” She pointed at Tzadok. “
Stendec stopped in his tracks and cautiously nodded at Kobb in a show of respect. “Thirty-Two Hundred.”
Kobb repeated the motion, careful not to take his eyes off the man. “Ghostmaker.”
“
Kobb started coughing for some reason.
Tandy frowned at him in confusion.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Ghostmaker?” Tzadok demanded. “You weren’t invited and aren’t welcomed.”
“I have no interest in this.” The man assured them in an unemotional breathy monotone, his voice a whisper. Tandy had to strain to even hear it. “Fuck your leaders, gods, and kingdoms. I owe no one my allegiance. I’m here on business.” He shook his head. “Your troubles are your own.”
Several more people rode up from the other direction, obviously representing the Horsemen of The Wasteland Steppe. Their leader was a large man with a tattoo of a horse at full gallop on his forehead. He was wearing surprisingly fashionable leather and fur clothes, with an armored breastplate studded with gemstones and buffed to a near blinding shine. Overall, his ensemble undoubtedly cost more than Tandy would ever earn in her entire life.
Kobb leaned closer to her. “Kharash, Descendant of the Great Horse. Leader of the Horsemen of the Steppe.” He informed her, introducing the man. “He’s a rake. And… umm… ‘prejudiced,’ I guess you would say, against anyone who isn’t a Wastelander. Or, more specifically, anyone who isn’t from the Steppe.”
“Ah.” Tandy nodded, recognizing the name. He was generally regarded as the most “civilized” of the tribal leaders in the area. Certainly the only one who the surrounding kingdoms had any respect for, primarily because he could be bribed not to attack them.
The man dismounted his horse with an unnecessary flourish, obviously designed to impress unseen women and throngs of admirers who were currently absent. He held out his hand to them in an overly dramatic salutation, “Greetings, my dear friends, The Descendant of the Great Horse has arr…” he saw her and trailed off. “Whoa… green.” He looked around at the others in the group, searching for an explanation. “By the stars! How… strange.” He turned to Tzadok. “Is there something the matter with her or did you ink her skin like that, Butcher? It’s quite fetching. She looks like a fine jewel.”
“She’s a fucking pixie.” The Bearskin’s sister explained with a sneer.
“She’s not a pixie,” The Bearskin corrected, “pixies are extinct and didn’t come in green.”
“They’re not extinct, they’re just well on their way to it.” Stendec rolled his eyes. “But since she isn’t naked and fucking everyone right now, we can assume that she can’t be a pixie.”
Tandy frowned at him. “That’s… that’s a rather racist thing to say, don’t you think?”
Stendec slowly turned to look at her, apparently amazed by the observation. “Really?” He pointed to her and glanced at Tzadok. “You serious with this? What is she? A fucking school teacher?”
“Shut your mouth, Ghostmaker.” Tzadok bit out. “You don’t belong here anyway, I’d be more than happy to kill you.”
“I’ll help.” The Bearskin’s sister offered.
“I do not have a green woman yet.” Kharash informed them earnestly, still oddly distracted by Tandy for some reason. “If she is for sale, I would pay handsomely for her in the finest horses.”
Kobb turned to gape at him, making a horrified sound. “What is wrong with you, boy? You can’t buy a woman with horses.”
“Fine. Gold then.” Kharash offered, taking on an insulted tone. “At least I’m willing to pay, you savages simply stole her! You got her for free!”
Stendec ignored them, remaining focused on Tandy. “So, a green school teacher and… what?” He looked back and forth between Kobb and the dark-haired woman, then glanced at Tzadok. He arched an eyebrow derisively. “Daughter? Granddaughter?”
“She’s his Keeper of Heart.” Tzadok explained unconvincingly. “She’s… she’s older than she looks.”
“She’d have to be.” The Bearskin’s sister told no one in particular. “Couldn’t look much younger unless she was still in her mama’s belly.”
Stendec glanced back to Kobb. “If you have to explain why it’s not creepy, that means it’s creepy, old man.”
“Wow.” Kobb exclaimed in feigned amazement, like he was experiencing a moment of total clarity. “You’ve really put it all into perspective for me, Stendec.” He put his hand over his heart. “Thank you so much.”
“Fuck off, Ghostmaker.” Tzadok flashed him an obscene hand gesture, unwilling to let the comment slide as easily as his uncle had. “We don’t take advice from dishonorable dog-vomit on how to behave.”
