The Light of My Hearts

(Just a warning there are quite a few naughty words in this chapter...if anyone cares about that warning)

That evening in the town of Gerrymin...

“That’s not enough, Farley!” Horace, Farley’s top man argued in a hushed tone despite the raucous noise of the tavern around them.

The burly slayer threw back a deep chug of mead, winced, and shook his head, “It’ll be enough.”

Horace was a rough-skinned, broken-nosed, thug for hire, with half an ear and tattoos over his body. He’d taken up with Farley the Wereslayer several years ago and found the life of a bounty hunter/slayer to be a lucrative trade suited to his talents.

But over the last few months Farley had been tempted, nay, obsessed, with the juiciest, most profitable bounty in all the land: the Gray Shadow. In every town they passed through, Farley had been recruiting men with the promise of a lifetime of riches if they helped him take down the Gray Shadow. More sensible men declined or laughed at his proposal. But over the months, Horace included, they had gathered a total of forty-six men; murderers, small-time slayers, hunters, petty thieves, poor headstrong farmers looking for wealth the ground could not provide, and such.

Horace stole a glance at the motley crew they had assembled in the tavern, “No...it ain’t.”

Farley put down his mug and touched the leather and wood container next to his bar stool, “I told you, Horace, I got the giantsbane. All we need to do is draw that big brute out in the open, hit him with this shit, and it’ll weaken him enough for us to get a clear shot on his neck with our ballistae.”

“You sure that shit is what that merchant says it is? What if it ain’t giantsbane? What if it don’t work?” Horace argued with high skepticism. “We’d just be setting ourselves on a silver platter!”

“Horace, you’re a good killer, but you worry more than me ole granny.” Farley spat on the floor. “And if it don’t work I’ll find that wanker merchant and shove is one arm up his ass.”

Horace pushed aside his drink momentarily, “Or if it don’t work, we’ll end up like Lucius.”

Farley made a face at the mention of the other slayer. Lucius was a tough-as-nails slayer who frequented the area; Farley’s main competitor. He had thirty-some men and a ballista. Even before he’d heard Helia went after the Gray Shadow’s bounty, Lucius and his men had gone into the North Woods to take out the infamous beast. No one had seen him or his men for almost a year. Though there was no definitive proof, everyone knew they were dead.

“Lucius was a cocky cunt! Going out in the North Woods to take on the Gray Shadow in his own territory...dumb asses.” He shook his head. “We ain’t going in there.”

“But if we ain’t going in the North Woods then how are WE going to get the Gray Shadow to come out of the North Woods?” Horace inquired.

Farley’s head bobbed, “I’d been wondering that myself, but we’ve heard he’s been coming out of those woods more often now. Damn! If only we’d been set up in Fowllen! That would’ve worked out perfectly. The trick is getting him to come where we want him.”

“Heard he was placated with a human sacrifice in Fowllen.” Horace mentioned. “Might be something to try?” he gestured subtly to the youngest member of their crew, “Maybe we could tie that little sheep humper from Merin to a fence post?”

“Huh!” Farley barked a laugh and stroked his long, braided beard with thought, “Hm. I think a woman would be better bait.”

At that moment the heavy door to the bar creaked open and they both turned minutely to see who was entering. Much to Farley’s surprise it was Helia and her tall, “wanker” bodyguard.

“Speaking of woman...HELIA!” he bellowed over the din of the bar.

...

As they entered the tavern, Helia was about to ask Gillam if he was certain he knew where his magic was leading when suddenly Farley’s raucous call broke all doubt. The automatic disdain for the man made her groan upon hearing him. But, as much as she didn’t want to, she went over to him.

“Just the woman I wanted to see! Have a seat sweet thing!” Farley patted his lap.

Helia glared at him and took a pointed seat in the chair next to him but fully denied his lap.

“Farley.” She stated flatly.

Gillam stood behind her silently, masked as usual.

Farley leaned onto the bar, “Well ain’t this a surprise. I rarely see you at all and here I’ve seen you twice in less than two months. What brings you to Gerrymin?”

Helia settled into her chair and went right to the point, “Heard you bought some giantsbane from a one-armed merchant in Blue Meadow.”

His brow quirked with surprise, “I might have...what of it?”

She gestured to Gillam and he procured the large sack of gold and set it next to her on the bar. Farley and Horace both stared at the amount with wide covetous eyes.

“I’ll cut to the chase. I have...an interested party who is willing to buy all of your giantsbane. I’m sure that’s more than triple what you paid for it.” She stated with all seriousness.

