“Just a translation issue. You were talking about the new clothes I’m making, right? The ones to protect paler skin?”
Tyos nodded sharply, pointing at him as he looked at me again. “That.”
Rolling his eyes, Dras stepped up to his brother’s side with a weary sigh. “Have you been avoiding lessons again? You will never get better if you don’t practice.”
Making a face at him, Tyos scowled. “I am trying. I am… busy.”
Henry huffed behind me, his words quiet enough that he likely didn’t intend to be overheard. “Even I know he’s lying.”
Tyos was closer than Henry realized and spun around, his expression wide eyed. “I am! I am a warrior of my clan! I must train! I do guard duty as well and–”
“And spend more time in your tent with your bondmate than doing either of those other things you are crowing about,” Torgrind pointed out. “Garrun’s Musician is right. You lie to save face.”
While Tyos’s bondmate still looked confused since my clan brothers spoke in our tongue, Henry followed along well enough to chuckle, taking the soap from me when I pressed it into his hand so he could wash his hair. He switched to our tongue, his words still fragmented to show he was learning. We neededto do better at practicing each other’s languages. Whenever we suggest doing so, we get distracted with each other and forget.
“I am known only Garrun’s Musician. It is amusing.”
Arlen must have understood that much because he sighed and nodded, answering in his own tongue. “I’m Tyos’s Tailor. I thought perhaps I’d get my name back after we bonded, but not so much.”
“It is a compliment,” Dras explained in their tongue for their benefit. His common tongue was better than the rest of ours, as he had been part of the group that fetched tributes before we relocated. “Our bondmates are like treasures. The clan referring to your bond is showing respect and acceptance. You have a place among us. It is our solemn wish that new bondmates feel like they are part of the clan. Is this wrong?”
Henry pursed his lips thoughtfully, hands slowing in his hair as he thought about it. His answer was in the common tongue, which meant he didn’t know how to reply in our language yet. “I see both sides. While referring to our connection might be a nice reminder that we’re part of the clan, being treated equally by using our name would do the same thing. I’m happy to be Garrun’s Musician, but I’m also just Henry.”
“Garrun’s Henry?” Tyos offered, and my heart skipped at the words. I liked that.
From the way those indents appeared on his cheeks, Henry did as well. He nodded once before handing the soap back to me. “I can accept that.”
While he dunked his head to rinse out the soap, Dras sidled closer to speak to me. “Did you speak with him?”
I grunted, watching Henry and telling him to dunk again when I saw more soap in his hair. “He wants to do things on his own. He’s not sure how, with the clan moving so often.” My eyes narrowed. “Simon mentioned once that he’d met a clan brotherwho was injured in a fight and cannot see. Can you help me find him? I want to ask some things.”
Dras sighed heavily. “Simon will not give the information up freely. He is a brat. I will speak with his bondmate instead. Perhaps Feigrind can convince him to share.”
While Henry went with his sister to their language lessons, I met with Dras to find out what information he’d gotten from Simon. Together, we found the clan brother Simon had spoken of, requesting an audience with him while Henry was present. After seeing the man train, it felt important that they meet. I hoped it would help Henry feel more comfortable staying. My heart twisted sharply in my chest whenever I thought about him leaving.
I found Henry speaking to a few townsfolk outside the learning tent when I went to fetch him. Ekkar was at his side, and I looked around uneasily to ensure Einar the Feral wasn’t anywhere nearby. I didn’t trust him around Ekkar.
Luckily, Einar wasn’t around, and Ekkar guided Henry to me once he noticed my presence. Henry followed, calling out an apology to those he’d been speaking to, and looked a little bewildered when Ekkar stopped in front of me.
“Erska,” I greeted, pressing a kiss to his cheek. He jumped, startled, but smiled brightly when he realized it was me.
“Garrun. I thought Ekkar was just tired of standing there when he led me away. I’d asked him to bring me to you before we were stopped by others hoping to talk. I hadn’t realized he would follow my request even after I’d stopped to talk.”
Looking down at my friend, I chuckled. “He’s always been smart.” Drawing in an unsteady breath, I took Henry’s hand,placing it on my arm as we’ve done so many times before. He surprised me when he shifted his grip, moving in a way so we could hold hands while I guided him. I liked it and kissed the back of his hand in response. “I have someone I’d like for you to meet. Will you come with me?”
“Of course,” he replied easily, his expression filled with curiosity. “Who are we meeting?”
“Someone who may help us with making you more comfortable here.”
His brows furrowed with his confusion, but he followed my guidance easily, one hand on Ekkar as my clan brother padded beside us. I kept an eye out for Einar, breathing a sigh of relief when we returned to where the warrior I wanted Henry to meet said he would wait.
The clang of metal on metal made Henry’s head tip, listening to what was happening nearby. I watched in awe, speaking to him so he might see what I saw.
“Yngvar lost his sight during a battle between two clans. He was a strong and brave warrior who fought hard for his clan. Now, he not only continues to train regularly, but he also trains younger warriors to fight without sight. So no matter the circumstance, they can protect themselves.” Another clash of weapons made Henry gasp, so I tried my best to explain the movements. “Yngvar moves like a shadow, his movements more like dance than fighting. His head tilts like yours does, listening to his opponent. And when they come together–” Another loud clang, this one close enough that I could almost feel it in my bones “–He does not give under pressure. He is steady, like rock, and cannot be moved. He is an enviable fighter. I would not wish to come up against him.”
“He… He can’t see? At all?” Henry breathed.
Dras had asked the same question. Henry had no sight, he told us as much, and Dras was smart enough to question ifYngvar had even partial sight after his injury. His way of proving it was… disconcerting, though Yngvar had been amused by my shock.
