Page 64

The Berserker’s War Song

T he day passes in a blur, each mile making me more and more restless.

I am not one to be cooped up with other people, not even my men for this long.

Maybe it’s because I know with each mile, we are coming closer to The Ring and The Summit.

It feels like all of my life has been leading up to this.

I just hope I can make the leaders of the other clans listen.

Vasilisy starts to hum from the seat next to me. His head is tipped back, and his eyes closed, his legs kicked up against the seat in front of him, much to Doc’s chagrin. Frowning, I try to think of why the tune seems familiar even as he gets louder.

Watching him, I see his mouth part before a powerful, heart wrenching voice flows out. I can’t help but stare, entranced by his words and expression, his face changes with every word like he is living the tale he is weaving.

“The winds may rage, and the sands may burn. Danger surrounds us at every turn. My land I fight, my men they scream. For the world, I will bleed.”

“Bleed, bleed for the cause. This dusty land will be my fall, with swords which clash and mouths that scream. For the world, I will bleed,” I whisper. It isn’t until my eyes meet his that I notice he has stopped singing and is humming along to my voice.

“Yes, my little queen, for the world, you will bleed.”

We stare at each other, and movement in the front seat interrupts the silence.

“There is something in the road,” Doc says softly. Turning away I look at what he is talking about, and there in the middle of the road with a flamethrower aimed our way, stands a stranger.

“Stop, let’s see what they do,” I command, Doc grunts but breaks until we stop just before the person… who I can now see is a woman. By the looks of it, a fucking angry one.

Short spikey brown hair points up from her head in all directions, while mud covers her face and baggy clothing fits loosely on her frame, all meant to make her look like a man, but she is definitely a woman, even if her muscles bulge and her stance is strong.

Her lips are plump and long brown lashes surround deep intense brown eyes.

Her cheekbones are high and sharp, and her jaw is pointed. She is pretty, in a masculine way.

Taking a shot, I slide out of the car and round the side of the vehicle, using the bonnet as protection so I can easily jump away if her itchy trigger finger slips. I don’t want to be burnt alive, no thank you.

“Nice thrower. Homemade?” I ask casually, leaning against the war car.

Her eyes shift from the car to me before tightening slightly on the device. I arch my eyebrow at her and tut.

“Well, that’s not very nice, here I am trying to make polite conversation even as you rudely hold a weapon at us,” I point out.

Frowning, the nozzle dips slightly. “Who are you?” She pitches her voice deeper making me grin.

“You might fool some idiots out there, but I know you are a woman,” I point out, as I shield my eyes and look up at the sun to judge the time. I don’t blame her for trying though, it’s a dangerous world out there for women.

“I am not playing at being a man or to fool those dick swinging idiots. I was born a female, but I am a male,” she shouts, jerking the thrower at me again as anger etches on to her face, I am betting it’s an old anger too.

I look at her, taking in her appearance. “Okay. So, what do you want?”

The weapon is obviously getting heavy and he has to choose to drop it or shoot, wisely he drops it even as the blade I palmed automatically itches in my hand, wanting to be used.

“Okay, just like that?” he asks incredulously. I am betting he has had to fight his whole life to be seen for who he really is. It must be hard, knowing you are something that no one will accept.

“Yep. I don’t give a shit if you have a vagina or a dick, all I care about is why you are pointing that at my car. I am not a forgiving person, so I suggest you decide real quick.”

He scans my face before hoisting the weapon onto his back. “I need the car. They took my girl.” Anger flares in his deep brown eyes, making me grin harder. I like him, I like his flamethrower more though.

“Well, I would hate to be them right now. ‘Fraid this car is taken though,” I drawl. “So, what do we do now?” I tap my chin with my blade that he obviously didn’t even notice if his startled look and sudden step back are anything to go by.

“I could kill you, I could disarm and leave you here, or I could take you with us.” I tilt my head in consideration, eyeing him once again.

“I don’t want trouble, I just need to get Cherry back,” he says, keeping his hands out to his sides. Cherry? Sands below, sighing I drop the blade.

“Cherry? Girl from The Rim? Big tits, bigger attitude?” I ask with a disappointed pout. I was really hoping for some action. To stretch my legs, maybe release some tension before I’m forced to talk politics.

“You know her?” he growls, taking a step forward protectively. Cute.

“I worked the bounties at The Rim. Don’t worry, I never touched your girl.” His shoulders slump at that before rounding out again, a fresh determination replacing the jealousy in his eyes. “Who took her?” I don’t know why I care, but Cherry was always nice to me, even helped me out once or twice.

“Scavs, dirty bastards broke into the house we were holed up in while I was out hunting. Dragged her out fighting and left me a message in blood.”

Whistling, I nod. “Whatcha do to piss them off enough to leave you a message?”

“Told em’ I had a bigger dick than they ever would.” He grins, and I throw back my head and laugh.

“Yeah, that would have done it.” I wipe all traces of the smile from my face and his drops quickly. Obviously sensing the predator in me.

“Name’s Dagny. Either give me a lift or fuck off,” Dagny says, obviously wondering whether to take his bet on the next sorry bastard to journey down this road, which might not be for the next couple of days and by then we both know Cherry will be dead.

Fuck. When the hell did I become such a bleeding heart?

“I like you,” I declare. Sighing at my own stupidity I jerk my head at the cars behind me. “Sands below, pick a car kid and get in.”

Dagny kicked out the assassin, well tried to. Only when I gave him the nod did he slip out and into the car behind us. Now Dagny sits in the front seat directing Evan to where the scavs who took Cherry are.

“Are we really going to go looking for a fucking fight all because some chick can’t protect herself,” Evan grumbles, making Dagny tense.

