Chapter 24 Pearl Encrusted Daggers
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
PEARL ENCRUSTED DAGGERS
The smell of sweat and smoke stayed with Brune as they limped back to the clan.
Ridan was leading Peppercorn, stroking her neck idly while he spoke with Jonen in hushed tones.
Exhaustion clung to them worse than the smoke, weighing heavily on their shoulders and turning their feet wooden as they stumbled through the dark.
Under the exhaustion was confusion. No one understood what had happened.
One moment they were sleeping, secure in the safety of home, and the next they were fighting for their life.
Brune could still smell burning skin and hear the screams of the dying.
He couldn’t save them. He couldn’t even get close enough to help as the flames consumed them.
So hot and bright, yet their death was slow.
Faces he knew he should recognize, but unrecognizable with terror. Warriors whose strength wasn’t enough.
It was a vicious attack. One that shouldn’t surprise Brune, but it did.
How could anyone do that? Guilt pooled low in his guilt, acidic as it ate at him.
If circumstances had been different, would that have been Brune?
Would he have accepted his orders, done what they told him to on the promise of a meal and a roof over his head?
He didn’t know, and that was answer enough.
Stumbling forward, he finally caught sight of the clan. Most of the tents had been burned beyond recognition. The stables were gone. Brune only had a moment to be grateful there were no horses amidst the charred wreckage.
No one said anything as they scouted among the ruins for anything worth saving. Several of the omegas were nearly despondent over losing their nests. It was a testament to their inner strength that they could keep going at all, only their scent giving their true feelings away.
It didn’t take long for them to collect what was left. Before the sun rose, they had set off toward where the rest of the clan had retreated.
As he swayed on Boulder's broad back, Brune took a moment to be grateful that most of their vulnerable clan members had already left. The only Stone Blade that had been left were all able-bodied warriors. While their losses were deeply felt, it could have been so much worse.
Not that it mattered to Ridan. Brune didn’t need to scent him to know he blamed himself.
It was in the furrow of his brow and his pinched lips.
The way his eyes lingered on the mangled bodies of the dead.
No one could have predicted such an attack.
Brune had been in the Kaldonean military and had never seen such a machine.
Ridan did everything he could, but he wouldn’t see it that way.
Ridan was blinded by his failures. It was what made him such a good leader.
He only saw the people he couldn’t stave.
He didn’t see the way the survivors looked to him for direction, or how they accepted his orders without question.
Ridan had been so focused on stopping the attack, he couldn’t appreciate how well trained his people were.
But Brune had.
Fate might have brought him here, but it was Restrina who set him on his journey.
She looked at Brune and knew exactly what he was meant for.
She knew Brune would see the things Ridan couldn’t.
She gave him the shield, not for himself, but for Ridan.
So that Brune could elevate him to the greatness he was fated for.
Reaching up, he touched the necklace hanging around his neck. He had a long way to go to live up to her expectations, but he would do it. For Ridan, but more importantly, for himself. To make up for his past and to create his future.
By the time the sky was beginning to lighten, they arrived at the base of Artrax’s Mountain. It was among the sparse trees and thick slabs of granite that they found the rest of the Stone Blade gathered.
Osmond was so soot stained he was nearly unrecognizable. It was only his blue eyes that were recognizable in the gloom. He greeted them as they approached, limping from what looked like a terrible burn on his right leg.
Ridan dismounted and took his arm. “Thank you for getting them here,” he said gruffly, voice strained.
His lieutenant ducked his head. “I apologize for not being by your side.”
Ignoring his obvious injuries, Ridan punched him in the shoulder. “You saved them, Osmond. That’s more than I could have ever asked.”
It was clear the big man disagreed, but he nodded, pointing out how they’d set up camp.
Though the trees were spindly and bare, they were rooted close together. They would provide excellent cover. The wounded were gathered up the hill, clustered around a large fire as Halm did her best to treat them. Derry was at her side, helping where he could. Brune was grateful to see them unhurt.
“Niklas and some of the others are scouting,” Osmond told Ridan after they took care of the horses.
They were grazing by a small stream a little way from the camp.
