True Warriors Sing, Rowan Erlking [free ebook reader txt] 📗

her by the hand across the field, LjuBa resisting the urge to curl her fingers into his.

She couldn’t allow it. She could not allow herself to fall in love with a squire. Her father would be devastated. And clearly now she understood why her father never wanted her to ever look at this young man in the eye. It wasn’t just because he was lower than her in station, but because there was something luring about his gaze, about how he held his head even when slumped in shame. How he was so careful, not because of cowardice as she had previously supposed, but because he really cared about the consequences of what he did. It was like he was walking on eggshells, as if breaking them would bring about the end for someone he loved. And being near him made her heart ache for him.

They crossed the fields and entered the yard. LjuBa pulled from his grip and quickened her pace, taking the lead, as she ought. Ljev immediately pulled back into his squire position behind her, lowering his chin so that his eyes inspected all around him.

A bristle-chinned farmer dressed in gray canvas breeches stepped out the door, reaching for his hoe. “What do you want here?”

Gazing at his sun-toasted face, the tops of his cheeks, nose, and forehead somewhat redder than the rest, LjuBa said, “We need a place to stay for the night.”

“Is no place here!” the farmer called back in his choppy KiTai. His wife slipped out the door, peering behind them. “You go on way.”

LjuBa stood her ground, digging her heels into the grass, her fingers, lightly touching the hilt of her sword. “It is unwise to deny warriors of KiTai.”

“We’ll take the barn,” Ljev cut in, stepping forward.

The farmer blinked, his eyes narrowing.

LjuBa shoved Ljev back with her arm, growling at him. “Stop that! They need to know their place.”

“It is their home,” Ljev said back, looking dismayed at her. “Would you like it if some armed strangers forced their way into your home?”

Her mouth dropped open. She stepped back from him. “I would house and feed any KiTai warrior that came to my home!”

Ljev set his hand to his forehead, wiping it. “Yes. But we are KiTai. What if one of their armed men came to your home and forced his way in?”

LjuBa let out a light guffaw. “Father would take off his head.”

“Exactly,” Ljev replied, nodding. He then looked to the farmer. “All we’re asking for is a dry place to sleep. The barn will be fine.”

“Ljev!” LjuBa punched him in the shoulder.

However, the farmer stepped forward with a nod, gesturing with his hoe. “That way is barn. You sleep there.”

Ljev bowed to him. “Thank you.”

LjuBa punched him again. “A warrior does not bow to barbarians!”

But he merely shrugged, turning to go to the barn. “Well…I’m just a squire.”

He marched off, waving for her to follow. LjuBa just stared after him, watching him go ahead ten yards before stomping behind him. She cast the farmers glares, but it there was no point in forcing entry now. Ljev had set the standard so low already. She had made them both look weak, and when she entered the barn she intended to tell him so.

“Ljev!” LjuBa clomped up the ladder to him as he looked for a dry place up above in the hayloft. “How dare you supersede me! What’s wrong with you? We should be in that house sleeping in real beds!”

He plopped onto the hay, bouncing on the fluff of it with a slight smile. Then he looked up, his gaze mild and in control as he replied, “What right do we have to force people around on land they worked hard for?”

Her mouth fell open again. She smacked his shoulder. “We are KiTai warriors! That’s what!”

But Ljev just shrugged. “I don’t think that’s a good reason.”

She smacked him again. “Ugh! What is wrong with you?”

The man blinked up at her. Then twisting up his mouth, he replied, “Why does it have to be me that something is wrong? Don’t you understand how those people must feel?”

“They’re barbarians!” LjuBa snapped. She kicked hay at him. “Why would a warrior want to stoop to that level?”

Ljev set his hand to his head. “LjuBa, you—”

“Don’t get so familiar with me!” She kicked more hay at him, now feeling all hot and angry.

“Fine!” Ljev snapped, rising to his feet. “MiKial’s daughter then, but you—”

“That is still the wrong tone!” LjuBa stomped away from him, wondering why in the world she had thought him charming just a while ago. “You are just a squire.”

“Fine!” Ljev still snapped. “I’m just a squire! But we are just two strangers to those two people out there.” He pointed at the window where already LjuBa could see the sun was lowering. “And it doesn’t matter that you are some high and mighty warriess from KiTai central. You are frightening them!”

She stiffened.

“Do you really want to live as a terror to all others around you?” He was nearly shouting. His chest heaved, his face incredibly flushed. In his eyes was disappointment though. “Because I thought you wanted to protect people.”

For a full minute LjuBa was unable to respond, his words had so winded her. She clutched her chest, but glared at him with warning not to get close. He had undermined her authority, and now he was making out her actions as villainous. Was getting her due as a warriess so bad?

“You need to consider the feelings of others, LjuBa,” he said. “You need to also consider that there are other ways of seeing things than yours.”

“What are you talking about?” LjuBa shoved back from him. “I am always considering others. Do you know how much work I do for everyone else at home?”

He exhaled loudly. “That’s not what I’m talking about.” He got onto his feet and walked to the window. “You only know the KiTai. You only care about the KiTai.”

She emitted a loud groan and stomped over to where he stood. “Why should I care about anyone but the KiTai?”

