by M. R. Polish
Brady scoffed at them. “The King’s guard? Don’t you mean the Queen? Or have you so easily traded sides and thrown your Queen under a bus? What’s in it for you?” He knew he was starting a fire, but damn if the blaze in his chest didn’t feel good.
The same man, who must be the lead guard, stepped forward, poking his finger at Brady’s chest. “You are committing treason to our King and we will not tolerate it!”
“I don’t give a damn.” Brady pulled back then let his fist fly straight into the man’s jaw, sending him back into his friends.
In seconds, all three men lunged at Brady, but he was faster, dodging out of the way before they could grab him.
Reaching for one of them, he caught hold of a collar and pulled him back. With an elbow strike, he connected with the man’s nose.
Another guy rushed at him, but Brady wanted to chuckle at the man’s stance. He knew he was inept at fighting with the way the man held his hands up in a wanna-be boxers position.
Not too concerned with that man, Brady wiped his hands over his face trying to get the rain off as he sought out the leader. He was baffled why he hadn’t been pounced on by him yet. Off to the side, Azul stood over the man, taking all Brady’s fun out of kicking his butt. Oh well, at least he still had Rambo who was trying to circle him, hopping on his toes. Brady hung his head. It was just too easy.
Watching the man get all worked up was comical, but Brady had other plans and wasting time playing with a guard wasn’t on his list. He delivered a side kick to the guard’s abdomen, crushing the armor just as he suspected. The guard doubled over, cursing as he dropped to the ground.
The other man, who Brady had elbowed, recovered enough to latch himself around Brady’s neck from behind.
The man’s grip was tight, cutting off his airway.
Brady instinctively hit the top of the man’s fist then dug around blindly for a finger, lifting it until he felt it pop into the man’s joint.
Keeping his grip on the finger, he peeled the man’s hand off his neck and was able to swing out away from him, facing him. He kicked the one place every man should wear armor, but the poor guard had nothing, dropping him to the ground clutching his jewels.
“I’m impressed,” Atty said as she walked out from the shadows, her long hair hung in wet strands over her shoulders.
“You’ll pay for this,” the man he just kicked seethed, as he writhed around on the ground.
Brady ignored the man, stepping over him. “Well, except for that one that Azul took care of, they aren’t really hurt and will be up soon. We should get going before more find us.”
They followed Brady until they reached the city limits. The rain lightened up to more of a sprinkle. Brady stopped, taking in the surroundings. He had no idea what was beyond the city. But, after that fight he didn’t want to stay in the city longer than he needed. His nerves were still heightened and on edge. Every little noise had him tensing. “Alright, Azul, you’re up. Where do we find Tharious?”
Azul rubbed his forehead as he pondered. “Well, I don’t think he’d go too far from the city. He was raised here and I don’t think he’d survive on his own. He’s not used to living without comforts.”
“Where do you have in mind to look?” Atty asked.
He threw the rock. It landed against another one with a clink yards away. “If I were him, the caves beside the portal down by the seashore would be my choice of hideout. We should look there.”
At last, a place to start. Brady felt like he was playing hot and cold, and each step until then felt cold. He hoped the caves would be hot. “Alright, to the caves we go.”
Chapter Nine
The roar of the waves crashing against the rocks outside attacked the quiet ambience of the cave’s entrance. Musty algae lined the walls, and the salty distinguishable scent of the sea assaulted Brady’s nostrils. The afternoon light spilled into the cave, lighting the opening. A tunnel loomed in the back. Drops of water splattered on the floor from somewhere Brady couldn’t see.
“We better hurry before the tide rises and fills this like a pool,” Azul said as he marched forward, disappearing in the passageway.
“Lucky for me I can grow fins,” Brady muttered as he followed. Glancing over his shoulder, Atty hesitated near the entry. “You coming?”
“Hum? Oh yeah, right behind you.” She glanced over her shoulder to the ocean one more time before heading deeper into the cave ahead of him.
He furrowed his brow. “You sure? You can wait here if you’re not comfortable.”
