Especially not by the man who was supposed to love and protect him.
A strange tenderness rose up inside her, making her want to keep the boy safe. “Sorry, little one. I don’t have any.”
With one grimy fist, he wiped away the tears in his eyes as he turned to leave.
It’s none of your business...
No doubt that little human would grow into a man who would one day hunt down her kind for sport or trophy.
Yet as she watched him wander through the crowd, all she saw was a lost little boy who needed help.
Like her brother’s hatchlings.
Hating herself for the weakness, she went after him. “Boy?”
He turned to show her the tears that were streaking down his cheeks again.
That succeeded in breaking her. Kneeling down, she lifted his shirt to wipe his cheeks. “I’m new to this place. Where do you normally go to buy meat?”
“There’s a market, but me pa said that they’d rob me there. He told me to look in the crowd for a huntress or to seek a cart with carcasses.”
“Where’s this market?”
He pointed toward the huge tower in the center of town.
Tanis considered her options. There weren’t many, and she wasn’t about to chase down the man with those hides. Not unless she could legally beat him.
Which was probably a bad idea. The last thing she wanted was to be arrested or beaten, or whatever it was that humans did to punish those who broke their laws.
So, she focused on the little boy’s needs. “Let’s try your market and see if I have better luck negotiating for meat.”
What she knew about people was that they liked to prey on those who were weaker. If she was with the boy, maybe she could keep him from being victimized.
And if they were really lucky, she might run into Dash and Halla there. They would definitely help them.
He hesitated,then took her hand. She allowed him to lead her through the crowd until they came to an area where merchants gathered.
It seemed harmless enough. Until she saw two thieves steal a man’s purse. Laughing, the one who cut the strings tossed the small bag to his companion, who pocketed it and then dodged madly into the crowd.
The man they’d robbed shouted,then took off running after them.
Humans...
Things such as thatneverhappened in Indara. Her father’s watch would have a thief roasted alive. It explained why humans weren’t allowed in their kingdom without an escort. And even then, only for a limited time.
“You’d best clutch your coin tight, boy.”
He let go of her to hold his coin in both hands, under his chin. “Me name’s Arthur.”
She smiled at him. “I like your name. It’s very regal, Arthur. My name’s Tanis.”
That made him smile back at her. He was rather pleasant. Very sweet. She’d had no idea that human children could be so adorable. Or cute.
“Wart!”
The boy cringed at the loud shout. “Me father calls me Wart ’cause he says I’m a useless wart on his arse.”
Tanis saw the stout, angry man storming in their direction. She could tell by the anger lines that were permanently seared into his skin that this was a man who seldom smiled. Scowling was his natural state. And he rubbed her the wrong way completely.
