‘The one to your left. He’s in charge and he’s going to give the order to attack very soon,’ G-War replied.
Braden bounded two steps forward and with the hilt of his sword, smashed the man in the face. He went down hard, bleeding profusely from a gash in his head. The other man screamed for his men to attack and that’s all it took to drive them to action.
From both sides the men ran, some tentatively, some with reckless abandon.
Micah took a knee and sprayed the line of men with flame. She waved it once over them all, but some kept running, even though they were on fire. She singled these men out for short bursts from the blaster and one by one, they all fell.
Braden’s missing fingers were a hindrance and his aim was off. He fired too high at the approaching men, but the Wolfoids stopped them cold with lightning strikes throughout the ranks. The citizens in the Town Square cowered. Many huddled together on the ground, crouching and giving each other cover. Others ran.
Zyena told them all that none of the bystanders had gotten injured. Skirill watched to see if anyone from the warehouse was headed their way. He saw people running from the Town Square. He didn’t see anyone heading to it.
Braden climbed back into the wagon. “Good people of Cameron! However you lost your freedoms doesn’t matter anymore. Please understand that they have been returned to you, and that the cost was very high. Fight for your freedoms! Never give them up, no matter what somebody promises you,” Braden lectured. He could only guess at what happened, but that didn’t matter. On this day, he was in a position to influence what happened next.
Three armed men remained. The others were dead. Many still burned, the stench of their passing filling the square. One of those with his sword grabbed a woman who’d been in line and stalwartly held her place close to the door of the government building despite the battle raging around her. Micah snarled. Braden made to jump down, but she stopped him.
She put her blaster away and pulled her sword, stalking her prey as she wove her way between bodies and bystanders. A second man launched himself at her from the side. She easily parried his sword thrust, guiding its momentum past her body. She elbowed him in the face as he lost his balance and fell toward her. He recoiled, but kept his sword in his hand. She followed up with two quick slashes, ripping the sword out of his hand. He dropped to his knees and begged for mercy. She kicked him in the face and turned back toward the man with the hostage.
“Let her go!” Micah demanded.
“I’ll let her go when I’m free of this town! Now, I’m taking her with me. No one follows or she dies.” The man’s voice shook as fear gripped him.
Gray Strider ran behind the man and prodded him with her spear tip. She was on one side and Micah was on the other.
“I’ll kill her!” he cried frantically.
“Go ahead and kill her,” Micah said dangerously, “and then we’ll cut you into little pieces. Now, let her go.”
He kept his sword at the woman’s throat and started backing away. Gray Strider jabbed her spear point into his leg, letting him know that if he moved any more, the spear would bite into his flesh.
G-War had had enough. He jumped from the wagon and bounded to the stand-off. With a smooth leap, he landed on the man’s sword arm. His claws dug deeply into the man’s wrist and with a twist, he shredded the man’s tendons and muscles.
The sword fell from nerveless fingers. Micah jumped forward and grabbed the woman, pulling her away. He dropped to his knees and begged for mercy. G-War jumped onto the man’s back and casually reached around his throat, exposing his claws and pulling, letting them tear into the man. He gurgled as his life’s blood sprayed the ground before him.
G-War stood back and watched. He’d seen into the man’s mind, seen what he’d done to the people of Cameron for his own enjoyment, using his authority for his evil pleasures. In this case, even though the man was unarmed, the ‘cat determined that he deserved to die.
The final official and two men cowered on the ground, continuing to beg for their lives, even though no one was listening. Bounder and Gray Strider kept their spears pointed at the men.
Braden jumped from the wagon and started helping people up. They looked around and realized that Braden had been true to his word. The people started thanking him and Micah and Zeller.
The people stayed away from the Wolfoids and the Hillcat, although their fear was unfounded. The intelligent creatures were every bit the town’s saviors as the humans. Braden promised that he would help the people of the north understand that Vii was shared by all, equally. Until then, the north still had weeds in its garden.
