1,276A/N- Hello, everyone! I'm sorry Ewar's outtake took so long to post. I have an autoimmune disease that flares up occasionally. For a month and a half, I was basically a couch potato with zero energy. Things are better now (and Ewar was very chatty, lol), so you'll be getting THREE chapters in his POV. Make sure to read the author's note at the end for an important announcement. Now, on to the outtake!
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Ewar's Outtake: Part One
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It was an early summer morning during the Ice Age. Before the day was over, Ora and his band of Soul Eaters would be captured and put to death - as long as everything went according to plan.
Warriors representing several tribes followed Ewar down a long and winding trail. All were armed with various weapons and shields. The leadership role had landed on Ewar's lap all by itself. However, he could not regret the additional responsibility. Being in charge of the tribal alliance's warriors made him a very important person. When he spoke, people listened.
It made prioritizing Bella's safety that much easier.
After their meeting with Ora the day before, it became apparent that the devious man would never rest until he could claim Bella as his own. In his eyes, Bella was a powerful goddess. He dreamed she would birth half-immortal children, thereby producing a new generation of Soul Eaters that would strike fear into the hearts of everyone who encountered them. Ora threatened to attack the Cave of Life settlement if Bella was not handed over.
Ewar had never felt such hatred for another human being.
In retaliation, he devised a plan. If Ora wanted Bella so badly, they would make him believe he would get her!
Alistair sent the leader of the Soul Eaters a message. It claimed Bella would be handed over to him in exchange for not attacking the people at the Cave of Life. Ora happily agreed to the deal, and in exchange, he promised to meet at a designated location of Alistair's choosing with only a limited amount of bodyguards present.
What Ora did not know was that he and his men would be walking into a trap.
Ewar had it all planned out. Warriors would be hidden all around the meeting place early in the morning. Seti, a young man of similar height, would play as Bella just to give the illusion that they were cooperating. Once Ora and his men arrived later that day, a signal would be given for the hidden warriors to attack. The fight would be over quickly.
The plan was simple. Alistair even called it genius.
Ewar just hoped it would work.
As they moved closer to their destination, they entered a narrow valley. Boulders and rocks littered the area. The drought from the year before had devastated the environment. A dead tree added to the dreary ambiance.
Ewar happened to glance downward. Dozens of fresh human footprints were stamped into the dirt. That could mean only one thing.
He twisted around and shouted. "Back to the cave! They're already here! We've been tricked!"
His warning came too late. Battle cries filled the air. Soul Eaters began pouring out from hiding like demons escaping from Hell.
The enemy had them surrounded.
Fighting erupted everywhere Ewar looked. He took up his mace and ran straight into the thick of it. His shield proved invaluable. The Soul Eaters' attacks against him were blocked again and again. Yet, not everyone had mastered the defensive weapon as he had. Many on Ewar's side were overwhelmed by the enemy's impressive strength and aggressive style. It was a rare sight to see a Soul Eater losing a fight. Up against such a deadly foe, Ewar feared all of his men would soon be lost.
His worries only escalated when Bella appeared on the scene.
How she got there, he did not know. The battlefield was the absolute worst place his wife could be! He wanted to send her back to the Cave of Life, but she was stubborn and insisted it was too late to run away.
He forced her to climb the dead tree, the only semi-safe place available. As he fought wave after wave of the enemy on the ground, Bella worked wonders from high above. Arrows flew from her bow, striking Soul Eaters right and left. This allowed Ewar's warriors to regroup.
They were hunting Soul Eaters now.
If Ora was upset with how the tides had changed, he did not outwardly show it. He ignored the catastrophe taking place around him and focused exclusively on the woman he believed was the Goddess of Fertility. He wanted her magic for his own selfish gain - but he had to capture her first.
When Ewar saw Ora in the tree and reaching for his Bella, white-hot anger surged within him. He used that anger to finish off the enemy he was currently fighting and then ran to the base of the tree. He climbed swiftly, latching onto Ora's ankle with a vise-like grip. One sharp pull and they both tumbled to the ground.
The two of them wrestled for dominance. Ora was a fierce competitor, using moves Ewar had never encountered before. The Soul Eater seized him from behind and used an arm to crush his larynx. He couldn't breathe!
