Thanred bristled at what he’d said but kept his calm. If it came to it, there would be time for anger later. He had sworn to Royla that he would try to resolve this without violence first. “Put your weapon down,” he said to Bereg.
Bereg smirked. “Or what?” he asked.
“Or I will put it down for you,” Thanred explained. “My quarrel is not with you, brother. Where is Dodlin?”
“That’s not your concern,” Bereg replied.
Out of the corner of his eye, Thanred saw two of the other guards whispering to each other.
“You would do best to crawl back into the forest, Thanred,” Bereg said, poking the air with his spear.
Thanred shook his head. “I’m not going back there. This will be resolved, or I will die here.” His voice was hard as stone.
The others glanced at each other again, worry spreading across their expressions. Even Bereg’s angry snarl faltered, if only for a moment. “Don’t be a fool!” he called out.
Thanred took a step forward.
Bereg’s eyes widened but he stepped toward Thanred, gripping his spear more tightly. “I said not another step!” he shouted.
Thanred saw the others’ resolve falter. They were glancing nervously from side to side. Two of them followed Bereg, stepping toward Thanred, spears raised. But the other three did not. He saw two of them whispering again. He filled his lungs with air. “Dodlin!” he shouted. “Come out, you coward!”
A stillness settled on all of them as they stared at him, looking like they were unable to believe what he’d just said.
The muscles in Bereg’s jaw tightened.
Thanred could tell he was trying to muster the courage to take another step, maybe even charge. The air between them was thick and charged with tension. He raised his fist.
Behind him he heard the others emerging from the forest. He didn’t dare turn around, but he hoped that Royla had kept her promise and stayed in the forest, where he hoped she would be safe until this was finished.
The Dranark standing by the cave looked even more shocked by what they were seeing. How could they not have expected this? Expelling him was one thing. But another six? Surely even Dodlin must have known they would return?
The sound of fire crackling on the ends of his companions’ spears filled the air. They came up to stand beside him.
The ones by the cave all looked to Bereg, wondering what to do next.
Bereg looked suddenly nervous. He obviously hadn’t been expecting this. But Bereg had never been that clever. Dodlin had most certainly promised him something outrageous that he could never deliver, for Bereg to be acting like this.
Thanred lowered the fist he’d been holding in the air. The spears on either side of him were lowered, pointed at their opponents, ready for a charge. He could feel Guro’s unease. He lifted his hand and waved it up and down slowly through the air. “Bereg,” he said.
Hearing his name spoken made Bereg’s anger waver. He shifted from one foot to the other, looking around at the Dranark on either side of him.
“This doesn’t have to end badly,” Thanred continued. “Not for anyone. My quarrel is with Dodlin. Give him to me and you and the others will be spared.”
Bereg forced an uneasy smirk, as if to show he wouldn’t be cowed by threats. But the act was not at all convincing.
A dark figure emerged from the cave behind them. It stepped out into the open air, keeping well behind the line of Dranark with spears.
Thanred bristled at seeing Dodlin’s ugly grin. The urge rose within him to give the order to charge, to break throughthe line and bury his claw into Dodlin’s chest.
Be still.
The thought formed in his mind as if Royla had spoken it.
“Back to the forest with you!” Dodlin shouted, pointing a crooked finger at the woods behind them. “You’ve been cast out! My tribe has no need for any of you!” He turned to Bereg. “Spears ready!” he barked.
Thanred couldn’t understand why the others followed his order. They lowered their spears, their expressions hardening as they readied themselves for battle.
Thanred’s pulse quickened. His body tensed. He had not thought it would come to this. Now he could only pray to Mother Mountain that not too much blood would be spilled.
