Stargazer

Chapter 3

“We can find somewhere in peace and have a drink.” Pierce had always been a competitive jerk with me in training every day, but I couldn’t deny that maybe there was another side of him I just didn’t know about. So I smiled back and nodded in agreement.

We went outside where rows and rows of tents were pitched, ropes pulled taught, and staked into the ground. This was where we all lived, each of us claiming a heavy canvas tent to call our own. They were small, but I loved my tent; having a place of my own and being part of the outdoors was crucial for me. Some of the tents were larger and served other purposes such as training out of the sun, and where the younger and older kids bunked together in their age groups. It wasn’t until you became a teenager that you would get a tent of your own, and it was a memorable moment at the Assassin Academy for all kids; I recalled dreaming of my tent for years before earning one.

Pierce and I walked together, through the line of tents, the ground being more solid and grassy than where we competed in the trials. His silhouette towered mine, and as we continued walking, we reminisced about the trials earlier that day and laughed about that damned ribbon we both had missed. “And don’t forget about that cursed tree set on ending our lives,” I added, laughing as well.

We walked to the river not far from the tents where a little oasis lay of trees and long grasses. The sun was nearly set and the temperature was comfortable with a slight breeze, getting cooler now, and feeling refreshing on my face. Pierce found a grouping of large rocks and sat on the ground, nestling his back onto the boulders. He patted the ground next to him and I sat as he poured us drinks of bright gold from the jar. “What is it?” I asked cautiously.

“I was given a jar of Mead from Elder Thomas from his personal supply. It’s non-alcoholic, but I hear it’s a delicacy...and a pain to make,” He laughed. I sniffed my cup and the aromas impaled my senses of citrus, honey and spices. I took a sip of the heavenly drink and closed my eyes as it dripped down my throat, the ginger leaving a nice little burn. I let out a sigh.

“Good, huh?” I opened my eyes and found Pierce to be staring at me, a funny look on his face. He actually looked sweet for once, not the rogue competitor I was used to every day. Some of his blond curls escaped his leather tie-back in the wind, and batted around his ears. He was, simply, a beautiful young man. His eyes reflected the gray of the approaching night sky.

“You know, Solé, I’ve been meaning to say something. Even though you may have not been sworn in today, I really, truly, see you as one of the best,” he explained as he leaned into me.

“Really? You truly mean that?” I found myself fidgeting with one of my braids.

“Yes, and I’m honored to have competed with you,” he placed his fingers delicately below my chin, the dark-gray water of his eyes lulling me. “I wouldn’t have wanted it to be anyone else.” I decided I could be happy for him now; I was no longer upset and jealous at that minute.

We were both hyper-aware of each other in that moment and both leaned in, our lips delicately meeting. A spark of heat met with our mouths, and I loved the taste of his lips in mine, coated in the citrus and honey of the mead. After a few moments, his hand moved to the back of my neck, and I could feel the lust of him wanting more of me, pulling me into him. The heat turned into a raging fire and suddenly, our lips hungrily joined as our breaths began to quiver and our bodies collapsed together down on the grass, his legs entangled in mine. As if out of weakness, my brain shut off and I didn’t feel aware of what was happening. For the first time in forever, I didn’t care.

Our hands became out of control as they began to linger on each other, my palms stroking his muscles peeking through the tunic cut, and his on my bare chest as his rough fingers roamed up beneath my tunic and delicately touched my curves; I had no need to be wearing a wrap, and I was happy it hadn’t gotten in the way. I began melting under his touch and wondered what this was leading to. Wondered if I knew the real Pierce enough to trust him. But a part of me, the animal part, just wanted and had no thought in it. Then Pierce released my lips and looked at me desperately and sincerely. “Maybe, since you and I won’t be in competition anymore, we could...try another kind of...lifestyle together.”

“Hmmm...intriguing,” I teased. “Tell me more. What is this other kind of 'lifestyle' you are referring to?”

