Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
GARRUN
I thought about what Henry said to me while we walked together to the river. He said he wanted to do things for himself. With Ekkar willing to help, he might be able to move about more on his own, but it wouldn’t do him much good if he constantly felt lost with only Ekkar to guide his steps.
“How much do you know of the layout of our clan?” I asked, stopping him beside the river so we could remove our clothing and set it aside.
His head cocked as he used my arm to balance himself while removing his boots. “I mean, I think I have a general sense of it, but I couldn’t tell you for sure. Why?”
“As a warrior of my clan, I patrol the clan often. I know its layout well, even when night has fallen and most are asleep. Perhaps I can help.”
The soft smile he gave me made warmth spread in my chest, and I couldn’t resist stealing a kiss from him before guiding him to the water.
He chuckled at my amorous behavior but didn’t complain, wading into the water deep enough that it came to his waist before ducking his head to wet his hair.
I did the same, and when I came back up, I noticed more clan brothers coming to join us.
Bathing in groups was common when we lived in the northern lands, where creatures would attack even in the water.
We did the same now, even though the creatures we had been warned about that resided in water were in the deeper parts of the river, not in the area where we bathed. It was just habit by now.
I figured now was a good time to start helping Henry. He startled a lot when people joined him suddenly, and my clan was known for stealth. It might make him feel more secure if he knew more were joining.
“Tyos and his new bondmate have come to join us, as well as Dras and Torgrind. Over your left shoulder.”
His face turned in that direction, head cocked as he listened to the splashes as my clan brothers stepped into the water. Humming, he turned back to me, offering me the soap. “Do you always bathe in groups? This isn’t the first time I’ve had company. Alice is uncomfortable with it.”
“Most tributes are in the beginning,” I agreed. “Before, in the north, we bathed together for protection. The creatures that hunted in water didn’t approach if we were all together. Now, it is habit, I think.”
“Garrun,” Tyos greeted as he came closer, the little male he’d only recently bonded to plastered to his side.
“Have you and your musician met Arlen yet? He is making new clothing for those in the clan that turn pink in the sun. We spent some time in Al Nuzem’s capital before the move, and he learned of their clothing that protects the skin. ”
Arlen’s face was twisted, like he didn't quite understand Tyos’s words yet. I raised an eyebrow at my clan brother, tipping my head toward his bondmate. “Repeat that. He didn't understand.”
Tyos’s face jerked down and he winced, switching to the common tongue. “Apologies, velren. I spoke of the cloth you make. The skin covering.”
Both Arlen and Henry made a face at his response. Even I knew his words were incorrect. Skin covering sounded off.
“What did I say?” Tyos asked, his face falling as he realized his words were incorrect. His bondmate was quick to soothe him, rubbing circles on his chest with a bright smile. He spoke in the common tongue, though slower for Tyos’s sake.
“Just a translation issue. You were talking about the new clothes I’m making, right? The ones to protect paler skin?”
Tyos nodded sharply, pointing at him as he looked at me again. “That.”
Rolling his eyes, Dras stepped up to his brother’s side with a weary sigh. “Have you been avoiding lessons again? You will never get better if you don’t practice.”
Making a face at him, Tyos scowled. “I am trying. I am… busy.”
Henry huffed behind me, his words quiet enough that he likely didn’t intend to be overheard. “Even I know he’s lying.”
Tyos was closer than Henry realized and spun around, his expression wide eyed. “I am! I am a warrior of my clan! I must train! I do guard duty as well and–”
“And spend more time in your tent with your bondmate than doing either of those other things you are crowing about,” Torgrind pointed out. “Garrun’s Musician is right. You lie to save face.”
While Tyos’s bondmate still looked confused since my clan brothers spoke in our tongue, Henry followed along well enough to chuckle, taking the soap from me when I pressed it into his hand so he could wash his hair.
He switched to our tongue, his words still fragmented to show he was learning.
We needed to do better at practicing each other’s languages.
Whenever we suggest doing so, we get distracted with each other and forget.
“I am known only Garrun’s Musician. It is amusing.”
Arlen must have understood that much because he sighed and nodded, answering in his own tongue. “I’m Tyos’s Tailor. I thought perhaps I’d get my name back after we bonded, but not so much.”
“It is a compliment,” Dras explained in their tongue for their benefit.
His common tongue was better than the rest of ours, as he had been part of the group that fetched tributes before we relocated.
“Our bondmates are like treasures. The clan referring to your bond is showing respect and acceptance. You have a place among us. It is our solemn wish that new bondmates feel like they are part of the clan. Is this wrong?”
