Miki nodded.
“I would have your vow.”
“I vow it.” Her voice trembled when she asked. “What of you?”
“I am a Warlord. You are but a woman.” He removed his forearm sheaths and ignored her startled look. He slapped both on her arms and tightened the straps. “Now you will have three blades.” Miki’s knuckles shown white in the waning light. He tapped her fingers and the death grip she had on her personal dagger.
Miki wanted to thank him. To apologize for every mean thought she’d had about him. His head jerked up and Kavan pushed Miki hard. She fell to the ground only to look up and see several inches of steel pierce Kavan’s side. She screamed when he arched his back, pulled free then spun around and stabbed the warrior behind him. Miki screamed again. Another slash from Kavan’s mighty sword and the attacker slumped to the ground with a gurgle.
Miki got up quickly and ran to Kavan. She put her hands on his side.
Blood.
Blood all over him. Miki blinked, unsure what she should do. Kavan gripped her chin and forced her to look into his eyes. A crimson trail spilled from his mouth. His arm moved and she felt the cold touch of his blade at her neck. “I vow to protect you when my Overlord can not.” He grimaced in pain and forced out the next words. “I vow to provide for you if my Overlord is not able.”
Miki muffled a sob, trying with both arms to keep him steady on his feet. Have mercy. He dropped to his knees, his sword falling slack to his side. Her arms went around his waist, ignoring the wetness seeping through her tunic. “Warlord Kavan.”
He held her gaze. “You will tell him I made amends.” Brown eyes bore holes into her.
A lump formed in Miki’s throat. “I-I-,” she stuttered on her words and her stomach heaved. “I will but I’m scared. Stay with me. Please.” She’d beg if she had to. Her hands tugged on his arms.
Kavan smiled and placed a palm to his middle. He stuck his sword in the ground and braced his weight. “The Overlord will come. Trust him.” He held her stare until Miki nodded. “Run, little Raasa.”
Miki got up and ran. Tears blinded her but she didn’t care. She wanted Vaan.
Chapter 16
Vaan rode the hapfe hard. Fortunately, Mikayla’s animals were bred for the rough handling and surged ahead. He checked his side, knowing Tolan and Ramar sensed it the same time he did. They all slowed and pulled on the reigns.
The smell of blood saturated the air. Vaan dismounted first. His Warlords followed suit. “We search.” And pray, he added. Vaan prayed to the Blessed One that he wouldn’t find Mikayla’s body among the dead. For surely there were dead around with the heavy stench of blood they all caught on the evening air.
They separated, each taking off in a different direction. Vaan unsheathed his sword, eyes intent. He came upon crushed leaves and a discarded sword. Vaan knelt, his hands touching the wetness on the ground. He sniffed his fingers. More blood.
“Overlord, here.”
Vaan jumped to his feet and followed the sound of Tolan’s voice. He entered the clearing and studied the scene. Tolan and Ramar glared down at the bodies of three warriors. Vaan approached. Ramar kicked at the body curled to the side and a groan escaped.
Ramar placed the tip of his blade to the fallen man’s neck. “This one still breathes.”
Vaan knelt by the man’s side and rolled him to his back. “Warrior, you will answer your Overlord. What goes here?”
The man, Vaan didn’t recognize, responded instantly to the demand in his voice. “All hail the Overlord.” The words were garbled but Vaan heard the familiar greeting for his status.
“What happened?” Vaan asked, though he was beginning to put together an idea and the thought sent his stomach churning.
“Thorin wanted the woman.” The warrior’s eye glazed and it was clear he was not long for the world.
Vaan stiffened. He knew that name. “Where is Thorin?”
“Dead, sire. She had a protector. Morid went after them and Rodam tried to stop him. Morid killed Rodam.”
Warlord Morid. A warrior who succumbed to Fenal during battles and thrived on drinking the blood of an enemy from his skull while he yet breathed. Vaan often sent Kavan to accompany Morid in battle in hopes of keeping the battle rage under control. Had Vaan made another mistake and trusted the wrong Warlord? Could Kavan be a part of this?
Vaan unsheathed his dagger and placed it at the warrior’s throat. He needed the answer to one important question. “You will speak truth. What happened to you? Did you try to help the Raasa female?”