As blackness formed around the edge of his vision, he saw a figure approach. He wanted to scream when he realized it was Bella. She had that determined gleam in her eyes he normally found attractive, but on this occasion, he dreaded it. There was no telling what she was up to.
Ewar heard a whack, then a howl of pain. The chokehold around his neck loosened. Gulping down fresh air, his vision returned to normal. He could not say precisely what had made Ora let go, but it was obvious Bella had hurt the man somehow.
Using the opportunity to his advantage, Ewar sprung like a tiger, knocking Ora flat on his back. Ewar had no weapon other than his own two hands, but he used them well. Pure outrage fueled him as he wrapped his fingers around the neck of his enemy. It consumed him, burning away all compassion and empathy. He did not care that Ora's complexion was turning a ghastly shade of purple. The man had very nearly taken everything Ewar cared about in this world.
Even when his hands began to ache, he could not find the motivation to loosen his hold on Ora. His instincts continued to scream.
Don't stop. NEVER let go!
He was still shaking with rage when something soft stroked his cheek.
"Shh. You... let... now. Ora... dead."
The voice sounded distorted to his ears, but just by the tone, he recognized it was Bella he had heard. He looked at her confusedly. "Dead?"
Her touch was soothing. She had little trouble removing his hands from Ora's throat. "That's right. Ora won't bother anyone ever again." A heartbeat later, she was holding him. "We won, Ewar. It's over. It's finally over."
He glanced down at the man lying motionless at his feet. All at once, he saw the beautiful truth in Bella's words.
Ora was dead. The Soul Eaters were now at the mercy of the tribes they had terrorized. Life could return to normal.
He and Bella could once again look forward to what lay ahead in their lives instead of always looking over their shoulders. Bella wanted to try for a baby, and while he wasn't confident he had the ability to give her one, he wasn't worried about the fate of their marriage. She had told him countless times that she would love him regardless.
He hugged her tighter. Damara had blessed him with the best of wives.
A yell came from somewhere behind him. An unnameable expression flashed across Bella's face. Then, without a word of explanation, she shoved him hard. He stumbled back a step. A dark streak flew between them.
This was the moment Ewar's world crumbled.
He was not fast enough to catch her before she fell. He dropped to his knees beside her, not believing his eyes. Someone had thrown a mace, a piece of wood topped with a heavy rock. It was on the ground covered with Bella's blood. Her scalp was sliced open. Flesh and bone were visible.
"No!" he bellowed.
Everything faded into the background. He heard nothing, saw nothing except his injured wife. Somewhere within his panicked mind, he gathered the wits to try to stop the flow of blood. He yanked off his tunic and placed it against the wound.
"Bella, can you hear me? Please say something."
She did not reply, nor did she move. That only added to his fears.
He looked up and began to shout. "Arl! Arl! Come here, now!"
His uncle rushed over. There was a gash across his cheek, doubtless from the battle, but otherwise, he seemed unharmed. Arl's face fell when he got a good look at Bella. Instantly, he transformed from a warrior back into a healer.
Arl laid his head against her chest. Afterward, he sat back up on his haunches. "She's alive."
Ewar slammed his eyes shut and breathed a silent thank you. He had been too afraid to check her vital signs.
Meanwhile, Arl lifted the makeshift bandage to check on her head wound. His expression somehow turned even more grim. "We need to get her to where I keep my medicines."
Ewar wasted no time. He scooped up Bella like a child and focused on getting her back to the Cave of Life as quickly as possible. That did not work out as well as he had hoped. A crowd had formed without him realizing. All eyes were on the woman in his arms. Her name was whispered among them. One man even attempted to stroke her hair.
"Don't touch her!" Ewar narrowed his eyes on the useless bystanders. "Get out of the way."
His fierce tone was enough to convince the crowd to give him plenty of space.
Familiar faces popped up as he was making his exit. Alistair was limping, and one of his arms was bloodied and held tightly against his chest. Seti was in much better shape. Ewar had seen the boy fight well during the battle. Alistair was not nearly as skilled.
