Page 97 of Sun Warrior

“Submit!” Wilkes repeated.

“Do it,” Thaddeus told his Terrier. “Submit to him.”

Odysseus struggled for a moment longer, and then the Terrier’s body relaxed and he stretched his neck back, ritualistically offering it to a canine who was Alpha over him. Odin sniffed at the littler canine’s neck and then the big Shepherd lifted his leg and relieved himself on the Terrier’s belly before allowing him to get up.

Ralina went to Thaddeus’s dropped knife and picked it up, tucking it into her leather belt. She gave the Hunter a disgusted look, saying, “This blade is forfeit because you raised it against a Tribesman. Consider yourself lucky that we have no ruling Council right now, as you would surely be banished, or worse, for what you just tried to do.”

Wilkes released Thaddeus. “You may still be banished. Tribal Law is Tribal Law, whether there is a Council or not. No Companion may take up arms against another—on pain of banishment or death. Consider yourself lucky if all you get is banishment. I’m the third Tribesman you’ve raised a weapon against.”

Thaddeus wiped dirt and moss from his clothes as he glared at Wilkes. “Don’t be so sure of yourself. In case you’re too bound by thepast to notice, let me be the first to tell you—the old Tribe is no more!I have a feeling things are going to be a lot different in the future—the very near future. Watch yourself, Warrior. You’re right. I did raise my weapon against other Tribesmen—traitors—you would do well to remember how that went for them.One is dead. One is on the run.” Thaddeus made a sharp gesture to his men. “Let’s get these supplies to the wounded. Maybe they’ll appreciate them.” He turned his back on Wilkes and Ralina and stalked away, with Odysseus limping at his side and the Hunters following as they cast looks that ranged from apologetic to angry at Wilkes.

“That’s bad. Really bad,” Ralina said when the forest had swallowed the group. “There’s something incredibly wrong with that man. And I’ve never liked Odysseus—he’s always been too quick with his teeth—but Thaddeus doesn’t seem concerned at all that his Companion is wounded.”

“By his own hand,” Wilkes said. “But Thaddeus isn’t one for taking blame or cleaning up after his mistakes—ever.”

“Exactly.…” She paused and then added, “He was talking about Sol and Nik, wasn’t he? Tell me that bastard didn’t just brag about killing our Sun Priest and chasing away his son.”

“That’s exactly what he was doing.” Wilkes stared after the Hunters. “And I think it’s even worse than that. I think Thaddeus’s hatred has begun to spread to his men.”

“And from there, it could easily spread to the Tribe,” Ralina finished for Wilkes. “We can’t let that happen.”

“I’m afraid it already has,” Wilkes said. “Come on. Let’s gather the Warriors and see what we can do to help the wounded. They’re more important than Thaddeus’s hate right now. Let’s hope if we ignore him Thaddeus will fade into the background of the Tribe.”

“I can’t believe Companions will actually follow him. He’s mean, self-serving, and full of spite. Our people will see the truth about him.”

“I hope so, Ralina,” Wilkes said sadly.

Slowly, the two Companions began walking back to the meditation platform. Neither of them saw the two men, bodies painted with thecamouflaging colors of the forest, rise from the concealment of a mound of forest debris and retreat silently back into the cover of the ancient trees.

***

Death could hardly contain His glee. It was happening just as He had intended! He tapped into Dead Eye’s memories and knew the Tribesman the Others called Thaddeus was the human who had been infected with the skin sloughing disease. Since canine flesh had merged with the human, Thaddeus had obviously grown stronger, angrier, and more discontented. It seemed he was even responsible for the death of a Leader and for the blaze that had decimated his people. And now that the Hunter’s Companion canine was wounded Death chuckled low in His throat.

“It is all going even better than I planned,” He said, more to Himself than to Iron Fist, who jogged beside Him.

“How so, my Lord?”

“I have divided the Others, and that division is going to be their undoing.” The God paused and chuckled again. “Well, that and a little help from Death.”

“Are we going to gather our men and attack now that they’re weak and wounded?”

Death held on to His patience, reminding Himself that Iron Fist was only a man, and not a very bright man at that. “No. We are not. You are my Blade. You must learn to think beyond your base emotions. Did you not hear the Warrior recount how many of the Others are dead?”

“I surely did, my Lord! Over two thousand. That is why I thought—”

“No!” The curt word silenced the God’s Blade instantly. “Did you not hear the rest of it?”

“That there are another five hundred wounded?”

Death stifled a sigh. “Yes, but beyond that the Warrior let it be known that there are still another two thousand of their people alive, many of them Warriors and Hunters. They vastly outnumber us.”

“Oh. Oh, I see. Then what are we to do?”

“We?” Death laughed again. “First,Iam going to use the opening that little canine has provided and use it to draw Thaddeus closer to me.”

“My Lord, forgive me, but I do not understand,” Iron Fist said.

Because He enjoyed reasoning through His plan aloud, Death decided to enlighten His Blade. “It’s quite simple. I’ve already touched Thaddeus. He is primed to hear my voice. Imagine if he chooses me—even over his bonded Companion. Imagine the chaos he would cause within his Tribe.”