Salvation: Saving Setora Book Seven

by Dark, Raven

  Before I could press for more, we arrived at Hawk’s hut. Hawk called for Oran to have the rest of the men join us. He had one of the village stable hands take Ivek’s huge black Borsk stallion to a stable down the street. The young man left with the mount, both terrified and excited.

  In minutes, we arrived at Hawk’s hut, along with the rest of the Dark Legion men.

  Hawk pulled up a chair for me and squatted beside me, everyone else sitting on whatever was available at hand, the floor included.

  “Where are Pretty Boy and Steel?” I asked Hawk.

  “They’re letting the villagers know what’s going on.”

  Across from me, Ivek removed his sword and scabbard, setting the heavy-looking weapon on the table near him. Blade hopped up to sit on the table, eying the huge weapon with wonder.

  “May I?” Blade asked, looking at Ivek and gesturing with glee at the weapon.

  “Of course.” Ivek’s eyes shone with pride of the sword.

  Blade picked it up and slipped the weapon from its sheath. “Ohhh, I want one of these.” He ran his fingers reverently along the wide, polished blade, examining the elaborate purple and gold jewels on the hilt.

  “That’ll be tough. It’s a Vol’s blade.”

  “A ruler’s blade? You’re a king?”

  “I am.” He walked over to Blade and touched the stones on the hilt of the weapon. “See those? They’re the stones that mark the ruling family of Crite. Six stones, since I am the sixth Vol.”

  “I still want one.” Blade beamed, swinging it experimentally before setting it down. “It weights a ton, though.”

  “Not for me. You get used to it.” Ivek’s tone rang with pride.

  No wonder the blade wasn’t heavy for him. Every inch of him was covered in thick muscle, looking as massive as when I’d seen him months ago.

  At my side, Ali’san glared at him, and his lips pulled into a smirk. He winked at her and her throat worked, her face turning scarlet.

  Well, that’s interesting.

  Pretty Boy and Steel walked in carrying some stools. My heart warmed, knowing everything was healed between them now.

  When Pretty Boy saw Ivek, his eyes widened. “So you really are here.”

  “Pirate,” Ivek greeted with a smile.

  “Barbarian,” Pretty Boy said with the same friendly tone. The two men clasped each other’s arm and shook hands. Steel gave him a nod and took a seat on one of the stools.

  “So, what brought you here, Vol Ivek?” Hawk asked when everyone was settled.

  “There is someone missing from your party. The fourth…” Ivek looked around with alarm. “The Four have already broken? Am too late?”

  My heart nearly stopped. He knew?

  “General Sheriff—”

  “What happened?” Ivek interrupted.

  “We are not broken,” Hawk assured him. “There was a mishap several months ago, which is why I’ve taken over as General of the Dark Legion. Sheriff was injured, but he is still with us. He’s with the Yantu, in the Temple at the moment.

  Ivek looked visibly relieved. “Oh, thank the Han.”

  “Forgive me, Vol Ivek,” Hawk said slowly. “How did you know? We almost did… break.” His eyes flicked to Pretty Boy and Steel for an instant.

  It floored me what was happening here. Ivek obviously thought Sheriff’s absence meant one of them had been lost, but how could he have known any of that? It was as if he’d received a message from somewhere, but the details were garbled.

  Ivek leaned back in his chair. “I know for the same reason I knew to come here, General Hawk. I was guided by the guardians of our faith in Crite, the Order of Altara. My sister Kashaya is a High Priestess.”

  “Are they Violets?” Hawk asked.

  “Some are, yes. Kash has been plagued with terrible visions these past few months. Visions of a male Violet, of all things. The Jah Ka—Dreamwalker.

  “Your sister is a credit to her Order,” Hawk told him. “Her visions are correct. What you call the Jah Ka is very real. Except the Yantu call him Gin Gatai. He addresses himself as Julian.”

  Ivek’s dark eyes widened. “You have spoken to him, then?”

  “Through…visions,” I said without thinking.

  Ivek blew out a breath. “Then we are not too late and the prophecies are coming true.

