The Mercenaries of the Stolen Moon

by Megan Derr

  Jac yelped gleefully as Charlaine grabbed her and shoved her onto the bedding next to Myra. She dragged him down and kissed him—then abruptly flipped them over, snickering at the look on Charlaine's face. Myra laughed and kissed him, then rose up to kiss Jac as well.

  Tearing away, flushed and panting, eyes bright, Jac took hold of Charlaine's cock and stroked it roughly. "You want my mouth or do you want to fuck me?"

  Charlaine groaned. "Is fucking you going to result in complications?"

  Jac smirked. "No. While you two were bathing, I was asking Hibiki things."

  Myra laughed.

  "You did not," Charlaine said, pinching his eyes shut.

  "Of course I did," Jac replied, rolling her eyes at his horrified expressions. Honestly, what else was she supposed to have done? "Would you prefer not to be able to fuck me? Because I'd rather have the option. I'm happy to be alive and had every intention of celebrating that fact as soon as possible. I'm only sad I don't have my toys. But that just means I'll have to really enjoy myself when I do have them again."

  "I had no idea you were so evil," Charlaine said and grabbed her hips. "Ride me, Dragon."

  Jac laughed delightedly, then shifted and rose up so she could take his cock. She lowered herself down slowly, making Charlaine sweat and curse, both of them groaning. Myra rolled to his feet and settled behind her, licking and sucking at her sweaty skin, wrapping one arm around her to tease at her clit, the other coming up to fondle her breasts. As she began to move, Myra matched her rhythm, clinging and rubbing against her.

  She moaned as Myra pushed two fingers into her mouth, moaning against her throat at the way she licked and sucked them.

  She came shortly thereafter, tearing free of Myra's fingers to let out a groan, head dipping as she shuddered through her climax. Charlaine fucked into her a few more quick, graceless times and came. It took only a few harsh thrusts with his own fingers for Myra to come again, muffling a sleepy groan against Jac's sweaty back.

  They sprawled across the mussed bedding, Charlaine in the middle this time, Myra on the side opposite where he'd started. He hooked one leg over Charlaine's, and draped an arm over his chest, tangling with Jac's.

  "Thank you again for coming after me," he said into the silence.

  Charlaine yawned, eyes slipping shut as he replied, "We'll always come for you, halfwit. Not that we did much in the end."

  "You came for me—that's all that matters."

  "And now we can all go home," Jac said sleepily. "Whatever happens next, we'll face it together. Though after this morning's attempted execution, nothing else seems nearly as terrifying. Well, except maybe Sarrica, but I'm going to hide behind Myra." She smiled when Myra laughed and shifted a bit closer before finally closing her eyes, taking into dreams the image of the three of them twined together and bathed in scattered moonlight.

  Chapter Sixteen

  As threatened, they were woken in the dark and leaving the village as the sun was little more than a whisper on the horizon. Myra could have easily slept another twelve hours if allowed but couldn't really complain as this was the first step toward finally going home.

  Their trek through the jungle, bound for the lake, was slower than the previous day, for which he was grateful, as every single part of his body ached from bruised ribs, hours of being chained to a stake, followed by a long, brutal hike, and of course the enthusiastic sex that had ended their day. He didn't regret it, but his body was reminding him today that he wasn't young anymore and needed to stop acting like it, especially as he was still recovering from a brutal beating.

  He shared a look with Charlaine, who was his usual reserved self, save for a tightness around the eyes, and they both scowled at Jac's back. She was merrily hiking alongside Hibiki and chatting a league a minute about archery and related matters, as though the previous day's exertions had never happened.

  "She's going to be the death of us."

  "After these past Pantheon-damned weeks, that's a death I will cheerfully take," Myra replied with a smile that Charlaine matched. But the happiness faded as Myra added, "Though I won't argue much if Sarrica wrings my neck the moment he sees me."

  Charlaine gave him a light shove. "None of this is your fault. If you'll recall, you did everything you could—including sacrificing yourself—to help. Stop forgetting that part. Anyway, wringing necks isn't really His Majesty's style. He can't fine us, so he's more likely to hand me and Jac over to Jader. I've never been so grateful that Lesto is retired."

