“Do you think you ever might want to change that? Seeing as how you’re here now. Since we’re going for blending our cultures.”
He looks at me angrily. “My men will always be Tempest. That we will never blend.”
I’m smart enough to know when I’ve stepped in shit, though I can’t say I know what he’s so angry about. I guess the pride of being from Tempest disallows him from calling himself anything less.
I’m tempted to ask,‘what will our children be called?’, but with how precarious our situation is, I decide not to poke the bear.
I force a smile. “I’m sure we’ll find something to call ourselves.”
His mood is sour now, and I regret making him that way. I enjoy his banter and affection. Dare I say it’s not just because I need him to survive? I think I’m actually falling in love with him. And yes, I’m fully aware that we hardly know each other.
But what I feel is no small thing.
A shout sounds from near the hull. It’s Asha. She’s screaming.
Without hesitation, I rush to her to see what’s wrong.
She’s cradling her leg, staring at a crab that’s dancing along the shore.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes…I panicked.”
“Over what?”
“I didn’t want the crab touching me. I fell.”
I blink back at her, wondering if she’s lost her damn mind. We’re on an island full of men that may or may not help us depending on how worthy they think we are, and she’s running from a damn crab.
Grixis’s men look on with disgust, but there’s precious little I can do about that.
“I’m sorry,” Asha says, and as mad as I am, I feel terrible about the situation. Asha is genuinely kind, treating me like a human when others treated me like trash. I hate that she’s struggling.
“You need to get back to work,” I say, making my voice hostile. “There’s leather that needs salting.”
She downcasts her eyes and nods. I feel ashamed and angry. It’s ridiculous that after everything we’ve been through, we’re still having to prove ourselves. But it will get better once we move inland.
I see Arwin staring at the scene as it unfolds, and I cast her a glare. “What are you looking at? Get to work.”
I storm off, wishing I had somewhere to hide so I could have a good cry. Thankfully, I’m good at controlling my emotions, and I’m getting better at knowing what needs to be done.
17
GRIXIS
After spending more than two handfuls of days on the shore, I know we must soon make our decision.
As much as I’d hoped the members of my clan would accept Elena’s people, there are a few holdouts. Men that are strong in the way of our blood and unlikely to be won over by the allure of a female companion.
Instead of assisting, they stand off to the side, glowering, watching as the women learn new skills to help them navigate their new world, angry that we allow them to work with our tools.
Some have refused to visit the shore at all. I made a trip to goad them, reminding them that when we came to Melgrim, we had tools of our own and our plights were not unexpected.
A few of Elena’s people have taken to fishing, casting nets to pull in fish enough for many meals.
Other skills are being developed. It’s clear that these women have not worked many days, but it matters not, as long as they take to the tasks they are given.
A ribbon of cold whisks through the shore, startling Elena’s people.