When I came out of the tent after my bath the next morning as we prepared to leave, when Elison saw my hair, he nudge Orel then he looked at me too and frowned when he saw my hair.
“The hair of the women in my family has always been silver, I dye the hair to avoid stares and I haven’t washed the hair since before the hunt so the dye was still there.” I explained, Orel nodded at my explanation.
“That explains why the hair on your body are invisible to light, I could feel them but I could not see them” Orel said as my eyes widened at his words then narrowed into slits when he chuckled at the affronted look which was on my face. It must have been comical enough for him because he did not stop laughing at once. His chuckles died down slowly.
“Your eyes widened like that remind me of a doe, wife.” Orel said as he stretched of his hand for me to hold.
I walked into his hold and he pulled me to his side and continued his conversation with Elison and some other warriors who I always see with him, I will learn of their names later because I was more concerned with getting my bearings now. “We will take Stormpacer…” Orel said as I froze.
“I cannot ride on Stormpacer” I whispered to Orel who was fighting a grin, he knew why I was scared of his horse, he made me scared of the darn horse!
“Don’t worry, you will not.” Orel said and when I looked at him in confusion, he let out a whistle and a white horse raced towards him. “This is Tyra, she will answer to me and you only.”
“Aren’t you scared that I will run away with her?” I asked Orel leaning into his body but Orel eyes sparkled with humor.
“No, I am not scared or worried, you can try if you want to.” Orel said with humor as if he knew something that I didn’t.
“Hey girl” I said softly as I left Orel embrace and walked softly to her. I never had a horse but my father did, I learnt how to ride on his and he taught me everything I knew about horses, one of the things he taught me was that a bonding between an owner and his horse is the most important moment of their relationship.
Where the level of trust each display and the length they will go through for each other is determined. I kept my gaze on Tyra steadily without blinking as I extended my hand to her. She bared her teeth and let out a neigh in warning and I stilled my hand in mid air, the rest was her step to make.
Her eyes left mine for a second to look over my shoulder and whatever she saw was enough for her to bring her head into my outstretched palm and allow me to pet her.
“Good girl.” I said with pride evident, in my voice as I rubbed her head. Orel stepped to me as he rubbed her too and gave her a carrot stick to eat, as she munched on it, I asked him “Is she of good breed?”
“The best, she is the daughter of Stormpacer.” Orel said and when I glared at him, he just laughed as he shook his head at my expression.
“Bond with her while I make the last preparations then we are good to go.” Orel said as he moved off while I spent some more time with Tyra.
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OREL POV
We arrived at the capital mid-day which was all my wife fault well… my fault considering that I made her scared of Stormpacer and Stormpacer wanted to be close to his offspring.
She tried her very best to make Stormpacer leave Tyra alone but eventually she gave up. I think that Stormpacer have the same amount of love for her that she has of him.
Me and Tyra just allowed them to do whatever they wanted without any interference from us and my men were having the time of their lives, laughing at my wife and my horse who refused to come to any agreement.
When we arrived in front of the merchant king house, I stared at the house for long and was tempted to reject his offer of staying in his house because I would prefer mine to his.
Mine was less dangerous for my bride with less barbs flying in the air from the tongue of a woman who was a shrew second to only Estrid, that is why they are both good friends, they both have the same malicious spirit living in them. Most times I could not help but wonder how Cale survives with his wife.
The only reason why I haven’t made my decision about where to sleep for the night is because I refuse to undermine Themis power, she needs to fight her battles and the sooner she realize those battles and her adversaries, the easier it will be for her in the long run. There are some fights that even the warlord is not allowed to participate in.
The doors of Cale home swept open as Cale booming voice was heard even from their place at the edge of his gates. “Welcome warlord, my home is open to you and your people.”
I released a sigh when Themis looked at me with worry, she knew that I didn’t want to enter the house, she wasn’t aware of the reason but she sensed my reluctance. That is more than anybody has ever come to understanding me. “Let us get this over with.” I gruff out as I stirred Stormpacer into a trot that Tyra soon followed to keep up with me.
As soon as I got close to the front door, I dismounted and helped Themis down from her saddle too as other dismounted around me and without waiting I moved to Cale with a brisk pace that Themis matched staying close to me at all times. Something I noticed she has adopted when we were together in presence of other.
As soon as I got to Cale, I clasp him in a hug pounding his back the way he pounded mine too, although I just made him lose some wealth the day before with my demand, I knew that Cale will not hold it against me.
He respect ruthless dealings and trading more than he respects his wife to cause harm and damage to his wealth. “It has been long friend.”
“Too long.” Cale replied. When we finally let each other go. Cale eyes went to my companion besides me, he was never one to hide how much he was curious about an event. “And this is your new wife?” He asked and when I nodded, he smiled at Themis with warmth. “I guess congratulations are in order.”
Themis licked her lips before offering a tentative smile then she replied in her amazing voice that has the power to turn the necks of everybody who heard it.
“Thank you my lord.” She said as she curtsey, something that clearly shocked Cale and would have shocked me too, if I didn’t know of the fact that she was the daughter of a chieftain.
“My wife will like to meet us but she uncertain if you are still angry at the stunt she pulled yesterday.” Cale said with the barest hint of unease in his voice and I caught it.
He didn’t want to be in non-speaking terms with another ruler just because his wife could not use her insults well.
“Maybe later.” I said as I pulled Themis closer to me as she rubbed her eyes. “If it is important that she apologize, we would like to hear her apology after we have taken off our travelling fatigues and washed, Themis is not used to being on a horse for long periods and maybe over meal.” I said and I watched Cale grit his teeth before offering a smile I knew that my bride would describe as charming.
