Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
Always bring a gift
I didn’t know what had happened to my judgment.
I’d always considered myself a decent decision-maker, especially when faced with a crisis.
That had served me well in my previous line of work.
But I walked out of that building a broken man.
Retirement. Peace. Being left alone. Not bothering anyone and having no one bother me.
Nobody needing things from me, asking for things, wanting things.
No obligations. Just me and a fishing pole.
And now here I was, saying yes to a beautiful woman who’d asked me to a party.
To be clear, I was not experienced in female matters.
I’d known my fair share in my younger, randier days, but Maive was no ordinary woman.
She was a force of nature. She had this terrifying ability to hijack my senses.
I didn’t know how to break free of her spell, and scarier still, I didn’t know if I wanted to.
I walked out into the sunlight, feeling dazed, a little bit deceived, and well aware that the situation I found myself in was entirely my own doing.
“Are you all right?”
I looked up to see Pasek. His face looked like he’d asked about me because he was afraid to ask about his brother, and I understood that.
“Your brother’s going to be fine,” I said quickly, mustering up a smile for him.
“He responded to the healing device. The infection is gone and the wound is knitting. He’s sleeping now, and I’d advise you leave him alone so his body can do its work.
But aside from needing rest, he’s going to heal in no time. ”
A choked sound came out of him. He put a hand over his face and seemed to be having a moment.
I watched, fascinated. It was very, very different from any behavior I’d ever experienced from a man before.
Then again, he was a Runam, and Runams were not typical of anything.
But still, his show of emotion moved me.
And it made me acutely conscious of my own lack of it.
“Are you all right?” I asked. It was my turn now.
“I’m better than all right,” he said, looking up with a huge smile, and then he did something even more alarming than Maive’s touch. He hugged me. Pulled me into an embrace and squeezed.
Now, this was more than I could handle. “All right there, all right.” I gently dislodged him. “I said he’s going to be fine.”
He shook his head and wiped away a tear. “I didn’t want Maive to contact you. I didn’t think it was a good idea. But I was wrong. Couldn’t have been more wrong.”
I winced. “No, your instincts were right. It’s wise not to trust a former mercenary with the life of one’s brother.”
Pasek shook his head. “You are no mercenary. You’re a good person. Sent from the stars.”
Now that was enough for me. “Okay, well, I’m heading home. Good luck to you and your brother.”
Pasek wasn’t having it. “I will walk you back.”
“That’s not necessary,” I replied. “I know the way.”
“I’d consider it an honor.” He pressed his fist to his chest and nodded solemnly. “My brother lives because of you. I do not take that lightly.”
I sighed, knowing at this point it was a lost cause. “Fine. Have it your way.” I hitched the satchel higher on my shoulder and started off at a healthy clip, hoping I would lose him. But Pasek was a strong walker.
“What was it like?” he asked, keeping pace.
“What was what like?”
“Your old life. Killing for a living.”
“It wasn’t just killing,” I said. “Most of it was guarding something, or retrieving some warlord’s kidnapped mistress or—” I cut off before I was asked for stories I had no stomach for telling.
“It was exhausting,” I replied. Much like this conversation.
I didn’t add that part out loud, but my tone was heavy with the implication. Maybe that would make him go home.
Alas, it did not. He nodded. “Exhaustion. Yes. Our ancestors told stories, passed down through the generations, of the days when we broke free of our cruel imprisonment. The weariness is the theme that remains unchanged through every retelling.”
So that’s how they looked at it—that they broke free. Interesting.
“Those must have been dark, hard times for your people.” I grunted. “Life is never easy when you’re oppressed.”
“Tell me of your people, Gilrox. Do you remember them well? Why did you not return to your home world when you retired?”
He sounded like he really wanted to know, so I answered. “My home world was taken over by the Ku’pak,” I said flatly, hoping there would be no follow-up questions.
Of course there were. “Why?” he asked.
“We had a mineral underground that was used in the production of power cells. They came in, killed almost everyone, and took over the planet. Destroyed it, actually. There are not many of my kind left.” There. That was the long and the short of it. A complete answer.
These were things I did not dwell on, tried not to think about. The loss of my family, the oceans, the beauty that I remembered as a child—that had been Belaga.
“Have you ever gone back?” he asked.
