“Always, ravsol. I will always come back to you.”
Eighteen
Iwoke up early the next morning, carefully pulling out of Verus’s arms. He said the hunt would be long, which meant for the most part, they would probably be feeding themselves as they tracked the herd. But I wanted to cook him something that would last a while. I didn’t want him to go hungry.
Sneaking out of the tent was difficult with the crutches, but I guessed I wore him out the night prior, because he didn’t stir. My face flushed in remembrance of our time together. Being inside of Verus was like a dream. I warred with myself on whether it was better to wake him with sex, but my need to feed him won out, and I hobbled away, keeping the weight on my good leg.
The sun had yet to come up, the sky only just turning gray, so most of the village was quiet. I saw a few warriors who guarded the village at night marching around, but none approached me. I slipped into the cooking tent, already running through the ingredients in my head that I needed to make the treat for Verus. If I made enough, it could be shared with all the hunters who were going.
“What do you think you’re doing?” a familiar voice snarled.
Jerking around almost sent me toppling to the ground, and the twist was painful on my injured leg. I grimaced, shifting my weight to take the edge off the pain.
“You are planning to do something to the food, aren’t you?” Saneth accused. “I knew it was a trap to trust you.”
My brows furrowed. “What would I do to the food? I am here to cook.”
He didn’t look like he believed me, his eyes narrowed and suspicious. “Arms out. I will find the poison on you and prove it.”
Looking down at the crutches and back at him, I wasn’t sure exactly what he wanted me to do. If I put my arms out, the crutches would fall, and then so would I. He seemed to come to the same conclusion because he made an irritated sound and stomped up to me, grabbing a stool nearby and shoving me onto it.
I stayed stiff as he searched my pockets, and he could only do it while I was seated because of the trousers that were made for me were so loose. His accusations were baseless—I would never do something so awful to the clan—but I was only a visitor here. If it came down to my word against his, the clan would no doubt choose to believe him. It reminded me too much of when Richard tricked me. I wanted to run away, to call for Verus, but I sat there frozen until Saneth had finished his search and stepped back again.
“You carry nothing on you,” he complained.
I nodded slowly. “It’s hard to reach my pockets with the crutches.”
He glanced at the crutches, then back at me. He looked confused, his expression twisted. “Then why are you here if you are not planning to cause trouble?”
“Verus is going on a hunt,” I explained, my voice trembling. “I was going to make him bread to take with him. If he’s careful with it, it will last a while.”
My answer seemed to surprise him. He studied me, looking for a lie, and when he didn’t find one, he threw his hands up in frustration. “He said you were poisoning him!”
I didn’t need to ask who. Tavik didn't like me, and it seemed like he wasn’t above spreading rumors. I sank a little in on myself, fighting back tears. That kind of rumor would get me thrown out or even killed. I was terrified of what Saneth would do to me.
“I-I haven’t. I swear.”
Saneth growled and stomped away, spinning on his heel to march back. He did that several times, pacing in the tent, and when he came back again, his expression was more hesitant.
“I told him I’d catch you in the act. I’ve been watching you. But you are never alone. Not until now. Are you cooking the clan meal as well? Is that how you poison him?”
Shaking my head rapidly, I told him, “I can’t cook for the clan yet. Yamileth would be angry with me. It’s her job to feed the clan. I only help her.”
His eyes flicked around the tent before narrowing on me again. “I don’t believe you. We will bring you to Orthorr, see what he thinks.”
“You will do no such thing.” Yamileth’s voice cut through the quiet, low and ominous. “It is not Patrick you should worry about. I’m the one who punished Tavik. Had he kept his mouth shut, he would not be suffering right now.”
My mouth fell open at her confession. Even Saneth looked stunned, spinning around to face her.
“You punish him by poisoning him?” he screeched.
She scoffed. “No, I punish him by giving him the shits. Since his mouth is so full of shit, I felt it best to clear that from his system. Perhaps now he will speak better to others.”
Saneth looked like he wasn’t sure what to do with that information. Neither was I, for that matter. I watched asYamileth elbowed him out of her way, coming to stand in front of me and cupping my face in her warm hands.
“Are you hurt?”
I shook my head minutely, grateful for her presence. “No. He let me sit down before questioning me.”
