He hummed and nodded, looking over his clan with a soft smile. “I decided recently to step down from my role. Things were changing, and the younger members of my clan needed a voice to speak for them. Uttin became clan leader in my stead, but I am acting as clan leader until his journey is finished.”
Surprised, I glanced at Uttin, who stood nearby, his expression serious as he spoke to a few unfamiliar barbarians. “He never mentioned he was a clan leader.”
Orthorr snorted, shaking his head. “I believe he still hasn’t fully accepted the title. He has been busy with his wedding and the alliance with Al Nuzem, and then his journey north to retrieve the townsfolk looking to escape.” Orthorr turned his attention back to me. “I’ve heard many things about how people are treated in the towns. Was anyone hurt while you escaped?”
“Thankfully, no.” I wrinkled my nose, shrugging. “There were some rotten foods thrown at us, but nothing that couldn’t be fixed with a bath. We were lucky. Some of the people who’d been picked up in the first few towns had been chased out and attacked. The barbarians had to get in the way to protect them.”
Orthorr made a disgruntled noise, his frown deep and fierce. “I will suggest more clan brothers return with Uttin’s second trip. You should be able to leave safely without risking your lives.”
I agreed, but I wasn’t entirely sure how to make that happen. The moment people closed up their shops or let their families know they were leaving, they were put at risk. The best they could expect was for the town to shun them, but for some towns, alerting anyone of their affliction would be a death sentence. I wasn’t sure how those people would escape.
“From what I heard, the barbarians only just moved to Al Nuzem. Did you come here for more freedom as well?”
He hummed in agreement. “My people are unable to produce baby girls. It has never happened as far as I’m aware. We created the idea of tributes so we could continue our line and treated the tributes well, but when offered the opportunity to meet females more naturally, we felt it was the best decision for our future. Here, it is safe to enter a town or city and meet organically. Here,we can find love without a traumatic beginning for our partners. It is not a gift we take lightly.”
“Wow,” I breathed, then grimaced when he gave me a questioning look. “I guess with all the rumors, I just assumed you wouldn’t care about how traumatic it is. You really are nothing like I’d expected.”
He didn’t seem to take offense about my assumption, smiling at me in a way that made my heart skip and my cheeks flush. “I’m glad you were brave enough to join us, despite the rumors. You are most welcome here…” he trailed off, and I realized I’d yet to introduce myself.
“Cedric.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Cedric. Welcome to the Northern Clan.”
CHAPTER FOUR
ORTHORR
Before Uttin returned to his journey, with more brothers in tow for protection and a second wagon, he introduced me to the townsfolk he’d picked up already. Most were friendly, but nervous. Some were eager and made me smile. But only one drew my attention time and time again. Between my duties and his lessons, I did not see Cedric much during his first week with the clan. When I did, he always had a book of written notes with him and a dozen questions about our tongue and way of life. He was much like Finn and enjoyed writing things down while learning. It wasn’t until the end of that first week that I was told of his profession.
“Clerk of petitions?” I asked, frowning at Finn, who looked excited to share the news with me.
“Yes. It’s a lower-level government position, but it’s still in the working government. You mentioned before that you’ve been struggling with the documents they’ve been sending from the capital. I think he’d be a great asset in helping with those. They are written in the trade language, which he is fluent in, andhe understands the terms about government that even I don’t recognize.”
I hummed thoughtfully, eyes seeking the man almost like a habit in the crowd of the village center. It was easy to pick him out in a crowd with his short copper colored hair and green eyes. He was smaller than many of my brothers, but not as small as Finn or Simon. Tall enough to be easy to find. He stood near the Al Nuzem teacher, Amina, talking animatedly with his hands. He did that often, I’d noticed, his hands always in motion as he gestured and spoke.
“Orthorr?” Finn asked, drawing my attention off Cedric and back to him. I cleared my throat awkwardly, giving him my focus again.
“Apologies, Finn. If he feels up to helping with the paperwork, I would appreciate it. The advisor who speaks with me about them is patient, but our ways are very different from Al Nuzem’s laws. The other clan leaders have been struggling as well to figure out the balance.”
Finn nodded rapidly. “I figured, especially with Zakai gone. I’ll ask Cedric to speak with you. It’d be better to get that kind of paperwork done before the clan moves on and the journey to the capital becomes that much more complicated.”
“Thank you, Finn. I appreciate your assistance. Where is your son? I thought I’d see him here with you.”
The flush in Finn’s face was pleased, and his face lit up in a bright smile. “He’s with Rath. Apparently, he wants to teach him to hunt now. I reminded him he’s only three, but Rath won’t be deterred. It’s so cute, I can’t complain about it.”
Chuckling, I explained, “While he won’t learn to hunt on his own for many years, starting now will give him confidence and make it easier for him later. Rath started young as well. I taught him myself when he was only a little older than Erik is. He kept following me into the forest, so I had no other choice.”
The memory still warmed me. My bondmate and I were never blessed with children, the fates were unkind in that regard, but I never truly felt loss over that. We raised the children of the clan alongside their parents, and it was still rare for me to sit with the clan without a child climbing into my lap. I enjoyed watching my clan members become parents. Rath especially had been quite lonely before his bondmate had arrived. Now, he had someone who loved him fiercely enough to turn their own family away and give themselves fully to the clan, and a little boy who was just as calm and steady as he was. Watching the little family together brought me great joy.
Finn practically melted at the recollection. “Gods, I wish I could have seen Rath as a child. He would have been so cute.”
“He was much like Erik. Quiet and steady and fiercely protective of his family. I’ve seen the way Erik protects you when Simon teases too much.”
That made him snicker. “True. He’ll shake a finger at Simon if he teases me. It’s adorable.”
While we spoke, Cedric glanced in our direction, and Finn waved him over. I watched him excuse himself from his conversation with Amina, the way he held himself as he walked was a little formal compared to his townkin. I should have guessed he’d held a position in the government. The image suited him.
“Finn, Orthorr,” Cedric greeted, nodding at us both as he came to join us. “Did you need something?”