Protector (Little Death Bringer, #2)

by Banks, Catherine

  “That’s because you’re a woman now and should be acting like one, not fighting and flirting like you have been.”

  I snorted like a pig to show my hatred of the idea. “I act as I have always acted. One more birthday should not mean I have to change who I am. A woman is just an older girl.”

  “You’re flirtations before were tolerated and seen as cute, a girl with a crush, but now your flirtations will be taken seriously and men will begin trying to court you.”

  I looked at him in shock. “Court me?” He nodded his head and I smiled. “I would like to be courted. To have a man treat me as a woman instead of as Marin, the Death Bringer.” I could just picture a man escorting me through town with my hand on his arm. The image of me in a dress however was not quiet so clear. “Though I would not like to wear a dress every time I am with a man who is courting me. Can a woman be courted without wearing a dress? I know mother would not approve, but I would prefer not to always be in dresses if I can help it.” True I would like to be courted, but I knew it would never happen. The one I wanted could never court me.

  Favian ignored my question, his eyes fixed on a horse and rider approaching from the west. The silver hair of the rider marked him as an elf. “Today is getting better and better,” Favian muttered as the rider stopped in the center of the road.

  “Greetings, Prince Favian,” said the elf as he bowed his head.

  Favian dipped his head. “Greetings, Balon.”

  Balon looked at me and smiled, a most charming smile. He moved his horse closer to me and picked my hand up, kissing the back of it. “It is an honor to meet you, Miss Marin.”

  He was a handsome elf, with high cheekbones and a prominent jaw. I batted my eyelashes and said, “It is an honor to meet you, sir Balon.” It was strange that I had not met him, but then again there were lots of elves and many who lived on the outskirts of the kingdom some who I would never meet.

  “Have you come to speak with me or did we just interrupt you on your way to town?” asked Favian with a bit of anger to his voice.

  Balon released my hand and said, “I have come to give you an invitation to the Elven Kingdom for a royal ball for Marin’s birthday in four days. The King and Queen request your attendance.” Balon looked at me, “And the Death Bringer of course.”

  “Tell my parents I am unable to come due to a pressing Protector matter,” said Favian as he moved his horse forward, trying to draw me out.

  Balon looked shocked. “I will deliver the message.” He looked me from head to toe and then met my eyes. “It is a shame that we won’t see your beauty grace our dance floors though.”

  “You surely jest for if you had seen me on the dance floor you would know that the crowd often explodes in fits of laughter while watching me,” I said. And hurt toes.

  Balon smiled seductively, bringing a strange light to his eyes. “A woman as graceful as you are needs only the right man to lead her in dance. Were I given the chance I could show you just how skilled a dancer any fighter like you can be.”

  “It is a shame that she won’t be attending then,” said Favian as he continued down the road. “Tell mother she will have to postpone the Ball until we have finished our mission.”

  I bowed to Balon and trotted up next to Favian. “That was extremely rude behavior.”

  Favian’s teeth ground together and he kept his eyes on the road ahead. “Your flirting was rude. There shall be rumors of this moment spread throughout the Elven Kingdom within days.”

  “Rumors of my flirting with an elf? I have made no attempt to hide my liking of Elven men. I have been flirting with the elves since I was ten.”

  “You keep forgetting that now you are a woman. Your flirtations were seen as cute by my people before, but now it will be seen as an insult against me.”

  “How on earth would it be an insult against you?!” I asked in shock.

  Favian shook his head and sighed loudly. “You are as dense as a mountain.”

  “And you are as irritating as an ogre!” I yelled, kicking Fire and galloping ahead. I knew it was childish to ride away from him, but he was frustrating me beyond reason. I slowed Fire after a mile or so since it was a long journey and I didn’t want to work her too hard. There was a possibility of an attack or ambush and she’d need to be rested for escape if need be.

