Page 65 of Minotaur's Secret Baby
That is one of my general's many admirable qualities. He and I might butt heads when strategizing, but once I choose a course of action, he is very good at following orders.
"You've yet to steer us wrong. It's why the borderlands troops support you so loyally."
"I don't ask them to do anything I wouldn't do myself."
"I think the men appreciate someone of noble blood who has seen real war like they have," he says.
My people are proud warriors, but not everyone has the same dedication to it. I've been a fighter all my life. I've always been ready to put my life on the line for my people. It's what I have been trained to do since I was a child.
There hasn't been time for much else. Even my family and I are distant. I've spent more time training with the generals they sent me off to than with them. While I'm loyal to them, it's because it's my duty to be.
I will defend my family, my people, and my homeland with everything I have.
My duty is to my people, so I've never taken the time to find a mate.
Though it's never felt like much of a sacrifice.
"Uzha?" Kazhir raises an eyebrow at me.
"Yes," I say, snapping back to the present and noticing another naga, one of the soldiers, has entered and is now looking concerned.
"Never mind. I think you need some sleep."
I rub my eyes.
The lack of sleep has been a sacrifice. Even the strongest can only battle against unconsciousness for so long. It's been days since I've slept properly.
"I'll sleep when I'm dead. What is it?"
The soldier bows his head and says, "We found something while out on patrol, at the bottom of the cliffs."
"What is it?"
"I'm not sure. That's the problem." I can't tell if the soldier's concern is about the thing he just found or how I didn't even notice he came in because I'm so tired.
"Show me," I say, following him out the door.
Soldiers' tents are scattered around the central building, and he leads me to one with the flap drawn open. There are perhaps two dozen naga gathered around, trying to peer inside.
"Soldiers!" I shout, and they all snap to attention. "I'm sure you all have duties you should be attending to. If not, I can find you something to do that is more productive than standing around."
The bow and slink away. The first soldier motions for me to enter the tent, and I see several more naga gathered around a bed.
"Is your presence here required?" I ask.
They all turn to look at me before leaving the tent.
When I see what is lying there, I understand the commotion. It's a human woman. Humans are a rarity in Nagaland. Very few have seen them. I've only seen a handful when other nobles have decided they wanted to keep one as a pet. I have to admit, they do look fascinating, and she's the most fascinating example I've seen.
Humans share some similarities to naga but are also very different.
Her arms are more delicate but the same basic shape. No scales, though. Just tan-colored skin. But I've seen humans with different colors of skin. They may even have as much variation as we nagas do for our scale color.
No proud hood, but they have hair like dark elves and orcs. Hers is long and black, and it feels soft when I run my fingers through it. While I've seen humans, I've never had the chance to touch one or examine them up close. I pry an eye open, and she stares blankly into space. Round irises. So different from the gold of mine with the vertical slit.
But perhaps the most fascinating things are her legs. Hers are long and lean and flawless, noticeably lacking scales and a tail. I carefully reach out and touch them. Her skin is smooth and warm. And soft, but I can feel the harder muscle underneath. She must be strong.
She may be a human, but she's far more beautiful than the ones I've seen. The other humans were forgettable, never speaking or looking at me. I have the sudden urge to wake her as I realize I've never heard a human. I want to talk to her and hear what she sounds like.