to herself. Arizira's innocent question amused her. The other woman was oblivious to her current state. "In a manner of speaking," she replied.

Fingers as before moved across the skin of her back. She knew Arizira was only seeking to gauge the progress of her healing, but the feeling of her hands against her skin was incredibly distracting.

"I will wash your back now, yes, Tah-li?"

Talliea swallowed and nodded over her shoulder. Arizira was extremely close to her. She could feel her soft breaths against the back of her exposed neck and a part of her wished that Arizira would close the distance between them and press her front to her skin. She wondered how it would feel and noticed herself becoming flustered.

The soft press of the soap against her back glided across her wet skin. Arizira scrubbed gently and in small circles. Occasionally her nails would lightly scrape against her shoulder blades only to be smoothed a moment later by tender fingers. Arizira ensured she cleaned her wounds efficiently and thoroughly. She passed the soap across the top of Talliea's back and down along the center of her spine.

Her touch, like always, was not threatening or demanding. It soothed Talliea. "Your wounds are beginning to heal. The color red is no longer as angry across your back and the bruising is not as severe." Talliea, eyes closed and head resting on her hands, only hummed her acknowledgment. When Arizira had completely washed her back, she sighed and turned her head to look over her shoulder. Their eyes met and they smiled softly at one another.

"Now for your hair, Tah-li." Talliea paused, her previous anxiety flaring to life once more. Arizira seemed to pick up on her caution, her hesitance in exposing anymore of her body, and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Turn around slowly, Tah-li. My eyes shall remain on yours. Try to keep your body beneath the veil of the water."

Doing as she had been instructed, Talliea turned around until she was facing Arizira. The other woman brought her left hand up to the underside of her chin while the other rested at the base of her head and neck. "I shall dip your head back into the water. Do not be afraid, Tah-li. Our eyes shall remain on the other and I will not let you slip."

Talliea smiled and nodded as best she could in her position. Arizira guided her head back until she felt the warmth of the water engulf her hair. The hand that had been on her neck moved and smoothed over the top of her head, ensuring all of her hair was wet. All the while, Arizira kept her eyes on hers and never wavered. The feeling of Arizira's fingers gliding through her hair was an intoxicating sensation to Talliea.

Finally, her hair was fully wet and Arizira easily brought her head back up. Water slid down her back and hung to her earlobes. "Good, Tah-li," Arizira said smiling.

Grabbing the soap, the Arniran woman went about lathering it into Talliea's dark and thick hair. Once she felt that she had adequately applied the soap, she began to easily scrub Talliea's scalp and work the soap into a thicker lather. She trailed her fingers lightly through dark hair and smiled when she saw that the other woman enjoying her touch.

As she was lathering more of the soap into Talliea's hair, the Esu woman suddenly spoke up. "Ari?"

"Hm?"

"When do we begin my training?" Arizira paused in her task before replying "We have already begun." Talliea wrinkled her brow in confusion. "We are bathing. When do you teach me your skills?"

Looking into brown eyes, Arizira scrubbed Talliea's hair vigorously and smirked. "I am teaching you my skills, Tah-li. There is more for you to learn than how to grasp a bow." Talliea sighed and asked sarcastically, "Like washing hair?"

"Yes, like washing hair. You must learn to see the forest as I do, Tah-li. The Esu think of themselves as separate from the world. They make themselves the masters of all by self appointment. This is not our way." As before, Arizira placed her hands on Talliea's neck and the back of her head and slowly began to rinse her hair.

"You must first learn what it means to be as one with everything around you. The forest, the animals, the plants and the insects are not here for your benefit alone. They are not your lessers, Tah-li. They are your sisters, your equals. What you take, you must also be willing to return."

Once Talliea's hair was rinsed and free of soap, Arizira went about washing her neck and her shoulders. "I will teach you my customs, Tah-li. It is important to know when to loose an arrow and when not to. Before I can begin to teach you how to wield weapons, I must first teach you how to track and how to survive. You will learn how to find shelter and how to secure food."

Talliea frowned as Arizira asked her to raise her arms so she could clean them as well. She had not thought learning to use a weapon would be such a long and involved process. Granted, everything Arizira was saying would likely be useful information to have, but she had been under the impression she would learn how to defend herself before anything else.

The thought of Lao'dahn trying to hurt her again sent icy panic pumping through her veins. Knowing how to track and find shelter would do her little good if the man came upon her. Arizira was hoping to teach her a different set of values and beliefs and though she was grateful for those things, she was also slightly impatient to learn how to defend herself.

Arizira cupped water into her hands and rinsed the soap from her body. Her gifted and agile hands continued to set Talliea's body aflame. "We must find a more suitable shelter before all else, Tah-li."

"Why can we not remain where we are? You said you had stayed there in the rain and snow before." Smiling, Arizira placed the soap on the stone behind her and slowly began swimming around the spring. "In light snows and gentle rains, yes. The first snow of the season shall be heavy and without remorse. Our shelter would be filled with a white death should we remain."

Talliea let the news of their imminent departure settle in her mind. She was going to be moving even farther away from her people? A part of her rejoiced at the idea of greater distance being between herself and Lao'dahn, while the other part of her felt grief stricken. Her whole life had been defined by her clan. Not all of the people back in her camp were ill-hearted. Several of them were honest people seeking a place in the world and a stable environment to raise their children. They had traveled from the Southlands all the way to the Northlands.

Her mother, though she rarely saw eye to eye with the woman, had ever been her sense of home. Wherever the woman was, so too was Talliea. She had clung to her mother out of desperation. As long as she did the woman's chores and bidding, she was safe from having to join with Markahn and do his. That arrangement would not have lasted forever, she knew, but it proved her value to the clan and marked her temporary place within it.

What did it matter now? In a few months time not even her misplaced loyalty to her mother would save her from having to join with Markahn. No longer could she hide behind her parents. She'd be forced to either join with Markahn and keep his house, or be banished from the clan and learn to fend for herself.

She shuddered. Once banished, what was to stop Lao'dahn from finding her and forcing himself upon her? The memory of his erection and the way he had moved it so close to her face made her stomach fill with a sickening dread.

Exhaling slowly, she tried to bring herself back to the present. Those thoughts were unimportant. She was with Arizira now. The Arniran woman was taking her away from her troubles and her sorrows. She was looking after her and was going to teach her about the world. Lao'dahn and her mother did not matter anymore. She could grieve for the loss of everything she'd known or she could embrace the chance Arizira was providing.

She chose Arizira.

"Okay, so shelter first. Have you some place in mind?" she asked, attempting to move her mind away from the chaotic thoughts within. Arizira studied her but chose not to question her behavior or the look of panic that had crossed over her eyes. It was obvious to her Talliea had just been deep in her thoughts.

"A few, Tah-li, but I would appreciate your input as well. This is where your lessons begin. Once we have taken a secure location, we will look to gathering enough food stores for the winter. I also would like you to have more suitable clothing."

Talliea watched Arizira swimming easily in the water around her and followed her movements with her eyes. The sun was ever climbing in the sky and she knew the day had not yet begun for them. "I have not any other clothing, Ahmanae, nor am I in possession of any suitable materials to make any other."

Arizira smiled at her before circling back around and grabbing the soap from the stone it set upon. Talliea watched her swim to the far side of the spring where a second leather pack was lying on another stone. "We shall look for shelter today, Tah-li, be it permanent or otherwise. After we have eaten, we shall set out to amend your attire. I have brought with me a few hides that can line your blouse and shoes. Pants would suit you far better than your skirts, but for them we shall have to hunt an animal of your choice," Arizira said as she placed the soap into a carved wooden box.

"Pants are for men," Talliea called to her.

"So say the Esu."

Sighing, Talliea could not help but smile to herself. She wanted desperately to shed herself of her people's influence, but she was finding that harder to do than she had first anticipated. Certain reactions came forth without her meaning them to, as also learned phrases spilled from her lips with little effort. She felt like a hypocrite.

Here Arizira was trying to show her the world as she viewed it and she could do little else but question her methods and spout Esu rules, laws, and beliefs. She watched Arizira put the box of soap into the pack and tie the end. The Arniran woman gracefully pulled herself from the water and onto the shore. Water fell down her naked body and Talliea found her eyes traveling over long and toned legs before she could stop herself.

"Remain here and finish bathing if that is your wish, Tah-li," Arizira said before wrapping her cloak around her body and bending down to pick up her clothing. "I am returning to the camp to dry off among the rocks. Seek me when you are ready to depart. I would still hear of how you fared and spent your time while I was away."

With that, Arizira set out swiftly among the trees and was gone. Talliea shook her head and realized her mouth was agape. She could not figure out whether that was because she had just seen Arizira's very naked and pleasing backside or if it was due to the fact that she had been left alone. Perhaps Arizira was attempting to respect her privacy? Or maybe she was testing Talliea's ability to return to their camp unaided?

Talliea was not sure. She decided she would finish her bath and return once enough time had passed to allow Arizira to completely dry. When she looked around at the stones above the surface of the water she realized belatedly that Arizira had taken the soap with her.

Understanding fell upon her quickly and she could not help but laugh at her gullibility. There was no great underlying meaning to Arizira's departure. Just like before when they'd met at the spring and Talliea had realized her clothing was missing, Arizira was once again only playing with her. Instead of taking her belongings, the other woman had taken the soap and left her alone. Arizira's playful nature was showing more and more and Talliea found it endearing and refreshing.

"Ari?" she yelled. Silence. "You impish little trickster!" she yelled out again as she threw her head back in hearty laughter. Perhaps this was her punishment for her difficulty in shedding herself of the Esu's lies.

* * * * * *

Taetylona sat huddled in her dugout around a smoldering fire pit. A simple flap in the ceiling above allowed the smoke to be released in a steady huff while she chanted to herself and watched the dying embers dance before her. To many, she was viewed as an outcast. A heretic. Were it not for her healing arts and gift of sight, she long ago would have been cast from the light of the clan. Though such gifts were looked upon as a blasphemy to Esuval, her usefulness had ever been proven and the Lat'sa'val had seen fit to keep her among them. They justified their decision by playing upon the people's fears.

One such as she could not move freely. What would stop her from taking up the cause of their enemies? No, better it was to keep her among them where they could maintain a watchful eye on her and use her skills and abilities to their advantage. Taetylona was different from the other women of the Esu in the fact that she had never joined. When her twenty-third birth year had come before her, she had been banished while the clan had still lived in the Southlands.

Several years she had wandered the near barren and harsh plains thrust before her. In that time, when she had felt the most afraid and death had loomed over her, she had been given a second chance at life. None of the Esu knew from whence her abilities came. Upon the arrival of her thirty-fourth year, having spent eleven long years alone and by her wits, Taetylona had returned to the clan that had banished her and asked for their pardon. They had been reluctant at first, claiming that she had shamed them by her refusal to join with a man, but she had proven her worth in other ways and the leaders, the Lat'sa'val, had been set with a decision before them: allow Taetylona back into the clan where she could use her extraordinary gifts for them and Esuval, or send her back onto the plains where another clan could come upon her and turn her skills against them.

Being wise as they were the Lat'sa'val had pardoned Taetylona and given her a unique place among the tribe. She was not free as they were, but she was allowed more leeway than the other women. Over the years, many of the Esu children flocked to her. They listened to her grand tales of long lost lore and delighted in her talents of cooking and healing. She was wise to them and they loved her in their youth.

Many years passed and the Esu soon did not speak of her by her name, instead choosing to name her the Sage woman. Children that had adored her came to fear her in their adulthood as they learned of her past and her refusal to join with a man. Many of them walked around her with a cautious step and few ever returned to seek her counsel or wisdom. She was among her people, but they paid her little heed unless their heart's desired something of her.

The long years passed, Taetylona seeing her forty-fifth summer before her, and she grew complacent with her place in the world. It was not a path of her choosing, however. Those around her were unaware of her true intentions. They knew not that she had returned to be among them for a reason. A greater part she had than they were privy. Taetylona, long ago during her banishment, had been visited by a spirit of some manner or kind. It was that very spirit that had bestowed unto her her unique abilities. That spirit, for that was the only name she could give it, had also placed on her a task of the utmost importance. The spirit had told her of the birth of a child. The child was to be a herald for a new age. Past and present would collide together to shape the future and the child, according to the spirit, was to play a pivotal role in the coming age.

So it came to pass that the Sage woman bided her time and did as the Esu believed she should be doing--aiding them. The long years passed and several children were born and still Taetylona looked for a sign that her time had come. It was not until the birth of an exceptionally dark skinned child that Taetylona felt her years of waiting had finally come to an end.

Talliea Aldis had been born shortly before the wars had broken out in the Southlands. Her skin had been radiant, her hair an ebony and sleek black, and her eyes the most reflective and deep shade of brown. She was unlike any other Esu child, and the Sage woman had known the child spoken of so long ago by the spirit on the plains was the child that had been recently born.

In secret over the years, Taetylona had spoken with Talliea at every opportunity. She had schooled her in ancient lore, but had ever been cautious about saying too much or of tipping her view of the Esu into a darker perspective. She'd told Talliea of great tales of a people known as the Arnira and sparked an interest in the child for the wider parts of the natural world.

The knowledge had not all been Taetylona's. The spirit from years past had imparted to her crucial legends and pieces of lore that she was to pass on to Talliea. When Talliea had reached the age of maturity and the clan had left the south to journey to the north, Taetylona had stopped seeking her company and realized she had done all that she could. The interest had been sparked and the fire within for greater answers had been kindled. She had given Talliea a piece of history lost to most of their people.

Looking into the fires, Taetylona smiled to herself. She had played her part and done as she had been asked. Her life had fulfilled a greater purpose and for that she was glad. Images danced before her eyes and she saw Talliea before her with an enchanting looking woman unlike any she'd ever seen. The smoke blew around her and the images of Talliea and the mysterious woman became like wisps only to be replaced by another image.

It was of a woman, similar in fashion to the enchanting woman of moments before, but with more age and wisdom. The image showed her silver hair and purple eyes nearly white from age. Pointed ears could easily be seen and the woman was dressed in earth like tones with elaborate jewelry.

Cynra.

The name came to her like a breathy whisper and she smiled to herself again. She knew at once that the image she'd been shown, this Cynra, was someone she was destined to meet. Somehow she knew that their fates were interwoven and they both pursued a path of similar interests.

"Cynra," she said to herself in a raspy and low voice. "So the pieces slowly move and the game finally begins."

Chapter 16: Interlopers

Lao'dahn walked through the forest with easy strides. The wind was chill and the coming of winter hung on the air. Casting his eyes around the rocks and leaves in front of him, he briefly wondered if there would be enough food for the clan to last through the season. When they had left the Southlands, the Esu had packed heavily for the journey to the north, and had even camped out on the fertile plains for several seasons at a time so that crops could be planted and harvested. For many years his clan had been nomads, without a home to call their own and without a land to claim as theirs.

When the clan had finally come to the borders of the forest and the land around them had become more and more lush, he and the other Lat'sa'val had known their trek had come to its end. No longer did they have to spend endless nights and days traveling across the plains. The Northlands, told in high tales as being the home to the elusive and legendary Arnira, was finally the home of the Esu. Lao'dahn did not believe in the fairy tales spoken around campfires. The idea that a race of women with extraordinary powers lived in the forest and cultivated a nocturnal and heathen worshiping society was ludicrous to him.

As he walked along the forest floor, he used his staff to brace his steps. His destination was the cave he and Markahn had discovered several days past. He still was not certain whether or not Talliea had hidden there, but judging by the fire pit that had shown clear signs of recent use, he was certain someone had. None of the other men of his Order had admitted to using the cave that day or even being aware of its existence. That had left only Talliea as his possible suspect.

Both he and Markahn had been fairly surprised when Talliea had not returned to camp her first few nights out. Markahn had tried to seem unaffected, but Lao'dahn had seen the lines of worry that had colored his face. His assurances that Talliea would return had not seemed as strong as they had before. Lao'dahn had only offered his understanding to his friend and begun searching the forest for the woman. His excuse for leaving had been to explore and map the area and so the fourth day following Talliea's leave, Lao'dahn found himself heading for the cave to the far west of the Esu camp.

Walking up the steep incline in the front of the cave, he stopped to appreciate the wide and deep canyon that spread out before him. The sun's light bathed the walls of the formation in a myriad of startling colors and the shimmer of the water far below danced before his eyes. Once again, the thrill of taming the forest and using its many resources excited him. He turned away from the canyon and continued up the slope to the mouth of the cave. The few rays of sunshine that streaked into the cave offered enough illumination for him to see inside.

There was no burning fire or signs of life. Peeking inside, he sighed in disappointment. He'd been sure he would find Talliea in the cave. As he was about to turn away, the smell of something burning caught his attention. The scent was unusual, but not unfamiliar. It was sweet and earthy and he realized it was a smoke of some kind. Looking back inside, he held out his left hand and murmured a quiet word of power. His hand lit up with a whitish-yellow glow and sent light deeper into the cave.

Nothing.

Standing up and looking around the forest, he thought he heard a shuffle from high above in the trees. The smell of the smoke was quickly being carried away on the wind and Lao'dahn wondered if he had imagined it. His eyes strained to see through the heavy branches of the tree he thought he'd heard activity from, but the leaves were thick and the boughs broad. He could not make out anything.

Twirling his staff between his fingers, he shrugged and began his descent back down the slope. Maybe old Taetylona had used the cave recently. She was nothing if not trouble. Lao'dahn was confident he would find Talliea. Markahn was refusing to look for her, claiming that he had promised he would not and that, by Esu law, he could not do so without dishonor.

Lao'dahn had been appalled at his idiocy. Talliea was a woman and like any Esu property, he had a right to know where she was. Markahn's weakness continued to baffle Lao'dahn and he could not help but grow to detest the man. He had looked up to Markahn. He had trained with him and become his friend and for what? The man was nearly as useless as a woman!

It did not matter, Lao'dahn thought. He was doing what Esuval desired. He was going to challenge Markahn's claim and soon. Time belonged to him. But first, he had to find the whore who was responsible for so much calamity. She would be his. The thought of sheathing himself inside her caused his pants to tighten. She would beg him for mercy and he would not grant it. Enough people had begged for Talliea's compliance and her stubborn refusal had led to him searching for her in the woods!

No, mercy would not be Talliea's saving grace. She was past his mercy or understanding. Like a wild horse, she needed a strong hand to bring her under control and Lao'dahn was that hand; not Markahn and his gentle ways. Looking back over his shoulder at the tree from before, he thought he saw a slight glow coming from near the top like that of a set of eyes, but it vanished before he could locate it again.

Soon, he thought.

Soon.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Sed'dya breathed a sigh of relief as she watched the trespasser slowly walk away from her. She had been unable to sleep since Arizira's departure and had come to Li'nas Dei to meditate in hopes of clearing her mind and calming her upset. No sooner had she lit her simple stick of incense then Lao'dahn's heavy and clumsy footsteps alerted her to his coming. Long before the man had gotten within sight of the cave, Sed'dya had snuffed out the incense as best as she could and quickly climbed the nearest tree.

She'd watched him with a curiosity she rarely felt. Unlike Arizira, she was not one to explore and wonder and question. She enjoyed the natural world like any Arniran, but Arizira's curiosity had never affected her so. As she'd watched the Esu, a man she presumed, searching the inside of the cave, she'd been struck with how very different he was in appearance compared to her own people. He was not graceful and his body was stout and heavy. Dark tattoos lined his skin and several rings could be seen in his ears. His eyes had been deep set and extremely dark.

The way he moved had been the most disturbing to Sed'dya. He did not walk with the forest. He walked against it. His steps had been heavy and loud and offensive. She remembered Arizira telling her that the Esu were remarkable. As she sat down on the branch beneath her feet, she shook her head. The creature she had just witnessed was anything but remarkable. The knowledge that his feet had walked over Li'nas Dei ignited a fury in Sed'dya. The Esu were interlopers and nothing more. Again, she worried for Arizira and wondered where she was. Something was amiss with her friend. It was unlike her to leave in such a troubled time.

Spirit Quest.

Sed'dya scoffed to herself and looked out over the canyon in front of her. She did not believe for a moment that Arizira was truly on such a quest. No, something else was transpiring and, with the Esu walking freely among the trees, Sed’dya was worried for Arizira. Li'nas Dei was no longer a safe haven.

What else would the Esu defile?

*  *  *  *  *  *

"What do Arniran homes look like?"

Talliea's question brought a smile to Arizira's face. Despite the chill in the air, Talliea's steps were light and happy and the smile on her lips had been present for most of their walk. The two of them had been walking for nearly three hours, all the while Arizira had shown Talliea different plants and animal tracks and schooled her on various types of terrain and geological formations.

After Talliea had finished her bath and returned to Arizira, both women had eaten a small breakfast, spoken of their time apart, and welcomed the start of their journey together.

"We live in the trees, Tah-li. Our homes are built around them so that we may be closer to them. We try to become a part of them and so strive to take away as little as possible."

Talliea's smile grew even wider. "That's beautiful. Your culture sounds so peaceful." Looking over at her companion as they continued walking, Arizira smiled softly to herself and nodded. "What about Esu homes?" she asked, enjoying getting to learn more about Talliea and her people.

Talliea shrugged and looked out into the distance. "We make our homes out of stone." Delicate eyebrows raised in appreciation and curiosity. "Your people are stone-shapers?" Talliea nodded and looked back at Arizira. "Yes. Our buildings are free standing, without the support of your own homes."

"Working stone must be a laborious task," Arizira said, stepping over a jutting rock that slept in the path under her feet. Talliea did likewise and wrapped her cloak tighter around her shoulders. "I would guess so, but I am no expert."

Arizira frowned slightly. "You are not a stone-shaper, Tah-li?" Laughter answered her question. "I am a woman, Ari. Of course I am no master of stone."

"Then, what is your skill?"

"I have none." Arizira faltered. It was hard for her to view Talliea as anything less than who she was. She could see the other woman's potential and still found it difficult to understand a woman who was so unsure of herself. The more she learned of the Esu, the less she liked them.

"You are late in your coming, Tah-li, but you are not without hope. I shall teach you what I know and perhaps you may even come into skills you never knew you wished to master." Talliea looked over at Arizira and smiled. "Perhaps."

A few hours later, after seeking various locations and deeming them unfit for shelter, Talliea and Arizira were both tired, cold, and hungry. They had been walking for most of the morning and, though their conversations had been enlightening and engaging, the weather was quickly becoming a most trying foe. Arizira stopped and sniffed the air around them. She judged the hour as nearing evening.

"There is a cave not many more footsteps from here. It is elevated and faces away from the wind. A short journey from the cave, there is another small spring. The mountain that feeds the previous spring its heat also gives warm life to this one."

Talliea sighed happily and allowed her shoulders to sag with relief. She was tired and her feet were sore. Keeping up with Arizira had been nearly a chore. The other woman was light on her feet and seemed to float above the ground as opposed to walking on it. The thought of finally being able to rest and get off of her aching feet was very much welcome to Talliea.

"Will this cave prove a more permanent shelter than our last abode?" she asked looking around. She did not fancy having to turn away from yet another place that offered possible rest. Arizira adjusted her bow across her shoulder and back and inhaled deeply. Her keen eyes looked farther into the distance and she suddenly paused for a moment. An innocent and very slight sound came to her ears and she turned her head so that her right ear was facing behind her.

Talliea lowered her brows and took a cautious step toward Arizira. Something about Arizira's body language spoke of uncertainty and trepidation. A gloved hand stopped her movements and she looked around trying to find what had placed her companion on alert. The dying sun caused Arizira's blue eyes to flare into a silver fire and the stiffness of her body as she listened, to what only her ears could hear, frightened Talliea.

Had they been followed? Was it Lao'dahn who walked in their shadows?

Arizira turned around without a sound and looked up into the trees above them. She was unsure what she had heard. The sound had almost escaped her, so low and unassuming it had been. She could not say what had made her more aware of it or what it was that caused her to believe the sound not to be entirely a part of the forest, but whatever the reason, her senses were alive and fully in tune with the forest around her.

She stepped away from Talliea and held out a hand behind her to keep the other woman from following. The sound had long since faded on the breath of the wind, but still her body could not relax. She replayed what she had heard and was almost certain that it was the sound of a branch sighing under some greater weight. Her eyes scanned the tree tops above her for several minutes. A hand gently touched her elbow and slid down her forearm. She felt Talliea grab her hand in a search for comfort.

"I thought I heard something," she whispered. Talliea stepped up behind her as quietly as she could and looked over her shoulder. Her breathing was quick and uneven and Arizira could tell she was scared.

"What is it?" she whispered back. Arizira shook her head and sighed. As she did so, the tension in her body seemed to uncoil and she turned back around to face Talliea. "I am uncertain. Whatever it was, it is gone now."

"An animal, perhaps?" Talliea questioned, hand still grasping Arizira's. Arizira looked back over her shoulder and up to the trees above them. "Maybe so. We should make haste. The sun does not live long as the winter approaches. Your eyes will not guide you once Aitla returns. The cave will provide us shelter and the spring an opportunity to wash our clothing. I can show you how to set a snare so that we will have food in the morning. We have enough provisions to meet our needs tonight."

Talliea nodded and stepped out of Arizira's way. Neither woman seemed to notice that their hands were still entwined in the other's. They began to walk again, but not before Arizira threw one last look over her shoulder at a towering pine tree standing majestically among several smaller saplings.

An animal...

She prayed that was all there was to the sound.

* * * * * *

High up above the forest floor, the observer knelt down on a great wide branch and watched the two women slowly walk away. The observer cursed themselves for their earlier clumsiness. They had nearly been caught. The senses of one of the women were extraordinary, greater than the observer was aware. She had picked up on the small sound the observer made as they had slightly slipped on the bark of the tree branch.

It had been an amateur's mistake. The observer squatted down lower on the branch and studied the two women. They noticed their joined hands and felt a hot wave of nauseating anger flare up inside them. The observer fought to keep their emotions in check.

Was there more to the two women's relationship than the observer had thought? Were they lying together in passion? Again, the thought caused a powerful anger to boil up in the observer. They waited until they could no longer see the two women before slowly, and quietly, making their way down the pine tree.

The observer knew they had to return to their people. The two women were getting farther and farther way. Soon it would be too risky to follow them. Yet, the observer had to know if there was something more transpiring between the two women. As risky as it was to continue to follow them, the observer knew they had to.

If it turned out that the two women were sharing themselves with one another, then the observer would know their time had come. One of the women would have to answer for her actions. For her betrayal.

As for the other, the observer thought to possibly use her to gain an understanding of her people. If she refused to cooperate, she would be of no use and be deemed a prisoner of war. The observer would be free to dispose of her.

Continuing on foot, the observer kept at a great distance behind the two women and stuck to the shadows as often as possible. Curiosity drove the observer ever on. The thought of Arnira and Esu lying together caused a sour taste to form on the observer's tongue.

What are you up to? the observer thought to themselves. I wonder...

*  *  *  *  *  *

"Ari?"

Arizira looked over where Talliea was settling down for the night. The two of them had found the cave easily and climbed the steep hill that led to its entrance. Like Arizira had mentioned, the cave was elevated and faced away from the harsh bite of the cold winter wind. Both women had relieved themselves of their packs and Arizira had shown Talliea a small river that ran a short distance from the cave. After refilling their water skins, they had each eaten their fill of the provisions left and Arizira had shown Talliea how to set a snare.

It was now late into the night and Talliea was glad to finally be able to relax. Her body was tired and the walk through the woods had reminded her of her people's trek to reach the Northlands. Arizira sat next to her tightening the string of her longbow. Her cloak's hood was pulled up over her head and shadows danced across her face. The fire they had built earlier was slowly dying and the crackling, and hissing sounds brought about an easy and comfortable atmosphere.

"Yes?" Arizira answered, sparing a quick look to her right. Talliea hesitated and watched her for a moment before continuing. "What are we doing?" she asked.

Stopping in her task, Arizira lowered her bow to her lap and regarded her friend. The light of the fire brought Talliea's features into stark view and their exotic nature pulled at Arizira's insides. She wanted so badly just to touch the other woman and express her growing and confusing feelings. Yet, she did not. She respected Talliea too much to listen to her own body. Instead, she busied her hands by idly smoothing them over the curve of the bow's shaft.

"What do you mean?" she asked as an owl hooted in the distance. Talliea propped herself up on her elbow and shrugged. The cave was not as warm as their previous shelter. The rocks were cooler and hard and she worried about how her night would go. The blanket Arizira made for her was her only comfort. It was warm and soft and carried a woodsy scent.

"I mean, what are we doing out in the cold away from our peoples? What are we hoping to accomplish? We could die and I--"

"I will not let you die," Arizira interjected and Talliea noticed how strongly the words were spoken. They were not angry or mad, but they were forceful.

Pausing and searching Arizira's face for a moment, Talliea sighed. The blanket around her body slid down to settle along her waist and the curve of her hip bone. With its departure, her thin shirt loosely clung to her body. The dip along the neck of the blouse hung low. "I know I am safe with you, Ari," she said, attempting to explain herself in a different manner.

"Then why do you question? Do you wish to return to your clan, Tah-li? You are not a hisulir with me. I enjoy your company and sought to help you, but you are free to do as you wish."

Talliea smiled at Arizira's words and sat up fully. "I know. I just worry. Nothing in my world seems certain anymore. I feel very...displaced. You are a myth, Ahmanae, yet I have left my people to walk with you. You have left your tribe to lead me, yet we have no destination. To each of our peoples, we are legends. Despite that, I feel safer and more alive with you than ever before in my life. With you, Ari, I am me."

Arizira, bow long since forgotten, licked her lips slowly at Talliea's confession. She could understand the other woman's worries. She had left her people and her future was unclear. She knew Talliea did not wish to return to the Esu, yet what were her options otherwise? Even if she learned basic survival skills, would a life alone wandering in unknown woods satisfy her? How long could Arizira keep her a secret?

With the pull she felt toward Talliea, Arizira could not see herself simply walking away. The longer she was in Talliea's presence, the stronger her feelings became. As hard as she tried to ignore them, she knew they would soon reach a point where she would have to make a decision.

Tell Talliea of them or leave Talliea.

"Ari?"

Arizira shook her head and smiled softly at her companion. "I am sorry. My mind took me away," she said, before placing her bow against the wall of the cave and moving to sit in front of Talliea. "I know you are worried. You are right to be so, Tah-li, but life does not always allow us to walk on trails made by others. Sometimes we have to be the ones to clear the way. As I have told you before, you are free to do as you wish. If you desire to venture out into the forest, I will not stop you. If it is your wish for me to teach you what I know, then I shall do that as well. The Esu are a legend to my people as are mine to yours, but I do not concern myself with that. My concern is you, Tah-li. For whatever purpose, Aitla has bound our two lives to the other. I care about what happens to you."

Talliea's face, previously awash with anxiety and worry, softened and a beautiful smile graced her lips. She breathed out a shaky breath and shook her head to herself. The unusual but welcome feelings came back to her and she felt her heart speed up inside her chest. Something about the way Arizira was looking at her made her mouth go dry and her stomach flopped nervously.

Without thinking, she reached out and placed her hand on the side of Arizira's neck. Slipping her fingers past silky soft hair, she guided them into the hood of Arizira's cloak and pushed it from her head. Silvery-blonde hair fell wildly around a face of ivory and glowing blue eyes watched her with confusion.

"I care about you, too," she whispered but did not withdraw her hand. Her fingers twirled around fine strands of hair and occasionally her thumb grazed over Arizira's jaw.

She was too caught up in the sensations to wonder how her actions were being perceived by Arizira. The fire was a dim wisp of a flame with but a few embers still living in its pit. Darkness would have claimed the cave were it not for the glow coming from Arizira's eyes. The sounds of the night filled the area outside the cave and mixed with the few sparks of life still issuing from the fire.

Arizira held her breath and her eyes lowered to gaze longingly at Talliea's full lips. She wondered how much of Talliea's touch was curiosity and how much of it could possibly indicate something deeper. The compulsion to lean into the touch was stronger than before and she wondered how Talliea would react if she kissed her. The look in her eyes was the same as before when Arizira had first applied the dohethra, but there was something else in it Arizira could not place. Something more certain.

Sighing softly, Arizira placed her hand around Talliea's wrist and stilled her movements. The Esu woman bit her lip and looked at her expectantly. Arizira wanted to believe the look was an indication of Talliea's feelings, that they matched her own, but her desire to not upset Talliea kept her from believing that hope.

She made to pull away, but the other woman's hand around her neck kept her from doing so. "Please stay close to me." The words wrapped around Arizira's heart and nearly forced the air from her lungs. "Tah-li," she started in protest.

"It is cold and you make me feel safe. Please, lie here with me. Our body heat will make the night more comfortable."

Arizira swallowed past the lump in her throat and nodded her head. There really was no way she could refuse. Talliea removed her hand and backed away slightly. Holding up the blanket, she motioned for Arizira to lie against her front. Arizira hesitated for only a moment before removing her cloak and folding it up so she could use it as a pillow. Rolling over with her back to Talliea, she settled in against the other woman and breathed out heavily through her mouth.

The fire died and darkness crept around them. Talliea lowered the blanket and snuggled up behind Arizira. She could feel the rigid and tense set of her body and wondered at its nature. Loosely placing her arm over Arizira's waist she smiled, fully content. "This is nice," she whispered, her eyes closing and her heart beating more regularly.

Never in her life had she felt more at home. More at peace.

Arizira, body alive with being so intimately close to Talliea, nodded and tried to relax. It was nice, but it was also a sweet and slow torture. She could feel Talliea's breasts against her back, full and soft, as well as the steady inhale and exhale of her breathing. The arm around her waist was innocent and without demand, but it was also more physical than they had been before. The feeling of Talliea's breath against the back of her neck caused Arizira’s entire body to break out in an immense tingling sensation.

After several long moments, she finally relaxed against Talliea and let her mind slowly drift toward sleep. Her last thoughts were of Talliea and how soft and inviting her lips had looked.

Chapter 17: Events in Motion

A week passed in the Esu camp with no return from Talliea. Many of the other men and women of the clan believed her to have become a victim of the forest. Her mother, however, was divided on her feelings. The side of her that was a mother mourned for the loss of her only child, while the side of her that was a dutiful wife and follower of Esuval felt no longer burdened by her daughter's shame. During the day, she went about her chores and duties with naught but a smile upon her face.

At night, when she was away from the other women and her mate was fast asleep, she cried silently to herself and felt an empty ache clawing at her insides. Her daughter was gone. She had to be. What other explanation could there be? With the weather having turned even colder and the first of many small snow flurries already dancing on the air, Talliea must have perished somewhere in the forest. Why Markahn had allowed her to leave in the first place was beyond her. To herself, she blamed him for her daughter's passing. To everyone else, she placed the blame upon Talliea.

Life continued for the Esu. Stone was brought in at a slow pace day in and day out while the women worked their winter crops with expert care. The men ventured more and more into the forest in search of meat and animal hides and warmer clothing was soon, also, in the making. Markahn, still against Lao'dahn's advice, held out the hope that Talliea was somewhere safe and sound.

"Esuval is watching over her," he'd told Lao'dahn three days before.

"Why would Esuval watch over her wretched soul? She has brought you naught but heartache and despair."

"Keep your words! You do not speak for Him. She could have returned at anytime for supplies or shelter. She has not. Why then would she remain in the cold with an empty belly if she were not safe to begin with?" Markahn had retorted heatedly.

Lao'dahn had said nothing and their conversation had ended.

Late one evening, following the ninth day since Talliea had left, Lao'dahn found himself once again patrolling the forest. It was late and the sun was soon to be behind the rim of the world. The steady rise of winter had finally breathed over the land and gone was the fall that had set the world aflame with vibrant golds, browns, and reds. Many of the trees not blessed with being evergreens were bare of their leaves and their branches spread out towards the sky in broken arches. Though the heavy snows had yet to blanket the land, a bitter chill clung to the air and seemed to weigh down the forest with an eerie fog.

Lao'dahn, dressed in heavy boots and gloves and a thick jerkin, held his head down against the wind as he once again made his way toward the cave overlooking the canyon. He was unsure why the cave continued to intrigue him, but it did. He could not shake the feeling that Talliea had been there. The depression where a torch could sit could not have been made by nature. Following that logic, the torch itself had to have come from somewhere.

Someone.

Another feature of the cave that led him to believe Talliea had visited it was the ring of stones around the fire. If not constructed by Talliea, then who? There was no one else. None of the other men he had spoken with had admitted to being in the cave. He knew Talliea had been sneaking away since their arrival in the valley. Perhaps she had sought to use the cave as a refuge for herself. If, indeed, she had been the one to discover the cave, Lao'dahn had to give her credit for her ingenuity.

Maybe the woman could have survived this long out in the forest...

Stepping up the steep incline that lead to the mouth of the cave, Lao'dahn was about to enter when a sharp whistling sound caught his attention. He turned away just in time to avoid being struck by a feathered arrow. The projectile dove into the dirt between his feet and protruded from the ground. Spinning around, Lao'dahn quickly brought out his staff in one hand. The other hand he held out before him and emitted a bright light that spread throughout the surrounding forest.

His breaths were quick and uneven and his eyes were wide. Anger flashed across his face as he tried to find his attacker. Who would be so bold as to attack him?

"Show yourself!" he called into the descending darkness around him. Crickets and frogs and the sound of a howling wind were his only answer. He chanced a quick glance down at the arrow and was stunned to notice the design was not that of his clan. The head was sharper and seemed to glow with a stunning radiance. Three brightly colored feathers made up the tail and the shaft of the arrow was notched with strange characters etched into the wood.

Lao'dahn took a step back and scanned the forest. Were there other Esu in the north? Even with the light shining from the palm of his hand, he could see nothing but shadows of the landscape. "Stop this nonsense! I demand that you show yourself! You are provoking a Man of the Light!"

Another arrow flew past him and he felt the wind it carried as it landed in the trunk of a tree next to his head. His heart began to beat rapidly as adrenaline pumped through his veins. He knew the last shot had been a warning. "Talliea? This is your doing, you wretched woman, is it not?"

A third arrow suddenly flew straight toward him and, before he could even attempt to block it, landed in the center of his bo-staff. He faltered and the light from his hand diminished. Looking at the arrow sticking out of his weapon, he found himself at a loss. What skill was there to be such a marksman that did not come from tales of legend and valor? How had Talliea procured such a talent?

He looked around once more before turning quickly and scurrying through the forest back toward his people's camp. His search for Talliea could wait another day.

How dare that woman take a shot at him! Not just one shot but three! Her last arrow had landed in luck. That had to be the explanation. No archer was so skilled that they could land an arrow in a piece of wood as slim as his staff. His main priority was to inform Markahn of Talliea's attempt on his life. Perhaps that would show his friend that she was no good for him and then he could claim her for himself.

Yes, he thought as his feet kept him on his retreating path, Talliea has gone too far this time...

*  *  *  *  *  *

Bela'luin smirked to herself as she watched the Esu man run away, before gathering her pack, quiver, and her bow. Pleased with herself, she silently dropped to the forest floor and disappeared into the night.

*  *  *  *  *  *

"Tell me about your parents."

Arizira looked up from reinforcing Talliea's boots with sturdier pieces of leather, and caught her eyes across the fire burning between them. In the last week and a half, the two women had settled into a comfortable arrangement. Arizira had taught Talliea about various edible plants, berries, and nuts, as well as how to set a snare, how to string a bow, and how to properly sharpen a blade.

A few days after they'd settled inside their cave, Arizira had told Talliea of the type of leaves her people used for bedding. The two women had spent an entire day searching for an Ophe'las tree whose leaves were soft and weather resistant. Arizira had shown Talliea how to remove the leaves with care and later how to lay them together for a comfortable bed.

The leaves of the Ophe'las tree, when laid one upon the other, generated an enormous amount of heat. The days following had been spent continuing to gather food. Arizira had taken to hunting at night and allowing Talliea to search for nuts and berries and rabbits during the day. Meat that was not immediately eaten was cured and dried and wrapped in light pieces of cloth. Berries, nuts, and various tubers were also packed away with care and stored deep in the back of the cave.

During the day, Arizira instructed Talliea on the proper ways of tracking and reading the signs of the forest. The progress was slow going and Talliea, more than once, had become disheartened with her lack of ability. Always, Arizira was there to encourage her and get her to try again.

Like she'd promised, Arizira had made Talliea a pair of tough leather pants. Talliea, days later, was still trying to adjust to her new article of clothing. Conversations began to flow more easily between the two women and, often times, their nights were filled with laughter and joy and stories of each of their peoples' beliefs and myths. Their friendship and dependence on one another continued to grow, as did their respective attractions.

Since that first night when Talliea had asked Arizira to stay close to her and the two of them had fallen asleep together, every night after had followed in a similar manner. Each night saw Talliea's mind taken over with vivid images of Arizira. The dreams varied in intensity, but always Talliea would awake with a deeper desire.

She came to understand that she longed for Arizira.

After the first few nights, she realized that her longing was not just in a physical sense. She desired Arizira's company constantly. She felt compelled to share parts of herself she normally left hidden from the world and others. When Arizira smiled or laughed and Talliea was the cause of such happiness, she was content and her day made complete. All Talliea found herself wanting was just to touch her Arniran companion and connect with her in any way.

