Chapter 27
Twenty-Seven
ZAKAI
When most of the clans chose to stay in Al Nuzem, I was surprised and overjoyed.
They were still nomadic, still moved from place to place, and I introduced them to the best hunters in the country to teach them what meat could be used to sustain their people, but they were no longer outcasts when they passed a town and stopped in for a visit.
They were welcomed, especially in towns without much in the way of protection.
They were happy to host the barbarians in exchange for the protection the barbarians were so good at providing.
It surprised me when Uttin brought a plan to his people for a vote.
To combine with Clan Urthazrak and settle on the border of Salval woods, a half day’s journey from the capital.
For Clan Urthazrak, the move was necessary, as many of their people were older and no longer fighting fit.
For the Northern clan, it was political.
As the point of contact between the clans and the palace, Uttin didn’t want to stray too far to where we couldn’t return easily if necessary.
As the clan had many young families and the move was difficult with the little ones, most agreed.
Those that didn’t had the option to join an ally clan that chose to stay nomads or join the clan’s trade delegation that journeyed around the cities and towns of Al Nuzem, returning to the clan when they needed rest.
A small group went north, including Uttin and I, to begin passing the word through the towns about the freedom of Al Nuzem for same sex couples.
It wasn’t an easy task, since those who went into the towns to spread the word were put at risk.
The barbarians accompanying couldn’t venture into the towns.
Neither could I as someone so obviously foreign to them.
Mostly, the word was spread by Briar and Simon, with Matthew coming along as protection.
The man might be shy, but he was trained by Einar and knew how to protect himself better than any other bondmate in the clan, except perhaps Simon himself.
I’d seen him fight, and he agreed once we returned to train me with daggers like he’d learned from his mother.
I’d expected it to take months before we even saw the first trickles of couples and individuals fleeing their towns.
Instead, there was a mass of people who joined our group to travel safely to Al Nuzem.
In fact, there were so many that we had to split the journey into two so we could bring people back before attempting to pick up others.
And when we returned and started in new towns, the word had spread already, and people waited in secret, sneaking out of the village before Briar or Simon had even set foot inside.
The number of people who left the towns ended up crippling those they left behind.
Men and women crucial to the town’s survival, tired of living in secret, left in droves to join us instead.
Blacksmiths, bakers, inn owners, even some people in government who’d secretly attempted to make a difference and were tired of failing.
It got so bad for the towns that the king of their country threatened war with Al Nuzem for stealing his people away.
By that point, people were leaving their towns without us being there, so there wasn’t much they could do about it.
If it came down to a choice between happiness and responsibility to their town, people chose their own happiness, as they should.
We had one more town to visit before heading back to Al Nuzem. I’d wanted to go to this town straight away, but Uttin talked me out of it, saying if we began our journey by murdering people, it would send the wrong message.
“We save murder for dessert!” Simon had crowed, cackling. He was still giggling about it several weeks later.
“You are not funny,” Uttin said blandly as the town came into view.
I always thought it was an ugly place with tall wooden structures that seemed to lean in ways that made me think they’d collapse with a strong breeze.
The whole town was dirty, even the upper class area.
I didn’t enjoy returning, even if just for a short time.
“Of course I’m funny,” Simon riposted cheekily.
He didn’t ride his own stallion, instead choosing to ride with his bondmate, who seemed to enjoy the arrangement, his arms around Simon’s middle.
Every once in a while, he gave Simon a kiss, giving him the attention he needed.
I wanted to be jealous—it was hard for Uttin to get close enough to do that to me—but we had raced several times and that was a joy for me.
I could wait for kisses. For a little while, anyway.
Our company was small going to this town.
We didn't want to draw too much attention to ourselves. Aside from me, Uttin, Simon, and Feigrind, we were also accompanied by Umaira and Abdul, both of whom wanted revenge on Hameed for putting me at risk. There was also my family’s spy who waited for us inside the town proper to show us where the rats were hiding.
My father hadn’t been happy with the small numbers, especially when Einar and Matthew only accompanied us for so long before returning, but I’d expected that.
