Sword of Mercy Page 5

  “I assume that once the two of you completely merge, you both will be La Patron’s sword. It makes more sense when you back into it,” Jasmine said.

  “So Hawke needs to pledge his service to La Patron, which should help us merge closer and La Patron will deem us both as his Sword? Is that it?” Asia tried to make sense of what she’d been told.

  “Sounds about right. I asked Silas about the pledging thing and he’ll use Angus to do it. Is he around?”

  “No. We’re in Romania at an old castle.” Thoughts continued to roll through her mind over what the Goddess expected of her. How could she and Hawke be responsible for victory in the war? The Liege had decades of a head-start and were committed to a cause grossly twisted over the years.

  “Asia? Asia?”

  “Yes, Ma’am?” She hadn’t been paying attention.

  “What are you doing in Romania?”

  “Another Alpha had information regarding the Liege and needed Hawke to translate some books.” She paused and then gasped. “I saw the birthmark or one very close to David’s.”

  “What? When? One second, let me get Silas and you can tell us both the same time.”

  Asia looked over at Hawke, who met her glance with a frown.

  “What’s going on?”

  She told him about the conversation with the Goddess and watched his brow rise. “Really? Swords? That’s interesting. I’d like to listen.”

  Asia merged the links so they could all be in the discussion.

  “Silas is here with me. Now what’s this about the birthmark? We’ve had Maheegan, the pack historian, searching everywhere to find information about it and she hasn’t had any luck.”

  “Mistress, Hawke, my mate is on the link as well. He has been translating old texts from the Lords Roundtable.”

  “Roundtable?” Jasmine asked.

  “That was the name of the original Liege Lords,” Asia said and went on to explain what Radoff told them.

  “This Hungarian fellow set up the Liege to help the full-bloods?” Jasmine asked in a doubtful tone.

  “Yes,” Hawke said. “He was emphatic, almost evangelistic over the cause. He set aside his entire considerable fortune to ensure shifters never died out. It’s impressive actually, he had little use for humans other than to use them to help carry out his agenda.”

  “Was he a shifter?” Jasmine asked.

  Asia sensed Hawke’s surprise. She hadn’t thought of that. But it was possible.

  “I don’t know, but something happened between him and Alpha Nikolas. Perhaps there is some truth to the rumors of shifters making other shifters through the bite,” Hawke said and then explained the Liege’s initial interest in the bite.

  “That is one theory,” La Patron said without saying more. Asia wanted to push, but years of conditioning stopped her. As her Alpha he would decide how much to tell her.

  “What would be another theory?’ Hawke asked.

  “That he was under Alpha Nikolas’ control, fed off his life force and was linked to him in some way.”

  “Like a minion?” Jasmine asked.

  “That might be a word for it,” La Patron said.

  “Is that possible?” Hawke asked.

  “Under a certain set of circumstances, it could be. I was born in the 1700’s, this happened in the 1800’s. To my knowledge Angus, my litter mate, has abilities no other person has. Some would say the things he does with items from nature is magic. During that time the Goddess gave gifts to men to perform certain tasks, that’s why I say it is possible Nikolas turned the Hungarian into a shifter through the bite or turned him into a minion, extending his life force through the bite. It would also explain why the Hungarian died not long after the Alpha. The Alpha sustained his prolonged life force.”

  “Okay, if Konstantin was part wolf why are his initials in this mark?” Asia asked to get the conversation back on track. Radoff had given them both a disappointed sigh when Hawke told him they were on what amounted to a conference call with La Patron. “Why not Alpha Nikolas initials?”

  “Or Black Clan?” Jasmine asked.

  “You say there is a semblance of a snout and paw?” Silas asked.

  “They seem to have been drawn by a few different people over the years, there are some variations. Sometimes the initials are clear, other times they aren’t. Different body parts as well. Sometimes a paw, others a snout, ears, one had teeth.”

