The figures drew closer. They were imposing but not nearly as large as Thanred. Royla could see why they had once called him their leader. He was far taller with far thicker muscles than all of them.
“So, this is your new pet then?” one of them growled, his lips curling into a wicked smile.
He had a funny accent but Royla found it remarkable that he spoke human at all. She dared a glance in his direction.
He seemed to be leering at her, his eyes raking over her body the same way Thanred’s had when she’d first encountered him in the forest.
Thanred stepped in front of her and folded his arms over his chest. “Not pet,” he growled, staring down the other male. “Mate.”
The other’s eyes widened for a moment before turning toward the ground.
Royla stared in wonder as Thanred cowed them with his gaze, staring down anyone who dared look back up to steal a glance at her. She peered out from behind his back at the group.
“Feresenc, Thanred,” one of them said.
“Speak human so she understands,” he ordered.
“Yes, Thanred. Apologies for misunderstanding.” His eyes shot up for a moment to meet Thanred’s gaze. “So she was the offering that wasn’t found?” he asked.
“She was,” Thanred replied. “What of it? Did something happen because there was no offering?”
The other Dranark looked sideways at each other. The one who’d leered at her and suggested she was a pet finally spoke. “Dodlin sent a raiding party to the palisade.”
Royla’s breath caught in her throat at the thought ofwhat a raiding party might have done.
“And?” Thanred demanded.
“Dreg and Crebas claimed a virgin each,” the other muttered.
“Did they bring them back?” Thanred asked, his voice tightening.
The creature shook its head. “Not yet. No doubt they are rutting somewhere in the forest,” he said, his grin returning.
“Enough of that!” Thanred snapped. His eyes wandered over the group.
All had their shoulders hunched and were crouching in submission before him.
Thanred let a long silence pass before speaking again. As if to let the weight of what he’d said settle on the group. “And what are you doing here?” he asked.
A few of the others emitted low growls.
“Dodlin took the females,” one of them growled.
“What?” Thanred asked.
“All of them,” another one chimed in. “Rounded them into the cave and placed guards at the entrance.”
Thanred’s brow furrowed. “Guards? Those cowards that stood by him to drive me out?”
Their eyes darted sideways again, watching to see who would speak first. The one who’d been speaking stood up from his crouch and raised his eyes to meet Thanred’s again. “I don’t mean you disrespect, brother,” he said, stretching out a paw toward Thanred.
Thanred waited for a moment, then gripped his forearm and shook it. “None taken, Guro.” He pulled Guro close to his chest and patted his back. “Now tell me what is going on there.”
Guro sighed and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Fire, Thanred,” he explained. “They havefire. Sticks they keep burning. When anyone tried to approach, they would swing them at us. They are cowards but even cowards can burn with fire. Dodlin told us we were no longerwelcome in the caves. We had no choice but to walk into the woods in search of food.”
Thanred scratched his cheek with a finger. He turned to Royla and nodded. “Show them. Show them how you make it.”
Royla stirred from her stupor at the request. She quickly bent low and began gathering twigs and dried grass.
