《War of Seasons》19. Gray Before the Storm
Advertisement
Hollyhock blinked dumbly a few times before breaking into uproarious laughter. “I like you, you boring girl!”
“Why thank you,” Dorothea said flatly. Hollyhock’s laughter overtook him so much that he ended up on the floor; she waited for his face to come floating back upwards again.
“Okay, okay. Sorry. This is more serious than I thought. So, you’re from Sirpo, and you all got attacked? Man… That’s insane.”
“Yes.” Ranting her frustrations had reminded Dorothea of how wrong everything had gone so suddenly. The danger was far from behind them, regardless of what choice she made going forward.
“For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t have been so mean to you if I’d known the situation.”
“The situation shouldn’t make a difference,” Dorothea reprimanded sharply.
Hollyhock lifted his hands in surrender. “I know, I know. But honestly I’m like that with anyone I think might be a little too involved with Rhys Tamlin, if that makes a difference. Besides, an Atlin walks in here after years of silence? Of course I’m gonna be a little pissed.”
She hadn’t considered that last point, but in hindsight it made a lot of sense. To divert from that she asked, “Is there a problem? With Rhys?”
“Meh. Kind of. It’d sound petty if I told you.”
“Alright.” Better not press the issue. Dorothea looked around the room absently. What now? A fearful anxiety was draping over her shoulders. There was just no telling what would happen now.
“Heya.” She jumped when Hollyhock spoke. “Let’s sit and chat. We—well I—got off on the wrong foot, so let’s start over. Hm?” He raised his eyebrows and smiled hopefully.
“Of course.” He hadn’t acted so horribly that she’d deny a perfectly fine extension of good will. She followed as he moved to the tables and sat across from her with his legs crossed.
“So!” He rested his elbows on the tabletop and propped his face between his palms. “Surprise me again! Say anything at all. It was fun when you did that just now.”
What, did she live to entertain him? “Well… Um. Let’s see…” Ensuing conversation was light and easy as facts, interests, likes and dislikes were traded.
Hollyhock was in the middle of a story about buying clothes near the end of a quick hour. “I was nervous, see. So I walked into the store and without waiting a beat I said to the guy, yeah, I want a skirt that hides my dick so I don’t have to tuck it. And let me tell you, Dorothea, he looks physically pained when I say this. Like I kicked him there myself. So I say again, I want a skirt that hides my dick and he’s like, the problem with that is that he’s not a tailor, he’s a cobbler. Yeah, the tailor was next door. I was so nervous and wound up I went to the wrong place,” Hollyhock explained. “Not my finest moment, I admit.”
“So what happened next?” Dorothea had her hands over her mouth to contain laughter.
“Well I said to him, I—” Hollyhock cut himself off and looked over Dorothea’s shoulder when the door to the mess hall opened. “Iree! And Cerid. That’s okay too. And… Shit, is that Shark Olyen? Hey!”
Advertisement
Dorothea stumbled as she tried to stand and spin around at the same time. “Shark!”
Her friend smiled, though it was tired and lackluster. “Hey…” They leaned against Dorothea once the two met in the middle. “I can’t wait to go home,” they muttered so only she could hear.
Dorothea nodded, watching Iree and Cerid approach. The latter looked miserable, his hair stuck to his forehead and darkened with sweat. Iree wore a refreshing smile, her eyes twinkling. Dorothea had trouble keeping her gaze up though, as the white blouse the woman wore revealed very much of an ample bust. Even with a thin mint-colored undershirt, there was a good deal exposed. Long, slender legs were displayed in all their toned glory, eclipsed only by black boots and a brown skirt with a purple stripe running along the bottom. She wore a garment between a vest and corset, a black drape starting beneath her chest and ending with two gold and white stripes running along the points it ended in. Lastly, she donned a green scarf with a circular golden pin on it, a four-leaf clover in its center.
Dorothea thought of Rhys then. The shade of the gold in Iree’s pin was the same as that on his. Maybe Iree was one of the good friends he’d given one to. Amidst these observations, she realized she was blatantly staring. Iree’s smile was brimming with laughter, and something told Dorothea she was used to the attention, especially since her position no doubt landed her in the spotlight often. Thankfully, Iree didn’t seem offended.
Still, she apologized. “Sorry. We don’t have clothes like that in Sirpo.” Iree was everything she wasn’t, Dorothea thought distractedly. Beautiful, vibrant, strong. One could feel her energy emanating throughout the space she dominated.
“I noticed.” Iree glanced sympathetically at Cerid as if he were a puppy caught out in the rain. She turned to Hollyhock. “Have you been a good host?”
“I’m never anything less, am I?”
Iree shook her head, smiling. “Of course.”
“What do we do now?” Dorothea asked, wanting to cut to the point.
“You and Olyen do nothing. I’ve already proposed the move to the council, so that should be approved by the morning and we’ll go. It’ll take them a while to discuss what allying ourselves with Sirpo is going to mean.”
