Pariah (The New Covenant Series) (20 page)

He has supplies that we need for our journey should you still
wish to make it.” And with that, he turned and stalked back off toward camp. I followed a few paces behind. Riven was awake and packing our things when we returned.

Little was said between the three
of us. I extinguished the fire with ocean water and listened as Riven and Faric discussed the next leg of our journey, one that would place me further from where I need to be—though only a few miles. It could mean the difference between life and death for one of my loved ones. I decided that if Faric wouldn’t help me, I would set out by myself and find the kingdom on my own. I had to get back even if it meant alone. God would keep me safe. I was His chosen, right? We arrived at a large hut just past the foliage off the beach. The walls and roof were thatched with the dried leaves of local palm.

The home itself was a large circular structure with only a fe
w windows and a conical roof that met in a point and extended down, overlapping the walls of the structure by a few feet. The doorway was large and open. I didn’t see anyone outside and didn’t hear anything inside. The guys lashed the horses to trees.

I walked around the side of the house to look around back for
anyone who might be home. This was supposedly the home of Faric’s friends. I wondered how friendly they would actually be. My eyes roamed the garden in back of the house. A large calloused hand clasped over my mouth, another around my stomach. “Stay still, girl. What are you doing here?” A loud bass voice grumbled into my ear. I shook from head to toe, and had I not relieved myself recently, I would have pissed myself. He loosened his grip around my mouth, and I squeaked, “Faric. I’m here with Faric. He and Riven are tying the horses.” He spun me around, and I took in his massive frame. My eyes were even with the upper stomach of a gargantuan man.

Probably in his early thirties, he was muscular yet somewhat
chubby. It was a strange combination on such a behemoth. My eyes traveled upward, and I saw a fuzzy red beard and matching scalp, ornery denim eyes, and face dotted with so many freckles they seemed to melt together in places. His cheeks pulled up, revealing a somewhat yellow but friendly smile. “Well, why didn’t ya say so, girly? Come on.” He took off around front and hugged Faric, lifting his feet off the ground and then patted Riven on the shoulder. All were smiling and laughing. I was still shaken a bit but was relieved at such a warm reception.

The mountain of a man yelled, “Ruth! Get out here, woman!”
A plump woman, a few inches shorter than me, stepped out of the house. Her apron was covered in flour and pieces of her dark chocolate curly hair fell into her face. She blew them away. She dusted her hands in the air, making a cloud of white surround her.

Then she coughed and laughed and coughed again. “Blasted flour.
Get it all over me when I cook.” She ran over to hug Faric and Riven, sharing some of her flour with them too. Then she looked at me, grabbed me by the shoulders, and said, “Well, look at you. You are lovely. What’s your name, dear?”

“Solara, ma’am,” I responded.

“Oh please. Don’t call me
ma’am
. Makes me feel old. I’m only thirty-two! Call me Ruth. My husband is Jacob. Welcome to our home, sweetie.”

She stood next to me as t
he men laughed and talked about recent hunts. “So which brother are you with, dear?” She winked one of her dark brown eyes at me.

“Oh neither. They’re just helping
me travel.” I said, looking at the trio.

“Right.” She laughed.

“Jacob!” she yelled. “Help them get settled. I’ll see to Solara.”

She motioned for me to follow her into the house as the guys
continued their conversation as if she’d never spoken. Stepping into their home, I was overwhelmed by the fragrance of orange and vanilla as it wafted through the air. There were wooden rockers in front of a small fireplace to the side of the room and a table and four chairs near a side window. We walked through the main living area toward the back rooms separated by walls and darkness.

She motioned toward the
left to a smaller room. “That’s where the basin is and our clothes. There’s actually a guest bed under there somewhere!” She laughed. “This is mine and Jacob’s bedroom,” she said, motioning to the right. “Come on, and I’ll find you something clean to wear. I know I’m bigger than you, but I’m lethal with a needle. I can make anything fit!” She giggled. She went into the basin room and began to shuffle through dresses that were piled on the bed. “This should work. It’s one of my small ones. I’m showing, so it definitely doesn’t fit now and may never again.” She chuckled.

