Prices
The moment they stepped outside, Math saw they weren’t alone. “Oltaxath?” He blinked at the Souna warriors who’d evidently never left. “What are you still doing here?”
Oltaxath glanced up from sharpening her halberd. A broad grin broke the severe planes of her face. “What, still? You only left yesterday afternoon. We planned to leave this morning.” She pointed at them. “But you came back. That’s what matters. I am very pleased.”
Oltaxath’s change in mood since her father’s recovery was miraculous. It was as if there were a limited quantity of stern or dour expressions among the Souna. Now that Dulbach was back, he was hoarding the supply.
“And we are pleased that you are pleased,” Kai told her. “But that is not why we returned.”
“It should be. We’d be a better fit for you than those foolish Avansi.” She tipped her head toward Math. “Not you. You’re fine.”
“Of course. You meant the other foolish Avansi.” Math doubted he was hiding his amusement well.
“Yes, exactly! Wait—” Oltaxath tilted her head, bemused.
Kai wasn’t in the mood for jokes. “Do you always break camp this late?” She glanced at the sun. “Wait much longer, and morning will become afternoon.”
Oltaxath’s eyes widened as she looked at Kai. She immediately unfastened the pin on her cloak. “Take this. You shouldn’t walk around so.”
Math stifled a cough. Technically, Kai was dressed, but the fabric was so thin he couldn’t blame Oltaxath for thinking otherwise.
Kai ignored the offer and crossed her arms. “We are not here to discuss how I am dressed.”
“We gave you good clothes,” Oltaxath protested.
“How have you lost them already?” She waved a hand.
“The wind will go right through that. You’ll catch a cold!
And you!” She pointed at Math. “How will you ride in that? You’d have to bunch all that fabric at your waist to give your legs enough room. Someone give this person pants.”
One man rolled his eyes skyward and muttered something under his breath. Another rider placed a consoling hand on his shoulder. He wasn’t the only one bothered by Oltaxath’s words.
Math leaned toward Kai. “Why are they mad about Oltaxath giving us pants? We’re not taking them from someone else, are we?”
“Oh, no.” Kai held back a smile. “I suspect it is the covering up they find objectionable. No doubt some of them were hoping to see you with your robe hiked to your waist.” She paused. “I know I was.”
“They’ll have to settle for the fully clothed version.”
“And will I?”
He met her eyes. “No.”
“Good.”
A flying pair of pants cut the moment short. One of the riders smirked as Math fumbled to catch them.
“Both!” Oltaxath amended. “Both need pants! Don’t give me that look—you can daydream about them naked later.” She wagged a finger at them. “Shoes will have to wait. We didn’t bring extras.”
“It is very kind of you, all the same,” Kai said, with admirable decorum.
Math expected he’d need to change behind a blanket to guard his modesty, but once the joke wore off, the riders went back to what they were doing and left them alone.
He dressed quickly, mourned the loss of his boots, and watched Kai fold her dress and tuck it into a satchel.
It was fine enough to sell, should the opportunity present itself.
He tied off a coat that was slightly too large (probably accidental) over pants that were slightly too tight (definitely not) and walked back to Oltaxath. “Are you still here because you were worried about us, or because you were wondering whether it’s safe to loot the tower?”
“What an accusation. I would never! The thought hadn’t even crossed my mind.” She paused. “Is it safe now?”
Math scratched his nose and looked away, barely stopping himself from laughing.
Kai sighed and shook her head. “It is—though perhaps not in the sense you had in mind.”
“Let’s start with the sense where my people stay unharmed and I leave with whatever’s valuable and not nailed down. Is it safe that way?”
“Given that an evil grim lord may emerge from this tower within a few hours, I would say no,” Kai said. “I would not stay, were I you.”
“Besides,” Math added, “I was hoping you might help us out?” Their fastest way to a major city was by horse—and the Souna controlled the horses.
Oltaxath’s smile vanished. “Ah.”
Math’s stomach turned. “What does ‘ah’ mean?”
The woman turned and started walking toward the horses.
Math and Kai exchanged a look. That was it? She was just leaving?
“Oltaxath?” Math called after her, wondering if he’d have to chase her down.
He didn’t.
After about twenty feet, she stopped, cracked her neck with a wince, and turned back.
“The thing is,” she said, “we had a deal. It was a good deal—we both kept our ends. But if you’re not joining the tribe, and you still want our help, then we need a new one.” She looked vaguely apologetic.
Math cursed.
Kai narrowed her eyes. “We bargained for safe passage through your lands. We are still in your lands.”
Oltaxath waved at their clothing—more specifically, the ornate sandals where boots should’ve been.
“And yet, somehow, you’ve journeyed to a far-off place, changed clothes, and returned without leaving that tower. Magic, I assume? Yes?” She leaned in. “Do not insult our growing friendship by pretending otherwise. I am not a fool.”
“I could give you the dress I was wearing,” Kai offered. “I imagine it is worth a great deal.”
Oltaxath perked up—briefly. “Perhaps. But I think I have a better deal for such wonderfully talented people as yourselves.”
Uh-oh.
Math scratched his jaw. “And what would this better deal be?”
Oltaxath chuckled, grinning at her people with arms raised in a you see? gesture. Laughter followed.
“We didn’t set out to rob that metal snake you Avansi send across our land. Our arrival was”—she waved a hand—“an accident. We were chasing a monster that’s been tearing up the earth, and we tracked it nearby. It’s still out there and it must still be slain.”
Math didn’t groan out loud, but he wanted to. “This is an emergency, Oltaxath.”
She stopped smiling. “So is this. It was bad enough when it was eating our horses. Now it’s moved on to people. I think it is what you Avansi call a grimcock.”
“Grimmock.”
“Yes, that. A grimmock, the size of a large bear.” She crossed her arms over the saddle. “Help us kill it, and we’ll escort you wherever you’re going.”
Unspoken: refuse, and they’d get nothing.
Math glanced at Kai and saw she’d followed the same line of thought. He felt her frustration through the bond and gave a small nod.
“Very well,” Kaiataris said. “Describe what we will be facing.”