Read Drenai Saga 01 - Legend for Free Online Page B

crew had my farm sacked and my family killed. And
I
haven’t forgotten. You’re not turning soft, are you?”
    Grussin noted the gleam in Reinard’s eyes.
    “No, of course not. You’re the leader, and whatever you say is fine by me. We will find Rek and the woman. Why don’t you get some rest.”
    “A curse on rest,” muttered Reinard. “You sleep if you have to. We leave as soon as the old man gives us directions.”
    Grussin walked to his hut and hurled himself on his fern-filled bed.
    “You are troubled?” his woman, Mella, asked him as she kneeled by his side, offering him wine.
    “How would you like to leave?” he asked, placing a huge hand on her shoulder. She leaned forward and kissed him. “Wherever you go, I shall be with you,” she said.
    “I’m tired of it,” he said. “Tired of the killing. It gets more senseless with every day. He must be mad.”
    “Hush!” she whispered, wary now. She leaned into his bearded face and whispered in his ear. “Don’t voice your fears. We can leave quietly in the spring. Stay calm and do his bidding until then.”
    He nodded, smiled, and kissed her hair. “You’re right,” he said. “Get some sleep.” She curled beside him, and he gathered the blanket around her. “I don’t deserve you,” he said as her eyes closed.
    Where had it gone wrong? When they had been young and full of fire, Reinard’s cruelty had been an occasional thing, a device to create a legend. Or so he had said. They would be a thorn in Abalayn’s side until they achieved justice. Now it was ten years. Ten miserable bloody years.
    And had the cause ever been just?
    Grussin hoped so.
    “Well, are you coming?” asked Reinard from the doorway. “They’re at the old cabin.”
    The march had been a long one and bitterly cold, but Reinard had scarcely felt it. Anger filled him with warmth, and the prospect of revenge fed his muscles so that the miles sped by.
    His mind filled with pictures of sweet violence and the music of screams. He would take the woman first and cut her with a heated knife. Arousal warmed his loins.
    And as for Rek … He knew what Rek’s expression would be as he saw them arrive.
    Terror! Mind-numbing, bowel-loosening terror!
    But he was wrong.
    Rek had stalked from the hut, furious and trembling. The scorn on Virae’s face was hard to bear. Only anger could blank it out. And even then, barely. He could not help what he was, could he? Some men were born to be heroes. Others to be cowards. What right had she to judge him?
    “Regnak, my dear! Is it true you have a woman inside?”
    Rek’s eyes scanned the group. More than twenty men stood in a half circle behind the tall, broad-shouldered outlaw leader. Beside him stood Grussin the axman, huge and powerful, his double-headed ax in his hand.
    “Morning, Rein,” said Rek. “What brings you here?”
    “I heard you had a warm bedmate, and I thought, Good old Rek, he won’t mind sharing. And I’d like to invite you to my camp. Where is she?”
    “She’s not for you, Rein. But I’ll make a trade. There’s a caravan headed—”
    “Never mind the caravan!” shouted Reinard. “Just bring out the woman.”
    “Spices, jewels, furs. It’s a big one,” said Rek.
    “You can tell us about it as we march. Now I’m losing patience. Bring her out!”
    Rek’s anger blazed, and his sword snaked from its scabbard.
    “Come and get her, then, you bastards!”
    Virae stepped from the doorway to stand beside him, blade in hand, as the outlaws drew their weapons and advanced.
    “Wait!” ordered Reinard, lifting his hand. He stepped forward, forcing a smile. “Now listen to me, Rek. This is senseless. We’ve nothing against you. You’ve been a friend. Now, what’s this woman to you? She killed my brother, so you see it’s a matter of personal honor. Put up your sword and you can ride away. But I want her alive.” And you, too, he thought.
    “You want her, you take her!” said Rek. “And me, too. Come on,