Conversely, though Arizira's attraction had also grown, the young huntress had, over the past week, become less tactile than was her nature. No longer was she seen openly expressing her fascination with Talliea through her touch. Though her fingers ached with a desire to graze across smooth tanned skin, Arizira had come to realize that she could not continue to touch someone who had so captured her heart and spirit. Each time she had touched Talliea, it had been harder for her to pull herself away. The desire to explore other parts of the Esu woman's body had become nearly unbearable and she'd realized she was running the risk of exposing her feelings.

So, four days after she and Talliea had set out on their own, Arizira had withdrawn into herself as much as she could. She still spoke with Talliea and answered her questions and taught her her skills. The two of them laughed often and spoke openly, but Arizira no longer danced with the feelings she had. At first they had been exciting, and flirting with Talliea another part of her personality, but those initial reactions had quickly faded the stronger her feelings had become.

Arizira had come to see that her feelings were not light. They were not fleeting. They were no longer exciting. She had, somehow, become a prisoner to them; a hisulir in her own body. Every day was a struggle for her because everyday she longed to connect with Talliea on a deeper level. Several times over the past week, Arizira had caught herself blatantly staring at the object of her fascination and affection. When the two of them fell asleep together at night, Arizira fought with her body's desire to roll into Talliea's touch.

Her lips tingled.

Her fingers ached.

Her heart raced.

Everyday. All day.

Whenever Talliea was near.

That was not to say that Arizira regretted her decision to accompany Talliea, nor did she detest or deplore her feelings. They were a struggle, a burden at times, but she was happy to bear them if it allowed her to share even a breath with the other woman. It was a sweet torture, if such a thing could actually exist.

Little did she know, but her companion carried a similar burden.

"Sorry?" she asked, having lost Talliea's question within her internal thoughts.

"I asked about your parents," Talliea said sharpening their cutting blade. Arizira, shadows dancing across her face from the fire, shrugged and worked the animal thread in her hand through her companion's boot. "I never knew them," she replied, keeping her eyes focused on her work. "My nurture mother--"

"Nurture mother?" Talliea questioned.

"The woman who shared her body and her life force with me. She was said to have passed to Aitla after my birth."

Talliea stopped her work and lowered her hands. Her eyes took on a heavy and sad cast and her heart seemed to beat slower. "I'm sorry," she said quietly.

Arizira raised an eyebrow in her direction and nodded her head in acknowledgement of the words. "You do not have to be. She hunts with Aitla now. Her spirit shines down when the Goddess claims the sky."

Talliea recalled Arizira telling her that the Arnira believed the stars in the night sky to be the spirits of their honored dead. When Aitla shone brightly and her face was alight in the sky, the spirits of those who were with her forever burned just as brightly as her companions in the great beyond.

"I am still sorry you never got to meet her, Ari."

"As am I."

Silence intruded upon them for a moment before, "What became of your other mother?" Arizira's fingers, which had been steadily tending to Talliea's boots, jerked and her movements faltered. "I...am not sure," she answered softly.

Talliea's brows lowered in confusion, but she remained quiet and gave Arizira a moment to continue. "I never knew her either. According to Cynra, she was overcome with grief for the loss of my nurture mother and that despair drove her to return to her own tribe."

Talliea let out a breath and shook her head disbelievingly. "She left you?" Arizira stopped her work and sighed before bringing her eyes to Talliea's. "Her love for my nurture mother was said to have been quite strong. She chose her path. I harbor no ill feelings toward her."

Talliea let the comment lie for a time as she thought of Arizira's words. She could not imagine abandoning a life that she had created. The details were not known to her nor was Arnira custom on such matters. Still, she found it disheartening that a woman could leave her child. Another part of Arizira's statement struck her as odd. There was more than one tribe of Arnira in the northern forests? How many tribes were there?

Deciding that such questions about tribe numbers and locations was a conversation for another time, she instead asked, "Who cared for you, if both your mothers were not present?"

Setting Talliea's boots to the side, Arizira stretched out her stiff muscles and joints before answering. "The tribe, of course. Arniran children view the entire community as extended family. When one of us brings a child into the world, the rest take a part in that child's life and their upbringing. Our daughters are never alone, Tah-li."

Smiling, Talliea once again envied Arizira's culture. Such concepts were completely alien to her, yet surprisingly refreshing. She tried to imagine such a life as Arizira had obviously led and wondered who in her own clan would have cared for her had something happened to her parents. Thinking over her friend's words, a question came to her mind.

"Cynra? The Dream Speaker?" she asked, recalling that Arizira had mentioned her during one of their many late night conversations.

Standing and wrapping her cloak around her body, Arizira slowly walked over to sit next to Talliea. She warmed her hands by the fire and tried to calm her body's reaction to her friend's nearness. "Yes. She took me in and raised me as her own. I suppose, you could say she was my primary care-giver."

"Yet, you do not speak of her as a parent."

Arizira turned to look at Talliea. The fire was warm and helped to keep the bitter chill from the wind outside. "She is not such, Tah-li. My respect for her comes from who she is and what role she has performed in my life, but she is not one of my mothers."

Talliea slowly nodded her head and scooted closer to Arizira. The nights were getting colder and, despite their new bedding, the wind was still harsh and the air near freezing. The days were bearable -- the winter sun offering enough warmth to keep their blood circulating, but the nights were when she found herself seeking warmth from her companion the most.

If she noticed the sudden tense set of Arizira's body at her proximity, she made no show of the realization and instead scooted even closer. Pulling the wolf blanket around them both, Talliea grabbed Arizira's right hand with her left and looked into the fire. "You are so very different than I," she whispered, the fire sparkling in her eyes.

Arizira held her breath and attempted to silence the sound of her aching heart. Looking at her hand joined with Talliea's, she licked her lips and tried to calm herself. Such moments as this were when Arizira fought with herself the most. At times, she felt nearly certain that Talliea felt something for her but always, despite Cynra's words of encouragement and wisdom, she ignored such fanciful thoughts and instead focused on reality.

Cynra had told her that the heart always knew what it desired. She had said that it did not bother a person when lust and physical fulfillment were all the body craved. At first, Arizira had tried in vain to get her mind to believe that was all she wanted from Talliea. As time had continued, that attempt had proven more and more futile until she'd finally come to see that, yes, she was in love with Talliea.

No more could she deny the truth, or attempt to rationalize how such feelings could even exist so soon when she had only known the other woman a month's time. Everything about Talliea made her heart sing. Her smile. Her laughter. Her gentle spirit and her curiosity of the world. She adored the way Talliea's nose would scrunch up in confusion or the way her eyes would light up when she was excited over some matter.

When Talliea was asleep and her face and body were at peace, nothing else in the world possessed such an easy beauty to Arizira. Talliea's scent, when they were near, seemed to invade every part of her mind and body, and it took every ounce of willpower she held not to give in to losing herself in that intoxicating temptation.

But when Talliea touched her, Arizira's torture was at its height. Watching Talliea slowly stroke her fingers between her knuckles and over the back of her hand was as if a slow death brought about by delirium. Talliea held her hand in her left and moved the fingers of her right hand down to Arizira’s fingernails and back up to her wrist. Arizira wondered as to the nature of the touch, but the sudden dryness of her mouth prevented her from expressing herself.

Did Talliea know how she affected her? Was it so easy for the other woman to be around her while she herself suffered in silence?

"You have beautiful hands," Talliea whispered after a moment, her eyes following the movements of her fingers. Arizira said nothing, her heart nearly beating into her throat. Talliea turned Arizira's hand over and slowly trailed her fingers down her palm. She traced them back up until they came into contact with the pads of her fingers. "They are soft, not rough like Lao'dahn and Markahn, even though you handle weapons ."

The names were barely audible and upon hearing them, Arizira's curiosity heightened. Finding her voice, though it sounded rough, she asked, "Who are these people you speak of?" Talliea, still lost in her exploration and feeling quite at peace at the moment, answered without any reservation. "They are men in my clan."

Her fingers continued to graze over Arizira's fingers while her eyes lost their focus. "Markahn is the man who has claimed me. He is the one who granted my freedom so that I can be here with you."

Arizira sat motionless. She was unsure how to respond. A person laying claim to another was a concept unfamiliar to her. Talliea had spoken of the man before, in passing, but she could not recall her ever having mentioned his name. Strangely, Arizira found herself slightly envious of Markahn. If Talliea ever chose to return to her people, then he would have the honor of making her his mate. They would spend their lives together.

Shaking her head at such thoughts, Arizira reached over with her free hand and placed it atop Talliea's. The action stopped the Esu woman's movements and the two of them sat in a comfortable silence. "Who is the other man?" Arizira asked when it appeared that Talliea was content to remain as they were.

Talliea squeezed her hand before staring into the fire with more intensity. Slowly, and spoken in a broken whisper, she replied, "He is the man who put the marks upon my body."

Arizira lowered their hands to Talliea's lap and sighed sadly. Her eyes studied the side of her friend's face and noticed the darkened look in her eyes. "What happened?" she asked. Talliea looked up at the rock above her head and inhaled deeply. "He assaulted me, took advantage of me. I felt weak and powerless and he humiliated me."

Arizira swallowed the sour taste in her mouth that had formed from hearing Talliea's words. She tightened her hold on her hand and scooted closer. Talliea lowered her head and turned to look in her direction. "He forced himself on me," she finished sadly and in a thick voice.

Silvery-blue eyes, glowing with soft and unshed tears, looked back at Talliea. Arizira understood the gist of what was being spoken to her. She had assumed as much, but had difficulty fully understanding what Talliea had experienced. To force oneself upon another was, well, unheard of amongst her people. Arnira had no concept of rape. There was not even a word for such an act. Some Arnira were more open and forward with how they chose to display affection, but there was no rape or disrespect on such a level.

"D-did he experience your innocence?" Arizira asked, unsure how to phrase the question in her head. Talliea lowered her brows in confusion. "Are you asking if I am still a virgin?"

Tossing the word around her mind, Arizira tried to match it to a word she knew. Though Esulan was becoming easier for her to speak, she and Talliea still occasionally hit rocks in the road during their conversations. This was proving to be one such time. "You say he forced himself on you. Did he lay with you and experience you as your people do?"

Smiling at Arizira's wording and the way her dimples seemed to deepen in each cheek, Talliea reached forward with her free hand and played with a braid of silver-blonde hair. "No, he did not. To my people, especially the men, I am...a-a gem. A prize. I still maintain my...innocence. What he did was worse but I will not speak of it to you -- ever. It is enough that you know he hurt me."

No words were spoken for several long moments. Each woman processed what they had learned and what they had been told. Talliea, having told Arizira as much as she had, felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She was not used to having someone to talk with so freely. Arizira never looked at her with judgment in her eyes. She never tried to shift blame on her and she was always understanding and sympathetic.

As for Arizira, she felt an unusual, and not entirely pleasant, sensation forming in the pit of her stomach. It was a searing pain that caused her heart to race but it had nothing to do with Talliea. The feeling was negative and centered around Lao'dahn. She felt an anger toward the man that she could not describe. Despite Talliea trying to convince her that she was working toward moving away from the man's horrid act, Arizira found herself wanting to seek some form of justice for her. She wanted Lao'dahn to pay for what he had done, both physically and emotionally, to her failira.

Shaking her head at such useless thoughts, Arizira took a deep breath and smiled at Talliea. "I am happy he did not experience your innocence. The act is an expression of all the beauty in the world, Tah-li. It is the body's way of speaking to our spirits. Your first time should be beautiful and shared with someone you love and who loves you."

Talliea felt her heart hammering in her eardrums. Her insides were aflutter with a pleasant anxiety while her entire body seemed to become awash with pure electrifying energy. She too greatly desired such an act to be shared with someone she loved. She wished to experience what Arizira had told her was so beautiful.

Staring into eyes she was realizing were becoming an addiction, she, more than anything, wished that she could share her innocence with Arizira.

Chapter 18: An Ally in the Mist

"You were not present at the gathering."

Cynra walked around her humble abode, tossing various pieces of parchment around, and seemed to pay no mind to the words of Talyn. She grabbed bags and pouches containing items only useful to her, and dumped their contents on the floor at her feet. Muttering to herself, she bent down to search through her reagents.

"Cynra," Talyn said sternly as she watched the older woman's display.

The meeting earlier in Raekir had been called to discuss whether or not the tribe was fully prepared for the winter months and what, if any, activity had been noted in the Esu camp. All of the members of the tribe had been called and all were expected to attend. Talyn, near the end of the gathering, had posed a question to all in attendance: Should messengers be sent to the neighboring tribes informing them of the possibility of war?

Most gathered had spoken up saying that it was unlikely any of the other tribe leaders would believe that day walkers had set up camp in the valley along the forest's edge. The matter had been put to rest until more information could be obtained. Talyn had greatly desired Cynra's wisdom during the meeting and had been displeased when she'd noticed the old woman nowhere to be found.

"I have to go...things to do...matters to attend. There is much to do...yes, much to do and not nearly enough time."

Talyn raised an eyebrow at Cynra's odd words and looked around the room she stood in. Animal hides and teeth and bones were set around the circular space, while rocks and gems and animal feathers, which normally would have been in the pouches Cynra had dumped in the floor, lay huddled in a heap in complete disarray. Sticks of sage laid on a table with bowls and writing implements, and tattered and worn pages of parchment were strewn about the leaves of the older woman's bed.

Cynra appeared agitated and preoccupied with whatever issue was causing her to act so. "Age is such a fickle foe, is it not? I have been granted more years than could be counted and now, when I have need of time and haste, I find that the very years that were once a gift to me are now a slow moving poison."

Talyn had no idea what Cynra was rambling on about. Nothing the Dream Speaker was saying made any amount of sense to her. Stepping in front of the shorter woman, she placed a hand on her frail looking shoulder and stilled her movements. "Stop, Honored One," she said in a strong and deliberate voice. "What has you so beside yourself and why were you not at Raekir?"

Cynra blinked and the hazy look in her eyes seemed to fade away. She looked around her home and sighed. "Oh, pity. What a mess! It will take a great many nights to organize all of this again." Stepping back once more, Talyn refused to point out that the mess in question had been Cynra's own doing. "Cynra, what is the matter?"

Cynra looked up at her and for the first time, Talyn noticed a small traveling pack strapped over her shoulder. Sparing a quick glance behind her, she took in the walking stick Cynra used when she meant to set out on some trek resting against the wall.

"You mean to leave as well?" she asked. Arizira had departed nearly two weeks ago and her absence was still greatly felt. If Cynra also meant to leave, then Talyn feared that an even greater sense of loss would overtake the tribe.

"Yes. I have so much to do. One would think all these years enough time to put my affairs in order, but alas, here I am and the task my life has awaited is here." Cynra moved around Talyn and grabbed her walking stick. Bending down, she went about placing various items into her pack and paid no more attention to her guest.

"What are you on about? What task? You cannot leave! Not now and not with the winter keeping the land in place!"

"The matter at hand can not be discussed openly with present company. You would not understand. Questions...questions -- you have always asked so many of them, Talyn."

Starting at the brusque tone, Talyn squared her shoulders and took a strong stance. "You forget to whom you speak. Despite my respect for you and our friendship, I am still your Elder, your leader." Chuckling, Cynra stood and turned to face Talyn. "Elder. You are young, Talyn. By my reckoning, the whole of the tribe is naught by children. I have seen ages pass and fade away while loved ones have both come and parted this world. My own child I see no more..."

Talyn took notice -- extreme notice -- of Cynra's last words. Her eyes narrowed and she took a cautious step forward. "What child, Cynra? There are none here who recall you being blessed by Aitla."

Purple eyes flared brightly before Cynra shuffled around Talyn once again and lowered herself slowly to her bed. She did not have time for such frivolous questions, but she knew she had to at least impart some of her history to the Nai'iris if she hoped to leave at once without any chance of pursuit.

"What I am about to tell you, Talyn, you must swear before Aitla not to repeat. There are events being set into motion that are, even now, guiding the fates of all here. Whispers of ages long ago now echo in this time and set the melody for the music to be sung in the future. You must understand that you can not interfere once I tell you these matters. Aitla has long spoken to me and it is She alone who guides these old legs."

Talyn took in a deep breath and looked on Cynra with new eyes. A gravity she could not place seemed to settle around her and she knew Cynra was not about to speak lightly or in rhymes or riddles.

"Do you promise before the Moon Mother?" Talyn nodded silently. To make a promise before Aitla was not something any Arniran would take in jest or without understanding.

"There is much the tribe does not recall about me, just as there is much the tribe does not know of me. I have been here for as long as any of you can remember and yet, none of you ever thought to question matters. I knew your mothers and your grandmothers, Talyn. My own daughter was a friend to your nurture mother. By the time you became Nai'iris, my daughter had left to follow her heart. Many, as the years continued to grow, forgot her existence as she was not around to remind them of it. But, she returned twenty-seven years ago and had need of my aid."

Talyn tried to make sense of what was being told to her. She could not recall a child belonging to Cynra, nor could she recall that child ever returning to the tribe and requesting aid from anyone. "I met with her in secret," Cynra said, noticing the confusion etched across Talyn's flawless features. "When I returned to the tribe, I was not alone. A newborn child of Aitla I carried with me."

Realization washed over Talyn immediately and she felt her mouth hang open while her eyes widened. "Arizira," she whispered. Nodding, Cynra leaned forward and rested her hands on her staff. "Yes, the Child of Whispers is my grand-daughter. Her nurture mother was my daughter."

Talyn stood up and rubbed her fingers across her temples as she began to pace. She remembered the night Cynra spoke of. The older woman had said Aitla had spoken to her about a child soon to be born. The mother of the child, according to Cynra, was a member of the tribe who had left long ago. The other women had not questioned Cynra, taking her words as absolute truth, and later raised Arizira in their community.

"Does she know?" Cynra shook her head sadly, "No," she replied.

"How...how does Ma'nolira not recall your daughter? How do any of us not remember? Young by our count I was, but still the years should be remembered by me," Talyn asked, still pacing.

Cynra watched the woman pace and smiled to herself. "Because Aitla required such secrecy. Only I was to remember the truth. I and one other, but we will not speak of her."

"Why?"

"Because Arizira is more than the Child of Whispers, young one. She is the key to everything. Her nurture mother, Iolirthas, was my daughter. What none of you know is who her other mother is. That is the important issue and for that, Aitla needed time for matters to ripen."

Stopping her pacing and turning to look Cynra directly in the eyes, Talyn exhaled sharply before, "You are telling me that Arizira's fate, her purpose in life, has finally come before her?"

"Yes."

"And what does that purpose include, Cynra?"

Cynra stood up and took a moment for her bones to stop protesting. Rolling her shoulders, she took a slow step forward. "Love, Talyn. Arizira's purpose in life, the great plan Aitla ensured she would be a part of, is love."

Scoffing and looking rather annoyed, Talyn retorted, "Love? What love? How could something so personal touch so many? What plan is there in allowing Arizira to find love? We all have done so."

Cynra walked over to the ladder that would lead her down to the forest floor below. Securing her pack and staff over her back, she rested a hand on the wooden ladder before answering. "Arizira's love is not some trifle. The kind of love she will experience will be unlike anything any one of us has ever felt. She will find the mate her spirit has searched for. This love will unlock the past and secure our future!"

Talyn stopped Cynra from descending the ladder with a quick hand to her shoulder again. "You told us Arizira's nurture mother passed to Aitla and that her other mother had returned to her own tribe. Was any of that true?"

Cynra looked up at her and Talyn saw, for the first time, her great age reflected in her eyes. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. There is no time for your questions, Talyn. I am leaving and I do not expect you to try to follow me. Keep a close eye on your hunters, child. Anger always lets loose the first volley."

Swallowing nervously at Cynra's tone, Talyn asked, "Who is this woman that Arizira will love so? Who will be a part of her destiny and shape the lives of so many?" Cynra lowered herself halfway down the ladder. Looking back up, she smirked in amusement and replied, "An Esu woman. Arizira's Doira'Liim is a follower of Esuval and a day walker."

As her feet connected with the earth below, the only sound from high above was that of Talyn's heavy and sharp gasp.

Chapter 19: The Test

Talliea sighed in frustration as she bent down to inspect a slight depression in the dirt before her. "This is absurd!" she said to herself.

A cold and stiff wind kept her back company and it only proved to increase her frustration. Arizira had left earlier in the morning, stating that she planned to head deeper into the forest and wished for Talliea to use the skills she'd been taught to find her. Talliea, naturally, had protested, saying that two weeks of being shown how to track and navigate the landscape was not nearly enough time to use those skills in a search for an Arniran under a roof of trees.

Arizira had only smiled, placing her bow across her back and her sabres at her hips, before leaving a stunned and rather put out Talliea.

Now, an hour and a half later, with the sun having reached its highest point in the sky, Talliea felt again the futility of her current endeavor. How did Arizira honestly expect her to find her? The Arniran woman barely made a sound when she walked and never had Talliea noticed even a leaf broken in the wake of her steps! The forest around them, despite their distant location, was still Arizira's home.

Talliea studied the slight disturbance in the earth and was surprised to notice that, though it had not been made by her companion, it was a print and she had been aware of it! Placing her hand in the dirt, she felt around the edges and counted the width with her fingers like Arizira had taught her. Possibly a deer? she guessed.

Standing up, she looked around again and hoped for another sign of Arizira's whereabouts. She started off again and easily walked through fallen leaves and pine needles, thick also with pine cones, and around low hanging branches. As she walked, she tried to take in every leaf, every dip in the ground, and every sound that came to her ears. For several minutes, she continued without any true direction. Her mind wandered inside itself and she found herself thinking of Arizira.

She thought over the past several weeks and then even further back to when she'd first encountered the enchanting woman. She remembered leaving her camp after having another argument with her mother and making her way into the forest. She'd been so angry at her mother that night. Long her people had been on the open plains and no sooner did they make camp, then her mother was on her again about joining with Markahn.

It had upset her and before she'd been aware she'd found herself in a glade, the likes of which she'd never seen. The setting had calmed her immediately but that feeling had not lasted long. Arizira had come upon her soon after and with her chance appearance, Talliea's life had been changed forever.

She recalled the way Arizira had looked at her, the way she'd knelt before her and gestured her intent as best as she could. Talliea remembered thinking that beauty would have been envious to have looked upon one as remarkable as Arizira.

Walking down a small slope, she noticed the leaves on a branch next to her were tattered, as if they had been rushed through or pushed aside in haste. Her heart jumped and she took a moment to study her next clue. Before long, she was back on the trail, though she knew not whether she was truly following Arizira or if she was only succeeding in getting herself lost.

Her mind once again returned to Arizira and she let herself remember the first time she'd heard the woman speak Esulan. The words had been broken and hard to understand, but despite that she had thought Arizira's voice both soothing and beautiful. The way her eyes had brightly glowed under the obscured moon had been the most magical and awe-inducing sight she had ever witnessed. To this day, she still found herself looking forward to the night. With its return came also one of her most beloved sights.

What was it that caused her mind to continuously think upon Arizira? What was it about the other woman that caused her body to yearn for her touch and her heart to seek the sound of her voice? Everything about Arizira held her enchanted and she could no longer call the fascination just a curiosity.

She knew it was more than that. She had feelings for Arizira and that frightened her. Never in her life had she felt for someone what she felt for Arizira. Even being unable to put a name on her feelings did not diminish the knowledge that they were unique.

The wind at her back ceased to blow after a time and she found another branch with the same ruffling of leaves. Elated at the possibility that she, in fact, was on Arizira's trail, Talliea continued through the woods as quickly and quietly as she could. Though she was not nearly as agile or stealthy as her Arniran companion, she had developed a more silent approach when it came to moving through the forest.

Secure in the knowledge that Arizira had made matters far too easy, Talliea walked without a care or worry. She leaped easily over a small creek and even stopped to marvel at the color of the rocks under the shallow water's surface. Birds and squirrels moved far above her and the sounds of peace, if peace could produce a note of music, were melodic to her ears.

Again, her thoughts came to settle on Arizira. Her mind moved from one memory to the next as she experienced again every moment the two of them had shared. She recalled the way Arizira had felt pressed so tightly against her body when they had been in the cave hiding from Markahn. She remembered the way Arizira's hands had felt when they had applied the dohethra and she felt her body tense at the memory of the dreams she'd been having recently.

A smile formed on her lips while her mind replayed all her time with Arizira. From laughter and games, to storytelling and the confiding of secrets, to myths and beliefs, everything about Arizira seemed to take her over as she walked through the trees.

I love your smile and the way you laugh, she thought to herself in regard to her friend. I love how gentle you are with me, but I also admire your strength. I adore your curiosity and your ideals. I appreciate your beliefs and look forward to your humor and mischief. I love the way you look at me and my body comes alive under your touch. I love everything about yo--

Her internal thoughts and declarations were cut short when an arrow flew within an inch of her face and landed in a tree to her left. Instinctively, she dived to the ground and rolled over until her back was behind a tree and facing away from the location of the shooter. The sound of her heart beating sounded loudly inside her head and she felt a nervous sensation in the pit of her stomach. Her hand reached for the jeweled dagger Arizira had given her, but she sighed when she realized how useless the weapon was.

Who was shooting at her and why? Had Lao'dahn come looking for her? Had he come upon Arizira? Was the other woman safe? Please...please let her be safe, she pleaded to herself.

The sudden thought that some harm could have befallen Arizira panicked her beyond reason. She tried to imagine never talking to the other woman again or never getting to look into her eyes at night, but the ideas were too unfathomable for her and she shook her head in an attempt to clear it. No...you are safe from harm, Ahmanae. You have to be.

Keeping her back against the base of the tree, Talliea took a deep breath before angling her body so that she could peer around the corner. No arrows flew and all remained silent. She turned away again and settled her back to the tree once more. Swallowing her anxiety, she squeezed her eyes shut and tried to calm herself. Her mind was a chaotic jumble as she tried to focus her thoughts and decide on what to do next.

She stood up, all the while keeping her back to the tree and took a deep breath. Looking to her right, she saw another tall tree with several low branches still heavy with leaves. The tree looked more defensible than her current one. Peering around the opposite side of the tree, she was relieved when it rendered the same results as the other side.

No more arrows flew her way. Once back against the tree, she tried to judge how far the distance was between it and the tree she was currently using as protection. Ten, perhaps fifteen feet.

With the blanket of pine needles between the two trees, Talliea knew she would have to move with all the skill she possessed. One misstep and she could fall and the shooter would have her out in the open. She tried again to calm the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. Despite her own danger, her thoughts were not on herself or her safety.

They were focused on Arizira and the fervent hope that she was safe and without any injury. Taking one last breath, she turned quickly to her right and made for the cover of the next tree. Her feet, surprisingly to her, moved swiftly and without fail. Before she was aware, she was safely squatting near a low hanging branch. Sighing, she felt some of the tension leave her body and was about to laugh to herself at her own fortune when she realized something was amiss.

The shadows on the ground were not how they were supposed to be. Looking up quickly, she came face to face with the very sharp point of an arrowhead. The sun shined down brightly behind the person wielding the bow and she squinted as she tried to make out who the marksman was.

"I win," the person said and Talliea gasped loudly before quickly pushing the arrowhead aside. The arrow itself fell to the ground and the person in question turned so that the sun no longer hindered them from view. Arizira's amused and smirking face came into Talliea's sight and she found herself confused as to whether she should be happy or angry. The bow in Arizira's hand and the arrow on the ground told Talliea that she had been the one who shot at her.

"You almost killed me!" she yelled, her tumultuous emotions finding an outlet, before snatching Arizira's bow from her hand. Arizira appeared unperturbed by her display and only smiled again. "I did no such thing, Tah-li. I tested you."

Fuming now and feeling the day's events finally catch up to her, Talliea ran her hand through her hair and opened her mouth several times before finally saying, "Test? That was no test! That arrow nearly took off my nose!"

Arizira reached up and patted Talliea's nose playfully with two of her fingers. "Your nose is safe. I am a remarkable shot, Tah-li. Your life was never in any danger."

Slapping away her friend's fingers, Talliea shook her head and started to pace. She had thought Arizira lost to some evil deed! She had been under the fear that Lao'dahn had found her, or worse, brought harm to Arizira! Her entire world -- her hopes, her dreams, her unresolved feelings for Arizira, had all weighed heavily on her and the whole thing had been...a...test?

"I thought you were in danger! I thought...I thought I would never see you again! You could have been in pain, injured by some malice, and I feared you were lost to me!"

Arizira's easy smile faltered and she took a step forward in an effort to comfort Talliea. "I-I did not wish for any such thoughts for you, Tah-li. Arnira training includes something close to this and..I-I would never hurt you. I wished for you to use your skills in a real setting."

Talliea took a shaky breath and sighed. Looking into Arizira's bluish eyes, she felt all of her unnamed feelings rush to the surface. "I thought Lao'dahn had found me. I feared he had..." Brown eyes closed as the fear she had experienced overcame her. Arizira closed the distance between them and took her bow from her hand. Tossing it to the ground, she placed her hands on either side of Talliea's face until her eyes opened again.

Despite her resolve to keep her physical desires repressed, Arizira knew that Talliea needed to be comforted in this moment. The two of them looked into each other's eyes and Arizira smoothed her thumbs over Talliea's cheeks. "I am sorry. This was only a test. Never would I have done so if I thought the act would bring you pain."

Talliea released another breath and let herself get lost in the feeling of Arizira's touch. The other woman did not touch her as frequently as she once had and Talliea missed that. Often, she had desired to ask why the change had taken place, but the thought of what the answer could be seemed always to keep her from doing so. She could nor recall Arizira ever speaking of a mate, but then she also could not recall her ever not speaking of a mate.

The idea that Arizira had someone, someone who was not her, upset Talliea and so she never expressed the loss she felt with the absence of their physicality. Now, however, that loss was a distant memory and she could do nothing more but stare into the eyes of the person she...

What are these feelings I have for you? she questioned inside the confines of her own thoughts. What are these feelings that leave me breathless?

"...be happy. The experience may have been frightening, but you passed," Arizira was saying.  Blinking, and attempting to shake her own thoughts and focus on Arizira's words, Talliea blurted out, "What?"

Arizira smiled and let her hands rest on either side of Talliea's neck. "I said that you passed the test. You followed the tracks I left, Tah-li. They brought you here. When I shot at you, you did not delay in your movements. You did not panic. You quickly took cover and looked for another means of escape or defense. I am proud of you."

Talliea felt a blush rise to her cheeks. Arizira's nearness was causing her a world of confusion and she could not stop the strong desire to get closer from coursing through her veins. Her body tingled and her heart seemed to jump inside her chest erratically.

Smiling, she said, "I passed?" Arizira nodded, the fingers of her right hand playing with the fine hairs at the base of Talliea's neck. The smile on the other woman's face was beautiful and Arizira took a moment to just enjoy it. Smiling herself, she nodded and replied, "Yes."

Talliea's smile turned into a laugh and she poured all of her upsetting emotions into it. The fear that Arizira had been lost to her had been very real and she let all of her worry drain away before stepping closer to the smaller woman. Before Arizira could object or move away, she wrapped her arms around her waist and hugged her tightly.

A small gasp sounded from the back of Arizira's throat, but Talliea only lowered her head to the crook of her shoulder and neck and sighed against her skin. She could smell the forest in Arizira's hair and the heat from her skin was a temptation she could not deny herself. Reaching up with a hand, she easily brushed Arizira's hair away from her neck and pressed her nose against the skin of her throat. Trailing it down slowly, she felt the crazed beating at Arizira's pulse. The Arniran's hands were still on either side of her neck and she could feel the way they tensed in her hair.

Being so close, Talliea felt her body and mind overtaken with desire. She could feel Arizira's breath and hear her uneven attempts to calm them. Breathing out through her mouth against Arizira's neck, Talliea tried to tell herself that she should move away, but she could not. The moment between them seemed to exist outside of time.

She grazed her nose up the side of Arizira's neck until it brushed along the underside of her ear. She felt the hands in her hair tighten again and the gesture only acted to spur her on. Moving her own hands down Arizira's waist, she sighed when they came to rest on slender hips. With her nose still so near to Arizira's ear, Talliea rubbed a small circle along the lobe with her nose and smiled when she heard a sharp intake of breath.

Her heart was beating faster than she could ever recall and the wetness between her legs became more noticeable. Tilting her head up, she let her lips brush across Arizira's ear before letting out another sigh of contentment. This felt right to her. She felt as if she was where she was always meant to be. The wind was cold and the climate chilled, but she did not notice either.

The only things she could feel were centered around Arizira. She could feel her breath. She could feel her hands in her hair, tightening around her neck. She could feel the warmth of her body so close to her own. She could feel her skin beneath her lips and the perfect way her hips fit against her hands.

Swallowing nervously, she turned her head toward Arizira's face and let her nose graze the softness of her cheekbone. Her right hand trailed around the front of Arizira's body and splayed across her stomach. She did not know from where such boldness in herself came. All she knew was that her actions felt right. They felt familiar.

They felt unbelievably good.

Arizira made not a move. She remained as still as she could maintain and tried to focus on remaining upright. Talliea's actions were unexpected but they were in no way unwanted. She tried to convince herself that her friend was only hugging her, but she knew it was more. She could feel that it was more.

Talliea's nose moved across Arizira's cheek before coming into contact with the slope of the other woman's nose. Breathing for each woman was more erratic and heavy and Talliea could practically taste Arizira's lips, so close they were to her own.

She remembered the anticipation from the first dream she'd ever had about Arizira. What she currently felt was so much more and so much better than that dream. Opening her eyes, though they remained somewhat hooded, Talliea looked into Arizira's and hoped to see her own feelings mirrored in them. Despite how good her actions felt, she knew she could not go any further unless Arizira also desired it.

She was not disappointed when her brown eyes met the soft, glowing blue of her companion's. Everything she was feeling--however chaotic, unsure, and confusing they were, was staring back at her with equal strength. Also in those blue eyes, she could see respect, trust, and something else...something stronger. She lowered her eyes to Arizira's lips and unconsciously licked her own. She had very little experience when it came to kissing another person. Markahn had never taken the time to teach her and she was unsure if there was a proper way of going about it. He had always pressed his mouth to hers while trying to force his tongue through her lips.

Despite her inexperience, Talliea did not feel unsure of herself in this moment. She felt confident and that, again, surprised her. Trailing her hand from Arizira's stomach to her jaw, she tenderly trailed her fingers across the bone before lowering her head enough to reach Arizira's lips. The other woman's mouth was slightly opened and she could feel her ragged breaths meeting her lips. She parted her own lips with her tongue and moved forward the small space still distancing them.

"Tah-li..." Arizira breathed out.

Before their lips could touch, the sound of a wolf howling broke both of them out of their trance and, almost immediately, their surroundings came rushing back to them. The cold of the weather pricked at them through their thick jerkins and the wind, having seemed to them to be nonexistent, brushed around both of them and moved through their hair.

Still standing close, Talliea closed her eyes and leaned her head against Arizira's. She let out a heavy breath and swallowed her apprehension. Arizira remained as silent as before. After a brief moment, Talliea sighed and stepped away, offering a nearly bashful smile in Arizira's direction. She looked around them and saw, quite easily, a white wolf staring back at her from across the forest. The lupine creature was sitting between two trees with its intense blue eyes taking in her frustrated appearance. She remembered seeing the wolf before and turned to her friend who was affixing her bow to her back.

"Ari, look," she said, turning back toward the wolf and pointing in the direction she'd seen it sitting. Arizira, hands moving with less grace than normal, turned to where Talliea was pointing and peered through the trees. "I see nothing," she said, straightening her jerkin and pulling the hood of her cloak back over her head. "We should return, Tah-li. The weather is turning ill and will soon be against us."

Talliea felt Arizira walk around her. She couldn't understand where the wolf had gone! She had seen it! Not once, but twice. It had been there! Watching Arizira walk away in the direction of their camp, she licked her lips again and sighed, the wolf quickly forgotten.

She had nearly kissed Arizira. She was sure the other woman had wanted her to. She was certain Arizira had felt what she did. What did that mean for them, exactly? Did Arizira have feelings for her as well? If so, why did she now seem so upset?

Pulling her own hood over her head of thick black hair, Talliea moved to catch up to her more agile companion. One thing she knew for certain: things were different between them now after what had just nearly happened.

What she couldn't decide was whether or not that change was going to prove to be good or bad.

Chapter 20: Union

Arizira entered the cave and easily stepped over the fire pit sitting near the entrance. Heading deeper toward the back where their bedding was, she swung her bow and quiver from over her shoulder and leaned them each against the wall of the cave. Her body was still humming with what had just happened, or nearly happened. Every sense she possessed could still see, feel, and smell Talliea. Her mind was busy jumping from one thought or question to another. She barely had time to think on one before another was vying for her attention.

Did Talliea have feelings for her? If the wolf had not howled and interrupted them, would they have kissed?

Arizira wanted to believe that, but how could she risk herself if Talliea was only looking for some type of physical comfort. Matters were still in the air on what exactly their plans were, and Arizira could not fully give her heart away if there was the chance of some future separation. If Talliea ever chose to return to her people, Arizira did not think she could survive it if the two of them ever were to be intimate.

There were too many uncertainties and unknowns. All she knew, without any confusion, was that she had never, in her entire life, felt more alive and aware than when Talliea had been so close to her. The feeling of her breath against her neck and her lips against her ear had nearly stilled Arizira's heart and stopped her breathing. Her entire body had tingled and she had never felt more sure of anything.

Slipping her sabres from their bonds and her gloves from her hands, she carelessly tossed the items next to her bow and started to pace. She could feel tears threatening to escape but could not understand the emotions behind their birth. With her hands on her hips, she continued to pace while she tried to calm her mind. Words whispered through her lips but she could not remember calling them into existence.

"Ari?" Talliea's voice and the sound of her approach barely registered for Arizira.

"Sa, sa. Rei'sa. Tai sa'li, failira. Tai sa'li. Rei'sa yi hisulir ri eth'ri'jas." Arizira's words came out in Arniran, her emotional upset causing her to fall back to her first tongue. Had they been translated, their meaning would have expressed Arizira's sorrow. She was telling Talliea that she could not, that they could not. She was telling her she could not be a prisoner to her heart.

Talliea stopped in front of Arizira and held out her hands in a placating gesture. She'd never heard Arizira speak her language other than a few words here or there when she could not form them in Esulan. She vaguely remembered her speaking to her before they'd overcome the language barrier, but the melodic sound of her voice seemed to be the only thing Talliea could recall.

Hearing that voice now, so obviously distraught, only seemed to make the words, though they were not understood, all the more beautiful to her. "Ari, I can not understand. I-I'm sorry. I should not have done what I did. It obviously upset you. Forgive me, please? You must not feel for me what I feel for you. I have tried to deny myself. I have sought to give other names to this attraction because the depth of it has frightened me, but back in the forest I could no longer keep what I felt to myself. I misread matters. I am sorry"

Arizira stopped pacing and took a deep and calming breath. Licking her lips in a nervous gesture, she turned to meet Talliea's eyes. Her words, her declarations, had been the truth she had been searching for. Talliea did feel something for her. Whether that emotion was love or admiration, Arizira could not guess. She could tell from the way Talliea had spoken that what she felt was strong, confusing, and overpowering to her.

"Ari...Ahmanae...we can forget that it happened, okay? We are as different as night and day and I was wrong to approach you as I did. You have been my friend. You have been my savior. Y-you offered to help me, a stranger...a myth...and I have repaid you with this discomfort."

Arizira could not believe that Talliea was placing blame upon herself. There was no blame to begin with. Talliea's advance had not upset her, despite her mind trying to convince her that it had. Everything she had been feeling for Talliea had been set free when they had been so close to one another. No, Talliea had not caused her any sort of discomfort. She had not misread their situation nor had she done anything Arizira had not wanted to do herself.

Opening her mouth, she stopped her friend from saying anymore. "This is not discomfort, Tah-li. What...what you did, what we nearly did..." Talliea bit her lip as she waited for Arizira to finish her sentence. Her eyes were wide and unsure and her breath was tight in her chest.

"I wanted you to kiss me," Arizira finished, holding Talliea's gaze.

Releasing a heavy breath, a relieved smile broke out across Talliea's face and she stepped forward to get closer to Arizira. The smile fell away when she noticed Arizira take a step back at her approach.

"Sa," Arizira said, using her people's word for no,  though her voice was small and lacking the strength she would have preferred. Talliea's face fell and she felt as if her heart had been impaled with a sharp dagger. She could not understand why Arizira was denying them.

"Why?" she asked simply in a broken voice. She did not need to understand Arniran to know Arizira's intent. "Do you not have feelings for me? Is it because I am Esu?"

Tears, no longer able to keep themselves from falling, fell past Arizira's eyelids and slid down her face in heavy tracks. Shaking her head, she swallowed painfully again and tried to get her voice to cooperate with her. "I can not do this, Tah-li. I can..I-I can not be your guide in this, as I have been in everything else."

Talliea, eyes lowering in further confusion, took another step toward Arizira. "Guide? I am not seeking your guidance, Ahmanae. You once told me that I should follow my heart's desire. That is what I am doing. My desire is for you. It has been since I met you. I-I was just too upset to understand matters as they were."

Arizira's heart began to beat faster upon hearing Talliea's words. She was being told everything she needed to hear, yet she was still protesting the issue. Why?

