Page 87 of Phoenix's Fire

"Because you are pretty," I said. "And everyone calls me dumb, so if youdidn't... And I thought you'd give me a chance after the arrow. But mostly I just wanted a way to talk to you."

"And to Ayla," she realized.

I sighed. "Yeah, which is why I need to talk to you. I mean, Ayla doesn't really know me. I know her, because I've held plenty of guys while she sewed them up, but we've never talked."

"But she knows you," Callah assured me. "She liked when you held them, because they didn't move and you didn't ask questions."

"Because she was one of our best healers," I hurried to explain.

"And you didn't fight her, put her back in her place, or any of the other things men do."

I tried to respond to that, but my mouth simply hung open as her words sank in. "But she was healing."

"And we're still women, Tobias. Men want us to obey them, always. They expect us to fix things their way, don't care if it won't work, then blame us when it fails. The infirmary is the one and only place where a woman can tell a man to stop talking and won't get punished for it."

"I didn't know," I admitted.

"Which is why I want to be careful with this." She lifted her chin almost defiantly. "If we're caught, I will be beaten. You? I'm sure you'll get a lecture."

"Fungus farms," I said. "No more going outside. I'll be moved to composting the dead into fungus."

"Which hurts a lot less than what they'd do to me."

"Yeah," I breathed, knowing she was right. "So if it happens, blame me. Say I started talking crazy and you were scared." I reached out to take her delicate little hand. "You are a good woman, Callah, and I don't want you to get hurt. I just want us to get out of here."

She nodded. "Me too. I didn't expect a man to help me, though."

Twenty-Seven

Callah

We couldn't stay by the well too long. People had seen us, and too much time alone would compromise my virtue. Worse, the wiveswouldtalk about us, claiming they were merely "concerned" in order to hide their gossip. So, after only a few minutes, we continued on.

Our walk took us all the way around the compound. Many more people saw us, but as we turned back for my wing, Tobias made a detour to the dining hall. I figured he was doing his best to show us off, but just like last time, he took me over to the tables by the Dragon's tail, and guided me to a seat.

"Have time to share a snack with me?" he asked. "You said tea, but I thought food might be better."

I paused to look around, aware no one else was in here except the women cleaning the kitchen. "I believe that will be nice."

He nodded, then made his way to the kitchen side of the massive room. This time, when he leaned over the counter, I realized how tall he really was. The woman helping him didn't even come to his shoulder. I was pretty sure my head wasn't much taller.

Then there were his shoulders. Once, Ayla had said it would be better to marry an old man so he was weaker and wouldn't hurt us the way Gideon had done to Meri. I knew that. I truly believed it, and yet something about the width of Tobias's back made my face want to heat up.

After our lessons yesterday, all the girls my age had cornered me to ask if it was true I'd walked with him. Two said he was on their list, and they'd wanted to impress him, but all of them assured me they hoped he pleased me. When I'd mentioned he was a simple man, Rebekka had pointed out how those were the best kind. They asked for little, were satisfied easily, and were less likely to makedemands.

In other words, Tobias was considered quite the catch amongst my peers. A good man. A safe one. Little did any of them know he was also kind and intelligent - and I couldn't even tell them. I wanted to, mostly to defend him against the rumors, but that wouldn't help us at all.

Soon enough, he returned with a bowl heaped full of vegetable mash. "I figure we can share again," he said. "That way I won't feel too bad about eating in front of you." And he pushed it towards me as he angled for his own chair.

"You should sit on this side," I told him.

A little smile flickered across his lips. "I wouldn't want to presume."

"It makes it easier to talk, and I'd like to learn more about you, Mr. Warren." I tilted my head, making it clear I was serious.

So he eased himself down beside me rather than across from me. I passed him a spoon, then claimed the other for myself. When I took a mouthful, he merely dipped the end of his spoon in for a taste.

"I know the women aren't being fed enough," he said, glancing down at the table.