DarykHunter (23 page)

This time Kilar’s eyes went wide, his mouth dropping open. “By the god, I wish we were still blood seekers.”

“Be we aren’t. That’s long gone and in our past. All we can do is fight hard.”

Kilar nodded. “So be it. Be safe, Dane.”

Dane followed him down the stairs and at the bottom they went their separate ways.

He turned his mind toward the upcoming battle. With the addition of an apparently tame dragon, they had a big problem on their hands. Within a few moments he heard more screams and ran into the courtyard. Arrows spilled over the parapets in dozens. The courtyard had cleared, save for one old woman. He’d seen her about before, and she could barely walk as it was. She stood in frozen fascination as arrows rained down upon her. He knew he could survive some hits, but she could not.

He ran toward her without another thought. “Get down!”

She didn’t move. He plowed into her, taking her down beneath him. Seconds later arrows rained down on him.

* * * * *

Shouting started, men’s yells coming from down below and Ketera wanted to be with Dane, fighting with him and for this castle. She left her chair and hurried to the window and parted the curtains over a small window. From this vantage point she could see quite a bit. Had the rogue Daryk Ones gotten into castle? If so, how? Surely the castle was guarded enough this couldn’t happen. Then again, Dane wouldn’t have cautioned her about staying inside if he thought there wasn’t danger.

She didn’t see any women running around outside, but she did see dozens of men, including Daryk Ones. Part of her wished to run and join them instead of sitting in Dane’s rooms, waiting for anything to happen. Fear knotted her gut. Fear for Dane and what might happen today. She paced the floor. She returned to the window one more time, and before she could pull back the window curtain, a shadow darkened the area outside. She gasped in surprise.

Glass shattered inward, and she cried out and threw her arms in front of her face to avoid the glass. Fear jolted through her midsection as she rushed to the pack on the table. Time to get out. Desperation ran through her mind. She didn’t want to leave Dane, but her father needed her.

She ran for the door to the tunnel, slipped inside and slammed the door behind her. The glowing vines provided enough light, thank the god. Still, she didn’t care much for the semidark tunnel pressing in on her from either side. She hitched her backpack higher on her shoulders as she trotted down the tunnel, eager to get the hells away from Dane’s quarters. She knew the tavern wasn’t far, but wondered if the other side would be unlocked. Luckily, when she rounded another corner, she saw light emanating from under a door.

“Thank the god.” Apprehension settled in her gut as she reached for the doorknob. Ketera hesitated, opened it slowly.

The door swung open, well-oiled hinges did not make a squeak. She peered into a small room. She could see well enough because there was a door across from it that was cracked open. Rags were piled on the floor, linens and towels stacked on shelves, and several brooms lined the walls. She sighed in relief. Some sort of closet.

Still, she couldn’t afford to be complacent. She edged into the closet and left the tunnel door open while she assessed the situation. Peeking through the small crack in the partially open door, she saw Minilos preparing a knapsack similar to the one strapped on her back. Something made her hesitate to let him know she was there. Good thing too.

The outer door to the room burst open and in walked one of the most ugly men she’d ever seen. Close to seven feet tall, with shoulders as broad as any she’d seen, the man’s bald head evolved from a nightmare. One eye was lower than the other and one side of his mouth matched by drooping at the corner. His body was perfectly proportioned for his size, however, a fighting machine that could surely kill Minilos with ease. Ketera sucked in a breath, expecting a fight as Minilos jumped up with a roar, dagger flashing as he drew it from his waist.

“Minilos, you old cunt!” the monster said with a lopsided smile as he placed his meaty hands on his hips.

Minilos stuffed his dagger back in the holder at his waist and burst into laughter. “Finius! Screw you, you pussy!”

Finius Dow? This was the man who would take her to Magonia? Apprehension trickled down her spine. She didn’t trust the man.

The men shook hands, their grins both hideous and filled with mirth.

“Finius, I have a job for your hairy butt.”

“From what I recall, you’ve never seen my ass, so you can’t say for certain if it’s bald, lightly furred or as hairy as a gimfard. What’s so important I had to slip in between those rogue Daryk Ones outside? They’re thick as thieves and panting for trouble. I fear if they get inside, the damn castle is doomed. They’ll pick off the women for quick pussy.”

