Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
GARRUN
I knew better now than to wander off when Henry was to meet me.
I stayed by his tent, listening to him and his sister speak in soft tones.
I couldn’t understand all of it, they spoke too fast, but I made the decision the night prior to practice more of the common tongue with Henry.
I wanted to be able to speak with him freely, and my common tongue wasn’t good enough yet to always understand his words.
When he carefully stepped out of the tent with a bag on his shoulder, I tipped my head as I took his hand. “What is that?”
“Laundry,” he replied with an easy smile. “I’d hoped to ask for you to escort me to the river this morning. I want to clean our clothes.”
Humming, I put his hand on my arm as I always did. “I can do this. There is a space where many gather most mornings. They will have the soap and can help hang it to dry.”
It would be good for him to meet others in the clan. If I was asleep, I wanted Henry to feel comfortable to ask for help. I wished for him to stay and ensuring he had the care he needed if I wasn’t around was important for that to happen.
Ekkar slipped out of Henry’s tent behind him, keeping step with us with his side pressed against Henry’s leg.
I studied him curiously. I’d seen him do that a few times now, like he was guiding Henry where he needed to go.
If he continued to do so, it might help Henry to move around more freely if I wasn’t available.
But I wasn’t sure how to train him to do so intentionally.
Ekkar was protective, and he liked Henry, which was likely why he was sticking close.
That didn’t mean he wouldn’t walk away to fetch a meal or get distracted.
I didn’t want to offer him as a solution that may lead to Henry possibly being left alone somewhere without a guide.
Ekkar ran off for his breakfast while I was thinking about it.
I left it alone for now. I didn’t think we were in any rush.
After bringing Henry to the trench and giving him his privacy, I stopped at my own tent to grab my clothing to clean before leading him to the river.
It was best to do so in the morning before the first meal because the sun wasn’t so strong yet that it would be overbearing without the shade.
A few males with baskets of clothing were already by the water, using rocks to clean them as they talked amongst themselves.
I wasn’t familiar with them, but they gave friendly smiles as we joined them.
“Hello, Henry,” one greeted cheerfully.
Henry turned in the direction of the speaker, his head cocked curiously. “Finn?”
“Yep. Is it chore day for you too? We’ve got some soap over here if you want to use it, and the water is warm so you don’t have to worry about getting a chill.”
Henry hummed, shooting me a quick smile when I held his elbow to balance him as he tugged off his boots and rolled his leggings up so he could get into the water.
He waited for me to do the same before wading in.
The water was sandy, no rocks to slip on until he got closer to where Finn was, so he walked steadily through the shallows.
I guided him to a rock high enough out of the water that he could sit upon it, setting his bag behind it so he could access his clothing.
I would need to get him a basket so the water wouldn’t soak the bag, but I figured he could share mine for now.
“Who’s your friend?” Finn asked, giving me a friendly smile.
“This is Garrun,” Henry introduced me with that bright smile that crinkled around his eyes and made my chest ache to reach for him. I held back and focused on cleaning my clothes.
“Nice to meet you, Garrun,” Finn said without a hint of fear in his tone.
His reaction to me was unusual, but the other males didn’t look that uncomfortable either.
I didn’t understand why until a brother from another clan arrived with a basket, offering it to a male with dark hair and a soft disposition.
Einar the Feral.
No wonder they felt no fear around me. If they were comfortable around Einar, they were more brave than they looked.
Even I knew to be cautious around him, and he had similar scars as I did.
The difference was that Einar fought back against the monster that had attacked him and won.
I was unable to do so. Had I moved even an inch, Ekkar would have been hurt.
I used my body to shield him until my brothers could step in to help.
Einar earned his scars. Mine made me a coward.
A hand brushed over mine, drawing my focus to Henry, who was frowning at me. It wasn’t until his touch pulled me out of my head that I realized I hadn’t responded to Finn. “Nice to meet you too,” I replied gruffly.
Finn seemed unbothered by my brusque response, giving his attention back to the other males with him as he introduced them to Henry.
They all gave polite greetings to Henry, but one narrowed his eyes when Finn mentioned his lack of sight, studying him closely.
I felt my spine straighten, determined not to let anyone make Henry feel uncomfortable for something he couldn’t control, but the man with soft pink hair said something I didn’t expect.
