Authors: Kassanna
“I will snap you in half.” The centaur reared up onto his hind legs and kicked the air.
Lucky flipped a corner of his cloak back and yanked off his whip. “What’s the matter, do you have mummy issues? Were you a late bloomer? Poor horsey, how long did you stay in the same stall with your mum?” He flicked his wrist and the end of the whip snapped the air near the centaur’s back legs.
A crowd formed around them. People murmured to each other. Landis studied their faces, and their expressions sent panic skittering through her. Half-lidded eyes and slight sneers of disgust were evident on some folks’ faces. Other onlookers appeared excited by the chaos, happily grinning as they tossed out taunts to egg on the combatants.
Lucky glanced over his shoulder and winked. “Landis, luv,” he kept his tone low, “while everyone is watching me. I need you to go into the store directly behind us and grab supplies.”
“What!” she whispered hoarsely. “I don’t have any of your money. How am I supposed to pay for the stuff?”
Lucky kept his gaze on the stomping centaur. “Walk in, grab a bag, and fill it.”
“You’re not—I don’t—Hell no, I am not a thief!” she hissed at his back.
Raising his arms, the half-horse-half-man creature charged Lucky.
Landis scrambled to the side as Lucky slammed into the post she’d stood in front of only seconds earlier. The porch shuddered from the force of the two bodies colliding into the wood. Lucky gasped for breath as the centaur wrapped his hands around the leprechaun’s throat. Lucky’s face turned a ruddy rose hue and his nose flared.
No one was breaking up the fight. Some people were actually cheering. Who the hell had she gotten herself attached with?
Folks pushed past her, cutting her off from Lucky. Suddenly, the centaur moved back and people crushed her to get a view of the battle. She squeezed through the crowd and popped through to an open space. Landis spun and gazed at the open double door of the store built into the rock face. Beyond the entrance, shelves lined the walls.
She glanced down the sidewalk in both directions. Assorted buildings appeared to have been carved out of the side of the mountain. Elevated wooden walkways and dormers held up with sturdy columns reminded her of Old West architecture blended with Indian adobe buildings. The structures were both beautiful and bizarre. The snap of a whip made her jump.
In spite of the cooler temperature, sweat peppered her top lip. She wiped at the moisture as she eased toward the building entrance. Sure she felt the erratic beating of her heart in her gut, she swallowed. Stealing was wrong. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her she hadn’t eaten since last night. Landis stuck her head over the threshold and twisted it left and right to make sure there was no one in sight. She dug in her pocket and pulled out the few bills to quickly count them out. Twenty-seven dollars and sixty-five cents. She didn’t know anything about the currency here, but maybe her money was so unusual it would be worth something. Guilt assuaged, she stepped through the doorway and dropped the money on a counter.
People applauded. She froze and glanced over her shoulder. After a few seconds, she moved farther into the room and looked for something to hold the items she was about to grab. A deep garnet cloak was thrown in a pile on a long table and she snatched it up. As she hurried down a long aisle, the sounds from outside became muted. Flat loaves of what she hoped was bread were stacked on a narrow shelf. Grabbing a handful, she dropped them in the center of the material then picked up fruit similar to mangos, tossing them in too. She came across a few small sacks she hoped contained food and dropped them into the pack.
Down the next aisle, the scent of leather and oil tickled her nose. Sturdy boots with laces up the back were set in a long line and stacked on top of each other. She lifted a few pairs to peer at them. Landis put back the most recent set and grabbed the first ones she’d originally saw before dropping them into her carrier. She slung the bundled cloak over her shoulder and groaned under its weight.
As she started to leave the shop, she passed a weapons case. A small mace, the handle wrapped in leather, caught her eye. Tiny spikes protruded from the surface and a thick sheath of hide was made to encase it. Leg straps of the same material dangled from the bottom. She lifted the case’s lid and the hinges squeaked. Terrified at being caught, she looked around. When no one rushed into the store, she shoved the top up and braced it against the column behind it. Slowly, she trailed her fingertips along the cool metal sphere, cautious of the sharp barbs.
“Hey what the hell are ye doing?” A squat man with a single lock of dark hair curling around the crown of his slightly pointed head glowered furiously at her from the back of the store.
