R and R 17

Chapter 17




We all had a late breakfast in the room while taking a rest from our travels and enjoying the comforts of an actual room. Later we had lunch in the dining room. The mood in the space felt cheerful, groups of kiceka chatting it up with their friends. No such talk could be said for the humans. Any noticeable noise out of us would be frowned upon. And, as the green woman proved, a frown could eventually lead to punishment. I sat on a mat on the floor in the corner of the room with the other humans.
“Hello there.” The tired man from earlier took a seat next to me. “I am sorry about my mistress. She is very strict with human behavior.”
I gave him a look and he understood that it was for the woman and not him.
He nodded. “I know that even the thought of getting hit with one of those things could hurt. Is there anything I can do for you?”
I took a bite from the leftovers that had been placed on a stand for us and thought better than to ask why he wanted to help. “Do you know where there’s a bridge under a big roan tree?”
“Oh, yes.” He gave me a sly look. “Going to meet a lover are we?”
I thought about it. “Something like that.”
“It’s about a mile, but it depends on what time you’re leaving.”
“Oh.” I realized he was possibly talking about a kiceko mile. “Oh, I need to be there by midnight.”
“Then you should leave five minutes before the former half hour. Follow the moon and it will only take about the turn of a half hour if you run fast.”
What did he think I was doing? “Why would I need to run?”
“If someone sees you they are going to try to catch you. Besides you are with five kiceka so it will prove uneasy for you to creep out.”
“They’re easy. I’m not worried about them - they won‘t be too much of a problem.”
He was surprised by how out with it I was. “But if they catch you…. You look like you get beaten on a basis.”
That’s how I feel when I’m with them. I kept the thought to myself. “They don’t really have control of me but thanks anyway. I appreciate the help.”
He nudged me. “If I see you again may I have some details?”
“What if we do more than kiss?”
The man leaned in. “I hope your escape goes well.”
“I don’t plan on escaping.”
“Then why go through all the trouble of slipping away?” His raised voice caught the attention of a few other humans and the kiceka at the closest table to us. “I’m very sorry.” He murmured.
“Don’t worry, as long as nobody tries to stop me.” I eyed the kiceka at the next table, as if my glare was actually a threat. They turned their heads but kept their eyes on me. One of them grunted and looked around, presumably for my ‘masters’.
“You are very…” The man shook his head. “brave.” It sounded more like a question.
“I guess.” I shrugged offhandedly. “No, I’m just used to everything they can do to me.”
“You must be a handful.”
“They just don’t know when to shut up and not get drunk. That joke.”
A cluster of humans and the kiceka turned to me in shock. It was time to tone my attitude down before I got in trouble.
“Do you mean us?” Rods stood straight above me, his sudden appearance running a chill through my body. “Or just me?”
Since I was already caught with dirty hands what harm could telling the truth do? Turning to face him the truth came out.
“Just you.” I answered.
“Then I resent that.”
“Then don’t get drunk anymore. I heard you weren’t allowed to anyway.”
“Lance.” If anyone looked very hard they could see a vein come up in his head. “I’m going to maim those two.”
“Could you yell a little louder, the people outside can’t quite hear you.”
He rolled his eyes, apparently not mad at me. “I am sorry I got drunk and scared you.”
It was safe to say, I was shocked. Especially in front of all these people. “Are you drunk now?”
“Why?” He sounded slightly appalled at the mere thought. “Of course I’m not.”
I considered quitting while I was ahead. “Okay, sorry.”
“It’s fine.” He gave that cocky smirk. “I have been somewhat mean to you.”
I was starting to wonder if he really was drunk. “Can you have Lance- no, no, Chace come over here? I need to ask him something.”
Rods shook his head but walked back to their table. I nearly laughed as Rods popped the wrong twin, hard, in the back of the head. Apparently that started a sort of argument with everyone except Ray and Chace. Curston stood and also whapped Lance in the head. As I watched the three guards – the young fighters acting their age - I failed to notice Chace come up close to me.
“Are you still vexed with me for what I did?”
I jumped in surprise. “Um, no. I just wanted to ask you if Rods is drunk. And if he is, does he know it?”
“Not this time he’s not. All he has had today is water. Curston has made sure of that.” Chace looked over questionably at his older companion. “Why, is he acting strange?”
