After Suvau and Yolana had disentangled themselves from each other, Yolana invited everyone to sit and have some refreshments. As they drank deeply of the cider, Suvau told his wife and daughter what had happened in Quarre.

“Did I not tell you…” Yolana huffed.

“Yes, many times.” Suvau nodded. “You may lord it over me for years for the extent of my foolishness deserves it.”

Yolana put her hands on her hips. She was not as tall as Suvau though Judd wondered if there was anyone who was and she was slender like a willow. There was a natural beauty to her face, symmetry and loveliness that was only enhanced by the joy in her eyes when she finally let go of her anger.

“Thank you,” she said, turning to Judd and the others, even Caste who was perched on the potato box against the wall, unwilling to join them at the table, “for saving my husband.”

“We’re just glad we were in Quarre at the right time.” Judd insisted.

“Are you really from Astaril?” Emeri asked eagerly.

“I am and so is Caste.” Judd gestured to the others. “Aalis is from a northern village, Verne was with a band of maligned farmers in the forest and we picked Giordi up at Fort Bastil.”

“And you’re really going to become a knight?”

“That’s the dream.” Judd nodded.

Emeri went to ask another question when Yolana held her hand up. “Please excuse the inquisitiveness of my daughter. She loves to learn.” Yolana turned to Emeri. “There will be plenty of time for questions later. I think we should prepare beds for our guests.”

“As long as we are not an imposition.” Aalis said, speaking for the since arriving.

“Here in Quarre, Terras never mind being an imposition. It is up to our people,” Yolana indicated to herself, Emeri and Suvau, “to always accommodate you.”

“Yolana,” Judd stood and bowed with the same manner that Giordi had taught him for addressing a lady of rank, “we would be honoured if we could stay with you and your family. However, we would not wish to be an imposition and will seek other accommodations rather than inconvenience you.”

Yolana’s mouth fell open at his eloquent announcement. Judd stood and put his left hand in the small of his back in a relaxed but formal resting pose.

“Well…well…I…” She put her hand to her cheek. “I would never cast out those who saved my husband. You are more than welcome to stay. Emeri, would you assist me in making their rooms ready?”

She hastened out of the kitchen, Emeri following. Suvau got up, went to the door then turned to Judd and chuckled. “Bravo.”

“Well done, LaMogre.” Giordi clapped. “That was beautifully phrased and knightly stated.”

“I didn’t mean to practice on Yolana,” Judd insisted, “but I thought the best way to show a lady that I intend on treating her as such, is to simply do just that.”

“Like I said,” Suvau stood up, taking his pack in his hand, “she’d kick me out and keep you all if she had to.”

“Suvau!”

“Coming.” He winked. “Bring your packs through. We’ll sort supper once we have the kitchen cleared.”

Though the kitchen table was large, with seven of them around it, it became quite crowded yet not in a compressed way. There were many laughs, good food and fine company that made the meal quite the celebration. No one pointed out that Caste remained on his box seat, keeping his distance. It would only spoil the mood.

Judd leaned back and put his hands on his stomach. “Yolana, I can’t understand why Suvau left you…no matter the motivation, your cooking is far too fine to forgo.”

“You are quite the charmer, Judd LaMogre.” Yolana batted the compliment aside but with a smile to show she was still flattered by it. “Would you care for some more?”

“I won’t fit into my armour!” Judd laughed.

“I will.” Verne nodded. “We’ve been on rations of late and I am loving second and third helpings.”

“You’re going to get podgy…” Giordi drank from his mug.

“You will if you keep on at that cider.” Suvau warned.

“Suvau,” Judd turned to their host as he stood, collecting their dishes, “why did you go to Quarre?”

“Because Lord LeMewn, upon visiting Fort Omra, commissioned me to make a sword for him.” Suvau explained.

“You knew that.” Verne swiped his bread through the juices on his plate.

“Yes but…I figured it was to provide a better life for you and your family.” Judd looked around. “Am I missing something? You have a nice home, plenty of food…I half expected you to be whipped daily.”

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“We may not endure physical abuse,” Suvau sighed deeply, “but my people are threatened with upheaval every day.”

“Upheaval?” Aalis tried to take plates to the washing basin but Emeri scooped them out of her hands and waved her back down.

“People of our skin colour are…well…” Yolana looked at Suvau sadly. “We cannot deny the Terras.”

“Like how Ersha was surprised that I asked if he could look after Quell and Zeke?” Suvau nodded. “So…a Terra asks it…”

“No, not ask. Just states.” Suvau shook his head. “Everything, even this house and my position as a weaponsmith, hangs constantly in the balance. Nothing is ours. We are responsible for it but we have no authority over it.”

The table was quietly contemplative for a moment.

“That is an exhausting way to live,” Aalis whispered, “constantly waiting for something bad to happen.”

“Ultimately, the man that I work under, Ermo Kenet, is very aware that I am well respected and liked by the guards,” Suvau sighed deeply, “to the point of becoming jealous.”

“Kenet takes the credit for most of Suvau’s work,” Yolana explained, she and Emeri preparing bread that would rise overnight and be ready for baking the next morning, the white flour smudged across their dark cheeks, “Sir Fereak has no idea that Suvau is the real reason for Fort Omra’s innovations…”

“Yolana…” Suvau urged gently and Yolana bit back her frustrations, pounding the dough instead. “The guards know I am good at what I do,” he returned to speaking with his guests, “and they know Kenet takes the credit. The ones of any integrity have been known to be protective of me and my family.”

