“Anyone who breathes has issues with Jarrett. He’s about as friendly as hugging a cactus.”
“Jarrett!” Takara announced loudly causing the man in question to jerk slightly, unprepared to have attention called to him. “Maybe these idiots will shut up now so we can get to our game quicker.”
Jarrett looked at Payton, hoping for some sign of...what? Acknowledgement? He wasn’t sure what he was looking for. At Takara’s bellow, Payton’s shoulders stiffened. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, not moving.
Removing his weapons so he could sit, Jarrett felt his heart catch in his throat when he finally looked at Payton up close. Her face was drawn, pale even.
“Can we get back to the subject?” Payton asked in a tired tone. “Here are the people I have in mind that are least likely to betray us and most likely to come for a low fee.” She slid it over to Nyla who studied it.
The woman did a double take for a moment but then nodded. “Looks good. Really, blue eyes, I trust your judgment better than mine on this. Um… are you sure you want to do it this way though? Not taking your brothers?”
“No,” she said quietly. “But I think I might have to.” Nyla shrugged and then handed the list back. Payton quickly slid it into her journal. “Then I’ll set to work on getting us our muscle. You can start haggling our supplies. If we work this right, our sail date can be the end of the month.”
“Woohoo!” Nyla cheered, clapping her hands. “Now let’s play some cards.”
For most of the night, Payton refused to look in his direction or say much of anything. It was the others who carried the conversation in the group. It had to be the worst rounds of Dragon’s Luck Jarrett had ever played in his life. He never paid attention to his cards, his eyes nearly always on Payton. But she kept ignoring him.
Finally, the game began to wind down. Takara taking her leave first. Then Atherly reluctantly doing the same. It was when Payton declared she was calling it a night that he knew he had to make his move. When she slid her chair out he twitched, intending to follow her and that was the first moment she set those intense blue orbs on him.
Her eyes were guarded. It was wrong, he decided, seeing nothing expressed there. The entire time he had known her, the woman’s thoughts and emotions could be read but now there was nothing.
Abruptly she turned to Nyla. “I’ll keep you informed of my progress as I go.”
“Aye-aye,” Nyla said, saluting her.
There was the slightest bit of hesitation; her blue eyes lingered on Jarrett for a moment before she left. Something in him ached at the look she had given him.
“How about an ale and another game?” Nyla asked turning to Jarrett but he ignored her, standing abruptly and securing his weapons to his back. “I guess not.”
Without a word, Jarrett walked out of the room, barely aware of the eyes glued to his retreating form. He reached the end of the bar, catching sight of Payton just as she left the building.
Dusk was settling on the district as he burst out the door. Jarrett glanced down each of the three paths she could take. His heart pounded in his chest. At random he picked a direction, hurrying down the path. Halfway toward the docks, he heard the sound of battle. Barreling toward the noise, he drew his weapon.
Payton was fighting a sword-for-hire, his longsword bearing down against her twin daggers. In a fluid movement, she parried another man’s attack, backing up with her weapons blocking the two men’s swords.
“Still fighting, little girl?” growled a man with a crooked nose.
She shot the man a grin that Jarrett recognized immediately. Payton threw herself forward, cartwheeling over the blades pointed at her. Swiftly she stabbed one of the men through the chest, ducking as the other attacked. In one fatal movement, he stumbled, allowing Payton’s dagger to gut him.
“GET HER!” one shouted and the others charged.
Throwing himself into the battle, Jarrett slammed into one of the men who cornered her. With the ease they had learned after a little over a month of training at the sparring grounds together, they flowed. Her fast flurries, his brutal blows, they were a deadly combination.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the shouting man start to run, realizing winning was impossible. In a spinning leap, Payton moved, the dagger from her boot holster was out and thrown before he could react. The man let out a gurgling sound, the knife impaled in his throat. Without pause, she attacked the next man. One by one the men dropped.
Just as the last men collapsed on the ground, Payton spun toward Jarrett, her daggers posed up, ready for an attack. Then she froze, realizing the only live people in the alley were the two of them. Unmoving, she looked at him somewhere in the vicinity of his chest, breathing heavily.
It felt like an eternity, her standing there, staring at him. Suddenly Payton moved, sliding the weapons into their holsters on her back. She walked over to the man who had seemed to lead the group, kneeling down. She yanked her dagger out, wiping it on the man’s clothing before sliding it back into its sheath.
She straightened and took a step toward the way out of the alley but stopped, indecision hovering around her. Her head turned back ever so slightly as though to look at him but not finishing the movement.
He waited for her to speak, to face him, to leave, to do something but she didn’t. Stepping forward, Jarrett acted. “What I said...earlier… I acted out of anger.” The excuse sounded inadequate.
The silence was more torturous than if she had yelled at him, ranted, even if she had attacked him. But she didn’t. She wouldn’t even look at him.
“I said things I did not mean.”
She didn’t move.
His heart ached as he took a step toward her. Why this rogue mattered to him so much, Jarrett did not know. But the idea of her believing his thoughtless words of anger, the idea of her leaving for Kydessa thinking he wanted nothing to do with her…
“Payton.”
