Page 45 of Sohut's Protection

An expression he didn’t understand passed over the female’s face.

“Sure looks like we’re on the same side.” She shook her wrists, which were restrained. “I also tie up people I mean no harm.”

Sohut fought to keep his face straight.

Reaching for her legs, he saw her eyes widen as she pulled them back toward herself.

“I’m not going to hurt you.” He tried to keep his voice calm but deep down, her fear of him was rubbing against him. He hated the way she was looking at him.

It reminded him of too much.

When he’d been a chid, he’d had that look too many times as he’d gazed on the degenerates in the mines that he’d feared.

It was a look that should break the life-organ of any sane being…but most beings in the mines had evolved into the mindless animals the Tasqals had seen them as.

“I’m going to release your legs…” he said and waited.

The female’s eyes lit up a little as she stared at him, hope flaring inside their pale depths.

Reaching for her legs again, this time she let him take them.

His eyes met hers as he released the restraints around her ankles.

“I know you can understand me. Whoever took you to this world put a translator in your head.” He paused and touched the back of his ear then pointed to hers. “If you run, I will chase you…and I will catch you.”

Her eyes darted to the bushes and he could almost see the calculations in her head.

He didn’t want her running for more than one reason.

First, there was a spined creature somewhere on the mountain, and second, if he lost her, the Gori would no doubt send another tracker after her.

He needed to keep her with him in order to get them both out of this predicament.

Releasing her legs, he watched her with a wary gaze.

Her throat moved and she pulled her legs toward her again, but she didn’t try to run off.

Satisfied, Sohut settled back on his haunches, his gaze still on the female.

“I was sent here to retrieve you but…” his gaze moved over her face, “they didn’t tell me you were an intelligent being.” He paused, still studying her. “I have to decide what I’m going to do with you.”

Something akin to panic passed over her face so quickly, he almost missed it.

She was trying to hide her true emotions, probably so he didn’t know what she was thinking.

Smart.

She obviously didn’t trust him yet.

Her voice was soft and low when she spoke, almost stroking against his ear and it caused them to perk from the sides of his head.

“I wish you’d leave me alone and pretend you never saw me here. I wish you’d go back to those green orcs and tell them I’m dead,” she said. “But even if you could understand me, I doubt you’d do me that favor. You don’t owe me anything.”

Her words tugged at something inside him and he fought to seem unaffected.

Pretending he didn’t comprehend a word she said, he tapped his hand against his chest, catching her attention.

“Sohut. My name is Sohut.” He stretched one of his hands toward her and she leaned away.

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