She laughed, he was always thinking. “Ok go get them. I’ll wait here”
Josette pulled out her dagger and started to polish it, it was clean but it didn’t hurt to make the Reds remember who she was, sometimes she hated being a skinny girl, no one ever wanted to force Skinner to have sex with them.
“Little sister!” she heard the huge booming voice in double and felt the crushing weight of Flint, or maybe Stone against her. The huge bear of a man lifted her off the ground in a hug. She knew Grimm and Goldie liked her but clearly these two did as well.
“Goldie said we have to keep you safe until he gets back,” Flint said.
Stone just nodded at her smiling. “We’ve been so bored, these ones are so soft all they do is talk, talk, talk,” he said.
She hugged them both again, she’d never had bodyguards before, it would be nice, even though they’d be shit at sneaking around.
“Ok we have to visit Farirkar and tell him to attack that camp, they have Minsetta and they are involved with the Red shirts somehow. Flint spoke up. “Farirkar is having a fight but we can talk to him once he wins.”
Skinner started to lead the way through the camp and she realized that it was fairly empty, clearly most of the men were somewhere else.
“Fighting whom?” she asked.
“Some idiot who thinks he wants to lead this rabble,” Skinner spoke back.
She was immediately thankful for Flint and Stone. They pushed through the large throng of men and made room for her at the head of a huge circle that had formed. In the middle of the circle made of hundreds of red leering faces was Farirkar and another man. She’d not seen him before but he looked dangerous.
He was a Pellosi and young. He moved like her, quick cat-like movements, a sword, and dagger in his hands while the huge Farirkar faced him with a massive broadsword that was as big as her.
“Come on you little prick, let’s get this over with,” Farirkar yelled and swung the massive blade sideways at the man. He leapt backwards from it and jumped forward seconds later thrusting his own blade at Farirkar, Both were bare-chested and a thrust even from the man’s thin blade would be enough, maybe. She’d never seen anyone with more muscle than Farirkar, it was off-putting, he swung the huge blade like it was a wooden toy.
Farirkar sidestepped the blade easily, moving very well for a big man. The Pellosi rolled across the ground and stabbed down with his dagger, aiming at Farirkar’s foot and got a knee in the face for his troubles. He went flying backwards with a broken nose.
“Low move you little rat,” Farirkar yelled,
The man ignored the pain that must have racked through him and rolled backwards to his feet. Josette scanned the crowd to gauge the support, most men seemed to just be having fun watching someone throw their life away bit some watched intently clearly hoping the Pellosi would win. She saw one man standing behind Farirkar, he held a long needle in his hand which hung at his side. Clearly waiting for the big man to fall against him, who knew what was on that needle.
She pushed sideways through the crowd of people. This time thanking her light frame and the distracted men. She pushed through their sweating bodies until she stood behind the man. She saw a look pass and the Pellosi thrust hard at Farirkar, he staggered back towards the crowd. The man raised his hand so Farirkar would fall against the needle. She simply reached behind the bigger man and whispering into his ear, grabbed his hand and turned the needle to press against his stomach. Farirkar’s huge body hit the man’s hand and drove it deep into him.
Farirkar lunged back at the Pellosi and swung the massive blade down and up and down again with a huge effort of strength. The Pellosi had expected him to slump dead as his friend in the crowd had seemingly done his work. Farirkar’s huge blade actually shattered his sword as it ripped his pretty face apart in a shower of the blood.
The man fell back dead, as Josette let go of the other man who slumped dead as well.
Farirkar stood panting with exertion. “Ok you fucks get back to your drinking, it’s only one a night and if one of you wants to try again tomorrow that’s fine.”
The crowd of red-faced devils quickly disappeared and soon she was standing alone, with Flint. Stone, Farirkar and Skinner. Skinner walked up to Farirkar and handed him a cleanish rag, which he used to whip the other man’s blood off his chest and face.
“Three in three nights, isn’t that right boss? Skinner said.
Farirkar turned and looked at her. “Sure is bloody hard work. Glad your back girl, what news?”
“We’ve got to fight for real. Warrior women, tough,” she said.
“Good. I have around fifty men I want to put on the front line, come tell me.” With that, Farirkar walked off towards his tent and she followed behind.
***
His luck was back and he was the darling of the gamblers once again. He could feel his hangover melting away and had the chance for a quick wash to scrub off some of the booze skink that was sweating from his body. He’d already made some people in the crowd very rich and they cheered as he entered the stage for the next bout.
He’d easily won at cards and dice. He had to admire these priests for their clear thinking. He’d never had to play a game of cards with no shirt on before but in a place like this, it was a good idea. Sure he felt that bastard sun burning away at his white half Northern skin but still, it stopped people calling him a cheat and that was good with the way his luck was running. Every time he played for the queen she came up. Even if he had nothing else, he’d go for the royals and they came to him.
“What’s next kid?” he said to the boy, who had taken the role of his coach and trainer. Bringing him water and handling his own side bets. The boy had a smile ear to ear, clear he was betting on Goldie per match and had already won big.
