Chapter 16
Sixteen
C learing my throat, I waited anxiously for Orthorr to permit me entrance to his tent. I had been working up the nerve to have this conversation with him, and I worried about the outcome. Patrick was going to get better soon. Zoya put on the poultice this morning and said it would likely only be a few more weeks before Patrick was on his feet again. I needed to make sure he was allowed to stay once he was well again.
“Enter,” Orthorr called out.
Following his instruction, I ducked my head into his tent, not surprised to find two others with him. Uttin was likely next in line to become clan leader, as he had the mind for leadership. He was in charge of picking up the tributes from the towns. He met with others like him from nearby clans to distribute them, and the rest were brought here until they were ready to look for their bondmates. It was unknown to me why our clan was the first stopping point for the tributes, but I never thought much about it. It was just the way things were.
Beside him sat one of the elders, Morak, who made the leathers. I was curious why he was there but knew better than to ask. Morak didn’t appreciate nosy clan members.
“Verus,” Orthorr greeted with a dip of his chin. Putting my fist across my chest, I bowed slightly in greeting.
“Clan leader. There is something I wish to discuss with you, if you have the time.”
Orthorr gestured for me to join them at the small round table, and I sat in Morak’s place when he got up to leave.
“I will make my request to Rath, then, Clan Leader,” he said over his shoulder.
“Do so,” Orthorr encouraged. “If he has concerns, tell him to speak with me.”
Curiosity bubbled in my chest, and I couldn’t help but ask, “What do you need from Rath?”
As the best hunter, Rath was in charge of the hunts and those who hunted for the clan. If Morak intended to make a request to Rath, I would hear of it eventually.
Like I expected, Morak didn’t reply outside of an irritated look cast in my direction. He walked out without a word to me. Uttin sighed.
“He acts as though it is a great secret that he needs more hides. The hunters will need to focus on larger game for a time to get him what he needs.”
I nodded slowly. Usually, we mixed our catches so there was a plethora of meats and furs or feathers, so that everyone in the clan could get what they needed. However, if there was a need for something more specific, for a time we could focus on that. It would mean hunting outside the forest, though. The coiwaks that provided the hides that Morak preferred traveled in herds outside the forest. It took longer to get those hides, as the herd would run once a single coiwak was taken down, and it was dangerous to be near the herd on the run. We would need to begin the process of hunting them all over again to get enough for Morak to be happy.
I wasn’t looking forward to that hunt. It would take a week at the very least. That meant I would be away from Patrick for a time, which made my heart ache. I had no wish to be apart from him.
“Verus? What is the reason you came to see me?” Orthorr asked, pulling my focus back to him. I blinked rapidly for a moment, almost forgetting my intentions in meeting with him, before I remembered my goals.
“I wish to bond with Patrick,” I told him, my heart beginning to gallop in my chest. “I do not wish for him to leave once he is healed.”
Orthorr frowned, his lips pursed. “Such a bonding has not been done before. Outsiders are not invited into our clans unless they are tributes.”
Uttin tipped his head, his expression thoughtful. “Does Patrick wish to stay?”
I hesitated. I had yet to truly ask him. I worried about his answer more than Orthorr’s. “He seems happy here. He is working with Yamileth now with the cooking, and he feels safe with me. I did not wish to rush him in deciding by telling him my intentions. Nor did I want to get his hopes up if it is not possible,” I hedged.
Orthorr nodded in understanding. “It is good not to push while he is healing. Let me think on it for a time. There may need to be a discussion with other clan leaders. Like when we accepted Finn as a tribute, it could lead to a precedent by accepting an outsider to join us.”
That made no sense to me. Such things were beyond my understanding. I shot a questioning look at Uttin, who was kind enough to explain.
“We believe by accepting Finn as tribute, it will mean more male tributes in the future. As there are males in other clans who wish for a male to bond with, we have accepted this possibility. Letting Patrick join us without cause will be much the same. It could lead to more townsfolk in the future showing up on our lands requesting to join us.” His brows drew tighter together. “I doubt it would happen often, though. The townsfolk still fear us.”
