Chapter Thirteen
There they were, six of them milling around the mouth of the cave.
Thanred scanned to one side, then the other, making sure no others had been placed as sentries.
A pang of sadness gripped him. The Dranark guarding the cave had once been his friends.
They may have fallen under Dodlin’s spell, but he hoped they would come to be his friends again.
“You see they have fire?” Guro asked, pointing at the burning sticks the guards held.
“I see,” Thanred replied. He turned to look at Royla, who was crouched over her sticks. “Now,” he said.
She began her ritual, twisting a twig in her hands, the end rubbing against another stick. In time the smoke appeared, followed by flames that whispered to life then began to crackle.
Thanred looked back at the mouth of the cave. They were far enough away that there was little risk that the Dranark guarding it would hear or smell the fire she had started. Still, it was better to be safe.
Once the fire had developed, Thanred picked up the long branch he’d torn off a tree. The end he’d tapered into a sharp spike and wrapped with dry leaves. It would send the right message. Swinging the tip over the fire, he waited until the leaves burst into flame.
As soon as they had, he stood up, cocked his arm back, then released. The branch went sailing through the air, a plume of smoke flying after it. It found its mark, lodging into the ground twenty or so paces away from the mouth of the cave.
The Dranark guards gasped at the sight. They crouched down, wide eyes scanning the forest ahead of them to try to find the source of the ominous message.
Thanred took a deep breath.
“Please be careful,” Royla whispered, clutching his hand.
Thanred nodded at her. “I will. I promise.” He squeezed her hand before letting it fall away. Another breath and then he stepped forward, stepping out of the dark safety of the trees.
Wide eyes went wider as the Dranark realized who they were looking at. For a moment they were all frozen.
Thanred walked toward them, his face not betraying any of the fear he felt. It was only when he came to stand twenty paces on the other side of the branch that some of them lowered their own flaming spears.
“Not a step further!” It was Bereg who had barked the order.
Thanred remembered him well. They had hunted together often. He held up a hand. “I come in peace, brother,” he said.
Bereg’s eyes narrowed. He pointed at the spear Thanred had thrown. “Then what is this?” he asked.
“I come in peace but prepared,” he said.
Bereg stared at him for a long time before speaking again. “You are garshen!” Bereg barked again.
Thanred shook his head. “Those times are over.”
A few of the others looked at each other, confused by what he’d said.
“Who are you to tell us what times are over or not?” Bereg growled.
He stepped forward, away from the group, still holding his burning spear tilted toward Thanred.
“You’re not wanted here anymore. It’s a wonder you’re not dead yet.
Found yourself a sow to fuck in the woods, did you?
” he asked, a sly grin twisting his lips.
Thanred bristled at what he’d said but kept his calm. If it came to it, there would be time for anger later. He had sworn to Royla that he would try to resolve this without violence first. “Put your weapon down,” he said to Bereg.
Bereg smirked. “Or what?” he asked.
“Or I will put it down for you,” Thanred explained. “My quarrel is not with you, brother. Where is Dodlin?”
“That’s not your concern,” Bereg replied.
Out of the corner of his eye, Thanred saw two of the other guards whispering to each other.
“You would do best to crawl back into the forest, Thanred,” Bereg said, poking the air with his spear.
Thanred shook his head. “I’m not going back there. This will be resolved, or I will die here.” His voice was hard as stone.
The others glanced at each other again, worry spreading across their expressions. Even Bereg’s angry snarl faltered, if only for a moment. “Don’t be a fool!” he called out.
Thanred took a step forward.
Bereg’s eyes widened but he stepped toward Thanred, gripping his spear more tightly. “I said not another step!” he shouted.
Thanred saw the others’ resolve falter. They were glancing nervously from side to side. Two of them followed Bereg, stepping toward Thanred, spears raised. But the other three did not. He saw two of them whispering again. He filled his lungs with air. “Dodlin!” he shouted. “Come out, you coward!”
A stillness settled on all of them as they stared at him, looking like they were unable to believe what he’d just said.
The muscles in Bereg’s jaw tightened.
Thanred could tell he was trying to muster the courage to take another step, maybe even charge. The air between them was thick and charged with tension. He raised his fist.
Behind him he heard the others emerging from the forest. He didn’t dare turn around, but he hoped that Royla had kept her promise and stayed in the forest, where he hoped she would be safe until this was finished.