She finally looked at him. He saw the pain radiating in her eyes, the fear, the uncertainty. Had he been the cause of that? Had he put those emotions there?
“I am sorry,” Jarrett repeated taking another step toward her. “I took my anger out on you, undeservedly.”
She said nothing, only looked at him.
Jarrett ducked his head, trying to hide from the truth. “I thought you were mocking me, planning to hurt me.” His words were almost too soft to be heard.
“By holding you while you slept?”
He closed his eyes in shame. Payton had never been vindictive; to assume her such had been unworthy of her. How could he explain why he reacted the way he did? How could he tell her that for a little while he thought her no different than the people who hurt him?
When he had learned she had invaded his privacy, seen him have nightmares, Jarrett had been ashamed, terrified that somehow she knew the contents. That somehow she knew the duties his master had him perform, the duties that haunted him. He had lashed out at her, fearful that she wanted to use him like that.
“I’m not her, Jarrett.”
Her declaration caused the warrior to jerk, looking into her vivid blue eyes that seemed to glow in the twilight.
“I’m not that bitch of a slaver who thought she owned you.”
He flinched.
“I will never take pleasure in someone’s pain. I will never use you or toy with you,” Each statement rang with truth and promise. “Your past, the pain, the people, I won’t pretend that I know or can even begin to comprehend it all. But don’t put me in that category, don’t put me with her. I would never intentionally hurt you, Jarrett.”
He was unable to grasp why, beyond all reason, he believed her.
“But the world isn’t black and white, Jarrett,” Payton said softly. “There is no easy way to distinguish good guys from bad; no simple formula.”
Jarrett looked sideways at her.
“You have experienced people of all cultures turn on you. Surely you can see that it is not just Ma
lvathar who has seeds of darkness in them. And surely you can understand that there must be light there as well. Any of us have the power to be one or the other. It’s our choices that define us.”
Taking a step toward her, he started in a low voice. “I struggle to see things as easily as you seem to. Malvathar has left scars on me that go deeper than skin. But I know this…” He took another step toward her, tugging the blue ribbon out. “Something good has come out of Malvathar once. No matter my feelings, I can never deny that. And I can never regret it.”
She looked at the ribbon, recognizing it instantly. Her lips parted in surprise and she reached for it. When she started to pull it away, he stopped her, their fingers tangling, the blue ribbon hovering between them.
“Forgive me,” he implored staring intently at her.
Her breath caught at the contact, gaze frozen on their interlocked hands.
“Payton, please…” he whispered.
Her eyes shot to his face.
“Forgive me,” Jarrett repeated.
Slowly she nodded. The relief that flooded him was nearly palpable. It felt as though a heavy weight had been lifted. Warmth spread through him. It was strange; an overwhelming feeling of peace, serenity almost; as though the knowledge of her forgiveness had touched something deep inside him.
“I should go,” she said softly after a moment. “I have a trip to get ready for,”
Unintentionally, Jarrett tightened his grip on her hand, preventing her from pulling away. “Payton,” he hesitated. He was somewhat unsure why he stopped her, why he was unwilling to let her go.
She peered at him.
“My blade is yours should you require it.”
A smile blossomed on her face, lighting up her eyes. It was worth it, Jarrett decided. The risks, the dangers, the problems; it was worth it. For that smile, it was worth anything.
SIMPLE PLAN
Chapter Forty-Four
Today was the day. Today was the day they set sail for Calaphine. After working so hard for it, Payton thought she would feel different. She had thought she would feel excitement, hope, maybe even a little nervousness but all she felt was hollow.
Her brothers had barely spoken to her in the two weeks it had taken to prepare everything. Two weeks of silence or sharp retorts. Two weeks of bursts of anger and harsh glares. Two weeks where she spent every moment she could apart from them because she could not bear the guilt. And even now, on the day she faced leaving them for a month or more, heading to one of the most dangerous places in the world, they had not come. There would be no goodbyes, no momentary pause in their upset at her refusal to bring them. They had not even looked at her when she left that morning.
All in all, despite knowing it was the only way to properly protect her family, it left her with a bitter taste in her mouth and nothing but apathy as she watched the hustle of the docks.
It was a mess of organized chaos – of sorts. Dock hands loading last minute supplies aboard the ship – the Toph, small galleon run by a crew of twenty, eleven of which agreed to come – while her crazy partner flitted from place to place overseeing everything with that endless bound of energy Nyla always possessed. The hired swords – mercenaries from three different guilds along with one refugee she had noted with remarkable skill – had been slowly arriving all morning. There had not been a chance for everyone to meet before the trip due to prior obligations and a hectic schedule of closing the last of the details for the supplies for the trip.
Needless to say, introductions had not gone well and the ridiculous rivalry between the Onyx Wyverns and the Black Foxes reared its head when Miles Glint of her former guild literally ran into David Eccleston. The tension had quickly dissolved into near blows that required the other members of the various guilds to pull them apart.
A wonderful beginning. Payton could only hope that they would be smart enough to put aside such pettiness when they reached the southern continent or else she had not only made a huge mistake in trusting them but a deadly one. It was dangerous enough there without them mucking it up with ridiculous behavior.
