Verus tipped his head towards the forest. “Trench duty. For one moon cycle. Perhaps next time you’ll think twice about making a tribute cry.”
I wrinkled my nose, turning to whisper in Rath’s ear. “You were right. A black eye would’ve been kinder.”
He barked out a laugh, startling his brother. “Don’t worry, Kolrav. He’s earned your forgiveness. He will work to earn the clan’s. And he will wear his shame to earn mine.”
I frowned, but Godr seemed to understand what he meant. His head hung when he pushed to his feet, his expression repentant. “As my brother wishes.”
Confused, I watched as Rath pushed to his feet, squaring up to his brother. Godr barely had his head up before Rath punched him hard enough to send him to the ground again. The crowd cheered around us. I choked on a gasp, startled, but it was Rath who gave Godr a hand and pulled him to his feet again. They hugged it out, speaking low to each other, and then it was all smiles again. I shot an incredulous look at Zoya, who rolled her eyes.
“Boys.”
I felt lighterwhen we walked back to the tent that night. I hadn’t fully forgiven Godr, but he apologized and was willing to make amends and that meant a lot to me. I leaned my head against Rath’s shoulder, our fingers tangled together as we walked.
“Two days,” I hummed. When Rath told me of his intention to keep me, I was almost giddy, but there was a level of trepidation as well. There was a lot that could go wrong in two days. I almost wanted to hide away in the tent until it was time so I could make sure nothing else awful happened. I’d only been with the clan for two weeks, but the amount of ups and downs had been a little dizzying.
Rath’s hand tightened on mine and when I looked up at him, his smile was affectionate. How did I get so lucky to end up with him? Was this somehow the universe’s way of making up for my childhood? Because if it guaranteed I’d end up with him, I’d go through it all again, just to get back to him.
Rath stepped into the tent first and came up short. I didn't have time to react and bumped into him, nearly stumbling back from the shock.
“Rath? What is it?”
I peeked around him and my mouth fell open. The tent was in disarray, blankets strewn and torn, Rath’s box of belongings dumped. The little table that held the lantern was upended and the oil from the lamp was spilled in a large puddle. My heart sank looking at it. My brothers had done something similar a few times, usually in retribution when I’d done some imagined slight. The once safe feeling I’d gotten was tainted now, just like it had been when they’d done the same thing.
“Who…”
Rath shook his head. “I do not know. But I intend to find out.”
Spinning on his heel, he exited the tent again, dragging me with him with a tight grip on my hand. He marched away, probably to inform his clan brothers, while I took one last look over my shoulder with a frown. I didn't think things like this would happen here. His clan was so accepting. And they handled their problems face to face, instead of in backhanded ways. So then why…
A flicker of something caught my eye just before we came around the corner. It almost looked like a lantern…
Horror slammed into me and I wrenched my hand away from Rath’s, racing back to the tent. Sure enough, there was a figure standing outside the tent, a lantern in their hand. Their back was turned, so I couldn’t see who it was, but it didn't take a genius to figure out their intention. A fire would destroy everything of Rath’s, everything he’d made for me. I couldn’t let that happen. I wouldn’t.
The figure heard my footsteps and turned right as I tackled them. They screeched as they hit the ground, their weight pretty evenly matched with mine. A woman? The lantern she’d been holding shattered on the ground near our heads, lighting the grass aflame, but I couldn’t deal with that now. The woman wasscreaming, trying to get away, and I wasn’t going to let her. I was tired of people trying to ruin my happiness. I just wanted to live my life. What was so wrong with that?
“Finn!” Rath raced to help me, but the fire was spreading. He had to deal with that first.
“Put out the fire before it spreads!” I shouted, scrambling to catch the woman’s hands as she tried to shove me off her. She managed to grab my hair hard enough to make my eyes tear up, but it left her vulnerable. Pushing aside the fear and abhorrence for violence, I drew my fist back and punched her in the face. She cried out in surprise, releasing me to touch her injured cheek.
“How dare you!” she screamed, clawing at me again. I caught her hands that time, pinning them both to the ground. “Get off me, you disgusting little shit! Get off me!”
Startled, I nearly released her. I recognized that voice. It was the same woman who attacked me and shoved me into the trench. She was alone this time, without her group of friends, and once again trying to hurt me. This time, she would’ve hurt Rath as well. I couldn’t abide by that.
Anger fueled me, I wanted to hit her again, but I couldn’t move without releasing her. Instead, I screamed in her face.
“What did I ever do to you? Why do you keep attacking me? If anyone is disgusting, it’s you for what you planned to do!”
Nineteen
“Go to hell!” she screamed back, lifting her head in an attempt to headbutt me. I stayed out of range, though, so she missed. “Your kind should be hanged! You’re disgusting!”
More clan members joined us, some helping Rath cover the flames with dirt, while others pulled me off the woman and separated us. I didn’t fight against them, they weren’t trying to hurt me like she was, but she didn’t see it the same way. She screamed and lashed out, kicking and scratching anyone who came in range before her arms were pinned to her sides.
“What is the meaning of this?”
The crowd parted for the clan leader, who I recognized from the new birth celebration. He was an older barbarian, but still massive and burly. The only difference being that his hair was white, and he wore robes instead of the legwear and tunics the other barbarians wore. He looked at Rath, the woman, then at me, raising an eyebrow in a silent demand for an explanation.
Still breathing heavily from the fight, I looked around warily. I’d just seen what happens when someone hurts a tribute. Since I was already part of the clan, did those rules pertain to me as well?
