Every muscle in Blackmane’s body turned to stone as she was led away. The moment she was gone from sight, he turned to the closest tree and slammed his fist into it.

Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

Blackmane paced in front of Tatum, knuckles bleeding.

‘Just so I’m clear,’ the commander said, looking thoroughly confused. ‘The woman crying next to the corpses over there is Ita, Isabel’s friend who died in a fire five years ago—a fire Hodge started. Except she isn’t dead. She was pretending to be dead so Hodge wouldn’t find her and kill her—again. And she wants to shoot an arrow into her closest friend’s soon-to-be husband’s face.’ He paused, looking in Ita’s direction. ‘And in case that’s not weird enough, all her other friends are named after things found in nature.’

Hadewaye looked equally as confused by that point. ‘You know, I think the longer version of the story is better.’

Alveye, who had been with the reinforcements during the whole thing, appeared through the trees on foot with his horse trailing behind him. He froze when he saw Ita and Rabbit, then looked down at the corpses. ‘What did I miss?’

Tatum rubbed his forehead. ‘Quite a lot.’

‘Did you see Hodge?’ Hadewaye asked.

Alveye continued towards them. ‘Yes. He informed me that I was going home and offered nothing beyond that.’ He gestured over his shoulder and lowered his voice. ‘Did we kill those people?’

Tatum shook his head.

Blackmane headed over to Ita, who was inspecting Rabbit’s wound, and crouched beside her. ‘Do you have someone who can take this arrow out?’

Ita nodded. ‘But they’re a long way from here.’

Rabbit was pale and sweating, obviously in a lot of pain.

‘Barbed or non-barbed?’ Hadewaye asked, appearing above them.

Blackmane reached for one of the missed arrows poking out of the ground, pulled it out, and inspected the tip. ‘Non-barbed.’

‘That makes no sense given their enemy doesn’t wear any armour, but’—Hadewaye looked at Rabbit and clapped his hands together—‘it’s good news for you. I can take it out for you.’

Rabbit shook his head. ‘No.’

Ita bit her lip. ‘It might be safer than leaving it in.’

Hadewaye pointed to a nearby tree. ‘Would you look at that? A juggling goat.’

Rabbit looked up, and Hadewaye tugged the arrow out of his leg.

‘Fuck,’ the rebel grunted.

Hadewaye pressed down on the wound and nodded in the direction of his horse. ‘Grab a bandage from my saddlebag, would you?’

‘Goats don’t climb trees,’ Rabbit said, staring at Hadewaye’s bloodied hand.

‘They also don’t juggle,’ Hadewaye replied, ‘but I’ll let that slide, because you look ready to pass out.’

Blackmane returned with supplies, and Hadewaye got to work bandaging the wound. Afterwards, Ita dropped her forehead to Rabbit’s shoulder, then looked up at the defenders. ‘Thank you.’