Mercenary, page 8
part #2 of Heart's Desire Soul Destroyed Series
“Fair enough.” Picking up an orange, he started peeling it. “So she was restless. Then what?”
“She told me one night that she was leaving in the morning. I asked why, and she gave me a look that I couldn’t fathom and simply said ‘This is not for me.’ We left well before dawn.”
“So no one knew you were going?” Garret queried.
“Are you kidding? Of course not. Reya knew someone would send word to Daamen to alert Tenia and Connie, who’d come and try to talk her out of it.”
“And you.”
“Yes.” She gave an elegant lift of strong, slender shoulders. “Anyway, we left. On the rise above the settlement she looked back down. It was peaceful, you know? The smell of spring in the air, all that stuff. For a minute I thought she’d change her mind and stay.” Her expression grew pensive. “It was the only time I saw such sadness in her eyes, but as quick as it came it was gone, then she turned and walked away. We haven’t been back since.”
“How did you end up fighting again?” Chin on his hand, Garret idly munched on toast.
“Drifted into it.” Popping a grape into her mouth, Dana chewed thoughtfully. “We moved from place to place, catching the planet shuttles. Reya seemed determined to put plenty of space between us and Comll and Daamen. One of the shuttles broke down and we landed on Ylan, on the edge of the Outlaw Sector.”
Maverk listened with interest.
“One of our old clients spotted us and offered a job as mercenaries against another district lord. We had no money and it seemed like a good idea.”
“Reya was happy to be fighting again?”
She took a deep breath, obviously trying to make up her mind how much more to reveal.
“That bad?” He probed gently but persistently.
She lowered the grapes onto the platter. “I wouldn’t say she was happy about it, I’d say she welcomed it. She fights with a deadly determination, concentrating on the battle, giving no quarter.” Her expression grew faintly troubled. “She takes risks above and beyond what we are paid to do.”
“You worry about her,” Garret stated quietly.
“I guess so. Yes. She was always calm and cold. The death of her mother and early leadership of our race during the outlaw years caused a lot of that, but there was a change in her...”
Remembering Reya’s ramblings the previous night, Maverk took a stab in the dark. “When she returned from a particular mercenary mission during those outlaw years?”
Startled, she looked at him. “How do you know? What has she told you?”
“Nothing. You?”
“Nothing.” Dana sighed. “Reya returned from that bloody mission with a desolation in her eyes that scared us all. She was so remote, shunning our company for a full day, which she spent alone at the river. She didn’t want us with her and Connie, who kept guard over her from a distance, reported that...”
“What? Help me to understand, for she had a nightmare last night and cried as though her heart would break.”
“She hasn’t had that nightmare for a while, or not that I know of. Since that day at the river, I’ve not seen her cry.”
“What happened at the river?”
“Connie said that she spent a long time in the water, scrubbing herself viciously with the soap until none was left, then she came up on the bank and cried for the longest time. It just went on and on. At dusk she returned to the cave and was once again cold and composed, only this time there was something missing, a piece of her, if you like. No one could say what but it was as though she’d distanced herself from us all. Not in a noticeable way, but we could feel it. She loved the children but now she was uneasy around them.” Dana flicked her fingers in sudden dismissal. “That’s all there is to say. I don’t know. You’ll have to ask her what haunts her.”
Maverk’s gaze sharpened. “So you think something haunts her?”
“Something haunts us all, trader. Everyone carries a burden; it’s just that some are heavier than others.”
Garret studied her curiously. “Why did you choose to go with her? Didn’t you feel at home in the Reeka settlement either?”
“What’s there for me? Can you see me having a family, being a farmer?” Dana plucked another grape. “I chose to go for two reasons, the first being that I wasn’t content, the second to watch over her.”
“You think she needs watching?” Concern spiked through Maverk.
“Maybe ‘watching’ isn’t the right word. A friend is what she needs. If she doesn’t have company, someone to care about, then I fear the last part of her soul that still lives will wither and die.”
