Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
ORTHORR
Despite having handed off clan leader duties to Uttin, I was busier than I ever had been establishing our new place in Al Nuzem.
I sat in for Uttin on clan leader meetings while he journeyed to retrieve the townspeople who wished for a new life here in Al Nuzem, met with officials from the capital who were helping us learn more about the area and find a permanent spot for us to settle, as well as continued to care for my clan until Uttin’s return.
I’d tried talking him out of making the journey himself, he had duties here, but he said he could not stand by knowing people were suffering if he had the power to do something about it.
And his bondmate was of no help. The prince of Al Nuzem had a vengeance for the guard who sold him to us, and he would not be deterred from finding the man himself and putting an end to him.
I could not begrudge Uttin, he had always been protective of those who he felt couldn’t defend themselves, and he was strongheaded just like his mother. So, even though I had looked forward to returning to a more simple living, I continued to act as clan leader until Uttin’s return.
The crack of my axe cutting through the wood I was chopping was loud in the early morning quiet.
We’d learned quickly that in Al Nuzem, tasks such as these were best handled early in the day or after the sun had set.
The heat in the middle of the day was too great to do any heavy lifting without risking illness.
We were warned against it during the first few days of our arrival.
Even now, with the sun just lifting over the horizon, sweat gathered on my brow and I had to remove my clan leader robes while doing the task to stay cool.
“Goddess…” a small voice murmured behind me. Turning around, I found Rath’s bondmate, Finn, staring at me wide-eyed, the shock in his expression so great, his eyes were as wide as the taalin birds that hunted in the night.
“Finn? Is something wrong?”
He blinked rapidly, his cheeks turning a bright shade of pink as he shook his head. “N-Nothing!” be blurted, thrusting the book in his hands at me. “You said you wanted to practice reading more! I thought you might like to practice with this!”
He was shouting, and in the mostly empty temporary village center, he drew attention to us. I shot a confused glance at Rath, who was already headed in our direction, Patrick not far behind him.
“Finn?” Patrick asked as they got closer. “Is everything– oh, goddess… um, good morning, clan leader.”
Patrick looked just as surprised as Finn, though I still didn’t understand why. When I looked at Rath, he was frowning down at his bondmate, his expression just as confused as I felt.
“Korvash?”
“Huh?” Finn dragged his gaze away from me, his cheeks getting even darker as he looked up at his bondmate.
“Rath! I, uh– I was going to give this to Orthorr to practice.” He wiggled the book in his hand, his free hand gesturing nervously like he couldn’t contain himself.
“Do, uh… I think I forgot something in our tent. Can you come with me to get it?”
Bemused, Rath nodded slowly. “Of course. Why–”
“No reason!” Finn squeaked. He offered me the book again, his eyes darting to me and away like he was embarrassed for some reason.
I took the book since it seemed as though he was getting more anxious by the minute waiting for me to take it, but before I could say thank you, he hustled off, dragging Rath away without a backward glance.
I turned to ask Patrick if he knew what was wrong with Finn, but he was already gone, the spot he’d been in just a moment earlier empty.
I jerked my head back in surprise, looking around, but the village center was once again empty aside from me.
I would have thought I imagined it if not for the book in my hand.
Deciding not to dwell on it, I took a moment to put the book in my tent before returning to my work.
There were few things the clan didn’t fuss over me doing myself, but chopping wood was a necessary task to keep the fires in the village center burning after the sun went down, and everyone took a turn chopping wood for it.
It was a good form of exercise, since most in the clan were reluctant to spar with their clan leader.
Perhaps I could ask Bren to spar with me.
As clan leader for Clan Urthazrak, he wouldn’t see my title, even temporary, as a hindrance like my clan brothers might.
I finished chopping the wood provided to us by the capital city, setting my axe aside and wiping my brow on the back of my hand, my back aching a little but my spirit lighter for a task well done.
I preferred to start the day doing something physical.
It made the many meetings throughout the day more manageable if I got the blood pumping early.
“Clan leader! Riders incoming!”
Twisting to follow the hail, I looked toward the horizon.
A familiar rider raced closer, and my heart stuttered in my chest when I saw who it was.
Einar was the scout for Uttin’s journey, and he wasn’t supposed to be back for a while yet.
It worried me that he was back so early, and alone.
Where was Uttin and the rest of their traveling party?
Heading for the edge of our encampment, I waited for Einar. I was grateful at least to see his bondmate still seated behind him, but I held my breath as they came to a stop in front of me, Einar’s usual scowl locked in place.
“Einar? Why are you back so soon? Where are the rest?”
“Not far behind me,” he informed me, his voice gruff, and his expression tight with annoyance. “There were more than we expected.”
His explanation was short, and without much detail, but I knew better than to expect more from him. Einar was not one of many words. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Uttin and his company come over the sand dune, and sent a few of our own to meet them to escort them the final distance.
