Feel the Burn (Dragon Kin #8)(62)

With the tips of his fingers Gaius briefly scratched his scalp in frustration before dropping his hands. He gazed at the ground, already feeling defeated when he hadn’t even asked Didacus a question yet.

Knowing he couldn’t face his cousin like this, Gaius did the one thing that had helped him get through these months away from home. He thought about Kachka. Just remembering her face always made him feel better. Gods, what he wouldn’t give to have had her riding by his side during all this.

“Do not be so weak, lizard. You will be fine.”

Shocked to hear her voice, Gaius immediately sat up . . . but . . . it wasn’t Kachka. It was some other woman. A woman he’d never seen before.

“Pardon?” he asked, trying to slow down his heart.

“I said, mind if I sit?” She gestured to the stump he was on. He quickly realized this woman did not have the accent of someone from the Outerplains. She also didn’t look like anyone from the Outerplains. She was tall, true. And beautiful. But brown skinned like those of the Desert Lands. Dressed for battle and travel, she smiled down at Gaius.

“Of course.”

He moved over a bit, blew out a breath. He should not have been that excited just to hear Kachka Shestakova’s voice—which he guessed had just been his imagination. What the hell was wrong with him?

The woman dropped her travel pack to the ground with a heavy sigh and moved her shoulders around as she sat down beside Gaius.

“You wouldn’t be looking for a sword for hire, would you?” she asked.

“Sorry, no.” He had more than enough swords at his disposal at the moment.

“Thought I’d at least ask.” She held up a small pouch, offering the jerky within.

Gaius shook his head and stared off, trying to again focus on dealing with Didacus and finding Vateria. How was he ever going to find Vateria?

“What about Annwyl?”

Gaius blinked. “Pardon?”

“Queen Annwyl. Is she looking for a sword for hire?”

“Oh.” He gave a little laugh. He was so tired these days, wasn’t he? That was the only thing that could explain . . . forget it. “Uh . . . sword for hire? Probably not. Loyal soldier? Yes. Annwyl’s always looking for those.”

“Does she pay well?”

“Well enough, I’m sure.”

The mercenary pulled out the sword she was offering for hire and he cringed at the sight of it.

“Oh, come on,” she laughed. “It’s not that bad.”

“It’s awful,” Gaius disagreed, reaching out and running his hand over it. “The edge is dull and it’s rusted. Perhaps you should join Annwyl’s army just so you can get a decent weapon.”

She studied the blade. “It’s served me well, though. Over the years.”

“I’m sure it has, but sometimes things that have served us well need to be retired.”

“Good point.” She studied him for a long moment until she scrunched up her nose and asked, “Not to be rude, but . . . are you all right?”

“I’m fine. Just a lot on my mind.”

“Aye. I understand that. World is changing. Not for the better.”

“It’s not that bad. I have hope all will work out.”

“That’s rare.”

“What is?”

She smiled. “Hope. Not a lot of people have that these days.”

“Well . . . that’s what their leaders are for. To give them that hope.”

She snorted. “You serious? Do you think the leaders of this world give a shit about us?”

“They have to. Their people are their responsibility. A responsibility most have willingly taken on their shoulders in the hopes of making the lives of their people better.”

“Not all of them are like that, though.”

“No. But then it’s up to the rest of those leaders, who do care, to deal with the ones who don’t. A leader has to care for the people. The state. The Republic.”

“You sound like one of them Sovereigns.”

Gaius smirked. “I like their philosophy.”

“A reader, are ya?”

“I am. But I never saw that as a flaw.”

She laughed as Brannie walked up to them. She nodded at the woman by Gaius’s side before she said to Gaius, “Caswyn’s back. So whenever you’re ready.”

“I’ll be right there.”

Brannie started to leave, but abruptly stopped, glancing at the woman next to Gaius. She gazed at her a moment before shaking her head and walking off.

“Do you know my friend?” he asked the woman.

“I’ve seen her around. Besides,” she teased, “I have a face that’s very familiar.”

“No, you don’t.” They both laughed a bit and then Gaius stood. “It was nice meeting you.”

“You too.”

With a nod, Gaius started to follow Brannie. But he just couldn’t. Not until he fixed it. The problem just ate at him!

He walked back to the woman and pulled his gladius from the scabbard at his side. “Here. Take this.”

She reared back a bit, staring at the sword. It was of the highest quality. One of the royal blacksmiths had made it exclusively for Gaius. But honestly, he just couldn’t let that mercenary go off with that rusted piece-of-shit blade she had.