As Borin the Black fled from the battlefield, Brax stroked his muzzle.
Liv stood beside him and seethed.
She seethed because she wanted to be free. And she seethed because she had to bite back the urge to repeat what Vazt and Anix had said and demand that Brax move behind cover. The fight was a good way off, but he was quite visible. If a detachment of Borin's army had noticed him, they'd come down and slaughter him.
I just don't want him to get noticed because then I get captured. It's not like I like the golden asshole.
Brax, though, laughed.
“Well, I'll be,” he said. “We've got a gifted amateur here. He made some mistakes though – risked too much on a gamble. Anyone who gambles that often has to lose eventually.”
He turned to Liv, then tugged something from his belt pouch. Liv had only a few moments to wonder before it touched her throat. The collar glowed, then dropped to the ground with a thump. Brax looked at her.
“Liv,” he said, “You have a choice. You can go and rejoin Liam there. Serve as his bodyguard, keep him alive, give him advice.” He shrugged. “You'll do good there. But your father sent you here – to me - for a reason. And I say that because we both know that your father is an ass.”
His grin was wide. His teeth were sharp.
But all Liv could think about, for the moment, was how pretty his eyes were.
“So, I promise you now, that if you come with me, you will ruin your father's plans and see everything he is working towards in ruins. But I won't take a slave. Not anymore.”
Then he turned and started to walk away, moving down behind the tiny rise that they had used to observe the clash of armies. Vazt and Anix and Rao moved to flank him, and he started heading for the coast, where a tiny boat had been secreted away. It'd be a long, dangerous voyage to rejoin the rest of his army. Liv's fingers touched her throat.
She looked at Brax's back.
She looked back at the army – at the soldiers surrendering.
She looked back at Brax.
“Ah fuck it,” Liv grumbled as she headed towards the coast and an uncertain future.