“Soldiers again,” she murmured.
A chill wind tugged at their cloaks and a shiver swept through them, prompting him to say, “Come on, let’s return to the ship and plan our next step.”
Once aboard the trade ship, Darvk and Maverk discussed the next step with Tenia. The decision was to head for Oslow, two thousand miles away.
It wasn’t lost on any of them that not far from Oslow were the ruins of the settlement where the slaughter of the settler men had sealed the warriors’ fate. Maybe the secret that sealed their fate would be the same secret that saved them.
If they could only find it.
Chapter 5
Back in her cabin, Tenia sat on the bunk with her back to the wall and her knees hugged to her chest. Thoughts on the death mask, she swallowed the lump in her throat. The face on it she knew very well. The black braid that held pride of place with the mask could only mean one thing - another sister warrior was dead. She could only hope it had been quick and not… She shuddered, not wanting to even think what had befallen the Reeka warrior.
A knock sounded on her door. “Tenia?”
She wasn’t surprised. “Come in.”
Darvk entered, the width of his shoulders filling the doorway, his handsome face concerned. “Are you all right?”
“Fine,” she replied automatically.
Those vivid blue eyes scanned her face keenly. “After seeing the death mask of a sister warrior you feel fine?”
“You want me to feel otherwise?”
He crossed the cabin, sitting beside her without asking, the mattress dipping beneath his weight. She almost rolled against him but managed to keep her balance. A little part of her briefly contemplated using the roll to give her an excuse to lean against his solid strength for a few sweet seconds, but she ruthlessly shoved the urge down.
Darvk had been nothing but kindness, friendly. She wasn’t going to read anything into it, nor should she, not when she had her own plans. Besides, the reality was that she was an outlaw and Darvk a lawful citizen.
“Seeing that lovely hank of hair up there as some kind of trophy, I’d expected you to be upset,” he said.
Tenia looked at her knees. “Jonette always had lovely hair.”
He sighed. “I’m sorry you had to see that, lass.”
“You couldn’t know.”
“Nay.”
In silence they sat, each absorbed in their own thoughts.
Regardless of what she knew, Tenia was intensely aware of the big trader lounging beside her, his long, hard body less than a foot away. Her skin tingled faintly and he wasn’t even touching her.
Stupid. Stupid stupid stupid. He’s not for me. It can’t be, can never be. But regardless of her inner berating, she couldn’t help but feel a little wistful for what might have been if things had been so very, very different. He was the first person who had ever believed her, the first person willing to help her, the first person in a long time to treat her with kindness.
The first man to whom she’d ever felt such a strong attraction.
She glanced up to find him glancing right back at her.
Darvk cleared his throat. “So tell me, what was your childhood like before you were forced to leave Reeka?”
“Much like any child’s, I would think.” She grasped the topic eagerly. “We had chores to do, but we played and laughed a lot. Tell me of your childhood, it would be more interesting than mine.”
He gazed thoughtfully at her for several seconds before giving a lop-sided grin. “I was an unruly child, you ask my mother.”
Amused, Tenia smiled. “I’m sure you were an angel in her eyes and still are.”
“She wouldn’t say that to my face.”
“Were you that bad?”
“Let me fill you in, and you can judge for yourself.” He started to tell her of his childhood.
As his deep voice filled the room, she found herself relaxing. Slowly she drifted, her eyelids lowering, the steadiness of his voice and the warmth of his body beside her so reassuring.
Without realising it, she leaned towards him, her head finally coming to rest against his upper arm, her cheek pressed to his warm skin.
Without faltering, he continued talking while his arm slipped around her shoulders to tuck her up against his side. Drowsy, almost asleep, she snuggled closer.
It felt so natural, so right.
Content and safe, she slid into sleep.
~ * ~
Considering the bloody history close by, Darvk decided it was too risky for her to be seen in Oslow. It was with the greatest of reluctance that she agreed to stay behind, although she acknowledged the wisdom of it.
