conversation to couples was the reason she had asked him out
here in the first place.
“Yes, Kneus has a lot of demands on his time. I know he can handle it
though. He is determined to make the medical units safe for women and children
by the time Mairi is to give birth. He is hoping to have one or two units that
will make delivery easier for both mother and child. He really is a genius.”
Pride rang in Knaleg’s tone.
“Yes he is very impressive.” Catherine hesitated wondering how to ask the
question plaguing her mind. “Knaleg, I was wondering if you could tell me
something.”
His eyes widened for a split second, “What would you like to know?”
“Why would you ask that the females not be allowed to train in battle
tactics with the males?” Catherine watched his face for the reaction to her
question. The color spread over his cheeks in a blush, his eyes breaking
contact with hers. So she had been right. It was Knaleg who had made the
request.
With a sigh Knaleg turned back, “Would you like the real reason or the
reason I gave the council?”
Catherine gave a slight shrug, “I would prefer an honest answer.” She
waited for Knaleg to turn back around to make eye contact again.
He finally turned around and his gaze met and held hers, “I requested
that the females not be allowed to train for fear of the damage that could
occur to them...to you.” He paused, “I was going to speak to Gwen about an
issue I was having, but I think maybe I should speak to you instead.”
Catherine was shocked. He was having a medical issue that needed Gwen’s
expertise but instead was thinking about telling her? She wasn’t sure if she
wanted to know, since she may not be able to help.
“Knaleg, before you tell me something of a medical nature that may be
wrong with you, I need you to know that I may not have an answer that could
help you.” She tried to forestall any confession he was trying to make about
his health.
“It is not a physical thing wrong with my body. That is healthy and
acting as it always has.” He flexed a few muscles along his chest, arms and
abs. Catherine had to agree. There wasn’t anything she could see that was
physically wrong with him. His body was perfect as far as she could tell.
“I think the issue I am having is in here.” He tapped his head, “I have
been having thoughts...you might call them ‘doubts’ in my head. I am not used
to these feelings of uncertainty and fears that keep coming into my mind.”
“When do these feelings manifest themselves?” Catherine asked, “During
your regular, daily routine?”
“No. They only trouble me when I am around a certain female.” Knaleg
spoke softly. “I have difficulty containing my emotions around her.”
“Oh.” Catherine was stunned for a second, then the green-eyed monster
struck again. He was able to talk comfortably with her, was so at ease with her
that he could spar with her. In fact she had only seen a few flashes of emotion
from him, so she wasn’t the one causing his discomfort and worry. He must be
talking about a female he was attracted to.
“Do you feel uncertainty that she may not return your affections? The
fear of rejection?” Catherine silently hoped that the female wasn’t interested,
and then maybe he would turn to her instead.
“To fully understand my feelings I would have to tell you of an
experience I recently had.” Knaleg whispered conspiratorially. “You could not
tell anyone else of this happening.”
Catherine nodded that she understood so he leaned closer, “It all started
after the triplets were born. Kniam had a horrifying nightmare and trapped all
of the brothers in it with him.” He absently grabbed her hand and she held her
breath waiting to hear the details. She could tell they were grim by the
pressure he was applying. “In Kniam’s nightmare Amber had passed away. The pain
he was suffering...I don’t even know how to describe it. It was the most
intense feeling of
here in the first place.
“Yes, Kneus has a lot of demands on his time. I know he can handle it
though. He is determined to make the medical units safe for women and children
by the time Mairi is to give birth. He is hoping to have one or two units that
will make delivery easier for both mother and child. He really is a genius.”
Pride rang in Knaleg’s tone.
“Yes he is very impressive.” Catherine hesitated wondering how to ask the
question plaguing her mind. “Knaleg, I was wondering if you could tell me
something.”
His eyes widened for a split second, “What would you like to know?”
“Why would you ask that the females not be allowed to train in battle
tactics with the males?” Catherine watched his face for the reaction to her
question. The color spread over his cheeks in a blush, his eyes breaking
contact with hers. So she had been right. It was Knaleg who had made the
request.
With a sigh Knaleg turned back, “Would you like the real reason or the
reason I gave the council?”
Catherine gave a slight shrug, “I would prefer an honest answer.” She
waited for Knaleg to turn back around to make eye contact again.
He finally turned around and his gaze met and held hers, “I requested
that the females not be allowed to train for fear of the damage that could
occur to them...to you.” He paused, “I was going to speak to Gwen about an
issue I was having, but I think maybe I should speak to you instead.”
Catherine was shocked. He was having a medical issue that needed Gwen’s
expertise but instead was thinking about telling her? She wasn’t sure if she
wanted to know, since she may not be able to help.
“Knaleg, before you tell me something of a medical nature that may be
wrong with you, I need you to know that I may not have an answer that could
help you.” She tried to forestall any confession he was trying to make about
his health.
“It is not a physical thing wrong with my body. That is healthy and
acting as it always has.” He flexed a few muscles along his chest, arms and
abs. Catherine had to agree. There wasn’t anything she could see that was
physically wrong with him. His body was perfect as far as she could tell.
“I think the issue I am having is in here.” He tapped his head, “I have
been having thoughts...you might call them ‘doubts’ in my head. I am not used
to these feelings of uncertainty and fears that keep coming into my mind.”
“When do these feelings manifest themselves?” Catherine asked, “During
your regular, daily routine?”
“No. They only trouble me when I am around a certain female.” Knaleg
spoke softly. “I have difficulty containing my emotions around her.”
“Oh.” Catherine was stunned for a second, then the green-eyed monster
struck again. He was able to talk comfortably with her, was so at ease with her
that he could spar with her. In fact she had only seen a few flashes of emotion
from him, so she wasn’t the one causing his discomfort and worry. He must be
talking about a female he was attracted to.
“Do you feel uncertainty that she may not return your affections? The
fear of rejection?” Catherine silently hoped that the female wasn’t interested,
and then maybe he would turn to her instead.
“To fully understand my feelings I would have to tell you of an
experience I recently had.” Knaleg whispered conspiratorially. “You could not
tell anyone else of this happening.”
Catherine nodded that she understood so he leaned closer, “It all started
after the triplets were born. Kniam had a horrifying nightmare and trapped all
of the brothers in it with him.” He absently grabbed her hand and she held her
breath waiting to hear the details. She could tell they were grim by the
pressure he was applying. “In Kniam’s nightmare Amber had passed away. The pain
he was suffering...I don’t even know how to describe it. It was the most
intense feeling of
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