Page 101 of Bloodguard

Caelen tosses a small sack filled with coins to the middle of the table. Xavier scowls at it and then at Caelen, who asks, “Do I have the right man now?”

Xavier doesn’t open the sack. Just smacks a meaty claw over it and drags it to his side. “What do you need, soldier?” he asks.

“A human woman and her two young daughters brought to Arrow.”

A strike of a match lights the scars that mar his face. A stab wound along his cheek is fresh and still not fully sealed. He takes a drag from whatever fragrant herbs he’s rolled and releases puffs of smoke through his large nostrils and the gash on his cheek. “To sell?” he asks.

His exhale is strangled by my sudden grip on his throat. I’m not sure I could actually strangle a mountain troll, but I’m willing to try.

“Do not insult my bride,” Caelen offers casually.

Bride?Does he mean my mother? Rose?

“My companion here knows I don’t like to play games,” Caelen says.

Xavier coughs, smoke billowing from his nostrils and mouth. Caelen is taking responsibility for my family. He’s trying to help, and I’m only impeding his efforts.

Xavier gestures with his eyes for me to look down. I may have him by the throat, but he has me by the balls.

He smirks, jabbing my crotch with the flat side of his knife. “I think you may want to keep that.”

Why, yes. As a matter of fact, I do.

I release Xavier’s neck and ease back slowly.

He waves a hand, leaving a swirl of smoke in the air. “I only ask because Idon’tsell or buy,” he growls. He narrows his gaze at Caelen, using the rolled-up herb in his beefy fingers to point at him. “But three bodies means three passes, means three times the price, Cael. And my rates have gone up.”

It’s clear Xavier knowsexactlywho Caelen is.

In the next blink, Caelen has the troll lifted with one arm and slammed against the wall. Xavier is easily four times the soldier’s weight.

“I said no games,” Caelen growls. His eyes are glowing amber, and the skin on his arm is expanding. His voice… It isn’t elven.

The troll grins.

Before I can get a word out, Caelen releases him. Without further negotiation, my companion tosses three small sacks of coin to the troll. “I’ve brought no more than usual, Xavier. Take it or leave it.”

Xavier peeks inside each bag, weighs them crudely between his hands, and eventually tucks the pouches into his very large pocket.

“And there will be three more when they come back to me.” Caelen transfers a note into the troll’s hand. I recognize it as the one Maeve wrote with descriptions of my family. She made it so I wouldn’t have to come here myself, but I refused to entrust my mother and sisters to a smuggler I hadn’t seen with my own eyes.

I have my own dagger out now. “Or three times more torture if you fail.”

Xavier jabs himself in the chest with each word. “I don’t fail. Neither does my crew.” He pauses. “Two weeks from this day. And they’ll be with you.” His eyes dart around the room before settling back on us. “Here.”

I frown as the chanting crowd bellows and the newest chugging-contest participant, a mage, face-plants onto the floor, sparkles of red floating from his unmoving form. “Here?” I question.

Xavier nods. “Here and safe, Cael,” he promises.

Caelen jerks his chin toward the door. I follow him outside.

The purpose was to get them into Arrow. But perhaps that isn’t possible? Even through the mountains.

“Caelen—”

“Steady, soldier,” he says. “The last bit was for anyone eavesdropping. Xavier knows where to find me.”

Rather than head toward where the horses are being watered, Caelen marches to the establishment next door.

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