The next day, Dessine came to visit Sabit. The chief hunter of the Pride showed no scars from her defeat at the hands of the sorcerer. Her easy gait was like an unspoken challenge to Sabit’s own slow recovery. The spear woman had barely risen from her bed since waking. The wound at her shoulder burned and throbbed with every breath.
And yet, Sabit said, “I can return to the Pride. I am ready to fight.”
“Your heart calls out for battle and blood,” Dessine replied, a smirk on her face. “Of that much, I am certain. That fire in your belly is a great virtue. It saved my life, and the life of the rest of the Pride. Imagine what someone as trusted as I could have done to the Sisterhood—to Meriama herself—if I were driven by a thirst for blood. How easily does Meriama rest at my side, open and defenseless with her one good arm around my shoulder? How much would the king of Bahteel pay to have one of his warriors in such easy reach of the woman he wants dead?”
Sabit regarded Dessine with narrowed eyes. How much did the head of the Pride know about Sabit’s purpose in joining the Sisterhood? She should have no reason to suspect that Sabit had any connection with the king of Bahteel or his desire for Meriama’s death. What had Sabit failed to see?
“Don’t give me that look, Sabit,” Dessine answered her unspoken challenge. “I know what you are thinking. I am not putting you out to pasture like a shriveled old woman. There will be a place for you in the Pride when the strength returns to your spear arm. Until then, you will be at Meriama’s side, attending to her needs. Consider yourself her bodyguard if it helps your pride, although I will ensure that no threat comes anywhere near you. Much of the time it will be just the two of you, alone and unwatched. I am giving you an opportunity. See that you make the most of it.”
—–
Wayfarings of Sabit: Sisterhood of the Lioness is copyright (c) 2017 by Michael S. Miller. All rights reserved. New chapters post every weekday. You can support this and other stories on Patreon: https://patreon.com/michaelsmiller or http://ipressgames.com/fiction/