The first few hours of travelling with Asra and her family consists of awkward silences and conversations, at least for Calliope. She doesn't really feel comfortable talking with people she's never met. Reo however, is happily chattering away with Asra, her mother, and her grandmother. To her surprise, Asra and her family are very kind and personable people. It's a nice change of pace from travelling alone with Reo and meeting the occasional disgruntled travellers. Reo's kindness towards them is unsettling to Calliope considering his history with the Suna. Reo is telling them about their travels in Roscha when Lia, Asra's mother motions in Calliope's direction.
"Your friend is a quiet one." Lia's words make Calliope shrink away. She fiddles with her braids while subconsciously leaning on Reo. He cranes his neck so he could whisper in her ear.
"Do you want to talk to them?" She just shrugs.
"I just don't feel comfortable is all." He sits back up and shoots Lia a small smile.
"She has a hard time talking to and trusting people. Please don't be offended." Seni, Asra's grandmother waves her hand dismissively.
"That's no way to go through life, young lady." She says with an air of impertinence.
"Grandmama, you must respect other people's boundaries." Asra says in a huff. They argue back and forth in rapid Suna. Reo stares at them wide-eyed.
"Are you okay?" Calliope asks.
"Yeah, I'm just trying to keep up, but they're talking way too fast." Asra says something which makes Seni quiet down, then eventually stops talking.
"I'm so sorry for my grandmother's behavior." Calliope smiles politely.
"Don't apologize, I'm not offended. I'm sure she has good intentions."
"Your accent is quite beautiful where is it from?" Lia asks softly, obviously not trying to make Calliope uncomfortable, which she appreciates.
"It's Loran." Lia's dark eyes sparkle.
"I've never met a Loran, I've always wanted to visit but I've never been able to. What's it like there?" Even though it's been several years, she still vividly remembers her home down to the smallest detail.
"It's absolutely beautiful. There's grass greener than anything that's existed, rolling hills, and there's lots of vast lakes that look like sapphires when the sunlight shines on them. In the spring is when the blue wood trees are in bloom. They're these huge trees with indigo flowers that are stunning and in autumn, they turn from indigo to a deep red. The only downside would probably be that Lora has really harsh and bitter winters." Her eyes fall to Reo. He's staring at her, his grey eyes glittering. An endearing smile tugs at his lips which makes her cheeks grow warm. "What?" She asks. Reo shrugs, still smiling at her.
"I've never seen you gush like that."
"It's my home."
"If you love Lora so much, then why did you leave to be in Roscha?" Asra interjects. Calliope's face falls. Those terrible memories from her first two years in Roscha move to the front of her mind. Just the thought of what she endured makes tears well up. Asra gasps softly. "I'm so sorry I didn't-" Calliope raises her hand to stop her talking.
"It's fine." She says sharply. Calliope abruptly turns her back to them. She pulls her knees to her chest and rests her forehead on her legs. She takes deep breaths and tries to blink away the tears. The awful memories flooding into her mind makes silent tears fall down her face. The memories of him, of his face, his cold eyes, his perverted smile, his grimy hands. She balls her hands into fists on her head, pulling her hair along with it. Reo comes up behind her. She feels the ghost of his hand on her shoulder and she brushes him away.
"Hey Calliope, do you-" She cuts him off.
"No, I don't want to talk about it." Her voice comes off as more clipped and sharp than she intended.
"O-Okay." He whispers and moves away from her. Their short conversation is replaced with an awkward silence leaving Calliope to wallow in her thoughts.
The wagon soon comes to a stop so the caravan can camp out for the night. Asra and her family exit the wagon, leaving Reo and Calliope alone. A pregnant silence fills the air before Reo speaks.
"I'm just gonna..." He gets up to leave. Calliope grabs his hand, looking into his eyes. Once she realizes what she did, she pulls away, warmth rising to her tear-soaked cheeks. Reo's expression grows concerned when he looks her over. His hand goes to her cheeks to lightly brush tears away. His eyes are soft, caring. "Calli." The way he says her new nickname makes her heart thump in her chest, his voice is pleading. "What happened when you came to Roscha?" Calliope shakes her head. She's afraid to tell him. She's afraid that he'll shut her out like everyone else that found out. He put her head in his hands. "I hate seeing you like this, please tell me." He makes Calliope look him in the eyes. In his beautiful and genuine eyes.
"You're just going to push me away like everyone else." Reo scoffs.
"My life is the definition of the clusterfuck. I think I can handle it." Calliope laughs and Reo smiles in response. She curls up beside him as she begins her story.
"I grew up in the capital of Lora with my mother and my older sisters. We owned a music store and made a living making instruments and giving music lessons. One day, my sisters and I were performing in the town amphitheatre. I was fourteen. After the performance I was playing with some refugee children and among them was a boy I had a huge crush on at the time. That night, we were walking through the city when he pulled me into an alley. I thought it was because we could be alone but he tried to knock me out. I tried to fight him, but he overpowered me and knocked me unconscious. It wasn't until later when I learned that he was a scout for the slavers. When I came to, I was on a ship bound and gagged. I recognized immediately that I was taken by slavers." Calliope will never forget the sigil of the slavers, the black banners with golden eagles encrusted on them. She continued. "I kept silent out of fear for my life, so I just listened to the slaver's conversations. I was to be brought to Roscha to be a slave for a man named Morah Selano. I assumed that I would just be like a normal servant, but I was so very wrong." Calliope begins to open and close her fists nervously. Reo folds his hands over hers. She looks down, not wanting to look him in the eye. "When I arrived I was taken to his chambers and I...was completely ravaged by him. It happened almost every night for two years before I escaped. The leader of the Dreadworths smuggling guild, Leo took me in and has kept me hidden from him ever since." It took all of her willpower to finally look Reo in the eyes. She can see everything click into place in his mind.
"I guess now I understand your solitude and trust issues." He says jokingly. She rolls her eyes. "And that house you were scared of was that?" Calliope nods.
"That's his house." Reo wraps his arms around Calliope in a tight embrace.
"You won't leave me?" Reo chuckles, the rumble of his laugh in his chest soothes her.
"Of course I won't. It wasn't like you chose to be a sex slave. And I'm proud of you." Calliope gives Reo a quizzical look.
"Proud?"
"Any normal woman would have been broken beyond repair. But you escaped and made a living. But another thing, why didn't you go back to Lora?"
"I can't"
"Why not?"
"I can't face my mother." Reo sighs.
"Even still, thank you for telling me." He smiles softly. Calliope breathes a sigh of relief. It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off her. Almost like this burden of her past is being shared. Calliope looks over Reo, who has now taken to going through his satchel of medical supplies. The fondness and admiration she feels for him has now taken root in her heart. She sends a silent prayer to the gods, thanking them for blessing her with Reo.