27. Twenty-Four

Twenty-Four

L ily's eyes slowly fluttered open and a soft moan escaped her lips. She must have stayed up too late, or practiced too much magic, because her head ached terribly. She wanted to sleep all day and get to her chores later. Even her legs hurt! Maybe she had accidentally used her own energy for magic instead of the energy around her.

"How did you sleep?" It wasn't Wester's voice.

Lily's eyes darted to the blond man sitting on the bed by her side with his legs outstretched. The one who had choked her until she had fallen unconscious. She bolted upright, but her head pounded so hard, her vision went white and her stomach rolled. She leaned in his direction and vomited.

He must have realized what was about to happen just a moment before it did, because he grabbed her arm and forced her to lean over the side of the bed and vomit on the floor.

She wiped her mouth off with the back of a shaky hand, only then realizing her wrists were chained together. As Lily looked around the small tent, she found she was on a short bed, surrounded by pillows. At the foot of the bed was a fire pit, and there was a hole in the roof for ventilation.

"Do you feel better now?" the stranger asked, stroking her hair as if they knew each other.

"Why am I here?" she demanded and pulled away from him. Her throat felt like it was on fire, and she reached up and touched the tender skin of her neck.

The man held out a waterskin. "You must not recall last night. You're escaped prisoners, and we need you to barter with."

Lily accepted the waterskin and drank it, the cool water soothing her aching neck. She licked her lips. "What is your name?" she asked.

"It is Torbjun. And you are?"

"Where is Asher?" she demanded, but this time she tried to scoot so she could stand.

"Oh, don't you worry about him. He's been resting to be put in the fighting ring." Torbjun lifted his legs onto the bed, blocking her and leaning so close, she had to lean back for space.

"Fighting ring? Why?"

"Well, entertainment, of course!" The barbarian laughed. "When he shifted and we realized he was a Karasha, well, why not add him to our gambling? We have our favorite animals fight each other, and the one that wins fights the next, and next, and...you get the picture. But Ulbrect's cougar has been beating everyone. Killed my fox last week. I've been trying to catch me a grizzly bear, but your little pet will do nicely. Especially since he can think a bit more rationally. Of course, Ulbrect argues it's not fair." He shrugged. He reached out and ran his knuckles up and down her arm as he spoke.

Lily pulled away and climbed quickly off the foot of the bed. "You're making Asher fight wild animals? That's...that's...barbaric! He's not an animal. He's a person!"

Torbjun smirked. "He is Karasha. They are practically the same thing."

Lily narrowed her eyes at him. "I could burn down this tent."

The man didn't appear nervous at all. "With you inside?"

"Once it catches fire, I'll run."

He looped his finger through the chain keeping her hands together and pulled, making her walk back to him in spite of her struggling to resist. When she was back at his side, he grabbed her jaw. Even sitting, the man was taller than her. Torbjun leaned down to her face. "You may know magic, but I've given my men strict orders that if you even attempt to escape, they can kill your little friend. Consider that next time you threaten me."

She tried to push his hand away.

His grip tightened, and a cruel smirk appeared on his lips as he slid his free hand around her back. "My people would never accept you as a wife. It would muddy our lines. But a bed servant?" He pulled her body against his, positioned between his legs. "Perhaps I could keep you around for that purpose."

"You're disgusting," Lily growled. Even though Liam had stolen a kiss, she hadn't felt trapped like she did in that moment. Her entire body prickled in warning, and she didn't even have a chance to consider a reaction before lightning jumped from her hands, down the chain, and into Torbjun.

"Ah!" He shoved her back and flicked his hands.

Lily straightened and thrust both arms down toward the ground, using the same energy boiling inside of herself to snap the chains and send them tumbling to the ground. "The next time you lay a hand on me, I'll cut something off," she threatened.

"Do you honestly dare act this way when the boy is at risk of punishment?" Torbjun stood, eyes boring into her.