“I called him a joke right in front of him and he didn’t get mad - at me. Then he apologized and admitted to being mean. In front of other humans.”
Chace pondered for a few seconds, his eyes subtlety studying the huddle of humans across the stand. “It is about time for his blood to change back to normal. He might just be going through his change.” Chace looked down at me. “Do you know what that is, Mayla?”
“Does it involve eating humans?” I asked, looking around at the uncomfortable faces. “Or somewhere in that general area?”
“Yes.”
“Then I don’t want to know.” I looked at the four others. Three of them were still wrapped up in whatever it was that had got them arguing. “Do they know you’re over here?”
“They do.”
“Then what are they on about now?” I shook my head.
“My bother’s hair.”
“Then why is Rods in on it?”
“I don’t know. But if they get out of hand I could always distract them by setting something on blaze.”
I laughed silently to myself, believing he would do it. “Just make sure you do it after I leave.”
His smile faded. “What do you mean?”
“I mean after I leave. After I go home.”
“Oh,” All of a sudden he looked like a thirteen year old boy instead of a sixteen year old man. “I see.” He kept his face straight, though the disappointment in his voice was clear.
“What’s wrong Chace?” I knew the answer but I still felt the foolish need to ask, hoping I was wrong.
“Are you sure you are not mad at me.” His voice covered some other question. “For burning the bridge keeper?”
Thinking about it I came up with a conclusion. “No, Chace, I’m not mad at you.” I gave him the sweet smile I used on Trucker when he thought he was in trouble for nothing. I’m mad at Lance and Rods for trying to feed me to him. I kept that part to myself.
“Alright.” He smiled back. “Okay.”
I hadn’t noticed before but many of the humans had been taken away by their kiceka. The man I was talking with had disappeared long ago. The giant creatures at the close table now stood at the seating Rods and the others were occupying.
“What do they want?” Chace eyed them.
“They probably want to tell on me for what I said.”
He eyed me now. “What?”
“I just said -”
Curston burst out laughing. “I bet she did say something like that.”
“What did you do Mayla?” Chace sounded uneasy and amused at once. “Nothing that’s going to get us in to any trouble, right?”
“I said you guys were easy and had no control over me.” Best to be honest.
He laughed. “We don’t have any control over you.” He shook his head. “How long are you staying with us?”
“Not too long I hope.” I turned away from him, picking with my leftover portions of food. “I have to get back to my family.”
“Will you ever come back?”
There was a good chance the answer to that would be no. But no was something I couldn’t bring myself to tell those betrayed eyes. So I shrugged. He stepped around me, saying that he’d be right back, and headed up the isle to their table. Chace joined their conversation, seemingly straightening out what I had said. I knew he was upset, but what could I do? I had a three year old back home waiting for me. If it could be helped my situation here would not be a permanent one. And though Chace going to the others would possibly bring up unneeded troubles, I was determined to get home – some way or another.
We went upstairs a few minutes later. Everyone picked their rooms and who they would be rooming with. And somehow, Curston and Rods wound up together anyway. Afterwards, everyone but Chace and I split to do there own thing and explore the area. I didn’t like seeing Chace down because of me so to cheer him up I began to say a bunch of funny things in a weird voice. It always helped with Trucker – and Gina - when nothing else would. Chace gave me a quick look then exploded into laugher, rolling around on the bed. As I watched him, satisfied with the results, he sounded as if he was trying to say something but wasn’t able to through the giggle fit. He was even in tears now. Was it really that funny? Chace pointed over my head. Rods stood in the doorway, staring at me as if I had gone completely insane. The oldest guard even had the nerve enough to tell Lance not to enter the room making me have to talk him into it.
Lance followed Rods in and plopped down on the bed. “We’re easy?”
I looked at Chace who was calming down, breathing hard.
“I mean, of course we have no control on you,” he went on. “but what makes us easy?”
“I hope that’s not your only reason for coming in here.” I chided.
Lance crawled across the bed and wrapped his arms around his brother’s waist. “Chace, tell him that I don’t have to wear any dye.”
“He’s an adult four years our senior.” The twins turned to me. “Mayla.”
Mayla what? Did they really think I’d go up against a guy – a giant - that nearly broke my face once already?
“Rods,” I ventured. “you and Curston need to leave Lance’s hair alone. He wants it natural and he’s old enough to-”
“How can you stand not telling them apart?” Rods argued.
