The Warrior's Assault

by Kristen Banet

  The Warrior’s Assault

  Age of the Andinna

  Kristen Banet

  Copyright © 2019 by Kristen Banet

  All rights reserved.

  Cover Illustration by Merilliza Chan

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Created with Vellum

  Acknowledgments

  I’ve never done acknowledgements before. I figured… I should start.

  Let’s get started with the obvious. My husband, who supports me through every book, even if he’s never read them. He believes in me and I love him for it.

  To my girls, Leigh, Katie, and Becca, who listen to my endless ramblings about plots and future ideas. Who lose me for days on end as I dive into another book. Your friendship is my touch stone to come out of the story and know there are people waiting on me to come back.

  And to my editors, both amazing. Then my beta readers, all fantastic. Without the team behind me, these wonderful people, I would never be able to bring these books to the world.

  An last, but not least, you the reader. The reader who keeps coming back reading more and more. You join me my journeys through worlds unknown and stories of strong women and men fighting for what they believe in.

  Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

  To those who

  stand beside me at

  my hardest times.

  To those who

  stand beside you at

  your hardest times.

  1

  Mave

  Mave walked slowly through the knee-deep snow, the cold air burning her lungs. She always found herself moving slowly in the mornings. It wasn’t because she was tired or having a hard time, though.

  It’s so beautiful here.

  She stopped in the middle of the woods near the village, taking in the sight of the world around her, knowing it was why she moved slowly. Snow made the world white, covering everything. Between the trees, there were peaks of snow-capped mountains. The burn in her lungs from the cold? She loved it. It felt right. The white world around her was like a home she never knew she needed.

  So, every morning, she walked slowly while doing her business before breakfast. Something in her couldn’t miss the beautiful sight of the quiet early morning world. Brynec would see her when she made it home, covered in snow and chilled to the bone, and would wonder if she was going to catch her death. Matesh would chuckle and say the cold wasn’t going to be the thing that killed her—if anything could at this point. She never told them why she moved so slowly in the morning, but she had the distinct feeling they would understand if she did.

  They were halfway through winter now, and she didn’t want it to end. She was certain it wouldn’t stay that way. One day she would see more of the harshness of the cold season and less of the beauty, but Mave figured that was years off. She couldn’t see herself falling out of love with it for a long time.

  Then again, she had never seen snow before coming here, not that she could remember anyway. There was wonder in her heart at the very sight of it, an excitement she didn’t know how to describe, so she just never mentioned it.

  A crunch behind her told her she was no longer alone. It wasn’t the first time someone else was out in the woods when she was, so she didn’t get worried. It was probably someone else stumbling around, trying to get their morning started by dealing with the annoyingly necessary functions that forced everyone out into the cold.

  “Sorry,” a fresh-faced Andinna said nervously in Andena as he came out from a clump of nearby trees. “Didn’t know you were out here.”

  “It’s fine,” she said casually, trying to give the younger male a small smile. He paled, telling her he was too intimidated to have a real conversation. His eyes dropped in submission, only seconds after she met them, showing he meant no threat or harm. “Really, it’s no problem. I was just breathing in the fresh air.” She was also using Andena, having come a long way in the months since the Company had settled in the village for the winter. She didn’t know everything, but she could pass in conversation without needing to ask too many questions about what certain words meant.

  “I’ll leave you be,” he promised quickly, opening his black wings. He took off as quickly as he could, leaving her in the disturbed snow his wings kicked up.

  “Every time…” Mave shook her head. They always did that. They always ran away from her like she was going to gut them if they accidentally stayed too long.

  With that, she knew it was time for her to head home and eat breakfast. Bryn and Mat were probably beginning to wonder if she was okay, even if they never really asked. She walked a little faster than normal, wrapping her arms around her core and tucking her hands against her sides. The cold was beginning to nip at her fingertips, and she had to work to keep her tail out of the snow. That definitely meant she had stayed out a few minutes too long.

  She left the forest and saw the village in the cliffside. The landing spots at the doors were already swept of their snow, including hers. She smiled, finding it an even lovelier sight than the quiet woods. A real Andinna village, built into the mountain proper with only little wooden platforms in front of the doors and small windows carved in some. It was a marvel to behold. She had lived in a towering, white city built from marble and limestone, but this was genius, using the greatest monuments of the earth itself as shelter.

  She loved it.

  Her own home wasn’t far up the cliff, the door only thirty feet up with a set of stairs. She’d asked Matesh once why they hadn’t built any on the ground, and he’d had a good point. If there was an attack on the village, the Andinna could destroy the stairs and be safe. They were still the most vulnerable to any enemies daring enough to climb, but it was unlikely to happen.

  She climbed the stairs as the shivering set in. She stumbled when she got inside, kicking off her boots as the heat of the fire in the hearth started to warm her bones. Brynec kept their home toasty, which she was thankful for every morning.

