Wolf's-own: Weregild by Carole Cummings Read Free Book Online

head and scraped his fringe out of his eyes before pulling the hood back down. “It's only that I didn't see you do any magic."
    "Well,” Malick said, giving him a small, conspiratory smile, “just because you didn't see a thing....” He chuckled a little when Morin rolled his eyes. “You should go see if your brother needs help."
    A grim snort. “Which one?"
    "Mm, good point.” Malick cocked his head. “How did you know?” he asked. When Morin's brow twisted, quizzical, Malick clarified: “I didn't tell you exactly where to kick him.” Malick paused once he'd said it—he hadn't told the boy to kick Fen at all, but... well, it had turned the trick better and faster than anything Malick had been able to come up with in the moment.
    "Lucky guess,” Morin said, mouth screwing down into a bit of a sneer as he looked over toward the dray. He turned back to Malick with another shrug. “He used to wait ‘til we were all asleep before he'd go out to the wash barrel. I wanted to know why, so I....” He shifted uncomfortably. “I pretended to sleep. He's got... lots of scars. And those things chewed him up pretty good. Someone better have a look at that leg.” He sighed and shook his head. “Joori's going to kill me when he calms down."
    "Hm,” Malick said, but he couldn't help the smile. He might like the little shit after all.
    "We're ready, Mal,” Yori said, sidling up and bumping shoulders with him. “Samin's going to lug the cart, and Joori's going to carry Caidi. How we're going to get Fen back in through the Gates is for you to figure out. Can't exactly climb it this time, can he?"
    "Oh, fucking hell.” Malick sighed. He slumped sideways into Yori and put his head on her shoulder. “If you love me,” he told her, “you'll just kill me now. Before Umeia gets me."
    Yori shoved him off and shook her head with a grin. “Yeah, if ,” she told him. “All this bother about maijin and Temshiel , and all I get is rain down my back, sore feet, and two lost arrows.” She gave him a poke in the ribs. “ I want to see the magic next time too. C'mon, Morin, you're with me.” With another shake of her head, Yori prodded at the boy until he went along, then she looked back at Malick over her shoulder and rolled her eyes. “And here I thought tonight was going to be boring."
    Ha. So had Malick. Wouldn't that have been lovely?
    Shig was the last one left, waiting for him several paces away, placid and with a tiny smile, for all the trouble she'd caused. It would take a while for the headache to hit her, but Malick had no doubt it was coming. And he couldn't be altogether sympathetic about it. He only scowled as Shig strolled up to him, looking for all the world like she'd just woken from a particularly pleasant nap. When she failed to wither beneath his glare, Malick just rolled his eyes and shook his head, then he started after the dray. “Not a word, Shig,” he growled, annoyed when she only snorted and followed along. “Not one bloody word."
    * * * *
    "Not a word, Malick,” Umeia growled as she slipped Fen's arm over her shoulders. “Not one bloody word."
    "Umeia, you—"
    "I don't want to hear it,” she snapped. “Samin and Yori already told me the important bits, and anything you have to say will be colored all too brightly with The World According to Kamen Malick paint, so just stuff it, now, before you make me kill you."
    Fen snorted a little, too bendy and wobbly between them as they lugged him up the steps—wet and shivering, though Umeia could feel the fever burning through the chill—but he was at least mostly conscious and semi-aware. “Kill ‘m anyway,” he slurred, added, “Fucker,” and staggered a little against Umeia when he tried to pull his arm loose from around Malick's shoulders.
    "I see you two are getting on just as pleasantly as usual,” Umeia observed then turned a scowl on Fen. “And you're no better,” she growled at him, pausing while Malick readjusted his grip then