38
Kiria
The rough bark scratched the inside of her arms. Firian silently wound the sash around Kiria’s wrists, tying her arms behind a tree. The black cloth tied around her wrist squeezed the circulation from her hand. Cold, howling wind blew hard through the grasses. “You could turn yourself in,” she said, twisting to try to see him. “I’ll make sure nothing happens to you.”
He scoffed. “If you wouldn’t run away, I wouldn’t do this,” he muttered, tightening the cloth. He laid his hand over hers when he was finished. Then, louder, “You could also give Tanyu a vote.”
“Not after this.” She settled back, grimly looking straight ahead. Defying him gave her an odd mixture of nervousness and strength.
Tanyu hadn’t helped the Western Kingdom in any tangible way until Firian came as her bodyg