  Myra pinched his eyes closed briefly. "Spirits have shown that much mercy."

  "Spirits?" Charlaine gave him a look. "You're sounding more and more like you're from here. Usually you say 'Pantheon' and such like the rest of us Harkens."

  "Ugh. Being here is bringing it all back. I can't wait to be home. There's nothing I've missed about this place."

  Charlaine reached out to grasp his hand and give it a gentle squeeze. "Soon."

  Myra smiled and squeezed back, but there was no chance to reply further as they finally cleared the oppressive jungle and crossed a small clearing to a waiting boat.

  They all clambered inside. Myra sat with a sigh, groaning as he stretched out tired, aching muscles. What he wouldn't give for a long, hot soak and hours of sleep.

  "You look like you're going to your execution all over again," Jac said, dropping down next to him. She looked out over the water, which was cooler than the jungle had been, dark green save where the morning sun turned swaths of it golden, with patches of mist that hadn't yet been burned away. "The lake is so peaceful."

  "It shouldn't be," Myra said. "Normally it's busy at all hours of the day and most hours of the night. Ships, boats, gliders… Even when those things are absent in the deadest hours of the night and morning, there is still activity. They say Mother Serpent and her many children live in the depths of the lake, always moving, and the lake itself is never still. When the serpents sleep, trouble comes." Myra sighed and looked out over the water. "At least they're only sleeping. The day Mother Serpent rises from the lake, she will send her children out to devour the unworthy."

  "What happens to the worthy?"

  "They will be invited to join the Great Serpents in the lake once more. When we die, it's believed we become either children of Mother Serpent or the fish they devour." Myra smiled faintly. "Back in Harken, calling someone a snake is an insult. Here, to call someone a fish is massively insulting and snake is a compliment. It was a very strange thing to get used to when I was settling in Harken."

  Jac laughed briefly. "I bet!" She leaned against him, head resting against his shoulder. "I'm sorry your homeland has proven to be an ill fit for you. It can't be easy, feeling like your house isn't your home."

  "I found my home. That's all that matters. Soon I'll never have to see this dreary place again." He sighed. "Assuming Sarrica will have anything to do with me after this disaster. If not for me—"

  "We've already had this discussion," Jac said, putting a finger to his lips. "You're not to blame. Stop it."

  Myra kissed her finger playfully. "As you wish, my lovely mistress."

  "Flattery will get you everything," Jac said with a purr, and leaned in to give him a brief kiss.

  Charlaine huffed a laugh. "Like you need flattery. Near as I can tell, all you need is an offer."

  Jac mock-scowled. "Are you implying my affections are easily and cheaply attained?"

  "I value breathing too much to imply any such thing," Charlaine said with a grin. "I'm saying we're easy when it comes to you, and you're not likely to refuse."

  "If that was true, we might have been doing this longer," Jac said, and leaned across Myra to give Charlaine a kiss as well.

  Myra went back to staring at the water, a stretch of green and gold that seemed as endless as the ocean. The quiet was ominous, but it was also a last, gasping breath of peace before they faced Sarrica and whatever punishment he handed down.

  He leaned into Charlaine, who held his hand, while J
ac's arm looped with his, and together they watched the lake.

  *~*~*

  They arrived in Odokka two days later, pulling into port just as a storm broke. They scrambled from the boat to the relative shelter of a loading station, right as lightning struck a single-mast ship not too far away.

  Myra shivered and thought longingly of home. At least they were leaving as typhoon season approached, instead of doing all of this while in the middle of the rains. The last thing he needed was to have been dragged through Soldonir in the midst of a typhoon.

  "All ready?" Hibiki asked. "Should be a straight path out of here once we turn there—" He pointed to a large warehouse marked with the crest of a cat with a koi in its mouth. "There should be transportation waiting, and we'll be across the city in…well, eventually, with this spirits-cursed weather." He smiled fleetingly.

  They all nodded. Myra fell into step behind Charlaine, who followed Kimberly, with Hibiki covering the rear. Jac settled behind Myra, and he only realized then they'd managed to arrange him between them so he was protected. Ordinarily he might have rolled his eyes, but instead he only smiled. He'd arrived in Soldonir a captive; he was returning to Harken—symbolically anyway—protected.

