Pixilated (28 page)

"I am not high-handed, and I’m not stubborn
either. I’m authoritative."

"Of course you are." Lathan dismissed Kree’s
protest with the self-satisfied grin. "So tell me, do you plan to
keep your replacement at your side until he’s needed?"

"Don’t think I wouldn’t, but the fact is
Garen is on his way to Thallasi on an errand for his brother, and
since we are going to Elhar too I thought it would be safer for him
to travel with us."

Lathan gave Kree a quizzical glance. "What
makes you imagine, oh authoritative one, that I am going to
Elhar?"

"This." Kree unroll a small piece of
oilcloth and watched his friend's eyes widen.

"Ah, shit."

"Yeah, my sentiments exactly. It was
tattooed on a mercenary captain’s cheek." Kree touched the small
rectangular scar beside his right ear. "It is a mockery of a
Goddess mark."

"You killed this man?"

"How the hell else do you think I got
this?

Lathan shot him a quick glance. "Sounds
personal."

"It was. Sit. I’ll fill you in."

Beginning with the attack on Eldren’s
carriage and finishing with Duncan’s discovery of the tattoo, Kree
rehearsed the whole tale with practiced military clarity. He did
not gloss over or leave out anything, much as he wished to. When he
finished, Lathan folded the scrap of tattooed flesh in the
oilcloth, and handed to Kree.

"When do we leave son?"

Kree rolled his eyes. "Don’t make me hurt
you, Lathan."

They joined the pixies gathered around Garen
to watch the elf demonstrate his talent on a dormant rose bush.
Garen plucked the newly made rose bud and handed it to Kayseri with
that whole-body smile of his. Kree put his hand on Kayseri's slim
waist, jealous in spite of himself, and she turned into his touch
tucking the rose underneath one of the frogs on his jacket. In that
moment, the two men’s eyes met over Kayseri's head in prefect
understanding, the tall cavalry captain, and the shining Nhurstari
male. Lathan’s children laughed, clapped their hands, and demanded
more flowers. Kree tightened his arms around his wife and heaved a
contented sigh. Funny how love changed things, eight days ago, he’d
had no family and no hope of ever having one, but now he was part
of a large boisterous family. He was Elhar bound and from there to
war, but for the first time his heart was at peace.

The End