The Mercenary's Bounty

by Kristen Banet

  Rain looked at Mave as she put her load down on a table. She seemed relaxed, at ease in a way he didn’t expect.

  “You went shopping with Luykas?” he asked, leaning closer to her. “Really?”

  She sighed, moving packages around for seemingly no reason. “Yeah. I woke up wanting to explore. He said he needed to pick some things up for me. It happened.”

  “He’s not dead or bleeding,” Rain muttered, looking back at the half-Elvasi leader.

  “No, he’s not,” she agreed. She was eyeing him now too. “We’ll talk more about it later, I think.”

  “I’m going up to get the rest of the Company. Coya, is breakfast ready?” Luykas watched them back now, like a hawk ready to swoop and take prey. Or maybe it was more like the rabbit? He knew they were going to talk about him the moment he left the room.

  “Aye,” the quiet dwarf said with a grunt from behind the bar. Rain raised an eyebrow. He’d never heard Coya speak before.

  “All right. You two have fun.” Luykas strolled out quickly, not looking back.

  “He’s a brave male,” Mave said immediately. “Leaving like that.”

  “So, what happened?” he demanded.

  “Nothing. He explained that…well…” Mave threw her hands up. “He’s not as hard to get along with as I thought. The only person being mean was me. I’ll admit that.”

  “Yeah, and?” Rain waited for more. “What all did you get? Was it just clothing?”

  “No.” She rubbed her palms together before nervously getting a pouch off her belt. She opened it and showed him the contents. It was jewelry. Fancy stones and a silver bangle bracelet. “He got me these.”

  “Oh…” Rain swallowed. He knew what those meant. They were the start to a jewelry collection every Andinna had, regardless of sex. “You didn’t have any of those before. I didn’t even think to get them. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s not…it’s not that big of a deal,” she promised, closing the pouch. “He wanted to do it for me because…well, my father did it for him, when he was taken to Anden.”

  Rain couldn’t miss how her hands shook just a little. This was affecting her probably more than she wanted to recognize.

  “That’s really cool, though,” Rain jumped in, smiling. “That your bodra helped him and now he’s helping you. That’s like…everything we Andinna are about. Passing the good deeds to the next of our community. It's how we build the bonds we do.”

  “He said similar,” she murmured, nodding. “And it made me realize that he made some mistakes, but I was the one making it difficult. I still hate the blood bond, Rain. I hate it, but…he’s trying to be kind. I should accept that kindness, right? I should forgive him.”

  “Forgiveness is important to our people,” Rain reminded her. “Remember that first thing we told you? When you and Mat were really…”

  “I remember.” He could see the struggle in her eyes. He could see that she felt bad, but she was still feeling all the hurt of the blood bond, the pain of it, the hate she had for it. She wanted to get over it and be a good Andinna, but she couldn’t resolve her own problems.

  Why haven’t I been helping her? I promised her I would.

  He knew the answer. He was too wrapped up in his own pain. He didn’t know why he was being haunted by what happened in the pits, and he wanted it to stop. He’d wanted everyone to leave him alone on the ship and now he was seeing the consequences of it. He was missing out on helping his big sister with her problems. He wasn’t being a very good Andinna, either.

  “Hey…” Rain reached out to touch her shoulder. He was impressed when she didn’t jump as his hand rested on her. “Do you want to hang out with me today? We haven’t spent a lot of time together. Last night was fun. Today is going to be busy, but it would be nice.”

  “I want to see more of the city before we leave it,” she admitted. “Think we can find more errands to run?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure we can find something that need to be done.” Rain grinned. This was good. He could pretend to be normal for her. Not his father or really anyone else, but for her.

  She eyed him, as if she could read his mind, but didn’t say anything further. Was his grin not good enough? He wondered what was giving him away. Something had to be.

  “Hey, you two!” Luykas called out, walking back in. “Done with whatever gossiping conversation you were having?”

  “Yeah,” Rain answered, looking away from her. “Is there anything else that’s going to need to get done today?”

