by KM Fortune
"Kit, stop," Raven said. "These are friends." Matthew raised his eyebrows at the declaration. He hardly would have considered The Duke and any of his men friends at this point, but Matthew also understood the need to play along. Luckily, Kit held in place and looked over at Raven. Her face showed her confusion, and she waved toward the man with the club just stepping out of the shadows.
“Seriously, Andy? What were you thinking?” The Duke asked. Andy came forward and hung his head.
“Sorry, boss, I just thought -- ” Andy started.
"Shut up," The Duke snapped. "You thought wrong. Now get over here." The Duke turned and waved to Kit. "You too. We are all on the same team." Matthew turned to Raven and saw her nod at Kit. The girl lowered her knives but still hesitated.
“It’s okay, Kit,” Raven reassured her. “It was a misunderstanding.” Reluctantly, Kit moved close to the edge of the ring but stopped there. Matthew figured it was as good as they were going to get from her. The Duke seemed to sense it too and walked over to look through the mesh fencing.
“You want to work for me?” he asked with a grin. “I could use a quick hand like you.” Kit just stared back at him expressionless. The Duke laughed. “I like you,” he said. “It’s a shame you aren’t bigger. I’d love to pick you for the ring tonight, but I don’t think I have anyone in your weight class.” Pick her for the ring tonight? Matthew thought not liking the sound of it. Where is this going?
“Is there going to be a fight tonight?” Brody asked, having approached the ring after the excitement. His brother was beside him.
“Do we get to watch?” Toby added, his enthusiasm evident. The Duke turned to the two men and nodded.
“Yes to both questions,” he answered. “A big fight tonight and you’ll most definitely want to watch it.”
Matthew was pretty sure he already knew the answer but asked the question anyway. “Why is that exactly?” he said. The Duke spun around and grinned at the group, a glint of mischief in his eye.
"Because one of you will be representing your team," he said. "A chance to show some spirit. Congratulations. Someone is going to be the star of Fight Night."
Blaze blinked. Did I hear that right? he thought. Before he could puzzle it out, Raven spoke up, steel in her voice. "Absolutely not," Raven said. Blaze watched a smile play across The Duke's features. The lanky cowboy tipped his white hat further back on his head, and he hooked his thumbs into the front pocket of his jeans.
“Well now, you didn’t think all this food and hospitality was completely free did you?” he asked. “Everyone who shows up on my doorstep, especially if they have come looking for something from me, has to demonstrate their worth in the ring. It’s the way we operate around here.” Blaze felt his face flush as his temper started to rise. He had about enough of the man who ran Reno.
“I’ll fight,” Blaze said. “Especially if it is against you.” The Duke tilted his head and looked hard at Blaze. The dislike in his eyes did not phase Blaze in the least. In fact, he liked knowing he was getting under the other man’s skin.
“As much as I’d like to give you an ass kicking, my Fight Night days in the ring are long past. I proved my worth a hundred times. It’s why they call me The Duke,” he said. Pasting his smile back on, The Duke turned back to Raven. “Don’t you worry. It’s all just a friendly sport,” he said. None of what the man said mattered to Blaze. He looked forward to the opportunity to use his fists. The rage inside him needed an outlet. And it will give me a chance to prove myself to Raven, he thought. He looked at her and saw the concern on her face. As he opened his mouth to tell her it would all be okay, Matthew stepped forward.
“I’ll take on your champion, sir,” he said to The Duke and glanced over at Blaze. “As a clone, I am a better sacrifice if things go wrong.”
Blaze could not believe what he was hearing. There was no way he would step aside and let Matthew take the challenge. “Stay out of this, Matthew,” Blaze growled.
“I insist,” Matthew said with his jaw set in determination.
“No,” Raven said. “No one is going to be doing any fighting. This is ridiculous.” The Duke chuckled.
