Page 4 of Between Two Barbarians

Jamal beamed, pleased with the suggestion, but the soldier didn’t seem happy about it. “You cannot mean to stay! My job was to escort you to the clan encampment! I need to return to my duties!”

His duty as far as I could tell was to care for Jamal. He didn’t seem capable of doing the job well if he was complaining so much.

Torgrind must have thought the same thing because he replied to the soldier in the common tongue, his words terse and tight with annoyance. “We can escort him to the Northern Clan when ready. You can go.”

Idrull looked between us, bemused, but he was a smart man. He likely figured out why we were reluctant to let the beautiful man go so easily. He rolled his eyes, turning to the soldier again. “If you have more to attend to, we are happy to escort him ourselves. We were likely heading back in that direction soon anyway for a rest. Jamal will be safe among my people.”

The soldier looked conflicted, which made me even more certain that the gorgeous man should not be left in his care. If he was truly suited for the job, no one should have been able to dissuade him from escorting his charge. He was a piss poor warrior for even considering leaving him.

“Amir. Just go. I am fine,” Jamal insisted, crossing his arms over his chest. “You want to go back, so go.”

Again the soldier looked conflicted. Tired of his feeble complaints, I put more pressure on Jamal’s back to lead him away.

“Come, varakai. You hungry?”

He eyed me up and down, a sultry grin spreading across his face. “Mm. Starving.”

I quirked an eyebrow at his forwardness but didn't dissuade him. There was nothing better than a partner who knew what they wanted. Once I saw to his needs, I would see where the night took us.

It was meal time when we arrived at the community fire, Ghil handing out food from inside his cooking tent. I led Jamal that way, blinking when he startled hard and jumped back, clinging to my arm.

“What is that beast?” he asked apprehensively, pointing toward Ekkar who was pressed against Henry’s legs while they waited in line to fetch their meal. Garrun was likely not far, he usually shared the evening meal with his bondmate before returning to his duties on guard, but after Henry learned to move about on his own and with Ekkar’s help, he stopped hovering so much.

“That is Ekkar. He is an ulvor. He is not a threat,” I told him, using the common tongue in simple sentences so he could understand. I had a grasp of Erabi, but I didn’t want to test my ability when Jamal needed to be put at ease. “Rest easy, varakai. You are safe with me.”

My comment seemed to help, and he leaned into me, batting long eyelashes, his bottom lip trapped between his teeth. “So protective. I’ve heard good things about barbarians. What other rumors are true?”

CHAPTER THREE

TORGRIND

I watched Brenek escort the beautiful stranger away with half a mind to get between them and take the man for myself. Brenek and I competed in many ways, but rarely over conquests. We generally weren’t interested in the same things when it came to romantic partners. But this man? This man was special.

“Torgrind?” Idrull’s voice held a hint of curiosity. He didn't pry, he wasn’t a nosy clan leader, but I could tell he was curious.

“Clan Leader,” I acknowledged him with a bow of my head. “Do you need something from me?”

A smile tugged at his lips, like he’d spoken before and I hadn’t been listening. I tried not to grimace. I wasn’t normally so easily distracted.

“Yes. See to it that Jamal’s escort is fed, and his horse is watered before he leaves. Your Erabi is better than mine.”

Dipping my chin, I turned to the gaping soldier who still looked incredulous by the turn of events. It was his own fault. Had he been a better guard and escort, it was unlikely that Jamal would have turned him away. His whining got him into this predicament, and I took great satisfaction in informing him of the changes.

“We take Jamal as our charge. He safe with us. You can join for a meal before being on your way.”

He jerked to look at me, wide-eyed, but seeing the determination on my face, he backed down, throwing his hands into the air with frustration. He spoke in Erabi, but thankfully in words I understood. “Fine. I did my duty getting him here. If he wishes to stay, that is his problem. Perhaps the spoiled little shit will learn humility out here.”

His jaw snapped shut when he noticed my glare, and he spun on his heel to avoid me, stomping toward the community fire where his horse was being tended to. Brenek was already fawning over the newcomer, sitting beside him around the fire and leaning to whisper in his ear.

If he thought I’d just back down, he was more stupid than I thought. There was something special about this stranger. I was not passing up an opportunity to get to know him just because Brenek got there first.

After fetching my own meal, I sat beside the man, feeling smug when he turned to smile up at me.

“You speak Erabi?”

“Some,” I agreed, shooting a smug look at Brenek when I noticed him glowering at me. “I studied with a teacher after our arrival here and have spoken with Al Nuzem people when we visit their towns.”

He hummed, giving me a slow once over, a sultry grin pulling at his lips. “You speak well. What other things are you good at?”