Mercenary Little Death Bringer (21 page)

I smiled and kissed his cheek. “That is the
sweetest thing any male has ever said to me.”

He stared at me a moment and then burst into
a fit of laughter. He hugged me again and sighed. “You are my best
friend and I refuse to allow you to get injured again. From now on
I am never leaving your side.”

“You can’t be beside me when I relieve
myself,” I said jokingly though the thought of him standing beside
me while I had to pee was a bit frightening.

“Obviously I’m not going to go that
overboard,” he said, “But I can’t see you hurt like that
again.”

“Well, then I’ll just have to be more
careful.”

“I’m serious, Marin, from now on we are going
to act like real partners and stay by each other at all times. No
more going off and playing the heroine. I will protect your life
with mine if need be.”

“Favian,” I whispered, “You know I won’t let
you die for me.”

He smiled and whispered, “You’ll just have to
try and stop me.” He stared into my eyes a moment and then kissed
me on the lips. His lips were warm and soft against mine and he
tasted sweet. My body tingled in happiness and I felt like I was
floating on a cloud. I had wanted this, even dreamed of it and now
it was happening. He pulled back, kissed my cheek and said, “I’m
going to go get ready. You should as well.”

I watched him go with the taste of him still
on my lips and confusing feelings heavy within me. What the hell
had that been about? I felt giddy and nervous all at the same time.
I sat down against the back of Fire’s stall and closed my eyes. I
knew now what the feelings I had been experiencing recently
were.

I was in love with Favian. I loved my best
friend. How could I have not figured out my feelings sooner? And
how could I have allowed it to happen?

I knew I loved him and I also knew it was
pointless. Despite the kiss he’d given me, he was the Elven Prince
and I was just a human girl. I was ninety percent sure that he did
not love me and I had to believe that or I would become bitter and
overly jealous when he chose an Elven mate. I did not need the
little bit of hope that that kiss had given me.

I clenched my fists and nodded my head. I
would stay his best friend and partner and I would have to dismiss
my love for him, pretend it didn’t exist. As much as it hurt and as
much as it was going to pain me, I had to do it for us. If I
didn’t, we wouldn’t be able to work as partners and I refused to
let that happen. It stunk that I had just discerned my feelings
only to be forced to ignore them, but life was never fair.

I took a deep breath of Fire’s familiar scent
and the scents of the horses and hay around us to steady myself and
then stood up. Fire nickered to me so I patted her side as I walked
out of her stall. I walked to my dorm, ignoring all of those around
me to change and begin this new chapter of my life. Favian was
right, I was growing up. I was turning into an adult and a woman. I
also had a kick ass nickname!

Mother helped me change and insisted I at
least put my hair up in a pretty ponytail. I knew better than to
argue with the Queen and let her have fun putting my hair up and
even let her put a little makeup on my eyes and cheeks to hide the
slight bruising still there.

I headed to the outdoor training arena and
took my place beside Favian in line for the ceremony to being.
Favian looked at me and smiled. “Mother insisted, I take it?”

I smiled back. “Yes.”

“It looks nice.”

“Thank you,” I said and ignored the
butterflies in my stomach as I recalled our kiss.

Hundreds had gathered around the arena for
the ceremony and I kept my smile in place. I was finally
graduating. I was the first girl to finish the Academy and I had
earned my place. Part of me worried that Lawrence had been right
about having Favian beside me, but I also knew that it didn’t
matter since he would always be beside me.

Macon stood on the stage that had been
constructed in the center of the ring and raised his hands to get
everyone’s attention. “We are gathered here today to usher in a new
group of mercenaries and guards.” He started the procession and one
by one people went up and had their arm branded. I stood patiently
waiting, but I began to worry when I was the very last student
left.

Macon turned towards me and I could barely
see him from the corner of my eye. “This was an incredibly
challenging year and none had their values and talents tested more
than our first female attendee and our first every female graduate,
Marin,” he said and clapped. The crowd clapped with him and I
stepped out of line and walked up the stage to stand by Macon. “You
have proven without a doubt that you are as skilled as the men and
I am pleased to graduate you from this Academy and usher you into
the life as a mercenary.” He pushed up my sleeve and the blacksmith
pressed a hot brand into my arm.

I kept my face completely neutral and held in
any visible signs of pain as they branded me. I would appear as
stoic as the boys had and I would not give anyone a chance to
belittle me.