  But as they turned the corner, all happy thoughts fled as they stared at the bloodbath the rain had muffled.

  Triumvirate soldiers and clan warriors were locked in brutal, bloody battle against Penance Gate. The rain, as hard as it was pounding down, could still not wash away the blood faster than it was covering the ground.

  Myra stared in horror. "What's going on?"

  "Come on," Kimberly hissed, and Myra went as Charlaine tugged, following them to the wall of a small warehouse where they were out of immediate sight.

  Hibiki crouched to pick the lock on the building, while Myra and the others drew their weapons. "There," Hibiki said after a few long, miserable moments. "We'll wait—"

  "Traitors!" An Iron Moon warrior ran at them, several other Iron Moon and city guards falling in as they followed where he was looking.

  "Damn it," Myra muttered, and then they were under attack. Myra swept out the legs of his assailant and slit his throat, coming up smoothly to stab the next one in the gut.

  "Move!" Jac snarled, and Myra fell back just a beat before she lobbed one of her deadly firebombs. Even in the rain, it worked—at least long enough to worsen the chaos and give them a chance to escape.

  But they hadn't made it far when they were attacked again, this time entirely by city soldiers. Nearby, he could just hear Kimberly swear. Myra sprinted forward, dropping and rolling at the last minute, coming up in a crouch and taking two of them out at the knees, then spinning neatly and plunging his long knives into the backs of their necks, severing the spine and fatally damaging the rest of the neck. Noise came from behind, and he spun neatly, thrusting at an upward angle and taking his would-be killer in the gut, then knocking him down and finishing the job.

  By the time he gained his feet, the rest of the soldiers had been taken care of.

  "Let's get out of here," Hibiki said, rain sluicing away the blood covering his face and hands.

  Myra nodded and they fell into place again, Charlaine and Jac close by.

  They'd managed to make it halfway out of the harbor when a terrifying bellow filled the air, overpowering even the rain. "Enough!"

  As Myra and the others cleared a warehouse, they found the source of the bellowing: Captain Chass and several more Penance Gate were facing down a group at least twice their number. The group closed in on Chass's forces—and then the screaming started.

  Myra's group ran to help, and once more he found himself spinning and cutting and stabbing, his clothes as wet with blood now as with rain.

  It was depressing how easily he fell back into his training. How quickly killing came back to him.

  Just as the tide seemed to be turning in their favor, more soldiers arrived, many of them Iron Moon. Myra snarled and renewed his efforts, cutting down one soldier and then surging on to the next. The harbor stones were covered with enough water to reach his ankles—water that was rapidly turning from pink to scarlet.

  Someone slammed into him from behind, upsetting his balance and sending him tumbling, one of his knives scattering away to be lost in the water and chaos. Myra swore, climbed to his knees and fended off the woman coming at him. Easier said than done when he was down a blade and facing two, but as she stumbled on an unseen obstacle in the water, he grabbed her head and slammed his knee into her nose. As she reeled back in pain and shock from her suddenly broken nose, he drove his knife into her gut and twisted.

  As she collapsed, he stole one of her knives and went on to the next attacker.

  Eventually, after what could have been minutes or hours, the circle broke. At its center Riker, Second Lieutenant of Penance Gate, slammed her war hammer into a man's face hard enough to send him flying just outside the circle. Whoever the man was, his death was shocking enough the other combatants froze.

  One of them tried to run and was caught in a matter of steps by Chass, who swung his war hammer, breaking the figure's arm. Myra froze, recognizing the man's voice as he screamed in pain. He stared in disbelief, jerking free of the hands that tried to move him along as Chass prowled to where Ryan had fallen. Behind him, Penance Gate made swift work of securing the few still standing.

  Chass motioned for Ryan to be picked up, and two Penance Gate surged forward to lift and hold him. Moving in so they were only a pace or so apart, Chass removed the faceplate of his helmet, hooking it onto his shoulder. He looked Ryan up and down, as though examining a horse that he'd been told was promising but was fit only for the slaughter house. "Are you finished? I told you resisting me was pointless and you'd only wind up awash in the blood of your friends."

