The Taming

Still Hurt

"I don't want revelry." Teverius's eyes narrowed. He glared up at Bast.

"Mardichi!" Bast called again. "Come join your Little Brother!"

Teverius groaned.

Robust laughter bellowed from the other end of the room. The giant redhead stood and tossed off his cloak. Making several men object at the massive size of him.

One man muttered, "It's RedBayne. The Assassin."

"I shall be back Norris. I have duties now." Mardichi announced. Tossing the garment down on the bench. "Tonight, we injure Little Brother with large quantities of me favorite sustenance."

"Of course, you do." Norris grumbled off-handedly.

Tev groaned. Teverius willed himself. Praying the night would end with him retaining some glimmer of dignity.

Sebastian set about drowning all thoughts of Elsabet, while tormenting the youngest of his brethren. A fine night. A fine night, indeed.

The Driter's Den was a rowdy place tonight.

Having three of the Forever Knights in one place was always cause for celebration.

Mardichi roared with laughter.

Serdephe hiccupped, looking from the red barbarian back to Tev and putting her hand to her mouth as though she were confiding in Teverius. Though the words were nearly shouted. "He's so huge."

Mardichi only laughed harder.

Tev frowned. "Yes, but unfortunately, like most large men he is all aggression and no brain." Tev tapped his skull pointedly.

Noticing for the first time, that his other hand was already tangled in her violet hair and stroking her scalp methodically. Making her blink sleepily. Though he could not recall when he'd begun doing that.

"You are beautiful." She pointed to Bast, but her finger swayed so much she had to close one eye to see if it was aligned with the correct man. As she moved it toward Mardichi. "And you, you're huge."

His chest puffed in pride. "Women oft tell me tha'."

"They do not." Bast contributed. Taking another drink. "He lies."

Mardichi gave Bast a rough elbow which caused him to gasp in pain. Clutching his side as he panted for air.

Both Mardichi and Tev's look suddenly turned severe as they realized, despite all of Bast's bravado, he hadn't touched his second drink.

They noticed. Bast blanched. He'd hoped to keep it hidden.

"You're looking a smidge pekid." Tev murmured. All annoyance replaced with worry.

Bast shrugged but Teverius wasn't deterred.

"Bast are you okay?"

"No." Bast admitted, face falling to the table. Lulled by the amount of drink he'd consumed tonight, he blurted what he'd been hiding from them. "I heard him."

"Who?" Tev asked.

"No." Mardichi said in shock. "You cannot mean-"

"Raese." He confirmed what they were both thinking. "But I couldn't pinpoint him."

I tried. I really did.

"How could you not?" Mardichi barked. "Ye can find me when I'ma 'lone takin' a shite in the woods."

"He thought of me. One time." Bast floundered to explain. "One word. One heartbeat. I heard him once and trailed it to the Paladines but couldn't find him."

"The Paladines?" Tev asked slowly. "None of us looked there."

"I have." Bast said. Clearly despondent. "But I couldn't find him."

"I'll find him." Tev vowed.

Bast rolled his head to look at them. Still feeling disheartened.

"Bast, I will find him." Tev reached across the table to catch Bast's bicep. Gripping it tightly. "I can redeem myself for the crimes I've committed."

He means losing the map. Sebastian knew.

He's always considered that a crime against the alpha and our breed.

"Crimes?" Serdephe asked blinking. Sobered somewhat by that declaration. "What have you done, Teverius?"

"Not yet, Sweetheart." Teverius said. Squeezing her shoulder reassuringly as he promised himself he'd tell her how he failed to protect the Watchers. If he could find Raese.

"You're hurt, brother." Mardichi murmured thoughtfully. Noticing how Bast propped one shoulder against the edge of the bench as the night progressed. "We didna know."

"I'm fine."

"You don't look it." Tev agreed with Mardichi, for once.

"I almost died getting back to WaterRose."

"What?" Tev demanded. "How!"

"I nearly froze to death."

"What happened?" Serdephe was breathless. Staring at Bast with that glazed look again.

But Tev was consoled by the fact that it was his chest she now cuddled against.

"Elsabet..."

"The valkyrie wench?" Mardichi jerked backward in shock.

"She saved you?" Tev's brow furrowed. "Mayhap we've all been wrong about her."

"You have." Bast said certainly. "I certainly was."

"Well, Methanks to her then." Mardichi murmured under his breath. "She'll hear it from me own mouth when next I see her."

"If she'll talk to anyone after this." Bast muttered.

"If?"

"I've locked her back in, even though she didn't leave me when she had the chance."

"If she were loose, she could kill many a man." Mardichi acknowledged.

"She could've gone while I was bedridden." Bast argued. "But she didn't."

"You were bedridden!" Tev was stunned. Having never seen Bast weak enough to not get right back on his feet.

"I had frostbite. And was weak as a babe."

"That would've been a jolly sight!" Mardichi jested. Slapping Bast's back, softening his approach when he saw the blonde man wince again. "Ye truly aren't well, are ye?"

"I miss Merlinus." Bast confided sorrowfully.

"I will find him." Tev emphasized. Conviction written on his soul as he said it. "I'll take Rhyers if needed."

"You are rejoining us then?" Bast brightened slightly.

Teverius had chosen to reside separate from them for decades now.

"If you'll have me?" Tev gave them a considering study.

"Of course, they will." Serdephe murmured contentedly leaning further into him. "And you can. As long as you don't leave me."

"I think she means that." Mardichi pointed to the sleepy woman.

"She does." Tev affirmed.

"I'll kill you if you try to disappear again." She said sleepily. Her sweet tone belying the deep threat in the words.

"Again?" Bast asked, interested. Perking a bit at the sense of intrigue.

"Tis a long story."

"I have time." Bast settled his elbows atop the table and tucked his chin into his palms with the cheery grin of a child awaiting a grand tale.