Kavio
"Not like that," Rthan said with a laugh. He watched Kavio try to stay balanced in the moving canoe. "Dig in your toes. Use the oar to help you stay steady. Watch me!"
Rthan showed him how. His canoe moved smoothly on the water. During their trip down the river, Rthan had been using the time to teach Kavio more about how his people fought in boats. This time, he didn't hold anything back. He taught Kavio as if they were both part of the same Tavaedi group.
The peace party had stayed a few extra days in Jumping Rock. They helped the women fix their houses and made sure Vultho and his kin did not come back. Then they continued down the river.
The river itself felt like a wild warrior. On some days, big waves rose up and almost flipped the boats. On other days, the water was calm, and the strong current carried them without much need to row. Rthan had names for every mood of the river. He taught Kavio these names, along with the rougher skills needed to fight in boats.
Kavio never told anyone, not even Rthan, but he loved river travel. Even with the dangers—rituals at each new clanhold, requests for safe passage, and the occasional fight with a river shark—the journey gave him more free time than usual. Because the Blue Waters clans demanded slow travel, there were many afternoons when Kavio could slip away by himself.
Or be with her.
In the weeks that followed, Kavio trained Dindi without mercy. Each time she did what he asked without complaint, he raised the bar. He asked for more, and then even more. He didn't know why he pushed her so hard. Maybe he wanted to see how far she could go. Maybe he wanted to find the moment she broke.
And if she breaks? Then what? He didn't want to hurt her.
Then I'll stop, he told himself. Once I know her limits.
But how would he know when she had reached her limit? Maybe she would say something like, Please, can I rest now? I'm so tired. Maybe she would trip or fall, showing she had gone too far. A beginner could get hurt—pull a muscle, twist an ankle, faint from thirst.
But Dindi kept going. It was like dancing for hours was normal for her. If her body hurt, she stretched it out or handled it herself. She never complained.
She also seemed hungry for more. Kavio had planned to teach her one dance at a time, making sure she mastered each one before moving to the next. And he expected near-perfect work. But after she stopped trying to add her own flair and followed the steps exactly, even he had trouble finding anything wrong.
She only had to see him do a move once, and she could copy it. That made him uneasy.
To keep up with her, he had to teach more and more dances. Each time he returned from hunting, she was waiting, still smiling.
"I finished another seven counts of seven for The Cat Creeps Across the Roof," she told him, "just like you asked."
Was it his imagination, or did she always look at him like she wanted to challenge him?
"Show me," he said, crossing his arms.
The Cat dance started curled on the ground. Slowly, the dancer moved into a kneeling pose, back arched, arms stretched. Dindi dropped to the ground in front of him and unrolled herself into the form. Her round backside rose in the air. Her simple dress stuck to her chest and stomach with sweat. She lifted her head and licked her lips.
"Rrrrrrr," she said.
His throat went dry.
He asked in a rough voice, "Dindi, what are you doing?" Are you trying to seduce me? he wondered. He forced himself to remember his promise. No more kisses.
She blinked up at him, still on her knees. Her eyes were wide and innocent—more like a young deer than a cat.
"I'm a cat," she said. "So I purred."
Then she rolled her eyes, which ruined the mood. "Don't tell me even that could bring bad magic."
"No," he said. But it's dangerous for a different reason.
He realized he had been staring at her breasts through her wet dress and had forgotten to judge her form. He could not ask her to do it again. He had delayed teaching her The Cat dance for this very reason.
Kavio cleared his throat. "We're done for the day."
You found my limits before I found yours, he thought. But I'm going to solve this puzzle.
He handed her a jug of water he had brought. When she stood, she didn't drink it. Instead, she poured the whole thing over herself. Then she shook the water from her skin like a bird after a bath. Wet hair flew in all directions, and her dress clung to her body. Kavio turned away and walked to the edge of the practice area.
She dried herself with a cloth and came to join him, but he didn't look at her again.
"Follow me," he said. "I found something while hunting. I want to show you."