Peppercorn was filthy, covered in sweat and ash, but she still walked amongst them with her ears pinned and a sneer on her face.
Boulder followed the haughty mare, taking advantage of her wake.
“Rations are sparse, but we’ll be fine if we can hunt,” Osmond continued, crossing his arms over his chest. “Most of the wounds are superficial, but one or two could take a turn for the worse. If we had Iylah…” he trailed off, glancing over his shoulder towards the fire.
“It wouldn’t make a damn difference,” Ridan snapped, rubbing his eyes. “Halm will see them through.”
Osmond was quiet for a long moment. “You have a lot of confidence in a woman you hardly know.”
Brune bristled. That was bold for someone who wasn’t born of the Stone Blade, either. Osmond hadn’t seen Halm stand up to her chief to save Schok. She was willing to face a life of being clanless just because it was the right thing to do.
“Halm is Stone Blade,” Ridan declared pointedly, his eyes boring into Osmond.
The alpha bore the stare for a moment before flinching, exposing his neck in submission. “And Stone Blade don’t fail,” he whispered in response.
Ridan nodded, moving towards where the wounded were gathered. He glanced up when Jonen and Corric joined them. “Once it’s light, we need to meet up with Gustall’s sentries. Find out why they failed.” Osmond agreed, limping along with him as they planned.
“Find Smithe. If he isn’t injured, have him and Shesto ride out. We need to find out where the bulk of Kaledonea’s army is and get a head around their numbers.”
Osmond left to give Ridan’s orders. When he disappeared, they moved into the light of the big fire. Those who were awake looked up when they walked by. Some called a greeting, others looked up with dull eyes.
Corric was covered in blood, but none of it looked like his own.
Jonen didn’t look much better. His shirt was ripped, and his curls were lying flat against his head.
He was hovering close to Corric, one arm wrapped around his waist possessively.
Corric didn’t seem to mind, leaning into his alpha.
They looked older than their years, eyes haunted.
Instinctively, the packmates gravitated towards each other.
They needed each other. With the attack, and the destruction of their nests and den, it was a miracle they were able to stand upright at all.
It was clear in the way Jonen’s eyes shifted between them that his alpha wanted to bundle his pack’s omegas up somewhere safe.
It was a sentiment Brune shared. Only the knowledge that Ridan was strong, and that he had a job to do as chief, kept him from carting him off.
Hide him away somewhere safe, covered in his scent.
It was a fight for his instincts, one he was rapidly beginning to lose now that the heat of battle was dissipating.
Before he could say anything, the group was enveloped in the thick scent of burnt bread. Sehleh raced towards them, tears in her eyes as she pulled the three into a hug.
“My pups,” she sobbed, coating them in her scent as she laid kisses on their dirty cheeks.
“Mom!” Jonen gasped; face scrunched up under her affection. “You’re supposed to be with Henroen’s mate on the way to Strong Leg!”
She ignored his question, stepping back to look them over. Corric leaned into her affection, purring as she stroked his hair from his face and worried at the blood on his clothes. It wasn’t until she’d looked them all over that she finally answered.
“I’m Stone Blade too,” she reminded them, eyes glittering.
“And someone has to make sure you boys take care of yourselves.” Her eyes narrowed on Ridan.
He tried to slip away, but she was faster, snagging his arm so she could drag him into the light to look at his wound.
“Ridan, why haven’t you taken care of this? ”
He grumbled, shoulders by his ears as she chastised him. Sehleh stroked his hair back, sighing softly. “You have so many of your parent’s wonderful qualities.” She smacked him upside the head. “And all of their terrible ones! Go get yourself seen to!”
Brune held back a chuckle as Ridan slinked away, muttering about bossy betas. Sehleh watched him leave before turning her attention to Brune.
“And you,” she said before getting on tiptoes to pull him into a crushing hug. Surprised, Brune flailed for a moment, unsure what to do with his hands before her comforting scent drew him in. With a contented sigh, he hugged her back.
Sehleh stroked his back. “I was so worried about you pups.”
He blinked, standing back to look at her in surprise. “No one has ever called me a pup before.”
She smiled sadly, tweaking his nose. “You’ll be my pup, then. My big pup.”