And there was the problem, she’d seen too much now. This close to the source, everything had more magic than elsewhere. She hadn’t seen any modified animals that heknewof for sure, but the council couldn’t account for everything she might have seen. She had certainly documented a fair few footprints in the time that he had watched her. Even word of one “discovery” by her could draw more scholars here, like bees to honey, which was the last thing they needed.
Berne looked up to see his sister smiling knowingly at him.
“Ach, are yeh back from wool-gathering?” she said warmly. Catrin was used to his mind wandering mid-conversation, and he was grateful for it. Not many seemed to understand him the way she did. It was part of the reason he spent so much time on patrol. If he wasn’t around people, he didn’t need to feel odd for letting his thoughts take him where they willed. “So she has a silly little way of talking to herself, hmm?” His sister asked.
“Aye she does, it’s adorable, she—“ Berne narrowed his eyes at her. “Now Cat, don’t get any ideas. The council could decide to execute ‘er later today. I’m just trying to protect her. It’s perfectly natural for me to have grown fond of ‘er. I’ve been following her for a week. She’s not here to cause trouble, and she shouldn’t have to die just for her curiosity.”
“I know, B, but I haven’t seen yeh smile that way when talking about anyone in a long time, and, well, we both know she’s not about to be allowed to leave. Let me be happy for yeh. Itisperfectly normal for yeh to have grown fond of ‘er. Maybe yeh should let yourself in on that because from where I’m standing, it looks more like fancy than fond.“ Catrin went on tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek before rubbing his head with her knuckles.
“Ach, aye, I’ll try. Me mind’s just all banjanxed with it all,” he muttered.
“Let me know if yeh need anything for ‘er. I imagine none of your clothes are going to fit ‘er,” she winked and opened the door. “The girls are dying to know what’s going on, so if it all turns out, let me know. They want a look at the Outsider.” She walked away, waving her hands in the air as if an Outsider was some sort of mythical, magical being.
Berne smiled as he shut the door, but when he turned back to his home, his throat tightened, and his muscles were tense. They really might decide to execute her later today if he didn’t stop it. Hehadcome up with his plan that just might work on the walk back, and he hoped Sirin wouldn’t hate him if that’s what it came to.
1.The majority of people in Sanctuary baby-wear and it is often extended slightly beyond weaning, which happens most often between ages three and four.
2.I insisted that this was not even remotely sound logic, but Berne is quite determined for it to stay.
3.I will forever be disappointed that I was asleep for this hilarious display of fortitude.
4.I have come to understand that while this term is employed derogatorily here, many of the non-human individuals of Sanctuary and the Empire identify with the term monster.
5.Dear reader, if you think to yourself, this is just the sort of thing that would bother Sirin irrationally, you are correct. I still have no idea how this is achieved, or any of the Boundary dome for that matter, and it is a constant source of annoyance.
6.It’s become clear to me She created Sanctuary to be a charming storybook village. It’s a truly magical place, in the most whimsical sense of the word.
Chapter seven
Sirin
IN WHICH OUR HEROINE ACCLIMATES TO HER SURROUNDINGS, IS NEARLY CAUGHT IN THE BATH, AND FORMULATES PLANS FOR HER FUTURE
Thesoundofanunfamiliar female voice woke Sirin. Eyes closed, she listened to the bear of a man, Berne, speak in their unfamiliar language in hushed tones.1She hoped they would slip up or that she might be able to make something out. After some rest, she could catch a word every so often as the language they spoke seemed to have similarities to two different languages Sirin knew.2She just couldn’t understand enough words to follow their conversation. The conversation ended with the sound of a door shutting and she heard footsteps cross whatever room she was in.
Sirin wanted even a hint of what they planned for her, an opening for how she might convince them she meant them no harm and to continue on her expedition. She was annoyed that she’d never studied law3. She had no real idea how to defend herself in such a situation. Perhaps she could offer to be helpful to them in some way. Perhaps she could help them improve something about their village, or even set them up for trade relations with the surrounding civilizations. They had seemed very isolated, perhaps they didn’t know how much of the world existed beyond their civilization.
She frowned. While her head and arm hurt, she wasn’t freezing. Her mind was foggy and she felt confused. Healing naturally was codswallop. She could smell a bit of smoke, but not an amount that should raise an alarm. Nor was the heat coming from any particular direction. It was justcomfortable.The warm air was perfumed with a savory scent that made her mouth water and her stomach grumble.
Gingerly cracking an eye, she saw Berne’s large form sitting alone at a small table. He was frowning down at a mug while worrying a bit of jerky between his teeth. As if he sensed her staring, his head rose and his attention was on her. The corner of his mouth lifted in a shy smile.
Oof, that kind of smile could knock a girl off her feet.
“Ach, you’re awake then, I see. How do yeh feel?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.
She hadn’t had much time to reallylookat him before, but more than anything, hesmelledcomforting. Another human probably wouldn’t notice, but since she hadn’t had time to dull her senses back to normal, she could detect his unique blend of the outdoors and the forest, something wild and free that couldn’t be distilled to any specific scents. She had never seen anyone like him before, nor any of these people.
Below his thick mop of disheveled curly hair, a few errant locks fell over eyes that seemed so welcoming, sofamiliar. Sirin didn’t have anything close to a type, she had been attracted to too many people to narrow down her likes to one set of preferences, but if she had, this man would beit.He was gorgeous, to be sure, but more than that, he seemed sofullyhimself and nothing else, and that was the sexiest thing she had seen in a long time. Perhaps ever.
“Feel? Fairly terrible, but I do have some lunula in my pack that could help me. Could you get it for me? It’s in a small pouch on the side. I’ll need some water as well if you don’t mind,” Sirin said, her tone haughtier than she’d intended as she tried to cover the thoughts she’d been having about him.
Berne stared at her, motionless for a while before he grunted and stood. He crossed to a corner where he crouched to rummage through her pack. He fetched a tiny mug and brought it back with her pouch.
He was a broad man, in a way that spoke of significant strength lined with enough fat to keep him warm in such a chilly climate. His skin was pale, and she imagined it would flush beautifully if she teased him. She ran her eyes, unabashedly, down to his thick thighs and calves. She bit her lip, yes, this was a fellow who would be able to manhandle a solid girl like herself. She would not mind one bit, she decided.
Sirin returned her eyes to his face, scolding herself. She wasn’t here to have sex or ogle her rescuer; she was here for a purpose. Or perhaps she was here, wherever here was, to getoutof here andbackto her purpose. He’d been kind though, as far as she could remember, and gentlemanly, and he was definitely easy on the eyes. She decided when she left, she’d take note of how to get back, in case a tumble sounded good to him too. Dear Lady, it had clearly been too long since she’d had sex. Luckily, he interrupted her mental calculations on exactly how long it had been, by starting to speak.
“I’m sorry Gunna was so strict with your lunula, she didn’t want yeh healing up and running from justice or something. I would’ve given yeh some in sips while yeh slept, but I didn’t know if it would work for yeh while unconscious or not.” He smiled sheepishly and handed her the cup. “Sorry it’s so wee, I only keep one mug for myself and then these wee ones for my nieces. I’ve never needed more here at home.”