  “I don’t know the answers to those questions, but I will have someone do some additional research. Any chance of sending a book here for review?”

  “I can ask Alpha Radoff but he’s holding them close, won’t even allow us to leave out the room with one,” Asia said.

  “Will he allow my pack historian to come there to complete her research? She knows the birthmark and could shed some light on the issue,” Silas said.

  “This may not be the best time,” Asia said, looking at Hawke, who was speaking to Alpha Radoff.

  “Perhaps, but all of this is connected and I want answers,” Silas said in a hard voice.

  “No, he won’t allow the books to leave and yes, she may come to see them here. He’s pleased you think they may be of some value. Most of the journals are meeting notes and deal with member infractions,” Hawke said stifling a yawn. “We will leave shortly to find a hotel and return in the morning.”

  “I will contact her and get her flight plans to you and Angus. If anyone can make sense of those notes, Maheegan can. It’s her gift.” La Patron sounded confident which eased Asia’s concerns of having one more person to watch over.

  “When should we expect her?” Asia asked, thinking Chacal would have another visitor.

  “She is en-route to my compound. I will change her plans so that she will arrive within a day or two. It depends on what she needs to leave the country.”

  “The Goddess wants Hawke’s loyalty to you locked down,” Jasmine said breaking the silence.

  “So I heard,” La Patron said and Asia assumed he didn’t appreciate his mate bringing it up at the moment.

  “How do you suggest we do that?” Hawke asked, surprising her. She thought they’d have more time to discuss it, but it didn’t seem that way.

  “Normally, there’d be a blood exchange, but that’s not going to happen right now. Are you and Angus linked?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?” Silas asked.

  “He’s not linked to my mate and I met him through her.”

  “I see. I’m not linked to your mate either, my mate is linked to her.”

  “I’m aware of that. But the Goddess has vouched for you when she made a decree that my loyalty to you be secured. I trust her and my mate. Both agree that you are a worthy Alpha,” Hawke said without pretense.

  “Good to know.”

  One moment Hawke sat in the chair the next he fell sideways and just barely stopped himself from hitting the cobblestone floor. His chest rose and fell as he breathed in deep gulps of air. He pulled the fabric over his head so the air would ease the fire rolling through his veins.

  Asia touched his face. “Are you alright?”

  “What happened?” Radoff asked.

  A burning sensation raced through his body and slammed into his chest. A sharp pain scraped his right side, burning from the inside as if someone took a pencil and drew lines. Gritting his teeth, he tensed as the sensation continued to run through his body on a loop, and then slumped forward when it stopped.

  “What happened to Hawke?” Asia asked Jasmine. Hawke wanted to ask the same question, but couldn’t talk.

  “Silas marked him. Took a lot of energy from both of us, I’m going to go rest and will contact you when Maheegan’s on her way.” She sounded winded as if she needed to catch her breath.

  “Hawke?”

  “One second. It’s cooling.” He exhaled as cool tingles surrounded the area. A few moments later he sat up and rested his forehead in his palm without speaking.

  Asia gasped.

  Radoff mo
ved to face him, both stared at his chest. The pain eased a bit and he looked down. A miniature sword was carved in his flesh like a tattoo. Amazed that it didn’t disappear like most of his wounds, he continued to stare.

  “Well, that’s one way to do it,” Asia said and sat in the chair next to him.

  Chapter 8

  Angus parked the truck in front of the building and sighed. It looked abandoned, just as the others had. Chacal stepped out the passenger side and closed the door. Angus rechecked his notes, looked at the building and joined Chacal.

  “This one’s not as old as the others,” Chacal said looking around. “Someone has been here recently.”

  Angus nodded and tried to identify the scent. “Human, maybe lab workers or custodians. Maybe we can get a clue what’s been going on, or if we are lucky there will be someone we can talk to, let’s check it out.” He walked down the overgrown path toward what appeared to be the entrance. Once he cleared the large columns, he noticed a large piece of wood covered the opening.

