“Mae, what brings you away from your studies?”
I lifted my face to meet the gaze of the white-robed man. “Agnese had her baby, Father. I was called on to assist.”
His stare remained on my face for an elongated pause until Alen shouted, “The bonny babe has arrived.” The chief nudged me with an elbow. A giant of a man, standing nearly as tall and as wide as a tree, he almost sent me flying. I ignored the smirking twitch of Tristram’s lips and looked at his father. “A boy, My Lord, and a bonny one too, and loud.”
My own father’s eyes bore down. He’d want details later, starting with why I’d been called. What could I say? Heather insisted?
“This deserves a feast.” Alen turned to the loose circle shape of the settlement. “A feast in honour of our newest member.” A couple of children gave a shout and whoop, scampering off towards their parents.
Father frowned, but Alen turned to him with a wide, golden smile. “So serious, my priest, always so serious.”
Father edged him away but I could still hear his words. “And what do you plan to feast on? We have no meat and little stores.”
Alen patted him on his back not to be deterred. “Did you hear that, Tristram? Our high priest wants to know what we shall feast on.”
Tristram stepped forward his face glowing. “I'm happy to oblige.”
“Take your men and make a kill to feed us all.”
My stomach lurched and I glanced warily at Tristram’s excited expression. I wanted to hold him back, but I couldn’t.
He strode off to gather hunting men, and I chased after him, skipping to the side so my objective wasn’t obvious. “You plan to be skewed by a wild boar, My Lord?”
Tristram’s eyes lit with mirth, a glittering depth to his jet orbs. “You do care!” He flourished me a low bow, his voice too loud to be a private conversation. Folding my arms across my chest, I watched his little display.
“I care for the wellbeing of our leaders, as is my job and position.” His lips curved at the edges and he stepped forward, his body aligning with mine like stars in the sky. I shifted. “You play games, Tristram. Are you ever serious?” His eyes swept along me.
“Sometimes.”
“You’ve been like this since we were children, but soon we will have to grow up and take our place within the settlement.”
His face flickered with a darkened cloud. “I know my place, Mae. I am the merry brother of those in power, expected to please and court our people. What is your role?”
My cheeks flamed. “You know my role, Tristram. Don’t tease so. I shall train to be a priestess and then I will be of real service to our people.” I was harsh.
“Well, I am fulfilling the role my father carved for me, I shall be satisfied with that.”
“Really?” Unwittingly, I stepped closer. The man in front of me was a powerful, impressive echo of the boy I’d grown up alongside. “You are happy playing the merry prince?”
His eyes dropped to my mouth, “I could be happier with you by my side. Maybe you are the push I need to grow up?” His words were a low rumbled echo and my stomach twisted. As close as he was, the golden skin along his neck rising from the collar of his tunic willed me to reach out and touch it. His eyes, when he looked deep within mine, held an unexpected solemnity in their depths.
“That’s for our fathers to decide.” I trembled with the words, my body heating. I could deny the connection between Tristram and I on the outside. But, inside, deep within the secrets of my heart, I knew there would never be another I’d want. There would never be another I’d entertain the prospect of.
He stepped back, the spell weaving between us urging us closer, broken. “Would you care to come on the hunt, My Lady? You could be there to assist when I get skewered.” I watched as his confident mask slipped back into place. He made his voice louder. “Mae is coming on the hunt. Which other maidens wish to partake? We will make it a party.”
Frowning, I slipped away. This Tristram I had no time for—the jester, the entertainer. An ache settled in my chest and I knew what it was. Remorse for the man I knew he could be.
I did attend the hunt. But I kept towards the back, my eyes sweeping for danger. The wild forest loomed overhead, its dark shadows stretching with every passing moment. “It’s getting late.” I turned to Alana at my side. Her hand slipped into mine.
“We should turn back, the festival for Agnese will have to be delayed.”
I tutted. “You know Tristram. He will never return empty handed.”
“You talk to him, he listens to you. We’ve circled the settlement three times with no sign of a quarry.”
Alana was different to me. She was pale and regal, her actions smooth and restrained. I was the opposite. She was the moon to my earth. As two sisters, we couldn’t be more different. I loved her, though, even when she did give way to unnecessary worry.
Linking my hand through her arm, I anchored us tight together knowing she would benefit from the security. Dusk was stretching into night and what had been a chilled breeze was now a stiff cold wind. I longed to be back by the fire, toasting my hands and listening to the lore as my father fulfilled his role of bard and entertained our people with feats of the past. It wasn’t his only role, but it was the one he maintained that I enjoyed the most. “Do you worry about Father?” I asked the question low.
“Shh.” I wasn’t low enough for Alana’s liking. “What do you mean?