Chapter 17 #2
The morning came too soon and not soon enough. Vorn was still asleep when I got up. I’d pulled my boots off when I came back in last night, and my feet had been grateful for it.
I dressed, boots back on, cloak wrapped tight around me, and was pulling my satchel over my head when Vorn spoke.
“Never had you pegged for a sneak-out-before-sunrise woman.”
I actually laughed. “You should travel with the bards.” I checked my gloves and pockets. “They’re always looking for jokers.”
Vorn sat up and rubbed his beard. “I’m happier here.” He pushed his blankets off. “Wait for me.”
It wasn’t a request, and I didn’t pretend it was. I stood with my back to him as I heard him get his own boots and cloak on.
When he walked past me and out of his tent, I followed quietly. I did my very best not to look at the smaller shelter as we passed, and Vorn didn’t look at all.
The others were also up and ready to leave. Some of Vorn’s people watched them, but they mostly seemed immune to them.
Nicco was the first person to see me, and I wasn’t prepared for him to turn away from me as I approached. Why was he pissed off at me now? I thought we had an agreement?
“Everyone ready?” I asked, trying to make my voice light.
Captain Marson stepped forward. He looked less polished than when I first met him. Weeks on the trail could do that to you, but he was still much more elegant and refined than Vorn or me.
“We thank you for the shelter.” He glanced at his men, who all murmured some form of thanks like obedient children.
Vorn turned to look at me, laughter dancing in his eyes, and I briefly considered elbowing him in the ribs as I brushed past him and joined the others.
“Right, we’re rested and ready. Let’s go.”
Vorn caught my arm and pulled me back slightly, not caring about how I tensed.
“Amarya.”
“Vorn?” I looked up at him. “Is there a problem?”
“One night’s rest, and you don’t come back this way.”
I nodded. “Agreed.”
He held my gaze, then nodded. “You can let go of your sword, Nicco. Your woman is fine.”
I wrenched my arm free from Vorn’s hold. “Still not his woman.”
We left their camp mostly in silence. I guided them back along the path we had taken.
Snow had fallen overnight, covering the tracks from the day before, and I was eager to spot any of their hiding places as we moved.
Hardly anyone spoke, and I wondered whether they had slept well.
A night of shelter should have left them more refreshed than this.
When we were far enough away, I turned to look for the captain. He saw me looking for him and hurried to catch up.
“Are you okay?” he asked immediately. “We were worried about you. You weren’t… compromised?”
Compromised? Oh.
“I was fine. He left me alone most of the night, and only came back to sleep.”
Captain Marson looked relieved and deflated at once. “You were… fine?”
I nodded. “Yes.” I noticed his frown. “That upsets you?” I looked behind me one more time. “Why do you all look worse than yesterday?”
He gave a weak smile. “Nicco insisted we all still do a watch rotation.”
This time, the look over my shoulder was a glare for one man only. He either didn’t see me or ignored me.
“Well, that was a waste of time,” I snapped. “None of you are rested?”
“It was a better night than some we’ve had.” The captain gave me a quick smile. “I am glad you were not harmed.”
No one was coming to my rescue if I had been, though, were they? The thought put me in a bad mood. The captain dropped back, and as we trudged onward, we fell into a pattern we were used to.
Eventually, a mercenary was beside me. Not the one I would have picked. I looked over my shoulder and saw we were some distance from the others, not too far in front but enough.
When I looked back, he was watching me. He looked as pissed off as I felt. “You slept well?”
“You made them take watch?”
“Enemy territory.” Nicco practically rolled his eyes at me like I was an idiot for thinking they wouldn’t take watch.
“We had their protection.”
“No, we had a stranger’s word that he would be a host on the basis of having you in his tent.”
I stopped walking. “What are you implying?”
Nicco didn’t stop. “I’m sure with how soundly you slept, I don’t need to draw a picture.”
I marched forward and grabbed his arm.
“Did you just call me a whore?”
His head tilted. “Do you feel like one?”
I gaped at him. “What in the shades is wrong with you?”
“Wrong with me? Come back to bed. That’s what he said.”
I scrunched my face and shook my head, trying to understand the man in front of me.
“You are…” I looked away, taking a step back. “You are insane. I slept on the floor, in my own cloak. He was nowhere near me.” I held his glare. “I am not a whore, and I sure as hell wouldn’t sleep with a man as payment, and I certainly wouldn’t do it for you.”
Nicco stepped closer. “That man keeps women as favors to give his men.”
I swallowed hard. “I know. I told you that before we even got caught—”
“Caught?”
I blinked. “You think you negotiated it? We got caught, move on.”
“Why are you two fighting again?” Baxley asked as he approached us. “Amarya, you are well?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“You are not harmed?”
“Harmed? By who? The idiot in front of me who thinks I’m a whore, or the man behind me, who treated me with respect.”
“Respect?” Nicco scoffed. “The same man who holds women hostage as sex slaves?”
I threw my hands up. “I’m done talking to you. Baxley, walk with me. Make him go away.”
“What is the problem here?” Captain Marson asked as he joined us.
I turned to rant that his mercenary was a thickheaded fool when I saw the cloud of snow that rose upwards.
“Amarya?”
“Quiet.” I looked at the sky and the men around me. Larana was off to the side, eyes alert, watching us.
I looked at Nicco. “What did you do?”
He turned to look behind us. “They’re following us?” He didn’t sound surprised.
“Why are they following us?” one of the soldiers asked as the others joined us.
“Nicco, what did you do?” I demanded.
“It wasn’t Nicco,” Baxley said from beside me. “It was me.”
My mouth hung open. I heard Nicco chuckle and looked at the advancing cloud.
“I let her go,” Baxley said with no apology.
I wanted to scream. Instead, when I spoke, my voice was as flat as I felt.
“You might have just killed us all.”