Chapter 14 - Noridians
1957 Words
Ivy;
This mysterious woman kneeling down beside me right now… she’s not human?
So, then what is she?
“Are you alright, child?” I hear her ask softly, an expression of concern appearing suddenly as she stares at me and waits patiently for me to respond.
“Um… yes.” I reply whilst nodding my head rapidly, up and down in a trance-like state.
“You’re… you’re not human?” I announce in disbelief.
She lets out a deep and genuine laugh at my obvious shock.
“What gave me away?” she jokes with a smile, “Was it the bright yellow eyes or perhaps my incredibly oversized ears?”
As she plays with her left ear I realise now that I am blushing and purse my lips together nervously before replying.
“No, it was definitely the purple skin that gave it away…” I retort with a small smile.
“Well, you are correct. I am not human like you. I am Noridian.” she admits, tilting her head to the side as she goes on.
“Tell me child, what is your name?”
“Um… Ivy. My name’s Ivy.”
I keep my answer short and sweet.
“Ivy…” she tests it for a moment as her eyes scan me from head to toe.
“Well, it is a pleasure to meet you, Ivy. You can call me Lynnoma.”
“Lynnoma, that’s a beautiful name.” I remark, “I’ve never heard anything quite like it before.”
She chuckles.
“Of course not dear. We are Noridian, our names are a little different to your human ones.”
It’s strange. I’ve only just met this Noridian, but I already have a good feeling about her.
“So, are you going to tell me who you really are, Ivy? Or is a name all I get?” Lynnoma enquires.
I swallow nervously. If I tell her the truth I have no idea of how she might react to the news. I don’t know these natives, and I have no idea who they’re loyal to.
They’re obviously not loyal to Ronaar or the Moonlit Guild, what with the asshole still being gagged and tied up on the floor.
But still, I need to be very cautious of who I share information with. At least until I return home to Adomis, where I am safe.
I decide to word my response as carefully as possible. After all, I don’t want to make an enemy out of her; she seems nice enough.
“No offense to you, of course, but it seems like every time I tell someone about who I am they either end up wanting to kidnap me or kill me…”
I lower my gaze out of a sudden feeling of guilt for not being honest with her upfront.
“Ah, I see...”
She nods her head a couple of times slowly, but then she surprises me by suddenly standing back up and holding out her hand for me to take.
“Well, that’s enough of that then. Let’s get you back to your home.”
I’m baffled, confused as to why she would simply not care about who I am. My left brow quirks upwards with wonder and intrigue as I stare up at her for a moment.
“So, that’s it then… just like that, you’re not even the slightest bit curious?” I question her as I cautiously take her hand and am promptly pulled up to my feet.
“Of course not.” she replies bluntly.
“Your business is yours and yours alone. If you wish to share it with me, then that is your choice. I will force nothing from you, Ivy.”
‘Whoa… that’s a first!’
She smiles as she releases my hand and crosses hers in front of her chest.
Whoa, she’s certainly got muscles.
Look at those arms!
“So, where exactly is your home?” she asks kindly.
“Castle Dahvan, actually.” I announce, rubbing the back of my neck nervously. “Do you happen to know where it is?”
She smiles, “Yes. I’m familiar with the location, my dear. The Overlord and I have a long history you see…”
She begins to walk along the rocky path and I quickly move to keep up with her as we continue our conversation along the way.
“Wait, you know Adomis?” I ask as my sudden interest in learning more about this native woman suddenly spikes.
I notice that the other women standing around us begin to move along with us as well, two of the warriors having to lift Ronaar from beneath his arms and drag him along as he kicks defiantly against their hold.
“Yes. The Overlord and I have met many times in the past. But it has been a very long time since our last encounter.” she admits vaguely. “We used to meet regularly for trading.”
“Oh.”
My reply is short, as I have nothing more to say.
A sudden query enters my mind and I find myself asking before I think it through well enough.
“What do you mean by ‘used to’?”
Her brow lifts as she turns her head to the side to meet my gaze, continuing to stroll along down the path with me.
“I’m sure you are well aware of the history of your Overlord and his choice to create a rift in our treaty.” she announces sternly, as if she were angered by even having to mention it.
I frown.
“Nope… sorry, no idea about that.” I admit innocently, shrugging my shoulders. “I’m actually new here.”
I pause.
‘Woops… might have said a little too much now.’
