Scarlet and the White Wolf [01] - Scarlet and the White Wolf by Kirby Crow

until she got fed up with him and joined another camp to the east in Chrj, moved to stand behind the handsome pedlar and looked him up and down like he was a piece of meat he had a mind to purchase, leering in a suggestive manner. Liall found this distasteful and he gave Elden a scowl until the man retreated.
    "Well, red-coat, and what does a pedlar have for the Wolf?" Liall asked, giving the pedlar a warm look that was rewarded with a frown of suspicion and dislike.
    "It's been a lean year, Atya," the pedlar began, dropping into the customary speech of a born haggler. Despite the frown, the lad addressed him respectfully enough and gave him his proper chieftain's title. His voice was low and pleasant to the ear.
    More than pleasant, Liall admitted privately, to look at as well as to hear. He studied the pedlar's face and decided the Hilurin was exceptionally attractive, despite the smallness.
    "So I hear, but luckily we have had good trade this week,"
    Liall said. "My krait is fed and warmed by city garments, and my needs are not what they were a month ago. Otherwise, you would not get through for less than everything you carry and what is on your back besides."
    "And then I'd freeze in the snow," the pedlar said resentfully. "A real wolf wouldn't be that cruel. He'd kill me quickly and be done with it."
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    Scarlet and the White Wolf--Book One
    by Kirby Crow
    Liall did not care for his tone, too haughty for a mere pedlar and clever besides, and the young man was staring at him with frank scorn. Though Liall was used to sensing the ever-present disdain from village folk, most took more care to hide it than this one. Byzans were coldly disapproving, but passive and distant. This one before him was different. He was fire to their water.
    "There are wolves and then there are wolves," Liall said.
    "Either way, fast or slow, you would be just as dead. Do you really want that?"
    The pedlar's eyes flickered a little. It might have been fear.
    Liall waved his hand and laughed. He did not enjoy frightening youngsters, even youngsters who disliked him.
    "My fangs are whetted enough for one day. Let me see your wares."
    The pedlar slipped the ratty, well-padded pack off his shoulder and carefully emptied its contents onto the stone as a few more of the krait, having gleaned what they could from the Sea Road, gathered round to watch. Liall waited as the young man neatly stacked all the items and made a tidy pile of them.
    "Is this all?"
    "All, bandit-wolf."
    Liall gazed at him evenly. It was on the tip of his tongue to inform the pedlar that the Kasiri had an ancient claim to this pass that made the toll legal in their eyes, but he closed his mouth firmly. Why was he contemplating explaining himself to a mere peasant boy? Being a thief had never bothered him before.
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    Scarlet and the White Wolf--Book One
    by Kirby Crow
    "I ask you again: is this all?"
    The pedlar would not meet his eyes.
    "I could have you searched."
    The pedlar shrugged, apparently unaffected.
    "Searched like a Minh would," he added. "In places no gentleman would think to look."
    The pedlar hesitated before he reached down and produced a little gilded bottle of perfume from his boot, placing it like a crown on the pile. Liall saw then that the pedlar's left glove looked strange, too narrow in some way, and he realized that this one carried a rare genetic marker of the Hilurin: a four-fingered hand. The young man saw the direction of Liall's gaze and looked uncomfortable, but made no move to hide his deformity.
    Liall picked up the scent and sniffed it. Blue poppy and probably the best item he had. Beside it was placed a little metal and glass compass, which is another trademark of the pedlar's profession. Few traveled without at least a compass and a hand-map of Byzantur. Kio moved to stand behind Liall and fixed the pedlar with his aureate gaze, his delicate features turning down in disapproval.
    "I see you've met the Minh," Liall said wryly, which provoked a