"Well, isn't this sweet. Two heroes, both vying for their lady's affection," he drawled. "Well, we can settle this easy enough." He dug into his pocket and produced a silver coin. "Which side you want, Red. Heads or tails," he said to Blaze. Blaze shook his head, ready to continue to lobby for his right to be the group's fighter when The Duke held up his hand. "Seriously, enough. I get it. You're a badass, and you think you can fight. Now pick a side," he said with impatience in his voice.
Blaze gritted his teeth. "Tails," he spat out and watched as The Duke tossed the coin into the air. It landed with a bounce at their feet. The Duke stooped to look, but Blaze already saw. He cursed under his breath as The Duke chuckled.
“Heads,” he said and stood back to look at Matthew. “A clone, huh? That’s something we don’t see much. Ex-patrol?” Matthew nodded. “Perfect,” The Duke continued. “Haven’t had one of those in a long time. The crowd will love it.”
CHAPTER 9
They climbed in single file. She held the rope, which was tied around Gabriel's waist and led him as they hiked. It was not easy on Gabriel with his hands still bound, but he kept up, unwilling to let the woman who held him captive know he was struggling and in pain. The spots where she hit him with the rifle butt especially ached, yet with each throb of his head, his determination increased. There could be no sign of weakness. Yet, as the day wore on and the elevation increased, he had to grit his teeth with each step through the snow. Finally, the woman called a halt. Gabriel looked around to try and get his bearings. At first, he was sure she was leading him away to a nest of waste people to torture him. He did not believe she was a lone operator. As time wore on though, and the course they followed went up the slope of the mountain which contained his home, he reconsidered. Add in the fact no other heretics appeared to help her and his curiosity grew. It was clear there was a destination in mind, but he had yet to guess where.
As he considered the puzzle, the woman came to him. She held a canteen out. “Water?” she asked. Gabriel narrowed his eyes. Is this woman toying with me? he wondered. He could not believe she was willing to share something so precious as clean water with him. At the height they were at finding running water would be next to impossible. It would require making a fire and melting snow. Something he was sure she did not want to take the time to do under the circumstances. Still, his mouth and throat were dry. And if she is stupid enough to give it up, he thought. He held out his hands, and she handed him the container. Gabriel drank deep and felt the water refresh him. Swallowing a second gulp, he closed his eyes and savored it. "Bless you," he whispered and then suddenly popped his eyes open. The words had come out without thinking and purely as habit. Gratefulness was a key part of his engineering in the colony. Before he could take the words back, the woman grabbed the canteen out of his hands. Most of her face was covered with a scarf, but her eyes glared at him. She doesn't want my blessing any more than I intended to give it, he thought knowing she hated him as much as he hated her. But she needs me alive and able to keep going. Finally, he had enough of the mystery. He wanted answers.
“Why did you drag me up here?” he asked. “What is the point?” The woman turned away from him and put the canteen back in her pack.
"You're going to help me get inside the Great Cave," she responded without bothering to look at him. Her voice was muffled, and Gabriel thought for a moment he heard her wrong. It made no sense. He shook his head.
“Say that again?” he said. She looked at him as she shrugged on her pack.
"I need to get inside the mountain," she said. "And you are going to help me." Still unable to believe her, he took in his surroundings again and suddenly realized they were very close to the North Gate to the colony. It made sense if she wanted to break in. As opposed to the Main Gate, this one was significantly less guarded. Still, the men wil
l be alert enough to stop a lone stranger dressed in animal skins, he thought. There was no way she would be able to enter at the North Gate or any other. The real question Gabriel had though was why was she even trying.
“What do you want to enter for?” he asked. She did not answer and instead picked up the guide rope and started to walk.
“Let’s go,” she said. Gabriel held fast. He would not take another voluntary step until she explained what was going on.
“No,” he said. “I want answers first.” The rope now taught between them, she turned back. Her eyes were angry and he wondered if she would speak or hit him with the rifle again. Then she stepped closer and glared into this face.
