Page 61 of The Witch who Trades with Death
Chapter Sixty-One
Neta
Neta really didn’t want to tell another parent of their child’s death. Or in this case, their probable, eventual death. But she wasn’t going to leave her mother in the dark, so as she packed some extra food in her bag, she told Varisa, “Khana’s got a plan to take out the emperor in his camp.”
Varisa paused. She’d been weaving at her loom, and now turned around. Despite being mother and daughter, they looked nothing alike, Varisa tall and willowy with almost blond hair. “Tell me you’re not going with her.”
“Of course I’m going with her.”
Before Varisa could protest, Neta added, “We can’t beat them in an open field. This is our only chance to win.”
“Who’s ordering this?”
“The chief approved it, but no one ordered it. Like I said, it’s Khana’s plan.”
“So I don’t have to butcher your uncle for trying to get you killed?”
Neta paused. “Ma, you wouldn’t be able to… Well, maybe. If you snuck past his wife and sons.”
“Don’t underestimate me.”
“Wouldn’t dare,” she promised.
Varisa left her loom and packed a bit more food into Neta’s bag. “You’re going through the mountains?”
“Most likely. I doubt we’ll be able to steal a behemoth on the way back.”
Varisa took a deep breath. Neta pretended not to notice how shaky it was. “Don’t let yourself become one of those night creatures. I chose to settle and have children here specifically so they wouldn’t become slaves of the empire.”
It was a bad idea to make any sort of promise in war, but Neta couldn’t deny her this one. “I won’t let that happen, Ma.”
They hugged. Neta tried to convince herself she’d be back. She had every faith that she and her unit would bring down Yamueto. Whether they would survive was another matter entirely.
“They may attack the village again tonight,” she warned, pulling away. “Stay close to Rasku.”
“Is that your way of giving me your blessing?” Varisa asked, wiping an eye. Rasku was the hunter/soldier Varisa had been flirting with for months .
“Has he hurt you beyond my sight?”
“Not at all.”
“Does he make you happy?”
“Almost as much as you do.”
Neta smiled. “Then, yes, I suppose that’s my blessing.”
“Good,” Varisa said. “You never asked for it, but Athicha’s a good one, too. I always love having them here. They’d be a good parent.”
“They have a vagina, Ma.”
“I suppose you could find a third, once you get back.”
“Ma!”
“Or you can adopt. I’m not picky,” she corrected. She gripped Neta’s arms. “Be careful.”
Neta was halfway to the meeting point when she spotted Athicha coming down the other street, also packed, with bow and quiver on their back.
“I thought I’d find you at your house,” she called.
Athicha shook their head, signing, Singing Wolf’s unit fight with him.
Neta’s stomach sank. We probably not come back, she warned.
I know, they retorted. That why I come.
“I swear, if you’re about to say you’re doing this ‘for me’…” Neta warned.
Again, Athicha shook their head. For you. For Singing Wolf. For Pahuuda. For Smile.
Haz’s sign.
Neta deflated. She kissed them, soft and quick. “Let’s get killed together.”