Wild Country (The World of the Others #2)- Anne Bishop Page 0,18

make no difference. That and a feral quality no human could match meant that, up close, she would never pass for human.

How many humans had she killed before she had learned the form this well? She wore a mishmash of clothes that looked more like layers of rags—and she looked half starved.

He moved toward the Harvester, giving her a reason to focus on him. He knew Virgil was tensed, waiting for the moment he could dash over to Barbara Ellen and pull her out of immediate danger.

The Harvester must have sensed the tension in the Wolf, because she turned to face Virgil—and her hair changed to broad streaks of red and black with threads of gold and blue.

“Stay away from her,” the Harvester said.

Protective? Barbara Ellen was an adult female, but there was something bouncy and puppyish about her that tugged at protective instincts. He just hadn’t considered that this female would respond the same way.

“He means her no harm,” Tolya said. “He is the sheriff. That means she is under his protection. And mine.” He flicked a look past the Harvester. “Barbara Ellen, please go with Isobel.”

“No.” More of the Harvester’s hair turned black.

Tolya swallowed his frustration. If they all survived this day, he was going to say some sharp words to Barbara Ellen Debany about approaching strangers who were, quite obviously, more than a little strange.

“Mr. Sanguinati is the leader of the town, and my boss,” Barbara Ellen said. “I should do what he asks.”

Her expression said she didn’t understand why he was acting like such a … Well, he didn’t know what the human term would be that matched her expression, but he was sure it wouldn’t be flattering.

“If you’d like one of the canaries, I could bring one over to wherever you’re staying,” Barbara Ellen said.

The Harvester turned to face the girl. “This is food?”

Barbara Ellen’s eyes widened. “No. A canary is a yellow bird that sings. I thought you might like one for company while you’re here.”

“Company.”

The word was spoken softly, but Tolya suddenly knew what had brought this female to Bennett. How much courage had Simon Wolfgard, the leader of the Lakeside Courtyard, needed when Tess had shown up looking for company, for a place to belong? And did he, Tolya, have that much courage? There were no Plague Riders in Toland. Or there hadn’t been before the Elders and Elementals had unleashed their fury on the human-controlled cities.

“Are you looking for work?” Tolya asked.

“Yes,” she replied. “I heard … words. I followed the words here.”

Just how far had the Elementals flung his request for terra indigene to come to Bennett? Obviously far enough for a Harvester to have heard and responded.

“Let’s go up to my office and we’ll discuss what kind of work you would like to do,” Tolya said.

The Harvester took a step toward him, then turned back to Barbara Ellen. “I would like a yellow bird that sings. For company.”

Barbara Ellen smiled. “I’ll select one for you and bring it …” She hesitated.

“I will let you know where to bring the bird,” Tolya said. He extended his arm in the direction of the government building. “My office is this way.”

The Harvester followed him, the black streaks changing to mere threads in the gold he assumed was her base color. She looked over her shoulder and bared her teeth. “The Wolf will bite the Barbara Ellen human.”

Tolya looked back. Virgil had closed the distance and now stood with his back to them, blocking their view of Barbara Ellen—and her view of one of Namid’s most ferocious predators.

“No, he won’t,” Tolya said. He suspected Virgil would do a lot of snarling that would display his teeth, but he wouldn’t use them. Not on Barbara Ellen.

Still, there was no reason to take chances.

He hadn’t expected anything different.

“I’m Tolya Sanguinati,” he said as he and the Harvester crossed the street. “What is your name?”

“Scythe.”

Blessed Thaisia. “Welcome to Bennett.” He opened the door of the government building. “Let’s see what we can do about finding you some work.”

* * *

* * *

Virgil waited until Tolya had gotten the Plague Rider out of sight. Then he grabbed one of Barbara Ellen’s arms and hauled her over to the jail. She tugged and pulled, finally realizing she had done something wrong. She yipped and yapped at him. He ignored the yipping and yapping, glad to see Kane racing ahead of him and