I stopped walking. We were in the forest now, shaded by trees. “There is nothing to go back to, Pasek,” I said. “I was recruited by the mercenary guild at the tail end of the destruction. My choices were to stay and die, or leave and try something new.” I gritted my teeth. “I tried something new.”
He blinked. “Well, you had no other choice.”
I tipped a finger in his direction. “Correct.” We started walking again.
“Why did you retire?” he asked.
I chuckled and gestured toward myself. “Fighting is for the young. There comes a time when you just can’t do it anymore.”
“That’s what my father used to tell us fishermen. The sea lets you know when it’s time to step away from it. And if you don’t listen, it’ll swallow you whole.”
Now that I could relate to. “My old mentor said something similar.”
“Your mentor was wise.”
“That he was.”
“What happened to him?”
I shrugged. “He stepped away. And I took his advice and did the same.” I waved a hand toward the village. “Although now it seems I’m getting drawn into the happenings in your village.”
He chuckled. “Could be. Maive likes you.”
I stopped in my tracks. “What?”
“Maive,” he replied, looking at me like I was slow. “You know, our leader.”
“I know her name,” I said crossly.
“Well, I should hope so,” he replied. “She thinks you are a good thing for our village. And it’s clear she’s right.” He went on as we continued through the forest. “We will have to learn more about that device you used on my brother today. Perhaps we can get one of our own from the Durbok.”
I frowned. “The what?”
“The Durbok. He’s a trader that comes to this planet. He used to come once or twice a year, but now he comes once a month.” He waved a hand to the east. “Sells us some things we can’t get here.”
That had my full attention. “Such as?” I prompted.
“The power cells for our lights. We don’t need to get them very often, as they last a long time and our needs are simple.
But some medicines, seeds…” He shrugged.
“Some textiles that we cannot make. Honestly, we’re not much for weaving in general.
This planet has few animals, so we’re not hunters who can gather skins and whatnot. ”
I nodded. “I would very much like to meet this Durbok when his market is open. When might that be?”
“Third moon cycle, when it’s waning.” He pointed toward the sky to the east. “I can give you the coordinates.”
“That would be splendid,” I said. “What, exactly, do you trade to him, since you don’t deal in galactic credits?”
“He wants junver syrup,” Pasek replied. “That’s sort of our currency.”
“Junver syrup?” I’d never heard of it. “What is that?”
“It’s a substance that comes from boiling the sap of the Junu tree in the forest.” He waved a hand. “It’s quite the process. I’m glad I’m a fisherman and don’t need to worry about such things.”
“And what does it do?” I was almost afraid to know the answer. The trader was coming all the way out here to trade with these people. Whatever they had was in demand somewhere.
“How much of this stuff do your people produce?”
“It acts like a nutritional supplement. Honestly, we were surprised at how much it helps the body. Almost like it has mild healing properties.” He held up a hand. “Obviously not enough for my brother. Micher did try it.”
I sighed. Mild healing properties to the Runam could be a miraculous cure to another species, and a wildly addictive drug to another.
And, yes, I immediately thought of the pitrid mushrooms from my last mission.
It never worked out well for people when they produced a substance that turned out to be valuable, and my brain’s alert system kicked on hard.
“Has this Durbok ever pressured you?” I asked.
“Tried to push you into producing more junver syrup than you could?”
Pasek shook his head. “No. It takes a long time to produce, and we need it as well. He takes what we have and seems happy with it.” He looked at me quickly. “Why?”
“No reason.” So many reasons. “Sometimes traders can be pushy, is all.”
“Ah, the Durbok seems relaxed enough. If we have syrup to trade, he’ll take it. If we don’t, he says hopefully next time.”
“Hopefully it’ll stay that way.” But I couldn’t quite keep a note of menace out of my voice.
Pasek gave me a wary look. “Do you think we have something to worry about?”
I realized now that my words probably meant something to these people.
I didn’t want to worry them, but I didn’t want them to become a target, either.
And there were those in this galaxy who were always looking for a new one.
“Probably not,” I replied. “But I would suggest being aware. You notice any changes in his behavior, or anything that makes your instincts prick up, you let me know.”
