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“Keep your head up,” he ordered.

His strong command had her obeying without thinking about it.

“You have nothing to be ashamed of and nothing to hide. Do not let me see you lower your head again.”

She nodded, though worried it was an order she might not be able to obey since it was a habit formed throughout the years. The delicious scent of roasting meat caught her attention, tempting her nostrils and gurgling her stomach as they entered the camp.

“You are hungry,” he said upon hearing her stomach protest. “You will sit by the fire and stay warm until the meat is ready to eat.”

Sky was beginning to understand that Slayer expected compliance to his every word. It was his way, but then how else could he command a large army of warriors if he did not lead with strength and confidence? However, she would prefer not to sit too close to the fire even if a chill filled the night air. The darkness would help conceal her eyes, whereas the fire’s light would reveal them.

Slayer placed the blanket on the ground close to a low burning campfire compared to the other two, whose hardy flames roasted the meat on spits.

He assisted her to sit and with a snap of his finger at one of his warriors, a cloak was soon brought to him, and he draped it over her shoulders.

“Keep your head up,” he warned before walking away to speak with one of the warriors.

She wondered what would happen if she disobeyed him. Unfortunately, being in an unfamiliar environment she thought it unwise to find out, not that she had the courage to do so, but at least she had bravely given it thought. So, she kept her head up and though the fire burnt low, it burnt enough to highlight her face and make the color of her eyes more prominent.

The stares started first as if they did not quite believe what they were seeing, then they swiftly looked away as if fearing they would be touched by evil if they continued to look upon her. Then the whispers began and those warriors nearest to her began to move away.

Her hunger vanished as fast as a snuffed-out flame, and she desperately wished her sisters were with her, especially Leora. The warriors’ attention would be focused on Leora’s beauty, or her punishing words defending Sky, and she would be left in peace.

She gazed carefully at the flickering flames, worried that the light might disturb her eyes and was relieved when it presented no problem. She stretched her cold hands out to the fire’s warmth, eager to chase the chill that had settled in them.

“ENOUGH WITH THE WHISPERS!”

Sky jumped at Slayer’s forceful shout.

“She is not evil. You have nothing to fear from her.”

The whispers ceased instantly and talking resumed among the men a short time afterwards, but Sky was no fool. Slayer may have quieted them for now, but he did not change the fear they had of her.

Even though she had slept a good portion of their journey, she found herself tired from the exhausting day. With her stomach far too upset to eat anything, she wanted nothing more than to close her eyes and sleep. Then she would wake in the morning to find it had all been a horrible nightmare and that she was home in her room, cuddled in her bed beneath her soft, sweet-smelling blankets.

She sighed at her foolish yet hopeful thought and watched as one of the warriors sliced into the cooked meat on the spit, cutting several pieces to place on a cloth that he wrapped and gave to Slayer. While she knew hunting animals was essential to survival in the Highlands, she avoided it when possible, having befriended so many forest animals since she’d been young. But that was the way of survival and life in the Highlands.

Slayer approached her and lowered himself to sit down next to her. He unwrapped the cloth the warrior had handed him and took a piece for himself, then offered her some.

“Eat,” he said.

A demand always seemed to edge his voice and she heard it now. She shook her head and kept her focus on the fire. “I am not hungry.”

“You need to eat.”

“I cannot stomach food right now.”

“Never let anyone rob you of your strength. Eat.”

She was too tired, nor did she have the courage to argue with him. She took a piece of the offered meat and nibbled on it to appease him.

He kept his eyes locked on hers as he placed the cloth holding the meat in her lap and snatched another piece. His eyes continued to remain on hers as he ate.

She wondered what he truly thought of her mismatched eyes. He wore a constant stoic expression, except when he commanded. That one warned not to question him. Otherwise, it was difficult to know what he was thinking or feeling.

She took the opportunity, since he had seen her eyes, to find out if he might want to return her to her family. “My family is accustomed to my affliction. They would be only too happy to have me home again.”

He shrugged. “So, you have two different colored eyes. What difference does that make?”