Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 443 of 619

The warning charm held. Ajax felt his men through the metal on his chest and slept easier for it. But a charm watched for treason, not for wine. That night Ajax came to the bar to test his new gate captain's readiness. Marco was gone to the Crossing. Kael Thorne held his squad, and Kael was the man who never spoke a word he did not mean. Kael sat at the far bench with a cup already low. He drank the way he fought, without waste. Ajax had brought him from the port with Torren, sworn him twice over, and made him a squad leader. He trusted the man's blade. He had never seen him loose. Tucker Hoskins worked the room the way he always did. He poured for the fighters and let his gold chains catch the lamplight. He set a full cup by Kael's hand and did not ask permission. "You never drink with us," Tucker said. "Bad manners." Kael drank. Then he drank again. Ajax watched a change come over the clipped, watchful man. The stubble-bearded fighter leaned back and let his shoulders drop. After the third cup Kael reached out and pressed his fingers to the flat gold chain on Tucker's chest. "Real," Kael said. "Heavy." "Everything on me is real," Tucker said. He did not pull away. Kael flexed his arm and turned it so the muscle stood out in the lamplight. He was showing off. Ajax had never seen him do it. The quiet man grinned, and the grin looked easy on him, like it had waited years for the drink to let it out. "Feel that," Kael said. "Better than the chain." Tucker set a hand on Kael's flexed bicep. He held it a beat, then let his thumb move once. "Not bad," Tucker said. His voice stayed dry, but his eyes had gone still and interested. "Come here often, do you." "First time," Kael said. He leaned closer. "Won't be the last." Kael's hand rose toward Tucker's collar. “Another time” Tucker said. “You have a watch soon. Tucker watched him climb the stair. "Shame," he said. "That one's worth a second look."