The Barbarian

by Jessie Rose Case

  “Ummm,” the male sighed then looked at Eldron. He must have seen the pride in his face and connected the dots. “Information that your women do not fight is wrong.”

  Eldron smiled. “It is.”

  The male looked across the party facing him, hovered on Harle then Makas horse moved nearer to her and his eyes flicked to Makas. Eldron had no doubt Makas was ready to fight. The male’s eyes flicked back to Harle choosing to ignore him.

  “Gather?” he asked in English.

  “Dead.” She told him.

  “They kill him?”

  “No. I did.”

  The male nodded. “He’s wealth is yours. Shouldn’t have taken you so long.”

  “I know that,” she snapped and dropped her hood.

  He continued to look at her calmly taking her all in. “I have never seen you more beautiful.” He took a breath as if a weight had lifted. “I know you do child.”

  His gaze moved back to Eldron. “Introduce us Harlewin.”

  “Lord Eldron, Lord of the West, Chief, Lord of the Wilds, Ulrich.”

  Ulrich smiled. “Who do I have to kill to get our Princesa daughter back?” A stunned silence took them all. The male laughed out loud as reality hit home.

  “She didn’t tell you what a prize she was?”

  She could feel the heat of Makas eyes on her. Harle ignored it. Then his horse moved forward.

  “I’ll kill you to keep her if I have to,” he told Ulrich. Harle held in her fear and gripped her reins.

  The male sized him up. He nodded. “I see,” then glanced at Harle.

  “Should I kill him daughter? You know us both, who do you think would win?”

  Harle hesitated. He was right she knew them both. They were evenly matched. Fought differently as she did Eleanor but if Makas lost it, he would win. Saying so, would shame her father’s stature with his men.

  “Yes,” her father said. “A worthy opponent.” As if knowing what she was thinking.

  “Lord Ulrich. An alliance would benefit all.” Eldron told him.

  “Would it now?” he answered turning to look at him.

  “I have alliances and men from six other Lords at my disposal. Should I need to go to war I can call on them,” he looked over the army facing them then turned back. “Not that I need them right now, but war is expensive and so much more can be gained from trade and commerce.”

  Ulrich laughed. “Ummm. I like a good bullshitter Eldron but I have men to pay for who fight for bounty.”

  Eldron leant forward in his saddle. “You raided your way here Ulrich don’t tell me you’re a pauper.”

  Ulrich laughed again.

  “I am not.”

  “They can have mine,” Harle told him.

  Ulrich quietened and frowned looking at Harle. “That is your worth child.”

  “No, it’s not,” Makas told him. Harle held her breath. “She needs nothing to be worthy but herself. I need no dowry either. Keep it and share it amongst your men.”

  “It’s a large dowry are you sure?”

  “I have money and lands of my own. I only need her.”

  Ulrich blew out a breath and sat back in his saddle. “Her mother was trouble, I knew it and still had to have her. She was the magnificent.” He looked at Makas. “She is the same.”

  “I am aware Sire.”

  He looked at Harle long and hard then he turned to Eldron.

  “You make contracts for weddings and alliances here do you not?” Eldron nodded. “Make it, I’ll sign it.” He took something out of his pocket.

  “Our people bond when we exchange riches.” He flicked a coin towards Makas who caught it out of the air.

  “Payment for my daughter. Don’t disappoint me son, I will kill you.”

  “Then why didn’t you kill that piece of shit?” Makas anger flared at his father-in-law.

  Ulrich’s eyes hardened. “It wasn’t my kill to make.”

  Grasping his reins, her father pushed his horse forward and came next to Harle ignoring Makas and the other men around them.

  Taking her head in his hands he kissed her forehead and asked if she was happy and well in their own language. She told him she was, Makas made her happy. With another kiss he let her go. Then turned and walked his horse away.

  “Send me the papers and an invitation to the wedding and I expect to see my daughter at my table three times a year or I will come raiding.” And he was gone, his men retreating slowly behind him.