“Of course. Follow me to the quarters prepared for your arrival.” Cale said as he led the way through his home and me and Themis followed slowly behind him.
“You should not push his control that way.” Themis quietly admonish me as I smile at her. She is proving to be predictable in her actions regarding two of us, she was acting like a wife, she might flinch anytime she is reminded on purpose but subconsciously, she was already accepting her role.
I told her something she never expected to hear but it did shut her protests and feelings about the way I was egging Cale on. I said. “He would have done worst to me if reverse was the case. He has his pride but mine is bigger. Sometimes he lets his wife annoy me just to get under my skin, but this time he knew that the boundaries were overstepped.”
Side note: Please read and comment. It will help this story go far. Thank you.From what Orel told me on my way here I was suspecting Cale wife to be of questionable character and infuriating at worse, what I never suspected was that she was friends with the noble lady at the hunt, the one who was against Orel claiming me as his.There is some tension between Orel and the lady and as much as I try to remember what happened, my mind remain blank which I am sure was because of the shock I was experiencing then.Throughout the course of the meal, the two
I didn’t want to be anywhere near the noble women the next day but I didn’t have a choice, I needed to know the other wives of Orel fellow leaders, I just have to be present.That didn’t mean that I would be the joke of meeting, I will not show any weakness again, if the ladies think they will be able to degrade me today, they will be shocked at who they will see.I walked into the morning room where everybody was gathered and as soon as I entered, the room dissolved to muttering as I gritted my teeth and walked into the room with a smile on my face.“Pray do tell me what so funny, I cannot wait to see if I can share it with my warlord.” I said breezily, immediately the s
“The jewels on this blade is worth the exact amount you are bargaining for the blade, Orel.” Cale said heatedly as I rolled my eyes, they have been arguing back and forth since for a blade that caught Orel eye, it was small for him and although it was my size, I doubt it was for me. It was too fanciful for my taste.My eyes were on the small pair of thin like swords that will allow for throwing and at the same time for sword combats, I have been drawn to those blades since I set my sights on them, there was something about them that felt familiar, like they were meant to be mine.“Themis, you see anything you like.” Orel said behind me as I gave a little jump, I was so lost staring at the twin swords that I didn’t noticed that they have stopped their arguments since or from the way Lord Cale was staring at me, I
We got back to the settlement close to night, there was still enough light for Dyane to take her bath and wear a new dress, she was shocked when Orel chose the clothes for her instead of the jewelries and when she asked me why, I told her that it was because if Orel brought me another piece of jewelry again, I might be tempted to take his head off with my new pair of swords.When she was done bathing, her skin glisten in the candle light inside the tent. And I told her so “The color of your skin is amazing.” She shrugged bashfully.“It was better than this when I had my herbs with me.”“I would like to give you materials for your herbs but my husband is not too comfortable with you around medicine y
I froze then slowly turned to him. “A man is almost dead and time of the essence and you are asking me that?” My tone was incredulous.“Yes.” Orel replied while I glared at him but the glare did not work.“If you don’t answer me quickly, not only his life is at danger. As time goes by, I am threatened to ride into the capital and kill a lot of people because this is clear that the snake was sent by someone who hates me. It is too rare to be seen here. Those things only grow in one place and I assure you that the place is far from the Dar Empire.”“The person don’t have to hate you, the person just need to be against your bride…” I whispered softly as Orel snorted.“Any harm to you is a harm to me, everybody knows this. You are my wife, my weakest link. Only those who seriously despise another goes after his wife. The person who did this just became my greatest enemy.” Orel explained passionate
The messenger arrived in front of the merchant king home and refused to enter the house, requesting for the merchant king and when the merchant king arrived, the messenger then requested for his wife who came out too after much protest.The merchant king was confused about why the messenger didn’t want to enter his house but thought that he wanted to go back to the camp settlement as soon as possible, when his wife came out and he saw how pale she was. He started to suspect that something else was going on.“Warlady Themis, asked me to gift you this item, she wanted you to see it in your husband presence.” The messenger said as Lord Cale relaxed. It was just a gift.His wife was reluctant to open the package. “Be fast, I am sure that the messenger is in a hurry to leave, he would still be here to take your message of thanks back to the Warlady.” He snapped at his wife who slowly unwrapped the gift. What she saw made
OREL POVWe got back to the my major army section, the place where I mainly spend most of my year, it was home for me, my tent was bigger here than in the temporary settlement closed to the capital and it was more luxurious, I have a feeling that Themis was going to like this place much, I turned to look at my wife to see her looking weary, she is not used to being in the saddle for long and she kept on rubbing her eyes and gripping the reins of Tyra so tight as if that was the only thing keeping her on the saddle, I watched her as she got the first look of my army, her eyes widened in shock and then became shuttered as if it was at this exact moment she was realizing the extent of the power I have as the warlord of the Dar empire.I came down from Stormpacer saddle as I slapped his flank and he raced off to the stables where I am sure that he had missed his space, I walked to Tyra and helped Themis to come down from her saddle alth
OREL POVAs soon as I got to Elison tent, he spoke to me. “Did she even know what she did?”“My guess is no. she didn’t know that she just saved us months of haggling back and forth with people who weren’t going to help us.” I replied quietly. I had made sure that Themis was asleep before I left her in our bed to come to Elison tent to discuss what she unknowingly did earlier that day.“We have to know the extent of her gift.” Elison voiced“And how do you suggest we do that, she hasn’t given us a reason to question her about what she knows and do I need to remind you that it hasn’t been long since the Dar Empire left the archaic way of killing people with gifts less than hers. She will be suspicious and will clam up and that will make it harder for us to see her slip.” I explained.“Cannot we do something, anything about this? We could show her what this is and explain what she has done for u