  Ryan spat blood in his face. "You may kill us, but Iron Moon will have the final victory."

  "No, they won't," Chass replied. "Your numbers here in the city have been reduced to laughable. I've spilled the intestines of half of them myself. Your craven mother was captured hours ago. And as we speak, my first lieutenant is leading the second half of my forces to arrest your village and drag your worthless brother to join you on your trip to the Penance Realms. Or to be snake food, I suppose."

  Spitting more blood in his face, Ryan replied, "You're as evil as they say."

  Chass laughed. "You say that like it's supposed to be some revelation meant to put me on the path to righteousness. Do you think we call ourselves Penance Gate because we're kind and gentle? Penance must be paid in blood and pain, Iron Moon. Perhaps removing your head will spill enough of your blood to turn you into a serpent rather than a fish. But I doubt it." He motioned curtly to nearby soldiers. "Take him and the rest of this sorry lot away. One of you run to tell His Majesty the job is done."

  "Yes, Captain," three soldiers chorused, two of them moving to help those holding Ryan, the third vanishing into the rain.

  "You bastard!" Ryan snarled as he was taken away. "You brutal, heartless bastard!"

  Fury like Myra had never seen filled Chass's face, and he once more closed the distance between them, swinging his gauntleted fist into Ryan's face, shattering his nose, the spikes shredding his face. Hauling him up by his bloody tunic, Chass said, "I am many things, all of them terrible, but unfortunately for everyone, a bastard is not one of them. You should know, given you murdered my brother and made me Crown Prince of Gaulden. Be grateful that His Imperial Majesty has dictated you be brought to him alive, else I would show you just how brutal and heartless I can be."

  Ryan spat blood in his face a third time but Chass ignored it as easily as he had the first two times. "I may be a killer, but at least I don't thrive on it."

  Chass's lips curled. "You're a violent cult that survives by committing murder for money. That is literally the definition of thriving on killing."

  "I hope you die alone, miserable, and completely forgotten."

  Chass smiled coldly. "At least I won't be a fish eaten by a
snake and never missed." He motioned to the soldiers holding Ryan. "Get him out of my sight." Chass turned away and bellowed out, "Darkness is dull!"

  The rest of Penance Gate roared back, "Pleasure in pain!"

  Chass gestured sharply to the arrested soldiers. "Lieutenant Riker, see the prisoners are locked up tight, then sweep the harbor for any remaining problems we might have missed. Inform the imperial army they'll want to increase their patrol numbers."

  "Yes, Captain."

  Leaving her to it, Chass removed his helmet and tilted his face up to the rain, letting it wash away the blood and spittle caked on his face. When he was done, he handed the helmet off to a waiting aide, then held out his arms so two more could remove his gauntlets. "Thank you. Go find dry clothes and good beer."

  "Yes, Captain!" The aides departed, and Chass strode over to Myra and the others in that predatory way of his, like a fierce bone-eater who'd just dropped a corpse on the rocks far below and was now landing to eat the shattered pieces.

  He stopped a couple of paces short, his eyes falling on Myra, as vibrant as a summer sky, vivid against his blood red tunic and the tempest around them. "So you managed not to die."

  Myra bowed his head. "I wanted to apologize, Captain. This is—"

  "Spare me apologies that are not owed," Chass interrupted. "I find them tedious." He shifted his gaze to Charlaine and Jac. "I see the little flittas are still alive as well. I'd congratulate you, but I suspect it's mostly luck."

  Jac scowled. "You—"

  Charlaine grabbed her and hauled her back. Jac shot him a resentful look.

  Smirking, Chass replied, "Don't be offended, Sergeant. It's mostly luck for all of us."

  Charlaine grunted in agreement. "What are you doing cleaning up docks, Captain? That's a bit below your pay."

  "I serve the High King howsoever he bids me," Chass replied. "The docks have been particularly problematic, as you saw. But they are no longer. Thank you for the assistance. Now you had best move along before another fight breaks out somewhere." His eyes flicked back to Myra. "I hear His Majesty especially is not faring well without his precious kustari around."