Page 184

Twenty-Six

Mother

I lead the women inside. I inform the guards to get Bern and Piper, who rush over a few moments later. “Clarissa, these are my generals. They will assist your people in getting settled if you wish to accompany me.”

She nods and turns to her people. “We have to have faith. Go with them.” She looks at me. “We aren’t giving up our weapons, you can understand.”

“Of course, I wouldn’t expect you to. But if they attack any of my people without just cause, there will be consequences,” I inform her.

“Understood.”

I leave her to talk to her people. They glance at me every so often before, as a group, they move towards us.

Piper and Bern lead them away. I spot Bern glancing back at Clarissa with a wondrous look before he rounds the corner.

Poor man looks like he’s seen heaven. I can’t blame him, she is a woman to be reckoned with, that I can already tell.

When she turns back to me, I nod my head, and we walk to the cafeteria where my men clear out as we sit.

She takes the seat opposite me as Dray brings us both a drink and leans in to kiss me before walking away. Clarissa watches the action with a strange intensity. “I almost didn’t believe it, a woman leading all these men? A woman killing the mad king?”

“Women are the stronger sex.” I shrug, and she laughs.

“Hell yes we are.” Her grin fades. “How did you do it? You can understand my hesitation, my people have followed me for years, they expect me to protect them.”

“Then let’s get to know each other. I think you will find we have both suffered enough for a million lifetimes.

” Her eyes twitch at that, telling me I am right.

Her aversion to men, the cut, the gun… I’m betting she was a slave like me.

“If you feel safe enough after, you can stay. You are welcome to leave at any time. All of the clans work together now, so you can stay here, or we can help you get set up somewhere else.”

She nods, narrowing her eyes as she holds the drink.

I sip mine to show her it’s not poisoned, and her lips quirk at that as she takes a drink.

“I was a slave to the mad king, stolen as a child. I was tortured every day for years before they threw me here to fight as a punishment. It was meant to be a death sentence, but I was good, and I only got better. I won my freedom.” I look around.

“This has become a place for breaking chains, if you can understand that. There was a man here, he helped me.”

“What happened to him?” she asks kindly.

“He died, he’s buried out back,” I reply with a grimace.

“I spent years as a bounty hunter until my men came north, and the rest, as they say, is history. We fell in love, but Ivar found me. I killed him, but not without losing greatly. I thought I was finally safe until The Cities came north. You heard of the war, I assume?”

She jerks her head in acknowledgement, so I carry on. “We won and took The North for ourselves. The other leaders trust me, they fight alongside me, and those who don’t wish to can leave.”

“Isn’t that one of those leaders? The great Seeker King?” she spits, and I narrow my eyes.

“Watch your tone. I’m friendly, but insult my husband, and I won’t be so kind,” I snap.

She laughs at that. “I like you,” she admits.

“I guess it’s my turn then. I was young when I married.

We were together for years. He was older and had to move away for work…

to the north, just a few months before the world went to shit.

We escaped the old cities down south, farther south than what even exists anymore, and came north.

I tried to find him for years with no success, and then I was sleeping one day with some other travellers when we were attacked.

” She sucks in a breath and takes a drink before carrying on.

“The men with us were slaughtered, our possessions were stolen, and the women were taken as slaves. Through the years, I was sold a few times, and the last time, I managed to escape. I took the others with me. Ever since then, we travelled across The Wastes, trying to survive and outrun those who would hurt us. We found more like us and saved those we could…”

I pour her another drink, and she nods in thanks and downs it.

“We lost some, of course. It wasn’t easy.

We were always searching for a place to stop, to settle down, but we never found one.

Over the years, women have had children, either from rape or their choice, and the more we have, the worse I feel.

They need stability, they need safety, if we were to lose one of them—” She closes her eyes and shudders.

“Like I lost mine,” she grits out brokenly, and I reach over and grab her hand.

One tear drips from her eye before she chases it away and looks at me with glassy eyes.

“I never wanted a child. I hated that it was growing within me, but when he came out…he was the love of my life. And they took him and killed him.” She swallows hard, and I understand her pain.

I let her know I see it. “I can’t let that happen to them, so I’m here, begging for your help.

