“Well, you are a costly girl,” the dwarf muttered toward her.
“You want to say something, Finn?”
“Me? Oh, no. I just agree that you cost him a lot of coin.”
Finn had the natural ability to make a joke at the most opportune moments. Serra supposed it was a good thing in this case. Now she and Finn were back to square one with no work and little money. His dream would have to wait that much longer.
Nightfall was upon them by the time they reached the Square Serpent. A cold breeze hurried them inside as they covered their heads with their hoods.
Upon entering, they quickly rushed upstairs to their room before anyone could stop and ask them for a pint. Finn had become known to be a little too generous over the past two weeks while they were out of work. If the people in the tavern got him in a good mood, he would offer a free round. That alone would need to be put to a halt if they were to have money to eat.
Tossing her things on the floor, Serra plopped on the bed, feeling exhausted as she closed her eyes. Finn sat down on the other bed and began to count the coin he picked up, piling them in tiny stacks of ten. Caden carefully laid out his things in an orderly fashion at the end of her bed. He had brought more of his medicine than she originally thought.
“Caden, one would think you knew all this would happen with all that stuff you got there,” she mumbled as she stared at the empty ceiling.
He shrugged. “I always try to come prepared. I confess that this day didn’t go as planned. But…”
“But what?”
“I had a bad feeling, so I grabbed everything I could. I overheard Benedict saying something about the men we saw and thought the meeting could go very wrong.” It was nice to hear that she wasn’t alone in her concerns. Those men in black uniforms didn’t seem human somehow. She shuddered at the memory.
“Oh, which reminds me.” Under his forest green coat, he pulled out a long-clothed object tied with leather straps. “I have something for you.”
She sat up, crossing her legs as Caden leaned against the wall, tossing it to her. The weight was heavy, and the shape suggested a weapon. “What is it?”
“Something you were supposed to have.”
She undid the leather straps and uncovered the cloth to reveal the sword Rafe had died for. The one he was so sure was the one from the legends. Unsheathing it, she discovered markings all along the blade. They seemed almost burnt into the blade, reminding her of the nightmare she had of his death. Though, even as she saw it now, she couldn’t make out what the markings said or meant. She assumed it was part of some dead religion or language or the markings of a madman who previously owned it.
A thank you was expected to come out, but she instead said, “Why?”
Caden leaned his head back against the wall. “After what happened to Rafe… I just felt that you deserved to be able to fulfil his wish. I don’t know why he wanted you to have it so bad. I don’t exactly think he was in the right mind, but it meant a lot to him. When you came to me with that cut on your face… after what Grom did to you…”
He paused, taking a deep breath, as if stopping himself from saying too much. “I stole it when he decided to drop it off into storage. I left my own blade behind so that everyone would assume it was still there. Grom needed to forget about it before I officially gave it to you. After all that happened today, I figured…”
“I understand. Thank you. Though, I can’t believe you took that risk for my sake.” Grom finding out he had done this would’ve meant Caden’s death. He was already enraged that someone betrayed him, and this would’ve confirmed his suspicion of a rat in his midst. Caden was lucky.
The corner of Caden’s mouth curled upward, revealing bright teeth. He moved and sat on the bed next to her. “I promise not to make a habit of it as long as you promise not to make a habit of threatening any future bosses.”
She laughed and punched him gently in his arm, hard enough to make him wince at the sudden pain. He rubbed the area, still chuckling.
“Well, despite your misgivings, my dear, we have enough here to last us a while,” said Finn. He tossed the bag to Caden. “We got about five hundred and whatever pretty boy has. You will need to pay your own way.” He gestured his thumb to Serra. “I can barely afford this one here.”
“Once again, you make me ask. Do you have something to say, dwarf?” She emphasized the last part to annoy him. As he liked to call her “child,” she would always comeback with “dwarf” when he decided to pick on her.
“Only that I love you, child.”
“I love you, too.”
