Amazonia (8 page)

“You’re lucky I pulled it,
Shale. You should’ve been concentrating.” Kale scowled accusingly at
Blake.

“I know. I lost focus. I’m
lucky my knee’s not broken.”

“All right, Shale, let’s get
you to the healer.” Blake placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Do
you think you can stand?” At Shale’s nod, she added, “Lean on us.”

“I’ve got her,” Kale said, in
no uncertain terms. She wrapped one arm under Shale’s legs, the other
around her back, and lifted her almost effortlessly.

Shale’s jaw clamped tightly
at the move, but knew Kale was being as careful as possible.

“You can get the door,” Kale
told Blake condescendingly, as she strode toward Appollonia’s lodge.

Blake’s eyes narrowed, but
she kept her mouth shut.

Kale moved quickly, despite
the fact she was carrying her own body weight in her arms. When they
reached the lodge, Blake did indeed open the door, and pointedly ignored
the cocky smirk Kale directed at her.

“Put her down there.”
Appollonia indicated one of the beds, even though they were all empty.

Shale was set down where the
healer wished, on the middle bed.

“What happened?” Appollonia
asked, but the question wasn’t directed at anyone in particular.

“Sparring accident,” Blake
said.

Kale gave more detailed
information. “I connected with the front here.” She pointed close to the
joint but didn’t touch it. “Much more pressure and it would’ve broken.”

Shale, though sitting
upright, was leaning back on her arms. She hadn’t moved her injured leg at
all, so it was still bent at the knee, while the other was stretched out
flat.

Appollonia leaned over her
patient, feeling the joint carefully. “I’ll have to straighten it.”

Shale tensed in anticipation,
and Kale placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Amber,” Kale said, looking
pleased when the red-head immediately knew what she was referring to and
moved into position, taking firm hold of Shale’s uninjured leg to keep it
still.

Blake perched alongside
Shale, reaching behind and gripping her hand.

“Ready?” Appollonia asked calmly.
When Shale nodded, Appollonia slowly repositioned her leg.

Shale didn’t make a sound,
but she squeezed Blake’s hand to an almost painful degree. Blake kept her
hold, even after Appollonia had finished.

“You need to keep off it.
You’re right in that it’s not broken, but it will still take a while to
heal. Resting it will help.”

“Looks like you’ll have to
spar with Amber for a while,” Shale said to Kale.

“My jaw’s only just recovered
from last time,” Amber moaned good-naturedly.

“I’ll go easy on you,” Kale
taunted.

Chestnut eyebrows rose
indignantly. “You most certainly will not!”

“Yes, please go easy on her,
Kale, it makes my job so much easier,” Appollonia said. She selected some
herbs, filled a mug using her waterskin, and began to mix them together.

Amber looked questioningly at
Kale. “If I’m not needed anymore, I’d better get back.”

“Okay. Thanks for your help.”

Shale smiled at her. “Yeah,
thanks, Amber. You’re a good friend.”

“No problem.” She stopped at
the door when Kale called to her.

“Hey. You’d best get in some
sparring practice.”

Amber laughed, and shook her
head before leaving the lodge.

As Shale took the mug from
Appollonia, an offensive smell wafted into her senses, and her nose
scrunched up in distaste. “I hope this is to put on my leg?”

Appollonia smiled. “Afraid
not. It will help with the pain.”

Shale eyed the substance
warily. “I think I’d rather be in pain.”

Kale chuckled, and tapped the
mug. “Bottom’s up.”

Shale scowled for a moment
longer before drinking the entire contents in one go. She thrust the mug
back to Appollonia, keen to get rid of it. “That was disgusting.”

“I’ve got worse,” Appollonia
said. “I can’t do much else for you, Shale, these things take time. If you
need any more pain relief—”

“I’ll come and get it,” Kale
said.

“Good. I know a lot of my
patients would rather sleep in their own bed, but since you don’t yet have
a cabin, you’re welcome to stay here.”

“Thank you, but I’ll be
fine.” Though Shale turned her down, she appreciated the offer.

Appollonia nodded. “A cold
compress will help keep down the swelling.”

“Noted,” Kale said. “And new
rule, Shale, no sparring at all until you’ve regained your focus. What you
did today was really stupid.”

