Page 46

“Lucrative business,” he agreed, as if that’s what Eavus had been asking. “Especially now—what with all those desertions after Hoden.” Eavus had never heard of Hoden, but he had a dull sick feeling that only worsened as Taerus went on. “Aleteria smacked them down of course, but a year ago? No tribe would have tried it. And what those soldiers saw? What they did?” He whistled through his teeth, and Eavus couldn’t tell whether it was admiration or disgust.

“What’s to stop you from killing me in the night?”

“You’re worth more alive. Deserters are worth five, after all.” He grinned. “That’s why you won’t kill me, either. How would that help either of us?”

“Where’s this girl of yours?” Eavus didn’t like the thought of someone out there still lurking in the woods. But Taerus smiled wider.

“Same as yours.” He tilted his head to his back. “You’ll like her, don’t you worry about that.”

Eavus’ stomach turned, but he held himself still.

“What say I get a little taste of your fighter, and then I’ll take you to mine?” Taerus stood, his spear still in hand despite the eager glint in his eye. “Tit for tat.” He tilted his head thoughtfully. “A fair trade to mark a fair bargain.”

Eavus’ heart pounded in his chest. He’d never been part of this bit of soldiering. That it had happened he knew to be true, but he’d never been a part of it, never wanted to be a part of it. If it wasn’t something Aleteria demanded of him, it wasn’t something he took on himself. That was true of so much of what other soldiers did—cruelties and thieving and all the other…

His thoughts were interrupted by the man’s move towards her. Eavus leapt to standing. “She’s in her bleeding.”

Taerus’ face contorted in a grimace.

“That’s why we stopped so early in the day. So she could clean up.” She wasn’t, not yet, but it was true that she’d asked to stop early to gather supplies. The nearby roar of the water suddenly seemed so loud it caused a whooshing in his head.

Taerus swiveled his view, an etched look of disgust. “I suppose there is the river,” he said sulkily, as if talking himself into it.

Eavus shrugged and resettled, willing himself to a breezy, “If you want to risk your cock falling off…” Eavus may not have indulged like his brothers, but he knew the rumors that swirled around camp.

Taerus let out a grunt of complaint.

Eavus held his breath.

“Fucking…” Taerus trailed off, his shoulders falling. “Well, come on. I’ll still uphold my side.”

Eavus exhaled. Why did he even care? Except that Revni was a person, and it wasn’t right. Did that matter? Taerus tromped off in the direction he had originally come, pausing only to pick up Revni’s ax, and for a moment, Eavus considered just letting him. Maybe he’d just go.

But he paused after only a few steps and turned back. “I’m a fair partner, you see?”

Reluctantly, Eavus pressed himself to standing. He couldn’t very well take the sword with him now either, what with Taerus standing there watching him expectantly.

“She’s not far. There’s not much fight left in her, if that’s what you like, but at least she’s clean. Keep you going for a few days.”

Eavus felt sick. He didn’t want to do this, but now that he’d started this path, he didn’t see an easy way out. If he didn’t, Taerus would know something was wrong. If he did— But he couldn’t. Taerus was armed, as strong as Eavus, if not stronger. Could he take him in a fight? Maybe. But they proceeded into darkness, Eavus blind. Taerus knew the path exactly.

Taerus slowed, picking his way through branches, then finally pointed. “There she is.”

Eavus squeezed his eyes shut and counted to three, trying to let his sight better adjust. Everything still looked like shadows at first, until he made out the figure. She was tied to the tree—the same way he’d tied Revni, the same Aleterian knots. Only this one…

Eavus swallowed the bile that rose in his throat. He’d seen people that looked that defeated before, people that bloodied and emaciated, but it was usually after a siege. They were usually dead. A breeze rustled, shifting clouds. The silver light only highlighted her gaunt cheekbones. She didn’t lift her head, but her chest rose and fell.

“Where did you find her?” Eavus forced the words out.

“She’s not much to look at now, it’s true.” Taerus scratched his chin with the fingers of the hand that held the spear, almost cutting his own eye. “But I told you, the past few weeks she’s stopped eating. I had to make her see reason a few times.” He kicked at her leg. “Hey, girl. A little liveliness for our friend.” He kicked her again.

“That’s not necessary,” Eavus mumbled.

Taerus eyed him. “If you don’t want her…” he said, suspicion returning to his tone.

“No, it’s⁠—”

Eavus’ mind was a blank. He raced through scenarios—go for the ax first, no, the spear. Hamstring? Maybe just make a run for it, get to the campsite first and get that sword—but every twist and turn he imagined ended with Taerus driving a weapon in his back. And this girl⁠—