I’d gnawed at my own pride and asked for help, finally.
I only got his silence in return.
No letter.
No sign of him.
Not even so much as a smoke signal to prove he was still alive.
I lived with the constant threat of another Northern attack or the crater deciding to destroy us all, while trying to keep a calm facade in danger of cracking.
A permanent state of unease had settled deep inside, trying to tear me apart between care and bitterness.
If he didn’t concern himself with my well-being, fine. Well, not fine, but an indifference I could understand, despite it rattling those fragments of my heart. I’d been forgotten before, I probably would again.
But Ryker loved this outrageous crater.
So where was he?
Worse…what was keeping him away from us?
“I’m fine,” I lied as we reached the boisterous kennels.
Nadya waited right at the edge, looking paler than before. A metallic scent tickled my nose and sped my feet.
Blood.
I reared the corner only to see about a dozen trolls. The one I’d treated was nowhere to be seen once more–I’d caught glimpses of him leaving the city at the crack of dawn and only returning once the sun set.
It was a scout, alright. One that did its job well.
The small group gathered around a bloody stump. On top of it lay an eviscerated buck, entrails already cleaned.
Dax made a gagging noise and turned.
I’d hunted enough in my life to recognize the scene for what it was–lunch.
Even so, my stomach roiled as well.
The leader of the group, hands and fur coated with blood, grunted and began walking our way, one fist closed tightly.
“Put the baskets down,” I whispered, my muscles tensing once more. It couldn’t be helped. They were hunters and despite my mind telling me otherwise, my body knew we could become prey. “Slowly.”
Nadya and Dax did so, thankfully without saying anything. She left sweaty marks on hers.
We stepped back from the offering.
The troll kept coming, leaving a trail of blood in between its huge footprints in the snow.
All I could think was thank the gods Kryson hadn’t followed us all the way here to see this.
The troll leader stopped in front of me with a greeting grunt–I hoped–and slowly unfurled its bloody hand.
My worry melted as I looked down at the torn bits of flesh resting in its palm.
“Is that his way of saying he’s going to maul us?” Nadya whispered.
“No, it’s a very important offering.” One I hadn’t seen in what felt like ages. My heart fluttered. “It’s a deer heart.”
