Disowned by his family for preferring men to women, a naive nobleman's son is forced to sell his body on the streets to survive. Until an elite mercenary band takes pity on him... because they were all like him once.
First they adopt him. Then they train him. Bonds quickly form, deeper than any he's ever known—but he dreads his first real battle. Will he lose his place among them when they discover he's still a weak coward?
The real threat, though, may come from within. Because not everyone in their band values the bonds between them above all else. His most important battle may be against the very people who saved him.
This short story is 14,000 words long. It is also available in Queerdark, a dark queer fantasy collection.