Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75650 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75650 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Across the valley,” he agrees. “That cave and no other. I want to know exactly where to find you.”
I swallow my excitement, though I cannot stop the relieved grin spreading across my face. “The cave near here. No other.” I repeat his words precisely.
“And you know where we are going?”
I nod. Hassen has shared the details of the ‘new’ place under our familiar grounds so many times that I know the exact spot we are heading to. “I will not get lost.”
“No, I suppose you will not.” Vektal seems amused at my claim. “You are one of my best hunters, Pashov. If that has not changed, you will have no problems finding the place. Still, we will leave a marker of some kind so you will know you are in the right valley. A spear sticking out of the ground, or a fur tossed in a tree, perhaps.”
“A fur would work,” I joke. “I have many of them that Pacy has made filthy over the last several days.”
He snorts and gets down on hands and knees, rolling the leather tent into a tight bundle. “You think I do not have bags and bags of frozen dirty wraps from my daughter? Georgie wails that she needs to do lawn-dree desperately.” He shakes his head and looks up at me. “I cannot talk you out of this, can I?”
“No, you cannot.” I fight back my jubilation.
“You will be careful? This is near metlak territory. We do not know how they will act with so many sa-khui coming into their land.”
“I can protect my mate and kit.”
“I know you can. I would be a bad chief if I did not remind you to keep eyes and ears open, however. I do not like this, but if the weather is as Rokan says it is, and you are determined, then I cannot stop you. Stay-see has agreed to this?”
I…have not asked her. I will not ask her, because I suspect her answer will be no. I nod at my chief and ignore the sickly knot in my stomach. I do not like to lie to my chief…but for Stay-see? I will lie.
“You have four hands of days. Our hands, not human hands.” He wiggles his three fingers and thumb at me, as if to remind me that we have one less digit than the small human hands.
“We are at least one hand of days away from the valley,” I protest. “Maybe two. It is not enough time.” That will only give me two hands of days to woo my mate.
“No more,” Vektal says in a hard voice. “Or I do not let you go at all.”
“Four hands,” I agree. I will make use of every day I have with Stay-see, then. It must be enough.
“Find us in the new valley. Be there within four hands of days, or I will come for you.” The look he gives me is narrow-eyed. “You had better not make me come for you. I will not be pleased.”
I laugh. “You will not have to come get me. We will rejoin the tribe before the brutal season arrives. This I promise.”
He thinks for a moment, then adds, “If you are not back by turning of the moons, I will send Bek after you.”
I shrug. Bek is prickly but competent. I do not mind him.
“And Harrec.”
I scowl at that. “We will be back.”
I am bursting with excitement over my plan. Vektal and I speak to the hunters who watch over the back of our group, letting them know that I will be breaking off from the herd shortly. Several look worried, but Bek looks pleased that I am taking action. He gives me a solemn nod before turning to leave.
When I return to my tent, Stay-see is awake. She gives me a curious look at my good mood but says nothing, focusing on feeding and changing Pacy. I hurry to pack our things, noticing with mixed feelings that the snow is coming down faster. It will give weight to my story that I will tell my mate: that we were separated from the tribe due to the storm and must shelter at the cave. I only wish it would not be so cold, because already Stay-see shivers miserably. I take the cloak off my shoulders and offer it to her, but she shakes her head. “You must stay warm, too.”
“I will be warm enough pulling the sled,” I tell her, but she refuses.
I bundle her and my son up on the sled, taking care to pack the blankets tightly around her. Once our things are packed, I grab the sled handles and set off into the blinding snow.
Soon we will be alone together.
Then Stay-see will have no choice but to confess her worries to me, and we will heal. If I cannot have my old memories back, we will make new ones.