Page 26 of Fate

“T-thank you. But it wasn't really my home.” Seeing confusion, I rush to explain. “What I mean is while I grew up there, it never felt like home to me.”

“Ah. I understand.” An aged smile crawls onto his face, wrinkles pulling at the corner of his eyes. “I'm sure Helia told you, but most of us are strays; including myself, after a fashion.” Nodding to Helia, he gets to the point of bringing me here. “Helia has vouched for you and spoken to your budding skills. We do not easily let just anyone join our ranks, so do make us proud. Let me officially welcome you to the Spears.” Pellax looks to me expectedly, as though I had not spent the past months fighting alongside Helia and the cohort.

“Uh, thank you Strategos. I am honored.” The old man cracks another smile and stands, causing Helia to bolt upright at attention. I quickly follow her lead, eager to get out of here.

“Please, just Pellax. Leave the honorifics for the politicians.”

A sharp salute from Helia and we make our exit, a slight jerk of her raven-haired head pulling me along. At the end of one of the marbled corridors is a doorway apart from the others, granting a measure of privacy.

“Your room is not quite what I expected.” I had imagined Helia to have a tidy room, sparse and functional. Clearly though, she enjoys comfort and leisure when available. A large bed lay in the back of the room, thick furs creating a seductive mound of clouds. There are a few braziers in the room for both light and heat, which she must have lit before talking with Pellax. Strewn about the rest of the room are some simple clothes, but it’s the items that intrigue me.

“Helia, what are all of these?” Small rocks of all sizes and colors adorn a desk, a glass jar with moss lay to the side of it, and a collection of scrolls spill off the other. Blushing, Helia scoops up a few things in an embarrassed blur, placing it in an adjoining room.

“They’re keepsakes of places I’ve traveled to. Sorry it’s a bit messy; it’s been a few months since I was last here and we left in a bit of a hurry.” I grab one of the rocks, inspecting it in the palm of my hand. A dusty red color dominates it, but streaks of copper run through it like lines in the sand.

“That one was from an escort mission to Ionos. A group of miners wanted to ply their goods to foreign merchants.”

“Why collect all of these? You’ve been to so many places, I’m sure it all becomes normal at some point.”

Helia’s usual look of calm fades back to a shadow of that lonely look from training the other night.

“For two reasons. So I never forget what I’ve done, and I can know I left a mark somewhere.”

I place a hand on her shoulder, comforting however I can. Accepting the kindness, Helia nods gratefully and sits in the chair while gesturing to the bed. Sitting down on the furs confirms my original thought; I sit upon clouds.

“The Strategos was…interesting.”

Helia sighs, idly playing with one of the rocks she didn’t clean up. “Pellax created the band many years ago. He used to hand-pick and approve all recruits himself. As the band got bigger and started spreading influence out further, he couldn’t do it all and empowered the commanders to recruit on the road.” A shake of her head belies her annoyance. “Despite that, he still has to ‘approve’ the recruits when they return here. It’s an old man’s flight of fancy. I apologize for not warning you about it.”

“That’s all right. I did want to ask; when he said you told him about me, did you…?”

“No, of course not. The fewer people who know about you the better. He knows you’ve some skill as a cook and as a scout, in addition to the fact that you are quickly improving your combat prowess. I would recommend avoiding using your power around here though. Or at least avoid anything flashy.” Helia leans forward, sinuous arms rest on her knees. “It will take some time but I will reach out to the cabal of Lunos and get you an audience. I’ll take care of you, Skion.”

Searing heat races to my face and her piercing look leaves marks on my soul. No one has ever wanted to take care of me, to protect me, and here is this intense creature wanting to do just that. Despite originally wanting to take things slowly, or at least lying to myself about it, I find my heart racing around her with little effort.

“Looks like you finally got me into your bed.”

Helia’s gaze turns feral in an instant at my teasing, the heat in my face traveling to my stomach.

“Are you wanting to stay here tonight?” A low timbre of hunger dominates her alluring voice. My moment of bravery melts away completely as I try to swallow the lump in my throat, unconsciously nibbling on my lower lip.

The recent events had pushed thoughts of us to the back of my mind; it pushed thinking of myself, my body, away too. Tension grabs hold, stiff and uncertain. The green flames in Helia’s eyes dim slightly as she senses the shift, my uncertainty with my body throwing a bucket of cold water on her desire.

“Remember, we move at your pace Skion.” Some tension releases, but not all. “Oh that reminds me, do you want me to still call you Skion or is there a different name you want?” Eyes wide, I mull her words over in my mind. A new name? One that suits who I am becoming.

“I never thought about it honestly.”

“Names have power. Give it some time, and if you don’t want to change it, you don’t have to.” A lazy smile shines at me as my mind tries to process the past hour. Helia pushes her muscled body out of the chair, an extended hand aiding me to my feet.

The softness of her lips suddenly on mine sucks the breath from my body. I arch into her as Helia wraps her arms around me, her warmth soothing and igniting at the same time. We lose track of time, but the kiss breaks eventually, my heart hammering away, a blacksmith at work. Slowly, I leave Helia’s quarters to get some sleep, conflict raging in every step.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

THE BAND GATHERS loosely in the estate square the following morning, yawns bountiful. It’s incredibly difficult to wake up from a blissful sleep on a real bed after so many nights on the ground. Helia wastes no time addressing the cohort once we all assemble, bleary eyed or no.

“Spears! We are quartering here for at least a fortnight. Guard duty rotations will be doled out as well as pay. Dismissed!”

Cheers erupt, everyone excited for some time in a city. The road is home for most of them, but enjoying the luxuries of the capital from time to time is a welcome change.