Fear of Fire and Shadow (The Fade #1) - Samantha Young Page 0,39
what of her brother, her family?” I asked through clenched teeth.
He shrugged again. “Dead.”
The man seemed to flicker before me, his features merging with the man who had destroyed my life. They even had those same black eyes. “You son of a bitch,” I spat as I lunged, but Vrik wrenched me back.
Wolfe tensed beside me but I couldn’t look at him. Not with the memories. Not now.
Not caring if my outburst would provoke a lash of anger, I waited sullenly for a reaction. To my surprise the man laughed. “Ye were right, Vrik. She’s feisty. She’ll do well here.”
I lowered my eyes to regain my composure and then lifted them when I was able to project boredom. “What do you mean?”
The man waved the question away as if batting away an annoying pest. “First, introductions. My name is Tiger. I am leader of the Iavii.”
“What do you want from us?” Wolfe demanded.
Tiger seared him with a look. “I only want ransom from ye. Ye”—he shook his head and chuckled humorlessly—“the famed captain of the Royal Guard. I was expecting … more.”
“Really?” Wolfe smirked. “Funny, you’re just what I expected. You’re just a fucking leech, sucking land that’s not yours and growing fat on it. Like a bully”—he nodded at the girl who was being tormented, his eyes blazing with indignation—“in the schoolyard, taking what doesn’t belong to him and having the audacity to call himself kral.”
My heart thudded at Wolfe’s impassioned speech. An unexpected feeling of warmth took me by surprise. He looked at me when he was finished, and I dropped my gaze, glad for the shadows of the night that would hide my flushed cheeks.
I frowned, confused.
“Yes,” Tiger sneered. “That’s what a pampered prince who’s lived in luxury and peace his entire life would think. We’ve traveled for too long in Alvernia, across Daeronia. We like Javinia, it’s warm. It’s home. Nomads no more, we want land. But ye wouldn’t understand that. Ye haven’t had to suffer the harsh lands of the mountains and deal with uncivilized folks like us. The uncivilized breed uncivilized.”
“No.” Wolfe shook his head. “You choose to act this way, be this way. Dyzvati magic stifles emotions and actions that can lead to unrest and chaos. Not having that magic doesn’t turn people into automatic animals. It just makes sure those who would act that way can’t. Don’t blame your actions on lack of the evocation.”
“Shut him up,” Tiger directed the man beside Wolfe, and he raised his fist.
I lunged between them before he could hit.
“No!” I cried, putting my hands up to stop the blow. The man looked to Tiger who shook his head. The clansman lowered his hand, and I turned to find Wolfe glaring at me. Ignoring him, I addressed Tiger, “What do you want?”
“Tomorrow morning I send a message to Markiza Raven. In it, she will be told I hold ye both ransom—yer lives for land. Then we’ll have to wait while she informs the Rada and the princezna. When we get the land, we’ll keep our promise not to kill ye. He”—he stabbed a finger at Wolfe—“will be kept a prisoner until such time as I see fit to release him.”
“And Lady Rogan?” Wolfe bit out.
Tiger smiled, his eyes running the length of me in a way that caused the hair on my nape to rise. I almost gripped Wolfe’s arm in comfort. “Lady Rogan is something ye’re not, Captain.” He strode toward me. I flinched as he reached up and gripped my chin. “She is one of the Azyl … and I find that I am in need of an Azyl.”
I glowered in disdain and unfurling rage. “You’re a collector.”
“Yes. But ye’re different. I’ve heard good things about ye. When Selena is impressed, I’m impressed.” Abruptly, he released me. “Bird!” he called beyond me. Almost instantly, the tall, skinny boy who had served us food earlier—the one who had stared at me in detachment—appeared before us. Tiger put his arm around the boy and grinned. “This is my adopted son, Bird. Say hello, son.”
Bird smirked at me. “Hello, son.”
I almost rolled my eyes at his rehearsed insolence.
“Bird,” Tiger continued, “is one of the Glava.”
“Another mage?”
“Ye said it yerself, I’m a collector. I found Bird when he was five years old.”
I moved as if to lunge at him again and was surprised to find Wolfe’s hand on my wrist, squeezing it in restraint. I bared my teeth at Tiger. “You mean you took him.”