He smiled, his dimple popping in at one side, “I just mean, since it’s finally settled that I’m better than you and all, you could give it a rest now, and we could try something more physical together.” His hands roamed downward to my navel and attempted to pass before I stopped him with a firm grip.

“What do you mean, ‘better than me?’” The burning desire inside began to morph into another kind of burn.

“Cause I won, I beat you and all, and became an Assassin first! It’s settled, all right?” I pushed him completely away and stood up flipping my braids in anger.

“No, not ‘all right!’ I would’ve beat you had I not outrun you! Let me make this clear!” I was shouting now. “I was faster, that is why you won! There was nothing you did better than me! The fact that you won that trial was luck, and you know it!” I couldn’t stand being around his ego any longer. Stealing the jar of the remaining mead, I walked back up the path to our camp, with his voice in the background.

“Wait, Solé! I didn’t mean that exactly. Come back and we can talk!” I enjoyed hearing his whiny voice fade into the distance.

I found Jasmine in our usual spot. Near the base of the camp, in an outcropping of trees, we often climbed up a few with large, low hanging branches and sat watching the stars. There she was sitting on a branch, letting her feet dangle, her face intense in dreamy thought. She suddenly noticed me standing below. The dark night finally had taken over, making me just a black shadow.

“I brought a peace offering!” I called up to her and held up the jug. She pretended to not notice me and looked back up to the sky, now sorrowfully. “Look, Jasmine, I was going to tell you about the retrial. I just didn’t want to bring it up yet. I know we have to figure out your problem first, and that’s where my priority lies.” She looked at me, calculating what to say so I continued. “I’ll probably fail the next trial too, anyway, if it makes you feel any better.” She let out a little laugh and I could tell she wouldn’t stay mad at me.

“Get up here,” she finally relented, smiling and beckoning with her hand. “And bring that drink with you, whatever it is.” I threw the jug in my hood and began climbing.

“It’s liquid gold, collected straight from heaven!” I yelled.

When I got to her, she looked utterly confused until I handed her the jug and she took a swig. Her eyes got wide as she happily tasted the sweet Mead. “You don’t say!” She chuckled, and handed the jug back to me for a turn. “I don’t know what to do, Sol, there’s no solution. When I get up high, it’s like, something else takes hold of me, possesses me. I have no say or control anymore, just pure and utter terror.” The mead still tasted like the best thing I’d ever had, but now a touch bitter with the association of hearing the pain in Jasmine’s voice. It broke my heart.

“Have you tried telling anyone? Maybe a Master or Lead could help you?” I mused.

“Nah, no one can help me, and you better not say a word to anyone!” her finger threatened me.

“Yes, yes, I promise. I won’t tell anyone until you want me to. But, I think you need to come to terms with eventually telling someone that can help,” I wrapped my arm around her in a squeeze and passed the jug back. “And whenever that time comes, I promise, I’ll be right there with you.” She returned her arm over me and took a swig.

She sighed and after a moment of silence asked, “Where’d you get this stuff, anyhow?”

I laughed and told her about the heated moment with Pierce.

“Pierce!? Pierce of all people? You pick a jerk to make out with!?”

“He was very convincingly ‘not a jerk’ at the time. But he just couldn’t help opening his big mouth and becoming one again.” Her face grew sad for me then.

“I’m sorry, Sol, that sucks.” and we both sat in silence for a while looking at the stars.

My favorite thing was our stargazing ritual. I could find the basic constellations, like Galadriel and Piksopsis that helped identify where we were, which season we were in, and which direction to go. But the stars were more than that to me. They spoke to me, and I could hear them giving their advice.

“What do the stars say tonight, Solé?” Jasmine asked, hopeful.

“The planets, Orwitar and Markotar are in line giving light to the constellation, Scorthion, who changed from a scorpion to a man. It means that big changes will soon be coming,” I let out a sigh. “And with them, a scorpion who will sting someone in the back.”