  “Let me think…Han is bringing our horses and carts. They’ll be loaded already for our trip. He’s stopping by the merchants with our orders before heading this way.” Luykas sighed. “I do need someone to pick up Alchan. Not right now - it’ll piss him off. Too early in the morning and he needs all the time he can get, but when Han arrives, someone needs to pick him up from Keyit’s.”

  “No thank you,” Mave said with a bite.

  Rain winced, remembering how she had reacted to the idea of Alchan seeing an escort the night before. She wouldn’t be going on that particular errand any time soon.

  “I’ll go alone, then. It’s not a far walk and the daylight will make it safer,” Rain offered himself up for the task. He would need to get Alchan alone to talk to anyway. This seemed like as good a time as any. “Mave, we can hang out later. Maybe we can ride on the same cart. I can teach you to work the reins.”

  “Sounds like a good idea. What are we going to do until then?” She looked around, waving at her new items. “Is there somewhere we can put this?”

  “Nah, we’re going to leave it out until we have a cart to load it on.” Luykas fell into a chair, looking between them. “Going to tell me what you said about me?”

  “No,” Rain said, chuckling. “You’ll just have to live with never knowing, bodrya.”

  “I’m wounded,” Luykas replied dramatically, holding a hand over his chest. “My ildar bodyra doesn’t care about my feelings anymore. What have I done?”

  “Ildar?” Mave looked between them, frowning.

  “Adopted.” Rain shrugged. “Sometimes we make the distinction, sometimes we don’t. Not that it changes anything. An adopted relationship to us is just as important as a blood relation.”

  “That’s right!” Luykas smiled, pointing at Rain. “The only difference is how the relationship is treated with others. I’m his adopted uncle and respected as such, but I’m not Zayden’s brother nor treated that way. You know that by now. You and Rain are siblings, but-”

  “No one considers Zayden and me family,” she finished. “Yes. I just didn’t know the word.” Rain tried not to chuckle at how she rolled her eyes. This was a lesson she had already figured out or had someone explain, then.

  “You know that counts romantically, right?” Rain wanted to keep going though. This was something he could help explain. “Like, it’s not weird that you’re with Mat, who’s my adopted uncle-”

  “I never found it weird,” she said suddenly. “There’s not blood shared. I’m not a heathen, thinking this is incestual or anything.” She was beginning to get snarly. “Bryn! Tell me you have cards for us to play during breakfast. These two are driving me mad.”

  Rain looked over his shoulder to see the rogue at the bottom of the stairs.

  “Aye. I’ll save ya.” Bryn sounded tired, yawning as he drew closer. He pulled his pack of cards from his pocket. They weren’t as nice as the set Luykas made his father, but they were decent and better for everyday play.

  “Thank you,” she said with a note of gratefulness that Rain hadn’t been expecting. He’d known they were spending more time together, but that was a tone he normally heard when she was talking to Matesh.

  Is Bryn trying for mayara? Does she want him there?

  Rain didn’t ask about it. He would need to see how it played out. It wasn’t a bad thing, though Matesh was probably climbing up the walls seeing it.

  Sure enough, when Mat walked in, Rain watched as the big male pressed
against Mave’s side as she talked to Bryn about a rule she didn’t understand very well. He didn’t cut into the conversation, but he made sure his presence was known by her and Bryn, both of whom looked up at him. Bryn’s glance was patient, male to male and full of understanding.

  Rain was glad to see her branching out, and a little jealous himself. It’s my fault. She tried to talk to me and I yelled at her. I avoided everyone. She needs more than two friends, and she doesn’t need a little brother who’s mean to her.

  He needed to fix himself. He needed to get stronger and get over what happened to him. He knew if he started training harder, became a better warrior, he would feel more secure.

  He firmly believed in it. He had nothing else to hold on to.

  When Han showed up with carts and their supplies, everyone was awake and ready to go. The only thing they needed to go was send someone for Alchan.

  Rain was out of the tavern and on the way before anyone could volunteer to go with him. He would have enjoyed making the quick walk with Mave, having the backup, but he didn’t want any of the others. He could do this on his own.

  Or so he thought.

  As he walked quickly through the streets, he looked over his shoulder, feeling edgy. He found himself looking at dark alleyways, hoping no one was waiting in them.