“Any word on how Nyla managed to square us this ship at such a low cost?” someone commented as they came up behind her. Glancing over her shoulder she saw Atherly flash what was likely supposed to be a charming smile. “Did she make some dastardly deal with them? Sell us off? Are we going to have to double up on bunks? I call dibs on yours. We’ll stay nice and toasty all curled up together.”
“You wish.” She rolled her eyes at him. “The Captain drinks at the Pegasus and hasn’t paid his tab. Simple as that.”
“You’re so boring sometimes,” Atherly said with a dramatic sigh. “We could still cuddle up at night. Keep each other warm.”
“You’re awful concerned about the cold.”
“We are going to the frozen tundra of the south.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll have Ioannu or Jolene set you on fire if you get cold.”
“You’re no fun.” He huffed again. “And two mages? Really? I feel insulted. I’m clearly enough mage and yet you had to hire two more.”
“Uh-hm. And while you’re flirting with the yeti and healing the sabretooths, Jolene and Ioannu will take care of damage control.”
“Didn’t he get injured the last time you fought with him?”
“Hasn’t your only focus in magic been in healing and sparkle spells?”
Atherly opened his mouth to argue but then closed it. The stumped expression on his face made Payton chuckle. After a moment he joined her with a warm laugh.
“So is everyone here?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Just about.”
All of the mercenaries she had hired for the trip had made their appearance throughout the morning, sectioning themselves off: three for the Wyverns, two for the Foxes, and then the Crimson Tide – Jolene Adams, a mage with excellent damage with fireballs – and a refugee she knew who was wicked fast with an axe and blade, had congregated in separate little groups. Now with Atherly’s arrival, it meant the only person missing was—
“I apologize for my tardiness.”
Her heart skipped a beat for reasons she wasn’t sure she wanted to dissect as she turned. “Well, we didn’t exactly have to hold the ship for you, they’re still loading it up with food at the moment.”
“I’d have thought you’d be more prepared than that,” the Guard-Captain who had apparently escorted Jarrett to the docks commented.
“Can’t control if a delivery is late,” Payton stated dryly.
Despite herself, her gaze went over the man at Takara’s side. He was in that same dark-metal armor that made up his guardsman uniform but sans sigil and decorative cloth that the city forced the guards to wear to appear less intimidating. His pack was slung over his shoulder, his shield affixed on it but his sword remained at his side in easy reach.
“You made it,” she said quietly.
It was stating the obvious. He had told her, after all, that he would come if she asked but somehow the days leading up to the trip she kept expecting the other boot to drop and him to back out. She was, after all, asking him to take an extended leave from his job to go on an incredibly dangerous trip. While his split of whatever they found would likely more than cover his losses, it was still a risky move and if they had not had an in with the Guard-Captain, this arrangement could not have happened.
The corners of his lips pulled up and he inclined his head. “As promised.”
“No, don’t tell me he’s coming!” moaned Atherly.
All at once the hints of a smile disappeared from Jarrett and a scowl replaced it. “Skill is required on a trip such as this, which explains my presence but certainly not yours, Malvathar.”
“I can save lives with a wave of my hand, what can you do?”
“Would you like to see?” Jarrett’s hand twitched toward his sword.
“Atherly, go see if Caius needs any help,” Payton said, stepping between the two of them. At first, the two continued to gl
ower at each other but then Atherly tore his gaze away and looked at her quizzically. “The copper-haired warrior. You can’t miss her.”
Reluctantly – which might have been a first for Atherly being sent to a woman – Atherly left to go assist the woman who was juggling an armful of sacks in the direction of the ship in an effort to speed the packing along.
“Jarrett, you can head on board. There’s a ship’s mate who will direct you to the quarters we’re all sharing. You can claim a bunk and leave your things there.”
“You’re going to have your hands full with the two of them,” Takara said idly as Jarrett headed off.
“I’ll talk to them. Jarrett knows how dangerous this trip is, I don’t think he’ll intentionally cause trouble on it.”
“And Atherly? That man was made to cause trouble. He breathes and trouble comes out.”
“I’ll threaten him.”
“Always a good plan,” Takara said with a laugh.
Shaking her head, Payton focused on her. “Not that it isn’t nice to see you but… what are you doing here?”
“You think I couldn’t take time out of my schedule to see my friends off?”
“I thought you were buried in a mountain of paperwork.”
“I’m always buried in a mountain of paperwork. Maybe when I get back it will have turned into a hill.”
“Or fallen over into a cascade.”
“There’s a scary thought.”
“You’ll never be able to find your desk again.” The two of them shared a laugh. A moment of silence passed and Payton shifted, glancing away before looking back at her. “Takara… can I ask a favor of you?”
She arched a brow. “Depends on what it is.”
“Look after my family while I’m gone?”
“Of course. Have things still not improved?” Takara sighed heavily and scowled at her. “Why didn’t you just tell them it was your father’s idea to keep them behind?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You think I got to be Guard-Captain on looks, Clark? I’m not a fool. He asked you to hold them back, didn’t he?”
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