Von realized then it was made of pure silver. Tarn had already thought of the best way to defeat their opponents. To bring his lieutenants meant he was bringing his full force against the Guardians. He wasn’t taking any more chances.
“Order the men to break camp. We leave at sundown to follow their trail,” Tarn commanded, his cold voice definitive. The temperature dropped in the tent, the air growing thin as his gaze hardened into a sea of ice. “I will have the Maiden, Von. There is no ending this until I do.”
Von bowed, and he listened to Tarn’s footsteps recede over the crunch of gravel as he left. Once he fell out of view, Von ran to find Yavi. He followed the direction she went, but after passing several tents and faces, she didn’t appear.
“Commander Von.” Olssen nodded to him as he walked out of the cook’s tent with a plate of food.
“Olssen, ready the men to move out,” Von said as he hurried past.
“Yes, Commander.”
Von entered the cook’s tent, but Yavi wasn’t there either. Geon worked on chopping turnips rapidly in perfectly even slices. The Minotaur loomed over him like a dark shadow, his thick, furry arms crossed, stern glower analyzing the boy’s technique.
“Not so fast,” Sorren growled. “Or you’ll lose a thumb and serve it to the men.”
“R-right,” Geon stuttered, altering the knife’s rhythm. When he saw Von, he smiled with relief. “Commander, have you come for supper? We’re roasting turnips.”
“No, I’m searching for Yavi.”
“I haven’t seen her.” Geon lowered his knife, reading Von’s expression. “Is something wrong?”
Von shifted on his feet anxiously. “I need to find her.”
Sorren nodded in the direction he came. “Try the pond. She was there earlier washing uniforms.”
“Thank you,” Von said, then ran off again.
He ducked behind tents as he left camp again, not wanting to be seen. Von heard her muffled crying as he got closer. She hid behind a tall wall of reeds and cattail plants. He parted them to find her kneeling by the bank of the pond.
“Yavi.” Von slowly approached her, not wanting to startle her further.
The tears marring her face were a blow to his heart. A thin layer of sweat covered her ashen complexion.
“Forgive me.” He gathered her stiff body in his arms. Von murmured into her hair while rubbing her shaking back, “Forgive me for everything. For making you suffer in this life.”
Yavi shoved him off. “At least you acknowledge you’re at fault.”
“I’m sorry, love. I didn’t know what else to do.” He reached for her, but she winced away from him. “You have to know I would never do that.”
“These are the lengths you’re willing to take to protect me, Von. You threaten me, so he doesn’t have to.” Yavi looked away from him to the pond. “To Tarn and everyone else I am property. But you had never treated me as such until today. For the first time, I finally feel like a slave.”
The fact impaled him deep in his chest. He lowered his gaze and bit back a bitter scream. Why must it be this way? He was trapped in the chains of servitude and the holy law. Breaking them would only lead to her destruction, and keeping them would lead to her hatred.
Von saw it growing in her stony expression. She couldn’t love him when he couldn’t put her first. The fates were cruel. But deep down, he knew it was his fault. He should never have broken the slave edict by marrying Yavi and reaching for more than he was allowed. But good gods, he loved this woman, and the fear of losing her in any way was unfathomable.
“When I saw the knife, I thought we were done for,” Yavi said.
“The knife wasn’t for me.” He withheld a sigh of relief. She was still speaking to him. A kindle of hope sparked that he hadn’t lost her yet. “The bounties didn’t work in collecting Dyna and her Guardians.”
“She got away again?” Relief settled on her features. “No one has ever escaped him this many times before. He must be livid.”
Von shook his head. “He is. I expected to be punished for it.”
“Your wounds have yet to heal from the last lashing he gave you,” Yavi said, finally looking at him again. She noticed the blood soaking through his pant leg. “You’re hurt.”
“It’s only a scratch. Let’s return to camp.” Von stood and helped Yavi to her feet. She took a couple of stumbling steps before he steadied her. “Are you feeling faint? You don’t look well.”
“I’m perfectly well. I’m only a little light-headed.” Yavi pressed on her stomach and her features pinched with unease. “I think the shock got to me.”
