Page 105 of Tiger's Destiny
Ren brought trenchers of food for the both of us then sat at my feet. He translated some of the comments the men made. The general consensus around the camp was that we were good luck charms and that having us there meant there may be hope for winning this war after all.
Our peaceful meal was interrupted by raised voices that grew increasingly louder as they came closer.
“I am not a pack mule!”
“Your mulish behavior labels you as such!”
“I’m only mulish because you are a harpy.”
“I do not understand this word,harpy.”
“A harpy is a hag, a nag, a witch.”
“How dare you call me thus?”
“I call it as I see it, Anamika.”
“I do not wish to speak to you further. Leave my side, now!”
“That is music to my ears!”
Kishan stormed into the circle where we were eating, shooed Ren aside, and planted himself next to me. His face and neck were flushed, and he watched Anamika with a heated glare as she took a plate of food and perched on a log. She whipped her long hair over her shoulder and across her lap so it wouldn’t drag in the dirt. As she dug into her food, she glanced my way, nodded to me and Ren, and then frowned at Kishan.
When dinner was finished, Anamika approached us and said, “Come, Kelsey. It is time to retire.” I stood, but Kishan took my arm.
“Goodnight,bilauta.” He dipped his head and kissed me, but as I was about to end it, he grunted and pulled me tightly against him. His kiss deepened and though I let it happen without struggling, I felt embarrassed by the very public display of an intimate embrace. Kishan finally let me go and smiled happily as I wobbled a few steps away toward Anamika.
She narrowed her eyes at Kishan and then turned to Ren and asked, “Would you mind helping me tomorrow? It is clear that your brother would be happier trailing after hiskittenand nipping her heels.”
Ren nodded his head in agreement. His eyes glittered as he watched us, but before I could say anything, Anamika linked her arm with mine and led me into the direction of her tent.
The next day there was a dappled gray mare left outside my tent with a note from Ren. He and Anamika were spending the day working together, but he arranged for me to have the mare to practice riding.
I found Kishan patiently waiting for me at breakfast. He smiled when I climbed down from my horse on my own and tied her to a post.
“I’ll teach you how to tend to her properly,” he offered.
I nodded and smiled proudly. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
“One of Anamika’s personal stock.”
“Oh.” I bit my lip, wondering what Ren had offered to Anamika in exchange for such a wonderful gift.
“What’s our task today?” I asked, suddenly moody.
“We’re in charge of food. I thought we could pretend we’d been fishing and bring back some edible plants and roots as well.”
“Fine.”
After a stop at the supply tent to refill the depleted stock, we set off toward the river.
We worked all day, traveling back and forth between the camp and the river, carrying bags of salad greens, roots, and lines of fish. My mind was only able to focus on two things: the ache of my muscles and the jealous green-headed monster that reared whenever I wondered what Ren and Anamika were doing. By the time I’d hauled in the last giant sack of greens and helped Kishan position the poles of freshly caught fish near the cooking fire, I desperately wished we could just drop the pretenses and use the Golden Fruit in front of everyone. I knew we still needed to guard the gift, but using it out in the open would be so much easier.
I waited a while for Ren and Anamika to return, but I was so exhausted from all the heavy lifting that shortly after the evening meal, I returned to my pallet and collapsed upon it.
It was Anamika who woke me.
“See,” she whispered by torchlight, “too soft.” She giggled quietly and said, “Kelsey, come with me.”