“Share the word,” Braden told the group that gathered around him. “Tell everyone that the Provincial Government will soon be dismantled. Clean up your wagons and break out your trade goods, if the government left you with anything, and prepare to get back into business. Be ready to fight for your freedom, but know this. We will be in front of you, fighting for what’s right, fighting for you.”
A few of the townspeople grabbed the remaining three from the Provincial Government and frog-marched them into the building where the cell inevitably was still in use.
The companions regrouped, checked weapons, and got an update from Zyena. From what she could see, the people at the warehouse were unaware of what had happened in the Town Square. The wagons continued to make their way in and out.
Which gave Braden time to come up with a new plan to secure the warehouse. For that attack, they couldn’t do anything to risk destroying the supplies. No blasters or lightning. It didn’t take long to come up with something. Braden kept it straightforward. They talked, quickly refined the plan, and were ready to go.
When Braden turned toward the wagon, he recognized the woman slowly approaching.
Ava
“What the hell, Braden?” Micah exclaimed as she gasped in pain, falling to her knees and holding her head. Her eyes were on fire as she watched what was unfolding before her.
When Braden’s eyes met Ava’s, sparks flew. Braden’s heart pounded as he couldn’t tear his gaze from her. He didn’t want to. Outside of Ava’s eyes, nothing else existed. At least that was what Braden perceived.
Micah was overwhelmed by the emotional surge coursing through their mindlink. She forced herself to her feet and watched, realizing that she was only a spectator. The companions were equally overwhelmed. G-War ran for cover.
Ava skipped once, like a young girl might, and ran into Braden’s arms. He hugged her tightly. And they remained like that, neither giving way to step back.
Finally, their heads parted and their eyes met afresh, their noses nearly touching. It started with a soft brush of her lips on his, then became a long and passionate kiss. Braden was first to lean back, instantly ashamed of what he’d done.
She had a partner. He had a partner. But in that moment, he was caught in a whirlwind, torn and tossed. He realized that she had more feelings for him than he had ever hoped. Braden had wanted her to join him as he went south, but she politely refused, encouraging him to go alone.
“You could have come with me,” he whispered.
“No,” she replied, “I couldn’t. I had to stay, and you had to go. We both moved on.”
“I know, but what if things had been different?” Braden asked, not thinking through what he was saying.
“Does that matter now? I have a partner.”
“No. Not now. What of…” Braden struggled to find the word. “What of your partner?”
“He’s a good man and a good father,” she answered, barely audible.
“But he won’t fight for you,” Braden fired back too quickly, thinking of how passive the people had become.
“He fights in a different way,” Ava replied.
“But if you want peace, you have to fight for it!”
“Do you?” she asked, emphasizing the word “do.”
She rested her head on his shoulder, and he hugged her closely to him, crying softly as he breath
ed deeply of her hair and kissed her head. Ava pulled away and turned, looking briefly at Braden. She resigned herself to staring at the ground, rubbing the tears from her eyes. She slowly walked away, her shoulders sagging from the heavy burden of her thoughts.
Braden blinked his eyes clear and looked around. He couldn’t see Micah. She was gone, but not far. He could feel her nearby. G-War was in his mind, but not saying anything. He couldn’t tell what the ‘cat was thinking.
“G-War, what have I done?” Braden asked his closest friend.
‘I don’t understand,’ G-War answered simply, blinking slowly as he approached. Braden waited until the ‘cat was close before continuing.
“I didn’t know she felt like that,” he started. “I didn’t know that I felt like that.” Braden smiled as the feelings of love surged into him again. Then winced as guilt seized him in its ugly embrace.
“Can a man love two women, G?” Braden asked, burying his face in his hands.
‘Of course,” the ‘cat replied. “Why wouldn’t you? You love many things, don’t you? You risked your life to save all of ours. Is that not a testament of love? What about your children?’
