She cocked her head. “What do you meanbeforehis father?”
Elshar’s bright eyes flicked to the bar, and he leaned in slightly, Orelia doing the same. He lowered his voice when he spoke. “We was havin’ a meetin’ one day, all five tribes from each Point. Vade and I was ‘bout seven years old, and our fathers were both chieftains, his of the Sharpe clan, and mine of the Horns. Vade’s wings was smaller than the rest of all us youngins, and he was the only one our age that couldn’t fly yet. His Pa, the asshole that he was, decided to make a show of his son in front of everyone.”
Orelia found herself enraptured with the story, the rest of the noise in the tavern drowned out.
Seeming to enjoy a good bit of gossip, Elshar became animated in his gestures. “He was hollerin’ ‘bout Vade bringin’ shame and dishonor on him for bein’ weak. The boy hadn’t had his wings but a few months, so I tried workin’ on flyin’ with him when his Pa wasn’t lookin’. We spent marks up high, come snow or sleet, but it just wasn’t comin’ to him. When we was all gathered at the meetin’, his Pa said some horseshit about how no son of his wouldn’t know how to fly, then he done kicked him off the side of the mountain as his mother laughed.”
Her heart sunk. She couldn’t speak. Couldn’t find any words to say.
“Three days later, the stubborn fucker crawled over the ridge, frostbitten, damn near at Nifhell’s door. The Points are ruthless, lass, and no one knows how he survived on his own for days.”
“Gods . . .” Her chest ached as she pictured a scared little boy all alone for days. “What about his parents? Did anyone try to punish them for doing that to their own son?”
Elshar shook his head. “That’d be a death sentence, lass. You don’t go against the chieftain, especially his Pa. Most barbaric man I ever known, and that’s sayin’ somethin’. His mother was colder than ice. There wasn’t a lovin’ bone in her body.” Elshar’s voice turned deeper, his lips curving into a smile. “But Vade got his revenge. Oh, yes he did.”
She leaned in further, hanging on his every word. “What happened?”
“Well, a couple days later, his Ma and Pa was found in they bed with so many knife wounds you could hardlyrecognize ‘em. None of us saw the little devil after that, and I only knew he was still alive when I ran into him when we was teenagers and found out he was doin’ the king’s dirty work.”
Up at the bar, the barmaid set the ales in front of Vade, and Orelia felt the tears lingering behind her eyes as she watched him gather the glasses. “I can’t believe his father would do something like that. How cruel.”
“Wipe that pitiful look off ya face or he’ll know I told ya,” Elshar whispered, then quickly sat back in his chair.
She put on a fake smile as Vade set four drinks on the table and took his seat. Elshar snatched one up and tipped his head back, draining the mug in seconds. He wiped the foam off his blonde mustache and let out a satisfied, “Ahh,” then grabbed another, only taking a sip this time. “Ya still remember I like to start off fast and finish slow.”
Vade huffed. “Is that what women say to you, too?”
Elshar let out a booming laugh that she swore shook the windows. “There’s the occasionally funny asshole I miss.”
Vade took a sip of ale, chuckling.
Orelia tried to stop picturing a boy frozen all alone in the mountains, but the images kept running through her head. She grabbed a mug and focused on drinking the poor excuse for an ale instead.
“Are you with Balor’s crew?” Vade asked.
Elshar hit himself on the chest with a closed fist and belched. “Aye. We traveled down the mountain together, but I’m off to Dallton after this.”
“What’s in Dallton?” Orelia asked.
Elshar grinned like a kid receiving a piece of candy. “A woman.”
Vade scoffed and went back to drinking.
Orelia propped her chin in her hands, elbows resting on the table. “Tell me about her.”
“Biggest woman ya ever seen, with black hair and eyes so green they look like moss guidin’ me north. Met her in Malke when I came for supplies. She nearly took me head off with an axe, and right then I knew I’s in love. She cooked me a meal as an apology, and I swear I ain’t never tasted nothin’ so good. I buried myself inside her three times that night.” Elshar’s eyes went distant, accompanied with a goofy grin, like he was picturing doing exactly that. “Can’t wait to get those tree trunk thighs ‘round my face again.”
Orelia giggled. “She sounds lovely.”
He beamed. “She is, lass. She really is.”
She wanted someone to feel that way about her, and her eyes inadvertently went to Vade, who looked like he was going to be sick. “Giving up the Points for a woman? You’re a man of snow and ice. You’ll hate Dallton.”
“She’s worth it. I would follow that lass anywhere. Straight into the sun if she asked. I’m going to march right up and claim her in a few days’ time.” Elshar took a large gulp of ale.
“What are the others doing this far south?” Vade asked, gripping his mug tight.
“Balor wouldn’t say, but Fren said somethin’ ‘bout gettin’ supplies from Raffk.”
