Chapter 15

We stepped into a large room, with finely woven mats covering the floor. I could see a single, wide straw mattress at the far end, and just like the entry room, the walls were decorated with weapons and strange banners in bright colours. It didn’t look like an ordinary guest room but rather the living space of someone who had now temporarily given it up for us. Was that their custom to let guests stay in their finest rooms?

Blade walked over to the large window facing the stream.

“How do you know Batu?" I asked.

“His clan stayed in Snowfort during the war. They guarded the pass after they joined our side. We met there when I came to fight for them.”

She put her bag in the corner.

“I’ll go and speak with them now when we have the chance. They know the mountain passes where we’re going better than anyone. Do you want to come?”

I glanced at Tuimar. She was sitting quietly on the mattress, unpacking her bag.

“I’ll stay here…” I murmured.

I walked over and sat next to her, hearing the door close as Blade left.

“I'm sorry,” I murmured. “We shouldn’t have come here.”

She frowned.

“It’s fine, I don't care..."

I sighed. She did care, but I knew it would only make it worse if I asked her what it had all been about. Blade seemed to understand the Vargs, but I didn’t know how to get a chance to ask her about it without Tuimar hearing it.

“Dinner is ready. Come and join us,” a woman's voice called through the door.

I glanced at Tuimar, and to my surprise, she got up.

“Are you coming?” she asked.

She gestured for me. I frowned but got up and followed her out to the large front room. The straw mattresses that had been scattered across the room earlier had been arranged around a long table, and people had already gathered. I could see Blade sitting next to Batu at the far end. The room fell silent as we entered, and I hesitated, not sure what to do.

“Come, sit with us,” Batu said.

He gestured at the seat next to him. Tuimar frowned.

“I don’t need your pity…”

She scowled and walked over to take the seat by the door. I heard someone gasp, and before I had time to wonder what I should do, an old warrior growled.

“How dare you?"

She turned to him.

“So fight me, coward.”

He glared at her.

"Do you really think a busdan deserves to die by my sword?”

She snorted.

“Every coward has an excuse.”

The Varg leapt to his feet, reaching for the long knife hanging from his belt.

“No, stop it! Leave her alone!”

I rushed over to stand in front of her, but she stepped aside and turned to Batu.

“So this is how you offer hospitality in Amara’s name…?”

I glanced at Batu, and the old warrior hesitated for a moment before releasing his grip on the knife and sitting down again. What were they doing? I glanced at Tuimar. She was still standing, scowling at the Vargs. She’d provoked them, but that didn’t take away those disdainful scorns that had followed her ever since we arrived. I turned back to the table.

“What has she done to you?”

No one answered. I could see the warrior staring down at the table, and when I looked out over the Vargs, no one wanted to meet my gaze. It was Batu who finally spoke,

“She’s broken our laws. It is our rule for mates to be chosen by the leader. They’ve proven themselves worthy, and the pups will carry the strength and courage of their parents.”

He turned to Tuimar.

“No leader would have approved of such a union…"

I stared at him.

“But…that’s stupid…”

I said the words without thinking and instantly regretted them when the Vargs' gazes turned to me. I shivered, feeling their yellow eyes on me. An older Varg covered in scars frowned.

“It’s our law.”

‘

Batu sighed.

“It is…”

He glanced at Tuimar.

“But many things have changed since we came to this world. We are no longer warriors leading the armies of Xu’ar. Even you, Ganbold, you spend more time gutting fish than practising arms. You are old enough to remember. Would a daichin have done such a thing before we came here?”

The old Varg hesitated.

"No…”

He glanced at Tuimar.

“But it is not against our laws..."

Batu fell silent for a moment before saying,

“Maybe then… It is time to leave our laws behind, just as we left our home, seeking refuge in this world…”

A murmur went through the room at his words, and I could see several Vargs leaning over to their neighbour to whisper something. Would they…? I glanced at Tuimar. Her tail wagged angrily in the air. I hesitantly reached out to her, but she shook off my hand, scowling. Batu sighed.

“Don’t turn your anger on your friends, Tuimar. They didn't do you wrong.”

She hesitated for a moment before looking away, her tail tucked between her legs.

“Will you call for blood?” he asked.

I stared at him.

“Blood?”

He sighed.

“I offered you the clan's hospitality. Ulgan broke it. As a leader, it will be my duty to avenge her if she asks for it.”

No… She couldn’t do that…

“Please don’t…”

Tuimar glanced at him.

“It will not change anything…” she murmured.

Batu shook his head.

“It will not. Don’t feed the fire in your heart with hate, or it will consume everything around you.”

I dared to reach out again, and to my relief, she didn’t push me away this time. She shivered as I pulled her close. Blade got up and walked over to us, wrapping her arm around us.

“Come, let’s rest.”

She led us back to the room, and Tuimar slumped down on the straw mattress.

