Chapter 85 Eighty-five.

Chapter 85 Eighty-five.
An orange glow was emanating from the tent, and I looked around in awe as I walked in. There were tables on the side holding food, and I inhaled the delicious aroma. A few luxurious sofas were arranged at the center to serve as a seating area. I made my way toward the food table and grabbed a plate before piling food onto it and making my way over to sit on the sofa. I let out a sigh as soon as I was seated, feeling my aching muscles relax, a lingering memory of the fight's struggle. Ignoring thoughts of the creature, I dug into my meal. I hadn't eaten properly all day, save for a fruit salad in the morning, and my stomach was yearning for a real meal.

"I thought I saw you go in here."

I turned abruptly at the voice, looking to see Kael standing at the entry of the tent with a smile on his face. I let out a deep sigh, placing a hand against my pattering heart.

"You scared me, Kael," I voiced out, and Kael raised an eyebrow before ducking slightly and stepping further inside.

"Well, I apologize for intruding on... your private escapades," he said teasingly, gesturing to my plate that was full to the brim. I narrowed my eyes in response.

"Do you have an issue with me satiating my stomach?" I drawled with a small smile as Kael shook his head, brushing a hand through his hair.

"My only issue is you didn't call me to join you," he replied smoothly, his eyes as orange as the light in the tent as he looked to me, and I smiled at his words before pointing to the food tables.

"Well, I'm not opposed to that. Grab some food and make yourself comfortable," I answered, patting the spot on the sofa next to me. Kael's smile widened at this, but he shook his head yet again.

"I already ate with the boys just before you arrived," he explained, and I recalled having seen him exit out of the tents as I had come. Nevertheless, I acted as though I was offended, placing a hand against my chest.

"So, it was actually you who didn't call me to join," I concluded, raising an eyebrow, and Kael smiled, folding his muscled arms across his chest.

"In my defense, I did try to wait for you. Was it my fault that you took a lifetime to arrive?" he answered as a means to retort, but I focused on the former piece of the sentence as opposed to the taunt at the end.

"You waited for me?" I asked curiously, and Kael nodded.

"I waited for the three of you," he expanded, and I smiled at the sentiment before scowling jokingly.

"Well, you still ate without us, so it doesn't count," I said with a shrug, making him laugh slightly before he looked down at me with his warm gaze.

"Well, I don't know about the others, but I can make it up to you," he answered in his usual deep tone, and my eyebrows furrowed at his words.

"And how are you planning to do that?" I asked poignantly, making him shrug, but I noted how he didn't break eye contact.

"I got you something," he answered vaguely, his voice echoing across the small area, and I faltered slightly when I processed his words.

"What?" I said stupidly, to which he smiled before moving closer. I watched intently as he neared me before crouching right near my legs. The room remained silent as he grabbed the plate from my lap and placed it to the side before looking to me yet again.

"Close your eyes, Aeryn," he murmured, and I opened my mouth to speak, but he wrapped a warm hand around my wrist, effectively stopping my speech.

"Close them," he repeated, his voice a gentle lull, and this time, I complied. Closing my eyes, I relied on my other senses as I waited for what was to come. I could hear some shuffling noise, but that was all.

It was a small moment before I felt a touch against my hand, turning my palm to face up. The feel of cold metal against my skin made me gasp, and Kael laughed slightly at this.

"Open your eyes," he instructed, and I followed his command, blinking slightly as I looked down at the delicate golden chain with teardrop crystals extending from it that resembled the glint of his eyes, deep honey.

"It's a headpiece," Kael explained simply, and I let out a small breath of awe as I touched the cool gold before looking to his face in disbelief.

"You didn't have to," I uttered quietly. I could tell, by the feel, it was actual gold, and the thought that he had spent any earnings on me made my heart squeeze tightly. He shook his head, his eyes taking in my expressions.

"I wanted to," he answered simply, and I smiled at his words before splaying out the jewelry. It resembled that of the Arabian hair cuffs from Earth.

"It's beautiful," I admitted honestly, and Kael smiled.