She knew why. She was scared. Her feelings for Talliea were strong. Too strong. They were unlike the feelings she'd possessed for the other woman with whom she'd been intimate. The worry that those relations could end without a stronger bond being formed afterward had never factored into her decisions. Arniran relationships were not nearly so complicated. If one loved, they loved. If they did not, then they moved on without the fear of ill feelings between parties.

With Talliea, Arizira’s way of thinking and seeing the world seemed of no help when it came to trying to simplify things. She knew if she gave herself to Talliea, there would be no coming back. There would be no returning.

There would be no one else. Ever.

She would not be able to move on if she and Talliea acted on their feelings. Talliea would hold every valuable piece of her. She would have her heart, her body, and her spirit. Did the other woman understand that? Could she understand that? Were her feelings as strong? Was it fair to expect them to be?

Licking away the tears that had pooled at her top lip, Arizra shook her head again and looked up into Talliea's impossibly dark eyes. "I can not be a test for you, Tah-li. I have long desired this -- you...us, but I can not be a test."

Talliea sighed and shook her head. Biting the inside of her lip, she tried to understand where Arizira's fear was coming from. It was obvious to her that the woman had strong feelings for her. That realization set her heart soaring and gave her a strength she did not know was within her. She knew she was going to have to fight for what she wanted.

Arizira was who she wanted. She understood that now. There was no more need for questions. She knew who her heart desired. She knew what it desired. Arizira's fears were the only thing unknown to her, but she refused to let them dictate the course of matters. Her entire life had been decided by others. She'd never had any say in who she would love or what her life would consist of.

Arizira had taught her how to think for herself. She had taught her to believe in herself and to not be afraid to express an opinion or state a disagreement. The woman had held her up when she had been at her lowest. She had cared for her and eased her pain and brought her a sense of security when she'd been of the belief there was none. Arizira had healed her. She had shown her that her wants and desires were okay to think and feel.

Talliea could not allow a chance at happiness to slip away because Arizira was afraid. Stepping into Arizira's personal space, she closed the distance between them until they were face to face. She heard Arizira take a deep breath and it only proved to her that her actions were right and true.

"You could never be a test. I know you are afraid, but that is okay. I am scared, too, but Ari, we can be afraid together. You made me feel safe when no one else could. Let me calm you in the same way."

Arizira, tears still falling and chest rising quickly at Talliea's nearness, shook her head and tried to back away. Talliea placed a hand around the small of her back and held her in place. Using her free hand, she guided Arizira's right hand to her chest and placed it over her heart.

"This is what you do to me," she whispered and allowed her head to lean against Arizira's. "My heart beats this way for you. It longs to be closer to you. Tell me you can feel that."

Arizira released a heavy breath against Talliea's lips and spread her fingers out over her chest. She could feel the erratic beat thumping against her palm and, despite her upset, a small laugh left her throat. Talliea was taking a chance. She was, for the first time in her life, expressing a desire and following through on something she wanted for herself. That want and desire was Arizira herself.

Why was she fighting this? She found it slightly ironic that their roles seemed to have been reversed. Here she was needing a push in the right direction, allowing fear to guide her, and Talliea was the one being her pillar of strength and stating openly that she desired her -- them.

Rubbing her forehead against Talliea's, Arizira sighed again and let her hand trail over her friend's chest. Her other hand, which had been hanging at her side, moved and mirrored Talliea's. It landed in the small of the Esu woman's back and pushed gently until they were closer. Talliea's breathing became rougher and Arizira could feel her emotions beginning to dance inside her body.

"I want you," she whispered almost silently. Her voice was shaky and Talliea could hear the fear that was still present in it. "These feelings I have for you have threatened to consume me."

Talliea smiled and let her nose slide across Arizira's. It amazed her how something so simple could ignite such intense emotions and sensations. She wondered briefly how long Arizira had held her feelings for her inside. Had she truly had such feelings the entire time they had known one another? If that were true, and Arizira had never tried to act on them, then Talliea knew her appreciation for the other woman had just increased. Despite her own desires, Arizira had maintained her stance on respecting Talliea and her body. She had not ever tried to take what she wanted or force herself on her in any way.

Wrapping her other hand around Arizira's waist, Talliea held her close and marveled at the way her body was reacting. Pulling her head back slightly, she looked into Arizira's eyes before leaning forward and laying a small kiss on the tip of her nose. The hand on her back pressed into her and Arizira's other hand on her chest clawed at her top. Smiling to herself, Talliea grazed her lips over Arizira's cheek before coming to her closed eyelids. The evidence of her tears was still present on her wet lashes.

"Do not cry anymore, Ahmanae," she whispered before placing another soft kiss on each of Arizira's eyelids. She pulled back and licked her lips, the taste of Arizira's tears assaulting her senses. Removing her hands from around Arizira's back and waist, Talliea moved them to her face and cupped her cheeks. Arizira's hands trailed down her body and landed on her hips. She waited until Arizira opened her eyes. Once that astounding shade of blue met her gaze, Talliea leaned in again and kissed her forehead. With every kiss, she could feel her body reacting. She could feel her emotions growing stronger and her bond with Arizira becoming more intense.

As for Arizira, she was in a daze. Her body was hypersensitive and her mind was lost to how wonderful Talliea's lips felt. They were soft and left a pleasurable tingling sensation in their wake. She tried to keep herself from just giving in completely to what she felt. Talliea was exploring her feelings and gathering strength from her actions. Arizira was trying to allow her the time to do so. She remained as she was and let the other woman set the pace of their encounter.

Talliea took a moment to catch her breath and attempt to even out her breathing. Her entire body was alive with anticipation. Arizira's skin was smooth and soft. Talliea found it endearing that Arizira was not attempting to move matters at a quicker pace and was, instead, giving control of the situation over to her.

Holding Arizira's face in her hands, she spread her fingers out over her ears and smiled down at her. Licking her lips, she leaned forward and kissed Arizira's nose again before moving lower and kissing the small dip above her mouth. She heard a small gasp and felt the hands on her hips tighten again. This increased her confidence and she finally moved the small distance still lower and brought her lips to Arizira's in a short and tentative kiss. Both women moaned into the other and felt a connection between them unlike anything else they'd ever experienced.

Talliea held Arizira's lips with her own for only a moment before she pulled away, but still remained close. "You taste like mint," she said in a soft and awed voice.

Arizira chose not to comment. She had tasted mint as well. The other women she had kissed had not left such an addictive taste of her lips. She wondered at its nature, but soon let the issue drop as Talliea was leaning into her again. Deciding that she had been idle long enough, Arizira pulled Talliea closer to her and tilted her head up so that she could meet her lips. Their second kiss was longer and more heated as they each began to lose control of themselves.

Talliea let her lips linger on Arizira's top lip while her fingers threaded into her hair. She felt Arizira open her mouth and a soft and wet tongue glided along her bottom lip. She moaned, the sound surprising her, and allowed that tongue to fully enter her mouth. Their kiss became less innocent after that.

Talliea's worry about her inexperience faded away as allowed her mind and body to act as one. The feelings she had for Arizira had finally found an outlet and she poured herself into that. Their lips met again in a fevered rush, each kiss an exploration. Arizira raised her hands from Talliea's hips and pushed them under her top. Her fingers touched warm and addictively soft skin, and she smiled against Talliea's lips when she heard the other woman's ragged moan.

The sounds escaping Talliea were intoxicating. They were beautiful and free and Arizira loved being the cause of them. Turning her head, she kissed the side of Talliea's mouth before engaging them in another kiss. The taste of mint was ever present as they each became more comfortable with the other. Their tongues glided across one another and their kisses became more wet. Talliea could barely keep up, but she did not complain. Arizira's passion for her was evident in how she touched her and she found that addicting.

Her hands held onto Arizira's face while her fingers tightened in her hair. Her entire body was pressed flush against Arizira's and the experience was better than anything she had ever dreamed. This was happening. It was not her mind's wish, but her body's desire manifested by her heart's emotions. She felt Arizira's hands move from her back to her sides and she turned her head to breathe a moment. Ariziria's lips moved across her jaw and up to her ear. She felt them kiss her ear before moving down to her neck.

Talliea tilted her head back until her neck was exposed and her eyes rolled into her head when she felt Arizira's tongue leave a wet path down the front of her throat. Small kisses dotted across her neck while the hands on her sides grazed over her bare stomach. Her own hands had moved further into Arizira's hair and were now cradling her head against her neck. Moans and sighs and gasps continued to float in the air around the two of them.

Markahn had never made her feel this way. Despite his attempts, he had never made Talliea react the way Arizira was. This was love. Talliea no longer doubted that. Love was not a concept her people were free to explore, but she had known women and men who had developed those feelings after years of being together. She had, since becoming old enough to understand the truth of her life, known that love was something she was never going to experience. She could not love truly if she was never free to find it in the first place.

For all of Markahn's attempts and her mother's desire for her to join with him, Talliea had always known her heart would never be in the matter. Now, she knew why. Her heart had been destined for Arizira. The love she thought so elusive among her people had been found in this woman. She could think of no better feeling in the world than what she was currently experiencing.

Moving her head back down, breaths coming in heavy pants, Talliea met Arizira's eyes and felt a strange sensation settle in her stomach. Arizira was not looking at her like she was a prize. She was not looking at her as if she were property. She was not looking at her as if she was entitled anything at all. Arizira was looking at her the way she felt she, herself, was looking at Arizira. They were together in this moment they were sharing.

Smiling at her companion, Talliea once again moved her hands until they were gently cupping Arizira's face. She trailed her fingers over the smaller woman's chin in a reverent manner with one hand before gliding them up to graze across wet lips.

Arizira kissed her fingertips and tried to get a hold of her lust. She had not intended for their first kiss to be so passionate and heated, and hoped Talliea had not felt upset in her display of emotion. Before she could say anything, Talliea leaned forward and kissed her again.

This time the kiss was slow and full of all the pent up emotions both women had been withholding. Their lips moved across each other's in a steady and deliberate manner as they each tried to convey, without words, what they felt. Talliea's hands withdrew from Arizira's face and moved to just above the waistband of her pants. She began to undo the buttons and ties of Arizira's top but was soon stopped in her attempt.

"No," Arizira whispered, breaking their kiss. "I want to," Talliea said, her voice equally as low in the silence around them. "I want this with you." Again, she tried to finish removing Arizira's jerkin, but hands on her own hindered her movements.

"It is too soon, Tah-li. You are not ready." Slightly frustrated, Talliea leaned her forehead against Arizira's and sighed. "I am ready, Ari. I have been ready. Please."

Shaking her head, Arizira leaned back to kiss Talliea's forehead before returning to their previous position. Her hands still kept Talliea's held tightly and the reality of matters became quite real for her. She had just kissed Talliea. Everything she had been hoping for had come to pass, and the knowledge that Talliea had feelings for her and wanted to act on those feelings left her feeling better than she had in weeks.

"It is too soon," she repeated. "We will not do this now. Please understand." Talliea closed her eyes and felt her mind returning to her. The foggy sense of lust from before, though still present, was not nearly as strong now that she and Arizira were no longer kissing. "You do not want me in this way?" she asked, her voice small.

Arizira shook her head and squeezed Talliea's hands. "I want you in every way, but I respect you, Tah-li. My feelings for you are not only physical. We are changed now, the two of us. This has made us different and there is no need to rush anything."

Talliea swallowed the lump of anxiety that had settled in her throat and nodded her head. She understood what Arizira was telling her. The other woman was right. They had only just declared their mutual attraction to one another. Their first kiss had only just taken place. There was still a lot to talk about and a lot to understand about each of them. Besides, waiting to solidify their relationship could only prove to strengthen the feelings they each had.

"You are right. I am sorry," she said after a time. Arizira kissed her lips softly and Talliea could not help but smile at the easiness in which she did it. "Never apologize. I want to experience you in every way."

Talliea smiled again and let her hands slip from Arizira's grasp. She moved her right hand up to Arizira's collar and began to slowly run her fingers over the expanse of exposed skin. Sighing at her own sense of peace, she let herself enjoy her newfound status with Arizira.

"I like the way you touch me," she said in a small voice, her eyes watching the movements of her fingers. Arizira smiled herself and let her hands once again wrap around Talliea's waist and back. "This is good because I enjoy touching you."

Talliea laughed out loud and sighed contentedly. "Then we are a good match." Laughter sounded from the cave and floated in the wide world outside of it. Two hearts--two spirits, despite the odds had found one another and, without any knowledge on their parts, set future events into motion.

Chapter 21: Failira

"You are mistaken." Markahn's words were spoken without the need for any further elaboration. Lao'dahn paused, anger crossing over his features, and hurried to catch up to his friend.  "I am anything but! Who else could have shot at me?" he argued.

Walking to the edge of their camp where the fertile grasses gave way to the wide plains that spanned in front of the forest, Markahn sighed and placed his hands on his hips. He let his eyes travel across the lands the clan had so recently traversed and his mind immediately thought of Talliea. She had been gone for over two weeks now. There had been no word or sign from her and, with each passing day, Markahn had grown more and more depressed.

Talliea would have never believed him, but he fancied himself in love with her. Her continuous displays of reluctance over the years had upset him more than she could ever know. He had wanted what was best for her, but she had been too stubborn to realize that what was best was him! Despite everything, Markahn was still of the belief that Talliea could have eventually learned to love him if she had only given them a chance.

Now, however, the plans he had for his life no longer seemed to matter. Other men in the clan had been encouraging him to forget about Talliea and claim another woman to be his mate. Even Talliea's own mother was insisting that he let her go, but, how could he? There was no other woman he wanted.

Turning to Lao'dahn, Markahn let his thoughts focus on the other problem in his life currently. His friend had, over the past weeks, shown more and more of a growing obsession with Talliea. For the life of him, Markahn could not understand from where that obsession stemmed.

"Lao'dahn, it was you not long ago claiming that she was most likely dead, and now you stand here with some absurd allegation of Talliea, not only making a bow and arrows, but learning to shoot that bow with the skill you claim?"

Lao'dahn walked closer to Markahn and his frustration was shown in his body language. "There was no skill!" he lied, his voice cracking. "It was luck! Where she got the bow, I do not know. Perhaps she snuck back into camp."

"But you said the arrows were marked with characters you had never seen?" Markahn retorted with a disbelieving tone.

"That is besides the point! That woman shot at me and you dare to stand here and question me?"

Turning to face his friend and standing to his full and imposing height, Markahn stepped forward and lowered his face to Lao'dahn's. "What exactly is your point, friend? Where is this magic arrow Talliea supposedly shot at you, hm? For that matter, what reason would she have for targeting you?"

Lao'dahn, in that moment, wanted nothing more than to knock some sense into the other man. What blindness took him where Talliea was concerned? He knew why Talliea would wish to exact revenge upon him, but he could never tell Markahn about it. If the other man learned of his actions  he would be banished for immoral conduct toward another man's claimed property.

How ridiculous, he thought, that he, a devout follower of Esuval, could be punished in so severe a fashion for teaching a heathen such as Talliea a much needed lesson! Looking into Markahn's stormy grey eyes, he tried to quell his anger and focus his thoughts.

"My point," he emphasized, "is that there could be no other culprit. Unless one of the other men has been lying to us since we arrived, Talliea is the only person who could be responsible. I believe she has been using that cave we discovered the night of the storm. I was nearing it when she shot at me. Her reason for targeting me, Markahn, could have been because she did not desire me to learn of her location."

Markahn leaned back and scratched at his chin. His skin glistened in the sun and the furs around his shoulders only made him look more intimidating. Lao'dahn's theory was not without merit, but it relied too much on speculation. Talliea was a free spirit, but he doubted whether she had the fire to attack one of his brothers.

"Listen," he said, "without proof of this deed, we can do nothing else. You claimed she landed an arrow in your bo-staff. Where is it?"

Lao'dahn hesitated a moment. The arrow in question was with his personal belongings. He intended to take it to the Sage woman and see what she could divine from it. The characters on the shaft almost appeared to be an alphabet to him, but he was no master in such things. Taetylona, on the other hand, was. She possessed knowledge and information on topics most ordinary people never thought of use. How she knew such things was beside the point, as far as he was concerned. The old woman could be useful. That was all he needed to know.

"It must have been knocked loose on my return to camp. Perhaps a scouting of the area will bring the other arrows to attention." He knew no such thing would happen. The day after the incident, he had returned to the cave, or as near as he could get, and the evidence of his assault had been gone. There was no arrow near the cave entrance as there also was no arrow in any of the nearby trees. He'd been relieved when he had not been shot at a second time, but had not wished to tempt his good fortune by going any further.

Markahn took in his words and nodded his head. "Very well then, we will scout the area and see what clues the landscape provides. Do not speak of this to any other, Lao'dahn. Unfounded allegations of this nature are not something to be made lightly. We will investigate this matter ourselves and see what answers we come to."

Markahn walked away from him before he could respond. He watched the man until he disappeared inside one of the dugouts and grinded his teeth together. It was time to pay a visit to the Sage woman.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Talliea sat against the rock wall of the cave, her Ophe'las bed providing an abundant warmth, while she looked down adoringly at Arizira. The other woman's head and shoulders were resting in her lap and her hair was spread out around her face. Talliea's fingers were slowly running complacent trails up and down Arizira's neck while she slept. Arizira had fallen asleep while the two of them had talked some short time ago.

When Talliea realized Arizira had passed to the lands of dreams and slumber, she'd only smiled to herself before reaching for her wolf blanket and used it to cover her companion up. She now held Arizira close to her body and watched her in her most peaceful state. Her life had taken a rather unexpected turn and she found the new rush of excitement to be exhilarating.

The perfect, gentle, and beautiful woman in her lap was not only her friend and protector, she was also the person she loved and adored. Arizira had shown her that goodness still thrived in the world. She had shown her that not every action was calculated or shallow or wrought with a steel-bent pain. Through Arizira, Talliea had come to experience joy and wonder and happiness.

Never before could she recall laughing with such freedom or smiling with such openness. Arizira was the single most astounding being she knew. Most of the time, Talliea barely understood Arizira or her reasons and ways for doing something. She was so very different,  and it was that difference that had first attracted her. Arizira did not respond or react the way Talliea was accustomed. She did not do things because she wished for something in return.

She was honest, loyal, respectful, curious, and loving. Were all Arnira the same, Talliea wondered, or was Arizira unique in yet another way?

Probably the most confounding thing about Arizira was her feelings for Talliea. How could someone who saw the world the way she did have feelings for someone as humdrum as Talliea? The thought was baffling. Talliea felt that she had nothing to offer Arizira. She did not have so rich a culture nor did she possess any skills that were of use.

The only thing she had for Arizira was her feelings. That was all she could give, all she could offer. As she looked down at the beautiful woman resting against her, Talliea prayed to whatever spirit was listening that her feelings were enough. Now that she had finally given a name to the emotions she felt, she wanted only to share them with Arizira, both verbally and physically.

The other woman had stopped her attempt to express herself physically and now, as Talliea let her fingers softly curl along the underside of Arizira's jaw, she found herself wondering if a verbal attempt would be met in much the same way. She knew Arizira had feelings for her. She was not sure how, but she could feel them as if they were her own. Why then had Arizira denied the two of them? She had claimed it was because Talliea was not ready, but what if it was because the thought of lying with an Esu woman gave her pause?

Talliea's insecurities flared inside her and she felt her breath become thick and heavy in her chest. She was not as beautiful and magical in appearance as Arizira or her people. Did her dark skin and hair upset Arizira? Was she deluding herself by thinking someone as pure and good as Arizira could love someone as tarnished and broken as she was?

Suddenly, she felt foolish -- very foolish. She could not shake the nagging thoughts from her mind. It was not fair to Arizira, she knew that, but it was hard for her to believe in something so good with the way her life had been laid out thus far. Life for Esu women was about duty and responsibilities. It was difficult for her to fully accept that what she was doing with Arizira required neither of those things. Arizira asked for nothing while she gave everything. Was that what love was? Giving of oneself fully while expecting nothing in return from your mate?

Looking down at Arizira, Talliea smiled when she noticed a small twitch at the corner of her lips. She remembered kissing those lips and a flush touched her skin at the memory. The way Arizira had kissed her had been unlike anything Talliea had ever experienced. She had felt the barely restrained desire in the embrace and the passion transferred between them had been electrifying. When Arizira's hands had smoothed over her bare stomach, a hot flare of emotion had settled in her belly and everything had become a blur. Arizira had kissed her, truly kissed her, and she still felt tingles when she recalled their encounter.

She wondered why she had tasted mint in their kiss. Markahn, the only other person ever to kiss her -- though, if she thought about it, he had been in the act alone and that, by her definition, meant that Arizira was the first person she had ever kissed -- had not carried such a tantalizing flavor. Did all Arnira have such a taste? Was it normal? Her lips and tongue had felt both cool and hot as she had kissed Arizira, and she wondered if Arizira had noticed it as well.

Her fingers moved from Arizira's jaw to her mouth and she tentatively ran them over full and beautiful lips. Her insecurities faded away suddenly. Her worries were baseless. Her thoughts and fears were without merit.

Arizira was perfect. If she had been repulsed by her, she would not have kissed her as she had. She would not have touched her so enthusiastically. Talliea knew her worries stemmed from who she had been, not who she was becoming with Arizira.

Smiling as she watched her dark fingers move over pink lips, she knew that, even if she and Arizira had not shared their feelings with one another, either verbally or physically, that did not negate their emotions in anyway.

Arizira would not hurt her. Ever. Talliea knew that. She was safe with Arizira. As she watched her sleep, she vowed to herself  she would never let any harm come to her Ahmanae. Arizira was the most precious thing in her life. She was the only thing worth saving and protecting. Even if it meant she herself came to some harm or worse, she would never allow Arizira to be in pain.

The vow inspired her and, for once, she realized she had something to live for; someone to live for. Arizira stirred and the sound of her stomach growling sounded around the two of them. Silvery blue eyes fluttered and then opened. A small and happy smile spread across her face before she spoke.

"Hi," she rasped. Talliea smiled herself, already lost and drowning in the blue eyes looking up at her. "Hi," she breathed, her hand now cupping Arizira's cheek.

The two of them were silent for a moment, both allowing their eyes to just drink in the sight of the other. "I think your stomach is trying to tell us it is hungry," Talliea said, her smile still present.

Arizira giggled and moved a hand up to cover the one on her cheek. Turning her head, she placed a gentle kiss on the inside of Talliea's wrist before turning back to stare up at her. "Well, that is one appetite I can sate, at least."

*  *  *  *  *  *

Some time later, the two of them were both preparing their meal. Arizira was stewing a mixture of vegetables over the fire pit while Talliea sorted through their stock of dried meats, berries, and nuts. Her thoughts were contemplative as she worked.

"Ari?" Arizira stirred the carrots and potatoes in the pot before her and added another leaf of the spice she was using. "Yes?" she answered.

Talliea looked up and her expressive face was dark with some deep thought. "I can not be without you," she said without preamble, her voice both true and heartfelt. The statement was spoken with great earnest and it immediately caught Arizira's attention. Setting the mushroom in her hand aside, she turned her head in a curious manner and looked into her companion's eyes.

"You do not have to be," she said softly. Talliea shook her head, biting the inside of her lip, and took a deep breath. "We know not what we are doing, Ari. I have forsaken my people, but I can not ask that you do the same. You were only going to journey with me through the winter months. You were going to teach me to survive."

Understanding dawned on Arizira and she felt a sinking sensation drop into her stomach and sting her insides. She had become caught up in Talliea and the knowledge of who and what Talliea was had become lost to her.

Their two peoples were enemies. Even now, Arizira's people were likely scouting the Esu settlement and drawing plans for a raid once the spring arrived. As for the Esu, they were completely unaware of the danger lurking in the woods. Though Arizira had no love for the Esu, she did not think she could condone an all out war without even the mention of peace talks.

Talyn was a wise and level-headed leader, but absolute power did not reside soley with her. If a vote was called and put forth, and the other Elders decided on preemptive action, then war would take place and Arizira and Talliea would be caught in the middle. The Esu would not stand a chance against Arniran warriors and hunters. What would happen to the women and children or the men who surrendered?

There were too many questions and Arizira was not the one to answer them. She was not a leader among her people, nor was she one to ponder upon such delicate matters. "I can not be without you either, Tah-li. We share a bond now," she said and her voice was soft.

Talliea swallowed the lump in her throat and looked at Arizira. Her eyes were dark and unsure. "Then what are we to do? I cannot ask that you spend the rest of your days hiding in the forest with me. Your people would feel your absence, Ahmanae, and I will not have you being without those that you love."

Arizira wanted to interject and state that, by being with Talliea she would be with the person she loved, but she refrained and only nodded her head in understanding. "I told you that I would not leave you, Tah-li. That has not changed. My people are aware of your people's presence. We have been aware since before a camp was made. I was sent to scout the area. Whispers had come to us from the spirits of the forest of newcomers. My Nai'iris," she paused seeing the look of confusion in Talliea's eyes, "my...leader, had tasked me with learning what I could."

Talliea was quiet for a time, her mind going over everything Arizira had just told her. She had strongly believed that the Arnira were aware of her people, but Arizira had just confirmed matters for her. They had been spying on her clan and relaying information. How much did they know?

"The night we met...you had been watching us?" she asked. Arizira made no gesture of affirmation. Her eyes told Talliea everything she needed to know. "You told your leaders of our presence?" Again, Arizira said nothing.

Talliea sighed and wondered why she even cared. Her people had never done her any favors. She was not upset with Arizira. The woman had only been doing what she could to protect her own people. She was, however, upset with herself. She had allowed herself to become so lost and caught up with Arizira that she had managed to forget there was another reality to deal with.

Her people would never accept Arizira. They would sooner kill her than offer her any hospitality. She wondered if Arizira's people would be more understanding of their relationship or if they, too, would be blinded by past animosities. What were the two of them to do with the threat of war on the horizon?

"I do not care what you were doing the night we met. I do not care about the past o-or about what myth says. I want no part in this cycle of hatred. Hate and anger and the chains of bondage have ever held sway over my life. The only thing I wish to give a care to is you, Ari. Whatever happens, I know, without a doubt, that I can no longer walk the path of my life without you."

Arizira smiled, the gesture spreading across her face so quickly that it stilled Talliea's heart. "The path you walk is now also my path, failira. We shall continue it together. I told you that I would remain with you through the winter. I shall do that. What plans we make at the dawn of spring shall be decided together. Our two peoples shall eventually come through the mist and fog and learn fully of the other; that seems likely."

Talliea nodded, all thoughts of food now lost to her. "Once the spring arrives," Arizira continued, "if you wish it, I can return to my people and request amnesty on your part. You are Esu, Tah-li, but you are also a woman. The Elders may be willing to grant you asylum in return for information on your people."

Talliea held Arizira's gaze. Her mind felt overwhelmed. Could she truly be a traitor to her people? Could she turn her back on her own mother and the people she had grown up around and with? What loyalty did they deserve? She cringed and tried to slow the pace of her thoughts. Why did matters have to be so complicated? All she wanted to do was be with Arizira. Did that desire come with so great a price?

She wished no part in what their peoples chose to do. It did not matter to her. Only Arizira mattered, but how could they be happy with their people possibly being at war? If she was granted a place among the Arnira, could she and Arizira honestly be happy together? Would the other women of the tribe view her with contempt or worse, treat Arizira differently because of her? She did not speak the Arniran tongue so communication would rely solely on Arizira. The Arnira were nocturnal. How was she supposed to adapt to such a drastic lifestyle?

No, she did not think living with Arizira's people was in her best interests. Despite not wanting to be separated, she knew there had to be another alternative. But what?

Arizira was still watching her intently, her glowing eyes acting to calm the upset in Talliea’s heart somewhat. "I just want to be with you," Talliea whispered in a heartfelt tone. "I did not ask for my people to hate yours or for yours to want to remove mine from the valley. I asked for none of it. I-I did not ask for these feelings I have for you, but they are the one thing that brings me joy instead of upset. I do not know what to do. All I do know is that I can not be separated from you. It would kill me."

Standing and walking around the fire, Arizira sat next to Talliea and wrapped her arms around her in a tight and secure hug. She threaded the fingers of her left hand into Talliea's dark hair and cradled her head against her chest. "You will not be separated from me, nor I you. Whatever happens, Tah-li, we will decide on our course together. Do not let your thoughts be troubled any longer. An option may yet present itself before the winter passes."

Talliea, her arms wrapped around Arizira's waist and her head resting against her chest, only nodded and tried to believe the words being spoken. Arizira held the back of her head in a tight embrace and she felt a kiss being placed in her hair. Tilting her head up, she looked into Arizira's mesmerizing eyes and leaned forward to press her lips against her chin in a tender kiss. "You are the best thing to ever happen to me, Ahmanae, and I will do everything I can to keep you next to me."

Arizira smiled, her eyes searching Talliea's and finding only truth, before lowering her head. Her nose dragged down Talliea's until their lips were only centimeters away from one another. "I will never leave you," she whispered before kissing Talliea slowly. Her lips did not move in a rush. This kiss was not about passion or lust. It was about emotion and love. It was about cementing their promises to one another.

She pulled back, smiling softly, before leaning in again and kissing Talliea a second time just as slowly. Their lips met in a series of small, short, but intense caresses. The taste of mint danced on their tongues and, if possible, they felt even closer to one another.

The future was unclear to both of them. All paths they could think of held the possibility of disaster or heartache. Despite that, they each knew they could not live without the other. However things came to pass, both women were intent on remaining together.

Elsewhere...

"It is about time you showed up. These nights are cold and I am not as young as once I was."

The wolf circled the small and frail looking woman sitting in its den. A blazing fire cast the woman's face in various shades of orange and red, but her light purple eyes were clearly visible. Avoiding the flames of the fire, the wolf, its coat a startling white and its eyes an icy blue, came to sit next to the woman.

Cynra raised her hand and placed it on the wolf's large head. Scratching behind its ears, she sighed and stared into the fire. "They have stopped being young and stupid and given into their desire, hm?"

The wolf lowered itself to the ground and dropped its head into Cynra's lap. The heat from the fire was welcome. "Good, good. Events are moving quickly now. They will be stronger together. There is no turning back."

Yawning, the wolf made a noise in the back of its throat before returning its gaze to the fire. "Next time you go out, you could bring an old lady something to eat, you know." Cynra said, hand still scratching the fur of her companion's head.

The wolf closed its eyes and settled closer to the small woman. The wind picked up and the sound of a slow progressing rain sounded as it met the foliage of the forest. It was going to be a long night.

Chapter 22: Taetylona's Vision

"What do you see, old woman?"

Lao'dahn hovered over Taetylona with an air of superiority and impatience. The smoke wafting around him only proved to choke him despite the overhead release the vapors were reaching toward. Taetylona had been sitting around the smoking incense for nearly half an hour and had yet to speak of anything to him. It was increasing his impatience and setting his temper to new heights.

"Hmm...yes...it is clear. This...is...yes," Taetylona's words alerted him and he bent down to be closer to her. Balancing his weight on his knees and placing his elbows over his thighs, he looked at the old woman intently. Though her eyes were closed, Lao’dahn had a feeling she was aware of his gaze.

"What is it? Speak!" he demanded.

Taetylona opened her eyes and met his hard face. Her wrinkled brown skin seemed to be enhanced by whatever ritual she was engaged in and her eyes appeared even more worn. She was dressed in a heavy skirt and blouse with a thick shawl thrown over her broad shoulders. Her unruly black hair was interspersed with various shades of white and gray while her eyes were an unusual pale light brown. She did not wear much in the way of adornments, but for a small leather satchel at her hip which she used to hold important reagents.

Like most of the Esu, Taetylona was tall and stoutly built. Age had not affected her body as much as it had her appearance. Looking into Lao'dahn's dark and pitiless eyes, she knew the man before her was a justicer of his own making and belief. He was without compassion or empathy and viewed the world as his to bend as he wished. She did not know what his intentions were, but whatever they were she knew they could be for nothing good.

The arrow he had brought to her spoke of something much larger than him. "Speak!" he said again suddenly with more force in his voice. His hands curled into fists and he leaned even closer to her. Taetylona watched him, unaffected by his gesticulating, and found his animated behavior more amusing than intimidating.

"What do you see, you old hag?" Turning her head to look at him, Taetylona smiled crookedly and gestured for him to come closer. Once his face was positioned over the incense holder, the smoke effectively stinging his eyes, she whispered in a raspy voice, "It is an arrow."

Lao'dahn's face contorted into one of rage as he backed away. He took a deep breath and moved to stand above her. "Yes, I can clearly see that! I did not come to you for your whimsical notions, nor your flippant retorts, woman! Tell me from whence the arrow came!"

Taetylona moved her hands through the smoke and twirled her fingers around the vapors in an elaborate display. She leaned forward and ran her hands over the arrow Lao'dahn had brought her and inhaled deeply of the smoke around her.

"Where did it come from?" Lao'dahn demanded again when she was quiet for longer than he liked. She opened her eyes again and looked up at his scowling face. "You wish to know?" she asked.

"Yes, yes! I wish to know! That is why I am here!"

Taetylona nodded and looked down at the arrow in her lap. The characters etched into the wood were elaborate and unlike anything she had ever seen. They were a far cry from the alphabet the Esu used. Where her people used letters to form words and express ideas, the characters on the arrow were depicted as curved and flowing shapes that were meant to convey an overall idea or string of thoughts. A whole sentence could be in just one of the characters.

This much she had seen, but she withheld the information from Lao'dahn. "I am able to divine from whence this particular arrow came," she said, meeting his eyes. "Yes?" he replied, eagerly awaiting her answer. "Where?"

Taking a breath, her lips pulling back into a defiant smirk, Taetylona answered "This arrow came from a bow." Lao'dahn growled and dropped down to the ground again. Leaning close, he grabbed the front of Taetylona's blouse and pulled her up to her feet. "You are making a mistake, old woman. An enemy of me you dare to make?"

Meeting his eyes evenly, Taetylona laughed. "I am a woman, boy. What is one more enemy to me?"

Jerking her even harder than before, Lao'dahn brought Taetylona closer to his face. "I am no boy. I am a man, a man of the Light. If the others were not of the deluded belief you were valuable, I would banish you and let the cold temperatures claim your unclean remains!"

Taetylona looked down at the hands holding the front of her top before raising her eyes to meet the anger in Lao'dahn's. "I should hope for such a welcome fate. My existence among you has proven dull and uneventful. Banish me, man of light, and be done with it. Otherwise, leave me to my thoughts."

Lao'dahn held her a moment longer, seething in his rage, before releasing her with a huff and allowing her to fall to the ground. He wanted to strike the old woman for her insolence, but the other men would wonder why he had done such and thing and Markahn would discover the arrow he had hidden from him. Angry at his circumstances, he kicked the small holder containing the smoking incense and watched in pleasure as the ash stained Taetylona's clothing.

"You are useless. Your value to the clan shall be reevaluated. This you have brought on yourself!" He turned to walk away, but the sound of Taetylona's voice slowed him.

"The arrow comes from one most unexpected. In the near future, one of its make you shall know intimately."

Turning around, Lao'dahn eyed the Sage woman with uncertainty. Was she threatening him or was the information she was providing true and relevant? It did not matter. She had not been of help to him and her defiant attitude had not earned her any favors. Was it possible she was protecting Talliea? Like Talliea, Taetylona did not understand her place. Could she be keeping something important from him or was she simply enjoying wasting his time?

Holding her eyes for a moment more, Lao'dahn finally scoffed and shook his head. He turned back around and left her without another word.

Taetylona sat motionless for several minutes afterward. The incense no longer burned and the smoke around her dugout soon found its way to the open flap above her. The chill of the winter could be felt as it attempted to settle in her bones. She stood up and dusted herself off before bending down to pick up the arrow Lao'dahn had left behind.

As before, images came to life in her mind as she ran her fingers down the shaft. Unlike before, when she had refrained from imparting the images to Lao'dahn, Taetylona now allowed them to form their vivid imagery in her thoughts. A vision washed over her...

A woman, tall and lean with angular features, came before her eyes. The woman had green eyes and silver hair with tapered ears. She knew the woman to be the one who had once possessed the arrow. Taetylona breathed out and the image before her faded away like a wisp of smoke. Another took its place. This one showed a woman similar to the first, but her eyes were an eerie blue and her hair had specks of yellow.

Taetylona knew the woman. She had seen images of her before. Always, the woman was shown with Talliea. Yet, this time she was with another of her kind, an older woman Taetylona quickly recognized as Cynra. Immediately, Cynra's connection to the mysterious blue-eyed woman became known to her. She saw the mystical woman as an infant with a slightly younger looking Cynra holding her.

The images swirled around her and became distorted again until she saw a forest with streams of blood and grasses of red. Sounds accompanied the image but they were muffled and hard to discern, as though they were being heard through the rush of battle and the haze of panic. Chaos seemed to take a hold of her as she allowed the new vision to take over her mind.

She wondered why she was being shown what she was. What did all of the images have in common? Shaking her head, her eyes closed, Taetylona embraced the vision completely. Her physical body was left behind as her vision self sought answers to questions she had yet to pose.

Above the dull sounds of swords clashing and staves rushing against the air, came a sound that was both clear and heartbreaking. It was the sound of pure sorrow and utter anguish. Taking a step forward, Taetylona walked through the vision and away from her physical form. Everything appeared in a hazy red glow. Where the trees should have been green, the sky blue, and the grasses olive, the entire world seemed only to exist in an unknown fog of maroon.

Taetylona continued to hear voices around her and calls to comrades, but the owners of those words were absent and never appeared. Only the sound of painful crying was clear to her and she followed the dreadful wail with every step. The landscape seemed to rip and tear and stretch the closer she got to the source of the crying. Everything changed from a dreamy red to a deep and foreboding crimson.

"No...no...I am sorry, love. I am s-so sorry. Come back...c-come back...p-please..."

Taetylona stopped behind the woman responsible for the cries of horrible agony. From her dark hair, she could tell she was Esu. In her arms, lifeless and her front covered in blood, was another woman whose face Taetylona could not see. The Esu woman was huddled over her body, rocking them both, while the sounds of her sobs continued to escape her. The words she had spoken seemed to echo around the area long moments after she spoke them.

"I love you. I love you, Ahmanae. Please...wake up...please...please. I love you...so much."

Turning her head slightly, Taetylona noticed an arrow protruding from the body lying still on the ground. The dark hair of the Esu woman covered the face of that body and made it difficult for her to make out anything else. The cries of the Esu woman were becoming erratic and ragged. Her breathing came in quick and heavy gasps and Taetylona knew she was hyperventilating due to her distress

Suddenly, other people appeared around the three of them. They were a mix of Esu and what Taetylona suddenly knew were Arnira. The voices from before were now louder as each of the newcomers set their sights on the two women on the ground.

The Esu woman's head popped up and Taetylona recognized her as Talliea. With her hair removed, she noticed the woman with the fatal arrow wound as the mysterious woman she had seen in other visions. Talliea's face was wet with tears while dirt and blood marred her otherwise perfect appearance. Her right hand was resting near the arrow sticking out of the deceased woman's chest and her left held her head and neck in a lover's embrace.

The men of the Esu yelled to one other and began their advance. None seemed to pay any heed to Taetylona's presence. On the opposite hill, several Arnira called out a cry in their own tongue and, likewise, began descending the slope toward Talliea and her companion. Everything seemed to move in slow motion for Taetylona. She could feel Talliea's overwhelming sense of loss and her fear over what was to happen next. The colors around her moved from red to crimson to a fading black.

It became harder to make out the images. She looked around her for any means of escape for herself and Talliea, but found only Lat'sa'val and Arniran warriors. Taking a step back, Taetylona bumped into something. She swirled around quickly and came face to face with a set of light purple eyes.

Cynra.

"Find me," Cynra said and everything felt as if it imploded. Lights, colors, sounds, and sensations all seemed to swell around Taetylona before reaching a crescendo and fanning out in all directions.

Taetylona opened her eyes and saw that she was back inside herself. She looked around her dugout and felt everything she had just experienced begin to fade away. Her heart pounded inside her chest and she still felt a lingering sense of staggering anguish. Talliea's tear-stained face flashed before her eyes with every blink, and the echo of Cynra's words seemed to dance around the close and heavy air around her.

Placing a hand over her heart, Taetylona realized she was sitting on the ground next to the arrow Lao'dahn had brought her. She wondered how much of what she had seen had been inspired by it and how much had been shown to her by another outside force.

"Find me."

The words remained loud in her mind. She was unsure if they had been spoken in Esulan or if, due to the nature of the vision, she had understood the Arniran language. She supposed it didn't matter. What did matter was finding this Cynra and getting to the bottom of what she'd just been shown. Her part in matters appeared to be much more important than she had originally believed.

"Find me...find me...find me..."

*  *  *  *  *  *

"Come here," Talliea whispered.

Arizira turned away from the entrance to the cave and looked back in her companion's direction. The night had settled over the land and brought with it the beginnings of the first snow of winter. The sky above the forest was black and gray with heavy clouds hugging the heavens. Arizira, her night vision allowing her to see Talliea's face clearly, only smiled as she sat next to the fire for warmth.

She knew Talliea could most likely only make out the outline of her shape from where she was. Staring back over her shoulder, Arizira allowed her eyes to appreciate the other woman's form. Talliea was lying on her side, her head propped up on her cloak, while the blanket warming her rested just beneath her breasts. Arizira smiled to herself as her eyes took in Talliea's tired and sleepy appearance. It had been three days since their first kiss, and since then Talliea had been unable to fall asleep unless Arizira was snuggled up next to her.

