Warrior Rogue (The Drift Lords Series)

by Nancy J. Cohen

  Despite the roughness of his treatment, Jen’s mouth softened under his, and her lips parted. He flicked his tongue out, invaded her, and drank in her essence. Her body pressed against him, her leg rubbing along his inner thigh. Moaning into her mouth, he cupped the back of her head and explored her depths.

  The sales lady’s angry tirade restored his senses. Breaking off the kiss, he stared into Jen’s stunned face.

  “Trollek,” he croaked. “Run.”

  Her eyes widened. At that instant, the brunette reached into her purse with a snarl.

  “You won’t get away this time, Drift Lord. General Morar has a special punishment in mind for you.”

  He cursed under his breath. As long as Jen wore her watch, the beasts could track them, but he didn’t know how to get around that problem without a set of perimeter rods.

  Paz pushed Jen past the buxom Trollek. Together, they rushed out the door into the bustling crowd. A streetcar came to a screeching halt ahead.

  He grabbed her hand and raced toward it. Passengers stood in line by a sign. Paz skidded to a stop at the rear behind a woman carting shopping bags. A bus rattled past, emitting hot blasts of exhaust fumes.

  Water ran in rivulets along the curb while dark clouds scudded overhead. The breeze stiffened, tossing his hair about his head. They needed to find shelter, a safe place where the Trolleks couldn’t vector in to attack.

  He caught sight of the brunette rushing in their direction as they boarded the trolley through a back entrance. He didn’t see any place to pay. He hoped Jen would have the correct coins.

  People crowded the aisles after the seats filled. He steered Jen toward the front end, his heart racing.

  His sense of smell knew exactly when she entered the tram car. The allure of her scent set his nerves aflame. He had a nose numbing spray to help him resist their pheromones, but the dispenser was back in Florida with the rest of his equipment.

  The trolley lurched ahead and rumbled down the street. People bumped elbows. Hot, sweaty bodies pressed close on all sides. At the next stop, patrons up front dropped coins into a machine before hopping out the exit.

  Glancing back, he noticed the Trollek gaining on them, a fierce look on her face. She touched one person after another and muttered something in their ear. Swallowing a lump in his throat, Paz recognized her intent. All of those in her immediate vicinity turned to stare at him.

  His muscles tensed. Tugging Jen after him, he shoved at the nearest fellow in his haste to reach the door.

  “She’s confounding people behind us. We have to get out of here.”

  “Where can we go? They’ll find us again.” Jen’s panic-stricken voice matched the expression on her face.

  “We’ll worry about it later. Move.”

  Only a few more feet to go. He shouldered people out of his way and dragged Jen toward the exit, reaching it just as the trolley shuddered to a stop. Ignoring the coin machine, he leapt into the street with Jen beside him.

  A whistle blew, and the driver yelled at them from his window. Great, now they’d have the authorities on their tail.

  He dashed through various alleys and lanes, blindly charging ahead while gripping Jen’s hand. His breath came in short, hard bursts. When he felt they’d finally put enough distance between themselves and the Trollek, he paused for air.

  Jen held her middle and hunched over, gasping for breath. “This damn watch. It’s pointing them right to us. I’m taking it off.” She wrestled with the band but it stayed clamped to her wrist. “I have to learn how to operate this thing. Maybe I can get it to work again. Take us to Florida.”

  Squeezing her eyes shut, she folded her brow in concentration. Nothing happened.

  A straggly dog hobbled down the alley. It stopped to pee alongside a wall.

  Jen’s eyes blinked open at the disturbance. A Chinese man with a wrinkled face scooted down the alley after the mutt and swung a large net. The mangy dog yelped and limped away.

  “Oh, no. He’s not aiming to catch that poor thing for dog meat.” Jen stepped into his path before Paz could stop her. “Please leave that animal alone. Paz, translate.”

  The man spouted angry words while attempting to sidestep her. Paz uttered a retort in the man’s native tongue.

  “He wants to sell the dog at market. Says it won’t bring much because it’s skinny, but the bones would be good for soup.”

  “That’s horrible.” Jen cried out when the man bumped her hip and charged past.