"Put it on," he instructed, and I let out a laugh, gesturing to my head.

"But I'm already wearing a diadem. Is it not pretty enough?" I teased, and Kael brushed a hand through his hair before standing back up.

"Very, but I didn't get it for you," he replied smoothly, his molten eyes warming me to the core. He extended his hand to me then, and I took it with a smile as he led me to a lit decorative mirror at the far end.

I stood in front of it, but my eyes were looking at Kael, who stood behind me. His hands reached toward my hair slowly, and I let out a small breath as they touched against the strands, almost gently. My heart thundered against my chest at his silent actions.

"Don't ruin my hair," I said, trying to sound playful, but it came out as a whisper instead. He nodded at this, his eyes looking to me.

"I couldn't ruin it even if I tried," he replied, making me feel bashful at the compliment. He moved the diadem delicately, as though I was a fragile sheet of glass.

He placed it down, and I lifted the chain to place it on my head. Kael shook his head at this, making me frown.

"Let me."

He didn't wait for an answer before taking the chain from my grasp, the warmth of his hands stroking against my own, making me still.

He smiled at this before placing the chain gently against my hair. The honey-colored crystal hung at the front of my hair parting, and I smiled at the beauty of it.

"It matches my dress," I commented with a small laugh, and Kael nodded at this, clipping it in place. I didn't give him a moment to respond before I let out a small sound at the beauty of the jewelry.

"I love it. Thank you," I voiced out cheerily, turning to look at his actual eyes, and he gazed at my form for a moment before nodding.

"It suits you. Don't thank me," he answered, and before I could answer, the sound of cheers from outside the tent began seeping through, making me frown. Kael spared a look behind his shoulder at this before turning to look at me.

"That's my cue to leave," he said vaguely with a small smile before leading me out, and I followed in intrigue. He gave a small goodbye before heading to a crowd of boys in the center, and I waved in response before heading in the other direction to where the girls were standing. It was Dendi who greeted me first, yanking me in by my arm with a giddy smile on her face.

"Finally! We were afraid you'd miss it!" she exclaimed, and I frowned at her words. She didn't give me enough time to respond as she began ushering us over toward the cheering crowd. I looked over to Ayla in question, but she weaved through the crowd along with the girls as we made our way to the front.

It was only when I was standing at the front that I saw what everyone was gathered around for. There, in the middle of the center, around twenty to twenty-five boys were standing in front of barrels. I could see Kael and Rhydian talking to each other, the barrels in front of them full to the brim with some odd liquid.

"It's booze. We've been holding this competition for over two centuries now," Jamila explained, and I nodded in awe, looking over to see that Abrax was slapping a hand against Arun's back in encouragement, who was too busy looking at the barrel cautiously.

"They have to drink all of it?" I asked curiously, eyeing the container in worry, and Dendi let out a laugh, clapping her hands enthusiastically.

"Well, they have to try!" she commented, making the others giggle, and I looked to the other boys who were partaking in the competition. Just as with the girls, the boys all sported the same brown hair and eyes, which was trademark for the Penta Province. The only one I could recognize was Seb, who was speaking to another boy next to him.

"That's Caius," Saf whispered to me, following my gaze, and I turned to her with a smirk.

"Oh? I guess I know who you're rooting for!" I teased, to which she blushed furiously, and Dendi rolled her eyes, nudging Saf's arm.

"Getting blinded by love makes you evade logic," she said simply, and I looked to Ayla, who waved at Abrax, who smiled in response, his dimples deepening.

Perhaps love did more than what Dendi thought.

Soon, the music changed pace and the crowd quieted down, us girls included. I let my eyes slip to the scene in front of me, watching intently as a small 'gong' of a bell went off and the villager boys hurriedly ducked and lifted their barrels before sipping away at the contents. Abrax, Kael, and Rhydian were notably much less panicked with their movements. They lifted it finally, and I noticed how they held it with more ease than the villagers. They were trained warriors in the midst of civilians; they didn't belong here.