The Dranark standing by the cave looked even more shocked by what they were seeing. How could they not have expected this? Expelling him was one thing. But another six? Surely even Dodlin must have known they would return?
The sound of fire crackling on the ends of his companions’ spears filled the air. They came up to stand beside him.
The ones by the cave all looked to Bereg, wondering what to do next.
Bereg looked suddenly nervous. He obviously hadn’t been expecting this. But Bereg had never been that clever. Dodlin had most certainly promised him something outrageous that he could never deliver, for Bereg to be acting like this.
Thanred lowered the fist he’d been holding in the air. The spears on either side of him were lowered, pointed at their opponents, ready for a charge. He could feel Guro’s unease. He lifted his hand and waved it up and down slowly through the air. “Bereg,” he said.
Hearing his name spoken made Bereg’s anger waver. He shifted from one foot to the other, looking around at the Dranark on either side of him.
“This doesn’t have to end badly,” Thanred continued. “Not for anyone. My quarrel is with Dodlin. Give him to me and you and the others will be spared.”
Bereg forced an uneasy smirk, as if to show he wouldn’t be cowed by threats. But the act was not at all convincing.
A dark figure emerged from the cave behind them. It stepped out into the open air, keeping well behind the line of Dranark with spears.
Thanred bristled at seeing Dodlin’s ugly grin. The urge rose within him to give the order to charge, to break through the line and bury his claw into Dodlin’s chest.
Be still.
The thought formed in his mind as if Royla had spoken it.
“Back to the forest with you!” Dodlin shouted, pointing a crooked finger at the woods behind them. “You’ve been cast out! My tribe has no need for any of you!” He turned to Bereg. “Spears ready!” he barked.
Thanred couldn’t understand why the others followed his order. They lowered their spears, their expressions hardening as they readied themselves for battle.
Thanred’s pulse quickened. His body tensed. He had not thought it would come to this. Now he could only pray to Mother Mountain that not too much blood would be spilled.
“Ready!” Dodlin’s bark echoed up the mouth of the cave.
The Dranark in front of him planted their feet, ready to lunge when he gave the command.
“Steady,” Thanred whispered to those next to him.
The silence was pierced by a crow cawing overhead.
Something moved behind him. Leaves rustled. The faint sound of footsteps could be heard walking out of the trees.
Thanred’s heart jumped into his throat.
No.
Not Royla. He had told her...
The mouths of the Dranark in front of Dodlin fell open as they laid eyes on her.
Thanred fought the urge to spin around, to chastise her for disobeying him, to chase her back into the forest where none of them would find her.
One corner of Dodlin’s lips curled up. He stood up from his crouch and peered over the Dranark’s shoulders. “Well, well. What is this?”
To Thanred’s disbelief, Royla stepped between him and Guro, walking a few paces farther to come stand almost next to the smoldering spear lodged into the ground. He nearly reached out to yank her back but knew that one quick motion could have devastating effects.
“I am Royla.” She held her head high, proud and defiant.
Dodlin tilted his head to one side. “Royla,” he said, sneering at her. His smile faded. “You must have been the offering meant for us. Pity he found you first. Otherwise you might have lived.”
Thanred’s stomach tightened at the threat. Hot anger coursed through his body. He ground his teeth together, still fighting the impulse to charge through the line and try to make it to Dodlin before the others buried their spears in his back.
“I am with child,” Royla said. Her voice sounded so sweet and innocent compared to Dodlin’s ugly grunts and barks.
“What are you doing?” Thanred hissed at her.
Royla’s hand came up as she turned, a finger pointing at Thanred. “It is his,” she said, gazing into his eyes. “The child is Dranark.”
Dodlin’s expression took on a confused look. “What?” he said.
Something stirred behind him. It came crawling out of the cave on hands and knees and once it was in the light, Thanred saw that it was one of the females. She stood and stared at Royla, peering at her through narrowed eyes.
Dodlin noticed her come up next to him. “What are you doing? Back in the cave!” he snapped.
The female, Alaya, if Thanred remembered correctly, simply turned and scowled down her nose at Dodlin.
Another figure emerged. Another female. She, too came to stand next to her sister, staring at Royla, wearing a puzzled look. A third came shortly after.
Alaya turned her head to look at Thanred. “Is this true?” she asked quietly.