Zayden shook his head sadly. He knew Senri was having a hard time with many of the younger males, anyone born after the war, but he didn’t think it was this bad. This was his first time seeing it, and now, he knew why she wanted more of the Company helping with her warriors.
This is pathetic. If Alchan or Luykas saw this…
Those two would kill the entire lot of them if they pissed them off enough. Dead was better than incompetent. Incompetent got good soldiers killed.
“Are you like this with her?” he asked loudly, walking closer to the group. “Do you always snap, snarl, and half-ass your way through training?”
“We’ve been at this since morning!” one yelled from the back.
“You were just as shitty this morning as you are now!” Matesh fired back, snarling. “You came out yawning and complaining it was too early to be away from your warm beds. You figured you could go through the motions, and we would let you leave. That’s not how we do things.”
“Now, we’ll give you a few moments off. Drink water, stretch, but when you come back, we expect you to be focused. This isn’t a fucking hard drill.” Zayden pointed toward a stream on one side of the training field. “Go before those two stop you.”
They ran faster than they had all morning. Mat stomped over to him, his eyes blazing with anger. Zayden nearly believed his best friend was mad at him and hoped that wasn’t the case as the big male closed the distance. Bryn fell in step behind him, which was even more terrifying.
Who could have thought those two would become a pair? They’re going to be dangerous one day, fighting together beside her.
“I hate them,” Matesh growled deeply. “I came out here today thinking this would be fun, but instead, we’ve got children playing war.”
“What did Senri say about it?” he asked, looking between the two males.
Bryn sighed. “The young males don’t take the threat seriously enough. They’ve been sheltered here in Olost for a long time. Most came to this village recently from villages even deeper in the mountains, where the Elvasi can’t touch. Add in the fact that the young females aren’t as strong because they need to be protected and many are shattered by their time in slavery, and it’s a recipe for a weaker generation.”
“Should give them to Mave,” Zayden muttered, shaking his head again. “If anyone can teach someone how to strike fear in the hearts of others, I bet it’s her.”
“Agreed, but she’s busy with Luykas, and I don’t think she gets along with the other females,” Mat said. “It’s a mess that gets worse every year.”
They fell silent, each of them probably thinking about how ugly the future of the Andinna looked. If they couldn’t impart the importance of being strong to these males, the Andinna would be just as vulnerable as they had been when the war ended. Elvasi hunters looking to capture new slaves would always be a problem. Their people were still crippled from the War.
And yet, they had weak males who weren’t ready for the lives ahead of them.
“At least the old males aren’t this bad,” he finally said.
“Yes. The old males, who are broken and battered from years of fighting and too old to demand the respect of the young ones because the young ones at least still have the strength and freshness of youth.” Mat snorted. “I would never ask Leshaun to come out here and fight these guys. They would break his arm or something. It’s a sad truth.”
“There are dozens of warriors in this village who are good soldiers. Why haven’t they come out here and fixed this?” Bryn demanded. “Dozens between our age and Kian’s. What’s wrong with them?”
“They’re doing all they can,” Mat answered softly. “But Senri is the leader, and she can’t get a grip on this group. These males are all under four hundred years old, and there’s over a dozen of them. They’ve become a fucking pack and won’t take shit from anyone.”
“We all go through that phase,” Zayden commented pragmatically. “It’s a time of turmoil for males. They can start earning females, and that means it’s their only goal. Being a village guard isn’t going to do that for them.”
“Being little rebels gets attention. Some young females probably find them sexy.” Mat paused, his face twisting in disgust. “Fuck, I used to do the same thing.”
“Exactly.” Zayden shoved his hands into his pockets, rocking back on his heels. Before he fell back, the tip of his tail touched the ground and propped him up.
“Time to call ‘em back,” Bryn said with a grunt. His whistle could probably be heard for miles. “Get over here!” he roared. “Back to work!”
The amount of grumbling from the group annoyed Zayden, but the slow walk the young males made to their spots pissed him off even more.
“Brynec told you to move, so you better fucking move!” he growled, moving to corral the young shits into their spots.
“Fuck off, you old prick,” one snapped, reaching out to shove him. Something was familiar about the young male, but Zayden didn’t let that stop him. He grabbed the boy’s wrist and yanked, pulling him off balance. As the kid tumbled, he raised a knee into the young male’s gut. When the male hit the ground, Zayden let go of the wrist and took a step back.
“Don’t pick fights you can’t win. That’s the first lesson every young male should learn. I’ve got over a thousand years of experience on you. I’m not old, by any means. I’m still as fit as you are.” A thump nearby made someone curse, but he didn’t take his eyes off the downed male. “Now, get up and get to your spot. If you train hard enough, maybe one day, you’ll be able to beat me.”
“Don’t bet on it, Cartesh,” Rain said from behind him. “My dad is an asshole, and he’s good.”