Henry pursed his lips thoughtfully, hands slowing in his hair as he thought about it.
His answer was in the common tongue, which meant he didn’t know how to reply in our language yet.
“I see both sides. While referring to our connection might be a nice reminder that we’re part of the clan, being treated equally by using our name would do the same thing.
I’m happy to be Garrun’s Musician, but I’m also just Henry. ”
“Garrun’s Henry?” Tyos offered, and my heart skipped at the words. I liked that.
From the way those indents appeared on his cheeks, Henry did as well. He nodded once before handing the soap back to me. “I can accept that.”
While he dunked his head to rinse out the soap, Dras sidled closer to speak to me. “Did you speak with him?”
I grunted, watching Henry and telling him to dunk again when I saw more soap in his hair.
“He wants to do things on his own. He’s not sure how, with the clan moving so often.
” My eyes narrowed. “Simon mentioned once that he’d met a clan brother who was injured in a fight and cannot see.
Can you help me find him? I want to ask some things. ”
Dras sighed heavily. “Simon will not give the information up freely. He is a brat. I will speak with his bondmate instead. Perhaps Feigrind can convince him to share.”
While Henry went with his sister to their language lessons, I met with Dras to find out what information he’d gotten from Simon.
Together, we found the clan brother Simon had spoken of, requesting an audience with him while Henry was present.
After seeing the man train, it felt important that they meet.
I hoped it would help Henry feel more comfortable staying.
My heart twisted sharply in my chest whenever I thought about him leaving.
I found Henry speaking to a few townsfolk outside the learning tent when I went to fetch him. Ekkar was at his side, and I looked around uneasily to ensure Einar the Feral wasn’t anywhere nearby. I didn’t trust him around Ekkar.
Luckily, Einar wasn’t around, and Ekkar guided Henry to me once he noticed my presence. Henry followed, calling out an apology to those he’d been speaking to, and looked a little bewildered when Ekkar stopped in front of me.
“Erska,” I greeted, pressing a kiss to his cheek. He jumped, startled, but smiled brightly when he realized it was me.
“Garrun. I thought Ekkar was just tired of standing there when he led me away. I’d asked him to bring me to you before we were stopped by others hoping to talk. I hadn’t realized he would follow my request even after I’d stopped to talk.”
Looking down at my friend, I chuckled. “He’s always been smart.
” Drawing in an unsteady breath, I took Henry’s hand, placing it on my arm as we’ve done so many times before.
He surprised me when he shifted his grip, moving in a way so we could hold hands while I guided him.
I liked it and kissed the back of his hand in response.
“I have someone I’d like for you to meet. Will you come with me?”
“Of course,” he replied easily, his expression filled with curiosity. “Who are we meeting?”
“Someone who may help us with making you more comfortable here.”
His brows furrowed with his confusion, but he followed my guidance easily, one hand on Ekkar as my clan brother padded beside us. I kept an eye out for Einar, breathing a sigh of relief when we returned to where the warrior I wanted Henry to meet said he would wait.
The clang of metal on metal made Henry’s head tip, listening to what was happening nearby. I watched in awe, speaking to him so he might see what I saw.
“Yngvar lost his sight during a battle between two clans. He was a strong and brave warrior who fought hard for his clan. Now, he not only continues to train regularly, but he also trains younger warriors to fight without sight. So no matter the circumstance, they can protect themselves.” Another clash of weapons made Henry gasp, so I tried my best to explain the movements.
“Yngvar moves like a shadow, his movements more like dance than fighting. His head tilts like yours does, listening to his opponent. And when they come together–” Another loud clang, this one close enough that I could almost feel it in my bones “–He does not give under pressure. He is steady, like rock, and cannot be moved. He is an enviable fighter. I would not wish to come up against him.”
“He… He can’t see? At all?” Henry breathed.
Dras had asked the same question. Henry had no sight, he told us as much, and Dras was smart enough to question if Yngvar had even partial sight after his injury. His way of proving it was… disconcerting, though Yngvar had been amused by my shock.
“He has no eyes, erska.”
Henry’s mouth fell open. I hadn’t been expecting that either when I’d met with him.
I’d only known Henry without sight. I hadn’t thought to expect anything different.
Though, perhaps I should have. Henry’s sight was lost due to illness.
There were no scars, nothing to make him look any different from anyone else.
Yngvar was not so lucky. He didn’t look like Henry. He looked like me.