“Ah, I see.” Stendec nodded humoringly. “Are you a good person now, Tzadok? Is that it? When did that happen? Are you and The Thirty-Two Hundred and bloody Ella now the last bastions of light in this darkening world? Is that why you feel that you deserve your prim little green friend there?” He snorted in contempt over the idea. “We all know that’s horseshit. You’re a violent charlatan with the brain of a rat, who seized control of a kingdom because you’re too much of a coward to fight for it fair, and before his questionable ‘religious conversion,’ your uncle left half the damn world as ruins and corpses. Simply because he got off on it. So don’t you dare pretend that you’re better than me. We are all…”
“Oh, everyone is better than you, you prick.” The Bearskin cut him off, rolling his eyes contemptuously. He didn’t even bother to stand up or turn his head towards the conversation. “You’re a disgrace to the Grizzwood. You make us all look bad. At least Uriah has style. What the fuck have you got? Huh? What makes you any different than the ten thousand other Grizzle sell-swords out there murdering people for money?”
“I’m the one who…”
Whatever Stendec was about to say was cut off by the arrival of the Coastal People. Their assembly filed into the clearing and took their place at the central fire, opposite Tzadok and Kobb.
Tandy swallowed, not at all happy to see Hawser again. Or Aix, for that matter. The men were horrible. And this time the Coastal People’s leaders were joined by several other men who Tandy didn’t recognize. But they were BIG. Very, very big. And they did not look like they were from The Wasteland, which meant that the Coastal People were bringing in ringers large enough to fight Tzadok if the decision went a way they didn’t like.
Tzadok apparently came to the same conclusion and swore under his breath about their dishonor.
Hawser’s eyes blazed at her, obviously planning the many things he’d soon do to her.
Tzadok placed his hand on her shoulder and she glanced up at him. “He won’t touch you.” He assured her confidently. “I guarantee, on my life and honor, if he tries anything during the meeting, I will cave in his skull with my fist, as if it were a rotten melon.”
She nodded, but stepped closer to him anyway. She really didn’t want to go anywhere with Hawser.
“Is this everyone?” Kharash asked, sitting down at the fire with what appeared to be carefully practiced enthusiasm and sense of grandeur.
“We’re still waiting on the Hardmen.” Kobb informed him.
“And the Hunters of the Thunder Forest.” Tzadok added, not taking his eyes off the Coastal People.
“
She quickly translated that for Tzadok.
He nodded. “It’s much nicer now, honestly. Not as many cowards bleating at me.” He paused. “Don’t transl
ate that, Tandrea.”
She closed her mouth, the interpretation dying on her lips.
Aix continued with his chosen topic. “
Tandy communicated the complaint to Tzadok.
Tzadok didn’t look at all impressed. “Yeah, but that was before. It’s over. So who gives a shit?”
Tandy turned to Aix, translating that into something the man would understand. “
The Bearskin broke out in laughter over her… generous translation. He glanced at Tzadok. “Butcher, you are eloquent as all fuck, to hear her tell it.” He returned to his solitary card game. “I had no idea you were so articulate. You should write poetry.”
“
Tzadok listened to Tandy’s translation of that, then shook his head. “I am not my mother.”
Kobb nodded in agreement. “”
Tandy communicated that to the man.
“
“
“” Aix defended, sounding insulted.
Tandy translated that for Tzadok and he rolled his eyes. “But you sure have no problem looking the other way while someone else does it.” Tzadok countered.
Tandy communicated that to the other man.
“
Kobb was silent for a long moment. “”
“Either way, my opinion is the only one which matters.” Tzadok reminded them. “Because I’m The goddamned Lord of Salt.”
Tandy translated that for Aix, who looked less than convinced. “”
“You would send two helpless women off to be brutalized by your horrific people and their stupid little cult.” Tzadok said simply. “That is who you are. That is the kind of man I see standing before me.”
Aix’s face darkened when he heard Tandy’s interpretation of that. “” He gestured to them with an outstretched hand. “
“Jagoff.” The Bearskin’s sister snorted dismissively.
Tzadok considered Aix’s words for a moment, then gave his reply.
Tandy frowned. “Did… did you want me to actually tell him that?”
Tzadok nodded. “Absolutely.”
