Chapter 3
Jade took a moment to just breathe. She stood at the edge of the clearing, sipping a refreshing, fruity drink that lori had pressed into her hand with a wink. The entire morning had been spent getting to know her extended family. They had laughed and talked and cried so much jade was still experiencing emotional whiplash.
They had plied her with an endless parade of food and things to try as they shared stories; of her as a baby, of her mother, of their joy and sorrow. She had eaten and drank until she thought she might burst. It was now mid afternoon and the sunlight slanted lazily through the trees.
She smiled as she gazed at the people quickly feeling like family. Then she let her eyes wander around the clearing and she easily spotted elora as she gave instructions to lori for that nights pig roast. The sorceress brushed away strands of hair that had escaped her braid, held back with several colorful ribbons and threaded with flowers. Jade smiled as the red head hummed happily, at home among food prep. She used her magic absently to stir several pots and literally twirled between kneading dough, chopping vegetables and preparing several sauces, while her new bonereaver bracelets jangled on her wrists.
Boorman was also (unsurprisingly) next to the food area ‘supervising’ as several others constructed the spit over the massive bonfire. He was offering completely unhelpful advice and sharing ridiculously embellished stories.
She spotted willow napping under the shade of a large tree, a book propped up on his chest. It was refreshing to see the cantankerous wizard be able to relax and not fret about the fate of the world for a while.
A loud cackling brought jades attention to a group of snow haired ladies surrounding airk. He also had flowers in his hair and several extravagent broaches on his chest. His eyes were wide and the tips of his ears were impressively pink. Which only seemed to make his crew of grandmothers laugh even harder.
They were playing some sort of card game and airk was on his knees animatedly trying to keep the peace and the score. He kept shouting as one ancient would conveniently lay the wrong card or try to play two at once.
He called out their names easily, cajoling or scolding as appropriate, as all of them seemed intent to cheat as much as possible. “Sofia!” he yelped out, pointing a finger warningly. “I know you know that you cant play that card after Blanche laid the crown. You have to play your sword.”
Jades eyebrows rose and she smothered a laugh as Sofia battered eyelashes innocently and the rest of the group chortled. It was official, airk had been adopted by six bonereaver grandmothers.
She let her eyes search until she found who she had really been looking for; her dark haired princess. Kit stood with a group of young bonereavers who all seemed to be showing off different fighting moves. Jade smiled. Of course, that’s what kit would be doing.
Scorpia appeared at her side and let her shoulder bump into jades. “Glad to see your girl getting along.”
Jade looked to her sister sharply, searching for the hidden meaning in scorpias words. But she couldn’t seem to find any. She felt ridiculously pleased at hearing kit referred to as hers. But at the same time, she felt her gut clench uncomfortably, remembering scorpias words in the mines. “I-I swore I would get them home safely,” jade started. She looked back to kits twin still eagerly engrossed in his octogenarian card club. “Airk…we need to get him home as soon as we can.”
Scorpia nodded. “I know.”
Jade worried her lip and looked back to her sister. “I…haven’t decided anything…yet.”
Scorpia sighed and turned to face her sister. She brushed the hair back from jades forehead gently. “You’ve found your family at last,” she said intently, unblinking. “And you’re never going to lose us again.”
Jade clenched her jaw and nodded. Her throat suddenly felt tight. She opened her mouth to say something, but a sharp cry from kit sent her flying before she could even register she was moving.
She tore to the other end of the clearing reaching for her sword which wasn’t there. “Kit!” she yelled.
Jade slowed her steps as the figure straddling kit quickly jumped to their feet. They turned and jade saw stunning blue green eyes with flecks of gold in a face framed by wild, tawny hair. She was tiny but held her body like a dangerous, half feral animal.
Kit lay on the ground, stunned for a moment before she held up a hand. “Its okay jade.” She grinned and pushed herself into sitting. “Its my fault really.”
Jade felt herself relax even as she raised a dubious eyebrow at kit. “Oh?”
Kit smiled sheepishly. “Yeah. I saw…” she looked over at the ferocious girl, questioningly.
