Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
ORTHORR
Before Uttin returned to his journey, with more brothers in tow for protection and a second wagon, he introduced me to the townsfolk he’d picked up already.
Most were friendly, but nervous. Some were eager and made me smile.
But only one drew my attention time and time again.
Between my duties and his lessons, I did not see Cedric much during his first week with the clan.
When I did, he always had a book of written notes with him and a dozen questions about our tongue and way of life.
He was much like Finn and enjoyed writing things down while learning.
It wasn’t until the end of that first week that I was told of his profession.
“Clerk of petitions?” I asked, frowning at Finn, who looked excited to share the news with me.
“Yes. It’s a lower-level government position, but it’s still in the working government.
You mentioned before that you’ve been struggling with the documents they’ve been sending from the capital.
I think he’d be a great asset in helping with those.
They are written in the trade language, which he is fluent in, and he understands the terms about government that even I don’t recognize. ”
I hummed thoughtfully, eyes seeking the man almost like a habit in the crowd of the village center.
It was easy to pick him out in a crowd with his short copper colored hair and green eyes.
He was smaller than many of my brothers, but not as small as Finn or Simon.
Tall enough to be easy to find. He stood near the Al Nuzem teacher, Amina, talking animatedly with his hands.
He did that often, I’d noticed, his hands always in motion as he gestured and spoke.
“Orthorr?” Finn asked, drawing my attention off Cedric and back to him. I cleared my throat awkwardly, giving him my focus again.
“Apologies, Finn. If he feels up to helping with the paperwork, I would appreciate it. The advisor who speaks with me about them is patient, but our ways are very different from Al Nuzem’s laws. The other clan leaders have been struggling as well to figure out the balance.”
Finn nodded rapidly. “I figured, especially with Zakai gone. I’ll ask Cedric to speak with you. It’d be better to get that kind of paperwork done before the clan moves on and the journey to the capital becomes that much more complicated.”
“Thank you, Finn. I appreciate your assistance. Where is your son? I thought I’d see him here with you.”
The flush in Finn’s face was pleased, and his face lit up in a bright smile. “He’s with Rath. Apparently, he wants to teach him to hunt now. I reminded him he’s only three, but Rath won’t be deterred. It’s so cute, I can’t complain about it.”
Chuckling, I explained, “While he won’t learn to hunt on his own for many years, starting now will give him confidence and make it easier for him later.
Rath started young as well. I taught him myself when he was only a little older than Erik is.
He kept following me into the forest, so I had no other choice. ”
The memory still warmed me. My bondmate and I were never blessed with children, the fates were unkind in that regard, but I never truly felt loss over that.
We raised the children of the clan alongside their parents, and it was still rare for me to sit with the clan without a child climbing into my lap.
I enjoyed watching my clan members become parents.
Rath especially had been quite lonely before his bondmate had arrived.
Now, he had someone who loved him fiercely enough to turn their own family away and give themselves fully to the clan, and a little boy who was just as calm and steady as he was.
Watching the little family together brought me great joy.
Finn practically melted at the recollection. “Gods, I wish I could have seen Rath as a child. He would have been so cute.”
“He was much like Erik. Quiet and steady and fiercely protective of his family. I’ve seen the way Erik protects you when Simon teases too much.”
That made him snicker. “True. He’ll shake a finger at Simon if he teases me. It’s adorable.”
While we spoke, Cedric glanced in our direction, and Finn waved him over.
I watched him excuse himself from his conversation with Amina, the way he held himself as he walked was a little formal compared to his townkin.
I should have guessed he’d held a position in the government. The image suited him.
“Finn, Orthorr,” Cedric greeted, nodding at us both as he came to join us. “Did you need something?”
“Orthorr and I were just discussing what you told me earlier. I think you could be a great help to him with all the paperwork they keep sending him,” Finn explained.
Cedric looked surprised, glancing at me almost shyly. “Are you sure? I wasn’t very high in the pecking order of things.”
“Well… Let’s see,” I said, beckoning him toward my tent. Finn followed, curious, and looked over Cedric’s shoulder when I handed him the most recent paperwork I’d received from a messenger that morning. I’d yet to go over it thoroughly. “Can you tell me what this is?”
Cedric nodded slowly. “Yes. It’s a petition of mutual aid in times of hardship.
To put it simply, they’re requesting assistance from the clans in protecting smaller towns and villages farther out from the city if needed, and in exchange, the same will be provided to the clans at times of war.
” His eyebrows lifted as he continued to read, and he huffed a sound of surprise when he finished.