"One of my clan. Your people took her, and I need to get her back," she said. Gabriel blinked. The pieces fell into place. This woman wanted to find Hannah. Is she one of the people Hannah asked for weeks ago? he wondered. It seemed likely. Gabriel was not sure what to make of the information. He realized he missed the little girl’s enthusiasm toward everything already and it had only been a day since he saw her in the garden. How would she react if I brought this woman to her? He already knew the answer.
“Are you her mother?” he asked. The woman shook her head.
"Her mother is dead. You massacred her group. I found her when she was nothing but a baby, and I've raised her," she said. "Now I just hope she is still alive." Gabriel hesitated. He knew his soul was at a crossroads if he revealed any information to the heathen. Then he thought of The Creator and his fascination with the girl. He thought of Samuel and what his cruel intentions might be. He thought of Hannah and her smile. Although he did not believe the best place for the little girl was out on the wasteland, he was not sure the colony was best for her either. Making up his mind, he nodded.
“She’s alive,” he said. “And I know where she is.”
Dressed in the new clothes Sergeant Gray provided them, Hector and Helen made their way through the labyrinth of mining tunnels which snaked under the city. The sergeant led, holding a torch light high to illuminate the way. "We are coming to the most dangerous part," Sergeant Gray explained. "We have to go up to the surface briefly and cross the main square of the city. I am hoping it will be quiet at this time of day and since you are dressed like commoners, no one will notice us. Another mine entrance, the one which will lead you out of the valley, is on the other side of the plaza."
Hector nodded. "I remember," he said. "We will be quick." The three of them made it to the end of the tunnel and paused. The sergeant extinguished the torch and poked his head out to see if the coast was clear. Apparently satisfied, he stepped out and waved Hector and the queen forward. Holding Helen's paw in his, Hector moved at a fast walk. Deliberate, but not so much as to call unwanted attention. He glanced back and saw the beautiful cat mutant he loved had lowered her eyes to keep from being recognized. It was smart since she was revered by the people of her city and by far the most famous cat mutant in the realm, but they hardly made it ten steps before a murmur of whispers started to sound. We've been recognized, Hector thought and picked up the pace. He knew they must get out of the open.
Seeing the entrance they needed not far ahead, Hector held his breath. So close, he thought and then his heart nearly stopped. Prince Edward and a pack of guards stepped out from an alleyway in front of the mine. A smirk played across his brother’s face.
"Going somewhere?" Prince Edward asked. Hector's first instinct was to attack, and he started to pull away from Helen's grasp when he felt her hold strong. Glancing back, he watched as she stepped in front of him to confront the prince.
“And if we were, what business is it of yours prince?" she said with great emphasis on the other cat mutant's title. A group of city folk had begun to gather around the action. The tension was high, and no one wanted to miss what was about to happen next. "After all, I am still the queen of this kingdom. I do not have to answer to you," Helen said, lifting her chin. A murmur of agreement went through the crowd. Prince Edward appeared unphased and instead sneered at her statement.
"The king is dead. I am the heir, and your service is no longer needed. Besides, I have no desire to waylay you. Only my brother," he said. With that, Prince Edward stepped aside and motioned for the queen to pass. The small army of guards parted to provide her a path. The invitation was clear. At that moment, Hector made up his mind. Above all else, he wanted Helen to be safe.
"Go," Hector said to her. "I will survive this, but only if I know you are out of harm's way." Helen shook her head.
“Never,” she said. “I finally have you back. I won’t lose you again.”
Prince Edward laughed. "Oh, isn't this something," he said and turned to the crowd. "Her husband, the king, is not yet on the funeral pyre and she's rushed into the arms of another. What do you think of your beloved queen now?" Again the crowd buzzed with conversation. Hector could feel some of the sentiment which was initially in their favor was shifting. Time to go, he thought and took Helen’s arm. He pulled her forward toward the pathway out.
“What are you going to do, brother? Cut us down in front of all these people?” he asked. “Is that how you want to start your legacy?”
