Page 45 of Tempting Fate

A laugh rumbled in my chest—rumbled? Me?—and I settled in the chair with my datapad. “Very well. I hope you like the classics, little one, because that’s what we’re reading.”

Yet even The Tale Of Dezhen’s Ghosts could not hold my attention, and after a mere half hour, I made my way outside for lunch. Perhaps this would go better than the last time. I was more prepared for the conversation, the number of people.

“…noble, needing extra patrols. Nothing but—”

The conversation around the fire stilled as I approached.

What was that about? What had they been saying that they couldn’t say in front of me?

I sat on an empty log, returning one or two stilted greetings, and stared into the flames, content to listen as conversation started up again.

Talk across the fire turned to the next rescue mission on Orith. Many new shaa’ith would arrive at the village in a couple of months. Multiple new people in kalidi.

Two villagers to my left sat close, their bodies angled towards each other, caught up in their own conversation. “So will you come into town later?”

The one nearest me gave a dark laugh. “If you ask me nicely.”

“You wish. I won’t beg like a ki’tsi if that’s what you’re after.”

“Yet.”

Ki’tsi. While I didn’t want to think about Grilahki, the strange thing she’d called me danced around my mind. The word had not translated, as happened for some terms too peculiar or specific to their native tongue. “Excuse me. What does that word mean? Ki’tsi?”

The second speaker turned to me, one hand pressed to her collarbone, covering the hexagonal tattoo there. “Where did you hear that?”

“Grilahki called me a stubborn, unbound ki’tsi.” And while I cared not what she thought of me, I wished to know the meaning.

The female’s golden eyes darkened, a hungry cant to her lips. “Did she, now? It is a shaa thing.”

That did not tell me anything. “I understand some of us lean into shaa culture more than others. Perhaps it is something I might be interested in too.”

Her headspines twitched. Those golden eyes flicked over my bare chest. “I am sure it will be. But we do not speak about it with newcomers until you’ve been through kalidi.” At my petulant huff, she laughed. “Yes, I will look forward to telling you when this time has passed. Let’s just say, she suggested you lacked discipline, and that you would be far more agreeable were you… more compliant.”

I glowered. That didn’t tell me anything other than to confirm my intense dislike of Grilahki. “I have no wish to comply with the likes of her,” I said, knowing I sounded haughty and not caring one jot.

“Thankfully, not all veh’kha are like Grilahki, as I hope you will learn.” With that cryptic comment and a patronising pat on my cheek, she turned back to her companion.

Perhaps this ki’tsi thing was nothing I’d be interested in at all.

I caught a whiff of jasmine and swung my head to find Imani standing above me.

“Hey. How are you feeling?”

How could she be so relaxed when mere hours ago she’d had her hand on my cock, giving me the most exquisite pleasure of my life? “I am well, thank you. I will have to go back to bed soon, but I thought I could have some food here, at least.”

“Well, then. Can I get you some stew?”

“Please.” I wanted to get it myself. Though I appreciated her attention and kindness, it did not feel right, not without me being able to serve her in return.

We didn’t speak as we ate, and as my belly grew full, my energy drained. I set down my bowl with a sigh. Back to bed.

“Are you okay? Do you need a hand?” Imani asked.

I didn’t want to need a hand. I wanted to be strong, to stride around the village as anyone did—to show Imani I was more than just a burden—but I gave her a small smile. “Yes please.”

She had to shorten her tiny steps for me, but she never complained, and her presence on my arm was enough to get me to my hut. I didn’t dare lean on her; she was far too small.

She helped me to bed. “Is this the start of kalidi? Shall I stay?”