She sighed. “I appreciate that. I know he suffered, and it’s generous of him to forgive my role in his incarceration, but I would gladly have served the seven-month sentence and more to spare her. Which you know!”
He waited.
She turned and leveled her blue-green gaze on him. “Did you tell him?”
“Yes. That’s when he shortened your sentence. He liked your loyalty to her.”
“But he won’t let me help her?” she demanded in frustration.
“Ketturans fight and work hard for their survival. Loyalty is highly valued, but no one is allowed to escape justice for a crime. From what I’ve heard, someone who betrays the tribe is killed or exiled. He saved her life. The fact that he hasn’t killed her for betraying him is already a leniency.”
She shuddered, tears filling her eyes. “Did he promise not to hurt her?”
“No. He made no promises.”
She brushed away her falling tears. “What did he say?”
“He said he owns her life. If she wants it, she’ll have to earn it back from him.”
She sucked in a sharp breath. “He’s Linzen. They’re civilized. And you said Ketturans value women and children. That’s noble. It’s protective. How does that reconcile with murder and merciless behavior? How does that reconcile with vicious punishments?”
Tok sighed. “Should I have lied and told you I’d hidden her?”
“No, you should’ve rescued her! You should’ve brought her to me!”
“Accomplished how? By fighting him to the death? He can’t be defeated in a hand-to-hand fight. I would have had to pretend to leave and then kill him with a long shot like I would use on an animal.”
The anguished sound she made cut him to the bone.
“Nothing save his own death will stop him,” he added. “It’s a blood debt that she owes him. I’m not Ketturan, but I hope I’m more honorable than to slay a friend whose cause is just.”
She dropped her face into her hands and wept.
He fisted his hands, unable to prevent the effect her reaction had on him. Logic was a lost cause. He was almost moved to go back to Junistar to get the sister despite all the black skullduggery it would take. He looked at the doorway several times and took two steps before getting control of himself. He took a slow breath, then murmured, “The witchery women wield is more deadly than any blade I’ve ever held.”
* * *
By Tok’s order, Zawriwas left alone for days. It gave her time to think and brood. Inwardly, she raged. She was angry at the entire universe and everyone in it. How could such a beautiful, wonderful girl like Giss have been so abandoned by fate’s kindness? Her sister, of anyone, should have lived a charmed life. She’d brought so much joy into their lives.
Wex entered with a tray and set it on a small table in her room.
“He says after you eat, you’re to come outside to see the setting sun. It’s the night sky where peach is mixed with lavender. Rare here. He wants us all to see it.”
“Why is it up to him?” she asked in a bland tone.
“Because he’s calling for crew unity and that’s his right.”
“I’m not hungry. And I’m not crew.”
“He became a hunter so our family would never go hungry. Food is sacred everywhere in the universe. He’s not going to let you go without eating two nights in a row.”
“Is that what he said?”
“He doesn’t need to. I know his face. If you’re smart, you’ll end this standoff by eating.”
She pushed the tray away.
He laughed bitterly.