Scoffing, she waved him off. “And have both of you tell me how weak I am, no thank you.”
She marched off before Brady could argue her statement.
The rolling water continued to beat the walls around them. The farther in they went, the darker it became. Brady hardly made out the form of Azul ahead of him, traipsing through the ever changing tunnel. The high walls and ceiling seemed to close in with each step deeper into the mouth of the earth, even though it was still spacious.
Azul stopped a few feet away. “Tharious, if you move any farther back in this cave, I’m going to let it swallow you whole. I refuse to go any farther. I’ll be waiting at the entrance.”
“Wait. What?” Brady peered into the darkness but saw nothing. Had Azul lost his mind? “Is he here?”
Azul turned and cupped a hand on Brady’s shoulder. “Who do you think was leading us into the belly of Shamike?” He continued walking back the way they came. “I told you I’d find him for you.”
Atty wasted no time following him. Her shadow disappeared with his as they rounded a corner. Brady waited. How had Tharious been there in front of him the entire time and he not know it? Why didn’t Azul say something?
“I know why you’re here, but I don’t have it,” Tharious’s voice bounced off the walls, making Brady jump.
“Oh yeah? If you’re so smart then where is it?” Squinting, Brady searched the darkness but saw nothing, or no one. He took a step deeper into the cave, scooting his feet along the floor so he wouldn’t trip over something unseen.
“Stay where you are! I know you want to kill me, but you can’t if you don’t find me.” His words echoed, confusing Brady even more as to where he was.
“You’ve got it all wrong,” Brady said, hoping he came across convincing. “I just want the necklace. You tell me where it is and I won’t kill you.” Yet, he added silently.
“I don’t have it. I told you that,” Tharious said, his voice holding a bit steadier than before.
Brady clenched his fists, holding them to his sides. He didn’t believe him. Tharious was the thieving coward who stole Karis’s necklace in the first place. He was teamed up with Marin and played king while Marin plotted to take over. “Tharious, tell me where it is,” he growled.
A shuffle of footsteps scraped the floor, moving farther away. “See! You’re getting mad.”
“Damn straight I’m mad! Karis is back on Earth dying because of you and now you’re playing this game with me.” Brady’s nostrils flared as heat surged through his veins. “So help me, Tharious, if you don’t show your face and tell me where that necklace is, I will hunt these caves until I find you and make you a part of the local scenery! Your head will be at the entrance telling all who come here that you were the coward who let their queen die, and your ass will be mounted on my wall!”
Moving at a glacial pace, Tharious emerged from the depths of the cave. His face was barely recognizable in the vague lighting. “If I tell you everything I know, will you spare my life?”
It took all Brady had to restrain himself from lunging at him, and choking him until he stopped breathing. He nodded, keeping his fists clenched. “But if Karis dies, you’re the first person I will kill.”
Nothing in the universe could keep him from keeping that promise if something happened to Karis. He marched over and grabbed Tharious by the collar, pulling him along behind him as he sought out the entrance.
Light filled the spaciou
s cavern and small talk from Azul and Atty mixed with the ocean waves. Brady pushed Tharious forward, toward them. Tharious tripped as he tried to keep his balance after being shoved and fell to the ground.
“I see you haven’t killed him yet. Is murder not on your to do list today?” Azul stood from his crouched position and folded his arms, watching the man scramble to his feet.
Brady glared at Azul. “No, it’s still on my list, I just haven’t decided who yet.”
“Boys, this isn’t a pissing match. Right now isn’t the right time,” Atty spoke up, shifting her vest trying to make it fit more comfortably over her white shirt. “Ugh, remind me again why the pirate attire is so sought after here? This thing is chaffing me.” She gripped the seam with the buttons and pulled it apart, ripping it off her torso. She inhaled long and sighed. “Aww, much better. Okay, now back to your testosterone party, who is killing who? I’d like to know so I know when to pull my blade.”
Azul stood with his mouth agape while Brady gawked at her. “What the hell, woman? Did you just strip while we’re interrogating our hostage?”
