Dedicating this part to @LuckyPlum whose thoughtful feedback made me rewrite this section. Check out her truly impressive Lord Vane.

"Your one friend loves another?"

Dakkoul

Jagur was now close to the Sheradith, holding his hands out to show they were empty. Keilah slid from her horse though her chest was thumping. "I'll join him." She picked her way over the muddy ground. Dakkoul sighed and followed.

Jagur was holding his hand out to the Sheradith when they approached. "I represent my people the Vene-Jakaan. We have no quarrel with you Enderaii so I give you my hand in friendship and peace."

The Sheradith shut her large vivid green eyes while she cackled then flashed them open. "Vene-Jakaan you may be, and no enemy of ours, but who are these who come to stand beside you."

"I am Keilah. I live among the Vene-Jakaan," she said, lifting her chin.

"You are Wayvolkan." The designation sounded like an accusation.

"She is of us," said Jagur. "Her father and mother rejected their people's ways to come and live in our village. Her mother, a woman of peace, has died and the Wayvolkan have come to collect her. This is a funeral procession."

The Sheradith stiffened. "But who is he? What is he doing here? He is not a man of peace," she said in a shrill tone as she pointed at Dakkoul. She reached for his grey tunic and pulled it down with her sharp claw-like nails, exposing the tattoo that reached around the corners of his neck. "It is as I thought, he is the Hattavah. What are you here for Hattavah?" She drew back from him and the warriors around her edged closer. Like the Sheradith, they all had necklaces of fox bones and bright colorful scarves wrapped around their arms. 

He kept his voice calm, his arms at his side. "Not for you this time. I am here to escort my friend while she mourns."

"A lie," shrieked the Sheradith waving her hands. The Enderaii warriors had now formed a tight circle around them. "The Hattavah has no friends, death is his only companion."

"She was my friend before I became the Hattavah."

The Sheradith placed her talons on his face, scratching down his cheek in the direction of his square chin. Dakkoul, moving as fast as a whip lash, pinned her hand back.

"Careful Hattavah. If you hurt me, none of you will leave here alive."

"My master has promised me freedom if I execute you," he answered, lashing her with his eyes. Keilah drew in her breath.

The Sheradith pulled on her trapped hand and when she failed to free it, spoke in a cajoling tone. "What quarrel have I with you Hattavah that you would do so? Don't you hate the Wayvolkan like we do? We rejoice every time you kill one and drink to your success. Come with us now and join us in our fight against them. We would win with you to guide us. You would have honor amongst us and freedom."

Dakkoul let her hand escape. "I appreciate your offer but I can't."

The Sheradith scratched at her hair, then jangled her necklace of bones. "I would very much like to know why. Nothing stops you coming with me now. Unless you have loyalty to your master?"

"You jest," Dakkoul said his eyes trained on hers.

"Why then? Because of your daughter?"

Keilah made a sound then strangled it.

"You know all, as they say. Everything I do is for her."

The Sheradith threw back her head and laughed exposing her yellow stained incisors. "I thought you were driven only by revenge until I heard of this daughter of yours." Her laughter ceased. "If we had her, would you join us?"

Dakkoul widened his stance and put his hand on the hilt of his sword. "She is not to become a bargaining tool. If you touch her, or your people do, you will die Sheradith. You have my word on that."

Her eyes narrowed. "Am I not on your list anyway? Why shouldn't I order your death now and walk without fear." She waved her hand indicating the warrior men and women that pressed close to her, "They all want me to."

"You would not live either." Dakkoul breathed through his nose. "Very well Sheradith, let us make a deal."

The Sheradith brought her mouth close to his, close enough he could see traces of the dank green leaves stuck between her teeth. Keilah took a step back, stumbling into a warrior. She sprang forward again and he shot her a glance, trying to reassure her with his eyes.

The Sheradith clicked in her throat and he tilted his head to hers. "My friends and I must have safe passage to Kallenton and the body of her mother must be honored. The soldiers are yours."

"They are mine anyway. You give me nothing."

Dakkoul scanned the crowd of warriors pressing in around them, then his eyes rested on Keilah. "I will come to you with my daughter. You have my word if you keep yours."