“The reason people are looking nervous is that,” the boy pointed to the table before them. They stood in front of the main street again and a series of ten wooden tables had been laid out. Men sat at the small tables across from each other.
“Arm wrestling,” the boy said. “And that big prick has won four years in a row.”
Goldie looked at the “Big prick in question.” He was hardly the biggest man he’d seen but he was intimidating. He had arms that were as big as some men’s legs and they rippled as he took another man out of the competition.
“As the champion of a few bouts I asked the priest if we could just face the winner, he said no but I bribed him and he changed his mind.”
Goldie stood at the side and watched with hundreds to others as the man went from round to round. First there was ten against ten, then five and five, then only two and one waited, he challenged the winner. Soon the man stood alone.
“So we have our champion but of course, he must face Goldie, now were going to give our man here a bit of a rest as he’s just had a few bouts". It was a lucky turn or crooked one as the man had just taken out the whole field and was tired, but he was still a monster.
“What am I going to do, luck won’t help here. It’s all muscle,” he said.
“It’s your turn, the Lady has helped you a lot, now you need to do something to help yourself,” the boy said.
“Ok what are the rules?” he asked.
“What do you mean rules? you put your hands together and the strongest win, it’s simple.” The boy said as if to a halfwit.
“Can he hit me?” Goldie asked.
“Of course not, if he hits you then you win, he’s out, you want to make him it you?”
“Seems like a good plan,” Goldie said looking at the size of the man’s huge fists, maybe not. As they stood plotting he saw a young woman approach the champ, she was pretty and much too young to be his wife, she handed him a drink as he recovered.
“Who’s that? His daughter?” Goldie asked.
“Yep his daughter, but she’s very sheltered. I mean who would touch her with him around right?”
“Don’t let them start without me,” Goldie said and walked towards
the girl. She was just leaving her father’s side but still well within his view. She was maybe just 18.
Goldie smiled broadly to her, kissed her cheek as he approached and took her hands, she laughed. “Well you’re very straightforward champion, can I help you or are you just trying to anger my father?” she asked.
“Smart and pretty, the Lady has blessed you twice,” Goldie said. “But I do need your help, do you have any reason for wanting you father to lose?” he whispered.
“Well not my father, but a champion of four years with very strong odds, everyone likes a fix,” she said smiling.
“Devious too. I like you, you’d do that to him,” Goldie said with surprise.
“He’s cocky bastard and I need enough money to get out of this rat hole, so what do you need?”
"Just come with me for a few minutes and I’ll do the rest." Goldie Said.
He led the girl away from the main crowd clear under the eyes of all and led her down a dark space between two buildings where they were unseen.
“A few minutes will have his mind working,” he said.
“Few minutes, that’s disappointing,” she said and they both laughed.
“Do you have any birthmarks? Scars? Tattoos?” he asked.
“Well, thankfully I do have a little birthmark on my bum, looks like a little crescent moon, dark.”
“Want to show me?” he said with a grin.
“No, I don’t! But he’ll know it if that’s your plan.”
Goldie heard the boy shouting and knew he was calling for him.
“Hurry up champion, we don’t have time for this,” he yelled playing along.
He kissed her on the cheek and ran for the alley. He saw all eyes on him and adjusted his belt as he came running out, they saw that.
Within moments, he saw sitting across from the big man and he knew it had all worked. His face was red with rage. He gripped Goldie’s hand hard, crushing his fingers till it hurt.
“Ok you cocky prick, now I end your run,” he muttered.
The priest yelled. “Go” and he felt the pressure in his arm. Goldie was strong and he was big enough but this man would have him in moments, still he had to make it look good. Like the man might lose. Putting all his energy and strength into it, he pushed his arm back and pushed against the huge force. He whispered to the man as he did.
“I might stay here afterward I think if there are girls like that just hanging around I mean,” he said.
The man just glared at him.
“I don’t know who she was but so cute, little moon shaped mark on her bum too.
He didn’t even see the huge fist coming towards him, all he felt was pain and darkness.
Chapter Thirty One
Seraphina had seen enough to know her new savior was insane. He turned from manic and rage filled to peaceful and friendly within moments. He placed his hand on the statue of the Judge, his eyes stared off blankly into the far distance. A slow moment passed and she realized he wasn’t coming back quickly. On his pretty face she saw a look of pain cross it, she had no idea what was going on but if she wanted a chance to get away this was it.
He was clearly using her but for what she didn’t know. He wanted to find Seth for a different reason to her and from what she gleaned from his manic conversations with himself and muttered words it was all dark. It seemed like he’d been locked in that room for a very good reason. As she looked his expression changed from fear and pain to a smiling one of triumph. His eyes regained their focus and found hers, he smiled broadly. He was happy again, clearly he’d won whatever battle he just imagined he’d had.
The man laughed. “We’ll that was easier than I thought!” he cried and grabbing her hand, leading her down the row of statues. She was afraid to ask but had to know for sure. She looked at the statue of the Judge over her shoulder and saw it was empty and lifeless now, no longer radiating the power it had before, indeed, she felt nothing of the guilt and need to confess to him anymore, he’d done something terrible.
“What was easy?” she asked, as she was dragged along.
