Page 102 of Wind Rider

It seemed to Ralina that the Lynx man was doing his best to recover quickly from what must have been a terrible shock at being brought into what he had to have thought was a normal job for Sol and the prosperous Tribe of the Trees. Finding the city decimated, the Tribe either poisoned and dying or healthy and mutated, and Skin Stealers with their God of Death in charge, was surely a blow, and Ralina wondered how much Thaddeus had told him on his way to meet Death. And then Ralina reallylookedat Thaddeus, and she realized what was happening. The Hunter was wearing a cloak that covered much of his body, with a hood pulled up to shield his face.

Thaddeus is hiding his visible changes, and the only other people on the platform, or even close by, are Death’s young female Attendants—none of them have taken The Cure. A man claiming to be a God should look like a strange, hybrid creature, but they’re purposefully hiding the mutations happening here from Dax until he’s given his word and accepted thejob.Ralina felt a new wave of nausea.I wish I could’ve warned him, but there were too many Skin Stealers on the lookout for the Lynx man. Tonight… I will get to him later tonight…

Dax gazed around him, taking in the vastly altered state of the Tribe of the Trees. “Is Sol no longer even Sun Priest?” he asked.

No one so much as moved.

Death’s sharp gaze caught Dax. “The Tribe of the Trees is no more. I rule here. And now that the People have a living God, there is no need for any priest.”

Dax’s gaze slid to Thaddeus, who stood beside Death, staring out at nothing.

“Then there is also no Elder Council I need to meet with in order to formalize any agreement you and I come to?” Dax asked.

“I am a God! I am not ruled by a council!”Death roared.

Dax flinched back and his Lynx pressed against his side, his back beginning to arch.

“I did not mean to offend. I only wished to hurry the process of my hiring. You have waited long enough for me to get here. I don’t want you to wait any longer.”

“Indeed! Indeed!” Death sat down, nodding. “I understand your reasoning. Fear not—I am the only authority here. Dax, would you like some of the Tribe’s beer? Or, perhaps, something stronger? And if you hunger I can have my women bring you some delectable stew.”

Ralina had to bite a bloody hole in the side of her cheek to keep herself from shouting,Don’t eat anything he offers you!But the Lynx man was far from stupid. He bowed his head cordially and replied.

“Spring beer would be refreshing. Thank you, my Lord. Mihos and I ate our evening meal just before we entered your territory. It is Lynx tradition not to arrive hungry when summoned for a job.”

“Excellent tradition,” Death said, motioning for one of the Attendants to bring Dax beer. “It is always wise to arrive without need; then you can focus on what others need from you.”

Dax nodded. “And what is it you need from me?”

“Right to the point. I already like that about you, Dax.” Death pausedas an Attendant gave Dax a wooden mug of beer. “I require that you guide my People and me to the Plains of the Wind Riders.”

Dax choked on his beer. He swallowed quickly, and wiped his mouth. “Surely you aren’t planning on taking that journey this year.”

“I most surely am,” Death said.

Dax shook his head. “You would be cutting it too close. There will already be snow in the mountains by the time you reach them, and once it begins snowing it does not stop. It may be the shining end of summer on the Plains, but in the Rock Mountains it will be the beginning of winter—and the closing of the passes.”

“Then we will leave immediately and travel quickly.”

“Immediately?”

“I commanded the People to begin preparations to travel the day the signal fire was lit. Thaddeus, how much longer before we will be ready to leave this forest?”

“No more than five days, my Lord.”

“There you have it, Dax. Five days. Then we will begin our journey.”

“But, my Lord, you run a very real risk of getting trapped in the mountains. If anything happens on the river leg of the journey—if you are delayed at all, something that is easy to happen, especially as we cross Lost Lake—you will not make it through the mountains.”

“I am not overly concerned about delays. They are for those weaker than the People and me. You will be surprised at the strength of my People. We leave in five days, and because of the lateness of the season, I will agree to pay you five times your normal fee.”

Ralina’s heart sank as she saw Dax lean forward, steepling his hands while he considered.

“How many people will be traveling?” Dax asked.

“Two hundred,” Death said. “There will be canines with us as well.”

Ralina’s breath stopped.Two hundred! That is less than half of the number of Tribe members still alive, but it was almost exactly the number of Reapers in His disgusting army. He’s leaving the Tribe to die, along with many of His own People. He is despicable.Ralina swallowed down bile as she continued to listen silently.