Einar was more than overprotective. He didn’t want Matthew near an actual fight.
Letting him go into towns alone was hard enough.
We came in without banners or anything to identify who I was, aside from the signet ring on my finger.
It was a happy coincidence I had left it in Al Nuzem when Hameed stabbed me in the back.
If he’d gotten his hands on it, it could have spelled trouble for trade agreements.
There were no guards on the front gate, the town too cocky to think they had enemies. They assumed wrong.
“Where to first?” Simon asked, practically vibrating to take action. I cast a sidelong glance at Uttin since he was the leader of our little company. He shook his head.
“I don’t know this town, tavi. You and Simon should decide.”
Well… That was unexpected. I turned to Simon, who looked just as perplexed as I was. He shrugged.
“You said they brought you to the brothel to sign the documents, right? I’d say let’s start there first. He probably does business out of there all the time.
Shady guys like him usually do. And if he isn’t there, we can always make Quincy tell us where he might be.
” He spun a dagger in his hand, a bloodthirsty look on his face. “I have ways of getting him to talk.”
“The spy should be at a pub near the brothel,” Umaira informed us. “We can dismount there and check in with him first. He will know where Hameed is hiding.”
With the plan in place, we made our way through the crowded town toward the district made of mostly brothels.
My nerves twisted, attempting to get the best of me, but Uttin sidled closer and his leg brushed against mine, soothing me.
I wasn’t alone with Umaira this time. My company wouldn’t stab me in the back. I trusted them.
Glancing at Uttin, I saw the foreboding expression on his face. I bit back a grin. Absolutely no one would be getting through my bondmate. I had nothing to worry about.
We dismounted outside the pub, tying our horeses to the hitching post out front.
With normal horses, I might worry about thieves, but the stallions were enormous and prone to kicking and biting if anyone other than their people touched them.
They didn’t need a guard. Umaira ducked inside, coming back out a moment later with a smaller man who seemed to move like a shadow.
I knew his frame to be deceiving because while he might not be tall, he was quick as a whip and deadly when he needed to be.
He bowed his head in greeting, keeping his voice low.
“My prince.”
“Hello, Malik. Is he in there?”
He nodded once. “Yes, Hameed is inside. He has holed up there since he arrived, hiding. I have gone in a few times to check. He hides in a small room upstairs and is only visited by the advisor and one of the whores.”
Coward. Was he planning on hiding away until the end of his days?
Malik suddenly stepped closer to me, gripping my shoulders to move me around Uttin’s side. Uttin didn’t like that and snarled, but I knew Malik would only touch a royal if absolutely necessary. I ducked my head, edging closer to the spot he placed me in.
“Is he outside?”
“No. The advisor comes this way. Be still, my prince. He hasn’t noticed you yet.”
Feigning nonchalance, I reached for Uttin, pulling his face to mine. What a better way to hide me than with my bondmate’s lips against mine?
Fisting my hair, Uttin kept me in place, tongue dueling with mine until I was breathless and Abdul cleared his throat to interrupt us.
“He has gone inside, my prince. We should follow.”
Pouting, I pulled away from Uttin, for the first time wishing this could be over with so I could return to having Uttin’s attention whenever I wished for it. If I didn’t want revenge so badly, I would have headed home when Einar and Matthew did.
“Right. How will we proceed?”
“There will be someone in front to check people in. We can go around back while those who haven’t been here before go through the front. That way no one can escape,” Simon instructed.
“No. I’m not splitting from Zakai,” Uttin argued with a glower.
Simon rolled his eyes, then shot a questioning look to Feigrind, who looked about as happy to split up as Uttin. Unfortunately for him, Simon had him wrapped around his finger. He dipped his chin once.
“I will go with Abdul. The rest will go through the back. Cut anyone down who threatens you, raknar.”
That drew a feral smile from Simon, which I matched when Uttin handed me his dagger. I had my own sword this time, but he apparently wanted me more prepared. I wasn’t going to say no.