Page 38 of The Great and Terrible

We reached the row of buildings and bumped into a stunning woman who shot out of a door. She had curly black hair and a lovely dark complexion. “Soldier,” she blurted out, shooting her gaze to the ground. “We’ve paid our taxes.”

“That, I know,” he responded. “I’m here as a guest, not a guard.”

“You are Jasher?” she asked, unsure. When he nodded, she brightened but still didn’t look up. “Good to have you back.”

“Has my brother passed through?”

“Which one?”

How many did he have?

“Anders,” he replied.

“No. Not for weeks.”

The muscles in his back bunched.

When Jasher failed to make an introduction, I rolled my eyes. “Hi. I’m Moriah.”

“Natalie,” she responded with open curiosity. A silent request for more information.

Nugget stirred in my arms, spotted her and growled. His eyes flashed red.

Natalie’s smile fell, choking sounds springing from her. “That’s a rabdog. A runt.”

Here we go again. “He’s friendly, I promise.”

“Rabdogs are never friendly.” She reached behind her back, swung her arm forward, and aimed a pistol at my pet.

Nugget sensed the increased threat and reacted accordingly, snarling, preparing to launch from my arms and attack.

For some reason, I experienced no fear. Only fury. Enough with the threats! “Put the weapon away,” I demanded. “I’m under the protection of a royal guard, and he takes his jobveryseriously.” As he’d proven earlier today. “Considers it a matter of life and death.”

To my immense surprise, Jasher stepped in front of us, becoming our shield. A true sense of security enveloped me for the first time since I’d arrived in Hakeldama, and I relaxed. Nugget, too, calmed down.

“Any who attempt to harm the woman and the rabdogwill pay a steep price,” Jasher stated, as unruffled as ever but also harder. Harsher.Frightening.And yes, okay, sexy.

Natalie became ashen, and her hand began to tremble. She lowered and sheathed the gun.

“Where is everyone headed in such a hurry?” I asked, the momentary peril already forgiven and forgotten. Maybe I’d grown as a person. Maybe the influx of danger I’d faced in a matter of days had hardened me to difficulty.

The beauty pointed a building with a sign that proclaimed BUFFET OF WRATH. “There’s a revenge lottery tonight. Speaking of, I don’t want to be late.” She didn’t wait around to hear our response but shot off like a bullet.

Jasher’s shoulders rolled in the slightest bit. “The inn keeper will be there too. We won’t be able to get a room until the lottery ends.”

“What’s a revenge lottery? Because it sounds illegal, according to Hakeldama law. Wait. Never mind. We’re in Lawless Forest. No rules apply.”

“You can witness the lottery firsthand.” He headed for the same building as Natalie.

I kept pace at his side, my curiosity growing with every step. As he reached out to open the door, Nugget squirmed for freedom. I freed him from the sling and lowered him to the ground, my shoulder and back singing with relief, glad to be free from the heavy weight.

My precious darted off, racing for the forest as if he’d spotted prey.

“Nugget!” I called, ready to dart after him.

The executioner clasped my arm, holding me in place. “He’ll be fine, I assure you. He’s a wild animal. Frankly, I expected him to take off long before this.”

Honestly? Me, too. “Yes, but he’s just a baby.Mybaby. What if he gets lost?”

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