“Thank you for helping my son.” He smiled as he patted all of them on the back then hugged Rachel. “I’m so glad that monster hunters are willing to help out two stupid boys.” He shot a condescending look at Dave then at Chuck. He smacked Chuck on the back of the head.
“Sorry, dad,” Chuck hung his head in shame. “It was stupid.”
“She didn’t even appreciate it. She’s the one that turned you in.” Chuck’s dad looked at his son with a strange grin on his face. He seemed nervous. There was something else there, something they weren’t willing to share. “At least Davinious has a good excuse. A man wants to do something stupid, his best friend will be stupid along with him.” He laughed loudly, clearly hiding something.
“Sorry, Mr. Smith,” Dave looked at his feet. “I should have talked him out of it. I knew it was dumb but I let him do it anyway.” Rachel was still catching the hint of something unsaid here. They were hiding something about what really happened but they could have their secrets. She had her own to worry about.
“Wait,” Jack smirked. “You’re a smith and your last name is Smith?”
“Where do you think last names come from?” the large man laughed. “My dad was a smith, his dad and his dad before him.”
“I guess that makes sense,” Jack smiled. “Where do you suppose my last name, Craylet, comes from?”
“Probably where your family was from originally. A town, a piece of land they owned, something like that,” the blacksmith smiled. “Sometimes the words get smashed together and mispronounced until it becomes a last name. Perhaps your ancestors were cray fishermen and the inlet they frequented gave rise to their last name. So and so of Crayfish Inlet slowly became Craylet.”
Chuck sure didn’t take after his dad. This man was as sharp, maybe sharper, than Dave.
“Thank you again,” the man said. “I’d help but I’m slow and old. That Drahlbeere would be picking its teeth with me. Better to leave it to the professionals.” He looked at Jack and put his hands on Jack’s shoulders. “Take care of my boy.”
“Wait, I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I’m her sidekick,” Jack looked at Rachel and was greeted by another appreciative look. This just got better and better. Dave was really onto something here. He couldn’t tell her but he could show her. Eventually she’d figure it out and see him as a man, maybe.
“Well, miss,” the large man looked down at Rachel. “Pick out any sword you like. My boy is worth more than all of them.”
“Thank you, sir,” she replied and headed toward the rack of swords. She shot another appreciative glance at Jack and he smiled back at her. Jack’s heart raced, he was finally getting somewhere.
She tested out the swords one at a time and held each across her forearm to check for bows or imperfections in the metal. What had gotten into Jack today? He was kind and complimentary. He was hiding something too but maybe she didn’t want to know. If this was the new Jack she didn’t want to do anything to make him go back. She should probably even thank him for the kind words. This new Jack was perfect then she realized something. He was too perfect. What if she let her emotions run away with her? He was already so attractive. If he was nice too? She couldn’t think about this now. It was too enticing. If Jack kept acting so kind and caring she might do something she’d regret, for about nine months, then she’d die. This new Jack was dangerous but despite this, she didn’t want him to stop.
“You have some nice blades here,” she said to Chuck’s father. “I’m not sure which to choose.” She looked at Jack with a smirk. “Jack can you help me with this?”
Jack rushed over to her. She picked up a large sword with both hands and gave it to Jack. He was surprised at how heavy it was and almost bent over trying to keep it up. She grabbed a longsword and took a step back.
“Hold this one up,” she smiled deviously at him.
“Like this?” he asked holding up in front of himself.
“Hold it very tight and don’t let go,” She took another step back and did a few showy moves with the sword then attacked. She hit from the left and Jack blocked, then the right and Jack blocked again. She took a step back and looked at Chuck’s father. “Can I get one for him too? My sidekick should learn how to use one.” She smiled at Jack appreciatively and his stomach did a flip.
“By all means,” the large man walked over slowly. He picked up one similar to the one in Rachel’s hand. “This is more your speed. The great swords are for men like me. Soldiers use them to cleave through armor. You wouldn’t even get one swing off before you got cut down by the beast’s claws.”
“Good point, sir.” Jack watched as the burly man took the great sword with one hand and handed him the long sword.
“Make sure you grab a scabbard,” he put the great sword back on the rack and pointed at a pile of scabbards.
Jack swung the sword back and forth admiring the workmanship. He liked the sound of it swishing through the air until Rachel took a step forward and disarmed him with such ease that he couldn’t even be upset.
“Hey, now…showoff,” he smiled at her.
“Keep your grip tight and be mindful of everything around you,” Rachel instructed.
“Yes, master,” he replied with a grin as he picked up the sword.
“I see bright things for you, student,” she joked. “Seriously though, I wouldn’t mind teaching you.”
“I’d like that,” Jack looked at her, lost in her eyes. How silly it was. He wasn’t a small guy. He was shorter than Dave but built sturdier. She was up to his nose. She might weigh, at most, half what he did and still, she could probably kill him before he knew what happened. She was amazing with a sword.