"Oh dear," Alistair said. "What happened to Bella?"
"Can't talk now," Ewar gritted out as he passed by.
Behind him, Alistair shouted. "Take her to my hut! She'll be more comfortable there than in your tent!"
Ewar nodded before taking off in a jog. Arl, plus several other men, accompanied him as he made his way down the trail. He held Bella close, his heart pounding as he raced toward the Cave of Life settlement. He wasn't sure what to expect when he got there, but it certainly wasn't the scene he saw upon arrival.
There were around a half dozen dead Soul Eaters strewn around, each one with an arrow sticking out of them.
To make matters worse, no living person could be seen. Tents stood empty. Campfires were burnt to ashes. It was as if the entire settlement of women, children, and elderly had simply vanished.
As the men worried about the fate of their families and tribes, Mett remained calmly optimistic. "Let's check the cave. I'm sure they're all safe inside."
The group split up. Most ran into the cave with Mett. Only Arl and Ewar remained outside. "I need to gather my healing tools and medicines," said Arl. "I will meet you at the house."
Ewar ran with Bella to Alistair's hut. Pushing aside the animal hide door flap, he was momentarily stunned to discover another body inside the residence. There was no point in checking for life. A spear was embedded into the man's back. Judging by the pool of blood, he had been dead for quite some time.
Ewar stepped around the body and carefully laid Bella down on one of the beds. After covering her with a blanket, he sank to his knees at her side. That is how Arl found him minutes later. His uncle glanced briefly in his direction before focusing on the task at hand. He looked through the basket of herbs, roots, and medicinal bark he had brought and stuffed a wad of fern-like leaves into his mouth. Yarrow was good for stopping a wound from bleeding. If he chewed it enough, a paste would form.
There was a disturbance at the entryway. Ehmay entered the house. "I just heard-" she gasped when she caught sight of Bella. "I had hoped it wasn't true! Is there anything I can do to help?"
Arl spoke around the leaves he was chewing. "Clean the wound with water. I will apply the medicine after."
Ewar felt useless sitting there on his knees while his family worked around him. He held Bella's hand, silently begging the spirits to give her the strength to squeeze his hand in return. Ehmay washed the blood from Bella's face. Arl combined the yarrow with a pinch of wild garlic to help keep the wound from festering. After the paste was applied, a nettle fiber cloth was wrapped around her forehead. As a final treatment, Arl began murmuring lyrical incantations to the Great Spirits, pleading for their assistance in curing his patient.
A heaviness hung in the air at the conclusion of Arl's song. Ehmay sobbed, the sound choking her. "I was afraid something bad would happen if she left the settlement, but she insisted. Poor Bella..."
Ewar whipped around to stare at his aunt, just then remembering the dead Soul Eaters he had seen scattered around the settlement. "What happened here?"
Ehmay could barely hold it together while telling the story. A small band of Soul Eaters had invaded the settlement. Bella shot and killed several of them by herself. The rest of the invaders, with the exception of one, had been captured and were currently being held as prisoners.
"Bella came to this house to search for Onya's spare arrows." Ehmay waved toward the dead body still present in the room. "That was when she was attacked by Jaihem. He intended to take her away and make her his wife. He tied her up and hurt her. And I... I snuck up from behind and stabbed him with the spear! I killed that man."
She trembled from the memory. Arl embraced her. "Calm down, my love. You did what you had to do to save Bella."
She shook her head. "No, I didn't save her. If I did, she wouldn't be in this condition." She turned to Ewar. "Bella realized you were in trouble. She said the Soul Eaters had tricked us. Jaihem admitted to her that he and Lohr were spies. They told Ora about your plan of attack. That's why Bella left the settlement - to stop you from walking into their trap. There was no way I could convince her to stay."
Ewar glared at the dead body in the room. Jaihem had not only double-crossed everyone at the Cave of Life, the traitor had also tried stealing his mate.
He could not stand being in Jaihem's presence any longer. Without further ado, Ewar grabbed the man's ankles and dragged him outside. He did not care what became of it.
People began trickling into the house. Alie burst into tears upon seeing Bella in an unconscious state. Onya and Oza had similar reactions. Their sobs stabbed at Ewar's soul. He was not alone in his heartbreak. Bella was loved by many.
