Chapter 38: A test
As Ren crossed the courtyard, the afternoon sun bled toward the horizon, staining the sky in hues of gold and crimson. She needed to finish this before darkness claimed the land.
The scent of roasted meat and spiced wine thickened the air as they wove through the bustling crowd of vassals. Tents stood tall, their canopies rippling under the fading light, while servants moved in a tireless rhythm, putting the final touches on the grand feast. They were eating lunch late.
She felt their eyes on her—curious, assessing. Instead of shying away, she straightened her spine and met their gazes with quiet resolve. These were the people she would live among, the ones who had labored without rest since her arrival. And they must know they had earned more than silent gratitude. So, she stepped forward, determined to show them what their efforts meant to her and that they would be rewarded when the time came.
She approached a tall, brown faun who sat on a chair, catching his breath and drinking some beer. She tried hard not to stare at his goat legs and be rude.
Wearing a gentle smile, she told Arkilla, "Wait, I need to thank them for this!" She pointed at the odd decorations she didn’t quite understand—wooden dolls, wooden crowns, and strange dark flowers in small vases. Before she could take two more steps, a hawk screamed and landed close to her. She jerked away and clasped Arkilla’s arm.
Shit, that was scary!
Arkilla could hear that and smiled. Surely, her lady was about to say it aloud but stifled it, unwilling to lose her grace. So, she frowned and stepped forward. "How dare you swoop down like this, you ignorant Calisa!"
Ren looked at her guardian. She knew this hawk, and just as she steadied herself, the hawk began to transform into a teenage boy. Ren wasn’t sure how to keep her mouth from dropping open. But to her surprise, he was fully dressed in royal white attire. How? The Gamma Wolves, mostly warriors, walked around naked most of the time.
What else did this land have for her in its strange depths? Humans called these people the "Queer Folk"—now she understood why. She collected herself and beamed at Calisa. If she wasn’t mistaken, he was quite handsome and lean. His eyes were icy gray, and his hair was as black as Kai’s, but his skin was truly pale. She could imagine him glowing under the moonlight. Ren avoided looking at his pointed ears. He was young and might take offense even more than his elders would.
"Calm down, Killa, it is fine. I believe I have seen you before, Calisa—correct me if I’m mispronouncing your name?"
The young boy, who had been pouting and narrowing his eyes as though assessing her behavior, suddenly smiled. "You remember me?"
Ren nodded. "When we arrived at the market, you were the first one to catch my attention!"