Page 103 of The Mentor
Magni took an incoming call from Khan, who wanted him to come and meet him.
“Archer and I are just getting a beer,” he said. “I’ll swing by afterwards.”
I couldn’t hear what Khan was saying, but Magni chuckled low. “That doesn’t surprise me, but we must be in luck then, because this tent hasn’t run out of beer, yet.”
Magni frowned and looked around. “Maybe, if you’re discreet. There’s a table in the corner; we’ll move there and let you in through the side, but lose your guards or everyone will know it’s you.”
Turning my head to the table he was talking about, I instantly got up to claim it.
Magni got us four big beers, telling the host that we were very thirsty, and ten minutes later Boulder came strolling through the tent and whispered something to the bartender, offering him a pile of banknotes before he came to our table.
“I didn’t know you would be here,” I said and got up to give Boulder a manly hug before my head swung back to the bartender, who was now claiming everyone’s attention.
“It’s time for an arm-wrestling competition. The winner will have free beer all night.”
Like the other forty or so males in the tent, my competitive DNA was instantly triggered, and I was just about to get up from my chair to join the games when a voice I’d recognize anywhere made me sit down again.
Turning my head back to the table I saw that Khan had sneaked in and quietly joined us.
“Swap places with me,” Khan ordered with his face mostly hidden in a hooded jacket. “I need to have my back to the crowd or they will recognize me, and I’m not in the mood to discuss how I run this country with drunkards.”
With all the men distracted by the chance of winning free beer for the rest of the night, the four of us were able to have a conversation at our table.
“You said we had something to celebrate?” Magni asked Khan.
“We do, but I think Boulder should be the one to share the happy news.” Khan smiled at his friend and Boulder excitedly leaned forward.
“I’m officially a father of two.” The man was almost bursting with pride.
“You’re having twins?” Magni asked with a stupid grin. “You lucky bastard.”
“No, Kya has arranged for me and Christina to adopt Raven.”
“What?” My heart started racing. “How is that even possible? An Nman can’t adopt a child from the Motherlands.”
“There’s a first for everything,” Khan said and patted his hand on Boulder’s shoulder again. “I swear, things just keep getting better and better.”
“Does that mean we can adopt some of the children too?” Magni asked eagerly. “Because in that case, I’m calling dibs on Mila.”
Khan frowned. “What is it about you and Mila? She asked me about you the last time I saw her.”
Magni’s eyes softened as he lit up. “She did?”
“Yeah, I can’t imagine how it happened, but you must’ve made a good impression or something.”
Magni’s chest heaved. “From the first time I saw that girl Mila, I knew that if I ever had a daughter, she would look like her.”
Boulder grinned. “As if ugly devils like you could ever make beautiful angels like her.”
“Hey, that’s not fair,” Khan said in a scolding tone to Boulder and received a nod from Magni, which soon turned into a scowl when Khan added. “I’m pretty sure Laura’s beauty would compensate for Magni’s ugly face.”
“Hey, we’re brothers – if I’m ugly then what are you?”
“Older, wiser, and much more handsome,” Khan joked.
Magni planted an elbow on the table and pointed his index finger at his brother’s face. “Let’s see how handsome you are when I’ve scraped the floor with your face, because we both know that the best fighter isme.”
“Undoubtedly,” Khan said with humor in his voice. “Which is why I’m privileged to have you cover my back.”