The girls fierce smile didn’t match the sweet timbre of her voice. “Leona.”
“Right. Leona. I saw Leona use a crazy move to take down,” she pointed over her shoulder at a much larger fighter, “And she promised to teach it to me. But…” Kit narrowed her eyes at the perfectly innocent expression on leonas face. “I thought she would tell me before she did.”
The girl tilted her head. “Life wont tell you before it attacks,” she pointed out impishly.
Kit snorted and shoved herself to her feet. “You can say that again.” She looked over to airk who half stood, his face pinched, as his eyes scanned his sister.
Kit smiled and waved at him reassuringly. He slowly settled back down and seemed to calm as his posse of grandmas fussed over him.
Kit returned her gaze to jade and she scanned the red heads face. She took a step closer and gently rested her fingertips on jades elbow. “Everything…going good?” she asked hesitantly.
Jade couldn’t help but smile. “Its wonderful.” She closed the distance between them and tipped her trunk forward, encouraging kits arms to wrap around her. She rested her head on kits shoulder. “I have a family,” she whispered, her voice awed.
Kit squeezed jade firmly and placed a kiss in jades hair. “Im so happy for you,” she murmured.
They stayed that way for another moment then jade leaned back. She kept a hand on kits arm. “You okay?”
Kit huffed then grinned cockily. “Of course.” She took several steps back towards the bonereaver fighters. “Just going to pick up a few tricks from my new friends here, so I can beat you with them later.”
Jade rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. “Of course, your highness.” Her gaze followed kit as she turned around and started talking animatedly with Leona.
Jades eyes narrowed as the other girl rubbed kits arm encouragingly. She clenched her teeth without realizing it and after several seconds forced herself to look away. Only to find Scorpia assessing her with a raised eyebrow.
“What?” jade demanded.
Scorpia just shrugged. “Nothing.”
Jade frowned, trying to decipher her sisters tone. “I think I will check on elora. See if she needs anything.”
“Okay,” scorpia nodded noncommittally, still with a knowing undercurrent to her words that caused jades lips to thin. The bonereaver followed along until she stopped next to Boorman, who continued to ‘supervise’ things.
Jade ignored the both of them and continued on to the sorceress, still lost in her element. She looked up when jade approached.
“Oh jade!” she exclaimed happily. She ducked around the giant cauldron of soup and threw her arms around the knight. “Im so happy for you!” She squeezed so hard the breath rushed out of jade.
Jade let out an oof then eagerly returned eloras hug with a smile.
Elora finally leaned back but kept both hands on jades shoulders. She peered into the knights face with concern. “How are you? Are you okay? How are you handling everything?”
Jade smiled and nodded reassuringly to her friend. “Its…overwhelming, for sure. But also, good.”
Elora nodded sagely and let her hands drop. Sadness flickered across her eyes for a moment before she forced her bright smile to return.
Jades eyebrows pinched. “Elora?”
Elora looked down and played with her many necklaces. “Its just…you are living every orphans dream. Of f-finding your family…”
Jades face softened and she pulled elora into a hug. Her friend returned her embrace with a sniff. “Its not that im not happy for you,” elora whispered. “I am! Its just that…”
Jade squeezed her tighter. “I know. Its okay,” she reassured her friend softly.
They held eachother for several more seconds before elora sniffed again and straightened up. “Atleast there will be plenty of food leftover for us on our way to tir asleen.” Elora froze and her eyes darted to jades. “You are still coming with us, right?”
Jade worried her lip but nodded. “I promised to get airk home. And I will.”
Elora nodded. She opened her mouth like she wanted to ask something else then shut it again. She linked her arm with jades and rested her head on jades shoulder. “Im so glad,” she said. “It wouldn’t have been right to finish it without you.”
Jade smiled as they surveyed the clearing. She knew it wouldn’t take long for this place, these people, to feel like home.
Jade worried her lip guiltily. She looked to airk and then kit, who were also her family. How could she leave them when they needed her? But at the same time, how could she leave her true home full of people who loved her? Jade sighed and elora gave her a squeeze as if she knew what jade was thinking about.