  Favian caught up to me and we rode in silence. I had known him so long that I knew that he was no longer upset, but worried about me. I could tell this because he kept glancing at me as we rode and tried to watch my movements to discern my mood. I relaxed in my saddle and closed my eyes. I had to think of a way to get us to the ball in four days. The ball she was planning to throw for me was supposed to be a huge event and I had been looking forward to it. I had attended many balls these past two years and I enjoyed the feast and flirtations of the male elves. I wasn’t sure why Favian thought me flirting with other elves was suddenly inappropriate and looked bad on him. It didn’t make any sense. I had told him that I would never court someone so why was he acting this way now? Being eighteen did not change anything.

  “Marin,” he whispered, “I’m sorry I yelled at you.”

  I pulled Fire to a stop and looked at him in shock. He rarely apologized to me. “What?”

  He looked into my eyes and said, “I said I’m sorry that I yelled at you. I had no right to be rude to you like that. You didn’t deserve it.”

  “Thank you.” I think? Was I supposed to apologize to him?

  “Balon and I have been having issues this year and I am not fond of him,” he explained.

  “Oh I see. Well then I’m sorry for flirting with him.”

  Favian’s jaw clenched. “That isn’t much of an apology.”

  I exhaled. “Could we not fight? Please.” I knew I needed to discuss Aralia with him, but I was pushing it off. I definitely couldn’t talk to him about it when he was in a foul mood.

  “Alright. My apologies,” he said as we started on again. We rode in awkward silence as I debated how to discuss Aralia with him. “What are you thinking about?” he asked softly. “Your face is scrunched as though you have a splinter in your foot.”

  I avoided looking at him and answered, “Nothing of import. Just wondering why the ogres and thieves are attacking Avonlea now. There’s nothing going on and even though the King’s armies are elsewhere, they know there are Protectors like us nearby. It just doesn’t make sense.”

  “You’re withholding something from me.”

  I turned my face away and took a deep breath. We were only a day away from Avonlea. Should I tell him now? Or wait?

  I heard a whistling sound above us and didn’t realize what it was until the arrow buried into my shoulder. The force threw me sideways and would have unseated me if Fire hadn’t moved with me and kept me seated. The air filled with whistling as more arrows were shot at us. Favian galloped to me and grabbed Fire’s reins as he led us into the forest and off the road. He stopped when we were thirty feet from the road and I watched as at least one hundred arrows buried their heads in the dirt where we had been.

  “Marin!” Favian yelled.

  I shook myself from the shock which was trying to set in and snapped the end of the arrow off. I put the arrow in my mouth and bit down as I shoved the rest of the shaft out of my shoulder. The bloodied arrow fell to the ground and I gripped the horn of my saddle to keep from fainting and falling off. Favian watched all around us for signs of our attackers while I bandaged myself as well as I could one handed. My head felt too woozy for this type of wound, which I had endured many times before. “Drugged,” I whispered to Favian.

  He leapt from his horse, Ice, to Fire wrapping an arm around my waist to hold me steady as he inspected the injury. He sniffed my shoulder and then grumbled angrily before reaching inside his saddle bags for medicine his mother made and spread the medicine in my wound to remove the toxins. The toxins slowly leaked from my wound and dripped down my arm in a slimy black smear. He finished properly bandaging me and then
spoke in Elvish to Ice. “Try to stay awake,” he whispered.

  “I’m not dead,” I said angrily, “Just drugged you silly Elf.”

  “It’s probably best if you don’t talk.”

  “You say that to me every day.”

  “I’m being serious now, Marin. Be quiet.”

  “Yes, your highness,” I whispered as I leaned back against him. He tied the reins to the saddle horn and then squeezed his legs to get Fire to move. Ice followed obediently behind us as we moved parallel to the road in search of our attackers. I chewed on a piece of dried meat which had been in my pocket as I recuperated and let my body realize that I wasn’t drugged anymore and not tired either.

  Favian’s grip on my waist tightened the closer we got to loud voices ahead. I reached down and laid my hand on his, squeezing softly in reassurance. He pulled his arm back and then stopped the horses. I stretched my arms, softly wincing at the injured one. I would have to hold one sword for the meantime.

