Warrior of the Wild(73)

“Take it out! Let me get a proper look at it!”

I cough loudly. “I don’t suppose you two could scoot over so I can come in?”

Iric looks through the hole in the floor. “Raz, you made it, too!” He holds down a hand to me and hoists me the rest of the way up.

“Did you ever doubt I would?”

“Of course not. Now tell me everything.”

Iric sews up the gash in my arm while Soren talks. The needle bites into my skin again and again, a pain worse than the initial slash from the bird.

“How is it that you’re always the one who gets injured?” Iric asks.

“Probably because I’m always sticking my neck out for you two.”

Iric grins while Soren has the good sense to look guilty.

As Iric finishes off the last stitch, he asks, “And did you have a nice time together?” The tone of his voice makes it very clear what exactly he means by that.

My cheeks heat up, and I find myself looking anywhere but at Soren.

Iric laughs. “You two are so utterly predictable.”

I hear a smack, probably Soren taking a swing at Iric. “Leave her alone.”

“So long as there is no touching in front of me, I won’t say another word.”

“Why, Iric? Would that make you uncomfortable?” I ask. Feeling brave all of a sudden, I stand up, move over to where Soren is seated in his chair, and place myself in his lap.

Iric’s eyes narrow. “Stop that.”

My arms go around Soren’s neck.

“Rasmira, don’t you—”

And I lean in for a kiss. Soren is more than happy to play along. His hands press into my back, and before I know it, he’s tilting me backward.

A gagging noise comes from behind us. “Okay, stop! You’ve made your point. Please! Dear goddess, stop!”

It’s awfully difficult to focus on Soren when Iric is yapping in the background. Soren’s lips turn up into a smile against mine.

“Do we take pity on him?” I ask.

“I’d rather not.”

“Rasmira, I swear I will dump the new armor I made you into the gunda-guts-infested lake if you don’t stop this instant!”

That gets my attention. “You finished it?”

“I will not say another word until you sit in your own chair!”

I sigh, but rather than do as he says, I simply turn, pressing my back against Soren’s front, so our mouths aren’t anywhere near each other.

“That’s as good as you’re going to get,” I say. “Now talk.”

Iric narrows his eyes, but he gives in. “It’s done. Should fit you like a glove. I’ll take you to see it tomorrow.”

“Good, I’m going to need it. I think it’s time I challenged the god.”

Soren freezes underneath me as Iric’s eyes widen. Soren hadn’t gotten to the part in our story where we learned about the lodestone and I explored Peruxolo’s lair, so I tell Iric the rest now.

“So you need a new ax,” Iric says after I finish.

“Yes.”

“I’ll build you a new one. No problem.”

“Iric, don’t encourage her!” Soren says.

“What are you talking about? This is what we set out to do! We both can go home now, and you want to deny that privilege to Raz?”

“It’s not that,” Soren says. “I just don’t think we’re ready for Peruxolo yet. We need a plan on how we’ll face him. Where we’ll do it.”

“I already have most of that figured out,” I say.

“You do?” Soren asks.

“Yes, I spent our walk back to the tree house thinking about it. If you spent less time trying to talk me out of it and more time being supportive, we could have discussed it together.”

Soren lowers his head to my shoulder. “Sorry. I’m listening now.”

“Here’s what I think we should do. First, you two need to go home to Restin.”

“What?” Both boys snap at the same time.

“Iric’s hyggja head isn’t going to last out here, and that feather could blow away with a breeze. You two should take your proof home while you can, and I’ll come with you in order to see how you’re received. I want to know if the village will really welcome you back. That’ll change how I decide what to do next.”

“How so?” Soren asks.

“If you are not welcomed back, then I’ll face Peruxolo alone. Because if your villages still treat you as outcasts, then there’s no way my father would show up to witness my battle against the god. But if your village takes you in with open arms? I will formally challenge Peruxolo. I will face him publicly, in the clearing where the villages make the Payment each year. Soren will do his part and invite all seven villages to watch the battle.”

“Are you sure?” Soren asks.

“I’m sure. Let’s head for Restin tomorrow. Then we’ll set our plan into motion.”





PART 4


THE


GOD





CHAPTER


22


Before heading out, Iric takes me to his forge.

He comes to a stop at a wooden chest tucked underneath a table full of tools. He bends down, fiddles with a latch, and then hoists up the lid.