Sentinelspire - Mark Sehestedt [21]
And that had been it. The half-orc had made sure Lewan wasn't hurt, even brushed off the clinging leaves and twigs, then brought him back to camp where he was fed, allowed to clean up, and given warm blankets by the fire. Still, after the events of the day, he'd lain awake long into the night, unable to stop his trembling. The only thing resembling punishment was that he was not allowed near Berun. He'd seen him, huddled near a fire on the far side of the camp. The way his master sat-hunched over, stiff, and favoring one side-Lewan knew he was hurting, but the two times Lewan rose and tried to walk over, the tiger came and stood in front of him with a growl so low that Lewan felt it in his boots.
And so it was the following day. As they walked deeper into the wood, the country becoming rougher and climbing with every mile, Lewan walked near the front of their procession, Sauk beside him or just ahead, the tiger following. In the few places where the forest paths broke through clearings, Lewan caught sight of Berun, walking at the very rear of the line, surrounded by three men, two of whom held naked blades. The third, the blond one Sauk had called Val, kept a wary eye on their surroundings and seemed to be trying to engage Berun in conversation, but to no success. "Thirsty?"
Lewan turned around. Still walking at the easy pace he set, the half-orc held out an open waterskin.
When Lewan just stared at it, Sauk said, "Just water. Won't bite you."
Lewan took the skin and squeezed a few sips into his mouth. Just enough to keep him going. He tied it shut and handed it back to the half-orc.
"Keep it," said Sauk.
Lewan nodded thanks and tied the skin's cord round his belt.
"Feeling sick?" asked Sauk. "No. Why?"
"Your color's no good. You look pale, and you've been jumping at every noise all morning."
They left the clearing and plunged back into the cool of the wood. In the brush off the path, spider webs hung heavy with morning dew. A few even crossed the path, but Sauk used his scabbard to clear them out of the way.
"I'm well enough," said Lewan.
"Not afraid of spiders, are you?"
"No."
"Don't let the webs worry you," said Sauk. "Nothing too dangerous in the lowlands. The big monsters stick mostly to the mountains, especially this early in the year."
"I've been living here for several seasons," said Lewan.
The half-orc grinned. "You know this country better than me. That what you're saying?"
Lewan shrugged. "I don't know you."
Another fit of trembling hit Lewan. He clenched his jaw and fists to quell it. The half-orc laid a palm against his face. Lewan flinched back.
"Just checking for fever," said the half-orc. "I mean you no harm."
Lewan snorted despite himself.
"Truly," said the half-orc. "You have nothing to fear from me."
"Then let us go." "Us?"
"My master and I."
"Can't do that," said the half-orc. "You and Kheil are needed, whether he'll admit it or not." "His name is Berun."
The half-orc rolled his eyes, then returned his attention to their path. "He never told you?" "Told me what?"
"Your master… Berun"-Lewan heard the sneer in the word, though he couldn't see the half-orc's face-"used to go by the name Kheil. Kheil was once the best assassin west of Kora Shan. Some of the most powerful houses in Faerыn paid vast amounts of gold or favors for Kheil's services. Our master, the Old Man of the Mountain, most often specialized in quiet killing. Trained most of his men to make murder look like an accident. But Kheil was… special. Kheil was used when a message needed to be sent. Kheil didn't just kill. He slaughtered-and liked it."
"I don't believe you."
The half-orc chuckled and brushed a thick web from across the path before plunging onward. "Believe what you want. Kheil and I were more than comrades in arms. We were brothers."
"You're a half-orc."
"Dam yeluk ufrum kahutat naw."
"What?"
"A saying of the orc tribe where I grew up. It means, 'Blood is thicker than milk.' Means that brothers in blood"-the half-orc