Kel truly seemed at a loss. “What will you do with me now?”
“That’s up to you,” Drake said. “Are you going back to your people?”
“No. In this condition, I cannot risk leading the others to my pack’s hunting grounds.”
“You mean the folks who attacked us?”
Kel nodded, stood, and grimaced as he fell to one knee once more. “Leave me here.”
“Or you could come hang out with me at my camp,” Drake suggested. “We’ll get you patched up and get some food in you. Also, we could talk more.”
“You will force me to join your blood pact.”
Drake sighed. “Listen carefully. I will not force you to join anything. I’m offering to keep you safe until you recover and giving you a chance to continue our negotiations. Neither I nor anyone who serves me will harm you. You’re also free to leave our camp whenever you wish, but it’ll be easier for us to make a deal if you don’t die.”
Sachi spoke up. “The woods are now empty, but more ferals approach. They’ll be here soon.” She glowered. “These smell like those who ambushed us.”
“So we should run, right?” Gaby asked quietly.
Kel grimaced. “How many come now?”
“More than you can handle,” Sachi informed him coolly. “Are you so anxious to die? Come with us. Lord Gloomwood is not the man you think him to be.”
Kel looked between them with something between hope and distrust. Finally, he sighed. “I will travel with you to your camp.”
“Great choice!” Drake snarked. “What about the rest of your people?”
“Kaji is dead. The others will head back to our pack.”
Drake’s ire at the delay faded. “I’m sorry you lost people. I’m not about to lose mine. So, let’s go. Now.” He looked to Cresh. “Move out, big guy.”
“I wanted to do that when we arrived,” the big zarovian grumbled. He pointed back the way they’d come. “Horag. Lead. I will guard the rear.”
As the zarovian he’d designated stomped off fearlessly, Drake fell into step behind Horag with Gaby walking gamely along at one side and Samuel close on the other. Sachi slipped in to help Kel walk, and the larger feral gratefully accepted her aid. Gaby walked close behind them, followed by Cresh.
The other four zarovians blocked them in on all sides. While their pace was a bit slower on the path back then it had been on the way out, Drake certainly felt protected. Ferals couldn’t shoot them from the woods with a wall of armored zarovians surrounding them.
“Others shadow us,” Sachi said once they’d walked into the woods. “However, they do not approach. They know they will not win a fight against numbers like these.”
“They know they won’t win a fight against Cresh.” Drake grinned over his shoulder at the towering zarovian. “Right, big guy?”
Cresh simply grunted and continued sweeping the trees with narrowed eyes.
A few tense minutes later, Sachi spoke again. “The enemy is falling back. We are alone.”
“No point in tracking us if they know where we’re going, and they know they can’t take us,” Drake said. “Good job, everyone! Once we’re back in camp, first round’s on me.”
“All rounds are on you,” Sachi said.
“I suppose that is... accurate.”
Kel looked between them, then frowned. “How do you...”
The silence held a moment before Drake sighed. “How do I what?”
“You allow your blood thrall to speak to you this way?”
“In what way, Kel?”
“As an equal.”
“I’m not his equal,” Sachi said. “I’m much better looking.”
Drake snorted. “You are my favorite catgirl.”
“You are his concubine?” Kel asked in alarm.
Sachi’s loud hiss and extended claws made Drake worry for Kel’s safety, even if this feral was her father. Which remained a surprise. Even so, Drake couldn’t help but be amused at Sachi’s visible ire and raised hackles. She’d certainly teased him often enough.
“Sachi’s not sleeping with me,” Drake amended. “She just happens to be the best tracker in my manor, and someone I consider a good friend.”
“Then...” Poor Kel looked increasingly lost.
“I actually don’t date my people,” Drake clarified. “In my world, the boss isn’t supposed to date the employees. There’s this whole power imbalance, perceptions of favoritism, the problem of working together when you break up, all that stuff.”
“I see,” Kel said quietly.
“My people serve me because I treat them well, I pay them well, and because they want to. Though I fully acknowledge some people in my manor might just be here for the paycheck. That’s fine as well, so long as they stay loyal.”