I looked at the twins. “Lance?”
“What?” he asked.
I turned back to Rods. “See. And what color are Lance‘s eyes?”
Rods looked at Lance. “Blue.” Alright, maybe he was looking at Chace.
“No, pink.” I corrected. “Chace has blue eyes.”
He sighed. “But still-”
“Lance is more hyper than Chace is.” The room began to grow chilly. The window was open. “I mean, he has a more energetic personality.”
“I can not believe you.” Rods took in a deep breath and held it. “Anything you wish to see or do now to make the most of your time?”
“Let’s go out and look around.” Lance sat himself high on his knees, casting a shadow across the bed. “And Mayla needs to change out of that outfit.”
“Why?” I challenged.
“‘Cause you fell into the water with it on.” He smiled with trumpet. “Settled? Then let’s go.”
“Now hold on little boy. Why not ask me what type of clothes I want.”
Lance pushed higher on his knees, looking down on my ruefully. “Who is little?”
Note to self; don’t refer to them the same way you do the younger kids back home. “Fine, I suppose I’m the little one, but you are younger.”
I heard Rods chuckle.
“Right.” Lance frowned. “What kind of clothes would you like?”
Jeans and a T-shirt, pajamas, or a giant proof vest. I held back the comments. Stop it. I told myself. Be nice and endure the shopping spree.
“Just a normal shirt and pants. Something comfortable, simple.”
“Oh May, why don’t you wear something finament?”
What? “Why don’t you wear something like that?”
“Because I’m not a female.”
“You mean feminine.” I corrected. “Well if you haven’t noticed, I’m not a very girly person.” I shivered; it felt like the heat was going down.
“You should be.”
Now I was getting annoyed with the conversation. “Aren’t we going to go?”
Rods laughed lightly. “Let’s get it over with.”
After getting outside the first thing Lance did was find me a pink silk dress. Beautiful in all its frilly glory. A garment most unfitting to my personality or current mood. Not to mention my appearance. Chace found something on the cart he refused to stop picking with. The merchant found out that a thirteen year old boy in charge of a sixteen year old girl didn’t work well no matter what the size difference. And Rods found out how much laughing can really hurt.
“Mayla.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s too pretty.” I didn‘t care that we were drawing attention. “Lance don’t pay for it!”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Lance smiled at the lady.
I shook my fist at his back and a passerby dropped a silver coin at my feet.
Rods laughed harder.
Lance turned around and held the dress up for me to see. “Put it on.”
“No.”
“Mayla!” Now he was whining.
“Why?” I had an idea. “The dress is to make me look better but my scars will stand out and that defeats the whole purpose of having something like it in the first place.” I never said it was a good idea.
“Oh,” He was stumped. “Um….”
Rods couldn’t breathe.
“Lance, if I put that on now it’ll only get dirty.” I watched his expression. “I promise to wear it on a special occasion.”
He smiled at me and we made it a deal - a false deal.
“So anyway, where are Curston and Ray?” I took a quick scan around the area, remembering I hadn’t seen the two in a while.
“Don’t know.” Chace kneeled to press one of his fingertips slightly and briefly to my lips. “I haven’t seen them since they left.”
“What was that for?”
He just smiled, standing. I looked at Lance then Rods who had started to calm down with difficulty. Lance was smiling and he turned around to rummage through more of the human sized clothing. Rods stared at me with an expression I couldn’t identify. And expression that was as new to him as it was me seeing it on him.
“Fair enough, May.” Lance tugged on the back of my shirt. “Put this on.”
It was an almost normal looking orange brown shirt and cloth white pants. Good and practical for even the worst of situations. And there was no telling how much worse things could get.
I smiled. “That’s appropriate for a daily basis. Thank you, Lance.”
He bounced as only a thirteen year old giant could without looking like a child. “Let us go into that alley and change.”
“You’re not going to watch me.”
“Curston was able to stand by you.”
“Curston almost got a black eye. You want that?” I took the clothes from him.
He frowned. “No, but you should let us watch out for you.”
I sighed. Could I really win with him so persistent? “You guys can do that.”
So the boys stood by, impatiently, and waited for me to get changed in the shade of the alley. A discarded crate acted as an ideal dressing room. As soon as I came out the twins dragged Rods and I as far as we would let them.
