Chapter 241 — When the Chief Stays Home

Chapter 242 — When the Chief Stays Home

Nia woke with Kael's arm around her waist.

That wasn't unusual. What caught her attention was the light coming through the entrance to the sleeping chamber.

It had been morning for some time.

She shifted beneath the covering and looked over her shoulder. Kael was awake, his head resting against the folded bedding.

“You're still here.”

“I am.”

Nia turned to face him.

“Is everything all right?”

“Yes. I arranged to have the morning free.”

She studied him. Kael usually rose early enough that she was lucky to catch him dressing, and sometimes his responsibilities drew him away before she woke.

“Since when?”

“Yesterday. Selvan has the western work, and Tarek is handling the crossing inspection. Neither needs me standing beside him.”

“You could have told me.”

“I wanted to be here when you woke.”

Nia's expression softened.

She moved closer and kissed him. Kael drew her against his chest, slipping a hand beneath the edge of her covering to rest against her back.

Nia had intended to thank him with a quick kiss. Instead, she stayed close, enjoying the warmth of his skin and the pleasure of waking slowly together.

When she lifted her head, Kael brushed a curl away from her face.

“Good morning,” she said.

“Good morning.”

She settled against him again.

From the main chamber came the sounds of Shen preparing breakfast. Nia heard him set a vessel on the table and adjust its covering.

A little later, he stopped outside the sleeping-room entrance.

“I've left breakfast covered,” he called. “I'll return after midday.”

“Thank you,” Nia answered.

“Enjoy your morning.”

His footsteps faded along the passage.

Nia looked up at Kael.

“Shen knew?”

“I told him when we discussed our work.”

“And he didn't say anything to me.”

“He wanted you to enjoy the surprise.”

She smiled.

“Well, I do.”

Kael drew the covering around them more securely.

They stayed in bed until Nia grew hungry enough to complain.

Shen had prepared watergrain with tender greens and pieces of meat, along with a little preserved fruit.

Nia served their breakfast while Kael brought the bowls to the table. The food was still warm beneath its covering.

She sat close enough for their knees to touch.

Outside, people were moving along the household paths. A woman called a greeting to someone passing the entrance, and the distant sound of a carrying frame scraping stone followed her voice.

Nia tasted the greens.

“Shen remembered I liked these yesterday.”

“He noticed you finished them first.”

“He notices far too much.”

Kael took another mouthful.

“He'd be difficult to surprise.”

“I'm beginning to think both of you are.”

Nia reached for a piece of preserved fruit and offered it to him. Kael accepted it from her fingers.

They ate without opening the work papers waiting at the far end of the table.

Nia told him about Sera's proposed gathering near the lower pond. Several women had expressed interest, but no one had settled on a day.

“I want to go with Ayari,” she said. “Sera thinks people will come even if there's nothing planned.”

“Would you enjoy that?”

“I think so. Sometimes I want to sit and talk without having to finish something before I leave.”

Kael nodded and reached for his water.

Nia looked toward the sunlight reaching the cave entrance.

“Would you like to go somewhere with me?”

“Where?”

“Somewhere pleasant. You can choose.”

Kael finished his food before answering.

“There's a terrace above the lower paths. We could sit there for a while.”

Nia smiled.

“Show me.”

The terrace lay above a quieter section of Hearthfang, where several household passages opened onto a broad stretch of sun-warmed stone.

Nia had walked near it before, but she'd never stopped there.

An older female sat sorting dried leaves beside a row of small pots. Two younger women were searching around her bench for a missing woven tray.

“I left it beside the wall,” one insisted.

“Then look beside the wall.”

“I already did.”

“You haven't looked behind the pots.”

Nia glanced back as they passed. One of the younger women crouched to peer behind the containers while the other waited with her arms folded.

Farther along, a female Nia recognized from Sera's gatherings called a greeting.

“Are you coming to the pond?”

“I hope so. We haven't chosen a day yet.”