“But that’s different. I have Micah, and I’ve betrayed her,” Braden lamented.
‘Your feelings are what make you do what you do. Micah was in your mind, as were we all. It was very confusing, and I’ve rarely felt such extreme emotions from you. Usually, you’re pretty simple. I’m surprised you didn’t pass out!’ G-War laughed over the mindlink, but Braden didn’t see the humor in it. ‘To answer your real question, of how can you love two women…’ G-War hesitated for a long time, but Braden didn’t interrupt.
‘You are with one and you love them both,’ the ‘cat finally said.
“I wish she never loved me,” Braden blurted out.
‘Braden?’ the ‘cat asked, already knowing the answer.
“No. I don’t wish that at all. It’s difficult. I don’t know what to do,” he conceded.
‘Life won’t have it any other way,’ G-War added sagely.
“But, Micah! How do I explain it to her? I love her so and our children.” Braden’s sobs were muffled as he held his hands over his face.
‘I think she is more aware than you know,’ G-War said with a flip of his tail as he sauntered away.
“I don’t deserve the love of such women. I’m nobody,” Braden said softly, wiping his face on his sleeve.
‘Stop it,’ the ‘cat commanded. ‘We are all somebody. You matter. To them, to many others, and believe it or not, to me too,’ G-War finished in his thought voice as he disappeared behind a nearby tree.
Braden sat, looking at the sky through his tear-filled eyes. What happened to my true love? Braden asked himself.
‘Maybe you found it twice and didn’t know it,’ G-War added from afar. ‘Micah is waiting for you. Go to her, hug her, love her, and let’s finish what we started.’
‘As simple as that, G?’ Braden asked using his thought voice.
‘I’m a ‘cat. How much more complicated do you expect from me?’
The Warehouse
Braden approached Micah cautiously, barely touching her on the back before she turned and buried her head in his shoulder. He held her tightly as she sobbed. It wasn’t long before she stopped, wiping her face on his shirt before looking up at him, her eyes red and puffy.
“I don’t know what to tell you,” he stammered. She cocked her head. “I love you,” he ventured. She narrowed her eyes and punched him in the chest, not hard, just enough to let him know that she was okay.
“Finish this?” he asked.
“Let’s free the people of Cameron and restore trade,” she said definitively. Hand in hand, they returned to the wagon. Braden knew his partner. She hated looking vulnerable. If there was a fight, he expected she would hew through them like a logger through a forest. He pitied the person who raised a sword against her.
She smiled at him.
“Thinking too loud?” he asked, knowing the answer.
They departed the Town Square as they had entered. They wound through the streets toward the edge of town where the warehouse stood. The armed men seemed on edge, aware that something was amiss. When they saw the caravan approach, they knew fear.
Braden was right in that Micah was spoiling for a fight. She was first off the wagon and walked straight toward the closest man with a sword. He’d probably never seen the cold glare of someone who had both the capability and intent of killing him. He held his sword in front of him until the last heartbeat when he threw it to the ground, thrusting his hands in the air. She pointed to the ground and he dropped, laying on his face. She picked up his sword, sneered, and threw it to the side. She continued to the next man.
Braden climbed from the wagon and quickly unhooked Arnie. “I think I remember the plan, and I’m not sure that was it,” Braden said to Bounder. The Wolfoid chuckled in his way, took up his spear as the companions started walking toward the warehouse, spreading out and arraying themselves opposite the enemies that the Hawkoids had already shown them.
From Brandt on one end of a long line to Arnie on the other, the companions followed Micah as she disarmed one man after another. It appeared they had no stomach for a fight.
Bullies, Braden thought. The whole Provincial Government is nothing but a bunch of bullies.
“You, there! Wagon Master, what are you going to do with that load?” Braden asked the driver at the front of the line approaching the warehouse and storage yards.