Then jade narrowed her eyes. Leona held out a pair of throwing daggers as kit admired them. Leona moved closer so kit could get a better look.
Kit reverently took one of the daggers from Leonas hand and ran her fingertips delicately across the smooth steel. It was perfectly balanced with a satisfying weight and heft to it. She was too focused on the weapon to notice leonas forearm resting against hers or the way the girl shifted so their hips were touching, shoulders brushing against each other.
Jade noticed immediately and her eyes narrowed even more. She scoffed with a curl of her lips.
“What?” Elora asked, looking up at jades annoyed expression. Then she followed jades eyes towards kit and Leona and her eyebrows shot up. “Oh,” she said in realization.
Jade shifted uncomfortably. “Shes just training. Theres no reason to…kit can train with whoever she wants,” jade tried to reason.
Eloras face scrunched. “Uh huh,” she said, unconvinced.
But jade ground her teeth as she watched Leona effortlessly toss the blades, making them thunk into a tree stump several yards away and kit offered enthusiastic compliments.
She forced out a deep breath and fumbled for something to say. “So, you convinced willow to put on his magic act?”
Elora beamed at jade and squeezed her arm excitedly. “Yes! It should be fantastic. He does lots of slight of hand, but also, like, you know, real magic!” Elora finished with an excited squeal.
Jade felt the corners of her mouth turn upward at her friends happiness. “Im sure it will be fantast-.” But whatever else she was going to say froze on her lips as kit threw one of leonas daggers. The princess frowned adorably when she missed.
Leona just smiled and handed kit another blade. She issued instructions to kit that jade couldn’t hear. But she could see how the small warrior touched kit here and there, adjusting her stance, correcting her grip, tilting her hips, letting her fingers linger... It was all innocent enough, but it made something in the pit of jades stomach curl unpleasantly.
She opened her mouth a few times but nothing came out. She knew elora was staring at her, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away from kit and Leona.
Elora sighed. She unlinked her arm from jades and instead slung her arm over the knights shoulders. “Its okay to be jealous, you know.”
Jade briefly tore her eyes away from kit to look at elora with an indignant huff.
“Why do I feel like im repeating myself?” elora muttered.
“What are you talking about?” jade asked distractedly, her eyes never leaving kit.
Elora sighed like one long suffering. “You should have seen kit last night.”
This got jades attention and the knight flicked her eyes towards her friend. “What do you mean?’
Elora half smiled at the memory. “Kit. She was practically tearing herself apart watching tasia fawn all over you.”
Jade frowned and tilted her head slightly. “Tasia wasn’t…”
Elora just raised an eyebrow. “We eventually just had to tell kit to get her shit together and go for it. Honestly, I was a little, well maybe more than a little, concerned that she was going to start a fight or something,” elora grumbled.
Jade tried not to laugh at eloras tone. But the next second, any mirth she felt evaporated faster than water in a desert at high noon.
Leona handed kit a throwing dagger; kit had missed her previous throws. The smaller girl offered words of encouragement as she stood behind the princess and wrapped one arm around kits shoulder and the other rested on her kits hip.
Jades eyes bulged and she felt her mouth go dry. There was a peculiar thudding in her ears. She didn’t even notice Boorman next to her until he spoke.
“Looks like kit is making a new friend,” he said dryly.
Jade clenched her jaw and flashed him a scowl. “Shes just…”
Boorman raised an eyebrow waiting. “Getting manhandled by that tiny warrior?”
Jade let out a strangled noise and clenched her jaw so hard her teeth squeaked. “She is the princess of tir asleen. She is always training for something, always in demand,” she tried unconvincingly.
Elora frowned, her face lined with worry. “But training…that’s something that you two do…Together.”
Jade shifted uncomfortably and let out a noncommittal noise. Leonas hand had shifted to kits low back.
Boorman rolled his eyes then stepped closer to the knight, holding up a finger. “I see what the problem is.”
Jade flicked her eyes to the dark man and begrudgingly asked, “What?”
