Rise (War Witch Book 1) (9 page)

"But," he started.

"Do as your mother says, son," Diem bellowed. "Shut up!"

The young man sunk deeper into his corner. The warrior really wanted to join him.

Kate smoothed her hair back, trying to bring her tone down to conversational. "If our daughter had someone she was interested in, I would, of course, let her be with him. But she doesn't, Diem. She has her head full of fantasies. It has to stop. She has an obligation to this family, and this town."

"Maybe she just hasn't met the person she wants to settle down with," Diem said, also trying not to yell as he grasped his wife’s shoulders. "Pushing her into marriage is only going to make her bitter and resentful. Give her time to find her own heart. Why are you forcing this now?"

Kate chewed her lip for a moment. "There were Demon Seed, less than a day from here, Diem," she said at last. "Who knows what could happen next? She may never get the chance to fall in love like we did. Worse, the way she's acting now, she might try to run off and get herself killed by Gods know what. I won't let that happen."

"There are some things in this life you cannot control, my love," he said, suddenly understanding her motives. "Children are one of them. You must let her live her life, and be true to her own heart."

Kate looked for a moment as if she might weep, but it faded quickly, replaced with a steely resolve. "No. I'm sorry, Diem, but no. She's going to marry Hale. The sooner, the better. It's settled, and I'll not talk of it again. She needs a man in her life, and he's the best she’s going find."

"No," Chara raged. "I won't, and you can't make me!"

"Chara, let me deal with this," Diem warned.

"To the Hells with that," Chara barked. "I don't need a man! I don't want a man! Maybe, Mom, I like fucking girls!"

Silence fell over the common room. Diem and Kate stared at her in shock. Lucy stared at her in horror. The patrons stared in confusion. The warrior stared in amazement.

Daniel stared in appreciation. The warrior decided she would have to punch him for that later.

Chara's face slowly changed from anger to shock at what she’d said, to terror at what her parents now knew about her. Clenching her fists at her side, the young woman glared at the floor for a long moment, and then looked back up, an expression of defiance and determination settling in.

The warrior found herself smiling at that. The woman, for she was no girl, had some fire to her after all. She couldn't help but like her more for it.

After what felt like an eternity of silence, Kate finally found her voice, asking in bewilderment, "Why would you want to do something like that?"

"That's your first question?" Daniel blurted. "Cause it's awesome, obviously."

The look his parents gave him sent him sinking back into the corner, mumbling apologies. The warrior felt for him a little. Maybe she wouldn't punch him too hard.

"Chara," Kate finally managed. "I don't know why you would want to hurt me like this, when all I'm doing is trying to look out for your best interests."

"I'm not saying it to hurt you, Mom," Chara replied, voice tight and strained. "I mean it."

Kate gave a weary sigh. "No, you don't."

"Really?" her daughter asked with an edge of anger. "Fine. I'll prove it."

Before anyone could react, she turned, grabbed Lucy, and kissed her so deeply and passionately, the other woman turned to mush in her arms. Even when she let her go and faced her parents again, defiance burning bright in her eyes, Lucy simply swayed and smiled.

"I think that's about enough of that," Kate warned, voice thick with rage. "Go to your room and stay there until I say you can come out."

"No," Chara shot back. "I won't. It's time you knew the truth about me, and what I want from life."

"I am not going to listen to another word of this," Kate snapped out, tone sharp and clipped. "Do as you are told."

"Make me," Chara challenged.

Despite her better judgment, the warrior realized she needed to intervene. She wasn’t simply a fighter, but a Cleric as well, and the rift in this family she’d come to care for was more than she could stand. Moving quickly, she stood by Chara, resting a hand on her shoulder and offering Kate a gentle smile.

"You," the woman said in a long, low growl. "You stay out of this."

The warrior held up a hand, trying to placate the mother before touching her fingers to the mark on her forehead and gesturing to both Chara and Lucy.

"I want you out of my inn, this instant," Kate told her. "Pack your things, and be gone. Now."

"Kate, wait," Diem said, trying to stay calm. "She's right. The Gods have always taught that love is love. If this is Chara's heart, we've no right to stand against it."

Kate turned on him in shock. "Don't lecture me. Our daughter will have a husband, and a family. It's our way, and it has been since the dawn of time. As her parents, we have every right to stand against it. This... whatever it is, is just her way of trying to punish me for not letting her run off and act as a tramp!"

"And what if it’s how she really feels?" Diem asked.

Kate's face hardened. "It isn't. Enough of this. Chara, go upstairs, or so help me, I will drag you there and lock you in your room until your wedding day. As for you, warrior priestess, you’re no longer welcome here. Now, get out."

With that, Kate spun on her heel and stormed into the kitchen, slamming the door behind her. The warrior's face fell as she realized she had failed. With a scream, Chara pulled free of her and raced upstairs, the slamming of the door echoing down, making the patrons flinch.

"Well," Diem said after a bit. "That went well."

Night was falling when the soft knock came at Chara's door. She’d cried until she felt certain she had no tears left, but still, her heart ached and her pride was demolished, leaving her in no mood for anyone's company. She ignored it at first, but it came again, forcing her to lift her head from her pillow.

"Go away," she called. "Leave me alone."

Her door opened slowly, admitting her brother, who gave her a soft, sad smile. "Sorry, sis. No can do."

Chara groaned and fell back on her bed. "Come to make fun of me?"