Kel still looked befuddled, but he had the decency to watch the narrow forest path instead of slowing them down. Drake decided to let the poor guy think about all this for a bit. Kel could use a little time to think.
The party walked in silence for another few moments before Drake realized he hadn’t considered something else that could bite him in the ass. “Oh, I do have one question.”
“Yes?” Kel asked.
“Are your people going to think we abducted you? Will they come after us?”
“No,” Kel said. “Sidori was close enough to overhear our conversation. She will inform the others I left with you of my own free will.”
Drake glanced at Sachi. “I thought you said the woods were empty?”
Sachi simply grunted.
Drake grinned as he realized. “Sidori must be pretty good if you missed her.”
Sachi’s ears flattened against her head. “She always was cursedly hard to track.”
“You know her?”
“She is my sister.”
Drake watched her calmly. “You didn’t tell me this was going to be a family reunion.”
“I said she was my sister,” Sachi said evenly. “I did not say she was my family.”
The visible pain that crossed Kel’s features before he caught himself obviously wasn’t from his remaining injuries. With that, the walk through the forest got horribly awkward. Sachi was now sullen and Kel looked depressed. There was obviously a lot to unpack here.
Drake glanced at Samuel for help but received only a passive scowl. The man continued to keep his secrets... or Sachi’s. It was frustrating, but understandable. He had probably given his word to them in the past not to share gossip.
As they continued through the forest, Drake caught Kel watching him before the feral pack leader abruptly looked away. The feral pack leader looked to be more confused every passing moment. Or maybe he was just awkward around his daughter.
Either way, there was no way Drake was going to walk all the back to his camp in silence after how awkward things had felt a moment ago. “From what happened back there, I take it you ferals don’t all get along?”
“No,” Kel said. “Has Sachi not spoken to you about us?”
“She’s told me you live in woods on Lord Mistvale’s land because of a decree by the noble court, but that you don’t swear allegiance to him. I also know you live in small packs rather than being one giant tribe, but I didn’t know you were actively killing each other.”
“Packs fighting each other is a new development,” Sachi said.
Kel watched her with calm eyes. “Much is not as you remember.”
“I hardly see how that is my fault.”
“It is not,” Kel agreed quickly. “Also, Sidori still—”
“I do not care,” Sachi interrupted coldly. “I did not contact you because I sought a path back into the woods. I contacted you because my lord requested I reach out to the feral packs for meetings. That is the only reason we now speak.”
“Sachi, still—”
“I will scout ahead,” Sachi interrupted firmly.
“Sure thing,” Drake agreed. “Just whistle if you...”
She was already gone.
“...run into anything.” Drake ruefully shook his head.
Kel stared sadly in the direction his daughter had gone. Multiple people had told Drake repeatedly how rare it was for a feral to join a blood pact, but he hadn’t thought about the other implications of that statement... like the fact that the rest of Sachi’s pack might not have been crazy about the idea. Or that her father might not have wanted her to go.
Had they exiled Sachi for joining Lord Gloomwood? Or had they begged her to stay, and now they were angry she’d left? He’d never asked Sachi why she signed up for the old lord’s blood pact. All he knew is she was close with Samuel, and now, that Samuel had saved Kel, Sachi and her sister’s lives at some point in the past. He remained curious... but so long as it didn’t affect his negotiations, it wasn’t any of his business.
The rest of the journey back to his camp passed in relative silence and didn’t take long. Valentia met them with some of Sky’s rangers not far inside the woods, and then they had a much larger escort back to the wagons. Drake walked back to his and Sky’s vanguard to find Prince Lorel leaning on the side of his fish tank wagon, watching them curiously.
Kel stared slack-jawed. “You also have a kromian in your blood pact?”
“No, he’s a guest. He’s also a prince, not my blood thrall, so don’t let him hear you suggest that. Might cause a diplomatic incident.”
Kel now looked increasingly uneasy. “That is a kromian prince?”
“Let’s go talk in my tent,” Drake suggested. “We’ll check your injuries and get you some food.” He looked around, then glanced at Valentia. “Sachi made it back all right?”