Panic set in. Landis snatched up the weapon and its holster and sprinted for the exit, where she peered over her shoulder. The strange fellow followed her, his heavy stomping coinciding with her lighter footfalls. She slammed into a body and rolled around it without stopping to look. A large hand filled her vision and she twisted sideways to avoid being touched.
Outside the crowd had dispersed. A few people wandering the sidewalk stopped to stare at her as she jumped off the wooden walkway to land in the street with a dull
thump
. The centaur was down on his knees, shaking his head. She spun in a circle, searching for Lucky, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Unsure what to do, she ran in the direction they’d come into town. Behind her, townsmen were yelling and she didn’t understand the words they spoke. She refused to look back and rushed forward, screaming for Lucky. In front of her, a mass of folks formed a line. She stopped and spun. She was surrounded by beings scowling and shouting at her. Landis tightened her grip on the makeshift sack. Adrenaline pumped through her and her temples pounded. She eased the bag off her shoulder, preparing to swing the ill-gotten goods at the horde closing in around her. The mace slipped and landed between her feet.
A horse whinnied and the group split as Lucky, seated on Dubh, jumped over their heads to land near Landis. He cracked his whip at the feet of the stubby guy having the bad hair day from the store. Her arms shook as she handed Lucky the sack. He looked at her, winked, and took the goods. Then he offered his hand to help her mount the unicorn. She crouched to grab the mace before she wrapped her palm around his to be lifted onto Dubh’s back, seated behind Lucky. He flicked his whip again at the men inching closer. Dust rose up, covering their boots.
He turned his head and smirked at the leader of the cluster spread out around them. “Draken. Good to see you again. Ye have my word I will set right my debts.” Lucky pulled his hat from Landis’ head.
“You son of a bitch! I will hunt you down. You’ll swing for this.” Spittle sprayed from the storekeeper’s mouth as he spoke. His hair flapped forward as he sharply nodded. “Ye have my promise that I will be the last face you see as you hang from the limb of my choosing.”
“That’s an image I didn’t want in my head, gnome. I’ve no fear of death, but the idea of you being the last person I see as I take my last breath will give me nightmares.” He shuddered then laughed as he brought Dubh around. “As for chasing me down, get in fooking line,” Lucky said, his brogue thick. His thigh muscles bunched as he dug his heels into the animal’s sides.
The crowd split as Dubh galloped headlong through them.
Landis tightened her grip on his waist. “It took you long enough to come back for me.” Her mouth brushed his neck and the salty moisture on his skin coated her lips.
“I could only draw a fight for so long, lass.” He raised his voice to be heard. “That’s the last time I send a woman in to procure our goods. What were you doing—shopping?”
“Something like that.” She touched her shoulder and fingered the holstered mace. The chain rattled as Landis pulled it free. “Next time, I’ll use my innate charm as the distraction and you can steal the stuff we need.”
He glanced back at her. “Will there be a next time, Landis?”
Confusion muddled her brain. She didn’t miss the heat of desire in his look. Why would he gaze at her like that? She wasn’t sure how to answer his question. She had no clue how long she would be there. Her adrenaline high was abating. Fleeting guilt skittered through her mind. She took more than the few bills she’d left would cover. She reasoned with herself: did she really have a choice? The items were needed.
Lucky’s back muscles flexed and she was drawn from her thoughts. It felt good to be flush against his body, feeling the slightest movement. She’d never felt so alive.
They stopped short, and the unicorn reared up.
She dug her fingers into Lucky’s side as she slid back. “What’s wrong?”
“Hold on, luv. We have company.” He pulled his hat lower on his head and wrapped the reins around his hands several times.
“Who? The townsmen?” Landis eased over to see beyond his body. Several large horses with heavy-set, barrel-chested men raced toward them, galloping down the trail at a breakneck speed. She exhaled. “Is there anyone who isn’t after you?”
“Guess the bridge trolls have finally caught up with us.” He shrugged. “Are you ready to ride hard,
Mo Shearc
?
“Do I have a choice?” Her mouth went dry.
Dubh shifted restlessly beneath them.
“No.” As he leaned forward, Lucky burst out in laughter.
The unicorn bolted, heading directly for the trolls thundering toward them.