“Are you really sure that Sirpo will be safe in the meantime?” Dorothea asked, distressed.
“Of course.” Iree smiled apologetically. “I know this isn’t progressing how you want. I’m sorry, but that’s just the way things are here.”
Dorothea nodded, swallowing further protests. “Thank you for your efforts.”
Iree continued. “There’s the attack on the border to deal with too.” She glanced at Cerid, whose face clouded with shame. “Do I have it right that you agreed to revive the soldiers who were killed there, Atlin?”
“Yes.” It seemed like the least she owed Cerid after what he’d gone through to get to Equin and what had happened while he’d been there. Plus, it would endear her to Sacer and encourage them to accept her request for their aid continuing until the end of the war.
Advertisement
“Okay. Here’s the plan.” Iree cocked one hip to the side and put a hand on it. “I’ll make a small group and head out to check on your village. Rhys’ll lead a different group, including you three, Atlin, Olyen and Creed, to the border. We’ll both depart at sunrise, since the council said they’d have a decision by tonight and I’ll be damned if they don’t say yes. Then, with everything settled, you and I”—she gestured between herself and Dorothea—“with the supervision of the council, will make a contract that clearly maintains Sirpo’s neutrality while establishing that Sacer will lend military strength in the event of continued Ghurian violation of the Treaty of Blending.”
Good… Everything was going to be okay. “Thank you, Commander.” Dorothea bowed, and Iree laughed.
“No need to be so formal. Helping people in need is just the Sacerian way. But that bowing… That’s something Ghurians do in formal settings, right? Might wanna knock that off. Here. Watch this.” She held up her arm to Hollyhock, hand in a fist, and Hollyhock raised his opposite arm to bump his wrist against hers. “A Sacerian sign of solidarity. Do that here if you’re really trying to show thanks.”
“Of course. Thank you for the warning.” She’d picked up her bowing habit from her father and other former-Ghurian Sirpoans. “Still. Perhaps, as a sign of appreciation and good will between our nations, our trade agreement with Sacer could be renegotiated. Once our…more dirty business is concluded.”
Iree looked more than pleased at the suggestion. “I’m sure the council would be happy to discuss that. To that end, we’ll clean things up nicely tomorrow. Where’s Rhys, by the way? He left you all alone?”
“He said he needed to return to his post.”
“Well, I guess that’s where I’m going then.” Iree shook her head. “He’s so useless. Well, Atlin, just remember that patience is key for now.” With that, she started making her way to the door. “Hollyhock,” she ordered over her shoulder, “get them some breathable clothes, for the Gods’ sakes.”
“You better pay me back!”
“Maybe!”
“Oh joy,” Hollyhock muttered with a smile and a wave as Iree shut the door sharply behind her. “I love the woman, but Gods is she demanding.”
“She is our commander. It would be strange if she were not,” Cerid pointed out.
“Yeah, I guess.” Hollyhock smiled and shook his head before addressing Shark and Dorothea. “Well, come on then. Cerid, you ought to go home and let your folks know you’re okay.”
He looked grateful. “I will.” In a quick movement, he reached out to grasp one of Dorothea’s hands and one of Shark’s. “I cannot tell you how thankful I am that you are here.” With a shy dip of his head and a scurrying dash, he was gone.
“Damn, he’s cute,” Shark declared.
“Trust me, that impression will wear off quickly,” Hollyhock laughed. “He’s an annoying little shit.”
Shark shrugged. “Sounds hot.”
Hollyhock smiled wryly. “You’ll see. But come on. You both look absolutely awful.” He led the way back into the city streets.
They made a point to be done cheaply and quickly, something Hollyhock was pleased with. Once Shark and Dorothea found themselves owning much lighter clothes and having changed, cleaned up and been left alone in the barracks’ first room, they simultaneously collapsed onto the couch with the silent agreement that they both needed a moment to breathe and take everything in.
“I’m dead. Totally dead inside,” Shark groaned, stretching.
“Yeah. I don’t really know what to think.” Dorothea paused. “Speaking of knowing, how do you know Iree? And Hollyhock, too.”
“Oh, that. Not much to tell. Iree, Hollyhock, Rhys and I were in the same class. There was a guy named Dale they all hung out with too, but I haven’t seen him yet. I had the biiiggest crush on him back then. But we were kids, so I liked a new person every other week. I mean, he was like, half of those weeks, but still.”
Here lurked a spot of Shark’s past they had been less forthcoming about. Dorothea had heard a few vague stories of these military years, but Shark was always impersonal in their telling. She’d never gotten a full sense of who Shark was during that period. “Will you tell me more?” she asked, not wanting to push too hard at what had to be a very stretched, thin layer of ice over roiling emotions.
