Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
TYOS
Watching Arlen mend his tunic while rocking with the wagon was a little fascinating.
He didn’t let bumps or sharp movements bother him, his hand remained steady the entire time, and when he eventually finished and held up the material, it looked decent for what he’d had to work with.
Almost like the mending was done on purpose to make it look unique.
If only I’d had the chance to wash it properly.
Dras had wrung it out, and the rain had rinsed some of it, but it was still dirty and stained.
He deserved better after all he’d been through.
He pulled off the tunic he’d borrowed from me, trading it for his own, and a pang of disappointment hit me when he no longer wore something of mine. I liked the look of it on him. Almost like he belonged to me.
I pushed the thought away. Arlen was just forced to run from his home, was chased by the monsters hoping to cage him, and was threatened again just that morning. It wasn’t a good time to–
He looked up from where he’d been carefully tucking his sewing things away, giving me a soft smile when he realized I was watching him.
My heart lurched in my chest, and the arguments against claiming him got a little quieter.
There was nothing wrong with getting to know each other a little better. We didn’t have to rush anything.
Nudging Ghaevek to quicken his pace, I moved closer to where Arlen sat, grinning when he blushed at my attentions on him.
“Want ride?”
He looked up at me, his expression curious, and when I offered him a hand, he stood, looking nervously between me and the ground. “Shouldn’t we stop first?”
That would likely get me into trouble, as Uttin wanted to keep moving before the townsfolk from Arlen’s hometown caused any more trouble. I shook my head, gripping Ghaevek’s sides with my thighs as I leaned a little.
“Jump. I catch you.”
For a moment, he chewed on his lip, and I wondered if it was perhaps too much for him.
I would not have judged him, he’d been through a lot in just a day, but he surprised me when he squeezed his eyes shut and jumped in my direction.
I caught him around his middle, pulling him onto Ghaevek’s back, and squeezed him gently in reward for his bravery.
“Good job. You brave.”
Peeking one eye open, he let out a breath and sat up a little straighter, looking around. “I haven’t left home in a long time,” he murmured, taking in his surroundings.
“How long?” I asked curiously, readjusting him so that he was sitting forward with his back against my chest. It was the way I would choose to ride with my bondmate, and I liked how well Arlen fit into my arms.
“Years,” he admitted. “My parents got sick. I needed to care for them. Then… I didn’t want to travel alone.”
I hummed, hugging him a little tighter to me. I couldn’t imagine losing my parents. They were loving and kind, and I didn’t know what I’d do without them. And from the way he spoke, Arlen had no other family but them. He was all alone. The idea bothered me.
“You not alone, Arlen. I’m here.”
He sucked in a breath, twisting to look at me with a mix of emotions on his face. I couldn’t pick them all out, but he looked hopeful, his voice barely a whisper when he said, “You really aren’t like the rumors said, are you?”
I didn’t want to lie to him, but I didn’t feel I had the words to explain it properly. I urged Ghaevek closer to Uttin, asking for his help in explaining it for me.
“He is asking about the rumors about us.”
Uttin sighed, a tightness appearing around his eyes as he explained in the common tongue, “Most clans are good. Some… aren’t. We do not interact with them much, and they weren’t invited to Al Nuzem, but not all of our people are good. The rumors come from somewhere.”
Arlen frowned at him, leaning a little harder against my chest like he needed the comfort. I gave it to him, giving him a gentle squeeze to remind him that he was safe. “How would I know the difference?”
Uttin tapped his chest. “Tattoos. Each clan is different.”
Arlen looked between the two of us, and I obliged by untying my tunic to show him the tattoos on my chest. Right over my heart was the symbol of my clan, a talvok with wings spread wide.
Uttin showed his chest as well, the ulvor on his chest with its head thrown back in a howl.
The designs were similar enough thanks to the art style being passed down through our people that most townsfolk probably wouldn’t notice it, but anyone of the clan would know the difference right away.
“Do all clan members get those? Even women?” he asked, a worried frown on his face.
I snorted, shaking my head, and Uttin explained it more clearly. “No. The tattoos are given to a warrior when he comes of age and proves himself to his clan. Bondmates do not have tattoos unless they request them.”
I’d seen some women with the tattoos, though it was rare.
They were treated no differently than the males of a clan, and if they wanted the tattoos, they had to prove themselves in their skill of choice.
I met a great huntress of Clan Halleik just recently who had the tattoos, matching her bondmate who taught her his trade.
She teased him that she was better at hunting than he was, and a few of my clan challenged them to a friendly competition to prove who was the best. She won.