“She arrived not long ago,” Valentia agreed. “However, she did appear rather vexed.”
“I imagine she was. Can you track her down and make sure she gets treated for her injuries? She took a wound and said it was a flesh wound, but I want to be sure.”
Valentia inclined her head. “Of course. What was the trouble?”
“Nothing Gaby couldn’t handle.”
At his words, Gaby stood straight and beamed like she’d just had the best day in the world... instead of having arrows shot at her. Boosting morale was always good, and Gaby had done well today. Drake wanted to be sure she knew that.
“I’ll fill you in later,” Drake told Valentia. “Right now, I want to get Kel inside our perimeter before someone else tries to shoot him. Gaby? Go get some grub.”
“Thank you, Lord Gloomwood!” Gaby exclaimed proudly.
“I will return to the defense,” Cresh rumbled.
At almost the same time, Lydia hurried out of a tent wearing her concerned face. “Lord Gloomwood! There was an attack?”
“It’s fine,” Drake said. “We’re fine. Turns out the old man has some moves after all.”
Samuel simply sighed.
Drake looked to Kel again. “My tent’s this way. Let’s chat... more.”
Kel’s gaze fell on Valentia as she hurried away, on Cresh as he stomped off with his zarovians to rejoin the outer line of defense, and then returned to Drake. After a moment, he nodded and motioned for Drake to precede him.
With Lydia close at his side, Drake walked through the busy camp he’d left behind. A number of his people waved or smiled as he walked by. Drake also stopped to speak briefly with a few of them. The business of being a manor lord never really ended.
Tamara had everything ready for tonight’s meal, but was short on salt, so Drake gave her the okay to buy some at the next town. River needed his permission to send some zarovians out to acquire a new wagon wheel for one that was on the verge of busting, then bring it back by dawn. He authorized that too. Couldn’t have a wagon breaking down.
They’d only just reached the tent when Anna arrived and hurried over, grinning ear to ear. “Loooord! You won’t believe what’s happened!”
Despite his hurry to conclude things with Kel, Drake didn’t want to hurry past her when she looked this excited. “What won’t I believe?”
“I got a letter from Daddy while you were gone!”
“Jeremy wrote you?” He wasn’t even aware his people could get letters on the road, but perhaps they’d intercepted a courier while he was gone.
“It just arrived!” Anna clutched her hands together and practically bounced up and down. “He says he’s doing well, and that the horses all like him. He says he’s looking forward to me coming back. He wants to take me riding again!”
Drake smiled. “Have you not been riding in a while?”
“You don’t understand, lord!” Anna took a breath, visibly gathering herself. “Daddy hasn’t written anything since... before. He’s writing like he used to. This means he’s getting better, and it’s all because you let him work in your stables. Because you saved us.”
In other words, this might be the first time Anna’s father had written or said anything to her since her mother died... or at least until they were both captured by Captain Ro and his thugs. This was a big step.
Drake knelt next to her and grinned. “I’m really glad to hear that.”
“Was anyone hurt today, lord? I heard you were ambushed!”
“Everyone’s fine.”
“And is that... a new person?”
Drake chuckled and stood. “Anna? This is Kel, the leader of the feral pack I met today. Kel? This is Anna. She’s the bravest ten-year-old I’ve ever met.”
Anna offered Kel the cutest little curtsey. “I am very pleased to meet you, lord. And I love your fur! It’s so silky-looking!”
“Thank you,” Kel said quietly. “But I am no lord.”
“You should know you can trust Lord Gloomwood,” Anna said seriously. “I wouldn’t be here today if he hadn’t helped me. So whatever you’re here to talk about, remember that.” She smiled once more at Drake. “I should go help Tamara with supper.”
She seemed so pleased with her contribution to his negotiations that Drake couldn’t help but chuckle. “Thanks, Anna.”
Anna bowed to Kel and then hurried off. Meanwhile, Lydia swept aside the flap of his tent and held it open for them. Drake motioned for Kel to walk in first. “After you.”
Author's Note: Next week, Kel has a problem and Drake engages in a fist fight... sort of.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
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Kel truly seemed at a loss. “What will you do with me now?”