"I'm here! I'm here!" Alistair limped into the room. "Has there been any change? Has she opened her eyes?"
"No," Arl replied. Still in healer mode, he stared at Alistair's bloody arm. "Would you like for me to look at that?"
"I would appreciate it very much. I can barely move it."
Arl examined the limb and announced it was broken. The bone had to be shifted back into place, a painful experience given that there were no anesthetics. Alistair's arm was immobilized with a splint made of wood and bandages. He was ordered to rest in the second bed for the remainder of the day. Onya stayed by his side, encouraging him to eat to regain his strength.
Later, Jas entered the room. Alie handed her little boy to Ehmay and ran to her husband. It was the first time they had seen one another since before the battle took place. The scene made Ewar bitter, and he felt guilty for it. In a fairer world, he and Bella would have had a similar reunion.
"Have all of our men returned?" Alistair asked.
"Yes, and we carried back our dead." Jas looked at Ewar. "Not one Soul Eater remains alive, and that includes the man who hurt your wife."
Ewar perked up. "Are you certain?"
"I took care of him myself. He breathes no longer."
Ewar wished he felt relief at hearing the news. Numbing pain was his only reward. What was the use of rejoicing over Bella's attacker's death if she was still unconscious?
Jas studied Bella's inert pose and frowned. "It was believed the Soul Eater was dead when he suddenly jumped back to his feet. I saw him throw the mace. It was out of his hands before I could stop him."
Ewar scowled. "Why would the Soul Eater throw the mace at Bella? Ora wanted to capture her - not kill her."
Jas blinked back in momentary confusion. "The mace wasn't meant for Bella. It was meant for you."
All at once, Ewar understood why Bella reacted the way she did. At the end of the battle, the expression that crossed her face had been of fear. She must have seen the Soul Eater preparing to attack. And instead of allowing it to hit the back of Ewar's skull, she pushed him out of its path. She saved him, but in doing so, she had hurt herself.
If he hadn't already been sitting on the floor, this revelation would have knocked him to his knees.
Alistair cleared his throat for attention. "Something must be done with the bodies of the Soul Eaters."
"Let their carcasses rot out in the open for all I care," Ewar growled. "Men like Ora deserve no proper burial."
Alistair furrowed his brow. "I understand your position to an extent, but leaving that many bodies lying around would be unwise. It could become a breeding ground for sicknesses the likes of which you have never seen. And then there's the risk of attracting large meat-eating animals so close to our settlement... It just wouldn't be a good idea."
Ewar was too upset to respond. Arl stepped in for him. "What do you suggest we do, Mayant-hattatar?"
"We burn them where they fell. It would dispose of their remains without giving them a respectful burial." Alistair glanced at Ewar. "Do you approve?"
Burning the bodies without performing funeral rites would ensure that none of the Soul Eaters would enjoy an afterlife. They would simply cease to exist.
Ewar answered with a single nod of the head. He could think of no better punishment for Ora.
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Three days passed. A contingent of men were tasked with disposing of the fallen Soul Eaters, including the ones who were executed for attacking the settlement. Ewar took perverse pleasure in throwing Jaihem's body into the inferno. Ash and bone fragments were all that remained of the once mighty foe.
Funeral plans were now underway for the tribal members who had passed. A large hole was dug where their bodies would be laid to rest. A great feast was prepared in their honor. It would be eaten after the mass funeral was held that evening.
Since Ewar was a tribal leader, he was expected to eulogize on behalf of the Bat People who were slain. He wasn't sure what he would say. His mind was broken. All he could think about was his wife. He rarely left the bedside vigil. He held her little hand as Arl murmured healing prayers multiple times a day. Sometimes her eyes would move behind her lids. But beyond that, she remained as motionless as a tree on a windless day.
Ehmay and Alie were her caregivers. They took turns pouring broth down Bella's throat and brushing her hair. They worked around him, but occasionally, they weren't so obliging.
"Ewar," his aunt said. "You need to leave. It's time for Alie and me to bathe Bella."