Dark eyes widened but the words spilled forth. “I followed Warlord Morid’s orders and fought to take the Raasa female.” His licked his lips caked with dried blood. “Please, Overlord, I go to the Hills.”
“May the Blessed One bar you entrance and let your soul rot,” Vaan vowed and slit his throat.
Tolan and Ramar both spit on the dead man. Vaan sheathed his sword and dagger. “We find Kavan and Mikayla. There is much unanswered.”
They nodded. Tolan spoke up. “Thenl has made his move early it would seem.”
Vaan agreed. “We are not far from home. Thenl must have sent a scouting party to either look in on Mikayla or communicate her answer.” There was a possibility warriors already marched in their direction. Vaan only hoped Argan stayed alert, for nothing surpassed the importance of finding Mikayla right now. Not even the life of his men and her people.
***
Miki’s breath hitched and the pain in her side cramped. She wanted to stop, take a moment but the loud crashing sounds in the woods approached faster. Tears streamed down her face and she brushed at them. She hiccupped. The woods ended and the stone path became dirt.
Miki turned in a circle to get her bearings. The terrain looked familiar. She stood close to home. Home meant Vaan. She put on a burst of speed and ran straight into the man who appeared from nowhere.
“You are trouble, Raasa,” he growled as she struggled in his arms. “I do not know why Thenl would bother with you.”
She jabbed at him with her dagger and met flesh. Her forward momentum plunged it deep. He yelled out and stared down where the blade quivered. Morid’s eyes took on an unholy glow. Miki stepped back, the muscles in her legs like limp vegetables. His sword lifted and swung in her direction. Miki screamed, unable to move as she stood before the monster leering at her and the blade aimed toward her neck. The solid metal slammed home and slid against something hard. Miki fell to the ground from the force.
“Impossible,” he breathed, eyes snapping from his blade then to Miki’s undamaged flesh.
Miki reached up with trembling fingers. Nothing. No blood.
“You wear the armor of the coccar.” He snarled as he ripped her knife from his belly and tossed it to the side. Dark black eyes glittered with a feverish light. His lips twisted in a cruel smile.
Miki got to her feet and withdrew one of the blades from Kavan’s forearm sheaths. Thoughts of the Warlord’s sacrifice caused her to sway but her gaze never left Morid. “Vaan will kill you.”
He laughed. “The Overlord is dead.” Morid beat his chest with his fist. “Thenl will lead us to greatness.” With those words, he charged at Miki.
She dodged his attack and swung her arm at him in a wide arc. Morid rubbed at the hard bulge in his leathers. “When I get you beneath me, Raasa, you will bend to my will.”
Miki drew the second dagger out and held both loosely in her hands. Her mind tried to recall the brief lesson from Balal earlier today and she balanced her weight on her hips. “I thought Thenl wanted to join with me. Won’t he be angered about you touching me?”
Morid licked his lips. The gesture filled Miki with disgust. “Thenl likes to share.” He twirled his sword over his head and danced around her. It was easy to tell he was as skilled with the blade as Vaan’s Warlords.
Miki tongued her sacs, knowing she was no match for him. She had but one chance and would make it count.
***
Vaan passed another dead body on their trek. The trail left behind was easy to follow. No one made any effort to hide the chase in the woods. They dismounted the hapfe for a closer look. The masculine frame assured him it wasn’t Mikayla’s body.
“Not Kavan, Overlord.”
Vaan ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “He makes four dead.” How many had Thenl sent in his trickery? Kavan was but one warrior and he had Mikayla to protect. Vaan had yet to ascertain if his Warlord had a part in this. He prayed not. The betrayal this time would be too great to withstand.
Ramar tried to inject some positivity in the situation. “Kavan does you proud, Overlord.”
Vaan could only think of one response to that. “If Mikayla is dead, he has failed me.”
The men sobered and mounted. Vaan led the way, his pace slower as they continued to track the signs left behind. The animals sensed it before they did. The hapfe pawed the ground and shook their long necks. Tolan dismounted his sword in hand. Ramar and Vaan waited. The brushes rustled. Vaan inclined his head and Tolan went to investigate.
