Page 22 of Between Two Barbarians

For a moment, the jarring movements made me want to squeeze my eyes shut and just hold on. But it only took a whoop from Brenek to get me to open them again, a laugh building in my chest as the desert whipped by. I threw my hands out, the excitement escaping me in an elated shout. My excitement only seemed to spur Brenek and Faron on, Brenek leaning a little forward as Faron picked up speed.

My heart raced in my chest, my fingers tangling in the horse’s mane as we raced through the desert, and a smile pulled almost constantly at my cheeks. This was what I’d imagined when I thought about the barbarian clans. Fast riding, amazing sex, and true freedom.

It almost made me wish I didn’t have to leave.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

JAMAL

With both Brenek and Torgrind distracting me and finding fun things for me to do, I forgot entirely about the journey and how boring it was. I still practiced riding on my own when we were actually moving, and when we’d stop for the night, they’d set up a tent and endeavor to wear me out thoroughly so I would rest, then find something fun to do the next afternoon until we were ready to move on again. I was so distracted by them, I didn’t notice the settlement getting closer until we were nearly upon it.

“Look there, tavi. Our destination is finally in sight,” Torgrind said.

Whipping my head around from where I’d been not-so-subtly flirting with Brenek as I rode with him atop his horse, I took in the enormous grouping of tents just on the edge of a line of trees that seemed to go on for miles. I knew from listening to my father and the king discuss my journey that the settlement was against one of the largest rivers of Al Nuzem, making it easy for those who stayed in one place to access water, as well as the plethora of animals to hunt and plants that thrived in such environments that were edible. It was a good resting spot for the new settlement and from what I could see, activity was bustling as we came closer.

Torgrind moved closer to inform me, “We don’t return here often. To move is our way of life. But it was decided when we did come to rest, as we had in the colder months in the north, we would return here. Never all at the same time, once was plenty for us all to gather together like that, but one or two clans should join us soon if they have not already arrived.”

These were the things I actually needed to know if I was to report back to the king. I’d honestly stopped thinking about that after a while, my sole focus on my barbarians and the attention they gave me. Even when doing their duties, they found something for me to do to keep me entertained. Usually they sent me to Abigail since she let me play with the horses and taught me how to manage riding something so much bigger than me a little easier than the other two had.

Excitement filled me as we got closer, and I felt Brenek chuckle against my back as I practically vibrated in my eagerness to arrive at the settlement. Prince Zakai was there, and I was eager to see him again. We’d been friends before he left to join the barbarian clans. He was one of the only ones in the castle who understood my nature and didn’t chastise me for it.

“What has you so excited?” Brenek asked, readjusting me when I tried to lift myself to see better and nearly slipped off the side. “You’d think my clan brother and I have not been doing enough to keep you happy with how eager you seem to get away.”

His comment surprised me, and I swung around to look at him, brows pinched together in confusion. “What? I’m not trying to get away.”

In fact, I was planning on using my connection to drag out my time with my barbarians a little while longer. I had no idea if Prince what’s-his-name was gone yet from the castle, giving me leave to return, but I wasn’t ready to go back yet. I was having fun with the clan.

Torgrind, from where he rode beside us, raised an eyebrow at me. “You look as though you will leap from Faron’s back the moment he stops moving. Are you familiar with someone in the settlement?”

Nodding enthusiastically, I told him, “Prince Zakai is something of a friend. At least, he was kind to me in the castle and took me with him sometimes to taverns or parties when he wanted an entourage with him. I’m happy I get to see him again.”

Torgrind’s gorgeous lips pursed thoughtfully. “I suppose it makes sense that you were acquainted, given your position in the castle.”

Brenek leaned around me with a frown. “I heard about the prince joining a clan, but never heard how that came to be. It was his bonding that led to our relocation. How did he come to meet his bondmate?”

Retelling the story of Prince Zakai’s betrayal by his own guard, being sent to a clan with no language shared between them to expose his truth, and falling in love with the clan second while they waited for a break in the weather to send him back, took the rest of the journey to the settlement.

When I’d first heard the rumors that Prince Zakai had been killed on the journey north, I’d been heartbroken. Finding someone in the castle who so easily understood me and shared my enthusiasm for fun wasn’t common and losing a light like that felt a little like a star going out. I’d been hopeful when the king went looking for his son that the rumors were untrue and elated when they turned out to be falsehoods. I’d hoped when he returned that we would be able to spend time together as we had before, but then he left to join the clans and those hopes were dashed away. I’d been looking for excuses to visit the clans ever since.

Brenek helped me down from Faron’s back, chuckling and grabbing my hips as I immediately went to rush off to find my old friend. “Wait for us, varakai. I want to meet this prince you speak so highly of.”

Torgrind hummed, taking my elbow and pulling me away from where the settlement tents were so close and yet not close enough, tipping his head toward the carriages that held what was necessary to rebuild the tents. “First, we need to pick a spot for our tents. If we aren’t quick, we won’t find a spot with good privacy and end up near the trenches instead.

I wrinkled my nose. Okay, that was a good point. I supposed I could wait for a little while longer in order to find a good spot to set up our tent.

Spinning on my heel, I marched away from the gathering of barbarians and toward the edge of the forest. Perhaps if the trees provided a little shade, we’d be able to fuck whenever we wished, and not just when the weather was cool.

It was when I’d picked a spot and Brenek and Torgrind began setting up their tents side by side that we started getting weird looks. I glanced around, taking in the murmurs and frowns in our direction and scowled in response.

“What are you glaring at, varakai?” Brenek asked as he stepped past me to grab one of the long poles that would hold up the tent, pinching my butt on the way past and making me jump.

“Why are they staring?” I grumbled, glaring at a couple who seemed to do a doubletake when they looked in our direction.

Torgrind huffed a laugh as he started laying out the tent material like he always did to be staked down and erected. I never helped, neither of them asked me to, and I didn’t know how anyway, so I just watched as they both worked in tandem. When they moved to the part where the tent was actually erected and more than one set of hands was needed, even more people gaped in our direction as Brenek set down his task to help Torgrind. They’d never stared like that before. It couldn’t be that they had a problem with the three of us, or they would’ve made that more obvious sooner than now. Right?

“Tavi, don't fret,” Torgrind told me, grunting as he held a rope taut while Brenek staked the other side. “They’re staring at us, not you.”

“Why?”