Prince Edward tilted his head. “So, does that mean you are honoring my claim?” he replied in return. “Will you bend your knee to me?”
Hector paused, standing in front of Prince Edward. He knew if he bowed down to his brother now, especially in front of all these onlookers, he would never be able to return and claim his rightful spot as king. He felt Helen lean into him. "No," she whispered. It was all he needed to make up his mind. Flicking out his claws, he made ready to pounce. Confident he could best his brother in a fight, Hector was not afraid. The other guards would surely slay him with their spears, but it was better to die a hero than a coward. Sensing his reaction, the prince's eye widened. He started to raise his paw in defense when a roar sounded from behind them. Turning in surprise, Hector saw Sergeant Gray leap from the crowd. His claws were out, and his face was a mask of fury. In a second, he would be on the prince, and the guards converged to stop him. Knowing now was the time, Hector grabbed Helen and pushed her hurriedly in front of him toward the entrance to the mine's tunnel. She did not hesitate, and together they raced away from the melee behind them, plunging into the darkness, and making their escape.
CHAPTER 10
Raven was furious. No matter how charming and witty The Duke tried to be, she was not interested in anything he had to say. She felt tricked and was in no way convinced the fight Matthew was now committed to would be as harmless as The Duke promised. People did not travel from the ends of the earth to watch otherwise. Fortunes were not made without considerable sacrifices. Plus Matthew is not a fighter, she thought. It would have been better if it was Blaze. If only she could go back to the moment of the coin flip, she would have insisted they find a different way for the group to prove their worth. As if reading her thoughts, The Duke, who was sitting beside her in the golf cart leaned closer. "There is another way," he whispered. It was an unnecessary gesture. They were alone and parked near the edge of the fenced city. Sitting on a bit of a rise, the view was excellent as it looked down along the barren highway. The Duke had insisted they take a ride alone once he realized how unhappy she was with him. When Blaze and the other's protested, he reminded them they only had a few hours to make Matthew into a champion level fighter, and perhaps they should go practice. Reluctantly, the group of men and Kit had followed Howie, the janitor out of the room and toward the training area.
Now Raven was especially glad the others were not with them. She could already guess whatever The Duke had to say would only further infuriate everyone. She turned on him. “How?” she said.
“Well,” The Duke said clearing his throat. “I know you’re not from these parts, that is clear. And you know things very few people do.”
“I see,” Raven said, a sinking feeling building up in her chest. Please don’t let this be going where I think it is, she thought. The
Duke fidgeted with the steering wheel for a moment and then sighed.
“So, I want you to be my wife,” he said. “We are made for each other.” Raven kept her face as expressionless as she could. He glanced at her and then continued. “Raven, I want to marry you.”
“You don’t already have a wife?” Raven blurted. The Duke grinned, obviously pleased she had not shot him down outright. He scratched his chin.
“No,” he said. “I did, but it did not work out.”
“You did?” Raven asked. “And what happened?”
The Duke waved a hand. “It was not a good fit is all. I wanted kids, she didn’t.”
“Didn’t? Or couldn’t?” Raven asked, knowing of the sterility plague from Matthew. Although Raven had the chance to meet Dawn, a woman who was with child, she knew it was a rare event.
“Couldn’t,” The Duke answered. “Seems I can’t find a good woman who can. It’s a problem.”
Raven narrowed her eyes. “How many wives have tried?” she asked. This time The Duke laughed outright.
“I can’t sneak nothing past you, can I?” he said. “Okay, so there have been a number of them. But you’re different. I can see it.” Oh, you have no idea, Raven thought. She considered for a second if she should blow his mind and tell him the truth about her past. How would he take the news? Hector, the cat mutant, had required a lot of convincing and other than Matthew, Hector was the only one Raven had told. Even Blaze did not know she lived over a hundred years ago. Raven turned and looked out at the view over the wasteland. It was so strange. Again, she wondered what the purpose was behind it all. Certainly not to be this unstable and dangerous man's wife.