Broken by the Horde King (Horde Kings of Dakkar #4) - Zoey Draven Page 0,85

Errok straighten.

“When will he set them?” my pujerak asked.

“After the frost. He reasons that more Vorakkars are needed to keep the wild lands safe,” Rath Rowin remarked. He huffed a deep sigh. “And I must say, I am beginning to agree with him.”

I sobered, my jaw ticking. I walked to the table in the center of the brightly lit voliki, with the map of Dakkar spread out on its surface, my gaze straying to the Dead Lands.

“We face more threats now than we ever have in our history. It is not only Dakkari that live here now. We have vekkiri, Ghertun, Nrunteng, and Killup now too,” Rath Rowin continued. “Not to mention that the hordes of Rath Dulia and Rath Loppar are coming to their end. New hordes must rise to take their place.”

He was right. Of course he was right.

Good riddance to Rath Dulia—that spineless bastard. But Rath Loppar was an honorable male, a natural-born leader who would most likely settle down in his elder years to create a saruk of his own. Just like my father.

I had the same aspirations, once my time as Vorakkar was over.

Maybe a saruk by the sea—just like where we’d grown up—since Maeva was so fond of the coast.

Swallowing, I looked up from the map to meet Errok’s gaze.

My pujerak asked, “Has Rath Kitala had any more updates about the dark fog? Has it grown?”

Rath Rowin shook his head. “I haven’t heard any more from him. Rath Tuviri would be the first to, I suppose, since their hordes are closest to one another.”

“I sent a messenger to Rath Tuviri this morning,” I said, which seemed to surprise Errok. Looking at Rath Rowin, I said, “My mokkira had a request for their healer. And our thespers have not yet returned.”

Rath Rowin nodded.

“When does the Dothikkar expect us to meet in the Dead Lands? The frost is coming soon. Surely he cannot expect us to leave now,” I murmured quietly.

There was still so much to be done in the horde.

A truth that no doubt frustrated Rath Rowin too, since he’d been tasked with calling the Vorakkars to this meeting, leading him away from his own horde at such a precarious time.

“He does,” Rath Rowin replied. “In one week’s time. Right on the cusp of the season.”

I blew out a rough breath, rubbing at my temple, which had begun to throb.

“I do not have much time to inform the others,” Rath Rowin said. “And so I must leave soon. I hope to reach Rath Tuviri by tomorrow if I travel quickly.”

“Stay the night, at least,” I suggested. “Ungira have moved into the south lands. I got a talon to the back not long ago.”

“I do not fear ungira,” Rath Rowin said, his tone matter-of-fact, his brow raised.

“And yet, it is hard to see their dens in the dark,” I reasoned. “Leave at dawn, Rowin. My mrikro will see your pyroki well-fed and rested. I have no spare volikis but I can have a bed brought into this one.”

Rath Rowin sighed, deep but short.

“A rested pyroki travels faster,” he finally said, “and mine deserves the break. I will take your offer and leave at dawn. You have my thanks, Okkili.”

I clasped Rath Rowin’s shoulder once more and turned my gaze to meet Errok’s. His expression was pensive and I knew exactly what had captured his interest during the conversation.

The advancement of the next Trials.

Pressing my lips together, I nodded at him, giving him the signal to send for the Vorakkar’s accommodations, and he exited the voliki quickly.

Rath Rowin watched him go before his gaze sharpened back to mine.

“This is the first time in a long time that the hordes have been close to one another for the season,” Rath Rowin commented. “All have settled within a week’s ride of one another. Do you think that is a coincidence? Or has Kakkari signaled something within all of us to stay close?”

“I have always believed that if we listen to Kakkari, our lives will unfold just as they are meant to,” I told him quietly. “So nik…I do not think it is a coincidence.”

“What do you think it is?” Rath Rowin questioned next. “This mist? This fog that blankets the Dead Lands? Do you think it’s a punishment from Kakkari, meant for the Ghertun?”

My nostrils flared. “I do not think it is only meant for the Ghertun.”

“Why?” he grunted.

“Because this fog is driving Dakkari-bred beasts from their natural homes,” I said. “It is frightening them away. They seem to