  “Well, so far, these visions have been coming true. What are we looking at here?” Steel asked.

  “According to what Kash has seen, the Jah Ka is amassing an army. Clans and MCs that would normally kill each other are flocking to him. As are Violets. According the sacred texts of the Order of Altara, I am to serve the Liberator in a great battle against evil. The Legion will be fighting alongside us. The High Priestess saw four men of the Dark Legion, Captain Hawk. She said that if I did not find you and declare myself Setora’s protector, the Four would break. So naturally, I thought I’d taken too long to come here, and one of you had been lost.”

  “No, you got here in time.” Hawk. “In fact, you might be a bit early.”

  “How’s that?”

  “We’ve been trying to find his location for the last few weeks, without much success. Well, Setora and Ali’san—” he nodded to Ali’san beside me—“ have been trying to find him.”

  “With their minds,” Ivek said and nodded when Hawk affirmed his words. “Kashaya has as well. She guided us here, or else we never would have found this place.”

  “So, she came with you. And has she had any luck, Vol Ivek?” I asked.

  “No, I’m afraid not.”

  “I had a feeling you’d say that.” I bit my lip, frustration fueling my thoughts.

  “Perhaps we have arrived just in time. Kashaya stayed back with some of my men at the camp. I will have her brought here. She may be able to help you.”

  “That would be wonderful.” I glanced at Ali’san and she nodded in agreement. “Perhaps three of us using our abilities will succeed where two have failed.”

  “Very well. But all of you should know…” He paused, choosing his words. “We have had to keep Kash under armed guard. She’s been having strange episodes. This…Julian has been…”

  “He’s been taking over her,” Hawk said. “Making her violent.”

  “Yes…exactly.” Ivek drew the words out slowly, stunned.

  “The same thing has been happening to Serora. And to a lot of other Violets.” Hawk briefly explained the dreams, the super strength, everything, and compared our experiences with those Ivek told Hawk of Kash’s. They all matched.

  “Ivek, you should definitely bring her here,” Haw said. “Clearly, our groups and our women need to exchange information. We’ve discovered ways to control and ward off Julian’s effects on Setora. Maybe we can do the same for Kash.”

  Ivek’s eyes closed, his shoulders dropping with heavily with relief. “Legion, that’s the best news I’ve heard in a long while. We’ve gone through hell trying to keep her safe.”

  “We can just imagine,” Pretty Boy said, his tone full of empathy.

  All the hell my men had gone through, if Ivek had gone through half of that...

  “Kash is all I have left of my family. I’ve always taken care of her, never let anyone enslave her. We’ve had to keep her chained up like a dog. We didn’t know what else to do.”

  “With any luck,” Hawk started, “the lot of us will be able to—”

  “Is there room for an ex-General at this party?”

  Standing tall in the doorway was Sheriff.

  For an instant, I forgot about Julian and the horrible notion of confronting him face to face. All I could do was stare. Sheriff looked wonderful, vibrant, strong. Much of the muscle tone he’d once possessed had returned, and he wore that gorgeous smirk I hadn’t seen in far too long.

  The men’s voices seemed to filter through the hammer of my heart, telling him to join them, welcoming him back with delight.

  I stood up and started toward him. His smile widened and he shook his head, holdi
ng up a hand to halt me. I froze. As he started into the room, only then did I notice that no one was with him. His hand slid from the doorframe, and he walked with confident, deliberate strides across the room.

  Walked, not shuffled.

  I was staring at him with my mouth open, my heart beating wildly. All around the room, the Legion men were unnaturally quiet, as if holding their collective breaths.

  When he’d come to within a foot of Ali’san and me, he stopped near Ali’san who smiled at him, impressed. His hand slid over the pommel of the sword on her back. The weapon he couldn’t see.

  He grunted. “You do carry a sword.”

  I swallowed. How had he…

  Sheriff moved over to me, sliding his hand my hair, stroking it. “Close your mouth, sweetheart.” His mouth twitched.

  “Sheriff…how…”

  He touched me under the chin.

  The men laughed, including Ivek.

  I swayed.

