Chapter 162

Hydrangea helped Bastian to stand, he could, but he was still quite sore and tired.

"Hydrangea, these ceremonies are not pleasant."

She met his eyes, "How so?"

He walked to the door slowly and she followed, a poncho on her shoulders to block the rain. He was wearing a poncho much fancier than hers and more similar to the one that the Tlataoni had worn. She smiled at how it looked much better on Bastian. She blinked when he answered her.

"You know that the Sun Followers are known as the most bloodthirsty people in the world?" He asked and she nodded. "They are known for that because of their human sacrifices."

"Oh, dear…" She breathed. She had heard of these human sacrifices but had simply thought them to be stories, told to make people fear the Sun Followers.

"I'll be with you the entire time, you will not have to watch." He said and she took his hand, his words calmed her ever-so-slightly.

"Why do they sacrifice people?" She asked as they walked out of their room.

"As worship to their Sun."

"That does not make sense. Why sacrifice a person to anyone's son?" She replied, her face aghast as she stared at him in horror.

He tilted his head and she saw laughter slip into his eyes. Her mouth parted open and he began to laugh. She let out a breathy giggle of her own as she watched her husband clutching his stomach in laughter. The corners of his eyes crinkled in a way that made her heart melt.

But she stopped herself from getting lost in the appealingness of her husband and frowned. "I don't see anything funny about it."

He took a few large breaths to calm his laughter, "And that is what makes you so special, my flower." She blushed at his nickname. He smiled as he stopped laughing, his eyes still crinkling and his lips still pulled up in a way she didn't get to see very often.

He cleared his throat and looked away into the rain.

They'd stopped in the doorway of their room which was open to a courtyard that ran down the centre of the house. The bricks on the ground were the same as anywhere else in the Cidaje; covered in a thin layer of slick mud. Grass and weeds were tucked into the corners of the bricks and clay walls of the house.

"But back to your question." He said and she watched him patiently, "They do not sacrifice to, or for anyone's son, but to the Sun. The one in the sky."

"Like Timir-mask?" She asked impulsively.

She saw a sudden strain to his eyes and smile which he quickly hid, "Very similar. Yes."

Ahuic entered the courtyard from the front entrance, "Come. Your liteira is ready."

Bastian and Hydrangea shared a look. Neither of them knew what a "liteira" was, but they stepped out into the rain and towards the entrance.

Hydrangea smiled when they exited the house and pointed out the beautiful, luscious blooms that adorned the steps that wrapped around their residence.

"They're very beautiful." He whispered into her ear and her breath hitched, "But I still prefer my flower to any of them."

She looked up at him with wide eyes. She'd never overly enjoyed his use of the name "Flower" before, but the way he said it now. Not mockingly, but possessively. It made her skin burn and her heart race.

She swallowed and hesitantly grabbed his hand because he hadn't grabbed hers yet. She didn't look up at him because… she wasn't quite sure what she would do. She might try to kiss him again, or blush which always had a degree of humiliation to it, or she might freeze at the way his eyes might hold her.

She knew all three of those possibilities were very possible, so she didn't look at him.

They reached the last step and Ahuic parted the curtain open to a litter. The box that was draped with curtains was being lifted up by four strong men with wooden collars around their necks. She frowned at the long cuts along their backs, some still fresh.

"Your liteira, Queen Hydrangea." The woman said. Hydrangea had learned since coming there that Ahuic was the Tlataoni's sister. Hydrangea could see some resemblance, but they did not treat the other as a sibling. In fact, he treated her like a servant.

"Thank you." She replied and climbed into the litter with Bastian's help. He climbed up after her and she snuggled next to him in the small contained space.

The rain pattered on the roof of the litter as they were lifted and moved down the street. She didn't like this. It felt wrong. She could use her own two feet and spare these men the pains of carrying them to wherever the sacrifice was to be held.

Her stomach churned as she recalled where they were going.

She glanced up at Bastian and decided that him walking for long distances was not the wisest of options.

"Bastian…" She started and he hummed, signalling he'd heard her. "The Tlatoani mentioned he knew you when you were younger."

"Hm, yes. I visited Selva after returning from Viskogorny. I don't recall much from the visit, but I recall that the fighting with the Jungle Followers was more pressing and that I attended a sacrifice."

"You did?"

"Yes." He answered. His eyes took on a vague expression as he recalled the memory. He hastily turned to her with a worried look in his eyes, "Don't feel that you have to watch, Hydrangea. Just keep your eyes on me and on nothing else."

She couldn't help but blush at his words but her face remained solemn, "What was it like?" Her brow creased as she watched his eyes darken.

He was silent for a long while till he spoke, and when he did he sounded distant, "I was half-drunk and half-intoxicated with piziet… but I remember blood and screams. I was young and did not quite realize what was happening until it was too late."

Her hand unconsciously moved to touch his shoulder as she watched his eyes with concern.

His face abruptly changed to a smile and he looked back to her, "But it was a long time ago."

"Bastian…" She breathed, knowing that he was not alright. The past clearly still haunted him.

"It's fine, Hydrangea. Just keep your eyes on me and focus on nothing else. If it gets to be too much, tell me and I'll protect you."

She smiled a small smile and said in a hushed voice, "Well, keeping my eyes on you shouldn't be too difficult."

He opened his mouth with a stunned smile, "Hah! I never thought I'd hear such words out of my wife's mouth."

She giggled and hid her blushing face in his arm. With her voice muffled she replied, "And I'll never do it again."

He laughed again, "But I rather enjoy hearing such things from your lips."

She smiled with her face still hidden. She couldn't believe that she'd said something like that. She felt so bubbly and strange. But his reaction was enough to encourage her to say more things like that.