The large man walked away with a smile and stopped at Dave. He bent in and Rachel listened intently.
“Are they serious?” the smith asked Dave. She watched curiously as Dave put a finger to his lips and shushed the huge man.
“They’ll figure it out,” Dave whispered as the large man patted Dave on the shoulder and continued on.
Rachel stared curiously at Dave who got a guilty look on his face and then headed toward Chuck, avoiding her questioning look. These secrets were getting out of hand. She’d have to make sure to ask Dave about them later.
Jack found a scabbard for himself and then one for Rachel. He fastened his to his belt and watched as she struggled with how to attach hers. He quickly got into his pack and pulled out another belt. He nervously bent down and helped her attach it. He felt his face turn red as his hands moved across her waist and hips. It was sheer torture to be so close to her yet not be able to really touch her. The smell alone drove him nuts. How did she always smell so nice? He pulled back quickly as he finished. The belt hung sideways and only the curve of her feminine hips held it up but it would do.
“I look like some kind of swashbuckler or something,” she giggled and Jack looked up at her in awe. He didn’t see a swashbuckler at all. He saw a fiery, red haired beauty with eyes the color of spring grass. Her slight freckles seemed to decorate her face in a way that tempered her beauty with a cuteness that was very appealing. Jack realized what he was doing and forced himself to look away. He got to his feet and turned back toward Dave and Chuck.
“Maybe a pirate?” he laughed, walking away from her.
She slapped him on the back playfully and rushed ahead.
“Now we’re ready,” she smiled and saw Chuck’s face light up. She was his savior.
Chapter 4
Jack snuck through the forest holding a carved spear in one hand and keeping the other on the hilt of the sword. His job was to push the beast at Rachel. He needed something long and sharp to keep it moving. Chuck walked beside him with his own spear, shivering and shaking. They couldn’t see Rachel or Dave but the creature was plain to see.
The Drahlbeere was half buried in the dirt, only its spines visible. They could smell the stench of dead meat coming from it. The thing seemed to have a particular interest in cattle. There were cow bones strewn
across the forest floor beside it.
Jack crept closer and could hear its breath. Rachel had been right, the thing must have been eight feet long even without its short, stubby tail, which was also full of spines. When Jack was roughly ten feet from it he caught a glint of steel in the direction of where Rachel should be. He stomped his feet and started to yell.
“Shoo beast!” he screamed at the top of his lungs and the thing stirred.
He was positioned himself behind it and watched in horror as the thing got on all fours and stared at him, unimpressed. Its mouth opened and the terrifying roar it let loose nearly stopped his heart. Jack took a few steps forward and stabbed the creature with his spear and Chuck nervously did the same.
“Shoo beast!” he yelled again. The creature moved away from them slowly, they were more an annoyance than a threat.
Jack pulled his sword and lunged at the creature. The steel pierced through the creature’s thick hide and it roared again, this time from the pain. It took off at a gallop, straight for Rachel. She held up her sword and screamed at the beast. It reared on its back legs and roared again. It was trapped.
Jack stabbed at it from behind with the spear, not wanting to get close enough for a second stab with his sword. The beast swiped at the spear and its claws cleaved the end of it off effortlessly. Now he was very thankful he had been cautious.
Rachel eased closer, trying to get a clear shot at its chest. Jack and Chuck poked at it from behind while Dave sidestepped and stabbed at it from the side with his spear. The creature swung at Dave’s spear but he retracted it before the beast could make contact. The beast saw that there was only one way to go and took off at a gallop to the only side not occupied with a person.
The three of them chased it for a few hundred feet until the creature realized it had been trapped. They had forced it against a rock formation to keep its spinney back pointed away from them. The three men poked at it and tried to gain its attention while Rachel eased her way closer. The beast glanced at her each time she took a step but the spears were a more immediate threat. When she was finally close enough she pulled back her sword and aimed for its chest. She hoped that the heart was where she thought it was. One stab and run away, that’s all she had to do. It would bleed out and they could claim their prize.
As she thrust forward the creature swung its huge claws. Jack saw what was happening and put his body in the way. The creature hit Jack as Rachel stabbed it through the chest. Jack went flying and the creature howled in pain. When Jack landed with a thud against a nearby rock Rachel rushed to him.
“You fucking idiot. Why did you do that?” she caressed his face and grimaced at the blood on his shirt. She gathered her willpower and pulled his shirt open. The creature had barely scratched him, he would be fine. It was bloody and the wounds were deep but there was no serious damage “You’re damn lucky!” she yelled and flicked him on the forehead. This was exactly why the new Jack was so dangerous. All she could think about was how much she wanted to kiss him. Kissing would lead to petting, petting would lead to…she stood up. She needed to stop thinking like this.
“Ow,” he laughed. She looked down at him with pity and gratitude.
