In return, the traders taught her the arts of dirty fighting; a pastime they excelled in and were famous for - along with wenching.
It was good to see a friendship of sorts develop between the crew and the outlaw, however guarded on her side, but she was a bloody headache for him. Or a groin ache, to be more precise, he thought. He caught himself listening for her husky voice, the sound of her laughter, the glimpse of a shapely leg and a rounded bosom.
How could he insist she could trust him when he, to put it quite bluntly, lusted after her? There was no way he could pursue her without damaging the delicate thread of trust that was slowly building between them. If he dared to reveal his attraction to her, she’d more than likely believe that he’d been leading her on just to get her into his bunk. Any trust would be broken and that in turn would lead to her attempting to escape again, and this time she might succeed. Or die.
Neither thought was tolerable.
Nay, he wanted the trust between them to strengthen, wanted her to know she could count on his help without any expectations. Know she could count on him full stop. Have her turn to him for help. That would, unfortunately, never happen if she knew what he was thinking and feeling.
Damn it.
So he remained friendly, polite, and kept a smile pasted firmly on his face.
The fact that his friends were noticing made him grit his teeth, their knowing leers in his direction making him dangerously close to knocking their heads together. The bastards were undoubtedly laying bets on the outcome of whether he’d maintain control of himself, or succumb and seduce the beautiful outlaw.
They aren’t going to win. I’m a grown man with a man’s self-control. I’m not going to seduce Tenia into my bed. Yet. Not until she trusts me. He scowled. Damn, that makes me sound sleazy. I’m not sleazy, I’ve never been sleazy. But I want her, no denying it. I have to treat the wench as just a friend, it’s the only way. I can’t hurt her any more than she’s already been hurt and betrayed.
He heard her light footsteps enter the control cabin behind him. “Red said you wanted to see me?”
Just a friend needing help. He inhaled deeply, gave a firm, resolute, mental nod.
Maverk smiled when she entered the cabin, but Darvk kept his eyes on the screen. He didn’t have to look to know that she stood behind their chairs. He could sense her.
“Aye,” he answered. “We reach Comll by morn, and we need you to assist with the location of the Reeka settlement. I can’t find the name of your home. Exactly where is it on this map?”
She moved up closer behind his chair. After she studied the map, she leaned forward and traced a circle on a section of it. “In that area. Can you bring it up?”
With a nod, Maverk enlarged the area with several dexterous moves of his fingers across the screen until the area filled the screen.
“Can you remember exactly?” asked Darvk.
He felt her hand on the back of his chair as she bent forward to study the map. Being so close to him, the warmth of her body seemed to caress his skin.
Determinedly, he kept his attention focussed on the map.
“It was between the settlements of Bendya and Syran.” She leaned over his shoulder as Maverk searched for them.
As she watched the screen intently, she was unaware of her long, thick braid sliding onto Darvk's chest. His loins tightened as the faint scent of jasmine drifted into his nostrils. Bloody hell, just the smell of her made him hard!
He was just about to jump out of the chair when she suddenly grabbed his shoulder, those firm breasts pressing against his back while she said eagerly, “There’s the two settlements, see?”
“Aye,” he croaked.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Maverk biting his lower lip to prevent the laugh that threatened to erupt. The bastard knew exactly what Darvk was feeling.
“Here, between the settlements.” One shapely arm stretched over his shoulder as she pointed to the screen. “That’s where my home was.”
He nearly slid down in the chair when he felt her fingers brush his neck, and all he could think about were those same fingers running down the bare skin of his back.
Concentrate!
“Well, lass, I’ll enter the coordinates and we should arrive there by dawn.” Maverk cast his friend a sideways glance. “All right with you, Darvk?”
“What? Oh, aye. Dawn.” Darvk stood up, barely controlling the urge to leap away. “Go ahead and enter it.”
Resting her folded arms on the backrest, Tenia crossed her ankles while she studied the map with eager curiosity. Darvk gave a mental groan as his gaze fell on her bottom, so firm yet luscious, the short skirt coming to a stop not far below her very shapely posterior.
Bloody hell! Someone should tell her not to bend over while wearing those bloody short skirts. Hastily averting his eyes, he bid them goodnight.
Hurrying back to his cabin, he stripped off to stand in the shower, cringing at the cold water that beat upon his heated skin, but knowing it was the only way he could cool the fire burning in his loins.
Well, that and taking himself in hand.
Literally.
~ * ~
Tenia walked with Darvk and four other Daamen traders toward the crumbling ruins of what had once been a large and thriving settlement. Walls of stone were burned black and had fallen in, while stone fences lay in ruin.
Approaching one of the buildings, she peered inside the doorway. Charred wood was all that remained of the door that caved in easily when she pushed it open.
Looking over her shoulder, Darvk thought it must have been impressive in its day, the floor being made of great slabs of smooth stone and a huge hearth in the sidewall. A hallway led off into other rooms.
After peering around, she walked back out into the warm sunshine, Darvk following.