  He pulled me close, his hand finding my nape and squeezing. “Maker, I missed you,” he rumbled in my ear.

  Someone offered him a chair, and I gawked as he walked forward and slid a hand slid over the back of it, turning it around and smoothly straddling the seat.

  Happiness flooded me to bursting as I took my own seat. The transformation in him was incredible enough, but that he was so relaxed, so in control, brought tears to my eyes. I could hardly believe what the Yantu had done for him. Blind or no, he was himself alive again.

  “He’s blind?” Ivek rasped carefully to Steel beside him.

  “I have lost my sight, not my hearing.” Sheriff’s smile said he was having fun with him.

  Everyone chuckled. Ivek cleared his throat with an awkward sort of laugh.

  A pause fell as we all continued to watch Sheriff.

  “What?” Sheriff held out his arms.

  Hawk watched his every move as if trying to work out how he did every little thing.

  I looked over at my other masters.

  “Wow,” Pretty Boy mouthed silently, while Steel’s eyes were as wide as saucers.

  Sheriff’s shoulders shook. He winked at me. “Is anyone going to tell me who our barbarian guest is,” he asked.

  “Now you’re just showing off.” Pretty Boy grinned.

  “Maybe a little.”

  As Hawk made introductions, Sheriff blinked at him, then at me. “This is the man who took over as Vol after Talek’s…demise, right?”

  Stupidly, I nodded, forgetting that he couldn’t see me.

  Sheriff got up and put out his hand. Ivek gave it a hearty shake. “Good to meet you, Vol Ivek, but what the hell are you doing out here?” he asked, sitting back down.

  Hawk and the others quickly brought Sheriff up to speed. Sheriff’s eyes got wider with every word, and he let out the occasional curse.

  “So you came to help fight this army of his?” Sheriff said, looking approximately in Ivek’s direction. “That would be great if we knew where the fuck he was.”

  “Well, as soon as we do, my men and I will be joining you.”

  “The moment we know where he is, we’re heading out,” Hawk said. “Ali’san, if Master Leif has no objection, I’d like you to accompany us.”

  Having squatted beside me again, she stood and looked at everyone. “I will come. But even if Setora found him right this minute, you wouldn’t be able to go to him yet.”

  “Why the hell not?” Sheriff demanded.

  “Because.” She sighed and paused, as if choosing her words carefully. “There is somewhere we have to go first. I don’t know what exactly Julian wants, but I have enough pieces of the puzzle. The people I will be taking you to have the rest. It is time.”

  “Who are these people?” Steel asked.

  She swallowed, and I noticed she wouldn’t look at me. It was like someone else stood there in her place. “The Ladies of Shana Ra,” she said softly.

  “Are you shitting us right now?” Steel snapped.

  “Steel,” Hawk drawled, but his voice was rough.

  Trying to reign in a sudden bolt of anger, I turned slowly toward her. “Ali’san,” I said much too calmly, trying to keep from snapping at her, “Why in Maker’s name didn’t you tell us? Steel and I have just spent months looking for these women. You knew that!”

  “It’s complicated, Setora. Certain things had to transpire before I could take you there. I’ll explain better when we get there.”

  “Explain now, Tai Dan Ali’san,” Hawk ordered.

  “That is not an option.”

  “Ali’san,” he said, “If you hid something like this from all of us, how the do you expect us to go traipsing off to who knows where, to see women we do not know, with only you as our guide? How the hell are we supposed to trust you?”

  I glanced at Ali’san, silently demanding the answer as much as him. The woman had been my friend. I’d felt close to her, and now this?

  Ali’san’s eyes darkened with understanding. She nodded. “Very well. But I will explain, only to Hawk. Tai Dan Hawk, please step outside with me.”

  “Why only Hawk? Why not all of us?” I asked her now, feeling betrayed.

  “Because he will understand.”

  “Oh, and the rest of us are too stupid to get it?” Pretty Boy growled.

  “Pretty Boy,” Hawk said.

  “Sorry. It’s just…” He ran his hands through his hair.

  Hawk gestured to the door and the two of them stepped out.