“You’re pregnant?” I asked.

“Oh yes, dear. Here,” she said, grabbing my hand and placing it on her belly. It was round and hard. I had never felt a pregnant belly before. I laughed. “Wow! Congratulations!”

She giggled. Her laugh was inf
ectious. The dark wisps framing her round tan face shook with her laughter. Her dark eyes sparkled. She was truly beautiful and unique and kind. I really liked her already.

“Let me make a few altera
tions for the summer.” She went to work, cutting the dress’s length, removing the sleeves and quickly smocking the back, ensuring a fit across my chest and back. I’d seen Annette sew a few times, but it was nothing like what Ruth had crafted. Ruth’s hands moved fluidly and fast. It was fascinating to watch, and I was entranced. When she was happy with her job, she inspected it and said, “Okay, change, and I’ll wash your dress and have it back to ya this evening. You can go down to the beach and explore, and I’ll finish cleaning up and meet you down there.”

“I can help you, and then w
e can both go down to the beach together if you want,” I offered with a smile.

“Great! Let’s clean, and then yo
u can change. I have a swimsuit that you can wear in case you don’t want to wear your underthings in the ocean.” She giggled. We set about cleaning the flurry of flour over her table and floor among other things.

“I don’t know, Ruth,” I admitted, staring at the small teal bathing suit. “I think I’d be more covered in my corset.”

She laughed and said, “It
ties and will cover all of your important bits. Besides, you won’t have to run around in wet undies tonight! Put it on. I have one as well, but it will cover my growing tummy. Not a pretty sight, trust me.” She left to put her swimsuit on as well, leaving me with the tiny teal fabric held together on strings to try to figure out on my own. Finally having the small swimsuit on, I looked down and huffed. Two triangles covered my breasts, held up by strings that tied around my neck and back. Two larger pieces of fabric covered my backside and girl side and tied at my hips. I made sure I had knotted the strings well. I didn’t want anything coming untied in front of the guys.

I stepped out and saw Ruth
in a black swimsuit. Its bottom was the same as mine, and the top was similar with an exception of an addition of fabric over her belly. Her bump stuck out so sweetly. She threw a towel to me and grabbed on for herself and motioned for me to follow her.
Here goes nothing. Literally. This bathing suit might as well be nothing.

We made our way down a san
dy trail to the shore about one hundred feet away. I noticed four men in the water and two women exiting the waves, returning to shore. “Who are they?” I asked Ruth.

“Our friends and neighbors.
They live down the beach about half a mile. They’re brothers and sisters. Their parents died a few years back, and they live in their old home.”

“Oh. That’s horrible. Sorry.” I
said, just glad I hadn’t asked them myself.

“No worries. You’d hav
e found out soon enough anyway. Probably better that it came from me. That is Athena and Aniya. Their brother is Rafe. He is exceptionally ornery, so be prepared. He’s a walking male hormone. Aniya is quiet and sweet. Athena, not so much. Oh, and she’s sweet on Riven. Very sweet on him. If you are here with
him
, you’re in for some trouble, girl.” She looked back at me to judge my response.

“I’m not. Like I said, they’re jus
t helping me travel. I promise. Actually, I was recently married in the kingdom.”

“Why did you leave?” she ask
ed, slowing her pace as we were swiftly approaching the women as they sunned on a blanket.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t pry.” She looked away sheepishly.

“No. I’ll tell you but later. It’s complicated,” I said, touching her forearm in reassurance.

She smiled brightly and said, “Well, let’s go then.” As we
approached, I noticed that Athena and Aniya wore similar swimsuits. Athena’s raspberry suit covered somewhat more than mine, but she was
very
well-endowed. Her black hair hung wet to the middle of her back as she lay on her stomach propped on her elbows. Aniya had dark hair that curled tightly even though wet. Her suit was dark blue and though not as well-endowed as Athena, she still had more than I could boast. Her suit had more fabric than either of ours, and she had pulled on a short linen skirt over her bottom in an effort to cover up. I wished I had one to cover up with as well.

