Chapter 22
Twenty-Two
GODR
I watched Ambrose from a distance, soaking in his smile as he held his son and hugged his sister.
When I’d first seen him following behind his protector, he looked…
unwell. Not sick, but like a shell of himself.
Unhappiness came off him in waves, and it took everything in me to stay by Orthorr’s side.
My clan leader had warned me not to approach another clan’s tribute without permission first. If I didn’t heed his advice, I risked making our request to bring Ambrose back with us even more of an insult than it already was.
Every once in a while, Ambrose would pat Rhoddgorr’s side or lean against him when the stallion got close.
Rhoddgorr was watching out for his person, eyeing the Ilvos clan like he was ready to bite or kick anyone who got close enough.
I wasn’t surprised that the cantankerous stallion took to Sebastian as quickly as he’d done with Ambrose.
Those two had been inseparable on the journey, and I’d been bitten twice for getting between them.
The father and son had stallion spirits and would thrive in our clan if only Orthorr could convince the Ilvos clan leader to accept our proposal.
I dragged my gaze off Ambrose, looking toward the tent that Orthorr and Inngath had disappeared into.
What we were doing was unheard of, approaching a clan about a tribute who didn’t belong to them.
I could have waited and hoped that Ambrose didn’t find his match until he was brought back to us to try his luck in our clan, but my soul ached at the thought.
I didn’t want to lose him because he chose to settle just to not cause trouble.
It wouldn’t surprise me if he did such a thing.
“Here he comes,” Tavik muttered under his breath. He and Saneth had volunteered to accompany us on this journey as guards for Orthorr. When Tavik had heard my story, he felt swayed by it and wanted to support me. It meant a lot, and I was grateful to them both for volunteering.
My eyes followed his line of sight, and I sucked in a sharp breath when I noticed Ambrose coming closer. My hands itched to reach for him, but I held myself back by the skin of my teeth. I couldn’t. His protector had every right to remove my head if I tried.
“Godr…” Ambrose’s voice was like silk, making me shiver as it wrapped around me. I took a step forward without thinking, only to stop when Tavik gripped my shoulder, pulling me back. Ambrose’s brows snapped together, and worry overtook his face, but before I could explain, Saneth spoke for me.
“He needs permission from your protector to touch you. And his protector needs permission from the clan. Keep your distance if you value his life.”
Startled, Ambrose took a step back, looking over his shoulder at his protector like he was worried the man would cause trouble. I’d cut him down if he tried, but I was doing my best to keep myself under control.
“Are we… Are we not allowed to go with you?” he asked, his grasp of my mother tongue more fluid than when I’d last spoken with him.
“Not yet,” Tavik answered, pulling me back another step. I allowed him to pull me no further. I couldn’t make myself put any more distance between us. This amount was too much.
Ambrose and I stared at each other, no words between us, but the emotions shared spoke enough for me.
His eyes swam with unshed tears, one hand holding his son’s tightly while the other flexed like he wanted to reach for me.
I wanted to reach for him as well, and I practically vibrated as I held myself back.
Even the time spent as friends had only solidified my feelings for him.
I could go without sex if I could be with him.
Though… I hoped I did not have to.
Orthorr stepped out of the Ilvos receiving tent, his expression unreadable. Inngath’s expression as he followed behind was easier to read. He was angry. My breath caught in my throat, and I feared the worst as they both approached.
“Doskar, your tribute will no longer be in your care. He will return to the Northern clan,” Inngath snapped. “Next cycle, we will not leave our tributes alone in your care, Orthorr. Word will spread of this.”
Orthorr nodded solemnly. “Understood.” His gaze shifted to me. “You will apologize in front of the Ilvos clan for overstepping. And a price will be paid for the insult.”
Ambrose stepped forward, fear in his eyes. “They won’t hurt him, will they?”
“Not this time,” Inngath growled. “Next time, I will not be so kind.”
I looked to Orthorr for an explanation. He let out a heavy sigh.
“We will pay in stallions. Six will be given to the Ilvos clan for our offense. You will deliver them yourself before the weather turns. At that time, you will give your apologies. For now, we are asked to leave. We are not welcome here.”
“Ambrose—” I began, only to be cut off by Orthorr.
“Will remain here until the debt is settled.”
I wanted to refuse—I didn’t want to leave Ambrose behind—but the look Orthorr gave me stayed my tongue. They were allowing him to return to us. To me. I should be grateful for the gift I’d been given.
“Godr,” Ambrose spoke softly, drawing my attention to him. “Will you bring Sebastian back with you? It’ll be safer for him.”
He turned to his son, I assumed to say the same thing.