“Why, master, I’m delivering to the warehouse as we all must do,” the man answered cautiously, seeing that the men who usually received the shipments were on their faces while a female warrior ground the heel of her boot into their backs.
“No more!” Braden declared. “Listen, all of you! Go to the Market Square. The Provincial Government in Cameron and Whitehorse has been disbanded. Let free trade reign!” The wagon drivers cheered, waving their fists at the men on the ground.
“What about the government officials and their warriors in the Town Square?” someone asked.
“They have already been dealt with. You’ll find the good people of Cameron waiting for you. Skip the Town Square and go straight to the market! All of you, now go! When you have nothing left, bring your empty wagons back here. We need to do something with the goods in this warehouse,” Braden said with a sly smile.
As the wagons rolled away, some pulled by water buffalo and some by horses, Braden looked at the men scattered along the ground.
“All of you, get up and come over here,” Braden barked at the former government security men. The Wolfoids kept their spears leveled. “Leave your weapons behind and come here,” Braden reiterated in a calmer voice.
The defeated group slowly got to their feet, dusted themselves off, and warily watching the fierce eyes of the female warriors, they ambled toward Braden. He put his sword away after a nod from the ‘cat.
G-War perched bizarrely on the top of a fence post, watching the men intently. Braden counted on him being in the minds of their former enemy to root out those who would harbor ill will. He would have liked Aadi to be there, too.
The ‘cat gave him a narrow-eyed look. Braden shook his head and smiled.
The men formed a horseshoe around Braden. Fifteen of them in total and not a single one stood up to Micah. He tried not to grin while feeling Micah’s sense of pride in disarming them without having to kill any to prove a point.
‘You’re right, partner mine. They are just bullies with no stomach for a real fight. What do you sense, Prince Axial De’atesh?’ Micah asked, sounding formal, sounding like the President of Vii.
‘There are two here who you will never be able to trust. They enjoy the role they played and embrace the power they had. They will not change,’ G-War told the companions. He shared the image from his mind’s eye of the two men. Micah and Zeller were behind the group. Each picked one and then stormed into the small crowd. They both wrapped an arm around th
e men’s throats and dragged them backwards, twisting and throwing them to the ground. Micah asked for rope.
The other men stood there dumbfounded. They knew that these two were evil, but wondered how the strangers were able to pick them out of the crowd without any of the men having uttered a single word.
Nerise jumped from the wagon before the Rabbits could stop her. She had not been out of the wagon since they entered Cameron. Patrice and Delavigne had sheltered her from the worst of it, but thanks to the ‘cat, she could hear everything over the mindlink. She lifted her small chin and boldly walked toward Micah carrying a length of Amazonian rope.
Micah kneeled on the man’s back while he complained. G-War shared what flowed from his mind, but he probably shouldn’t have. The images were hideous and they drove Micah into an unbridled rage.
She grabbed the man by his hair and stood, dragging him with her until she ripped out a handful. He screamed in pain and turned, ready to fight this mere woman. Her sword was in her scabbard, so he saw his opening. He charged, head down like a bull. She dodged easily and pushed him past her. He staggered, but didn’t fall. He stood straight and tried it again.
Only to realize the same result. He conceded that she was fast, but he considered himself more powerful. He waded toward her, fists up, ready to punch or grab. She waved him closer as she crouched in her wrestling stance. The group had formed in a circle around them. Braden stood shoulder to shoulder with the others. Skirill and Zyena perched on the peak of the warehouse roof, watching their humans with great interest, cheering for Micah’s quick victory. The Wolfoids pranced on their hind legs as they tried to see between the human observers.
The man took a swing at Micah’s head, but he was too far away and she easily dodged it. She circled, letting him grow less cautious as he tried different ways of doing the same thing. She was letting him wear himself down. She hadn’t swung once. Then the taunting began.
Free Trader Box Set - Books 4-6: Battle for the Amazon, Free the North!, Free Trader on the High Seas Page 35