Blood Warrant*
Adren woke up in what seemed to be the infirmary of the Kylmia flag ship. It truly was an exquisite piece of technological development. Most ships were lucky enough if the cabins weren't filled with mice and walls made of rotting wood.
The flag ship was lined with a steel interior hull. This not only increased its protection but also made the living quarters much more habitable. Although a metal ship would drastically increase the ship's weight, it was balanced by the crystal engine that could constantly produce energy to propel the ship.
Stretching over two hundred meters the flag ship carried eight energy cannons on the deck and over four hundred cannons lined on the side of the ship. While the number of cannons was already a sight to behold, the eight energy cannons was the real jewel. They are capable of firing a high power, high precision shot twice a minute and would decimate anything within a two klick radius.
"I didn't die?" It was the first thing that Adren thought when he woke up.
He didn't know whether he should be happy or sad that he was still alive. Being dead would have at least given him peace.
As he was deep in thought, Rebecca walked in to check on his wound. Disregarding that he was awake, she started to unwrap the bandaging that the doctor had put on while he was unconscious.
"How is he, Manni?" Rebecca ask the doctor who was finishing up his procedures.
"Much better now that all the poison has been cleaned out. Another hour and he would have been a goner."
Seemed about right. The poison that the assassins use is usually the venom from adult Raz found in the jungle who poison their prey and wait for them to fall unconscious. The poison would kill the target in their sleep, at least that's how it's described.
Rebecca could be seen checking the wound caused by a low strike nearing his hip and groin. A strike that had been going for his femoral artery when he had countered his assault.
"If you move your hand a little to the right and lower, I won't protest." Adren teased.
Following the direction he had insisted Rebecca could see a lump rise under the sheets.
She jumped back and glared at Adren.
Adren smiled in response at the beautiful blonde angel until he realized how many weapons she had strapped to her body.
Shit. Dressed like that she was either an assassin or a bounty hunter.
Out of sheer habit, he reached under the sheets where his knives would normally be, only to find bare skin. Knowing that he had been stripped of his weapons Adren started for the door, but she grabbed him and gently pushed him back onto the bed.
"It's alright, you shouldn't move with your wound."
Uhh, no. Adren calmed down and quickly processed all the information he had.
Since he was still alive that meant he was more valuable to them alive than dead, this was something that he could use to his advantage. Why though, they would pay just as much for a dead body.
More, in fact.
He narrowed his eyes on her, "I'm not in custody?"
She shook her head, "Do you remember anything that happened?"
He gripped his head trying, to recall the events that had occurred. Unfortunately only bits and pieces came to him. There was one thing that he was able to recall with clarity though.
"The kid, is she okay?"
"My little sister? Yes, she is fine. Is that all you can remember?"
He struggled to grasp at any other details. All he could remember was the pain. The exact same pain he was feel at the moment. He looked down to see blood bleeding onto the bed sheets.
The woman looked at the bandages she had forgotten to re-bandage and cursed, "Shit, you've pulled your stitches open. Lie down."
Adren did as he was told. He was already at their mercy, if they wanted to kill him they could have done it when he was unconscious. Hell, they could have just left him to die back at the tavern.
"Where are we?"
She pointed at the steel floor, something he hadn't noticed before, "You're on my ship."
Rage burned through me and I sprang back, "I won't let you turn me over to the enforcers," he growled.
The woman took a step back and held her hands up to show she meant no harm. "That is not my intent. If it was I would have left you to the authorities before we left when they demanded you."
Now he was confused, "Pardon?"
Putting her hands down, "When we left Yawen we were hauled for carrying a fugitive and demanded to hand him in. Of course I denied and blew their ships to smithereens, and thus you are here now."
After she explained, his jaw went slack. He never had anyone stand up for him after his family had been slaughtered. "Why would you risk your crew for me?"
"First of all it was to save ourselves, since we're wanted by enforcers just as much as you are. Second we saved you for the same reason you save my sister."
"I didn't think anyone else would. I wanted her to get home safely."
His response seemed to have stunned her as she turned quiet, "Well, you have yourself to thank. That decision was the only reason you are still alive. You saved her and we saved you."
"Thank you." It was the only thing he could say for everything they had done for him, even if he did save their sister.
"You should stay in bed and rest." Manni spoke after he redid the opened stitches.
Adren shook his head, "I'm fine, I just need my clothes."
Manni looked at Rebecca waiting for her decision.
The look Adren gave Rebecca was the same as her stubborn brothers. No matter how much she persuaded they would not change.
Sigh
She turned around and went to the cabinet where his gear was place, an overstatement; his rags would be a better term to describe them. His boots were worn so thing that the left one had a hole in the front, big enough to stick a big toe through. His clothes where in better condition, but were still stretched and dull from overuse and age.
"Can I get you anything else?"
Adren gathered his clothes, sneaking quick glances as her nervously. After gathering up his courage asked, "Might I ask for a favor Mita?"
"Muta," she corrected. Mita was the Kylmia term for a woman with a husband, while muta was one without. Even she didn't know why she had correct him, "what?"
He was entirely embarrassed by his shamelessness, but he had to ask. "Is there a shower or something on board that I could use?"
She gestured to a room to his right, "Through there. There are soap, razors, and towels."
He gave her a regal bow, "Thank you." He said before leaving his gear and rushing into the bathroom.
It truly surprised her that the most hated royal family would bow to her.
Meanwhile in the bathroom…
BLESS THE LORD THERE IS SOAP!
It had been a month since he had bathed and another two months since he had shaved. He knew that he smelled like something dead and rotten. Given that the soap basically turned black from the filth on him, it was a miracle that the wound didn't get infected.
He quickly shaved and cleaned himself up, worried that he would get kicked out if he spent too long. It would cost a decent amount of energy to run a bathroom on a ship.
When he returned, he saw the woman holding the wanted poster for his capture or death.
____________________________________
Axel Silverguard.
Wanted dead, violated, desecrated, and in pieces. Blood warrant.
Acts: Murder. Kidnapping. Conspiracy. Attempted murder. Theft. High treason against the Ybowen empire.
Bounty will be paid by His Majesty upon delivery. Bonus will be paid for delivery of his heart and insignia ring.
____________________________________
Blood warrant the worst kill order that can be placed on a person. Not only would they be killed, they would be subjected to torture before being killed.
He quickly pulled the poster out of her hands and rolled it up before putting it back in his jacket.
"To answer your question, Muta. Yes, I deserve it."