Shale straightened, resenting
Kale’s statement, but having no defence for it. Kale was right. She
unlinked her hand from Blake’s.

“Everyone gets distracted now
and again, Kale," Blake said. "You should—”

“Not us,” Kale said sternly.
“And I wasn’t talking to you.”

Appollonia discreetly left
them to it, crossing to the shelves at the far end of the room. She
started to sort through the numerous jars there.

“Well I’m talking to you. And
yes, Kale, even you two can get distracted. You’re not above the rest of
us, though clearly you think you are.”

“I don’t think that!”

“No? You act like you do.”
Blake’s voice rose to match Kale’s. “So Shale made a mistake, it doesn’t
mean you’ve got to rub her nose in it. The gods know she’s let plenty of
your mistakes slide!” Blake got to her feet, confronting Kale across the
bed.

“I don’t know how you dare!”
Kale shouted. “Especially since this is all your fault!”

“My fault? Oh, that’s right,
shift the blame onto me. It could never be your fault, could it? It’s
always someone else’s. You need to take responsibility, Kale.”

“It was my fault,” Shale
said. “Not Kale’s, not Blake’s, mine. Now stop blaming each other.” She
could tell both women were furious from the way they were breathing—fast
and loud. They ceased to argue though. “One of you needs to leave. I don’t
care who,” Shale said, subdued.

Kale and Blake stared at one
another.

Kale defiantly crossed her
arms. “I’m not leaving.”

When Blake hesitated, Shale
wondered whether she was going to order Kale to leave. A moment passed, but
Blake didn’t resort to that.

“All right. I’ll leave.”
Blake fixed her gaze on Shale, who was looking extremely unhappy. “You
know where I am if you want me.” She kissed Shale softly on the cheek,
then left.

Shale missed her presence
almost instantly, and wished she had never spoken.

“Shale, you need to stop this
before things get too far,” Kale said. “I can see how you feel every time
you look at her.”

Shale couldn’t lie to her.
“So? I know nothing can come of it, but I still want to be friends with
her.”

“I don’t see why,” Kale
muttered.

“Well you wouldn’t, would
you? You’re always so rude to her.”

“And she’s not rude to me?”

“Only in response to you. I
know you don’t like her, but she’s my friend. Can’t you try to get along
with her? Please?”

“I have tried,” Kale said.

“Barely! Blake hasn’t heard
one civil word from you.”

“And she’s not likely to
either.”

Shale shook her head. “You’re
being ridiculous.”

“I’m being ridiculous?” Kale
gave a short laugh, though it was humorless. “You’re the one chasing
someone you can never have. It will never work. We both know this.”

“I’ll be happy to have her as
a friend.”

“You may try to fool
yourself, Shale, but you’ll never fool me.”

“It’s my life!”

“Yes. But it affects both of
us.” Kale stormed out of the lodge. “Don’t forget that.” She slammed the
door shut.

“How could I?” Shale asked
quietly.

SHALE LOWERED HERSELF
cautiously onto her sleeping roll. It had been a difficult and painful
walk to get back to camp. Since Kale had stormed off, and Blake had been
sent away, she’d had no one to assist her. Appollonia had of course
offered, but Shale declined. Though she liked her, Shale was very
particular as to whom she willingly allowed into her personal space.

At first, Shale had intended
to head straight for Blake’s cabin, but Kale’s voice rang in her ears,
warning her to stay away. The fact that she automatically thought of Blake
proved Kale’s words to be true. She was too attached to Blake, too
involved emotionally. So Shale had changed her mind, and ended up back at
camp.

Her leg was throbbing, but
she was able to block it out, her thoughts distracting her easily.

Shale wondered how long it
would be before Blake came to visit, and a sick realisation dawned on her.
Blake might not. Kale had told her not to come near their camp.

She hoped Blake wasn’t upset.
Shale hadn’t wanted her to leave, or Kale either for that matter, but knew
it was the only way to stop them arguing. Shale needed to tell that to
Blake, the last thing she wanted was to hurt her.

Shale struggled to her feet,
and headed toward the village. Her warrior’s pride was still in full
effect, and she intended to go behind the cabins—she didn’t want half of
the tribe to see her limping.

“WHERE ARE THE twins?” Melaina
asked.

