Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
TYOS
“Should we go back?”
I hadn’t thought when I joined this trip that it would be this difficult.
I thought we would go to the towns as we normally did to retrieve tributes, allow the former tributes from the Northern clan, Briar and Simon, to explain things, and escort those who wished to leave to Al Nuzem without much issue.
Simon had told us that the towns didn’t like those who preferred same sex bonding.
I thought they would be eager to see them go.
But getting them to trust us hadn’t been as easy as I expected, even with former townsfolk being the ones to share the information.
Plus, the towns resented our presence, even if we remained outside the gates.
It was as far as Einar was willing to go when his bondmate was acting as bodyguard for the other two inside.
The process had begun to ease as town gossip spread and they knew to expect our arrival.
In one town, there was a group waiting for us when we arrived.
No explanations had to be made in that town.
It gave me hope that things would move more quickly, as the winter weather had only just begun to settle and it was still cold at night.
Keeping those escaping their homes warm and comfortable while moving from town to town was getting more difficult.
They’d already had to bring a group back to Al Nuzem, the numbers larger than expected when having the first discussions about this journey.
The first group hadn’t brought enough supplies to care for them all and had needed to go back for more and drop off who they could.
This time, there were more brothers as protection, more wagons, and we were better prepared.
Or, at least, I thought we were, until arriving at the town just that morning.
“No. They made their stance clear. It would be too great a risk to push with our numbers,” Uttin insisted. He was the only clan leader who’d traveled with us, accompanying his bondmate who had business in Yaifem at the end of the journey.
I glanced worriedly over my shoulder toward the direction of the town. That they didn’t allow us inside wasn’t surprising, but they didn’t allow people to leave either. What were the chances that people wished to leave but were unable because of the town’s rules?
Matthew, Einar’s bondmate and one of the few who had gone inside the towns, watched me with concern in his eyes.
He tipped his head, silently asking me what was wrong.
He didn’t say much to those outside his circle, and we’d only met when this journey began, but he was expressive in his face, and his bondmate translated for him when necessary.
“I’m concerned,” I admitted. “It has been mentioned that people in the town cannot speak about their interests. Who’s to say someone is not in that town and unable to leave because they cannot ask for the gates to be opened without risking themselves?
We could be leaving people behind to live in misery by not pushing the issue. ”
Matthew seemed understanding, his expression becoming just as concerned as mine, and when he glanced at Einar, he spoke volumes without words.
Einar narrowed his eyes, practically glaring at his bondmate.
Einar the Feral was terrifying to most, and even I was wary around him, despite having traveled with him for this journey.
That his bondmate didn’t even flinch at the irritation on his face was astonishing.
For such a shy man, Matthew was braver than he seemed.
With a grunt, Einar shook his head. “You will not go beyond those walls where I cannot get to you. They can send more back when the towns are no longer on alert. Your safety matters more to me than that of strangers.”
Matthew’s expression softened, and he pressed his lips together to hide his smile. It was sweet, the way they interacted, but it did nothing to soften Einar’s will. He would not bring his bondmate near a town so obviously against our presence. A choice I couldn’t blame him for.
Casting a look at my brother beside me, I waited for his opinion. Several clans made up this group, though half were from the Northern clan, since their bondmates were the ones spreading the news. Myself and my blood brother came from Clan Velgraz, and there were two from Clan Felnar.
Dras eyed me for a long moment before sighing. “You will not let it go until we go check, will you?”
He knew me well. “It would not hurt to be diligent. We aren’t far.”
Rolling his eyes, he pushed to his feet. “We will go check to see if there is any activity that might indicate there is an issue. If there is, we will come back with more brothers after we return those currently under our protection to Al Nuzem.”
I glanced over my shoulder at the group of wagons we’d brought with us.
One was full already, the townsfolk inside them hidden under furs and blankets to stay warm.
It was better that way, to keep them out of the weather that looked as though it was threatening to turn dark, large angry clouds slowly blocking out the setting sun.
Another two wagons were empty, ready for more as long as we weren’t continually turned away like we had been at the town before.
It was odd, having townsfolk getting into those wagons willingly.
Normally, they would be filled with tributes.
Now, with the ability to meet potential bondmates more casually in Al Nuzem, there was no need for tributes.
All we gathered were free to come and go as they wished.
Our only job was to get them there safely.
“Come on, Tyos. We will go check on the town. I do not wish to be out all night,” Dras grumped. “It’s going to rain.”
Grinning at him, I pushed to my feet and headed for my stallion, Ghaevek.
