Tolerant by C.J. Sparrow

Author:C.J. Sparrow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: C.J. Sparrow
Published: 2023-04-11T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18

The people of Terrowin surrounded Tovey in silent fascination. Ushering her forward, the leader guided Tovey to the central wooden cabin made from downed trees. The notched edges of the structure were expertly fastened into a square. The other homes were smaller but built in the same way. Worn dirt trails crossed the ground instead of roads. Tovey swallowed hard as she neared the structure. She glanced back to the forest, searching for Cullus.

“Where is your friend?” the woman asked.

“Who?” Tovey hoped she sounded convincingly clueless.

“The one you came here with.” The furred woman grinned knowingly, tilting her head toward the young boy, whose eyes shined like marbles. Tovey’s heart sped. Cullus was right. They had already known they were both here. “He is welcome.”

Tovey turned to the forest, letting the eyes of the villagers fall to her back. A shadow shifted in her sights, hiding from the light.

“Cul—” She forced a cough. “Collin!”

Frilliam emerged from the cover, strong and brooding, stepping with high knees through the tangled grass. Atop the saddle rode Cullus, who had muddied his shirt and scattered his hair into a tangled mess.

Tovey tried not to laugh at his strange attempt to blend in with the defectors, though she hoped they wouldn’t see through his pitiful disguise. If the defectors held any values similar to Nadia’s, they would hate highborns, especially Cullus. Still, his posture was too perfect, and he held an air of importance around him without trying, even when he wasn’t wearing fanciful fabrics.

A few men stiffened as Cullus approached, a subconscious respect dwelling within their spines. Cullus drew his black hood over his face, casting a dark shadow over its entirety aside from his dimpled chin.

Glancing at the former soldiers, Tovey studied their faces for any form of recognition. The men traded skeptical stares as muscles tightened in their bulky arms. She cursed herself for not considering that the soldiers knew who they were serving. Servants never got to see anyone outside of the collective. The soldiers, however, were likely visited by those they were unwillingly pledging their lives to.

“Welcome.” The woman paused, surveying Cullus’s cloaked body. “Who might you be?”

A rock settled in Tovey’s stomach. She eyed Cullus’s darkened face, the weather turning sour with heavy clouds building in the skies. The charcoal sky contrasted with her eyes, brightening them in the dim light.

“He is a dear friend,” Tovey interjected in the eerie silence.

Cullus bowed his head, sliding off Frilliam in his naturally graceful demeanor. Tovey forced a smile, grabbed his hand, and stepped in front of him. It was odd that she was the one protecting him now. His body was cool and rigid. Tovey squeezed his hand, hoping to communicate all was well, but she wasn’t sure Cullus got the message.

“Join me,” the woman demanded, turning toward the main house. “This is Terrowin, founded fifteen years ago.” She turned to Tovey and winked before continuing. “I and another defector wound up here after many years as wild women. We defected from our collective as children.

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