“You didn’t know I was here,” she countered with a smirk.
“I did. I just didn’t think you were worth acknowledging,” Havoc replied and pointed a hand back behind them. “Your cat is back down the trail on the right hidden in the brace of pines near the cliff wall,” he added smugly.
The woman’s expression faltered slightly, losing its confidence as she glanced back down the trail and then back to him. With a sigh, she dropped from the tree and approached his horse shaking her head. “How did you know where he was? I approached from the opposite direction. There were no tracks.” Her tone seemed friendly now as she stopped by the Flame Steed and rested a hand on Havoc’s saddle.
“Razor smelled him and started snorting when we passed,” Havoc explained and smiled at her.
“You two know each other?” Victory asked, knowing the question was obviously a stupid one but unsure how else to prod them into remembering his presence.
“Jani and I go back. You, I know as well. The pixie that is talented with a lance,” she said with a smirk and glanced back at Havoc. “Let me get my cat and I’ll escort you to the Sisters,” she said and disappeared back into the pines.
“Sisters?” Victory asked, feeling more lost in the conversation by the moment.
“It’s what they call the peaks. The Three Sisters,” Havoc explained as he edged his horse into motion again.
“Aren’t we going to wait on her?” Victory asked, glancing back behind them for any sign of the woman.
“Kes? No she can catch up,” Havoc chuckled, shaking his head as if the very thought of waiting was a joke.
“So Jani?” Victory pressed once more.
“Don’t make me kill you Vic, she can call me that, you can’t,” Havoc snapped, adjusting his seat in the saddle once more as Razor plowed through another snow bank.
“Why can she call you that?” Victory asked, wondering how far he could push the Firym.
“Because Jani and I were betrothed once upon a time,” Kes called from behind him. Victory turned to regard her in disbelief as she approached. Her Snow cat bounded easily across the rough terrain and she slowed it beside him. “That expression on your face is beautiful,” she snickered and looked ahead. “Did you never tell him you were betrothed Jani?” she called ahead, her voice filled with amusement.
“Didn’t seem important enough to bring up. It’s the past. We aren’t betrothed anymore. From what I hear you are married now, with children,” Havoc called back, never taking his eyes from the trail ahead of them.
“One child, he is nine this year,” she corrected and sighed. “Father saw me married not two moons after you took your damn tattoos. I think he was afraid we might have been a bit too close of friends.”
“Thought I left you with a bastard in the belly and became a brigand eh?” Havoc asked sourly. “Well he never did think too much of me. I suppose I shouldn’t find it surprising.”
She shrugged and flicked a gaze toward Victory. “You are a brigand too, then?” she asked nonchalantly.
“No, I am not a brigand. I do not rob, murder, rape or pillage as brigands do. I am a Fionaveir. I protect those who cannot defend themselves, despite the guidelines of the law,” Victory replied a bit indignantly.
“Prickly isn’t he?” she called ahead to Havoc, raising a slender blond eyebrow at Victory.
“No, he is the diplomatic one. You simply found a nerve and danced a jig on it. Fionaveir do not consider themselves brigands, Kes,” Havoc replied.
She chuckled in response and offered Victory a shrug in what might have been an apology. “You should have let me know you were coming. I would have brought cats for you both so you didn’t have to struggle up the mountain on your mules,” she called, as Razor let out another snort and broke through a drift. Her eyes danced between the two of them as they glared at her and she let loose a peel of merry laughter. With a huge smile she stroked her cat’s neck and glanced over at Avalanche. “That’s the same one I saw you ride in Sanctuary isn’t it? He has to be ancient by now. I’m surprised he is able to climb the mountains at all.”
“He is not the typical horse,” Victory responded as politely as he could. Though between the mule comment and then insulting Avalanche, directly he was finding it a strain.
“There was the other nerve,” Havoc muttered over his shoulder.
“You didn’t mind the mule comment?” she asked looking toward Havoc in surprise.
“I know you are baiting my temper,” he replied, his tone as calm as Victory had ever heard him.
“And it doesn’t seem to be working at all,” Kes replied a bit indignantly.
“I’ll fight if I want to, not for your entertainment. If you want a show, go to Sanctuary and watch Finn,” Havoc returned.
“Little Finn? Our fine fighting monkey?” Kes asked and broke into laughter once more.
“What?” Victory asked in confusion as Havoc began laughing as well.
Kes shook her head and composed herself and looked to Victory smiling. “He didn’t tell you that story, either? Oh, that’s one of my favorites,” she said with a sigh.