  “Wonder who put that there?” he asked Chacal through their link.

  “Humans. The Liege don’t bother closing a building after they leave.”

  Angus nodded and walked around the building. If this was, like the other abandoned former work-sites, everything that would connect the Liege would be erased.

  A small village lay beyond the hill which was highly unusual. “Let’s go talk to the people in that place. This is the first Liege stronghold this close to a town. I’d like to hear what they have to say.” He looked at the building again in disappointment, so far they’d all been the same, abandoned with no clues. Hopefully they’d learn something of value from the locals.

  Chacal nodded and they returned to their vehicle and pulled off. “It’s not like the Liege to change the way they operate and have a lab this close to people. Something’s strange about this,” Angus said as he drove down the dirt road and parked near the pub.

  “True. Maybe that place dealt with their legitimate businesses, if that had any. Or was an administration only site,” Chacal said.

  After taking a deep breath, he looked at his friend. “I don’t smell anything but humans inside this place, you?”

  “That is true. But we will soon discover what type of humans.” Chacal stepped out the truck and headed toward the door of the small establishment without waiting for Angus.

  By the time Angus entered the bar, Chacal had his hands wrapped around the throat of a tall, burly man whose face grew redder by the second. No one interfered, so Angus took a seat at the bar and ordered a beer.

  The bartender wiped the glass with a half-clean rag, filled it and placed it in front of him. “You with him?” He tipped his chin toward Chacal.

  Without turning Angus nodded and picked up his glass.

  “The first one’s on the house.” The bartender grinned, showing a wide gap between his front teeth.

  Sensing a story, Angus stared at the man. “Why?”

  “He’s a regular pain in the arse, that one.” He looked over Angus’ shoulder with a smirk. “He had it coming, the thief.”

  “Thief? What does he steal?” Angus glanced over his shoulder, although Chacal had already told him everything was okay.

  “Anything not tied down,” he spat and watched Chacal walk the much larger man out the building with his hand still on his neck.

  “I’m going to question him,” Chacal said through their link.

  “He tried to rob my friend? That was a big mistake,” Angus said in a low voice and gauged the atmosphere of the place.

  A chair scraped the floor in the main area. A young male in his late teens sat on the stool next to Angus and nodded at the bartender. “What’re you and your friend looking for?” His breath smelled sour, like stale beer and meat. Thin shouldered, acne marks on his narrow face and a short pug nose, he glanced at Angus and then looked away.

  Angus turned aside and looked at him in the mirror behind the bar. “What makes you think I’m looking for anything?”

  “He came in here looking for a fight, Harwg’s stupid enough to give him one. But I saw the gleam in his eye, he wanted information. I might be able to help you if the price is right.”

  Angus inhaled, filtered out the bad hygiene and searched for the tart scent of deception. He smelled none.

  The male leaned close to his ear and whispered. “You want information ‘bout LOBO don’t cha?”

  Angus frowned. “What?” The name meant nothing to him.

  The male seemed surprised and looked at the bartender who chuckled. “Well, if you didn’t come looking for information ‘bout that large building up there, what were you snooping around there for?”

  “It’s for sale, we were looking to buy it. But what are you talking about? What’s a LOBO?” Angus sensed both men wanted to talk but wanted to make money if they could.

  “I told ya,” the bartender said in a righteous tone. “No one has heard of this thing you keep prattling about. It is all in your mind.” He tapped his forehead and walked off.

  Angus took a sip of the beer and waited.

  “It’s not in my mind. I was there. I saw them.” He looked behind him and lowered his voice. “That building you thinking of buying did a lot of things to animals. Small dogs or foxes I suppose. Anyway they called it LOBO. Can’t recall what the first two letters stood for but the last two were big fancy words. Behavior optimization, don’t think I’ll ever forget that.” He snorted and took a long sip of his beer.

