Mercenaries Don't Die…
Disclaimer: I am not Mercedes Lackey nor do I own any of her characters.
I apologize for any misspelling of ML places, people or terminology. I'm away at college and don't have any of my books with me, so I can't look it up. Please R&R, no flames. Thanks!
Chapter 1
Life is good, Kero mused as she stretched luxuriously amid piles of warm, soft blankets, avoiding Eldan's sprawled limbs with practiced ease. Warm blankets, warm man, and warm food if I want it. Sure beats a tent in a winter campaign. Not that I have to worry about ending up in a winter campaign anymore. Nope. Life is good. She rolled her head on her pillow and stared out the window of the tower suite she shared with Eldan to observe the whiteout conditions howling outside and snuggled further under the blankets. Her movements disturbed Eldan, who rolled over with a grumble and wrapped himself around her.
"Classes back on today?" His voice was rough with sleep and slightly slurred.
Kero angled her head towards the door where the faint shrieks of jubilant trainees were leaking through.
"Nope."
"Good." Eldan's voice dropped off at the end of the word as he drifted back towards sleep.
Not a bad idea, Kero thought and was letting herself drift back to sleep when someone pounding at the door to their suite rudely awakened her. Unfortunately, her reflexes also awoke with her and she automatically reached for her sword with one hand while swinging with the fist of her other hand at her "assailant". Eldan grunted and rolled back over so his back was to her.
"Answer the door." The multiple layers of blankets pulled over his head muffled his voice. Kero made a face at his back before pulling back the blankets covering her legs, making sure to yank the covers off Eldan's feet while she was it. His muffled curse as the cold air met his toes alleviated some of her grumpiness, but it quickly returned with her own toes met the freezing stones of the floor. She hissed and hobbled towards the living area where she had left her slippers the night before and slipped them on with a sigh of relief. Then she wandered over to the door, scratching her head and yawning as the early morning visitor pounded again at the planks.
"What?!"
Kero yanked the door open and was almost knocked in the face as the snow-drenched fellow in whites raised his hand to pound at the door again. Her quick reflexes saved her and she dodged before her nose could be broken. The poor man blinked at her for a moment, and then awareness trickled back into his eyes.
"Kerowyn shena Talesedrine?"
"Yes, what is it?"
"Herald-Captain Kerowyn?"
"Yes, for love of the Goddess, what is it?!"
"Thank you, God, we made it! Take them!" With that, the fellow turned and fairly sprinted back down the tower stairs.
"Take what, you loon?!"
"Ahem." The small voice dragged Kero's attention downward towards a small figure that was a snow covered as the Herald was. "You're taking us."
"Who are you?"
A small hand emerged from the cloak and pushed back a hood revealing a blond head and stunningly familiar aquamarine eyes.
"Your nieces."
Kero stepped back and stared at the rest of the equally small figures standing, or in one case, lying, on her cold, drafty stone landing. There were five in all. All blonde haired and blue eyed. All female. All under the age of seven.
"Oh no. This is not happening."
"It sure is."
"Whom do you belong to? My brother's wife's kids are all older than you."
"No kidding. Can we come in? It's cold out here."
The little girl who appeared to be the oldest and the leader walked into the suite with waiting for permission, followed by the other little girls.
"Don't forget the baby."
"Right. Don't forget the baby."
Kero peered into the basket sitting on her landing and stared at the bundle of blankets that was emitting a squeak every once in awhile. Then it sneezed and Kero jumped back like she'd been stung.
"Are you going to stand out there forever? Pick her up and get inside!"
"Pick her up and get her inside!" Kero mimicked in a high-pitched voice. "Right. Little demented brat. We'll see who's queen of this castle." With that, Kero gathered her courage, scooped up the basket and stepped back into the suite.