With a cursory movement Farley plucked a lump of gold from the sack and tested it with his teeth.

“Oh, it’s real, Farley.” She assured.

“Who the Hell is it?” he asked.

“That doesn’t matter. Just know that they want every drop you have.”

Farley stared at the gold and Horace was looking at him for a reply. He rolled the lump of gold between his fingers with contemplation.

“You know how much the Gray Shadow’s bounty is up to? Seven chests of gold, land, hereditary titles for lordship...not to mention gaining the fame of being the slayer that took him out.” He gestured to the bag, “It’s far more than that.”

Helia narrowed her eyes, “There’s more where that came from...AND you don’t have to risk your life to get it.”

“True...but I’ve got a sneaky suspicion that this giantsbane is quite effective. Otherwise, why would your mystery employer want it so badly?” Farley asserted.

“I don’t know why they want it and I don’t care.” Helia lied convincingly as she leaned forward to hush her voice, “But I can’t stress enough that if you don′t sell this...you will most likely regret it.”

Farley grinned, his eyes gaining a light that was intrigued, “Oh ho ho. Is Helia of Tegath threatening me?”

“I’m just warning you that you and your men will be better off selling it since my employer would be...displeased if they don’t get all of your giantsbane.”

“Why don’t you join us instead? We’ll make more than we could ever spend if we use this giantsbane and take down the Gray Shadow!” he asked in a coaxing voice then gestured to Gillam. “You can even bring along this wanker.”

Helia shook her head, “How many men do you have?”

“Forty-six. Would be forty-eight with you two...though YOU would certainly count for more with your skills.”

She looked at the scattered group in the tavern and scoffed, “You can’t take out the Gray Shadow with only forty-six men, Farley.”

He snorted derisively, “How would you know? You never even saw the beast on your merry little trip in the North Woods...IF you went at all.”

Helia narrowed her blue eyes, “So you won’t sell?”

The man frowned then grinned as he leaned closer, “Well...I might consider selling it if you spread your legs and show me what a wild woman you can be.”

Gillam swung on Farley so fast even Helia barely had time to rear back and deliver the punch she wanted to give. The big slayer was knocked out of his chair and Horace was already up brandishing a knife. He came at Gillam with several fast swipes for his face but the tall fae leaned back, dodging the attacks. His hands suddenly came up and grabbed Horace’s knife arm and he threw him over his shoulder to the floor.

The commotion drew the attention of every one of Farley’s men who stopped their cavorting and drinking to see what was happening. Farley was up in an instant, meaty fists balled and mouth bloody.

“Alright you masked fucker! Let’s go!” he bellowed, swinging at Gillam.

The masked fae backed up, dodging the punches by mere inches. But Farley was a very experienced brawler and threw a nearby chair toward Gillam’s face. The fae evaded it too but it gave Farley the opening to ram Gillam’s back into the wall. Two gut punches and a graze to the mask. Gillam grunted and struck a punch to Farley’s head but it wasn’t enough to faze the slayer as he kept swinging.

Helia was up quick and managed to side-step Farley’s charge on Gillam.

“Damn it, Gillam!” she cursed, knowing this was NOT the scenario she wanted to go through.

That became abundantly apparent when the bar patrons (Farley’s men) began coalescing toward the fight.

Helia knew from the start Farley wouldn’t sell the giantsbane, but she hoped to avoid a fight and move on to the second stage of their plan. However, Gillam had reacted outside their plan and now they were outnumbered and forced to fight their way out of the bar. She was about to help Gillam when she noticed the large canister that was tucked next to Farley’s bar stool. She reached out and grabbed it up, hearing a sloshing within. The strange, almost clove-like aroma left little doubt it was the refined giantsbane.

“Hey! Give that back, bitch!” Horace barked as he was trying to get up off the floor.

Helia ignored him but his shout brought the unwanted attention of some of Farley’s other cronies.

“Get her!” Horace shouted.

Knives came out, bodies surged forward. Helia slung the canister across her back and withdrew her sword in one fluid motion. The sight of the larger blade arcing around made most of the men take a step back.

“The giantsbane or your lives.” She proclaimed loudly from behind the gleam of her sword.

The men paused but soon their weapons appeared and they engaged her.

