Enslaved

Chapter 5: Erebus

PRESENT TIME

The sun had just set, the chill of the night breeze from outside the inn threatened to enter as Thane- no Erebus sat with his head head down the table. Minding his own business, he tried to finish up his bowl of hot stew as fast as he could.

The inn called the Wayfarer’s Rest which he was staying at had a fair amount of patrons as night set. Numerous candle lights provided the place a soft warm glow. Thane purposely sat at the furthest most secluded area available to avoid any unwanted attention. 

But as a famed and deadly mercenary sitting alone at night in an inn at the outskirts of the grand city Caelum, attention would always find its way. Not that he feared any of the patrons near his table. 

For countless years, Thane has remade himself into the reputation that he has today. He trained vigorously and dedicated his life to mastering the sword and battle. When Thane was ready, he set off to be the best warrior he could be. Known for his savage strength and unrelenting aggressiveness that no other man- no other warrior had, he was the embodiment of martial prowess. Thane made fighting his life and he is the best at it. No longer would he be under the mercy of anyone, especially slavers.

Nowadays, Erebus has become a household name and is constantly whispered around the streets. The manifestation of war who’s amassed countless underground glories.

It has just been a very long day. 

Thane had recently completed a job supposedly made for three mercenaries. It was quite a tiring and gruesome encounter but nothing he hasn’t handled before. 

A group of ruggedly dressed men near his table have been turning their heads towards his direction since he entered the Inn. He pulled his hood further down his head in hopes the patrons would leave him alone for the night. He really didn’t have the patience to be merciful. If caught in a foul mood, who knows what he would do.

Thane couldn’t blame them entirely. It was rare for ‘Erebus’ to be seen anywhere. Erebus was the name he had given himself as a mercenary. It was his way of hiding his true identity. He opted for the name because Erebus meant darkness. A play for words as he knew someone from long ago to be named light or brightness. 

The soft light illuminating Thane’s dinner is suddenly blocked forcing his gaze up to a hulking male in his late twenties or early thirties. He was all hair and fat. Standing about six feet tall. Thane had to crane his neck just to see him clearly.

The man gave Thane a toothy grin. "Waiting for someone?" 

He fought a frown from forming as he observed the male who interrupted his meal. A large spear was strapped across his back. It was obvious he was a traveler much like Thane. His observant eyes flickered to the man’s upper arm, looking for any insignia or patch associating the man to a guild or a military unit but found none. "What's it to you?" 

Ignoring Thane’s reaction the man points at the vacant seat in front of him and flashes an impish smirk. "The famous Erebus shouldn’t be alone lest other jealous mercenaries get any bright ideas." 

Thane mentally counted in his head to hold himself back from picking a fight he would clearly win easily. Most days, he would either ignore these types of men or have them killed within a minute.

“What ideas would that be?” He asked coolly, leaning back on his seat, the cloak he wore followed his movements and revealed his recently sharpened sword strapped to his hips. 

The sword gleamed in the darkness. The man's eyes widened before his eyes trailed further down to see more of Thane’s weapons strapped to his belt. He takes a step back at the sight. The man had expected him to be unarmed. Thane inwardly sighed, wanting nothing more than to finish his meal and head to his rented room above the tavern. 

"Well?" Thane challenged, daring the other man to fight him. God knows he needed to release some steam.

Without hesitation, the man bows tucking his hands behind his back before backing away to leave him alone.

Turning away, Thane caught sight of his reflection through the tainted glass of a window at the far side of the tavern. He looked absolutely wretched with his face etched with dirt and his hair a mess. A few weeks worth of traveling horseback and not stopping for a proper inn does that. 

The thick heavy black cloak he had on hid most of his features, from his light grey eyes to his dark blonde hair which fell down to his eyes. Laughably, there were twigs and leaves on it. How embarrassing. Not to mention, he still had the blood of his latest victim on his leather tunic.

On a good day, he is what is considered to be handsome by most. Many women have told him so. Although having multiple scars and battle marks usually distracted people from that. Not to mention the large permanent scar he had on his face from years ago. 

Finishing his stew, he stood, grabbing the attention of most of the patrons whose eyes he could feel were on him. Thane kept his chin up as their gaze followed after him until he reached the stairs. He stretched his arms out once out of view, his bones cracking pleasantly. He could use a long warm bath before heading to his next job the next morning. 

Thane was halfway up the stairs when a dark figure stood at the very top, almost waiting for him. He narrowed his eyes. Not another one who wished to challenge him. Couldn’t this have waited until he was fully rested and not irritable? 

Of course not. 

“Erebus?” The man questioned, beady green eyes on him.  

Thane didn’t answer and continued on his way, pushing past the man who blocked the hall.

The man didn’t stop there and reached for him grabbing his bicep. “Are you Erebus?” 

Thane roughly shrugged his shoulders, easily making the man drop his hold on him. Thane’s hands twitched towards his knife ready to end the person that dared lay a hand on him. “What’s it to you?” 

“It’s a matter of great urgency.” He replied, having learned his lesson and not taking hold of Thane again.

Thane inspected the man before him, noting his finer clothing and overall well kept appearance. He had almost a barbaric and proud way of carrying himself as though he’s a warrior of some far land. Thane concluded the man before him was possibly from one of the kingdoms outside Caelum. 

But how would they know how to identify him? Thane’s reputation went beyond his usual reach but to know him by face? That was odd. 

Thane furrowed his eyebrows, silently pulling his knife out from behind him. “What care do I have for an urgency that has no meaning to me?” 

To his surprise, the man bowed his head low. “My name is Byorc. My mistress has heard of your greatness and shares your disdain against the slavers that plague our lands.”

“Slavers.” Thane scoffed hatefully. Even after ten years, he still felt the sufferings from the time he was there. Thane’s wrists and ankles had the bruises to remind him of those nightmares. 

Byorc nodded solemnly as if he knew his pain. “Yes. She only seeks your audience to hear her cause.” 

Thane’s lips thinned. This man knew how to get his attention but he still had to be cautious. “Who’s your mistress?” 

“She’s...” Byorc stopped, looking around hesitantly. “Not from here.” 

It meant two things for Thane. Either his mistress was a crooked criminal or a highly esteemed official who didn’t want to be seen hiring the services of a famous mercenary. 

When Thane merely stared at Byorc with disinterest, Byorc sighed and stepped closer to him. “She sent me to find you. She knows you’re the best.” 

Thane pulled out his knife from under his cloak and spun it around in a quick skillful circle. A warning. “Flattery won’t you get anywhere. Who is she?” 

Before Byorc could reply, he felt a presence behind him.

“It’s been too long, Thane.” A feminine voice spoke.

No one in the last ten years has called him that. Startled by this, Thane turned, his knife at the ready until he froze where he stood. His body froze, his mind froze, everything just froze as he laid eyes on the most gorgeous glacier blue orbs.

The knife he held clanged to the floor. All but forgotten. Defenses be damned. 

At first sight, Thane thought the woman in front of him had taken a wrong turn on her way to some young noble’s house. But then he looked at her, really looked and the repressed memories from the past come back to him in crashing waves. He would recognize those kitten features anywhere. Only now, she wasn’t a scared and angry little kitten anymore. 

She had grown into herself and that being a beautiful woman who could have any man’s heart stop. A classic beauty with almond shaped eyes, long, elegant and luscious fiery red hair, naturally pink and pouting lips and a lithe body. 

“Nera.” He breathed out, his voice more air than sound.

She smiled at him. The same smile he’s been dreaming of for so long and thought would never see again. “Hi, Thane.”