Before he can finish, I rush toward the village, to my hut, leaving him with my kills.
A small crowd is gathered outside, looking through the open door with interest.
Shouts stream from my hut, growing louder as I approach.
“If Ramsey wanted me gone, he’d tell me himself,”Asha hisses.
“He’s too busy hunting and actually helping the tribes,”snarls Amber.
“You’d think he’d have told me last night while we were talking,”Asha returns.
I am most impressed with Asha’s tenacity. Just a few moons ago, I would have thought she would have scurried away by now, yet instead of retreating, she fights as her people do, with words.
“This isn’t your hut!”…“It’s not yours either.”…“Ramsey never wanted you here!”…“And I’m sure he never wanted tohaul your weak backside across the forest,”… “You have no idea what he wants!”
Fenrick elbows my ribs. “You are perhaps the only Tempest man to have women fighting over him.”
I glare, and push through the small crowd, into my hut.
The women turn toward me, Asha’s blue eyes two icy pools of rage.
“Why are you in my hut?” I growl at Amber, baring my teeth as though I were rushing into battle.
Her face pales, her green eyes blinking. She takes a step back, cowering.
With two balled fists, Asha takes a step toward her, her face red with rage. I’ve never seen her like this before, and the scent she is giving off is intoxicating.
I move between the two, hoping to de-escalate the situation.
Amber lifts her chin, looking defiant and proud.
I look forward to humbling her.
“Leave!” I snarl, pointing emphatically at the door.
“Y-you said…” Amber swallows, looking around me at Asha with a hardened gaze. “You said you would think about it.”
“Then why are you here instead of leaving me to think?”
“Because I know you want her out of your hut, but you’re too dutiful to go against what Grixis thinks is best for the tribe.”
“You assume a lot.”
“What is there to assume? She is weak.” Amber wiggles her nose in disdain. “You’ve said so yourself, again and again—countless times, to anyone who will listen.”
“Yet she sits here, day in and day out, dutiful to her tribe while you go around, meddling, causing rifts where there need be none.” I take a step forward, snarling. “She adds; you take.”
Amber shifts uncomfortably, her eyes looking glassy, as though she might cry.
A growl escapes my throat as fury rises in my chest. Never have I spoken to a woman the way I speak to Amber, yet I cannot figure out what has me so angry.
Amber skirts around me, toward the door, but before she can exit, Grixis appears.
He looks from me to Amber, sighing. “Why must you fight as bruntlers do?”
“Do you care to tell him?” I growl. “Or should I?”
With the village gathered around, Amber seems to shrink, looking as small as a child.
