When they refused to listen to her, sheshould have left and told them she’d meet them on the road.
Noticing her antics, Witt shot a frown ather. She widened her eyes and nodded at Darius. He shook his head,not understanding.
She bit back a growl and peeked over herhorse. The elders had straightened from their bow and themiddle-aged man from yesterday stepped forward to address thewarriors.
Before he could do more than offerrefreshments, Darius waved him away. “I didn’t come here to drinktea and talk about dirt, Lowlander. Your tithes are due. Give uswhat you owe or go the way of Edgecomb.”
“Of course, my lord.” The elder’s lipstwisted into a facsimile of a smile but was more of a grimace. “Thetownspeople are bringing the wheat out now.”
“And the men?” Darius’s companion askedsharply. “Don’t try to pawn off weaklings and half-wits like lasttime.”
The men at Darius’ back shifted menacinglyforward. A horse, picking up its rider’s mood, pawed angrily at theground and snorted loudly.
Shea’s mare shifted uneasily. Shea patted herand whispered encouragement. The animal just needed to stay stilluntil Darius left.
“Of course not, my lord.” The elder lickedhis lips nervously before gesturing with shaking hands at Shea’sgroup. “In fact, that’s them. You’re welcome to take a look if youwish.”
“Might as well,” Darius drawled, kicking hishorse into motion.
“What?” Paul squawked. Up until now, hehadn’t paid much attention as he and Sid whispered amongstthemselves. It finally dawned on him that these weren’t good guys,and they were in a bit of danger. “What is this?” he shouted at theelder.
“Quiet, Paul,” Dane hissed, watching Darius’sapproach warily.
Darius pulled his horse to a stop in front ofDane, looking down with assessing eyes. “So you’re the tribute thistime.”
He examined the rest of them. He didn’t seemimpressed.
Shea ducked her head further into herhorse.
“Sir,” Dane said, drawing his attention backto him. Shea could have kissed him for that. “I’m afraid mycompanions and I are at a bit of a loss. We traveled here fortrade. I don’t know what deal they’ve made with you, but they don’tspeak for us.”
Darius listened. His lips curled into a broadsmile as the skin around his eyes crinkled. He was handsome, Shearealized. Even charming.
If Dane was lucky, he’d have the same effectonce he matured a little.
The elders held themselves stiffly as theywaited in anticipation.
Darius arched an eyebrow at his companion.The blue shirted man shook his head in disgust and leaned back inhis saddle, turning to spit on the ground at the elder’s feet.
Darius folded his hands across his pummel andspoke to Dane, “They fucked you over but good.”
“Sir?”
A rueful quirk tilted Darius’ lips as heturned his face to the sky. “Hate to say it, but they did. Smartbastards to find some poor fools to fulfill their tithe.” He lookedback at Dane and shrugged. “Doesn’t matter how you came to be here,only that you are. Fallon Hawkvale, Warlord over the Trateri Clans,owns your ass. He’s your master now. Forget wherever you came from.Maybe if you get lucky you’ll become a horseman or foot soldier,but whatever life you lived before is gone.”
Dane’s skin turned a sickly shade of white atthis pronouncement.
Shea, for her part, felt like she’d beenpunched in the stomach at Fallon’s name.
Looks like she’d been right about him. Fatlot of good that did her now.
Darius leaned forward and cuffed the side ofDane’s head. “Don’t worry, you’ll grow to like the clans soonenough. Now, let’s see what kind of recruits we have thistime.”
Dane made a strangled sound as Dariusstraightened. Witt sent Dane a look that said pull it together.
It dawned on the others the situation hadturned bad. They shifted uneasily under the weight of Darius’sregard.
Shea stared grimly at her saddle.
