Warsong (Chronicles of the Warlands, #6)(45)

His last thought as sleep came over him was of her brown eyes, lit up within. She was so hopeful.

Elements, let her be right.




Joden woke to find Amyu naked by the fire, spitting some kind of rabbit on a stick. There was already another cooking, and a pot of stew. A pile of wood and a full waterskin were beside her.

He must have made a sound, because she glanced over and gave him a smile. “I wish I could offer kavage,” she said. “But that will have to wait until we return to the castle.” She finished with the rabbit, wiping her hands on her thighs. “I found some wild onion to add to the pot. Now, while we wait,” she seemed nervous as she gestured to a small jar, set in the ashes. “I’ve warmed a bit of sweetfat.” She turned toward him. “Would you let me try to balance your elements?”





Chapter Fifteen


Amyu grew even more nervous when Joden nodded his agreement. Her fingers shook so hard she feared she would drop the jar.

She’d done this before, with her tentmates back in the thea camps. But Joden was a warrior, not a child.

Joden didn’t seem to notice her worry. He eased over onto his stomach, and she pulled back the bedding to reveal his back, His skin was a warm brown, and there were scars from old battles.

Amyu pored a bit of the warm oil on to her hands, and then straddled his buttocks. His skin was chill against her thighs. She rubbed her palms together and the sweet scent of the oil filled the air mixing with the teasing scent of the grasses of the Plains under the high sun. Amyu put her hands to each side of Joden’s neck, feeling the tension there.

She took a deep breath, trying to make it look like she knew what she was about. “We are of the elements. Flesh, breath, soul and blood.” With soft strokes, she started on Joden’s neck and shoulders. “The elements within you have become unbalanced. Let my touch aid you, center you once again.” She leaned in and whispered the ritual words.

Joden sighed, and his breathing slowed.

Amyu worked his shoulders in silence, then started down his left arm. She massaged his muscles as she worked, but she also moved the arm, trying to ease the stiffness in the joints. Joden let her have her way, moving as she commanded with just her touch.

She worked her way down to his wrist, flexing the hand and his long, strong fingers. “The soul is made of fire, and sits within the left hand.” She whispered the ritual words as she worked over his knuckles and kneaded his palm.

Joden mouthed the words with her, but he didn’t speak.

She finished his arm with a few soft strokes, and moved so she could ease the bedding over him to cover that side, and keep him warm. She moved back to his shoulders, placing her hands in the ritual position. “We are of the elements.” She repeated. “Flesh, breath, soul and blood.” With soft strokes, she started again this time working on Joden’s right side until she reached his hand. “The breath is made of air, and sits within the right hand.”

Joden took another, deeper breath, and let it out slowly. She felt him relax under her, which was good. She covered that side as well, and then eased off him to kneel beside. Which was also good, because she could feel her wetness in her depths, and the tight ache of her nipples.

Balancing the elements was a healing ritual, and it often led to sharing between warriors. But she’d not shared with another since it became clear that she was barren. The repeated act had become desperate and painful, and no one was willing to breed with her.

She hadn’t felt this heat in a long time, and she wouldn’t risk Joden’s rejection.

She arranged the blankets again to expose his buttocks and long, muscular legs. Which didn’t cool her own heat.

She distracted herself with more of the sweet oil, rubbing her hands together to warm them. Then she took a breath, placed her hands at the base of Joden’s spine, and recited the ritual again, and started to work his left side.

Joden’s breathing was even and strong, and again, when she worked his joints he moved with her silent commands.

She also noticed something else that made her frown as she worked. Usually, working the flesh like this, there was a warmth that grew from the body. Joden seemed warm and relaxed, but it was as if a deep chill had set into his very bones. It seemed to cling and resist her warmth.

Amyu shook her head at her fancy, for it had to be that and nothing more. “The blood is made of water,” she said, and she heard an answering murmur from Joden. He was echoing her words. She paused slightly, turning her head to hear better. “—And sits within the left foot.”

Joden’s lips moved as he soundlessly repeated the words.

Good. Perhaps that problem was fading. She covered his left side, and started again on his right side. Again, Joden repeated the words, faint and half asleep.

“The flesh is made of earth and sits within the right foot.” Amyu recited the final words. “Let the elements be balanced within and without. Flesh, breath, soul and blood, we thank the elements for their gifts.”

Joden’s murmur was faint, and his sigh was deep and grateful to her ears. The pleasure that washed over her had nothing to do with her physical desire and everything to do with her ability to aid him.

Amyu checked the pot. The meat was cooking well, and those small wild onions she’d found added to the scent. She wrapped the bones in leaves and thrust them into the coals; they could suck the marrow out once they’d cracked. It would be a while yet.