I looked at Deux, and took a minute to consider my options. Option one, go into a dangerous raider camp with a group who I explicitly betrayed for the Khan. Option two, go into a dangerous raider camp with a group I betrayed to the Khan while Deux watches my back. I paused for a long ti, staring blankly at him.
He just smiled back at , unconcerned by the amount of ti I was taking. He knew Id already made up my mind as soon as hed made the offer. I was dragging it out, but truthfully, there were only two people Id trust more than him to watch my back, and one of those two was myself.
I could use the help.
He nodded. Good! Whats the job?
Infiltrate a raider camp masquerading as a group of Kaijin, remove any obvious traps or warn of threats, then signal an attack from a larger force.
Cool. Do they have anything for breakfast around here?
Thats all? Just cool?
Deux nodded. If you need the help, you need the help. We kill a few raiders, bing bang boom, then we get you on the road to the Cut. Not like it needs to be complicated. He stood still for a few monts. So, as I asked, breakfast?
I sighed, and walked over to the exit to the tent gesturing for a guard. Can we get so food?
He nodded and walked off.
I turned back into the tent to see Deux lounging on my bed, his combat boots off, lighting a cigarette and inhaling deeply. They give you pretty decent digs when you visit, huh?
I moved back to the table and got back into the maintenance work I was doing, seamlessly resuming the count I was doing midway through. Theyre fine. Better than I expected.
Deux blew a bit of smoke, ashing onto the ground next to the cot. I dont know of anyone outside of the Horde who is able to sleep in the heart of Fette like this, and he let you stay from the mont he t you?
I paused my count. Yeah. Since you introduced .
Huh, thats kind of weird.
I turned to look at him. Do you have a theory or are you just talking to talk?
He took another deep inhale. Talking to talk. He let that statent hang in the air for a mont. Why do you think he trusts you so much?
I shrugged. Not sure.
Hmmm, could it just be that youre similar? Or maybe hes a fan of the color black?
If that were the case then hed like you just as much. I said, gesturing to his robes, before turning back around to the table.
Before he could speak again, the food arrived, and Deux was, rcifully, too busy eating to talk. That allowed to finally finish up my inventory, maintenance, and update so notes and maps.
By the ti I was done I turned around to see that Deux had actually fallen asleep. A lit cigarette in his mouth. I walked over, and snuffed it out between my fingers, shaking my head. I heard movent outside of the tent.
Marshall Donovan?
I walked over to the tent flap and peeked out to see a guard too young to hide a slightly scared expression when he saw .
What is it?
Your uh, friend. We dont know what to do with hishorses?
I looked back at Deux. Hey! Wake up!
He didnt move and I sighed, returning my attention to the guard. Lead the way.
The guard nodded and began led out of the palace to a small patch of fenced off grass a short distance away. I noticed a couple of the Khans wives standing there keeping so sharp featured, dark haired children from going near two massive black Potts horses that were winnowing, and milling back and forth, throwing out the occasional hiss.
I jumped over the fence, and approached the equudentes as Nico calls them, bloodmanes, as Deux calls them, though I preferred to simply think of them as horses with sharp teeth. When I got close enough to one of them, I gently ran my hand along its side and noticed that it was slick with sweat. I patted the side of its head and it let out a gentle hiss as it cald down a bit. I looked into its eyes, which were bloodshot and heavily lidded. Id seen this before. Theyd been fed at drugged with redeye, and then alternated between with no breaks in order to reduce travel ti. I hadnt thought about how Deux had traveled so quickly, but it made sense. I walked over to the young guard, who was doing his best to look impressive in front of the Khans wives.
I need at. Go to whatever butchers you have here and get as much as you can. Doesnt have to be the good cuts.
Thats uh, not really my job.
I leaned down. If those horses go hungry, itll beco your job very quickly.
He swallowed loudly, and walked off at a pace just short of being undignified.
I hopped back in and spent a bit longer with the horses, patting their sides and trying to calm them down. The redeye wouldnt have hurt them, they had the sa amped up resistance as deadn, but the run theyd had on top of that ant theyd need plenty of rest and at. It also explained why Deux himself had fallen asleep so quickly. He was doing his usual playing at being relaxed and easygoing, while working himself to death at the sa ti.
The guard returned driving a small cart of so kind that reeked of rotting at. He parked it, opened the gate and backed it in. I held the horses back from hopping the fence for a few monts, and once the cart was fully in I let them go. They quickly buried their heads in the thick pile of at, earning the moniker Deux had given them of Bloodmanes. I gave them each a final pat, then hopped back over the fence. The children that had been watching the horses looked excited and entertained at the feeding, as did one of the two wives, but the other and the young guard had the color drained from their faces.
I glanced at him as I walked out. Theyll need at least one more trunk load, but their mood should improve a lot, even after this first one.
He nodded.
I went to walk away, when I saw a group approaching . They were dressed in light chainmail, tunics, and Ursan fur. They all had bows, and quivers on their backs. The one in the lead had short cut blonde hair, and big brown eyes, as well as a fresh scar above her lip. It was Shayera of the Ren Faree, clearly in charge of the rangers that were to help clear the path for the Khan. She approached directly, but diverted her attention when she saw the horses. She took a few steps toward them, watching them enjoy their al, and turned her attention to . What do you call these? Nightmares? Death-Stallions?
Bloodmanes. I offered, choosing the moniker I was certain the Rens would be the most likely to latch on to.
She looked at them admiringly for a few monts, and I felt I could see the idea forming in her head of her and the Rens riding into battle on them. She eventually turned back to face , the expression of admiration falling from her face, replaced by a frown and dead eyed stare.
The Khan requested the best of the rangers. Were here.
You know the job? I asked.
She nodded.
Anything you want to ntion before we get started?
She shook her head, and for a mont we stood there silent, but for the sounds of the bloodmanes eating. Her expression was neutral, but I could feel rage simring beneath it. It was a fair reaction. Id betrayed her and her people, taken Atlans side, and held a gun to her head to make it happen. I didnt offer any apologies, didnt bother making excuses. What was done was done. I just looked her in the eye and said, See you in the morning then.
She hesitated. Her mouth opened for a mont as if shed been prepared to say sothing, but she held back. She nodded, gestured for her n to follow, took one last glance and the bloodmanes, and walked away.
I didnt think shed try to kill during the mission, too risky for everyone involved, but I did feel better knowing that Deux would be watching my back this ti. That assud, of course, that hed be awake when it was ti to leave and could avoid getting himself shot when the bullets started flying. I let out a breath and walked back into the tent and to the room Id been given. I laid on the ground and closed my eyes, taking what sleep I could get before the shooting started.
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