Page 76 of New Storm Rising
“Three? You stingy bugger! You can afford at least five!”
Finally, when both contestants had sagged onto the ground exhausted, the barracks started to quiet down. Soon, they gathered outside in the warm evening air, watching the scenic countryside and the forest in the distance. They sat there in companionable silence, listening to the sounds of the night. The chirping of crickets. The burbling of a nearby brook. The singing of the nocturnal birds in the trees. Sounds you could only hear in freedom.
“Ah, a nightingale…” Itoro sighed as he listened to the sweet song of the bird. “Haven’t heard that one in a while.”
Next came a predatory call, harsh and mighty.
“Nighthawk,” someone muttered, gazing at the sky. “Flying free.”
Another few moments passed by, before…
“Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
A wild, ecstatic screech issued from the clearing at the centre at the forest, echoing over the countryside. The assembled ex-slaves stared into the darkness for a long moment—then exchanged confused looks.
Itoro blinked, staring at the distant forest. “What on earth kind of bird was that?”
“Screech owl,” Kojo said wisely. “Definitely a screech owl.”
***
Later that evening, after Mr Ambrose and I had exhausted ourselves—ehem, much,muchlater—I rolled around to face him, the bed squeaking beneath me.
“So…I guess, in conclusion, I’m in charge around here, right?”
The icy stare Mr Rikkard Ambrose sent in my direction didnotlook amused.
Smirking, I sat up and knelt on the bed before me. “Forgive me, oh mighty King Bossmaster the Great! Please show me the way to make up for questioning your ultimate authority over the universe! May I kiss your feet to gain your forgiveness?”
“Mrs Ambrose?”
“Yes, oh mighty overlord?”
“You would be considerably more convincing if your shoulders weren’t shaking from laughter.”
“I beg your pardon, oh mightiest master of mightiness! How can I ever make up for this travesty and gain your favour again?” Lifting my head just enough to peek up to him, I grinned. “Especially sexual ones?”
“You…!”
His arms captured me, pulling me close, his lips approaching. I braced myself for the fierce lip lock—which never came.
Instead, I felt a gentle brush of lips against my own, a caress that contained so many unspoken and unfathomable things.
“I knew there was a reason I married you.” Tenderly, a thumb stroked across my cheek. “Never a dull moment.”
“Thank you.” I pressed a gentle kiss on his forehead—then grabbed him by the short hairs and pinned him to the bed, staring down at him. “And don’t you think you can distract me with a simple compliment! You’ve still got some explaining to do, Mister!”
A moment of silence. Then…
“It was worth a try.”
I cocked an eyebrow.
“But I should have guessed that, with you, it wouldn’t work”
I grinned.
“Now…” My grin turning predatory—or lovingly conjugal, if you went by my definition—I leaned closer to my dear husband. “Could you tell me what is actually going on, dear husband of mine? That man…what was his name again? Kojo? He said they won? Is the trial already over?”
