Page 7 of Red in Tooth and Claw

The Rover party was small— three souls all told, plus horses and a rather rangy, rust-colored mutt. At least, three that I could see. The one in front had dark hair with curl to it, his face cleanly shaven, revealing tan skin and a firm chin. He wore thick canvas pants and a cotton shirt, the sleeves rolled up, with only a many-pocketed vest for covering.

He took one look at us and started laughing. I guess Jesse and I were a sight, and that sight was hilarious.

On the man’s left was a tall woman, younger but having a similar look to her—perhaps a daughter or a niece? Her dark hair was plaited back, a floppy hat blocking her from the sun. She was dressed like the man, with exception of the vest. Instead, she wore a brown suede jacket with leather braiding that I have to admit I coveted.

Jesse tightened his arm around me, the only sign that he was worried. I’d gathered that the Settlement didn’t have much to do with the local Rovers, which I considered a mistake.

The third member of their party gave me pause. He seemed younger than the woman, but I couldn’t be sure. He had leaned over in his saddle to get a better look, a grin splitting his face. I froze, unable to help myself, my breath catching in my lungs. Some people are comfortable; you meet them and it’s like putting on a warm sweater on a chilly night. He was the opposite—simply clapping my eyes on him made me want to fidget.

He had similar features to his companions, but his eyes were a deeper brown. Thick, dark lashes surrounded them, bringing them to your attention first. A straight nose, and even as his smile faded as he stared back at me, his lips kept some of the curve at the end, like he was always laughing at the world. One eyebrow had a slash of a scar through it, jumping his eye and snaking thinly down his cheek, the tissue lighter than the skin around it.

That eyebrow lifted at me as I continued to stare. His hair—thick, wavy, and a deep, rich brown bordering on black—went to his shoulders. I wondered if it was as soft as it appeared. It wasn’t that he was handsome, because if Jesse sketched his face out on paper, I wouldn’t think so. But in person? It was like there was a fishing line wrapped around me and he was a lead sinker, drawing me straight to the bottom.

He looked me right in the eyes and didn’t blink.

The woman said something then, her voice a pleasant alto. I’d always liked the Rover language. It flowed like water, musical and pleasing to the ear. Most people in New Retienne refused to learn the language, but I wasn’t most people. It took me a second to translate what she was saying. I was rusty, and there were a few words I didn’t know.

“They reek,” she said, her nose scrunching. “But I think the tall one’s injured.”

The laughing man wiped at his eyes, replying to her in their language. “I’m not letting them into any of the tents. What about you, Tallis?”

“I think we can maybe dunk them in the stream and keep them out of camp,” Tallis said, amusement threading through his words. He had the kind of voice that you instantly wanted to hear sing. Deep, but not gravelly, smooth like the hot whisky and honey my Pops would make me drink when I was sick.

I hated how much I wanted to hear it.

Now that I’d had more time to observe him, I thought he might be a year or two older than me. I kept watching him, trying to gather all the information I could. Surely that was why I was staring at him and not for any other reason.

“I think the runt might be the worst offender. We’ll have to dunk that one twice.”

Or perhaps not so smooth. My cheeks burned before I could stop them, my embarrassingly adoring gaze turned into a glare. Runt. He best sleep light if they took us back to camp. I’d show him what a runt could do.

His eyes took on a speculative light as he tapped his thumb along the edge of his saddle. “Tiny, like a squirrel. Bet he chitters like one.”

I sputtered. “Better a squirrel than an overgrown puppy!” As retorts go, it wasn’t my best. I don’t do my best thinking when I’m mad, I’ll admit. I almost spit at his feet. To a Rover, that was a grave insult, but I checked myself. After all, we were at their mercy.

He leaned back and grinned. “Forget what I said. He doesn’t chitter, he squeaks. Yips like a little fox.”

I grunted, shifting Jesse’s weight on my shoulders. He swallowed hard but didn’t say a word. The older man chuckled at Tallis’s comment.

“Little Fox,” the woman mused. “Yes, that suits him.”

“I’d like to see you make less noise, carrying as much as I am!” It was then that the realization stung me. He’d tricked me into revealing that I knew their language, because I’d unthinkingly responded in theirs when I’d cursed him.

Jesse turned his head toward me. “You speak Rover?”

No use denying. “Some.” Pops had traded with Rovers as they’d passed through, and I’d soaked up as much of their language as they’d allowed. Pops and I had worked hard to build trust to make that happen. Rovers didn’t share their words with just anyone.

