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We were sitting around the community fire, catching up with old friends, when a scout rushed into the village center. I watched as he hurried to his clan leader, whispering harshly to him. His gaze flicked to us a few times, and I felt my spine stiffen. A layer of dread settled over me when the clan leader approached us, the scout following behind him with anxiety written all over his face.

Pushing to my feet, I met them halfway. “What is it?”

“Olr is our scout. He tells me a large group of Fer’na were seen headed in the direction of your clan. Is this expected?”

Fer’na. My stomach dropped. Simon. They were coming for Simon.

Twenty

SIMON

It had been only four days since Feigrind left, and I was listless. It wasn’t just boredom. Maman kept me close during the day and kept my hands busy. It was more than that. I missed the stupid barbarian. Missed his touch, his body wrapped around mine as we slept. I missed the hovering. I never thought I’d ache for someone as much as I did for him, but the longer he took to get back, the more foul my mood was. How long did it take to do some trade? It shouldn’t be that hard.

Maman had finally had enough of my attitude and told me to go lie down because I was irritating her. I wasn’t in the mood for company anyway, so I did, despite it being so early. It didn't help; I couldn’t get any rest with Feigrind gone, but at least I wasn’t taking my mood out on others. I started snooping through Feigrind’s things, moving things around in a way I knew would irritate him later. He liked things a particular way and got annoyed with me when I made a mess. I was in the middle of unfolding all his clothes when I heard footsteps approaching the tent.

Something about these footsteps felt wrong to me. I wasn’t stupid enough to believe I recognized the stride of everyone in the clan, but I felt like none of them stomped around like great behemoths like those approaching me now. Barbarians were surprisingly light on their feet when they wanted to be. Not these. I grabbed my daggers automatically, keeping my stance low as I eyed the tent flap.

“Which one is the whore in?”

“That one.”

“Good. I will have him first. Revenge for my brother.”

“This was not the agreement,” another growled. They were stupid enough to think I couldn’t hear them? Or they didn’t actually care.

Either way, it was their mistake. I moved silently towards a corner of the tent, cutting a rip right along the seam. I would apologize to Feigrind later for that. I was certain he’d understand. Slipping out of the hole I created, I stayed crouched and glanced around. It was after sunset, only fires lighting up the village now. I considered the possibility that they were only sneaking in to nab me, but a scream closer to the village center proved me wrong. They were here to cause trouble. And I wasn’t going to let them get away with it.

“He’s not here!” a voice shouted inside Feigrind’s tent.

“Here. There’s a hole. I?—”

The idiot poked his head out, and I grinned wickedly at the vulnerable position this put him in. I sliced my blade across his neck, and he dropped immediately, choking on his own blood. Leaping over him, I moved to the tent entrance, waiting for the other speaker. He came out in a hurry, ready to attack. Too bad he didn’t expect me to be waiting for him. Stabbing him in the gut was effortless, and then he too got his throat cut.

I wasn’t sure how many were here. I hoped not their entire clan. When they’d visited last, the mass of them standing outsidethe clan looked like their numbers were greater than ours, at least that I’d seen in the past few days. We were also down several warriors thanks to the trade journey. I could run, maybe get away, but I couldn’t make myself do it. These people weren’t bad. They didn’t deserve this.

Chaos swept through the clan, and I saw familiar warriors battling with unfamiliar ones throughout the village. I crept toward the village center, staying out of sight. Maybe if I killed their leader, they’d back off. Cut the head off the snake, right?

I was getting closer when I heard a terrified cry from a tent nearby. I was going to ignore it—I couldn’t stop every fight—but Finn’s voice rang in my ears as he pleaded for them to stop.

“Please, no! Please!”

I knew that sound. That wasn’t what people said when they were about to be murdered. It was something much worse, in my opinion. I spun on my heel, heading for the larger tent with the light shining from inside. One look inside confirmed my suspicions. Finn was pinned on his stomach, his hands held behind his back and his pants down enough to expose him, tears streaming down his face. He fought as much as he could, but he was a little thing, and the barbarian wrestling with his own legwear was much larger.

Stepping into the tent would potentially trap me, so I tossed one of my daggers instead. I was an excellent shot, and it lodged in the barbarian’s skull, killing him instantly. Unfortunately, I didn’t expect him to fall forward, crushing Finn under his massive weight. Finn cried out, unaware that the barbarian was dead, and I dropped my head forward in defeat and entered the tent.

“Finn. Finn! Stop crying. He’s dead. I’m going to help you. Just—” I tried shoving the guy off, but he was enormous. “Give me your hand. I’m going to pull you out.”

It took some work, but he eventually wiggled free, sobbing with terror and relief. He clung to me for a moment, his whole body trembling, and I let him because I knew what it was like to be in that position, and I didn't judge him one bit for being scared.

“Pull up your pants,” I instructed, once he could breathe around his sobs. “Where’s your bondmate?”

“F-fighting,” he replied, hastily doing as I asked. It was hard for him, since his hands kept shaking, so I shoved them out of the way and tied up his pants for him, checking to make sure they weren’t torn in the back before going to the dead guy and removing the dagger from his head. It took some doing, I had to throw it hard to get through the side of the head like I had, and the sound it made when I removed it made my stomach turn. I ignored it, beckoning Finn to follow me.

“Come on.”

“Wh-where are we going?” he asked, tears still spilling down his cheeks.

“I’m going to the village center to see if I can kill the leader. You’re coming with me because I don’t trust you alone. After this is over, you need to pick some way to train to protect yourself. You can’t rely on other men to protect you all the time.”