Sebastian immediately protested, clinging to his father with tears in his eyes.
It hurt my heart to separate them, but Ambrose was right.
It was safer for Sebastian to return with us.
I was already uncertain how Ambrose would be treated while I returned to get the horses and then brought them here.
I didn’t want Sebastian at risk as well.
“Ambrose. Will you translate for me?” I asked, kneeling beside him and putting my hand on the young boy’s shoulder. He looked ready to hurt me for it but stayed his hand. Brave boy.
Ambrose nodded, saying something in the common tongue to get Sebastian to listen to my words.
“I am the fastest in my clan. No one rides like I can. I will be back for him as the wind flies. I promise it won’t be long.”
There wasn’t a force in nature that would stop me.
AMbrOSE
I was told it would take another week for Godr to return with the horses.
Evelyn headed home so she and Beau wouldn’t be caught in bad weather, but we got to have a real goodbye this time around, and I promised her I’d visit when I could.
I was sure the Northern clan would allow it.
They were kind enough to come for me. They wouldn’t stop me from seeing my family.
Letting Sebastian go was harder, and only seeing him on the back of Godr’s horse made it possible. I knew he’d watch out for my son.
While I wasn’t outright abused after the Northern clan left, the feeling that I was no longer welcome was apparent.
The healers wanted nothing more to do with me, and no one in the clan spoke to me aside from Doskar.
He at least maintained his friendly demeanor, asking about Godr and my son, and wishing me luck for the future.
He even got me the tools to care for Rhoddgorr, who refused to leave without me.
He stubbornly stayed outside Doskar’s tent unless I took him further away to practice riding.
I thoroughly enjoyed it when he pooped right outside Takr’s tent after he insulted me again for causing trouble for his clan.
It didn’t escape me that my meals were more meager, and the dirty looks I got from some as I used the trench or spent time with Rhoddgorr were disheartening, but I counted down the days until Godr returned.
Just like he’d promised, he didn't take as long as expected. Four days after he’d left, he was spotted racing toward the Ilvos clan with six horses and one other rider at his back.
I heard the commotion while brushing Rhoddgorr and went to see what was happening.
I watched in awe as Godr approached, his hair flowing behind him and a fierce expression on his face. He was… gorgeous.
When he came to a halt in front of the clan leader, a cloud of dust surrounded the both of them and swept over the clan. I covered my face and squinted, coughing a little from the intensity of it. When it cleared, Godr was standing in front of Inngarth, bowing practically in half as he spoke.
“In apology for the disrespect I have shown to the Ilvos clan, I offer the best stallions our clan has to offer. May this bring peace between us and prosperity to your clan.”
Inngath still looked angry at Godr, and I worried he’d lash out or hurt him, but he stuck to the agreement, calling a few men to take the horses away and grunting something to Godr too low for me to hear.
The man who’d rode in with him left as well, but he was too far away for me to see clearly who it was.
Doskar appeared at my side, handing me a bag with my things inside it with a soft smile. “I enjoyed getting to know you, Ambrose. May the goddess smile upon your bonding.”
“Thank you. I hope you find who you’re looking for as well.”
He jerked his chin, urging me toward Godr, and Rhoddgorr followed placidly beside me. He only showed his true colors when he got close enough to Godr to nip him.
Godr jumped back, scowling and rubbing the sore spot. “What? I got here as soon as I could!”
“You got here faster than I expected,” I replied, stepping up to him. “Am I allowed to touch you now?”
He took my hand, offering me a sheepish grin. “Maybe it is best we leave first. If we flaunt our love, Inngath will have my head for sure.”
My breath left me in a whoosh at the word love, but he wasn’t wrong. After being separated for so long, all I wanted was to wrap myself around him and not let go. If that wasn’t love, then I wasn’t sure what was.
He patted Rhoddgorr’s neck, giving him a smile. “Try not to leave us in the dust. Tolsen has had a long journey. He needs a break.”
His horse must not have appreciated the comment because he flicked Godr with his tail, and I swore he gave him a dirty look. Godr laughed, stepping out of range and squeezing my hand again.
“Ready, kolrav?”
“What does that word mean?” I asked as I climbed onto Rhoddgorr’s back. I was more than ready to go home.
“I will tell you when we get back,” he called over his shoulder, already trotting back the way he came. “Keep up with me now! I promised Sebastian you would be back within a week!”
My jaw dropped. “What?”
His laugh was carefree and happy, and when I nudged Rhoddgorr to catch up to him, and he raced ahead with a grin, I found myself laughing too.
It wasn’t what I expected, but in this moment, heading toward my son and my home with the barbarian who swept me off my feet by my side, I finally felt free.