"But Ayla was there," he went on. "She sent her dog to help, and the Wyvern pushed the Reaper back before he could finish Sylis off, but it was a gut wound."
I let my eyes close and murmured softly. That meant a long, slow, and painful death. One that came with a fever, and fevers meant he could say too much.
"So what did you do?" I asked.
"I asked Ayla to help him," he said. "Up there, his condition is a minor wound. She wasn't even worried about it! She said they have medicine to handle it - and they do! Sylis was given something that made him stupid. He fell asleep, even with thehole in his belly, and they're going to make sure he heals, but that means he couldn't come back."
"Wait..." I heard him. I did, but he'd just said Sylis had been stabbed. "So, he's alive? You said he's dead!"
"As far as anyone here is concerned, he died," Tobias told me. "I tried to save him, so I was separated from the main group. That's why I didn't catch up with them until they were nearly back - and I had to run to do that."
"Okay?"
"But," he went on, "as far as anyone here knows, he's dead now. I have to get promoted, Callah. I have to get the code. I spoke to the people up there - well, with help. I told them which women we captured. The Reapers are not happy, but the Wyvern and Ayla are handling it, and now we don't have Sylis to get promoted, so I have to. I'm already married. I might be 'dumb' to them, but I am good at this, and Ayla told me how to look better. She told me to think like a woman, and I'm going to need help with that."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Planning. Showing them what they want to see while not doing the things I claim. Ayla said to take credit for the kills of dead men. She said to smear blood on myself so I look like I was in the thick of things, and to run ahead so no one will follow. She told me to claim I'm seeking vengeance, because the men would understand that, and she said you'll help."
"I will," I assured him. "She knows how to let people make their own assumptions. I do too. It's how a woman survives."
"And right now, it's going to be how I survive," he said. "But Meri did have the baby. She gave it to a childless woman to raise because she didn't want to, and everyone is happy. The baby didn't turn, but surgery fixed that, and Meri is completely fine."
"Oh, thank the good Lord," I breathed, using the words of a prayer even if I didn't think anyone was listening to answer it."Tonight, Mrs. Worthington told me to take more suture to help the women. She said she is proud of me for that, so we have more supplies."
"And the hunters will not be happy," he warned. "We didn't get enough meat, Callah. They no longer care what sort of meat it is. They told us the wild men are beasts of the Devil, so good for nothing but feeding us."
"They aren't..." I gasped, shocked to hear they'd made it so blatant now.
He just nodded slowly. "And we're to capture the women who look like us, but those women? I didn't see as many this time. The ones I did see were armed, often with dogs, and they were not the kind to simply be captured without causing a few deaths. There were Dragons, too. Lots of them."
"And Ayla," I said.
He nodded. "I got the impression the Dragons and wild men are working together now. We made plans, hopefully so we won't catch them unaware again, and I have a device."
He pulled it from his pocket and held it out. The thing was a small tube, hollow, with another hole on the side near one end. I took it, turned it over, but couldn't figure out what it did.
"It's a whistle," he explained, taking it back. "Listen."
He lifted it to his lips and blew, but only the breath sound and a hint of something else came out. It wasn't loud like I'd expected. This? It was barely even audible.
"How's that going to help?" I asked. "If that's meant to whistle, it's not working."
"It is," he promised. "The sound is for dogs. They hear better than people, and they will react. That will tell the people we're coming without me needing to hide it. I've already said this is my trophy. They all know I have those - "
"Like the feathers," I realized.
He nodded smugly. "Yeah. So this? Callah, I'm going to become a very respected hunter, but only because I have to. I may need to yell at you in front of others, but please know it's only a part of our ruse. I was told that if I'm not good to you, the Wyvern will let Ayla sting me with his tail. I believe him, too, but that's not why I'll be good to you. It's because you are my friend. My wife. And while we're not doing marriage the way everyone else is, that title still means something to me."
"To me too," I agreed. "When I didn't see you in the infirmary, I was so scared! Tobias, I thought you'd been - "
A rap at the door cut me off. Tobias and I shared a look, but when I shook my head, making it clear I wasn't expecting anyone, he got up to answer it.
"Callah?" he said, stepping aside without letting the visitor in.
I hurried over - and found one of the youngest wives on the other side. Blood stained her clothes, and dark red marks were visible across her body. The girl stood with her hands clasped before her and her head down, but this wasn't just an attempt to be meek. She looked like she hurt so much she could barely stand up.
"Come in," I told her, shooting a warning look at Tobias. "What's your name, child?"