It always both calmed and excited her to feel Talliea behind her resting so close. Arizira had noticed that Talliea never let her hold her from behind. Every time Arizira had tried, her companion shrugged out of the embrace and turned their positions around. She had a feeling the nature of Talliea's struggle stemmed from Lao'dahn, but she never pressed the issue or appeared angry. Instead, she always settled her back to Talliea's front and allowed the woman to hold her as they fell asleep together.

Watching Talliea's eyes droop and her chest rise and fall slowly, Arizira knew she was not far off from slumber. She stood up, dusting herself off in the process, and walked toward the back of the cave where their bedding was. It was extremely cold with the snow coming down in heavier bouts and Arizira greatly desired Talliea's warmth. She lowered herself to the Ophe'las leaves, removing her boots in the process, and smiled when Talliea raised the blanket for her.

Instead of turning around so Talliea could hold her, Arizira faced her and scooted closer to her body. Talliea lowered the blanket around the two of them and her arm draped across Arizira's waist.

"What are you doing?" she questioned in a sleepy whisper.

Arizira scooted as close as she could get and wrapped her right arm around Talliea's back. Pulling her closer, she hugged the other woman’s body to her own and placed a light kiss on her forehead. She felt Talliea instinctively snuggle against her chest and the simple act caused her heart to swell.

"I am holding you, Tah-li," she whispered back, her nose and lips softly grazing any part of Talliea's face she could reach. She felt Talliea's nose settle in the hollow at the base of her throat while the arm around her waist wound its way to the small of her back.

"Sleep well, failira."

No more words were spoken. Arizira held Talliea's body close to her own while Talliea finally allowed sleep to overtake her. The snow outside became a storm and soon, all the forest was covered in a hushed veil of pristine white.

Chapter 23: Tahlet Vahllah

Arizira reached over her shoulder and skillfully removed an arrow from her quiver. Nocking the arrow with a blurred speed, she took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, brought her elbow level with her sternum and took aim. Talliea sat not too far away watching the exercise with avid interest. There was something about the way Arizira stood that fascinated her. The way her body was so taut, yet so relaxed, seemed to Talliea to be as if a fluid form of art. Arizira's shimmering silver-blue eyes were fixated on her intended target and the level of concentration apparent in them also held her in rapt attention.

She watched every minute movement Arizira made. She watched how she spread her feet apart, the way she held the end of the arrow and the bowstring with two gloved fingers, and the way every line and curve of her body was poised and ready to make a perfect shot.

Holding her breath, Talliea looked far to her right. In the distance, pinned to a grand pine tree, was Arizira's reserved target. She wondered briefly how Arizira planned to hit something so far away, but the thought was lost a moment later when the sound of sudden movement caught her attention.

A distinct phewt sound ripped through her ears as Arizira released the arrow from her bow. The feathered projectile sailed past her in a blurred dim before disappearing into a thicket of trees. Talliea stood up, the excitement from watching her companion still causing her heart to beat quickly, and looked in the direction the arrow had flown.

"Did your arrow land true?"

Arizira smirked at her, the confidence giving Talliea's question an answer, before lowering her bow to her side. She looked into the copse of trees some three to four hundred feet from their location and turned to gaze up at her friend.

"Of course," she said simply, her smile growing.

Talliea squinted into the trees ahead and noticed Arizira's arrow square in the middle of the target they had chosen. The tattered remains of her skirts flailed in the gentle breeze while the arrow in the center of them caused her to laugh.

She watched Arizira reach for another arrow and, just as deftly, nock it in the longbow. "The lower portion this time?" Arizira asked, looking over her shoulder.

Talliea sat back down on the rock she'd been occupying and shook her head, all the while trying to hide the insistent giggle she felt bubbling in her throat. "I believe this demonstration of your skill to be an actual ruse in which you have endeavored to make that  particular old garment completely useless."

Arizira, her bow level and her body once again taut, relaxed for a moment and lowered her arms. Looking back at Talliea, she pretended to contemplate the accusation before nodding and pursing her lips. "I believe your words to be a truth. I held no favor with your skirts."

Again, Talliea laughed and the sound was both light and carefree. She watched Arizira for only a moment before a second arrow caught her eyes. As before, the arrow landed exactly were Arizira had intended.

"You are very good," she commented, stuffing her gloved hands under her arms for added warmth. The day was not yet at its zenith and, though the cold winds were still proving to be a bitter friend, the sun was high enough in the sky to keep the two women more comfortable than disagreeable.

Arizira smiled her acknowledgement of the compliment, dimples adorning each cheek, and looked up into the cloudy sky above. Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply of the cool and crisp air around her. "Tell me more about you," she said after a moment, her head lowering and her eyes opening once again. "What does Tah-li like?"

Talliea wrinkled her brow and shrugged. "I am not certain of what you mean."

Looking around the two of them at the white landscape with towering evergreens, heavy with snow and pine needles, sharp rock croppings and various bushes, twigs, and leaves, Arizira returned her attention to Talliea.

"What makes your heart joyous, Tah-li? For me, it is the forest and Her cycles. It is the perfection of that which is around me. What gives you this feeling?"

Talliea blushed and lowered her eyes. She knew of the feeling Arizira was describing. It was a feeling of peace and serenity. It was a feeling of complacency and relief. Glancing back up into her friend's eyes, she finally replied, "I-it is silly."

Arizira turned fully around so that she was facing Talliea. The sound of squirrels scurrying in the trees above her came to her ears and she smiled. "Nothing you say is ever silly. Tell me."

Talliea took a deep breath and let her eyes follow the movements of a doe and her fawn as they hurried through the thick trees ahead of her. Thinking back on a different time in a seemingly different life, she let herself remember moments from long ago.

"When I was a child," she began, catching Arizira slightly off-guard, "I remember war being the companion to my people they did not wish to alleviate themselves of. The Southlands are not like this place, Ari. They are barren and without the sounds of life. Skirmishes were a constant as all the clans fought for resources. Our settlements were the pinnacle of our achievements, yet the cost for such grandeur was evident in the lack of vibrancy our homes held. Instead of helping one another, each clan tested the mettle of  its neighbor until a victor was named."

Talliea looked up at Arizira before continuing. "We were depriving ourselves of life, eagerly walking toward death, yet our pride was a misleading foe. Do not ask of the politics of the situation. I was young and, as a woman, the full extent of the wars was not my place to know. I will say that the Esu people were locked in a civil war for many long years. It was that war that led us here to the fabled forest of your people, Ari."

Arizira said nothing. She had not heard Talliea speak so much about her people the entire time the two of them had known one another. Often, she had wondered what had caused the mythical dark skins to suddenly appear before her people, but she had never ventured to ask, believing the information too delicate a subject.

Now, however, Talliea was speaking to her of matters she never could have guessed. Walking over to where the other woman sat, Arizira seated herself next to her and snuggled against her side for extra warmth. She was quiet and silent and allowed Talliea time to organize her thoughts.

"There were whispers in the air that other clans had left for the Great Trek before our own. We know not whether any of the others arrived here safely or not. It was a time of sorrow and despair, Ari. Even being a child, innocent to the ways of the world, I always knew that matters were more than they seemed. I remember leaving the walls of our settlement when I was around my ninth summer. I became lost and soon was turned around. I walked for ages with nothing but the brown and dead earth beneath my feet to keep me company. As the sun was retreating, I caught sight of a flower not far from where I was."

Arizira watched a small and wistful smile shyly come across Talliea's face. The other woman was lost to the tale she was recounting.

"A flower," Talliea repeated. "How could something survive in the waste my people had made of the land? I walked toward it and it was white, pure as winter snow, with small, purple, crescent-like shapes appearing over the petals. I thought it was beautiful, magical. There was only the one as far as I could see. I remember sitting down next to that flower, my heart no longer carrying the weight of my misgivings, and thinking that there was hope left for those that sought it.

"Not long after the sun left the sky, a group of Lat'sa'val found me. They said Taetylona, the Sage woman, had divined my location. I picked the flower and took it with me as we returned. The following sunrise, I showed Taetylona what I had fonud."

Talliea paused and turned her head toward Arizira. Their eyes met and soft and easy smiles graced their lips. "What did the Sage woman say?" Arizira asked.

"She said the flower was a sign. It forecasted what was to come. The flower was named Tahlet Vahllah."

Arizira lowered her brows and shook her head. "This word does not...I-I can not see this word, Tah-li." Talliea nodded and took one of Arizira's hands in her own. They sat together for a quiet moment. "Tahlet Vahllah is an older Esulan word. There are not many who speak it as its dialect is viewed as more archaic than useful. Taetylona taught me some of it after I discovered the flower."

"What does this word mean?" Arizira asked.

Looking into pale blue eyes, alight with a soft white glimmer, Talliea smiled and replied, "Tahlet Vahllah means remover of sorrow. After my discovery, the one thing that brought me joy, that made my heart rejoice, was flowers. As we neared this forest on our journey, I noticed flowers of every shade and always it brought back to my mind Tahlet Vahllah."

Smiling, Arizira reached up with her free hand and brushed a strand of Talliea's hair away from her eyes. The story had made her appreciation of Talliea grow all the more. She could not imagine living in a dead and barren landscape like what Talliea had described. How could a group of people exploit their environment so? With the Esu being in the valley, and the possibility of more soon to arrive, was her beloved forest in danger of becoming like the Southlands?

"Ahmanae?" Talliea's voice brought her from her thoughts. "Hm?" she replied.

"You asked me what brought me happiness?"

"Yes," Arizira responded softly. "It is still Tahlet Vallah, yet instead of presenting itself in the form of a flower, my remover of sorrow is now in the body of a woman." Talliea paused, wanting to ensure she held Arizira's full attention. "You," she said. "You are my Tallet Vahllah now, Ari. You bring me happiness and remove my sorrow."

Instead of responding verbally, for words could not adequately translate the feelings in her heart, Arizira leaned forward and tenderly kissed Talliea's lips. The other woman reciprocated slowly and turned her head to deepen their embrace. The cold around them had caused both of their lips to chill but their kiss was quickly changing that. Arizira's right hand settled against Talliea's neck as she rubbed their noses together and slipped her tongue inside her love's mouth.

A small moan left Talliea's lips and she let herself scoot closer so that her own hands could wrap around a slender waist.

Arizira pulled away slightly, trying to control the overwhelming passion she felt for Talliea, before giving in again and reuniting their lips once more. Talliea's story had touched her heart. It was another piece of who she was as a person. Being her Tahlet Vallah and knowing how strongly the other woman was feeling for her, was a powerful and heady sensation for Arizira. She had worried that Talliea would be unable to feel for her the things she herself felt. Her insecurities over Talliea's upbringing had very nearly killed the birth of their feelings for each other and yet, all of that no longer seemed to matter.

Despite the odds and their own fears, despite the fact that their peoples were enemies of old and their union would most likely never be accepted, the two of them had still found one another and grown closer over their time together. They had each been drawn to the other for reasons neither of them could explain. The force between them could never have been denied. It was too strong.

As if it had always been meant to be.

Lightly peppering Talliea's lips with small pecks and nips, Arizira finally pulled herself away and smiled. Her lips and tongue tasted of fresh mint. She watched Talliea run a tongue over her own lips and savor their unique taste and knew she, too, was experiencing the flavor of mint.

With their heads still close together, Talliea reverently trailed her fingers over Arizira's collarbone and whispered, "My Tahlet Vahllah, my Ahmanae."

Arizira chose not to reply right away. She held Talliea close to her, the hand that had been on her neck moving to cradle her head, and let her lips brush across the shell of Talliea's ear. Sighing happily, she finally whispered back, "Always."

*  *  *  *  *  *

The observer watched the two women and felt a hot ire rising from deep within them. How could she? the observer thought. How could she do this? Did her people mean nothing to her? She was sacrificing everything for...for the enemy? The observer could barely fathom, let alone reconcile, what they had just witnessed. It had made them sick. They knew the information they had been withholding for so long was finally ready to see the light of day. No longer could the observer keep such treason to themselves.

It was time to let the others know of the situation. One of their own had turned against them. One of their own was lying in union with the enemy.

Chapter 24: Comings and Goings

Lao'dahn walked at a brisk pace toward the small dugout that housed the Sage woman. After Taetylona's defiant attitude a few days before, he had taken it upon himself to speak to the other men of the Lat'sa'val. Leadership of the group of men was determined on a case by case basis. If a dispute broke out over land or resources within the clan, then three men of the Lat'sa'val were put forth to act as a ruling voice on the matter. The remaining men would then vote on which of the submitted men would act as the leader for the said issue.

All matters of unrest or upset were handled in this fashion. If a member of the clan was suspected of disobeying the edicts of Esuval or, in some way, hindering the progress of the clan as a whole, a vote would be issued on which man of the Lat'sa'val would act as the judge and jury.

Lao'dahn had spoken with several of his brothers over Taetylona's supposed usefulness. He had withheld his true intentions for having visited her and instead only divulged that he had sought her help in finding his attacker. Never once did he mention his suspicions that the marksmen had been Talliea or that he had managed to leave the area with an arrow as evidence.

The other men had listened to him with open minds and after a day of deliberating, had agreed to speak with the Sage woman and reevaluate her contributions to the clan as a whole. With them having finally reached the Northlands after so many summers in the open and wide world, several of the men had already voiced similar sentiments in regard to Taetylona. When they had still been in the south, Taetylona had been an invaluable well of information. Through her, the men of the clan had always stayed one step ahead of their enemies and kept enough resources to ensure their own clan's survival.

Now, having been in the mystical forest of the north for over two months, the men of the Lat'sa'val, with no known enemies to speak of in their new home, thought it long overdue to see about a complete social reform for the clan.

Taetylona, the Sage woman, seemed to them to be the best person upon which to start their radical new reform.

Lao'dahn neared the old woman's home and a smug smile spread over his lean face. Taetylona had sought to be his equal when he had visited her. She had played coy and treated him as if he were a child! In her defiance, she had made him leave that day without the arrow he'd kept. How dare her! Luckily for him, Taetylona had seemed content to remain to herself after his departure and so he knew the arrow was safe and away from Markahn's prying eyes. That was enough.

"You are to come with me at on --"

Lao'dahn stopped mid-sentence upon pulling the oiled flap from the doorway entrance of the Sage woman's abode. The fire pit held no life and only ashes could be seen to his eyes. He looked around the walls, where before there had been animal parts and mammal teeth, hides of leather and bird feathers, and an assortment of other oddities he'd never cared to commit to memory, and noticed only hardened rock and dried mud. The dugout was empty, void of all life save the wrinkled woman who sat on the ground to his left.

He studied Taetylona curiously. She kept her eyes locked on his but said nothing at all. Three small pouches, two on her right hip and the third on her left, lined her waist while a medium sized leather sack was secured over her back with a thin cord of knotted rope. The shawl she always wore was wrapped around her shoulder and over it, an old weather beaten cloak hung down the front of her chest. Taetylona's messy head of dark hair looked to have been recently braided and no longer appeared as unruly as it normally did.

Did she know he had come for her? Did she know she had been summoned before the Lat'sa'val? "Going somewhere?" Lao'dahn asked snidely.

Taetylona stood up slowly and squared her broad shoulders. "I believe you already possess the answer to that question. Why you would feel the need to express it completely baffles me."

Lao'dahn took a step forward and thought to finally give the old woman her due, his hand balling into a fist, but he stopped himself and took a calming breath. He could not show up to the Clan Circle with Taetylona carrying a black eye. It would only hurt his cause and make the woman a martyr figure to any other women in the clan who thought as she did.

Grabbing her roughly by the arm instead, he yanked Taetylona out of her dugout and into the cold, high sun. "I told you this would be brought about and you would have no one to blame but yourself," he said as he began to lead her to the center of the camp.

A large ring of rock and stone had been laid out between the eastern and western fire-pits. It was known as the Clan Circle. Every Esu clan eventually placed one in their settlements, its purpose being to make decisions and judgments before the rest of the clan in as public a setting as possible.

Today, the Clan Circle would be where Taetylona would be judged. The Lat'sa'val would all stand at the western side, beneath the large stone building still in construction, while the rest of the clan members would spread out around the circle in an arc. Lao'dahn led Taetylona to the center of the Clan Circle and moved to take his place with his brothers.

"Sage woman," Haldynn, the man who had been appointed to act as speaker for the Lat'sa'val, began.

Taetylona looked around at the men and women she had known for most of her life. There was not a one of them of whom she had not helped or aided in some way over the years. She watched them as they watched her. Was that pity in their eyes? Anger? Disgust?

She shook her head slightly and took a deep breath. It did not matter how they felt about her. None of them were aware of the events that were to come and nothing she could say would make a bit of difference to any of them. She wondered how the almighty and self-serving Lat'sa'val would take the news that creatures of myth and intrigue were lurking just beyond the rim of the forest. Would they laugh at her if she told them? Call her lost to the whims and fantasies of her old mind?

She felt a pity of her own for them. None of them were aware of how much larger the world around them was. None of them could imagine the things she had seen, the things she had been shown. They lived their lives from day to day without ever contemplating if there was a deeper connection to everything.

The women were oppressed, the men their oppressors. Free thought was frowned upon just as much as free will. How could a people thrive when they were locked and bound by their own punctilious set of beliefs?

Life for all of them was nothing but duty and strict adherence to a god whose original divine plan had been long forgotten to the annals of time. They were all children, and that fact showed in their blinding ignorance as they gathered around her.

"Sage woman," Haldynn spoke again after a moment. "Taetylona." Looking up into the stocky man's dark brown eyes, Taetylona smirked to herself and finally acknowledged him. "Yes?"

"You have been summoned henceforth to stand before the rest of the clan in judgment. Your worth to the clan shall be brought into question and--"

Taetylona inhaled deeply before sighing in agitation. The Lat'sa'val were too long winded for her tastes and she was needed elsewhere. She wondered if the men of the Order enjoyed listening to the sound of their own voices or if they were just deliberately trying to waste her time.

Holding up a hand, she silenced Haldynn and looked around at the people she had shared her life with but had never been able to call family. "Let us give haste to this gathering for that is what we all truly wish. It is cold and I, for one, wish not to watch my breath freeze upon the wind."

Several gasps sounded around the Clan Circle. Lao'dahn appeared furious while several of the other men looked to their fellows for a proper reaction. Haldynn, his age showing in the grey lining the sides of his head, looked first to the right and then the left trying to ascertain how best to proceed. An outspoken woman was something the men of the Esu had very little dealings with.

"That quietened matters," Taetylona muttered to herself also looking around. Bringing her eyes back to Haldynn and the ruling Lat'sa'val, she began speaking once again.

"I believe, given that my judgment was most likely mete out before I arrived, that we can skip the formalities." She turned and looked at each individual face staring back at her and continued. "None of you desire me to remain among you," she said and looked back toward Haldynn and the Lat'sa'val, "and none of you wish to test me, for you know not how to handle an animal free of chains."

Lao'dahn moved forward and stuck his chest out. "This is why you are being judged, woman! You forget your place and--"

"Hush, boy," Taetylona hissed. "Your need for acclaim leaves you looking as if a fish out of water." Taetylona dismissed Lao'dahn and returned her attention to Haldynn. "I have been judged by all of you as you all have been judged by me. We each find the other lacking. So, banishment a second time, hm?"

Haldynn appeared infuriated, the situation having spun completely out of his control. "Y-yes. The other men and I have decided your value to the clan no longer--"

"Yes, yes. I know. A fairer punishment could not soon enough present itself to me," Taetylona interrupted again. She stood tall in the center of the Clan Circle and let her eyes sweep across the gathered one more time. Words were no longer needed as they would have fallen on deaf ears anyhow. Stepping over the large stones resting upon the snow that made up the Clan Circle, she walked up to Lao'dahn and paused.

"You got what you wished, boy. I wonder how this decision will look when viewed at a later time." Lao'dahn opened his mouth to speak, but was stopped when Taetylona moved a hand under her cloak and quickly brought out the arrow he'd left. "You left this and now I find that I have need of it. Thank you." With that, Taetylona lifted her other hand and began to walk away.

Before Lao'dahn could protest or reach for the arrow, the Sage woman dropped her hand and a sudden and intense cloud of smoke assaulted his eyes. He coughed and swung his hand in front of his face to clear the air. When the smoke faded, he noticed the other men and women also coughing and trying to clear their eyes.

Haldynn took a step forward and watched as the mysterious smoke rose to the cloudy sky above. Lao'dahn followed his eyes before looking to where Taetylona had been.

She was gone! There was no sign of her, nor even any footprints in the snow. Where had she disappeared to?

"I will organize a search party. We will find the old wretch and bring her back--"

"Why?" Markahn, who had been silent during the whole affair, asked Lao'dahn.

"Why? Because she --"

"Enough!" Haldynn said in a clear and stern voice. "Enough! Let the old woman be on her way. The snows will sooner reject her than embrace her. We are free of her burden. Our focus needs to be on the clan and on this settlement. Taetylona is no longer our concern."

Markahn nodded and cast a dark and angry look in Lao'dahn's direction. Unspoken words passed between the two men as the small gathering slowly began to disperse. Lao'dahn stood alone long moments after the others had returned to their work and their homes. Once again, matters had not come to pass as he had intended! Once again, Taetylona had made a fool out of him! She had taken the arrow with her and for what purpose, he did not know.

He turned and looked into the forest where Taetylona had departed. First Talliea and now her! His plans were not coming to effect as he had hoped. Talliea had been missing for over a month with no sign of a return. Markahn was growing suspicious of him and now Taetylona had left, which was what he had wanted, but the old woman had left on her own terms and, in the process, made a mockery out of him and the men of the Lat'sa'val!

As he stood in his own rage, he let his mind think upon his ultimate goal: claiming Talliea and usurping Markahn's hold on her. Unlike everyone else, he still believed she was alive. How, was another question, but that was unimportant. He realized he was going to have to begin searching for her in unexpected places. He had been wrong to seek out locations Talliea had previously visited. The woman wasn't stupid.

Yes, he had to expand his search, drag her back to camp screaming and kicking, challenge Markahn, claim Talliea, and finally have his way with the defiant and feisty woman!

*  *  *  *  *  *

"Yes, you are."

"No, Ari, I am not. I do not see what you see."

Arizira sighed and looked at Talliea with a quirked eyebrow. "Are all Esu women as stubborn as you?" she asked. Talliea smiled, the gesture making her even more beautiful, before replying, "No, you are lucky in having met me."

Both women laughed and fell into a comfortable silence. It had been two days since they had gone out into the forest and Arizira had practiced her archery. The snows had let up slightly and allowed Arizira to hunt once again. Talliea had set out in the forest the day before and set a few snares. She had also replenished their supply of nuts and berries and even picked a few herbs for seasoning their meats.

Currently, they were both enjoying the warmth of their newly lit fire. Arizira was smoking several pieces of dear meat while Talliea worked on curing some fresh hides. The air inside their cave was thick and warm and the smell of smoking meat and frying vegetables wafted upon it. The day was soon set to retire and both women allowed themselves to be at peace with yet another day.

Their current dispute, if it could truly be called such, had come about only moments before when Talliea had caught Arizira blatantly and quite brazenly staring at her. "What?" she had asked, her voice a higher pitch.

Arizira had shaken her head, her eyes seeming to come back into focus, before she had also asked, "What?" Talliea had smiled crookedly and indicated Arizira with a finger. "You were staring at me. Is there something amiss?"

A blush had quickly colored Arizira's fair skin as she realized she had been caught. Smiling in a shy gesture, she had looked back down at the meat she had been smoking and softly replied, "No, Tah-li. Everything is perfect."

"Then why were you studying me so?"

Swallowing, Arizira had looked back up into Talliea's dark eyes and said, "Because I can not help it. You are truly the most beautiful woman I have ever met and my eyes can not help but desire to look upon you."

Giggling softly and suddenly feeling slightly nervous, Talliea had made a face and shaken her head. "No, I am not."

And thus their simple argument had been born. Arizira checked the vegetables she was frying in some deer fat before looking back to Talliea. "Do you believe me to be a liar, Tah-li?"

Setting her knife to the side, Talliea smirked at Arizira. "Of course not."

"Then believe me when I tell you that you take my breath away with your beauty."

Talliea blushed again and noticed the last rays of the sun bidding a shy farewell to the world. She had been told many times in her life that she was beautiful, yet never had such a comment affected her like it currently was.

Unlike the men who had expressed their appreciation of her physical appearance, Arizira did not make her feel dirty or like a piece of property. She made her feel valued and cherished and, for the first time in her life, beautiful.

Truly, beautiful. It was a strange and new feeling, but a welcome feeling regardless. Looking into Arizira's eyes, which had begun to glow more fiercely with their new lack of natural light, Talliea smiled and held the other woman's gaze. "You take my breath, as well," she whispered.

Silence settled around them once again. For several long moments, each woman occupied herself with a task or chore. Talliea watched Arizira remove the wooden pot containing a portion of their dinner from over the fire. She followed Arizira's movements as the other woman set the pot off to the side to cool. Arizira busied herself with cleaning some of her tools before walking over to a low sitting and flat faced rock.

Talliea watched her lower herself to the rock and become lost to her thoughts. Finishing her own tasks, she licked her lips nervously and continued to watch her companion. This was a common occurrence. Nearly every night, Arizira would complete any cooking or cleaning or sewing and retire for a short while inside herself. Her eyes would become unfocused and she would appear to be in some sort of deep meditation. Talliea often wondered what the other woman thought about so intently, but she never questioned matters or interjected her own thoughts.

However, this night she found she could not stay away. As much as she had enjoyed Arizira's company and as greatly as she valued their budding relationship, she knew, somehow, that Arizira was still holding a part of herself back. It had been over a week since their first kiss and, though they now kissed one another without hesitation, that was all they did.

Every time Talliea had attempted to move their relationship forward or express herself in a more profound way, Arizira always stopped her or pulled away. Where before the two of them had often bathed together, now Arizira used the hot spring early in the morning before Talliea was awake. She claimed it was because she did not wish to make her feel uncomfortable, but Talliea could tell it was something else.

Was it her? Was there something about her that gave Arizira pause? She knew the other woman had feelings for her -- strong, intense, feelings -- so why was she still so reluctant to allow them both a chance to act on those feelings?

Seeing as how she had absolutely no experience in love, relationships, or friendships for that matter, Talliea felt very inadequate when it came to addressing the issue. Kissing Arizira was not all she wanted to do. Holding her as they fell asleep was not all she desired. Though she had no concept of what exactly the two of them would do when they fully expressed themselves, she just knew that she wanted more.

She craved more.

Arizira, after months of getting to know her, was not a person who rushed. She had not rushed into her feelings. She had not rushed in teaching Talliea her skills. She had not rushed into kissing Talliea or expressing how she felt.

Where Talliea was less patient and more insistent, Arizira always appeared calm and without any need to hasten her pace of life. Everything was measured and appreciated. Still, that fact did little to calm the near insane need Talliea felt to be closer to Arizira. It was a pull she felt nearly every minute of every day. The force of it was overwhelming and powerful and seemed always to take her over, mind, body, and spirit. The complete lack of control she felt while in Arizira's presence, however, did not frighten her.

It seemed as if a welcome embrace, as though all of her worries and troubles would become less if only she could lie with Arizira, if only she could connect with her.

Watching Arizira sitting on the flat-faced stone, she was unaware of her own movements until she was standing over the other woman. The light from the fire offered her enough illumination to see every feature of the face she loved.

Arizira looked up at her curiously and with lowered brows. Without giving her actions a moment of thought, Talliea slowly lowered herself until she was sitting in Arizira's lap, straddling her hips. A shaky and unsure gasp came to her ears while a pair of hands came to her sides.

Placing her hands on either side of Arizira's face, Talliea allowed her thumbs to smooth over a pair of inviting lips. "Tah-li...what are you do --"

The rest of the sentence was cut off as Talliea leaned her head down to kiss Arizira's lips. The kiss was short and soft, Talliea's thumbs once again running over the wetness of the lips beneath them. "I want you," she whispered, her knees resting on the rock on either side of Arizira's hips.

"You are not ready. We can no --"

Again, Talliea cut off any protests with another tender kiss. Her hands cupped Arizira's face with a reverence unknown to her. Breathing more sharply, she trailed the fingers of her right hand into velvety, soft silver-blonde hair. "I am. I want you to experience me. I want you to touch me."

Arizira swallowed painfully and tried to get a hold of the building lust she could feel beginning to course through her body. Talliea's actions were unexpected, just as they had been the first time they had nearly kissed one another. Like then, the actions were welcome, but the force behind them in question.

She felt Talliea gently turn her head to the side before leaning forward and placing her lips against her sensitive ear. "Touch me, Ahmanae," Talliea whispered heatedly before stroking Arizira's ear with the tip of her tongue.

The action shattered any other resolve Arizira had and she fisted the material at Talliea's waist. Whatever the reason behind this sudden overt display, she did not care. A voice, very small, in the back of her mind protested that she did care, very much, but she ignored it. She had wrestled with this desire for months. Her mind and body were both constantly on edge around Talliea and the tingling sensation ever present in her fingertips had threatened to bring her to a deadened numbness.

She loved Talliea. What did it matter if the two of them finally acted upon their feelings? Because she is innocent and she was assaulted, the voice in the back of her mind spoke up again.

Shoving the voice down once more, Arizira turned her head and brought her lips to Talliea's in a fierce rush. She was so tired of having to stay one step ahead of her own feelings and desires. She was so tired of having to be in control every second of every hour of her life. The feelings she had for Talliea were powerful, more powerful than anything she had ever experienced.

Never in her life had she felt so out of control. The constant struggle day in and day out was nearly unbearable. Why did Talliea affect her so strongly?

She heard Talliea gasp into her mouth as she kissed her with more passion than she'd ever expressed. Running her tongue over the Esu woman's bottom lip, she wasted no time in parting her lips and increasing the desire she felt. When their tongues met, both women moaned into the other.

Arizira could feel every inch of Talliea's body pressed so closely to her own. Talliea's breasts were against her chest and she could feel the strength in the thighs that squeezed her hips. Hands tangled into her hair while fingers gently explored the curved tips of her ears.

Heavy breathing and panting danced around the two women, yet neither was aware of it as the pounding rush of blood was all that sounded in their ears. Arizira pushed her hands up and, in the process, Talliea's top. When her fingers connected with the warmth of soft, smooth skin, she practically cried into Talliea's mouth. The more she let herself go, the harder she knew it was going to be to stop. Ever present, deep in her thoughts, was the sound of her inner voice demanding that she rethink her actions.

She listened to the voice for half a minute before abandoning herself to what she desired more than anything. Taking Talliea's bottom lip between her teeth, she tugged on the pliant flesh before biting down in a gentle nip.

Talliea's eyes flew open as she tore her mouth away from Arizira. She was lost to some passion-induced haze and it was the most heady sensation she'd ever experienced. A tight, twitching, throb pounded between her legs and her heart felt as if it was trying to make an escape through her throat.

She looked down at Arizira and was stilled by the look in her eyes. It was a look Talliea had never witnessed before and, if possible, only intensified the feelings she had.

Arizira's eyes were hooded and darker than Talliea had ever seen, yet the glow coming from them was nearly too intense to withstand. She felt Arizira's hands move and start undoing the buttons of her top. Her heart thudded inside her chest and her whole body felt like it was on fire. She fought to keep her eyes open and locked on Arizira's.

How could something feel so good? Was her body always meant to feel such powerful sensations? Why would her people deny such feelings? She looked into Arizira's eyes again and let her thoughts fall away. The incessant tug she had been feeling for so long was stronger than ever before, but somehow she knew she was close to satisfying it. Swallowing nervously, she breathed deeply through her nose as she felt Arizira's fingers undo the last button holding her top together.

"Yes..." she whispered, though the why was lost to her. Arizira looked down and let her senses take their first look at Talliea's naked torso.

Rich, deep dark skin glistened in the fire light. Two heavy and heaving breasts were accented with tight, dark nipples and Arizira could easily see a bead of sweat on Talliea's sternum. Unconsciously, she licked her lips and raised her eyes.

Talliea was watching her, uncertainty apparent in her brown eyes. Smiling, Arizira leaned forward and kissed Talliea in a slow caress. Her hands moved to the tops of her shoulders as she easily lowered the material of Talliea's shirt and let it fall to the ground beneath them.

Talliea's hands in her hair were shaking and Arizira could practically feel the nervousness rolling off the woman. Sitting up straight, she scooted closer and said, "Lie back for me. It is okay."

Talliea swallowed again and nodded. Keeping her eyes on Arizira, she unstraddled the other woman and leaned back until she could lower herself to the floor of the cave. Arizira watched her, blue eyes traveling over her exposed chest.

Once on the ground in a half-seated position, Arizira joined her and lowered herself over her body. Her legs landed on either side of Talliea's left thigh while her hands braced her weight near her head. "You are so beautiful," she whispered.

Talliea did not respond. Feeling Arizira above her, being so surrounded by her body, was intoxicating. She felt a kiss being placed on her forehead and released a shaky breath. One of Arizira's hands brushed through her hair while the other grazed over her exposed stomach.

Her heart was beating frantically as Arizira lowered herself even more until her weight was resting against her body. The added pressure sent Talliea to another place. Another time. Before Arizira could proceed any farther, a strong sense of panic assaulted her insides. Arizira looked down at Talliea and cocked her head to the side. "Tah-li?" she asked in a concerned voice.

"You're a beautiful woman, Talliea. I'll give you that. It is your mouth that gives you trouble. You use it too often. I won't allow you to continue to defy Esuval. You need to be reminded of your place."

Talliea closed her eyes and tried to force herself back into the present. Arizira was not Lao'dahn. She did not touch her the way he had and yet...

Lao'dahn had been the last person to lean over her. He had made her feel trapped and scared. His weight had been a burden to her, a reminder of the power she did not hold. Struggling to breathe, she vaguely registered Arizira's sweet and concerned voice before she was once again lost to the past.

"Y-you can not do this. Markahn will have you banished."

Lao'dahn's voice and her encounter with him sounded inside her head over and over again.

"You feel that? That is the power of Esuval, whore. It lives in us. In men! As a woman, you can not fully appreciate that power, even when we mate with you. But, I'll show you."

She remembered him rubbing his large hands over her breasts roughly and the way his erection had felt being thrust against her through her clothing. He had held her down and used her body for his own desires. She had cried and she had begged and those actions had only seemed to drive him on.

"Tah-li?" Arizira's voice came to her mind again and she blinked a few times in an effort to leave Lao'dahn and his cruel act behind. Arizira's face came into her view and she started to laugh happily upon realizing where she was and who she was with, only to have the laugh turn into a sob.

"Don't think about calling for help."

He was too close to her. She could not breathe, could not move.

"You will keep your eyes fast upon me. Do you understand?"

Over and over, his words echoed in her ears while the visions associated with those words assaulted her mind. She could remember the way he had grabbed his erection and thrust it nearly into her face. He had moved on top of her so forcefully he had caused the rocks beneath her to become buried in her back.

She had been bruised and she had bled and she had hurt and Lao'dahn had continued to abuse her.

"This is Esuval. This brings life into the world. You are only the vessel. You carry our seed. That is all."

"N-no...no...n-n-no," the words left her lips as she argued with the memory of Lao'dahn. He was too close to her. He was restricting her movements and making her feel trapped. He was too close.

He was too close. She had to get away from him. She had to get him off of her before he raped her, before he hurt her anymore. She was afraid. She could not escape him.

"Tah-li? Are you well? Failira? Focus on me."

Arizira's voice, her sweet and gentle voice, failed to reach Talliea. She was far too panicked. In her mind, the body on top of her was Lao'dahn. He was hurting her. Humiliating her. She had to fight back. She had to get away. He was too close.

He was too close.

Pushing up against the body above her own, Talliea shoved with all her might. Esu strength surged through her limbs as she, in her mind, fought off her attacker. She heard the surprised gasp that came with the action and was about to smile in triumph until she came back to herself and her surroundings.

Her dugout changed to a cave.  The grunt that came to her ears was not that belonging to a man, but a woman. She was not with Lao'dahn. She was with...

Arizira.

Looking over to where she had heard the painful grunt, Talliea was horrified to notice Arizira's body huddled on the ground near the flat-faced rock she'd sat upon earlier. Her shoulders were hunched and she appeared to be unable to move.

"Ahmanae?" she ventured in a meek tone. Arizira did not respond. She continued to breathe slowly and deeply as she kept her head down. "A-Ari?" Talliea asked again, sitting up and reaching for her top. What had she done?

She had not meant to hurt Arizira and the possibility that she could have shattered her. How had matters become so twisted? How had they ended up here instead rejoicing in one another?

Lao'dahn had taken something precious away from her. From them. His actions still haunted her, Talliea came to understand, just as Arizira had said they did. Because of him and his treatment of her, she had possibly injured the person who mattered most to her. The images her mind had produced had seemed so real and vivid. She had truly believed Lao'dahn was abusing her. She had heard him. Seen him. Smelled him.

But, it had not been him. It had been Arizira. Wrapping her jerkin around her shoulders, Talliea quickly crossed the short distance that kept her from Arizira. "Ahmanae? I-I am sorry. Please, are you hurt? Did I hurt you?" she asked, bending down to inspect the suddenly small body of her love.

Arizira raised her head slowly and Talliea was stricken to see the pain coloring their depths. "It is okay, Tah-li. We should not have," she hissed in pain before repeating, "We should not have."

Talliea swallowed her guilt and closed her eyes. Arizira was correct. She had told her that she was not ready and still, Talliea had not wanted to listen. She had not entertained the possibility that Lao'dahn's attack still haunted her.

Was that it then? Was she always going to be plagued by his disrespectful act? Was she cursed, doomed to never experience another side to a person's touch? To Arizira's touch? She refused to believe that. Their encounter had come about quickly and heatedly and she had not been prepared for everything. That was all. She knew Arizira would not hurt her. She knew her touch would not--did not--bring her pain.

"Are you hurt? Can you sit up?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Arizira attempted to offer her a cocky smile, but the pain in her back turned the smile into a grimace. When Talliea had pushed her, her back had collided with the flat rock behind her and fractured one of her shoulder blades while severely bruising the other. She had felt her breath knocked from her lungs while the hard stone impacted her upper back.

Arizira could feel the warmth of her blood as it stained her jerkin and knew that the accident had broken her skin. She chastised herself for her weakness, for giving into Talliea when she had known the other woman was not ready. She had herself to thank for her current discomfort.

It had just felt so good to give into Talliea. She had felt at peace and at home and the desire to continue had been too powerful to ignore. Talliea had felt incredibly wonderful beneath her fingers. Her sounds, her reactions, her body -- they had all fascinated Arizira immensely.

She had craved more and that had been wrong. They had rushed. That, too, had been wrong. "I am okay," she lied not wanting to upset Talliea, though the weariness and strain in her voice belied the statement.

Talliea shook her head and finally noticed the red mark between Arizira's shoulder blades. That was why she would not sit up. She was unable. Tears sprang to her eyes and she felt her throat tighten in distress. "Oh, Ari. I am so sorry. Please forgive me."

Arizira nodded at her and looked up. "The fault is my own, failira. I should have stopped us. I am sorry I did not."  Shaking her head, the act causing her tears to fall, Talliea placed her hand near the blood on Arizira's back. "I will take care of you. Okay? I will take care of you."

Arizira smiled and nodded before the effort to remain sitting up became too much. She allowed herself to collapse into Talliea's embrace while her pain washed over her. She felt Talliea lean over her and was reminded of the time she had found the other woman by the thermal spring so long ago.

That had been the day she discovered someone had hurt Talliea. As Talliea leaned over her and tentatively kissed the back of her neck, her last thought before the pain became too much was that Talliea was incredibly strong.

Chapter 25: Mending

Arizira groaned and attempted to roll over onto her back. Something rough stopped her as the pain between her shoulders alerted her to her position. She was on her side, facing the mouth of the cave. Talliea's blanket was draped over her chest and shoulders and she realized she was topless. Opening her eyes slowly, she tried to concentrate through the blurry images dancing in her field of vision. A steady and deep throbbing sensation was causing the space between her shoulders to feel as if it were on fire.

Any small movement she made with her arms trailed back to add to the pressure she felt behind her, and the intensity from the wound caused her eyes to water. Opening her eyes fully and allowing her surroundings to come into focus, she tried to recall her last memory.

"Ari?" Talliea's voice came to her ears before her face swam into view from above. "How do you fare, Ahmanae?"

Arizira lowered her brows and tried to recall how she had come to be half-naked next to the fire. The last thing she remembered was trying to calm Talliea. The Esu woman had panicked when the two of them were...

Her mind clouded over with a myriad amount of convoluted images. She remembered Talliea kissing her and asking for her touch in a raspy whisper. She remembered the way Talliea's body had felt so close to her own. She could still taste the other woman’s lips and her fingers still tingled from the smooth perfection of Talliea's skin.

She had given into her desire. That much was not lost to her. Talliea had been so lustful. Her actions had both surprised and aroused Arizira. The way Talliea had touched her. The sounds she had made...

Arizira licked her dry lips and closed her eyes as she tried to piece together the fragments of her broken memory. What had happened? Had she and Talliea bonded? If that were so, it would explain her current state of dress…or, lack thereof. She felt soft fingers brush away the hair resting on the side of her face and the action caused her to open her eyes again.

"Ari?" Talliea called.

