I help the women build up the fire and prepare places for all to be seated and have just enough time left over to wash quickly and change into my skirt and fresh top and cincher. I brush my hair out until it gleams and put on a headpiece, and what little jewelry I own. It's customary to go all out for celebrations, and this much game always meant celebration.

Now I sit by the fire on a stump, tuning my fiddle. I'm always asked to play at any gathering or night fire and I always jump at the chance because I love it so much. 

My instrument is old and battered. It belonged to the woman who brought me to my parents. Her name was Lidia. She used to tell me that I'm a Queen. 

For the longest time, I'd believed it until my parents explained to me that Lidia was touched in the head. It makes no matter now. Lidia passed the same year as my mother, leaving me alone except for my fellow wanderers.

“You play?” His deep voice invades my senses, and I turn to smile at Ahti.

“Yes, I have since I was very young.”

“She’s one of our best players.” A familiar voice sounds right next to me. My eyes widen as I meet Thierry’s eyes.

“Thank you, Thierry.”

“Well, there should be something about you that’s good.” He mocks. I hang my head and focus on tuning my instrument, crushed at his cruel comment. It's widely known that appearance dictates everything. There's nothing wrong with me, but I don't look like my people. 

That brings a great deal of judgment to my door. Only nobles have black hair and fair skin and to most wanderers, nobles are evil tricksters; out to destroy good hard working folks like peasants or wanderers.

“Why does he seem to hate you?” Wonders Ahti.

“I look different from them.” There is a pause, and I peek up at him from beneath my lashes and see him looking around.

“I suppose you do.”

“I look nothing like my parents either. It got worse when it came out that my parent’s friend brought me to them.”

“Brought you to them?”

“Yes. The story goes she found me abandoned in a bush where she was searching for berries. Unable to care for me herself, she gave me to my parents who were unable to have children. My mother was barren, you see. So they raised me, telling no one. The healer knew, though, and soon enough it got out. Secrets don’t keep in a Wanderer camp.” I shrug. “They think me a trickster or a changeling.”

“So they dislike you because you are different from them?”

“Basically.” I nudge his elbow with mine. “You aren’t the only one.” I murmur.

“The difference between us is that you have but to go to a city to be accepted. You are beautiful. I am not.” He says it matter of fact, without an ounce of self pity in his voice. I bite back a smile and blush, hiding behind the curtain of my hair. He just called me beautiful!

“Might help if you didn’t slaughter everyone.” I say playfully. “Just a suggestion.” I smirk at him. Brutality is simply a part of our world. It does no good to wallow in it. Though, I have to wonder why I'm not more afraid of him.

“Yes, why aren’t you?” He questions, answering my thought.

“Did you just read my mind?” I ask, eyes widening.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“You intrigue me.”

“I do?”

“Yes?”

“How so?” I wonder. He reaches out and touches my shoulder, and I simply watch him, unsure what he's doing.

“You didn’t flinch.” He states, mildly in awe. I scoff.

“My goodness, you aren’t that terrifying.”

“Do you find me terrifying at all?” He questions.

“No. I guess that is odd isn’t it?”

“Very.” I shrug.

“I guess I was always a bit strange.” I admit. Drumming begins, and I jump a bit. “That’s my queue.” 

I stand and move over to where the drummers are and start to play the fiddle, losing myself completely in the music. I'm so absorbed that I forgot everything and everyone around me, that any of the rest of the world even exists. This is the part I love most about playing the fiddle.

**

He watches as the strange Wanderer woman plays her fiddle. She's extremely gifted, not just good. He's  not heard such playing since the last time Volocinia had a Queen. He shakes his head, not wanting to think of that time. He worked very hard for what he put into motion, only to lose it in one stormy night, his plans vanishing along with the infant princess.

The truth is he  can have whatever woman he pleases whether she wants him or no. All bow to his whim because he has proven his strength and his power on the field of battle and politics. He runs Volocinia with an iron fist. He's not become distracted from his purposes once.

Then, by chance, he lands in the wood between his territory, and the land of his last enemy left standing, and this strange, beautiful girl stumbles upon him. 

She’s been so gentle. He thinks, remembering her touch on him as she tended his wounds. She smells of the forest, but beneath that there's a hint of something much sweeter. She's too thin for her to be totally healthy but it doesn't diminish her beauty. She has long, thick dark hair, extremely pale skin, and large blue/green eyes. Her looks are prized among the nobility. Put her in court dress and introduce her at court and she’ll be the darling overnight.

The next day there would be suitors lined up outside her door. He viciously tamps down the spike of jealousy he feels at the thought; that male urge that screams he's seen her first, and she's his to claim. 