“We’ll teach you to play Dinno-Sharpe while we wait,” Heddam offered.
Sitting in the dining cabin with Heddam, Cam, and Shamon, she quickly learned that it was a card game of betting, winning, bluffing and losing, and the folly of betting on a bad hand against experienced players.
Shamon chuckled while raking in the last of her dinno-discs to join his own. “Don’t you just hate it when someone calls your bluff? Lucky Darvk forbids us playing for money aboard ship or you’d owe us a fortune by now.”
“Correction, he would,” she replied. “My debts are his, remember?”
“She has a point there.” Heddam studied his cards. “Who’s dealing?”
It was nearly dark before the traders returned and entered the dining cabin. Tenia noticed Maverk and Darvk were talking in low tones and frowning, while Red, Borga, and Simon helped themselves to food.
Crossing over to them, she asked, “What did you find out?”
“This Oslow is a rough place.” Maverk made for the urn. “’Tis a large settlement all right, of low lives.”
“And crawling with soldiers,” Darvk added.
“Here?” Immediately she stilled, every instinct of the hunted coming to the fore. “What for?”
He exchanged glances with the men at the table, who grimaced.
“You’re not going to like this,” Borga muttered.
A cold hand clutched her heart. “For whom do they hunt?”
Darvk shook his head. “All they’d tell us is that they’re here to bring law and order to Oslow, and they don’t want outsiders hanging around to cause more trouble.”
“That’s it?” She frowned. “That’s what I’m not supposed to like?”
His eyes flickered slightly. “I knew you wouldn’t like the thought of so many soldiers about.”
He’s lying. The unexpected betrayal cut deep. The man who asked for her trust had just lied to her. The man she had started to trust had lied. It took all she had not to reveal how much his lie hurt her. How it felt like a slap in the face.
Swallowing the heaviness that rose in her throat, she managed to keep her voice and gaze steady. “The dragon badge? Did anyone know it?”
“Again it was confirmed as a soldier’s badge. The same soldiers that visited your original settlement. They were here not long before your race was outlawed. That’s all we found out.”
“No one could name them?”
“The people of Oslow are suspicious, and the presence of the soldiers has made them even more so of strangers. Tomorrow we try again.”
“Very well.” She stared at him for several seconds, silently willing him to tell her the truth about whatever it was he hid. Tell me. Don’t betray me, Darvk. Not you.
He simply gazed at her over the mug he raised to her lips.
Betrayed.
Maverk straightened from where he leaned against the counter. “I think I’ll head into the settlement for a bit of drinking and wenching.”
From their seats at the table, the five traders nodded.
“Tell everyone that all can go except two to remain in the control cabin on guard,” Darvk instructed him. “Stay in pairs out there.”
“Together? That cramps our style a bit!”
“Safety first. You never know what you might stumble into.”
“Aye, Cap
’n.” He saluted smartly.
“The number of soldiers doesn’t bode well.” Hesitating, he cut a quick glance at Tenia.
She remained silent, watching him closely.
He looked at his friend. “Keep your eyes open, contact me if needed.”
“No problems.”
“Have you got the communicator on you?”
“Here.” Maverk tapped his vest where a tiny communicator was attached. “As usual we all have them. You are nervous.”
“With good reason. Soldiers and suspicious settlers can be a potential explosive combination.”
“I doubt they’d take us on,” Red said cheerfully.
Reminded once more of just how big the Daamens were, Tenia silently agreed. She waited as the traders left, leaving her alone with Darvk.
Maybe, she thought hopefully, just maybe he wanted to talk to her alone, but instead he drained the mug of drink and set it on the table. “I need to check a few things in the cargo hold, one of the merchants is interested in the cloth we picked up yesterday.”
Anger slid through her. “Darvk.”
“Aye, lass?”
“Are you sure there’s nothing else?”
He strode towards the doorway. “Nay.”
