I don't remember how much time me and Carliah spent together after that first night. The next day we barely moved we slept, ate a little and enjoyed one another. Long afterwards even as we resumed other tasks, we still ended up enjoying ourselves not even just in our cave.
Once it was by the bank of the river as we splashed water over one another. Another time it was amongst the trees as we moved through a forest. Another as we'd stretched out in the sunlight on the slopes above the cave. We were enjoying ourselves and each other and everything else was put aside.
Most people in the courts rarely spent more than a few consecutive nights with someone else. It was just rarely done. Not that you didn't form bonds or attachments just that everyone was usually so busy building other alliances or courting guests or else just exploring new things.
In contrast me and Carliah spent months together alone with no one else apart from ourselves. Whether it was just the fact it was that, or just who we were who would ever know for certain. Even much later with a court of our own we still spent more time with each other than anyone else.
For months maybe the two of us existed together in our own little world in our sheltered valley and cave. It was far from comfortable, it was a rough rugged life we led but together at least there was plenty of solace in each other's companionship. It had to change eventually of course Carliah was restless.
She was already thinking ahead, planning, considering, mulling over what we might do and looking towards the future. I had never really done that myself. Surviving day to day and avoiding any contact with the courts had been the best that I had looked for. What else might be possible hadn't even crossed my mind at that point. Even then it was some time before I gave it much thought. Carliah on the other hand was always thinking, was always strategizing.
She had already turned her mind towards what lay ahead for us. Not just survival, not even just existing and staying together. She was looking for more. Building something new, something different, something that would change the future, not only for the two of us but for many more we met in the future. It was at an early stage still of course. Her mind hadn't yet formulated everything but it was working, it was thinking, it was plotting a course for us to chart.
This then is a small tale, but one that must be told, nevertheless. The two of us alone together was never anything more than that. We were isolated, alone, easy to ignore. This however was the first step in making our own way. It was when two became three and the first steps in founding our own future were made.
...............
We were sat out early one morning when she'd said simply, we needed to travel to town. That wasn't completely unheard of. We needed supplies from time to time. We traded there exchanging food and furs for things we needed. We never stayed long only trading what we needed before we had left once more.
For several days I'd known she had been restless. I'd seen it, sensed it in her. This time she'd merely sighed and given herself a shake before she turned and looked at me and simply said we needed to head into town, she needed to send a message.
I'd had an inkling as to what it was about. I was born in a court. I grew up in one. Every person born in a court wasn't considered a full-blooded member until they had been verified by at least two people usually many more. In most circumstances this was also backed up with an accompanying chart of their makeup. The blood they carried, their parents a full genetic ancestry to share with other courts when it came to making alliances swapping power or joining a court. Ironically, I had one in the court I'd been exiled from. There was a record there but the newly acquired power had to be tested and verified by another.
This was what Carliah was suggesting, and I didn't like it at all. But we set out walked to town and she'd sent her message to be passed on. I didn't ask who she had messaged. I hadn't wanted to know. With that done we retreated to our valley home and continued.
For a week we were alone doing everything we normally did. Then one morning things changed.
We were sat on the slopes under the cave entrance both just doing some chores when I'd suddenly jolted my body feeling like it had been shocked. The awareness I'd always had of Carliah was there only I felt another presence another person making their way into the valley.
"Someone comes." I murmured softly turning to look at Carliah frowning as I concentrated trying to track their progress as they advanced, she arched an eyebrow curious as to how I knew before she shrugged.
"They would get here eventually. Now we just wait make sure of who it is." She murmured. She was far calmer than me far more patient. She went back to work while I stood and paced nervously following their progress as they advanced.
We still had some time before they made it to where we were. It made me more nervous just having to wait and not be able to do anything especially not knowing who it was that was coming or what this would all entail. Carliah in contrast was the picture of serenity.
I kicked at a stone grumpily, watching as it tumbled down the slope below. "Remind me why we need to do any of this?" I hated the fact my voice even sounded disgruntled.
Carliah barely even moved focused on what she was doing. "Because it needs to be done." She replied simply.
I bit back the first retort that came to mind and just breathed. In and out slowly exhaling letting my eyes close as I considered the situation. "Weren't you the one that said we should make our own rules though?" I murmured softly my eyes still closed as I spoke.
"I did, and we will. In time though. Better to be careful especially at first when we don't want to attract attention. Besides if we didn't do this when it costs us nothing then we'd have more trouble than we need. It's an easy thing to do and blocks of a weakness in future. You'd find it hard to negotiate with anyone with such an obvious weakness. You'd literally have no status in any of the courts. Most would simply ignore you out of hand hence you being exiled in the first place. This way at least they can't just ignore you which gives us a base to work from in the future."
I grunted again opening my eyes and looked out over the valley. I couldn't see anyone. I turned my attention to what Carliah had said standing in silence as I considered it. She was right I knew that. It didn't mean I liked it. After being exiled the very last thing I wanted to do was suddenly conform and jump back into the old way the courts worked. But if playing there game at least at first was what was needed then I'd have to just play along.
The two of us fell silent. I was thinking ahead trying not to feel so unsettled. It was stupid given what this would all entail. Me and Carliah had more than enough experience at this point together. I was far better at controlling it than I had been. I knew what we'd do and everything that was involved. But it was hard not to think of what might be different.
Being flung into random relationships merely for the sake of politics and alliances was something I hated. But given it was one of the few ways you could fully trust another court member every court did it. You could not hide your power when you were sharing and exchanging it with another, any discrepancies with what you were supposed to have would be at best mean a court might cancel any alliances and agreements they had. At worst it was the case for war. I'd seen courts fall for it.
I was still thinking it through as I saw a figure emerge from on the trail down below. They paused looking around finding their bearings and soon spotted where the two of us were. They began the trek up following the trails we had cut up towards us. They were still some distance away and I couldn't see much.
Beside me Carliah laughed. "Relax, it isn't like you won't enjoy this anyway." She added chuckling. I turned and gave her a dry look. She laughed at me and stood pushing herself up and stretching as she did. My eyes followed her as she moved.
"Do you know them?" I finally asked her. A question I'd avoided for days. I watched as she held her hand over her eyes looking down below us. She was silent again for several moments before she spoke up.
"I believe so yes. If I'm right, you'll be in good hands anyway. You've nothing to fear I made some suggestions, they listened, I think. Better for us anyway, as long as there aren't any more surprise's coming."
"There isn't anyone else around. At least close by, not unless someone knows how to conceal themselves." I murmured almost without thinking checking again to see if I could feel anyone else nearby. But it still was just the three of us.
"How are you sure?" Carliah asked me curiously.
"I'm not sure. I can feel you, I've always felt you from nearly the first time we met. I felt her enter the valley up at the pass. I can't feel anyone else. Not to say that I'm wrong or I've missed something. I've never tested it enough to know. With just the two of us I've always known where you are." I shrugged looking down as the figure drew closer.