I let out a giggle as my eyes slipped to Arun, who dipped a cup into the barrel before bringing it to his lips. He let out a wince at the bitter taste, and I recalled how he had told me how he didn't appreciate the taste. The girls joined in with the laughter when he retched slightly before dropping the cup into the barrel and stalking off. He was the first to give up without struggle, and I looked back to the drinking males, entranced by the pure show of testosterone. This was a display of male dominance, a custom of courting as it were, and I was enthralled by it all.

"Come on, Caius," Saf whispered, more so to herself, beside me, making me smile. Turning my gaze, I looked to him then as he drank along with Seb by his side. I'd say they were good, but then I'd let my eyes move over to the males I have come to know and would change my mind. Nothing could quite compare.

One by one, the male villagers were dropping out, not by choice, of course. When they looked a bit faint or dizzy, the village doctor would help escort them out. Some were too stubborn and chose to continue, and I grimaced slightly as they retched before they too were escorted away. Saf let out a small whimper as Caius dropped the barrel down before shaking his head with a smile and walking to the side, where he was handed a bottle of water by an elderly female. Seb soon followed, along with a few other males, and then only Abrax, Rhydian, and Kael were left.

There was cheering from the crowd as they clapped their hands to the music, watching the scene in front of them. I, on the other hand, watched in complete awe. They were a sight to behold, and judging from the looks of the villagers, I was not the only one who thought that.

"Abrax for the win; no one can quite compare to those brawny muscles!" Jamila urged out over the music, a twinkle in her eyes, and I looked tepidly over to Ayla, who was grumbling to herself slightly. Dendi shook her head furiously, the flowers nearly falling out of her hair.

"Are you kidding me? Rhydian is a full-on God; mere human beverages will not affect him!" she exclaimed loudly, her voice surprisingly carrying over the music, making me cringe. Saf nudged her slightly, her eyes still gazing to the center.

"But Kael has more strength and speed than the other two combined," she commented thoughtfully, and the girls nodded in agreement as I soothed Ayla with a hand against her arm.

The cheering got notably louder, and I turned to see the boys were holding the barrel at a 45-degree angle, with the contents nearly finished. They released it then, simultaneously, letting it drop to the ground, and the crowd erupted into cheers as Kael placed his arm around Abrax's and Rhydian's shoulders. They were laughing amongst themselves as the other boys came around them, hands clapping against their backs, and I smiled at the raucous display.

"Guess we were all right then," Dendi muttered, and I let out a laugh as the crowd dispersed and we walked back to dance. Ayla linked her hand through mine, and I nudged her with a smile.

"You didn't seem too pleased with Jamila's words about Abrax," I drawled, eyeing her expressions, to which Ayla notably dampened, a pout on her face.

"Because I wasn't. Besides, he's not even that muscular!" she squeaked out, her hands flailing as she spoke, making me giggle.

"Oh, yes, you're quite right," I mused, obviously lying. Abrax was built like a tree, and from the look Ayla was giving, she knew I was lying also. I rolled my eyes at her glare before gesturing behind to where we had departed from the crowd.

"You should go congratulate him on his win," I suggested, to which she sighed sadly, shaking her head.

"My presence won't matter all that much to him," she urged out, looking longingly to where he was, and I let my gaze slip to where he was standing with a few male villagers.

"Don't be silly, Ayla! Go and find out for yourself," I urged, ushering her over with a slight nudge, and gradually she relented. I smiled in encouragement as she made her way there before deciding to get some food from the tent, due to my eating being cut short when Kael had entered.

There, I ate to my heart's content, speaking to the other villagers in there. I had learned to get accustomed to the compliments they threw my way. After all, I was one of their honorary guests, and so this should have been expected. I felt that familiar warm feeling in my stomach as I ate amongst them that was absent when I was on Earth. I had little importance there, so much so that I don't even think anyone cared if I ate or not, a huge contrast to here where food was being shoved onto my plate. I took it thankfully, ignoring the lump of tears in my throat. After feeling satiated, I thanked them and made my way to the exit.

____________________________________________

A/N: Let me know all your thoughts in the comments! Like, subscribe and add to your library so you never miss an update!

See you in the next one!