Read Trinity Rising: Book Two of the Wild Hunt (Wild Hunt Trilogy 2) for Free Online

father limped in, the half-mended bridle dangling from his hand.
    ‘Look, just look at her!’ Ana seized Teia’s arms and pulled her further into the light. ‘Look what he’s done to her!’
    Her father’s face was expressionless. ‘He is the chief, Ana.’
    ‘That doesn’t give him the right to paw over our daughter like an animal!’
    ‘And how am I supposed to stop him?’ Teir demanded harshly. ‘Am I supposed to march up there and call him out to battle? He is the chief ! He’ll have me staked out for the wolves, woman!’
    ‘Does she mean so little to you?’ Ana persisted. ‘I told you I did not want her going to him – I knew something like this would happen! He is not his father, Teir, not by a full measure!’
    ‘Mama, please.’ Teia tried to shrug off her mother’s hands and cover herself, to hide from the storm of raised voices.
    ‘Drw was my friend. I trusted him, and I served him willingly until I couldn’t serve any more.’ A muscle worked in Teir’s jaw and he looked away. ‘I owe it to his memory to serve his son.’
    ‘Even after this? She is not a saddle blanket to be traded—’
    ‘Quiet!’ Teir snapped. He flung down the bridle and levelled a finger at Ana. She backed away as if he had pointed a spear at her, drawing Teia with her. ‘I have heard enough, wife. I have given my word to the Speaker that I will abide by the chief’s will in this. Now remember your place.’
    Then he turned on his heel and stalked away, making no attempt to hide the stiffness in his gait that he’d carried for as long as Teia could remember, legacy of the Stony River Rebellion. Ana watched him go, then sighed and pulled the tent flap closed.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ she said, looking down at her hands. ‘I tried to tell him last night, but he would not listen. He thinks he is doing his best for you.’ Her shoulders lifted helplessly. ‘Your father’s a proud man. It hurt him more than he would ever admit to give up the captain’s banner and just be a liegeman again. It eats at him.’
    ‘So I’m supposed to feel sorry for him?’ The words were thick in Teia’s throat. ‘What about me, Mama?’
    Ana sighed. ‘A lame man can’t be a war captain, Teisha. Drw never forgot what Teir did to help put down the rebellion, but now Drw’s gone and your father has nothing. If he sees you wedded to the new chief, his name will have high honour in the Crainnh again.’
    Teia stared incredulously. ‘But first I have to whore for him?’
    ‘Teia!’ It was not much of a reproof and still Ana could not look at her. ‘He is a good man trying to do the right thing. A Crainnh without honour has no place in the clan and you know that. He is only trying to secure your future. Our future.’
    Teia flung up her hands. ‘And what if the chief doesn’t want me for his wife? Did he think about that? Or will he just auction me off at the Gathering and buy back his honour?’
    The clouds broke at last and engulfed her in tears. Jerking her dress straight, she pushed past her mother and out into the weak sunshine, no longer caring who saw her face or pointed at her as she stumbled away. She did not care where she was going either, and blundered straight into the Speaker.
    Strong hands caught her, fending her off. ‘Wait – wait, child!’
    Teia looked up, recognising the voice.
    Frowning, Ytha lifted her chin. ‘What happened to your face? Did Drwyn do this?’
    Mutely, Teia nodded, fresh tears spilling onto her cheeks faster than she could swipe them away.
    Ytha harrumphed and released her. ‘I thought you would have learned how to please a man by now. You spent long enough with Drw.’ The Speaker’s voice was flat and chilly as stone and her green eyes just as hard.
    Horrified, Teia searched Ytha’s face for compassion or even a shred of the brusque kindness of the night before. She found nothing. Her heart sank towards her toes and she could articulate nothing more than a moan.
    ‘Stop snivelling, child!