She let out a breath and turned to Aix. “
The Bearskin snorted in amusement.
The Coastal People were on their feet in an instant, ready to fight it out right then.
“Enough talk!” Hawser shouted. “The green bitch is MINE! This whole thing is ridiculous!”
Tzadok stepped in front of her, preparing to kill everyone.
The Bearskin chuckled to himself again, paying no attention to the looming violence. “I like her.” He announced. “She’s… quirky.”
Everyone ignored him, too caught up in their imminent fight to even listen. Before anyone could throw the first punch though, the next group arrived in the clearing.
Two men wearing purple robes appeared, like ghosts from the shadows. They were tall, muscled, and had long blond hair. The larger of the two flipped down the hood of his robe. “The Thunder Forest is here.” He announced. “We have…”
Before he could finish, a crossbow bolt ripped through his head. His companion let out a startled cry and tried to help his friend, but didn’t get the chance. An arrow caught him in the neck, knocking him to the ground. He gurgled for a moment longer, the muscles in his legs spasmed, then he was still.
All eyes turned to Stendec, who casually lowered his crossbow and strolled closer to his victims.
Kharash looked oddly confused and opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. “I don’t… I don’t think you can do that.” He finally got out, as if seriously pointing out a mistake or some bit of confusion. “That’s against the rules… isn’t it?”
Stendec flipped open a short-bladed skinning knife and set about cutting anything of value from the bodies, even if it meant taking a finger or ear along with it.
Tzadok’s face darkened, the argument with the Coastal People forgotten for a moment. “You can’t fight here.” He informed the man. “It’s a sacrilege.”
“Wasn’t much of a fight.” Stendec stripped a gold bangle from one of the bodies and added it to a collection of similar stolen bracelets and cuffs which ran up his arm. “They’re worth a lot more dead than alive, believe me.”
Tzadok started towards him, obviously about to kill the man. “I don’t care who you are, you can’t…”
Kobb held up a hand to stop him, leaning closer to whisper in his ear. “This helps us. They weren’t going to side with us anyway. Removing them from the meeting means that the Hardmen are now the deciding vote. We can end this right here. Forever. It’s even better than if he had killed Hawser.” Kobb turned to shrug to the group nonchalantly. “You know what? Let’s be honest: this is the Grizzwood. If someone hasn’t died at the meeting, it means the meeting isn’t over yet, am I right?”
Stendec calmly started dragging the bodies across the clearing to where his horse was tied.
Kharash watched the man’s progress, his gaze lingering on the animal in question. “That there is the ugliest horse I’ve ever seen, Ghostmaker.” He shook his head. “Looks like it’s two weeks dead.” Because apparently that’s what you cared most about if you were from the Steppe; the killer’s horse, not the fact that he just murdered two of your allies in front of you.
Tandy couldn’t stop staring at the blood trail, which now led across the ground near her feet.
Aix glared at Tzadok in disgust. “
Tandy communicated that to Tzadok
, and he rolled his eyes. “My only complaint would be that Stendec killed the wrong members of this…” He trailed off as drums sounded in the darkened woods. He turned to her, the insult forgotten. “Here we go. They’re here.” He met her eyes. “If anything happens to me, stay close to my uncle. He’ll keep you safe.”
Tandy frowned. “Are you still expecting trouble with the Hardmen?”
“It’s advisable to always expect trouble from the Hardmen. They’re sadistic, inventive, and evil.” He informed her. “The world consists only of the people they’ve murdered and robbed, and the people they’re going to murder and rob.”
The people in question stalked through the woods behind them, carrying a colorful banner, beating a leather drum, and playing a small tin flute. The music was rather… jaunty. A lighthearted jig. The lyrics seemed to be about a woman named Aoibheann, who liked to dance in places all over the world.
Tzadok watched them, looking tense. “When you see the Hardmen walking down the lane, you know you’ve got fucking trouble. It’s like vultures circling overhead or black smoke on the horizon.” He met Kobb’s gaze out of the corner of his eye. “Counting on them is a low point for our people, Uncle. I am genuinely ashamed.”
“We need Ella.” Kobb explained, not sounding convinced of his own words.
“No one needs Ella.” Tzadok shot back. “Not even the fire wanted her, that’s why she’s still here.”
“
Captive of a Fairytale Barbarian Page 27
