Chapter 42 - 042: First attempt (ruined....)

Rylan and Kai quickly discovered that working with Kenai’s people was not going to be as simple as Anaria had made it sound.

They had barely entered the storage area when one of the servants began explaining the system. "This section is for grains. Dried meat goes there, fresh supplies in the other room. Each family gets their portion based on household size."

Rylan nodded as he scanned the records. Kai was already looking at the shelves. "So we count everything and track what leaves?"

"That’s the basic idea," the servant said.

Kai grunted. "Fine."

It might have stayed simple if Kenai hadn’t walked in a few minutes later. Rylan glanced up and went back to the records. Kai’s shoulders tensed.

Kenai walked past them without a word and started examining a different stack of records.

Rylan looked up. "You’re helping?"

Kenai didn’t look at him. "Anaria asked me to."

Kai’s jaw tightened. "We had it handled."

Kenai’s eyes flicked to him. "Did you?"

"We were managing."

"Managing and handling are different."

Kai’s hands stilled on the records. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

Kenai turned to face him fully. "It means I found three errors in the records you already went through."

Kai’s eyes narrowed. "What errors?"

Kenai held up the papers. "This family was given double portions last week. That family was missed entirely. And this one" He pointed. "was marked as having five people when they only have three."

Kai stared at him. "I didn’t make those errors."

"The records were fine before you touched them."

"Are you saying I did this?"

Kenai’s voice was flat. "I’m saying the errors appeared after you started working."

Kai stepped forward. "You don’t know that."

"I know the records were correct yesterday."

"Then check the servant who was here before us."

"I already did. He confirmed he made no changes today."

Kai’s face went red. "So it’s my fault?"

Kenai’s expression was hard. "It doesn’t matter whose fault it is. The records need to be fixed."

"Then fix them. You’re the chief. You’re so good at everything."

Kenai’s ears darkened. "At least I’m good at something."

Rylan stepped between them. "Enough."

Kai’s eyes were blazing. "He just accused me of"

"I heard what he said." Rylan looked at Kenai. "You don’t know he made those errors."

Kenai’s jaw tightened. "I know the records weren’t wrong before he came."

"Because the servant did it first? He could be covering for himself."

Kenai blinked. "Why would he cover for himself?"

Rylan shrugged. "I don’t know probably fear and habit. You’re the chief, so people don’t always tell you the truth."

Kenai went still. "You’re saying my people lie to me?"

"I’m saying we don’t know who made the mistake. So stop blaming Kai."

Kai crossed his arms. "Finally. Someone with sense."

Kenai’s voice dropped. "You think I don’t have sense?"

"I think you walk in here and start throwing accusations without proof."

"I didn’t throw accusations. I stated facts."

"You stated what you think happened. That’s not the same."

Kenai stepped closer. "In my village, when something goes wrong, we find the cause. We don’t just ignore it."

Kai stepped closer too. "And in my village, we don’t blame someone until we know for sure."

They were face to face now. Both breathing hard.

Rylan moved between them again. "Both of you. Step back."

Neither moved.

Rylan’s voice hardened. "Now."

They both stepped back. But their eyes were still locked.

Rylan picked up the records. "I’ll fix these myself. Both of you take a break."

Kai looked at him. "I don’t need a break."

"You’re arguing like children. Yes, you do."

Kai’s mouth opened. Then closed.

Kenai was silent for a long moment. "Because I’m tired. She’s pregnant. She’s exhausted. And now I have to worry about this too."

Kai’s head snapped up. "What?"

Kenai’s jaw tightened. "She’s carrying my child. And instead of helping, you two just make everything harder."

Kai threw the records down. "We didn’t ask to be here."

"Neither did I." Kenai stepped forward. "But here we are. And I’m trying to make this work. For her and the child. But you won’t even meet me halfway."

Kai laughed bitterly. "Meet you halfway? You act like we’re visitors in your home."

Rylan moved between them. "Both of you"

"Stay out of this," Kai snapped.

Kenai’s voice rose. "He’s right. This is between us."

Rylan’s face went red. "Between you? She’s bonded to me too."

