A Big Shiny Blue Marble Ch. 25

“I like you better like this - as the walking wolf,” she smiled, “but I wonder what this is that you carry. This is a weapon?”

Shaevre moved the muzzles so that they pointed in another direction as she turned the system off. There was no need to waste the limited batteries at this point, since she didn’t know when she’d get a chance to set up the tiny solar charger in the kit.

“I wish to know,” she said, “Do you consider me as an enemy to be watched or as a possible ally that you do not yet trust completely?”

Cha’Khah smiled, “If I thought that you were anything less than the second one, you would already be dead.”

“Then I can tell you that this is our friend, Meg,” Shaevre smiled back, patting the barrels, “She is a hungry thing. Twice today I could have killed you, but the second time, the way that you spoke for us, looking at Nahl’een and the boy as you did, I decided that I like you.”

“And the first time?” Cha’Khah asked, “Was it when I had my bolts pointed at your breast?”

“No,” Shaevre grinned a little, “it was when I didn’t cut you in two as you rode forward. I saw no need to slay a horse.”

Cha’Khah stared and then she grinned. When the tall canine strode forward, she began to laugh and she put one arm around each of their waists, “Oh, I do hope that you like to drink ale,” she laughed, “I like you as well.”

“So this Vadren behind us,” Selena began, “You say that he is your cousin? He is so quiet. I don’t think that I’ve heard him say a word.”

“That is because he is probably staring at one or all of our bottoms. It is his favorite pastime. Since I still wear my cloak, my backside is likely safe. You wish to hear him speak?” Cha’Khah grinned.

“Vadren,” she called out without turning. The rest was unintelligible, but they heard the tone of his reply and it made her laugh, “I told him that I was getting worried for him and that I was trying to find a way to get him a sheep for his pleasure. His answer to me was carefully worded because Sariel knows some of our speech, but I know what was meant.”

“What did he say?” Shaevre asked.

Cha’Khah chuckled, “He told me to do something which I cannot do – without help of some kind. We are very close, Vadren and I.”

They walked on a little, with first Shaevre and then Selena looking back at Vadren as he walked behind them with his staff over his shoulder and his pack in his other hand. Selena looked again to get another glimpse of his dark chest and his really long white hair, since he’d removed his cloak out by the paddock. In the dimness of the tunnel, his eyes were red.

He transferred his staff to his other hand and he held up his empty hand with a smile as what looked to be a few snowflakes began to swirl over his palm. Selena stared as she watched the few turn into many and in a second he held a miniature blizzard. He winked at Selena and held up his palm to purse his lips and blow.

The blizzard disappeared.

Cha’Khah gasped and her head went back as though she’d been shot. She bunched her shoulders from the icy sensation and she stopped suddenly to bend over a little and reach back. She began to pull out one handful of melting snow after another from where it sat at the back of her neck, cursing loudly the whole time.

Vadren walked past where the three stood, “Careful , cousin,” he smiled, “Sariel does understand what you say.”

He sighed and winked again at Selena, “Cha’Khah hates the cold.”

Cha’Khah’s eyes looked as though she could shoot flames from them and she opened her mouth, but Vadren held up his hand.

“You had better make it good,” he grinned as he walked backward a little, turning around to walk on, “It will give me the reason to aim a lot lower the next time.”

He chuckled as he walked on, “What a place for a blizzard.”

Faith saw it all and turned to Rachel, “I’ve never seen people like that before. I mean, I’ve seen people with all kinds of skin color, but …”

“They’re Drow, not humans. Most of them live deep underground in large cities. Those two are close friends of ours. Usually, Drow can’t really stand sunlight much. It hurts their eyes and being aboveground sort of saps some of their abilities after a while. We’re not underground here, we’re just below the mountain. It’s good enough for them. Cha’Khah is my very best friend, not that I’ve ever really had a lot of those, but we’re really close, and they both love Sariel.”

“Well yeah,” Faith said, “but do they hate each other?”

“Oh,” Rachel chuckled, “You mean that?” She shook her head, “That’s just the way that they are, those two. They’re always playing tricks on each other and they fight something awful sometimes, but they're really very close. Would you, um, would you help me with dinner later? I’ve got five more to feed tonight. I hope Azrael and Vadren bought enough. I wasn’t planning on company. Did you bring anything along?”

“I haven’t looked,” Faith said, “But I do know that we brought a lot – for four and a half, I guess. I haven’t seen what’s in the pack though. My husband or Shaevre would know better. He and I just got picked up and flown here yesterday. We were in the desert before that. I’m still tryin’ to get my feet on the ground. The last week has been like a windstorm to me. But I’d be happy to help any way that I can,” she said hopefully.

“It sounds as if there’s quite a story in there somewhere,” Rachel grinned, “I’d love to hear some of it later.”