Page 114 of Wind Rider

Death studied them carefully, His eyes quickly finding Kong and Bear where they lay silently behind the three people.

“You may rise,” Death commanded. He cocked His massive head to the side, in a posture Ralina recognized as the God contemplating whether there was any gain to Him in what she proposed. “I do not recognize either of these men.” Death paused and shouted over His shoulder toward the side of the beach, where Thaddeus was loading his men and their Companions into the patched boats. “Thaddeus! Come to me!”

Ralina watched the Hunter sigh and frown, but she knew he would dare not disobey one of Death’s commands—though his expression was sour as he jogged up to the God.

“Yes, my Lord. We are almost all launched.”

Death waved away the Hunter’s words. “Of course you are—it is what I commanded.” Then He pointed at Renard and Daniel. “Do you know these men?”

Thaddeus glanced at them. “Yeah. Renard is a Warrior. And that old man is his father.”

“And are they of use to you?” Death asked, and Ralina’s stomach tightened.

Thaddeus shrugged. “Renard followed me when Wilkes betrayed his Warriors and fled the Tribe. His father is a carver.” Thaddeus spoke as if the two men weren’t standing right there. “Sure, we can always use another carver, but I don’t remember Daniel being particularly good at making crossbows.”

Ralina stepped forward. “Daniel doesn’t make crossbows, my Lord,” she explained. “He makes the arrows they shoot. Show him.”

Daniel stepped before the God, bowed again, and opened the woven mat he’d been carrying, letting a large cache of arrows spill out.

Death’s thick brows lifted as He bent to pick up and inspect an arrow. “This is well done.”

Daniel bowed low again. “Thank you, my Lord.”

“Yeah, that’s great, but he can’t carve a crossbow,” Thaddeus said dismissively.

Death frowned at Thaddeus. “It matters not if we have bows if we do not have arrows to shoot from them.”

“My Lord, forgive me if I speak out of turn, but Icancarve crossbows. They will be simple and free of ornament, but they will be serviceable.” Daniel said.

“Then why didn’t you carve them before now?” Thaddeus asked,narrowing his hard gaze at Daniel and Renard, who stood perfectly still, heads bowed.

“Because the Tribe had several Master Carvers and we preferred bows made with beauty as well as function.” Daniel’s voice took on the tone of a teacher schooling a child. “But you know that already, Thaddeus. I do not understand why you would want to disparage my work. I am doing my best for our new Lord, just as you are.”

Thaddeus opened his mouth to spew something vile, but Death cut him off with one raised hand.

“Silence! The carver makes an excellent point. He may join our army.” Death’s attention shifted to Renard. “Warrior, come closer.”

Renard lifted his head and did as the God commanded, stepping up to stand beside his father. Death studied him for a long time before speaking.

“It appears you are not ill. Yet I do not sense that you have accepted The Cure.” Death’s gaze went from Renard to Ralina and his eyes widened with understanding. “Storyteller, have you been sharing your meatless stews with this young Warrior?”

Ralina tossed back her hair and lifted her chin. She called on the best of her acting skills and added a coquettish smile to her façade. “Yes, my Lord, I have.”

“You’re doing what?” Thaddeus sputtered. “You’re interfering with the food my Warriors eat?”

Ralina rounded on Thaddeus. “I wasn’t aware the Warriors were yours. I thought they, like all of us, belong to our God.”

“Well put, Storyteller,” Death said.

“I apologize for my poor choice of words,” Thaddeus said as he scowled at Ralina. “But the Storyteller obviously did interfere with this Warrior’s food.”

“Can you explain that interference, Storyteller?” the God asked.

“Yes, my Lord, easily.” Ralina moved up to stand beside Renard. Seductively, she snaked her arm around his waist. She could feel his body jolt with shock, but when she smiled up into his surprised eyes he relaxed enough to put his arm around her in return. “I have taken Renardas a lover. I find he helps mycreativity.” She smiled flirtatiously and then met Death’s gaze. “And I do not want a sick lover.”

“And you didn’t think you needed to ask Death’s permission before you kept a Warrior from choosing The Cure?” Thaddeus said spitefully.

Instead of answering Thaddeus, Ralina ignored him and spoke directly to the God. “No, I did not. Because I knew our God would want me to be at my very best when creating His tale—and this young lover keeps me at my very best.”