“I heard someone might bring food.”

“That hasn't been decided either.”

The woman adjusted one of her small pots.

“I may take something anyway. My household has been drying more fruit than we'll eat before the next picking.”

Someone called from the neighboring entrance, and the woman turned to answer.

Nia and Kael continued along the terrace.

“She's been friendly every time I've met her,” Nia said.

“She seems to enjoy your company.”

“I like that people ask me to visit even when they don't need anything.”

Kael squeezed her hand.

At the far end of the terrace, the stone widened into a resting place overlooking the lower paths.

They sat where the sun reached them.

Below, a man carried a stack of woven trays toward the market. Two females spoke beside a water basin, and several children ran along the edge of a sheltered wall until an adult called them away from the busier path.

Nia leaned against Kael's shoulder.

“This is a lovely place.”

“I used to come here when I wanted quiet.”

“Do you still?”

“Not as often.”

She watched two carriers stop beneath them to adjust a load.

“Have you ever wanted to live somewhere people didn't know who you were?”

“Not really.”

“Even for a little while?”

Kael considered the question.

“I've wanted a day without interruptions. I haven't wanted to leave Hearthfang.”

Nia looked down at the people moving between the caves. Kael knew these households, their paths, and the places they depended on.

“Then I'm glad you brought me here.”

He moved his arm behind her, and she leaned comfortably against his chest.

For a time, they watched the settlement without speaking. A bird called from higher on the slope, and a group of carriers disappeared around a bend in the lower road.

Nia eventually turned toward him.

Kael met her kiss, one hand resting at her waist.

She lingered. His thumb moved against her side beneath the cloth of her clothing, and she shifted closer.

Footsteps approached along the passage behind them.

Two travelers passed near the terrace entrance, discussing where to unload their baskets.

Nia watched them go.

When she looked back, Kael was still waiting beside her.

“I'd like to go home,” she said.

He rose and offered her his hand.

They took the upper passage back toward their cave.

The cave felt cool after the sunlight.

Nia drank some water while Kael removed the outer layer he'd worn for the walk. He folded it across the end of the worktable.

She put down her cup.

“Kael.”

He turned.

She was standing near the sleeping-room entrance.

He crossed the room, took her hand, and followed her inside. Once they were through the doorway, he drew the inner curtain closed.

Kael turned toward her, but Nia never got the chance to say what she'd been thinking on the walk home.

He gathered her into his arms and kissed her.

She caught his shoulders, startled into a brief laugh before she returned the kiss. His hands settled firmly against her back, and she drew him closer.

He lifted his head.

“I've been wanting you since we sat on that terrace.”

“You could have said something.”

“You brought me home.”

Nia smiled.

“That was me saying something.”

The next kiss carried none of the restraint he'd shown outside. Nia held him close until her feet began to ache from reaching up toward him.

Kael shifted his stance and lifted her against him, supporting her as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

“I could have walked to the bed,” she said, laughing against his cheek.

“I know.”

He carried her the short distance anyway.

Nia was still smiling when he lowered her onto the bedding. Kael sat beside her, and she reached for the fastening at his shoulder. He helped her remove the garment, then took her hand before she could touch him again.

“Come here.”

She moved against him.

Kael leaned back against the pillows, bringing her with him until she lay across his chest. For a few moments, Nia simply looked at him. His hair was falling into his eyes, and he made no attempt to move it away.

Nia threaded her fingers through it.

Kael tipped his head into her hand.

She smiled and continued, working through the thick strands until he caught her wrist.

He kissed her palm and drew her hand down to rest against his chest.

Then he turned with her, settling beside her on the bedding.

Nia reached up to move his hair away from his eyes. Before she finished, Kael caught her hand again and pressed it against the pillow near her head.

She looked up at him.

He was smiling.

“Leave it.”

“Your hair?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I intend to ruin yours too.”

Nia laughed, but the sound softened when he bent toward her.

