The Lion Soul by Amy Sumida

Chapter Seven

I awoke only a few hours later to find Kaelen gone. I blinked and ran a hand over my face, then stretched and sat up. I could hear voices coming in from the main part of the tent and assumed that was what woke me. I wasn't as tired as I'd expected; a few yawns were all I needed to feel awake enough to get dressed and venture into the other room.

“There you are,” Aidan declared brightly from a seat beside the Eagle Lord. “Kaelen was just about to wake you.”

I noted the meal spread on the table between the men and nodded as I headed to a seat beside Kaelen. From the light coming in through the open tent flap, I judged it to be sometime after noon.

“How are you feeling?” Kaelen asked as I sat.

“Well, thank you.” I peered at the food.

This wasn't my first trip to Stalana, so I was familiar with the cuisine. I chose some grilled fish, buttered green beans, and a scoop of fried potatoes.

“Good,” Kaelen said with a glance at the other men. “I'm sorry if we woke you. I have things that needed to get done as soon as possible.”

“It's better that I don't sleep through the day anyway.”

“Did you get introduced properly to Taryn?” Aidan asked me as he waved at the Eagle Lord.

I shook my head. “It is an honor to meet you, Eagle Lord. I am Rieyu Taka—” I cut myself off and looked at Kaelen.

“Brimara,” Kaelen supplied the name with a smile.

I cleared my throat and tried again, “I am Rieyu Brimara.”

“It's very nice to meet you, Rieyu,” the Eagle Lord said. “I wish we had time to train together; I'd love to learn some of your techniques. I've heard they're astonishing. But, we'll be leaving for Varalorre after lunch.”

“I trained for many years, since I was very young.” I scowled at him.

“Of course,” Taryn hurried to say. “I didn't mean to imply that I could learn them all in one afternoon.”

I inclined my head at him.

“We will be leaving soon as well,” Kaelen said brightly into the awkward silence. “Perhaps as soon as tomorrow.”

I frowned at his tone; it made me feel as if I had behaved incorrectly when the Eagle Lord had been the one to insult me, even if it was accidentally. It appeared that I had a lot to learn about social interactions on this continent. I concentrated on my meal so I wouldn't embarrass either Kaelen or myself again. Or, at least, I tried to. The Eagle Lord seemed content to leave me to my silence, but neither Aidan nor Kaelen agreed with him.

“Is your food different from ours?” Aidan asked me.

I looked at my food and then at his with a scowl. Why would my food be different? We'd taken it from the same platters.

“I meant the food in Nazaka,” Aidan corrected with a chuckle. “Sorry, I'm just excited to speak with you again.”

“Why?” I cocked my head at him.

“I've never met a Nazakian before,” he said as he scooped more potatoes on his plate. They really liked their potatoes in Stalana. “I'd love to hear more about Nazaka.”

I put my fork down; it was impolite to eat while speaking. “Our cuisine is spiced differently. We favor sharper flavors—fermented sauces, pickled vegetables, and seed oils. We prefer beans and rice over wheat. Although, we do enjoy bread on occasion. Rice is usually served with every meal.”

“Even breakfast?” the Eagle Lord asked.

I nodded. “It's very good with eggs. Our diet is heavy on grains, vegetables, and seafood.”

“Interesting,” Aidan said.

“I hope this is all right,” Kaelen said with a nod toward my plate.

“Yes, it's very good.”

“I can see about getting some rice for you,” he offered.

“Please, don't trouble yourself. I am not a picky eater.” I lifted my fork.

“And what's the island like?” Aidan asked. “What's it look like?”

I set my fork back down. “It's beautiful. We have mild weather year-round, though we do get snow in winter. There are very tall mountains that have snow on them constantly, but most people live in the lowlands.” I picked up my fork.

I got one bite before Aidan asked, “Were you always a soldier? You said you trained since you were young.”

I set my fork down, swallowed, and said, “Yes.”

Kaelen snorted, but it sounded as if he'd tried to hold back a laugh.

“What's so funny?” Aidan asked.

“You're not letting him eat,” the Eagle Lord said with a wave at my plate. “He puts his fork down every time he speaks.”

“Oh!” Aidan declared. “Sorry, Rieyu. We must seem like savages to you.”

“Not at all,” I protested while determinedly keeping my fork in hand. “I must learn your ways.”

“Kaelen, may I speak with you?” Taryn asked.

Kaelen didn't seem overly pleased by this, but he stood up and said, “Of course.”

The two warlords went outside.

“Well, I guess it's a private conversation,” Aidan huffed.

I nodded.

“You know, we're like family now,” Aidan said.

“Are we?”

“Yes, the Hawk Valorian pointed it out to me. He said that there will only be twelve of us, and we're the only people on the face of the planet who have been changed from human to fae. It creates a bond between us, as well as between us and our warlords. We'll have to fight together and that will make us like brothers in arms.”

I made an appreciative sound and nodded. “It is reassuring to have comrades.”

“Are you excited to go to Varalorre?”

“Yes. I have been many places, but never one of magic.”

“You don't notice it at first. Things look brighter and the air is cleaner, but other than that, you'll think it's much the same as here. But then you start to feel it; the magic. It creeps up so slowly that you barely realize it until it's surrounding you.”

“There is nothing else notably different?” I asked in surprise.

“Oh, yes, of course, there is,” he hurried to say. “I'm talking about the magic in the land and the look of Varalorre when you first arrive. I was flown in so my experience won't match yours. Maybe you'll be able to spot the differences right away on the ground, but it was hard to see from the sky. Until we came to a village, that is. Then, even from above, it was obvious.”

Kaelen and Taryn came back then, saving me from responding.

“And what were you two talking about?” Aidan demanded.

“If it was any of your business, I wouldn't have left the tent,” the Eagle Lord shot back.

“Rude,” Aidan huffed, but he did so with a smile.

The rest of our lunch was filled with pleasant conversation but a good portion of it wasn't directed at me, so I could eat in peace. After we were done, Kaelen and I bid goodbye to the Eagles, standing to shake their hands.

As they left, Kaelen urged me after them with a whispered, “Taryn's about to propose. Come on. I don't want to miss this.”

The Eagle Lord did, in fact, propose marriage to his valorian, and he did so grandly, with rose petals showered over Aidan and a long speech about their love. It was sweet, but made me a little uncomfortable. Homosexuality was accepted in Nazaka, but men didn't behave like this with each other. Not in public, at least. I suppose, in general, my race was more reserved than the Fae or Stalanians. Not that we couldn't be romantic, my people considered poetry to be an art form. But such things, when exchanged between men, were reserved for moments of privacy. It was a masculine thing. Still, I was happy to see Aidan smile and accept his warlord's proposal. As I'd said to him earlier, I'd have to adjust to their culture now. My face already marked me as a stranger; I didn't want my behavior to alienate me further.