“Why?” Giordi asked and received several glares. “I shall phrase that better. Why when it’s clear that the disgust at your people runs deep?”

“Because without my father, Fort Omra’s soldiers would not be so well protected or armed.” Emeri declared brightly.

“Out here, steel decides strength…and my steel is unparalleled.” Suvau said with a touch of pride and not without warrant, Judd mused.

“But others aren’t so fortunate?”

“Certainly not. I know of whole families that have been kicked out of their homes with barely an hour’s notice because their dwelling has been requisitioned for Fort Omra’s soldiers and purposes.”

“My uncle, Oska, was taken by Sir Fereak a year ago and all we were told was that he was punished for his laziness as a warning to the rest of us.” Emeri said sadly. “We never saw him again.”

“To defy them is to be whipped within an inch of your life,” Yolana shivered, “any who have stood their ground have died from the punishment.”

“Even when it isn’t about obeying the Terras, we are still subjugated. Protection always goes to the Terras first and the best food always goes to the soldiers and guards…”

“Who are all Terras?” Suvau nodded. Judd shook his head. “I…I’m sorry Suvau.”

“The only way to protect your family in Fort Omra is to become irreplaceable.” Yolana murmured.

“Accepting Lord LeMewn’s commission offer was a way for Kenet to get rid of me and for LeMewn to have a criminal to sacrifice.”

“You think they were in it together?”

Suvau sighed. “I…rather suspect so…and in my desperation, I did not see their scheme until it was too late.”

Yolana worked her dough with strong hands. Emeri’s were not quite as strong as her mother’s but she gave the dough a good pummelling, breaking off handfuls and moulding it into rolls.

“I see now why you were so upset about Suvau leaving…it was a risk.” Aalis admitted.

“Were you hoping to impress Sir Fereak when Lord LeMewn boasted of your skills?”

“Actually I hoped to relocate my entire family to Quarre.” Emeri gave a frustrated huff that caught Giordi’s attention. He then saw Yolana’s strained expression and felt his stomach churn. He looked at Aalis and made eye contact which, to his astonishment, she understood.

“Emeri, would you mind showing me to where I will be sleeping?” Aalis asked. “I am quite tired.”

“Of course, you will be in my room.” Emeri wiped her hands free and led Aalis into the house.

Giordi caught Yolana’s expression, fear nakedly flashing across her lovely features.

“Terras can take what they want…in all things?”

She looked at him and trembled.

“Surely not in all things.” Judd chuckled then caught sight of Suvau’s thunderous expression, waves of trembling horror washing over him. “No…no that is…that’s wrong. It’s…unthinkable!”

“Ermo Kenet despises my people but he has a son who is a soldier, Jerom,” Suvau’s jaw was as tight as one of Verne’s drawstrings in battle, “and he has been known to take…”

“Emeri was too young before,” Yolana blurted, licking her lips, pressing them together to stomp the tremor of emotion, “but she’s growing up and Ermo’s grip on his son is becoming weak…”

Verne swore softly and shook his head. Judd’s hand tightened into a fist. “I’ll kill him.”

“No, should he touch my daughter, I’ll kill him.” Suvau promised. “But the sad truth is, for all my strength, I cannot protect Emeri here and I hoped to take her away, to give her a better future. She is as lovely and as smart as her mother…”

“And as stubborn and brilliant as her father.” Yolana smiled at him.

They shared a loving look, the tension of Suvau’s long absence drifting away.

Suvau cleared his throat and banged his hands on the table, standing up. “It is gloomy talk and as yet, nothing has happened and nothing will happen tonight.”

“Would you show our guests to their rooms?” Yolana asked. “I apologise that you must share.”

“We’ve made do in a single tavern room before.” Judd assured her, following Suvau up the single step into a wide corridor with arched windows that faced the city while there were doors leading to rooms pressed against the cliff face. “We’re not putting someone out of their bed, are we?”

“Worry not, Judd LaMogre. I take good care of my guests.” Suvau said firmly. “Judd, you are in here,” he rapped on the second door, “Verne, Giordi and Caste, you are in here.”

Judd opened the door to his allocated room, yawning, the good meal getting to him.

“Judd?”

He opened his eyes, astonished to find Aalis standing in the room. She had removed her outer wear and was in her much lighter underdress. Judd barely knew where to look as she lunged for her shawl, swinging it around herself and clutching at it tightly at the front.

“I…I…I…”

“What are you doing in here?” Aalis gasped.

“Suvau said this was my room…”

“This is Emeri’s room.”

“Yes…”

There was a single bed beneath a slanted roof that was higher at the back than the front, a chest of drawers where three books were stacked, a lamp that was lit, hooks for several dresses to hang and a couple pairs of shoes lined up along the wall.

“Why would Suvau put you in Emeri’s room?”

“Yolana did say we needed to share…” Aalis flushed hot and scarlet. Judd cleared his throat. “Oh…Oh that’s what…”

“What is it?” She asked, holding onto her shawl around herself like armour.

He closed his eyes. “I think Suvau has assumed…that you…and I…are…” Aalis stared at him, either unwilling or unable to come to the revelation as he had. “That we share a bed…” The word bed was practically a rasped whisper. Aalis’ knuckles went white on her cloak. “I…I’ll just go sleep in the room with the others,” he blundered, reaching back blindly to grab the door handle and push it open, “sorry. Sorry, Aalis…”

“Judd,” he looked up, her eyes downcast, “could you…ask Verne to come here? To stay in here?”

Judd’s heart sank even as he nodded and closed the door.