Caden clapped his hands. “Ah, so much love here. It makes me want to kiss you both!”
Finn suddenly became serious, giving Caden a warning look. “Don’t even think about it, pretty boy.”
Serra giggled and planted a small kiss on Caden’s cheek. His face flushed bright red, making Finn lose his composure and burst into a full belly laugh. “Careful. You might make him pass out from sheer shock.”
And with that, Finn ordered them dinner and large pints of ale. He pulled out his deck of cards and began shuffling them.
Despite the terrible events that plagued Serra’s mind, she knew that no matter what happened she would have her friends. Caden was a new addition to her small family. Together, one day they could fulfil Finn’s dream of riches and laziness.
She looked at the sword one more time, making a silent vow that she would give them a better home.
And to let Rafe’s loss no longer haunt her.
“Where the hell is that boy?” the bartender screamed, causing the few patrons in the tavern to fall silent. His face was flushed red as if he dunked his head into a steaming pot. Finn had discovered the bartender was also the owner of the Square Serpent, making him also responsible for hiring incompetent help. The young man hadn’t shown up for the past two days.
“You mean you’re still out of that northern ale I like?” one patron said.
The bartender threw the rag over his shoulder. “Yes, along with most of the food! It’s impossible to find good help anymore!” He cursed under his breath
Serra approached him, offering a polite smile. “What all do you need? I can get it for you.”
He was taken back by her question, giving her an odd look. “I don’t usually ask for my customers to help with my problems, miss.”
“And you didn’t. I offered. Give me the list and we will get it today.”
Reluctantly, he nodded and went into the back for a few minutes, returning with a paper with almost illegible handwriting. “Seeing as I have no other option, here you go.” He handed the paper to her and a small pouch of coin. “Pay it with that. There shouldn’t be any change for what you need. When you get back, I’ll pay you for your time. Hopefully, I won’t have to do this again. I already lost twenty silver to that boy.”
The young man he spoke of was—as Serra recalled—a boy of about thirteen with short, messy brown hair and eyes. He was usually covered in dirt and stayed in the back with the owner. She had only seen small glimpses of him since she had come to the city. She hadn’t spoken to him, but he often smiled when he saw her before he ran off. He seemed like a decent young man.
“We will keep an eye out for him. Maybe he got lost or distracted,” said Caden.
“He’s been with me the past two years. I doubt he got lost. Probably ran off with the money. Ain’t going to last him long though.” The bartender returned to his customers, muttering something she couldn’t hear.
Finn crossed his arms, staring at Serra. “When I said we needed work, I didn’t mean to work here as a lackey.”
She shrugged. “It’s better than nothing, Finn. Maybe if we get on his good graces, he’ll give us a discount.”
It had worked before about three years ago when she worked at a tavern named The Lazy Pub. Finn was displeased and only allowed her to stay there for a few weeks until he found them better jobs. The owner was rough but kind. He fed her and Finn the lef
tovers when the tavern closed for the night. It was never much, but it was better than starving.
“I’ll go with you,” Caden offered then went to get a box to carry the supplies from the bartender.
“And I’ll go to see what I can find for some real work,” Finn sneered as he passed Serra to the Square Serpent’s main doors.
The last thing he wanted was a job like this. He wanted to get into investments but could never afford the down payments. She supposed it was because that how his father made his wealth, only to lose it to a corrupt partner. Finn was smart. He wouldn’t make the same mistake.
By the time they entered the market district, people were scattering to a crowded area.
Not again, Serra thought.
The people were watching. Some of them cheering at whatever was happening. Serra was worried it was another execution, but they were still in the market district. It was more likely it was some type of fight breaking out.
She followed the crowd and stood on her tiptoes to see what was going on but couldn’t see above the plethora of heads and backs blocking her view. Cursing her short height, she glanced back at Caden, jerking her chin for him to follow.
