Page 64 of Claimed By the Alien Barbarian

As the only human on the island, she must’ve heard I’d arrived here with Nevarn.

“How far do you plan to walk?” I asked.

“Not far.” She pinched the fabric of her tunic draped over her chest and fanned it. “It’s much too warm to walk for long. We could take the short loop that meanders along the edge of the western side of the island. The view is beautiful there, and if we’re in luck, the berries will be ripe enough for picking.” She hefted the basket she carried. “The gods make amazing food, but when I was a youngling, my mother used to cook a sweet dish with berries I adored. I’d like to make it to enjoy after our dinner.”

Since I doubted Nevarn would be looking for me soon, I smiled. “That sounds wonderful. I’ll be happy to help you pick enough berries.”

“I’ll see you later then,” she told Yestar, and he leaned above the table to give her a kiss.

We turned and crossed the open square, strolling down a series of paths leading toward the western side of the island.

Marlesta peered back at Khol. “Why is he following us?” she asked softly.

“Nevarn worries about me and asked Khol to make sure I’m safe.”

Her frown deepened. “Ah. I see.”

“Is this a problem?”

“Oh, not at all!”

After walking through a big open archway in the wall, we continued on a trail that meandered toward the edge of the island where I was grateful to find a waist-high stone wall to keep anyone from falling off. Khol remained close behind, a stone spear in his hand. I doubted anyone would bother us, but it was nice to have him with us just in case.

“The gods built this.” Marlesta patted the top of the wall as we walked the trail weaving along the side of the cliff. All around, the sea gleamed, whitecaps sparkling in the sunlight. Only the faint swish of water drifted through the briny air. “Our gods have watched over us forever.”

“They’re amazing.” I wasn’t a highly religious person, though I believed in some sort of being watching over us. The Zuldruxian gods appeared to do the same only in a more tangible way. Aliens or true gods? I wasn’t sure it actually mattered.

“Are you enjoying your visit with our clan?” she asked.

We strolled along the wide path with tall grasses growing in a big open meadow on our left, the purple strands peppered with pink, yellow, and green flowers. Lavendar water and vegetation took time to get used to, but I was starting to find it soothing.

“Everyone has been friendly,” I said, deciding not to mention Weela’s parents or Vair.

“As they should be.” She sighed. “Our people are dying, and your people bring hope for a better future.”

I didn’t even know if I could have children, let alone if I wanted them or not. I had an IUD. How would I get rid of that if I decided I wanted kids?

However, I could picture myself holding a child in my arms, a baby that was a mix of me and Nevarn, and the image made me smile.

We reached a large cluster of tall bushes covered with purple-pink berries.

“Here we are,” she said. “Try one. They’re delicious.”

Khol leaned against the wall, studying the area, but nothing moved but us and a few tall bushes swaying in the wind.

I picked a berry and popped the marble-sized lump into my mouth, savoring the tart-sweet flavor that was similar to a blackberry.

Marlesta’s tusky smile filled her face. “I can’t wait to make my treat and share it with Yestar. He enjoys my cooking though I don’t do it often.”

“Where I come from, we do all our own cooking, or we buy food from those who have jobs preparing food.”

“Your gods don’t provide for you?”

“I’m not sure what our gods do. Many people pray to them, asking them for healing or to make something they long for work out, but there aren’t really signs that prove the gods have intervened, not like seeing your meal emerge from a table or clothing appear on a rack before you even realize you need it.”

“How strange.” She placed a handful of berries in her basket.

I added some and kept picking, speaking in a low voice. I wasn’t worried about Khol overhearing, but you never knew who might gossip. “Do you remember much of what happened three years ago?” I wasn’t sure how else to ask other than spit it out. “With Nevarn’s first mate, Weela.”

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