Page 23 of His to Worship
I do wonder why, but I don’t believe that it would be because the other one is dangerous. I just don’t think that Kuvier would bring anyone around who wouldn’t be safe for me, which tells me that his behavior is something else altogether.
Still, not wanting to be rude, I decide to try introducing myself again. This time staying in my spot, I look to the newcomer and say, “Hello, my name—”
Before I can even finish the introduction, Kuvier brings his lips close to the edge of my ear and growls low in his throat. It’s a warning and I know it. But, the sound sends a delicious shiver through me. With that reaction, I realize that the issue here is me introducing myself, so I decide to go with a different approach. I look back at Kuvier, pointing at the new guy.
“His name?” I ask, since he’s apparently picked up on the word ‘name.’
Kuvier’s growl turns into a resigned sigh, and he finally relents. “Enikk,” he says, drawing out the long ‘e’ sound at the beginning.
“Enikk,” I repeat, smiling warmly at Kuvier. I turn to Enikk and point to Renata first. “Renata.” Enikk breathes her name out as if it is the most fascinating word in the universe. He says it slightly wrong, Reh-not-ah, defining every syllable. But it is a similar way to Kuvier calling me ‘Seh’-dona.
As soon as I say Renata’s name, and before I can attempt to introduce myself again, Kuvier determines that is enough of my interaction with Enikk. He places gentle but firm hands on my shoulders and turns us back towards the shipping crate, my feet still on top of his.
We tandem walk a few steps until we’re back in the shipping crate and he lets me step off his toes and straight to the snowless ground. Renata plops down next to the fire and Kuvier softly steers me to follow suit. I take a seat by her and watch as she observes the scene around her. She’s only just started to brave Kuvier, and now there is another alien to consider. I can see the wheels turning in her head as she assesses the situation. Her guard is up, and I don’t blame her.
Enikk, however, seems completely unfazed by Renata’s wariness. It’s as if he is fascinated by her, his gaze unwavering and curious. Renata notices this and narrows her eyes, clearly not appreciating the scrutiny. Enikk looks away under the heat of her glare, but I have a feeling curiosity will win out again.
As expected, his impertinent eyes are fixed on her again as he ducks under the awning and follows Kuvier further into the crate. He says something as he walks to which Kuvier grunts in response, sounding not entirely convinced.
From there, Kuvier drops to his knees beside one of his packs, unloading the supplies and setting them out in front of them. Enikk follows suit, and soon both men each have two packs unloaded with all of the supplies spread out.
There’s hunks of frozen raw meat, two large bags with leather drawstrings that are full of something lumpy and roundish, ample processed furs of multiple sizes, and what appears to be a sewing kit made from bones. There’s all kinds of bone tools actually, many of which have a function I don’t know. As I look at the sheer amount of supplies, it becomes clear to me that Kuvier anticipates we will be here for a while. I can’t decide how that makes me feel.
As Kuvier works, I glance at Enikk and then back at Renata. “Looks like we’re going to be well taken care of,” I say, trying to lighten the mood. “These supplies will make a huge difference.”
Renata speaks slowly, still keeping a close eye on Enikk. “We’ll see,” she murmurs. “I just hope we can trust him as much as Kuvier.”
I give her a reassuring smile, but say nothing else.
As Kuvier fusses over the supplies, I notice his gaze lingering on the dwindling rations he left us. My cheeks flush with embarrassment as I realize just how much Renata and I have eaten in half a day’s time. We were so hungry after hand-shoveling the snow from the collapsed ceiling that we had devoured the food without a second thought. I also have no idea when I last ate before Kuvier. But, regardless, I wish now that we had been more cognizant. It’s clear that every piece of food takes a lot of work here and we should have rationed better.
“Sorry,” I say sheepishly as I move from the fire close to Kuvier, though I know he can’t understand my words. “We were just so hungry.”
Kuvier glances up at me from his layout of supplies, his expression softening as he sees the embarrassment on my face. He doesn’t need to understand my language to read the guilt in my eyes.
“Eat much, it is for you, ti khesi.” He gives me a gentle smile and reaches into the pile of rations to hand me a piece of dried meat.
I manage a small smile in return, grateful for his understanding, and take the meat from him. “Thank you.”
I take a bite and look at Renata to see if she’s hungry again. She’s paying us no mind, staring thoughtfully at the fire. I have a feeling she won’t stray far from the fire, especially now that the men are back. She’d barely moved even when they weren’t around. Not that I blame her. Despite the fire and efforts to cover that hole in the ceiling, the cold air still seeps in.
It’s not long until Kuvier and Enikk get started on breakfast. From behind us further into the shipping crate, Kuvier barks something in his native language to Enikk, his tone short and his face stormy. Enikk for his credit seems completely unbothered by Kuvier’s unusual surliness. I can’t help but wonder what happened between the two before they got to us. But, whatever Kuvier says is enough for Enikk to get up and leave. Renata and I exchange glances.
“Is it too much to ask that the extra goat man is leaving for good?” she mutters to me watching the space where he left. “He’s kinda creeping me out with all the staring.”
“Well, he left all of his stuff and only had a pouch so I highly doubt it,” I answer her, my tone joking.
Enikk’s staring is far less intimate than the way Kuvier stares at me. Still, Enikk is not as subtle, and in my personal opinion, Kuvier’s staring is less invasive. Kuvier stares like he thinks I’m the most valuable thing he’s ever seen. Enikk stares at Renata as if he is waiting impatiently for something to happen and he’s disappointed it hasn’t.
To Renata’s chagrin, Enikk returns moments later with additional items in his hands. He’s carrying two large slabs of stone and the leather pouch is hanging from his wrist, looking weighed down by something.
I watch as he moves over to the fire and begins setting up the pouch over the fire, letting me know that it’s filled with snow to melt. He’s been good about keeping some distance between him and us. I appreciate that at least he isn’t forcing his way into Renata’s space. Kuvier has, for the most part, also maintained respect for my personal space. And if I’m being honest, the few times he’s touched me more, I haven’t minded so much.
“This whole thing is still unbelievable,” Renata comments, her eyes dancing uneasily to Enikk and then back to me, “and now there’s two of them.”
“It’s definitely weird but at least Enikk seems fine enough and Kuvier has taken care of us the entire time.”
“You mean you?” she says it with a laugh, but I don’t chuckle along because the laugh sounded almost accusatory.