Meanwhile nearby, the fight turned in Farley’s favor when he slid his fingers into a pair of knuckledusters that were clipped to his belt. He put them on so fluidly, Gillam wasn’t even aware until the first punch landed and he felt the faint burn of iron to his arms as he blocked it. He threw his arms up and deflected a second punch and a third, only managing to avoid direct hits to the face and body. With a quick movement he tried to kick Farley’s feet out from under him but the bulky brawler was not so easily toppled and merely stumbled to his knee. Barely a beat and Farley swung a hard uppercut that clipped Gillam’s mask, sending it flying across the bar.

Gillam let a gasp escape him when he felt the burn of the knuckleduster sear up his cheek and whip his head back. He heard his mask clatter to the floor. The pain nearly broke his façade but his control of his magic kept his appearance human. However, it flickered for the briefest instant and Farley seemed to get a funny look on his face.

It was enough of a pause for Gillam to retaliate. His long leg shot up and smashed across Farley’s face, knocking him against the bar. However, that didn’t stop the rest of the men from bull-rushing him and holding him immobile. Gillam almost summoned some defensive magic but he fell powerless when at least one of the men’s gauntlets gripped his arm. The fae groaned aloud and arched with agony as it felt like a hot cuff of metal had been clamped to his arm. The men seemed a bit perplexed by the reaction since none of them were doing more than subduing him. It took every ounce of control for Gillam to maintain his façade but it was too late with the prolonged contact with the iron glove.

The light green glow returned to his skin, his long fae ears protruded, and his blonde hair went pearlescent blue-white.

Helia was fending off the men who dared to take her on when she heard Gillam cry out. Her red hair swung around and her eyes widened when she saw the green hue of Gillam’s unmasked face.

“Shit!” she cursed.

One of Farley’s men swung a knife at her. She parried it away and delivered a vicious kick to his balls, dropping him instantly. She rushed to help Gillam when suddenly something solid smacked her shins, dropping her to the floor. A grunt of pain as she felt her own blade slice against the back of her hand. Luckily her arm guards and shin guards had prevented a much more serious injury but she was bleeding.

“Stealing from me?” Farley’s voice growled, spitting blood to the floor.

With a quick motion he cut the strap to the canister of giantsbane from her shoulder and yanked it back into his possession. Helia kicked her leg up at him but he kicked her foot away and laid his heavy blade against her shoulder.

“Let’s not do anything else brash, sweetie.” He warned but was distracted by Gillam’s revealed nature. “Well, now! I knew there was something odd about this one.”

He made a gesture and the group holding Gillam hauled him closer. There was the smell of burning flesh and Gillam was sweating from the pain.

Farley grabbed Gillam’s long ear and tugged it to make him look up.

“Fuck me! Looks like a goddamned elf!” he remarked.

Horace came closer and stared at the fae, “An elf?”

“Maybe. Sure as Hell ain’t a goblin. He’s pretty enough to be a girl.” He sneered down at Helia, tapping her with his sword, “You fuckin’ this one?”

“Tell your men to let him go, Farley!” she spat.

The big, bearded slayer grinned and shook the canister, “Tell you what...since I like ya, you give me that gold and this elf and I’ll give you this canister of giantsbane. And we’ll forget about this little spat and be friends again.”

“We aren’t friends you asshole.” She hissed.

Even from where she stood, she could see Gillam’s arm being burned by one of the men’s gauntlets as he gripped him. Quite suddenly, Helia flung a small knife up and hit that man in the thigh. He screamed in pain and immediately released his hold on Gillam. The fae’s face seemed to relax as the burning stopped.

Farley delivered a harsh kick to her ribs, “HEY! Didn’t I tell you NOT to do anything brash? Damn woman listens like a stump!”

“Stop! We’ll take that deal!” Gillam proclaimed in a pained voice.

Farley glanced at him, “What, elf?”

“The gold and I for the giantsbane. I agree.”

Helia pushed herself up, “Shut up, Gillam! You can’t just BUY my apprentice, Farley. And he doesn’t speak for me... NO deal!”

The unspilled drinks on the bar rippled. Helia felt a vibration in the wooden floor with her hands. She glanced around a second.

“Son of a bitch! Can’t these two follow a damn plan!?” she cursed to herself.

Farley sighed and shook his head ruefully, “All right. Don’t say I didn’t give you the choice. I’ll just take the gold, the elf, and keep the giantsbane.”

He stepped on the flat of her sword and then tapped her shoulder with his sword, “Get up. Slowly, now.”

Helia hissed vehemently and slowly stood with her hands up. His large, hard hand slapped her butt.

“Now you march your skinny ass out of town.” He commanded.

