The Mercenary's Bounty

by Kristen Banet

  “You would do that to me?” She leaned away from him, confused. Varon’s head began to shake wildly, sending his black hair everywhere. He was one of the few males she had ever seen with such long, loose hair.

  “No! See? Varon is looking out for you.” Nevyn laughed. “It’s a little hazing we do when one of the guys can’t remember their limits with drink. We can handle a bit more alcohol than the other races, but that doesn’t mean we can drink a tavern dry. Matesh and Zayden have both tried a few times. We don’t leave them outside alone, either. Someone guards them to make sure nothing happens.” Nevyn patted her arm. “No, we won’t do that to you. Drink, relax, be merry. This is your first night in a free land.”

  Varon’s hands began to move faster and Nevyn watched them with interest. When they were done, Varon stood up and extended a hand.

  “He wants to be your first dance,” Nevyn explained. “He’s a great dancer, you should say yes.”

  “Oh…Okay.” Mave took the hand cautiously and let Varon lift her up from her seat. She could fight battles and defeat any opponent she’d ever come against.

  Dancing made her nervous.

  Varon didn’t pull her very close, not like she saw lords and ladies dance, keeping a proper distance between them. He positioned her hands on his shoulders, and put his on her waist. Then he began to rock to the beat.

  She didn’t say anything, just letting him sway her around the empty area in the middle of the tavern where other dancers were. He grabbed one of her hands and led her through an awkward spin, made even stranger thanks to her wings.

  As the song continued, she noticed he was mouthing the words to the song.

  “You do know how to speak,” she said suddenly.

  He nodded and said something, but no sound came out. She could tell he was talking and knew from the look on his face that something had happened. There was a story there. She didn’t see any scars or disfiguration that would damage someone’s voice and she could see a tongue in his mouth. So why couldn’t he speak?

  The song ended and he led her back to the table. Mat, who hadn’t commented when she left, wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her possessively back to him and further from Nevyn.

  “Ah, jealous male. Sorry, Varon and I aren’t mayara and seem to have insulted your male.” Nevyn winked but she wasn’t sure why.

  “I’m not insulted,” Mat countered. “I turned and she was gone. She wasn’t holding my tail anymore.”

  “Are you okay?” she asked him, hoping she wasn’t insulting him.

  “I am.” His cheeks turned red. She noticed two empty pints in front of him now. “Nevyn’s right, and it’s not something you need to worry about.”

  “Yeah. We males don’t burden our females with our jealousy. Well, we’re taught not to.” Nevyn reached around her and thumped Mat. “You know we’re not going to steal her from you, so calm down.”

  Matesh laughed, nodding. Then he kissed the back of her head. “Be careful with those two. They like to get people drunk and start parties. Nevyn’s a bit of a prankster when he’s in the mood.”

  “We’ve been giving you some space,” Nevyn admitted. “I think tonight, you should hang with us and leave the lover. Come make friends.”

  She considered it, looking between the two males on either side of her. She knew what Matesh wanted, seeing his encouraging gaze. He wanted her to try talking and hanging out with Nevyn and Varon. It meant leaving the security of his side, knowing he wouldn’t be there to back her up. It meant going out on her own with two males she had barely spoken to.

  They’re Company. Mat told me I can trust anyone in the Company and so have Bryn and Rain. This would be a good sign that I can.

  “Okay. You have fun with Zayden.” She patted his arm.

  “Oh, I will.” He grinned. “Nevyn, if you get her too drunk, give her back to me. Don’t leave her in the street.”

  “No worries!” Nevyn jumped up. “Come on, female. We’re going to show you the town.”

  She stood up slowly and followed Nevyn out of the tavern, Varon following behind them. She had no idea what she signed up for, but she was in it now.

  “So, I was thinking that place down by the docks.” Nevyn crossed his arms. “But I also have enough to take us up to the rich district. Love?” He looked at Varon, who began to sign. Once Varon was done, Nevyn grinned. “The docks it is. Mave, you like a good fight, right?”