“The fight! I won, they’re not going to stop me this time. I’m strong and they are weak, all my years of preparing have been worth it and this proves it.”
“How can you fight a god? It’s ridiculous” she said back, truly this was getting too bizarre. She could believe well enough in powers of the natural world and even a land of the dead but for the gods to be personified as actual beings was a step too far.
“I’ve told you already, your little powers are gifts they give for your regard, of course, you can fight a god, the only difference between killing them and say killing you is it’s a lot harder”
“Did you really kill him?” she asked horrified.
“Close enough, you never know if they are truly gone, but his power on this plane is broken, you tell me, do you still feel the need to confess your sins to him, do you feel the need to be a good little girl and do the right thing?” he asked stopping and looking at her.
She felt deep inside that he was right, she felt a lot less guilty about what she had done, the lives she’d taken, so what, they were needed to give her what she wanted.
“That’s it, you’ll see, once I clear the way of these rule makers and guilt givers, you and all the people of your little land will be free. Can you imagine the freedom of it? How many people would be different if they had no rules and traditions to guide them?”
“Can you imagine how many people would steal, cheat and kill each other if they thought there would be no punishment?” she said back but not feeling it.
He laughed again. “Yes I can, the nature of people is to be wicked, to be greedy and to enjoy hurting others. I just want to give them the freedom to do what they want, they can choose to do what they like with it.”
He stopped suddenly in front of a statue. It was one she’d seen many times. It was a pretty lady with a cheeky grin and a low cut top, she had long flowing hair and a pair of dice in an open palm.
“You know her?” he asked looking at the plain marble statue.
“Of course the Lucky Lady. I like her, they had lots of statues of her in Pelloss, when I was young but most are gone now, the new king removed most of them, saying they attracted gamblers and drinkers,” she said.
“A good boy that king,” he said to himself and placed a hand on the forehead of the statue. As soon as the skin of his hand touched the pale stone he was thrown back hard as if shoved. The man flew across the marble floor hitting a statue on the other side. He smiled. broadly to himself and lifted himself up laughing.
“Still strong that one, we’ll see how she feels in a few days when her fucking temple is in ashes.”
He turned to her and looked into her eyes.
“It’s time for you to make a choice. So far I’ve dragged you along unwilling but that is not what I want, so I’ll make you an offer and you can decide to leave me or follow me properly and help me,” he said.
She was afraid that her feelings were changing so much, she felt the growing of the feelings she’d always felt as a girl, the hunger for strength and power, the need that drove her to be one of the best in the Dark Guild, the anger that had driven her after Seth.
“What?” she said simply.
“Cast aside this guilt and need to prove you’re a good girl. You’re strong, you could live forever so why fear judgment, you could take it all, all the power and skills and knowledge, you could be the strongest woman on the earth, you’re already close if you just embrace it. Why fear the judgments of the gods when you can be a goddess?”
She looked at him for a long moment and put thoughts of Seth and her time in the land of dead aside. She smiled at him and took his hand they started walking again.
“Ok, but what do we do now?” she asked.
“Now you have to meet my family,” he said back.
Chapter Thirty-Two.
Silver had had enough. She was never meant to be a queen, she was a fighter and fig
ht she would. There was a change spreading across her land. It had begun as soon as Seth had left on that little boat. It had been a dark horrible place before he came, a land of fear, but she stood proud and strong in it, the most dangerous creature in a land of them. Now something was trying hard to turn it back.
“You ready dog?” she asked.
The Wolvern stood next to her and simply snarled. She drew her own long black sword and stood ready. Before them and all around were a pack of those ugly black dogs. They sought today like they sought every day to destroy the human’s and send them running in fear, it was like they were guided to cause terror.
She heard the Wolvern speak in her mind.
It’s been like this since he left, how many of these things do we need to kill? It sounded almost weary of the killing which was strange. She was starting to feel like herself again.
One of the creatures came at her, snapping towards her with those sharp teeth. She lashed out with her huge black blade. The sword swung deeply into its maw and ripped it apart. Then it was chaos. At least five of them were on her she leapt over the head of one that was at her and slashed down with her blade, which ran along its back deeply as she flew over it. Spinning she delivered two massive downward cuts at one then the other. They died snarling at her.
The Wolvern was fighting a losing battle, it grabbed one by the scruff at the back of its head and with a powerful shake broke its neck. It sent the black dog of the dog flying and faced another. Snapping its head hard to the side it found the creature’s throat and sunk its double row of teeth into it. Dark red blood splattered over its white fur.
She came to its aid as three others closed in, she slashed them down coldly from behind as they sought to engage the wolf. With moments, she was standing panting in a field of dead bodies.
“They always go for you,” she said.
It didn’t speak back. It was true every time they fought these things they would always focus on the Wolvern and ignored her to their peril. It was like they wanted to break the only link left to guide these people to the boats. Once the last Wolvern was gone, there would be no one left and they would be scattered to the wind, running in terror as they once had. She almost felt they would become as monsters again.
Take My Heart...: Dark Ages - Fantasy (Dark Gods & Tainted Souls Book 3) Page 16