Ljev turned his head to stare at her, his face revealing complete disgust now—as if he had a right to be disgusted with her. “LjuBa! The KiTai are one small race in a larger world!”

She slapped him.

“How dare you talk to me like that!” Tears started down her cheeks. “My father is the king’s captain! He has seen the world! And what are you? Nothing but a useless squire who knows nothing! How dare you say the KiTai are just a small race! We are the only civilized race!”

He clenched his cheek with his hand, gazing darkly at her with his eyes. They pierced as if he wanted to slap her back. But instead he spoke in a low, dangerous voice. “MiKial’s daughter, I will say this only once more. You only know the KiTai. I have spoken with people from all over—”

“Oh!” LjuBa stepped back. “So you trust a Hann over a KiTai? You, yourself, said they were liars!”

Ljev walked away. “Forget it.”

LjuBa watched him walk back to the ladder and climb down. She sprang to the wood rail, shouting down. “So you are going to run away? You coward!”

He halted at the barn door, clenching his fists. He looked up. “No. I’m going to the house to request some food. And I mean request, not demand.” He took two steps then halted again, not looking up again as he added, “You need to learn some manners when dealing with others. Just because you are a warrior does not mean you can boss your way around.”

And Ljev walked off.

LjuBa watched him, still fuming. She needed to learn some manners? The mere squire was becoming way too overconfident. Though someone needed to give him what for, LjuBa just stepped back from the rail and sat on the tossed straw. In a physical fight, he would win. She knew that since the tower. His skill and strength surpassed hers. Warriors were usually stronger than warriesses, a fact that never bothered her before now. Part of her contemplated going off on her own to find her father. However a more dreadful conclusion loomed in the back of her head. She needed that stupid squire. Being out in the world proved it to her. Her heart could only handle a little more stress than what she already had. She needed him to get her safely to NuLi Village so they could meet up with her father. Then he would give Ljev what for.

It felt like a plan.

So LjuBa waited.

And waited.

The sun nearly set. It was just a glimmer on the horizon now.

Rising, LjuBa walked to the window. She looked out. The house in the trees was lit, the insides glowing warmly. A deep yearning built up inside her chest. Why was it Ljev was free to approach them, but not her? Why was it that he thought he would be more successful in getting food and not her?

But then another thought passed through her mind. Maybe they killed him and that was why he was late.

Skidding on the straw with one hand grabbing the wood to keep from falling, LjuBa then hopped down the ladder to the ground, rushing out of the barn towards the farmhouse. She ran, drawing her sword, her eyes fixed on the distant whitewashed wooden home. Up closer she spotted that whiskery farmer. There she also saw his wife, and Ljev. He was laughing.

Ljev had an amazing smile, and his laugh rang like music on the air, but as LjuBa rushed up, she heard him speak in the local dialect, “Yous with it’s great. I thinks must I go.” His eyes turned onto her. “I was bringing you dinner. You didn’t have to run.”

Breathless, LjuBa clenched her chest. “You…you…you speak their language?”

Blinking, he then blushed, ducking his chin only slightly with a glance to the farmer who had stiffened. “I learned a trick years ago on how to do it. I’d show you, if you don’t mind learning from a lowly squire.”

She set her hand to her head, glancing once more at the couple, then wheezed.

Ljev immediately rushed to her. “Are you all right?”

LjuBa tried to push him off.

“Wrongs with her, is?” the farmer’s wife asked.

“Her heart pains,” Ljev answered.

Immediately the farmer and his wife hurried to LjuBa’s side, the farmer murmuring, “Warrior woman with weak heart, never hears.”

“It fascinates,” Ljev replied.

 She wished she completely understood the conversation that transpired around her as they all heaved her into the house, helping her into a chair. But the wife bustled about immediately, checking LjuBa’s forehead with strange coos then looking strangely tender as she gazed into LjuBa’s eyes.

“You no wise so far, walks,” the woman said.

LjuBa blinked at her.

“Leaves home you, why?” the woman asked.

“Father, hers, bandits took,” Ljev said. “My fault. We a number, seeks. You location, knows?”

Glancing to her husband, the farmer’s wife then deferred to him. He sat in the chair opposite LjuBa, his ruddy face grave as he set his hands together, interlacing his fingers. “Bandits, out north, hears of. Past NuLi.”

“Past NuLi…” Ljev murmured.

“River is. Near fence,” the farmer said. He then glanced at his wife and lowered his voice. “You from tower, comes?”

Ljev hunched closer. “Briefly.”

Sighing, the farmer sat back. “Then you knows.”

“They dead, why?” Ljev asked.

LjuBa watched the farmer frown, shaking his head. He hesitated for several minutes, thinking of perhaps the best way to explain the situation. His eyes were wary, intense as they fixed on Ljev. He spoke in a whisper. “Baron Hoisten. Man, very powerful. All Eastern Provenance, he rules. We taxes, more than half we make, pays. His army, enforces. They, those not pay, kills.” He whispered even lower, “You king, tell. Please. No we tells, tell. Please.”

Ljev nodded earnestly, his gray eyes flickering to LjuBa only briefly. “I promise.”

The farmer sat back with relief. He looked to LjuBa and nodded. “You two here in house, stay. All you likes, eat.”

“What?” LjuBa looked to Ljev for a