Chapter 22

“Another word and I’ll cut your tongue out,” she promised, and then called over her shoulder, “Lowel, bind their hands.”

The young soldier from before wrenched his eyes away from their dying captain. His features were stark with shock. “Yes, Beka…sir.” He drew two strips of leather from an inside pocket and hurried behind Taden. He tied Taden’s hands painfully at his back. Taden watched closely as he went to Nathaniel, and hesitated.

“Don’t look him in the eyes, fool,” Beka growled as the soldier continued to stare at Nathaniel.

The soldier blinked wide, bewildered eyes. “Yes, sir,” he said, clearly flustered. He went behind Nathaniel and began to tie his wrists together. Taden lifted a brow at the soldier’s gentleness, then coughed violently as if he were choking, drawing Beka’s attention away from them. The woman watched him dispassionately, then motioned to the soldiers still standing over the captain’s bleeding body.

“Get the horses and tie these men to the saddles. Tightly.”