“That’s up to you,” Drake said. “Are you going back to your people?”
“No. In this condition, I cannot risk leading the others to my pack’s hunting grounds.”
“You mean the folks who attacked us?”
Kel nodded, stood, and grimaced as he fell to one knee once more. “Leave me here.”
“Or you could come hang out with me at my camp,” Drake suggested. “We’ll get you patched up and get some food in you. Also, we could talk more.”
“You will force me to join your blood pact.”
Drake sighed. “Listen carefully. I will not force you to join anything. I’m offering to keep you safe until you recover and giving you a chance to continue our negotiations. Neither I nor anyone who serves me will harm you. You’re also free to leave our camp whenever you wish, but it’ll be easier for us to make a deal if you don’t die.”
Sachi spoke up. “The woods are now empty, but more ferals approach. They’ll be here soon.” She glowered. “These smell like those who ambushed us.”
“So we should run, right?” Gaby asked quietly.
Kel grimaced. “How many come now?”
“More than you can handle,” Sachi informed him coolly. “Are you so anxious to die? Come with us. Lord Gloomwood is not the man you think him to be.”
Kel looked between them with something between hope and distrust. Finally, he sighed. “I will travel with you to your camp.”
“Great choice!” Drake snarked. “What about the rest of your people?”
“Kaji is dead. The others will head back to our pack.”
Drake’s ire at the delay faded. “I’m sorry you lost people. I’m not about to lose mine. So, let’s go. Now.” He looked to Cresh. “Move out, big guy.”
“I wanted to do that when we arrived,” the big zarovian grumbled. He pointed back the way they’d come. “Horag. Lead. I will guard the rear.”
As the zarovian he’d designated stomped off fearlessly, Drake fell into step behind Horag with Gaby walking gamely along at one side and Samuel close on the other. Sachi slipped in to help Kel walk, and the larger feral gratefully accepted her aid. Gaby walked close behind them, followed by Cresh.
The other four zarovians blocked them in on all sides. While their pace was a bit slower on the path back then it had been on the way out, Drake certainly felt protected. Ferals couldn’t shoot them from the woods with a wall of armored zarovians surrounding them.
“Others shadow us,” Sachi said once they’d walked into the woods. “However, they do not approach. They know they will not win a fight against numbers like these.”
“They know they won’t win a fight against Cresh.” Drake grinned over his shoulder at the towering zarovian. “Right, big guy?”
Cresh simply grunted and continued sweeping the trees with narrowed eyes.
A few tense minutes later, Sachi spoke again. “The enemy is falling back. We are alone.”
“No point in tracking us if they know where we’re going, and they know they can’t take us,” Drake said. “Good job, everyone! Once we’re back in camp, first round’s on me.”
“All rounds are on you,” Sachi said.
“I suppose that is... accurate.”
Kel looked between them, then frowned. “How do you...”
The silence held a moment before Drake sighed. “How do I what?”
“You allow your blood thrall to speak to you this way?”
“In what way, Kel?”
“As an equal.”
“I’m not his equal,” Sachi said. “I’m much better looking.”
Drake snorted. “You are my favorite catgirl.”
“You are his concubine?” Kel asked in alarm.
Sachi’s loud hiss and extended claws made Drake worry for Kel’s safety, even if this feral was her father. Which remained a surprise. Even so, Drake couldn’t help but be amused at Sachi’s visible ire and raised hackles. She’d certainly teased him often enough.
“Sachi’s not sleeping with me,” Drake amended. “She just happens to be the best tracker in my manor, and someone I consider a good friend.”
“Then...” Poor Kel looked increasingly lost.
“I actually don’t date my people,” Drake clarified. “In my world, the boss isn’t supposed to date the employees. There’s this whole power imbalance, perceptions of favoritism, the problem of working together when you break up, all that stuff.”
“I see,” Kel said quietly.
“My people serve me because I treat them well, I pay them well, and because they want to. Though I fully acknowledge some people in my manor might just be here for the paycheck. That’s fine as well, so long as they stay loyal.”