  Angus watched the guy out the corner of his eye, sensing movement in the back of the club he angled in his seat to catch a glimpse of the man seated behind them. “Did they mess up the building with the animals, because I don’t want to buy it if it’s torn apart?”

  “No…no. If it’s messed up now, it’s because of the gypsies who live there different times of the year. They have no respect for law or property. The building owners cleaned everything out when they left. If I hadn’t…” he glanced at Angus and then looked into his beer.

  “What?” Angus sensed the guy was about to say something important.

  “Nothing, well it is something. Look, how much would you pay to find out what was going on in that building? You need to know before you buy it right?”

  Angus rubbed his chin and stared at the young man. “It depends on how valuable I think it is. Are you saying something is wrong? That I’m being suckered into a bad deal?” His voice rose a little at the end.

  “Shhhh, keep it down. These guys are powerful and there are ears everywhere. That’s why I want to get rid of this.” He dropped his forehead into the palm of his hand and closed his eyes. Angus sensed his genuine distress and decided to push.

  “Fifty US dollars.”

  The guy looked at him wide-eyed.

  “That’s how much I’ll pay you to tell me or show me what you have that’s wrong or right with that building.” Angus tipped his chin to the right.

  The guy licked his lips and then glanced around the almost empty room. “Okay, follow me to the loo, I’ll give it to you then.”

  “No. Follow me outside and then we walk towards the building and you give it to me on the way. I have no use for blank pages or useless prattle.”

  Chacal walked inside at that moment and took a seat at the table near the door. “Loudmouth, poor hygiene, but he knew nothing. They didn’t hire locals, and had nothing to do with the villagers. Seems they stayed in that building for two years and then moved.”

  “Tell your friend it’s okay to bring the pages, so we can go,” Angus said softly taking a guess at the identity of the male seated nearby.

  “Fifty you say?”

  Angus nodded but didn’t speak. Instead, he told Chacal the gist of the conversation with the young man through their link.

  “LOBO, an acronym? How original.”

  Angus watched the young guy lean back, and toss a coin onto the bar. “Come on then,” he said, standing and motioning to his friend who sat in the back of the b
ar.

  “I’m going to see what this kid has in the briefcase, monitor the bartender just in case he wants to get involved,” Angus told Chacal who stared at the barkeep.

  “Got it. Watch your back, I don’t smell deceit, but you never know.”

  Angus followed the guy out the bar until they reached his car. He leaned against it and waited. It took some time for the other guy to arrive and when he did, he handed a roll of leaves to the other guy and walked off.

  In a few moments the leaves were removed and Angus looked down at a stack of documents. L.O.B.O was stamped across the front page.

  “Fifty American dollars.”

  Angus reached into his pocket and pulled out three twenties. “Keep the change,” he said, taking the papers. The young guy walked around the car and headed in the opposite direction of his friend. Within seconds he disappeared into the woods.

  “We need to leave and verify this information.”

  “On my way. The barkeep’s nervous, he keeps looking around like he’s expecting company.”

  “You make him nervous. What’d you do to the big guy?” Angus unlocked the truck and stepped inside.

  “He’s sleeping.”

  Angus shook his head and read the first page of the report. Liege Organized Behavior Optimization. “What the hell?” he leaned forward and read through what appeared to be a chapter of a training manual. He looked up when Chacal slid into the passenger seat.

  “Read this.” He slid the pages to his friend, started the truck and pulled out with a u-turn. They needed to research this immediately, which meant getting back to Chacal’s compound, an hour and a half away.

  By the time they reached the main highway, Chacal had read through several pages without saying anything.

  “Is it as bad as I think?” Angus didn’t care for what the name suggested and could imagine what the Liege would call optimized behavior. On the other hand, this might be the break they needed to find the bastards.

  “Probably worse. On paper, it sounds benevolent, as though the Liege is a large charity taking in homeless strays and making their lives better. When the reality is they train these pups to blindly obey their will, and deny their wolf. And this is just one chapter. Imagine what the rest of it is like.”