you don’t know me well enough then, Scavenger,” I countered.
“I know the parts of you that matter.”
We made our way back to camp where my students were waiting. Tallis walked to the front of the group as the Scavengers set up for the night.
“Attention everyone, Mistress Black needs a break tonight. Gordon will lead your lessons.” He grabbed my hand and guided me towards a large tent. I ignored the butterflies that filled my stomach in response to his authoritative tone.
“Tallis, where are you taking me?” I asked with a yawn. I was too tired to argue with him. At this point, I needed rest. He didn’t answer, but instead pulled me through the flap of a tent door and guided me to a pallet covered in furs on the floor. I sat down, and he kneeled at my feet with a smile. He started unlacing my boots.
“Beautiful girl, you need rest. I’ll be back in a little bit to bring you dinner. Nikketa would wring my neck if I didn’t feed you.” He chuckled as he picked up my thin legs and shifted them onto the pallet. I snuggled into the comfortable makeshift bed and breathed in the smoky scent that surrounded me. It was the most comfortable I felt in weeks.
“It smells like you,” I dreamily mumbled before biting my tongue to prevent more ridiculous statements from pouring out of my mouth. My attraction to Tallis amplified in the dim tent.
“That's because it’s my bed, Agapimenos,” Tallis replied in a husky voice with a chuckle. I widened my eyes and fought a blush as he lowered the light on his electric lantern, causing shadows to dance along the tarp walls.
Tallis started walking away when I whispered, “Stay.”
He paused with his hand resting on his thigh, then turned around with a soft smile as he made his way back to me.
“Tell me about the third trial,” I continued as he lowered himself to the floor. I shifted on my side making our eyes level. Only a few inches of space separated us.
“That’s not much of a bedtime story. I don’t want to give you nightmares,” Tallis whispered, and the ghost of his breath made my hair shift against my face.
“I can handle it,” I replied stoically. For some reason, I craved to know the darkest parts of him, I craved to know I wasn’t alone. That we shared tragedy and overcame it.
Tallis took in a deep breath and lifted his hand to my cheek. “Our old leader was a wise, good man. For decades, he single-handedly ensured our survival. But in his old age, things changed. He became manic. Paranoid. He started talking to the trees. Hearing threats when there weren’t any. He didn’t have my people’s best interest at heart and began hoarding supplies necessary for survival. Our people were dying of starvation, and yet he had stockpiles of food. The only way to overthrow him was to survive the first two trials and then compete in a fight to the death,” Tallis said in a grave tone while stroking my cheek. The dark mood of the story and my tiredness made my resolve disappear, and I craved his contact.
“Our ways are gruesome, but it is our way,” Tallis added in a somber tone. “I did what I had to do, and I outmatched him in many ways. I made my kill swift, painless, and I took no joy in the act. It was in a closed arena, and the only people in attendance were our elder council members and his life partner, Nikketa. Not even Gordon knows that it was me that killed his Grandfather.”
My eyes widened in understanding. Gordon was the old camp leader’s grandson.
Tallis continued, watching my face for my reaction to the news. “Our leader was a proud man. I think he knew his end was coming. As per tradition, we dined together the night before battle. Even then, I remember seeing how his awareness seemed to flicker in and out. In one of his last moments of clarity, he requested that Gordon be told that he died in battle with a neighboring camp. Since then, I’ve made sure that his wishes were granted.”
“The night he died, Nikketa waltzed into my tent and sobbed in my arms. I—I don’t think I’ll ever forget what she said,” Tallis began while sucking in a deep breath. “She thanked me for ending his suffering, and I remember wishing she would punish me. Hate me for what I