Tricky, tricky Tallis. I’d have to watch him. I refused to be one of those people who lost all sense over a fella. I switched back to Rover. “How’d you guess?”

“You reacted.” He waved a hand over his face. “To what we said.”

“I see,” I grated out, my shoulder hunched. Jesse wasn’t putting his entire weight on me, but he was still putting a great deal, as he was bigger than me in pretty much every way. I was tired, irritated, and miserable.

I fixed my attention on the other two, since the younger man only managed to get under my skin. “I think his ankle is sprained, and I’m covered in skunk. Any help you could give would be much appreciated.”

The woman, Zara, offered Jesse her horse, and the Rovers worked together to help get Jesse up on the saddle.

I stepped forward, only to be stopped by Zara.

“Not you,” she said. “You stink all the way to the clouds and back, and I like my horse.”

I bit my tongue because it was true, even if I didn’t like it. Jesse seemed a little uncomfortable about the entire endeavor. He didn’t speak Rover, and I’m sure the Settlement didn’t speak highly of Rovers, either. HisBen was the type of man who pontificated on us all being one people in the heart of his god while keeping a steely side-eye on anyone different from him.

“You sure about this?” Jesse asked, watching me from the saddle.

I nodded. “They won’t hurt us.” Rovers took hospitality seriously. We were injured and asking for help. As long as we didn’t try to hurt them or prove ourselves untrustworthy, we’d be fine. We’d owe them something in exchange, of course. They were fair, not foolish.

Zara clicked at her mare, urging her to follow, the reins loose in her fist.

The older man, Sergio, leaned from his saddle. “You follow behind.” His face split in a grin. “Downwind, eh?”

I glowered at him, but he just laughed.

“Such a face,” Sergio said. “It is not the worst fate, Little Fox. Tallis, have Roon keep her company, eh?”

“Yes, Uncle.” Tallis dutifully gave the dog a command, and soon his mutt was trotting alongside me, her mouth curled into a doggy smile, her tongue out.

I went to scratch her ear and she dodged. “What, like you smell so great?” I mumbled.

Tallis clucked his tongue. “I’ll have you know that Roon is very clean. Besides, everyone smells better than you right now, Little Fox.”

Sergio held out his hand to me, his eyebrows up. Sighing, I handed over my rifle. He passed it to Tallis, then put his palm out again. Reluctantly, I gave him my knife.

“You’ll get them back,” Sergio said, tucking the knife into his boot.

“I would appreciate it.” Rightfully, they didn’t want to risk me shooting them in the back. Like I said, fair, but not foolish.

Tallis, meanwhile, examined the rifle. “Even the rifle stinks.”

“The skunk wasn’t exactly stingy in his spray,” I snapped, crossing my arms across my chest. “What do you want me to do?”

If I thought he was going to offer an apology, I was wrong. He didn’t even look contrite.

“You know, when you get angry, your ears get red? Just the tips.” He tapped a finger along the top of his ear.

“I am aware,” I growled. Then I ignored him for the next two miles. He remained unbothered, keeping an eye on the landscape when he wasn’t looking back at me. The horses all picked up their pace, and I knew we must be close to the camp.

Rovers are nomadic, but only after a fashion. They tend to keep to a patch of land—a fairly large territory—though they move around on it. A camp might be in one place for a few days or a few months, depending on various conditions, like weather, grazing, gathering, or opportunities for trade.

We heard the camp before we saw it—people talking, a goat bleating, and a few souls warbling a melody as we cut through a patch of forest. I didn’t make the mistake of thinking we were catching them unawares. Rovers posted sentries, though you never saw them. Tallis had sent his mutt, Roon, ahead about ten minutes ago, likely rousing the camp if the sentries didn’t catch us. I wasn’t sure what their methods were, but if you ever snuck up on a Rover camp, they wanted you there.

We broke through the trees, coming along a small hill. I followed the horses as they clopped easily over it, only seeing the camp when I crested the top. Rovers generally had horses and a few wagons—the wagons were mostly to carry their things when they moved, except for the healer’s wagon. That would be the healer’s domain alone.

Once at a camp, the other wagons might serve various functions, but the Rovers slept in big canvas tents, large enough for a whole family. The canvas itself was painted, the colors and symbols dependent on the family that owned it. Though they lived in tents, the Rovers didn’t sleep rough by any means. Woven mats would make a temporary floor, and the insides could be downright cozy.