Glancing up, Arizira winced when a sharp pain shot between her shoulders. Talliea had shoved her. She remembered now. Before the two of them could have gone any further, Talliea had panicked and, in the process, injured her. Everything came back to Arizira at once and with her memories, the pain she felt grew.

"Tah-li?" she said in a small voice tinged with pain. "I am here," Talliea responded from behind her. Struggling to turn over so that she could properly look into Talliea's face, Arizira gasped in pain when the action sent white hot tendrils of discomfort into her back.

"Do not try to move, Ahmanae. I have you on your side to keep you off of your back." Arizira swallowed the cry she could feel wishing to be free from her throat and settled down once more. Her heart was beating rather erratically and she could not remember ever feeling so restricted. She realized the rough object she had noticed earlier was one of their cloaks rolled up to keep her on her side.

Taking a deep and slow breath, she tried to calm herself and ignore the steady and frightening pain located in her upper back. "What happened?" she asked roughly.

Talliea's face contorted as she tried in vain to keep her tears from falling. Running her fingers through Arizira's fine hair, she replied, "I hurt you. I am so sorry." Arizira shook her head and let her eyes become focused on the fire dancing not far away. "It was an accident," she said quietly.

She felt Talliea lift the blanket covering her back, and a moment later fingers were brushing over the area responsible for her discomfort. Though the touch was light, her skin reacted and she jerked slightly intensifying her pain. The wound was extremely sensitive.

"I do not have any skill in healing, Ari. I washed your wound and tried to give you comfort from its pain, but I do not know how to make you whole."

Arizira's insides knotted as she listened to the sad and broken voice of her love. She could hear how lost Talliea was and it pained her to know she had suffered alone while she had slept. "Describe it to me," she said, trying to give her mind something else upon which to think.

Talliea sniffed and cleared her throat, her tears continuing to fall down her face, before looking down at Arizira's injury. "It is dark, Ari. The wound is a shadow upon your skin. It is as if your very blood cries beneath the surface. The rock scratched you when you...w-when you fell. The area is swollen. I thought to apply dohethra, but I knew not how to mix the paste."

"It will not ease this, Tah-li," Arizira interrupted. Talliea came up short with her reply and exhaled sharply. How could it not help? The mixture had eased her own pain when Arizira had applied it. It could do so again. It had to. "It can," she insisted " Just tell me how to--"

"It will not," Arizira said over her. "This is not a wound of broken flesh, Tah-li. I can not support myself or my weight. This pain restricts my movements and brings me to my knees."

Crying more profusely, but trying to hide the sounds of her sobs, Talliea wiped away at her tears and asked, "Then what am I to do?"

Arizira was quiet for a moment. She did not have any answers for Talliea. She was scared and the sensation was not pleasant. In all of her years, she had never suffered an injury so serious. In her youth, she had bruised herself during sparring sessions with other huntresses and weapons' training had brought about various cuts and whelps, but never had she broken a bone or taken a direct blow from an adversary. Her cuts and scrapes had always been minor and she had counted herself lucky for that.

This injury, however, was unlike anything she had ever felt. The pain did not remind her of a bruise. It did not remind her of anything she had experience with. Her shoulder blades felt...different. She could not move them. The pain in them was deep and heavy and sharp. She knew the cut Talliea had spoken of, the one that had caused her to bleed, was minor in comparison. Her true problem was in her bones, not her skin.

Dohethra eased pain. It did not mend shattered bones or heal broken bodies. Likely, it would alleviate some of her pain, but it would not address the true nature of her injury.

Inhaling through her nose, Arizira closed her eyes and tried to focus on something apart from the hot jabbing pain she felt. She could not tell Talliea how serious her injury was. The other woman already felt responsible, and hearing that Arizira was unable to move her shoulders would only break her heart all over again.

What scared Arizira the most was that she did not have any answers for Talliea. She did not know what to do. Her people were days away and the snows were only going to get heavier. Sed'dya would be able to help her, but reaching her was nearly impossible given her current condition.

"Tell me how to help you, Ahmanae. Please." Talliea's words were heavy and sad. Arizira knew she wished to feel useful. She knew she needed to do something. Opening her eyes, she could just barely make out Talliea's curtain of dark hair as she looked at her from over her shoulder. "Just lie with me, Tah-li. Stay behind me and brace me," she whispered.

Offering a small smile, Talliea nodded and leaned down to kiss Arizira's cheek softly. Gently removing the cloak she had rolled up to keep between them, she settled against Arizira. She replaced the wolf hide blanket over their bodies and wrapped her left arm around Arizira loosely. Talliea tried to keep from bumping her love’s shoulder blades or jostling her body too roughly. Keeping her weight braced on her right arm, she lowered her head until her lips brushed along the curve of Arizira's neck.

The hand she had around the smaller woman's waist splayed across her stomach and she could not help but enjoy the feeling of unrestricted skin on skin contact. She laid small, lazy kisses of comfort along Arizira's neck and shoulders as her tears fell down her cheeks and met the smaller woman‘s skin.

Everything would be okay. They had to be. She could not be responsible for something so tragic. What if Arizira was never able to use her bow? What if she never got the pleasure of climbing trees or running through the forest again? Could Talliea live with herself knowing she had caused the one person she loved more than anything so much pain?

She had promised herself that she would never let anything happen to Arizira. She had made a vow to protect her even at the cost of herself. Feeling Arizira tremble and shake against her as the pain washed over her body, Talliea buried her nose into silver-blonde hair and made another promise: she would do whatever it took to heal Arizira. No demand was too high.

As she held the smaller woman close to her, Talliea could feel the heat from the dark and swollen wound pressed against her chest. Again, the direct skin on skin contact brought her a small amount of joy. Her thoughts were consumed with but one overwhelming and all consuming desire: To heal her love.

"I will make you whole," she whispered against Arizira's neck, her lips pressing lightly to the soft skin found there and offering their own promises. "I will not allow you to suffer, Tahlet Vahllah. I will make you whole. I promise."

Arizira placed a hand atop of the one resting on her stomach. Squeezing Talliea's fingers in a show of reassurance, she felt the panic from before slowly begin to ebb and wane. In far too much pain to wonder at the nature of the calm washing over her, Arizira relaxed against Talliea as much as her injury would allow.

She could feel Talliea's heart beating against her shoulder blades as the strange serenity continued to take her over, and allowed the soothing rhythm to lull her into an easy sleep. The last thing she heard was Talliea's promise whispered again and again.

"I will make you whole. I will make you whole..."

*  *  *  *  *  *

"Injured?"

The wolf gave no reply, instead choosing to sit next to the fire burning brightly before it.

"This was not spoken of," Cynra insisted, seating herself next to her four-legged fellow. The wolf looked at her, its piercing blue eyes communicating what mere words could not.

"I see," Cynra said, a tight-lipped smile gracing her mouth. "You always were a sly one. You know what will happen as well as I. You know her powers will manifest."

The wolf flattened its ears in a coyish manner before lowering itself to the ground and laying its head on its paws. Cynra chuckled and patted the space between the wolf's ears. "This is the first step upon the path?"

Again, the wolf did not respond, but Cynra continued after a moment of silence. "Then all may not yet be lost. The prophecy could manifest differently."

Looking deep into the wolf's blue eyes, the Dream Speaker wrapped her cloak tighter about herself and looked out at the coming dawn. The sky was a wondrous shade of blue and pink with only a few stars still dotting its canvas.

"She shall arrive soon," Cynra said, changing the subject. Her words were both a statement and a question. The wolf licked its jowls and inhaled deeply.

"You could offer your aid, Blessed One. The woman is old." The wolf only closed its eyes and settled itself into a more comfortable position, seemingly unaffected by Cynra's verbal jabs.

"Of course. You have matters thought out, just as you always have and used to," Cynra said, more to herself than to her companion. She looked outside the den again and let her thoughts completely occupy her mind. The game was in motion, but still it was moving much too slowly for her liking. She knew it was only a matter of days before Talliea and Arizira consummated their relationship. When that action came to pass, everything would move forward far more quickly than she could imagine.

She knew this. Still, the constant waiting and watching and listening was something she was not enjoying in her older years. Continuously standing before the edge of an abyss was draining. Not being able to intervene and change the course she knew awaited both women was gut wrenching. Arizira was her daughter's daughter. Her child. She had always seen the world in a more beautiful way than any of her sisters. Knowing that Arizira was sharing that view, that beauty, with Talliea gave Cynra's heart a happy flutter.

They both deserved to be happy. Tragedy should not be the price to pay for such a beautiful love between two people. Yet, her hands were tied. What could she do? How did she know that speaking to Arizira of future events would not, inadvertently, trigger said events? Prophecies were always presented upon a slippery slope. One action, however small, could effect them in the most profound of ways, just as good intentions sometimes held the most ill outcomes.

Could she risk bringing about Arizira's death by doing nothing, though? Could she allow Talliea's pain and anguish over that death to consume her and herald the events she knew would come?

Despite the situation's apparent gloom and despondent nature, Cynra still held to the belief that an alternative would present itself. She was a firm believer in the idea that every action and outcome had a reason and a place in the Grand Design. Nothing happened by accident or chance.

Holding to that belief, she tried to convince herself that she was doing the right thing by keeping her silence. She knew she could not defy matters of fate and destiny. "Be safe, child. Rejoice in your love. Rejoice in her," she said to herself in a low breath. "Be happy while you can and embrace the bond you feel with your love."

Chapter 26: Anarchy

"You are certain of this? There must not be any doubt held within your words."

"I am without the need to question what I saw. Arizira is not upon a Spirit Quest, unless by 'spirit', she is referring to passion of the body."

Ma'nolira listened to the words being spoken by her daughter with a dreadful sense of despair. Since the Esu had first appeared in the valley south of their territory, the entire tribe had been in a divided state of unrest. Many, like herself, believed that preemptive action was the only solution. The tales sung around campfires throughout the ages had all depicted the Esu in a similar way. None of those tales had given the people any endearing qualities. Attacking before the Esu became aware of the Arniran presence would most assuredly seal the victory of the Arniran tribe.

Others, like Talyn, were of the firm belief that stories spun about to be myth, rather than fact, could not be believed as an absolute truth. Communication, according to Talyn, was the only way to learn of the Esu clan's intentions among the northern forests. Striking first, she said, would only incite old feelings of hatred and make them no better than the people they were wishing to attack.

Ma'nolira looked around the single room of her abode and sighed.  When Bela'luin had first come to her with news pertaining to Arizira, she had been cautious to believe her daughter. Bela'luin had told her of Arizira's movements and actions the past two months and informed her of the Esu people venturing into the forest and sacred sites such as Li'nas Dei.

She had told Bela'luin to continue tracking Arizira and report her findings to her and her alone. Now the young huntress was standing before her telling her that one of their own was lying with one of the enemy, an Esu woman.

The thought caused a sour taste to settle upon Ma'nolira's tongue. Arizira was enjoying the body of a dark skin? Was she imparting the secret of the Arniran people to her Esu woman? Was she being coerced into telling her about them or was she willingly spending so much time away from her own people just to enjoy the Esu woman's body?

It did not matter. What Arizira was doing was treason. Whatever her reasons, she was choosing to remain with one of the enemy rather than be amongst her own people. Instead of helping the tribe in deciding upon a course of action, Arizira had lied to the Nai'iris and set out to fulfill her physical desires.

"You have spoken of this only to myself, yes?" Bela'luin, arms clasped behind her back, quirked an eyebrow and nodded. "Of course, Elder. To speak of it to another would mark me as no different than Arizira."

Ma'nolira studied the green eyes of her daughter for a moment before,  "Talyn will need to be told. This may just be the leaf that topples the great tree. Her soft spot for the Child of Whispers is well known."

Bela'luin inhaled sharply at the words. "It is that weakness that will blind her to these words. She will not soon wish to learn that her favored huntress has betrayed her."

"Then what other path would you suggest, 'Luin?" Ma'nolira asked using the shortened version she favored of her child's name. Walking closer to Ma'nolira and unclasping her hands from behind her back, Bela'luin smirked and replied, "Leave that to me. I shall deliver the sickness this news carries."

Ma'nolira looked into steely green eyes again and thought she detected a darker intent lurking somewhere therein. Nodding slowly, she finally offered her sanction of their course.

"So be it."

*  *  *  *  *  *

Talyn sat in the center of the large Raekir tree with her eyes closed. Her thoughts were jumbled and without any direct end in sight. She kept repeating Cynra's words to her from weeks before.

"An Esu woman. Arizira's Doira'Liim is a follower of Esuval and a day walker."

She could barely get the words to form properly in her mind. How much did Cynra know? What other information had she been withholding? Should she engage the Esu people in open war, or would that action somehow bring harm to Arizira and this woman she loved so? Would allowing the Esu to continue to use their land without hindrance be a better option? If so, how could she justify those actions, or lack of action, to her people? To herself?

Arizira had always held a special place for Talyn. Maybe it had to do with the fact that Talyn had never been blessed with any children of her own, or perhaps it dealt more with the whispers that had always been spoken about her.

She could admit to favoring Arizira all of her life. She had ensured she had the best trainers in every available school of weaponry. She had made sure Arizira learned from only Cynra on matters of writing, reading, and geographical information. Nothing had been spared for Arizira. She had always had the best.

And for what? So she could grow into womanhood and fall in love with an Esu woman, a woman who, a year before, was only a myth among the Arniran people?

Had Talyn done rightly by giving Arizira the best? Had she done best by her by shielding her from the darker aspects of the world? From not allowing any major harm to come to her? She had watched Arizira grow up. She had watched her smile and laugh and be amazed by the world around her. Arizira, unlike her fellow sisters, had always seen matters in a much more beautiful way.

Rarely had Talyn seen Arizira upset or sad. She had always been at peace with herself and that peace, that beautiful serenity, had touched Talyn in more ways than one. Could she truly do something that would, after so many years, place a damper on such an innocent spirit?

Opening her eyes and looking up into the boughs of the gigantic Raekir, Talyn took a deep breath and shook her head. She could not.

Even though Arizira's destiny had revealed itself to be entirely different than she had ever expected, Talyn found that she still wished only to protect the younger woman.  How could she do anything else? The events in motion were larger than Talyn. She knew that to be a truth. They were larger than Cynra or Arizira or the woman Arizira had given her heart to.

All Talyn could do was play her part. Cynra had trusted her with vital and important information. She had told her of her past and her connection to Arizira. Talyn knew she could not betray that trust, but trying to keep a sense of peace among the clan when they were not privy to such information was going to prove difficult.

Many of the women felt that sitting by idly was akin to holding the hand of a bad outcome. They felt that waiting was only the prelude to their own demise. The Arnira were not a warmongering people, but they did have a strong sense of community. Their land and their homes were nearly as important as Aitla Herself.  Not defending themselves or their forest was unfathomable to many.

Yet, what could Talyn do? How could she declare war on an unsuspecting people when the Child of Whispers' Doira'Liim was a member of those people? What if her actions brought about unsuspected outcomes? Did Cynra wish for her to lead their people to war or was she meant to keep matters at hand until...

Until what? Cynra had told her nothing! She had sung her words with rhyme and riddle and left Talyn with nothing but confusion and headaches. There was no right or correct choice.  Again, all she could do was continue leading her people as she always had. All she could do was try to protect Arizira and, by extension, the woman she loved.

Talyn chuckled wryly to herself as she sat cross-legged on the ground. She was protecting a day walker, a dark skin, an Esu.

She was protecting the enemy.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Taetylona walked with heavy steps through the deep and cold snow. She had been walking without direction for two days. The first day, her mind had felt liberated. She no longer had to live her life in halves. Her people could not grow unless she could show them the error of their ways. They were children without a vast amount of knowledge on the world. It was up to her to bring the truth before them. Being banished was beneficial to her in more ways than just meeting Cynra.

The second day had come sooner than Taetylona had wished. She had not slept well the night before, her body protesting the chilling temperatures and her mind refusing to cease contemplating all the what-ifs. She had slept under a quickly constructed lean-to with a small fire and fought to keep the warmth in her body from fading into the snow.

When daybreak had come, Taetylona had eaten a few berries she had picked and continued walking. The forest, even in the winter, was awash with an abundant amount of life. Badgers, foxes, and various winter birds had kept her company as she walked. She felt as if the animals had been curious about her presence, just as she had been curious of the forest around her.

The snow, luckily, had ceased to fall sometime around mid-day and so Taetylona had been able to cover much more ground than she had been expecting. Her destination was unknown to her, but she continued to walk, sure in the knowledge that what she sought would present itself.

With the snow being so heavy, the sounds of the forest were muted and so Taetylona was taken aback when a large white wolf fell into step beside her. The wolf nudged her hand and looked up into her face. Icy blue eyes caught her attention. Instead of feeling frightened by the presence of the wolf, Taetylona felt a welcome sense of familiarity.

She felt that she had met this creature once before, though it had not presented itself as a four-legged animal. Was this the same entity that had come before her so many years before?

"It has been many years, Spirit. Many years," Taetylona said in a raspy voice.

The wolf allowed her to take a hold of the scruff at the back of its neck. With her walking stick in her left hand and her right on the wolf, Taetylona let herself be led through the snowy and quiet landscape. Her eyes took in the pristine beauty of the forest as she walked and she marveled at the height of the trees and the towering presence of the rock cliffs.

Before long, Taetylona caught sight of a wolf den and inside she could see the red and orange flames of a lively fire. Smiling at the prospect of a warm fire to heat up her old bones, she released the hold her right hand had on the wolf's fur. She watched the great and majestic creature quickly continue without her up to the entrance of the den. It lowered the front half of its body so that its head could duck inside and a moment later, an old and frail looking woman crawled out.

Taetylona watched the woman stand to her full height, which wasn't anything close to impressive, and roll her shoulders back. Her hair was pure silver and her glowing eyes held a speck of light purple. Taetylona could see several rings on the woman's boney fingers and a seashell necklace hung around her wrinkled neck. A cloak was wrapped around her shoulders with a jeweled clasp keeping it in place and her clothing appeared to made from ornately treated leathers.

Though old, Taetylona could see that the woman held a beauty that was, most assuredly, common to all her people. She took a step toward the woman and was stopped when the she spoke to her in her language. "Took you long enough to get here, you old crone."

Taetylona looked confused for a moment. The words had been in her language, yet they had not been. Overlooking the "crone" accusation, because clearly Cynra was older than she was, Taetylona opened her mouth to speak. "You know my words?" she asked.

Cynra placed a hand on the head of the wolf by her side. "No, I know my words." Feeling slightly agitated with Cynra's behavior, Taetylona placed a hand on her hip and gave the woman a pointed look. "I understand your words, yet I do not speak them. You do not speak mine, yet we are sharing our thoughts. How is this so?"

Looking down at the wolf beside her, Cynra chuckled. "We can thank our mutual companion. She allows us to communicate. Now, we can remain out in this white blanket of death allowing our thoughts to ponder such nonsensical notions as my language versus your language, or we can get inside where the fire will warm our bones. The two of us are old, woman, and we have very little time left to speak of matters of import."

Taetylona looked from Cynra down to the wolf and then back up. Small snow flurries began to fall into her line of vision and she heard the howl of the wind as it began to blow again. Moving and closing the distance between herself and Cynra, she retorted, "You appear to have far less time than do I. Worry for your old bones makes you a wonderful hostess."

Cynra was silent for a moment before her lips parted and a hearty laugh left her mouth. The sound caused Taetylona to laugh as well and the two of them shared a light minute of easy fellowship . "Come inside, Taetylona. We have much to discuss. You have questions?"

Taetylona nodded and the two of them ducked down to crawl into the rather large wolf den. The fire was warm and welcome and Taetylona smiled to herself. Somehow, she felt very much at ease with Cynra, despite their amused bickering.

The wolf crawled down inside the den and settled itself near the opening. As the snows once again fell from the heavens above, two women, one Esu and one Arnira, spoke at great length about matters of the past, issues of the present, and prophecies of the future.

Chapter 27: Days Go By

Arizira, for the second time since her accident, slowly allowed her thoughts to take focus within her mind. She was vaguely aware of the sound of grinding and the crackling hisses and pops of a fire. She licked her lips in an effort to moisten them and tried to take an account of where she stood in regard to her pain.

She was warm, possibly feverish, and her body felt dirty and sweaty. Briefly, she wondered how much time had passed since she had last been awake, but the state of her pain bombarded all her other thoughts. Opening her eyes with an effort, she noticed Talliea sitting not far from her diligently using her mortar and pestle. The other woman's brow was furrowed in concentration and her hair was falling into her face.

Smiling, Arizira allowed herself to appreciate Talliea's natural beauty before, without thinking, trying to adjust her position. The sharp pain she was expecting never came. Instead, a dull throb sent a spasm through her shoulder blades and echoed down her arms. Her slight intake of breath caught Talliea's attention and soon the other woman was sitting beside her.

"Ari? Oh, I am so pleased to see your eyes. I feared I would have to do without your company for another day." Arizira opened her mouth to speak, but the dryness present prevented her from doing so. Talliea quickly reached behind her and grabbed one of their water skins. Bringing it to Arizira's lips, she cradled her head and neck so that she could drink. "Slowly, Ahmanae."

Arizira placed a hand on Talliea's wrist and held her eyes as she drank her fill. The cold liquid washed down her parched throat before settling into her belly. Turning her head away, she indicated she was sated. Talliea pulled the water skin away but kept her hand supporting Arizira's head and neck.

"How are you?" she asked softly, her fingers tracing over the delicate and high arch of Arizira's eyebrows.

Arizira hesitated a moment. Her pain was not nearly as severe as before. The tight and frightening restriction she remembered was somehow less. Though she was still in pain, the level and intensity had decreased and she found that she could move more easily. "The pain has faded to a degree, Tah-li."

Talliea smiled, the gesture bringing happy tears to her eyes, before leaning forward to kiss Arizira's temple. Her lips lingered a moment longer when she took notice of the heat rising from her love's skin. "Your body carries an unnatural heat," she said pulling away.

Arizira inhaled deeply again and looked away from Talliea's dark and sorrowful eyes. She let her gaze come to rest on the ceiling above. It was dark out, the fire flickering and sending dancing shadows around the walls of the cave, and Arizira's blue eyes glowed brightly. Her right arm was sore for having laid on it for so long and she struggled to get comfortable.

Hand still wrapped gently around Talliea's wrist, Arizira spoke after a moment. "It will pass," she said, referring to her fever while her fingers rubbed over soft skin.

Talliea studied Arizira's face and knew she was putting up a brave facade. She had felt Arizira's pain and discomfort as the two of them had laid together. How she had felt it, she could not explain, but she had known how serious the situation was as she held the smaller woman.

Eventually, she had fallen asleep with her cheek against the back of Arizira's neck. Her thoughts had continued to swirl around her fervent desire to heal what she had so accidentally broken. Over and over as she had slept, her mind had been awash with nothing but her intentions, wishes, and invocations to make Arizira well. It had become her singular thought. When she had awakened the following morning, Arizira had continued to sleep.

She had checked on Arizira's wound and had been surprised to notice it was not nearly as dark in color. The swelling had still been present, but it too had appeared to be less than it was before. Covering Arizira back up, and trying not to be distracted by the sight of her half nude form, Talliea had set out to refill their water skins and to bathe in the hot spring.

Upon her return, much to her discontent, she had found Arizira still lost to the depths of her unconsciousness. The next several hours had been spent sharpening blades and cleaning tools and looking through Arizira's pack for anything that could be of use. When she'd come across a small pouch containing herbs and, what she recalled to be willow bark, she had decided to try to mix the dohethra on her own.

After a few failed attempts, she had finally succeeded in getting the mixture to the correct consistency. She'd tenderly and gingerly applied the mixture to Arizira's wound before once again cuddling up behind her. The entire time Arizira had slept, Talliea had felt her sense of guilt continue to grow. Her actions had replayed in her mind until she'd found herself crying against Arizira's back, her tears meeting their demise upon the heat of pale skin.

Arizira had done nothing to hurt her. She had only been doing what Talliea had asked. She had only been giving in to the feelings they both shared for one another. For her actions, for the expression of her emotions, she had been injured and placed into a tormenting dream of pain and fever.

As Talliea had held her, and the day had found its end, she had made a promise to herself to explain why she had reacted the way she did. Looking into Arizira's pale and pained face, Talliea took a deep breath and let her mind come back to the present.

"Ari, I am so sorry. You have to know that I would never -- will never -- hurt you. I care for you. So much."

"I know," Arizira replied looking back into Talliea's eyes. "I know."

Tears becoming heavier, Talliea blinked and let them fall down her cheeks. "You do not. You did nothing wrong. Your actions, Ari, were stoking a fire upon my body and within my spirit. It was not you that I reacted so harshly to."

"I know," Arizira said again. Her eyelids were heavy and her speech came to Talliea's ears with a heavier accent. "It was him. The man who hurt you." Talliea's eyebrows drew together and she felt the air in her lungs become weighted. "What?"

Arizira took a deep breath and fought the desire she felt to give in to the black void lurking just along the edges of her mind. She remembered her reality, her thoughts, blurring with Talliea's as she had seen Lao'dahn's body on top of her own. The panic, the fear and the revulsion, had all seemed as if they had been born of her own reactions. But they had been Talliea's. Somehow she had not only experienced her love's memory, she had been witness to it.

She had been a part of it.

His actions, though curious to her, had been forced upon Talliea to bring about suffering, trepidation, and uneasiness. As much as Talliea's violent reaction had hurt her, both physically and emotionally, Arizira understood why it had taken place.

"I saw him, Tah-li, the man who placed his body over yours. I know what he did. I know how he sought to...defile your perfection." Tallie's throat felt dry and she knew her eyes were wide with an unknowing air. "H-how do you know this?"

Eyes closing briefly, Arizira struggled to keep talking so she could explain herself. The desire to return to sleep was heavy, as was also the weight of her voice. "I have no answer, Tah-li. I f-felt your panic as though it were my own. I experienced your terror as he...I am not certain what his actions were. I do not understand your people or their habits. My mind tells me that his act was wrong and that he hurt you. That is all."

Talliea's eyes lowered for a moment as she tried to understand the implications behind Arizira's words. How had she shared in Talliea's remembrance of the attack? It was not the first time Arizira had felt what she had, nor was she the only one among them to have experienced such a phenomenon. The knowledge that Arizira had seen what Lao'dahn had done to her left her feeling embarrassed and undesirable.

Struggling to find her voice, she looked back up and noticed Arizira's eyes were staring back at her. There was no judgment in their depths, nor pity. "Is...i-is it common to share in this way when two people do as we were?" she asked feeling suddenly shy.

Arizira, eyes half-lidded and breathing coming in slow even takes, shook her head slowly. "It is not."

"You have never shared the experiences of another woman when you...were close?"

"No."

"It is not common," Talliea said, more to herself than to Arizira. Arizira smiled, the fingers she had on Talliea's wrist moving to connect their fingers. "Nothing about you is common, failira. I told you, we share a bond now. Everything I do with you is new, as if the first wind of spring."

Talliea allowed Arizira's words to settle within her mind. She thought back to her own experiences wherein she had been able to divine Arizira's location without fully understanding how she had done such a thing. She recalled feeling Arizira's pain during the night and experiencing her indecision over whether or not she should give in to her desires.

How were the two of them able to share emotions and thoughts and sensations? Originally, Talliea had been of the belief that what she was going through was common, that all people experienced similar situations such as she and Arizira. She had thought that when two people began to explore one another, it was only customary that an exchange of reflection and understanding would take place.

Hearing Arizira, who had mated with two others before, inform her that such an occurrence was not commonplace made Talliea's mind swirl inside itself. What did everything mean?

She let her eyes fall over Arizira's face. She could still see the furrow that was present near her love's lips and brows that indicated the level of pain currently being experienced. Arizira's fingers were entwined with her own, her eyes having closed once again, and Talliea smiled thinking that her presence was somehow helping the smaller woman. A thought came to her suddenly as her mind replayed their conversation.

"Ari?" she asked, but Arizira did not reply.

Talliea sighed upon realizing that she had fallen asleep again. Her hand was still supporting Arizira's neck while their fingers were still joined near her chest. Looking over her love's features, Talliea voiced the question she had desired an answer of for so long.

"What does failira mean?"

*  *  *  *  *  *

Three days later, being the fifth day since Arizira's accident, Talliea awoke much like she had the days before. She noticed Arizira had, some time during the night, rolled into her and was currently more on her back than her side.

Silver hair was plastered to Arizira's neck and the sides of her face and Talliea surmised that her fever had broken. She gently extracted herself from Arizira and helped her into a more comfortable position. The Arniran woman slept without a hitch even as her body was moved.

"I shall return, love," Talliea whispered, her words not fully registering in her mind. She ran her fingers over Arizira's wound, the other woman now lying on her left side, and noticed the swelling and discoloration had once again lessened.

Attributing Arizira's recovery to the dohethra she'd been applying, Talliea quickly stood and made ready to leave the cave for her morning ablutions. She wrapped her cloak around her shoulders and grabbed both her dagger and one of Arizira's longer sabres. Strapping a pack with bathing essentials over her shoulder, she left as quietly as she had awakened.

When she came to the hot spring, Talliea was immediately refreshed by the steam rising from the pool. The snow on the ground had melted being so close to the pool's heat and a wet, brownish-green, grass covered the land as it descended down the slope. Everything was quiet so early in the morning and Talliea found her mind full of wayward thoughts and jumbling questions.

As she removed her clothing and slowly dipped her body into the warm waters of the spring, she could not help but think over everything that had so recently transpired in her life. Her thoughts took her back to when she'd first met Arizira and she remembered, even then, feeling a sense of attraction and a pull for connection. She recalled how magical Arizira had appeared to her and how, even after their first encounter, her mind had been unable to think upon anything or anyone else.

Dunking her head under the water, Talliea soaked her thick raven locks completely before grabbing the cypress oil soap from its wooden container. She brought the soap to a lather and began to gingerly apply it through her hair.

Her thoughts once again begged for attention. Had she always been meant to meet Arizira? Had her fate been decided long before her people had ever thought to travel to the Northlands? Often, when Arizira was asleep and Talliea's eyes would drink in the sight of her, it felt as if she was where she had always been destined to be. With her. With Arizira. Her love. In those moments, nothing else in the world mattered to Talliea. There was no Markahn. There was no Lao'dahn. The knowledge that she and Arizira were from two distinctly different peoples did not exist.

Myth. Fact. Legend -- none of those things were of any importance to Talliea when she was so near to Arizira. All that mattered was the two of them. All that mattered was their feelings for one another.

That was why she desired to bond with Arizira. She knew, without fully understanding how she knew, that the act would go far beyond just a physical expression of their emotions. She knew their coming together would finally sate her need for Arizira completely. It would unify them, and the thirst she held for the other woman would no longer feel so unobtainable.

Again, how she knew such things was beyond her. When she thought over matters rationally, she felt silly for following something she had no experience in. As crazy as her actions and her thoughts may have appeared to some, Talliea was confident that she was doing what was best.

Being with Arizira was for the best. Despite their respective peoples' history and stark differences, Talliea knew she would not change one moment of her time with Arizira. The Arniran woman had brought her joy and happiness. She had helped to nurture her personality and bring out the funny, smart, and caring woman that had been repressed for over twenty years.

Rinsing the soap out of her hair, Talliea looked up above into the heavy and moving clouds. The sun was barely visible as it fought to pierce the earth beneath with its warming rays. The clouds were full and dark with an impending rain or snow and the wind blew lightly through the trees around the spring. Talliea sighed and once again her thoughts traveled to Arizira.

She hoped she was doing the right thing in keeping Arizira with her. Would the other woman fare better amongst her own people? Was Talliea being selfish in keeping her out in the cold and snowy winter when she had been so severely injured?

Even if she could get Arizira to agree to seeking out her people's aid, how was she to get her there alone in her condition? She knew she could carry Arizira for most of the way, but there would still be the weather to contend with and she did not know the land as well as her companion.

If she somehow did manage to make it to Arizira's tribe, wherever it was, how was she to explain herself? Arizira had been in and out of consciousness. If she were lost to her delirium and her pain, she would not be able to speak for Talliea and translate her intentions.

No, going to the Arnira for help was of no use. There were too many factors to consider and most of them held negative consequences. Talliea entertained the idea of seeking her own people's aid, more specifically Taetylona's, but quickly dismissed the notion as a fool's folly. There was no way her clan would aid a creature they all still believed to be a myth. They would sooner interrogate Arizira than offer their healing. Besides, there was no guarantee that Markahn would allow her to leave again if she returned to the settlement.

She could not risk Arizira in that way, in any way.

Still the voice in the back of her mind nagged: Was she doing the best by Arizira by keeping her by her side? She argued with herself that, yes, she was doing what was best. Arizira's wound was looking better. She had moved during the night and had not cried out in pain. She had been on her back without difficulty. Though she was sleeping more than Talliea liked, Arizira was healing.

How exactly she was doing so was lost to Talliea. Like so many other things. Apart from applying the dohethra mixture twice a day and attempting to clean Arizira's wound, she was doing nothing special that could account for the rapid pace of healing taking place.

She kept Arizira warm and when she was awake, she ensured she was fed and had plenty of water, but that was all she was doing. Maybe Arizira was healing herself? Did the Arnira have recuperative abilities? Arizira had not mentioned as much, but that did not mean such a thing was not so.

Lathering the soap into a rich foam, Talliea proceeded to wash her body and try to slow the pace of her errant thoughts. She was thinking too much. Everything was going to be fine. Nothing was going to separate the two of them. Arizira had helped to ease her pain when she had been hurting. She had cared for Talliea and set out on their current journey.

Talliea was determined to return the gesture. She was going to take care of Arizira and remove the pain she had brought to her body. Nothing else mattered. Only them. Only her.

Chapter 28: The Milestone

Several long minutes passed as Talliea let her negative thoughts leave her mind. She closed her eyes and tried to focus on other matters. Matters pertaining to a beautiful, fair-skinned, and gentle Arniran woman.

She smiled when she recalled their first kiss. It had been so innocent, yet so full of passion and hidden desire. She remembered how her lips had tingled -- how they still tingled -- with the addictive taste of mint, and how Arizira's lips had been so soft in comparison to Markahn's. Floating in the middle of the hot spring, her thoughts continued to drift.

She remembered Arizira's hands on her body from only a few days before. She could still recall, in vivid detail, how dark Arizira's eyes had become when her jerkin had fallen away. The way her gaze had swept over Talliea's breasts, nothing but appreciation and adoration on her face, had set something off inside Talliea.

Something primal and needy. Something deep.

She had wanted Arizira in that moment like never before. She had wanted to feel her body and explore the sensations rushing over her senses. Everything had been so perfect. That is, until Lao'dahn's assault on her had resurfaced and she had hurt the woman she loved. She found herself wondering if she had shattered any future chances with Arizira. Did the other woman fear her now? Fear her touch?

Had Talliea damaged more than just Arizira's body? Were they, too, now broken with no sure remedy in sight? The thought caused Talliea's chest to spasm painfully and hot tears burned behind her closed eyelids. Taking a deep breath, and calming herself in the process, she pushed such unwanted thoughts aside.

Before she could focus on a possible happier future, a familiar feeling suddenly came over her. Like a heavy and welcome blanket, it settled around her senses and invaded her mind. Pleasant sensations began to course through her body and push aside her overwhelming and heavy thoughts of self loathing. She sat up in the water and turned to look around the edges of the spring.

"Ari?" she called, recognizing the feeling as the one she experienced while in Arizira's presence. She was unable to reconcile why she was being rewarded with its effects when the two of them were so far apart.

Her eyes fought a difficult battle in their search for Arizira. She squinted and traced her gaze over every rock and tree she could find. Why was she feeling what she was if Arizira was not nearby? Had something happened? Was Arizira somehow in more pain? Was that why she was experiencing what she was?

No, no, that could not be right. Why would she feel a sense of peace if Arizira was in such a state? It felt as if the other woman was close, but how could she be? She was barely able to move. She had said as much.

Swallowing her sudden bout of nerves, Talliea began to slowly swim to the edge of the spring where the water met drier land. "Ari? she tried again. "Ahmanae?"

As she neared the bank of the water, movement caught her attention. She turned her head to the right and was stunned to see the object of her musings standing before her. Arizira had managed to get her jerkin around her shoulders and her cloak was held to the front of her chest with her left hand. She was leaning against a tree with a whitish-brown bark and Talliea could tell her trek to the spring had been taxing.

"Ari, oh, what madness has brought you here? Your body has not given you leave to push yourself like this!" Talliea rushed toward her, not caring about her current nude appearance. Before she could clear the water, Arizira took a slow and steady breath and stopped her with a look. Talliea slowed, her lower half still hidden beneath the warm water.

"I awoke to the day without you next to me. My pain was less," Arizira stated, her voice sounding tired but stronger than it had. "What have you done, Tah-li?" The question was posed with awe and disbelief.

Talliea looked confused. "Done? What meaning hides behind your words, Ari?" Arizira took a step toward Talliea. Her movements were stiff and her eyes still carried the evidence of her pain. "No hidden meaning, Tah-li. Only truth. I am somewhat at a loss."

Talliea, still looking confused, lowered herself back under the warmth of the water. She could easily see that Arizira was struggling with what she wanted to say. She, herself, was torn between rushing to Arizira's side and taking her into her arms' embrace or allowing Arizira to regain her independence and speak of her mind's troubles.

Arizira stopped once her feet were near to the water of the spring. Her boots were not tied, another hint as to her present discomfort, and her appearance was more wild than she preferred. When she had rolled over and not felt Talliea's body next to her own, a sharp and vivid clarity had snapped her mind to full wakefulness. She had sat up quickly, not noting the action in her frantic state, and looked around the cave in search of her companion.

It had been then that she realized what she was doing and how she had done it. She'd looked down at herself, her torso still naked and her body covered in sweat and dirt, and her mind had worked in vain to connect the pieces to a puzzle she could not see.

Her thoughts had plagued her mind then. How was she moving? How was she sitting up? Where was Talliea? How much time had passed? As she'd sat on her Ophe'las bedding, she'd realized that, although her pain was less, it was still very much present. Standing up slowly, for her body had been stiff and her joints sore, she had struggled to get her boots onto her feet and her jerkin over her shoulders. She'd not cared to button the garment, instead choosing to cover her body with her cloak, and had left the cave to search for her love.

As she had walked, her shoulder blades had protested her endeavor. All that had mattered was finding Talliea and ensuring she was safe. Her feet had moved without direction while her mind had fought to find itself an answer to her sudden, and very swift, recovery. She could not understand how she had been healed. Her pain had been debilitating. It had been horrible and restricting and it had scared her. She had worried for herself and for Talliea. Thoughts of her people, of Cynra and Talyn and Sed'dya, had passed behind her eyelids in flickering and ever receding shapes and she had never felt so apart and disconnected.

The only small amount of light for Arizira had been the knowledge that she was with Talliea, her failira. She'd continued walking, her trek leading her toward the hot spring, as her thoughts had lingered on Talliea.

Had she healed her? She had recalled Talliea telling her that the Lat'sa'val possessed healing abilities, but did that gift also extend to the Esu women? Her internal ramblings had been interrupted when she finally came to the end of her short lived, but tiresome, journey. Talliea, the object at the center of everything Arizira did, had been exactly where Arizira felt she would be.

The hot spring.

Standing now near the water, the steam rising up and heating her tired and chilled body, Arizira watched Talliea for a moment while her mind came back to the present. Her eyes looked upon Talliea's dark, tanned skin and she felt her body react to the sight of full and round breasts disappearing beneath the veil of rippling water. Talliea's face was fixated upon her own and, though there were no words spoken, Arizira felt as if a lifetime of conversations passed between them.

She swallowed and shivered as a stiff wind nearly knocked her into the spring. She could not seem to take her eyes away from the deep brown before her. The woman matching her gaze was...she was everything to Arizira. She was her friend. She was her lover, though they had yet to lie with one another, she was her heart and her spirit.

As Arizira allowed her cloak to drop to the moist ground behind her, she let her thoughts settle on the one belief she had been dying to confess since she first awakened and realized she could move, that she was healed: Talliea was a goddess.

She was her goddess for she had healed her and brought her back to herself. No other explanation could justify how Arizira had gone from an agonizing and dreadful state of hysteria to being able to walk and move and think clearly once again. Talliea was her goddess in every sense of the word. She had to be.

She watched Talliea's eyes travel across the skin of her body. Though her skin was dark, Arizira easily saw a blush rise up and spread across her chest. She slowly, and in halting movements, slipped her jerkin from her shoulders and allowed it to join her cloak. Talliea, the woman whom she had practically come to worship, licked her lips and continued to watch her. The wind was cool, but being so close to the spring kept Arizira warm enough to continue undressing.

This was a first for them. In all of their time together, and even after they had acted on their feelings for one another, Arizira had always undressed away from Talliea just as Talliea had undressed away from her. It had been an unspoken agreement, one Arizira had taken seriously in her efforts to respect Talliea and her body. Now, however, she was standing before the woman she loved and was slowly sliding her leather pants down her legs.

Talliea watched, her eyes unable to tear themselves away from the beauty being revealed in front of them. Though Arizira's fair skin was bruised and marked with dirt, the perfection underneath could not be sullied. She noticed Arizira had very little body hair, much like her own people, and smiled at that similarity. Her eyes swept their fiery gaze over Arizira's chest, settling on light pink nipples, before trailing down to a flat stomach. When she reached the apex of Arizira's legs, her eyes lingered and she felt a heat, having nothing to do with the spring, wash over her body.