She wiggled her way through the crowd, pushing aside several bodies blocking her path. The sounds of a whip caused her to pause, holding her breath. A scream filled her ears, silencing the people around her for a moment.
“That’s what you get, slave!”
“Pointy-eared bastard!”
“Hit him harder!”
She grabbed a nearby elf’s shoulder and leaned close to her ear. “What’s happening?”
The elf jumped back by her sudden touch, holding the basket closer to her body. She held her head low, allowing her short-trimmed hair to fall forward. “A—a slave is being punished for leaving his master. I’m supposed to watch by my master’s—”
“Stupid girl! I told you—” The elf’s master gripped a handful of her hair, pulling her back to him. Serra unsheathed her dagger and held it against the man’s neck. A stern look was all he needed to let go. A visible gulp formed in his throat. She made a silence promise to him that she would end him if he did it again. He held up his hands until she lowered her weapon, understanding her threat.
The elf’s eyes held hers in appreciation and sorrow, knowing that she would be punished later for speaking to Serra. Her master stepped out of the crowd, not bothering to order the elf follow him.
The sound of the whip snapped her out of the trance, and she pushed through the rest of crowd.
The slave was tied up to a post, blood dripping down his bare back onto his ragged pants. His white hair was cut, leaving a braided clump on the ground behind him. It wasn’t until she saw his face was when she could confirm who it was.
Theren.
She recalled that Theren told her about drugging his master’s wine. Did he get caught? She warned him about doing such a thing. How could he be so stupid? This would get him killed! Barely making one step toward him, a hand grabbed her arm.
“Don’t. It’s just the same as the execution,” Caden said. “You know what will happen if you involve yourself.”
But this wasn’t an execution. It was a public punishment to humiliate and make an example to the other slaves. If Theren’s master believed he was trying to leave him, he would’ve simply killed him. No, he must have known it would’ve done nothing but make him sleep or he valued Theren too much to end his life. There was more going on here.
“No. I won’t hold back anymore.” Determination and anger filled her mouth as she spoke. Slaves. Executions. Public punishments. It all had to end. And she finally had lost her patience to not fight back.
She shoved him off, rushing toward the man holding the whip. Unsheathing the sword Rafe had given her, she swung it downward as the man brought the whip onto Theren’ back, cutting right through the leather with ease and making a loud clank on the ground.
The crowd instantly silenced. Widened eyes from all around her watched as she lifted the blade from the ground.
Serra tried to think carefully about this. Full on attacking Theren’s master could result in death for herself and others. It could cost Theren’s life as well. No, there had to be a better way.
What would Finn do? She imagined him in this situation. He would try to appease Theren’s master and offer some compensation to this unfortunate situation. She sheathed her sword as his master approached her.
He pointed a finger at her, accusing. “How dare you! You have no right! I will—”
“Hey now, I just stopped him from damaging my slave,” she said as a wicked smile spread across her face.
“What the hell are you talking about? I purchased him years ago.” To Theren he said, “Is this bitch your master? Is that where you have been sneaking off? Have you been whoring yourself, slave?”
With little strength, he shook his head. He met Serra’s eyes, pleading that she would just walk away. Any hope of escape was lost in his emerald eyes. “I’ll get you out of here,” she mouthed so no one heard her.
She turned back to his master. “He is quite handsome, but I’m afraid your wrong. I’m here to make you an offer.”
Theren’s master paused then began stroking his grey beard, considering her. “What kind of offer?”
Got him, she thought. “Seeing as he had become such a bother to you, I’d like to purchase him. With that money, you could get yourself a new slave. One that would gladly follow your every command.” He looked around, eyeing the few female elf slaves in the crowd. Including, the one whose master Serra had threatened.
Theren’s master was considering the possibility. She continued, “But, if you keep him, I perfectly understand. You seem like a man who values his investments. I was simply offering to take this one from you since he has caused you such trouble.”