Arlen slumped a little, letting out a relieved sigh. “Oh good. I don’t think I’d like getting tattoos.”
Uttin hummed, nodding. “Simon felt the same way. He earned his place in our clan after saving two of its members during an attack but chose not to get the tattoos because he didn’t want to mar his skin. I believe Feigrind was relieved. He prefers Simon unblemished.”
That didn’t surprise me. Simon was a pretty male. His bondmate being protective of that wasn’t unusual.
We turned a bend, and the next town came into view, the gates open as far as I could tell and carts moving in and out like usual. I glanced at Uttin, speaking in our tongue. “This one doesn’t look like it will be troublesome.”
He shook his head, his expression relaxed.
“It won’t. The Ilvos clan and this town trade regularly.
The mayor’s daughter is part of their clan and—” He cut himself off with a frown.
I followed his gaze to a cloud of dust headed in our direction, what looked like a single rider coming our way. “Who is that?”
“Looks like someone from the Ilvos Clan,” Dras said, moving closer. “Do you want me to meet them and find out for what reason they approach?”
Uttin nodded, and I watched as my brother took off to meet the rider halfway.
There was no ill blood between us and the Ilvos Clan as far as I knew.
They were one of the few who didn’t relocate when the clans moved to Al Nuzem, and still lived in the area, but they were alerted of our mission. They should have known we were coming.
When Dras came back, he didn’t look upset or angry. He looked relieved.
“What did he say?”
“Those who wished to leave are with the Ilvos clan,” he reported. “They heard of our approach and sought out the Ilvos for protection until they could be moved. There are four, all prepared to leave now. There is no need for us to go to the town itself.”
Arlen watched the conversation with a slight furrow between his brow. He didn’t speak our language and didn’t understand, so I did my best to translate for him. “Those wanting leaving are with Ilvos clan. No need go to town.”
“Oh. Well, that’s convenient,” he breathed, then frowned. “The Ilvos aren’t one of the bad clans, are they?”
Dras shook his head, moving back to his place on the other side of the wagon. “No. A little aloof, but not bad. The rider said their clan leader welcomes us to rest with them for the night.”
“Truly? Even after what happened with Ambrose and Godr?” Feigrind asked from where he and Simon rode together in the back of the caravan.
Uttin pressed his lips together, his face a mask of suspicion despite his words. “It has been many seasons since then. It should be fine.”
I wasn’t aware of the situation they spoke of, but I would remain alert. If the Ilvos had bad blood with the Northern Clan, they could cause trouble in retribution. I would need to keep an eye on my charges. Especially Arlen.
ARLEN
The barbarians switched between their language and the common tongue so rapidly, it was hard to keep up with the conversation.
After a while, I started to get a headache from the attempt and asked to go back to the wagon to rest. I got better sleep than I’d expected the night before, sleeping wrapped in Tyos’s arms was comforting in a way I’d never experienced before, but I was still tired, and the stress from the last week was getting to me now that I finally felt like I was somewhere safe.
Zakai was dozing in the wagon, his hands tucked behind his head.
He truly looked like a prince without a care in the world with the way he lounged there, and when Tyos saw him sprawled out, he chuckled quietly, helping me swing off his horse and onto the wagon without stopping the procession to the new clan’s land.
After he was sure I was stable, he moved back to his spot protecting the wagons, falling into conversation with the barbarians around him with an easy smile on his face.
I got comfortable on the furs me and Tyos shared the night before, facing the opening at the back of the wagon and watching the barbarian who rescued me as he laughed with his friends.
He was kinder than I expected, more patient and gentle.
When I’d heard the rumors of the barbarians were false, I figured the rumors were exaggerations and they were just naturally gruff and a little rough around the edges.
I figured it’d be something I had to get used to, but it wasn’t enough of a deterrent to stop me from joining them.
Finding out they were kind and protective, I couldn’t help but wonder just how bad those other clans were that their actions could detract from such goodness.
If people knew how good the barbarians were, they wouldn’t be so fearful of them.
My mind skipped back to Marvin’s words that morning.
I was glad we didn’t have to get near another town so soon after that confrontation, but I was still worried about it.
What were the chances the next town would be waiting to arrest me?
Would the barbarians be able to stop them?
Maybe it would be better to hide until we passed the border to Al Nuzem.
The barbarians were already so kind to protect me from Marvin and his guards.
I didn't want to keep causing them trouble and making their lives difficult. At some point, that patience would wear out, and they’d stop being so kind. And then where would I be?