Avenger (A Halflings Novel) - By Heather Burch Page 0,10
following Dane was a mistake.
Dane released Raven, ran toward the guy, and jumped. He landed in his arms.
“Whoa,” the guy said, ruffling Dane’s hair. “You are getting way too big for that, lil’ bro.”
Nikki sighed with relief. Beside her, she swore Raven did the same. “You weren’t scared of him, were you?” She felt wicked for saying it, but she couldn’t resist.
Raven cut her with a look. “No. And even if I had been, we need their help.”
Dane beamed, and as the older guy carried him over, Nikki saw the resemblance in their faces. Same bow-shaped mouths, same brown eyes. Same accent.
“This is Frank. He’s my brother. He knows everything.”
Frank had yet to crack a smile in their direction, and Nikki’s heart increased with the ticking seconds. “I don’t know who you two are or what you said to get this far, but strangers aren’t welcome down here.”
He threw a glance behind him, signaling the other boys at the table to stand. The half dozen guys made a half circle around Raven and Nikki.
Dane pushed back from his brother. “Frank, they’re my friends. He’s looking for Greta.”
Frank scrutinized Raven, and Nikki could only wonder what the intense examination was about. Who was this Greta, and why was she so important? And how did Raven know her? One more quick motion of Frank’s head and the pack of guys slithered back to the table.
“Greta’s not here. Why are you looking for her?”
Raven took a step toward him. “What does it matter if she’s not here?”
“Everything matters in the tunnels, my friend. If you want help, you should work on your attitude.”
Raven relaxed. “Yeah, I keep hearing that. Greta brought me down here a few years ago.”
Frank answered by raising his brows.
“Anyway, she brought me down here because I was … injured … in a fight.”
Frank loosened his grip on Dane and the boy slid to the floor. “Makes sense,” Frank said. “Greta always was one to bring in strays.”
“Was?”
“She’s dead.”
If Nikki hadn’t been looking at Raven, she might have missed the way he practically doubled over with the words. He stared at the floor for a long time. “What happened to her?” The muscle in his jaw twitched.
“She was trying to help a mutt like you.”
Chapter 3
Dane hugged his brother’s legs “I miss Greta. She always brought me candy.”
Nikki wanted to cry. For Raven, for Dane. For Frank, who obviously cared for Greta too — more than his steely shell could hide.
“I’m sorry,” Raven said. He slid his hand into Nikki’s and started to turn. “We’ll find somewhere else to stay. We just needed a place for the night.”
Before they could get to the door, the stone walls carried Frank’s voice to them. “We’ll help you, Halfling.”
Raven stopped in his tracks. Nikki risked a peek over her shoulder and stared at the muscled giant.
“What’s after you?”
Raven turned slowly.
Nikki followed, and her confusion must have been glowing on her face, because Frank directed the next statement to her. “I’m a Xian and a Seer.”
Okay, maybe he could help. After all, Xians already understood the spiritual realm surrounding them, and if he was also a Seer, like her, he might actually be able to tell them where to head next. Of course, her Seer abilities hadn’t helped at all during this whole nightmare. She didn’t even know what a seeker looked like, and until Raven appeared at Viennesse she’d hadn’t realized she was in danger.
Frank almost smirked at them. “Even if I wasn’t a Xian, you both fit the profile.”
“Profile?” Nikki echoed, still a little freaked. No one had ever blatantly called her out as other before.
Frank gestured to Raven. “Light hair, blue eyes on the guys, and dark hair, golden eyes on the girls. Sorry, but you sort of stick out like a cannibal in a vegan restaurant.”
“Okaaaay,” Nikki said, wincing at the metaphor.
“And since I’m a Seer, I know something’s hunting you.”
Nikki ran forward and gripped Frank by the arms. “Please tell me everything you know. Can you see it? Can you see where it is now? I haven’t been able to sense a thing.” Let it be far from Viennesse. Or, if the seeker was after them, she prayed they’d succeeded in rerouting it. Though if it had picked up her scent … Had she put everyone in the tunnels in danger?
Raven pulled her off Frank. She forced herself to focus on his thumb gently rubbing the underside of her wrist instead of the thoughts swirling through her mind.