She cringed slightly as Daniel sat on the foot of her bed. "No. Thought about it, but no."

"Then what do you want?" she asked, voice muffled as she buried her face in her pillow.

To her surprise, he said nothing at first, and simply sat there quietly. When he did speak, it was with a calm tone, his words measured and careful. "I think it's good that you told Mom and Dad what you want for yourself. It's about time, really. For so long now, you've been miserable and unhappy. I didn't know why, or what to do about it, but I saw it. Maybe now, with this, you'll be able to be happy again."

Chara looked up at him in surprise, trying to find any deception in his voice, or face. Seeing nothing but a kind smile, she hesitantly asked, "Do you mean that?"

"Of course I mean it," he chuckled. "You're my sister. Why wouldn't I want you to be happy?"

"Because you’re an asshole," she replied.

He nodded. "Yeah, well, that's true, but not when it comes to you being happy. I think you should do whatever it takes to be that. You deserve it."

"Okay," she said slowly. "Who are you and what have you done with my brother?"

He laughed at that, nodding slightly. "I know. I'm not always the most supportive person."

"When I wanted to learn how to fish, you took me down to the stream, and pushed me in," she countered dryly.

Daniel rubbed the back of his head, blushing slightly. "Yeah..."

"You told me to catch them in my mouth," she added.

"I remember," he mumbled, looking anywhere but at her.

"Like a dog," she finished.

"Okay, so I'm usually crap at being a good brother," he admitted. "At least to your face."

Chara arched an eyebrow. "And you've been so wonderful behind my back?"

"Pretty much, I think, yeah," he told her with a smile.

"Uh huh," she intoned, moving to sit, crossing her legs in front of her and resting the pillow on them. "So, that time you told Wally that I ate frogs, what was that?"

"Give me a break," he exclaimed. "I was ten and you were eight!"

"And Wally was cute!" she shot back.

"So, you do think guys are cute," he quipped with a sly grin.

Chara felt her face flush. "Sometimes. Depends on the boy. Girls are better, though."

"I cannot argue that," he chuckled. "Have you slept with any?"

"Like I'd tell you," she said hotly.

He shrugged. "Just thought we could compare notes. No need to get all wound up."

Giving a short laugh of outrage, she hit him with the pillow. "You’re a cad!"

He laughed as he wrestled the pillow away and tossed it at her head. Catching it, she found herself smiling and returned it to her lap, settling into it. "Just Lucy."

He nodded slowly. "I figured as much. She was always as much a tomboy as you. You two look good together, though, so that's great."

"You think so?" she asked, looking up at him with uncertainty.

"I do, yeah," he said, ruffling her hair. "I figure old John Kal will hit the roof, but you should go after what makes you happy. I've got your back with Mom and Dad, so don't worry over that, okay?"

Feeling tears start to form, she sat up and hugged him tight. "Thank you, Daniel."

"For what?" he asked, hugging her back.

"Being the best brother in this world, and every other," she said, sniffling against him.

"I really am, aren't I?” he joked.

"Don't ruin it," she warned, wiping her eyes.

He shook his head. "I'm not. Remember a couple months ago, when you came back from Adel and my eye was all busted up."

Chara thought about it for a moment. "Yeah. You said you fell off a horse. Why?"

"Tommy said he was going to follow you when you headed for Adel and get you to have sex with him," Daniel shrugged. "He said you were easy. So, I busted his jaw."

Chara smiled slightly. "No you didn't."

"Sure did," he grinned. "And I'd do it again."

Feeling ashamed of herself, she shrunk down, asking, "What if it was true? What if it turned out I was easy?"

"Then I'd bust him twice as hard," Daniel said, resting a hand on her head. "Just for thinking you were easy enough for his ugly, stupid ass."

Smiling and crying, she leaned into him and let him hold her. Somehow, he’d found a way to make things seem less gloomy, less bleak and hopeless. She was grateful, and for the first time in a long time, felt like she maybe did deserve better.

"So, let me ask," Diem said as he eased down on the steps of the porch, offering the warrior a stiff drink. "What do you think of all this?"

She shrugged slightly, staring up at the stars. After a moment, she patted her chest, over her heart and then grew annoyed when she couldn't figure out how to communicate the rest of her thought.

"Love is love," he grunted. "I happen to agree with that. The customs of Fival, though, they’re rooted so far back in antiquity, they were probably around before Cynthanis was born."

The warrior waved that off morosely.

"No arguing that," Diem agreed, taking a long drink of whiskey. "What about you? Have you ever... you know... with another woman?"

She nodded absently, drawing a surprised look from him.

"So, you prefer them to men, then?"

She shook her head, only half listening.

"Oh," he nodded slowly. "One's as good as the other. I see."

Sitting her drink down, the warrior rested her elbows on her knees and rubbed her temples. This wasn't what she’d returned to the Middle World for, and while it wasn't really her concern, she felt an obligation to return the kindness Diem and most of his family had shown her. She knew she couldn't leave until this was settled. She just couldn't think of where to start.

"Don't worry yourself over it, friend," Diem told her. "Chara, she's always been like this. If you tell her to go right, she'll go left or die, even if it means taking a tumble down a hill. She's willful, headstrong, and while in a lot of ways I'm glad she knows her own mind and isn't afraid to follow her own heart, sometimes it causes her more pain than simply doing what others ask of her."