Heading for the edge of our encampment, I waited for Einar. I was grateful at least to see his bondmate still seated behind him, but I held my breath as they came to a stop in front of me, Einar’s usual scowl locked in place.
“Einar? Why are you back so soon? Where are the rest?”
“Not far behind me,” he informed me, his voice gruff, and his expression tight with annoyance. “There were more than we expected.”
His explanation was short, and without much detail, but I knew better than to expect more from him. Einar was not one of many words. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Uttin and his company come over the sand dune, and sent a few of our own to meet them to escort them the final distance.
Uttin and his bondmate broke off from the group, racing ahead, and when he hopped off his horse and greeted me with a fist across his chest and a small bow, I felt a smirk pull at my lips.
“You don’t have to do that anymore, you know.”
He gave me a chagrined smile. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be able not to. You were my clan leader most of my life.”
“Why are you back early? Einar said something about there being more than expected?”
Uttin blew out a breath and nodded. “Much more. We thought one or two from each town, but when the people of the town were finally convinced it was safe, they began leaving in groups of four or five. We didn’t have the space for that many in the wagon. After the third town, we decided to head back hereand drop off the townsfolk we already had to make room for more.”
My eyebrows flew up in surprise. The wagon was large enough to fit fifteen if absolutely necessary, but if they were receiving that many after only three towns, one wagon wouldn’t be enough. There were fifteen towns in total. That many people to transport was dangerous with just Uttin and his small party.
“We will need more than one wagon, I think,” he continued, helping his bondmate off the mare he’d ridden in on. “Perhaps three if we do not plan to make the journey a third time.”
“You cannot afford to make it a third time,” I argued. “You are needed here.”
I knew he’d argue, this was his journey and he would not be easily deterred, but I held up a hand before he could start, stalling his words. “I am not saying to stop the journey. However, I think we should meet with the other clan leaders. Perhaps the towns can be split up like we did when picking up tributes. Each group would only pick up from certain towns, ensuring no one gets left behind due to lack of space.”
Uttin considered the idea with a frown, then nodded slowly. “We can discuss it. We might also discuss a few other clans traveling with us. With numbers so great, they need more protection.”
I nodded in agreement, waving over some guards to meet the wagon and help them unload. Simon and Feigrind led the way, and when Simon’s attention zeroed in on me, I braced myself for whatever he might say. He was a brat, and it was never a good thing when his attention was fully on you.
He whistled low, his expression impressed. “My gods, Orthorr. You were hiding a lot under those robes. If I have that to look forward to when Feigrind gets to be your age, you’ll not find me complaining.”
Confused, I asked him, “What are you talking about?”
Feigrind hopped down from his stallion, plucking Simon off and setting him on his feet. Simon didn’t falter, striding over to me and gesturing to my body. “Look at you. How are you still so fit at your age?”
That made me scowl, and I narrowed my eyes on him. “Bite your tongue. I’m not that old,” I protested.
Zakai, who had been oddly quiet since his arrival, elbowed Simon and said something in his mother tongue, a smirk on his face. I didn’t speak the language yet, I was only just learning with the teacher Queen Raiza had sent to us, but I got the feeling I wouldn’t like whatever he’d said when Simon nodded with a matching smirk.
“He said it’s nice to have something pretty to look at when we get home.”
Despite knowing they were just teasing, I felt a flush tinge my cheeks. It had been a long time since I’d received that kind of attention, and I wasn’t sure what to do about it.
“Alright, troublemaker,” Feigrind chastised his bondmate, wrapping an arm around his waist and steering him away from me. “You have a job to do.”
Simon huffed with annoyance. “Fine. Let’s make this quick. Where’s Finn?”
“He was here earlier, but he went back to his tent to look for something and has not yet returned,” I explained, pulling on my robes like an old habit. I didn't need to wear them anymore, the garment would pass to Uttin once he fully stepped into his new role, but for now with the other clans nearby, it was easier for me to keep wearing them while Uttin was unavailable for clan matters. I frowned to myself. “I wonder if he might not be feeling well. He was a little red when he spoke with me earlier.”
Zakai, who only just learned our words, lifted an eyebrow at me. “You look like that when he spoke to you?” He gestured to my still uncovered chest.
“Yes, but I don’t see what that has to do with–”
“What were you doing?” Zakai continued, cutting me off. “When Finn came to talk to you?”
Frowning, I gestured to the pile of wood still waiting to be moved nearby. “Chopping wood. But I still don’t see–”
Simon started to cackle, a wicked grin on his face. “Oh, poor Finn. Bombarded by sexy older men first thing in the morning. I wish I could’ve seen his reaction myself.”