Anger splintered into fury and she lunged after him. “You bastard!” As he swung around to face her, she fisted her hand in his vest and glared up at him. “What are you lying about?”
“Now what makes you think that?” he hedged.
“Because I know!” She shoved him hard, releasing the vest. “You lying, deceitful scum! Ask me to trust you? What a joke.”
“Damn it, lass.” Blowing out a breath, he braced one hand on a lean hip while rubbing his brow. “I don’t think we need-”
“Don’t lie to me,” she snarled. “Don’t ever lie to me! I’ve had it with betrayal, Darvk. You asked me to trust you and yet you lie to me. Why?” She flung a hand out. “Have you just been amusing yourself this whole time, stringing me along, pretending to care and-”
“Nay!” His head snapped up, gaze intense. “Nay, Tenia, I haven’t been pretending. Listen-”
“I’ve been listening, Darvk. I’ve been waiting to hear what you found and all I got was a lie.” She folded her arms angrily.
Sighing, he rubbed his jaw then dropped his hand to his side. “You’re right, I was lying.”
She waited.
“You’ve been through so much, I was trying to guard you against further distress until I knew for sure.” He shook his head. “I was wrong. I’m so sorry, lass.”
The regret was plain in his eyes, but she wasn’t so easily appeased. “Just tell me. What’s wrong? What did you hear or see?”
“The soldiers are here because there’s a rumour of a Reeka warrior in the area, and ‘tis not you.”
Of anything he could have said, that was unexpected. “What?”
“It may only be a rumour.”
“One of my sister warriors?” Dare she even hope…? “Here?”
Reaching out, he laid a hand on her shoulder, squeezed gently. “Listen to me, lass. It may not be true. Don’t get your hopes up.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I knew you’d want to go and find out if the rumours are true.”
“Want to? I need to.” When she started past him towards the door, he grabbed her arm and jerked her to a halt. Incredulously, she looked from his restraining hand to his face. “Are you really going to try and stop me?”
“Soldiers are crawling all over that place and ‘tisn’t safe for you. The crew are keeping their eyes open.”
“Keeping their eyes open? Half of them will be too busy with the whores, the other half with fighting.”
“They said that to put you off the scent, not that it worked. They’re searching, all right? Meanwhile, you’re under direct orders to stay here, do you understand?” His expression was grim. “For your own safety I forbid you to go in search of a rumour. We will search for her again in the morning if she’s not seen tonight.”
“She won’t appear to anyone in this settlement, much less anyone in the Lawful Sector,” Tenia argued. “I need to search tonight.”
“You’re my first concern, lass. Please try to understand that there is no way I can allow you to go out there.” His steady gaze was resolute.
“Darvk,” she began heatedly.
“Even if it means placing a guard on your door to ensure you stay here.”
That brought her up short, the warning clearing her senses immediately. A guard? That would mean she’d never get out of the spaceship, and that was her plan. Come hell or high water, she was going.
But looking at Darvk’s set expression, she realised that she’d made a mistake in arguing so fiercely. He was expecting her to argue, to fight, and doing so would only result in her being locked in her cabin. Somewhere outside the trade ship was possibly a sister warrior, and she had to find her. There was no way around it, however, she’d have to first convince Darvk that she agreed with him. That she recognised the folly of going out into the settlement.
She in turn would have to betray him. Didn’t like it, but had to do it. Was going to do it.
It wasn’t that hard to let defeat show on her face. Just the thought of not being out there hunting for a sister warrior was enough to help her convincingly slump her shoulders and drop her head forward. “It’s so hard.”
“You understand?” Darvk’s voice was wary.
“I don’t like it.” She swallowed. “But yes, you’re right.”
She wasn’t surprised when one finger slid beneath her chin to tilt her head back so that Darvk could scrutinize her expression.
She met his gaze unhappily. It wasn’t a total lie, she wasn’t happy about lying to him.