The blunt words surprising him, he sat back and contemplated the blonde warrior. “Things are that bad?”
“Ask her.” Dana jabbed a thumb at the window. “I’ve said all I'm going to say.”
“So you chose to be the person to watch over her?” Garret asked.
“She’s my cousin, my sister warrior.”
He frowned. “What of your life?”
Dana grinned in genuine amusement. “She tried to talk me out of it, believe me. Cursed and swore and threatened, then said she wished she’d never confided her plans to me. She was out before dawn but I knew she’d try and sneak away, so I stayed awake all night to watch for her. I met her outside the settlement, she knew she couldn’t talk me out of it, and off we went.” Dana waved a hand languidly.
“Does she worry about you?”
“Of course, though you wouldn’t guess.” Pushing to her feet, she stretched leisurely. “That’s all I know. Anything more you’ll need to find out from Reya. I’m going for a shower.”
Garret watched her limp up the stairs. “The cousins are close.”
“Aye.” Maverk’s attention was on the solitary figure on the other side of the grimy window. “I’m going to wander out and talk to Reya.”
“You’re going to ask about that nightmare?”
“Think she’ll answer?”
“Doubt it.” A trace of a smile crossed his friend’s face.
“So do I.” Maverk picked up a peach. “Nay, I’m going to ask her when she plans to return to Daamen.”
“Good luck with that.”
Stepping out onto the veranda, he looked at the slender figure lounging back in the tilted chair, the picture of total relaxation. Nay, he wouldn’t get answers by pushing her, but he might by flustering her. A devilish gleam lit his eyes and he moved over to the table.
Reya didn’t look at him.
Sitting in the chair beside her, he copied her posture, linking his hands behind his head and lifting his long legs, crossing them at the ankles to rest booted heels upon the table.
“What do you think you’re doing, pretty boy?”
“You once said that if men were like wenches, the universe would be a better place, so I’m trying.”
“You’re not built like a wench, much less think like one.”
“True. But I’m built for a wench.” He slanted her a wicked look. “A certain part of my body is made to fit smoothly inside a wench.”
“You’re disgusting.”
His tone dropped to rough velvet. “After you’ve spent one night in my arms making love, you’ll think differently.”
That got a reaction all right.
Booted feet fell to the floor and her chair crashed down onto all four legs. “Like hell!”
“I promise you, it won’t be hell.” His eyes held a faint, smouldering spark. “Want me to show you? We can go upstairs right now.”
“We won’t be going anywhere, you silver-tongued bastard!”
“Bastard I’m not, but silver-tongued, well, there are things that I can do with that which will make you moan.”
“Say one more word and I’ll cut it out!” She surged to her feet.
“Aha, so the ice maiden does have a temper!” He grinned maddeningly up at her.
“Damn you, Maverk-” She stopped as a step on the veranda alerted them that someone approached.
In a place like this, it could be friend or foe.
Chapter 4
An old man and woman came to a stop before Reya, their careworn faces stricken as they looked up sadly at her. Their clothes were faded and patched, their boots hole-filled.
“You are Reya, the Reeka warrior?” The old woman’s voice was rusty.
“Yes,” she replied warily.
“Zac spoke of you. You fought with him for Mino?”
“I did.” Reya shifted slightly. “You must be his grandparents. He spoke of you.”
“Spoke?” The old woman gripped her husband’s thin arm in a tight hold.
Maverk watched curiously as her fingers flexed at her side. Who was this Zac and why was Reya so ill at ease?
The old man nodded. “You won?”
“We did.”
“Please.” The old woman reached for her with a trembling hand. “Zac…?”
“You don’t know.” Reya sighed. “Of course not.” She paused, then, “I have bad news.”
“Zac’s dead.” The old man bowed his head.
“I’m sorry,” Reya said stiffly. “It was quick. He didn’t suffer.”