Kel still looked befuddled, but he had the decency to watch the narrow forest path instead of slowing them down. Drake decided to let the poor guy think about all this for a bit. Kel could use a little time to think.
The party walked in silence for another few moments before Drake realized he hadn’t considered something else that could bite him in the ass. “Oh, I do have one question.”
“Yes?” Kel asked.
“Are your people going to think we abducted you? Will they come after us?”
“No,” Kel said. “Sidori was close enough to overhear our conversation. She will inform the others I left with you of my own free will.”
Drake glanced at Sachi. “I thought you said the woods were empty?”
Sachi simply grunted.
Drake grinned as he realized. “Sidori must be pretty good if you missed her.”
Sachi’s ears flattened against her head. “She always was cursedly hard to track.”
“You know her?”
“She is my sister.”
Drake watched her calmly. “You didn’t tell me this was going to be a family reunion.”
“I said she was my sister,” Sachi said evenly. “I did not say she was my family.”
The visible pain that crossed Kel’s features before he caught himself obviously wasn’t from his remaining injuries. With that, the walk through the forest got horribly awkward. Sachi was now sullen and Kel looked depressed. There was obviously a lot to unpack here.
Drake glanced at Samuel for help but received only a passive scowl. The man continued to keep his secrets... or Sachi’s. It was frustrating, but understandable. He had probably given his word to them in the past not to share gossip.
As they continued through the forest, Drake caught Kel watching him before the feral pack leader abruptly looked away. The feral pack leader looked to be more confused every passing moment. Or maybe he was just awkward around his daughter.
Either way, there was no way Drake was going to walk all the back to his camp in silence after how awkward things had felt a moment ago. “From what happened back there, I take it you ferals don’t all get along?”
“No,” Kel said. “Has Sachi not spoken to you about us?”
“She’s told me you live in woods on Lord Mistvale’s land because of a decree by the noble court, but that you don’t swear allegiance to him. I also know you live in small packs rather than being one giant tribe, but I didn’t know you were actively killing each other.”
“Packs fighting each other is a new development,” Sachi said.
Kel watched her with calm eyes. “Much is not as you remember.”
“I hardly see how that is my fault.”
“It is not,” Kel agreed quickly. “Also, Sidori still—”
“I do not care,” Sachi interrupted coldly. “I did not contact you because I sought a path back into the woods. I contacted you because my lord requested I reach out to the feral packs for meetings. That is the only reason we now speak.”
“Sachi, still—”
“I will scout ahead,” Sachi interrupted firmly.
“Sure thing,” Drake agreed. “Just whistle if you...”
She was already gone.
“...run into anything.” Drake ruefully shook his head.
Kel stared sadly in the direction his daughter had gone. Multiple people had told Drake repeatedly how rare it was for a feral to join a blood pact, but he hadn’t thought about the other implications of that statement... like the fact that the rest of Sachi’s pack might not have been crazy about the idea. Or that her father might not have wanted her to go.
Had they exiled Sachi for joining Lord Gloomwood? Or had they begged her to stay, and now they were angry she’d left? He’d never asked Sachi why she signed up for the old lord’s blood pact. All he knew is she was close with Samuel, and now, that Samuel had saved Kel, Sachi and her sister’s lives at some point in the past. He remained curious... but so long as it didn’t affect his negotiations, it wasn’t any of his business.
The rest of the journey back to his camp passed in relative silence and didn’t take long. Valentia met them with some of Sky’s rangers not far inside the woods, and then they had a much larger escort back to the wagons. Drake walked back to his and Sky’s vanguard to find Prince Lorel leaning on the side of his fish tank wagon, watching them curiously.
Kel stared slack-jawed. “You also have a kromian in your blood pact?”
“No, he’s a guest. He’s also a prince, not my blood thrall, so don’t let him hear you suggest that. Might cause a diplomatic incident.”
Kel now looked increasingly uneasy. “That is a kromian prince?”
“Let’s go talk in my tent,” Drake suggested. “We’ll check your injuries and get you some food.” He looked around, then glanced at Valentia. “Sachi made it back all right?”
