She couldn’t help but note the gleam of excitement in his eyes as he spoke about the beast, a slight flush of excitement rising to his cheeks in a most enticing way.
“I’ve tried tracking it, of course, but that cursed thing moves through the woods like a ghost, evading detection despite my best efforts. And believe me, I amverygood at my job.”
“I believe you. But how is it that you still can’t catch it?”
“It’s not for lack of trying, that’s for sure. I’ve set up all kinds of traps, ranging from high-tech to absolutely primitive, but none of them have met with success. Gromm’s men have tried as well, but they’re amateurs and their techniques are crude, lacking the art of a truly skilled professional. Clever thing, this beast. Damned clever.”
She chuckled. “It sounds like you almost respect it.”
“I do, in a hunter-prey sort of way. After so many years of simple tracking jobs, I have to say, this has been utterly invigorating.”
“But who wants you to catch it?”
“Oh, that’s not a regular job. It’s more for the sport of the game than anything, though I’ll take the payment when I succeed. But it’s a funny twist of fate that led to this situation.”
“How so?”
“We arrived here with but one task. Hunt down and retrieve the targets. And that was all we expected to do. If it hadn’t gone and killed several of Gromm’s men while they were out hunting down the escapees, we’d never have even known it existed. But now Gromm wants its hide, and that means it is as good as dead. The only question is when.”
“And you? What do you want? Why are you really doing this?”
Rylinn hesitated a moment. “I suppose in some regards it’s just another job, yes. Gromm’s paying me well for the additional work, after all, and I won’t turn him down. But I have to say, in all honesty, I would likely do this one for free just for the challenge. It’s such a breath of fresh air to finally face a worthy adversary. But don’t tell Gromm I said that,” he added with a wink.
“So, no nature walks in my near future, then?”
“I’m afraid not. Only a fool would walk those hills alone.”
Margot thought to mention Braxxos, the odd mountain man she’d met, the man who’d shown her just how safe it could be. But was it really an illusion? Was she truly in danger all that time? She’d begun to have doubts, but regardless how she may have felt about that, she decided against saying anything about Braxxos. He was a gentle spirit who had chosen to avoid other people, and she was not going to be the person to rob him of his solitude.
“Well, I’m not a fool. And you’re not a fool. And you’re this big, bad tracker guy. So maybe you can take me for a walk sometime. If you’re not scared, of course.”
He laughed, his eyes crinkling with amusement. “Oh, are you trying to get a rise out of me?”
I don’t think I’d mind that one bitshe silently mused, noting the large bulge in his trousers for what was definitely not the first time.I don’t think I’d mind that at all.
“Damn it, Rylinn!” Gromm bellowed as he burst into the room without so much as a knock. “I’ve been summoning you.”
“My comms were off.”
“Why in the name of Orvlax would you turn your comms off? You have a job to do!”
“Yes, but if you recall our discussion this morning, you said you were not going to be back until nightfall.”
“That doesn’t relieve you of your duties. I’m paying you, Rylinn. Don’t you forget it. When I call, you come, like a good little minion. Understand?”
The man’s chest was heaving, the veins in his neck standing out, as well as the massive vasculature of his borderline ridiculously large arms. Gromm was fired up about something, and this wouldnotbe the time to mouth off.
“Of course, you’re right,” Rylinn said. “My apologies. What do you need of me?”
“I need you to do your damn job and track! I just lost two more men to that damned thing out there. Now come on, we need you with us.”
Rylinn rose, giving Margot an apologetic look before stepping toward the door. “You weren’t supposed to be operating in its territory, Gromm. We talked about this. Anyone who might have escaped in that area would have been devoured by now. There’s no sense sending your people down there.”
“I didn’t, you idiot. The cursed beast went roaming from what we can tell. Popped up in an entirely different area.”
This was news to Rylinn, and his interest was very piqued by the revelation. “Are you sure it was the same one?”
“We’ve only ever seen the one. And the way it tore into my men, it seemed obvious it remembered us. And it held a grudge.”