Vaan held his breath and prayed. If he arrived too late to save his mate, he’d rein the fires of the Hills on Thenl and all who crossed his path. “Wait for me Mikayla. Be strong, little Raasa,” he whispered the words, ignoring Ramar’s sympathetic look and almost missed Tolan’s shout.
Vaan beat Ramar to his feet as they both ran. Tolan sat on his haunches, his hands on the body of the man lying on the blood soaked ground.
“Blessed one,” said Ramar. “There is another dead behind you, Overlord.”
Vaan didn’t bother to check. His focus remained on Tolan and the familiar body. He walked closer and dropped to his knees recognizing his warrior. Kavan. Vaan touched the still warm body. Blood met his seeking fingers. Five dead and no Mikayla.
Vaan threw back his head and roared to the sky. Pulling out the knife from his thigh sheath, he buried it to the hilt in the ground. He didn’t care that his men looked at him fearfully. Death to all who threatened what belonged to him.
“His coccar is gone.” Ramar’s declaration sounded puzzled.
“Not possible.” Tolan’s rejection came instantly. No one could forcibly remove the insect induced armor.
Vaan’s blood pulsed in his veins and the darkness of Fenal seeped into his pores. He tried to decipher the meaning of their words. “Mikayla?” he managed to get out between clenched teeth. He needed to know if Tolan saw signs of Mikayla.
“I m-made amends, Overlord.” Kavan’s claim stilled Tolan’s answer.
Kavan’s eyes blinked open. He lived. Vaan stiffened and leaned closer to the prone figure. “What say you, Warlord?”
“She lives,” Kavan gasped. “May the Blessed one welcome me with open arms.”
Vaan silently raged. Mikayla yet lived and more hunted her. “How many more, Kavan?”
“One, sire. Morid.”
Vaan nodded to Tolan and Ramar. “You go not to the Hills.” He gripped Kavan’s shoulder hard to impart his next order. “I do not give you permission, Warlord.” Vaan rose to his feet and nodded at Tolan. “Bring him.”
He turned to Ramar. “Leave them the hapfe. We travel on foot and I will kill Morid. If Mikayla is dead, you will send me to the Hills, Ramar.”
Like a good Warlord, Ramar responded immediately. “Yes, Overlord.” Because nothing would bring Vaan back from his battle rage if Mikayla was gone from his life.
***
Morid thought he had her cowed. Her sacs were swollen and full. Miki let him get closer and then projected her sakar. The stream shot straight for his face. His scream filled her with satisfaction as the venom burned where it touched.
Miki took off running. In the distance she made out the small lights of her home. If she got close enough, the patrolling guards Vaan insisted on would see her and signal the gates. Her relief was short lived when a large body tackled her from behind. Miki screamed and Kavan’s daggers fell from her grip as she hit the ground hard and immediately began to buck.
“I will take great pleasure in killing you Raasa.”
Miki struggled to roll over. “Vaan will avenge me.” She jabbed her elbow back and made contact.
His breath escaped on an oomph before he managed to pull one of Mikayla’s arms back. The awkward angle placed pressure on the bone and she cried out. “When I am done with you there will be nothing left for anyone. Not Thenl and not the long dead Overlord.”
He flipped Miki unto her back and placed his face close enough she couldn’t rear back and hit him with her venom. His harsh breath rasped against her cheeks. When she tried to turn her head to the side, he grabbed her chin and twisted painfully until she stared in his evil eyes.
Ragged wounds and peeling burns marked his face where her venom landed. One side of his mouth curled downward where the flesh melted away. Her stomach heaved. “Vaan lives.” The words acted as a mantra for her wounded spirit.
He laughed, his hands bearing down on her chin. Miki winced as tears fell unheeded across her cheeks. Morid stretched up, getting to his feet and jerked Miki to hers. The hand on her chin turned into an awkward caress as his thumb dug into her cheeks and rubbed her mouth. “I’m going to make you use this on me, Raasa.”
Miki bit him, her fangs tearing a jagged gash on the back of his bruising hand. The Warlord cursed and punched her hard in the face. The blow knocked her off her feet. She had no time to prepare as his booted foot followed and kicked her in the side. Miki clawed at the ground and tried to escape but he gripped her by the back of her tunic and the cloth ripped in his hold.