  We dismounted and crept towards the loud angry voices.

  “They were on the road! I saw them!” yelled one.

  “If they were there then our arrows would have pinned them to the ground, but the arrows landed harmlessly in the ground.”

  “Maybe it was an illusion.”

  “I know I hit her! I know that arrow got her.”

  “Or maybe they just moved off the road when the arrows came,” Favian said angrily as he hopped over a log and decapitated the two nearest men. I sat down on the log and smiled at the fifteen human men looking at me and Favian angrily.

  “Perhaps you were such bad aims that you missed us entirely,” I said as I draped one leg over the other.

  “Kill her!” the leader yelled as they rushed forward.

  Favian’s brow furrowed and he spun into a beautiful dance of death and protection. It always made my heart leap when he protected me and now was exceptional as he took his anger out on the poor, idiot humans who had dared try to hurt us.

  In a matter of minutes fourteen more men died and one cowered on the ground in front of Favian. “Who hired you?” he asked angrily, pointing his sword at the man’s throat.

  “I don’t know,” the man whimpered.

  Favian pressed the tip of his sword to the man’s throat and growled, “Think harder.”

  “I don’t know! I wasn’t the one who took the hit. I just signed up because the purse was so large.”

  “Why did they want her dead?” he asked.

  “I don’t know!”

  “Wrong answer,” Favian said as he slid his blade through the man.

  I stood up and brushed my butt off. “Well now we know someone wants me dead, again.”

  Favian wiped his blade off on one of the dead men’s shirt and glared at me. “Do not act nonchalant about this.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Do not overreact either. This is hardly the first time that I’ve had a bounty on my head.”

  He stopped in front of me, staring down into my eyes. “Does this have anything to do with your secret?” he asked.

  I shook my head and swallowed nervously. How did he know? “No.”

  “You’re sure?” he asked.

  I nodded my head. “Yes.”

  “Why won’t you tell me? I’ve never hidden anything from you.”

  “Can we get back on the road? The stench of their dead bodies is upsetting my stomach.”

  I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm and turned me back around. “What is it, Marin? Why won’t you tell me? Is it the same thing you’ve been hiding or another? Why won’t you tell me these things?!”

  “Because I’m afraid it will upset you!” I yelled angrily. I ground my teeth together and exhaled. “I don’t want to discuss it. I will take care of it as soon as we finish everything in Avonlea.”

  “Why would it upset me? What is it that you have to do? Are you putting yourself in danger?” he asked as he followed me back to the horses.

  “Favian, please just leave it alone. I will tell you once I’ve completed my task.”

  “How can I protect you if you don’t tell me what you’re going to do?” he asked angrily.

  I glared at him. “I don’t need your protection. I can take care of myself.”

  “I see. Well then you can just go on your trip while I deal with the Avonlea matter alone.”

  I stared at him in shock. “What?”

  “You are a woman now and can take care of yourself, so I don’t need to hold your hand anymore. It is obvious you are disregarding our partnership so I will deal with the ogres in Avonlea while you go on your secret mission. Then you won’t have to keep ignoring me and hiding it from me.”

  “Favian…” I began, but he just held up his hand.

  “You will only slow me down with that wound anyways.”

  “Fine,” I said angrily. “I’ll just go to Aralia then.”

  Favian waved his hand towards the road. “On your way then.”

  He was being incredibly cold to me. Never had he treated me so rude before and never before had he allowed me to go anywhere alone. When I first came to the elves he had vowed to protect me no matter what. Three years ago I had been kidnapped and almost killed and he had told me then that he wouldn’t let me out of his sight and had kept to that as well as he could. Why was he now letting me go alone? Why was he being so cold?

  I squeezed my legs, urging my mare to a trot and made my way down the road, away from him. I didn’t need him and felt humiliated at being struck by an arrow. He was right that I would only slow him down, but I hadn’t been alone since I’d met him. I squared my shoulders and lifted my chin up. I was a woman and I was the Death Bringer. I could take care of myself. I did not need the Elf Prince by my side. I only needed my swords.