“We will do that,” he said with an earnest nod. “And I’ll let Maive know about your concerns. Actually, she’s said something similar.” He rubbed a hand down his beard as he thought. “She said we are not to increase the amount we trade to him, even if we have extra.”
“Maive is incredibly wise,” I murmured. My admiration for that woman seemed to increase daily.
“Look there.” Pasek pointed and smiled. “We’ve made it to your house.”
Indeed, we had. Instantly, B2 buzzed up to give Pasek a full-body scan. “Accepted visitor acknowledged,” it intoned.
“Well, isn’t that interesting.” Pasek peered at B2, which backed away before the Runam could touch it. “What does it do?”
“It annoys me,” I said. “And,” I added, “it monitors my home for intruders.”
He smiled. “That’s handy.”
“Sometimes.” I jerked my head toward the house.
B2 took the cue to leave and zipped away.
“Well, thank you for the escort home.” Despite the uncomfortable topic of my home world, I had enjoyed part of the conversation, and I’d learned something new.
Pasek was a nice fellow. Friendly. He clearly enjoyed talking, and he was curious without being demanding.
Once I’d figured that out, I’d stopped worrying he was looking to get something from me.
Pasek pressed his fist to his chest again. “Thank you again, Gilrox. For what you did for Tregen. I’ll wait until Micher says it’s all right before I visit him, but knowing he’s healing…” He trailed off, composing himself. “It means everything.”
Again, with the emotion. I wondered if all Runam men were like this. “He’s strong. He’ll pull through.”
Pasek brightened, and his tone shifted entirely. “You know, I think the Durbok’s next visit is in eight days. You should visit him. So you can buy a gift.”
I blinked. “A gift for whom?”
“For Maive, obviously,” he said as if shocked I hadn’t thought of this myself. “She invited you to our celebration.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Is this some Runam custom I’ve never heard of?”
“Custom?” He shook his head, still looking at me as if he thought I was daft. “Well, when a saka invites you to the Valrim Village Founding Festival, it’s just good manners to bring a gift. You’re the first outsider to ever be invited.”
“Is that so?” I raised a brow. “How many outsiders have been turned away from this festival?”
He laughed, seeing it as a joke, as intended. “Nice, Gilrox. But seriously.”
“Will she be expecting one?” I asked. “Would I be insulting her if I came without one?” I was genuinely confused by this, and more than a little alarmed. This was why I should have just stuck to solitude: So. Many. Rules.
He tilted his head. “Have you never been invited to a party, Gilrox?”
“No,” I replied, as if this were beyond obvious. “Who would invite me to a party?”
Pasek laughed. “Well, Maive. Obviously. The Durbok has a little of everything. You’ll find something perfect for her.”
Apparently, I needed a little more clarification, because I wasn’t grasping the concept. “So you always bring a gift if you’re invited to a party?”
“Well, there’s nuance to it, for sure,” Pasek replied thoughtfully. “If it’s someone you’ve known forever, and it’s not a formal party, you don’t, I suppose. But I think Maive sees you as a special guest. And I guess you don’t have to, strictly speaking. It’s just a nice gesture.”
“What should I get her?” I asked, before I could stop myself. “Can I just bring her some fish?” Stars knew, I had lots of them.
“No.” The smile dropped off his face. “Do not bring her fish. She’s not the biggest fan of them.”
“I see.” How could she not like fish? “So, I must purchase something.”
“If you like her, yes.” He winked. “Maive likes the color purple.”
Damn him, I did like her. “Any particular shade?”
This time, Pasek threw back his head and really laughed.
He clearly had no fear of me, despite my being considerably bigger and stronger than him.
I wasn’t offended enough to smack him on the head for impertinence.
For one thing, it might kill him, and Maive would not appreciate that.
And for another, Pasek wasn’t a green mercenary disrespecting an elder.
He was a man having some fun with another man.
Somewhat like a friend. It was very strange.
Mercenaries did not have friends. However, perhaps retired ones did.
“You’ll be fine with any shade,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
“I’ll be heading out to the Durbok that day.
He’s there for four hiks, beginning when the sun’s at its peak.
” Then, after giving me the coordinates to the trade location, Pasek said, “See you in eight days,” and strolled off toward the village, leaving me standing there with far too many thoughts in my head.
If I had known being retired would be this complicated, I might have kept being a mercenary.