Chapter 10
Ten
“ W ill you seriously go to war over a used hole? If you do, you’re just as pathetic as they are for claiming me.”
My comment seemed to stop the asshole before he did something stupid. He sneered at me, but was smart enough to back off. I watched the asshole go to make sure he didn’t do anything stupid. Getting out of dangerous situations wasn’t my only skill while holding a blade. I also had an enviable aim with them. I could take the bastard down before he even thought to do anything stupid. But he didn’t turn back. I’d insulted him when I insinuated he was pathetic if he went to war over me.
The familiar warmth of Feigrind’s hand wrapped around my elbow, turning me slowly. He looked concerned, his free hand cupping my face as he checked me over. I wasn’t going to tell him I was fine– it’d be a lie. But I’d get over it. It wasn’t the first time some asshole tried to force himself on me. In my line of work, it probably wouldn’t be the last.
“He needs to see Zoya,” Finn’s quiet voice cut in. I shot him a dirty look.
“I’m fine.”
He shook his head, his eyes wide and fearful. Probably not because of me. He constantly looked over my shoulder, as if he were afraid that Feiskedr would come back. His bondmate had left with the others to ensure the visiting clan had left. He was scared and all alone. Ugh. I wished that didn’t make me feel bad for him. I understood what it was like to be smaller and relatively defenseless.
“N-not you, though I was going to ask. I meant Feigrind.” He pointed at Feigrind’s chest. My gaze dropped, and I sucked in a sharp breath, gaping at the barbarian incredulously.
“What the hell? Why are we just standing here? I didn’t see him get hurt!”
Feigrind didn’t seem to care either way that he was bleeding, but I cared. He’d risked his life to save mine. He’d challenged my attacker to a duel to the death. Literally cut the man’s head off for hurting me. I didn’t want him in any pain.
Grabbing the hand cupping my face, I dragged him away from the village center, looking over my shoulder at Finn when he didn’t immediately follow.
“Well? Hurry up! I don’t know where the hell I’m going!”
Finn jumped, surprised, and scurried after me, pointing out the way to the healing tent. He left us there and went to find the healer while I forced Feigrind to sit on the stupid pallet of uncomfortable blankets so I could look at him better. The cut didn’t seem that deep, but I wasn’t a damn healer, and it stretched across his chest. It might be worse than it looked.
Thankfully, the healer didn’t dillydally. She came into the tent at a brisk pace and went straight for Feigrind, forcing him to lie down on the pallet. She nudged me to his other side, ignoring my frown.
“You’re in my light. Sit over there.”
I understood her request, but I still glared at her. She didn’t have to be such a bitch about it.
Sitting beside Feigrind, I watched her work. She cleaned the cut and put a salve on it, wrapping it up while telling Feigrind he would be fine. He didn’t look worried about it. He was more focused on me. I did not get butterflies because of his intense attention. I wasn’t that pathetic.
Once she was finished, she finally looked up at me, her expression guarded. “Finn said you were attacked. Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine,” I replied tersely. I didn't want her help. She obviously didn’t like me, and the feeling was mutual.
She didn’t argue or demand to look me over. She just pushed to her feet and walked away to wash her hands in a bowl of water on the table against the far wall.
“He doesn’t need to stay the night. He’ll be fine. Just don’t let him get the dressing wet until I recheck it tomorrow.”
“Fine.”
I stood while the healer repeated herself to Feigrind. He got to his feet and nodded, thanking her politely. I didn’t care what she thought about me, but I was glad she was nice to Feigrind. I would’ve had to hurt her if she were cruel to him after what he’d just done for me.
We left together to head back to his tent. I felt an undertone of uneasiness stepping inside, but I shoved it down. I wasn’t going to cower just because I’d been attacked. I was fine.
A warm hand settled on my back. When I looked up at Feigrind, his expression was soft and understanding.
“You are safe now. I will protect you.”
My gaze dropped to the wrap on his chest. “Yes. But who will protect you?”