  “Did we avert a war by Makas’ cock?” Brute asked. They all sniggered and Makas puffed up in his saddle.

  “Obviously,” he told them to their laughter. Harle shook her head with an indulgent smile.

  “Well,” she said and Makas hand was over her mouth like lightening.

  “Don’t spoilt it wench.” Harle giggled pulling his hand down and kissing it.

  They made their way back towards the Keep. “Well,” Harle repeated and Makas groaned.

  “One has to make sacrifices in war.” Laughter burst out from those around her. Makas held for one moment then joined in.

  “Indeed,” said Eldron. “Indeed.”

  The End…

  Don’t miss Makas and Harle’s story in book 2 coming soon.

  A word from the Author.

  Thank you for reading this novel. I hope you enjoyed it.

  As a thank you, I give you a bonus chapter from another of my series. Read on. Enjoy x

  The Covenant - Lori Palmer Chronicles. Book 1.

  Chapter One

  Lori looked at the smoke and damage around her. The scent of blood, strong in the air. Covenant blood, her species blood, from the dead bodies littering the floor. One in particular, with its head disintegrated, its hand, still snarled in the throes of his last battle. Lori glanced back at the younger man across the room, holding back his emotions. They had no role here. This was Covenant business and dead men can’t lie.

  She’d hoped for a better outcome than this …… but in the end, her father was always going to extract vengeance. Only it wasn’t him who’d pulled the trigger. An eye for an eye…….

  ***

  Two months earlier ….

  Lori packed her things. Growing up, she thought it was ‘normal’ to have family that hid what they did for a living. Hid, who they were.

  Who didn't have a doting Dad that insisted martial arts, weaponry, tracking, evasion training, advanced driving skills and knowing your enemy, were far more important to a growing child, than dolls, dresses, toys and boys? Who didn't have 'uncle's or aunt's' who disappeared at short notice, carried weapons and more often than not, came back knocked about or had retired? No one ever asked, no one ever told. That's just how family was.

  To Lori anyway. Her father's happy little accident or so he told her. Who at 12 could throw a knife, could shoot just as good, take apart any weapon blindfolded. Who at 15, came second in her County Triathlon and at 18, found out, there was a whole lot more going on with her, as her powers began to manifest and a whole other world she’d known nothing about. The Covenant. In that world, all families had enforcers and that retired, had a whole new meaning.

  Not all families kept secrets. Not all families lived in a second world, hidden to most and shared, by others of their kind. Not all daughters had an army of killers for hire. But once you got passed the killing thing, to Lori, they were still her family. As Daddy always told her, dead men told no lies and the Covenant, kept their promises.

  But a girl had to grow up sometime and there was no getting passed her ‘uncles and aunts’ aversion to her having boyfriends or her father’s insistence on a guard on any dates, since things went south that one time. Her hunger had emerged soon after she’d turned 18. It was an accident, she hadn’t meant to do it! Really? Lori shook her head, she never missed a day’s training. Like she couldn’t kill them herself if she got in trouble! Seriously, if she stayed home any longer, she’d be a nun to her father’s deep joy or a spinster for life. And it was a very, very long life.<
br />
  She was 24, she’d done the human college thing, gained her Doctorate in International Affairs, and she had a bona fide job offer on the table. She did up the last of her cases and sat on the bed looking around her bedroom. It was time to go. It was a big world out there and it was waiting on her….

  ***

  The sweat pouring down Aiden Cole’s face started to annoy him. The session was taking far longer than necessary, and his patience was wearing thin. He didn’t mind the teaching. Show them enough to give them the tools they needed, hold back enough not to kill them. Not that he didn’t appreciate the need to get trainees where they needed to be, everyone had to start somewhere.

  Just not with him. He was a field agent, top of his game, that should give you perks, not handholding duty! Aiden watched another poorly executed move and wanted to pound on something. It was becoming harder not to just kill them all himself and go get coffee…..