She had always noticed the differences between her people and Arizira's. Those differences had oftentimes left her feeling as if she and Arizira were worlds apart, having no common ground, and struggling to understand such vast disparities. Looking at Arizira nude before her, with no barriers left between them, Talliea realized that they were not as different as she had always believed.

Arizira's body was very much like her own. Her skin was more fair and her nipples were a lighter shade, but they were alike in nearly every other way. Arizira's sex was like her own. Her body was not so different from Talliea's. For all of the things that had set them apart, seeing Arizira as she currently was made Talliea appreciate everything that had brought them together.

Taking a deep breath, she finally lifted her gaze and looked into shimmering blue eyes. Arizira slowly entered the hot spring, staying near to the edge, and lowered her body into the water. Talliea waded over to her and, stopping only a moment to appreciate her presence, took her into her arms.

Arizira's body melted into Talliea's. She wrapped her arms around Talliea's waist and pressed their chests together. Her hands settled in the small of the Esu woman's back while her face buried itself in the side of her neck. She felt Talliea tentatively press her hands against her back and she let out a sigh at the gentleness.

Talliea, one hand in the center of Arizira's back and the other rising up to settle between her shoulders, turned her head and let her lips bush across smooth skin. She felt her tears slide down her face before she could hinder them. The feeling of Arizira's body, without any restrictions, pressed so intimately against her own, was unlike anything she had ever experienced. She had worried that she had ruined any chance she and Arizira may have had. Feeling Arizira's body connected so closely with her own was too much.

She had feared that she would never get to touch Arizira again, that the other woman would associate pain with any caress she could offer. She'd been wrong.

Moving her hands over Arizira's sides and trailing them to her arms, she sighed against the side of her neck before leaning back. When their eyes met, Talliea knew that everything would be okay between them. Arizira did not harbor any diseased or adverse feelings toward her. The knowledge caused a happy smile to grace her lips. She rubbed her fingers over Arizira's arms and shoulders and took in a shaky breath.

"Ari--"

A finger on her lips stopped her. "Do not, Tah-li."

Talliea looked sheepish a moment before nodding her head. She had apologized to Arizira everyday since the accident had transpired. Every time she had done so, Arizira had stopped her attempt and told her such a gesture was not necessary. Still, Talliea could not allow matters to rest between them so easily. She needed Arizira to understand her actions and her thoughts.

Placing a hand on Arizira's wrist, she lowered the finger from her lips and opened her mouth to speak. "No, Ari, the words that have been lying upon my soul must be heard. There is so much I need to say, but the desires of my heart leave me breathless. You must understand that I will never hurt you again. I do not desire you to fear my touch."

Arizira nodded as the fingers of her left hand smoothed over Talliea's right shoulder. "Just as I do not desire you to fear mine. I will not touch you as he did, Tah-li. I will not ever use your body for myself. When I touch you, I wish for you to feel the caress as an expression of my feelings for you. Please do not see me as you see him."

Talliea exhaled sharply and looked at Arizira with stunned eyes. "Never, Ahmanae. You have not once touched me as he did. I told you before: I like the way you touch me."

Smiling, Arizira moved her hands from Talliea's back to her hips and lightly squeezed her skin. "I will never hurt you," Talliea whispered again, eyes lowering at the sensation of Arizira's caress. "Nor I you," Arizira responded.

A moment passed and Arizira spoke up again, "It would seem that part of the old tales my people sing is true." Talliea caught her eyes. "What part?"

"Esu strength being greater than our own. Our legends tell us the Esu were able to move the mountains, so great was the power in their limbs."

Talliea offered no confirmation or comment. Her people did possess great strength, but they were not able to do as Arizira said. Knowing her "strength" had harmed her love was distasteful to her. She embraced Arizira and the two of them spent the next several minutes enjoying the company of the other. Talliea washed Arizira's body and hair and gently scrubbed the wound on her back. Though Arizira was healing, and was in a much better state than she had been before, her body was still sensitive and sore.

Talliea moved behind Arizira and pressed her chest to her back. She heard the slight inhale that accompanied the movement and smiled as she placed a kiss on Arizira's shoulder. Wrapping her left hand around a slender waist, she laced the fingers of her right with Arizira's and held her close. She lowered her head to the space between Arizira's neck and shoulder and closed her eyes.

"Your recovery is remarkable, Ari. I had feared I made the wrong decision in keeping you with me." Arizira leaned back into the embrace and squeezed their joined hands. "Keeping us together will forever be the correct course, Tah-li. I have you to thank for my recovery."

Pulling back, Talliea questioned, "Me? I have done nothing worthy of such a statement. The dohethra aided you, Ari. That is all."

"No, say not such things. Dohethra eases pain. My body was broken, Tah-li. I was unable to move. Dohethra would not have mended such an injury. You healed me. What else is there to explain this miracle?"

Talliea loosened her hold on Arizira so that the other woman could turn around to face her. "I-I did not. I could not," she pressed, unable to believe Arizira's wild claims.

"You told me the Esu have such powers, yes?"

"Yes, b-but for the men. Then only the chosen, never for the common folk and, most certainly, never for a woman. I did not heal you, Ari. Your injury must not have been as serious as we thought. Rest and willow bark paved the trail for your recovery. Not I."

Arizira sighed and looked at Talliea. It was obvious the Esu woman was not going to be of the same belief that she was. How Talliea had healed her was unknown to Arizira. All she knew was that she should not have been able to move as well as she was. Dohethra had not healed her; it did not possess such properties. The only logical conclusion then was that the power behind her body's progress was, somehow, Talliea's doing.

That was her belief, regardless of whether or not it was true. Closing the distance between them, Arizira brought her hands to the sides of Talliea's face. She felt her nipples wetly slide across the other woman's and a sharp and tense wave of pleasure shot through her body. When she had been unable to move, the one overriding thought in her mind had been the possibility of never getting to touch Talliea again as she desired. No longer feeling any restrictions in her movements, for Talliea's presence seemed to have removed any last lingering pain, Arizira pressed the full length of her body against Talliea's and slid her fingers into her wet and heavy hair.

She kissed the side of the Esu woman's mouth tenderly. Her left hand held the back of Talliea's head while her right moved down the slope of her neck. Fingers spread across a prominent collar bone while lips sought out another embrace.

Arizira and Talliea kissed slowly, neither feeling the need to progress matters any further. Their bodies were pressed against one another's while their hands moved and explored skin unknown. Without either woman realizing it, a milestone had just been reached in their relationship. A new sense of trust had been achieved.

Talliea had hurt Arizira, however unintentionally, but that act had served to bring them closer together rather than rip them farther apart. Each could now understand the fears, worries, and insecurities of the other. Arizira could understand the devastation Talliea felt over Lao'dahn's abuse, and Talliea could empathize with Arizira in regard to a loved one holding trepidation over a simple touch.

Whether or not Talliea had actually healed Arizira, or Arizira's recovery was the result of tender care and rest, was unimportant to them. What mattered was that they had both weathered their unexpected storm together. Arizira was healing. She was going to make a full recovery and Talliea had not damaged their chance at happiness.

Despite all the bad, the pain and tears and the uncertainties, everything had turned out exactly as they were supposed to. A new appreciation had been kindled. A fresh beginning had been granted. No longer would the atrocities of the past hinder the two of them in the present. They both understood the other in ways they had not before.

As Arizira wrapped her arms around Talliea's neck, and Talliea gently and reverently placed her hands between Arizira's shoulder blades, both women knew they had finally come to the one place they had both longed for since their first meeting.

Talliea's attack, Arizira's injury, the question of who or what had perpetuated Arizira's recovery, did not seem to matter as both women held the other. Arizira, arms around a tanned neck, grasped a handful of Talliea's dark hair and hugged her body closer.

"Thank you," she whispered against Talliea's temple. "Thank you for making me whole once again."

Talliea smiled, tears still lightly staining her cheeks, and replied, "Always, Ahmanae. Always."

Chapter 29: Unification of Spirits

Cynra watched the clouds in the sky as their color moved from white to grey. A change was nearing with the weather. On the horizon, a storm  brewed. Though the skies were currently clear with no rain or snow falling, Cynra knew it would not be long afore everything changed.

To her left the white wolf, her companion, looked up at her with blue eyes. "It is today," Cynra said. The wolf turned its head and regarded her again. "They become one today."

*  *  *  *  *  *

"You are sweet," Arizira said as she pulled away from kissing Talliea's lips. The two of them were partaking of a hearty breakfast of fried apples and wild-berries with thick honey and nuts, complete with one of the rabbits Talliea had secured the day before. "You taste like honey and mint," Arizira continued playfully.

Talliea blushed, a smile lighting up her face, and leaned forward to wipe away at a small dab of honey on Arizira's chin. Since Arizira's recovery four days earlier,  both women, without words or explanations, had come to a better understanding of one another.  Neither was able to explain how they knew what they knew, nor how they felt what they felt. Without their being aware, they had moved farther and farther away from the accident that had frightened them both and, in the process, come closer together.

"I think you only desired to kiss me," Talliea teased, looking back at Arizira before taking another bite of rabbit. Arizira's smile was immediate. She dipped her fingers into the bowl of honey that sat between them and raised a playful eyebrow toward Talliea.

"That is what you think, yes?"

Talliea eyed Arizira with some suspicion, but nodded. "Yes." Before she could react, Arizira was leaning into her again and smearing the honey on her fingertips across Talliea's lips. Talliea tried to move away, laughter sounding around her, but Arizira was too quick. The two women fell in a heap of tangled limbs. When Talliea attempted to speak, Arizira quickly engaged them in a kiss, her tongue swiping over the honey still present on Talliea's lips.

"You must live with your decisions, Tah-li," Arizira said sitting on top of her companion with a smug look on her face. Talliea could only smirk.

Once their bellies were full, each chewed a kalale'zarith leaf, a small, deep green petiole the Arnira used for hygienic purposes, and hunkered down into the warmth of their Ophe'las beds. The weather had turned foul quite unexpectedly and a dismal darkness soon spread across the lands. Clouds, full and heavy, soon released their burdens and all the lands were quickly sodden with wind and snow.

Talliea snuggled into Arizira's back and wrapped her arm around her middle more securely. It still amazed her how warm and soft the leaves of their bedding were. When Arizira had first told her that the Arnira used leaves to sleep upon, she'd been skeptical that such a thing could actually produce any amount of comfort, let alone warmth. Having slept upon Ophe'las for months now, she could not imagine anything else offering such gratification.

"Teach me how to say your name," she said, breaking their still hush. Arizira inhaled at the satisfaction she felt just lying with the woman she loved before responding with, "It is easy, Tah-li. Aree-zira."

Talliea made a face at the second half of the name, but Arizira could not see it. "Aris-s--" she attempted.

"Zzz Like a bee, Tah-li."

"Sss"

A laugh bubbled up from Arizira's throat at Talliea's effort. "Not like a snake! A bee! Zzz." Laughing herself, Talliea tried again. "Ari-sss...my people do not have this sound."

"Just try."

"Ari-sss...Ari-sera," Talliea said, her accent on the name causing Arizira to smile. "Perfect. I like it."

All fell quiet around them once more. Talliea continued to hold Arizira closely as her fingers began to probe at the material restricting her from satiny skin.

Arizira moaned slightly as Talliea's hand around her middle snaked its way under her top. Fingers explored the soft skin of her stomach and she could not stop the hitch that came in her breathing. The sounds of the wind and snow, now louder with sleet, sounded just outside their cavern. The fire some distance behind them crackled with life and a defiant need to continuing burning, despite the onset of the sudden winter storm outside.

All was silent inside the cave, except for the small and light moans of Arizira as Talliea's fingers traversed her skin.

Talliea smiled upon hearing the response her actions were bringing about. She was still so thankful that Arizira was allowing her to touch her. After the accident, as it had come to be referred, she had truly feared she would never be allowed to explore the body of the woman she loved. How could Arizira accept her touch after what she had done?

Somehow, Arizira was allowing and welcoming her touch. She did not fear it, as Talliea had worried. It was as if an unknown barrier between them had fallen away. Arizira did not feel as reserved to Talliea. The facade she had always noticed was no longer in place. Talliea could not adequately explain how she had noticed such a change, but she did.

Arizira's eyes, having always fascinated her, were now more open and expressive. The feelings she had always hidden behind them were now clear for Talliea to see. Ever since Arizira had stumbled to the hot spring four days before, Talliea had been aware of the change. What had caused it, she could not say.

As for Arizira, she too had noticed a change in her companion. Talliea was no longer shy about her body. She did not fear Arizira's eyes upon it and she did not try to hide it any longer. There was a sense of sureness and acceptance that emanated from her now where her body was concerned that had not been present before.

Arizira recalled Talliea's feelings of embarrassment when she had informed her of knowing what Lao'dahn had done. Those feelings of ugliness, of being undesirable, were gone. What had caused the sudden change to take place in so short a span of time, Arizira did not know. She felt as if every insecurity or hidden worry the two of them had unknowingly possessed was now gone.

Talliea did not feel unworthy of Arizira any longer, just as Arizira did not feel as though she had to hide the greater part of her feelings. Certainly, there were still hurdles in the path before them, but both women felt a sense of calm the likes of which neither had ever experienced.

As Talliea held Arizira's body close, she was not aware of the actions of her fingers. The weather outside, coupled with the peace inside, put her mind and body in a place of absolute serenity. Eyes closed, she kissed the back of Arizira's neck and rubbed her nose down to her shoulder. No longer feeling the pain that had accompanied Arizira's body for days was welcome.

Her love was no longer broken. She was no longer hurting. Those thoughts were a huge sense of relief to her. She kissed the top of Arizira's right shoulder blade while her fingers moved higher up her stomach. The interruption in Arizira's breathing was immediate.

Talliea smiled against Arizira's skin. She had no grand plan in her actions. She was not moving to any great end. She was simply enjoying the closeness of her love's body. That was all. The knowledge that her actions were leading the two of them closer to a total unification was unknown to her.

She traced her fingers along Arizira's ribcage and marveled at the feeling of her bones beneath her skin. She felt Arizira entwine their legs together and instinctively scooted closer. The scent of cypress oil invaded her senses as she trailed her kisses from Arizira's neck to her ear. What was propelling her actions she did not know. She did not care.

She was tired of being scared. She was tired of worrying over circumstances. It felt good to not give those thoughts much consideration. Everything about Arizira was right. It always would be. Knowing that Arizira trusted her, even after what she had done, touched Talliea. She had never known that type of faith.

Arizira moaned again and turned her head up, exposing her neck further. One of her hands came up and landed on top of Talliea's. Talliea placed small kisses down the new skin being offered and spread her fingers out to slide down the dip between Arizira's ribs and stomach. She could feel Arizira pushing back against her and, for reasons not clear, the action excited her.

Slowly, she glided her fingers back down Arizira's stomach, taking time to truly enjoy the feeling of her skin, before stopping at the waistband of her pants. She kissed Arizira's jaw before letting her forehead come to rest against her temple. All actions ceased as she felt her heart begin to beat faster in her chest.

Arizira swallowed nervously and rolled over to face Talliea. She did not know where their movements were leading them, but it did not matter. Whatever they were doing was bridging any last remaining distance between them. She looked into Talliea's dark and unsure eyes. The hand that had been on her stomach was now resting against the outside of her hip. She searched Talliea's face before leaning up to kiss her.

The kiss started off slowly, an exploration of what was accepted and what was not. Though she wanted to, Arizira did not attempt to roll Talliea onto her back. She kept them on their sides facing one another, and tentatively began to move her hands and fingers. They slipped under Talliea's blouse and brushed across her stomach.

Talliea's reaction was just as she had expected: heated. Talliea grasped Arizira's hip with more force and pulled them closer together. Opening her mouth, she allowed Arizira's tongue to glide across her own and in that moment everything made sense. They were in love. They had been since their first meeting, though neither could have been aware of that at the time.

All of their trials and tribulations had only been presented before them to increase the bond their spirits shared and strengthen a love that was already true.

There was no force in their embrace. Not this time. Talliea was not touching Arizira and desiring more because her body wanted it. She was not trying to prove anything to herself or get Arizira to open up. She was touching Arizira because she needed to. Her heart and spirit desired it. It was pure. Lao'dahn never even crossed her mind as she pulled Arizira down and on top of her.

Their tongues met with more passion than ever before. Talliea's fingers grazed the small of Arizira's back before slipping to the front of her jerkin and slowly untying the buttons. Arizira, breathing already ragged, pulled her face back and opened her eyes.

They both looked at one another for several long moments. There were no barriers between them, no hidden fears or questions born of worry or insecurity. Arizira licked her lips, mint dancing across her tongue, and hesitated . "What are we doing?" she asked, still feeling the need to verbalize her one and only nagging voice of doubt.

Talliea smiled at her, a smile of complete trust, and raised her fingers up to reverently caress Arizira's jaw. "What we both want, what we need," she replied, fingers slipping from a strong jaw down to a soft and inviting neck.

Arizira closed her eyes at the sensation. She knew this time was different. It did not feel unsure like it had before. What was different, she did not know. There was not one logical or rational thought that could explain her actions or her feelings in this moment. Everything was happening by what her emotions were telling her. Something had changed between herself and Talliea, something that did not have a name.

Her mind tried to step up and fill her thoughts full of useless questions. How had she healed so quickly? What was now so different between them? Would matters happen as they had before?

Just as quickly as the wayward thoughts flittered through her mind they were gone, replaced by the certainty of her feelings for Talliea, her trust. Before, when they had tried to bond, it had been for the wrong reasons. Neither woman had been completely honest with the other and that lack of communication had hurt both of them.

"It will not be like last time," Talliea continued. Her fingers, while Arizira had been lost in thought, had completely untied her top.

Arizira looked down at Talliea, into her shadowy and deep eyes, and knew that she spoke the truth. The force between them, the one both had not understood but still tried to deny, was pushing the two of them together and Arizira knew it could not be fought. Not any longer.

"I know," she replied, the veracity of her words quite abundant. Talliea glanced down, her eyes briefly taking in the sight of Arizira's breasts, before looking back up. Her right hand moved and settled between a pair of slight shoulder blades. "I will not hurt you," she whispered, needing the words to be felt rather than heard.

"I know," Arizira said again. Talliea smiled, the pounding of her heart nearly clouding the sound of her thoughts. "You shall not hurt me," she said.

"Never, failira."

Smiling and swallowing anxiously, Talliea brushed her fingers across Arizira's chin again. "I am nervous," she confessed. Arizira turned her head and kissed her fingers. "We can wait if you are not ready."

"No," Talliea replied quickly. "I want this with you. Touch me. Experience me."

The two of them stared at the other for another moment before coming together in a wet and passionate kiss. Talliea could not believe the difference in Arizira's kiss. She had thought before that the other woman's mouth and lips had felt good against her own, but that was before she had experienced them without any reservation.

Arizira, her playful, gentle, and sometimes introspective love, was now a woman lost to the feelings she had longed to express. Talliea, one hand on the back of Arizira's neck and the other in the middle of her back, moaned as she felt every emotion the Arniran woman possessed for her. As Arizira straddled her hips, she did not feel panic. She did not see Lao'dahn.

Instead, she was taken back to the first dream she had ever had about Arizira. She remembered the way it felt to have Arizira on top of her and the images the dream produced set her body to humming.

This was not a dream. This was not going to end. It was real and it was happening. She was finally able to express herself and she gave her mind over to what her body felt was right. Arizira's lips were warm and wet and, if possible, the taste of mint was stronger than ever. Talliea's tongue tingled and her breath was cool as she panted. She tangled her hand in Arizira's hair and opened her mouth to fully allow her tongue inside.

Though she had very little experience when it came to kissing another person, somehow, with Arizira, she felt as if she had initiated the act several times before. It was familiar, yet surprisingly new. Arizira tore her mouth away from Talliea's and trailed her kisses down her neck. Her tongue was hot as it licked a path down to Talliea's pulse point.

Arizira felt the hands on her body grasp her more tightly and despite herself, she rolled her hips into Talliea's sex. A strangled half cry, half moan filled the space around them with a reverberating echo. Talliea felt her eyes roll back into her head and her senses threatened to black out.

Whatever Arizira had just done felt wonderful. Lips attached themselves to the throbbing and erratic pulse in her neck and she felt Arizira begin to suck the spot. She had never experienced anything like this. Occasionally, Arizira's tongue would swipe across her hypersensitive skin only to be replaced with intermittent bites and nips.

"You feel so good," Talliea murmured to which Arizira only replied with a moan.

She felt herself falling away the more Arizira touched her. She had thought the other woman had made her feel as good as was possible, but she had been wrong. So wrong. Her breathing was coming faster than she could ever recall and her mind was nearly at the brink of being useless to her. She tried to focus; tried to remember every touch, every bite and lick, every kiss; tried to burn every sensation into her memory, but her body was too overloaded to do as she wished.

Arizira was leaning over her, lips trailing down to the hollow of her neck, and Talliea was only vaguely aware of the sounds she was making. She struggled to open her eyes, to somehow participate in what was happening, but the act proved more difficult than she anticipated. After a moment, she succeeded in opening her eyes and looked down at Arizira.

As if feeling her gaze, Arizira glanced up and met her eyes. Both shuddered as something powerful passed between them. Leaning forward, Arizira kissed Talliea slowly. She did not try to lengthen their kiss and instead sat back on her calves and looked down at her love. Talliea's eyes looked over the small amount of exposed skin the halves of her jerkin were providing and Arizira felt as if her body was on fire.

She easily shrugged out of the leather top and tossed it to the side. Her eyes never left Talliea's.

Talliea swallowed and looked at the woman above her. Though she had seen Arizira's breasts before, there was something different, something erotic, about having them presented to her in such a wanton situation. Arizira was not undressing so she could bathe. She was undressing so Talliea could touch her.

She was undressing so that their bodies could connect and explore one another as their spirits expressed themselves. Sitting up, Arizira still in her lap, Talliea exhaled a shaky breath and looked into deep and glowing blue eyes. She held the gaze for only a moment before lowering her eyes to take in the sight of two perfect breasts. Her fingers moved as her head leaned forward to land against Arizira's sternum. She wrapped her left hand around her love's waist while her right sought out the feeling of Arizira's nipples.

Shy fingers cupped Arizira's left breast and tested its weight. Talliea heard the contented moan that left Arizira's mouth and guessed her touch had been appropriate. Squeezing and palming the pliant mound, she turned her head slightly to place a small kiss on Arizira's collarbone. She moved her fingers up and swirled them around a taut nipple and felt Arizira tangle her hands in her hair.

Opening her eyes, Talliea looked down at her fingers and watched as they grazed over a pink and pert nipple. The flesh was harder, more rough, than she was expecting. She felt Arizira's nipple tighten against her fingers and the sound that escaped her mouth was more beautiful than anything Talliea had ever heard before.

She continued to touch and explore Arizira's breast, both amazed and excited at the softness and the roughness. Arizira was pressing her body against her own and the hands in her hair were scratching at her scalp. It aroused her, Arizira's reactions and lack of inhibitions. She felt a familiar wetness form between her legs.

Arizira pulled away, hands still in her hair, and looked down at Talliea. The heat in that single gaze caused the throbbing in Talliea's sex to increase. She felt herself being pushed back gently before Arizira's body was once again covering her own. Lips pressed against her mouth while hands moved to begin undoing her top. She was overcome with sensation and could barely keep up with Arizira's movements.

This kiss was different than before. It was softer, slower. Talliea could feel the shift in Arizira's touch move from less hurried and frantic to more cherished and venerated. "Do not hold a part of yourself back from me," she said as she turned away from Arizira's kiss.

Arizira rested her weight on her left arm which was settled next to Talliea's head. Her right hand spread Talliea's jerkin apart and let it fall open at her sides. Before continuing, she looked into her love's eyes. "It is my wish that you fully appreciate this experience, Tah-li. I do not want to rush this or make it ugly for you. Your innocence is a sacred part of what it means to be a woman. It can only be experienced by one person in our lifetime. I desire for this release in you to be beautiful."

Talliea smiled at Arizira's words. She did not fully understand them or what exactly her innocence consisted of, but the fact that Arizira wished for her to be comfortable and to enjoy their experience meant more to her than she could convey. Still, like Arizira, she wanted the other woman to enjoy their act as well.

"You do not have to hide for me to appreciate this, Ari. I want to feel everything. I want to feel how you feel about me and I, too, desire for this to be enjoyable for you as well."

Arizira trailed her fingers down between Talliea's breasts. She watched her fair-skinned hand as it glided across Talliea's beautiful golden-brown complexion, and the vivid contrast excited her. "All will be well," Talliea assured her.

They came together a second time, each embrace shedding the last of their worries. Talliea felt Arizira's breasts and hard nipples press against her own heaving chest. The feeling was so very different than it had been earlier when they had been in the water. She felt her own firm nipples brush across Arizira's and she moaned. Arizira's lips were kissing her neck again while the fingers of her right hand were kneading the flesh of her lower abdomen.

Talliea felt her legs fall apart and her hips begin to move. Why, she did not know. She felt as if she was searching for something. Something more. What that something was remained elusive. She could tell that she and Arizira were moving further into unexplored territory. That thought made her both anxious and excited. As much as she wanted this experience with Arizira, the fact remained that she was still a virgin. Everything was new to her and she did not know what to fully expect.

Arizira stopped kissing her and leaned forward until their foreheads were touching. Talliea could feel the warmth of Arizira's breath as it washed across her face. Silvery hair fell around them and Talliea registered movement. Arizira's right hand, having been on her stomach, slowly began inching its way up and over her ribcage. The pounding of her heart increased as did the throbbing between her thighs. She felt her hold on Arizira's body become slightly shaky.

Fingers continued to move until Talliea felt them brush along the underside of her left breast. Her mouth opened and a surprised gasp sounded around the two women. She arched her back slightly and brought her body closer to Arizira's touch. A pleasurable shock-wave had jolted down to her sex at the small caress and Talliea wished to experience the sensation again.

Smiling, Arizira leaned her body to the side so that it rested more on Talliea's right. She moved her fingers agonizingly slowly until they came in contact with Talliea's hard, dark nipple. Talliea's moan sounded like a cry to her ears. It was beautiful to her. She was giving this woman, her goddess, someone so pure and good and innocent, a type of pleasure no other had ever offered her. Knowing that she was making her love feel so good was nearly enough for Arizira.

She moved the pads of her fingers over Talliea's nipple several times, each time enjoying the way her body reacted, before lightly pinching the tight bud between her thumb and forefinger. A sharp cry and jerk of Talliea's body caused her own to immediately start to pulsate. She sighed against Talliea's lips before grabbing her breast in her hand and shamelessly squeezing the flesh with her fingers. Her palm rubbed against Talliea's nipple as her fingers pressed into her skin.

Talliea was holding onto her body, her arms wrapped around her neck and back in a tight embrace. Arizira could feel the neediness in the hold, the extreme desire to keep them as close as possible. A leg wound its way around her hip and wrapped over the back of her right thigh. Talliea's foot began to rub across her thigh as her body started to rock.

The instinct was evident to Arizira even if it was lost to Talliea. Shimmying down the strong and dark body beneath her, Arizira allowed herself to come level with Talliea's heaving chest. She felt dark eyes on her and knew her love was watching her movements. Rolling her hips, she pressed her body into Talliea's sex again and was soon rewarded with a gratifying and ragged, "Ari."

Arizira rested her weight against Talliea's body and kissed the small space between her breasts. Her hands came to land on either side of Talliea's torso before she began trailing small and light kisses across her chest. She could still feel Talliea's leg wrapped around her thigh, and soon hands were tangled in her hair while fingers grazed over her tapered ears.

Lowering herself to Talliea's right breast, Arizira blew a breath across the already tight nipple. A gasp from above her was all she needed to bring her mouth to the desirous and needy nipple and wrap her lips around it.

Talliea's entire body jerked as she went rigid with pleasure. She had never expected this part of her body to be so sensitive. Arizira's soft lips and heated and wet mouth were sucking and flicking and licking across the swollen flesh of her nipple, and she could hear the sounds of her very haggard breathing. It felt wonderful, both physically and emotionally. She could feel the gentle respect and homage Arizira was paying her.

The other woman's emotions seemed to be her own and it was all she could do to keep from passing out from the overwhelming weight of it all. She continued to moan the longer Arizira's lips graced the delicate flesh of her nipple. Her right hand in Arizira's hair moved to hold the side of her face. She could feel the muscles of the other woman's jaw flexing as her lips moved to bring her pleasure. "Ari..." she moaned again, her voice but a whisper. "Oh, Ahmanae."

What she was hoping to express with her words, she'd never know. The need to say...something; the need to have Arizira's name upon her tongue, was staggering and astounding. She felt so overcome by what was happening. How could what she was doing with Arizira ever be frowned upon? How could it ever be viewed as abhorrent or wrong?

Did her people experience what she was experiencing when they laid together? Did the women of her people live their entire lives without ever knowing what it felt like to be adored and appreciated. Arizira was not just making her body feel good, she was bringing her spirit to life. She was coaxing into existence the profound love the two of them shared with her actions alone.

This was not a physical act. No, this was an emotional one. A spiritual one. Talliea knew there could be no other more unconditional, unadulterated or pure act in all the world. She let her hands move from Arizira's hair and down the smooth skin of her back. They settled between her shoulder blades, shoulder blades that had been broken and marred, and held Arizira close.

The Arniran woman kissed her right nipple before trailing kisses across her chest. She felt silken lips press against the outside of her left breast. Arizira's long eye lashes brushed across her sternum before lips attached themselves to her left nipple and paid it the same kind of love and devotion as her right had received.

With every touch, every caress, Talliea could feel her body responding with more and more sensations. The longer they held one another, the stronger the sensations became. Her breath was ragged and uneven, sweat lightly glistened across her chest, and her heart was pounding in rhythm to the throbbing between her legs.

How something could feel so good was beyond her. Her nails scratched Arizira's back and marveled at the feeling of her muscles moving fluidly underneath soft skin. She trailed her hands up, allowing her fingers to dip into the curve of Arizira's spine, and brought them to the back of her neck. Arizira ghosted her lips down between her breasts and began to leave hot, open mouthed kisses across her ribs and stomach.

Talliea felt small hands grab each of her breasts while silken, fine hair moved over her chest. "Ari...yes," she managed to breathe out heavily.

Arizira sat up, her lips leaving Talliea's body and her hair being tossed behind her head. She looked down at the perfect woman beneath her, body writhing and begging for her closeness, and watched as her hands palmed full breasts. Talliea's eyes were lidded, her breathing chaotic, and Arizira had never seen a more beautiful and giving sight.

She reached up with her right hand and gently placed it behind Talliea's neck. Leaning back down, she brought their lips together in the most tender of embraces. She felt Talliea respond by tangling fingers into her hair. They kissed for several minutes. Mint danced between their tongues. Pants and moans grew in volume and intensity.

Arizira kissed Talliea's bottom lip in a small caress as she pulled away and moved to where she was sitting across Talliea's lap once again. Her hands trembled as they mapped and re-mapped the feeling of warm and soft skin. She was amazed with every reaction Talliea gave her. For so long she had desired this. Now that it was finally happening, Arizira was both grateful and apprehensive. When her fingers reached the waistband of Talliea's pants, she stopped and looked back up.

Dark eyes met her gaze. The most absolute trust stared back at her. She could feel herself becoming more and more a part of Talliea the longer they touched and embraced. Never before had Arizira experienced something so strong and perfect. Whatever was transpiring between herself and Talliea was unlike anything else she'd ever known. Somehow, she could feel what her love was feeling.

It was more powerful than the times before. Talliea's nervousness, her anxiousness and her pleasure, her trust and her devotion-- Arizira could feel it all, along with her own emotions. It was as if her mind no longer had a part in the act. She was moving as her body desired, as the bond she felt with Talliea asked of her.

Slowly, Arizira reached down and untied the leather strings that held Talliea's pants around her hips. An uneven gasp met the movement. "You are beautiful, Tah-li."

Talliea smiled, her eyes locked on the movements of Arizira's fingers. She felt as if she could barely remain still. Her entire body seemed poised for...something. The closer Arizira got to the center between her legs, the more ardent and extreme the pounding became. She watched Arizira's slim and fair fingers untie her pants and if possible, her heart flopped even heavier inside her chest.

They held each other's eyes. Arizira finished untying Talliea's pants, her own breaths coming much more quickly than before, and slowly slipped her fingers just inside the rim.

Talliea arched her back, her throat locking as air tried to escape her lungs. Arizira ran her fingers along her lower stomach and the outside of her full hips. The sensation was exquisite. It was better than everything before it. The throbbing between her legs grew and she felt as if it was asking, begging, for something. For Arizira.

Whatever the wetness covering her sex indicated, it was only growing more and more abundant the longer Arizira touched her. Opening her eyes and looking back down her body, she watched Arizira sit back and slide her pants off of her legs.

She laid before the other half of her heart, her spirit, and looked up. Talliea was completely naked in front of Arizira. Bare. There was nothing hiding her body. No clothing. No water. Nothing. She watched Arizira's eyes, glowing with a silver fire, trace over the apex of her legs. They settled on her sex and Talliea felt herself twitch at the intensity of the gaze.

Arizira's hands landed on each of her thighs and slowly began moving up her legs. The pounding increased. A lot. Talliea's breathing was so uneven and ragged she truly believed she was going to faint. Fingers brushed the soft skin between her leg and hip and her body jumped. Her back arched. She moaned. Deeply.

"V'na'hir," Arizira whispered, using her people's word for perfect.

Talliea did not understand the word or words. Fumbling, she attempted to reach for Arizira's pants. She wanted to feel her love's body on top of her own with no restrictions. She wanted to see Arizira.

As if understanding her love's intent, Arizira removed her hands and moved to stand up. Talliea moved with her until she was sitting before Arizira. Tanned fingers beat her own to the tie of her pants and began to loosen the material. Once the knot was released, Talliea looked back up at Arizira before languidly pushing the leather down her legs.

The smell of what must have been arousal invaded Talliea's senses. She helped Arizira out of her pants and sat back to look up at her. Arizira's sex was glistening like her own. Her body was shaking. They were alike. Each felt the same as the other. Leaning forward until she rested on her knees, Talliea wrapped her arms around Arizira's waist and pressed a hot kiss to her lower stomach.

She felt Arizira place her hands into her hair and hold her close. After a moment, their embrace ended and Arizira was gently pushing her back down onto the Ophe'las leaves again. Their slick and heated bodies met. Skin pressed against skin. They were chest to chest, hip to hip. Sex to sex. They had become one. One heart. One spirit. Beating. Living. In two separate bodies.

Talliea wrapped her arms around Arizira's back once again. Her leg moved to allow her foot to caress the back of Arizira's calf while her lips kissed anything within reach. She was amazed at the heat coming from Arizira's body. The sweat they had both worked up caused their bodies to glide against one another, and both women were shaking with anticipation.

Arizira kissed Talliea's neck, taking the time to lick at the moisture collecting there. She felt Talliea's lips nip at her earlobe and was so overcome with want and desire that she momentarily lost the balance her arm had on her weight. Talliea welcomed the added pressure, her arms holding onto Arizira tenderly, yet securely.

"You feel wonderful," Talliea whispered against Arizira's skin. Her voice was low and heavy with her arousal. Arizira pressed her sex into Talliea's again and trailed her tongue up her neck until her mouth came to rest near a tan ear. "So do you, Tah-li," she replied hoarsely.

Hands moved everywhere. Fingers explored and tantalized every available inch of skin. Arizira could feel the wetness between Talliea's thighs. The soft patch of hair that covered Talliea's sex was new for her. Arniran women did not have such a feature. The feeling was different than what she had experienced. Different, but welcome.

No longer able to contain herself, Arizira moved her right hand from Talliea's hip to her lower stomach. The leg around her thigh and calf tightened its hold and Arizira pulled away just enough so that she could look into dark brown eyes. "Tah-li," she said.

Talliea's eyes opened at the sound of Arizira's voice. It was different. Heavier. The musical quality was still evident, but it was deeper and more rough. The accent was more pronounced than it had been from just moments before. She did not say anything in response. Instead, she lowered her leg from Arizira's thigh and let it fall open to her side. Whether or not the action was required, she did not know. It felt...natural to spread herself open before the woman on top of her.

Arizira smiled down at her before kissing her nose and her eyebrows. Slowly, she began to move her fingers to Talliea's center. A sudden flare of panic? embarrassment? stopped her. Talliea was watching her, some unknown apprehension coloring her eyes. "I...there is..."

Talliea tried to explain herself. She was not afraid of Arizira's touch. She wanted it, greatly desired it. Her nervousness had come about due to the moisture between her legs. Was it common? Would Arizira be repulsed? She had noticed Arizira's sex appeared much like her own, but still...

Arizira, having been privy to Talliea's inner musings, only smiled before reaching up and taking one of Talliea's hands in her own. "Do not be upset. This is good," she said, referring to the wetness Talliea was so anxious over. "This is your body's approval of me and my actions."

Again, her words were harder to understand, her accent heavier. Talliea swallowed her nerves and felt her hand being guided between their bodies. Before she could say or question anything, she felt her fingers come into contact with Arizira's sex. Moisture rushed to greet her as heat assaulted her fingertips.

Arizira was soft. So, so soft. She was wet and her flesh was warm and Talliea moaned at feeling something so intimately beautiful. She turned and buried her head into Arizira's neck and sighed as her fingers were guided.

"Good, Tah-li," Arizira whispered, her voice no longer as strong as before. "Your body approves of me?" Talliea asked against her shoulder. "Yes," Arizira moaned. Fingers brushed over her again. "Very, very much, failira."

Talliea smiled and the last of her nerves faded away. She removed her hand and placed it in the small of Arizira's back. Brushing her nose against a sweat heated neck, she kissed Arizira's jaw. "Touch me," she begged in a small voice.

Arizira released a breath and kissed Talliea's lips. Her hand moved back between their bodies and she slowly lowered her fingers until she met a soft patch of hair. Running her fingers down further, she finally came to the source of Talliea's pleasure. At the first stroke of her fingers, a hedonistic and heavy moan left Talliea's mouth. She rolled her hips into Arizira's fingers and grasped her back more firmly. "Ari...oh...my..."

Talliea was gone. Nothing, nothing had ever made her feel so good, so wonderful. Arizira's soft fingers were gliding through the wetness between her legs, touching a part of her she had not known could feel so much. The throbbing, though still quite persistent, was being sated. Arizira's touch was what it had wanted all along. Her caress was what it had been longing for, searching for.

With each stroke of Arizira's fingers, Talliea felt the wetness increase. Her eyes were squeezed tightly shut and her moans and pants were heavy and without a care. She continued to roll her hips, the actions somehow being what her body needed, and held Arizira closely to her. She needed to feel that Arizira was with her, that the other woman had her in this most special of moments. She gave herself to Arizira then. She gave her all of her control and her trust and she allowed Arizira to lead her.

In addition to the wonderful and enjoyable emotions and sensations Arizira was making her feel, Talliea also felt the love, respect and gratitude Arizira was feeling. She could feel the sensation of her own wetness on her fingers as Arizira continued to explore her. How such a thing was taking place was lost.

Arizira was kissing her neck and her jaw and, occasionally, her lips. She could feel wet heat gliding against her thigh as Arizira gently rocked against her, and the act excited her. Unlike when Lao'dahn had been on top of her and had been moving and rocking, Arizira's actions did not frighten or harm her.

She felt the fingers between her legs move lower and swirl around her opening. Did Arizira plan to move inside of her? She recalled her mother, years before, telling her that when a man laid with a woman the woman would feel pain. When she'd asked why such a thing was so, her mother had responded, "Because a woman's body cannot withstand the force of such purity that resides within a man. A man is the vessel of Esuval. Pain is what we feel when they mate with us and what we must endure to bear our children, because our bodies are inherently flawed."

Was the same true if she was lying with a woman? Would there be pain? Would Arizira hurt her? The fingers between her legs dipped just inside of her before moving back up to the source of her pleasure. She felt her breath catch as her legs opened wider, her heart beat faster, and her wetness increased.

"I will not hurt you," Arizira whispered in a ragged breath next to her ear.

"I know," Talliea replied. Arizira hesitated a moment. "Tah-li, we will be different after this. We shall be more. Please understand, there will be no going back after this."

Talliea turned her head and brought her lips to Arizira's. She kept one hand on her love's lower back and moved the other one up to grasp her neck. Kissing Arizira with every ounce of passion and love she possessed, Talliea readied herself for the coming moment.

She was about to become a woman. She was about to become Arizira's. "Put your hands on me, love," she whispered, not caring that she had just unintentionally confessed her feelings verbally.

No words were spoken. Arizira moved her fingers back down to Talliea's opening . She could feel the bond she shared with Talliea growing and becoming something more. Their feelings were merging to the point that it was proving difficult to discern her own feelings from those of Talliea's. Her fingers dipped inside slowly. She could feel the tightness, the wetness. The heat.

Bracing her weight on her left arm, Arizira looked down to watch Talliea's reaction. She needed to see her. The other woman's eyes were hooded. Her breaths were haggard. Pushing in with a little added force, Arizira's fingers were soon enveloped by nothing but throbbing, hot, slick walls of muscle.