“You were right when you said kit is the princess of tir asleen.”
Elora rolled her eyes with a shake of her head. “Obviously. So whats your point?”
Boorman flashed her a self-satisfied smile before continuing. “So,” he said looking at kit and Leona. “No one touches the princess. Unless they want to risk treason.”
“What do you mean?” jade asked, her eyebrows narrowing. “Kit…”
“Kit touches others. They don’t touch her,” Boorman pointed out triumphantly.
“No, that cant…” elora started. But then she paused and tilted her head.
“Which is why miss handsy over there is getting your armor in such a twist.” Boormans voice was smug. “Well that and because YOU want to be the only one to caress-“
“We get it Boorman,” elora cut him off sharply, holding up a hand to stop him.
“Fine.” Jades nostrils flared as her lips thinned dangerously. “So what do I do about it?” she asked pointing towards the boneraver now with both hands on kits hips, helping them pivot as kit released her throw. “Its not like I can just go over there and pummel the snot out her for putting her grubby hands all over my princess…”
“No?” Boorman asked raising a skeptical eyebrow.
“No!” elora scolded. She turned to jade. “No, listen-“
But just then airk jogged over to them. “Hey,” he huffed. He looked to jade and then he looked to kit then back to jade, his face a mask of uneasy concern. “Um so, the golden girls-“
“The who?” Boorman asked.
The tips of airks ears turned pink. “The uh, bonereaver grandmothers? Cardplayers? Ladies? That im with,” he offered uncertainly. “Anyways, they, uh, insist on being called the golden girls. Something about being in their ‘golden years’…
“What did they want?” elora asked, trying to keep airk on track. For jades sake, since the knight looked like she might have an apoplexy at Leona standing flush against kits back, her chin practically resting on kits shoulder as she whispered instructions.
Airk blinked then nodded. “Right. Well, they wanted me to give you this.” He handed jade a thin, scarf-like cloth that was a gorgeous, deep red with sapphire blue beads woven randomly into the clothe like stars in the nights sky.
“Wow!” elora exclaimed when she saw it, squeezing jades arm again.
Jade took the cloth reverently, feeling its soft, velvety texture. She looked up to airk and shook her head. “I…I cant accept this.”
Airk shifted so he stood with both hands behind his back, eliminating any prospect of handing it back to him. “Of course you can. Besides, they insist. And…I don’t want to do anything to get on their bad side.”
Elora bumped her shoulder into airks. “Are you afraid of a couple of old ladies?” she asked teasingly.
Boorman gave a laugh. “If hes smart, he is.” He looked seriously to elora. “Never underestimate a group of old ladies. They may look all sweet and innocent. But they are crafty buggers with nothing to lose…”
Jade ignored how elora eyed Boorman suspiciously, knowing there was a story behind his words. Instead, she rubbed her thumb against the beautiful clothe then looked over to airks posse of grandmothers. They all smiled at jade encouragingly and then pointed to kit.
Jade raised her eyebrows and couldn’t help but smile as well. She looked to kit and suddenly noticed that of their group, she was the only one not to sport any gifts from the bonereavers. And it seemed Leona just realized the same thing as well. The tiny warrior stepped back from kit as the brunette threw the bonereavers knife and cheered when it stuck successfully into the tree stump. She fiddled with one of the silver strands of bells in her hair as she shared a smile with kit.
Jades nostrils flared and she clenched the beautiful clothe in her hands. No way in hell was she going to let Leona give kit anything. Jade gave a short nod to the grandmothers, their eyes twinkling at her. She supposed if they were insisting, jade couldn’t let them down.
Boorman, elora and airk bickered as jade squared her shoulders and strode determinedly towards kit.
“A little help, princess,” jade called out.
Kit turned towards jade with a smile. She had been so focused on making the perfect throw she hadn’t noticed the knights approach. “Hey! Check it out-“
Kits voice dried up as jade quickly invaded her personal space, moving so she was practically nose to nose with kit. She blinked and her gaze unconsciously flicked between jades coy smile and her dancing eyes.