His eyes softened. “Lass, I know you want to find your sister warriors, but I won’t let you walk into danger. Please trust me with this.”
“I trust you with almost everything.” Except this.
Unexpectedly, he dipped his head to press a kiss to her forehead.
She felt the touch of his lips like a hot brand on her skin, an involuntary sparkle of heat slipping deliciously through her, and she couldn’t help but close her eyes and savour the touch.
It might be the last time he touched her.
When he drew back, his hand remained on her shoulder. He didn’t step back, but looked down at her with a mixture of caring and…oh stars, a touch of…heat?
A delicious shiver snaked through her as his hand slid down, fingers trailing along her arm, over the silver armband and lower, stopping only to take her hand in a gentle hold.
She almost swayed towards him, caught herself just in time. She should be planning to be rid of him quickly, not registering his nearness with a fluttering in the pit of her stomach. Certainly not feeling a strange spark of panic at the knowledge that if the soldiers discovered her in the settlement, she’d be lucky to see him again. That if she found her sister warrior, he may not want her back. Almost immediately, she knew that wouldn’t happen. But after defying him, betraying him in turn…
She swallowed, fighting down the misery beneath resolution. Her first loyalty was to her people, yet this man had come to mean so much to her.
Steeling her resolve, she took a step back. “I think I’ll go to bed.”
He didn’t argue. Releasing her arm, he stepped aside, giving her free passage to the door. “Rest is a good idea. We’ll search the settlement in the morning. I’ll contact the crew and remind them to keep their eyes and ears open, all right?”
She nodded and walked past him, very aware of his gaze following her down the corridor. Just before she entered her cabin, she glanced back towards the dining cabin and yes, the big Daamen trader stood in the corridor watching her.
Stealing herself, she gave him a small smile and entered her cabin, shutting the door behind her.
Almost immediately she stiffened, wondering if she’d done the wrong thing, whirling around to grab
the doorknob and hold it open, waiting and listening, but he didn’t come down the corridor, didn’t lock the door.
He trusted her.
It didn’t do any good to remind herself that he’d lied first. He’d been trying to protect her. But she couldn’t afford to think about it, couldn’t afford to second guess. Besides, it wouldn’t really be betrayal, she wasn’t fleeing from the Daamens, from Darvk. As soon as she found her sister warrior, she’d return with her.
The thought of Darvk’s response, his anger at her leaving after he’d forbidden it, wasn’t pleasant, but it didn’t change her mind. What was the worse he’d do, anyway? She hadn’t known him long, true, but she knew he wouldn’t harm her. There wasn’t any doubt, however, that he’d give her a verbal blasting she probably wouldn’t soon forget.
Still, if she found her sister warrior and returned to the trade ship with her, it’d be worth it. And if they had to run, had to hide, it would still be worth it.
If they had to flee without letting Darvk know their whereabouts… Don’t think about it.
Squaring her shoulders, she crossed the cabin. The next step was to wait until everyone had returned to the spaceship and were asleep.
Remaining clothed, she slid beneath the covers in case Darvk decided to check on her.
The night hours crawled past. Around midnight she heard the tramp of heavy boots and deep voices.
Right outside the door she heard Darvk ask, “Did you spot the Reeka wench?”
“Nay, but ‘tis more than a rumour. At least, the soldiers are taking it seriously, and get this, they’re Inka Empire soldiers.”
She froze. Inkas?
“I’m not surprised. Right, we’d better rise early to search.”
“Some of the crew are still in the settlement and may yet spot her. Are you going to inform the lass of the soldiers’ identity?”
There was a pause then, “If she’s awake, I guess I’ll have to, but ‘twill only make her worry more.”
Seconds later there was a light knock on the door. Pulling the covers up to her chin, she swiftly turned to face the wall and feigned sleep. The door opened and light spilled in from the corridor. When a shadow fell over her, she willed herself to breathe deeply and evenly.
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