Chapter 7 #2
She smiled at that.
And all he could really think about was her hand in his. What is wrong with me? That was the last thing he should be thinking about.
Their server came over with two tankards of mead and set them down with a grimace. “Two crowns.”
Gisela scoffed at the amount.
Without a word, Xaydin fished the coins from his pocket and tossed them on the table.
As soon as they were alone, she gaped at him. “Why would you pay so much?”
“Should I die, I’d like to be drunk when it happens. Should I live, I’ll bill this to Dash. Either way, I’m good.”
Gisela shook her head at his glib tone as he downed a good portion of his mead. She sipped hers much more slowly. “You really are reconciled to death, aren’t you?”
“Everyone dies at some point, my lady. Doing what I do, Theren is more likely to come for me sooner than later.”
“Theren?”
“Our god of death. It’s said he comes personally to claim the souls of true warriors. That’s why trolls fight so fiercely. We all pray for him to escort us to our paradise where we will fight, wench and drink for eternity.”
“That sounds nice. We don’t have paradise.”
“Centaurs?”
She nodded. “We believe that if we’re worthy, we’re reborn into a new family and body. If we’re unworthy, we cease to exist.”
He drank the last of his mead and grimaced. “What do centaurs believe makes them worthy?”
“If you’re a leader, leading. If you’re a follower, following. We accept our lot and don’t fight it.”
“Hence why you blindly follow your mother’s orders?”
She nodded. “I don’t know what shape shifters believe in. Do you?”
“They believe in a paradise where they live in peace with everyone.”
“How do you know that?”
“Ronan. He’s one of the Outlaws I grew up with. And up until you, he was the only shifter I could stomach.”
For reasons she couldn’t explain, those words flooded her with warmth. “Even though we’re enemies?”
“My enemy’s enemy is my friend.” He signaled for the server to bring him more mead.
She had no idea why, but she liked the thought of being his friend.
What do you know about being anyone’s friend?
That thought made her stomach ache. It was true. She’d never had a friend before. Unless she counted her sword. Which was why she’d named it Brant. A stupid name, really, but she’d been very young and it seemed like a strong name for a sword.
And while Brant had saved her life a few times, he wasn’t nearly as handsome as Xaydin.
Nor as sarcastic…
As their waiter returned, the door to the tavern opened. At first, Gisela paid no attention. Not until the newcomer turned and locked the door behind him. She slid a suspicious glance toward Xaydin who had already straightened up and put his hand on the hilt of his sword.
The room went silent as the ataswere made his way toward their table.
Was this the ataswere she was supposed to protect?
By Xaydin’s countenance, she’d say it was something else. He was completely tense and wary.
The ataswere stopped in front of them. “Xaydin of Vaskalia?”
“Who’s asking?”
More than half the room stood up almost in unison and drew nearer the ataswere.
Fear quickened her heart as she saw their number. If Xaydin felt anything, he didn’t show it. He appeared completely calm. But given the sheer number of them, this couldn’t be good.
“Is this my welcoming party?” Xaydin asked.
The ataswere’s dark eyes narrowed dangerously. “We’re done being hunted by you.”
To her immediate shock, a slow insidious smile spread across Xaydin’s handsome face. “Really?”
If she didn’t know better, she’d swear he was salivating.
The eager note in his voice caused several of the ataswere to take a step back and look suddenly nervous.
And it wasn’t doing much to help her own apprehension. What did Xaydin know that she didn’t?
The ataswere’s eyes narrowed at Xaydin’s nonchalance. “Do you think this is a game?”
“Given the number of lives atasweres have destroyed, no. You kill without compassion, and the cold callousness of your race is what birthed me.” He stood up and unsheathed his sword. “Come get some.”
That defiance caused half the group to disperse with fear in their eyes as they realized what they were facing. Not a mercenary hunting for coin. A battle-tested warrior craving vengeance.
Those who remained…
Attacked at once.
Without thinking, she turned into the dormouse she’d been joking about. But only long enough to get clear of the group before she returned to her human body and unsheathed her own sword so that she could help.
Not that it really mattered.
Atasweres were being thrown about like ragdolls as Xaydin took out his vengeance against them. It was so potent that she wasn’t even sure if she should join the fray. For someone so terribly outnumbered, he appeared jubilant.
Never had she seen anyone so happy in a fight.