“Im surprised you were so eager to throw metal blades…” jade reached out and calmly plucked the knife from kits hand, straightened her arm to the side and let it drop without taking her eyes off kit. “Since the last time you touched one, I was ripping it out of your arm,” she whispered, her voice low and husky.
Kit grimaced at the memory and fumbled for something pithy to say. But jade was so close and looking at her with such intense eyes, her brain couldn’t seem to string a coherent sentence together. She licked her lips. “Yeah…that sucked.”
Jades mouth twitched. She leaned even closer and loved the way kits eyes kept darting towards her lips. “Should I kiss it better? Would that help?” she murmured softly.
Kit swallowed and licked her lips again. She bobbed her head. “Couldn’t hurt,” she offered breathlessly.
“Mmmm,” jade contemplated. She slowly trailed the cloth through her hands until she grasped onto it by both ends. Then she raised it above kits head and brought it down around her waist. “Im not a healer,” she pointed out in a hushed voiced as she pulled on the cloth, tugging kits hips forward several steps as she retreated. “It may take several tries before I get it right...”
Kit let out a surprised huff and braced herself against jades strong shoulders as she was drawn forward. The knights voice was sweet and golden, like honey and kit was completely addicted to it.
Jade smiled mischievously as she stilled their progress so she could tie a delicate knot in the bold, red clothe sitting around kits waist like a sash. The ends dangled down over one hip, matching the way jades shirt tails normally peaked out from under her armor.
Kit couldn’t hide her smile, her hands still on jades shoulders. “Im willing to risk it,” she offered, her voice a hoarse whisper.
“In that case princess…” Jade leaned forward and cupped kits cheek. She brought their lips together tenderly.
Kit sighed and it didn’t take more than a moment before she was wrapping one arm around jades shoulders and the other dug into jades shirt, yanking her close.
Jade couldn’t help but smile into their kiss and brought her other hand up to kits cheek. She cradled kits face firmly with both hands, thumbs moving slowly back and forth. She forgot everything else as their kiss deepened and kits tongue swiped impatiently against her bottom lip.
Leona watched the couple kiss for a few moments before she shrugged good naturedly. She picked up her throwing knife from where jade dropped it and retrieved the other from the tree stump then turned back towards the other young bonereavers.
Kits hand roamed over every inch of jade but it wasn’t enough. She pulled the knight closer and-
“Yes. Yes. We get it already,” a sharp voice cut through the couples fog. Jade pulled back with a sheepish grin and kit let out a pained exclamation as willow smacked the side of her leg with his staff. She let go of the knight and stepped away, clutching her shin, so willow could walk between them.
“You love each other. Besides,” willow continued to them over his shoulder. “The true entertainment is about to start.” With that the sorcerer strode to the middle of the clearing and bellowed for attention.
Jade and kit shared a glance before bursting into a fit of giggles. They fell into eachother and quickly joined the mass of bodies finding the best spots in the clearing to watch the show.
Jade leaned against the trunk of a massive oak tree. Kit lay sprawled on the ground her head in jades lap and her feet half in airks lap and half on his legs. Elora alternated between sitting next to jade and jumping up to assist with the show. Scorpia sat snuggled fiercely (adorably!) (but dont tell scorpia that) into boormans side a few trees down.
Jade smiled at the silly show and the delighted laughs from the audience. She slowly ran her fingers through kits amazingly soft hair as she watched bonereaver children clap and cheer. She glanced to airk who gave her a hopeful smile. He clung to his sisters legs like she was his only lifeline, but his eyes looked a little less haunted than they had since leaving the immemorial city. Time with the golden girls was good for him, evidently.
Jade played with kits hair as night fell and the fireflies joined in the merriment. She smiled as she felt kit slowly relax under her fingers. She carded a hand through kits hair until the show was over and everyone began to drink and dance. She ran her hand through kits hair and never wanted to stop. Jade smiled as she gazed up at the stars peaking though the leafy tree branches, her hand continuing to move rythmically through kits hair, and hoped that she would be able to do this for the rest of her life.