He knew better than to argue. The women were insistent that no man should be present during certain caregiver tasks.
Alie noticed his dejected expression and looked at him with pity. "It will only be for a little while. Why don't you take a walk to the river? It's peaceful there. Maybe it will help you think of what to say at the funeral."
Ewar nodded at her suggestion and went outside. He was unsurprised to find a gathering of people a few steps away. They had set up a vigil of their own.
Bella had been well-known throughout the region for years. She was Damara's former assistant and the wife of a tribal leader. But as word spread of her deeds on the day of the battle, her reputation became legendary. She had helped fend off an attack at the cave and took part in the fighting at the battle. Many believed she was the sole reason why the Soul Eaters lost the war.
It had been chaos ever since.
Some of Bella's admirers tried to sneak inside to gawk at her. They left behind wild roses at her feet, a tribute to her affiliation with Damara. Ehmay shooed them out of the house, but they were persistent. Guards had to be posted to keep them at bay. Thereafter, they left their roses heaped in a pile by the door.
"Look," one of them whispered. "There is her husband."
"How is our hero today?!" another shouted. "Has she seen our offerings yet?"
The crowd buzzed at Ewar's appearance. He scowled in return and pushed through the flock of people. He hated how they gave him and his family no privacy. He despised their questions. But most of all, he loathed the constant reminder of how badly he failed her.
If only he had anticipated Lohr and Jaihem's treachery.
If only he left men behind to defend the cave settlement.
If only he had given Bella no reason to follow him into battle.
There were so many "if onlys."
It was late afternoon when the mass funeral began. Ehmay volunteered to stay with Bella while Ewar attended the ceremony. Alistair was the first to speak. A procession of tribal leaders followed. Not a single tribe had escaped the loss of at least one of their members. Each of the fallen was remembered in some way.
Akob was set to go up next, but he was frozen from sorrow. The Wolf People had nearly been wiped out of existence by the Soul Eaters the previous year. Only Akob, Len, and three others had escaped the ambush. Now, their tribe had once again suffered a tragic loss.
Ewar pulled Akob off to the side. "I can speak for you," he offered. "I had already planned on honoring Ulei in my speech as well."
Akob gulped and nodded gratefully. "Thank you."
Ewar went to stand before the sea of people and spoke loud enough to be heard by all.
"I am representing two tribes on this day: The Bat and the Wolf People. We have been allies for as long as anyone can recall. But allies is a poor description of what we are to one another. I prefer to call them friends.
"The Soul Eaters took the lives of many of the Wolf People. Those who survived came to us for help, and we welcomed them. The eldest member of the Bat People, Bannar, opened his home to three of the Wolf People. He and his wife treated those men like sons. Ulei was one of them. While all three Wolf People grew to care for Bannar, Ulei was the closest to the old man. So when Bannar volunteered to fight against the Soul Eaters, Ulei pledged to fight alongside him."
Ewar had difficulty controlling the emotions brewing under the surface. He cleared his throat and pressed on.
"The old man fought with everything he had, but it was not enough. A Soul Eater ended his long life. Ulei went to seek revenge. He, too, died on the battlefield. These two men may have belonged to different tribes, but I have no doubt their friendship continues even into the life beyond death."
Ewar went on to pay tribute to the other Bat People who had passed away. Namtar, Adiur, and Dipti were all family men and excellent hunters. For each of them, he gave a brief description of how their loss had affected the tribe.
"These men died in defense of our homes, our families, and our way of life. Because of their sacrifice, and our combined efforts during the battle, the Soul Eaters were destroyed beyond repair. The nightmare is over. Our children can now live in a world where the Soul Eaters exist merely as monsters in stories told around the fire. And for that, our fallen deserve the highest of praise."
His speech concluded, the next tribal leader went to speak. Ewar found Arl within the audience and sat down beside him.
"You did good," Arl whispered. "I am proud of you."
Ewar nodded in return, but he felt undeserving of his uncle's approval. For every second of the eulogy, he had relived the horrors of the battle. He had witnessed people he knew all of his life being brutally slain. But it was seeing Bella being struck down again and again in his memories that nearly broke him. It was a miracle he made it through the entire speech without screaming.
