Honor Bound (16 page)

Miki could wait no
longer. Deciding to take her chances, she got to her heels knife in hand and
took off. She had no idea which direction she ran. Only that she had to get
away from these men. Away from Kavan. Branches smacked at her face but she put
her arm up and kept going. Her feet slipped and slid across the rocky ground as
her breath huffed out. Loud shouts and stomping feet immediately followed. She
heard them catching up.

A large body
tackled her to the ground. Miki cried out.

“Hold. Trust me.”
Kavan’s harsh whisper grated in her ear. “Trust me,” he repeated.

Miki struggled
beneath him, swiping out at him with her knife. He cursed and pressed his hand
to her throat. A slight pressure constricted her breathing. Her fight increased
but he held firm. A sharp pain pierced her neck followed by an unimaginable
burn. Had he cut her throat? “Vaan will kill you,” she shrieked.

“And I will let
him.” He released her and the metallic clang of his sword unsheathing, filled
her ears.

Miki rolled to her
back, prepared to meet his sword thrust.

The thud of
running feet closed in. Kavan got to his feet. Miki scrambled up as well when
the men burst through the trees.

They all had their
swords drawn. “Come now. You have said she is not yours.” Laughter ensued.
“Share.”

Miki cringed from
the lewd glances and hip thrust. Kavan stood between her and the warriors. “She
is not mine to share.” He twirled his sword in a taunting manner. “She is the
Overlord’s and he would not take kindly to your hands on her person.”

This stopped them.
“You lie.” Morid eyed Miki. “The Overlord would not take a Raasa female to
bed.”

“Agreed.”

Thorin and the
others laughed. “You must get your story right,
Kavan
.”

Kavan chuckled and
it was not a pleasant sound. “She is not his female. She is
his
.”

He placed emphasis
on the last word and switched to Kaban. Miki took a step back while they
listened. Two of the men with lighter colored hair backed up and lowered their
weapons. Their gaze shifted from Miki to Kavan and back again.

Another bowed
slightly in Miki’s direction. “You will give the Overlord my apologies, my lady.”

“He lies,” Thorin
charged. “The Overlord is dead.” He lunged forward and the battle was on.

Miki pressed her
hand to her stomach, not sure what to do. Kavan blocked the swing aimed for his
head and met Thorin in the middle. Their swords locked again and again.

The smell of blood
scented the air and Thorin collapsed to the ground. Miki wanted to vomit.
Another warrior took his fallen comrades place and the loud sound of the sword
meeting with Kavan’s had Miki stumbling back further.

“Thenl is the
rightful leader. You follow a dead man, Warlord Kavan.”

Kavan danced
around his challenger. “I follow the true Overlord.”

“You speak as if
he lives.”

One of the
warriors joined his friend and attacked Kavan. Where was his armor? Why didn’t
he protect himself? Miki backed up against a tree and fretted.

The Warlord only
laughed and adjusted his stance. Miki pressed a hand to her racing heart. In
the courtyard, she’d witnessed Vaan’s men in practice against two opponents.
This differed greatly as these men were not comrades.

Kavan made a sharp
swing and a twist toward the one on the left, and the warrior groaned before
toppling over. Kavan laughed, the look on his face one of intense pleasure. He
continued to hack until the remaining man fell back. Of the six, four remained
standing, though two looked doubtful and shot worried glances in her direction.

The warrior lunged
at Kavan and swiped. Kavan winced and blood welled on his torso from a thin
slice across his middle. Miki stuffed a fist in her mouth to hold in her cry.
It didn’t stop Kavan’s momentum. He lunged on one foot and attacked. Each
aggressive stroke of Kavan’s blade forced the warrior back.

Kavan’s arm
stretched back then forward in a brutal move and cleaved the grinning head from
the warrior’s shoulder. Miki choked and gagged. She couldn’t drag her eyes from
the horrific sight. Kavan ran toward her and yanked her by the elbow. The other
warriors started to shout but Kavan poured on the speed.

“You will listen
and listen carefully. I will hold them off but not much longer. You must
continue to run.”

Miki stumbled and
pressed her hand to the sharp pain in her side. Kavan pulled her up sharply and
kept them moving. The slap of branches proved no impediment for him. The shouts
behind them turned to roars of rage and she recognized Morid’s voice. “Kill
them!”

Miki began to cry.
“I don’t understand.”

“What is there to
understand?” Kavan snapped and blocked her face from a particularly large
branch. They entered another small clearing, the path widened and he paused. He
grasped Miki by her arms and shook her. “Are you listening?”

Her stomach
roiled. “Y-Yes.”

His face twisted
with anger. This was her fault. Kavan hated her.

He sighed and his
hands gentled on her arms. “I do not hate you, my lady.” She froze at the title
of respect he’d never used with her. “You should not have run. I had a plan.
Never would I allow harm come to you. You belong to my Overlord and I honor
you.”

Her hand flew to
her mouth. “You like me?”

He rolled his eyes
at her as Vaan was want to do when she asked what he considered a foolish
question. “I did not say that.” His mouth curled up on one side. “I said I do
not hate you.” The smile faded. “We do not have much time. Armor up.”

Miki stiffened at
the warm sensation flowing from her neck and down her belly. When she glanced
at her mid-section beneath her tunic, she could see the bright glow of the
coccar armor. “Warlord Kavan,” she gasped. When? How had he passed her the
armor?

His dark eyes
peered down at her. “The armor will protect you. You are not far from your land
but do not turn back for any reason.”

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.