Leaning back in the middle seat I nod my head. “Yup, gonna fight out some tension before we get to The Ring. Plus, Cherry was cool, so shut your trap pretty boy or I will shut it for you,” I threaten half-heartedly. He scowls even as his hands tighten on the wheel, but he does shut the fuck up.

“Here I thought I would have to wait until The Summit was over to start regaining my honour,” Vasilisy purrs from beside me as he bounces giddily in the seat next to me.

We share a grin as I wind the new whip around my arm and lean forward to sling the crossbow on my back, I need to remember to get Drax to teach me to shoot properly.

“You are all fucking crazy, you know that right?” Evan yells, looking at us in the mirror.

“Stop being such a pussy, a fight is good for the soul,” Thorn rumbles next to me. Maxen is sprawled in the boot fast asleep and the others are in the other car, keeping an eye on the guards for me.

Vasilisy grunts. “We splitting them evenly, little queen, or are we seeing who can kill more?”

I pretend to think about it as Evan gapes in horror at us. “Hmm, I think we should let Dagny burn at least one of the little bastards with his toy, but the rest are a free for all.”

Evan sputters even as Vasilisy hums his agreement. “I can agree to that. May the best Berserker win.”

“They should be just up ahead.” Dagny jerks his chin at the road.

Nodding, I grab my sword. “Okay, pull over Doc, we don’t want to let them know we are coming.”

Slowly, he pulls over to the side and turns to face me, his face ashen. “We don’t have to do this, we could walk away.”

“And why would I do that? We look out for each other, or we are no better than the cannibals. Plus, I can try out my new toys.” Winking at him I turn to Thorn who smiles at me with blood lust flaring in his eyes

“Time to have some fun, big guy.”

We slip out of the car and I stretch, cracking my neck as the other car comes to a stop next to us. Quickly my men surround me with now alert looking Maxen at my back.

“Drax, you hang back and pick off any runners. Jax you are with me. Maxen and Thorn together, and Vasilisy and Dagny,” I declare.

“The others?” Maxen rumbles .

“They are a liability. Half go left, the others go right. Circle around, I want none to escape.”

The excitement on my face is mirrored on my guys’ as we slip silently across the heated sand. Up ahead are the remains of a building. The stone crumbled and broken. It offers no coverage and if I were the scavs I would camp behind it rather than in it. So, we circle the building. My men with me.

Once I reach the corner, I peer around to see the scavs right where I thought they would be. I do a quick count and duck back around to face the others.

“Ten in the camp, probably two on patrol. Cherry is tied to an old well in the middle. They have swords and shooters but no guns. Hit ‘em fast and hard.”

They all nod at me and I duck back around the corner, careful to not let the scavs notice me yet. I spot Vasilisy doing the same at the other corner and I hold up my fingers in a countdown.

When I reach one, we all burst from behind the building, Vasilisy letting out an animalistic roar that startles all the scavs as they desperately grab weapons.

Arrows fly past us as Drax picks some of them off from his vantage spot outside of the camp. Leaping over packs with both swords in the air, I land on a scav, skewering him as he screams.

Using the momentum I roll away, dragging my sword out of his body and leaving a trail of blood behind.

I roll to my knees in time to block a swing from an axe descending from a ginger scav, his mouth open in a silent scream.

Using both swords in a crossed position, I push the axe up until he is forced to retreat.

Getting to my feet I wait for him to come at me again, and he doesn’t disappoint.

Yelling, he heaves the axe back, but the weapon is too big for him and slows him down, allowing me time to drop my swords and grab two small knives, sliding, I cut him in a figure eight shape.

Panting, I spin and throw both knives, one at a scav trying to sneak up on me and one at a scav fighting Vasilisy.

Grinning when he looks disgruntled, I hold up my hand with four fingers.

Jumping back up I grab my swords and look around at the carnage.

Blood is staining the sand as scavs die with tears and snot dripping down their faces.

Only one is left and he is standing with a knife to Cherry’s sobbing throat as Dagny paces before him.

Only one body is littered near Vasilisy, the other four surround my men, making me heat up at how fucking amazing they are.

“You even accidently cut her, and I will cut off your toes one by one,” Dagny calls to the scav. Strolling towards them, I stop at a safe distance and start cleaning my blades .

“I would listen to him, he’s a little crazy and that’s his woman,” I say casually, as I sheathe my swords.

The scav looks around as everyone surrounds my back.

His panic is palpable and sweat drips down his face.

An idea comes into my head and I have to bite my lip to hide my evil smile, even as my hand inches to where the whip is wound around my arm.

I wait until he looks at Maxen and I move as quickly as I can.

Flicking the whip out, I knock the blade from his hand and cause him to stumble back.

Dagny uses this opening and rushes forward, cocking his fist back and punching him. Cherry cries and flings herself at him. A chest pushes against my back and I lean into it automatically. With his arm around Cherry, Dagny walks towards me.

“Thank you,” Dagny says. I nod and he cups Cherry’s face.

“You’re okay. I will always come for you,” he says softly, the love clear to see on his face.

I go to shout a warning as the man who Dagny punched starts to get up, but Vasilisy is already there, swinging an axe and chopping through the man’s neck.

Cherry screams and huddles closer to Dagny.

With blood still dripping down the axe, Vasilisy grins at me and holds up two fingers. I snort out a laugh and turn to the lovebirds.

“Need a lift anywhere?” I ask.

Looking around Dagny turns back to me. “No, thanks for your help, but we will take one of the bikes.” Turning back to Cherry he cups her tear and makeup stained face and brings their lips together. Feeling weird watching them, I turn to my men.

“Let’s leave them to it. Oh–” turning to Vasilisy I wink, “I win.”