“It’s okay,” I tried as I sat down next to her.

She pulled her knees to her chest, staring at her feet.

“I hate this… Why do I need to be different? I don’t fit anywhere…”

“You fit with us…”

Blade sat down next to her and rubbed her back, and Tuimar hesitantly rested her head on her shoulder. I glanced at the Valkyrie. Would she have said the same to me if she knew who I was…? I pushed away the thought and said,

“And you have Carrot, and Sanda will be happy to see us back, and…"

Tuimar sobbed.

“I'm sorry… I-I didn’t want him to get killed…”

“I know…”

I stroked her back, and she curled up on the mattress. We lay down on either side of her, and I felt her relax as I shuffled closer. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t her fault how she was born… Wasn’t the world supposed to be a better place now after the war? I sighed. Batu had said they would change their laws, but I didn’t know if the other Varg would agree, and anyway… It was only one village. All the other Varg communities would still be the same…

I could hear the murmur of voices from the hall. Tuimar must have fallen asleep, because she was breathing softly between us. I sighed and felt Blade reach out from the other side, and her hand rested on my arm.

“It isn’t fair,” I whispered. “Isn’t the world supposed to be better?”

“I don’t know… Everyone always used to blame the demons, but… Bad things happened before they came too."

I sighed.

“Why don't the Emerald Witch and the other mages do something about it? I'm sure they could if they wanted to… Why did they only care when the demons were here?”

“They tried a long time ago…”

I almost propped myself up on the elbow before I realised it would be too dark to see Blade anyway.

“They did?”

I’d never heard about that.

“I asked the Witch of Storms once. She told me they set out rules for a better world that people had to follow. They thought they could enforce them, but people resented it, even if it was for the higher good.”

She stirred on the other side of Tuimar.

“Not all the Wise Ones liked it either. Some started to question that path and tried to change it. It’s nothing more than a legend by now, it happened so long ago, but apparently, a great war broke out between them that almost broke this world, and those who survived swore to never interfere with human lives again, just like Amara.”

I sighed, and I could feel her hand reaching for my head and stroking my hair.

“But we can still try to do this world a better place,” she whispered.

“But we can’t do much…”

She sighed.

“I know, but… We’ve helped people already, and it mattered to them. I don’t think you can save the whole world, but you can try to make it better where you can. Maybe that’s enough…”

I took her hand and gently squeezed it in mine. I guess that was true… After all, wasn’t that why I’d become a Wandering Priestess? To travel and help those I could?

Blade was already awake when I woke up the next morning, packing her bag. Tuimar stirred next to me and sat up, avoiding my gaze. I hesitated for a moment before reaching out, putting a hand on her.

“It’s okay,” I tried.

She shuddered, but she didn’t push me away and only nodded.

“We’ll leave after breakfast,” Blade said.

I glanced at Tuimar. I thought I saw relief flash across her face, and she got up without a word and got dressed. Once we’d packed, I sneaked my hand into hers as we walked out to the hall. Apart from Batu, his daughter, and Ulgan sitting at the end of the table, it was empty, and I was happy to prolong her meeting with too many Vargs for as long as I could. Tuimar halted, seeing them, when Batu said,

“You’ve proved worthy of your name, Tuimar.”

She hesitantly glanced at him, and he continued,

"The flame is burning what was old so new things can flourish. It’s a good thing.”

Her ears drooped, and Ulgan spoke.

“I will leave my sword behind and travel the world as yatar, teaching our kin the laws suited for our new home.”

“You don’t need to…” she murmured.

He shook his head.

“I am sorry for what we’ve done. We cannot undo how we’ve treated you, but we can prevent others from sharing the same fate. You showed mercy when none was required, but other Huvar may not choose the same path. The peace we’ve sought here will be broken if we don’t act now.”

“Huvar?”

She looked at him, confused.

“Half human, half Varg. Or do you prefer to call yourself something else?” he added to Tuimar.

“No… I like it."

She pricked her ears, and Ulgan gestured for us to join them.

“Come and eat with us before you leave.”

Only then did I realise how hungry I was after missing yesterday's dinner. I followed Tuimar to the table and took a wooden bowl and served myself a strange-smelling stew. I only hoped it didn’t have Tah’ in it… I took a hesitant mouthful. It tasted strange, but… It wasn’t bad. I guess you could get used to it…

Hannas was waiting for us when we came out and began preparing Carrot. He would leave with us, but we would have to walk since his cart was loaded with barrels of Tah’. Despite spending the night in a Varg village, Carrot seemed fine, and she nuzzled my pocket in the hope of finding a treat.

Once we were done, Batu accompanied us to the road, where he turned to Tuimar.

“If you hadn’t found your pack already, I would have offered you a place among my people.”

She looked away, but I could see tears glistening in her eyes. He waved us goodbye, and we set out, walking next to the cart, and I wondered where the road would take us next.