Maverk lowered his legs from the table and sat up straight.
“When he didn’t come home, we suspected.” The old woman’s watery eyes reflected deep pain. “Thank you for telling us.”
“Apparently no one else could bother.” Reya’s eyes glinted coldly. “They should have.”
The old man laid his hand atop his wife’s on his arm. “We’ve come to ask you a favour, warrior.”
One eyebrow arched up. “A favour?”
Placing his forearms on the table, Maverk leaned forward curiously. What in the universe could these elderly people want with a mercenary?
“My name is Zina, my husband is Chut.” Zina glanced at her husband then back up at Reya. “Zac has lived with us since his parents, our daughter and her husband, died in a fire when he was but three. He is - was all we had left.”
Reya was silent, but Maverk could see her silently assessing the old couple, no doubt wondering, as he did, what they wanted from her.
As Zina hesitated, Chut stepped forward to look up at Reya. “We would ask that you come with us to bring our grandson home.”
“Home? He’s buried out there by now.”
His jaw tightened. “No, we’ve had word back that the bodies have been left to rot.”
Whereas Maverk’s skin crawled at the thought, there was no emotion on Reya’s face.
“I see,” she said slowly. “You want me to go with you and bring him back.”
Zina nodded hopefully. “Yes.”
“He won’t be a pretty sight by now. You know what wild animals do to bodies.”
“Reya!” Shocked, Maverk got to his feet.
The old couple’s gaze turned to the giant towering above them, the muscular build and rough looks making them step back warily, until the dangerously good-looking face turned to them and they saw compassion in the warm brown eyes.
“Stay out of this,” Reya warned without sparing him a glance. “They need to know what they’ll see if they decide to go ahead.”
“We will go ahead,” Chut looked back at her. “We live in a remote area, warrior. We know what goes on out there but it makes no difference. Zac is our grandson and he comes home with us.”
“If you intend to get him anyway, what do you need me for?”
Maverk couldn’t believe her callousness. “Damn it, Reya-”
Chut’s hand shot up. “Peace, trader. Your friend is merely cautious, and out here, it is that quality that ensures a long life.” His attention switched back to her. “Warrior, we need your protection.”
“Ah.”
Zina withdrew a small pouch from her pocket. Untying the string holding the top closed, she poured out a handful of coins onto the table. “It is all we have, but we’ll gladly pay it.”
Reya and Maverk looked down at the coins. A pitiful four rya.
“This is all you have?” Reya transferred her gaze back to Zina. “Nothing more?”
Anger crawled along Maverk’s spine. What the hell was she doing? Asking for more money? Was it too late for her after all? Was she so cold-blooded that she’d demand more money from such an obviously dirt-poor, elderly couple? Had he misjudged her? The very thought made him feel sick, his heart thud heavily.
“It’s all the money we own.” Zina hesitated before pulling her wedding bracelet off her thin wrist and placing it beside the coins. “And this.”
Reya contemplated the few coins and the wedding band in silence before asking mildly, “You’ll pay me this to protect you two while retrieving Zac’s body?”
“Yes,” Chut replied.
“Please,” Zina begged. “Help us.”
In thoughtful silence, Reya stared out over the hills, a full minute passing before she lowered her gaze to the couple. “Very well, I’ll go.”
Tears sparkling in her faded eyes, Zina clasped her hands together. “Thank you, oh thank you!”
“When do we leave?” Chut asked gruffly.
“We don’t,” Reya replied. “I do.”
“Pardon?”
“You two return home.”
“Go home?” Zina repeated in growing distress. “He is our grandson!”
“He is.” Reya gathered the coins into her palm. “But I can get him faster by myself and with no danger to you.”
“No.” Chut stepped forward. “I insist we go, too.”
“You’ll only slow me down. Either I go alone to fetch his body, or I don’t go at all.”
