He stoked for a second, but that second was enough for her to blow up. Her eyes and hair suddenly turned deep red and she was about to attack him when he started laughing.""Jealous?"" A somehow satisfied smile appeared n his face as her eyes suddenly stuck and the instant she became normal.
She shook her head. ""Not jealous. Really. I have no idea why I reacted that way, but thinking some woman sleazing all over you made me angry... and disgusted. I am telling you this only one time. If you have any plans for both of us in the future. No woman or even man should touch you. I am serious about this.""
By the tone in her voice, he knew she meant it. ""I hate people touching me. Even my friends and family members don"t casually come and hug me. There is no chance that I would consciously give anyone even a chance to come near me. By the way... Alca... I always looked at her as a kid. She was born when I was already over 200 years old.""
Her lips went flat. ""You do know if you look it that way, I am even younger. Your words make no sense. Age means nothing or I wouldn"t even consider you for a second.""
He was suddenly stopped by her words. They made complete sense in this case. Kendra is indeed even younger. He started to stutter. ""But I... we... I truly never..."" He held his head as he never has been in this kind of situation. How to explain it. ""She is nothing to me!"" The moment he said that he could see her relaxing and he sighed inwardly in relief.
But suddenly cold feeling again crept up his back. ""If she likes you and starts to pursue you, what will you do?""
He rose both his hands. ""I promise to warn her only once after that I will completely ignore her. Forever.""
Silence slowly crept down as the two had sudden eye contest. Neither one of them wanted to give up. After a while, Kendra gave a slight nod. ""I will trust you. But if you ever make me distrust you even the tiniest bit, I will give up on you and find me another man. It"s not like you are the only one.""
The way she casually spoke about it made him squint his eyes. ""You think I will let you be with other men. As you already accepted me, you can"t run away from your responsibility. In all this time, you are the first and last person I will care about. I promise.""
""I do not trust promises. To easily broken. Doing or not doing certain things in a given situation can give me a.s.surance of your words. Let"s see how you will do."" She just crossed her arms looking angry, even tho anger left her long time ago. She knew that she was wrong this time but didn"t want to admit it and he didn"t push her. He looked at her foxy ears and chuckled.
But after a while, his eyes darkened and with a wave of his hand, they disappeared. Actually they could give her even better hearing so when they were gone she knew it was his doing. ""What was that about now?""
He didn"t answer at first but then flattened his lips and looked at the sky. ""You look too cute with them. I fear... I think it is better you don"t have them. Cough... I am leavening now. See you later."" Then he disappeared leaving flabbergasted Kendra.
Is he shy? That old fossil is shy? Please don"t tell me he never had a girlfriend? Maybe I should ask that person. Claro...
As she sat down she could hear light steps approaching her and two eyes staring at her mischievously. ""Sister, it seems you two are progressing a bit.""
Kendra looked at Isaa and chuckled. ""What about you and that wood head? Any news?""
Isaa just rolled her eyes. ""That idiot is like freaking glue. The moment I leave the village he appears around in a matter of moments. Sometimes I think he lives nearby. Watching our entrance. By the way. We have movements from the people by the sea. They asked us to accept their women as well.""
Kendra shook a bit hearing her words. ""What did you tell them?""
""What can we tell them. Sirius went there and told them if they want to enter the village they have to promise not to make trouble and to shave their heads. They will have to take baths before entering the village and no man is given right from their clan to enter."" Isaa shrugged as she sat there and ured a tea for both of them.
Kendra chuckled. ""I guess, they didn"t like that idea.""
A sarcastic smile appeared on her face as Isaa continued explaining. ""When Sirius went there the conditions were devastating. There were already two women with babies that looked so malnourished that he wanted to kidnap them. Not only that. Because conditions, a few women even died. Now the rest of them fear the next winter and do not wish to stay at that place anymore. Kendra, even tho I really dislike them, but babies...""
Kendra nodded. ""As said, the women have to be shaved, bathed in water with potion and then given new cloth. All they own will be burned. I have no wish to have... wait I have a new idea. Maybe I can change a bit the formation and no bugs will be able to enter the castle again. But, I still want them to wash up and shave their heads. Take it as a punishment given from my side.""
Isaa nodded. ""Well, they need to do that anyway. Their hair is so entangled. Anyway, let"s do that. We will give them a chance. I am going to tell Sirius to set a date so they could come as soon as possible. I can feel a change of times. Summer is here but falls not far away. In just a couple of months, the fall will come.""
Anita suddenly arrived together with Tia (Mrs. Alici) holding tea sets each as well. As they saw the tea set on the table and each other"s arms they started laughing. Soon more and more people started arriving except the two fathers. They were babysitting the children.
Kendra looked at the few more pairs that looked at each other lovingly and smiled. ""This year we still didn"t finish our task. We will get more people to help us out with those that are pregnant. Over the winter the warrior clan women promised to stay in the city as a.s.surance. Few of them are pregnant and the rest of them will help out with food and security. I fear that some people will try to move their hands. But what they don"t know is that I put the array. Anyway. We will gather enough food. Girls, soon we will go for a trip to the seaside with kids while men will be here. In the city, I will give a chance to Taro. Jason, what you think about him?""
Jason came near and nodded. ""To care about city and women we could send him enough food for everyone. He was responsible for his village and those that came with him are capable and hardworking men. The decision to leave him to take care of city is not wrong. I hear that warrior village is planing a big hunt to provide meat, Laura came with a message that they will provide years worth seafood. That leaves us to vegetables.""
Kendra chuckled. ""I have found a place that had some wild vegetables. I can send part of Taro"s group to gather and we can explain to them how to make mixed clay and stone tower. I have an idea and I think Taskmaster will accept it.""
Everyone stared at her so she continued.""Towers go up straight to the sky, right?"" Seeing their confirmation she went on. ""Ten levels is not a lot, they can handle it easily. The city is almost on top of this hill. The only thing higher is the strange arrangement of the stones. If they make levels like steps circling around those stones, then the tower can be done at the latest end of this year. Literally. They can use it all, stones, clay, wood. I think after finis.h.i.+ng that tower they can use levels to make their own housings for winter.""
She took out a piece of soft gray cotton they reproduced and used coal to paint strange buildings that winded around stones. When they saw the painting they understood that Taros people might really finish this project in a couple of months.
Their usual evening pa.s.sed and as everyone left only Kendra was alone. She sighed. ""I need to learn few things. Taskmaster, what is actually your name? Why didn"t you answer me? Or should I call you Taskmaster for the rest of the time?""
No answer was heard. Just sound of wind trough treetops and stars sleepily blinking at the young child that sat there with both hands under her chin blinking back at them. ""My life is getting right way, but why do I feel so restless? What is bothering me actually?""