Finius made a sign with his middle finger that she’d never seen anyone use before, but she figured it had something to do with sex. She blinked. Their filthy talk didn’t offend, but it surprised her. Such joviality when the world around them fell apart bit by bit?

“You must deliver a friend to Magonia.” Minilos said this with a straight face, but Finius’ grin faded.

“What? You did not say anything about delivery of a package.”

“She’s not a package. She’s Dane Charger’s mate.”

“What?”

“Stop saying that, damn it. She’s precious cargo to Charger, and she needs to return to Magonia.”

She waited, practically holding her breath as Ugly stayed silent. Finally the man sat with a thud in a small chair, and she heard the wood groan. She expected the tiny seat to break, but it didn’t.

“Charger’s mate, eh? What is her name?”

“Ketera Aldrancos. Pretty little thing. Anyway, she’ll be here soon.”

Ugly looked around. “Through this fight outside?”

“She’ll be here.”

Finius scratched his chin. “Magonia? Why does she have to go back to that shithole of a country?”

She winced.

Minilos shook his head. “It’s none of your business. Just deliver her after we get out of this battle, and you will be richly rewarded.”

As the two men continued to banter, with Finius sprinkling profane language like salt on food, Ketera contemplated her choices. She could run from this situation and rush to Dane’s quarters and hope that no one would break into his room any more than they already had. Or she could take her chances with Ugly and hope she survived to see her father again.

Then the choices were taken from her.

“What was that noise?” Finius said, his strange face curling into a dark mask of suspicion. He walked toward the closet.

She held her breath.

Minilos turned and drew his dagger again.

With her heart in her throat, she called from inside the closet, “Minilos, it’s Ketera.”

Minilos smiled and moved toward the closet. As she swung it open, he put his hand in to take hers and help her. “My lady, how good it is to see you. How long have you been there?”

“Long enough to hear your colorful language,” she said, only half joking.

Finius the Ugly came toward her, graceful on his big feet. “You are Dane Charger’s mate?”

Ketera guessed that a positive answer was important. “Yes.”

He nodded and smiled, even though she didn’t like the gleam in his eyes. “You’re welcome to my assistance then. I’m a great admirer of your Daryk One.”

She knew the answer to her question but asked it anyway. “Are you a Daryk One?”

The big man’s chuckle rumbled loudly. “Never. I’m a pirate.” He tilted his lopsided head. “Didn’t your man tell you?”

Attempting a smile didn’t feel natural, but she did anyway. From this point forward, she knew speaking with deceit in mind could save her life. “He did.”

“And you have no moral disgust for my profession?”

“Are these questions necessary?” Minilos asked.

She contemplated her answer, unused to skullduggery in the quantities these men were used to. “It’s all right, Minilos. The man wants to know what he’s getting into, I imagine.”

Finius’ face wrinkled up in surprise. Good. Keep him wondering.

“That’s right, my lady,” the big man said. “You have no bad feelings about my profession?”

She shrugged. “Does it matter? My mate told me I could trust Minilos and you, Mr…Dow. Can I?”

She’d almost called him Ugly.

Finius chuckled, and the sound was as disconcerting as his face. “Of course.” He tapped his chest. “I am the most trustworthy pirate you’ve ever met.”

“I’ve only met one.” She didn’t plan on telling him who, that she’d met Rayder Tyrus. Somehow it didn’t seem like a good idea. “He did not seem trustworthy.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.” For a minute she thought she saw good-heartedness showing from those brilliant green, rather normal-looking eyes. “I’ll deliver you to Magonia, no questions asked, for the right price.”

“Half when I get on the ship. The other half upon my delivery to Magonia.”

“It won’t be an easy ride.” Minilos spoke up. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Screams echoed outside, nearby. She jerked her head that direction. “I do. And soon.”

The big man held out his hand. “Shall I carry your pack?”

She smiled. “It fits me quite well, sir. I don’t plan to take it off.”

“She is a smart woman, Finius. Do not think you can mess with her.” Minilos’ warning sounded sharp.

Finius’ eyebrows, dark slashes on his face, shot up. “Me? I would never.”

