Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 462 of 619

Marco's brother rode in two days after the caller ring went cold. Ajax watched him dismount at the gate. Same jaw as Marco. Same gold bracelet on his wrist. But this one held his shoulders tighter, like a man who expected to prove himself before he was welcome. Marco met him first. The two clasped arms without a word. Ajax saw the bracelets touch, gold against gold, and understood the bond ran deeper than blood alone. "JD," Marco said, turning to Ajax. "My brother." Ajax led them to the bar. He poured three cups himself. JD did not drink. He sat with his back straight and watched the room the way Marco watched men's faces. "Marco says you hear a lie land," Ajax said. "I do." JD met his eyes. "You want to test it, test it." Ajax liked that. No soft words. No selling himself. He leaned back. JD turned the bracelet on his wrist. "Marco wears one of these. So do I. We got them the same day." He glanced at his brother. "He's mine to watch." Marco said nothing. He did not need to. Ajax saw the truth of it in how the two men sat, close, matched, like one man split into two. Ajax questioned him an hour. He asked about the port, about debts, about who JD answered to. Marco sat beside them and listened the way only Marco could. When it was done, Marco gave a small nod. "Clean," Marco said. "He speaks straight. No hooks in him but me." Ajax stood. He clasped JD's shoulder, hard, the way he greeted a man he meant to keep. "You'll hold the bar," Ajax said. "You hear a captain lie about the gate or the sea path, you mark him and tell me. Your brother holds the road. Two readers. No spy climbs that wall." JD held his eyes. "Then I stay." Ajax poured a fourth measure and slid it across. This time JD drank. "Meet me at the fire tonight," Ajax said. "Midnight. You'll swear the Code and take your chain. After that you're one of mine." JD set the cup down empty. "I'll be there." Ajax left them, brothers side by side at the bar, gold on both wrists. He had come looking for one man to guard his walls. He had found a second reader, sworn by dark, and a bond he could not break even if he tried. His house would hold two roads now, not one.