FEIGRIND
I was starting to think Simon understood more of our language than he was letting on. It hadn’t been obvious to me at first, but after the drokagorn, I noticed he hadn’t asked anyone for an explanation. I thought most would wish to understand why things happened, or at least the results. In the days since, I hadn’t seen him speak to anyone to ask. The only one he spoke to was Maman, and she hadn’t mentioned it.
After that night, I began paying closer attention when I spoke to him. It was subtle, but sometimes I noticed his face would twitch while listening to me, like he was holding back his reaction to what I’d said. The same happened when we were around others, and every now and then, he would react like everyone else would before smothering his response again.
I decided to test this a little. So I took Simon to see Maman again and had Uttin meet me so they could have their alone time. When I pulled him aside, he looked curious, raising an eyebrow at me.
“Do not question what I am about to say, yes?”
He nodded slowly. “Alright. Are we pranking someone?”
“Sort of. Just go with it.”
He was always down for a prank with me, so he smiled and nodded, raising his voice to be heard better by those around us. “How are you, brother? You look well.”
“Tired,” I replied with a frown.
Uttin tipped his head with faux concern. “Truly? Why? Do you not rest well?”
I shook my head solemnly. “No. My tribute snores. It is keeping me up each night.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Simon’s head whip up, but when I glanced in his direction, he dropped his gaze again, growling to himself under his breath.
Uttin patted my shoulder sympathetically. “That sounds worrisome. Perhaps you can ask around for something to block your ears at night?”
The longer we discussed Simon’s snoring, the more irritated he got, but it didn’t outright prove anything. I wanted to be certain, because if he’d waited this long to reveal he understood me, he probably kept it from me on purpose.
“It is not only that. He is also starting to smell. I understand he is attached to his clothes, but it is unpleasant.”
I had to fight off a grin when Simon’s mouth fell open in outrage. He looked ready to say something, but Uttin’s next comment ensured his reaction.
“Do you think he just does not notice? Perhaps he has always been a smelly person?”
“How dare you!” Simon screeched. In our tongue. Not his. I was right.
He launched to his feet, storming over to us, his body practically vibrating with fury as he stuck a finger in my face. “First of all, I do not snore! And second, I bathe daily! It’s not my fault I don’t have more clothes! You stole me from my home!”
I raised my eyebrows slowly. “Had you only asked, I would have gotten more for you.”
He threw his hands up, exasperated. “How would I do that when—” He froze, finally realizing we spoke the same language. Irritation flashed across his face, followed by realization. He narrowed his eyes at me.
“You said that on purpose to get a rise out of me.”
That time, I did not bother to hide my grin. I expected it when he stormed off, and Uttin and I shared a laugh over his reaction. I didn't expect him to come back so quickly. Nor did I expect the clay he smeared across my face in retribution for my prank. I blinked my eyes open, staring at him in shock. Even Uttin was silent, his mouth gaping. But Simon didn’t just bring enough for me. He turned to Uttin next. Uttin was fast, jumping out of the way, but that didn’t deter Simon. He lobbed the handful of clay and got Uttin in the face anyway.
Maman cackled from her seat and clapped. When I shot her an incredulous look, she grinned at me. “You deserved that. You could have just said you knew he understood you.”
“Did you know?” I demanded.
She rolled her eyes. “Of course I did. He is not clever. And he is terrible at hiding his reactions. You are just blind. I should have fed you more vegetables as a child.”
Simon snorted, stalking past me to join her again. He used a bucket of water to wash his hands and plopped back onto his seat, giving me a dirty look when I came to join them. I washed what I could from my face, but I knew I’d need to visit the river again to get it fully out of my beard. Clay was not easy to remove.
“How do you know our tongue?” Uttin asked as he joined us. He dodged around me when it looked like Simon would pick up more clay, but Simon just put it on his table and began to mold it, his eyes focused on his work.
“The bastard from last night didn’t lie. I worked in a brothel before being forced to come here. I learned to speak to my clients so I could better service them. There is a clan that settles on the outskirts of our town every winter. The town doesn’t care who comes to the poor districts, as long as they don’t cause trouble for the rich.”