"Don't do this Dakkoul," Keilah said. 

"Look around you. What choice do I have?"

Keilah turned and saw the soldiers, their throats cut, lying discarded on the ground. Jagur's face was ashen.

The Sheradith flicked her lower lip. "What is the word of the Hattavah worth, I wonder?"

Before he could answer, Keilah stiffened and hissed, "His word is true. How dare you insult his honor. He never lies. If he promises something, he always does it." There was a fierceness on her face Dakkoul had never seen before and inwardly he cringed. She believed what she was saying. He supposed he had been like that, back then. Still he could not waste her words. 

He spat on the ground and tried to match her conviction. "You do insult me. What kind of honor do you offer me if you do not trust my word?"

The Sheradith scrutinized the passion on Keilah's face before returning her intense gaze to him. He made his eyes bore into hers until she held up her hand. "Peace Hattavah. You have not been known to lie. When then will you come?"

"Before three new moons are up. I must prepare my daughter. And I want her future secured."

"We will wait for you Hattavah and your daughter. You will both have an honorable place among our people. Keilah will wait with us for your return." Keilah's eyebrows shot up and her jaw sagged.

Dakkoul shook his head. "No."

"You are not in a position to deal Hattavah."

Keilah stepped forward, her voice unsteady as she said, "I will go with you Sheradith."

"No," said Jagur and Dakkoul at the same time, but Jagur added, "Take me, instead."

The Sheradith cackled. "So, you wish to experience the hospitality of the rim folk?"

Jagur, with a broad smile said, "I do Sheradith. I want to see where you live and learn the ways of your people. Take me. Keilah needs to do the Remembering for her mother."

Dakkoul nodded his approval even as relief flooded him. He couldn't leave Keilah, but what was Jagur to him?

"No," hissed the Sheradith. "He is worth nothing, just a local village boy."

She was right, of course, but what could he say to convince her otherwise. "But Keilah is worth too much. She belongs to the House of Lavilyn. They will come after you, if you take her. Are you ready to face them yet? Don't you want me by your side when you do?"

An uncertain look crossed the Sheradith's face even as Keilah's eyes blazed. "If the Hattavah promises to come back, he will. And even if Jagur means nothing to you or him, I was willing to walk the rim-stones with him. I will never abandon him."

Jagur's cheeks fired and he threw his arm around Keilah and hugged her. Something tightened within Dakkoul's chest.

The Sheradith put her head to one side and stroked her top cheek. "She loves him, does she Hattavah? Your one friend loves another?"

Right then and there he was tired of this game. He put his hand on the hilt of his dagger and glared at her. "You see he has value. Take him. I will come for him in three new moons. Let us go."

"On your word, Hattavah," shrieked the Sheradith, and she wheeled her horse around, so that the crowd around her had to jostle back to avoid being trampled. She screamed with laughter and whipped her horse through them, up to the crest of the mountain.

Dakkoul and Keilah watched until she vanished in the crowd.

"Little did I think I would meet the Sheradith and we would both walk away alive," Dakkoul said and shook his head, a touch of wonder in his voice.

Keilah roused herself, went over to Jagur and took his hands in hers, "Are you sure?" she asked.

"I have been praying for an opportunity to share the faith with them. Just think, I'll be the first to do so!" His eyes were glowing with enthusiasm. She hugged him then, and he held her close.

"I'll think about what you have said," she promised. "I'll give you an answer when you return."

Jagur took her hands in his. "I have loved you ever since you came to the village."

"I know," she murmured. "You made it home for me."

"Now you are going to the Wayvolkan and I am going with the rim folk. There is nothing binding between us."

"What are you saying?" She searched his face, seeing only his earnest, honest expression. "I love you too Jagur, I'm just not sure I can do as you ask."

"It's in God's hands then. No guilt Keilah, if you choose someone other than me. I want your happiness most of all. Some things shouldn't be forced." He removed his hands from hers. "Let my mother know where I am, if you can."

Then he shook hands with Dakkoul and leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Don't come back for me. Stay with her. Keep her safe."

Dakkoul nodded. He had no intention of keeping his promise, but it was good to know that for all his seeming naivety, Jagur understood what his future would be.

Thank you for reading so far.