She rolled her head to the side and placed a hand on her hip. “The Center didn’t have a lot of options for a woman in the militia, so I took what I could, but I didn’t think it was gonna bug me so much. Besides, what’s it to you? I still have my shirt on.”
Azul threw his arms in the air. “Because you’re distracting, that’s why. We had a thing going on and you ruined it by strutting your breasts for them to see!”
Shifting her weight to one leg, she scoffed. “Impossible. You guys are impossible. I’ve fought with and against men in history that could make you cry just by looking at you, and they had no problems with me.”
“I agree with these two,” Tharious said, staring below her neckline.
“Shut up,” they all said in unison. “Nobody asked you,” Azul said.
Tharious shrugged but stayed silent.
Azul pulled his coat off and draped it across her front. “Wear this, and don’t do that in the future. You could get a man killed with a crazy stunt like that.”
She waved him off. “I hardly see the fuss. Why don’t you just worry about the problem at hand? We did come all this way to find him after all.”
Brady shook his head. What were they thinking bring a woman along? He watched Azul as she slid on his long jacket. Azul’s eyes never wavered from her form. Oh, Lord. They had to bring a woman along that Azul had the hots for. Just great.
He let out a heavy sigh. “Alright, so you’re on my kill list, don’t’ make today your last day. Tell us where the necklace is.” Brady glared Tharious.
Tharious glanced at each of them before stopping to stare at Brady. “I told you I don’t have it.”
Brady pinched the bridged of his nose trying to ward off the pending headache. “I heard that. But, now I want to know who does have it. Tell me, Tharious, who’d you give it to? I hope the trade was worth Karis’s life.”
Tharious glanced at the ground, a slight smile played at the corner of his lips. “I didn’t give it to anyone. It was stolen.”
“For the love!” Atty exclaimed, tossing her hands in the air. “You sure you don’t want to just kill him?” She reached behind her and pulled out a knife. “A woman has to do everything herself.”
“Whoa, wait, what are you doing?” Azul asked, his eyes wide as he stared at the knife in her hand. “We need him to talk. He can’t do that if he’s dead,” he whispered so only she could hear.
She raised a brow. “Who said anything about dead? There are worse things.”
“I don’t have to tell you. You’re going to kill me anyway.” Tharious glared at Brady. “And if you don’t, she will.”
Brady shrugged. “Probably, but she’s the least of my concerns right now. If she kills you it’s less blood on my hands.”
Atty sauntered closer to Tharious, exaggerating the swing in her hips. “I trained the men in the history books. Some of the ways to torture were my ideas.” She tapped the blade of the knife against her cheek. “Do you really want to see firsthand how crafty I can be when needed?”
Tharious swallowed hard, and then took a step back in a quick jerky movement. “You need me. You won’t hurt me.” His voice broke.
Atty chortled. “Honestly, you think we can’t find the necklace another way? You have sadly misjudged us. It makes me wonder what else you might have misjudged. Me? Do you think that because I am a woman I won’t hurt you?”
Amused, Brady folded his arms and stayed back, giving her some space. He was glad he wasn’t Tharious because he didn’t know a grown man who wouldn’t have been scared with the Goddess of War threatening them. Even if they didn’t know who she really was, the way she said everything was enough.
She backed Tharious up against the rock wall and pressed close to him. Reaching up, she let the tip of her knife glide down the side of his face, stopping under his jaw. “I bet I could cut your tongue out from the outside,” she whispered, her lips barely caressed his neck as she leaned even closer to him.
His eyes got wider as she pressed upward enough to break the skin, but still he said nothing. Atty’s eyes danced as her excitement grew. After years of having to suppress her warrior blood, her body tingled with recharged power. Pressing harder, she wondered how long he’d let her continue before speaking. With her experience, she knew it wouldn’t be much longer.
Warm blood dripped to her hand and she smiled. “It looks like he’s willing to die for whoever has the necklace.”
Brady hated that he loved the scene in front of him, but since Tharious was the one who stole the necklace in the first place, his heart begged to see justice.
