Page 32 of Godsbane
Silently, I set the firewood down, choosing to fill my hands with the daggers sheathed at my thighs instead of logs. I could throw the wood but it wouldn’t be nearly as deadly. These mendon’t appear to be a threat to Cal, but they very well could be to me.
I step around the tree, fists wrapped tightly around the hilts of my sharpest daggers and eyes locked on the strangers. Cal’s head whips in my direction, sensing me before I’m clearly in view. The men, startled by his sudden movement, draw their own daggers as they follow his gaze.
“Put your blades away, princess,” Cal says calmly, exposing his palms in an act of submission.
“As soon as they put away theirs.” I look cautiously between the two men standing on either side of the captain. They’re dressed in plain brown clothes, no colors of allegiance on public display.
“You heard her, boys,” Cal says with a smile. “I’m not stitching anyone up before dinner.”
“She really is as vicious as they say,” the man on Cal’s left, the larger of the two, says, sheathing his dagger.
“Forgive my brother’s clear lack of manners and allow me to introduce us.” The other man sheaths his blade and steps forward with a sweeping bow, his blonde hair falling over his face. “The name’s Theo, my lady.”
He looks up at me, hazel eyes sparkling in the dimming light as the corners of his mouth turn up in a charming smile.
Brothers.
There’s no familial resemblance between the men and Cal. Nothing that would indicate that the two of them are closely related to the captain. Maybe that’s what kept the knowledge of their existence secret from the Corinthian rumor mill.
A large hand swats Theo across the back of the head, causing him to lose his balance and stumble slightly to the left.
“Shameless flirt,” the owner of the hand grumbles.
I instinctively grip the handles of my daggers tighter and hold my chin high as the large man walks towards me. The mansweeps his amber gaze over the length of me and I bite back the scathing remark rising in me. His body is nearly a copy of Cal, the same broad chest and honed muscles that are no doubt from a lifetime of military training, but his face is distinctly different.
“Henry,” he says, nodding approvingly with his hand outstretched.
I hold my ground, making no move to lower my blades. The corner of his lips turn up on one side and I get the feeling that I just passed some sort of test.
“My brothers will be camping with us tonight, Ivy.” Cal’s voice cuts across the clearing but my eyes are still locked in Henry’s unrelenting stare. “Oh for the gods’ sake. Henry, carry that damn firewood over here before she cuts you.”
Henry scoffs as he walks to the firewood pile, never turning his back to me. “I’d like to see her try.”
If it’s a show he wants, it’s a show he’ll get. I snarl, baring my teeth at him as he walks by. Theo falls to his knees laughing, his arms wrapping around his midsection in exaggeration.
“The rumors definitely undersold you, my lady,” he jokes through heaving laughs.
“Stop calling me that.”
“Stop calling her that.”
Cal and I say in unison.
Theo pauses his laughing long enough to share a look with Henry before erupting into laughter again.
“I seem to have stumbled into some sort of joke that I’m not privy to.” Sheathing my daggers at my side, I make my way toward the tent to fetch my canteen.
Cal sighs loudly, dragging his hands through his already tousled hair. “I’m going to try to catch some dinner. Try not to kill each other while I’m gone. Please.”
Exasperation is evident in his added plea. I’m not sure who he’s more worried about, his brothers or me.
“No need, Cal. I’ve got dinner right here.” Theo pulls a brown wineskin from his rucksack, holding it out in my direction. “Care for a drink, darling?”
“Don’t call me that either.”
“Lay off her, Theo. Ivy hit the bottle a little too hard last night, “ Cal interjects. “I don’t think she’ll be drinking for a while.”
Never one to back down from a challenge, I take the wineskin from Theo, pulling the cork out by my teeth before taking a long swig. My defiant eyes never leave the captain’s as the sweet liquid barrels down my throat, my magic thrumming to life as the barest hint of a smile tugs at his lip.
