Page 31 of The Warrior
“Because they were pretty?”
“That, and because at that time girls were married when they were fifteen. Laura and her sister were only three years from being ready. All the young men were weighing their chances of being the lucky man who won them as brides.”
Mila gave a grimace. “But they were just children.”
“I know, and I wanted to beat up all the men that looked at the girls like they wanted to kiss them.”
“Didn’t you want to kiss Laura?”
“She was too young for me to think about kissing her. I wanted to protect her from marrying the wrong man.”
“Couldn’t you have reminded her that she promised to marry you?” Mila asked with big eyes.
I shook my head. “It doesn’t work like that, Mila. She has to pick one out of the five champions who win the tournament.”
“Are Laura and her twin identical?” Mila asked.
“No.”
“Is Laura prettier than her sister?”
“Yes. To me Laura was always the prettiest girl in the country. Her sister is more serious and reserved by nature.”
Mila tilted her head next to me. “I wish I could ask Laura if she saw you at that funeral.”
“Chances are that she doesn’t remember the funeral at all.”
“Can’t we call her?” Mila ran a few quick steps to get in front of me and walked backward. “Tristan says they opened up direct communication over the border now. I know you said she’s back in the Motherlands, but you’ve spoken to her, haven’t you?”
“Uh-huh.”
“So call her up right now. I want to ask her about the funeral.”
“She’s busy chasing bad guys.”
“Maybe she’s on a break. I really want you to call her,” Mila begged.
I held up a palm. “You have to get back to class. I’ll call Laura tonight and tell you what she said.”
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
“And will you tell me the rest of the story about you and her the next time you come?”
“If you want me to.”
“I do, and I also want you to tell me about…”
Before Mila could finish the sentence, I took a large step, snatched her from the ground, and turned her around in the air so she hung upside down. It had her howling with laughter when I continued to walk on with her dangling from my arms, teasing her. “Why are you down there? Normal girls have their heads up and their feet down.”
All that came from her were fits of laughter.
Mila was my antidote to depression. It was weird how a ten-year-old girl was better at making me talk than anyone else I knew. With her, I never had to square my shoulders or raise my voice. The truth was that I liked who I became around her.
The only person who had seen glimpses of that side of me was Laura. But with her I always had to be careful that she didn’t see me as weak or soft.
When I said goodbye to Mila that day, she repeated her request. “Promise to call Laura and ask her about the funeral. I want to know if she saw you there.”