Tharious cried out as the tip of the blade disappeared into his jaw. He held his hands up. “Okay, look, I’ll tell you. It was Marin. He took the necklace.”
Atty dropped the knife from his body and wiped off his blood on his arm before putting it back in the sheath. “That wasn’t so hard, now was it?”
Tharious cradled his jaw with his hands.
Just hearing that name made Brady’s gut twist in unimaginable forms. “Where is he?”
Still holding himself, his jaw clenched in pain, Tharious spoke, “The palace. He’s been there for weeks now. I don’t’ know anything else.”
“Are you sure? You’re not lying are you?” Azul asked, his eyes finally off Atty.
“I promise. I’m going to bleed out and die. Will you help me?” Tharious pleaded with them.
Brady walked away, leaving the cave and him behind. Atty and Azul followed quietly behind. Tharious’s moans bellowed outside.
“How far did you cut him?” Brady asked once they were far enough away.
Atty chortled. “Oh, it barely broke the skin. He’ll have nothing more than a paper cut by morning.”
“It looked like more than just a scratch from where I stood. Are you sure he’s okay?” Brady asked. He didn’t want to leave Tharious if he was truly hurt. Just because he stole the necklace doesn’t mean he was the one draining Karis of her powers.
Atty paused briefly. “I’m sure. I am pretty good with a knife and made sure I didn’t injure him badly. It looked like a lot of blood but it is probably stopped by now as little of a cut as it was.”
“So, are we heading toward the palace then?” Azul asked, staring at the beacon in the distance.
Brady nodded, looking at the same building. It would strange to be there without Karis by his side. “It appears so.”
Chapter Ten
“Let me just point out that this is a bad idea,” Atty whispered as she crouched beside Azul and Brady. The polished palace floor made it hard to walk around without being heard, so they had to move slowly. Breaking into the one place they were avoiding didn’t sit well with any of them, but no one could come up with a better plan.
With his back to her, Brady swallowed his laughter. Of course it was a bad idea. Everything about the last few days consisted of bad ideas. “If you’re scared,
you can hang out in the garden.”
Rolling her eyes, she scoffed at him. “Oh really? The garden? Then who would you have to actually finish the job?”
Brady glanced over his shoulder, narrowing his eyes at her. “Like you’re the one who can go up against Marin?”
“Children, must I remind you to be quiet? We can’t afford to be heard, or seen. If Marin finds out we’re here before we want him to then we are in trouble.” Azul looked pointedly at both of them.
“Well, I was the one who made Tharious talk,” Atty continued, completely ignoring Azul’s reprimand.
“You’re lucky you’re a woman.” Brady clenched his jaw and turned back around.
“Psh. Don’t let that stop you,” Atty mumbled behind him.
“Enough,” Azul harshly whispered. “Both of you need to knock it off. Atty, you and I both know that Brady would never hit a woman, and Brady, you know that Atty likes to push every button known to man. If we’re going to get through this then we need to work together.”
As much as Brady hated admitting it, he was right—again. The stress of everything was getting to him and he was taking it out on everyone. He really needed to get it together. This wasn’t him. At least not the real him. He nodded. “You’re right.”
Light clicking on the floor alerted the small group. Brady stood up, looking for a way to move without being seen. Whoever was around the corner, was getting closer. They needed to leave before they were spotted. An arched entryway to a hallway beckoned him to enter. Looking at Azul, he pointed to the hall. Azul nodded, so did Atty.
Brady lunged forward and darted into the hall and rounded the corner. Stopping, he waited for Azul and Atty to catch up. They too, dashed around the corner, nearly knocking him down.
“Whoever it was didn’t see us,” Atty said, still catching her breath from the short jaunt.
“I suppose you were hiding from me as well?” a woman said behind them.
Azul unsheathed his sword and held it in an expert stance. Atty had her knife skillfully drawn, the tip of the blade pointed up. Brady’s lack of weapons didn’t make him recoil. He was an experienced fighter, and he knew his hands could be just as deadly as their blades.