“Tavik, my brother. I need your assistance.”
“Of course. What do you need?” he said with a heavy note of relief in his voice. I didn’t know why, but chose to ignore it. If I chose to inquire about every instance of my clan brothers acting strangely, I would forever be chasing them like toddlers. I learned early in my training to pick my battles.
“Tents must be set up for the visiting clans’ members. Can you and Saneth assist in this? You can gather others as well.”
Tavik’s gaze darted to the cooking tent again, then away. It was getting obvious that something was going on. He was horrible at keeping secrets. “I, uh… I am happy to assist. Saneth is…”
Saneth darted out of the cooking tent with a cackle, running headlong into Tavik, who had abandoned his post to talk to me, putting him directly in Saneth’s path. Thankfully, Tavikwas sturdily built and only swayed when catching his bondmate against his side.
“Tavik! What are you—” Saneth began, only to be cut off.
“You little shit!” Yamileth snapped as she hobbled out of the cooking tent, Patrick’s cane as her weapon. I could only watch in shock as she went after Saneth, who spun out of Tavik’s arms and darted away again with a laugh.
Yamileth was never going to chase him far, she was too old for that. I could have warned Tavik that she would go for him in his lover’s stead, but the last time someone pissed her off, she poisoned their food and gave them the shits for a week. I was unwilling to go up against her for Tavik’s sake, especially if he was involved in whatever upset her.
She swung her attention our way and whacked Tavik in the ass with Patrick’s cane. He yelped and jumped away, eyes wide.
“I didn’t?—”
“Oh, don’t you start. I know you were part of this! Tell that little brat to bring back my snowdrops this instant!”
I knew when Tavik’s eyes got all soft like that, he would be no help. I shot a questioning look at Patrick, who had joined us, an amused smirk on his face.
“Yami said no treats for a few days while we settled the tributes and attended to them. Saneth wanted something for Tavik, and when she said no, he stole them. I warned you that he would if he saw your stash,” he told her with a grin.
“Don’t sass your mother,” she snapped at him. “Go fetch my snowdrops.”
“Later,” I insisted, finally stepping in. “They have a task to perform, as do you.”
Yamileth shot me a dirty look, but I wasn’t going to make the hungry and terrified tributes wait for a meal because Saneth stole her treats. Patrick could always make her more when he had free time. He was the one who’d introduced the clan to thetart little candies, and he had to make them year-round to keep up with the demand.
Tavik, who had slowly been edging in the direction Saneth had disappeared, froze when I called his name.
“If I were you, I’d cook my own meals for a while, unless you want a repeat of Yamileth’s last punishment.Afteryou help put up the tents. Now go.”
He flashed me a sheepish grin and hurried away to find his bondmate. He caused much less trouble now that he was bonded, but that didn’t make him perfect. He and Saneth still pulled pranks and caused trouble enough to irritate me.
Yamileth went back into the cooking tent, grumbling to herself. Patrick was still grinning. He shook his head and patted my shoulder as he followed her. “I’ll keep an eye on her.”
“Thank you, Patrick.”
He waved over his shoulder and disappeared inside again. I turned around just in time to watch the two carriages of tributes pull into the town center. My mouth fell open.
“How are there so many?”
Bhortis, who had acted as the leader in my stead for the journey, slid off his stallion and came to join Orthorr and me, a dark look on his face. He put his fist against his chest, bowing in greeting to Orthorr, then clasped forearms with me in a warrior’s greeting.
“Clan leader, brother.”
“What– Who–” I was at a loss for words, still gaping at the second carriage. There were a total of fifteen towns in this country. Only two did not have a treaty with the clans. The rest sent only one tribute per year to join us. The carriage we used could fit all thirteen, though it was tight. There should not have been a need for two carriages.
Bhortis scowled. “We were informed by one of the towns that if we did not take them, they would be killed. We did not know what to do except take them with us.”
Orthorr and I shared a look of concern before hurrying over to the second carriage. I nearly swallowed my tongue when I saw who was inside.
“Children!”
I could count six hidden amongst the blankets, though there could be more. All looked younger than ten.