I will do whatever it takes. We have seeds, and one of the older women is a botanist who is sure she knows how to grow them in the soil.

I-I will give my body if that’s what you want—”

I squeeze her hand and harden my eyes. “Clarissa, look at me and listen. Thank you for sharing your story. I am sorry that happened to you. I can’t change that, but I can change your future.

You are safe here. Your body is your own, as is your freedom.

I want neither, I want your happiness. I want to see this world flourish instead of sinking into bloodshed.

Your people look to you, my people look to me.

That weight…it can be crushing. I know it, but if you let me, I swear I will shoulder that burden with you.

Here” —I look around— “I found my home.” I look to my men and smile.

“I found my happiness” —I look back at her— “and my purpose, and if you give it half a chance, you might find the same.” I stand then, because I can’t make this decision for her.

“This is your choice, that I swear. You can leave now or tomorrow or the day after that, but I think you are right. I think you need a home, and this home here needs a heart. It needs children and laughter, it needs a reason to fight. Together, we can make that happen. Think that over, eat, sleep, and shower, whatever you need. We have a very good doctor also. Talk to my people and yours. I will find you in the morning if you are still here.” I turn away.

I will not force her decision, even if my heart hurts for what she went through.

She is older than me, has to be over thirty, but for some reason, I feel the years between us are nothing. Our pain is the same, our past is similar. Women out there all have stories like us, and if this can be their mecca, their hope, then I will die happy.

“Thank you, Taz, for listening, for understanding, and for offering me hope when I had none,” she calls.

I look over my shoulder and smile as softly as I am able. “Seeing a child again? You brought us all hope, Clarissa, and those women out there trust you, never doubt who you are.”

I leave with my men then, and I have a skip in my step.

This is the beginning, I can feel it. I hope they choose to stay.

As I wander through The Ring, I hear a child’s laughter, and it makes me smile wider.

I never wanted children, and I never will, but they are our future and all my warriors know it.

I see the longing and protectiveness wash over those who are gathered here.

Shades of grey, the world is filled with them, but sometimes, a rainbow shines through and lights up that monotone in its brilliance.

I slept only a few hours. I spent the rest of my time trying to ensure the women’s safety and housing in case they chose to stay, not to mention food and water supplies, so when I finally head out, I am wide awake and have been for hours.

I find some of the women eating outside.

They are cautious still, but seem more relaxed since we haven’t pounced on them.

I even find Nan sitting with Clarissa. They are laughing, and as I approach, they both grin at me.

“Girlie, there you are. I see you be adopting some stray warriors,” she teases. She jerks her head at Clarissa. “This one’s good, she handles my shit too.”

“Fucking hell, that’s a compliment, you old bitch.”

Nan huffs and looks at Clarissa. “No respect, these young ones, I tell thee.” She stands and points her finger at me.

“I can still shoot ya, I don’t give a fook about a crown.

Now, I have adopted all these women and little children, they are staying,” she declares and wanders away.

I watch in shock as two kids grab her hands and walk with her.

I wonder if they would if they knew what she was capable of.

I have to say, the most shocking thing about all of this is the fact that Nan has a maternal instinct. Who bloody knew? I sit next to Clarissa in the shade of the building, our shoulders brushing as we watch the others. “Are they all okay?”

“They will be. A lot have suffered, they are relearning how to live. I think we all are,” she murmurs and then looks at me. “I’ve been thinking about what you said all night… We took a vote. We want to stay, for now, if you are still happy to have us.”

I smile wider. “Of course, you can leave anytime. I spent the night drawing up plans for some extensions for lodging and increasing our food and water supply to accommodate everyone. Piper is also going on a run soon, so if you need anything, you need let her know, especially for the children.”

“We have a pregnant lady, but we also have a midwife, and she will need more supplies,” Clarissa says as if to herself .

“Sounds good,” I respond.

It goes quiet then, and I let the sun heat me.

“Do you want to meet them? They all want to meet you…the Champion.” She laughs, making me groan. “One of your men, Bern I think, was telling us stories of you.”

“That bastard, I’ll kill him,” I mutter.

“I don’t know, he seemed nice,” she offers.

Ooohhhhh.

Sands below, at least someone will be getting laid, because I still have blue balls after last night.