Page 6

He didn’t leave me alone all day that first day. He spent most of it trying to teach me to speak and talking at me. Even when we relieved ourselves, he was within spitting distance. And I wasn’t willing to run in the dark again without some kind of light and something to protect myself. I wanted to get free, but I wasn’t stupid. So I was stuck with him for at least another night.

I wasn’t really surprised when we went to sleep and he lay down next to me. What surprised me was that he didn’t touch me. The first night, I figured he was being nice because I’d been traveling for days and was exhausted. I assumed the next night was when he’d push for sex. I was fully prepared to fight him, hurt him however I could, just to keep him away from me. He never did. He just lay down beside me and went to sleep. He didn’t even tie me up to make sure I didn’t run.

It annoyed me. Like he wasn’t even worried if I ran. Because he didn’t care what happened to me? Or he was cocky enough to think no matter what I did, he’d catch up with me. Either optionangered me. I was more than he bargained for, and I would prove it eventually. At the soonest opportunity, I’d show him.

Which proved to be sooner than I thought. The next day, instead of staying in the tent all day, he brought me back to that first one they’d taken me to after we arrived. For a second, I thought he was sending me back, and I was really excited, but then I noticed a bunch of women in the tent, and that man Finn standing in the middle bouncing on his toes. He wouldn’t be here if they were sending us back, right? He was already part of the clan as the scribe.

“Oh, you’re here.” He smiled gently at me. “Good. Welcome. We’re learning the basics of the barbarian language today. There are some cushions to sit on–” he gestured to the pillows on the floor. “And we’ll have some food brought in a little later.”

I made a face. I had never gone to school before. I had no interest in going now. And I didn’t want them thinking I cared enough about them to learn. When I turned to leave, I ran smack into Feigrind, who was standing behind me with that bored expression on his face again. He knew I’d try to bow out. Damn it.

“I don’t want to be here,” I said plainly in my own tongue. “I don’t care to learn.”

“It’s okay to still be upset. There’s a lot I can explain if you’re worried,” Finn offered behind me, his tone gentle. All of him was gentle. It bugged me. Did they make him quiet? Were they hoping I’d be the same?

Glancing at him over my shoulder, I narrowed my eyes. “How long have you been here?”

He seemed surprised by the genuine question, but didn’t care to hide anything. “About a year now? I arrived last year. I was the first male tribute, so I understand how you feel and?—”

My spine stiffened, and I turned fully to face him. “Hold on. Say that again.”

He frowned, tipping his head at me. “Which part? It didn’t take me a year to learn the language, so if that’s what you’re thinking?—”

I waved my hands wildly to stop his rambling. I didn’t care about that. “You said you were the first male tribute. Of this clan? Or ever?” Because I had a bone to pick with that guy. If it were Finn, he’d be on the business end of my attitude so fast, his head would spin.

“U-uh… Ever, I think. At least, that’s what I’d been told. I’m gathering the clan stories, so if there’s one from the past, I haven’t heard of it yet. Why?”

My eyes widened in indignation. “Why? What do you mean, why? I heard about you! You had a chance to get out! Your family came for you! You chose to stay, and now the rest of us have to suffer for it!” I slashed my hand toward two other male tributes off to one side who looked just as unhappy to be here as I was. They might not have been willing to speak up about it, but I was. “They never considered sending males before you! You doomed every man who has even the slightest inclination towards other men! You ruined everything! All for what? A little dick? How can you be so selfish?”

Finn was in tears by the time Feigrind stopped me. He grabbed me by the elbow, shoving me behind him as he asked Finn to translate what I said. I was too angry to listen to whatever bullshit Finn decided to spout back. I used his distraction to my advantage and slipped through the opening of the tent, making a beeline for the forest. Running on my ankle hurt a little, but I ignored it. It was daylight. I had plenty of time to put space between me and this stupid clan.

No one stopped me as I dashed into the trees. Honestly, I got farther than I thought I would. I ran until I was breathless and had to stop, and when I looked behind me, Feigrind was nowhere to be seen. I hid behind a tree, taking a few deepbreaths to get myself together. I’d always hated running. I could ride a man all night, but if anyone asked me to run, I’d run out of steam so fast, it was pathetic.

A low growl pierced the air while I was still catching my breath. At first, I thought it was my imagination, and I ignored it. But when the noise got louder, I realized I’d made a mistake. I had no weapon, nothing to defend myself. And no light once the sky went dark. I was supposed to have planned this out better. Not run the first chance I got, like an idiot.

Looking around wildly, I searched for the source of the sound. My heart skidded in my chest when I noticed what it was. Wolf. Oh, shit. There was no way I was outrunning a wolf. It was far enough away to give me a lead, but not so far that I felt like I’d have a chance, especially when my ankle was still bothering me. I was so freaking stupid.

It bared its teeth at me in warning, and I stood there like an idiot, staring back at it. Probably only pissing it off more. When it lunged at me, I closed my eyes and screamed, protecting my head with my arms. I didn’t want to die. I was stupid and reckless, but I’d do better if I could just have another chance.

I felt the weight of it crash against me, but it was gone a second later, before it did more than knock me to the ground and scare the hell out of me. When I looked up, my mouth fell open as a warrior I didn’t recognize pinned the animal to the ground and roared in its face. The wolf whimpered and fled the minute the barbarian let it loose. When he turned to face me, my heart lodged itself in my throat. He had a set of four scars across his face, like something had mauled him, and his shirtless frame was criss-crossed with older scars as well. The look of pure hatred on his face was clear, and when he stood, I considered maybe I had just traded one bad situation for another.

“Stand, tribute. Unless you’d like the ulvor to return with its brothers to eat you.”

He spoke the common tongue. It surprised me enough that I stared at him stupidly for a moment. Long enough to annoy him. He marched over to me, yanking me to my feet with a painful grip on my arm. The pain shook off the shock, and I fought against him, trying to tear myself free, but he shook me hard enough to rattle my brain a little, and I fell quiet just to avoid him doing it again. I had it easy with Feigrind. He was nice to me. This one had no such inclination.

He marched me back to the village without another word, practically dragging me when I couldn’t run anymore to keep up with his long leg span. He was enormous. We made it about halfway before Feigrind showed up. He looked pissed too, his normally blank expression dark and foreboding. He was still less scary than this guy, and I didn’t protest when the man passed me back to him.

“He was nearly killed by an ulvor. Teach him to behave, or he will die. The creatures are wild this early in the season. They will kill him before you can reach him.”

I jerked my head up to look at him. He glared down at me and repeated himself in my language to be sure I understood, jabbing his finger toward the forest. “You go out there, you die. I will not save you again. Stay with your protector.”

Yeah, that was really freaking clear now. If I wanted to get out of here, I couldn’t do it by running off. I needed them to escort me back. I wouldn’t make it on my own.

Five

FEIGRIND

It wasn’t often that a tribute got the better of me. I’d expected him to complain about the lessons and refuse to participate. I was ready for that. I did not expect him to lash out at Finn and make him cry. Finn was a gentle soul. He did not deserve such treatment. I tried to comfort him, but comforting wasn’t my strong suit. It was when I turned to make the male apologize that I noticed he was missing. I ran after him, following the quickest path to the forest, where I came upon him and Einar. My clan brother had gone off on his own years ago. I hadn’t thought he would return, apparently, just in time to save the male’s life.