  The canine dodged an overflowing trashcan, slipped on a puddle, and careened into a wall. It whimpered as the fellow approached. The meat monger made clucking noises while swinging the net in the air.

  Jen moved forward and tugged on the man’s arm. “Stop, you can’t have him. Dogs are to be protected, not eaten.”

  The man swatted at her and she let go. Paz stepped in, lifting the man as though he were a sack of buttons and tossed him aside. The man, still gripping his netting, rolled to his feet and ran off in the opposite direction.

  “Thanks.” Jen brushed off her hands and then smoothed her hair. Her twist had come loose, and disorderly waves trailed down her back.

  She glanced at Paz to see the gleam of battle receding in his eyes, replaced by disapproval.

  “That was foolish, Jen. The man could have been a Trollek mind slave sent to distract us. What’s that animal to you?”

  His gold armband reflected the light from a streetlamp. There wasn’t any moon in the darkening sky. Slate clouds gathered, heralding the approaching storm. The wind whipped a swirl of dried leaves down the lane.

  Jen lifted her chin. “The poor thing is homeless and prey to anyone with a stall in the street market. You know very well how it feels to be hunted.”

  “Amen to that, sister. Thanks for saving my sorry arse.”

  The voice came from below and had a British accent.

  Jen glanced around but the alley was empty except for them. “Who said that?”

  “It is I, your friendly mutt. You may call me Dik. It’s short for Dikibie.” The dog’s mouth moved, and intelligence shone in its wide, brown eyes.

  Jen’s jaw dropped. “Y-you can speak? What are you?”

  “I am a descendant of the Originals left behind to aid the Drift Lords.”

  Paz thrust her behind him. “Be careful, he’s a shifter.” He addressed the dog. “You’re a Gatekeeper? We were told your kind had been eradicated.”

  “Pray, may I ask by whom?”

  “Askr, the last of your kind. He informed us the Trolleks had sent pfrells to annihilate you. The old man claimed to be the only survivor until the nasty creatures got him, too.”

  “Askr lied. I’m sure you realized the demon Loki possessed him. There are more of us, although we’re few in numbers. I recognized your armband. The dwarfs would only bestow their magic on one who was worthy.”

  “Prove your power.” Paz’s lip curled while Jen stood by in stunned disbelief. “Turn into a bird.”

  “Unfortunately, old chap, a curse has left me in this miserable body. I need your help to regain my human form. If you do this for me, I’ll help you in return. What do you need?”

  Jen spoke up. “How about a quick ride home?” She glanced at Paz when he grunted. “What? You wouldn’t require a passport.”

  The dog pawed the ground. “Very well. Once I regain my natural state, I’ll provide you with a ship that will take you to any port.”

  “Just what do we have to do to earn this reward?” Paz’s tone dripped with sarcasm.

  “Get me a drop of dragon blood. It will break the curse and restore me to my rightful form. You’ll find Fafnir the dragon in a cave up on the peak. I’ll catch up to you when you’ve achieved your objective.”

  Paz glared at the animal. “How do we know you’re not possessed by Loki’s spirit and this isn’t a trick?”

  Dikibie bared his teeth. “If Loki wanted me to eliminate you, I would have done so already, Drift Lord.”

  Paz stoop
ed to face level with the creature. “If you’re telling the truth, where are the Trolleks holding Kaj? Why haven’t your fellow Gatekeepers rescued him?”

  The dog gave a barking laugh. “We have our limitations. I’ll give you five days. If you don’t have the dragon’s blood by then, consider our agreement cancelled.” With a sniff, he turned away and dashed into the distance.

  Paz snagged Jen’s arm and walked with her toward a brightly lit avenue. Questions hovered on her tongue, but she felt too weary to ask them.

  “I’m still planning to leave tomorrow.” She shook him off, not caring about any magic ship or dragons or shapeshifters. Her flight was already arranged.

  “You can’t go.” He gave her a disarming smile. “I’ll need the immunity you can convey to me.”

  “Is that the only reason you want me to stay?” She turned her head so he couldn’t see the hurt in her eyes.