Uttin and his bondmate broke off from the group, racing ahead, and when he hopped off his horse and greeted me with a fist across his chest and a small bow, I felt a smirk pull at my lips.
“You don’t have to do that anymore, you know.”
He gave me a chagrined smile. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be able not to. You were my clan leader most of my life.”
“Why are you back early? Einar said something about there being more than expected?”
Uttin blew out a breath and nodded. “Much more. We thought one or two from each town, but when the people of the town were finally convinced it was safe, they began leaving in groups of four or five. We didn’t have the space for that many in the wagon.
After the third town, we decided to head back here and drop off the townsfolk we already had to make room for more. ”
My eyebrows flew up in surprise. The wagon was large enough to fit fifteen if absolutely necessary, but if they were receiving that many after only three towns, one wagon wouldn’t be enough.
There were fifteen towns in total. That many people to transport was dangerous with just Uttin and his small party.
“We will need more than one wagon, I think,” he continued, helping his bondmate off the mare he’d ridden in on. “Perhaps three if we do not plan to make the journey a third time.”
“You cannot afford to make it a third time,” I argued. “You are needed here.”
I knew he’d argue, this was his journey and he would not be easily deterred, but I held up a hand before he could start, stalling his words.
“I am not saying to stop the journey. However, I think we should meet with the other clan leaders. Perhaps the towns can be split up like we did when picking up tributes. Each group would only pick up from certain towns, ensuring no one gets left behind due to lack of space.”
Uttin considered the idea with a frown, then nodded slowly. “We can discuss it. We might also discuss a few other clans traveling with us. With numbers so great, they need more protection.”
I nodded in agreement, waving over some guards to meet the wagon and help them unload. Simon and Feigrind led the way, and when Simon’s attention zeroed in on me, I braced myself for whatever he might say. He was a brat, and it was never a good thing when his attention was fully on you.
He whistled low, his expression impressed. “My gods, Orthorr. You were hiding a lot under those robes. If I have that to look forward to when Feigrind gets to be your age, you’ll not find me complaining.”
Confused, I asked him, “What are you talking about?”
Feigrind hopped down from his stallion, plucking Simon off and setting him on his feet. Simon didn’t falter, striding over to me and gesturing to my body. “Look at you. How are you still so fit at your age?”
That made me scowl, and I narrowed my eyes on him. “Bite your tongue. I’m not that old,” I protested.
Zakai, who had been oddly quiet since his arrival, elbowed Simon and said something in his mother tongue, a smirk on his face.
I didn’t speak the language yet, I was only just learning with the teacher Queen Raiza had sent to us, but I got the feeling I wouldn’t like whatever he’d said when Simon nodded with a matching smirk.
“He said it’s nice to have something pretty to look at when we get home.”
Despite knowing they were just teasing, I felt a flush tinge my cheeks. It had been a long time since I’d received that kind of attention, and I wasn’t sure what to do about it.
“Alright, troublemaker,” Feigrind chastised his bondmate, wrapping an arm around his waist and steering him away from me. “You have a job to do.”
Simon huffed with annoyance. “Fine. Let’s make this quick. Where’s Finn?”
“He was here earlier, but he went back to his tent to look for something and has not yet returned,” I explained, pulling on my robes like an old habit.
I didn't need to wear them anymore, the garment would pass to Uttin once he fully stepped into his new role, but for now with the other clans nearby, it was easier for me to keep wearing them while Uttin was unavailable for clan matters.
I frowned to myself. “I wonder if he might not be feeling well. He was a little red when he spoke with me earlier.”
Zakai, who only just learned our words, lifted an eyebrow at me. “You look like that when he spoke to you?” He gestured to my still uncovered chest.
“Yes, but I don’t see what that has to do with–”
“What were you doing?” Zakai continued, cutting me off. “When Finn came to talk to you?”
Frowning, I gestured to the pile of wood still waiting to be moved nearby. “Chopping wood. But I still don’t see–”
Simon started to cackle, a wicked grin on his face. “Oh, poor Finn. Bombarded by sexy older men first thing in the morning. I wish I could’ve seen his reaction myself.”
Rolling my eyes, I tied my robe shut, jerking my chin at their bondmates. “Those two need a task. They are causing too much trouble so soon after their return.”
Feigrind and Uttin had indulgent smiles on their faces as they ushered their bondmates away.
I ignored the comments the two were still making about me as they went, shaking my head at their antics.
They were troublemakers but great assets to our clan.
Especially Simon, who had saved my life once before.
I would put up with his teasing after the gift he’d given me.
Some of the new arrivals had already descended from the wagon and stood off to one side, looking around with wide eyed awe, so different from what I was used to after years of accepting tributes into our clan.
They looked a little nervous, which I’d expected, but the fear was gone.
No tears, no pale, terrified faces. Something in my chest warmed at seeing the open curiosity and hope on their faces.
It was nice to have new arrivals who didn’t arrive scared and hopeless.
A welcome change to add to the many others since we arrived in our new home.