Mother looked confused, frowning at me. “What’s a tribute?”
Twenty-Three
ZAKAI
It took time to explain the clan to my parents. They were shocked to know the clans only produced male babies and had to create a treaty with the towns to meet females. It disgusted them that fear and prejudice prevented them from being able to interact and meet naturally. When I told them the dangers same-gendered relationships faced in the towns, they were both horrified. And grateful I was sent somewhere safe for me to be myself.
I didn’t want to overwhelm them, so when a few from the clan came in with refreshments, I excused myself. I wanted to see Uttin.
He wasn’t nearby like I’d expected. The entire time I’d been here, he’d been like my shadow. I needed only to turn around to find him. Only when he was training did he leave my side, and then it was me who stuck close to watch him and drool.
I was growing concerned when I decided to check the fighter’s fire. He only ever went there to train, but I’d assumed with my family visiting that he would skip it. Instead, I found him with Simon’s bondmate, swords clashing as they sparred.Simon stood nearby with his arms crossed and a frown on his face. When I stopped beside him, he leaned his shoulder against mine but avoided my eye.
“Is it wrong that I don’t want you to go?” he murmured after a moment.
“Is it wrong that I still don’t want to go?” I shot back.
His smile when he finally looked at me was sympathetic and a little sad. “You have no choice?”
I shrugged. “I haven’t asked. I didn’t want to overwhelm them.” I paused for a long moment, watching Uttin and Feigrind’s dancing movements. “They responded well to my interests. It feels like too much to hope they would let me stay too.”
With an unhappy sigh, he tossed an arm around my shoulders in a side hug. “I guess. But they accepted you, right? That’s good. You have a chance at happiness at the very least.”
No, I wasn’t sure I agreed with that. After a month wrapped in Uttin’s embrace, it was hard to imagine finding happiness elsewhere.
I stayed out there with Simon, watching the two men fight until a barbarian came looking for me to return to my parents. Uttin was summoned as well, but I assumed Orthorr was looking for him. There was a lot going on in the clan at the moment, and Uttin was the clan second.
The silence between us was strained as we headed toward the village center together. I wanted to reach for him, to ask him what he was thinking, but his expression was so closed off, I didn’t know what words to say.
I looked at him again before stepping into the receiving tent, surprised when Orthorr shooed Uttin to follow me. We both shared a confused frown but still did not say a word to each other. We stepped inside the tent, and Uttin came up short when he noticed the woman sitting beside my mother.
“Mother?” he questioned with a growing frown.
“Wait a minute. Mother?” I whipped around to look at him, then back to my own mother who had a wicked look in her eye I didn’t trust. She’d taught me that look. I knew how it was used.
“Sit,” Mother insisted, pointing to the pillows in front of them.
I did, asking, “What’s going on?”
“There is something we must discuss. I have learned a great deal about the clans and how they work. I believe their lifestyle is unsustainable. As such, I discussed with Melinda the possibility of an alliance.”
That wasn’t what I was expecting, though I had hoped to discuss something of that nature with them later. It seemed a fitting exchange for the care the clan provided me.
“That’s… good,” I replied, still frowning. “Why did you ask for us?”
Uttin’s mother answered this, speaking in my language with near fluency. It surprised both me and Uttin, who gaped at her.
“Alliances like this are usually tied through marriage. It is our intention to continue this tradition.”
“With who?” Uttin and I demanded at the same time.
“With the two of you.”
Heat flushed my cheeks, and I could only stare as they continued their explanation.
“It is contingent upon Uttin becoming clan leader. That way his station will be the same as Zakai’s.” Melinda gave her son a pointed look, and he sucked in a breath, straightening.
“You will also be required to travel home at least once a year. There are politics with alliances, and you are required to participate.” That time, I got the pointed look from my mother. I had put in a great effort to keep a straight face. Was it my fault the tutor for our political science lessons was a bore?