  When someone bumped into him on accident? He snarled, snapping at the small human. The female screeched as he just walked faster.

  Sweat formed on his palms.

  He didn’t like being alone like this. He felt vulnerable. The crowds were loud.

  Cheers. The crowds filling the streets were like the cheering crowd of the Colosseum.

  The dark alleyways were like the dark place he was yanked. He’d been bleeding and in pain. He had needed to get to Matesh and Mave.

  He rubbed his palms on his breeches, breathing shallow air, hoping his heart would slow down. He kept putting one foot in front of the other.

  It wasn’t dark on the street. The bright sun was overhead and he had nothing to worry about. There was no danger on the streets of Namur for a full grown male Andinna, not during broad daylight.

  When he saw Keyit’s townhome, he nearly ran. He stumbled up the steps, hitting a boot on one of the steps. He knocked as hard as he could. He needed to get in before someone came up behind him.

  The door opened and Rain resisted pushing inside. He saw Keyit, who gave him a friendly smile. Friendly. That was something. It wasn’t a cruel sneer, at least.

  “Rainev, good to see you.” Keyit’s warm smile and soft voice relaxed him. He walked in when the door opened wider, an invitation. “He’s upstairs, freshening up. I’ll let him know you’re here.”

  Rain could only nod and walk to the sitting room. He fell onto a couch, breathing harder, his pulse still racing. Rubbing his face, he could hear Keyit’s voice upstairs, but not what was said. He heard the growl Alchan returned with.

  He heard Keyit’s cry of pleasure.

  “Of course he’s going another round,” Rain mumbled, shaking his head a little. The idea of sex made his stomach twist into knots, flipping up and down in his gut like the storm had done to it.

  It continued. Furniture could be heard bouncing against a wall, probably a dresser or something.

  Skies, Alchan. Don’t break the guy.

  Everyone had known Alchan needed this. Rain hadn’t expected it to be continuing well into the afternoon.

  The finishing cry Keyit gave and Alchan’s snarling crescendo ended, leaving a very empty silence in its place.

  Rain waited, not even trying to be patient, his tail flicking with annoyance that his talk with Alchan was waiting now for the male to clean up.

  Alchan walked down moments later, straightening his breeches. Like Rain, he was shirtless. Rain couldn’t ignore the bruising fingerprints on Alchan’s arms, or the bite marks on his chest. They were marks Matesh had nearly every morning when he convinced Mave to have a quickie before breakfast. Normally, the signs of love making healed during the following sleep.

  “Have a good night?” Alchan asked him casually. “No one get arrested?”

  “Yeah, we had fun. Had a run-in with some Elvasi. I don’t know the full story there.” Rain stood up, looking down from his leader’s eyes in respect before continuing. “We’re ready to go.”

  “I figured that,” Alchan said, still adjusting his pants and playing with the strings, tucking them so they didn’t come undone later. “You okay, Rainev?”

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “You’ve been acting strange. I try not to bother any of you about the small stuff, but that doesn’t mean I don’t notice.”

  Rain swallowed. Alchan was the last person anyone wanted really asking about things, and the purebred knew it. They preferred if Luykas was in their business. “I’m fine.”

  “Sure,” Alchan snorted, shaking his head. He didn’t press further, waving Rain to follow him out. “Until next time, Keyit!” he called back before shutting the door on the townhome.

  Rain never liked being alone with Alchan, and he suddenly remembered why. The big male was a silent, imposing force, with an air of superiority that made Rain feel small and insignificant. Where Luykas had taken an active role with Rain as he grew up, Alchan never spent more than a few days in Rain’s presence. He’d avoided Rain until he’d gone through his first tatua ritual, always saying he didn’t like kids. The two-hundred-and-fifty-plus years since then? Alchan was an aloof leader with an overbearing attitude. Rain almost didn’t join the Company because Alchan petrified him.

  But Rain had something he needed to ask.

  “Um, sir, I was-”

  “Sir?” Alchan jerked to a stop, looking disgusted as he looked down to Rain’s level. “What? Come on, none of you call me sir.”