Lily folded her arms. "I'm not running." She'd somehow forgotten, in spite of being recently warned. She had to do something . Why did this barbarian think she would let him do as he pleased?

Torbjun stood and Lily had to lift her chin to look up at him. "Our clan has been without a proper magic user for several years. Perhaps we should keep you for our own. Our shaman, Gitta, tries her best, but she lost the Skull of Obi and hasn't been able to use magic since."

Lily's mind darted around quickly. If she volunteered to be their conduit, she could easily get herself and Asher out of this mess. Maybe even before the barbarians notified Prince Liam and King Barith that they had been caught.

"How have you survived without a conduit?" she asked carefully.

He took a step toward her, backing her up to the side of the tent. "We've managed to rule with our strength." He looked her up and down. "I wonder how my rank would rise being wed to the new shaman of our clan."

Lily tightened her lips, resisting the urge to vomit again. She had to be careful in her responses. She had to save herself and Asher and get them both back to Vasha. "I didn't enjoy living with the wizard," she said slowly, hoping that she looked like she was worried and not plotting.

Torbjun smirked. "I'm definitely better-looking."

She forced a smile. "May I please have a word with Asher? I want to make sure you're actually taking care of him. And...and then maybe we can speak with the chief about my being your...shaman?"

"Perhaps." He rubbed his chin. His eyes slowly drifted away from her in thought before he walked to the tent's exit, then paused with the flap raised. "It would be in your best interest to remain here. You're safe. Not to mention, there are guards everywhere and I would be sorely disappointed if you ended up with an arrow in your back because you tried to escape." He flashed her a smile and stepped out.

Lily exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She looked around. The tent was held up by five carved wooden pillars: two on one side, two on the other, and one taller one in the middle. One side was completely adorned with pillows and bedding, and the other held small statues and weapons. To her right was the tent flap. Opposite the door stood the fire pit. On each of the four smaller pillars hung unlit oil lamps. Lily could still see the sun filtering through the tent flaps, though dimly enough she couldn't tell if it was dawn or if she'd slept through most of the day.

If Asher was locked up somewhere, she couldn't be brazen. Even if she had magic, she had managed to turn Percy into a ladybug in a spell gone wrong. She couldn't afford getting emotional and turning the men's beards into flowers or something else completely useless because she couldn't control her magic.

Lily flicked her hands and walked to the tent flap and opened it.

The tent was one of a handful, with a row of tall huts across from her. A man locked eyes on her and Lily let the flap drop shut in front of her. "Wonderful," she muttered to herself and turned back around.

Patience is one of the most important aspects of being a conduit , Wester had taught her.

She needed to give Torbjun a chance to let her visit with Asher. Then she could use her magic to set him free and they could both escape the barbarians before she became the wife—or worse—of a barbarian.

She heard a voice from outside the tent. "You're certain she's a magic user?"

"I saw her use it. Ask Seamus, Ulbrect, any of the men from last night," Torbjun replied. "I want her to meet Gitta."

Lily cleared her throat and glanced at the vomit spot, which had filled the tent with a rather unpleasant aroma.

Torbjun held the flap open as he stepped aside.

Lily folded her arms to stop herself from biting her nails, but her eyes widened and she sucked her tongue to the roof of her mouth when another man entered.

He was at least three inches taller than Torbjun, making him gigantic in her eyes. His red beard was braided in three braids and then together and tied off with a pretty blue bead. His curly red hair cascaded down the left side of his head, the right side having been shaved and tattooed.

"This is Chief Brogen," Torbjun introduced. He looked her up and down. "Show him some respect," he prompted.

"Chief?" Lily narrowed her eyes. "Your men attacked me and a male companion down by the river last night while we did nothing more than pass by on the main road. I do believe that was well outside of your borders."