Zina gazed tearfully at her husband and Maverk felt terrible for them, yet he was relieved that Reya wouldn’t let them go. Although when he got her alone, he intended to give her the tongue-lashing of her life, let her know what he thought of her cold-bloodedness, and how crushed Tenia would be if she knew how low her beloved older sister had sunk.
“Please,” Zina whispered, “you must understand. We parted with bitter words. We didn’t want him to go and fight for Mino, but he insisted because we needed the money. He died for us.”
“People die for a lot of reasons,” Reya said flatly. “He died for what he believed was an honourable cause. Don’t make it a waste by endangering yourselves trying to collect his body. I’ll do it.”
The elderly couple looked at each other helplessly, then Chut nodded slowly at his wife and turned to the tall warrior. “Very well. We’ll camp outside the settlement and await your return.”
“No. You’ll go home.” Picking up Zina’s wedding bracelet, Reya weighed it in her hand. “It’s safer than hanging around here. Where do you live?”
His shoulders slumped in defeat. “In Hamos, twenty miles south of here.”
“I know of it. I will see you in a day or so.”
Zina whispered, “Thank you,” and they started to walk away.
“One more thing.”
Sadness weighing them down, they turned back. “Yes?”
Reya held out her hand, the coins in the middle of her palm, the wedding bracelet on top of the pitiful pile. “You forgot this.”
Relief coursed through Maverk. Thank God the lass hasn’t sunk that low.
“But...but...” Zina stammered.
Taking the three steps needed to bring her close, Reya took the lined hand in hers and turned it over gently until the palm faced up. Silently, she raised her hand above Zina’s and poured the money into her cupped palm, then snapped the wedding band around the thin wrist.
She looked at the speechless couple, repeated, “A day or so,” turned and strode into the tavern.
They switched their stunned gazes to Maverk, who grinned proudly. “That’s my lass.”
“Reya’s your woman?” Chut’s expression was still dazed at the cold warrior’s actions.
“Aye, she is.” He winked. “‘Tis just a matter of time before she realizes it herself.”
~ * ~
Dana was peering out of her room’s window when Reya entered and said, “I’m going back to get Zac’s body.”
“Ah, that explains the conversation with that elderly pair.”
“I’ll pick you up on the way back.”
“You’re not going anywhere without me.”
“Your ankle is badly twisted. You stay.”
“Like hell.” Dana’s frown was now a full-scale scowl. “I’m coming with you or behind you.”
“It’s too dangerous. I won’t have you risking further injury.”
“No way, sister. You go, I go.”
“We all go,” a deep voice stated.
They looked around to see the Daamen traders standing in the doorway.
“I go,” Reya corrected them.
“Nay, we four go.” Maverk entered the room. “We have a travel spaceship. We can get to and from the battle site without the danger of running into outlaws on the way, as we would if we went by horse, hover ship or foot.”
“We don’t need your help.”
“You’re going to get it regardless.”
“It also means Dana can go without fear of further danger to her.” Arms folded, Garret leaned against the doorjamb. “Everyone is happy.”
Eagerly, Dana pounced on the idea. “For once these oafs are right. We can get the job done faster and Zac returned home that much quicker. And I can go with you, which,” her eyes narrowed, “I’ll do either way.”
Gaze flickering from one determined face to another, Reya was forced to acknowledge that, in this case, it was three against one. Her gaze came to rest on Maverk’s face. Maybe the idea wasn’t such a bad one. The trader would see the bodies, know that some of them she had killed, and he would turn from her in disgust and leave her alone.
“Very well.” She nodded coldly. “We leave in the morning.”
“Where are you going?” Garret asked as she brushed past him.
“To get a death bag, one that will hold the smells of decay and death inside it.”
They listened to the sound of her boots thumping on the wooden stairs.
Dana cast them an amused look. “Still think she doesn’t care about me?”
“Getting you to stay because of your ankle, you mean?” Garret scratched his head thoughtfully. “Isn’t that the same ankle you twisted two years ago?”
