My eyes snapped to Lahn when I heard him ask, “She is taken?”
I saw he was glowering at a warrior who jerked up a chin.
Then Lahn ordered, “Bring me the traitor.”
Oh no. No.
No.
My body got tight.
He wanted Teetru.
“Still, my friend, still. Be strong. He will know vengeance,” Diandra murmured, her arm going around me and Claudine, at my other side, did the same.
I was glad for it for I was suddenly shaking and not just a little.
“Send messengers, my brother,” Lahn barked at another warrior. “They ride out tonight. Suh Tunak amasses.”
That warrior nodded, turned and stalked through his brethren, quickly disappearing.
Lahn suddenly turned and again looked beyond me. I looked over my shoulder and saw Zahnin outside the tent, his arm around his wife who looked tiny next to him and was visibly shaking at his side. He had her turned, front to his side, and held close with his arm around her shoulder but his eyes were on his king.
She’d seen, heard and understood and she was pressing her lips together probably in the effort not to whimper.
That was my girl.
Her eyes darted to me and I smiled at her. I knew it trembled. Hers trembled too when she returned it.
Yep, that was my girl.
We weren’t Korwahk but we sure as hell were learning to be.
Fast.
Then Lahn spoke and I turned back to him. “Your blood will be avenged.”
From behind me, Zahnin replied, “Yes, my king.”
He jerked his head my way. “It will also be rewarded.”
“Yes, my king,” Zahnin repeated and Lahn’s gaze cut to Bain who was standing several feet from him.
“The stains on your steel will be rewarded,” Lahn stated.
Bain jerked up his chin.
Then horses sidled, a pathway cleared and I sucked in breath.
Diandra and Claudine held on tight.
Thinking quickly, knowing in my heart what would happen, I twisted and caught Zahnin’s gaze.
“Hide her eyes,” I called, he grunted unintelligibly but his big hand lifted, covering Sabine’s eyes as he turned her to his front, burying her face in his bandaged chest.
He bent to her and said gently, “Cover your ears, close your eyes. I will tell you when it is done.”
I turned back when I heard a pained cry and then winced when I saw that Teetru had been tossed to the stone ground.