He kissed her slowly at first, giving her time to draw him closer. She could feel his breath against her cheek and his hand warm around hers.

Then she loosened her fingers and reached for him.

Kael released her hand immediately.

Nia slipped her arms around his neck, pulling him down until their bodies met comfortably. He shifted his weight to one side, and she caught the edge of the covering beneath her hip and pushed it away.

Neither of them spoke for a while.

The sunlight reached the edge of the bed. Somewhere outside, a voice called for someone along the household path. Nia heard it without trying to make out the words.

Kael drew back just far enough to look at her.

She brushed a lock of hair away from his forehead.

“You're being unusually quiet.”

“I've been occupied.”

He kissed her again, and Nia let the question go.

When she drew him closer, he followed without hesitation. His hand settled at her waist, and she moved beneath him until she found a comfortable place against the pillows.

Kael paused when she shifted.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes.”

She touched his cheek.

“Don't go so far away.”

He lowered himself beside her and drew her into his arms.

Nia rested against him for a while, feeling the warmth of his skin and listening to the sounds outside grow fainter beneath their own breathing.

Then Kael drew her across his lap.

She caught his shoulders in surprise.

“Kael! Warn me next time.”

He laughed but loosened his hold while she settled herself.

Nia gave him a look, then leaned forward and kissed him, her amusement fading as he returned it.

Kael's hand moved along her back. He drew her closer, and Nia rested her forehead against his for a moment.

“Kael.”

He looked at her.

“I love you.”

His expression softened.

“I love you too.”

She kissed him again, lingering until he wrapped both arms around her.

Kael drew the covering around them and rested his forehead against hers. For a little while they stayed close, exchanging quiet words and touches that had become familiar between them.

Then Nia laid her hand against his chest.

“I want you,” she whispered.

Kael caught her hand and kissed it before gathering her nearer.

“I know. I want you too.”

She smiled at him, and he lowered her gently onto the bedding.

The conversation ended there. Kael gave his attention to her, and she answered him freely, drawing him close whenever she wanted more of his affection. They made love in the privacy of their sleeping chamber, taking time with one another rather than rushing toward the end of their morning together.

Later, Nia lay against Kael's chest with her hair thoroughly disordered.

She had one leg resting over his, and his arm lay comfortably around her waist.

Kael was awake. She could tell from the movement of his fingers against her back.

Nia reached up and pushed his hair away from his face.

It was in no better condition than hers.

She smiled.

“You kept your promise.”

He turned his head toward her.

“Which one?”

“My hair.”

Kael looked at the curls scattered over his shoulder and across the pillow.

“I did.”

“You seem pleased with yourself.”

“I am.”

Nia laughed quietly and rested her cheek against him.

She hadn't expected to fall asleep, but the warmth of the bedding and the steady rise of his chest made it increasingly difficult to keep her eyes open.

Kael drew the covering higher over her shoulder.

Nia caught his hand and held it against her chest.

“Did you enjoy the morning?” she murmured.

“Very much.”

“Good.”

She closed her eyes.

When she woke again, she heard movement in the main chamber.

Shen had returned from the care station.

Nia lay still, listening as he set down his medicine pouch and washed his hands. A vessel touched the hearth, followed by the sound of its cover being removed.

A little later, Shen stopped outside the sleeping-room entrance.

“I brought something for lunch. Would you like me to warm it?”

“Yes, please,” Nia called.

“All right.”

His footsteps moved away.

Nia lifted her head.

Kael was watching her.

“You're awake,” she said.

“I am.”

She smiled.

“I'm beginning to like finding you here.”

He tucked a curl away from her face.

“I hoped you would.”

Nia started to sit up when the smell of warming food reached the chamber, but Kael drew her back against him.

“Stay a little longer.”

“Shen is making lunch.”

“He'll call us.”

She settled beside him again.

From the main chamber came the quiet sounds of Shen working at the hearth. Nia rested her cheek against Kael's shoulder, and he held her until her hunger finally persuaded her to get up.