  “Who doesn’t?” she asked, smiling.

  “Well, this tavern by the docks has fights, normally between sailors in their off time. The thing is, when we show up, we get called out and go a few rounds. You up for that?” Nevyn looked like he was going to start jumping from excitement.

  “Sure?” She had never seen anything like that before and this was going to be her first night in a free land. Fighting? It was at least something she knew.

  They didn’t need to weave through the crowd. It parted for them. Nevyn took the lead, and she fell into the natural position behind him to the right, with Varon mirroring her on Nevyn’s left. They were a unit, and thanks to their size, others got out of their way.

  She could hear the tavern long before they arrived at it. The screams of men came from a run-down building near one of the piers. Nevyn gave three copper coins to a human at the door and walked in. The human waved Mave and Varon to follow. Varon grabbed her elbow preemptively and she realized why inside.

  It was packed wall-to-wall with all sorts of people, cheering around a raised center ring. There was even a second floor. Tables were everywhere, but hardly anyone was sitting down. The top floor looked quieter, people watching over the balcony. Every so often, someone threw something up on the stage, like a loaf of bread.

  “Oh!” She took it all in with wide eyes. Something about it felt like home, and yet it couldn’t be more different. Something about it screamed the Colosseum, but there was no one dying in the ring. She saw the two fighters just punch and kick each other until one fell, his nose broken and bleeding. A human jumped on stage and declared the other fighter the winner.

  “What do you think?” Nevyn yelled, trying to talk over the crowd.

  “This looks interesting!” she said back, trying to be loud enough for him as well.

  He led them further inside and they were able to claim a table on the second floor. Everyone in the tavern realized they were there at that point, many pointing, and a few even screaming Nevyn’s name. He waved at them, grinning. Varon pulled out a chair for her and helped her sit down. She thanked him quietly, never having a male do that for her before. He just raised a hand, as if to tell her to stop. He sat next to her and began to sign in Nevyn’s direction.

  “He says he was raised to treat everyone like a…uh, I’m not saying that, Varon.” Nevyn coughed before continuing. “He’s polite. You don’t need to thank him - it makes him feel weird. He just does what he does and you should get used to it.”

  “Well, okay.” She nodded, pretending she understood anything. In reality, she had no idea what was going on. It didn’t help that she had no idea how to understand the mute’s way of communication or much about him at all, except that he was Nevyn’s bodanra and a priest.

  “Let’s just get some drinks and watch some fights, eh?” Nevyn grinned, waving down someone. He put an order for ale, two pints for everyone at the table. “That should get us started!”

  She took her first pint when it arrived and drank more. What had Matesh said? It would help her relax? She hoped so, because Nevyn was acting rowdy and Varon was doing nothing she could see to stop it. The mute was sipping on his drink, with a patient, loving expression as he watched Nevyn jump up and down, shouting at the fighters down below.

  “Is he always like this?” she asked the mute. Varon only nodded in return. Then he snapped his fingers. He reached into his breeches’ pocket and pulled out a little book. Then she saw a charcoal stick. He scribbled something down then slid it to her.

  “I picked these up so I could talk to
you. It’ll be easier when I get you started learning the hand signs I use, but this is a good fix.”

  “Yes, this works. Thank you for writing in Common.” She said her response out loud, not wanting to waste any of his paper. It was a small, bound book with blank pages. She could fit it in the palm of her hand and he wrote fairly small in it.

  “Nevyn was raised to be a warrior. He’s one of the best we’ve ever had as a race. Very talented and very skilled.”

  “I was beginning to realize that,” she replied, looking up at the ecstatic male cheering.

  Varon tapped her to get her attention again. “He taught me to fight. He’ll teach you to be just as good. But this? He thinks this is fun. I come to keep him out of trouble. He’ll get into at least three fights in that ring tonight.”

  She laughed at the words he’d written.

  “What about you? Will you fight if someone challenges you?”

  “Can they do that?” she asked.

