“Do not touch him.”
The warrior sneered, pushing me back, his teeth bared in challenge. “Or what? You have no claim. He is a tribute.”
“He is under my protection, dravek. Touch him again, and I will remove your hands.”
He didn’t care for the insult, eyes widening in fury. My fingers itched for my blade, wanting to cut down the man who frightened Arlen, but I could not. We were guests in the Ilvos Clan tonight. Bloodshed could lead to war.
“You forget whose land you stand on,” he hissed. “You come between me and the tribute, you risk war.”
I felt Arlen move away and cast a quick glance over my shoulder to ensure his safety. He was tucked between Simon and Matthew, both formidable in their own right, with their bondmates not far behind them. I had to accept that was where he was safest until I’d dealt with the dravek in front of me.
“He is no tribute,” I growled. “He is to be a citizen of Al Nuzem, and he is mine to protect until his arrival.”
The warrior’s lip lifted in disgust, and he looked me up and down like I was dung under his shoe. “You are so pathetic, you have not even claimed him? The Ilvos chose to stay behind for a reason. You have not the strength to control your tributes, so you abandon your lands and give up our way of life for the ease of comfort instead. Weak, every single one of you.”
I could not let the insult to my clan lie. I shoved him again, putting more space between us, and swung hard, enjoying thecrack of flesh against flesh as he took the blow he hadn’t seen coming directly against his jaw.
“Tyos!” Arlen cried.
Sparing him only a glance to ensure he was still safe, I returned my focus to the warrior in front of me, ducking when he swung a meaty fist at my face. I punched him in the gut, a move that would normally double an opponent over, but he managed to twist out of my way to avoid most of it, the hit glancing off his side instead of hitting him full force. A fist hit my jaw, making my teeth clack together, and the fury in me burned like a forest fire, making me reckless and blind to the world around me. I took a hit to give myself a better opening, feeling the crack of bone as I struck his ribs full force, but before I could hit the same spot again, hands grabbed me and dragged me away, the voice of my brother in my ear, demanding I calm myself.
The dravek’s clan brothers did the same for him, pulling him away from me and holding him back, but it wasn’t until Uttin got in my face that I stopped fighting, pulling my focus off my enemy and onto the clan leader I’d promised to obey during this journey.
“There had better be a good reason for attacking a clan brother on their land. We are guests here, Tyos. They have every right to force a trial should they choose to do so. Explain yourself,” he demanded.
“He attacked Arlen,” I growled. “I saw him flinch and whimper when that dravek grabbed him.”
Uttin’s gaze shifted to where Arlen was still standing. When I looked over my shoulder at the smaller man and saw the tears in his eyes, my fury blazed anew. He was already frightened after everything he’d been through. He should not have been subject to such treatment while a guest of the clan.
“Stay here,” Uttin demanded, glaring at me when I opened my mouth to argue. “I will watch over Arlen. You will stay put.And if I find this attack was without good reason, you will face the consequences.”
He stormed away to speak to Arlen and Dras took his place, demanding the same explanation. He knew me better than Uttin did, knew I would not attack without reason, and when I explained to him Arlen’s sound of pain, his expression darkened considerably.
“You were protecting him. That is your job. Clan Ilvos cannot prosecute you for doing your duty. Is Arlen alright?”
“I do not know,” I gritted out, fists clenched at my side. “Uttin wished to speak with him without my presence. I have not gotten to check on him.”
Dras squeezed my shoulder supportively, both of us watching as Simon dragged Arlen to the wagons to speak privately, and Matthew joined him for support. My chest ached seeing him cry, and I wanted to reassure him that he was safe with me, but I couldn’t until Uttin returned and allowed me to go to him.
“Go. Comfort him. I will speak with the clan leader.”
I did not wait around to argue with him, my stride eating up the distance between me and Arlen. His chin trembled when he noticed me coming. It was when he squeezed his eyes shut and ducked his head that I slowed my approach, stopping myself from reaching for him when I stood in front of him only until I had his permission to do so.
“Are you hurt?”
His hand covered his arm where the Ilvos warrior had grabbed him, but he shook his head rapidly, a few tears escaping because of the movement as he rushed to reassure me.
“I’m fine. It’s nothing.”
I did not believe him for a second, but I felt it was best not to push. He was upset. He needed my comfort now, not demands for answers.
“Arlen…” I struggled to find the words in the common tongue I wished to say, too worked up from the confrontation and Arlen’s upset. I said them in my own tongue instead and hoped he understood my tone. “Let me hold you. You are safe. I promise.”
When he looked up again, his pretty brown eyes were filled with tears, and he looked smaller than he had before. Diminished in a way that left fury still burning in my veins. If I was faced with that dravek again, I would end him.
Swiping a tear away with my thumb, I stepped closer, opening my arms to him and wrapping myself around him when he leaned his forehead against my chest. His shoulders shook as he attempted to hold himself together, but I didn’t rush him to speak. I held him until the shaking stopped and his breathing became easier.
“I’m sorry. You keep having to rescue me,” he murmured without looking up at me.