Sunset Rubies

Unacceptable Request

“You can’t be serious!” Claire stared at Marcel as though she were looking at a complete stranger.

“I am quite serious. He’s one of the highest trained warriors in Leishmann’s army. You could all benefit from his training,” Marcel said with her gentle firmness, not looking up from the potato she was peeling. Claire turned to her brothers for help, but they quickly averted their gaze with Keith sharpening his dagger and Mark brushing at imaginary dust on the mantle. She turned her outrange instead on Cal whose grey eyes sparkled with mischief.

“I am not letting him anywhere near my men!” She scowled.

“Claire!” Keith warned, watching the color rise on Cal’s cheeks.

“C, there was no other way,” Cal stated through gritted teeth.

“And I am not sure how many times I have to tell you, but we don’t need your help.” She slammed her hands down on the table for emphasis. She wasn’t entirely sure why she didn’t want him around her warriors. Perhaps she was worried for his safety, or perhaps there was still something she didn’t trust. Either way, the idea filled her with dread.

“You are not going with me to the training camp and that is final.” Cal met her steely gaze and seemed to calm. He leaned back in his seat and shrugged.

“I’ll make you a deal, C,” he said flippantly. “If you or one of your brothers can beat me at any sport you choose I’ll stay behind and won’t say another word about it. But if I can disarm any of you in less than 5 seconds, I go and I train your men to fight. Deal?” He offered his hand to shake. Claire didn’t move.

Instead she glared daggers at him while considering the proposition. She remembered her one battle with him during self-defense class in Tyrell. He had been fast, but she had held her own against him then and her skills had vastly improved in the months since. Could he truly be an asset or would it cause more problems than it was worth?

“Deal.” She took his hand firmly and jumped from her stool. “Mark fists, Keith staff, I’ll grab my sword.”

“Wait. What are you doing?” Cal called after her in confusion.

“You have five seconds to disarm me and my brothers,” she replied, spinning on her heels and folding her arms across her chest. “If you win, you can train our troops. If you lose I don’t want to hear another word about you coming near our training camp.”

“Hey, I never said all three of you at the same time.” Cal stormed around the table and drew up to her, forcing her to tilt her head back to hold his stare.

“You were the one who suggested the deal. If you can’t handle it say so now and we will forget the whole thing. Mark, Keith and I will get working and you can stay with the women and children.” She took pride in seeing the thick cords of his clenched jaw.

“Get your sword. I’ll meet you outside.” He turned and stormed away. Claire watched his retreat and was momentarily lost in the flexes of his broad back…she shook her head, scolding herself the thoughts. Hoping they hadn’t noticed, she glanced over her shoulders to find both brothers watching her with calculating expressions.

“This will be fun!” Keith grinned.

“Very,” Mark nodded, cracking his knuckles. They moved to follow Cal, Keith grabbing his quarterstaff from the hooks above the door on his way out. Claire huffed and dashed into her room for her sword

Once inside she took a moment to breathe. She looked at the small cot the two girls shared and the large curtain dividing the room. Maybe if Cal could survive the fit her brothers had thrown when they had set up this room, maybe he could survive against all three of them?

After Cal and the kids moved in, they quickly discovered that Claire’s original plan was not going to work. The children refused to be separated from Cal. Cal and the kids were then moved into the twins’ room. That first night had been a difficult one. The whole house was awoken by the girls screams. Claire had gone to them and together, with Cal, they were able to calm the girls, but the two had to remain at the girls’ bedside in order for them to finally sleep peacefully. The next two nights went the same way.

When the girls finally settled on the third night, Cal and Claire had decided the only solution was for her to move into the room with them until the girls were able to sleep on their own.

The next day her brothers were the expected level of outraged. Cal suffered through every foul name they could throw at him and half a dozen graphic death threats. After a couple weeks--and Marcel firmly siding with Claire and Cal-- they now saw the benefit it held for the children’s well-being.

They had sewed together several large blankets and strung them across the room to make a curtain. Cal and Jamerico slept on one side while Claire, Midlyn, and Lilith slept on the other.

It was while belting her sheath and gazing around the room that it dawned on her why she truly didn’t want Cal to join her in the army’s camp. She didn’t want the kids to be alone. They needed him here. Besides that there was no guarantee her army would let him live long enough to explain he was there to help. She left the room with a sigh. When she joined the men outside she noticed that Shaylee and the kids were sitting on the grass watching the men stretch and do warm up exercises.

“I’m not sure they should be watching this!” Claire exclaimed as she joined them. Cal moved to her side and considered the children. Jamerico’ eyes sparkled with excitement, but Midlyn and Lilith both shuffled anxiously.

“They’ll be okay. It’ll be good for them to see their brother in action, besides it won’t take long.” He turned to the kids and winked cheekily, asking, “You guys want to see your big brother show these three who’s the boss?” Jamerico grinned in response while Midlyn nodded with nervous enthusiasm. Lilith only popped her thumb in her mouth.

“See?” Call grinned. Claire rolled her eyes.

“So what happens when we beat you?” She asked, stretching her shoulders and falling into her own familiar warm ups. Cal only laughed in response and Claire had a sudden sense that it may have been a mistake to challenge him.

“Jamerico, when it starts I need you to count to five. Loudly.” The boy nodded, excited to be involved in the adult activity. Cal centered himself and fell into a loose stance, watching the others take their places.

“Would you like a weapon?” Claire asked. He only chuckled in response making her shrug. If he wanted to get hurt that was his choice. Cal dropped his head for a brief second then looked up. When he locked eyes with her she nearly gasped at the sudden change. Gone were the humor and the sweetness. In its place was a hardened coldness that suddenly reminded her of his father. Something deep inside told her she had nothing to fear from this man, but she was still unnerved. A quick glance at her brothers told her they recognized it too, only it seemed to thrill them. Cal nodded.