Gaia handed me clothes to change into, so that I would pass for a member of the Annaba tribe. Thankfully, not all tribe members had a fish tattooed on their temples. Gaia’s salmon hid behind her ear.

I was learning, however, that each tribe distinguished themselves, not only with their tattoos, but also with their outfits. The Brigantes tribe donned maroon leather clothes, while the Annaba tribe favored citrus-colored wrap dresses and pants. 

“Don’t you ever get bored of it?” I inquired. 

Gaia twirled in her burnt-orange, pleated kaftan. “The rules aren’t that strict.”

She ushered me to a bedroom, simply furnished with a platform bed and a pine wood dresser. “You’ll stay here for the night. Tomorrow, we’ll have time to chat.”

She retreated into her own bedroom, adjacent to mine, separated by a leather screen. Thick candles burnt softly by my bed, giving the room a balmy tint. I placed my pack close to my bed, where I could reach it, its presence comforting. Then, I fell asleep before realizing it. 

A chorus of cicadas woke me up. The sun was already high in the sky, filtering through the coral fabric of the tent. I felt groggy and sore from two days of riding. I splashed some water on my arms and face, and walked into the common area. Gaia was brewing tea by a central fire pit. 

“Good morning,” she smiled, handing me a cup. She was as soft as Gallen was sharp. “I trust you had a restful night?”

I nodded politely, bringing the hot, minty beverage to my lips. 

“We don’t have to play games, Tatiana. Gallen and I keep no secrets from each other.”

Relief washed over me. I longed for a friend, for someone to confide in, like I used to with Louise. Gaia might never be that person, but at least she knew who I was. 

“I have so many questions...” I started. 

“Sit.” Gaia pointed at a tangle of brightly colored cushions. “Tell me what you want to know.”

“How far along are you?” I gestured towards her round belly. 

She grazed a hand over her long tunic. “Five months.”

“How long have you and Gallen been married?”

Gaia smiled. “You are human indeed,” she stated. “Gallen and I aren’t married. Demons don’t have to marry. Only if we want our tribe to recognize our child as one of theirs.” 

“The Annaba tribe?”

“The wise salmon, yes. I see Gallen has told you a little bit about us. Do you know which tribe you’re from?”

I shook my head, regretful. “No, I don’t...will you marry Gallen?” I continued, eager to change the subject. I wasn’t sure how much I should reveal to Gaia. 

“Once I give birth, yes. All tribes have the same marriage rituals. Women challenge the men to a fight.”

“A fight?” The Brigantes woman hadn’t lied. 

Gaia laughed. “Women need to win the right to marry. So they learn to fight, and then challenge their betrothed in combat.” 

“Can any woman challenge just any man?” 

“They can. But if they aren’t in a relationship, it makes the woman look a bit, well, desperate…” She watched my reaction. 

“Oh,” I said after a beat. “I suppose that would be the demon equivalent of arranged marriages.” 

“No one ever does that,” Gaia continued. “Demons marry for love, not convenience. Some of us never marry at all.” 

I was starting to realize why demons had a reputation for being barbarous in Thornland. The cultural traditions of Voke had been twisted by humans, and over time, all they retained was that they engaged in brutal fist fights. What Gaia was describing didn’t seem at all cruel, unlike forcing young noblewomen to marry for status or a dowry. 

“What about the king?” The words left my mouth before I could stop myself. 

“Luther?” Gaia shook her head. “The king is always more exposed to women challenging him in fights just so they could become queen of Voke. But that’s why he’s the strongest demon in the kingdom.” She laughed. “To tell you the truth, everyone knows that the only thing Luther is in love with is Voke.” 

I wasn’t sure what was most surprising. That everyone seemed to just call the king by his first name, or that he wasn’t interested in taking a wife. 

“Doesn’t he want heirs?”

“Kings are elected in Voke, Tatiana. The title isn’t passed down from generation to generation. All demons get to have a say in who rules over Voke. Luther could be removed at any moment, if enough demons wanted him out… not that it would ever happen. Luther’s sense of duty for Voke is unwavering,” she added. 

“That’s...incredible,” I answered. Demons had so much more freedom than humans.

A knock at the door interrupted our conversation. A young woman strode inside the tent with a large smile. She bore a striking resemblance to Nervii, the demon that Gallen defeated at the border. Her ash-colored hair was wrapped around her forehead in a braid, and the clothes she wore were functional, yet underlined the curves of her toned body. 

“To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?” Gaia’s shoulders tensed up. 

Taking the question as an invitation, the woman sat down on a plush cushion, a little too close to me. “When I heard that you had a visitor, I wanted to be the first one to welcome her in Ligones!” 

She extended her arm to me and we clasped each other’s forearm, her grip tight around my wrist. 

“Cleta Brogis, of the Brigantes tribe,” she told me. “And you are…?”

I flashed a glance at Gaia, unsure what to answer. Cleta followed my gaze to her. 

“She is a distant cousin, from the Annaba tribe,” Gaia answered. 

“Oh, a cousin. I thought I heard that she was a servant,” Cleta’s lips curled into a sly smile. 

My breath snagged. Gallen and I had told Nervii that I was a servant indeed. How did she catch the lie so quickly?

Before Cleta could press us with any more questions, Gallen came back into the tent. His face closed when he noticed Cleta around the fire pit with us. 

“Cleta,” Gallen said, cold. 

“Hello Gallen,” Cleta greeted him as if he was the guest and she was the host. 

Gaia stood up. “Thank you for checking in on us, Cleta. If you don’t mind, we have a day packed with activities!”

“Oh I’m sure,” Cleta answered with a pointed look in my direction. “I hope to see you again soon,” she smiled. “I want to hear all about where you come from.”

Gallen, Gaia and I waited in silence for Cleta to walk away from the tent. We all relaxed when she was out of earshot. 

“Nervii’s daughter,” Gallen informed me. “She can be a handful. We need to find you a solid cover, and fast. Before Cleta can spread the story that you came to Voke passing as a servant.” He paused. “Luther is ready to see you now. Go get your documents.”

I nodded, my heart beating faster in my chest. 

But when I reached my bedroom and looked next to the bed, where I had left my leather pack the night before, there was nothing. A chill spread through my body. Without the documents, the Demon King was sure to cast me out of the kingdom and to my certain death. Frantically, I scanned the bare room, wondering if perhaps I had put it somewhere else. It was nowhere to be seen.