Talliea's eyes widened before closing. Her breath hitched, her back arched, and her legs spread even wider. "Ari-sera..."

Other words left Talliea's mouth. Whether they were cries, moans, pleas, or praises were not known. The feeling of having Arizira inside of her was not unpleasant. The pain had been minimal and had not lasted. That fact had surprised her. Arizira's fingers fit inside her body as if she had always been meant to be there. The sensation of being filled so intimately was enormous. Never before had she felt so close to Arizira. This moment belonged only to them.

Their bodies were pressed tightly against one another. Their hearts were beating against the other's chest. Talliea could practically feel every minute movement Arizira made. She felt Arizira's life suddenly wash over her body and pass before her eyes. Memories and thoughts, joys and times of sadness, loves had and loves lost-- all flittered through her mind in a dizzying array of images.

In this one moment, Talliea knew nearly everything about Arizira. She knew how she had struggled before their feelings had been shared. She felt Arizira's curiosity from the first time they met and her inner turmoil before the first time they had kissed. She saw faces dance before her eyes; other Arnia, some adored, some honored, some loved.

She watched Arizira's childhood race before her in the blink of an eye. She saw her learning to use a bow. She witnessed her first kiss. She walked through dense parts of the forest she had never seen before, but were known and revered by Arizira.

She remembered the first time Arizira had called her failira in the cave of Li'nas Dei. The word and its meaning were suddenly known to her completely. She could barely fathom the strength of Arizira's emotions for her. Such a simple and beautiful word encompassed all the things she, herself, felt for Arizira. Everything that made Arizira who she was, Talliea felt, experienced and knew.

The same was true for Arizira. She felt her fingers being guided deeper inside of Talliea's body. The tightness around them was intense. Talliea's virginity felt wonderful to her. She watched her love react to the sensation of being filled for the first time and her heart pounded happily upon witnessing the myriad amount of emotions that passed through her dark eyes.

She felt and understood Talliea completely in that one moment. The deeper inner workings of Esu politics was suddenly known to her. She saw Talliea's life, so dull and lacking in vibrancy and worth, enter her mind. The images brought tears to her eyes. She watched a young and defiant Talliea leaving the safety of an Esu settlement and become lost. She saw a flower blossom before her mind's eye.

Tahlet Vahllah.

The years passed and soon Arizira saw a powerfully built man with elaborate tattoos over his chest. She immediately knew the man as Markahn. She watched him touch Talliea and fondle her through her clothes and felt Talliea's repulsion as though it were her own. She saw him make his claim to join with her before other Esu men and women.

A sadness fell over Arizira as the events of Talliea's life played out before her eyes. An image of herself came next. She saw her first encounter with Talliea through Talliea's eyes. The wonder; the fascination; the sense of hope that Talliea had felt became Arizira's. Every moment she had shared with Talliea, she witnessed from the other woman's point of view. Talliea's uncertainty and confusion made her smile.

She experienced their first kiss again. She felt Talliea's pain and guilt over her accident. She felt everything. As the unusual and commanding feelings engulfed both women, they felt tears brim their eyes. Talliea looked up at Arizira. Arizira looked down at Talliea. They each knew what the other had just experienced, and though baffled at the nature, neither question anything. This moment was intimate in more ways than one.

Arizira leaned down and kissed Talliea again. Her tongue embraced the other woman's as her tears fell down her cheeks. Slowly, she pulled her fingers out of Talliea before sliding them back inside. Talliea moaned, kissing her back, before rolling her hips up to meet Arizira's movements. She cradled the back of Arizira's neck with complete and utter reverence. Her fingers grasped silken threads of silver-blonde hair as she allowed herself to let go.

For the first time in her life, in twenty-three years, Talliea felt as if she had finally come home. She felt a sense of peace that only bards and minstrels sang about. Arizira was moving on top of her, her fingers so, so deep inside of her body, and the touch was the most heated but gentle of any she'd ever experienced.

She understood suddenly what Arizira had meant when she had told her the Arnira loved in the spirit, not the flesh. Though it was her body reaping the rewards, it was her spirit that was the cause of such staggering sensations. Arizira was speaking to her body from what she felt in her heart.

Talliea began to roll her hips faster as Arizira's fingers continued to push inside of her. She felt a thumb rub against the source of her wetness and the sensation was mind-blowing. A gasp, a moan, parted her lips. They were moving as one now, Arizira on top of Talliea pushing their sweat drenched bodies together. Arizira's head was nestled in the crook of Talliea's neck, her lips pressed against moist skin, while Talliea's was resting against Arizira's shoulder. Both women's faces were wet with tears, both of their bodies shook.

The muscles flexing and contracting in Arizira's body as she moved captivated and enchanted Talliea. Feeling their fluid and smooth movements beneath her fingers was enrapturing and intoxicating. She felt as if the two of them were moving toward some end, some goal. Her body felt ready for a release of some kind. She desired such a thing, yet, she did not. The feelings coursing through her body were the most beautiful she had ever felt.

She did not desire for them to end, ever. Yet, she knew her body could not continue as it was. Her muscles were sore. Her breathing was stretched. She was hot and tired, but, oh it all felt so good. How she could want and wish for two completely different things, things at such odds with one another, was beyond her.

Arizira bit down lightly on Talliea's neck. Her breaths came in heavy pants. The arm she had supporting her body above Talliea was weary. Not only was she focusing on her love's pleasure, she was having to stave off her own. Every swipe of her thumb and thrust of her fingers was felt by her as they were felt by Talliea. She had never experienced such a phenomenon.

She felt as if her own innocence had been returned to her. She was experiencing their entire encounter from Talliea's perspective. The body beneath her own was moving more jerkily and spasmodically. Talliea had completely given over to her body's instincts. Her hips rolled up in such a beautiful way. Legs were spread wide open, heels were digging into Arizira's calves, and hands were grabbing at her neck and back.

She could hear the pants, dry and uneven, that left Talliea's lips. Moans and whispered cries of her name filled the air around them. Talliea was nearing orgasm. Her first. Arizira smiled, her love for Talliea filling every fiber of her being, and sped up her actions. It did not take long for her to feel the muscles around her fingers begin to tighten.

As for Talliea, she was lost; lost to everything but what Arizira was doing to her. She could feel something, some power, wishing to be released from deep inside herself. She did not know what it was. It felt...ancient; powerful and preeminent. What it was, she could not ponder, for another sensation vied for her attention. A physical sensation. A release.

She felt her entire body readying itself for...something. Struggling to help herself achieve what her body wanted, Talliea increased the pace of her hips. She heard Arizira moan against her neck in appreciation. Words spoken in the Arniran language left her love's lips. She did not need to know their meaning to enjoy the sound of them.

Faster and faster they moved together. Until...

A paroxysm rocked Talliea's body. She arched her back up completely off the ground, as if offering herself to Arizira wholly. She felt an eruption shatter her into a million different pieces. The most intense of sensations raged through her body. Wave after wave after wave of white hot, explosive pleasure rippled and spread from her sex to her belly to her fingers and toes. She felt her throat constricting. The muscles deep inside her body were contracting around Arizira's fingers. Colors caused an outburst behind her eyes.

Her emotional bond with Arizira peaked and reached new heights. There was only the two of them. Only Arizira. The rest of the world fell away and became inconsequential. Clans and tribes, gods and goddesses, night and day --  all meant nothing to Talliea. She was where she was supposed to be, in the arms of her love being brought the most beautiful and glorious of pleasures.

Arizira rolled her hips into the back of her hand. She could feel the enormity of Talliea's orgasm. The sensations rocked her own body. Never before had she felt something so all consuming, so perfect. She knew, as they found their release together, that she could never be parted from Talliea. They shared a heartbeat now, an essence of life that would forever tie them together.

There was no turning back. Their lives belonged to each other now. Arizira's tears pooled against Talliea's neck. She could feel their bodies convulsing together. Their moment seemed to stretch forever, so lost in one another they each were.

Finally, Talliea sighed heavily and lowered her body. Her legs fell from around Arizira's calves, yet she maintained her hold on Arizira's neck and back, but only barely. Arizira fell against Talliea and released a gravid breath of her own. A copious amount of moisture covered her fingers which were still buried deep inside of her love's shaking body.

Slowly, she pulled her fingers from out of their tight space. As soon as they were free, Talliea's hand reached for own and entwined their fingers. Her wetness covered both of their fingers. Arizira moved so that half of her body was on top of Talliea and the other half rested on Talliea's right side.

They each breathed heavily trying to calm their beating hearts. Arizira kissed Talliea's chest and neck. Keeping their hands together, she leaned forward and began to pepper small and light kisses across her face. Her lips exalted Talliea's chin and nose. They praised her cheekbones and her eyelids. She felt Talliea move their conjoined hands over her heart and realized they were both sharing the same rhythm.

Outside, light had given way to an early darkness. Snow fell in a deluge of white fury and wind howled as if crying for a lost love. Talliea swallowed several times in an attempt to moisten her dry throat. Her entire body hummed and purred with a delightful ebullience. She felt whole and complete for the first time in her life. Turning her head, she pressed her lips to Arizira's forehead and allowed them to linger. She could feel and taste the sweat along the other woman's brow and the heat that covered her body.

They laid together, arms and legs wrapped around one another, for several quiet moments. Talliea ran her free hand in soft and tender patterns over Arizira's body as they lay cuddled side by side. She wished to experience what they had just done again and again and again. "Ahmanae?" she murmured, her voice hushed.

"Yes, failira?"

"I think I have fallen in love with you."

Arizira smiled and lifted her head to look into Talliea's eyes. Her own were radiating a deep luminous glow. She bent her head down to place a delicate kiss on Talliea's full lips. "I think I have fallen in love with you, too, Tah-li."

Smiles spread across both their faces. The admissions, the confessions, having finally met the sound of life, blossomed between them. "Are you okay?" Arizira asked as she peered into Talliea's face and brushed a strand of hair from her eyes.

"I am perfect," Talliea replied, her voice stronger. "It was perfect."

Arizira smiled again as the sound of the storm outside quickly came to her ears. There was so much she still wished to say to Talliea, so much she desired to speak of, but her body was tired and she desired to rest.

"I love you, Ari-sera," Talliea said feeling the need to speak the words again. Arizira studied her face for a time, her eyes tracing over exotic features. "And I love you," she said. "I believe I have found my Doira'Liim."

Talliea did not question Arizira's statement. Though the Doira'Liim was a belief not of her people, she somehow believed Arizira spoke truly. What they had just shared could not be replicated. It was meant only for them and them alone.

Arizira was the other half to herself just as she was the other half of Arizira. Together, they were one. They were greater than who they had each been alone. Their connection was unique and one of a kind. As long as she was with Arizira, Talliea knew she could overcome anything. She felt a strength inside of herself that she could not explain.

Arizira wrapped the wolf hide blanket around their tired and sweaty bodies. She pressed herself against Talliea's side and laid her head on her shoulder. Talliea sighed contentedly and took Arizira into her arms. She held her small and slight frame with appreciative and devout care.

Their hearts continued to beat as one as they each drifted off to sleep. They were together. Nothing else mattered.

Chapter 30: The First Volley

Talliea stretched in her sleep and rolled over onto her side. She was vaguely aware of a soreness deep inside her muscles, but it seemed almost welcome after her earlier activities. Her hand reached out, needing to feel the heat of Arizira's body, but landed on the top of her wolf hide blanket.

She opened her eyes, her deep sleep causing the images she saw to be blurred, and immediately found who she was looking for. Arizira was sitting across from her, next to the fire, and her attention was being held by the world outside their cave as she stared intently at the night sky. Her small, lithe, and beautiful body was covered only by her cloak and her hair, normally braided or otherwise adorned, was falling down her back in a messy heap.

Talliea lay silently for a time. Her eyes studied every movement Arizira's body made. She smiled to herself when she remembered that slender body moving on top of her own just a few hours earlier. Arizira's flesh had been soft and warm and her muscles had strained as she expressed her emotions with her body.

It had been beautiful. Already Talliea desired to experience everything a second time. She could not imagine never getting to see Arizira that way again. The thought that they could one day not express themselves so was lost to her. She knew they were connected now, far more so than they ever had been. They had bonded. Emotionally. Spiritually. Physically.

Talliea smiled again. She had always known the world had more to offer. As a child the belief that all there was only duty, obedience, and strict order had saddened her and brought a sense of heaviness to her spirit. She had wanted to see the world. She had wanted to experience the things spoken of in songs. If such things did not exist, why were they forever immortalized in such a profound way?

When her people had come to the Northlands and she had seen towering trees and monolithic rock structures, she had known that there was beauty to be found. That belief had only been verified again when Arizira had revealed herself in the glade near her people's camp. Though at the time the two of them could not communicate, Talliea had felt that Arizira heard her as well as saw her. Everything that had happened afterward had been a wild rush of events, both good and bad, that had led her to where she currently was.

Feeling loved and adored and cherished and physically satisfied. She could think of nothing else that would ever make her feel so complete. A child possibly would give her an even greater appreciation of life...

She stopped suddenly as another thought entered her mind. A child? Could they have conceived a life? The actual how of Arnira mating and birth were still not certain for Talliea. Arizira spoke of Arniran conception as if it were like any other. She had told Talliea that Aitla blessed them with child. Did that blessing also extend to a love between a day walker and a child of night? Was such a thing possible? Talliea did not feel pregnant but then again, she had no other experience to compare such a thing. Was it possible Arizira was with child?

They had been connected physically. Arizira had been inside her. They had shared something powerful and strong and beautiful. Was it so far out of the realm of possibilities that their wondrous and beautiful moment together could bring about a life?

Talliea inhaled and attempted to slow the pace of her crazed thoughts. She was getting ahead of herself. If one of them was with child, then they would both decide on their course of action. They would do what was best. A child, a whole new life with Arizira, was not something Talliea was opposed to. Her eyes focused once again upon Arizira's silhouette. She could tell that her love was lost to her own thoughts. Her glowing eyes were wide with some unknown concept and Talliea felt a sense of happiness by just watching her.

It had felt good to finally confess her love. Having felt such an overwhelming desire to say the three simple words for so long had left Talliea feeling spent when she'd finally felt comfortable enough to utter them. Hearing Arizira's verbal admission had only made their entire moment together all the more special. Talliea sat up and wrapped her blanket around her nude body. Walking over to Arizira, she settled in behind her and covered both of their forms with the soft wolf hide.

Her legs spread out on either side of Arizira's hips and her arms wound their way around a slim waist. Arizira sighed happily and pressed her back against Talliea's front. "Hi," Talliea whispered, kissing Arizira's ear.

"Failira," Arizira responded.  The small word made Talliea's heart happy. She placed several small, light kisses along Arizira's shoulder before turning her head and resting her chin next to her neck. "Why are you awake?" she asked softly.

Arizira, eyes having closed at the sensations Talliea's lips evoked, inhaled deeply before responding. "My sight misses the moon," she said. Talliea pulled back slightly and stared at her love. It had never occurred to her that Arizira missed something as simple as the moon. Understanding the Arniran woman as she did now, she was appalled that such a thought had been so lost to her.

Of course Arizira missed the moon. The moon was her people's physical embodiment of their goddess. The Arnira were nocturnal and enjoyed the night and the stars and all that was celestial. When Arizira had started sleeping during the night so that they could travel during the day, Talliea had never thought overlong on the matter. She had been too upset over where her life was leading her and on Lao'dahn's abuse.

Now, however, she understood the sacrifice Arizira had made to be able to walk with her as she did. The night was sacred to the Arnira, just as the moon was the light of Aitla upon the world. Feeling guilty, Talliea replied in a small voice. "I am sorry." Arizira turned in her arms so that she could see her face better. Bright and shimmering eyes stared into her own. "Please do not be. I would gladly sacrifice the sight of the Mother Moon if it meant I could look upon your face every minute of my life."

Unsure how to respond, Talliea leaned her forehead against Arizira's and let a silence fall around them. She could feel the heat from their fire warming her tired and achy body, as well as hear the frequent howls of the winter wind. Outside, a steady snow fell and quietly cushioned the forest floor. With the moon being so high in the sky, Talliea was able to see much of the trees and surrounding fauna so near to the cave.

"We can spend our time in the shadow of night. We have not the need to travel as once we did,” she whispered.

Arizira took in the words but remained silent. As much as she had enjoyed getting to know Talliea and show her the many marvels of the forest, she had not known how much being away from the moon and stars would affect her. Her people held elaborate ceremonies many nights of any given month, and being away from such hallowed rituals had left her feeling slightly unbalanced. Traveling during the day, with the sun constantly in her eyes, had proven to be draining.

Her forest did not look the same with the light of the sun as it did with the rays of the moon. The only thing that had made the whole adjustment easier to bear was Talliea. With her, Arizira had not noticed the desires of her own heart as much. Tonight, however, as she had lain in her lover's arms, she had been keenly aware of the moon beaming down outside. Like a call, it had pulled her from her sleep and asked her to venerate it. So, she had.

"Your eyes do not allow you to walk with certain steps during the moon's reign, Tah-li."

"You could be my guide. On nights such as this, when the moon is high and full, you could show me more of the forest as you see it," Talliea pushed. Sighing, a small smile touching her lips, Arizira placed her hands on top of the ones around her middle and nodded. "If that is your wish."

"It is."

Silence settled around them once more. Insects chirped a melody that seemed to set the tempo for which the rest of the forest sang. Owls hooted far away in the distance while the sound of foxes scurrying into underbrush caught Arizira's keen attention.

Talliea sat with Arizira, her chest pressed so closely to the smaller woman's back that she could feel the beat of her heart, and sighed. She was so at peace. Words could never appropriately express the sense of contentment she felt. Being able to kiss and touch Arizira was now her greatest pleasure. It was as if the Arniran woman's body had become an extension of her own. She was now able to run her hands and fingers over Arizira's skin however she liked as often as she liked. Her actions were not met with any sort of resistance. Her caresses were welcome.

Sitting with Arizira in such a peaceful way, Talliea could think of nothing else her heart desired. She moved her left hand from Arizira's tight stomach and placed it upon her upper thigh. With her cheek resting against a fair shoulder, she traced senseless patterns across Arizira's leg. Several more minutes passed as each woman enjoyed the night and the company of one another.

"Ari-sera?" A pause. "Hmm?"

"When we were joined physically, your life was as if a story behind my eyes. I saw you as a child, as a young woman. Your experiences were my experiences."

Arizira nodded, her fingers linking with Talliea's hand on her thigh. "I know of what you speak," she said softly. "The experience was new for me, too."

Talliea squeezed Arizira's fingers and kissed her shoulder again. She knew there was nothing much either one of them could say to explain how such a phenomenon had occurred. It was something special that they had shared, something that did not require an explanation or a name at present.

Still, there was something Talliea had witnessed, something that had not been made clear to her. "I witnessed your first kiss," she said. Her voice was all but steady except for the small quiver toward the end that hinted at a baseless jealousy.

Arizira nodded but did not comment any farther. She knew Talliea had more to say. "She was pretty, Ari." Again, Arizira only nodded and snuggled closer to her love. After a moment, the nature of their current conversation became evident. "Who was she? The woman with eyes the color of summer grass?"

Bringing Talliea's hand to her lips, Arizira placed a tender and reverent kiss amongst her knuckles. She thought back to the time in question and a melancholy smile graced her mouth. She remembered times when she had been young and had believed the yearnings of her body dictated the love in her heart. How wrong she had been.

Her youthful exuberance had brought pain to another. Pain she had not intended, yet had brought into being nonetheless. After a quiet moment of thought, she responded to Talliea's question. "Her name is Bela'luin. She was marked as older than I by a few winters. I thought she was graceful and elegant. We studied our skills and our lore together and I grew fond of her as she did of me."

"What happened, love?" Talliea asked softly. Another pause, a breath of silent contemplation.

"Her heart asked more of me than I was able to offer. Youth often disguises physical lust for emotional love. I saw this. She did not. We separated our paths and maintained our respect. She dedicated herself to Aitla and to the protection of the tribe and I..." Her words trailed off. A smirk tugged at the corners of her mouth.

"You what?" Arizira turned and looked into Talliea's questioning eyes. Her smirk grew. "I followed Salira's jest one night and found you. I fell in love with a dream, a myth of my people's imagination."

Talliea laughed, her eyes bright and her smile happy, as she stared into the most perfect and beautiful face she had ever known. She felt herself being pushed onto her back. Arizira straddled her hips and looked down at her. Hands began to roam over her chest and shoulders and she felt the familiar twinge of arousal spring to life in her stomach.

Arizira leaned down next to her ear, their breasts coming into contact, and whispered, "There are many different ways for me to express my love for you, failira." Before she could respond, she felt Arizira repositioning herself on top of her. A moment later, her center came into contact with Arizira's and she moaned. She could feel the wet heat coming from her love's sex and it excited her.

Arizira chose that moment to gently rock her hips and Talliea gasped at feeling something so intimate. Wrapping her arms around her love's back, she turned her head and whispered, "Teach me."

And, Arizira did just that.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Talyn paced inside the wide and circular area that made up Raekir's base. Her thoughts were disordered and wayward. She found it difficult to focus too long on any one thought. When Bela'luin had come to her a few days before and informed her of Arizira's so-called treachery, it had taken every ounce of self-control Tayln possessed to not reveal Cynra's words to her. Of course she knew that Arizira was with the enemy!

That thought had kept her up for many days. She still found it difficult to reconcile that Arizira's great destiny, the fate said to have been woven in the stars themselves, was nothing more than a fanciful love with an Esu female. What could be so special about this one dark skin? The idea of the Doira'Liim was known to all Arniran children. Every woman that reached adulthood knew of the stories surrounding the connection said to exist. Most women eventually dismissed the idea, but there were some, like Arizira, who remained forever enchanted by the story.

Could it all be true? Could Cynra's words to her weeks ago about Arizira finding her Doira'Liim actually be fact? Even if such a connection of spirits existed, Talyn found it difficult to believe that a follower of Esuval could have any part in an Arniran belief. An all powerful, all consuming, love between an Esu and an Arniran? Honestly...

As Talyn paced, she felt her anxiety continuing to grow. When Bela'luin had come to her about Arizira, the young hunter's words had been quite forceful. The edge in them had shocked Talyn. She recalled the day in question for what felt like the hundredth time.

'Nai'iris.'

'Bela, it is hardly customary for a single hunter to ask audience of me. What matter of import do you bring to break tradition so?'

'This is a rather delicate issue, Nai'iris. I thought to speak to you without the prying ears of the other Elders.'

'Then speak quickly. There is much my mind needs to think upon.'

Bela'luin nodded, her eyes never leaving Talyn's. 'I come before you this day to bring news on the movements of one of our own.'

Talyn felt her stomach drop. All of the scouts patrolling the forest and monitoring the Esu camp were accounted for. That only left Cynra and Arizira that Bela'luin could possibly be referring to. Had something happened? Did Bela'luin hold information on the fate of one of the women?

Interest piqued, Talyn schooled her features and replied, 'Yes? Of whom do you speak?'

'Arizira, Nai'iris. Arizira Ahmanae.'

Talyn watched Bela'luin's eyes. She could see something dark pass over her lean face, but it passed too quickly to be identified. 'The Child of Whispers is on a Spirit Quest. Her movements are of no concern to the tribe,' Talyn said trying to steer the conversation away from the truth.

'I have reason to believe that she is on anything but, Nai'iris.' Standing, Talyn took a step toward Bela'luin who was kneeling before her, head bowed. 'To interfere in something so revered is an offense to Aitla.' The voice was cold and clipped.

Bela'luin hardly noticed. Glancing up, she shook her head. 'Words spoken truly. I have witnessed Arizira on my patrols. A Spirit Quest does not have need of an Esu woman. A Spirit Quest does not demand that Arizira lay in passion with an enemy of the Arniran people. A truer offense could not be presented, Nai'iris. One of your hunters has betrayed you. Action must be swift.'

Talyn felt as if the air had been removed from her lungs. She turned away from Bela'luin quickly. What was she to say? How was she to respond? Cynra had not mentioned such an occurrence! How was Talyn to protect Arizira when she had been seen with this great love of hers? Taking a deep breath, Talyn turned back around to find Bela'luin watching her reaction.

A thought came to mind, a possible way to avoid future potential problems. 'Bela?'

'Yes, Nai'iris?'

'Your love for Arizira is hardly something to have passed in the night. Many winters have seen you still trying to win back her affections.' Bela'luin stiffened. Her eyes turned dark. Her shoulders rolled. 'That is hardly of any--'

'I think it is,' Talyn finished for her. Her tone was sure and authoritative. 'You come before me and make allegations against one of your sisters. I am inclined to seek proof. Do you have it? Are words your only weapon here amongst me? A cruel hand the spirit of love cast upon you, Bela, but to come before me with words of treason on your tongue in regard to one you lost? That is a greater offense.'

Bela'luin stood up. Her entire stance spoke of a livid nature. 'You choose not to act? You choose to disregard your duty to the tribe in lieu of further condemning the sorrows of my heart? My love for Arizira is not blinding me to the truth. Yours is, Nai'iris. Arizira could be speaking of our location, our defenses, to her lustful Esu woman! Our tribe could be awaiting a war with its eyes closed. If you will not do what must be done, then I am forced to seek the aid of the other Elders. A decision you have made, Nai'iris, but if the other Elders overrule you, then all we will wait upon is the break of winter.'

Talyn felt a retort burn upon her tongue. She wished to impart everything Cynra had told her, but she knew she could not. The Dream Speaker's words had not been for Bela'luin. The overzealous hunter would not understand. Her feelings for Arizira would forever cloud her judgment. 'You would walk down this path, Bela? You would have the other Elders convene to rethink the wisdom of my decision?'

Bela'luin scoffed. 'Wisdom? What wisdom in there in awaiting death? What wisdom is there in allowing a disease to suffocate the living? The Esu are a plague. If allowed to walk freely, they will most assuredly bring decay to our people and our lands. Wisdom has failed you, Nai'iris, if this you deem a just course.'

Before Talyn could say anything further, Bela'luin turned and departed. A calling of the other Elders would take a matter of days. What was she to do?

Talyn inhaled and let her eyes go out of focus. She wondered how she had gotten to where she was. Just a few short months ago she and the tribe were in perfect harmony. There was only love and life and the appreciation of everything Aitla had bestowed upon Her children. Now there was discourse and anarchy. There were day walkers in the valley among Arniran borders. The Child of Whispers was in love with an Esu woman and Bela'luin was aiming to have Talyn’s decision overthrown.

In a matter of minutes, the other Elders would enter Raekir. In a matter of minutes, the whole of Talyn's tribe would gather to hear of the ruling matter. In a matter of minutes, everything Talyn had fought for could be cast aside.

As she waited for the others to begin filling Raekir, Talyn could not help but think back upon some of Cynra's last words to her.

'Anger always lets loose the first volley.'

Had Cynra's cryptic words been, in reality, a portent of future events? Was the anger spoken of Bela'luin's? If such was true, then Talyn knew the first volley would be the ruling the other Elders had decided upon. As Ma'nolira entered Raekir and looked in her direction, Talyn knew Cynra had been correct all along.

War was imminent. The first volley was soon to be fired.

Chapter 31: The Ignorance of Bliss

Days passed. Nights returned only to bid farewell to the world with the coming of the sun. Life continued. While Talliea and Arizira were blissfully unaware of events that would soon impact them greatly, and while Talyn stood within Raekir listening to the other Elders' decision, life in the Esu camp was also moving forward at a much faster pace.

After Taetylona had been banished a second time, new reforms, rules, and laws had been put into place. No longer could women deny a man who had claimed her. If she had the audacity to do so, then the man could rightfully take what was his by force. The old law that stated a woman had until her twenty-third birthday to comply with the claiming man's wishes was thrown out and labeled meaningless and archaic.

The Northlands were new. They were challenging and diverse. The Esu could no longer afford to stick to the old ways if they hoped to survive and thrive in a new land. Rules and laws that had given their women even a small amount of freedom and rights were tossed aside. Women like Taetylona and Talliea had shown what freedom could do for a woman. If the Esu were going to survive, the Lat'sa'val said, everyone had to know their place and do their part. Adhering to out-dated laws that proved more frustrating than beneficial had to go.

According to the Lat'sa'val, if Talliea had joined with Markahn when she was supposed to, the two of them would most likely have several children by now. Those children, they said, would have only increased the population, and thus prosperity, of the entire clan. As it stood otherwise, Talliea's refusal and denial had hindered the Esu and set them back.

News laws were put into place that prohibited any woman from being alone without a man present. Daily chores were observed by selected men. The brook that ran along the western side of the camp that the women had used for bathing was no longer restricted for just their use. Men now used the area too and made no show of enjoying the women's naked bodies in the process. Every action, simple or not, was first approved by a man within the settlement. Where before the sound of talk and laughter could be heard from a group of women going about their work, now a dead silence hung upon the air. Such trivialities only decreased the speed in which the women worked, said the Lat'sa'val.

All in all life in the Esu camp, for the men, improved greatly, while life for the women became a more strict existence. The women were no longer people. They were no longer individuals. Instead, they were tools used to achieve an end. They were...cattle.

"You really must take these thoughts and do away with them, Lao'dahn."

Markahn looked over his shoulder at the younger man behind him. For the past several days, Lao'dahn had shown himself to be increasingly agitated. He barely slept, appeared preoccupied in his work, and rarely spoke of anything other than finding Talliea. He refused to believe her to be dead and insisted she was the one who had shot at him. For days now, he had tried to get the other Lat'sa'val to agree to a small excursion into the forest. He was convinced that he and some other men could find the wretched woman if only they were given an opportunity.

"She made a fool of you! She disgraced Esuval and was rewarded with freedom! Did you honestly believe she would come back to you?" Lao'dahn's words were clipped and cold. His friendship with Markahn had become strained and awkward. The two men rarely spoke anymore and when they did, their conversations usually centered around Talliea.

"I wanted to offer her a chance to be someone other than who she was! I wanted her to see that she needed me and the stability I could offer her. What hope did she truly have out here, Lao'dahn, lost in the woods?"

Lao'dahn looked around at the tall and majestic trees surrounding them. He and Markahn and several other men were currently exploring the eastern side of the forest. They were mapping the area, collecting samples of various plants and fauna, and looking for other sources of food and water. With the heavy snow on the ground, their tasks were proving slow going. The sun was high in the sky, but cloud cover prevented its rays from offering much heat.

"Look around you, friend. This forest is alive! Even with the snow, life is everywhere! Talliea is probably better fed out here than she was in our camp! You gave her a way out and she took it!"

Markahn, tired of Lao'dahn's obsession with Talliea, turned around and took a step in the younger man's direction. "Enough! I will hear no more! The matter was not for you to decide! I claimed her. She was mine. Her life was mine! I chose to grant her freedom in the hope she would return. Instead, the forest claimed her and now she is gone. There is nothing else to discuss! You will drop this, Lao'dahn, and never pick it up again!"

Lao'dahn was silent for a moment. He and Markahn had moved farther away from the other scouting parties and were standing near a magnificent rock formation. The stones soared high into the sky and appeared as if sentries guarding the secrets of the forest. A smile broke out across Lao'dahn's face and a moment later a laugh sounded from his lips.

"Who are you to speak to me in this manner? You gave up your right to her when you allowed her to leave! You are too soft, Markahn. A real man would have known how to handle a whore like Talliea. You should have taken what she withheld from you, shown her the power you held and made her feel it!"

"A real man?" Markahn scoffed and took another step toward Lao'dahn. "The veil has been lifted from my eyes for I see you as you are, old friend. All these long years and you have desired Talliea for yourself."

Lao'dahn swallowed a nervous breath at the intensity in Markahn's eyes. He licked his lips to stall for a moment before inhaling a breath, squaring his shoulders, and adopting, what he hoped, was a defiant stance.

"Yes. Yes, I desired her for myself! What man did not desire her? We all saw how you were with her. Soft and weak. Allowing her to mock you year after year with her refusal to spread her legs open for you! But you, Markahn, you were pathetic. You allowed her to be a harlot! As a man, you allowed a woman to dictate to you when she would lay with you! You could have gone to her while she slept and taken what you wanted and needed! That would have taught her what was expected of her! Women are here to service us! Us, Markahn! They provide us pleasure and keep our homes. They are not meant to be traipsing through an unknown forest doing Esuval knows what! You are weak and are a disgrace to our Order!"

Anything else Lao'dahn had planned to say was forgotten. A solid fist connected with the side of his jaw and the impact caused him to bite his tongue. Blood filled the confines of his mouth and pain shot through his head. He temporarily lost his balance and fell to the cold snow beneath his feet.

"You are filled with hatred, Lao'dahn. As a man of Esuval, I do not understand how you can reconcile such thoughts. My actions do not matter. Talliea is gone. What is done is done. You need to move on and claim a woman of your own."

Markahn stepped around Lao'dahn and began heading back toward camp. He no longer desired to be in the other man's company. Lao'dahn stood up, spitting dark red blood upon the pristine white snow, and watched as Markahn moved away from him. "I claim Talliea!" he shouted. "I challenge your claim, you fool, and intend to join with Talliea."

Markahn spun around quickly and with fire in his stormy eyes. "You challenge my claim on a woman no longer in the realm of the living? To challenge anything, Lao'dahn, Talliea must be present!"

Spitting more blood onto the forest floor, Lao'dahn wiped away at a cut on his upper lip. Standing tall, he looked behind him at the monolithic rock formation, before returning his attention to Markahn.

"I will find her, without the approval of the other men, if I have to. She is out here. She is alive. Talliea taunted you, Markahn. She mocked you and made you weak. I will not walk as you have. I will not allow her to lead me astray. She is out here and I will find her."

Markahn sighed and shook his head. "The forest will claim you as it claimed her. What chance do you have in the snows?"

"Esuval guides me. Go back to camp. Tell the others whatever you wish. This insanity has gone on long enough. I have claimed a woman and challenged your declarations. When I return with Talliea, we will see who the stronger man is."

Lao'dahn turned away and began moving deeper into the woods. All Markahn could do was watch in confusion and amazement. Everything had happened so quickly. His first instinct was to go after the other man. Lao'dahn could die out in the forest. Markahn quickly dismissed the idea. Let the fool do as he pleased. He watched Lao'dahn disappear as the land dipped away from his line of sight. He could not have known that Lao'dahn headed in the right direction. He could not have known that the giant rock formations in the distance were the very stones that stood watch over a wondrous thermal spring.

Markahn could not have known that that very thermal spring had once bathed the body of his beloved Talliea or that his Talliea had fallen in love with a figure of mystery and legend while sleeping in a cave not far from that spring. He could not have been aware that only two days' walk away, in another cave near another spring, Talliea and Arizira made love to the point of exhaustion.

No, Markahn could not have been aware of any of those things, and so he turned away from Lao'dahn and Talliea and Arizira and slowly began the trek back toward his people. Lao'dahn could not get very far with so little food and supplies...

*  *  *  *  *  *

Talliea sighed contentedly and tried to calm the crazed beating of her heart. Her breathing was heavy and labored and sweat covered her heated body. She licked her lips to moisten them and smiled when she felt a kiss being placed on her shoulder. Ever since their first time together a week before, Talliea and Arizira had barely left the seclusion of their cave. They had spoken more freely with one another, laughed more often, and expressed their feelings several times throughout the day.

Physical exhaustion was something new for Talliea. Her body was completely satisfied, yet at the same time, it was tired and sore. She loved it.

Arizira had awakened a whole other side in her. The need to be physical with Arizira was new and exciting and greatly adored. The two of them ate, secured whatever food was closest to their abode, cleaned and sharpened tools and supplies, talked and learned more of one another, and then spent the rest of their time wrapped around one another's bodies. Every time Talliea thought there was no way Arizira could possibly make her feel more than before, she was pleasantly surprised to find herself proven wrong.

Arizira was a loving, patient, and gentle teacher. She ensured Talliea felt everything she did. She took her time to explore every inch of skin that covered the beautiful and wondrous body of the woman she adored. Her lips kissed everywhere. Her hands dipped into sensitive places. Her body moved with Talliea's in an expression of complete and utter appreciation.

Talliea had yet to actually lead one of their physical encounters. Arizira always took the lead and guided Talliea through the motions, teaching her what felt good and how best to achieve complete fulfillment. Talliea was happy to allow things to continue as they were. She and Arizira had all the time in the world to explore one another. She was satisfied with the pace of their relationship.

That was not to say that she did not wish to feel her own fingers surrounded by Arizira's warmth. She greatly desired to be the one to push her lover over the edge of passion and lust. Her reluctance to do so was brought about by her own inexperience. She knew a time would come when she felt comfortable to take the next step and make love to Arizira.

In the mean time, Talliea was complacent to have Arizira guide her and their lovemaking. "That felt wonderful," she said, her words slurred and heavy.

"I know," Arizira replied, smiling against Talliea's tan chest.

"I love you."

"I love you, too, failira."

The two of them laid next to one another, the heat from their bodies quickly fading now that their activities were no longer as strenuous. Arizira's fair fingers drew lazy circles across Talliea's chest and stomach while Talliea's hands held Arizira's slender body near to her own. A light snow was falling outside, the sounds of an unhurried wind whirling through the trees.

Silence stretched between both women for several long moments. Finally, Arizira spoke up. "We need to get up, Tah-li. We smell of our...activities and need to go bathe."

Talliea, eyes closed and sleep calling for her, pressed Arizira's naked body closer to own before protesting, "There is little point in washing our bodies, love. We shall only enjoy one another again soon. Besides, I like the way we smell."

Arizira removed her head from Talliea's shoulder and looked down into her content and peaceful face. Bending down, she kissed a nose and then two arched eyebrows, before bringing her lips to the full ones of her lover. Smiling against Talliea's lips, Arizira tried again. "We need to leave, Tah-li. I wish to show you something."

Talliea's eyes slowly fluttered open and her hands, one on Arizira's back and the other near her elbow, began gliding over smooth skin. Smiling playfully, she replied, "I think you have shown me plenty for the time being. My body cannot take anything more."

Arizira laughed, a rich and full laugh just as musical and lovely as the sound of her voice, before leaning down to properly kiss Talliea. Their tongues danced with one another before she pulled away. She brought her right hand up and tenderly traced Talliea's chin and jaw.

"I love you so much, Tah-li. As much as I would enjoy remaining here lost in your embrace, there is still the matter of our survival. Our food stores are low and our clothing in need of stitching. I also promised to teach you to use a bow."

Talliea smiled happily as she looked up into Arizira's face. She could not believe how perfect her life was. There was nothing else she could think of that would make her situation any better. Being with Arizira, free and without any worry or restraint, was the epitome of perfection for her. They laughed together, slept together, found their food together, bathed together, confided in one another, spoke freely, and enjoyed life together.

Looking into Arizira's amazing silver-blue eyes, she knew she would do anything this woman asked of her. She lived to see her smile and to make her happy. "It is late," she said.

"By my people's time, it is early," Arizira retorted with a smirk. The moon was slowly taking command of the sky outside, stars twinkling in the inky blackness, and night was soon to be upon the two women.

"You wish us to bathe in the dark?" Talliea asked. Arizira watched her fingers move along Talliea's jaw. She still marveled at their difference in their coloring. "My eyes can appreciate you better in the dark, Tah-li," she answered. "You look beautiful with the moon washing over you."

Arizira recalled the first few times she had seen Talliea. Her dark skin and features had seemed to absorb the light of the moon and that had only enhanced her beauty to Arizira. After traveling during the day for so long, she had nearly forgotten how breathtaking Talliea appeared in natural moonlight.

"You will walk with me and make sure I do not lose my way in the dark?" Talliea asked, eyes closing at Arizira's touch. "Always, failira. The moon will be over the spring shortly. It will allow you to see."

Talliea's smile was small, but heartfelt. Arizira leaned over her and kissed her lips softly again. She opened her eyes and noticed a familiar look staring back at her from the depths of a silvery glow. Her body instantly reacted. Wrapping her fingers behind Arizira's neck, she brought their lips together in a heated kiss. Immediately, Arizira's fingers were moving down her stomach to land between her legs again.

She spread her thighs apart and arched her back when she felt the touch she craved. The two of them began to make love again. It was slower than it had been previously. Each of them took their time in fully appreciating their actions. Talliea allowed Arizira to tease her and prolong her release.

They had a few hours before the moon would be over the spring. Arizira had said so. What better way was there to spend that time? As Talliea felt Arizira's fingers push inside of her and start a deliberate and steady rhythm, she reached her own hand down to wrap around Arizira's wrist. Feeling her lover as she pushed her fingers in and out of her was dizzying. The two of them moved together, bodies sliding against one another and moans becoming louder and longer. Talliea saw, again, flashes of Arizira's life. A name, a title, came to her mind.

The Child of Whispers. She smiled upon learning that particular tidbit about her love before giving in to the physical sensations she was experiencing.

Whispers of love broke against the silence. The steady pace of their movements guided them in a dance whose beat they knew, but had long since abandoned. Lips kissed. Teeth bit down into hot flesh. Pleas were breathed.

When Talliea's orgasm rocked her body, she wrapped her arms and legs completely around Arizira's slim frame. Her teeth sank into the flesh of Arizira's shoulder and nails scratched at her back. She slammed her eyes shut tightly and rolled her hips continuously. Declarations of love and soothing words spoken in Arniran brushed across her skin. She felt the air inside her lungs vacate her body and then all was still and quiet.

