Chapter 10

Rheaga's sword flew about swiftly in the air, as he parried the blows of the young lad in front of him. The lad had a good offence, he had to admit. But what happened when he was faced by someone who was a far better swordsman? What happened if he Rheaga were intent on killing?

Subtly, he maneuvered and changed his tactics, until he was the one striking blows, while the lad tried to defend. They went on that way for a good one hour. Rheaga kept a determined expression on his face, but it would have been obvious to anyone who had fought alongside him in battle that his blows were struck today half heartedly.

He was trying the patience of the young lad he trained, another day might be for improving the lads offense skills, but right now, Rheaga wanted to find out how well his kid brother fought when he was hungry and battle weary. The boy was holding up pretty well, until Rheaga decided they had had enough for the afternoon, and ended it all by knocking his brother's sword off with one powerful blow. He pointed the top of his sword to the boy's throat.

Seeing that training was over – at least for now, the lad who looked so much like Rheaga with his dark skin and jet black hair collapsed to the ground, exhausted.

"Get up Dava." Rheaga commanded. "We've been at this for barely over one hour – battles could rage on for several hours."

"But we aren't at war, are we Rheaga?" Dava pointed out wearily. His bones ached where ever he had joints, and his muscles felt like lead. He wondered where Rheaga got all his strength from – granted, he was a more experienced fighter, but surely, even the Alpha had to be feeling exhausted after such an exertion. Turning gray eyes up to meet coal black ones, he raised a hand to his big brother, and Rheaga pulled him up, then they both fell in step beside each other on the way to the main house.

"You know," Dava said after sometime. "If you are not interested in her, you should let me have her. A human plaything cannot be such a bad idea, especially if she is as lovely as they say she is."

Rheaga ignored his brother, and continued walking. It was just like the nineteenth year old to ignore the political implications of a human offering from the Shezlam king, and think only of the pleasures he would draw from her flesh.

Both Rheaga and Dava were not starved of feminine affection, from both Werewolves and humans alike. They were both tall, handsome, and their bodies were in good form – of course it helped that Rheaga was Alpha, and Dava was beta. Strong she-wolves with catlike grace, as well as more fragile human women were all falling over themselves to mate with either of the brothers. But they were all the same to Rheaga. He could read their greed and their hunger for power so plainly on their faces. Sometimes, it amused him, other times it irritated him.

He should reject the Shezlam offer, Rheaga thought to himself. If for nothing, then to spite the humans. He already had the women he wanted – the way he wanted them, wild, free and uninhibited. He did not need the girl they wanted to send to him. But he was curious.

Not about the girl, but about what exactly the humans were up to. His spies had told him to be wary of the king, and Lord Blukett, but to be even more wary of Lord Gareth. If there was really more to the offering than met the eye, Rheaga was sure the scheme would have been proposed in the first place by Lord Gareth.

Rheaga loved battles. He loved to meet his opponents face to face in an arena but – he also liked mind games, and he wanted to see what stuff Lord Gareth was made of.

"You are not listening Rheaga." Dava said from beside him, his aches almost forgotten.

"Listening to what? Your proposal to take the burden of a pleasant surprise off my hands, but then again, the fact that there is a surprise doesn't always mean it would be pleasant."

"You always talk sagely," Dava pointed out. "When you are trying to stall for time. Make up your mind big brother. Are we to receive the chit from the humans!"

Rheaga flashed him a beguiling smile. "But how can we reject such an offer, seeing that we have nothing to loose."

"Oh I wouldn't be so sure about that. We could actually loose vital information to the enemy. But anyway, they want her groomed to your taste. It's a lucky thing that you do have a taste! I have none. I like my women in all their different flavors, different sizes and shapes – I mean, what's the use topping the same kind of woman over and over again!"

Rheaga sighed, and decided not to reply. His mind was still on Dava's first statement. He had already decided that whoever the humans offered, she was not to be trusted. Only a fool would pass up the opportunity to plant a spy. He had also considered using her to get information about the inner workings of Shezlam. He already had soldiers stationed all over the main cities, but it wouldn't hurt to pick the brain of one who had lived amongst them.

The two brothers parted ways at the manor house, Dava headed over to the steaming room, while Rheaga stalked over to the cellar.