~ * ~
Lucky tightened the knotted fabric on the pommel. The last thing he wanted was to lose the supplies Landis managed to get from Draken’s general store. His debt kept piling up. He shook his head. There was no time to worry about it now. Trolls were rushing toward them and he needed to out-think them. Time was a luxury he couldn’t afford.
Dicklaus had caught up with him and no doubt the gnome was preparing his own posse to try and run them down. Lucky didn’t want to get caught with Landis between the two factions. Lucky glanced behind him. Getting caught was not an option. He checked the position of the sun. Tolley would move on if they didn’t meet at the agreed upon time, but he couldn’t afford to lead the damn trolls to his friend. There was no going back, which left him with moving forward as the only option.
“Hold tight,
Mo Shearc,
” he muttered to Landis. Her fingers dug into his sides. Her breasts pressed into his back as she leaned into him. Lucky slapped the ends of the reins against the unicorn’s side and yelled. With no hesitation the beast ran straight for the group coming for them. He trusted his animal. Dubh understood the stakes were high.
The unicorn’s powerful muscles tensed as the trolls grew closer. Lucky searched the stone faces of the men and counted off how many were in the party—four—and Dicklaus wasn’t among them. The king’s pride had been pricked. There was no way he wouldn’t lead the search. The idea that this might be a trap flitted through Lucky’s mind.
Dubh launched over the group and Lucky flicked his wrist. The whip licked out and wrapped around the wide neck of the guard beneath them. Lucky yanked hard as the unicorn landed behind the horse and rider. The troll was snatched off his saddle and flew back to be dragged behind the unicorn. Above the pounding hoofbeats, his painful yelps were barely discernible. Lucky’s biceps burned from the strain of holding on to the heavy weight of the troll. He jerked his hand and the braided leather cord loosened. His hat flew from his head as Dubh leaped ahead, no longer held back by the heavy load.
There was no use looking back, as their pursuers wouldn’t stop to check on their fallen brother. They would continue their frenzied chase after Lucky. He urged the unicorn to gallop faster.
A troll rode up beside him then kept pace with them. The guard reached for Landis and she reared back, creating a gap between them. Air whipped at Lucky’s back and he slapped the ends of reins against Dubh’s flanks. “Move your arse!”
Pain slammed through Lucky’s thigh and he looked down to see a spiky iron sphere the size of his palm being yanked from his leg. The points gouged the leather of his pants.
Landis rubbed the spot. “Sorr—” she yelled, half her words lost on the wind.
The troll veered away to avoid being hit, only to fall back and come up on their other side. When he was within reach, Lucky kicked out. Landis climbed around his body, her eyes wide as she gazed at him. Mace held firmly in her fist, she gripped his triceps with her free hand and shoved her leg across his lap. Another troll joined the first to flank them.
Lucky took both reins into one hand and enfolded his arm around Landis waist, yanking her onto his lap. Her chest heaved and she leaned forward, looking past his shoulders. He caged her with his arms.
Locks of her hair blew across her face. She pushed them back and her eyes widened. “Duck!”
“What?” Why the fook was she talking about birds? He shook his head and lifted his shoulders.
“Dammit, move your head!” Landis swung the mace.
Light glinted of the metal orb and the barbs on it seemed to spin. The sphere came dangerously close to his cheek before he dropped his head forward. Painful cries rent the air. The tendons in Landis’ arm bunched and relaxed as she pulled her arm back. Lucky looked quickly to the side. Blood poured from between the guard’s fingers as he cupped his cheek and wobbled on his horse. The animal fell back and slowed to a canter.
Landis lets out a series of whoops and grinned wide at Lucky. There was no time to celebrate, as their other adversary was coming up fast with a dagger clutched in his grasp. The troll stabbed at Landis. She arched her back and the blade cut through her shirt, a thin seam of blood appearing on the fabric.
Anger filled Lucky. Bastards dared to touch the woman under his protection. Landis pressed her hand to her belly, and he yanked on the reins, pulling Dubh to a stop. His foe skittered past, but brought his horse around swiftly
Lucky freed his feet from the stirrups and jumped from the saddle. The tail of his whip dragged behind him as he stalked toward the troll. The guard and his horse stormed toward him. Lucky raised his arm and flicked the whip in the air. The end caught the horse across the forelegs. Lucky brought his arm down, pulling the beast’s legs together. The horse tumbled forward, tossing the troll over its head.