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He leaned back in the chair and locked his hands behind his neck. “Like you said, I’m young and built for combat. I can learn your ways—train to be the best.”
She stacked her plate under his. “The best?”
“I think I got it in me.”
She smiled. “Come on, soldier. I’ll show you your sleeping corridors.” She handed the wood plates back to Sarah, then headed toward the door. “The rest of the settlement I will show you soon, but for now, just try to remember the way to my father’s room and mine. Your short-term memory doesn’t seem to be affected, so that shouldn’t be a problem.”
She spoke as if she was used to giving people orders—simple, direct, and to the point.
They walked past her father’s room, then hers. Two tree forts later, they arrived at an empty room. She took a lantern from the wall on the outside of the room that hung next to the single window and lit the candle inside.
In it was a cot covered with fur, a stool with a single candle lamp burning, and another dry sink.
“If you need to relieve yourself, there is a pot under the bed. The dry sink has some fresh water in it. And there are extra blankets in a box at the foot of the bed, if you need them. Oh, and be careful with the lamp, fire and all.” She backed up to the door. “Those stitches could be ready to come out as soon as tomorrow, but until then, no strenuous excursion tonight. Okay?”
“I understand.”
His eyes locked with hers. She seemed uneasy about leaving him. She shifted her weight as she fidgeted with her collar.
“Good night, then.” She turned to leave, but he grabbed her hand. She faced him. “Yes?”
Her eyes were striking, green ambers flaring in the light. Her hands were soft, her voice gentle. A lady in so many ways, yet she sounded brave and strong like a leader. What she had done for him, he could never repay, but he could try.
“I can’t thank you enough for what you did... But if you ever need anything, ask and it’s yours.”
Her lips parted into a wide smile. “I’ll hold you to that... Krieger.”
He liked the way she said his name. “By the way, the name Krieger, it’s unusual, right?”
She nodded, becoming serious. “Yes, it is.”
“What does it mean? Something special—something special to you?”
She shrugged. “Maybe.” She turned then, about to walk out the door. The butt of her handgun still appeared at the band of her cargo pants. Vixen from behind.
“One more thing, why do you live in the trees?”
She didn’t meet his gaze. “It’s safer this way.” With those words, she was gone.
Krieger moved to the bed and sat, resting his head in his hands for a few moments. After shrugging off his shoes and jeans, he lay on the cot and closed his eyes. He was tired, to be sure—
His head whipped up when he heard rapid footsteps, men shouting, and horns blowing. How much time had passed, he wasn’t sure; seconds, minutes, hours? Had he dozed off? What was happening?
Eva.
Maybe it was because she had saved his life, or maybe it was because she had shown him genuine kindness... Or maybe still it was something else, but he had to find her.
His skin broke out in gooseflesh as he ran out onto the wooden balcony and down the connecting wood bridges until he arrived at her hut. The sunlight was poking through the trees, casting gleaming beams across the wooden floor.
He didn’t bother knocking as he approached her hut, just ripped the door open and entered her room, but she wasn’t there. “Damn it.” Where would she go?
He dashed out the room. Even more people were emerging from their huts now, making their way in the direction of the dining hall. The horns were still blowing, men were still yelling. Where the hell was Eva?
He followed the men, women, and children. Nameless people who all looked frightened. It was apparent this wasn’t a common occurrence. The horns blew louder now, a howling deep call that sent shivers over his arms, and from the look on the faces of the people he joined, there was no question it was trouble.
Wide eyes surrounded him. Mothers clung to their children; fathers shielded their families. Weapons appeared in hands as they all shuffled farther into the structure.
The group assembled in the large hall. In the middle of the room hung a giant metal chandelier covered with unlit candles. On the far side was a small stage he hadn’t noticed before. The group huddled before it and waited.