Caden pushed through the crowd then wrapped an arm around her waist. “I’ll give you ten gold for him. Far more than what you would get from him in auction. We have been looking for a new slave since our last one died from illness. Poor thing, she was a lovely girl. It would please my wife most graciously, sir, if I could buy him from you.”
Serra could see what he was doing. By putting on a show that they were wealthy, the man would be more inclined to sell Theren. She would need to thank him later for helping her. She leaned her body into his, emphasizing their pretend romantic relationship.
“I’ll sell him for fifteen,” the master said, crossing his arms.
“Eleven,” Caden snapped back.
“Twelve.”
“Done.”
Caden left her side and shook the master’s hand then pulled out the large pouch of coin Finn had counted earlier. She wondered what he was planning to buy with all that money. Finn would be furious when he found out. But it further proved the fake wealth they claimed to have to buy Theren.
The master counted the money then signaled the man with the whip to release Theren. Once untied, Theren’s body fell limp as Serra grabbed him before he could fall.
“Pleasure doing business with you,” his old master said before leaving the market.
The crowd dispersed, returning to their previous activities. Some of the men and women looked annoyed to have lost the show they wanted. Others seemed relieved it was over. The slaves bowed their heads slightly toward Serra, thanking her for stopping the punishment. She wondered if any of them personally knew Theren.
Caden’s act fell as he rushed over to Serra and Theren. Examining Theren’s bleeding backside, he said, “We have to get him back to our place. These wounds could get infected if not treated properly. You get the supplies; I’ll carry him back.”
She nodded, helping him stand Theren up. “Thank you for helping me. Why were you carrying all that money? We could’ve lost that, you know.”
“I—uh, I wanted to buy you something,” he said so fast she almost didn’t hear him.
“What? Why?”
“There was this necklace—never mind. I didn’
t bring all of it. Just some of it. Now, Finn will kill me in my sleep for spending it on him.”
She laughed. “What makes you think he would wait until you fell asleep?”
“You got us into this mess. I did what I had to, which was to prevent you from making trouble.” It was clear that Caden was part of the family. Blaming her for any trouble they got into was the final initiation.
Serra frowned, losing the previous humor. “I know. I’ll handle Finn. You just get him back safely. I’ll take care of everything else.”
Caden smirked. “Try not to get into any more trouble.”
The bartender was pleased to receive his goods and kept his end of the bargain, but all Serra could think about was Theren. Thoughts scattered in her mind, and her stomach knotted with worry, wondering if he was all right—if he would make it.
After getting her payment, she rushed upstairs to her room where she found Theren lying on the floor covered in blankets, his head tilted to the side. The two beds were pushed back to give him some room. He seemed paler than before. Sweat trickled down his forehead as he quietly slept, but his breathing seemed heavy. Caden was putting away his supplies with a hard expression.
“Will he live?” she choked. If he looked worse now, was there any chance he could survive the night?
“He is… very weak, Serra. I don’t think he has eaten a decent meal in a long time and then when you’ve had the punishments he received…” he trailed off. He shook his head, not wanting to finish his thought.
The air left her chest. She wasn’t sure what she could do to help him now other than let Caden do what he must. Theren seemed strong, though. He could make it. He had to make it.
She sat beside the sleeping elf. The desire to caress his face and tell him he would be all right filled her heart like a mother scared for her child. Instead, she pulled the blankets up further to his chin, pathetically hoping it would make a difference.
“If he makes it through the night, then I believe he will survive. Right now, he needs rest. Because of his back, I had to make sure he was flat as possible so the stitches wouldn’t be torn. I gave him something to help him sleep. The medicine needs time to work through his body so he can regain his strength.” It was the best hope Caden could give her. Even though it felt like it was up to the gods to deem him worthy of surviving. A chance. A small chance was all Theren had. In a strange way, it gave Serra some hope he would make it through.
Rise of the Champion (The Champion Book 1) Page 8