Relief entered her gaze at my words. “And what is best for your horde, Seerin, is a strongMorakkari.One who understands our ways, one who the horde will accept and follow without hesitation.”
What she didn’t know was that Nelle had the will of aVorakkar. I had known that since taking her from her village.
When I didn’t reply, she must’ve assumed that the matter was settled, that she’d gotten her way, just as she had with theDothikkar.
She touched my jaw. “Come, Seerin, I do not want to argue over this. Not now. I very rarely see you. We will put this behind us,lysi?”
Her words left me in a darkened mood. I detested the way she spoke of Nelle, as if she was soiled, when in reality, she was the purest being I’d ever encountered.
A part of me felt guilty, knowing that if given the choice, I would rather be with Nelle right then rather than inDothikat all, though it was the only time I got to see my mother.
She has sacrificed much for me, I reminded myself, looking into her grey eyes, almost identical to my own. And I would always love her, though sometimes she seemed like a stranger to me.
Let it go. Bury the emotions deep, I thought to myself. Just as she’d taught me.
“Lysi,lomma,” I responded, brushing my lips across her cheek. “Let us not argue this night.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
It was eleven days before Seerin returned.
Eleven long days and even longer nights.
I was in Avuli’svoliki, though our work had slowly dried up after the frost feast. Still, I liked to spend time with her and she seemed happy for the company.
Right then, she was playing a game involving rocks with Arlah, rolling them across the rugs from the farthest distance thevolikiallowed, trying to hit a smaller pebble, which had landed just next to the roaring fire basin.
The past eleven days had brought the snow and throughout most of the days, the horde remained in the safe and warm shelter of their homes. Even at night, it was too cold for me to brave the training grounds. It was the kind of cold that froze one’s bones, the kind of cold thathurt. Besides, being at the training grounds only reminded me of thepujerak’sthreats and the memory still made anger ignite in my belly.
I watched from my cushion, a fur wrapped tightly around my shoulders, as Arlah tossed his rock, which landed close to my foot. Laughing, I watched as he then tried to distract his mother as she took her aim.
Odrii ducked into the tent just then. Slowly, over the course of the last week, he’d warmed to me. He’d even apologized one morning when I’d gone into the weapons tent and saw him waiting there beside mymitri, saying that he’d been acting like a sulking fool.
There’d been nothing to forgive. I’d just been happy that most of the uncomfortable tension between us had lifted.
Odrii looked at me then, pausing at the threshold of the entrance.
“In, in!” Avuli said, frowning at her brother. “You are letting all the heat out.”
“Yes!” Arlah cried, one of the only universal language words he spoke with complete confidence. The young boy used it often.
Arlah giggled as Odrii stomped in, shaking out his boots, which were covered in white, powdery snow.
“I thought you would want to know,” he began, looking at me. “TheVorakkarreturned just now.”
For a moment, I simply stared at him. Then my heart skipped about four beats as excitement and profound relief burst in my chest.
“And he’s alright?” I asked, pushing up quickly to stand, already reaching for my boots.
Odrii took my shoulders and stilled my hurried movements.
“Lysi,” he affirmed. “However, he just went in with his council. You cannot see him just yet.”
Disappointment made my shoulders sag, but I nodded. Of course, he would need to meet with his council first, after his meeting with theDothikkar.
“That is good news, brother,” Avuli chimed in. “At least he made it home safe. We were all worried about the terrible turn in weather.”
It was something I’d realized over the last couple weeks…that the members of Rath Tuviri truly cared for theirVorakkar. Avuli had told me she’d caught snippets of conversation all over the encampment about when he would return and that they wished it was soon. That thebikkuworried they did not pack him enough rations for his trip and worried how hispyrokiwould fare in the snow. Another seamstress in the horde had apparently fretted that she should have made him another pelt for his long journey.