Kai turned on Rylan. "Always in the middle. Never picking a side."

"I’m not picking sides because there shouldn’t be sides!"

Kenai cut through. "Then what should there be? Because I’m tired of fighting. I have a child coming, so I need peace."

Kai stepped closer. "Then say it. Say you want us gone."

Kenai’s eyes blazed. "I want peace. I want this child to grow up without fighting. If that means you stay, then stay. If that means you go, then go. I don’t care anymore."

Rylan’s voice was quiet. "You don’t mean that."

"I mean every word." Kenai’s chest was heaving. "I’m tired. I’m tired of competing. I’m tired of proving myself. She chose you. Both of you. I’ve accepted that. Why can’t you?"

Kai’s voice cracked. "Because I’m scared."

The room went quiet.

Kenai blinked. "Scared of what"

Kai’s face was raw. "I’m scared she’ll stay here. That she’ll forget about us. That this child will be enough and we won’t matter anymore."

Kenai stared at him. "You think I want that?"

"I don’t know what you want."

"I want her happy." Kenai’s voice shook. "I want this child to know all of you. I want peace to reign. That’s all I’ve ever wanted."

Rylan spoke quietly. "Then why does it feel like you’re pushing us away?"

Kenai’s face crumbled. "Because I don’t know how to do this. I’ve never shared anything. I don’t know how to make space for you. But I’m trying."

Kai’s voice was small. "Try harder."

Kenai’s jaw tightened. "Then meet me halfway. Stop acting like I’m the enemy. I’m not trying to take her from you."

"You just said you didn’t care if we left."

"I said I didn’t care anymore. There’s a difference."

Kai opened his mouth. Closed it.

The door slammed open and anaria stood there, pale, eyes blazing.

"I heard everything, what the heck is wrong with you people."

Kai’s face fell. "Ana"

"Don’t." She held up a hand. "I thought setting you three up together would help. I thought you could actually communicate like adults. Instead, I find you bickering like children."

Kenai stepped forward. "We were just"

"Just what? Fighting? Saying things you don’t mean?" She laughed bitterly. "You know what? Fine. If you want to fight, then fight. But don’t involve me anymore."

She turned and walked out before any of them could speak. The door closed behind her.

Kenai moved to follow. "Anaria"

Rylan grabbed his arm. "Wait. Let her calm down first."

Kai nodded slowly. "She’s too angry right now."

Kenai’s jaw tightened. "Alright, We give her space for now."

They returned to their work, but none of them could focus. The silence between them was heavy, what anaria said might be true...

When evening came, they made their way to Anaria’s room. But the servant stopped them at the door.

"Lady Anaria has asked that no one disturb her and her meal is to be brought to her room separately."

The three males exchanged looks.

She didn’t want to see them, they went back to the dining room and sat in silence. The food on the table went cold.

Kai spoke first. "She’s really angry at us."

Kenai nodded slowly. "She’s never done this before."

Rylan rubbed his face. "She wanted us to be friends. To work together. And we couldn’t even do that."

Kai looked at the empty seat where Anaria usually sat. Then at Kenai. Then at Rylan.

"Alright." His voice was quiet. "Let’s try and make peace, fighting might end making her hate us"

Kenai looked at him. "Very well then"

Kai met his eyes. "I don’t like you. I don’t trust you. But she wants us to work together. So I’ll try. For her."

Rylan looked between them. "Maybe we should do something. Something to show her we can work together."

Kenai’s brow furrowed. "Like what?"

Rylan thought for a moment. "We hunt tomorrow morning. Together. Bring her something fresh. She’ll see we made the effort. That we can do this."

Kai hesitated. "You think that’ll fix it?"

Rylan shook his head. "I don’t know. But it’s better than sitting here doing nothing."

Kenai nodded slowly. "Alright. Tomorrow morning. We hunt. Together."

Kai sighed. "Fine. But I still don’t like you."

Kenai’s mouth twitched. "I still don’t like you either."

Kai almost smiled. "Good. Then we’re clear."

None of them knew if this would work. But for Anaria, they were going to try.