Page 49 of A Lick of Flame

The sack is untied and pulled from my head. I blink a few times as the man before me gasps.

“Dante? What is this? What trickery?”

I focus on his narrowed eyes. He has aged some. There are more prominent crow’s feet around his eyes and deep grooves etched into his forehead. His hair is more salt than pepper and he has several days’ worth of gray stubble on his jaw.

“This…him,” the tribesman growls before spitting on the ground at Bard’s feet in a show of displeasure. “Give gold, or I take.”

“Bard!” I say. I can’t help but smile. It is good to see a familiar face despite the situation. “It’s good to see you.”

Bard’s expression shifts to one of confusion. He holds my gaze for a few moments. “You were taken by the fae. No…it can’t be.” He shakes his head. “Where is the mage? What wicked sorcery is this?”

“It has to be evil magic,” one of the others shouts. Murmurs go up around us.

“Silence,” Bard says, holding up a hand.

“It him.” The tribesman shoves me toward Bard, but I put a foot out and stop myself from colliding with my old friend.

Bard steps around me, his eyes narrowed in distrust. Without warning, he delivers a swift kick to the back of one of my knees, and I go sprawling onto the ground.

My chin hits the dirt with a thud; my right shoulder, too, sending waves of pain shooting through me. I grunt and struggle to push myself upright.

“Don’t hurt him.” Maya’s muffled voice sounds both frantic and afraid. “Please!”

“I’m fine.” I try to keep my voice even. “I’m okay.”

Someone puts a boot between my shoulder blades, holding me down. I suspect it’s Bard. I grit my teeth in frustration. I know these men. I once considered Bard to be a friend, but those days are over.

If Maya wasn’t here, I would retaliate, but in order to keep her safe, I don’t. I can’t let anything happen to her. They want me; they don’t need her. She could quite easily become collateral damage. I need to keep my cool…for now.

My tunic is ripped from the top of my back. Bard hisses when he sees the mark there.

“It him,” the tribesman bites out.

“I’m telling you, it’s me, Bard,” I grit out. “You know me.”

Maya whimpers. I crane my neck and see that she is being hauled from the saddle.

“Let me—” I start to say, but Bard pushes his boot deeper into my spine.

“I don’t know you. Not a word, fae. Not so much as a word. Don’t move,” he says; his jovial demeanor is all but gone. “Get the coin, Hamlin.”

“Are you sure, Bard?” Hamlin says. I recognize his voice. “This is Dante. This isn’t—”

“It can’t be Dante,” Bard says. “Look at him. It’s Orion. He has the mark and pointy ears. Dante was human. They look alike. That’s all it is.”

“But he knew your name,” Hamlin says.

“I am well known around these parts. Of course he knows my name,” Bard snorts. “We’ll deliver him as agreed. The woman, too. There is a bounty on her head as well.”

“Who wants Orion?” Maya asks; her voice is shrill. “Why is there a bounty on my head? What is going on?”

“Put the bag back over his head and get them onto horses,” Bard barks, ignoring Maya. “Put two guards on each of them. I want eyes on the fae at all times. Am I clear?”

Men all around us make murmurs of agreement.

Hamlin gives the tribesmen a velvet bag. He takes it, mounts, and leaves, taking the horse I rode in on along with him. My eyes are still on the small, wiry man as he and his tribe ride away when the bag is pulled over my head. Hamlin ties it.

Once I’m back astride a horse, we set off again. We ride for hours. It feels like days. From time to time, the men speak among themselves in soft tones about nothing in particular, but for the most part, we ride in relative silence. They are a team of twelve…fifteen at best. A smaller group than Ethan’s bunch, but I would wager, far more efficient. Although I only recognized some of the faces, I know that they are a tight, well-trained bunch of men. They ride together, eat together, and fight together. Men who are closer than brothers. I know because I once rode alongside them. Back when I was a human. When I was Dante, the mercenary.

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