“Uh…I guess so.” He was taken aback.
“My gardens out the back need tending. The vegetable gardens need to be picked clean, re-tilled and seeds planted. The herb and flower beds need weeding. Tools are in the shed. Seeing how many there are of you, it should take, oh, four hours or so.”
Darvk’s jaw dropped. “What?”
“My price. I’ll be inside cooking lunch for you all. Give me a call when you’re finished.” Turning, she re-entered the hut.
“Bloody hell!” Darvk groaned.
His friends said worse when they trudged around the back of the hut and saw the size of the gardens.
~ * ~
“This ale is welcome.” Garret groaned, slumping down at the table in one of Kyros many taverns. “Did I ever tell you that I’m a trader, not a gardener?”
“About fifty times during and after the gardening at Beulah’s,” Darvk replied dryly. “This afternoon is something I choose not to remember.”
“I don’t even have the energy for wenching,” Cam complained wearily.
Night had fallen by the time the traders left the witch and had arrived at Kyro. Leaving four of the crew with the ship, Darvk and the rest of the traders headed into the settlement for a drink, and to see if they could gain any information on the whereabouts of the Reekas. So far, there had been no luck.
Time passed, and he’d just decided it was time to return to the ship and head elsewhere when the tavern doors burst open.
A burly man with a scraggly beard and a wild gleam in his eyes appeared. “There’s a fight going on up the street!”
“What’s new?” someone jeered and laughter broke out.
“It’s between some Reeka warriors and Inka soldiers!”
Darvk sprang to his feet.
“Whoo-whee! Someone’s gonna die tonight!” one of the tavern whores shouted gleefully.
There was a stampede for the door, every Daamen trader in the room joining in.
~ * ~
Everything had been going smoothly as they’d slipped through the shadows, until they passed a tavern two streets away from the edge of Kyro.
A prickle went down Tenia’s spine, causing her to pause.
The warriors behind her stilled.
Tenia whispered, “Something’s wrong.”
Connie stiffened. “I feel it too.”
“Someone’s waiting for us.” Senna’s sharp gaze caught stealthy movement across the street. “Over there.”
“Fall back,” hissed Tenia. “Everyone back.”
But it was too late. Powerful lights snapped on and they saw that eight soldiers surrounded them.
“Bloody Inkas,” Mya swore.
“The brat was right, you bitches are here!” The Inka sergeant stepped forward, raising his gleaming sword. “Benton, radio the others, we’ve found them!”
“Found us but won’t keep us.” Connie drew her sword with a sharp rasp from the sheath on her back. “Freedom or death, sisters!”
Tenia drew her sword with a silent curse. Lasers would have been so much easier, so much quicker, but the risk of the blast going through an enemy and killing one of her sister warriors or an innocent bystander was too risky, and obviously the Inka soldiers acted on the same reasoning.
It was going to be close combat, sharp and bloody.
Within seconds the street was filled with the steely sounds of swords meeting and flesh hitting flesh. The warriors fought with as deadly intent as the soldiers, and all were unaware of the gathering onlookers both on the sidewalks and in the windows and doorways of the buildings.
“Get them bastards, loves!” a whore shrieked.
“Down them!” another burly man roared.
But no one stepped forward to help, all eager to watch the bloody battle instead.
A soldier lunged at Tenia, his sword raised and she swung hers around in a wide arc, neatly slicing through his neck. His headless corpse staggered and fell. As she spun around, her gaze met those of a giant pushing his way through the cheering crowd.
Her heart jolted.
Darvk, here!
He stared at her, his widening eyes filling with first shock, then relief. “Tenia! Come to me!”
Not going to happen, never going to happen. She was already mentally shaking her head when a shout caught her attention. She spun around as the crowd surged forward and cheered while ten more soldiers spilled into the street, their swords raised and hatred in their eyes. She had a fight to win, a run to make, and going to Darvk wasn’t part of the plan.