“‘Tis a beautiful place.” Maverk approached. “The soil is so rich, and the river there is crystal clear. I’m surprised no one has staked a claim here.”
“The other settlements are superstitious,” she replied. “They probably believe this place is cursed and haunted by our dead males.”
It did have an air of desolation about it.
“Let’s check out the rest of this place,” Darvk suggested. “You never know what we might find.”
They went through the ruins, searching for something, anything. Apart from a few old toys and bits of broken cutlery and furniture, it was fruitless.
When Darvk finally shook his head at her, she sighed with disappointment. “It’d be too easy for the answer to be right here, ready and waiting, wouldn’t it?”
“Sorry, lass.” He pushed down the urge to give her a hug. “I suggest we move on to Bendya and see what we can discover there. If you’re ready, that is?”
Nodding, she started back toward the ship, only to stop suddenly and lay her hand on his arm. He looked at her inquiringly.
“My father and the other males are buried in the cemetery on the other side of that rise. I’d like to see his grave before we go. Please?”
As if he could deny her that. “Of course.”
Darvk followed her slowly, his crew not far behind, stopping now and again to read the headstones that still had a bit of engraving visible. Many bore only male names and a variety of ages.
“They died in droves, didn’t they?” Maverk murmured. “What do you think really happened?”
“I don’t know. But I believe the warriors didn’t do it.”
Maverk nodded agreement.
The sound of stone scraping against stone made Darvk look up to see Tenia crouched before a headstone, reading the engraving with a frown. Standing up, she went to the next one quickly.
“What’s wrong?” he called out.
“My father. His body isn’t here.”
“How can you be so sure?” His tone gentled. “‘Twas a long time ago and you were so young. He may be buried elsewhere.”
Returning to the headstone she’d first checked, she stood with
hands on hips. “Because the grave has been dug up and is empty.”
The traders reached the area and stared down at the gaping hole on the other side of the broken headstone. Someone had indeed dug it up. They peered down into the dark depths.
“Mayhap he’s still there,” Maverk suggested. “Whoever dug down might not have gone deep enough.”
Perplexed, she frowned at him. “Why would they have given up?”
“I don’t know. ‘Twas just an idea.”
A sudden scuttling sound made them all spin around, Darvk spinning back just as quickly at her gasp just in time to see her foot slip at the edge of the empty grave. His heart jumped as she fell backwards into the hole. “Tenia!”
A muffled thump and a curse met his ears as every trader dropped to their knees to peer into the depths to see Tenia lying on her back, propped up on her elbows, coughing a little as dust settled around her.
Darvk was just getting ready to jump down but her disgruntled ‘I’m fine’ stopped him. He watched as she rolled to her feet, relieved to see her briskly slap the dust from her clothes, a clear indication she had spoken truthfully and not due to pride only.
“I slipped when I heard that noise.” She looked up at the faces peering inquiringly down at her. “What was it?”
“A rabda,” Borga informed her.
“Give me your hand.” Darvk reached down into the open grave. “I’ll pull you out.”
She shifted forward, reaching up with one hand to grab his, only to have her attention caught by something her boot had dislodged. Bending down, she picked up the object, straightening with it in her hand, absentmindedly brushing her other hand over her bodice to the accompaniment of more dust and a sneeze.
“Will you please stop fussing with your clothes and get out?” he said impatiently, wanting her out of the grave. “I’ll brush you off up here.”
“I’ll brush myself off, thank you very much.” She arched an eyebrow. “I don’t know why you’re in such a snit, I’m the one who fell in.”
“Are you coming up or not?”
Ignoring Maverk, Borga, and Garret who were grinning at each other, he waggled his fingers. She reached up and he curled his fingers firmly around her hand.
“Ouch!” She winced. “Take my wrist instead, I’ve got something in my hand.”
Adjusting his grip, he hauled her out easily, she using her legs as leverage against the dirt walls. As she came over the top of the grave, he wrapped his other arm around her waist and easily lifted her the rest of the way. For several seconds she was pressed against him. As much as he secretly enjoyed that feeling, he released her as soon as she pulled back.
Apparently he was the only one affected, because she was more interested in the object revealed by her uncurling fingers. He peered over her shoulder while the others gathered around to see.
“You must have uncovered it when you tumbled in,” Maverk mused. “What is it?”
“A badge of some kind.”
They all bent closer, Darvk very conscious of her body in the shelter of his as their positions placed him at her back.
Garret studied the object in her palm. “Looks like a dragon, doesn’t it?”
It was a small dragon, the tail curled around to meet the flames coming from its mouth forming a perfect circle.
“May I?” Taking it between thumb and forefinger, Darvk held it up.
“It must belong to whoever took my father’s body.” Tenia glanced down at the open grave.
“Mayhap it belonged to him,” Borga suggested.
“I don’t remember him having anything like that.”
“If we can find who this belongs to, we may find part of the answer,” Darvk said. “Let’s go to Bendya and see what we can find out there.”
Heading back toward the ship, Tenia glanced over her shoulder to say to him as he strode along behind her, “We might also find who took his body.”