Masakage was driving the group around him back with green magic fire.
Grabbing the ataswere nearest her, she engaged him with her sword. He turned on her with a vengeance, and as he did so, his body elongated so that he towered over her. His wings expanded.
Big mistake. The one thing Gisela couldn’t stand was whenever someone tried to physically intimidate her. Too many years under her mother’s thumb had left her raw over such actions.
She wasn’t a little girl anymore. She was a battle-tested warrior in her own right.
Growling in her throat, she quickly turned into a stonewoman and knocked the ataswere flying.
Those around her backed away. Her temper flaring, she headed toward the one that was still fighting Xaydin, intending to guard his back.
Just as she reached him, Xaydin turned around.
When their gazes met, she saw his surprise. Then amusement before he stepped around her to counter a sword strike.
Xaydin wanted to be angry. He really did. But the sight of Gisela filling the room all the way to the ceiling was laughable. She was a gigantic piece of rock. One that was impervious to the ataswere around them.
His first thought was that he wouldn’t have to worry about her, until one of the atasweres launched a fierce fireball at her. It landed on her shoulder with such force that it knocked her off her feet and left a nasty burn in her rocky flesh.
Now, he was furious. “Hey, punk!” He returned the hit with his own fireball. Then another in quick succession.
Screeching, the ataswere fell back and ran from the tavern. Several others followed after him.
Xaydin put himself between Gisela and the others, waiting to see what they were planning to do next.
The ataswere who started it came forward. “We are not your prey any longer. And you are no longer welcome here. Take your friends and get out.”
Xaydin wanted to argue. But they were drastically outnumbered. While he had all confidence that he could take a large portion of them in a fight, he didn’t want to chance Masakage or Gisela in a drawn-out battle.
Alone, he might have continued.
But he would never risk anyone else.
His gaze went past the ataswere to where Masakage stood near the door. His brother still had a glowing green ball in his palm while he eyed the ataswere around him as if debating which one he wanted to launch a fireball at next.
Xaydin bit back a smile at the defiant stance from the one person he could always count on. And he’d never allow Masakage to be hurt. Not if he could help it.
With a deep breath, Xaydin turned to the ataswere in charge. “We’re going. But I’m not the only one who’ll be after your friend. King Dash wants a head, and I will deliver it to him. One way or another, I will clash with the demon. Either now or when the bastard goes for Dash.”
The ataswere’s gaze narrowed.
It didn’t faze Xaydin at all as he sheathed his sword.
Gisela returned to her human form. She had her left hand over her right shoulder where she’d been hit. Blood oozed between her fingers and for that alone, he wanted to finish this.
Finish them.
The fact they had made her bleed… He wanted to return the favor with interest.
But first he had to get them to safety.
Holding his hand out toward her, he waited for her to take it with her right one. Keeping his eyes on their enemies, he carefully led her from the tavern.
Still holding a green fireball, Masakage stepped in behind them, covering their exit to make sure none of their enemies went for their backs. It was unnerving to have that many pairs of eyes watching them. As an assassin, Gisela was used to working in the shadows and never standing out.
This…this she didn’t like in the least. How Xaydin could stand it, she had no idea.
As they left the building, a group of ataswere followed them outside to watch them make their way across the street.
None of them spoke as they drew near the stable. Instead, they kept their attention on the group gathered to wish them dead and be prepared in case they decided to act on that impulse.
Only when they opened the stable door and stepped inside it did Xaydin take his hand off the hilt of his sword and let go of Gisela.
Masakage gave him a grim smile. “Well, that was fun. What should we try next? Diving into a piranha-infested stream?”
“I’m up for it. But only if you go in first.”
Masakage shook his head.
Gisela snickered. At least someone appreciated his humor.
“How do we find the ataswere now?” she asked.
“I still have my ways, but first I need to deal with an annoyance…”
“Athgar?”
Xaydin nodded at her. “I’m not real happy with the beast who has a big mouth.” Those words were barely spoken before he found said beast with the big mouth in the stable where they’d left him.
As soon as Athgar saw them, his eyes widened and he began to sweat. “I didn’t do anything wrong.” He spoke hastily before Xaydin said or did anything to wring them from the ataswere, which told him just how guilty Athgar was.
And the ataswere knew it.
“Athgar… Athgar… Athgar…Why don’t I believe you?”