  “Everyone who comes here can be challenged. I’m quiet so only people scared of Nevyn fight me. They don’t realize I’m nearly as dangerous. You? You’ll get challengers, no doubt. You can deny, though. Or declare a Champion, someone to fight for you. Many women come to see men and declare male friends as their Champions.”

  She snorted. “I would never have someone else fight my battles. I am a Champion, Varon. I’ll never use one.”

  He gave her an indulgent smile as he wrote the next part. “No killing here. Remember that if you go to the ring.”

  “I will,” she promised.

  He just nodded, closing up the book and sliding it back into his pocket. The charcoal stick disappeared next. He sipped on his ale again, watching his lover cheer and shout, even beginning to gamble on whatever fight was going on.

  Mave just watched with him. She was already on her second pint, taking it back quickly as she settled in for the show going on down below. She could see it from her seat, since she was right next to the rail. Some burly human beat the shit out of a small, fast little one. He shoved his fists in the air, roaring when he was declared the winner.

  “Who do you challenge?” someone called out. The big male pointed up to the second flood.

  “I want one of the Andinna! I hear you’re warriors!”

  Mave smirked as Nevyn laughed, throwing his head back. “Human, are you sure?” the older male called back down. “I have over three thousand years of practice!”

  “That means nothing!”

  Nevyn’s laugh died and a quieter smile came over his face. She watched him jump up, his wings expanding and catching the air. He went over the rail and landed squarely in the middle of the ring, shocking everyone. She could see the burly human stumble back, realizing just how big Nevyn really was.

  She grinned towards Varon, who heaved a sigh of acceptance, giving an exaggerated shrug. He knew this was going to happen. It wasn’t his scene, but it was his lover’s scene, so he would be here, rooting him on. They both stood up to lean over the balcony. Neither of them screamed, but they watched intently as Nevyn began exchanging fast punches with the human. Nevyn looked like he was playing with a child, while the human began to breathe hard. She noticed he wasn’t even using his tail to try and trip the human up. It was clean, physical strength versus physical strength.

  Nevyn dodged a punch to his face and landed one in return on the human, sending him back, knocked unconscious.

  People began to gasp and yell. Fights broke out as people lost their money and some gained money. Nevyn just jumped off the stage, his arms wide as if he were daring the world to try again. When he returned to the table, he swooped down to kiss Varon senseless. She raised an eyebrow at the display, only getting laughter in return.

  “How’s that?” he asked. “Think this might be a place you like?”

  “I think it might be,” she said, sitting down again. They had fresh drinks and she picked hers up, slamming it with his. They both swung back a swallow after that.

  Something about the raucous crowd, the drinking, and the grins of the two Andinna agreed with her. She felt like she was having fun.

  16

  Matesh

  Matesh wandered the streets looking for another tavern to drink at with Rainev, Zayden, Brynec, and Luykas. They left Leshaun for a quiet night at the Hornbuckles’. He was in a great mood, watching the moon rise higher over their heads, washing the world in its red glow. Everyone was laughing, glad to be on land. He missed Mave a little, but he had a good idea at where Nevyn and Varon took her. Nevyn always hit up that fighting place on the docks when he passed through. He didn’t know how Mave would react to it, but it was an experience that she needed.

  Just like learning about escorts. I didn’t even consider how many things she hated were regularly accepted things in other parts of the world.

  He also figured she needed to spend time with other members of the Company. He was happy to see her coming out of her tight shell. It was slow and he knew she had to work for it, but she was really trying.

  “Mat, you in there?” Zayden asked, elbowing him.

  “Yeah.” Mat chuckled. “Have we picked a place?”

  “We’re here. You haven’t been paying attention.” Zayden pointed to the tavern, smiling. “Come on.”

  He followed the group inside. He noticed how Rain was sticking close to Bryn and not with him. He didn’t blame the young male. Zayden was with him and the father-son duo weren’t getting along.

  “How are you and Rain?” he asked his closest friend, quiet enough where the rest of their group wouldn’t hear.