Minilos grunted. “Right.” He turned to her, his eyes serious. “May I have a word with you in private?” More shouts came from outside the room. “There’s not much time to lose.”

She nodded. He took her into the next room and closed the door. She glanced around at the small place with a bed and dresser, chairs and the normal accoutrements of a bedroom.

Before she could speak, he said, “Have a care with this one.”

“Are you saying I can’t trust him?”

“You can trust him better than most. But no pirate is worthy of one hundred percent trust.”

“What about Rayder Tyrus? Could he take me instead? He helped Dane rescue me from one of Drakus’ minions. I would trust him more.”

One side of Minilos’ mouth turned up. “We don’t know where he is, and Rayder is even less trustworthy than the big lug,” he pointed his thumb back toward the closed door, “in the next room.”

Indecision had never been a part of her personality until she shipwrecked on Dragonia. She longed for the more placid, predictable life on Magonia for all of one moment. “All right. What choice do I have?”

“You could stay here and take your chances, but I wouldn’t recommend it.” His mouth twisted somewhere between sarcasm and more humor. “Or you can go out there and take your chances.”

She decided colorful language was in order. “Either way…how do you say it? I’m fucked?”

Minilos’ eyes widened then he burst out laughing. “I think I shall miss you. Come back to Dragonia when you’ve saved your father and it’s safe.”

“Why?”

He pressed her shoulder, his touch fatherly rather than familiar. “Because Dane will be inconsolable if you don’t, and I shall have to listen to his pissing and moaning for a decade.”

“Only a decade?”

He shrugged. “Perhaps very much longer. The rest of his life. He needs you, Ketera.”

Tears stung her eyes, but she took a deep breath and buried them so they couldn’t interfere with the next minute, the next hour or the next day. She gestured to the door. “I will take that under advisement.”

They left the room and she headed straight for Finius. “Sir, we should proceed. I think the battle is getting closer.”

Chapter Fifteen

Ketera and Finius slipped out a back door of the tavern, and she followed him into the jungle’s gathering gloom. Thank the god none of the fighting concentrated around the town outside the castle. Other concerns assaulted her. What would she do if one of those vines tried to attack her once more? Or any other animal, for that matter? She didn’t have Dane’s protective kiss available.

She didn’t take the time to ask Finius what she’d do. She followed his bulk closely, not wanting to lose him in the gloom.

In the distance, she heard the unmistakable roar of an animal. “A dragon?”

“Sounds like it. I heard a rumor the rogue Daryk Ones were bringing a desert dragon.”

She’d read about them. The deadliest dragon was also the most likely to be tamed if trained from birth. “Magon! You mean a sithmyan from the Ithycan desert?”

“I do.” She saw him glance back but couldn’t detect his expression in the gloom. “The very same.”

Her mind whirled with fear. “Will it come this way?”

“Hardly. They’ll have it restrained.”

“I won’t ask what they plan to do with it.”

“Help them take down the drawbridge and destroy everything it can inside the castle.”

“Burn it?”

“No. They do not shoot fire from their mouths as so many other dragons.”

He sounded unconcerned and cold.

She shivered, even though the night temperature stayed warm. She didn’t say anything more on the subject, her intuition telling her to keep quiet.

“How are we going to see in this?” she asked.

“I can see in it. Just as your Daryk One can.”

“You’re not a Daryk One.”

“Only because I failed the test when I was younger. You see I have all the markers of it. I’m extra strong. I can kill dragons and see in the dark. But they told me I wasn’t intelligent enough.”

She heard bitterness in his voice and couldn’t exactly blame him. “Do you resent Daryk Ones because of it?”

“Sometimes. Their high status among the people irks me. It’s as if the only good man is a Daryk One. The Daryk Ones are so highly revered that they take all the women. Like you.”

She laughed. “Really? That is hard to believe.”

“It shouldn’t be. Women are drawn to their virility. It is said they can fuck for hours without stopping.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Where is it said?”

“You should know. You are bound to a Daryk One.”

Dane had made love to her with a virility and strength she believed remarkable, but since she’d never made love with any other man, she couldn’t be certain about the rumors. “It is not appropriate to talk like this. Let us stick to the facts at hand.”