I frown. “I’ve never been to Central Settlement. Two days ago I was staying in Jin’s house. Maxine and I were hunting.” I smile slightly. “If you don’t believe me, you can ask Jin and Maxine.”
“Why should I bother asking them?” he laughs. “I’m sure they’re both in cahoots. I should have killed that worthless old witch and her bastard daughter a long time ago.”
My blood boils. I envision myself sticking a knife in his meaty throat. I want to shut his foul mouth forever.
“It’s all a mistake,” I say quietly.
“Kora,” he says. “I know exactly what happened. I spoke with Kris this morning. He told me everything.” He pauses, curling his lips into a mocking smile. “He blames you. He said you manipulated him.”
I feel cold sweat dripping down my back. That can’t be true, I persuade myself. Wreck wouldn’t tell Tartis anything. Threatening or even beating him wouldn’t make him talk.
Tartis waits patiently for my answer. I remain silent.
“If you tell me the truth, I’ll spare your life,” he offers.
“I already told you the truth.”
“Oh really? So you were just hunting.”
I nod.
“And what did you kill?” he asks.
“A rabbit,” I say quickly.
“I think you killed something else besides a rabbit. I believe you killed the high master of Central Settlement.”
I swallow hard and stretch my lips into a smile.
“Just a rabbit,” I repeat.
“Do you know what I can do to you?” he asks. “I have over two hundred rangers under my command. Two hundred merciless cold-blooded killers. What if I gave you to them for a night? What if I permitted them to do whatever they please with you?”
He pauses, watching me for a reaction. I don’t say anything, my heart beating so fast I’m becoming sick.
“Scared?” he asks.
I remember Ace and his friends threatening to break my legs and leave me in the woods to slowly die. But I also recall a crowd of roamers shouting my name during my initiation, celebrating my joining their group. I’m one of them now. I shouldn’t forget this fact. And yes, I’ve already spent the entire night alone with two hundred rangers, even while being drugged into a total blackout. It was quite all right.
“Why should I be scared?” I throw a sharp look at Tartis. “The rangers are my brothers now.”
His mouth twitches. He narrows his eyes, piercing me with his heavy stare, but I don’t look away.
He must realize that at least half of rangers would join my side. His position in the village isn’t as strong as he wants everybody to believe. He may be the leader here, but I’m still Jin and Wreck’s friend.
“Do you realize that your actions may lead to a war with Central Settlement?” he asks.
I don’t answer.
“You’ve endangered everybody in this village,” he adds.
I remain mute, but his words worry me. I know he’s speaking the truth this time.
“What did you and Kris do?” he inquires one more time. “Tell me and I’ll let you live.”
I shrug, wondering what exactly he knows. He’s obviously aware that we went to Central Settlement, but perhaps that is where his knowledge ends.
“I realize that Kris is concealing something from me,” Tartis says. “He must have had a really good reason to follow you. What is that reason? How did you convince him to help you?”
I feel relieved. He doesn’t know that Wreck is the true high master of our land. I almost begin laughing. Because if Tartis only knew, if he ever saw the tattoo on Wreck’s back… he’d have us both killed instantly. Or maybe he’d send us back to Central Settlement. The masters would be happy to get rid of anybody who could threaten their leadership.
“Where did all these servants come from?” Tartis asks, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Whose servants are they?”
“Who?” I stare at him stupidly. “What servants?”
“They’re your friends, aren’t they?”
I shake my head no, although he’s guessed everything correctly.
“What if I order them all killed?” he smiles.
I shrug. “I don’t really care. They’re nobody to me.”
I force myself to sound indifferent, but my voice quivers. I think of Trent. I think of Martha, Samantha and Sandro. I must find a way to protect them.
“You have no idea what you’ve gotten into, girl,” Tartis says. “You may believe that Kris can help you. But you’re mistaken. I now understand that he fooled you. It was his idea to attack Central Settlement, wasn’t it?”
“I’m not sure what you mean. I haven’t seen Wreck for a while and…”
“Stop protecting him. He’s not your friend. He’s just using you.”
I don’t answer. An image of Wreck holding a knife to my throat comes to mind.
“You don’t know anything about Kris,” Tartis says, his voice patronizing. “He’s not the guy he appears to be. He’s done many terrible things before. I let him stay in the village only out of respect to his stepmother. But he isn’t a good person to be around.” He pauses again, then adds, “He’s very dangerous.”
I know I shouldn’t believe Tartis. But I suddenly envision Wreck holding the severed head of his uncle. I remember him dragging his crying cousin by her hair, a wicked grin spread across his face.
“He must have told you something to force you to help him,” I hear Tartis say mockingly. “Am I correct? I hate to disappoint you, but he’s delusional. You shouldn’t believe anything he says.”
I sit still, listening to my own heartbeat, trying to ignore his words. But I can’t shake my doubts. I recall Wreck shouting in the dark, holding his switchblade on something only he could see. How can I trust a crazy guy? How can I know he didn’t
