Page 14 of Immortal Sentry

Three men, all in King Bain’s livery, were quite drunk and vying for the affections of a comely barmaid. They’d not notice Eron, and Helga would ensure their distraction.

“What news have you from Hisar?” she asked, batting her eyes at a man likely too drunk to notice.

“The king got his mistress pregnant again. He still has no legitimate sons, but I’ve seen the queen. I’d avoid her bed, too!” All three men laughed, two pounding the speaker on the back.

“I hear the king spends all his money on lavish parties,” Helga said.

“Aye. That he does,” the man slurred. “Why, he has another one planned for a ten-night. Lots of hoity-toity rich assholes willflounce all over the place, trying to win favor. I hate the lot of them. It always means double duty for us guards. Meanwhile, the people will starve come winter if he raises taxes again.” His head drooped, and he emitted what might’ve been a snore.

Helga placed a hand on the man’s shoulder, shaking him. “A wealthy gentleman stayed at the inn until earlier today. Do you know of him?”

“No,” another guard said. His friend merely carried on with his snoring.

The guards couldn't assign someone to watch him if they weren't aware of the man. Eron listened for several more moments, but nothing worthwhile came of the conversation.

By the time Eron climbed down the oak, Kene waited for him. “Well?”

“Bain is holding a ball in a ten-night. Rumor says he’s invited many nobles.”

Kene grinned. “It’s about time. I love a good party. A pity we weren’t invited.” She tossed a small bag into the air, catching it to a clink of coins. “The king’s men aren’t terribly bright to leave coins in their saddlebags for any thief to find. I’ve also discovered more about the nobleman Helga sent word about. He’s traveling with two other men. One has the grizzled aspect of an old soldier, while the other is a young man far too frivolous to travel these parts without guards. They left before nightfall.”

“Carriage?”

Kene shook her head. “Horses.”

“They’ll stop to make camp then.” Eron spared a moment of regret for the beautiful young man he’d planned to seduce. Oh well. He’d have plenty of other opportunities.

And plenty of other men.

Eron and Kene dismounted near a clearing, watching the two men at the campfire.

The older one was possibly a hired guide, based on his crude language, but not necessarily hired muscle, so he was probably not too concerned with his charge’s purse. Or not enough to put himself between the lord and outlaws.

The other appeared overdressed for a man trying not to draw attention to himself, and his accent gave him away as a Hisar nobleman. He still lived, so he must be loyal to Bain and, therefore, complicit in robbing poor village folk to line his own pockets. There was no sign of the younger man.

“I’ll get these two. You go find the other,” Kene whispered before disappearing into the underbrush.

Eron listened intently, wishing for some of Kene’s mage light. The full moon, however, provided enough light to navigate through the woods to the sounds of splashing. A lantern sat on the ground by a stream. A very naked young man rose from the water, droplets sluicing down his skin, glowing alabaster in the moonlight. Even naked, he carried himself with the air of a man in charge of his surroundings—or at least in charge of a few servants. He was perhaps Eron’s own age of twenty-two or twenty-four, depending on who one asked.

What a glorious body.Please turn around. Please turn around.

The man complied with Eron’s unvoiced request, displaying a firm, round backside that likely provided many with hours of fantasies. Eron couldn’t approach now. Too much temptation. He waited until the man toweled off and dressed.

“Kinda late to be wandering around alone,” Eron said to him, a touch of flirtiness in his tone.

The man whirled, his back against a tree. “Don’t come any closer. I’ll scream.”

Eron shrugged. “Go ahead. Your two companions are much too busy at the moment to answer, though. So, what are you doing out here by yourself?”

“I wanted to bathe.” Though his voice trembled, the man put enough defiance into his tone to impress Eron. Eron loved a man or woman with spirit.

“Fine night for it. Under other circumstances, I might join you.” Not a chance of Eron removing his mask, far less elaborate than the one he’d worn to the party. He leaned against a tree, casually toying with the fingertips of his gloves. “I don’t suppose you have anything of value on your person, do you? Any pretty dangly things? Other than the obvious, that is.” Eron ran his gaze up and down the man’s body.

The man’s pale cheeks flushed. “I… I have nothing of value.”

“Oh, I think you’re wrong there.” Eron sauntered close and lifted the chain from around the man’s long, lovely neck, exposing a silver medallion set with stones. It was too unique to sell but pretty. Eron ran a finger over the man’s stubbled jaw and down his neck.

The man gave a barely perceptible shiver, throat bobbing beneath Eron’s fingertip.

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