Dindi
Dindi felt as wobbly as a three-footed goat when she came back to Kavio with a stone bowl of water. Her stomach felt tight. Her head spun a little. When she put the bowl down on the table in front of him, her bare arm brushed against his.
He didn't say anything.
She reached for his hands and took them in hers.
"I can do it myself," he said. But he didn't pull away.
Dindi's lashes lowered to her cheeks. She couldn't meet his eyes. She focused on his hands instead. They were large and strong, with calluses that showed he had used a bow many times.
When had Abiono and Brena realized that the man they had once treated like a beggar was actually the most powerful Zavaedi in all Faearth? And now, he was the honored guest of the Yellow Bear War Chief. Both of them were suddenly treating him with great respect.
Dindi had wanted to say sorry to Kavio for the way she ignored him before. But now, if she said anything, he would just think she was trying to win favor—because she knew he had a Shining Name.
"Thank you, I think they're clean now," he said softly, a little amused.
Dindi blinked. She had been scrubbing his hands for over a minute without noticing. Her face turned red. She dropped his hands as if they burned her.
Kavio turned back toward the others at the table.
The young man named Zumo was arguing again.
"It's an insult," Zumo said, angry. "You let a man our tribe exiled train your warriors? What else can we think—except that you plan to use this army against the Labyrinth? Danumoro, you must agree!"
Danumoro gave a small nod. "It is troubling, Hertio."
"Nonsense," said Hertio. "Only a tribe that sees Yellow Bear as an enemy would think that. As far as I know, Rainbow Labyrinth is our ally. Or are you saying that has changed, Zumo—grandson of the Bone Whistler?"
Zumo scowled.
"Speaking of our enemies, I have a gift for Kavio," Hertio said.
He waved his hand. Several warriors stepped forward. They dragged one of the Blue Waters prisoners up the stone steps. The man was huge and strong, but wounded. The warriors forced him to kneel in front of Kavio.
"You beat this enemy in battle," said Hertio. "He is yours now. You earned him as your personal slave."
*
Brena
Brena gasped when she saw the man forced to his knees in front of the stone table. It was Rthan. He didn't look broken at all. It took six warriors—and two of them carried whips—just to hold him still. His face, covered in warrior tattoos, showed nothing but pride. His proud look could have broken sugar loaves.
"I thank you for your gift, Hertio," said Kavio, calmly looking over his enemy. "Prisoner! Your life is worth nothing now. You belong to your enemies. The Yellow Bear tribe will keep you alive only if it entertains them to hurt you."
Rthan lifted his head and locked eyes with Kavio. He didn't look afraid. Kavio's lips curved into a small smile.
"But there is one other choice," Kavio said. "The law of light and shadow says anyone under the death sentence—whether a criminal or a prisoner of war—may choose instead to be a sacrifice to the fae. If you want, we will take you to the Tor of the Stone Hedge at midnight and call the fae. If you survive until the third night, you will go free."
Rthan's face twisted in hate. "I won't be your blood offering to the demon bears of the Tors. I'm not a child, scared of your pain games. I'll die like a man."
"As you choose," said Kavio. "But maybe we should treat you the way you would have treated us." He made a small motion toward one of the guards with a whip. "Beat him, on my signal…"
Brena turned her face away. She didn't want to see it. She knew Rthan was her enemy, but she couldn't watch this. But… the whip never hit. No sound of leather on skin. She looked up, surprised.
Kavio had changed his signal. Now he pointed toward her.
"But I do not deserve this slave," Kavio said in a smooth voice. "It was Zavaedi Brena who gave the winning blow. I think she should have him."
Brena sat up fast. "What?"
All eyes turned to her. Even Rthan turned his head, still full of rage.
"She's a widow," said Kavio, still acting innocent. "She has no husband to help her in the fields. A slave husband would be a fine reward for her bravery in fighting off this enemy."
"I don't need any kind of husband! Especially not a slave!" Brena snapped.
"Of course," said Kavio, still too polite. "If you'd rather let someone else punish him, I'm sure plenty would enjoy making him suffer. But after seeing your anger during the battle, I thought you'd prefer to handle the revenge yourself. Think of all the ways you could shame him."
Brena looked at Rthan. His eyes burned with hatred. She could feel the heat of it. Their gazes met. She flinched. It felt like he scorched her soul.
Curse you, Kavio, she thought. Don't do me any favors!
"Perhaps I was wrong," Kavio said, raising his hand again.
This time the whip cracked through the air. It struck Rthan across the back. He roared in pain and almost broke free, even with six men holding him down.
"Wait!" Brena shouted. "I… I've never needed a husband before. But now both my daughters will be busy with their Tavaedi work. I forgot about that. So… maybe a brute could be useful for brute work."
Her voice stayed cold. She refused to show weakness. She refused to be afraid—even though Rthan still glared at her like a volcano ready to blow.
*
Dindi
While Hertio gave the rest of the Blue Waters prisoners to different warriors as slaves, Dindi and the other handmaidens cleaned up the leftover food and brought more corn beer. Kavio stayed close to his cousin and kept his cup full.
"You have no one to blame but yourself that I'm here, cousin," Kavio said. "But if you're still unsure about me, you can watch me train Hertio's warriors yourself. I'm sure Hertio won't mind, since we're all allies now. Right, Hertio?"
Hertio gave a tight, sour smile. "Of course not."
"Oh, I'll be watching you," Zumo promised. His words were threatening, but his voice slurred from the drink.
"Girl! More beer!" he barked.
He waved his cup toward the nearest handmaiden—Dindi.
Nervously, Dindi stepped forward with the jug. She poured the beer into his cup as carefully as she could. Zumo gave her a lazy smile.
"Thank you," he said, reaching out to touch her hand.
The moment his fingers touched hers, pain shot through her like fire. Her skin burned like a coal. But worse than that—Zumo was no longer in front of her.
She saw an older man instead. He wore a headdress made of bones.
Dindi screamed.
She dropped the jug as a Vision exploded inside her mind.
No! she cried inside, trying to fight it off.
But the Vision dragged her under.