Seething with rage, Helia went to pick up her sword but suddenly there was a commotion outside and a couple of men and a woman barreled through the door of the bar and slammed it behind them. They looked terrified and the woman was hyperventilating.

“The fuck?” Horace barked at them.

The trio hissed and waved their hands at him wildly in a “be quiet!” gesture.

Their urgency made the bar fall quiet and bewildered. Of course, Helia and Gillam both didn’t have to guess why. With everyone distracted, Helia looked at Gillam for a moment. He gave her a subtle nod. Helia snatched up her sword and marched for the door. The three panicked newcomers were shaking their heads at her but she flicked her sword to coax them to step aside. They did briskly, staring at her like she was the most foolish or brave woman they’d ever seen. Without a backward glance she opened the door to the bar and walked out only to be seized up by an enormous gray hand.

“HOLY SHIT!” Farley and half the men swore.

The door was forcibly slammed shut again. Seizing his own distraction, Gillam yanked an arm free of one of his captors and elbowed him in the face. Assaulted, the man held his broken nose, filling his hand with blood. Gillam kicked powerfully and broke the others’ grasp on him. With an agile leap he cleared the bar and dashed for the back.

“Son of a bitch the elf is getting away!” Horace shouted, making a move to pursue.

“Forget him! That’s the fuckin’ Gray Shadow out there! He’s come right to us!” Farley pointed to some of his men, “You guys sneak out the back, get to the stables where we put the ballista and get them ready.” He pointed to the men who carried crossbows, “The rest of you, get all those bolts dunked in this canister. MOVE!”

…

Outside…

Helia recoiled slightly when Kendrick’s huge hand came down and snatched her up like a doll.

She glared at him, “Can’t either of you follow a damn plan!? I told you to stay out of town until we found Farley and then we’d come get you if he wouldn’t cooperate!”

He kept his voice quiet, “I smelled iron burn.”

She knew he was referring to Gillam’s injury, “You could smell that from all the way out there?”

“That smell is strong and unique. Where’s Gillam?” he asked, eyes scanning.

“Here!” Gillam’s voice came from the roof of the tavern.

After he’d bolted out the back he flew up to the roof.

“Are you hurt?” Kendrick asked.

“Don’t worry about that now! Hurry! They’re getting ready to attack you!” he urged the giant.

Kendrick looked down at the tavern, “He’s in there?”

They both nodded, “And he’s got the giantsbane.”

Kendrick knew it would be nothing for him to tear the roof off of the tavern. However, he also knew that doing so would not look good for peace later on (how inconvenient) and if there was a nest of slayers inside armed with giantsbane it would be like kicking a hornet’s nest. He could already faintly smell that nasty odor and if he got a face-full of it he’d be suffering. This would require some precision.

“Which one is Farley?” Kendrick asked, gently setting Helia on the roof of the tavern next to Gillam.

“He’s a big guy with a long, brown, braided beard and he’s wearing a black werewolf pelt.” Helia explained. “He’s got the giantsbane in a canister.”

He kept his voice whispered, “All right then. You two will get the canister and destroy it. I’ll keep him and his men distracted.”

“How exactly?” Helia asked.

Kendrick winked, “I’m worth a lot of money remember? Slayers follow the money.”

The giant quietly moved down the street a bit.

“Kendrick…!” Helia called.

He looked back at her.

“Don’t be gentle with Farley.” Her voice was serious and tinged with anger.

A grin slid over his teeth as he stepped over a smaller house and into the next street.

Helia sighed and looked at Gillam. She placed a hand on her belt.

“What the fuck was that, Gillam?” she snapped. “I’d expect Kendrick to buck the plan…what’s your excuse?!”

“I’m sorry…but he…!” the fae tried.

Helia held up a hand, “YES…I know. But how many times do I have to say it: I DON’T need your chivalrous rescue anytime some asshole makes a crude remark!” she shook her head, “Now they know you’re not human and you got hurt to boot!”

“I …no one should speak to you like that.” Gillam stated with quiet resolve.

The woman shook her head and gently but abruptly took his burnt arm. He hissed but tried to hide the reaction. She also noted the mark going up his cheek from Farley’s knuckledusters, marring the perfect male face. Helia frowned.

“Here. Let’s put something on that quick.”

Her hands went into her belt pouch and grabbed a vial of burn salve and a bandage. It worked on other burns but she wasn’t sure if the iron burn was the same. She dabbled it liberally on the bandage and then wrapped the fae’s arm. He grunted but allowed her care.

“This is what you get for not listening to me, you know?” she commented.

“I will try to do better.” he assured.