“You not only passed all of our tests, but
you also killed two hundred and eighty ogres on your own yesterday.
You are a true example of a mercenary and I know you will make this
Academy proud, Little Death Bringer.”

I smiled and then bowed. “Thank you,
Sir.”

I walked down off of the stage and every
student in the Academy and every person attending started clapping
a cheering. My infuriating female emotions started to take over,
but I held the happy tears in and walked to Father who bandaged my
arm and then cleared his throat. “We are all very proud of you and
I believe now is the right time to give you these.”

Kato stepped forward and held out two silver
swords with ornate carvings on the pommels. “These were your
father’s swords,” Kato said as he handed them to me.

“My father’s?” I asked in shock.

“Your real father’s,” Father answered, “The
one whom you must find.”

“What?” I asked in shock, “What are you
saying?”

“The humans that raised you were your family,
the woman was indeed your mother who gave birth to you, but your
true father was not the man who was killed by the ogres. You must
find your father,” Father said.

I looked at Favian. “Did you know?”

He shook his head. “I’m as shocked as you
right now.”

“How do I find him?” I asked.

“You will find clues along the way, but it
will be a long road and dangerous.”

Favian smiled. “That’s no problem since she
already has a partner.”

“Why all the secrecy? Why didn’t you tell me
sooner?” I asked.

“We couldn’t tell you sooner,” Father
answered, “We wanted to, but we were forced to swear an oath that
we wouldn’t reveal it until you started unlocking your powers. I
want to tell you more, but your Father has forbidden us from
divulging anything else. He wants to see if you can find him.”

“Why can’t he just reveal himself?” I asked
angrily. “It seems like a lot to do for a little reward.” What did
I care about a man that had never shown his face to me?

“Once you find him he will unlock your true
powers and give you one gift. To be given such things is a great
honor and only those very deserving will receive them. Some never
discover who he is.”

“How many other kids are there?” I asked in
shock.

“You are the first in quite a while,” Kato
answered, “There are none currently alive.”

I took the swords because Kato was still
holding them out and was shocked at how light they were. I spun
them around a few times and then attacked an invisible villain.
“Thank you,” I said to Kato and Father.

“We also have a new belt for you since yours
only has one sheath and isn’t made properly for carrying two
swords,” Father said as he unwrapped a belt made by the finest
Elven workers.

“It’s beautiful,” I said as I eyed the
designs.

“Why does she get all the gifts?” Favian
teased.

“Your gift is that you are relieved from
Princely duties for the next three months so that you two can go
start your conquests,” Mother said, “But in three months you must
return.”

I hugged Kato, Father and then hugged Mother.
“Thank you for everything.”

“Go Daughter of the Elves and protect the
country with your sword,” Father said with a smile.

I put my new belt and swords on and then
slipped the daggers Favian had given me into the slots in the
belt.

“Marin and Favian, I have a job for you,”
Macon said as he walked towards us.

“Already?” I asked in shock.

He smiled. “It’s a perfect job for you.
There’s a town about fifty miles south of here that has a dark
forest bordering it. Inside there are three ogres who are
reportedly kidnapping and eating people.”

“I told you ogres are evil,” I said to
Favian.

He rolled his eyes. “So our task is to find
the ogres and kill them?”

Macon nodded his head. “Yes, and do it
quickly.”

I turned and smiled at Favian. “Ready?”

Favian smiled back. “I’ve been waiting on
you.”

I ran towards the stables and snatched up my
tack, working on Fire as fast as I could. Favian was right beside
me working on Ice, but I beat him to it and was mounted and riding
out of the school with him trying to catch up. Life wasn’t going to
be easy and I still had lots of questions about my past and myself,
but for now I was the happiest girl on the planet. I was a full
fledged mercenary, my best friend was at my side and we were off on
our first official mission to kill the monsters I hated most in the
world. Sure I was in love with my best friend and I couldn’t ever
have his love in return, but we were partners and I had him by my
side. And sure I had learned that my father wasn’t the human male
I’d thought, but at this moment I had everything I wanted in life
and I vowed to fight with every ounce of my strength to keep that
the same in the coming years.

I am female and I am a mercenary!

###

Visit Catherine Banks at
the following sites:

Catherine Banks Author
Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Catherine-Banks/178755468846638

Catherine Banks
Blog:
http://www.catherinebanks.blogspot.com

Catherine Banks
Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/catherineebanks