I counted at least thirty tents as I walked down the hill. The biggest tent was in the middle—that one would be set up on a platform, keeping it off the cold ground, and serving as a general gathering place for the clan. A stream bordered the camp off to the left, along with a place for them to tether the horses. Not that the horses really needed tethering. Rover horses were uncommonly well-trained, the bond between them and their riders strong. Rovers treated horses like an extension of their clan, respected and cared for like any other member. It was one of the reasons Pops held Rovers in high esteem.

A handful of children darted through the tents, laughing, as they chased one of the dogs. We went straight to the healer’s wagon, which had been parked close to the stream. As we got closer, I could see the person I assumed was the healer. She sat on the steps leading into the wagon, a pipe clamped in her teeth. Her dark hair hung in a thick braid, a smattering of silver running through it. She had a strong face—a sharp blade of a nose, a full mouth, and a stubborn chin. She’d rolled up her sleeves, and an apron with many pockets covered her skirts. The woman watched us approach, and I would bet Pops’s watch that she didn’t miss a single detail.

“Anna,” Sergio said as he slid from his horse. “This one needs your expertise.” He waved at Jesse, who was precariously perched on the back of Zara’s horse. Not much of a rider, our Jesse. He didn’t say anything, but his lips were pinched with pain.

Anna stood, brushing off her skirt with one hand while setting her pipe on a piece of her wagon’s trim. It was a cozy-looking wagon, painted with greens, golds, and blacks. I glanced up and saw Tallis watching me, so I straightened.

Sergio helped Anna load Jesse into the healer’s wagon while a swarm of young children appeared, taking the reins of the horses. The horses were patted and chattered at affectionately as the children led them out of the camp, likely to be brushed and fed. I was left standing awkwardly outside the wagon with Zara, but not for long.

Tallis reappeared, a wooden bucket full of items in one hand. He waved at Zara, who nodded before joining the others in the wagon.

“Alright, Little Fox,” he said, waving me along. “To the stream with you.”

I was right tired of that nickname already. “It’s Faolan.”

He repeated my name, letting it roll off his tongue as if tasting it. “Not bad, Little Fox. It suits you.”

I gave up. There was no winning with him. Tallis caught a lad as he darted past, whispering something in his ear before the boy disappeared into one of the tents. Tallis led me past the horses, downstream from the camp. The stream curved a little here, taking us behind some trees, the camp suddenly out of sight.

He set his bucket down. “Let’s get this over with. Clothes in a pile for now.”

I sorely wanted to take a bath, but if I stripped, Tallis would know I wasn’t a boy. I couldn’t send him away, either, because I’d need help cleaning off the skunk spray. I could ask for a woman to take his place, maybe, but then I’d have to explain anyway, and all that would do was make it so two people knew my secret instead of one.

There wasn’t much I could do about it, so I got on with it. I kicked off my boots, making sure Pops’s watch was still in the toe. The boots would need to be cleaned, and though I didn’t trust Tallis much, Rovers weren’t thieves. I set the boots to the side. “I would appreciate your care with those. My watch is in the toe.”

His lip twitched. “Odd place for a watch.”

I ignored him. My hat went onto the boots. Despite my resolve not to, I hesitated. I’d never stripped in front of anyone I wasn’t related to.

He set down the bucket, pulling out a stoppered jug and a pile of rags. When he realized I’d stopped, he looked up. “What is it?”

My cheeks got so hot I could feel the heat all the way to my ears.

He straightened so he could peer at me. “You’re red like a strawberry.” He dropped his voice. “Does that mean you’re ripe?”

I flexed my hands so I didn’t punch him in the gut. “I’m not used to stripping for all and sundry.” I didn’t think it was possible, but I blushed harder.

His brow furrowed as he looked at me, perplexed. “What? Never?” He placed his hands on his hips. “Ever? What about swimming? Or when you bathe?” He tapped his fingers along his side where they rested. “Your people must stink to high heaven.”

I huffed. “It’s not like that.” I crossed my arms. “What do you do when you swim or bathe?”

He shrugged, dropping down to unstopper the jugs. “Clothes come off, we get in the river. It’s not like anyone has something we’ve never seen before.” He sniffed one of the jugs, grimaced, then paused and looked up, curious. “Do you?”

“What?” I dropped my arms in confusion.

“Do you have something I’ve never seen?” He squinted. “Scales? Feathers?”