  ***

  Lori looked at the files piled on her desk. This was not what she’d bargained for. The job offer stated, she’d need her international skills in dealing with clients around the world, securing contracts and ensuring every dot was marked, every T was crossed. No one said that was a filing position.

  The first few days, she’d passed if off as the ‘new girl’ but it had been weeks and this, was all there was. When she’d brought it up with the others working around her on her break, querying if she was in the right job or not, they’d smiled indulgently and told her, yep. Right place, right job.

  How did filing contracts require a degree in International Affairs? She asked herself for the 100th time, holding back the impulse to punch the courier, who’d just deposited more files on her desk. Her father had been right, she realised, humans lied.

  ***

  Aiden walked out the changing rooms as his boss Neville, came towards him. “Aiden, wait up.” Aiden stopped and closed his eyes, if he was chasing him down outside the locker room and it couldn’t wait, till he’d got across the room to his desk, it wasn’t good.

  Aiden turned towards him. Neville held out the file. “We have a new player in town. Amazing pedigree. One of a kind you could say. Playing by the rules. Appears to have her own personal hit list too. Word is, all three families want her.”

  Aiden took it from him. He only knew of one female in the Covenant. He leafed through the file. She was beautiful. The picture seemed a good one. That was unusual, they didn’t generally take good pictures. No one knew why. “So why aren’t they buying or bartering her in the usual way?”

  “Intel say her father refuses to put her up.” Aiden frowned. That was unusual as well.

  “So, she came here why?” He asked.

  Neville leaned in, “get this, for a job.” Aiden wasn’t sure he’d heard right. He looked up at his boss.

  “She came here for a job? She has a contract?”

  Neville nodded. “O yeah, with Cormac & Cormac. International Affairs floor. She’s a grafter.”

  Aiden stared at him. “This a joke? Covenant don’t take jobs outside the Houses.” Neville shook his head, pointing at the file.

  “This one did. It’s all in there, read it, then give me options.” Neville walked away. Aiden wasn’t sure whether to laugh or not. The families did not allow their children to work for humans and not in human jobs. There was no way, the only daughter of a House, was hoofing it around. He hustled over to his desk, dumped his bag and opened the file again. There had to be something he was missing….

  ***

  Lori walked into her favourite restaurant. She’d found it by accident. Taking a different route home one day, had led her to here and it had quickly become a firm favourite. She didn’t cook and made no excuse for it. Her senses gave her all the information she needed about a place. She could taste the flavours and essences on her tongue. She knew instantly if a place was clean or not. If they used fresh ingredients and went that extra mile and made their own bread. She’d walked in a lot of doors since she’d come to town and only a few, got her order or a return visit.

  It was early for the dinner crowd but that suited her just fine. “Anywhere you want Lori.” She looked up at Kingston who’d called to her as she’d walked in. Lori waved and smiled taking a seat in the window. She picked up the menu browsing the options. She didn’t know why she bothered looking any more. The staples of the restaurant were the same and excellent, the daily specials were being written up as she’d come through the door.

  Kingston came over and filled her glass with chilled water. “Third time this week, I am honoured.” He gave her a mock bow. Lori smiled. She liked Kingston.

  “Well don’t let it go to your head. I’m in demand you know.” She told him lifting her chin in an imperious way.

  He patted her shoulder. “Good on ya girl. Keep it up. Now, what can I get you.” Lori listed off the items she wanted. Kingston didn’t need to write it down, he knew it all by heart. He left her to her water and walked back to the kitchens to prepare her meal. Lori thought this was the best part of her day… How sad was that?