She wouldn’t want him. Even if by some strange twist she does end up feeling some attraction to him, he cannot resign her to the constant ridicule it would bring her. What female wants a male who cannot show his face to even his court without sneers and glares? No woman would. Not even her, no matter how sweet her nature seems. It's hopeless.

Even knowing that however, the old healer is correct. He can imagine what it might be like to sit near the fire with her in his lap; his arms around her; her lips on his. He can picture it so clearly it may as well have been a vision. Perhaps it is, though he doubts it. He can't deny, though, that he wishes it were more than a flight of fancy.

**

Thierry watched the newcomer watching Reya. The beautiful Reya. She is too. Beautiful. No one is willing to admit it, but every guy in the camp has lusted after her at one point or another. 

Thierry has always been confident in his ability to bed her at some point. He can never take her to wife of course. One doesn't marry someone so different, but oh did he ever want to be inside her.

He’s seen her making eyes at him the way all the women did. He’s known all he needs to do is reach out and crook his little finger, and she’ll jump to. But now here is this stranger she’s found in the wood. 

He's handsome and rugged. A real man’s man. Reya has been doting on him since she got back, not once watching Thierry like she usually does. They've spoken to each other, and the air between them was so charged with something intense that it'd been difficult to interrupt. But he’d had to.

Now the stranger watches her like a hawk watches a mouse, predatory and hungry. That's the face of a man who likes what he sees and plans to take it whether he knows it yet or not. 

Thierry doesn't like this male encroaching on his territory. He doesn't like it at all, and he doesn't like the idea of losing a conquest. He crosses his arms and turns to his friends.

“I think we need to teach the new guy a lesson about eyeing up our women like that.” They agree with him like they always do.

**

I'm just wrapping up a song when I look over and gasp in horror. Ahti has been surrounded by Thierry and his goons. I've seen them do this before when they mean to cause harm. I open my mouth to gasp out a warning, but it seems that Ahti already knows it's coming.

’He stands and spins in one fluid motion, catching the dagger that has been aimed at his back and earning himself another wound to his hand. It doesn't even slow him. 

With a grace I've only seen in the animal kingdom, Ahti whirls and takes the men out almost all at once it seems until he and Thierry are the only ones standing. I run over to the men.

“Thierry what are you doing?”

“He was looking at you like you were meat. It’s disrespectful.” I scoff.

“You insult me all the time!” I state in disbelief. 

“He is an outsider. It’s different. I was defending your honor.” He puffs out his chest like I should be fawning over him for it. I make a face in disgust. Why did I ever like him? Looks not withstanding, what is there to like?

“Honor!” I exclaim. “I saw what you and your friends did Thierry. Ganging up on him in greater numbers, striking while his back was turned and he was injured instead of facing him in a real fight. These are the actions of a coward!” Her voice rings through the clearing, silencing everyone. “How could you possibly defend my honor when you have none of your own?” I growl. 

There is nothing that sets me off more than a coward. I turn my back on Thierry and sit next to Ahti, taking his injured hand in mine and concentrating on healing it, stopping the bleeding. The healer shuffles over with her pack and sets to work as soon as I'm done. Thierry watches the entire time.

“Watch your back Reya. You’re going to regret your words.” He growls petulantly. Then he turns away, and I shiver at the threat in his eyes. The healer puts her hand on Reya’s shoulder.

“You should take that seriously my girl. You haven’t a family to protect you any longer.”

“I know. Not sure what I can do about it, though.”

“I suggest heading to the nearest town and finding a job there. In a few months when his pride is not stung so, come back to us and you should be safe." I nod. It won't be the first or last time someone needs to wander away from the tribe for a time to soothe tempers. 

“I will leave tonight.” The healer nods.

“Come with me.” Both of us jump, having momentarily forgotten Ahti's presence.

“What?” I ask, completely shocked.

“Come with me. If you are so curious as you say; how can you pass up the chance to learn from my library?” His voice is quiet, and he's looking anywhere but at me.

“Are you sure?” I wonder.

“Yes. You can earn your keep by playing for the court. The holidays are approaching, and that is one less entertainer I must hire.” He seems nonchalant as if this is a royal favor of no consequence, but there is something like longing in his voice. I  nod.

“Okay.” His head whips around, and he captures my gaze with his own.

“What?”

“I said okay. I mean, if you meant your offer.”

“I did.” He states. I nod again.

“I accept then. Thank you for your kindness.” I mean it sincerely. 

“It is payment for yours.” He replies. The old woman smirks at us both.

“Best gather your things, Rey. You should be gone by first light.”

“Yes, I will.”

“Are you prepared to entertain at court?” He asks.

“Well, my fiddle’s tuned for playing. The rest I’ll have to figure out.” I state, smiling gamely at my new found friend.