“It’s surprisingly sound. As far as I can tell at a glance, there are no hidden demands or loopholes.
It’s a true partnership.” He looked up at me, awed.
“I’ve never read such an equal petition before.
Someone always tries to get the upperhand. ”
“Mm. We certainly got lucky with our alliance with King Zohaib and Queen Raiza. They are kind rulers, and their youngest son spoke in our favor when they came to retrieve him. Our alliance was born of mutual respect, not necessity.”
Cedric blew out a breath, handing the paper back to me. “That’s amazing. I’m curious to see the whole thing. Like I said, things are never that equal in town.”
“You’re welcome to look at it. I have a copy here with me.”
He looked startled by the offer, but pleased, and sat when I gestured for him to join me at my table.
Finn peeked out of my tent, and the smile that lit up his face made me think his family had returned from their hunting lesson. He gave me a little wave when I nodded at him, silently sending him on his way, and slipped out to join his family.
“He’s nice,” Cedric commented as I sat beside him. “And a good teacher. You’re lucky to have him.”
“We are,” I agreed, pulling a box closer to the table that held the paperwork for the alliance inside it.
While each clan had their own leader and rules, it was agreed that Uttin would be the ambassador for the clans due to his connection to the crown.
All paperwork came to us first and was discussed during clan leader meetings at a later time.
No decisions would be made without all clan leaders in agreement.
“Finn was a gift to us upon his arrival. His bondmate, Rath, was quite lonely. He hadn’t found a match among our people.
” Lowering my voice to a more secretive tone, I added, “His clan brothers were too rough for him. He prefers the sweet things in life.”
Cedric snickered, his eyes dancing in a way that made it difficult to look away from him. The thought brought me up short, and I straightened abruptly, giving my attention back to the paperwork and handing Cedric the original alliance agreement.
“I have to say, I’m still not used to how openly people talk about same-sex couples here. It might take me a while to get used to that.”
I nodded, pushing aside the uneasiness that had gathered in my chest. “That’s normal. All the males who arrived as tributes felt the same way. Only Simon was ever unbothered by it. He lived in a town that more freely accepted such things, so it wasn’t as much a surprise to him.”
“Ah. That makes sense. He was all over his barbarian during the journey. I’d wondered if that was normal or if there was something special about him that made him so unbothered by being open about his relationship.
It’s…” His cheeks turned a deep shade of red, capturing my full focus again.
“Lovely, honestly. Even while working to attain the same kind of freedoms the other towns had, I never expected such openness. At most, I hoped to make it not punishable by death for such attractions. To be able to kiss a lover in public…” He shook his head, letting out a shaky breath, like the idea was too stunning for him to even fully wrap his head around it.
I found myself reaching for him without thought, putting a hand on his shoulder and squeezing lightly. “You’re safe here, Cedric. When you find someone who suits you, you’ll experience it yourself, and it will no longer be such a shock. I promise.”
Shyly, he looked up at me, his bottom lip caught between his teeth for a moment. “Do you… Are you bonded?”
The way he asked, as though there might be more than a casual interest on his part, made my stomach tighten in a way I’d long since forgotten. It unnerved me, and I dropped my hand on his shoulder automatically to put space between us.
“I was. She died many years ago from illness.”
His face fell, and I wondered if I imagined the disappointment on his face when he replied. “Oh. I’m sorry. That’s awful.”
I considered what I wanted to say, whether or not to address the emotion I’d seen flash across his face, but in the end I held my tongue. I didn’t want to embarrass him further.
It wasn’t as if I was against such couplings.
Many in my clan loved other men. It wasn’t something I was familiar with, though.
And even if I was, I’d found my bondmate.
When I laid her to rest, I left my heart with her.
I promised myself when she died that I would take no other woman into my bed.
I wouldn’t dishonor her by forgetting that promise.
When I looked at Cedric again, his expression was chagrined. “Truly, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up. I’m still getting used to things here. You can just ignore me.”
Putting my hand on his shoulder again, I lifted my eyebrows, waiting for him to look at me. “You are allowed to have all the time in the world to settle. I was not offended by the question. And I have no intention of ignoring you. You’re going to help me with these papers, remember?”
The tease did its job to lighten the mood, and the corners of his mouth quirked up in a small smile.
Drawing in a breath, he straightened and nodded once.
“Right. I want to read the original alliance first just so I can understand the base agreements, then I’ll look at whatever you need me to explain.
I’ve been doing paperwork my whole adult life.
I’m sure together we can figure it out.”