It’s clear that she’s older, from the wrinkles across her forehead and near her eyes. Decorative scars are carved into the tops of her breasts and around her cheeks. Some of them have been painted red to match the flowing red gown that covers her figure. It resembles what Melisa wears, but the cloth is a finer weave.
“What’s all this?” she demands, moments before her gaze lands on Melisa.
Her frown deepens, verging on a sneer. Quickly, she steps out into the chilly air and pulls the door shut behind her.
“Boys! Go around back and get inside. Tell your father nothing, and go straight to bed.”
She waits for them to abandon their wooden cattle, warriors, and spears before she looks back at me.
She marches over. The woman is tall enough that I have to crane my head to look up at her.
“Get her out of here, or I’ll slice off your cock and feed it to you.”
My mouth drops open to say something as my grip tightens on Melisa. I don’t want her to be touched by these people. Leaving her with them is as preposterous as leaving a newborn outside.
“Are you deaf, you niggling twit? Get away!” she whisper-hisses.
I take a step back. As much as I would love nothing more than to run away with Melisa still in my arms, she was determined to come here. She made me promise that I would be with her as she completed this mission.
I gave my word to her, and I gave it to my king. My duty lies with them.
“She belongs to Eneko,” I grit out, trying to swallow down the sour taste the words bring.
She sneers. “I don’t want her anywhere near my husband.”
The door opens again. “Hibsej, my dear, what is all this?”
Another tall giant walks out. He is much older than Hibsej, much older than I would’ve anticipated. His frame is large, scarred, and stocky, as most giants are. Though, for a commoner, he is much more neatly groomed, and his clothes seem to match his wife’s.
Hibsej glares at me, then turns around, her glare melting into a smile.
“Nothing, dear. I was just taking care of something.”
He peers out past her, first seeing me, and then his gaze drops to Melisa.
“The whore’s come home!” he calls, clearly excited. “Thank the gods. I thought she’d been killed with the others.”
The crass title has me tightening my grip on Melisa. How can I leave her with this brute?
“Eneko—”
“What’s wrong with her, boy?” he demands.
It takes me a few moments to realize he’s talking to me. I meet his eye.
“I found her near the northwestern lumber yards. It looked like she’d been left there to die. Silvester told me to bring her here.” The lie had been carefully practiced, but a part of me worries it will be rejected for its obvious flaws.
Eneko looks at me long and hard, and I try to erase the hatred I feel from my face. When his gaze dips back to Melisa, I resist the urge to cover her.
“Silvester sent you?”
I pause, then say. “Yes, Foreman.”
He nods. “Good. High King Rholker has been too busy to find me a new comfort woman, and I’m desperate for a rut. Khuohr knows that my saggy old wife is no good after two sons. Take her to my bed.”
I freeze. Confronted with my reality is like being stabbed repeatedly in my stomach.
“Foreman, she’s unconscious and injured. We found her with a cut on her side.”