With a guilty start he realized that no one had thought how she felt, returning to her home to find the settlement torched and her father’s body stolen. Any other wench would have been hysterical, but she’d shown no other emotion except puzzlement at the mystery and irritability at him for ordering her to hurry and give him her hand after she’d fallen into the gaping hole.
He grinned at the memory.
The other traders were walking ahead with her following, while he brought up the rear only a pace behind her. He saw a bit of grass stuck to her skirt which she’d missed while dusting herself off. Reaching out, he swatted it away.
Instantly she whirled around, ready to give him a verbal blasting.
He looked at her innocently. “You missed some grass on your skirt.”
Her expression was dubious.
Darvk couldn’t help but be amused when she dropped back to walk beside him. “Something wrong, lass?”
“What could possibly be wrong?”
“Oh, I don’t know.”
“I bet,” she muttered.
This time he didn’t bother to hide his grin.
Tenia gave him an inscrutable glance before looking ahead.
She might be irritated with him, but Darvk enjoyed her company as she strode along beside him. The wench was definitely growing on him in more ways than one.
~ * ~
Bendya was a large, heavily populated and thriving settlement. Merchants called out their wares in the crowded market place, and the enticing smell of cooking food filled the air. As many settlements on this planet, it was a mixture of simplicity and technology, with both horses and travel discs being used for transport, hover trays carrying goods, and hover crafts and small spaceships parked outside the settlement in large docking bays.
This time six of his crew accompanied Darvk and Tenia, all covered in long cloaks to protect them from the chill breeze that swirled down the dusty streets. Splitting up into pairs, they combed the taverns discreetly asking questions, but only received the usual rumours of murder.
On the way back to the ship, Darvk threw caution to the wind and placed his arm around the disappointed warrior’s shoulders, giving her a quick hug. “Don’t be disheartened, lass. This is just the beginning. We may find more worthwhile news in Syran.”
He’d expected her to shrug him off irritably, but instead she gave a small sigh. “You think?”
“Aye.”
“You’re just being nice now.” A light touch of humour laced the disappointment.
“Me?” He touched his other hand to his chest in mock horror. “Never. How can you accuse me of such a thing?”
“Momentary slip of the tongue.” Smiling, she turned her attention to the big trade ship looming in the docking bay.
~ * ~
Syran was similar to Bendya, and once again they headed for the taverns. Again they split up to cover the patrons.
Tenia and Darvk sat at the bar.
“Might have better luck here,” Darvk said in a low voice. Getting no response, he looked at Tenia beside him to see her soft lips pressed tightly together, a muscle jumping in her clenched jaw. “What’s wrong?”
“They have a death mask and a braid on the wall,” she answered emotionlessly, but her eyes flashed darkly.
He followed her gaze to the far wall and saw the death mask in a glass case in a position of pride, beauty frozen in gold. A long, black braid coiled beneath it. Instantly he recognised the death mask as a Reeka’s. “Damn.” Concerned, he switched his attention back to her. “Are you all right? If not, we can return to the ship.”
Taking a deep breath, she unclenched her fists. “I’m fine.”
“Tenia-”
“I’m fine, Darvk.”
Before he could say anything more, a bald-headed barman appeared before them, burping and scratching his paunch. “What’ll you have?”
Darvk ordered two juices, earning himself a withering look from the barman, which quickly turned a little sickly when Darvk glared at him. Within minutes a tall glass of icy juice was placed before he and Tenia
. Darvk took the opportunity to ask him about the Reekas, but found him uninterested in the whole subject of the Reekas. His only comment was “Good riddance to bad rubbish.”
No help there, then.
Finishing their drinks, they went outside.
Sitting against the outer wall of the tavern were three elderly men, one asleep.
Stopping before them, Darvk delved into the small pouch tied around his neck. “I wonder if one of you could help me?”
The two awake squinted up at the towering trader.
“Depends, sonny,” one replied. “Not much we can remember nowadays.”
They cackled merrily and he grinned.
“Actually, I was hoping you could tell me about this?” He held out his hand. “I found it at an old settlement. The Reeka settlement.”
Craning their necks, the old men peered at the dragon badge.
“Can’t say I do.” The first one scratched his head. “Some kinda badge.”
“I recollect seeing that before,” the second man said.
Withdrawing four gold coins from the pouch, Darvk held them up, cocking an inquiring brow at the two gaping faces. “Four dinnos if you can remember where.”
“The soldiers had ‘em.”
“What soldiers?” The coins rattled enticingly.
“Dunno where they came from, but it was the only time we saw them. They came to question the Reekas; but after they discovered the Reekas had left, the soldiers disappeared.”
Tenia unconsciously moved closer.
“Is there anything else you can tell me?” Darvk asked.
“Nope,” the old man replied. “Like I said, when the warriors went so did the soldiers.”
After several more questions, it was obvious the men knew nothing more so Darvk paid them. Clutching the money gleefully, the two old men scurried into the tavern leaving their companion still asleep and Tenia and Darvk looking at each other.
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