“I’ve met someone like you. A barbarian who got hurt during a fight and can no longer see. I can’t remember what clan he’s in, though.”
Before Henry could respond, Einar stood abruptly and pulled out his sword, his teeth bared at a threat behind us. Only, it was not a threat at all.
“Don’t!” I barked, moving to stand between Einar and Ekkar, who bared his teeth in warning to Einar’s behavior. “He’s a friend.”
“Ulvor are not friends,” Einar snarled. “They are dangerous. They will attack without warning.”
“That’s not true,” Henry said, slowly pushing to his feet. He couldn’t see what was happening, but he likely heard the sword being drawn and Ekkar’s growl. He turned in the direction of Ekkar, putting his hand out and giving my friend a patient smile. “Come here, Ekkar. It’s okay.”
Ekkar didn’t hesitate, striding through the water to Henry’s side and pressing up against him.
He kept his dark gaze on Einar, though, daring him to come near Henry.
I felt my chest tighten as I saw the two of them together.
I hadn’t realized just how attached Ekkar had gotten.
I hoped Henry would stay. It would hurt Ekkar if he left.
The man with the dark hair who Einar had approached first stood, moving to Einar’s side and putting a hand on his arm. Einar’s body language was poised for a fight, and he shifted slightly to put himself in front of the man, his lip lifted in a deep scowl.
“Ulvor are no pets,” he growled, his free hand tucking the dark haired man behind him. “You are foolish to think otherwise.” His gaze flicked to Finn and the other men still in the water. “Go back to your bondmates. It is not safe here.”
They looked between Einar and Ekkar, seeming uncertain, but eventually followed their clan member’s demand, returning their wet clothing to the baskets and stepping out of the water.
Finn glanced over his shoulder, frowning at Henry like he was worried about him, but I moved in front of him, blocking him from the smaller man’s view.
Henry was in no danger with me and Ekkar.
I would not allow the man to make him feel otherwise.
It took time after they left before I let my guard down.
I would fight to protect Ekkar, but I wasn’t sure I would come out the victor against Einar the Feral.
My chest felt tight just thinking of that confrontation.
I would need to keep Ekkar away from him until our clan finally moved from this spot and returned to our nomadic ways.
“Shh…” Henry soothed, and when I looked over my shoulder at him, he was kneeling in the water, petting Ekkar and trying to settle him. “It’s okay. I know you’re not dangerous. They’ll realize it eventually.”
That same feeling I’d felt last night, like Henry truly saw me as I was, burned hot in my chest, and I couldn’t stop myself from moving to his side, leaning over to press a soft kiss on top of his head.
When he looked up at me in surprise, I gave into the desire to give him a chaste kiss, releasing another breath as he smiled against my lips.
“So I’m guessing not every clan has wolves as clan members, huh?
” he asked when I straightened again. I liked that he saw Ekkar as clan.
Ekkar was not a pet as Einar said. He was a friend.
As much my clan brother as Dras or Tyos.
Henry may not have sight, but he saw us both better than anyone else ever had.
“No,” I agreed with him, moving back to where our clothes had been abandoned.
I tried to think of the words to explain in the common tongue, but struggled to find the right ones.
I used my own language instead so I could explain better.
“Ulvors are pack animals. They are usually not alone and will attack as one. I found Ekkar as a pup, injured, with no pack nearby. I cared for him, nursed him back to health, and when given the option to return to the forest, he chose to stay.”
Humming with a smile, Henry ruffled Ekkar’s ears playfully, using my language in slow and simple words. “Of course. Ekkar smart. He knows you his real family.” When Ekkar nipped lightly at his hands, Henry chuckled and pushed to his feet.
His battered attempt at consoling me made me smile. “You need more practice. So do I. I am no better with the common tongue.”
Cocking his head thoughtfully, he picked up the tunic he’d abandoned during the confrontation, rubbing the soap against the fabric. “Maybe we should switch our approach? We answer in each other’s languages instead of our own?”
We’d done the opposite until now, it was simpler for us, but I could see his point. “Or we could use one each day. Less confusing.”
“We could do that,” he agreed, then switched to my language. “We use yours this day. How much more? I am want eating.”
Chuckling, I corrected him. “You want to eat. I do as well. We will finish quickly.”