Miki leaped to her feet and ran. Morid gave chase. “Where will you run Raasa? Where is your Overlord now,” he taunted, a laugh punctuated each question.
Miki ran faster, her breath choppy and fear in her throat. She focused on the bright lights of her home and ignored the chill wind sinking into her bare arms. Footsteps pounded behind her. She wanted to get home. Wanted the safe secure arms of her mate. Vaan would hold her. He’d give her needless kisses to soothe the terror trembling through her body. His calloused hands would touch and reassure her that with him by her side, she had no need to worry for protection.
“Where is your Overlord?” The Warlord’s demand pounded in her ears.
Miki tripped over the root of a tree barely getting her hands out in front of her. Pain shot through her left knee as the brunt of the fall knocked her weight off-balance. Morid’s steps slowed. “Where is he? Where is he? Call for your Overlord. Seek rescue from a dead man, Raasa, as I feast on the blood of your body while I fuck your toque good and hard.”
Leaves crunched on the ground closest to her right. Miki wiped tears from her face and sniffed. Blessed One, have mercy. She wanted Vaan. Wanted his dismissive eye rolls, the reluctant twitches of his mouth when he fought to not laugh at her questions. She’d never complain again about his determination to have guards follow her every where.
“Call to him, Raasa. Last chance.” Morid’s voice drew closer.
Miki pushed to her haunches and faced the man less than five feet from her. He delayed his approach knowing she had nowhere to go. The pulsing points of pain from her leg would not take another dash across the woods into the open field. So close to home.
Sensing her defeat and his victory, he twirled one of Kavan’s daggers that Miki had dropped. The moment he saw her gaze land on the dagger, he lifted it to his mouth and licked the edge of the blade. “Call him,” he crooned in a husky whisper.
“Vaaaaaan!” Miki screamed and pounded her fist into the unforgiving ground. “Please,” she choked. “Vaaaaan, I need you!” The screamed entreaty contained her hope, her fear and her love for the warrior she’d given her heart.
“As I need you, mate.”
Morid spun on his heels.
Miki gasped. Her heart thundered in her ears. She choked back a sob at the sound of the words. Words, she’d never expected to hear. She turned to the side and standing slightly behind Morid, her mate waited. A welco
me sight. Miki almost launched to her feet but he shook his head. His sword extended in his left hand toward her tormentor. Vaan’s chest gleamed with the blue green sheen of his armor.
“Overlord Vaan.” Morid sneered the greeting. “Impossible, Thenl killed you.”
The statement was so ridiculous considering Vaan stood right before his own eyes that Miki laughed. The sound half-sob half-humor. Morid tossed the dagger to the ground and the sweet twang of his sword unsheathing had Miki trying to get to her feet anyway.
“Today is your last day, Morid.”
She managed to get half way up. As soon as she straightened her knee, fire burned its way to her ankle, sending her staggering. She would have hit the cold ground again if not for the warm arms wrapping around her middle from behind.
“No.” No more. She pulled sharply but the arms moved up her waist and became bands of steel. “Vaan!”
Her mate kept his eyes on the opponent facing him. “Be at ease, Mikayla. Ramar will make sure you are safe while I rid Thenl of one more worthless Warlord he has defiled with his corrupt touch.”
Tension kept Miki from relaxing in the arms around her.
“My lady, may I lift you? You are injured.”
Ramar. She trusted Vaan’s warrior. “No, thank you, Warlord.” She only wanted Vaan’s arms.
“Ramar, my lady. You may call me Ramar if you wish.” Other than Balal, none of Vaan’s Warlords had given her leave to call them by their birth names.
Miki started to weep.
Chapter 17
Relief battled with the stirrings of Fenal. Vaan remained on his feet by strength alone. He expected to be too late and instead he’d heard Mikayla screaming for him. His sweet mate on her knees before his enemy as she begged for Vaan’s assistance. Morid would pay for that alone. Galips did not plead for mercy.
Morid’s face twisted in a sneer. “The Overlord lives after all. I guess Kavan had the right of it.”
Vaan grunted eyeing the vicious wounds on his face. The skin appeared burned in places, his mouth and left cheek having received most of the damage.
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