They smiled reassuringly, sensing her unease. “With my group, I remember Rhys following Iree around like she was a mother hen or something. Dale was always with her too. So we all spent those couple of years training together, then everyone sort of drifted apart. People weren’t usually sent into the field until we turned fifteen unless there was an exception, like their magic was valuable or they were needed. I was one of those exceptions, and so was Rhys, I think. But I was a self-absorbed person, you know. Thinking about my own issues.”
“Thinking about leaving,” Dorothea said softly.
“Yep.” Shark sat up. “What you’ve got to understand while we’re here, Thea, is that Sacerians are proud to defend their culture and legacy. It’s not like they don’t regret having to kill for it, but it’s more that…” They hesitated, searching for words. “It’s worth it to protect what they have to protect. Keep that in mind, okay? Don’t go around pitying everyone.”
“Okay.” Shark’s words made even clearer the gulf between her and everyone else. She wanted to comfort that part of Shark she couldn’t reach, but, even after all this time, she didn’t know how. Instead, together, they silently prepared as much as they could for the brief trial that awaited them before they could fall back into the fragile, insular world of peace they had built.
Advertisement
The Queen's king |✔️
Chitra, has always been the forgotten princess, neither the king nor the kingdom remembers her, probably as her mother was never a royal. Her life was never peaceful with all the royal drama in it and all she ever dreams is an escape from this palace and the love and respect she never got.Arjuna, king of a strong and powerful kingdom Abhiras. All he ever requires is power and prosperity of his kingdom and love? Such words doesn't exist in his life. But the kingdom requires a Queen and he requires a queen as powerful as him. With a greater love comes the strongest weakness. A story of true love of a forgotten princess and a valorous king, can their love withstand the palace politics? Can the princess prove herself to be righteous and a brave queen? ~•~#2 in Historical Fiction ( 5-9-2020 )#1 in India (15-8-2020)#1 in WattpadIndia (9-8-2020)#2 in husband ( 4-5-2020 )#2 in Wife ( 13-6-2020 )#3 in Indian ( 5-6-2020 )
8 259My Mute Mate
[WARNING:Needs Major Editing & has harsh materials that some readers may find disturbing, so read at your own risk.][A werewolf story] It all begins when Lily's mother passed away when she was just 7 years old. Her father took their lives to a turn and became an alcoholic father. Her father became a person that Lily no longer recognize. On the other hand Adrian Black was next in line to become Alpha. He as anyone else in his pack was trying to find his mate. When he sees poor little Lily in school and realizes that she's his mate. It shocks him because of the horrible state she was in. Lily never had any real happiness after the age of 7. She made a vow on her mother death to never speak again. Everyone blamed her and in the end she just took it.Adrian was the first in a decade to be interested in her, yet the idea terrified her.In 50 chapters, follow the story of Adrian and Lily, and see what was destined to happen for each one of them.
8 114A Second Chance At Romance
Savannah a sweet and kind hearted soul thought she had met the perfect man and was going to live the perfect life with him and their daughter Lexi. But that wasn't the case when she comes home and finds him in bed with another woman. Will she ever find love again or will that one bad relationship ruin her chance at ever finding love?
8 201He Says He's Just A Friend
Emmet and Clay did not meet on the best of terms, but that doesn't stop them from becoming fast friends. As their bond grows stronger, they will do whatever it takes to maintain this new friendship. Even though that may not be all that either of them wants.After years of living in a conservative southern town, Emmett has developed a hard shell that is not easily pierced. It's gotten even more difficult since breaking up with his first serious boyfriend left him feeling devastated and betrayed. Then a new friend comes along to peel back all the layers of protection, making Emmett feel happy again, and perhaps making him feel something more.The loss of his father at a young age left Clay with severe anxiety. His girlfriend says he's emotionally distant - because he is. Clay never gave much thought to his sexuality. He started dating because all his friends were, and although his relationships never seem to work out, he continues to try, because that's what's expected. The steady track he's been traveling is suddenly upended when he becomes enamored with a boy he just met. Now Clay has to figure out what he wants and how far he's willing to go to get it.
8 76The devil [1] (Lumity/the owl house Fanfiction)
•Only Season 1•This is FANFICTION•I like Lumity, how about you?•Also now going to AO3, but is still in work at the momentI flushed, my heart was racing as the music went on and he led the dance.I couldn't help myself but smile while I stared at his mask.I wanted to see his face.I've been yearning for him to take it off.Created by: D
8 155Balance(Bakugo x fem! Avatar reader)
The Avatar has vanished from the history of the world.When a girl enters the world containing the powers of this legend.She will be sent out to "fix the world"But no one can do it all on their own.When the responsibility of the world's balance falls on one's shoulders,One tends to forget to maintain the balance within.When she meets another imbalanced individual...They will bring balance to each other.************Started: Jun 9, 2019Ended: (DISCLAIMER: These events will not be 100% accurate. So don't come at me please.)j
8 181