hard to outfit all the troops she couldn’t find it in her to ask him to stress himself any more than he already was.
She now regretted that she hadn’t spent as much time with him once they had arrived at Southpass Fort. She had spent her time training with the other officers for the coming attack while Thad had spent his time shoring up the defenses with magic. The only time they had been able to spend time alone was when they went to the hot springs located on the side of the mountain. It had been a cherished moment for her. Unlike most of the women of Farlan she had always dreamed of finding a man who could stand at her back during battle. Eloen let out a thin smile, how her mother would act if she knew she was entertaining marriage. With women having control over Farlan with men having few rights marriage had faded into memory except in the most provincial places. Now women took lovers and allowed those men to use their name and when they grew tired of them would find a new one to replace them.
It didn’t take long to find her companions in the common room. They sat at one of the larger tables where the men were playing a game of dice. Ballard noticed her as she walked over and waved to her in a subdued manner. The man next to Ballard also noticed her arrival and gave her a large smile, showing that more than half of his teeth were missing.
Eloen smiled back radiantly. She had played the flirting game often, but there was a difference. In Farlan she held all the power no man would dare touch her without her consent. She wasn’t sure what they were allowed to do here so she cautioned herself to keep it innocent. Looking over at her two companions, she knew that they wouldn’t allow anything to happen to her, but they weren’t always around, like back at the river when the men had tried to accost her.
Looking around the room she saw that other women were seated throughout the room. See that she wasn’t alone made the muscles in her stomach relax. “Having any luck?” Eloen asked Darryl as he picked up a pair of dice that looked as though they were carved from whale bone.
“Not a bit sister, but maybe now that you’re here my luck will change for the better.” Darryl said as he rattled the dice in his hand.
Eloen watched as the dice rolled across the table. They came to a rest three and five. She wasn’t sure how the game was played but from the look on Darryl’s face he had won. A couple of the men standing around the table tossed copper coins in front of him. Picking up the coins Darryl placed them on a small pile off to his side.
Music suddenly filled the air. Turning around Eloen saw that the small stage was now occupied by a small group of musicians. They didn’t look like the same kind of musicians that they had back in Farlan. There were no flashy costumes, not elegant instruments but when their fingers touched the stings delightful music filled the air.
“The young waitress that had been eyeing Darryl earlier approached the young warrior as the music began to pick up tempo. “Care for a dance?” She asked bowing and giving Darryl a sultry grin.
Darryl looked over at Eloen, shrugged his shoulders along with a wink. “Don’t see a reason why I can’t give you a turn around the dance floor.”
Eloen watched as Darryl took the young lady by the hand and led her to the open space in the middle of the inn. The small band picked up speed playing a light and jaunty tune. Eloen felt envious of her friend. She had danced before but it had always been at formal occasions and there was never a partner. It was one of the downsides to Farlan. She had heard stories of lovers dancing in the moonlight and always wanted to do the same, but her mother had frowned on any relationship she had with men. It was one of the reasons Eloen had forced her aunt to let her join the army.
“Would you like to take a turn as well?” A voice said behind her, startling her from her contemplations.
Turning around she
She now regretted that she hadn’t spent as much time with him once they had arrived at Southpass Fort. She had spent her time training with the other officers for the coming attack while Thad had spent his time shoring up the defenses with magic. The only time they had been able to spend time alone was when they went to the hot springs located on the side of the mountain. It had been a cherished moment for her. Unlike most of the women of Farlan she had always dreamed of finding a man who could stand at her back during battle. Eloen let out a thin smile, how her mother would act if she knew she was entertaining marriage. With women having control over Farlan with men having few rights marriage had faded into memory except in the most provincial places. Now women took lovers and allowed those men to use their name and when they grew tired of them would find a new one to replace them.
It didn’t take long to find her companions in the common room. They sat at one of the larger tables where the men were playing a game of dice. Ballard noticed her as she walked over and waved to her in a subdued manner. The man next to Ballard also noticed her arrival and gave her a large smile, showing that more than half of his teeth were missing.
Eloen smiled back radiantly. She had played the flirting game often, but there was a difference. In Farlan she held all the power no man would dare touch her without her consent. She wasn’t sure what they were allowed to do here so she cautioned herself to keep it innocent. Looking over at her two companions, she knew that they wouldn’t allow anything to happen to her, but they weren’t always around, like back at the river when the men had tried to accost her.
Looking around the room she saw that other women were seated throughout the room. See that she wasn’t alone made the muscles in her stomach relax. “Having any luck?” Eloen asked Darryl as he picked up a pair of dice that looked as though they were carved from whale bone.
“Not a bit sister, but maybe now that you’re here my luck will change for the better.” Darryl said as he rattled the dice in his hand.
Eloen watched as the dice rolled across the table. They came to a rest three and five. She wasn’t sure how the game was played but from the look on Darryl’s face he had won. A couple of the men standing around the table tossed copper coins in front of him. Picking up the coins Darryl placed them on a small pile off to his side.
Music suddenly filled the air. Turning around Eloen saw that the small stage was now occupied by a small group of musicians. They didn’t look like the same kind of musicians that they had back in Farlan. There were no flashy costumes, not elegant instruments but when their fingers touched the stings delightful music filled the air.
“The young waitress that had been eyeing Darryl earlier approached the young warrior as the music began to pick up tempo. “Care for a dance?” She asked bowing and giving Darryl a sultry grin.
Darryl looked over at Eloen, shrugged his shoulders along with a wink. “Don’t see a reason why I can’t give you a turn around the dance floor.”
Eloen watched as Darryl took the young lady by the hand and led her to the open space in the middle of the inn. The small band picked up speed playing a light and jaunty tune. Eloen felt envious of her friend. She had danced before but it had always been at formal occasions and there was never a partner. It was one of the downsides to Farlan. She had heard stories of lovers dancing in the moonlight and always wanted to do the same, but her mother had frowned on any relationship she had with men. It was one of the reasons Eloen had forced her aunt to let her join the army.
“Would you like to take a turn as well?” A voice said behind her, startling her from her contemplations.
Turning around she
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