  “Of course not.” His voice softened as he strode by her side. “I want to do a lot more than kiss you, leera. But we have to keep moving for now. Besides, you need me as well. Are you forgetting you’re a target for the Trolleks? They can find you wherever you go. You’re not safe without my protection. As soon as we finish here, I’ll accompany you home.”

  He was right, and she knew it. Nonetheless, she’d still take that flight tomorrow even if it meant leaving him behind. The Trolleks wouldn’t dare accost her on a commercial airline.

  “Let’s find a hotel,” she suggested. “We can debate this issue later.” The gusts picked up, chasing them down the street. She sniffed impending rain in the air.

  A high-rise hotel adjacent to an indoor shopping mall drew her attention. She pulled Paz inside and strode across the elegant lobby with crystal chandeliers. At the reception desk, an older woman in a shabby dress spoke English to the clerk in a voice loud enough for her to overhear.

  “I have the money, I tell you.” The woman scratched her head of scraggly gray hair. “Don’t tell me you’re sold out.”

  Jen’s heart sank. Great, now they’d have to look for another place to stay.

  A young man signaled her over from the next console.

  “Hello, I’d like a room for one night, please.” She braced herself for a negative reply.

  “How many adults?”

  “Two of us. My, er, husband and me.” Her face flushed. She hadn’t considered how they would present themselves.

  “We have a room with a king size bed available.”

  “Fine, we’ll take it. We’re in between flights and had an unexpected delay.” That would account for their lack of luggage.

  After she wrote down the requisite information, offered her credit card, and took the keys, she glanced at the woman still arguing with the other clerk. Why was he giving her such a hard time? Because she looked like a bag lady come in from the cold?

  Feeling sorry for the woman who’d said she could pay, Jen walked over. “Excuse me, I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation. Can I help you?”

  The lady’s rheumy eyes looked her over. “This stuck-up fellow says the place is full. I should sue for discrimination. I have the money, but he says I’ll have to wait for a cancellation.”

  “That’s absurd. We just booked a standard room, so there has to be more in reserve. Look, mister, would you like me to tell your supervisor how you let a paying customer go?”

  The man pursed his lips and pressed a few keys on his keyboard. “I see a junior suite with two queen beds has just opened up on the fourteenth floor. Will that do?”

  The woman winced. “Oh, my. It’s more than I wanted to spend, but I’ll take it.” She rummaged in her worn handbag and withdrew a small wad of cash.

  Jen turned away, but the older lady stopped her.

  “Wait, dearie. Maybe you’d like to trade and take the larger suite instead, since there are two of you?”

  Jen’s eyes widened but she nodded. Probably the woman wanted to save money by trading for the less expensive room. “That would be great, thank you.”

  “My name is Edith, by the way.”

  After making the switch and obtaining the proper keys, they left the reception desk. Paz stood by scanning the lobby with narrowed eyes.

  The gray-haired woman poked Jen, startling her. She hadn’t realized she’d become so sensitive to being touched by strangers.

  “Listen up, missy. I noticed your watch.”

  “It was a gift from my parents.” Jen glared at Edith with suspicion. She hadn’t just been touched by a Trollek, had she? The beasts seemed to send beautiful young females across the dimensional barrier, but there could be exceptions.

  “From your true parents, you mean. You’re Two of Six. You’ll need to interpret that inscription to fulfill the prophecy.”

  “What?” Jen rubbed her ear. Had she heard the woman correctly?

  Edith’s eyes glowed with fervor. “You must unite with your sisters. Each one of you is special in your own way. Together with the Drift Lords, your powers will save us from the coming darkness. It is foreseen.”

  “Did Paz put you up to this?” She glanced at him but he wasn’t paying them any attention. Leaning against a post, he watched the exterior doors with an alert expression.

  Getting no answer from Edith, Jen turned her head. The old woman had gone. She stared at the empty space where Edith had been a moment before. Had she imagined their conversation?

  Jen approached Paz. “Did you see where that woman went? I wasn’t finished talking to her. She just vanished.”

  He shook his head. “What was that all about? I thought you were helping her get a room.”