  ***

  By the time she was finished, night had closed in around them and the restaurant started to fill up with the evening crowd. The meal had been delicious, and she’d told Kingston exactly that, as she paid leaving a good tip, then walking outside into the crisp night air, turning in the direction of her newish home. Her father had insisted she have somewhere ‘decent’ to live, so he’d paid for an upmarket ‘apartment’, that catered for their kind in the human world. It meant dear old Dad, could visit any time he wanted and so could the family. An apartment on two floors with 12 bedrooms. Lori shook her head. Seriously, she hardly used one! Saying yes, had been easier than saying no. So she’d thanked him and took it.

  Lori had been brought up too well not to notice the tarnished notes on the air or the waiting party up ahead. This was unexpected, Lori knew there were two ways to play this, run or confront. To run would make her look weak. Lori kept walking, she wasn’t the run type, unless a trophy was involved. She tasted the night air, Covenant, the people ahead of her, were her people. Well not hers exactly, a ….. splinter group, one could say. There were several splinter groups, families, that had evolved over time. She’d learnt her lessons well. Twelve in fact. She knew the histories of all the families as well as she knew her own. They came from a time when war, was raged with good and evil.

  This would be a confrontation and a show of power. House politics, it so bored her. She walked slowly towards her reception party, looking causally at the group in front of her. Then stopped some 20 metres out and didn’t move. Didn’t show any sign of weakness, or emotion. They would taste her emotions if she let them. Lori filled her mind with gracious hospitality. With indulgence, that their presence was a ‘whim’, one she would allow.

  A lead male stepped forward, she noticed his pleasure at contact with her essence. Lori recognised him. Anton. He’d come to call. How nice of him. Only this was more than just a social hello. She’d played by the rules. Informed the families that she would be in the area. Stated her reason and provided the evidence. That, was all she was required to do and she’d done it. He had no reason to come at her like this and they both knew it. She never did like the use of scare and bully tactics. This was a bully move and she hated bullies. Lori stared at him, adding a little impatience to her senses. She saw the moment he sensed it and lost his edge. “My father wishes for you to accept his protection. He would like to offer you, the refuge of our family.”

  She sensed several of his men trying to get into position to sandbag her. Lori flooded a little of her sexual abandon into her essence and watched the euphoric affect wash over the men in front of her, they faltered. “Remove your men Anton, I do not appreciate the strong arm move.” She told him quietly. She knew he could hear her.

  She could smell the desire coming from them. Time to move this on. “You should enjoy each other,” she said aloud and pushed it at them. Several of the men started to move towards e
ach other, she was forgotten. Anton, however, was made of stronger stuff. She could see how stiff he was from where she stood. One of his men, ripped open the front of Anton’s trousers and went down on him. Lori wondered if Anton enjoyed men as well as women. It wasn’t unknown in their world. It was very much accepted. Sex was not defined by gender but by need.

  “I thank your father for his offer of hospitality,” she told him watching the display, “but sadly, I have to decline. To accept, would upset the fine balance with the other families, that is so important to my father. But, please enjoy my gift to you.” She pushed a little more power at them and laced it with pure lust, the scene became erotic.

  Nothing was taboo in the Covenant. Sex was sex. Lori soaked in the rolling wave of pleasure they were providing in the atmosphere. She hated being cornered. They’d expected her, a female, to cowl, to beg and take what was offered. She wasn’t that kind of female. Her father had made very sure of that. Casting an illusion around the group that would hide them from the rest of the world, she walked on to her apartment. Tonight, hadn’t been that boring after all …

  ***

  Aiden stopped the car and waited. He had the female’s place of residence from the file and decided to check it out. He wasn’t surprised to find it in the better part of town or the glamorous glass building with heavy security at the address. The building belonged to her father, so he expected that. It had changed hands shortly before Ms Palmer had taken up residence. Aiden expected that was no co-incidence. It was a classy place. He was counting the number of security when his target walked out in front of him and headed towards the building. Looking around he wondered where she’d come from, he hadn’t seen her in his mirrors, then spotted the small street behind him. He hadn’t noticed it before. Aiden frowned, how’d he miss that?