Rider King part 26

When we reach his tent, he places me on his bed and goes outside to toss some orders to his men.

I’m grateful for the moment of privacy. Embarrassment for my breakdown settles in. I can’t believe I lost my mind for a pain that wasn’t even there. My hand refuses to leave my knee. I cradle it, hating it but wanting to protect it all at once.

I close my eyes and try to calm my racing heart.

It’s raining hard now, but Dramon doesn’t return. I stare at the entrance with hooded eyes and give into sleep. I only wake up when I feel a painful tug in my lower abdomen— the telltale sign that my menstrual cycle is returning already.

It usually isn’t so bad. I’d be fine after the first day, but the inconvenience gives me yet another reason to envy Dramon’s race since they don’t experience it.

My knee aches along with my belly, so I open my eyes and sit up. I instantly freeze.

Dramon is sprawled out on the dirt with his head on pebbles and his arms lying awkwardly beside him. He’s asleep, although I’m not sure how he managed that on the cruel, moist ground.

I grab my cane that’s propped beside the bedroll, and I stand. My efforts to be stealthy are worthless because he jolts up.

“Uh, hi.”

He stands, looking as firm as ever. “Are you…”

“I’m fine,” I blurt, not wanting to talk about what happened last night. “How is the storm?” I walk to the entrance and peek outside. The rain still falls obnoxiously hard.

“The beasts are uneasy. They dislike all this water.”

I nod. “So will we just wait for it to pass?”

“Yes.”

I try to look through the haziness of the rain. My tent is probably up, but Dramon hasn’t mentioned it because he wants to keep me around for as long as possible. He’s strategizing how to win me over.

“It was raining when I met you.”

I look away from the rain and to the storm that’s inside the tent. He’s calm, standing in the middle of the tent with mud clinging to his unchanged bandages.

“What?” I reply. I have no idea when I first met Dramon. I have been his acquaintance for nearly six years.

“You were seventeen,” he says. “Traveling between Clans until you crossed mine. I was in Jemma’s Clan when I was younger. She and her husband led it.”

“Jema was a Rider Queen?”

“Yes, until her King was defeated.”

“By…” I swallow. “By you?”

“By another male. A cruel one. He only lasted three months until I challenged him and took over.”

Until this time, I never knew about his rise to power. I’m not surprised to hear that Jema had been the previous Queen. She is a warm woman.

“It was raining that day,” he repeats. “And you were cussing a man out. I could hear your voice over the thunder, although you were the size of a raindrop. Tiny from starvation.”

I don’t remember the man I cussed out or why, and I don’t remember a younger Dramon.

“That was  the first day I took an interest in you.”

My belly aches, but I’m not sure if it’s from my period or his words.

“You should sleep more,” he takes a step forward. “I will look over some things and help you with your exercises in the afternoon.”

I hear him talking about the Clan, and I, but I hear nothing about him.

“Your bandages. You need to change them and coat those cuts with fresh medicine.”

“I will,” he says, but I doubt he’ll listen.

He steps into the rain to start his day, and I have nothing to do but sit and make sure my knee wasn’t damaged too badly. Someone brings me breakfast and assures Treysa was fed.

As I eat, I realize that I’ll need medicine to deal with my cramps. Groaning, I step into the rain and look for the healer. Hushed voices come from his tent, and a light burns low inside.

“I said to save it for her,” Dramon grits.

“My King, if you do not apply this, then a rot will set in.”

“Then we will cut whatever flesh is infected. Bring this medicine to her.”

He must be talking about me. I’m the only female in the camp. Somehow, Dramon found out that my cycle is coming. Did he hear me groaning in my sleep?

The fool! He needs this medicine more than I do.

“Take it for yourself,” I speak from the outside. “Do not try to get yourself killed.”

Dramon ducks outside. “I will not use it, and that is final.”

“Dramon, don’t start clashing heads with me. Just listen this once.”

He opens his mouth to protest, so I turn and leave him behind. I won’t let him maim himself to spare me a few hours of discomfort.

I return to his tent, forgetting about mine, and begin rubbing my lower belly. I take deep breaths and focus on relaxing. The gentle meditation sends me to sleep, but the discomfort pulls me back soon later.

Oddly, I notice the men haven’t been very vocal today. They usually talk as they walk through the camp, but today there has been nothing. What’s going on?

Choosing the distraction over dealing with cramps, I stand and peek my head out. Three men speak in hush voices.

“Hey,” I wave them down.

I can’t see their expression through the rain, but they freeze like they were caught doing something wrong.

“What is happening?”

“What do you… mean?”

“Come on, let it loose.”

Did they think I slept with Dramon last night? That we're back together?

There’s a long pause. “Well?” I push.

“My Queen… a Rider was spotted today. We recognized their beast.”

“Who is it?” I ask.

“I— um… it is Salina, my Queen.”

It feels like the tent falls on me a second time. Instead of staggering, I clear my throat.

”Thank you for telling me.”

I return inside and count. For how many days has she been tailing us? And what does she want?

A new set of cramps roll in. I squirm on the bedroll. I haven’t bled yet, but it’s coming. I hate that Salina is crawling back, and I hate that there’s no medicine for the discomfort inside me.

I remain alone until nightfall, when Dramon makes a comeback with fresh bandages. He scans me from head to toe and sees right through my calm face.

“You lied to me. You are not well and your condition worsens.” He looks upset, and he reaches to tug at a bandage as if regretting using it.

“I have survived this before. Did you hear? Salina is coming for you.”

“I will push her away,” he declares and b-lines for me. His hand touches my forehead. “No fever. Does this mean the Seer has left you alone?”

“You will push Salina away?”

“This is about you,” Dramon counters. “Salina does not have a place here any longer.”

I study his eyes, looking for any uncertainty. I will not deal with his indecisiveness a second time. He stares back at me with confidence.

“Yes. I think the Seer is done with her tests,” I finally answer.

“Then you are in your right mind?”

I frown. “Well, I’m not throwing myself at you, so I think I am.”

He dips his chin. “I may have a way to help you.”

“Did the healer find more medicine?”

“No. I was thinking of a massage.”

I shake my head and touch my belly. “Thank you, but I know how to massage myself. I know which techniques work better.”

With a blank face, he replies, “I was not speaking of massaging you with my fingers. I was going to use my tongue.”