"I love you...I love you..." the words were heavy. They were heated. Who spoke them, neither woman could say. As Talliea untangled her body from Arizira's and once again fought to control her breathing, she could not help but think that perhaps Arizira was right.

They did need to bathe.

Chapter 32: Led to Destiny

What should have been a relatively short one to two days' walk to Talliea and Arizira's location turned into anything but for Lao'dahn. The young man was unaccustomed to the trails and paths and trees that surrounded him. Though he was no stranger to long treks and surviving with very little provisions, he was not skilled in trail finding and had soon become rather turned around in the forest.

The first day, he had concentrated on gathering edible nuts and berries and had even managed to catch a fish in a stream that had not completely frozen over. Shelter had been simple enough for him. He was used to harsh conditions and so finding a place to hunker down for a few hours had been easily accomplished. The second day had come and he had been reluctant to admit his consternation that none of his fellows had come looking for him.

No matter. The Light always shines the brightest in the darkest gloom, he had told himself.

On the night of his third day out, Lao'dahn found himself going over various markers and geographical formations in the hopes of better understanding his surroundings. He'd had a very nagging feeling of being watched for most of the day and so had decided to take a small respite to focus his thoughts. As he sat against the base of a massive boulder, covered with snow and leaves and moss, he stared into his small and dying fire and kept his cloak pulled tight against him.

He hated the forest when the sun went down. The trees took on a haunting appearance and the woods seemed to come alive with the sounds of insects and animals calls. Everything about the night brought about a sense of dread in him. As a result, his sleep was always restless and fitful. He poked a stick into the flames of his fire, happy at least to have been blessed to find a bit of dry kindling, and let his gaze become unfocused.

Talliea had to be alive. There was no other explanation for who could have shot at him. Granted, how Talliea had come across such a skill defied all reason, but it was far more likely than any other alternative. At first, Lao'dahn had fancied the idea that another Esu clan had settled in the area, possibly before his own clan had arrived. However, he did not think any of his people would openly attack him from the shadows. Even if the clan was from one of the warring peoples, all Esu prided themselves on their honor in combat.

What honor was there in striking a foe without first stating one's intentions? No, another Esu clan was not the answer to the riddle. Contact would have been made by now. Other men and women would have been spotted. A whole clan could not remain so very well hidden.

One lone woman, however, could. Markahn wished to believe that Talliea had left and become lost and, as a result, forfeited her life to the forest. What a dolt. If Talliea's survival skills had ever been in question, why would she so eagerly have left the protection of the clan? Had her so-called freedom truly meant so much to her?

Lao'dahn did not believe so. He chose to believe that Talliea had left so that she could exact her revenge upon him for his lessons. She was a strong-willed woman. His theory was not without consideration.

Stretching his legs out before him and tossing some dry pine needles into the fire, Lao'dahn snickered to himself. Imagine the looks on the other men's faces when he returned to camp with a broken Talliea behind him. They would all praise him for finally crushing her defiant spirit. Markahn's status among the others would fall while his would rise. When he defeated Markahn and won his claim to Talliea, he would be valued as a true man of the Light; a noble and tried warrior for the laws of Esuval.

Yes, his path to glory and respect was spread out before him. All he had to do was persevere and hold true to his god and all would end as he desired. Talliea would be his. Her tight virgin body would belong to him. The fire in her eyes that had always held so much disrespect would finally be doused and she would look upon him with obedience and submissiveness.

He would be able to do as he pleased and she would be unable to stop him. He felt his trousers tighten at the thought of pounding her body into the dirt. Another image came to him of her on her knees and him pushing into her from behind. As he sat and stared into the fire, his mind was overcome with scenarios of how he would take her and make her his. The tightness in his pants became nearly unbearable.

"I may have to remind her of her place again," he said to himself. "She may not come back so willingly."

A smile touched his thin lips. Ramming himself into her while her back scratched against the bark of a tree would be a prudent lesson. Breaking her spirit before they returned may be the only way to complete his goals.

Before another twisted or crude thought could form in Lao'dahn's dark mind, the feeling of being watched came over him again. This time, it was stronger. Whoever or whatever was watching him was very, very close. He reached down next to him and grabbed the staff he favored as a weapon. Crouching on his knees, he swallowed anxiously and tried to calm the crazed beating of his heart pounding in his chest.

The sound of his own breathing seemed unnaturally loud in his ears. He gripped the leather bound middle of his staff and strained to pick up any unusual sounds. His eyes scanned every shadow they could find, but to no avail. The forest was too dark. The trees above him kept the moon from offering much light. He thought about using his own abilities to aid him, but quickly dismissed the idea. If someone was out in the forest, the light from his god would surely alert them to his position.

As he released a breath and allowed his body to go slack, he all too soon realized his mistake. Something was close to him. Behind him. He turned quickly and came face to face with two intense and icy blue eyes. Startled, he fell back and tried to scramble away from the large white wolf that had suddenly come upon him. The creature was not in a defensive stance, nor were its ears laid flat against the back of its head. It stood calmly and watched him.

Those facts were of little comfort to Lao'dahn. He raised his hand and invoked the powers of his Order. A blinding flash lit up the small area of his camp and slammed into the white wolf so close to him. He waited to hear the sounds of agony that should have come from being assaulted with such intense light, but they never came. When his gift faded and his own eyesight cleared, he was stunned to see the wolf still standing and regarding him curiously.

The creature shook its body and head and turned away from him. Lao'dahn, his breathing uneven and his eyes wide with fear and awe, watched the wolf start off at a slow and deliberate pace. He could not understand how the wolf still stood, let alone walked! Such a feat should have been impossible. His gift should have rendered the creature immobile and weak, yet this wolf appeared unaffected.

Intrigued, Lao'dahn sat up on his knees and felt around on the ground until his fingers brushed across his staff. Grabbing it and his pack, he quickly stood up. The wolf had stopped some short distance in front of him and was watching him expectantly. Did it wish him to follow?

If that was so, what purpose did the wolf have in leading him somewhere? Against his better judgment, Lao'dahn felt compelled to go after the wolf. Taking a cautious step forward, he moved toward the enigmatic creature. The wolf started walking again. Lao'dahn followed.

As the wolf led the way, its heart was heavy with a deep sadness. It did not like what it was having to do, but such things were often times required if future events were to be given a chance of life. The wolf despised leading this creature, this evil man, but such was its burden. It knew how matters were to end and that was its only comfort when it heard footsteps behind it.

*  *  *  *  *  *

"Tell me you love me."

Arizira smiled coyly and turned her head in the playful manner that was her custom. She and Talliea, as they had done the past few nights, were bathing in the hot spring not far from their abode. As promised, Arizira had shown Talliea more of her world from her own perspective. The two of them had walked by moonlight in search of a flower that only bloomed in the deepest twilight of winter. They had played in the snow without a care in the world, throwing snowballs and chasing one another. Just the night before, Arizira had taught Talliea a game her people played where one person attempted to hide from the other while that person sought to seek them out.

Their time together seemed to pass by the both of them quickly, yet neither noticed. It seemed as if a lifetime ago that Talliea had been so unsure of what she was feeling for Arizira while Arizira had fought to ignore her heart's desires. Now, they were completely free with one another. Their bond grew everyday. Each time they laid with one another, new information was shared between them. Communication -- verbal communication, was almost unnecessary between them when they were physical.

The fact that they were from two completely different peoples hardly ever factored into either of their thoughts. They were in love. Selflessly, hopelessly, completely...in love. Each touch, each caress, each kiss became more, became better than the one before. Talliea found herself being far more opinionated and optimistic than she ever could have dreamed before meeting Arizira. She laughed and developed a much more playful side to her personality, a side she owed to Arizira.

Arizira, on the other hand, learned to be less withholding with Talliea. Where before she had been more reserved, she now found herself more willing to speak about what was on her mind as opposed to keeping the thoughts to herself. She had never been one to rely upon another person. Independence had always been her ally. With Talliea, however, she was learning that leaning upon another, one who loved so infinitely, could only prove to strengthen her character, not diminish or weaken it.

All in all, Talliea and Arizira were as happy as any two people newly in love. Their world consisted only of them and what they made of it each day.

Standing in front of Talliea, the warmth of the water covering their chests, Arizira looked up into impossibly dark eyes and smiled. The moon enhanced her people's vision and she found the sight of Talliea in the lunar light to be quite intoxicating. Gliding her hands over the smooth skin of Talliea's chest, slick with water rivulets, she asked, "Why?" in response to Talliea's earlier request.

"Because I like to hear you say it. The words are a beauty when they stand alone, but when they pass your lips they grow all the more sweet."

Smiling again, Arizira caught Talliea's eyes with her own and held her gaze. With the night being so deep and the moon acting as a guard over the spring, Arizira's eyes were glowing more intensely than Talliea had witnessed in a long time.

"I love you, Tah-li," Arizira said softly. Her face was no longer playful. It was serious and the tone of her voice heartfelt. "I will love you until my last breath and then, after I have passed to the sky above, I shall continue to love you until this world is no more."

Eyes brimming with slight tears, Talliea smiled and leaned forward to softly kiss her love's lips. The two of them continued their bath and enjoyed a comfortable silence. Arizira allowed Talliea to turn her around until her back was to Talliea's front. The position was a favorite of both of theirs.

"You plan on loving me for as long as I plan on loving you," Talliea whispered against Arizira's ear, her lips brushing across the sensitive skin. Smiling at the playful tone in her lover's voice, Arizira wrapped her hands around the arms that were secured about her waist. "If it was your wish, failira, I would spend forever with you."

Something resonated deep within Talliea at the words. She felt something click into place and was soon shocked at how long it had taken her to remember her own circumstances. She let her arms around Arizira's waist slacken as she moved away a small measure. Arizira, sensing the change in mood, turned around to face her. "Something troubles you," she stated.

Talliea did not respond, but her silence spoke enough. Arizira studied her for a moment. Her fingers moved across Talliea's neck and shoulders as the silence stretched between them. "This was unexpected," Talliea said after a time.

Arizira cocked her head to the side as she regarded the woman she loved. Her fingers settled against Talliea's collarbone. "What was unexpected?"

"Us, love. Us. We agreed to wait until the winter passed to make any decisions, but I did not anticipate falling so hopelessly in love with you. At the time, I was unable to fathom how much our relationship would change everything about my world. Yet, I have tasted your skin and touched your spirit now. I have glimpsed into your world and felt you inside of me. I could ask of nothing more from my life than to spend the rest of this cycle with you."

Arizira opened her mouth to speak, but Talliea placed a single finger over her lips. "But, you miss your people, Ahmanae. You miss their ways and their seasons. What course is left to us then? Keeping you here with me is unfair to you. I cannot allow my own selfish desires to burden your heart. I will not."

Trailing the fingers resting against Talliea's collarbone up her arm and to her hand, Arizira kissed the finger at her lips before moving the hand away completely.

"You do not keep me here, Tah-li, nor is your desire to be with me a selfish one. I love you. That love binds me here, to you, to your heart. To your spirit. There is no other place I wish to be than here with you. I still plan to return to my people when the winter moves away from this land. If they cannot accept my love for you, if they cannot look upon us with eyes free from the shade of hatred, then I will not be forsaking them, Tah-li. They will be forsaking me. Love is the highest expression Aitla provides and teaches. If my people cannot celebrate our connection, they also forsake Aitla."

Talliea was quiet for several minutes as she allowed Arizira's words to settle in her mind. She gently grasped the hand that was still entwined with her own and brought the delicate knuckles to her lips. Kissing each one with utter reverence, she sought Arizira's eyes once again. "What would be our course if we both left our people, Ari? What path would we walk? Where would we live?"

Arizira closed the space between their bodies and easily wrapped her hands around Talliea's neck. Kissing the side of her mouth, Arizira rested her forehead against the taller woman's. "Well," she started and her voice had resumed its playful cadence, "our course would be one of our own choosing. Mayhap, given time, we could bring about a unification between our peoples. The path we walked would be with one another."

Talliea smiled, her fears becoming less, and wound her hands around Arizira's slight waist. Pressing her fingers into the small of her love's back, she asked, "And where would we live? In a cave for the remainder of our lives?"

"No!" Arizira replied, laughing softly." We could establish something more permanent. I know nothing of building a home out of solid rock, as your people do, but I could teach you of Arniran homes."

"You mean, we would live in the trees?" Talliea asked, lips unable to keep from smiling.

"Yes, if you wish it. We could each learn from one another."

Talliea made a show of contemplating the pros and cons of their future together. Arizira giggled and tangled her hands into the wet hair about the base of her neck. "You still need to instruct me to use a bow," Talliea said pointedly.

Pressing her body against Talliea's, Arizira moved her hands until they rested on either side of her lover's neck. She turned Talliea's head slightly and kissed the protruding line of jaw that was exposed to her. "We have been otherwise engaged, failira," she whispered hotly in Talliea's ear. "On the morrow, I will begin your lessons."

The two of them laughed and soon grew silent once more. They held each other tightly, hands and fingers tracing the soft contours of skin in a search for completion. The night grew. Gloaming faded. The moon remained high overhead.

"You would leave your people to be with me?" Talliea asked after a moment. She held Arizira's body against her own while her hands glided over the curve of fragile shoulder blades. She still could not believe the speed with which Arizira had healed from her wounds. To this day, she had no answer for such a swift recovery. Arizira still held true to the belief that Talliea had healed her in some way, but that idea was without merit. Talliea had no such abilities.

"I would do anything to be with you. If you ask it of me, it is done," Arizira replied, her lips and nose brushing across Talliea's shoulder and the curve of her neck.

Stifling a moan that wished to be free, Talliea attempted to maintain her focus. Arizira's gentle touches and beautiful declarations were making it difficult to think straight. She felt the erotic nip of teeth against her skin and her hands on Arizira's back flexed. "That is our plan, then? We shall remain together no matter the cost?"

"Yes. To be away from you would be a slow death for me, Tah-li. I would be unable to function. You are my Doira'Liim. I believe this to be true. Where you are, I shall also be."

Talliea opened her mouth to add her own words of love and devotion, but came up short for a sufficient reply. Instead, she only smiled happily and held Arizira closer to her. The Arniran woman dropped her head down to her shoulder as the two of them enjoyed one another in silence.

A distant and very faint sound came suddenly to Arizira's keen ears. She jerked her head back up no sooner had it landed on Talliea's shoulder. "Ari?

Arizira moved away from Talliea and opened up her senses fully to the forest around her. Her eyes, bright and glowing fiercely, examined and regarded every inch of the area around her. Her perceptive ears took in each animal cry, insect chirp, fallen leaf, and brush of wind. Despite being aware of more than Talliea, Arizira felt as if her senses were...numbed. It seemed as though they were disconnected somehow. She paused and wondered at the unusual feeling. What power could be the cause for such a phenomenon?

"Ari?" Talliea questioned again, "What is wrong, love?" Still looking around the trees and deep shadows, Arizira shook her head and released a slow breath. "I do not know. I thought I..." her words trailed off as she felt her disconcerting feeling continue to rise.

"Thought you what?"

"Nothing, failira," Arizira replied, not wishing to alarm her companion. "Let us return. I believe something in the forest watches us this night."

Talliea had been with Arizira long enough to know when to trust her instincts. Looking around the darkened woods, she felt a shudder pass over her body before moving up behind her love. She placed a hand on the smaller woman's shoulder and swallowed an anxious bout of nerves.

"Come, Tah-li. I shall lead you back. The sun's return is but a short time away. Sleep is soon." Talliea nodded and allowed Arizira to pull her toward dry land. As they dressed, Arizira could not shake the feeling that eyes were upon them and danger was somehow close at hand.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Lao'dahn looked over at the wolf that sat beside him. The beast had led him for a day and a night to his current destination. Curious, for sure. When he had come upon a small ledge that overlooked a dip in the forest below, he had been amazed at the sight that greeted him. A cave, sitting up on another rising across from him, dusted the landscape with a multitude of dancing shadows. Following the ledge he'd been on farther down, Lao'dahn had noticed, not far behind the cave, another hot spring steaming in its perceived seclusion.

Yet, that had not been the most startling of his discoveries. Who was in the spring had been what most intrigued him. The moon above was unusually bright this night and its light had afforded Lao'dahn with a most welcome sight.

Talliea. She was alive, but not alone. Another was with her. A woman, but a very peculiar woman in appearance. What type of creature was the fair-skinned woman? Her hair was not dark, her skin was not bronzed, and a strange luminescent glow surrounded her eyes. Whatever she was, she was not a child of Esuval. She was...something else. Were there others like her?

Lao'dahn had not been able to ponder such thoughts for long. His attention had been ripped from him as he had watched the two women bathing. And...kissing? Talliea was...

No. Talliea was disobedient. She was unruly and wild and defiant, but she was not a sinner. She could not be giving her body to that woman! Could she? Such an act was a defilement. It was abhorrent and disgusting! It was an act Esuval could not, and would not, condone in any way. Talliea needed a man's guidance. She needed to be cleansed and purified.

Holding the wolf's intense blue eyes, Lao'dahn watched as the two women left the waters of the spring and went about drying and dressing himself. He allowed his eyes to travel across both of their bodies, Talliea's longer than the other woman, before lowering himself closer to the ground. They were heading in the direction of the cave. His time was nigh.

Talliea was his.

Chapter 33: The Separation

Something was wrong. Things felt...off. There was something happening. Or was it about to happen? What had interrupted her sleep?

Talliea opened her eyes. Their dark brown depths were wide as they tried to focus on her surroundings. She blinked in an effort to clear the sleep from her vision. The sun was already streaming shafts of light down to the forest floor. It was morning. Or early afternoon.

Taking a deep and calming breath, Talliea rolled over onto her side to face Arizira. The sight that greeted her caused her heart to slam into her ribs. A wolf, large and white, sat next to Arizira. Its eyes were blue and its coat a flawless white. As Talliea swallowed her initial shock, she realized that she did not feel threatened by the creature. She felt almost safe.

"Ari?" she whispered, keeping her eyes locked on the wolf. "Ari-sera, wake up."

Arizira did not awake. She did not stir. Her chest continued to rise and fall in a steady pattern that denoted a deep and peaceful sleep. Why did she not respond to Talliea's request? Talliea attempted to reach over to shake the sleeping woman, but the wolf lowered itself over Arizira's body. Its head landed against a slowly rising chest while its muzzle brushed across Arizira's shoulder. The gesture almost looked like one intended to guard another, but why would the wolf feel the need to protect Arizira from her, if in fact that was what it was doing?

"You keep her in slumber," Talliea said as her eyes looked from the wolf's blue eyes to Arizira's face. "Why?"

How such a thing was possible, Talliea did not know. Her sense of danger, of something being wrong, was still persistent but she now knew it had nothing to do with the wolf resting against her love. Whatever had ripped her from her sleep was not inside the cave. It was outside.

Somehow, she knew that the wolf would not harm Arizira. This creature, she suddenly became aware, was the same creature she had seen before. It watched over them, just as it was watching over Arizira now. Talliea felt a pang of panic at the possibility of having to face whatever was outside alone. Arizira was the one trained in weapons and combat. She was the one, out of the two of them, that had keen and amazing senses.

What could Talliea hope to accomplish if something with malcontent truly was lurking outside? Does it matter? her inner voice spoke up.

If something was intent on harming either of them, whether beast or man, Talliea knew she would do anything to protect Arizira. Anything at all. For reasons unknown, the wolf was keeping Arizira asleep. How she knew that, Talliea was unsure. She felt compelled to search the area just outside the cave, as though her actions were already determined. The wolf's icy and chilling stare seemed to be forcing her to search for answers.

Looking down at Arizira's peaceful and beautiful face, Talliea felt a renewed sense of purpose. This woman was her life. Her love, her trust and her perfection. If anything was hiding about outside with the intent of bringing either of them harm, then Talliea knew she had to keep Arizira safe.

She sighed. She was being ridiculous. There was nothing wrong. She was with Arizira and Arizira was safe. Her thoughts were nothing more than the frenzied lingerings of dream like images and yet...

She could not shake the feeling that she stood upon a precipice watching events unfold in her life. She could not ignore the nagging sensation that there was something wrong. What was she supposed to do? Leave Arizira and take a look around their borders to satisfy her own misgivings?

The wolf caught her attention again. In its eyes, Talliea knew somehow that events were in motion. For better or for worse, she had to leave the cave. Whatever was happening was bigger than she was. She had to move forward.

The wolf turned its head slightly and twitched its ears, eyes continuing to analyze Talliea's every movement. She swallowed a nervous lump that had formed in her throat. The atmosphere inside the cave felt off and heavy. It left her with a foreboding sensation. Leaning over Arizira and the wolf, she placed a soft kiss against Arizira's temple. Little did she know, the kiss would be a last.

"I'll return shortly, love," she whispered. To the wolf she said, "Whatever your reasons, Ari holds your kind in reverence. Protect her."

She exited the cave and stepped into bright afternoon sunshine. The sun was high overhead and she noticed snow beginning to melt in certain places. The sound of dripping water, of snow, falling upon leaf and rock came to her ears. She looked around the wooded area and tried to locate the source of her unease. The forest appeared as it had every other morning she had awakened. Apart from the snow melting early, which was certainly an oddity, there was nothing she could see that would explain her feeling of trepidation.

A flock of birds flew above her. Birds of prey. The beat of their wings against the wind temporarily muffled all other sounds. She watched them span across the sky in a  v-like formation before disappearing far to the west. Walking away from the cave and Arizira, Talliea took careful steps toward the high ridge north of her location.

The closer she got to the ridge, the heavier her feelings got. Whatever was wrong, whatever sought to cause her and Arizira pain, was on that ridge. She stopped, her breathing loud in her ears, and tried to make out any shapes along the ridgeline. She greatly wished Arizira would wake up so she didn't have to continue alone. A part of her argued that she should just turn around and go back to the cave and wait for her lover to awaken.

The other part of her fought against such a choice. The wolf kept Arizira asleep. The why was unknown. All Talliea knew was that she was supposed to overcome this challenge on her own. She felt like a pawn in a game, her actions mapped out and decided long before she had ever been born. She tried to argue with herself, but it was useless.

She was doing what she had to. Though every thought and sensation felt like a dream, she knew that what was happening was real. Looking back over her shoulder, she drew strength from Arizira and continued walking north. This whole thing could turn out to be nothing more than a fluke. She could find nothing at the top of the ridge and then she and Arizira could laugh at her silliness.

It was a pleasant thought and an entertaining idea, but Talliea knew such an occurrence was not going to happen. She continued walking, one foot in front of the other. When she was nearly at the base of the ridge, she stopped again.

Arizira's teachings of tracking and survival came back to her. She chastised herself for not bringing a weapon of any kind. What did she plan to do if she came upon something or someone who meant her harm? Cursing her impatient nature, she sighed and looked down at the ground beneath her feet. With the snow melting, any possible tracks were hard to make out. She had no idea what sort of tracks she was looking for and even if there were any to begin with.

"What am I doing?" she asked herself, feeling as if a hazy fog were being lifted from her mind.

She turned away from the ridge again and looked back toward the cave. It was a lot smaller from this distance. She had not realized how far she had traveled. Suddenly, she felt very silly for having left like she had. Deciding that her little excursion must have been caused by a sleep-addled brain, Talliea laughed to herself. As she was about to start heading back to Arizira, a sound behind her filled her with an alarming dread.

"I have counted the days for this reunion."

No. She swallowed and closed her eyes. It couldn't be.

"The others thought you to be dead."

How? This could not be happening. She had to be dreaming! Opening her eyes, which were quickly filling with tears, Talliea tried to calm herself.

"Yet, you have been not two days' walk from the camp."

Lao'dahn.

His voice was closer to her now and she could feel his breath against the back of her neck. Images of his assault filled her mind and a fear so paralyzing it nearly stopped her heart gripped her insides. Before she could say anything or even think of attempting an escape, his hands were upon her. She felt herself being thrown face first into a nearby tree. Pain shot through her cheek and jaw where they impacted with rough bark.

She gasped when she felt him come up behind her. One of his hands held the both of hers behind her back in a vice-like grip while the other brushed hair away from her shoulders. His face was close to her ear as his words dripped like an icy poison from his lips. "You're mine," he growled.

Tears fell down her face. Her body shook with fear and anger. This was not supposed to be happening! She was with Arizira. They were in love and planning a future together! How had he found them? Why had Arizira not detected his presence? What had compelled her to leave so suddenly this morning?

"N-no," she managed to choke out. Lao'dahn pressed her harder into the tree. She felt blood, warm and sticky, spread across her cheek where it cracked against the bark.

"You believed yourself better than Esuval? You believed you could run away from your duties?"

His words were spoken harshly. With each one, he tightened his grip on her wrists and pressed her more firmly into the tree. She felt powerless all over again. There was nothing she could do to stop him. Arizira had never gotten around to teaching her about weapons usage. She felt a surge of anger flare inside of her.

This was why she had begged Arizira to teach her how to defend herself! She had worried about Lao'dahn finding her! And now? Now, her worst fears were coming true! She was angry with herself for allowing her mind to play such cruel tricks on her. How had she ever believed that she would be able to leave such hatred behind? How had she convinced herself that her life could be different? That she could find love and be loved in return?

"Look at yourself! You bear the image of a man," Lao'dahn hissed against her ear in reference to the pants she was wearing. She gasped when he yanked her away from the tree and flung her to the ground. Scrambling, she attempted to back away from him. He was on her in a flash, pressing her down into the cold and wet snow and slamming her arms down to her sides.

"Tell me something," he began, "what manner of creature have you been laying with?"

Talliea stopped all of her struggles in one swift instance. Her face went from one of petrified terror to one of blank resentment. Lao'dahn knew about Arizira. How was that possible? How long had he been watching them? Did he have intentions to harm Arizira? Did he plan to take her back to the Esu where she would be beaten and interrogated for information? Did he plan to force himself upon her?

"What did you say?" she asked emphatically. Her voice was low and rough.

The sudden change over the woman beneath him unsettled Lao'dahn. He lowered his brows and looked down into a face so very different from just a few moments prior. Talliea's eyes were dark and still lined with moisture, but they were now hard and cold. Her body no longer fought to release itself from his hold. Instead, Talliea laid relaxed under his weight.

But, it was her voice that unnerved Lao'dahn the most. It was chilling. The timber was deep. It was wrong, as if it did not belong to Talliea. Shaking off his uneasiness, Lao'dahn leaned over her and rocked his hips against her.

"I asked about the woman you have been laying with. What type of abomination is she? I have seen the two of you enjoying one another's flesh. It sickens me. When I'm done with you, I think I will treat myself to one of your pleasures."

Something came over Talliea in that moment. Something unknown. Something foreign. Something powerful. She heard herself scream 'No!' and the next thing she knew, Lao'dahn was slamming into the tree she had so recently been against. What had happened? Had she even touched him? She heard the air being torn from his lungs before a grunt passed his lips. Standing up quickly, she looked around with wide eyes. Her breathing came in fast pants as the power from before faded away.

Lao'dahn moaned slightly before using the tree to help himself to his feet. He raised a hand to the back of his head and gasped when his fingers came back red with his own blood. "You harlot!" he growled before advancing on her once again.

Talliea had no time to try and summon the power again. She had no time to question matters or try to defend herself. Everything was happening too quickly for her. She could not understand how Lao'dahn had found them. It felt like ages ago that she had left the cave to follow a feeling. Lao'dahn's hands came to her throat.

Her back was thrust against a boulder behind her. She could feel herself trying to black out from the force of the blow. She felt drained. Tired. Exhausted. Where was the power from before? Why could she not summon it again? Where was Arizira? This all had to be a dream. Their bond should have alerted Arizira to her plight. Lao'dahn was going to kill her!

She struggled to breathe as her hands slapped helplessly at Lao'dahn's. "You are coming back with me! I have challenged Markahn's claim on you. His allowance of your freedom no longer carries any weight. Reforms are in place. The Esu have been reborn!"

"No...n-no! I...w-will not...g-go...with...you," Talliea struggled to say. Lao'dahn slapped her across the face. The blow dazed her. She could feel herself sinking, falling. "You have no voice! This is not a debate." An idea came to Lao'dahn suddenly. A brilliant idea, one that would ensure his goals were met swiftly. "Others already walk through my past steps. They will soon be upon us. What do you think they will do with your little pet? Hmm? The woman devoid of Esuval's light?"

He knew he was lying through his teeth, but he needed Talliea to stop struggling and come with him as soon as possible. He had no idea what type of creature the other woman was, but if she came to them, if she noticed their struggle, then matters would turn out far more complicated than he desired. He did not wish to drag out this ordeal. He and Talliea needed to be away from this place, far away, before the other woman with the shining eyes learned of their location.

"You...will...not t-touch...her!" Talliea yelled again. She managed to push him away from her, but the power from before did not return to offer her aid.

Lao'dahn grabbed her hands and held them out to her sides. The two of them fought and struggled for the upper hand. Talliea managed to position them away from the tree and the boulder and into an open clearing. Blood ran down her cheek and her jaw ached. She could feel a bruise forming on her back and her wrists were sore. Whatever power had come over her earlier had left her feeling extremely drained.

She struggled to keep her own footing. Fighting with Lao'dahn's superior strength was almost too much. What hope did she have? Soon he would overpower her, but what choice did she have? He knew about Arizira. He knew where they were living. He could tell the other Esu men. He could take advantage of her. Talliea could not allow that to happen. She had to protect Arizira. It was bad enough that Lao'dahn had already harmed her. She couldn't allow someone like Arizira to be subjected to the depravities of someone like Lao'dahn. She would fight him until she could no longer draw a breath.

"You hold an open flame near the thread of your own fate! Come with me and I offer you my promise that no other need know of your little pet!" Lao'dahn growled before throwing Talliea to the ground again.

He reached over his back and loosed the binding that held his staff. Before he could lower the weapon completely, a sharp and blinding pain seared through his left shoulder. He cried out as he felt something pointed lodge into his flesh. Reaching back with his free hand, he yanked at the arrow in his shoulder until it was free. He tossed the feathered projectile onto the ground and turned to face his newest opponent.

Arizira was already nocking another arrow into her bow when Lao'dahn turned around to face her. The look in her eyes was of fire and death.

"Ari!" Talliea called out.

Arizira made no indication that she heard Talliea. Her entire focus was locked on the man she knew as Lao'dahn. When she had awakened and realized Talliea was not next to her, she had immediately set out to find her. Her senses had felt renewed and the numbing sensation from the night before had passed. It had not taken her long to locate the sounds of a struggle. When she had noticed that struggle was between Talliea and Lao'dahn, a crazed haze of furious anger had overcome her.

"The others shall be here shortly. Watch your woman die!" Lao'dahn said to Talliea from over his shoulder. He hefted his staff in his good hand and tried to ignore the pain radiating from his head and back. He took two steps toward Arizira before another arrow was flying toward him.

It was not skill that allowed him to avoid the fatal strike, but luck. He moved to the side at the last minute, the head of the arrow grazing his upper arm. He cried out again and looked upon his latest arrival with new eyes. This creature was unlike his own people. She was feral. Her movements were animalistic and calculated. She was skilled. Was this the woman who had shot at him? He had always believed it to be Talliea, but seeing this creature in action caused him to rethink his original stance.

He watched the woman hiss at him, her eyes glowing even in the daytime sun. He summoned a bolt of light and thrust his hand in her direction. Her agile quickness surprised him greatly. He watched her toss her bow and quiver to the side before rolling out of the way of his attack. She came up from the ground in one fluid movement, her hands deftly grabbing two long-bladed sabres at her sides. She crouched still some distance from him, her body low to the ground and her hands each holding a shining blade.

Talliea struggled to keep herself from passing out. She had never seen Arizira like she was now. There was a look in her eyes that almost scared her. Though she had watched Arizira practice with her bow, she had never seen the woman actually use it in combat. She had never witnessed this side of Arizira. The warrior side. The huntress side.

The woman before her was graceful and elegant in her actions. Her movements were fluidic, almost like a dance. A dance of death. Arizira was protecting her. She was risking her life to save her own.

Lao'dahn attempted to clear the shock from his face. His confidence in his own ability began to dwindle. This creature would not hesitate to kill him. She had already landed two blows and their fight had only lasted a few minutes, yet she was unharmed. He watched her, crouched low like a cat about to pounce. She twirled the twin sabres in her hands and waited for him to make a move.

Her unusual eyes left him feeling anxious. "Does your pet speak or do you just keep her to satisfy your body's whims?" Lao'dahn snarled to Talliea again.

No answer came. Lao'dahn summoned another bolt of light and quickly directed it at Arizira. He hoped the suddenness of the attack would work in his favor. As before, Arizira was faster than he expected. She leaped out of the way and was upon him before he had time to lower his hand. Still in the air, the sabre in her left hand came down in a swift arc while the one in her right moved wide toward his side.

Now, Lao'dahn was not a man skilled in tracking. He was not a man skilled with a bow or with swords. Among his peers, his abilities were fair, but nothing spectacular. The one thing Lao'dahn was skilled in was staves. He had trained with them since he was old enough to hold one. Seeing two blades flying through the air toward his body, Lao'dahn's years of training took a hold of him. He acted on instinct.

The staff in his hands, despite the pain in his shoulder and on his arm, came up and out deflecting the blow from Arizira's left sabre. Quickly, he twirled the staff down and around in a masterful display and blocked the attack from the right sabre. Adrenaline pumped through his veins and made it easy for him to ignore the pain he felt.

Arizira landed on the ground and jumped back away from Lao'dahn. So, the man had some skill after all. She smirked. Her eyes scanned the area around her and looked for anything advantageous. She noticed Talliea huddled on the ground behind Lao'dahn. Blood marred the left side of her face and a nasty bruise colored her jaw. The sight brought her pain and a greater determination.

How dare this being bring harm to her beloved! This was the man who had haunted Talliea's dreams! This was the man who had walked in the shadows of her footsteps! This man had assaulted Talliea and caused her panic and grief and terror and now, he sought to destroy what she and Talliea had made together.

Talliea's eyes found Arizira's and the two of them shared a silent moment. "Here to save the day, savage?" Lao'dahn taunted. Arizira turned her eyes to his and she hissed at him again. "Can you not speak? No matter. Talliea is returning to her people. There is no need for you to interfere."

Arizira advanced on him, taking the offensive, and the next several minutes were a blur to any onlookers. Arizira's blades moved at such speeds it was hard for even Talliea to keep track of them. To his credit, Lao'dahn managed to deflect or block most of the attacks, but was unable to form any of his own. The wound in his shoulder was beginning to wear him down. It was starting to get harder to bring his staff up. He managed a quick thrust when he saw an opening.

Arizira jerked to the side and avoided a glancing blow from the end of Lao'dahn's staff. She brought both of her sabres up and over her back to block an opportunistic strike meant to disable her. Rolling forward she came up swiftly again and, as she was turning back toward Lao'dahn, swung her left arm out behind her. The end of her sabre grazed Lao'dahn's hands and ripped his skin open. The staff fell to the ground as a startled and pained cry came from its owner's lips.

Lao'dahn, furious now and even more pressed for time, screamed and launched himself at his attacker. He hoped his greater bulk would work in his favor. Arizira smirked at him again, leaped to the side, and slammed the pommel of her left blade into Lao'dahn's back. She kicked him in the side of the face as he landed in the dirt. Lao'dahn managed to back away from her before she could do any further harm to him.

Arizira stood and watched him. Sweat was heavy upon her brow and her hair was wild around her angelic face. She sheathed her left sabre and walked toward Lao'dahn where he sat upon the snow covered ground nursing his wounds. She brought the tip of her right sabre to the soft skin underneath his chin.

"The animal speaks," she said, her accent heavier in her exerted state. "Back away from your weapon." Lao'dahn looked up into her eyes with all the defiance he could muster. He could not believe he had been bested by a woman and that that same woman was now giving him orders. "How many more of you are there?" he asked as he backed away.

Arizira kept her sabre under his chin as the two of them moved. She chanced a quick glance in Talliea's direction and noticed her exhausted face. "That is a concern that is not yours," she answered. "Tah-li, come."

Talliea struggled to her feet. Her body groaned in protest at such movement. The blood on her face was now dry and she could feel the cold and moist snow clinging to her clothing. She took a step toward Arizira when the sound of many voices came from the forest.

"This way! The lights came from this direction!" a masculine voice declared.

Lat'sa'val. There were others looking for her. They must have noticed the lights from Lao'dahn's attacks and were now heading in their direction! Talliea shook her head as new tears formed in her brown eyes. Arizira had beat Lao'dahn, but how would she fare against several of the Lat'sa'val? Talliea could not risk it. Arizira had to leave! She had to get away before the others noticed her!

"Go!" Talliea said suddenly. Her voice was thick with her emotions. Arizira turned her head in that curious manner Talliea loved so much. "Not without you," she replied simply.

"There is no time, love! You must make haste! Go!" Looking back into Lao'dahn's hateful eyes, Arizira pressed the blade of the sabre into the skin of his neck until it drew blood. "I can end his life and we can both escape, Tah-li! I am not leaving here without you!"

The voices of the Lat'sa'val grew closer. It was only a matter of minutes now. "You are not a killer, Ari!" Talliea pressed. "You must go! For me!"

Tears, matching Talliea's, came to life in Arizira's eyes. This could not be the end for them. They could both escape! They could get away! Together! Arizira held Lao'dahn's eyes before withdrawing her blade, turning it in her hand, and slamming the butt of the sabre into the side of the man’s head. The blow knocked him unconscious.

"We are leaving, Tah-li. Your people will not catch us," she said grabbing Talliea's wrist and pulling her away from Lao'dahn with the intent of them both fleeing.  They took only a few steps when they were spotted by one of the approaching men. "There!" the man cried out. "I see her, but she is not alone!"

Arizira pulled on Talliea's wrist again, this time more frantically, and they were moving again. "Quickly!" she cried, "We must be away from here." A bolt of light slammed into a nearby tree, blasting its bark to pieces, and barely missed hitting Arizira's shoulder. The sounds of pursuit grew and were now coming from many different directions. The men were spreading out in an attempt to close in on them.

Arizira searched for a safe route of escape. She heard a yell of excitement behind her and knew Lao'dahn had been discovered. "Faster, Tah-li!" she said and continued to pull on her love's wrist. "No," Talliea said slowing their trek. "I am a weight upon your heels, love."

Arizira could feel herself losing her composure. Her tears were blurring her vision and her body was beginning to shake. The sounds of Talliea's people were easily picked up by her keen ears. They were close. Too close. There wasn't enough time. No. No. No.

"Failira..." she cried in a choked sob. Talliea grabbed Arizira's face in her hands and caressed her lips with her thumbs. "You told me if I asked it of you, it was done. I am asking this of you: Live, Ari. Live for me, please. Go before my people find you here."

Crying now, Arizira fought to make herself understood over her emotions. She felt as if she was being ripped apart from the inside out. "I can not live without you, Tah-li. I need you. This will destroy me, destroy us. Come with me. Please."

Talliea finally let her own sobs take over her body. She cried with Arizira before pulling her into a tight hug. This was the last time she was going to touch Arizira. She tried to make it count, tried to burn into her memory every smell, every taste, every caress.

"I love you, too. I love you so much," she whispered before kissing Arizira's lips softly. "I will come for you, failira," Arizira promised against her lips. "I will take you from them ere you reach your camp." As soon as they moved away from each other, four men burst through the trees around them. One was to their left with two on their right. They quickly moved in together when a fourth man came up from behind. Talliea instantly recognized the man and her heart sank.

Markahn.

Each man was well armed. Markahn looked into Talliea's face, both stunned and happy, before reaching for her and yanking her body away from Arizira. The other men raised their weapons and looked upon the Arniran woman with unbelieving eyes. None of them knew what to make of her. Talliea felt Markahn's arms around her waist pulling her farther away from the fray.

"Pai'sis! Liraj!" she screamed in the Arniran language, the words coming to her from Arizira's memories and telling her love to go and to run.

Arizira whirled around and faced the other three men preparing to attack her. She ran toward them, the sabre still in her hand brushing away the first blow aimed at her. As she passed the man, she kicked him in the back and sent him falling to the ground. The next man raised a two-handed hammer in her direction, but she dived out of the way, coming up gracefully in time to raise her sabre to block an attack by the third man.

She did not offer a return strike. Instead, she kept running, quickly picking up her bow and quiver and making her way into denser forest.

"Esulan yir Ahmanae! Mir'el Tahlet Vallah!" were the last words she heard from Talliea as she put more and more distance between herself and her attackers. Everything in her desired to turn around and face the men. She could fight them and rescue Talliea and the two of them could run away, but she did not stop.

Her thoughts were too chaotic. Talliea had begged her to run, to save herself. She had seemed certain that Arizira was in danger. Could Arizira risk being harmed by the men and have Talliea be witness to it? No, she had to gather their supplies and track the party from the trees. That was her best chance. It alone lowered the risks involved.

As she ran, Arizira replayed Talliea's words to her again. They had been in Arniran and their meaning was peculiar. 'Esulan yir Ahmanae! Mir'el Tahlet Vallah!'

Ahmanae is Esulan. Like Tahlet Vahllah.

Follow the girls epic journey in book two, “Failira, the Tahlet Vahllah” Coming soon…

Thanks goes to everyone who helped to shape my writing style, as well as all those who believed in me, inspired me, and helped me to make this story a reality.