Page 9 of The Physician's Barbarian
The smaller man gave a nervous laugh, sidling a little farther away. “That’s weird. Rhoddgorr doesn’t normally like people. He’s bitten Godr a few times during training.”
A frown pulled at my lips. The stallion didn’t seem to be a menace, at least not to me. He leaned against the fence, nudging me for more pets when I paused to study him. I moved closer, petting down his long neck, and spoke over my shoulder to the blond man.
“Are you sure? He seems sweet to me.”
“Ambrose!” Godr’s tone was worried, and he hurried over, ready to come to my defense.
I saw when the horse, Rhoddgorr, changed his demeanor. His ears went back, and when Godr was close enough, he kicked him and sent him sailing to the ground a few feet away.
“Godr!” the blond cried, fear and worry etched into his face. He was too afraid to jump the fence to check on him, though. That was up to me. Setting one hand on the fence, I hopped over and jogged over to where Godr was grimacing on the ground.
“Are you alright?”
We didn’t speak the same language, but he seemed to understand me just fine. He waved me away, glaring at Rhoddgorr and speaking harshly to him. The horse seemed uninterested in Godr’s lecture and walked off without a backward glance.
While Godr was still lecturing the impassive stallion, I pressed on the spot where a bruise was already forming. He hissed in pain and covered the spot protectively, but I batted his hand away. I needed to check if the ribs were broken. He could handle a few minutes of discomfort.
Godr watched me as I poked and prodded at him, his brows drawn together tightly. When I urged him to lie down, he went willingly, expression mildly amused until I pressed harder on the bruise and made him grimace.
“Are you a healer?” a feminine voice asked.
When I looked over my shoulder, a woman with long dark hair stood just outside the fence, with the blond man partially hidden behind her. Her head was tipped as she watched us curiously.
“I’m a physician. Or, I was…” I’d be heartbroken if they said I couldn’t be anymore.
“Did you retire? Or would you be willing to help the clan? We do what we can here, but we’d never say no to help. I’m not sure if the clan you’ll be sent to will feel the same way, but I know I’d be happy to learn what I can from you.”
A small bit of hope lit in my chest. I thought I’d lost everything when I took my sister’s place as tribute. If there was a chance that I could do my job for even a little while longer, I’d take it.
GODR
My gaze moved between Zoya and Ambrose. They spoke the common tongue, so I had no hope of understanding them, but their words didn’t make me think there was a problem. And Ihad no complaints about Ambrose’s hands on me while he spoke to her, now that he wasn’t poking at the sore spot. I would get back at Rhoddgorr for his actions. He would get no treats for a week.
I was still stunned about his reaction to Ambrose, though. Rhoddgorr had been bullheaded since he was sired. He liked no one, not even me, and I had a way with the stallions that most others didn’t. None of the others would get near him for fear of getting bitten. He tolerated my presence when he wanted food or brushing, but he wouldn’t hesitate to kick me if I displeased him. And yet he liked Ambrose.
A part of my soul swelled with hope at the thought. Only those with a stallion’s spirit could tame the wildest of the herd. I’d thought for a moment that I was blessed when he came under my protection. I would be a fool to ignore such a gift. But then I remembered that his stay here was only temporary. He would join the Ilvos clan once he had a better grasp of our ways and mother tongue. My stomach twisted uncomfortably at the thought.
I had been sure I was uninterested in a bondmate. And yet after one night with Ambrose, I was questioning everything. Who was this tribute, and what was he doing to me?
“Are you alright?” Finn asked, drawing my attention back to my surroundings as he came to stand next to me. I forced a smile, pushing my swirling thoughts away, but didn’t get up. Ambrose was still touching me, and I wasn’t willing to move away.
“I’m alright. It’s not the first time I have been tossed away by a stallion, and it won’t be the last.”
Finn’s grimace said he wasn’t pleased with my joke. He was a gentle spirit and didn't like violence or danger in any form. I reached for him, patting his leg gently.
“I promise, I am well.”
His shoulders slumped with relief, and he gave me a watery smile. “That’s good. Ambrose said you’ll be fine, but I wanted to be sure.”
Tipping my head, I asked, “How does he know? I haven’t taught him enough to understand my words.”
“He’s a physician,” Finn explained. “He wasn’t poking you to be unkind. He was checking to see if your ribs were broken.”
My mouth fell open in surprise. “A physician? Truly?” I thought I’d seen all types of tributes, but I’d never heard of a tribute with such an important profession. I couldn’t help but ask, “How did he end up here?”
Seven
AMBROSE
