Desmond scanned the group looking for any signs of malicious intent. There was no comfort in being lodged between a fifty-foot drop and a group of unpredictable mercenaries with questionable integrity. He didn’t see or sense anything. All eyes seemed to be focused on Gavin and the impending repercussions of the scout’s error.
“I’m so sorry,” Rhem said. “I must have gotten turned around last night. Just give me a few more—”
Rhem was out of time. Gavin slid his saber out of its scabbard with lightning grace. In a flash of silver, it moved through the air, almost invisible to the eye, and sliced Rhem’s head off in mid-sentence. Scarlet uttered a frightened cry but Desmond wrapped his arm around her head and covered her mouth before Gavin even heard it.
The body sat mounted for a few seconds as blood sprayed on anyone unlucky enough to be nearby. Then it leaned to one side and fell to the ground. Rhem’s hyperia pranced nervously and trotted away from the crowd, now free of his burden.
For several anxious minutes no one spoke. The mercenaries sat on their mounts, barely breathing. Everyone was afraid to incur the general’s violent temper. As for Gavin, he remained where he was, bright red arterial spray running down the front of his armor. He made no motion to wipe it off; instead he just glared down at the scout’s corpse like he was daring it to get up again. The head lay nearby wearing the same expression it had only seconds before it was removed. Under his hand, Desmond could feel Scarlet trembling.
“Lieutenant,” Gavin said, fixing his golden eye on Gypsy.
Trajan placed his hand on the handle of his saber to defend her if need be. Gavin looked up and stared at him.
Gypsy spurred her hyperia and rode over to her father, ignoring the tense exchange. “Yes, Excellency?”
Gavin tore his gaze from the mercenary and looked at her. For a few fleeting seconds, Desmond was afraid Gypsy was dead. He tried to calculate the distance he’d have to cover to stop Gavin from cutting her down, but knew he’d never make it. He took his hand from Scarlet’s mouth and felt his guts drop.
Then a sudden clarity took over. If Gavin turned on Gypsy, Desmond was going to kill him. It wasn’t a threat, just a fact. He looked up at Trajan and there was a moment of understanding. The two men glanced back at Gavin who seemed oblivious to the deadly alliance that had just taken place.
“We are going to break for one hour,” Gavin said to her. “In that time, I want you to find us a new scout. He is to get us back on Harlan’s trail immediately. When you are done, report back to me.”
“Yes, Excellency,” Gypsy said. She turned from her father and faced the assembled mercenaries. “You heard the general!” she shouted. “You have one hour.”
The men immediately dismounted and began to disperse along the narrow trail tending to their mounts and breaking into their rations. Nero strolled over and crouched by Rhem’s body. He squinted up at Gypsy. “What do you want us to do with him?”
Gypsy rode over to the head and pulled her saber. She pierced it through the eye and brought it over. As she lowered her blade the head slid easily off the end and dropped onto the dead man’s chest. “Bury him, burn him or throw him into the ravine. I don’t really care what you do with him,” she said as she rode off toward Rhem’s mount.
* * * *
Gavin sat on a large rock with his legs crossed. All of his attention was focused on the ravine. Scarlet swallowed and tried to relax. “You asked for me, Excellency?”
“I need more pain medication,” he said, pulling out his pill box. To emphasize the fact that it was empty he shook it a few times and held it out to her.
Scarlet took it and reached into her shoulder bag pulling out a red glass bottle of pills. She measured out three into her shaking palm and held them out to him. Pulling a flask out of his pocket, he took the medication from her and downed them with a swig of whiskey. Scarlet didn’t say a word and shook the bottle over the opening of the pill box until it was filled. Keeping her expression neutral she snapped the top closed and handed it back to him.
“What? No argument?” he asked after a tense moment had passed.
“No,” she replied.
Gavin fixed her with his golden eye. “I’m disappointed.”
“Disappointed there’s no argument or that you don’t have a reason to hit me?” she asked.
He let his gaze roam up and down her. It wasn’t a sexual look, more like how he’d size up an enemy. “You need not be frightened of me, young lady. I have no intention of doing you any more harm as long as you understand your place.”
“You mean as long as I do as I’m told,” she finished for him.
“That’s correct.”
“Will there be anything else, General?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said. “Did you disclose everything about your past jobs when you applied to my wife’s clinic?”
Scarlet felt the blood drain from her face. He couldn’t know about that horrible Doctor Ross internship. Those records had been sealed. “I disclosed everything that was relevant.”
“I’ve heard otherwise,” he said.
She folded her arms. “What have you heard?”
A small evil grin played at the corner of his mouth. “Never mind,” he said. “It’s not important right now. When we make camp again for the evening, I’ll need more injections in my back.” He jumped down from the rock, pausing to tower over her.
“Of course you will,” she said pleasantly. “The back is a very complex part of the anatomy. There are so many nerves that can become inflamed and tender. Don’t worry, General. I’ll make sure you’re well cared for.”
“You be sure I am, Doctor,” he said, glaring at her. “I’d hate to see a promising career cut short because of a spot of carelessness.”
