Fan Fiction ❯ The Climatic First Encounter ❯ Choices ( Chapter 11 )

Choices

 

Ramian walks with the old man out to the pasture, but horses are the last thing on his mind. All he can think about is the previous night, the taste of Shade's mouth, the feel of his lithe, sleek body, the light musk of his skin. Damned arrogant elf, kissing him, talking dirty to him, making him nearly come in his pants. He feels his interest start to stir just thinking about it but deliberately forces his mind in another direction.

 

He'd meant what he said about not having sex with people he isn't in love with—Ramian has had sex with exactly one person his entire life, and that was Selamin. Ramian had fallen hard for the charming young nobleman and although Selamin had been anything but faithful, Ramian had put up with his shit for years and tried to make it work before it finally became too much and he'd broken it off once and for all. Since then, no one. Not that he had men on his doorstep—a person in his line of work doesn't have a lot of time for relationships—but still, it's been a long time since he's felt naked skin against his.

 

Ramian rubs his face and makes a non committal noise in the farmer's direction as the man patiently explains the bloodline of each animal. Damn that elf. He'd seen the way Shade was making eyes at the farmer's daughter, and the way that the daughter had been looking back at Shade. Both of them had conveniently stayed behind as the old man had dragged Ramian off to see the horses. He doesn't want to think about what the elf and human girl are probably doing right now, but strangely, it almost makes him feel better about the previous night. If he had given in and screwed the elf, it wouldn't have meant a damn thing and Shade would have just moved on to the girl next anyway.

 

If it doesn't matter, why the hell does it bother you so much? A small voice says in Ramian's head. He tries to ignore it, but dammit all, why'd the elf have to go and save his life? It's a debt Ramian just can't ignore, but he doesn't know what he's going to do about it. He realizes that he's not treating Shade like a prisoner anymore. He'd left the manacles off and stopped watching him so close. Hell, if Shade wanted, he could take off right now and never look back.

 

Ramian just wonders if he'd bother going after him or not.

 

Maybe he'd be better off without the elf, no matter how large the bounty was. Now that feelings were involved, he can't trust himself not to do something stupid. He scowls ferociously, but then quickly schools his features back to his usual expression of vaguely-pissed-off and makes more non-committal noises in the farmer's direction.

 

Ramian's mind turns back to the bandits who had attacked the camp. They were after something—someone—in particular, and he'd be willing to bet it was the elf. Shade had vehemently denied the murder, and there's something deep in Ramian's gut that believes the elf is innocent. So where did that leave him, then? Bring the elf in anyway? Conveniently let him escape? Walk away without looking back? Or… He shakes his head. He just doesn't know.

 

“Is, ah, something wrong?” the farmer asks, snapping Ramian back to the present.

 

He shakes his head. “No. I'll take `em.” It would be the last of his money but it means the he and the elf could get to…wherever they were going…faster.

 

The farmer's eyes light up. “Wonderful! Which ones?”

 

With a sigh, Ramian indicates two of the smaller geldings. The old man smiles. “I'll throw in the tack for free, son. So where are you and that elf fellow headed?”

 

That was the question of the hour, actually. Ramian realizes that he has to decide: Back to Everwood, to bring the elf in to face punishment and to collect the bounty, or back to Freeharbor, to…to…do what? Let Shade go so he could try to prove his innocence? Find out why the caravan had been attacked and innocent people had been killed? Dammit all, actually help Shade prove his innocence?

 

He must be out of his mind.

 

Aware that the old man is looking at him expectantly, Ramian turns to meet his gaze. “We're hunting,” he says.

 

***

 

The details of the animals' purchase are wrapped up quickly enough and Ramian and the farmer head back to the house to find both the elf and the girl heading in their direction, looking freshly mussed. Both the girl's face and Shade's are flushed pink, and Ramian's pretty sure he spots a dark, bruise-like mark on the side of the elf's neck that wasn't there earlier.

 

He feels his gut twist and his jaw clench and he directs his gaze away, staring stonily at the ground. Why did it matter, anyway? Why should he even care? It wasn't like he and the elf were together or anything. There was no fucking reason to be pissed off, and yet Ramian feels like punching something. Idiot.

 

“Ah, there you are, Emma,” the farmer says. “Give me a hand with the tack now, would you?”

 

“Yes, Father,” the girl says, the picture of innocence as she turns to follow the old man to the stables, but halfway there she turns to glance over her shoulder and give Shade a sultry look.

 

Ramian looks back at Shade, who's just grinning at him, looking like the smug bastard he is, and Ramian finds himself wanting to kiss the damn smirk right off of his face until neither of them are able to breathe.

 

Ramian gives himself a hard shake, which makes Shade raise an eyebrow in his direction, mocking him. Ramian's jaw tightens, but he's not going to give Shade the satisfaction. “I got us horses,” he says. “We're going to Freeharbor.”

 

The smug look disappears as Shade looks surprised, then almost suspicious. “What are we going to do there?”

 

“Get to the bottom of this thing. Find out why you're accused of something you didn't do. Find out who killed this friend of yours. Abel Keogh.”

 

The elf gives him a long, hard look. “And why should I trust you? How do I know you're not just trying to get me to cooperate so you can turn me in for this bounty on my head?”

 

Ramian scowls. “If you don't trust me, then go. Take the damn horse and head off in the woods and go around screwing farm girls all day until those bandits catch up to you. You saved my ass back there on the ridge, and for some dumb ass reason, I feel like I gotta pay that back, so if you decide you want to trust me, what I'm saying is I'll help you.” He pauses, his jaw working for a few moments, watching Shade's surprised expression warily. “You know since you're probably not going to be able to do it yourself without getting hunted down or killed. It's your call. Let me know.”

 

The elf opens his mouth to say something, but is interrupted the farmer. “We've got your tack here, want to give us a hand?” the old man calls from the stable.

 

“Be right there,” Ramian mutters, then pushes past the elf to collect the tack while the old man and his daughter round up the two horses. About an hour later they are geared up and ready to go.

 

“You boys be safe on your hunting trip!” the farmer calls, seeing them off with a wave. Standing behind her father, Emma blows kisses in the air in Shade's direction then pulls up her top to flash her breasts. Ramian winces and glances away quickly, not wanting to go fucking blind.

 

“Was it worth it?” Ramian growls as they ride away.

 

“Was what worth it? I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about,” Shade says airily, the smug look returning to his face again.

 

“Never mind.” Ramian leads the way back to the stream, quickly inspecting the ground to make sure there are no other tracks other than theirs. Nothing. So either the bandits weren't tracking them, or they hadn't caught up to them yet. He'd take either, actually, but they still had to get on the move. It wouldn't do to get caught with their pants down.

 

He gives Shade a narrow look.

 

The elf turns and sticks out his tongue.

 

Ramian looks at that for a moment, shaking himself as his brain starts to go down a path he doesn't want to tread. His jaw tightens, but he forces himself to turn his gaze toward the river instead.

 

“Okay. This is how it's going to be. You want to avoid the roads, because those bandits might be traveling them, and who knows how many other people looking to collect on the price on your head. So if you head to the right, you'll reach Everwood in about four or five days.”

 

Ramian points to his left. “If you head this way, you'll reach Freeharbor in about a day. That's where I'm going.”

 

Looking back at Shade, he fixes the elf with a steady, hard look. “So what's it going to be?”

 

[Author's Note - I loved the approach Irrion took with this. As always, thank you for reading and we enjoy getting feedback! **RogueKittiekat]