Godblind by Anna Stephens

Author:Anna Stephens [Anna Stephens]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2017-05-03T04:00:00+00:00

TARA

First moon, eighteenth year of the reign of King Rastoth

Shingle, the River Gil, Wheat Lands

‘Let me get this straight. You’re scared of the man who stood for you at your cleansing and spoke the words of protection and family because you found out he’s crooked? You know how many people speak words of family at a stranger’s cleansing? You should be honoured.’

Crys’s face was hot. ‘You don’t understand,’ he hissed, peering over Tara’s shoulder to where Ash sat at the tiller, guiding the boat past Shingle’s harbour. He gave a gaggle of children on the dock a friendly wave. ‘He kissed me!’

‘He kissed you on the brow, you idiot. Happens at every cleansing. He didn’t stick his tongue in your mouth.’

Crys grimaced. ‘Don’t.’

Tara laughed. ‘You men are so terrified of having your masculinity called into question. Here was I thinking you’d resent me accompanying you because I’ve got tits, and it turns out the man who likes other men is your concern.’

Crys crossed his arms over his chest.

‘Look, d’you want me to talk to him?’ Tara tried. Though gods know what I’m going to say. Crys is an idiot, most likely.

‘What? No. There’s nothing to talk about. I just don’t want him getting any … ideas.’

Tara put her head on one side. ‘You know how you feel right now?’ she asked in a low, intense voice. Crys shrugged. ‘Well, that’s how most women feel on a daily basis around soldiers and rich men and strangers and even friends. Afraid of being attacked, or being raped. Every day. Try and remember that.’

She walked aft before he could reply and sat on the rail by the tiller. Crys looked back, at her and at Ash, and then away again. It’d been like this ever since they’d set out. Crys had taken Ash out drinking as a thank you for the cleansing, and he’d learnt his new friend was something unexpected. He’d been like a cat around a sleeping dog ever since.

‘He still angry?’ Ash asked. There was no shame in his blue eyes and Tara admired that. Ash knew who he was and embraced it.

‘I think so. He’s probably met dozens of crooked-backs in the Ranks, you know, but he just doesn’t know it.’

‘Please don’t call us that,’ Ash said without looking at her and Tara felt a blush creep into her face.

‘Sorry. I think he’s worried it’s catching.’

Ash snorted. ‘Most men are. Gods, it’s like they think we automatically fancy any man we’re fewer than ten strides from. We’re attracted to certain types in the same way they are. But put one of them in a room with one of us, and they think all we want to do is fuck ’em. Crys wouldn’t rape a woman he was attracted to, but he thinks I’d rape him.’

Tara squinted in a sudden gust of wind. ‘I don’t think he thinks you’d do that. Honestly, I don’t know what he thinks. Besides, you do fancy him, don’t you?’ she added.

Ash tongued at a shred of meat stuck in his back tooth and spat it over the rail.

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