Chapter 7
As the suns were swallowed by the dusky horizon Harlan and her captors finally stopped to make camp. She was beyond exhausted and her legs were so numb she could barely stand. Sitting on the ground by the fire Harlan unlaced her boots and pulled them off. Once she’d peeled her socks off, she stretched her legs out in front of her and frowned. From the bottom of her shorts to the top of where her socks had been her legs were decorated with cuts and bruises that were the result of fast riding through heavy brush. She took some comfort in the fact that at least she’d been able to leave her scent and a variety of other clues along their route. She did everything she could think of, including cutting herself and leaving blood smeared on branches and trees as they rode by. Lucky for her, her kidnappers still weren’t paying much attention, confident in the fact that she couldn’t escape. Most of the journey they were drunk and talking to each other, rarely casting a glance at Harlan. What a difference from the soldiers she was used to dealing with.
As for herself, she didn’t know how much more of the hard riding her body could tolerate. In her normal life her hyperia rides were limited to short trips to and from home and the clinic, and an occasional pleasure ride with Gavin.
Gavin.
Every time she thought about him the sadness and longing constricted her emotions. She missed him so much it was like being flayed alive. It was amusing now to think that he was the last man in the galaxy she ever wanted to end up with. He pursued her relentlessly after their first encounter, and things got so intense, she was about to petition the council to have him restrained.
But then he’d somehow found his way into her heart and given her Gypsy. His love for her burned with an intensity that bordered on obsession and she’d not only fallen in love with him too, but thrived in his consuming desire for her. It was hard not to adore a man who worshipped everything about her. They were so intertwined that sometimes she didn’t know where she began and Gavin ended.
In the long span of their marriage, he’d never once lost interest in her. Of course Harlan knew there were his occasional infidelities, but that was part of the culture of being an AEssyrian male, and even more so for a warlord. But she also knew that Gavin was completely devoted to her.
There was nothing she could request of him that he wouldn’t do. Their sex life was more than just a fulfillment of lust; it was an affirmation of his love for her, the only way he’d allow himself to let his guard down.
The sense of loss consumed her and Harlan had to fight hard not to cry. She missed Gavin and Gypsy with every fiber of her being. What she wouldn’t give just to see them and hold them again. Her stomach twisted into a tight knot that crawled up her throat and settled there. Harlan rubbed her face trying not to lose faith that she’d be rescued before these thugs killed her.
No. Don’t you dare cry. You know Gavin. He’s coming. He’ll get here soon. Just hang on.
Sulla came over and placed a stick with some raw meat over the fire. He moved up next to her and crouched. “Hungry?” he asked.
“Not really,” she replied.
He sat down next to her and she mentally recoiled. “They want me to kill you,” he said, glancing at his men playing cards a few yards away.
Harlan remained silent.
“But I told them no,” he continued. “We still need you.”
“For what?”
“My brother is very ill,” he said, turning the stick over in the fire.
“What’s wrong with him?” she said not caring.
“I’m not sure. I think it’s an infection. He was injured on a raid and has not been able to recover.” He reached out and took the stick off the flames. He examined the meat to see how cooked it was and seemed satisfied. “You need it cooked more?” he said, holding it out to her.
Harlan scooted a few inches away from him. “No,” she said, reaching out and taking the food. “That will be fine. Why did you kill everyone in Sanguar? You could have just taken me without harming any of the residents.”
Her captor shook his head and laughed. “In case you didn’t notice my appearance is somewhat distinctive and it wouldn’t have taken long for anyone to figure out who I am or where I was going. It’s pretty obvious if I kill everyone, I remain anonymous.”
“Don’t you think the towns we’ve passed through have noticed that you’re traveling with a human?”
He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. No one is coming for you. You’re mine now, and as soon as my brother is healed you’ll learn how much you are mine. Now eat.”
Sulla watched her as she made a show of taking a bite. She chewed and swallowed, staring into the flames.
“Some of the men are afraid of your husband,” he said.
“I’m not surprised.”
“I’m not though,” he said.
“Good for you.”
“He’ll never find you in these mountains.”
Harlan looked around. “No, he probably won’t.” You don’t know Gavin. He could find the last ounce of meat in a famine. It was impossible to eat anymore even though she knew she should to keep her strength up. The all-meat diet she was getting was starting to make her a little ill. But not as ill as the vile beast sitting next to her. Sulla not only had bad breath from his rotting teeth, his entire body smelled like stale sweat. She wondered if he’d ever taken a bath.
“That would make you my property,” Sulla said.
Harlan tossed the rest of the meat on the fire. It crackled and hissed as it burned. “I’m tired. May I rest?”
“Give me a kiss first,” he replied.
Harlan met his gaze. “No, I won’t.”
“I could take you by force.”
“Then I’ll refuse to help your brother and he’ll die,” she said. She expected him to be angry but he only laughed.
“You’re quite spirited, I’ll give you that. When you finally realize that your husband is out of the picture for good, you’ll come around. It is fortunate for you that I don’t like to share so you don’t have to worry about enduring my attentions while on the ride back,” he said. Getting up he dragged the back of his hand up her cheek as he stood. “You’ve got four hours to sleep, and then we ride again. Good night, Doctor.”