Both had similar honey-br
own eyes. They were shaped much the same—long and lean with few curves. I was jealous. I hated my curves. Ruth made the introductions, and Aniya was very sweet and smiled as she shook my hand. Athena all but scowled at me and dug her fingernails in my hand as she pulled me close. She whispered her first threat, “Riven is mine, so don’t get any ideas, sweetheart.” She smiled fake but beautiful as she released her talons and backed away.

I didn’t even acknowledge Athe
na’s jealous remark. She wasn’t worth it. After years of dealing with Aria, I wasn’t about to let some new crazy chick walk all over me though. The guys yelled for us to join them in the water. Following Ruth’s lead, we spread our towels on the sand next to one another, putting some distance between us and the sisters. I wasn’t sure if any distance would be far enough away from Athena and her scowling expression. Ruth draped her arm through mine and pulled me toward the water. It glistened in the hot sunshine and was clear turquoise perfection.

The water lapped my toes, warm
and inviting. I could feel the grains of sand underfoot. “Come on,” taunted the guys, splashing water toward us.

The waves were gentle and rol
led over our legs gently. I was worried about Ruth. She was pregnant, and I didn’t want to see her hurt by too rough a wave. “Are you sure you should be out here, Ruth?” She just laughed and kept pulling me out. Faric and Riven were chasing each other around in the neck-high swells. Jacob was speaking with Rafe to our right. Rafe was tall and slim yet muscular too. His hair fell to his eyes at their longest point and appeared to be somewhat curly like Aniya’s as well.

He shared his sisters’ honey-br
own eye color although his were clearer and maybe a bit lighter in color. His face was long, and his smile was as striking as his sisters. Also like them, he was very tan, belonging with the sun and sand.

“Hey, Solara!” He waved. “The guys have been talki
ng about you. Are your ears burning?” He smiled, extending his hand.

“No. I can’t imagine what
they would have to say about me though,” I admitted, accepting his handshake and looking over toward Riven and Faric.

“Nothing that isn’t absolutely true,” he sm
irked, dragging his hand through his wet hair as he looked me up and down, taking in as much as the sea didn’t obscure. I could feel myself blushing. Ruth splashed him and pushed him backward into a wave. “Stop it, Rafe. You’ll scare the poor girl with your nonsense.”

He clutched his chest and dramatic
ally fell back as if he’d taken a blow to the heart. Jacob seized the opportunity and dunked his head underwater. He rose back up, spitting seawater out of his mouth and rubbed his eyes clear as well.

I
stood up straight and rigid when I heard her. “Yeah, Rafe. Leave her alone.” Athena sauntered through the water toward us.

I didn’t even know it was possible
to saunter when your legs were submerged. Aniya followed a few steps behind and rolled her eyes at Athena’s interruption. I stifled a giggle. At least her sister annoyed her too. I wasn’t alone. Athena swam past us and draped her arm around Riven’s shoulder and smirked at me. Rafe spoke up, “Man, she must think you’re a threat, Lara.” He splashed at me.

“Yeah. Next, she’ll pee a circle around him.” I splashed him
back, and everyone broke out laughing. Everyone but Athena, that is. She scowled at me through gritted teeth and slinked her arms around Riven’s stomach, putting her head on his shoulder. He refused to look at me.

After getting dressed, I walked barefoot down the path toward
the beach where a bonfire had been built and was raging angrily into the night sky. The wind had picked up since our time on the beach today and blew in gusts, throwing my hair into my face and mouth. As I approached the others, I heard Athena’s shrill voice through the darkness. “I mean, she is so weird. Did you see her eyes? They’re purple. And what’s up with the massive tattoo on her back? I’ve never even seen a woman with a tattoo.”

“I think she’s hot. Her eyes are
cool, and I think women should seriously consider the tattoo thing because it’s sexy as all get out!” said Rafe.