Sloane chattered away as they walked, her mood having greatly improved from what it had been earlier in the day. With things going well as they were, Hansel was pleasant company, if a bit strange and abrupt at times. Sloane did her best to enjoy the moment, to wipe any other thoughts and worries from her mind and focus on the moment, instead of what was likely waiting for her at the pavilion. Sloane turned as they grew closer and Hansel sighed and slowed, her own smile fading somewhat as she cast a glance at the Firelash Pavilion.
"Hmm, I'll come find you soon." She agreed, voice soft and pleasant, smile returning for but a moment in response to his wink. Waving, Sloane turned and made her way back into the circle of tents that formed the pavilion.
Her mood quickly soured, immediately catching sight of Haigen watching her stonily from across camp. Kadir was speaking to him quietly, Katrine and Edina by their side. It was clear from their grim expressions that they knew who'd she'd been with for the past few bells, and none of them looked pleased to see her return. Groaning, Sloane attempted to make a detour, cutting around the backs of the tents and going the long way towards the one she was sharing with Haigen, but Kadir seemed to have other ideas. He glanced up, and started towards the walahk immediately, Edina hot on his heels and Katrine leading a clearly angry Haigen away by the arm. Sloane came to a stop, shoulders slumping in defeat as she waited for the Ankal and his wife to reach her, rather than lead a ridiculous chase around the camp.
"Nothing happened." She snapped before either of them could say anything, but was only met with raised brows and expressions of disbelief.
"Enough of this." Kadir finally said, crossing his arms over his chest as he cast his gaze over Sloane. "We make deal." Edina added, coming to a stop beside her husband. It was Sloanes turn to raise her brow, the younger woman confused by the words and the smug look on the Drykas women's freckled face.
"Deal?" She repeated quizzically. She'd already made a "deal" with them, thus why she was even bothering listening to what the Ankal had to say, and not storming off into Endrykas in a huff.
"What deal?" Kadir and Edina exchanged a glance, and Edina spoke first, turning to pin Sloane with a harsh glare. "You listen, no talk." She growled, and the pair remained silent until Sloane nodded her agreement. "You won't be seeing him anymore." Kadir started, hand darting up to silence Sloane's angry objection, his eye's full of fierce warning. "Until you are with child. You work, come home, bed Haigen. That is all, or I will retract my protection of you." Sloane's face soured and twisted, making her displeasure clear.
"When you are with child,
Haigens child, you can see him again, and go about your business as I have allowed before. However, if I hear that your actions have dishonoured me, Haigen, or the Firelash Pavilion, I will make you regret it with every fibre of your body." Sloane listened silently, anger mingling with confusion, unsure of what to think or feel, but knowing for certain that she wanted to hear everything the Ankal had to say. "When you give birth, you have another choice." He continued, voice lowering a notch, as Edina glanced behind them, ensuring that none of the other Pavilion members were near enough to hear. "You either stay with your child, and join this Pavilion as Haigens wife,
or you leave the child here, and I will provide you with all the supplies you need to survive in the Sea of Grass." Pausing, Kadir gave his words a moment to sink in, studying the carefully blanked face of the woman before him, and the way she'd twisted her hands into each other, the flesh white from the pressure. "If you try and take the child away, I will not hesitate to stop you, any way I must. Do you understand?" He finished, and Sloane took a long, silent moment to think over what he'd said. It was a lot, too much frankly, for her to wrap her head around at once, and so when Sloane finally spoke she did so hesitantly, picking he words with caution. "The first part, that agree to, yes... But, the second..." She took a long deep breath, shaking her head. "I want to think about it."
Common ~ Pavi ~ Thoughts