Sulla walked off and Harlan felt the tension in her shoulders melt. Wiping her face with her shirt, she shuddered. God, she hated that man. She caught a few hostile glances from some of the men playing cards and immediately looked down into the fire. Please, Gavin, hurry up. I don’t know how much longer these people are going to keep me alive.
Chapter 8
Gypsy already knew who she wanted as the new scout. The problem was convincing him to take the job. As she studied Rhem’s last map rehearsing what she was going to say, a few of the mercenaries gathered around her. Everyone knew they needed a new scout and because the pay was substantially more a few were more than happy to risk Gavin’s wrath for it. For a few moments she ignored the small group, continuing to scrutinize the map trying to figure out where Rhem lost the trail. Looking up she made eye contact with each one of them and said, “I assume you’re all clustered around me because you want the scouting position.”
“I’ll do it for triple the pay and an hour with you,” Nero broke in, gathering a few dry chuckles from the assembled group.
Gypsy grinned and placed her palm on the handle of her saber. “You’re not qualified,” she said icily. “For either job.” Nero recoiled from her. It was a small subtle movement that few others around him caught but her. Gypsy scanned the crowd looking for Trajan. “Besides I already know who I want as the new scout.”
Trajan was standing off to the side of the crowd with his arms folded across his chest. He’d be the best choice out of all of them. There must be some way of convincing him to take the job.
“You’re all dismissed and I suggest you take full advantage of this break,” she said.
The mercenaries wandered off grumbling. Everyone except Trajan. He remained standing where he was. Gypsy made her way over to him. “You’re the most qualified,” she said.
“But the least willing,” he replied.
“I was afraid you’d say that. There must be something you want if the pay isn’t enough to motivate you,” she said.
“What I want isn’t in your power to give.”
“Try me. Maybe the general can find a way to get it for you.”
Trajan glanced around to make sure no one was within earshot. “I want my sister released from the emperor’s harem.”
Gypsy stood there shocked. It wasn’t that his request was so outrageous; it was that the request was the last thing she expected him to ask for. “How long has she been in the harem?”
“Two years,” Trajan replied.
“Let’s go talk to the general and see what he says.”
“He’d promise me anything to find his wife. You expect me to take his word for it?”
Gypsy arched her back working the kinks out. “If you really want to win your sister’s release, what have you got to lose? Besides if Gavin can’t secure her release I know my mother can…if we find her in time.” She felt pain build in her sinuses, the precursor to tears, and she quickly rubbed it away. But she was confident that if anyone in this motley band of misfits could track her mother, it was Trajan.
* * * *
Gavin was silent for a full minute after Trajan presented his offer. He looked down into the ravine and then he said to Gypsy, “You think this is the best man for the job?”
“I know he is, Excellency,” Gypsy said. She hoped she was right.
Gavin eyed Trajan up and down. “Which is your primary profession? Bounty hunter or mercenary?”
“Bounty hunter, sir,” Trajan replied.
“How many bounties have you recovered?”
“Twenty-one.”
“How fast can you plot a route?” Gavin asked.
“I can’t plot one. I never learned to write, Excellency.”
Gypsy and Gavin exchanged looks. Trajan’s revelation wasn’t too surprising since most males in the lower classes never attended school. “I can meet with him after his rounds,” Gypsy offered, “and sketch the route myself.”
Gavin’s frown deepened. “That’s an extra duty for you, Gypsy.
”
“I know, sir. But I don’t trust anyone else to do it. You know as well as I do that we’re probably going to have to backtrack and we need to pick up the trail again as soon as possible,” she said.
“Alright,” Gavin said, nodding impatiently to Trajan. “The position is yours. I need a route in half an hour.”
“And my sister?” Trajan asked.
“I promise you I’ll get her out of the harem,” Gavin said. “I don’t know how yet, but I’ll see to it that I get her out. But that’s only if I get my wife back alive. Do we have a deal?”
“Yes, General,” Trajan said. “We have a deal.”
Gypsy approached Gavin’s hyperia and began to rummage through the saddlebags.
“What the bloody hell are you doing in my things?” Gavin grumbled.
“I need your territory map. Where is it?” she called back over her shoulder.
“On the other side. Why?”
“I told you I need it,” she said as she pulled it out and came back over to the large boulder that her father was leaning against. Unfolding it she laid it on top and placed Rhem’s crudely drawn map next to it. She made a motion to Trajan who came to stand next to her.
“I’ve been doing some thinking and my thought is this: The outlaws killed everyone else and took her, probably because she’s a doctor. This wasn’t a random attack. She was targeted. That tells me that they need her to treat someone. We’ve already passed all of these towns,” she said, gesturing to some names on the map. “The next group of towns is still a few days’ ride. I’m guessing that their destination is one of these three towns. Mannus, Rathara or Slytok. If Trajan can grab her trail again we should be able to figure out within the next day or two which one they’re headed to.”
Gavin seemed to consider this for a moment then nodded. “That makes good sense.”
Trajan rubbed his chin while looking down at the map, “How can you be sure they’re not taking her somewhere else? Maybe to a town beyond these three.”
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