  “I did, but then she started rambling about me being two of six and I need my sisters to fulfill the prophecy.”

  Paz gripped her arm. “She said what?”

  “I have to join my sisters and unite with the Drift Lords to prevent some disaster. Her name is Edith.”

  Paz scrunched his eyes. “Hmm, where have I heard that name before?”

  “You know her?” Jen gaped at him.

  “It’ll come to me. Let’s go upstairs. We’re too exposed out here.”

  The front doors rattled as the wind increased. After settling into their room, they headed to the shopping mall to acquire more supplies. Paz bought electronics and a switchblade while Jen added new outfits, backpacks, and other essentials to their meager stock. Then they dined on steamed dumplings and beef stir-fry at a restaurant before retiring for the night.

  Rain pelted down outside, battering the windows in their suite—a bedroom, bath, and small sitting area. She shut the drapes, but her hands froze on the cord as the familiar white haze blurred her vision.

  Suddenly she stood on a wharf with a shawl around her shoulders and a Viking ship bobbing on the waves. The wind blew cold, freezing her fingers and the tip of her nose.

  A man’s heavy hand rested on her shoulder. “Come inside, Jorunn, before the gale gets stronger.” He spoke in a foreign tongue but somehow she understood him.

  “We can’t escape the tempest.” Her voice quivered, and her gut clenched with fear. “The town isn’t prepared.”

  “Odin will protect us.” The husky man made a fervent sign above his forehead. “Don’t the gods keep the sea monsters away?”

  “Yes, but that’s because we ring our church bells whenever there’s a sighting.”

  He adjusted the fur over his shoulders. “Do you really think that scares them?”

  “Rumor has it that loud noises make them recoil. They remember the sound of Thor’s hammer zinging through the air.”

  “I don’t see the connection. Anyway, waves cannot be scared away. We’ll be inundated. We should have gone to higher ground.”

  Rain splashed her face as the clouds moved in.

  Another gust hit her, cool air-conditioned air.

  She blinked, back in reality once again. She whirled around, signaling Paz.

  “I know how to keep the Trolleks away.”

  He’d turned on the televisi
on like any human male. Holding the remote, he glanced at her. “What?”

  “I just had another vision. I was standing on a wharf and a storm was coming.”

  His mouth curved. “Have you looked outside?”

  “Just listen, will you? The townsfolk rang church bells to keep the sea monsters away. It worked because it reminded the creatures of Thor’s Hammer swinging through the air. Maybe it’ll keep the Trolleks away from us, too. Otherwise, they might jump in while we’re sleeping.”

  He stared at her for a long moment. “I’ve wondered about your role in the prophecy. These visions…do you have them often?”

  “Not so much. They bring me to the Viking era.”

  His lips tightened. “My defensive perimeter rods are in Florida with my other equipment. They prevent anyone from vector shifting within range.” He pointed to the clock on the nightstand. “That device is also a radio, yes? I’ll change its frequency to one only the Trolleks can hear. I can have it transmit a loud signal that won’t bother us.”

  Without waiting for her reply, he got to work, taking the radio apart and using the tools he’d bought to make adjustments. Observing him, Jen admired the frown of concentration on his brow, the hard planes on his face, and the wide set of his shoulders. Was there nothing this man couldn’t do when it came to electronics?

  “Do you really just repair communications equipment when you’re not a Drift Lord?”

  “Yes, that is my job.”

  She heard the challenge in his voice and didn’t question him, but it disturbed her that he was so accepting of his lot when his skills qualified him for much more.

  Striding to the nearest queen-sized bed, she gave a weary sigh. She’d unpack the goods in her bags before taking a shower.

  She had just finished sorting through the pile of makeup, toiletries, and clothes when Paz straightened.

  “It’s done.” He stuffed his tools into one of the backpacks. As the wind howled outside, he pointed to the window. “Sounds nasty out there.”

  A weather report on TV drew his attention. His brow wrinkled as he listened. “Jen, I hate to tell you, but flights have been canceled. The storm is expected to hit here directly, and the airports are closed.”

  “Oh, no.” Her heart sank. “I thought we were supposed to get just a few rain bands.”