Page 42 of The Laws of Nature (Heirs of the Empire #3)

It makes Tobi shriek and Lymok shushes Tobi with an annoyed hiss.

“We are not safe yet, kushir. There could be Solwen loyal to Urynwud in these trees. If they catch us you would be dragged back to Harok. Remember how I told you wayward kushirs are punished. Forced to take foribunda then locked up in the dungeons to lose their minds begging for a hard fuck.” Tobi shudders at the thought as Lymok continues.

Or it may be worse than that. Harok is a cruel king.

He wants to prove he is not the weak Irgo his father was.

You don’t know him like I do. And there are many who think him cursed for slaying Diazuul.

He might be unkillable, but he is also savage and vicious.

He is demon-kissed and dark rages take him.

For trying to run he may kill you. And before he does, he will tie you to the sacrifice stone for the use of all Solwen who desire your kush and believe me, Azurian, there are many. ”

Tobi shivers at this description, but he can’t help feeling a strange pang of regret. Harok is the greatest lover he has ever known. Harok can be charming, funny and sweet.But Lymok is not wrong about Harok’s rages. “Harok seems more like his uncle Vahul than his father Lal,” Tobi says.

Lymok sniffs. “He is like both of them. The worst parts of both. But he does remind me of Vahul sometimes. He can be just as cruel.”

“Is that what you are rescuing me from? A cruel Irgo? Saving me, like you couldn’t save your mother?”

Lymok looks at Tobi for a moment. “My mother was weak. All I want is to save myself.”

Tobi looks at Lymok. He is about to say something else, but he freezes. All around him the forest is full of sounds, winds in the trees and the cries of birds, animals moving in the bushes, but this is a new sound.

It’s a horse’s hooves.

A moment later a horse bursts through the trees.

The rider looks like one of the Solwen, but he is not a man Tobi knows from Urynwud.

There are other Solwen in this forest. Other villages and settlements.

But this man does not wear the three stripes of black paint across his face.

Instead his face is painted with a red X.

This man is Exceli.

Lymok tugs the reins and stills the cart. The man on the horse is blocking their way.

Before Tobi can make any decisions about what to do the man speaks in Ambolk, saying, “Who is this, Lymok?”

Tobi looks at Lymok in surprise. Lymok knows this man? Why would he know one of the Exceli?

Lymok grabs hold of Tobi by the wrist. “Don’t do anything rash, kushir,” he says in Artemian. Then, speaking in Ambolk to the man, “I have brought you Harok’s kushir. A gift to the Exceli.”

Tobi swallows icy fear. His stomach drops. This is all wrong. This is…

He acts on pure instinct, yanking his wrist free and throwing himself down from the cart, landing elegantly and racing into the trees.

Lymok yells out after him in anger, but Tobi does not look back.

The ground is freezing. Brambles tear at his cloak and unseen plants sting his bare legs.

His heart beats so hard and his mind twists.

He’s made a terrible mistake. In his desperation to escape he trusted Lymok. He should not have done so.

He hears the Exceli man shout in Ambolk, “Kushir. It’s Irgo Harok’s kushir. Get him.”

Another man, another Exceli, appears, riding out of the trees. He leans down from his saddle and grabs Tobi around the waist, scooping him up and pulling him across his horse. Tobi screams. The man holds him down, slung over his lap.

Tobi squirms and yells but there’s nothing he can do. He feels something press to his neck. A blade. “Keep still, kushessa,” the rider growls and pricks Tobi’s neck with the tip of the dagger.

Tobi does as he is bid. Realising with a sickening lurch of his belly that in his panic he ran and left Baby behind sleeping on the cart.

The Exceli have him and they have Baby too.

Will they hurt her?

The ride, hanging over the horse on the man’s lap with a blade at his throat is uncomfortable, but they do not go far. After a short while Tobi sees lights, fires, and hears voices. People are running over. They are in a camp. An Exceli camp.

Tobi’s captor slides down from his horse, pulling Tobi roughly after him.

“Let me go,” Tobi barks out, struggling in the man’s arms, as soon as his feet touch the damp earth. Immediately the blade is back at his throat.

He is in a clearing in the forest. There is a large fire in the centre. Men sit around in groups. Weapons glint in the firelight. Swords and hammers and axes. These men are well-armed and ready for battle.

A man stands up from the fire and walks over. As he approaches, the man holding Tobi says in Ambolk, “We have Harok’s kushir.”

This new man raises an eyebrow. He looks Tobi up and down.

As he does so more riders enter the clearing.

Half a dozen more Exceli. And behind them, Lymok on his cart.

He brings it to a halt and hops down. He walks casually over to Tobi, greeting the man inspecting Tobi with a small bow.

“My gift to you, Salizi,” he says. Tobi concentrates to follow the Ambolk exchange.

“Harok’s kushir. A small tribute to the brave Exceli. To make this night sweeter.”

Salizi bows back, lower. “A fine prize. Welcome Lymok, true Irgo of the Amber Forest.”