“Why did you do that? I could have dodged while I stabbed it,” she lied. She knew Jack had saved her life. The swipe had been aimed at her head. Jack had blunted it by running into the claws before the creature’s hand could completely turn. It had intended to stab her but Jack shielded her.
“Sidekick, remember? That’s my job,” he laughed then held his chest. “I’ll be fine.” He wearily started to get up and Rachel turned her attention back to the creature. It was suffering, she needed to put it out of its misery.
Jack pulled a spine out of his side as he used the tree to sturdy himself. Shit! He was going to die! Rachel had said the poison would kill them before they could reach a doctor. He needed to tell Rachel how he felt before it was too late. He limped his way over to where she stood above the creature, holding his chest and his side. If he was going to die she could at least know the truth.
“Rachel, I have something to tell you,” Jack started.
Rachel lifted her sword and severed the creature’s head in one swipe. She blew the hair from her face and Jack was mesmerized by her beauty once more. Her hair was a mess and only half way in the ponytail she had put in earlier. Despite this, he couldn’t imagine a more beautiful woman. Her green eyes looked at him and he couldn’t pull away this time. He needed to tell her before it was too late.
“What is it Jack?” she looked at him, concern filling her face. He held his hand over his wound and the blood trickled across it.
“How fast is that poison?” Chuck interrupted. “Would I survive if I accidentally got stabbed?” Rachel turned and noticed that the beast had a few spines on the back of its head. She used her sword and cut them off.
“If it even pricked you, you’d be in so much pain that you’d wish you were dead. I guess the poison is excruciating. People said the victims would scream for about a minute before they fell over dead. Now what did you want Jack?” She turned back to Jack and looked at his bloody hand again full of regret. How could she ever repay him? He had saved her life. She knew exactly how she wanted to repay him, if only she wasn’t cursed.
Jack looked down where he had removed the spine and noticed that it was green, just like the poison dripping from the beast’s spines. The hole it left was tender but nothing like the pain she was describing and it had been over a minute already. His chest actually hurt more than the small stab wound. Things like this had happened to him before, unexplainable things. People often got skittish around him after they realized how strange he was. He could not afford to tell Rachel. He looked at her face, so full of remorse and forced himself to smile.
“You owe me a drink when we go celebrate,” he grinned and turned around. He started limping back toward his sword and hoped that no one had seen the spine. If Rachel found out how strange he was she’d definitely leave. All his work to make her see him would be wasted.
“I owe you more than that, Jack.” She looked at him walking away full of gratitude then brushed the thoughts aside. “Even sidekicks deserve praise for stunts like that,” she said nervously then forced a laugh as she followed behind him. Why did he do that? He risked his life for her. This was not the same Jack she’d met a little over a year ago. She liked this new Jack, maybe a little too much.
Chapter 5
Rachel snuck into the seer’s hut. Chuck and Dave had collected their bounty and paid her and Jack, as promised. It seemed that the two men were reluctant to leave as well. They were currently sitting in the tavern waiting for her to show up before they started their celebration. The soldiers had left Dahring so it was safe for her to join them tonight and she wouldn’t miss it. She just needed to check with the seer one more time before they left this town. She hoped to hear more about whatever was next.
The old woman smiled kindly at Rachel as recognition filled her gaze.
Rachel held out two silvers and the woman pushed her hand away.
“You will repay me one day, my child. I’ll collect your debt then,” the old woman said. Was this a prediction or a hope? Rachel couldn’t tell.
“Would you check one more time?” Rachel begged and held out her hands for the woman.
“It would be my pleasure.” She looked into Rachel’s eyes and smiled. “The clouds surrounding you have broken to show the sun. I can see that much already. You are starting down the right path.” She took Rachel’s hands and this time her smile didn’t leave.
“I’m on the right path? I found the man?” Rachel pleaded for more detail.
“No, you have not found the man. He is there but you don’t see him. His intensions are clearer now but he can’t make you see him. You have to open your own eyes. Just keep following this path and soon you will notice his influence. He is a rogue in the night, silent and ever watching. He will save you if you let him.” The woman focused on Rachel’
s face and could see the joy her words had brought. “Just don’t let his sacrifices go unrewarded or you will lose him forever and be lost once again.”
“Thank you.” Rachel’s face beamed at the old woman. She had finally made some progress. She was following the man but couldn’t see him? How was that possible? How could she reward a man she couldn’t even see? Seers were strange and their predictions full of mystery. She might not even mean what she said. It might be a metaphor. Actually, it probably was a metaphor. They usually were.
Rachel walked from the hut full of happiness. She held her head high and strode toward the tavern, almost skipping. Whatever she was doing, whatever Jack had gotten her into, it needed to continue. Jack had led her to the man, the rogue. Jack really was her sidekick and a damn good one, at that.
The Fire Maiden's Desire Page 4
