A big man emerged, a sword sheathed at his hip.
He was very tall, very broad, and very muscular. His short, brown hair topped a masculine face, with a strong jaw, and brilliant blue eyes.
Annora groaned. “Any Zhalton but this one.”
Brodin flicked a glance at her. He had noted some animosity between his First Claw and Rhain’s second-in-command. “Rhain’s captain of the guard is a skilled fighter.”
Annora snorted. “He’s rigid, unbending, and thinks he has all the answers.”
“Sounds a little like you,” Poppy murmured.
Annora’s face soured. “Don’t make me change my mind about liking you.”
“Would you prefer it if I lied to you?”
The First Claw sniffed. “Be quiet.”
The man stopped in front of Brodin and bowed his head. They were eye to eye. “Emperor Sarkany.”
“It’s Brodin. Thanks for coming, Thadd.”
The man gave a brisk nod. “Zavir and his forces must be stopped.” There was a dark undertone to his voice. “I’m happy to help.” His gaze flicked to Annora. “First Claw.”
“Captain,” Annora clipped out.
Well, Brodin was surprised that the air around them didn’t frost over. “And you haven’t officially met Poppy, Thadd. This is Dr. Poppy Ellison.”
A faint smile appeared on the captain’s face. “Mal is very happy you’re doing well, Poppy. I’m Captain Thadd Naveri, captain of the guard for Overlord Sarkany.”
Poppy held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Thadd.”
“Mal’s showed me how to give a proper Earth handshake.” He shook her hand before looking back at Brodin. “So, where do we start?”
“We’ll meet with my cleavers, brief you, and make a plan.”
They headed to the lodge where the cleavers were waiting.
“Are you able to access energy from Damar’s magnetic field?” Poppy asked Thadd.
“A little. It’s not as strong as on Zhalto, but I can still use some energy here.”
They entered the main meeting room. Most of the cleavers lounged in chairs around the table. Tolf was pacing at the back.
A map of the forest and lake was projected up on the wall.
“Cleavers,” Brodin said. “Captain Thadd Naveri of Zhalto.”
Thadd nodded at the men and women.
Annora stepped forward. “We’ve pinpointed Candela to this area, based on our rescued hunter’s intel.” She turned. “We’ve done flyovers, and we’re detecting energy spikes that we think are coming from Candela’s base, but we can’t pinpoint an exact location.”
Thadd studied the map and nodded. “It would be better if I’m on the ground.”
“You can’t go alone,” Brodin said. “You don’t know the area, and Candela is snatching lone hunters.”
“If the team is too large, we’ll be detected,” Thadd said. “Stealth would be better.”
Annora straightened, her spine ramrod straight. “I’ll take him. I’ll have a flyer drop us close. We can run search patterns.” She gave Thadd a look. “If you can keep up.”
A muscle ticked in Thadd’s strong jaw. “I can keep up.”
Brodin nodded. “All right, Annora and Thadd will carry out the ground search.” He thumped his fist on the table. “And we need to do something to draw Candela’s attention and keep her from detecting you two. There’s also a chance that she might give away her base location, as well.”
Tolf nodded. “We could take out a group. Make a ruckus.”
Poppy stepped forward. “Use me.”
Brodin’s chest contracted. “No.”
“Brodin, she wants me. She knows I can help nullify the effect of her toxin. Use me as bait, but have your cleavers close. If she’s busy chasing me, it gives Annora and Thadd a better chance to track the energy signatures.”
Brodin growled, and everyone in the room tensed.
Except Poppy.
She stepped up to him and rolled her eyes. “Yes, yes, you’re very scary.”
Someone nearby nervously cleared their throat.
Brodin couldn’t think through his rage. His hands curled. She wanted to put herself in danger. He couldn’t let Candela get her hands on Poppy.
Annora moved up beside Poppy. “She makes a good point, Brodin.”
“No,” he growled.
“Think it through,” his First Claw said. “You’ll be with her. She’ll be with a team of your best cleavers.”
Poppy pressed her hands to his chest. “I want to help. I need to help bring those kids home.”
Air shuddered out of him. “Gorr.” He reached around her, grabbed a mug off the table, and threw it at the wall.
No one even blinked.
She smiled. “I knew you’d see reason.”
He yanked her up on her toes and kissed her. He didn’t care about the room full of people. He kissed her until she gasped, her face dazed.
He set her down. Around them, his people grinned, purposely looking at the projected map.
“All right, Annora and Thadd, get the supplies you need. Everyone else, prepare. We’ll meet at the flyer platforms.”
Back at his cabin, Brodin led Poppy up to his bedroom.
“I have something for you.”
She raised a brow.
He waved a hand at the bed and saw her suck in a breath.
It was leather armor, perfectly matched to her size. He’d asked an artisan to make it for her. It had similar designs to his own etched into it.
“Brodin—”
“I want you protected, Poppy. I need you protected.”
“We’re going to stop Candela.” Poppy went up on her toes and kissed him. “It’s all going to be okay.”
Brodin nodded, but he knew things didn’t always work out the way you planned.
He went to change into his own armor. He strapped his axe to his back, and secured his hair at the base of his neck. He was in the living room, tying on his sturdy boots, when Poppy came down the stairs.
He stared at her.
She eyed him. “God, you’re hot.”
And she looked like a Damari. The leather molded to her body, like his hands did when he had her naked. She’d left her blonde hair loose and her face was composed, focused.
He pulled her close and kissed her. “This is for you.” He held out a dagger.
“Oh, it’s beautiful.” She stroked the hilt that was set with blue jewels.
“It’s a damar stone. Mined in the mountains of Yarfell.” He didn’t tell her that it was rare and priceless.
“Thank you.”
He helped her strap the dagger to her thigh.
“I don’t want you to do this,” he said.
“I know.” She patted his cheek. “A part of me doesn’t want to either, but those teenagers must be so scared.”
He cupped her cheek. “Gorr, I wish you weren’t so brave.”
She smiled. “I’ve never been called brave before.”
He held her hand as they headed to the landing pads.
The flyer was ready, the engines droning. The cleavers were already on board, along with Annora and Thadd.