“But if they are in a situation like Patrick?” I pushed. “He fled for his safety. Would we really turn people away?”
Orthorr shook his head. “Never. It would go against the gods to do such a cruel thing. But there is a difference between providing refuge until someone is ready to move on and accepting them into our clan. He does not know our ways, and if a steady stream of outsiders join us, it could risk our way of life. It needs to be considered carefully. I’m not saying no, Verus. Give me time to think on it. Meanwhile, you should speak with Patrick. If he does not even wish to stay, then the question could be pointless.”
That was true. While I felt that Patrick enjoyed being with me, I didn’t know his plans for the future. I was a little afraid to ask. I would go with him, should he choose to leave, but I didn’t want to. My clan was my family, my home. I wanted him to stay here with me.
I was waylaid by Rath before I could seek Patrick out after my meeting with Orthorr. He gathered the other hunters, relaying the same information Uttin shared with me earlier.
“Two will stay behind to do the daily hunts for the clan. The rest will join me to seek out the herd.”
Torn between wanting to stay so I could be with Patrick and wanting to go to support my brother, I stayed silent as Rath spoke on what to pack and where the herd was last seen. I had always participated in the longer hunts. I enjoyed them. The hunt itself was a challenge, since the coiwak were easily spooked and would run a great distance to get themselves to safety before they could be approached again. Rath hoped with enough people, we could take out all the coiwak needed at once instead of playing chase, which would make the hunt extra challenging. I also loved the camaraderie. Spending time with my fellow hunters was always fun, and I felt more connected to my clan after a long hunt.
But Patrick…
I worried about leaving him. Zoya said it would be a few more weeks before Patrick was healed enough to even walk again, but what if he healed faster than expected? What if by the time I got back, he was already gone? I’d told Orthorr my intentions, and I had hopes that he wouldn’t make Patrick leave before I returned, but hope would only get me so far.
“Verus.”
Rath’s voice caught my attention, and I looked up to find the rest of the hunters already gone and Rath watching me with a frown. I told myself to not be so distant with him about my problems, so instead of pretending I was fine, I told him of my worries.
“What if Patrick is gone before I can return?”
Rath frowned deeply. “He is not healed yet.”
“No, but Zoya said a few more weeks. These hunts take time. I worry that he will be gone before I can return.”
My clan brother’s expression turned into a grimace. “I have no intention of dragging this out. I do not wish to be away from Finn for that long. I would ask that you come with me, my brother. We are a good team. I believe we can finish things quickly with you by my side. But I’ll understand if you wish to stay with Patrick. I will assign you to stay and hunt for the clan meals instead.”
I’d honestly not thought about how Rath would take this journey. His bonding with Finn was still new. They had yet to be separated from each other beyond hunts for meals. Rath had even more reason to stay behind, but he would go anyway to serve our clan. I did not wish to drag out his suffering by sending him off without me.
“I will go with you.”
Rath shook his head. “You do not?—”
“You are my brother,” I interrupted, my voice firm. “Besides, you’re right. You cannot do it without me. I’m just that good.”
He snorted and rolled his eyes, shoving me away from him. I snickered and shoved him back, starting a game of wrestling between us. It always ended up with him winning—he was a cheat— but it reminded me of our friendship. I would be by his side because he asked me to be. And I could only hope that Patrick would still be here when I returned.
Rath had me in a headlock when Finn and Patrick joined us. Both looked amused at our antics. I did not wish to lose in front of Patrick, so I fought harder to get free, but my victory was short lived. Rath released me to go to his bondmate. I did not actually escape on my own.
Balanced on his crutches, Patrick smiled at me. “You are brave to face him.”
Carefully, I gathered him in my arms so he could rest. “He is a cheat. He only won because of this.”
Rath’s head whipped around, and he glared at me. “I am no cheat. You are just jealous.”
I lifted my chin in challenge, but with Patrick in my arms and Finn wrapped around Rath’s waist, neither of us was willing to have another match. We would need to truly test our strength another time. Perhaps on the hunt.
The reminder made me sigh. I needed to tell Patrick. I hoped he wouldn’t be too angry with me for leaving.