he galloped back and forth with the energy of a youth.
“He was to be Lotzin’s mount in time.” Varnko’s gaze darkened as it tracked the stallion. “My son.”
“He’ll ride your horse,” Vaelin assured him. “My friend is very skilled.”
“Friend?” Varnko’s eyebrows curled in amusement as he drank again. “That what she is? The way she looks at you reminds me of my first wife. Got a scar an inch north of my cock from where she tried to geld me. She did catch me fucking her sister, so I suppose she had cause. Always felt it a bit on the excessive side though.” He laughed at Vaelin’s evident discomfort and drank again. “Still haven’t heard your name, I notice. Any reason for that?”
“Vaelin Al Sorna.” He turned and gave a formal bow. “Tower Lord of the Northern Reaches and Humble Servant to Queen Lyrna Al Nieren of the Greater Unified Realm.”
“The Fire Queen,” Varnko said with a shrug, turning back to the horses. “Heard of her at least.” He fell silent, Vaelin sensing a brief hesitancy before he asked his next question. “Why did you come here, Vaelin Al Sorna? I know you rode with the Merchant King’s soldiers, but you’re no more in thrall to him than you are to me. It was for her, wasn’t it? The healer.” He shook his head and drained the last few drops of wine from his flask, tossing it aside with a sigh. “Came a very long way for a woman who can’t stand the sight of you, if you ask me.”
“Some debts have to be paid,” Vaelin replied. “Regardless of distance, or price.”
“That they do.” The Skeltir rubbed a hand over his chin, stepping closer. Vaelin took note of the fact that his hand lingered close to his mouth to conceal the shape of his lips as he spoke. “As you said, he’s a fine horse,” he said, eyes flicking to the grey stallion. “Could carry a man many a mile before dawn.”
Vaelin’s gaze tracked from Varnko to the array of tents as the sense of being observed increased. This man was supposedly the leader of these people and yet he made efforts to conceal his speech.
“You wish me to leave,” Vaelin said, turning his back to the tents. “Out of concern for my well-being, perhaps?”
“No.” The Skeltir also turned to face the corral, his words softly spoken. “You killed my kin so I’d happily shit on your bloodied corpse. But I know this for certain: no good can come from you meeting the Mestra-Skeltir. The Stahlhast will suffer for it.”
“And how do you know this?”
Varnko shifted in discomfort, fingers stroking his lips in a manner that reminded Vaelin of Nortah when the thirst was upon him. “Suffice to say that I trust the source completely,” he said. “Wait for darkness and take the horse. No one will stop you. Leave the women with me and I will honour our bargain. Come the dawn there will be nothing I can do.”
His voice had now fallen to a fierce, urgent whisper, Vaelin seeing a glint of desperation in his eyes. It was clear he believed every word he said, and the belief frightened him.
“The Mestra-Skeltir,” Vaelin said. “He is the one they call the Darkblade, is he not?”
“The artisans do. And his own Skeld, other Stahlhast who believe his legend.”
“And you do not?”
“Some of it, because I’ve seen it. As for the rest.” He let out a snort. “A man cannot be a god. The Unseen are not of this earth and so they deserve our worship. A man who eats, shits, bleeds, and fucks like the rest of us does not.”
He turned and stalked away, leaving Vaelin in silent regard of the grey stallion. As if sensing his scrutiny the animal came to a halt, turning his head to meet Vaelin’s gaze. Breath streamed from his flared nostrils as his forehooves scraped the ground.
Little older than a colt and the herd is already his, Vaelin thought, seeing how the other horses shied away in anticipation of the beast’s ire. How fierce you must be.
The grey snorted again and spurred to a sudden gallop, letting out a shrill whinny as he charged. Vaelin stood his ground, continuing to meet the stallion’s gaze as he drew ever closer. Dust rose in a thick pall as the animal came to a halt barely a few feet from the rope that formed the edge of the corral. He reared and stamped, teeth bared as he