TheVorakkarof Rath Drokka was spinning a blade, the pointed end wedged into theDothikkar’swooden banquet table. Round and round, he twisted the handle until it made a deep notch into the wood, the blade flashing with each smooth rotation.
I watched him across the table and he watched me. He was called the Mad Horde King for a reason, but I liked him better for daring to deface theDothikkar’sproperty in his presence, no less.
He had ink-black hair, which hung long over his shoulders and shielded half his face. His eyes were red and glowing. A deep scar ran down his cheek. It looked old, as if he’d received it when he was a child.
Even theDothikkarat the head of the table, who’d grown fatter since I’d last seen him, seemed wary of Rath Drokka. He pressed his lips together, staring at the blade for a brief moment, before he turned his attention back to theVorakkarof Rath Dulia.
Rath Dulia, on the other hand, I had never liked. He was an older male, one who’d beenVorakkarfor more seasons than I’d been alive. His time was ending, but even still, he would do anything to please theDothikkar, to extend that time on the plains a little longer.
My lips pressed together in distaste when Rath Dulia said, “I have brought warriors with me here,Dothikkar. Three dozen of my best. I will send them to aid your fine soldiers in search of the Ghertun that were spotted close to the capitol.”
“Very good, Rath Dulia,” theDothikkarreplied, before looking out at the rest of us seated at the table. “You see? He will do whatever it takes to eliminate this threat toDothik, at a great personal cost to himself. Why is it that you will not do the same?”
TheVorakkarof Rath Rowin, who sat to my right, spoke. “Because unlike Rath Dulia, we do not need three dozen of our best warriors to guide us to the capitol,Dothikkar. Nor would we take the best warriors away from our hordes in our absence.”
My eyes connected with Rath Kitala, who sat next to the Mad Horde King. All the horde kings had come alone, with the exception of Rath Dulia.
“Because I knew my warriors would be of service to theDothikkar,” Rath Dulia growled in response.
My patience was wearing thin. I had been traveling day and night to reachDothikin time, battling the icy frost winds and running on next to no sleep. For what? To argue endlessly for hours in theDothikkar’shall? If I’d wanted that, I would’ve stayed in my horde and argued with my council. At least then, I could go to my female afterwards.
“We have accomplished nothing here,” I growled. “We have been at this table for hours and what have we decided about the Ghertun? Nothing. Why? Because there isnothingto be done until after the cold season.”
TheVorakkarof Rath Loppar, another older horde king, one I deeply respected, said, “Lysi. My encampment is situated closer to the Dead Lands than the others. I have sent out multiple scouts to monitor their movements and they have all reported the Ghertun have moved underground.” His eyes came to me. “I agree with Rath Tuviri. This meeting will lead nowhere, given the time of the season. We should reconvene after the thaw, after they slither out from their hibernation.”
TheDothikkarleveled his cold gaze on me. I’d felt it multiple times throughout the long meeting. His yellow eyes narrowed as he asked me, “And what of the Ghertun sightings? You think seeking them out is pointless too, Rath Tuviri?”
“I believe they are untrue reports.”
“You call yourDothikkara liar then?” theDothikkarasked next, which was what he wasalwaysgoing to ask.
I knew what he was doing but I wouldn’t play into it.
My lips quirked as I responded, “Of course not,Dothikkar. I simply question the validity of the reports, since we all know Ghertun cannotsurviveabove ground during the harsher season. Or perhaps you do not know, considering you stay within the comfort and warmth of your halls and have not traveled out to the plains as your father had done before you.”
His father had been a trueDothikkar. He’d brought about a prosperous age on Dakkar during his rule and had incited deep loyalty among the outposts, among theVorakkarroaming his plains.
The outrage on theDothikkar’sexpression brought just enough satisfaction to make my words worth it.
Rath Drokka began to laugh, deep and booming, still spinning his dagger.
It was Rath Kitala that spoke up to try to diffuse the sudden tension. “Dothikkar, I suggest that we break for the night. We can resume in the morning, once all of us are rested. We have traveled a long way.”
TheDothikkardidn’t even look at Rath Kitala. After he’d learned that he’d taken a humanMorakkari, he’d hardly spoken two words to him.
Rath Okkili, the lastVorakkarpresent, said, “Lysi. I need sleep, a good wine, and perhaps a female or two to warm my furs.”
It was the perfect thing to say to theDothikkarto ease the rising tension. I both appreciated and hated Rath Okkili for saying it, however.
“Lysi. You will be shown your rooms,” theDothikkarsaid. Though he knew three of theVorakkarspresent—Rath Kitala, Dulia, and Loppar—had takenMorakkaris, he still said, “Then you can all have your pick of my concubines for the night.” His gaze came to me. “Except for my favorites, of course.”
My lips pressed together. Rath Drokka’s gaze came to me, watching as my claws raked across the surface of the table. They all knew my mother was one of his favorites, naturally. They all knew the barb was meant for me and me alone.
Rath Kitala scraped his chair away from the table, loud and echoing in the great hall built from stone, just one room in theDothikkar’sstronghold. Rath Drokka did the same, but he immediately strode from the room, followed shortly by Rath Okkili and Rath Rowin.
I stood, never taking my eyes from theDothikkar. Rath Kitala rounded the table, clapped me on my shoulder and urged, “Come.”
With a soft growl, I tore my eyes from theDothikkarand walked from the hall, Rath Kitala at my back. I trusted him the most out of all of theVorakkar. He had my given name, after all, and I had his.