“No mercy!” the sergeant yelled. “Kill the Reekas!”
The Daamens rushed forward to join the fight and it was as though their actions inspired the bloodthirsty crowd. Within seconds the street was full of brawling outlaws, ruffians, soldiers, traders, and warriors.
Chains, swords, steel pipes, hunks of wood, and fists were used against the soldiers and each other.
Out of the corner of her eye, Tenia could see Darvk steadily and determinedly fighting his way toward her as he felled the soldiers easily with his big fists and blocked their swords with a hunk of heavy steel pipe.
There was no way she could allow him to get hold of her. She let out a piercing whistle which her sister warriors understood as retreat and run. The information they had was too vital to stay and see the fight finished, maybe to die. Now that a full-on brawl had escalated, it was an ideal time to escape.
~*~
At first Darvk didn’t notice her drawing steadily away until he saw that she was on the edge of the fight. Suddenly the Reekas broke free of the fight, running while shouting their thanks to a grinning, one-eyed, hulking brute wielding a metal bar.
He waved to them before wading back into battle.
“Bloody hell!” Darvk swore viciously as he cut a wide swathe through the embattled combatants.
Seeing where their captain was heading, the rest of the traders fell in around him. They made a formidable guard with their heights and builds, combined with the steel poles they held, so much so that the soldiers turned from them to fight only the outlaws and ruffians.
Taking a quick look at his crew, Darvk was relieved to see that apart from minor cuts and grazes, none had been seriously hurt. In fact, the light of battle still shone in their eyes.
Daamens loved a good fight. But this fight wasn’t theirs, not when they had another goal.
“Tenia and the other three ran that way!” He pointed down the street. “After them!”
Barrelling easily through the combatants, they ran full pelt in the direction the outlaw warriors had taken.
The Daamens had long legs, eating up the distance easily, but the warriors were lithe and faster, keeping ahead of the traders as they sped through the deserted streets.
Gaze trained on the dim figures barely visible in the gloom, Darvk ran on, his men behind and beside him as they left the settlement behind and entered the countryside, Reekas and Daamens alike pushing through the bushes.
And this was where the bulk of the Daamens were against them, the litheness of the Reekas giving them the advantage, enabling them to put more distance between them and the men.
By the time the Daamens broke through into a clearing to see the Argon fleet craft on the other side, only Tenia was getting ready to board it, her hand on the handle to pull herself up.
No ramp, they were ready for a quick getaway.
The open doorway revealed a tall, dark-haired warrior watching the surroundings, her laser now palmed. That meant the other two warriors were already inside the fleet craft.
There was no hope of getting to Tenia before she entered, all Darvk could do was shout raggedly, desperately, “Tenia!”
The light from the top of the craft flashed on, lighting up the area.
Tenia swung around to see Darvk, her gaze flicking from him to his crew and back again.
For a second he thought she was going to smile, going to come to him, but his hopes were dashed when instead she demanded grimly, “What ar
e you doing here?”
“Don’t go.” Darvk’s breath was uneven from the pursuit. “Whatever the problem is, we can sort it out.”
Her face, half shadowed by the light behind her in the fleet craft, gave nothing of her thoughts or feelings away, her voice steady. “Forget about me, Darvk.”
“I can’t do that.” God, I can’t! “You’re mine, Tenia, I won’t let you go.”
She shook her head. “I’m no good for you. Look at you all, cut and hurt because of me, of us. You shouldn’t have stepped in and helped.”
“You’d be dead by now.” Emotion made his voice harsh.
“And you’ll be dead because of me.” Turning, she pulled on the handle.
“Nay!” He shot forward but it was too late.
The dark-haired warrior reached down, grabbed her wrists and yanked her inside, the door sliding shut almost on Tenia’s heels. Before he got near the craft it shot up into the air and veered off above the treetops, climbing higher, and then it was gone with a burst of speed.
