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He must have felt bad, though, because it was Thaas who grabbed my arm and hauled me up to my feet, pointing me toward the approaching madman.

“You lying bit of cuss,” Baer said, just as he came into focus. He was broad shouldered and in a fresh tunic, his dark beard streaked with the same grey as his shirt. That must have been Rahv’s idea, I thought dumbly. His words reminded me to focus. “Bunking here instead of in your own hut? Have you lost your mind?”

I flexed my jaw but didn’t respond. I could meet his eyes and hold his gaze now, the reeling in my mind retreating, and I didn’t like what I saw staring back at me. Baer was as controlling now as he was ten years ago when he picked out my wife and then set my course for the Hinterlands. And he didn’t like being crossed. The tension in his dark eyes told me he was as angry as he’d ever been. I was as tall his him now—thank Toke for that—and I made sure to hold his glare. With him, it felt like the only win I could merit.

“You’ll get your things now and get your ass back over there.”

“It’s not my hut, it’s hers,” I said. “Just let her have it, and we’ll be heading north before the week is out.”

“No. You go now, or I will deliver you there myself and give both of you my wrath. The elders have noticed.”

Ah, and there it was. The real reason for his ire. He didn’t like being made a fool in front of his brethren.

“I have enough to do with this move, boy. I don’t need a git of a son causing me more grief.”

And with that, he turned and left.

Condolences started coming as soon as he was out of earshot. Someone started humming the song of last rites and another picked up the harmony, completing the effect.

“Oh, that’s very funny,” I said. “By the way, you’re all dead to me.”

Jory clapped a hand on my shoulder.

“It’s your funeral, friend.”

Chapter Five

Fenli

It had been four nights since I’d told Roan to leave my hut, and every moment since had been too good to be true. I knew it, and I knew it was only a matter of time until my good fortune ended.

But the knowing didn’t make it any less painful.

Esska threw open the door, and when I saw Roan behind her, I understood she’d only come to try to soften the blow.

I frowned at the both of them.

“I know,” she said, coming in anyway and waving Roan in behind her. “But Roan got caught, and Baer is in a rage about it.”

Goose, who’d been lounging on my bed, perked up. When he saw Roan, he gave a sharp bark.

“No,” Esska scolded, stepping in front of her brother. “You be nice.” Goose kept a low growl in his throat, but Esska seemed satisfied. She turned on Roan. “And you too. Goose is a good boy, and you’d do well to remember it.”

Roan arched a brow. “The dog’s name isGoose?”

I caught Esska’s scowl, happy to see she was taking offense to that. “Yeah, why?”

Roan just shrugged, but Ess wasn’t about to let it go.

“If you so much as touch a hair on his hide—so help me, Toke—I’ll make you wish our mother had never bore you.”

“Shite,” Roan muttered. “What is it with the two of you and this fleabag? He wasattackingme. I had to defend myself.”

“Nonsense.”

She skirted around him to kick the door closed with her heel, not seeing the fierce eye roll he gave her, but I didn’t miss it. If he dare try to hurt my dog again—

“Fenli, you will stop giving this man that death stare of yours.”