“But you can’t. What happened, happened. My life is my life.”
Ethan strained his eyes, attempting to pierce the darkness and read his expression, but could see only a dim silhouette. “Would you have really turned me in?” he asked.
Markus regarded him for several seconds. “Just go back to the camp,” he said, pointing into the night. “I need to be alone.”
With that, he turned away and vanished into the darkness.
Following the direction Markus had indicated, Ethan returned to the others. Jeb was lying on his side, a troubled look on his face.
“You keep dangerous company, lad,” he said. “Your companion can deny it all he wants; I know he’s Specter. What I don’t know is why he’s traveling with the three of you.”
Ethan sat down on his blanket. “He’s my friend.”
Jeb chuckled. “Specter? Your friend? Specter has no friends. Not even other Hareesh want his company. And if half the stories I’ve heard about him are true, I understand why.”
“I don’t care about that. He’s still my friend.”
Jeb studied him for a moment. “I’m a pretty good judge of character, and you seem like a nice enough lad. You don’t look like the type to keep company with Imperial assassins.”
His words sent a chill down Ethan’s back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You don’t? He’s your friend, isn’t he? If that’s true, surely you would know that Specter is an Imperial assassin and bounty hunter.”
“He doesn’t work for the Empire,” Ethan insisted.
“Not directly, no. But he’s the only member of the Hareesh who will take the jobs they offer. Nasty stuff, too. I don’t imagine that makes him too many…friends. Dark rumors surround that man…very dark.”
Ethan wasn’t sure what to say. Markus was his friend no matter what had become of him. And regardless of whether he refused to admit it, Ethan was convinced that he would have never turned him over for the bounty. Somewhere deep inside - somewhere beyond all the pain and anger - the Markus of old still existed.
“You shouldn’t listen to rumors,” he said. “And if you have a problem with him, we can go our own way right now.”
Jeb held out his hand. “No problem here, lad. Long as he minds his manners, he can tag along with us. I just hate to see Kat mixed up with his kind. She’s a good girl. And an excellent thief.”
“I suppose you’d rather her stay a thief?” Ethan said disapprovingly.
The man puffed his chest and held his head high. “And why not? Thieving is a good way to get by. Especially if you’re as talented as she is. It’s better than starving in the streets. And now that she’s away from that Jared scum, she can make a place for herself in this world.”
“There are other ways to get by,” Ethan countered. “She’s only a thief because she had no other choice.”
Jeb sniffed “And you’re going to give her one? I doubt that very much.”
“She has a family somewhere,” insisted Ethan.
“So what if she does? You think she’d be better off with them? She left them for a reason, boy. And whatever it is, I bet it’s a good one. You shouldn’t go mixing up her head with notions of family. Good friends and stout comrades is the best folk like us can hope for.” He sighed. “But I’m wasting my breath, aren’t I? You’re going to get that poor girl killed. But here’s a warning. If you do, you’d better not let me find out about it.”
Reaching down, he jerked his blanket over his shoulders and closed his eyes.
Ethan stared at Jeb, but the man was obviously done talking.
A short time later Markus returned. He glanced at the sleeping thief, fingering the dagger in his belt, with a knowing look in his eyes before laying down beside the fire.
Had he been listening to their conversation, Ethan wondered? Probably. He pushed it from his mind and allowed himself to drift.
Just as sleep took him he thought he heard the flapping of wings accompanied by a catlike growl coming from high above. Real or imagined, the sounds soon faded into the blackness of another weary driven slumber.
Chapter Ten
ETHAN WOKE JUST as dawn was breaking; both his blanket and hair were soaked from the heavy morning dew. With the fire completely burned out and a soft westerly breeze blowing, he shivered while hurrying to pack his gear.
To his relief, Jonas looked somewhat healthier, though still quite pale. He was coughing less frequently and