He had worked hard during this journey and eyed me with as much unhappiness as Dras did when I came to fetch him.
I offered him an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, my friend.
We’ll make this quick, so you can get back to your rest.”
He huffed and rolled his eyes, a common occurrence for him when dealing with me. Was it my fault that my protective instincts were stronger than most? I needed to go back for peace of mind. I would not be able to rest otherwise.
Leaping onto Ghaevek’s back, I guided him gently back in the direction of the town.
Dras was at my side immediately, and together we urged our stallions into motion and headed back toward the town.
Hopefully, it was just my overprotective instincts at play.
It would likely be fine when we got there.
ARLEN
My lungs burned as I ran as fast as I could.
Roots and fallen branches threatened to trip me several times, causing me to stumble and crash into trees to keep myself upright.
With the storm blocking out what was left of the setting sun, the rain pouring down in icy sheets, I couldn’t see more than a few feet ahead of me.
Fear made my body keep moving, even when the sound of the dogs getting closer made me want to find somewhere to hide.
I knew one misstep would cause me to lose my advantage. I couldn’t risk falling.
I was so busy looking at my feet, I didn’t see the drop off until it was too late.
I just barely muffled my shriek as I fell head over foot, landing hard on my back in a muddy pit several feet below.
The fall knocked the wind from me, but I couldn’t just lie there.
I scrambled to turn over, gasping, mud and rain soaking me to the bone as I pushed to my feet, the hair on the back of my neck rising as the sound of the dogs grew ever closer.
What were the chances they would corral me or draw attention and not bite me to stop me?
Tears burned my eyes, making my vision swim, and when I noticed an embankment ahead, I felt defeat start to weigh in on me. It was steep and muddy, and I wasn’t a tall man to begin with. I was going to be trapped.
A choked sob escaped me, but I could only continue forward. Going back would be a death sentence now. The mayor would likely rather kill me than allow me to escape.
My fingers dug into the mud, trying to gain purchase, but it kept slipping out from under me, causing the little ground I would gain to be lost. The dogs weren’t the only sounds I could hear anymore.
The shouts of the men chasing me had joined the cacophony, echoing over the pouring rain as they headed straight for me.
“Please,” I sobbed to the skies above me. “Please, help me!”
Just as the dogs broke through the treeline behind me and my heart lodged itself into my throat, a hand grabbed my arm, hauling me over the embankment and onto the ground above.
I screamed, terrified it was one of the men chasing me who was smart enough to go around and cut me off, but when he spoke, his accent was rough, unfamiliar, and… barbaric.
“You are safe.”
My head whipped up to look at him, and a relieved sob escaped me. “Thank the gods.”
His attention wasn’t on me but on my pursuers.
He pushed me behind him, jabbing a finger in the direction I’d been heading, and said something in a language I wasn’t familiar with.
I knew I should run but leaving his side felt too dangerous, and I found myself glued to him, pressed up against his back as he glared down the embankment where members of a town I’d known for years shouted up at him.
“You cannot take him!”
“He belongs to Bromwich!”
“Give him to us, or we’ll release the hounds!”
I didn’t look at who had chased me. I didn't want to know. It didn’t matter. I just wanted to get away from them.
In stilted common tongue, the barbarian growled back, “He asks for help. He not go back.”
“He is a traitor! He must be tried! He cannot leave!” someone barked back.
The barbarian drew his sword, his other hand reaching behind him to hold me close to his back. “You want him? You face me.”
“And me,” another barbarian spoke, appearing almost as if out of thin air out of the darkness. He stepped up beside the barbarian protecting me, sword already drawn and a mean scowl on his face, his focus solely on his opponents.
One barbarian was enough of a threat, even with the numbers in their favor.
There was a reason a treaty was created instead of going to war against them.
They were formidable. Two, plus the rain, mud, and embankment between them and me, seemed enough of a deterrent to change my former neighbors’ stance on forcing me back.
“Arlen, you piece of shit,” one of them barked. “If we ever cross paths again, I’ll gut you myself. You’ll live your life as a barbarian’s plaything for your choices. No town will accept you or your frilly wares once they hear what kind of traitor you are.”
I didn’t reply. There was nothing left to be said.
I stayed hidden behind the barbarian’s back until the hunters left and the light from their torches disappeared into the trees again.
Stepping back, I opened my mouth to thank my rescuers, but my body, already aching and injured, seemed to choose that moment to give out.
My knees gave way, and I toppled forward, nearly knocking my barbarian rescuer off the embankment head first.