“No.” I was mystified now, not sure where he was going with this.

He nodded. “Ah, then it’s simply fear. Nothing to be afraid of, Little Fox. All creatures are beautiful in their own way. I will not run screaming.”

My embarrassment shifted swiftly to anger. “That’s not—I’m not afraid!” I had my suspenders down and my shirt tossed in the grass before I realized what I was doing. In two seconds, I was in my drawers and chest wrap, my hands on my hips, my chin up.

Tallis eyed me for a long second before he poured the jugs into the bucket and the sharp bite of vinegar hit my nose. “Ah, no scales. My loss.” He dunked a rag into the solution. “A full soak would be better, but we’ll have to make do.” He handed me a rag. “All over, Little Fox.” He dunked another rag. “I’ll get your back.”

I stood there stupidly holding the rag. What had just happened?

Tallis strode behind me, slapping his cloth against the back of my neck, shocking me out of my reverie.

It was almost comical, how easily he’d maneuvered me into my skivvies. I snorted and started scrubbing my face.

We made quick work of it, Tallis soaking my hair in the solution, which I was pretty sure was mostly apple cider vinegar. I was shivering by the time we were done.

Tallis handed me a strip of toweling to wrap myself in. “You need to let it sit a few minutes.” He dunked my clothes into the bucket, keeping a rag back to scrub at my shoes while I sat there with chattering teeth. The young lad from earlier sprinted up, bringing a bundle of clothing and dropping it next to Tallis before sprinting off again.

Tallis had set my watch bundle carefully aside while he worked the vinegar into my boot with efficient strokes. “There’s nothing wrong with fear, you know.”

I hadn’t been afraid, but arguing would only convince him otherwise.

“Fear can be very useful. It can teach you a lot about yourself, about the world.” He scrubbed at the boot, his movements almost graceful.

I glared at him. “I’m not having this discussion naked except for a few strips of cloth.”

He kept cleaning the boot. “You snap and growl, but I’m not going for your throat, Little Fox, nor am I going for your soft belly.” He dipped the cloth back into the vinegar. “I understand. You don’t like feeling vulnerable. I’d offer to take off my clothes, too, but the ground is cold and I’d rather not.”

I rubbed a hand over my eyes. “Can we please stop talking about people being naked?”

He frowned. “You can swim, can’t you?”

“Of course I can swim.”

He glanced up from his work. “But you keep your clothes on?” He shook his head. “Your people are very strange, Little Fox.” He saw my shivering. “Sit next to me. The ground is cold, but you can cover yourself better with the toweling that way.”

I sat down next to him. “We bathe, same as you, you know. But I couldn’t. Not as I got older.” He hadn’t even blinked at my binding. I watched him out of the side of my eye. “You didn’t seem too surprised.”

He simply shrugged, setting one boot down and grabbing the other. “Why the mystery?”

I pushed my toes into the grass. “It was just me and my Pops. My parents died when I was little, followed by my gran. Pops didn’t know much what to do with a baby girl, and he worried.”

A slight furrow appeared on Tallis’s brow. “Worried?”

“That if people knew, they might try to take me. What did an old coot know about raising a little girl?” I smiled—Pops had been fond of saying that last bit. “People might interfere, try to get him to remarry or take on a nursemaid or something. Pops wanted nothing to do with it. So he changed my name to Faolan, and we went with it.”

I pulled the toweling tighter. “And after a while, I got used to it. Once he died, well, it wasn’t safe.” Being a young man on my own was complicated and made me a little fearful. Being a young woman on my own? In New Retienne?

“Safe?” Tallis asked softly.

“Pops left everything to me. While it wouldn’t be unheard of to try to marry a fella off young, people are much more comfortable doing so with a young woman. By the point of a rifle if need be. As a young man I had a voice—not much of one, but people listened a little. As a woman? Ha! No, sir. I decided I’d rather not chance it.”

Tallis set the second boot down, tossing the rag into the bucket. “You know you won’t be able to keep it up forever, don’t you?” He nodded to my chest wrap. “It’s not just that. Your voice won’t deepen. No beard.”

“Someone will cotton to it eventually,” I said, my teeth chattering. “But I’ll keep it as long as I can.”

Tallis shook his head slowly. “Your people should make you feel safe, Little Fox, not hunted. It makes me sad for you.”

I didn’t say anything, but I smiled a little. To be honest, I was a little sad for me, too.