"So it seems, though they're doing a very poor job of catching us considering we've been tracking them for half a day."
"Hello, Tyrus."
They looked to see Gavril there, his sword at his side, his face taut. Tyrus's gaze dropped to Gavril's blade.
"Do I need to draw mine as well?" he said, that jaunty tone evaporating from his voice.
"No, of course not." Gavril put his sword away. He looked at Moria. "The other one is dead. The blood loss was too much." When the younger bounty hunter groaned, he said, "We should tend to him."
He started toward the man. Then he stopped, turned slowly, and, his tone formal, said, "I am glad to see you are well, Tyrus."
Tyrus accepted the courtesy with a nod, and they walked to the bounty hunter
. Moria hugged Daigo while Gavril stripped off their captive's cloak and tunic and Tyrus stood watch. Moria retrieved water from the campfire and set about cleaning and then cauterizing the man's wounds. The first step came with muffled grunts of pain. The second brought screams, and Gavril had to stuff a cloth in the man's mouth before everyone within a quarter-day's walk heard him.
When they finished, the bounty hunter passed out. They stood, staring down at him.
"Well, that's inconvenient," Tyrus said.
Daigo chuffed in agreement. Gavril opened his mouth, but Tyrus cut him off with, "We'll bind him while we talk. I'll use the other man's belt. Leave that gag in his mouth, too, so he doesn't wake screaming."
Tyrus walked back to the dead man. Gavril stared after him.
"He's changed," he murmured when Tyrus was out of earshot.
"He's had to."
Gavril nodded, his gaze lowering. "I am sorry he's become involved in this. We were friends. Yes, I've denied it. But we were."
"I know."
"I should have known he'd follow you into this. I could tell . . . at the court . . . even on so short an acquaintance."
"He did not follow me, Gavril. He isn't a puppy."
A faint twist of a smile. "He used to be. That's what his father called him, when he trailed after me, letting me lead our adventures. He's not a puppy anymore. And you're right, Keeper--not a follower either. That is what I did not expect."
"He's an imperial prince. He knows how to lead. If you know him as well as you should, you know why he's never done so before."
Gavril nodded. "His brothers. Yes. I mean he's more adept than I would have expected. At leading. At fighting. At surviving. I can see why you care for him."
"I care for him because of who he is, Gavril. Not because he's a fine warrior."
"Who's a fine warrior?" Tyrus asked as he came back.
"Him." Moria pointed at the young bounty hunter.
Tyrus laughed. "I could tell. Good thing I didn't try to take him on myself. I might never have survived."
Belt in hand, he headed for the inept young bounty hunter. Daigo followed, growling.
"Yes, yes," Tyrus said, reaching to turn the young man over and bind him. "You're very brave around those who have lost consciousness and--"
The bounty hunter's hand shot out. He grabbed Tyrus by the tunic. Steel flashed. A thin dagger, from under the young man's clothes. Tyrus was already wrenching away, Daigo leaping on the bounty hunter to pin him. Gavril ran, sword out, Moria right behind him. She had her dagger poised, but Daigo was grappling with the bounty hunter, and she dared not throw it, for fear of hitting her wildcat.
The steel flashed again. That thin dagger headed straight for Daigo's throat. She launched hers. She had to. It was a moment too late, but Tyrus was not. His blade sliced into the young man's side an eyeblink before hers hit the bounty hunter's heart. As blood spurted from the boy's side, Tyrus wrenched out her dagger and slammed it in again, as deep as he could, giving the bounty hunter a quicker death.
Gavril and Moria stopped a couple of paces from the body. Tyrus pulled out the dagger, walked to the side, and cleaned it in the grass. When he handed it back to her, his hands shook. He noticed and gave Moria a rueful twist of a smile.