He stared after it, feeling as though his heart was sliding to the ground. Again she’d given him the slip, and he was no wiser as to where to find her.
But the danger to her was real, so very real, and right now he was helpless to do more than swear and swing around grimly, a plan in his mind, determination in his heart.
He would find her, whatever it took. He already had a way, and he’d use it without mercy.
“Now what?” Maverk stared in the direction the fleet craft had disappeared.
“We need those two warrior wenches,” Darvk growled. “The two Seddam saw. We hunt them now.”
Chapter 12
Sitting at the control panel, Tenia willed her shaking hands to steady. It had been close, too close.
Connie took the seat Mya vacated. “So.”
“So?”
“So that’s Darvk. Handsome, if you like them rough.”
She didn’t answer.
“Was the blonde behind him Maverk?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Fine.” Connie gestured to the leather pouch on the thin string around Tenia’s neck. “What information did you get?”
“Better than we hoped for.” Refusing to contemplate what had just happened, Tenia forced images of the betrayal in Darvk’s face away. Pulling the pouch over her head, she opened it. “The plans of the Inka Empire fortress.”
Mya and Senna came over as the map was unfolded and laid over the control panels.
Connie studied it closely. “Good job. The woman drew it?”
“To sell later. Lucky for us.”
“It’ll make our task that much easier.”
The flight back was quick thanks to the speed of the Argon fleet craft, and being able to fly without being tracked on radar meant they could skim areas they would normally avoid.
Within several hours they were back at the Reeka camp in the mountains.
Reya was pleased when they arrived back on Urion with the plans. She spread it over the table and the warriors gathered around, while Tenia related what she’d been told about the Dragon soldiers and Shari’s movements.
“Excellent.” Arms folded, Reya rested her weight on one hip while debating the plans. “Now to decide our next move.”
“Did you get the weapons from Deathman?” Tenia queried.
“Almost everything.” She pointed to the woven baskets that stood atop the cupboard out of the children’s reach.
“Good.” Tenia yawned, rubbed her eyes.
Reya glanced around at the warriors.
“It is three in the morning.” Mya stretched and scratched her head with gusto, succeeding in making her look a little woolly-headed.
“Too late to continue. Or too early, depending on your point of view.” Reya folded the map and tucked it securely away into the leather pouch. “You’ve done well, sisters. We all need to get some rest. Tomorrow we start planning.”
“Yesta and Aster haven’t returned?” Mya’s brow creased in concern.
“Not yet. We need to wait for them before we head for the Empire.” Reya glanced around at the women. “For something like this, we need every one of us to be aware of what is happening and our place in it.”
“Agreed,” Tenia said.
The warriors nodded.
Reya looked at the tunnel leading to the open cave mouth. “If they don’t return in two more days, then we’ll look for them.”
Decision made, the warriors headed for bed.
Needing some fresh air and quiet time to herself, Tenia made for the ledge outside the cave.
~*~
Connie watched her go.
Reya noted her frown. “What’s wrong?”
“She hasn’t spoken once about Darvk since we left Kyro.”
“Maybe she doesn’t feel like it.” Collecting up the mugs, Reya took them to the wooden bucket in the corner.
“She loves him.” Connie’s attention switched to her. “Her feelings are bottled up inside and that’s not good.”
“She made her choice.”
“Circumstances forced her to choose between her loyalty to us and her love for him.”
“Circumstances forced choices on us all.”
“Yes, but the men we loved are no longer alive. This is harder for Tenia. The man she loves is out there and he returns that love.”
“I know, but what can we do?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Give her some comfort, maybe?” Connie suggested sardonically.
Reya glanced up, her eyes narrowed. “I’m no good at giving that.”
“So? Just go out and talk to her. She’s your blood sister, speak to her.”
“Connie-”
“She’s on the ledge.” Connie pointed to the tunnel leading to the mouth of the cave. “Go to her.”
