Magician's Touch (Deadly Touch book 3) Chapter 31: 31: Hunger

Read chapter 31 of Magician's Touch (Deadly Touch book 3) by Deb E Howell on NovelPedia.

The new Aenuks were called Winifred – Fred or Winnie, she didn’t mind – and Blink. Sam introduced them after giving them a quick tour of the farm and making sleeping arrangements. He brought them over to the Ajnais as Llew and Jonas finished up the blood transfers. “I was born at the end of a very long day. The guy who named me had apparently run out of ideas.” “The guy … Not your father, I take it?” Llew asked. “Who?” Winnie also rolled her eyes over a dismissive smile. “I’m just lucky I haven’t taken to pregnancy yet, or I’d still be in my cell growing my part of the latest crop.” She focused her attention on Llew as she said this. Blink looked at her, but Llew couldn’t read his expression. “Honestly, this opportunity to live free … To— to choose … it’s everything.” Blink scowled at the ground. “Merrid and Ard, who—” Llew nearly choked up. “We stayed out of it,” Blink said. “I mean, it didn’t take twenty to do it, so we weren’t needed, but …” He seemed to realize he wasn’t helping and fell silent. Jonas placed a hand against Llew’s back, the heat immediately radiating through her chemise. While she still wore what would be considered underwear, the material was no thinner than the shirts she’d worn for years, so it was of little bother to her. Llew swallowed, trying to dislodge the lump in her throat. It didn’t work, but Jonas’s presence gave her the strength to go on. “Merrid and Ard dedicated themselves to freeing Aenuks.” Both Winnie and Blink shifted uncomfortably. “They freed my pa from the Turhmos army and he met my ma who was already free, and they had me – in Quaver, of all places. Unfortunately, Braph the Magician captured my ma, and eventually my pa, too. And me, briefly.” She cleared her throat. Memories of Merrid and Ard brought a sad ache while memories of Braph brought a hot anger. How much simpler life had been when it was just Llew. Alone. “Being free isn’t easy. I had to be taught how to live alone; how to feed myself and get by. Merrid and Ard would want us to do that for you here, and it’s what I want to do. I want all Aenuks to live free of cages.” Winnie got it; her eyes lost focus on the real world as she imagined. Blink remained standoffish, skeptical. “You surrendered for a reason,” Llew continued. “Maybe you just weren’t ready to die with the rest of them, but I reckon some part of you wants to know what it’s like out here; what it’s like to make choices. Well, making choices means making mistakes.” She felt Jonas shift his weight behind her, though he kept his hand in place. “It can mean going hungry. It can mean sleeping rough. It might mean having arguments and fights and maybe learning you’d rather be back in the cage. Maybe it is easier having meals brought to you, knowing where you’ll sleep. Maybe it is easier being told where to go, what to do, who to fuck—” Blink flinched. Winnie curled a lip. “—who to fight. But you’re people. Where in there is the chance for love? Friendships, romance, family?” Both Aenuks grew still. “That’s what we’re fighting for. There are good people here. You might come to like some of them. That’s what freedom has to offer; the chance to laugh, cry, love, hate. The chance to make a mark on the world all your own. The chance to figure out who you are, be who you are … be a human, not just an Aenuk valued and loathed for what you can do for and to others. We’ll fight with you when Turhmos comes again, so the next time someone needs your healing, you can choose to give it.” “Did you mean what you said, about Ajnai tree seeds?” Winnie asked. Llew nodded. “We think we’ve got enough for one tree per Aenuk alive today. They grow fast, so you’ll be able to use them soon after planting somewhere, but they don’t release seeds unless they’re dying, so you’ll need to be sure. That’s why we’re inviting you to stay, learn the basics of life outside of a cage, and then decide where you might like to go.” “Where would we go?” Blink asked. “Our family is the other Aenuks or some of t