After the dead were interred in the mass grave, the feast honoring their memories was set to begin at sunset. Ewar went back to Alistair's home to check on his wife. Ehmay assured him that she was the same as ever, neither worse nor better.
He sat on the edge of Bella's bed and studied the changes in her. She was too pale. Her complexion had dulled, reminding him of a wilted flower. Even so, he found her so beautiful that it almost hurt to look. He missed the sparkle in her eyes when she teased him. He missed the sound of her voice, even when she hummed strange tunes from her homeland. Most of all, he missed her smiles. She gave him one every morning the instant she woke from sleep. What he wouldn't give for her to open her eyes this moment and smile in his direction!
Evening had arrived when Ehmay disturbed him from his thoughts. "Have you eaten yet?" she asked.
"No."
She exhaled in frustration. "Don't think I haven't noticed how often you've been skipping meals. You're going to make yourself sick." She tugged at his arm, encouraging him to stand. "A feast is taking place outside of this door. Find something and eat it... please."
Her tone was laced with concern. He hated worrying Ehmay. Hadn't she been worrying enough lately?
"All right," he said. "But I won't be gone long."
A large fire was lit in the center of the settlement. People were gathered around its warmth, enjoying their meals and the fellowship. As Ewar passed, most of their conversations halted. They watched him furtively, full of curiosity and pity. It did not take a wise man to figure out that he (and most likely Bella) had been the main topics of discussion around the bonfire.
Ewar concealed his emotions as best he could. Although he would have liked to have told them off, he knew it would only give them more to gossip about later. He located a bowl and threw in food at random. He didn't care what he ate as long as it filled his belly.
Despite the hopeful glances sent in his direction, he had no intention of sitting amongst the general population. He took himself and his bowl to the outskirts of the gathering, to a spot the bonfire's light barely reached. The shadows were his only companions, and that was the way he preferred it.
"Ewar?"
He stopped picking at his food and glanced up at the mention of his name. Essa was standing in front of him, hands held behind her back. Her usual sneering attitude was absent. It reminded him of when she was a child, back before she allowed petty jealousy to rule her life.
"Hello," she said. "I've been looking for you."
"For what reason?"
"My family and I wanted to thank you for what you said about my father today. It meant a lot to us, especially Mother. His death has been difficult for her."
Ewar grimaced. As a tribal leader, it was expected that he speak privately with families in mourning. Yet, he hadn't spoken to any of them. He had neglected many of his leadership duties in the days since the battle ended. Arl had to speak to the families in his place.
"Every word I said about your father was true," Ewar replied. "Adiur will be missed by many."
Essa nodded. He assumed she would leave him alone now that she had thanked him for the eulogy, but she did no such thing. Her gaze stayed on him.
"I'm sorry about your wife."
That simple statement made him tense up. She rushed to continue before he could respond.
"I know it's hard to believe. Bella and I have never been friends." Essa snorted softly. "We've barely tolerated one another. But when she had the chance to get rid of me for good, she chose not to. It's... made me think differently about her."
Ewar stared at Essa blank-faced. "What are you talking about?"
"I was stupid, Ewar. Tora pretended to be my friend, and I never suspected a thing. I swear I didn't know she was working for the Soul Eaters. When they attacked the settlement, Tora grabbed an axe and was preparing to use it against me. It wasn't until the blade was above my head that I realized I was going to die." Essa gave a shaky breath. "Bella shot Tora with an arrow. She saved my life. Did no one tell you?"
"No."
Heavy silence descended. Essa was the first to break it.
"Bella was very brave, here at the cave and the battle. You must be proud of her."
Ewar could not speak. His heart was stuck in his throat. He was proud of Bella. She went above and beyond the day of the battle, and her accuracy with the bow and arrows was incredible. Without a doubt, she had helped them defeat the Soul Eaters.
Be that as it may, he wished she had never needed to take part in the fight. His failure to take down the Soul Eaters led directly to her getting hurt.
Essa watched as the conflict played out on his face. "Are you all right?" She tsked at herself. "What am I saying? Of course you're not all right. It must be difficult having to be the leader of our people while also mourning your wife."