Disgruntled, Reya stalked from the room. Connie shook her head slowly. Reya was never comfortable consoling anyone, even less so since she’d returned from that one mysterious mission that had bled some of the life from her eyes. What had happened on that mission she refused to share.
With a sigh, Connie headed for bed.
~*~
Sitting on the ledge outside the cave, wrapped softly in darkness, Tenia allowed the tears of a torn heart to overflow and slip silently down her cheeks.
Darvk. The beloved face filled her mind and she reached back into the recesses of her memory to drag forth the visions of the lovemaking they’d shared, the kisses and tender words. The laughter, the jokes. The companionship. Even the disagreements.
The warm breeze caressed her skin and she could almost imagine it was he who touched her, his long fingers sliding down her arm, his touch so strong and sure. By closing her eyes she could imagine his lips upon hers, so warm and firm-
“Tenia?”
With a jolt she opened her eyes and looked over her shoulder to find her sister standing behind her with an inscrutable expression. “Yes?”
Sitting down beside her, Reya gazed out over the dark landscape. “Are you all right?”
“I returned with no injuries, remember?” It was a bad attempt at interjecting humour into the reply.
“True.” Her sister cleared her throat, a sure sign of her discomfort. “How’re you taking it? Seeing the trader again?”
“His name is Darvk. You can say it, you know.”
“How are you taking seeing Darvk again?”
“Oh, I’m fine,” she answered with a choked laugh, swallowing back the lump that had lodged in her throat.
“No, you’re not fine,” Reya stated bluntly.
Feeling the golden strands of her loose hair tickling her bare shoulders, Tenia remembered how he liked it loose, his fingers sifting and twining through the silken mass.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Reya persevered.
“No.”
“You’ve been crying over him.”
It was hard enough maintaining control over her emotions without someone picking at them. “
Are you here to argue with me?”
“Don’t be so prickly. Sometimes you’re just like Father was.”
A small silence fell between them before Tenia said, “Thanks. I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It wasn’t meant to be,” was the tart reply.
“I know. That’s what makes it so much better.”
A reluctant laugh escaped Reya. “You always have the last word, don’t you?”
“I do try.” Tenia smiled slightly, felt the tension in her shoulders ease a little.
Reya hesitated, then asked nonchalantly, “Was that blonde thing with Darvk?”
“Shamon?” Tenia couldn’t resist baiting her.
“No, you idiot. Maverk.”
“Oh, him. Yes, he was.”
“Typical. Those two are never far from each other.”
Tenia slanted her sister a sly look. “Do you like him?”
“What? Don’t be ridiculous!” Reya jumped to her feet. “He’s an arrogant swine. I’m going to bed, how about you?”
“Soon.” Tenia gazed up at her. “Thanks for your concern, even if you are lousy at showing it.”
Uncomfortably, Reya shrugged and bid her goodnight.
Tenia allowed the peace of the night to wrap around her in a similar way that Darvk’s muscular arms had in the not so distant past…
~ * ~
In his cabin, Darvk slouched in the chair before the viscomm. The screen was flickering but his thoughts weren’t on it. Instead, he could still see a bloodstained sword grasped in a strong hand, crimson liquid on her clothes and skin.
For the first time he’d really seen her as the outlawed warrior, taking the lives of those who sought to end her own.
He shuddered, knowing that if he and his friends hadn’t been there, Tenia would have died that night. She would have lain in the dusty street in a crimson pool of blood widening beneath her, the bright violet eyes dull and lifeless, her golden braid lying in the dirt, her warm lips cold with death.
But she’d betrayed him.
But the pain in her eyes had been so clear when she saw him.
But but but. So many bloody ‘buts’.
Damn it! Pushing the chair back violently, he stood abruptly. Stalking over to the robe, he yanked the door open and reached for clean clothes, deciding to shower, mayhap read, anything to take his mind from his troubles and worries for just a few precious minutes.
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