As it turns out ‘as far as we would let them’ ended at the gates of a corral. It was near to the further side of town where the mountains stood as a close barrier. The ground was cleared of greenery and several dirt trails led into kiceko-made tracks. A set of stables were built into the base of the mountain and surrounded by a high wooden fence. Several large animals drank and fed from troughs against the stables. The animals themselves were unattractive creatures; their heads were thickly feathered and small, their throats bulbous and strained against their necks, barrel like bodies dressed in dull colored oily feathers, and lastly thick legs built for speed. They snapped their over-bite teeth at the handlers and brayed like drowning donkeys. Hideous was not a strong enough word, but the twins looks excited to see the creatures.
We wandered to the open posts where stable hands swept lose pebbles and droppings out of the way. They tipped wide brimmed hats in acknowledgement before going back to work. I ogled the mounts with Chace, echoing the sounds they made and watching as they gave us lopsided smiles in return, while Rods and Lance searched out the stable owner. Lance, in all his youthful glory, was determined to ride on of the creatures.
“Are you riding, Mayla?” Chace looked to where he had placed me on the post.
“Not if you dragged me kicking and screaming.” I smiled as he laughed. “Do you guys ride often?”
“Not often. Most riding animals on Mentren are for work in larger colonies. Aalexander doesn’t have many at the castles themselves.”
Catching sight of the others, I just nodded in response. Both Rods and Lance strutted proudly leading a mount and sporting thick black riding boots. While Lance aimed for the start of a trail, Rods made way for us. The young man seemed to be looking for something, first on Chace’s person, then the fence posts. His eyes found me and I couldn’t help but to shudder at the smirk that crossed his face. I was tempted to run, but on the post it would have been a mildly foolish effort. Rods held out his hand. I looked at the animal, then back at Rods and shook my head. That was strike one – one strike you’re out. Something to note: Rods would make a mean umpire. As of that moment he was just a giant irked by my simple resistance.
It didn’t take a moment longer before I found myself seated on the back of the mount. Rods was perched in the saddle, making sure the strap holding me was secure and otherwise acting as though I hadn’t thrown an unsavory word at him. Satisfied with my binding, he pushed the creature forward. The movements were surprisingly smooth. Its feet padded softly against the ground. The feathers felt cool under the scrutiny of the sun and stayed cool beneath me. At walking pace the ride wasn’t so bad, a steady stride and soft breaths. At the start of a path, well beaten by use, Rods snapped the reigns. The creature took off. Like its walk the animal was a surprisingly smooth runner. Its body moved both riders in a steady rhythm, its breath coming out in hums, but the wind beat at our faces with no mercy. The barreled body tipped precariously as we rounded a sharp corner. The ground seemed to rush dangerously close. I couldn’t help the yelp that slipped out. Rods let out a laugh before pushing his mount on faster. The ground inclined. For a moment he lifted himself out of his seat, forcing the stirrups to hold his weight, then dropped back down.
“Get ready.” Rods leaned in to be heard above the wind. “There is a jump ahead.”
Ahead was not a good enough warning. As soon as the word was out of his mouth my stomach dropped. The animal sailed through the air like a stone thrown off a cliff. Hot air whistled through our ears. The landing was worse; its legs buckled and I was nearly dislodged from my bind. Needless to say my stomach never came back to me. Releasing a loud breath, Rods snapped the reigns again. The mount bellowed in protest but increased its speed. A second set of soft hooves beat the ground as Lance and his mount began to catch up. The two boys exchanged competitive smiles. Both pushed their animals harder. Further along was a dead end, the trail curving round to head back towards the carrel. Lance took the turn hard, leaning outwards as they ran the innermost part of the curve. Gravel shuffled uncertainly beneath the weight. For the briefest second Rods slowed to both allow Lance’s dangerous pass and make sure he didn’t fall. When the younger proved stable Rods pushed forward, but Lance’s gain was already too great. We followed, taking the turn less precariously. Chace waved as we came into view.
Lance reigned in just inside the gate. He dismounted with a breathless smile. “That was fun!” he exclaimed before Rods could dismount. May we ride again?”
“I think once was enough.” I found myself being lifted from the strap and cradled in Rods’s palm. “Mayla looks pale.” He tapped me with the tip of his finger. “And I think that was a bit too much excitement for her.”
“Can we get lunch?”
My stomach took that moment to return.