“She arrived not long ago,” Valentia agreed. “However, she did appear rather vexed.”
“I imagine she was. Can you track her down and make sure she gets treated for her injuries? She took a wound and said it was a flesh wound, but I want to be sure.”
Valentia inclined her head. “Of course. What was the trouble?”
“Nothing Gaby couldn’t handle.”
At his words, Gaby stood straight and beamed like she’d just had the best day in the world... instead of having arrows shot at her. Boosting morale was always good, and Gaby had done well today. Drake wanted to be sure she knew that.
“I’ll fill you in later,” Drake told Valentia. “Right now, I want to get Kel inside our perimeter before someone else tries to shoot him. Gaby? Go get some grub.”
“Thank you, Lord Gloomwood!” Gaby exclaimed proudly.
“I will return to the defense,” Cresh rumbled.
At almost the same time, Lydia hurried out of a tent wearing her concerned face. “Lord Gloomwood! There was an attack?”
“It’s fine,” Drake said. “We’re fine. Turns out the old man has some moves after all.”
Samuel simply sighed.
Drake looked to Kel again. “My tent’s this way. Let’s chat... more.”
Kel’s gaze fell on Valentia as she hurried away, on Cresh as he stomped off with his zarovians to rejoin the outer line of defense, and then returned to Drake. After a moment, he nodded and motioned for Drake to precede him.
With Lydia close at his side, Drake walked through the busy camp he’d left behind. A number of his people waved or smiled as he walked by. Drake also stopped to speak briefly with a few of them. The business of being a manor lord never really ended.
Tamara had everything ready for tonight’s meal, but was short on salt, so Drake gave her the okay to buy some at the next town. River needed his permission to send some zarovians out to acquire a new wagon wheel for one that was on the verge of busting, then bring it back by dawn. He authorized that too. Couldn’t have a wagon breaking down.
They’d only just reached the tent when Anna arrived and hurried over, grinning ear to ear. “Loooord! You won’t believe what’s happened!”
Despite his hurry to conclude things with Kel, Drake didn’t want to hurry past her when she looked this excited. “What won’t I believe?”
“I got a letter from Daddy while you were gone!”
“Jeremy wrote you?” He wasn’t even aware his people could get letters on the road, but perhaps they’d intercepted a courier while he was gone.
“It just arrived!” Anna clutched her hands together and practically bounced up and down. “He says he’s doing well, and that the horses all like him. He says he’s looking forward to me coming back. He wants to take me riding again!”
Drake smiled. “Have you not been riding in a while?”
“You don’t understand, lord!” Anna took a breath, visibly gathering herself. “Daddy hasn’t written anything since... before. He’s writing like he used to. This means he’s getting better, and it’s all because you let him work in your stables. Because you saved us.”
In other words, this might be the first time Anna’s father had written or said anything to her since her mother died... or at least until they were both captured by Captain Ro and his thugs. This was a big step.
Drake knelt next to her and grinned. “I’m really glad to hear that.”
“Was anyone hurt today, lord? I heard you were ambushed!”
“Everyone’s fine.”
“And is that... a new person?”
Drake chuckled and stood. “Anna? This is Kel, the leader of the feral pack I met today. Kel? This is Anna. She’s the bravest ten-year-old I’ve ever met.”
Anna offered Kel the cutest little curtsey. “I am very pleased to meet you, lord. And I love your fur! It’s so silky-looking!”
“Thank you,” Kel said quietly. “But I am no lord.”
“You should know you can trust Lord Gloomwood,” Anna said seriously. “I wouldn’t be here today if he hadn’t helped me. So whatever you’re here to talk about, remember that.” She smiled once more at Drake. “I should go help Tamara with supper.”
She seemed so pleased with her contribution to his negotiations that Drake couldn’t help but chuckle. “Thanks, Anna.”
Anna bowed to Kel and then hurried off. Meanwhile, Lydia swept aside the flap of his tent and held it open for them. Drake motioned for Kel to walk in first. “After you.”
Author's Note: Next week, Kel has a problem and Drake engages in a fist fight... sort of.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
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