Chapter 115: Secrets Under the Sand
The hot sun pounded down from above onto the thick sands. Reika was on one knee in their village garden, using the back of her hand to wipe oozing sweat running down from her forehead while she drew weeds with care up from the struggle. Her muscles were aching by now.
"Rest, Reika," Sariah said, coming toward her with a pitcher of water clutched in her hands.
Reika said stubbornly-"The crops need this. If we do not tend to them now, they will later be too few for the feasts."
Sariah frowned at her-concern etched across her features. "You have been working in the fields since morning without rest. At least drink this water."
She took the jug from them a little doubtfully, had a long pull. A look around then at all the other women-all of them at labors or works of one description or another-and for just a flashing, blazing instant, in pride that she fit into it, into the fabric of them, into life such as this, however poor.
The world suddenly leaned over sideways. The edges of her vision fuzzed and the hold on the jug slackened.
Reika?.? it sounded like Sariah was talking through water.
The knees of Reika buckled before a reply could pass her lips, and darkness claimed her beneath.
It was then that Reika finally opened her eyes, her body on a soft pallet in one of the larger tents-the inside mercifully cool and sweet with herbs. She blinked, confused, and into focus came Kael along with the village healer-a gray-haired kind soul named Jareth.
"What.what happened?" she stuttered, little more than a whisper.
"You fainted," Kael said, hard voice with a lining of silk to it. "You have been pushing yourself too hard."
Jareth was leaning over her, his weathered hands resting light upon her wrist as he took her pulse. "You have been under much stress, lady. Your body tells you it is time for slower pace.
Reika struggled to sit up, but Kael held her light upon the pillows. "Lie still. Let him finish."
Jareth furrowed his brows in concentration, lines deepening across his forehead as his gaze turned, moments later, to Kael - clear and enlightened of its milky film.
"She's pregnant," he whispered, his voice sounding like the reverberating thunder in such an enclosing area.
Reika turned to him, her eyes wide in horror. Kael shrugged noncommittally.
"I know," Kael replied softer now. "For quite a while, anyway."
Jareth looked grimmer faced than ever. "And you did not see fit to mention this to someone? She has been working like an ox under that hot sun. You do know that can be unhealthy for her and the baby, don't you?"
Idiom: whistling Dixie.
Kael blew out sharply and raked a hand through his hair. "I couldn't risk it. We. have been through a lot. The fewer questions people ask, the safer she is."
Jareth gave him a pointed look, but knew better than to push it. "You need rest, child. You must avoid stress and overexertion at all cost. Do you understand?"
Reika nodded weakly; tears began to well up in her eyes.
News travels fast in the village of Light Pack. Whispers and curious glances are first exchanged, but Kael knows that sometimes it is better to control the story rather than letting those types of rumors spiral.
He sat down, Kiran beside him, and told stories of everything that befell them, speaking convincingly with the elder gentlemen of this town. "We were a little group that got raided, Reika's husband wasn't okay; he told me I shall take care of his wife; I do, and I ran because.
A dozen pairs of eyes pass over him, elder faces lined up in various degrees of comprehension and sympathy.
By now he'd learned to trust Kael, and the touch to his shoulder put him further at ease. "You've both been through more than anyone should. You are safe here, and we will do everything we can to help her through this."
Indeed, true to the word, villagers in this village looked after Reika in nice ways: they took turns bringing lunch and dinner; women cooked fortifying broths and teas which they assured would make her body strong.
"You really do not have to," Reika said one evening to Sariah who helped adjust her pillows in the new tent made especially for her.
Nonsense, Sariah said cheerily with a warm smile thrown at him, you're one of us now and we take care of our own.
The hut the villagers had set up for her was considerable and more comfortable than that they so far made. Besides, it lay under a couple of trees next to the well-so that the walk into deep darkness wasn't required in search of water.
Kael settled her in, his protective instincts kicked high. "If you need anything, just call for me," he said firmly.
Reika laughed low in her throat. "Kael, you're more nervous than I am."
He shrugged, the ghost of a smile tugging at his lips. "Someone has to be."
Though she missed the physical work she had thrown herself into before, Reika found new ways to contribute. She spent her days teaching the women about efficient planting techniques and ways to conserve water.
'You're a natural leader," Elya said one afternoon as they worked together in the garden.
Reika smiled, though her heart ached with the weight of her hidden truths. 'I'm just trying to help."
Meanwhile, Kael was expanding his role: his training sessions with the villagers' young men grew larger, tougher. Kael was discussing matters of village defense with Kiran quite regularly.
"Do you think they might someday come back?" Kiran one evening asked him while he and Kael patrolled together along the fringes of the settlement.
Kael grunted. "Should they, they will find out we are.
Kiran nodded, respect in his voice. "You're a good man, Kael. Reika's a lucky one to have you watching her back."
One evening in the still moments, outside their tent, Reika turned toward Kael. Her eyes shone with tears unshed.
"Do you think we shall ever be safe,.
Kael leaned over, taking her hand in his. "I don't know," he said, "but I do know that for as long as I am still breathing, I'll do everything humanly possible to keep you and the baby safe."
She smiled through tears as the swell in her heart reached her face.