  “Breakfast is almost done, ilanra.”

  She smiled without looking up as she nudged her boots next to the other pairs at the door. Only one male called her his beloved, and it was her first.

  “Thank you, Mat,” she replied.

  She listened as he walked closer, leaning back on his chest when he wrapped an arm around her waist from behind.

  “You don’t have to put your boots away,” he reminded her softly, hot breath over her ear.

  “I know you like them here.”

  “And I’ll always make sure they’re there when you need them, but you don’t need to do it. You can leave them anywhere, and you know it won’t bother me.” He chuckled, putting his chin on the top of her head. “How was your morning walk?”

  “Good,” she answered, turning in his arms, keeping her wings tucked so she didn’t hit him in the face. It had happened before, and while they all laughed about it, it wasn’t something she thought he appreciated. Putting her forehead on his chest, she breathed deeply, enjoying how he smelled like the spices he and Bryn cooked with. He was hot even in the cold world of winter. “Another male ran away from me.”

  “You’re scary,” he said, shrugging. “And if they run, it means they aren’t worthy.” He grabbed her hips, pulling her so there was no remaining
space between them. “I’ll never run.”

  “I’m not worried about you running.” She ran her hands up his bare chest. When they were in their home, her men were always mostly undressed. She knew she couldn’t convince them to put on clothing—even if she wanted them to. She loved that they were always so available to her and comfortable like that.

  “Good, because I think you’re perfect,” he purred, kissing her softly. “Scary and all.”

  “Ya two goin’ to make it to breakfast, or are we goin’ back to bed?”

  Mave chuckled against Mat’s lips before turning to see Bryn standing at the end of the hall before their living area. He was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed and his chest bare, just like Mat’s. His summer-sky eyes, which others called zircon, were dancing in the firelight, bright with pleasure.

  Having him around was surprising, to say the least. She still wasn’t sure how she’d claimed the rogue, how he’d ended up hers and only hers. She hadn’t expected to like him so much. Even months into their relationship, she was mystified by the idea that she had him.

  I’ve never done anything to deserve so much.

  For the first time, Mave knew exactly what this new feeling was—contentment, happiness.

  “We should have breakfast,” she said, sighing as she remembered what sort of day she had ahead. “I seem to burn a lot working with Luykas.” Bryn nodded his agreement and walked away, that smile still on his face.

  “Blood magic does that,” Mat agreed, nodding slowly. “How do you feel about it? You come home from training, then close your mouth up. I never want to pry.”

  She shook her head, not wanting to talk about it. He took the hint and took her hand, leading her to their table. Bryn was setting out the food, offering her a warm smile. Her heart filled, the thought of Luykas fading from her mind as she looked over the scene presented—Bryn laying out breakfast with Mat stepping in to help with the tableware. They worked together in the stone home dug into the mountainside that belonged…to her.

  It was that simple thought that always stuck out to her. This was her home for as long as she wanted it. It could only be filled by the people she wanted in it. She reigned, and she was supposed to feel safe here—truly safe—a foreign feeling, but a treasured one.

  It’s a far cry from the room and pool in the pits.

  As she sat down, Mat gave her an expectant look, sliding a plate in front of her with her serving of breakfast—eggs, bacon, and a steak. High protein for her training she had every morning. Mat and Bryn had similar, thanks to their long winter working with Senri and the village guards.

  Mave was stuck on Mat’s expression for a moment.

  “What?” she demanded, wondering what could possibly put that look on his face that early in the morning.

  “I was hoping you would finally talk to us about your training,” he admitted.

  That took her aback for a moment, making her wonder why he was pushing it.

  “We train. It’s hard. It’s slow. It’s not bad, it just is.” She shrugged, hoping he would dismiss it.

  “We’re just curious,” Bryn commented mildly, looking down at his plate, obviously trying to hide his smile.

  “He’s Luykas,” she muttered.

  “We know,” they both said in reply, then looked up at each other. She glanced between them, frowning now. It was Mat who elaborated, lifting one of his big shoulders up in his own shrug.

  “You two train for hours on end, every morning, then you don’t spare each other three words when the Company is together, or you see him in the village.”

  “Ah…” She didn’t have an explanation for that. She and the white-winged Andinna commander often found themselves at odds after training. It was one of the reasons she didn’t want to talk about it. “The training is what it is. I’ve mastered control over the minor uses of my blood magic. He likes sparring with me, teaching me the small healing tricks used by the Blackbloods.”

  “I thought there was something going on. I’m sorry for being nosy this morning. It’s just halfway through winter, and still, you two are…” Mat trailed off, looking away from her to her second lover.

  “Ya two are still like oil and water. Ain’t mixing, and we all had hope when the mission was over...”