Chief Brogen raised his eyebrows in evident surprise at her bluntness and then turned his brown eyes to Torbjun. "You were right about her. I do believe Gitta should take a look at her and give an assessment. And, should you want to make her your bride..." He looked her up and down, then tilted his head. "I'm certain that can be arranged for tomorrow night. That will give you today to prepare properly. And when she becomes the next shaman, it will not matter if she is human."

Lily's breath hitched and she looked from one man to the other. "May I remind you that you captured us?"

Torbjun walked to Lily in order to wrap an arm around her, placing his hand on her hip, and drew her against his side. "Did you hear that? You're to be my bride."

She pushed against his side in a feeble attempt against his strength. "What happened to your plan of trading us to the King of Rencheston?"

"While you may be a magic user, and I know that is rare among humans, I think you fit better right here." Torbjun grabbed her jaw, holding her head steady, and leaned down to press his lips to hers.

Lily pulled her arm back and slapped him as hard as she could across the face. "How dare you!" she shouted. "Is it customary not to give the women in your land choices?"

"You little—" He raised his hand.

Chief Brogen cleared his throat, stopping Torbjun before he struck her. "No. You get no choice. In our land, anyone captured is no longer free."

"I wasn't captured in your land!" she protested.

The chief nearly rolled his eyes as he turned back to his scout. "Would you like me to announce your engagement?"

Torbjun straightened his spine. "It would be an honor. In the meantime, I shall put everything into motion for tomorrow."

"Then it shall be done."

Lily stood in stunned silence while the chief left the tent. She didn't know what to do—should she attack them? She could light the village on fire. Turn Torbjun into a toad. Probably even initiate a flood. But she also needed to know where Asher was to free him. Wasting any time searching for him after attacking would grant the barbarians time to stop her, and then they would never escape.

Torbjun took Lily's hand, his grin positively radiating. "Let me show you around our town."

Lily nearly gagged at the word "our." This wasn't her home. Her new home was supposed to be in Vasha. But if Torbjun was going to take her through the town, he would show her where Asher was. She needed to go along with the charade long enough for that piece of information, and then she could get him out.

They passed rows of tightly spaced tents and homes made of dirt and sticks. The tents seemed to be temporary dwellings, made of animal hide and partially decorated with dark-brown or black ink. As they walked, Lily noticed children running in and out of the homes, but none seemed to come from the tents.

"Why are there some tents and others more permanent?" Lily asked.

"The warriors have to take them with us whenever there is battle," Torbjun explained. "Not only that, but a home is permanent. They are for those who are married and starting their families."

It was no wonder why Torbjun was excited to get married, even if Lily wasn't one of their people. It was all about status for him.

But she did make note that the homes were built in the center of town while the tents were propped up along the exterior, almost like a protective ring. Lily noticed that a wide-open space where the children played suddenly dropped off. That must have been where the cliff was, which meant the main road and river were that direction. Good. Open space and a straight shot to freedom once she began trouble.

As they walked, Lily observed men coming home with strings of fish or some form of dead animal flung over their shoulder. They were greeted by their children and wives. One wife had a tiny baby cradled in her arms, and the husband kissed his child before kissing his wife.

Was that the kind of love her own parents had for one another?

To the right of the open grassy space, beyond the tents, were four wooden poles: north, east, south, and west, and two very large fire pits on either side of the southern pole. Just past the northernmost post stood a large arena dug into the hillside with rows of benches to view down below. Lily didn't need to be told that was the arena in which they fought the animals Torbjun had spoken of.

That's when Lily spotted the cages.

About twenty cages were positioned beneath four low barn-like structures, and a majority had a large predator sleeping or cleaning themselves.

It wasn't hard to spot Asher in his white tiger form, stuffed in a cage too small for him. His cage was at the edge of the structure, leaving the front, back, and one entire side exposed to the children surrounding him.

Two little boys prodded him with a stick.

Asher finally pinned his ears back and roared at them.

One of the little boys screamed and ran away.

The second laughed in Asher's face. "You can't get me, you big cat! You're trapped."

Asher snarled in response.