"Why would I mourn for her? She's alive."
"That is true, but... Isn't it only a matter of time before she isn't alive anymore?"
Ewar jumped into a standing position. His food bowl tumbled off his lap and onto the ground. "Why would you say such a horrible thing?" he hissed.
"Because it's true! Everyone's talking about it. No one can survive a head wound like that - not even the 'beloved' former assistant to Damara." She spat out the remark mockingly, but some instinct made Essa wipe away her sneer and continue more calmly. "I'm sorry if I'm being blunt, but your family is doing you no favors in hiding the truth. You need to prepare yourself."
Ewar clenched his jaw. Essa missed the subtle clue of his rising anger.
"I understand what you're going through, Ewar. When I lost Ichel, my life fell apart just like yours. I barely slept. I had to force myself to eat. It felt like a part of myself died along with my husband. But let me tell you something: It won't be like that forever." She laid a hand on his bare arm. "If you ever need someone to talk to..."
"You'll be there for me. Is that what you're saying?"
His gruff response came as a surprise. She flinched. "Y-yes."
"And in exchange for your kindness, you expect I will eventually ask you to be my wife."
Essa opened and closed her mouth like a fish. She had trouble finding her voice again. "I n-never said..."
"You didn't need to." He shoved her hand away. "I know exactly what you're thinking."
Regathering her dignity, she lifted her chin. "All right. So what if I did think about it? You are our tribal leader. That means you will need a wife to help you carry out your leadership duties. Would it be so terrible if I filled that role one day?"
"I already have a wife," he replied cooly.
"For now." She sighed, recapturing her former gentle approach. "Listen to me. I miss Ichel, and you'll be lonely once Bella is gone. It's only natural for those left behind to come together."
"Bella isn't going anywhere. She is not dying. She will get better soon."
Essa groaned. "Stop lying to yourself! Bella is wasting away to nothing. She will be dead and buried long before the leaves on the trees turn brown, I can promise you that!"
Ewar saw red. His darker side wanted to make her pay for making such a disturbing prediction.
"You should go," he said evenly.
"Why?"
"Because if you don't, I will kill you."
Her eyes stretched to their extreme. "Ewar..."
"Not another word, Essa. Leave my sight."
She continued to stand there like a rabbit too stunned to flee from danger. Ewar's hands turned into claws. He was very much tempted to latch them around her neck, just as he had with Ora.
He raised his voice in warning. "I said, GO!"
Essa squeaked and ran for her life.
He tightened his hands into fists. He felt like a thundercloud, ready to explode with lightning.
A voice leaked from the darkness. "She was right, you know."
Ewar swung around, ready to punch whoever was stupid enough to agree with Essa. The last person he expected to see stepped out of the shadows and into the dim light.
Alistair's face was still scraped up from the battle. His injured arm hung in a sling, a medical device Bella had taught Arl how to construct after one of the village children fell from a ladder and broke their arm months earlier. Upon seeing Ewar's fury, Alistair raised his free hand in surrender.
"Keep calm, my friend. You misunderstand me. The way that conniving woman spoke to you was sickening. But, I am sorry to say, she was right about Bella's fragile health. Time is running out for her."
Unbearable pain ripped through Ewar's chest. Essa planted the seed in his mind, and now Alistair had given it water to grow. What if Bella did not survive? Arl had done everything in his power to heal her, and so far, nothing had helped. The herbal medicines had not woken her. The prayers and incantations to the Great Spirits had gone unanswered. Bella was as silent and unmoving as ever. How long did she have left before her body gave up entirely?
"Why are you telling me this?" Ewar snapped. "Did Essa's words not stab me deeply enough?"
Alistair moved closer, his eyes set ablaze. "I don't want to hurt you. I'm here to offer you hope."
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Hey, remember forever ago when you guys voted on whether this story should end with an epilogue or if it needed a sequel? Well, sequel won in a landslide! So, that's what you're gonna get. The sequel is in the outline phase at the moment. I will let you know when I have begun to post it, so make sure to keep this story on alert. But first things first: You have to read parts two and three of Ewar's outtake! The second part is almost done and will post within the next week or two.
Thanks for reading. :-)