Cupping the back of his head, I hugged him a little tighter. “I your protector,” I told him in the common tongue. “My honor.”
His chuckle was watery, but he was smiling when he looked up at me. “Your common tongue needs work. Can you understand everything I say?”
I lifted a shoulder. “Most. Lessons boring.”
He snorted, and some of the tension in his shoulders loosened. I was glad I could make him laugh, even if it was at my expense. I promised myself I would try harder to learn the common tongue, though. There was much I wanted to say, and I didn’t feel I had the words to say it.
An idea struck me, and I jerked my chin at him. “You teach. Arlen not boring.”
It was hard to see in the light of the fire, but his cheeks pinkened at my compliment, and when he ducked his head, I felt like it was because of shyness, not embarrassment like before. “I,um… Sure, if you want. I’m not sure how good a teacher I’d be, though.”
I hummed, tucking his hair behind his ear like I’d seen him do a few times before. I didn’t mind if he wasn’t a good teacher. He’d likely be more patient with me than Tamkir, who taught the common tongue to our clan. He would hit me if I wasn’t paying enough attention.
“Tyos… I–”
“Brother. Uttin calls for you and Arlen. The Ilvos clan leader demands proof of the interaction.”
Jerking my head around, I glared at him. “Proof? What proof?”
Dras gestured to Arlen, raising an eyebrow at him. “He hurt your arm?”
Arlen nodded slowly, though he looked uncomfortable at the idea of joining the clan leaders. Taking his hands, I kissed the backs of them, waiting for him to look him in the eye before promising, “You are safe. I protect you.”
His eyes searched mine for a long moment before he nodded again. I helped him down from the wagon, biting back a smile when he clung to my arm as we headed back toward the Ilvos Clan and the clan leader’s tent. I didn’t draw attention to it, not wanting him to stop, and when we were invited into the leader’s tent, I put my hand over his on my arm, offering him my support as we faced the clan leader’s glare upon our arrival.
“Takr says you attacked him unprovoked,” he began in our language, but Uttin cut him off before he could continue.
“We should speak in the common tongue so that Arlen can understand.”
The clan leader looked annoyed at the demand, his words clipped as he turned his glare onto Arlen. “They say you are injured. Prove it.”
My spine stiffened at the cruel tone, and I felt Arlen tremble against my side, but Dras gripped my shoulder to keep me steady, squeezing tightly when Arlen rolled up his sleeve and showed the mottled skin beneath. I growled and swung to look at the dravek again, but Uttin stepped in before I could say anything.
“There is your proof, Inngath. Your man attacked someone under our care. Tyos reacted as he should have in protecting his charge. Let the blame lie with the one who it belongs to.”
Inngath’s lip lifted in a fierce scowl, but he did not push, dipping his chin once. Uttin stood, his expression firm and cool.
“We do not wish to overstay our welcome. We will return our people to the wagons and be gone by morning.”
A plan I wholeheartedly agreed with. I should have been more on guard after seeing Uttin’s caution regarding the Ilvos’s invitation. I would not make the same mistake twice.
CHAPTER TEN
ARLEN
The company returned to the wagons, separating themselves from the clan. I felt guilty for causing trouble, but Tyos didn’t let me linger long enough to apologize. He ushered me into the wagon we’d slept in before, bundling me in the fur and wrapping himself and his own fur around me so that I was warm and toasty. I turned in his arms, burying my face against his chest, and soaked in his comfort as he petted my hair until I fell asleep.
I woke in the middle of the night, regretting not relieving myself earlier before I got settled. It had been too long to ignore it, and I felt guilty when I woke Tyos wriggling free of his hold.
“What wrong?”
“I need to relieve myself,” I whispered.
He grunted in acknowledgement, leading me around the sleeping bodies to avoid stepping on anyone as we made our way out of the wagon. He helped me down with his hands on my hips, a move I’d seen men do to women before but never to another male. It was surprisingly endearing. No wonder women liked it so much. It made me feel cherished.
After leading me to a trench to relieve myself, he gave me privacy to do my business, waiting close by so I still felt safe. I finished quickly, not enjoying the cooler air on my privates, and hurried back to Tyos’s side when I was done. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, his pace more sedate as we headed back toward the wagon. The rest of the tents were quiet, only a small group of warriors awake near the fire, watching over the clan like sentries. They gave us the stink eye when we passed, and my stomach churned when I remembered how much trouble I’d caused the barbarians already.
“Wait.”