  “I’ve decided to give him the space he wants even if it kills me,” Zayden replied, growling softly. “Trying. I’m trying to give him space.”

  “That’s good. You know, in the pits, I realized just how much of an adult he is now. It was a real eye-opener, for sure. He was defending Mave from my affections like a grown Andinna male family member should. He wasn’t discouraging the feelings, but he was protecting her best interests.” Mat sighed, remembering their first day. “He’s the one who decided to even try and sit with her. He couldn’t stand the idea of a female alone the way she was. I was trying to find the biggest group and get us in good, make us safe. But Rain? He was a real male.”

  “Mave said similar,” his friend replied. “Said Rain was the first family she ever had.”

  “He wasted no time in claiming her, that’s certain.” Mat shrugged. “It happened. We’re out now. Just give him time to overcome it.”

  “As I said,” Zayden growled the words, “I’m trying. Would help if anyone told me what happened, but I’ve realized that’s not going to happen.”

  It wouldn’t help, ildan. It wouldn’t help at all.

  Mat couldn’t say those words. He knew it would only make the overprotective father a thousand times worse. He was just glad Zayden wasn’t trying to ride Rain’s ass their entire night out. His boy just needed to have some fun, like Mave did.

  “It wasn’t a good place, Zayden. He needs some normal. Skies, so do I.”

  Zayden eyed him. “You’ve never really talked about how it was for you.”

  Mat looked away. “Where do I start? I killed people in cold blood who couldn’t fight back. They had me performing executions on our own people for things like stealing a loaf of bread from a merchant as they ran an errand for their master.” Matesh tried his best to never think about it. He would rather stay focused on the future. Tomorrow. “I have Mave to help. I want to leave the pits behind.”

  “Anvea et, oto ildan,” Zayden said, stepping into Mat’s line of sight again. Mat wondered why he was asking for forgiveness. “I’ve been so focused on my son that I haven’t remembered that my oldest friend was also there. You walked out with a female who has finally made you want to settle. You’re helping form a mayara, and that’s a gift.” He sighed. “But I should have checked on you sooner. I shouldn’t have seen that as a sign you were okay.”

  “I am okay, really. They were cruel males
. I was bigger than most of them. They jumped me with numbers. What the Empress made me do on the sands if I wanted to keep my head? Someone else would have had to do it. Mave said she had done it before. She had known it was a hard thing to do. I hate that I did it, but there was nothing else. If I didn’t do it, Rain and Mave would have been alone.” Matesh took a deep breath. “It wasn’t good death, Zayden. That’s what stuck with me. Kristanya is probably ashamed of what I had to do out there.” Their goddess of war and death was probably giving him the evil eye for the things he had done on the sands.

  “Have you prayed?” he asked softly.

  “No, not yet. I hope…” He swallowed some emotion. “Nothing.”

  “Pray to Kristanya. Whatever you might be hoping, I think will be helped by taking her talisman from Varon and having a few words between you.” Zayden patted him on the shoulder. “I truly am sorry for everything you all went through. I’m just frustrated I can’t help. Not you, not my son. I’m not even sure where to begin with Mave.” Zayden snorted at the end. “That female. I’m not sure how you do it.”

  “She’s a good female,” he answered. “So it’s not hard. It’s just catching her up and teaching her all the things we grew up with and took for granted. That’s not on her, though. Her lack of knowledge isn’t her fault. It’s those lintis in the pits.” Mat bared his teeth at the memories. The shunning of her, the hate they had. The distance they were willing to go to hurt her, a female. The best female.

  “Hey, you two!” Luykas called out. “Get over here and sit down!”

  Matesh looked to their group, seeing they had claimed two tables to fit all of them. All the humans had backed away from them, and there were already drinks waiting on the table.

  “We’ll come back to this?” Mat asked his friend, hoping Zayden would want to talk more about it.

  “Later. Not much to say, though. Try my suggestion and see if it helps you.” Zayden thumped him on the shoulder. “Thank you for allowing me to be a shit friend for the last month. I’ll do better.”