  I touched my pocket where the pouch was firmly tucked inside and sighed. I only hoped this worked, otherwise I wouldn’t be seeing Favian again.

  As I rode towards Aralia I felt like a herd of cattle had stampeded over me. Sleep had evaded me due to my increased nervousness of being alone and having a bounty on my head. I had shivered all night and had done nothing but think about Favian and his coldness towards me. I had to find him as soon as I was done at Aralia and make amends. He was my best friend and I couldn’t afford to lose him yet.

  Finally the town came into view after what felt like a month instead of a day. I urged Fire into a gallop and raced into town and to the Mayor of Aralia’s house. An older male servant rushed down the steps and took my horse’s reins. “What brings ye here?” he asked.

  “I’ve come to speak to the Mayor,” I answered as I headed up to the front door and knocked twice, not waiting for the servant to respond.

  The door opened and I was staring into the chest of a very muscular man. He stepped back and I swallowed as the handsome face attached to the muscular chest smiled at me with piercing blue eyes. “Afternoon, Lady. How can I be of service?”

  So many responses went through my head that I was sure my face must have contorted in a million ways. “I am here to speak to the Mayor,” I finally answered.

  “May I tell him who is here?” he asked as he looked me over.

  “Marin,” I answered.

  “The Death Bringer?” he asked in shock, his eyes widening as he looked at me more closely. “I thought you would be bigger.”

  “Size is relative,” I answered with a shrug. “Is the Mayor home?”

  “He stepped out, but should return shortly. You can wait in his study for him.”

  I nodded my head. “Very well.”

  “I’m Alexandre,” he said with a smile as he held out his hand.

  I held my jaw from falling open and shook his hand. “Alexandre, the Mayor’s son?”

  He lifted my hand and kissed the back of it. “I think due to our circumstances that you can withhold the title.”

  I pulled my hand back and straightened. “That is precisely why I’m here,” I said as he led me into a small room with a desk, couch and two bookcases filled
with books and scrolls.

  “So, you’ve finally turned eighteen and are here for our wedding?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye.

  I sat on the couch and shook my head. “No.”

  The Mayor came in and stared at me in shock. “Marin! What are you doing here?”

  I set the pouch on his desk and said, “Mr. Mayor…”

  “Call me Leroy.”

  I cringed, but obliged. “Leroy, I’m here to reimburse you for my father’s ill-conceived deal.”

  Leroy opened the pouch and gaped in shock. “I cannot take this.”

  “The diamonds are worth twice the dowry,” I assured him.

  Leroy shook his head. “The value is not the issue. Now that Alexandre and you are both eighteen, this is a matter which you two must work out.” Leroy handed Alexandre the pouch. “I’ll leave you two to talk alone.”

  I watched in dismay as the Mayor of Aralia left the room. Alexandre looked in the pouch and then looked up at me. “You wish to retract the marriage arrangement?”

  I nodded my head. “It’s nothing personal and has nothing to do with your family or this town. I’m just not ready to be in a marriage and I am definitely not fit to be a wife.”

  “I think you’d be a wonderful wife,” he said with a smile. “You could go hunting with me and teach all of the children to fight.”

  “I’m a Protector and as such I’m required to travel and fight in dangerous battles, which would keep me away from home.”

  “You could quit,” he said matter-of-factly.

  I glared at him. “I will not quit being a Protector. I worked too hard to obtain my title and place.”

  He tossed the pouch to me. “I decline your offer. We will be married as originally planned.”

  I tossed the pouch back to him and turned away. “No. I will not marry you.” I had just opened the door when he grabbed my shoulder. I spun around and twisted his arm up behind his back, or at least that was the plan, but somehow he reversed the move and had both my hands pinned above my head with one of his. His body pressed against mine as he held me against the door. “Do not touch me,” I said a bit in pain as my wounded shoulder burned.

  “You are bound by our parents’ contract to be my bride. I understand you have doubts, but I am not giving you up. I am a worthy mate for you.”