  “Alchan…I was wondering-”

  “Shit, that reminds me to tell Mave my title. She doesn’t know yet, does she?”

  “Uh, no, but-”

  “That’s going to be strange. She needs to know before we get back to the village. I’ll find a good time to say something.” Alchan shrugged. “What were you saying?”

  Rain bit back a smart remark as his boss realized he was trying to speak. It would only get him in trouble. Making smart comments to Alchan was a good way to get fired or lose body parts, depending on his mood and how badly you pissed him off.

  “I wanted to ask if there was any way I could get some private training.”

  Alchan studied him, those amber eyes narrowing slightly. “Why? Luykas handled your training, with your father, Leshaun, and Matesh. Nevyn steps in when he thinks it’s necessary. Why do you need me?”

  “I think my bodra holds me back because he’s trying to protect me. I want to start using my wyvern more. I think I can be a stronger asset to the Company than just a hand with a sword. I think if you’re the one training me, no one is going to step in and try to stop me. Plus, you’re you.” Those were the excuses Rain had lined up for over a week now. Those were the reasons he hoped would sway Alchan to giving up his private time to deal with some mutt, the son of one of his men. Rain held no belief that Alchan truly saw him as a warrior, one of the Company males. This would be a chance to prove he was.

  It would be a chance for Rain to get strong enough that he didn’t feel so uneasy in his own skin.

  “Okay. When we’re back at the village, we’ll start your training up. We’ll see where you stand at the end of winter. You’re sitting out the next mission, aren’t you?” Alchan kept walking, but his amber eyes stayed on Rain.

  Rain suddenly didn’t want to take time off in the village. He should go on the next mission.

  “I mean, it’s a good idea for you. Taking time off is important for warriors, especially younger ones. You don’t know how hard this life can stress you until you’re in it,” Alchan continued. “Mave…dumping her in a village and not leaving Luykas is a terrible idea, no matter how much I want to. Matesh is never going to slow down, and now he’s got his cock so deep be
tween her legs I’m scared I’ll never have my warrior back.” Alchan growled.

  Rain opened and closed his mouth a few times as the rant kicked off.

  “Good for him, but it couldn’t be more inconvenient. Javon’s daughter? Really, Matesh?” Alchan grumbled. “Luykas really wants us to coddle her, get her up to speed, make sure everything is okay. He’s so fucking guilt-ridden by it, I’m worried he’s going to get himself killed. Am I guilty? Yeah, I am. I don’t like how we fucking left her in the capital and ignored the rumors and the whispers. But I have more important things to deal with. I’ll help her now, but I need her to be a good warrior first. I don’t need her to be my damned friend and offer me some forgiveness for my soul like Luykas.”

  “You don’t like her, do you?” Rain wasn’t sure why he asked the question. He shouldn’t have. It wasn’t his place to ask the question. He wasn’t close or a confidant to Alchan, but it was Mave, his big sister.

  “It’s not about liking or disliking her,” Alchan answered, his anger seemingly deflating as he stopped in the street. This was why they let Alchan go off and meet with escorts while the Company partied. It helped him take the edge off for a little while. He could back off his dominant anger and indignation faster. “I should have told her who I am sooner, so she knew why she can’t buck up and dominate me. That’s the problem. She came at an inconvenient time and she’s dominant enough to roll me if I’m not on my guard, and that’s not good for anyone, especially the Company.” Alchan waved a hand around at Rain. “You’re young. You’ll learn one day that sometimes we have to do things we hate in order to survive. Sometimes we have to hurt people and break promises to continue helping the majority.”

  Rain nodded slowly. It sounded like Alchan was referring to something he didn’t know about. There was something forlorn and sad, with a touch of bitter anger. That was a mix of emotions he’d never seen from their leader before. It showed a line of weakness the male didn’t often show.

  “Let’s go,” Alchan ordered, turning.

  Rain took a deep breath, trying to control his shock. That was the first time he’d ever seen the leader vulnerable. Alchan had totally run over that conversation as well, not giving him much of a chance to say anything. Add to that, he’d basically ordered Rain to stay in the village for the next mission. His agreement with the plan was for sure going to keep Rain out of the action.