The Wind's Call (The Broken Lands #4) - T.A. White Page 0,65

attack.

"You heard her, move along," Caden ordered.

For several seconds, none of the men moved. Caden took a threatening step toward them, eyes calm as his hand dropped to his waist and the sword there. It was all the incentive they needed. Vincent backed away, chancing one last glance at Eva.

"We're not done with this," he threatened.

"You are if you want to remain among the breathing." Caden stepped toward him. "You don't look at her. You don't talk to her. Test me on this and we're going to have a problem."

Vincent stalked away, his companions trailing behind.

The only one to remain was Kent.

Caden arched an eyebrow at him. "Was I not clear?"

"Yes, sir," Kent said, hesitating and casting a pleading glance up at Eva. When she frowned in confusion, his shoulders slumped before he too, slunk away.

"It is important to keep the rodent population down," Ajari instructed in a low voice. "Otherwise, they can unite and go for your throat."

Eva's sigh was filled with exasperation. "It's a wonder sometimes that we have any alliance with your people given the way you refer to us."

Ajari hummed. "You persist in seeing us as human. We're not. It's best if you remember that."

"And yet whenever I start to treat you as a beast, you're quick to remind me you’re more," she returned.

"The Flock is a contrary race," Ajari shrugged. "Our answers change based on our whims."

“I thought you were called the Tenrin.”

Ajari’s lips curled. “That is a term outsider’s have chosen to call us through the ages. To our kind, we are simply the Flock.”

Eva's eyes narrowed as she prepared to ask another question. Sebastian shifted under her, nearly dumping her to the ground. Ajari took advantage of her distraction and hopped down, following slowly in the throwaways’ footsteps.

"That's going to be a problem later," Eva said softly.

"Yes, but it won't be your problem," Caden agreed, drawing her attention.

Eva was mildly surprised he hadn't already moved off. That seemed to be his preferred method of doing things. Appear, issue a decree, then disappear before anyone could argue.

"Steer clear of the Lowlanders," Caden ordered. "They're resentful of their lot in life."

"Because the Trateri took them from their homes and now treat them like second-class citizens," Eva pointed out.

Caden made a small motion of agreement. "They have reason for their resentment, but it makes it powerful, nonetheless. You're an easy target."

"You could let them go home," Eva said.

It'd likely be easier on everyone.

Caden nodded. "We could, but that would create its own problems. We let them go home and the fighting might never stop. Or it will lead to more bloodshed than even we care to be responsible for. They're essentially hostages for their people's good behavior."

"Except there is no way to enforce that behavior because you don't know which throwaway came from which village.” Eva paused as her forehead wrinkled. "Do you?"

"I thought because you have spent so much time with us you would know better by now. We're not the barbarians the Lowlanders have cast us as. Every throwaway can be traced back to their village of origin. If necessary, we will enact the vengeance we promised if they stray too far over the line."

Caden's rebuke stung. She knew they weren't barbarians. Their society was too complex to make that claim. Nomads they might be, but they had their own record-keeping methods. Their own technology. How else would they have conquered such a large swath of the Broken Lands? Something never successfully achieved before now. Not since the cataclysm that had rent their world apart.

"We have never had a reason to act on that threat," Caden said. "Not yet anyway."

Her gaze sharpened. "You expect trouble?"

"There is always trouble—eventually. People become complacent. They convince themselves we can’t possibly mean what we say and that the consequences will pass them by." Caden’s gaze was distant. "That's when it will happen. Someone will step too far out of line. Test a boundary they shouldn't have. We'll be ready, even if those we rule think we aren't."

"So that's to be their lot in life? Forever under the Trateri's boot?" It seemed like a grim fate to Eva, and would almost definitely lead to the exact scenario Caden outlined.

"They're given the same opportunities to prove themselves as all Trateri are." Caden cast a glance up at Eva. "Or do you think you're mistreated, herd mistress?"

Eva stared back at him, turning over his words. She couldn't argue with him. It was true. While there were only a few, there were