Page 78 of A Curse So Vile

Brenna took her people outside to rest under the light of the moon. Thankfully, Orrick was the only one that had perished, and she wasn’t all that upset about that.

The Denithians’ tension was thick in the air. They were worried about being so far north, where the sun hardly shone and strange beasts roamed.

“How long do we have?” Cassius asked.

“They’ll not hunt us,” Brenna replied.

Her words did little to ease the Denithian’s worries. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because I know their intentions, just as I know yours.”

“I can’t believe Orrick would…” Andor’s voice trailed off as though it hurt to speak the words.

“He was good, once, but fear can twist the best of us.”

She knew that better than anyone.

Icaries plodded along next to Cole as though he’d taken it upon himself to be the Heartlander’s personal bodyguard. Her connection to the wolf had never been so strong. It was as though they were sharing the same mind, and she wondered if it might drive her mad.

“May I have a word?” Cole said once they’d settled into a small rock formation.

They walked a few hundred feet away, and then a few hundred more because Denithian hearing was too good to chance.

“What happened back there…” Cole scratched the back of his head, “was madness.”

“I still don’t understand everything,” Brenna confessed. “But at least now I know I’m not destined to go feral and kill everyone I hold dear.”

“I’m sorry you had to carry that burden for so long.”

“Don’t be. If anything, it gave me a greater understanding of the people I’m dealing with.”

“What now?”

Brenna shrugged. “To be honest, I don’t anticipate any great changes. Not with the Den. I’ll talk things over with Julian and come up with peace terms. I have a feeling they’re open to change.”

“I meant…if I may be so bold…” Cole cleared his throat, “with us.”

Brenna smiled sheepishly. “You make a rather good servant. Very dutiful.”

“And I could be so much more if it pleases you.”

“And what is it you would like to be?” Brenna mused. “A bed slave?”

“To be honest, what else would you need me for? I’d offer to make your meals, but I have a feeling you rather enjoy hunting and eating your meat raw, from the source.”

Brenna chuckled. “Actually, I can think of several ways I might use you.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Icaries sometimes makes messes with his food.”

Cole crossed his arms over his chest. “So that’s how it’s going to be?”

“And the firewood doesn’t chop itself.”

Cole flexed his biceps. “I could handle that.”

“And my bath water often needs refreshing.”