18

Liga felt powerful as she ordered people about the kitchens. She felt even more powerful when Otreg returned and began making him work too. He followed every order without complaint or humor. He was as serious as she was. He was as determined as she was. And because she had slept most of the day away, she worked through the night with him. He didn't seem to mind until she began to drift off. She only realixed he had carried her to bed later the next morning, when she found herself in her chambers, on a soft bed.

She thanked Otreg when she saw him. When she was a slave, she usually had to work nonstop just to get everything finished. It was exhausting and when she was late, she was punished. Liga knew her life would be different in Korgenyegia, knew she didn't need to work herself to death, but it was habit. She suspected Otreg would keep her from doing too much, as well as the other occupants of the castle.

Now, as she walked around the kitchen checking her friends' work and giving advice, Liga found herself being hugged by Niome who was giddy with joy and excitement. "What is going on?" she asked, chuckling at her friend's delight.

"Mevut has thrown fire!"

"Noime, that's wonderful!" Liga gushed. Ever since they had escaped from Edgar and the others, Noime was worried about her cub, Mevut not being able to defend himself properly. The other cubs could throw fire and were large and strong, however Mevut was like the runt of the litter: small and weak compared to the rest. LIga didn't truly believe the cub was any weaker because of his size or lack of fire, but Noime would not hear of it.

"Kesar and Otreg have them out in the training yard, and I had gone to check on Mevut. And Liga! He was holding his own!" Noime hugged her again. "I'm so happy and proud of him!"

"You should be," LIga whispered. "After all, if it weren't for you, he would not have had this chance."

Some time later, all the girls took a break from cooking and baking and working. Liga promised them a good two hour break for their hard work and decided to leave the castle for a while, wanting some fresh air. Rumbarth was with Otreg, so she was alone. Thelia was doing something Queenly with Zargis. Jose was nowhere to be found. So, she wandered the streets of Korgenyegia.

"Would you like some company?" asked a male from her left. Liga hugged herself and shied away. The male held up his hands and smiled. "I won't hurt you. My name is Atuss."

"I'm Liga."

He smiled even more. "So, you're the one Jose has been talking about? The one who has my uncle in a knot!" He bowed low and with a flourish. "I am honored to meet you!"

Liga just stared at him. "Uncle?"

"Otreg is my uncle."

She blinked in shock. "Oh."

Atuss laughed. "Don't worry, we barely know each other."

From behind him came a scurry of feet, then Jose appeared with a big smile and an armful of fabric. "Atuss mean. Atuss Jose help!"

Atuss laughed and grabbed the bundle of fabrics from the girl's arms, and said, "I'm sorry. I was meeting Liga."

Jose looked over at her and brightened. "Liga no cook? Liga free?"

Liga gave a small laugh and nodded. "For a couple of hours."

Jose beamed. "Liga Jose help? Jose Cam dresses make. Thelia busy. Jose Cam help. Liga Jose help?"

Atuss chuckled at Liga's confused expression. "You'll figure out what she's trying to say eventually. She's asking if you want to help her and Cam make dresses since Thelia is too busy."

Liga finally smiled. "I'm afraid I don't sew very well. It's why I cook."

Jose shrugs. "Jose cook no. Kesar cook. Jose Kesar help other stuff?" She looks to Atuss for help.

Atuss nods. "Yes. Other stuff." He looked to Liga and explained, "Jose saved my life, as well as a few dozen others. With her help, Otreg and Zargis were able to find us."

Liga straightened. "Oh! I think Otreg told me this!" She looked to Jose. "You pretended to be a child and not know anything, right? Instead, you paid attention to everything and helped Dragons escape."

Jose smiled. "Atuss Jose help."

Atuss shrugged. "I didn't do much, Jose. I didn't even know who you were until right before everything."

They began walking for a while and continued to talk about how Jose saved many lives, and of how she knew of Edgar. Liga learned it was all thanks to Jose for Edgar's belief in women being manipulative beings who would betray men at any time, and for the scar on his face. She still had Atuss translate since she couldn't figure out Jose's way of talking, but she slowly caught on by the time her two hours were up.

Entering the castle and waving goodbye to Jose and Atuss, Liga returned to the kitchens. She and her friends worked some more until Otreg came to fetch her late that night as she was putting away the last of the dishes. "You work too much," he said as he waited for her.

"I had a break," she commented.

"I know. Jose found me this afternoon and told me."

Liga dried her hands, threw the towel in a hamper with a bunch of aprons and other dirty linen, then turned to him. "You didn't tell me you had a nephew."

"Atuss and I are just starting to get to know each other. He was with the dragon-nappers most of his life, so we haven't truly been a family."

"Where are his parents?"

"Dead."

Liga swallowed. "Oh."

Otreg caught her hesitation and went up to her to wrap his arms about her middle. "It was a long time ago, Gorgeous. My brother and his mate died a peaceful death. They would be happy to know Atuss has returned home."

"He seems like a great guy and is a great friend to Jose."

"He is. Thankfully for him, he understands boundaries with Jose since she is mated with Kesar. But, Atuss doesn't cross the line. He cares for Jose like an older brother would. Kesar knows this as well. Jose sees Atuss as something like that too, so she isn't stringing him along while playing Kesar."

"Has something like that happened?"

Otreg chuckled. "Next time you and Thelia hang out, ask her to tell you about her courtship with Zargis. It's an interesting story."

Liga furrowed her brows. "Does this have something to do with that woman Citron and you were talking about?"

Otreg nodded. "And someone else who you will thankfully never meet."

Liga hummed and leaned against him. "How is Rumbarth?"

"He is doing good. He's currently in your chambers asleep." Otreg kissed the top of her head and tightened his arms. "Would you like to join him?"

LIga hesitated, then pulled back a little to look at Otreg. Otreg saw uncertainty there, but also a need. He didn't push, but let her decide to ask for whatever she wanted. And, after a long minute of thinking, she did. "Can we go flying?"