  “Who had hope?” she snorted, nearly laughing at that. “We get along well enough. We don’t need to be friends to work together. I do believe one of you said that to me at one point.”

  Bryn nodded slowly. “Yer right.” He threw a wary glance at Mat, leaving Mave confused. “He is one of our commanders, though.”

  “We’ll work it out,” she promised. “We’re training, and the work comes first, so we haven’t really spent a lot of time trying to be friends. There’s still a lot of winter left,” she reminded him. “Now, let’s eat and let me deal with Luykas, please.” Hopefully, that will buy me more time to…deal with Luykas.

  The second heartbeat in her chest became more noticeable as if it was decided right then, she needed to be reminded of him even more. She shifted in her chair, her wings flicking with annoyance and her tail curling up. Grabbing her fork, she dug into her breakfast, hoping to ignore how she knew he was directly above her, probably enjoying his own breakfast. There was something edgy about him every morning, that she recognized because she echoed it back. They were always edgy before they saw each other, which was five days a week. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but neither of them was ever comfortable with seeing each other until it happened.

  Bryn’s right about us.

  She ate swiftly, hoping to get over the feeling by finally seeing him. It faded once training was over and came back the next morning at breakfast. It haunted her weekends, knowing she had another long week of mornings with him. They were just coming off a weekend, which meant she was in for a doozy this morning, having not seen him for two full days.

  “Darlin’, how’s breakfast?” Bryn asked softly, breaking her out of her thoughts.

  “Good,” she answered, smiling at him. “Less food than normal?”

  “Aye. That’s something I wanted to mention before you left today. Official word from the mativa is rations per household have been cut. Very small cuts, mind ya, but cut. Happens every year the Company is in since we’re more mouths to feed. Figured you should know, bein’ the head of this household.”

  “We’re still going to have enough through winter, right?” Mave felt the worry flood her. She knew what starvation was like, and there was very little that would ever make her forget it. It was one of the favorite ways to control her when the Empress was desperate. Mave learned how to survive, to accept that death would come if she didn’t eat for too long, but the memories of the feeling gnawed at her with Bryn’s words.

  “The village will always tell us if things are that bad. We would know before settlin’ for the winter if they were worried they couldn’t help feed us. We always help them, too, so it’s not like we’re too much of a drain. We still have more than enough. We just get two eggs per person instead of three. Three pounds of venison instead of four. Small cuts. It’s nothin’ bad.” Bryn reached out and snagged her hand, kissing the top of it. “No one here is goin’ to let ya starve, Mave.”

  “That’s good to know. Thank you.” She took a deep breath, using his resolve and positivity to chase away the small demons that haunted her. “I’m heading out,” she declared, pushing her empty plate away. “What are you two doing today?”

  “Running the guards through some Company drills,” Mat answered, grinning.

  Mave wanted to roll her eyes. Every week, he was putting his men through something difficult and most likely unnecessary.

  “I’m going to be helpin’ him. So is Zayden,” Bryn added, a grin forming on his face as well.

  “Have fun,” she told them, shaking her head. She left them at the table, trying not to laugh. She couldn’t resist the smile that formed as she pulled her boots back on and left her males to their own devices, her demons dismissed,
thanks to visions of her men dancing through her head. The idea of Matesh, Brynec, and Zayden getting onto the softer young males of the village was a funny thought—probably not for the young males, but definitely to her. It would brighten her morning to think of what they were probably going to do to the guards and would hopefully get her through it. She grabbed her sword belt, hanging on a peg, and put it on as she walked out the door.

  Mave jumped down from her home’s front platform into the snow below, the smile refusing to abate as the white fluff flew up all around her. As it settled, Mave watched an Andinna swoop down and land gracefully near her.

  “Mave! I was hoping to catch you,” Senri greeted, smiling brightly. Mave was curious at the female’s sudden appearance. Senri was the leader of the warriors who lived in the village, and Kian’s wife. She was Company by a matter of marriage, and family in that way. She was the only female Mave ever witnessed snap her fingers at one of the Company and get what she wanted. “I need you today.”

  “I’m headed for training, actually. Can it wait?” Mave glanced up, knowing Luykas’ home was high on the cliff, far above her own. “You know my mornings aren’t free.”

  “Well, it needs to be free this morning,” Senri said quickly, reaching out to run her arm through Mave’s.

  It was an odd gesture, universally feminine. Mave had seen high born Elvasi ladies grab each other in the same way, hooking their arms to talk as they walked, sometimes giggling as they probably talked about which of their guards was the prettiest. Senri was the first female to ever touch Mave with that level of familiarity—and would probably be the only one, she realized.

  “We have something important and senseless to do.”

  “Did I sign up for this?” Mave asked, wondering if she had previously agreed to something without remembering.

  “Not quite,” Senri said, obviously trying to edge around the explanation. “You were born to it because you don’t have a cock.”