Her expression changes now and her focus is on me entirely.
“Tell me, Ivy… do you live in the castle or perhaps work there?” Lynnoma asks, no doubt probing for more information as to who I am.
Biting my bottom lip, I try to word my reply as carefully as possible.
“Um… I’m actually staying there for a while. You see, I recently became bonded with someone who lives there.”
She stops walking entirely, her brows both up high on her forehead as she smiles back at me.
“Have you now? Well congratulations. Being bonded is truly a magical experience, and also thought to be quite uncommon. You are very lucky, child.”
I sense as if she is speaking now from experience, but I’m not game enough to try and probe for questions from her.
Not yet, we just met!
“So, tell me more about this lucky man.” she queries, continuing to stroll along once again and I do so also.
I smile at the thought of him as an image of him immediately comes to mind. My Adomis…
“Well, he’s strong.”
Lynnoma chuckles briefly and I go on.
“And incredibly brave…”
“All the qualities a woman would want in a man, I see.” she adds, grinning.
I turn to face her with a curious expression now.
“That’s not your type?” I ask bluntly.
“I don’t need a man.” she surprises me with her sudden announcement, and I frown.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean… I don’t need one.” she replies confidently.
“Men are useful for only a limited amount of things and become more of a distraction when we interact with them for too long. We women can handle ourselves. We have no need for them… other than the obvious purpose.”
She shrugs her shoulders before adding, “In our custom, we women only meet with our men once a year and strictly for mating purposes.”
‘No kidding, - my jaw drops to thew floor!’
“You’re shitting me?” I don’t realise just how silly it sounded until I’ve said it.
Her expression shows nothing but confusion now.
“Why would I ‘s**t’ you?” she asks uncomfortably.
“Oh, no sorry… It’s a phrase back where I come from.” I explain, not equally uncomfortable. “But you’re serious about this? About only using men when you need to…”
I purposely trail off before finishing that awkward sentence.
She nods her head with a smile.
“Yes, they are only allowed into our village once a year. They do what is required of them and then leave.” she explains this so calmly, as if it is normal.
“It is our way. It has been that way for many generations.”
‘I’m stunned…’
She smiles widely as she turns again to take in my expression.
“You seem shocked.”
“I guess I am.” I openly admit. “I couldn’t imagine not seeing the man I love for an entire year.”
Lynnoma sighs.
“Ah yes. I’d forgotten how emotional you humans can be about such trivial things as love.” she smirks.
“Trivial?” I challenge with my own smirk.
She merely shrugs in response.
“We Noridians do not have time for feelings. We are made strong so that we can survive in such a harsh and unforgiving world. It may seem unfair to you, but it what we believe. It is our way of life.”
“If anything, I admire you.” I surprise her now with my remark.
“You do?” she asks. “And why is that?”
“You’re so strong! You live out here in the wild for crying out loud, and the fact that you don’t need men proves my point entirely. In a way, I guess I’m envious of what you’ve created. Of the loyalty and devotion your kind shares with one another.”
I pause and let out a sigh before continuing.
“I hate to admit it, but at times humans can be untrustworthy and manipulative towards each other. In some cases, you never know who you can truly trust. I guess it gets exhausting having to always look over your shoulder...”
“That does sound exhausting.” she agrees.
“Anyway, I’m so happy to be headed back home. Adomis will be relieved when he sees that I’m-”
“-Adomis?” she suddenly questions, ceasing her steps once more. “As in the Overlord, Adomis?”
I turn and nod my head, smiling.
“Yes.”
“Why would someone like the Overlord care about someone like you?”
The question seems silly to me, but I do not yet see her reasoning behind it.
“Because… he loves me...” I reply honestly.
“And I love him.”
The colour appears to drain entirely from her face now as she looks me up and down for a moment. I am confused by her expression now; it almost appears spiteful.
“So, it is true then...”
“What’s true?” I ask.
“I’ve heard several rumours of late, ones of which I found hard to believe. They speak of a woman who managed to seduce the mighty Overlord and claim his heart entirely. Apparently, she somehow managed to bond with him as well… You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that now, would you?”
I can feel the burn in my cheeks as I blush with embarrassment. Pursing my lips tightly I am now unable to meet her eyes.
“So, the rumours are indeed true? You’re the mysterious woman he’s fallen for…” her left brow rises.
“How very interesting.”
- Writer
