Page 87 of Seized to Sacrifice
She took Elle back to the center of the Camp.
‘I know how you feel,’ Maeve said. ‘At least there hasn't been a raid in quite some time, not any sanctioned by Quin at any rate.’
She led Elle down a small passage between the tents. ‘The Brothers are still mercenaries though they claim to be something better.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘They can lie to themselves if they wish, but they're merely sell-swords who command a premium for their skills, that’s all.’
They stopped outside the Commander’s tent and Maeve took her inside where a blonde woman who Elle assumed was Lily was already sitting at a table laden with food.
She smiled and stood up. ‘I'm glad you could join us. When Quin told me your unit had a Fourth, I wanted to meet you. There are only a few of us as I’m sure Maeve’s told you, so meeting others is a treat.’
Elle gave her a smile in greeting and nodded.
‘I didn't see you before,’ she noted, ‘when we met the Commander, I mean.’
‘Yes, well Mal goes off scouting, so when he returns and we’re all together, we like to have some time to ourselves,’ Lily said, blushing.
Elle’s eyes flitted over the pale skin of the woman in front of her, taking her in. Her blonde hair was pulled up into a mass of plaits that looked very intricate, and she wore a silver band around her neck. Her blue gown was starkly different to the blacks Maeve was wearing.
‘I still haven't got used to the breeches,’ Lily muttered as if sensing where Elle’s thoughts tended, ‘so I like to wear gowns when I can. Though I tend to don my blacks whenever I venture out so that everyone knows who I am. The Camp can be a dangerous place.’
‘I was just showing Elle some of theattractionsof our home,’ Maeve said, her voice hard.
Lily looked somber and let out a small sigh as she gave Maeve a look of commiseration. ‘Change has been a longer time in coming than we wanted. This is an army of men. Their rules were made to keep them the strongest. There's only so much we can do within confines of their laws.’
Lily hesitated. ‘In truth – and this doesn't leave my tent –Quin's command hangs on by a thread and that's with a very small changes he's already made. I fear anymore at this stage will see us all murdered in our beds,’ she muttered.
Then she grimaced. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘You didn’t come here to hear about the problems we have. I wanted to meet you and get to know you. Rye’s unit have been fixtures in the Army for many years. I've heard stories of them from Quin and the others, but I didn't even realize they had a Fourth.’
Elle gave her a small grin. ‘In truth I think they tried to forget. I haven't been with them in quite some time.’
Elle saw Maeve frown, but the other woman said nothing as Lily went back to the table.
‘Let's have some refreshment. No more talk of Brothers’ politics.’
Elle sat gratefully, starting to feel a bit dizzy standing still in the tent.
They began to fill their plates with various cheeses and nuts and meats, the other two chatting about the mountain passes and the route through to the north, but as Elle smelled the food in front of her, she began to feel more and more sick to her stomach.
She was going to be ill!
She rose from the table suddenly as she felt her stomach revolt. She lurched away and fell to her knees, retching on the floor before she could get outside the tent. She wiped her mouth, embarrassment coming to the fore.
‘I'm so sorry,’ she said, feeling her cheeks heat as the other women looked on.
Lily had risen, but it was Maeve who got to her first.
‘I’m feeling so unwell. I'm so—’
‘Please don’t worry,’ Lily said, raising a hand to stay Elle’s apologetic words.
Maeve helped her to her feet. ‘Are you all right? Would you like me to take you back to your tent? We can do this another time.’
Elle nodded and Maeve took her arm. ‘Do you want to go and see the apothecary on the way?’
Elle shook her head. ‘I'll be fine. I'm sorry.’
Maeve took her the shortest route back to her tent, giving her a sideways glance. ‘How far along are you?’ she asked.
Elle looked at her blankly, not understanding.