Blake looked up from the
parchment she was reading. “Which one do you want?”

“Does it matter? They’re both
the same.”

Blake bristled. “No, they’re
not. They’re very different. You’d see that if you only took the time to
get to know them.”

Melaina didn’t look at all
convinced. “I know enough. Now, where are they?”

“As I said, which one?
Shale’s over at the healer’s, Kale went off in that direction.” Blake
pointed south.

“You mean they’re not
together?” Melaina asked sarcastically. “That’s a first.”

Blake frowned, pushed off her
cabin steps, and got to her feet. “Shale and Kale are finding it difficult
enough settling into a new tribe as it is, without comments like that.”

“Why don’t you just refer to
them as ‘the twins?’ It’s easier than saying their names all the time.”

“Because they’re more than
just twins, Melaina. A lot more.”

“Well their names don’t help
matters, it confuses things further.”

“I’m sure they didn’t get to
pick their own names. Besides, I think it’s sweet.”

Melaina snorted. “I think
you’re sweet on her.”

“Who?”

“The twin. Don’t ask me which
one, ‘cause I can’t tell.”

Blake’s eyes widened in
sudden understanding. So that’s what all this is about. She sighed.
“Melaina, I’ve told you, several times, I’m not interested in you like
that. Sorry, but that’s just the way it is.”

“I could certainly give you a
lot more attention than she’s going to give you. You’re always going to be
second to her twin.”

“That’s just it, Melaina, I
don’t want your attention.” She paused for effect. “And I don’t want to
hear about this again. Ever. Now, please, move on.” Before Melaina could
reply, Blake descended the wooden steps and marched off.

As Blake rounded the cabin,
she practically collided with Shale, who was leaning heavily on her right
leg, using the cabin for support.

“Shale?” Blake was still mad
from her confrontation with Melaina, and it came out through her tone.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to
eavesdrop. Normally I would’ve just left, but...” She tapped her leg. “It
took me forever to get here.” Shale gave a small, embarrassed smile.

Blake’s anger dissolved
instantly. “It’s all right. I’m just sorry you had to hear that.” She took
a breath. “How come I didn’t see you coming from Appollonia’s?” The
healer’s lodge was practically opposite hers, and even though it was
across the village, Blake was sure she would’ve noticed Shale heading her
way.

“I went to my camp first.”

Blake shook her head in
disbelief. “Shale, you’re supposed to be resting that leg.”

“I wanted to make sure you
were all right. I didn’t want you to leave, I just wanted to tell you
that.”

Blake smiled. “I know.” Shale
really was wonderful. Here she was with a serious leg injury, and she was
checking to make sure Blake’s feelings weren’t hurt.

A warm expression appeared,
and Shale rested a gentle hand on Blake’s shoulder. “Thank you for
defending Kale and I. It means a lot to me.”

Blake reached upward and
squeezed her hand. “You’re welcome.” Her smile faded when Shale shifted
her weight, and a flicker of pain, though brief, crossed her face. “Here.”
Blake stepped closer and wrapped an arm around Shale’s waist. “Lean on
me.” She was pleased when Shale didn’t offer any argument, simply
complying by draping an arm over her shoulder. Blake helped her forward.
“Let’s get you off that leg.”

THEY HADN’T GONE very far
when Shale stumbled, lost in her thoughts rather than concentrating on
where they were going. Her focus was purely on Blake, her touch
distracting. The feeling of another woman holding her was different, but
pleasant, and that surprised Shale. She was only used to Kale’s contact,
so when others touched her, including previous partners, she often found
herself uncomfortable. Shale thought she would find this experience similar,
but she didn’t. Blake’s smaller frame fit into hers nicely, and she was
amazed at how good it felt to have Blake’s arm around her.

“Shale?”

Shale snapped out of her
musings, and peered down into concerned green eyes, realising bashfully
that not only had Blake been talking to her, but they had actually come to
a complete standstill. Shale wondered what was happening to her, she was
usually so alert and focussed. It only happened when Blake was around—the
woman was too much of a distraction. It’s a good thing she’s not a
warrior, Shale thought, or I’d likely get my fool head chopped off!

“Shale?” Blake repeated,
louder this time.

Shale blinked, she’d done it
again. “Sorry,” she mumbled, literally giving her head a shake.