  “Who the hell does she think she is?” Steel bit out. “She knew. The little bitch knew, and she didn’t say a word.”

  “Steel,” I snapped.

  “Well? Come on, Petal. She knows we’ve been searching for them!”

  “He’s right,” Sheriff said. “You’ve all been trying to find those Ladies since Mayhem’s, Ivek here shows up, lending his aid, and now she pops up with the information about the Ladies of Shana Ra, at exactly the right time? It stinks, sweetheart. It smells of a setup.”

  “How?” I asked. It didn’t make complete sense, but I hated that he was right, something was off. Maker, Ali’san… setting us up?

  “I have to admit, it’s odd,” Doc said. “It’s like she wanted us to know, but only when it worked for her.”

  I wanted to believe she had her reasons, that there was an explanation. Wanted to think that I would have felt it, sensed it if she was manipulating us.

  The door to the hut opened. All eyes turned as Hawk and Ali’san stepped in. Hawk’s face was its usual mask of stoicism, but something that looked like shock had flickered through the mask before it settled into place.

  “Well, General?” Sheriff prompted.

  Hawk crossed the room to his chair beside me. Ali’san wouldn’t meet my eyes. My heart hurt.

  “What did she have to say, boss?” Steel asked.

  “We’ll discuss what she’s done and why, later,” he said. “Let’s just say that…things are not as simple as they seem. We need to pack a few things. We’re leaving in an hour.”

  “All of us, boss?” Steel asked.

  “No, just the Four, Doc, Setora and Ali’san.” He looked around at the others. “The rest of you will stay here.”

  When no one moved, Steel stood up. “You heard him,” he said with a tone that reminded me why Hawk had assigned him as his Under General. “No arguments. One hour. Let’s move.”

  Chapter 27

  Answers at Last

  We were ready to go in record time. It seemed the guys were all as anxious as Ali’san and I were to get answers. Answers as to what Julian was after, where he was, and hopefully, how to stop him.

  Ali’san said we only needed to bring a few things—food and water—for the trip; we wouldn’t even be gone overnight.

  Several times, she had tried to talk to me, to explain, but I always found some reason to avoid her. We’d just finished packing when she found me in Hawk’s hut grabbing my pack. Hawk looked up when she came in and gave her a friendly nod.

  “Set
ora, a word before we go, please.” She set her small pack on the bed mat.

  “Everyone ready to go?” Steel asked, sticking his head in.

  “Yes, Master.” I turned and followed him out.

  Ali’san followed behind me with a sigh.

  Since night had fallen, everyone carried a torch. The effect reminded me of stories about great pilgrimages and holy quests. In a way, that’s exactly what we were doing. I just hoped our tale had a happy ending.

  Hawk rubbed my back as he led the way out to Sheriff and Doc who were waiting on the path.

  “Kitten, don’t be angry with Ali’san for this. I’d hate to see you lose a close friend, not after everything we’ve been through. We all need her, but you need her most of all.”

  I pushed out a breath. What was I supposed to say? The Ladies of Shana Ra might have all the information on how to defeat Julian. She could have taken us to see them when she’d first met us, but instead, she’d sat on the information or weeks. She’d obviously had her reasons, reasons Hawk accepted. His allowing us to follow her made it clear she was not a threat or setting us up. I trusted him. But I couldn’t cozy up to her knowing she’d willfully delayed things for weeks. To me, there didn’t seem to be a good reason for doing that.

  I stopped in front of Sheriff and rubbed his arm instead of answering Hawk. Hawk made a regretful noise, then went to the head of the group. He started us off down the path, with Ali’san walking beside him, the rest of us bringing up the rear.

  To get my mind of Ali’san, I focused on Sheriff. “It’s felt like forever since you’ve been gone, Master. You’ll have to tell me all about what happened at the temple. What you’ve accomplished is nothing short of remarkable.”

  His hand found my back and slid up to my nape, massaging. “Tae is one hell of a man. He’s the one who was with me most of the time.”

  “That sounds incredible, Master. Oh, there’s a rock there.”

  He stepped over it.

  “What was it like?” I asked.