*Chet*
As soon as I ensure Unega is safely in her father’s wagon, I stride swiftly toward my own, waking my brother and cousins with a firm shake of their shoulders.
“Up. Now,” I command in a hushed tone, careful not to wake the families in the other wagons. “Unega and I were attacked.”
Mo sits up immediately, eyes sharp despite the early hour. “Where? Was she injured?”
“No, just a scratch on her shoulder,” I assure him. “She fought well, and we were victorious. Two rogues ambushed us in a grove of trees about one hundred and fifty yards from camp. Unega gravely wounded one, and I took the life of the other.”
The men exchange tense glances. Their battle instincts sharpen, ready for whatever comes next.
“They will come back for revenge,” Kan says grimly. “If you killed one of them, th
