FOREVER KNIGHTS: #13 Salvaging Souls

Battling Route to Grier Country

MARDICHI

It was dusk when the leader of the highwayman closed in on Mardichi’s encampment. Mardichi could smell him. The odor of body scents, and dirty clothing tainting his nose.

He sat with his elbows resting on his knees, hands linked as he tipped his head back to sniff the air. Before his cold blue eyes settled on her accusingly.

“What?” She glanced around.

“You’re friends are here.” He whispered into her ear. Teasing the tendrils of red-black hair at her cheek.

“I have no friends.” She snapped. “My comrades.” She announced loudly. “Would not be foolish enough to come after me and challenge a King’s Bounty Hunter.”

“Well played.” He leaned back to toy with a strand of long grass. Plucking at the tip. His posture relaxed despite her obvious warning to the others.

“You wanted me to warn them away?” Realization dawned on her face.

“Why not?” He shrugged. “Why should I fight when you can save me from the bother? It is interesting to note you, at least believe, you have the sway to command the troupe.”

Her vivid green eyes narrowed on him.

“I feel very uncomfortable.” Norris grumbled. “Should I be trying to sleep or preparing for a fight?”

Mardichi sighed and rose to his feet. Giving Norris rotund belly a quick pat. “You need your rest, My Friend. Your delicate constitution should not be put under the strain of staying awake to digest another meal.” Mardichi feigned an empathetic tone.

“You’re repulsive.” Norris’ gaze narrowed on him.

“At least we agree on something.” She muttered.

Norris shot the girl a quizzical look and found her staring at her ropes fixedly.

“Don’t think about it, Zuriena. I will run you down long before you reach them.”

“But are you strong enough to hold me?”

“I held you before…”

She spat in the dirt in response to his comment.

“I feel there is some detail I am missing.”

“He thinks because we lie together at one time that there was something deeper he can hold over me.” She explained venomously to Norris.

Mardichi scoffed and descended on her, metal rattling in his hand.

“As I recall it was more than ‘one time’.”

“You are old. Your memory may be faulty.” She growled.

“And it was not because we lie together I thought we had something. It was because of those sweet words you whispered to me before it, that made me believe.”

“You were-and are-a fool.” She glared at him with huge bright green eyes.

“Perhaps I am.” His tone was unusually soft. Dangerous.

“What are those?” She changed the subject. Eying the bars he held in his hands.

“Something special I had made for you.”

“It is too kind of you. Too much. I cannot accept it.”

“But I insist.” He retorted. His tone equally as mockingly polite. “When a man has something specially made for a woman it is rude to refuse.”

“Yet I must.” She batted her long dark lashes.

He grinned. “Let me help you put them on.”

“Do not touch me.”

“Why? Do you fear you’ll react as you did before?”

A moment’s hesitation and the narrowing of her eyes was answer enough.

“Do you need help with those?” Norris reluctantly offered.

“Only if you wish for a broken arm.” Mardichi grunted.

Norris gasped. “For touching her?”

“Likely.”

“You are that protective?” Norris was stunned.

“Yes. Of you.”

“I am confused again.”

“Just stay back, My Friend.” Mardichi leaned over her carefully.

She was giving him a dark warning look.

“It’s going on one way or another.” He whispered low enough for only her to hear.” He eased closer to her. “And if you fight, I will wrestle you to the ground. And if I do I will be touching you everywhere…And who knows where we may end up…”

“I abhor you.”

“Do you?” But he caught the relenting note in her voice. He applied the shackle attached to the bar to her wrist and moved to the other side of her. Pushing the bar across her shoulders until her arm was pulled straight out to her side. Grasping the other one, he pulled it out as well to reach the other shackle and nodded in approval.

Just the right length. As I had guessed…

“What in the Hell is this?” She demanded.

“Well you see,” He stood up next to her. Abruptly catching the back of her head, he pushed her forward. Guiding her onto her stomach in the dirt.

“Stop! Stop!” She was kicking but could get no momentum from on the ground. With his knee resting on her back and she was only able to kick from the knee down and could not hurt him. He pulled the ‘t’ shaped bar down from the one across her shoulders and tugged it down to her ankles. Applying the shackles on each side to her ankles. Until she was totally immobilized.

“What is this?” She shrieked again.

“It is specially designed to have no room for you to gain momentum. No length to stretch a chain.”

“Why?”

“Because I know you.” He leaned over her to answer. Stroking a hand down the curve of her back.

She reared her head up but found that was all she could do. Scooping under her arms he lifted her and set her on her back in the dirt. Pocketing the key to the shackles he fetched a blanket from his bag he put it over her.

“You, whoreson!” She shrieked.

“Careful now. If you are going to spout cruel things I may have to gag you just to get my much-needed sleep.” His tone was softly dangerous. And it was obvious he hoped she would press him.

He nestled down. Sighing in contentment as he got comfortable.

Lips tightening, she glared venomously at him.