“That’s right! You’re my son’s friend. Sorry, Rain. He tried to shove me. Can’t tolerate that.” He turned and smiled at his boy. “You’re late.”
“I was slow after lunch. I figured you wouldn’t miss me. You already have your hands full.” Rain smirked, stepping closer. “And Cartesh doesn’t talk to me anymore, so it’s no worry to me if he picks a fight he can’t win.”
Zayden chuckled as his boy kept walking, sparing only a glance down at the other male. Cartesh jumped up, brushing off his clothes, paling as Rain passed him.
“Now that our last trainer is here, we can get this started. Rainev is your age and about to show you it doesn’t take a thousand years to do this. You just need to fucking practice it.” Mat stepped in front of the crowd again. “Rain?”
“I can also turn into a wyvern and set them on fire if that works better for you.”
Everyone laughed except for the young males in formation. Which was to say, the Company males laughed at their expense.
“Does anyone want to spar with me?” Rain called out. “No wyvern. Just swords. Promise.”
“I’ll do it.” A bronze-eyed male stepped forward. “I can handle a little raki.”
“Those are fightin’ words,” Bryn said, raising an eyebrow. Zayden knew Bryn hated the small jokes, and it was foolish to underestimate one of the Andinna just because they might be smaller than average.
“They are. I don’t know what shithole Senri pulled you out of for training, but I’m going to enjoy sending you back to it,” Rain said in response, unsheathing his sword.
The young male charged, bullheaded and stupid. Zayden beamed with pride as Rain swiftly dodged and got first blood with his counterattack, which left the male stunned long enough Rain drew second blood, then kicked him in the dirt before anything could be done to stop him. The young male rolled over and met the tip of Rain’s blade at his throat.
“Dead,” Rain said softly. “Very, very dead. Turns out, I don’t need to be as big as you, let alone a wyvern, to handle you. I’m a lot faster than you and have put in thousands of hours to get as good as I am. Some of those hours were done as a slave in Elliar, fighting in the Colosseum under the tutelage of the Champion.” Rain leaned down, and Zayden was concerned his son might slip and kill the male. The tip of the blade w
as now pressed down hard enough into the vulnerable neck of the defeated male that a drop of blood began to form. “Don’t ever underestimate your opponent.”
“Mave would be proud,” Mat said, grinning. “Anyone else?”
Rain sheathed his sword when no one answered and walked to stand beside Zayden. He was so proud of his son, he could barely find any words to express it.
“You've gotten better this winter,” was the best thing he could come up with.
“The shit Alchan makes me do is making me stronger. A lot of heavy lifting and chopping firewood.” Rain smirked. “Thank you.”
“How’s that going?” Zayden ignored the training as Mat and Bryn started the males on the drills again. It was simple sword work, different moves in a long sequence that had to be done right. This had to be the thousandth time they made the young males do it.
“It’s good. I deserve it for talking back to him, just like Mat and Bryn deserve this grueling shit with the guards here in the village.” He shrugged.
“Hmm,” Zayden smirked. “I’m really proud of you. Not just for how good a warrior you’re becoming, but for that too. You’re honorable.”
“I learned from the best,” he said.
“Let me guess. Luykas?” He knew it was a favorite jibe of his son’s to name anyone but him.
“No,” Rain answered. “All of you.” He went silent for a second, looking away. Zayden saw a touch of darkness dampen the sapphire eyes their family was known for. It faded quickly, and his boy smiled again. “You’ve been doing a lot better recently.”
“Well, my son isn’t avoiding me like I’m fucking diseased. I’ve also learned how to give him space, which he had asked me for. I think that’s helped.” Zayden thumped his son on the back. “Wintering here has been good for the Company, giving you, Mave, and Mat a chance to heal.” Not enough, in Zayden’s mind, but at least some. Seeing the darkness come into Rain’s eyes always reminded him that something in his son had cracked, and as Mave had once said to him, his son would be different from the young male who had been captured. There was no stopping it.
“That’s what everyone has been saying.” Rain nodded, looking over the males in front of them. “I don’t fit in with them anymore.”
“Did you ever?” Zayden asked gently. “You’ve always been one of us. As much as I hated that.” He saw it now. Seeing his son in comparison to his peers reminded him that Rain had dedicated his life to being a member of the Company. He would never be one of the softer guards or a grunt. He was one of the elite.
“What happened between you and Cartesh? I thought he was your go-to fuck.” I want my boy happy, even if it’s with some little shit who doesn’t know how to stop measuring his cock with everyone around him.
“He tried while you were away, like right after you all left. I turned him down, and it hasn’t been the same since,” he explained. “I wasn’t feeling it anymore.”
Zayden knew it was because of Elliar. He had time to think about it now, see the changes in his son. This was just another nail in the coffin. Someone had tried to hurt his son, and he couldn’t live in denial about it anymore. He still couldn’t think the words, couldn’t let go of the last bit of denial he held on to. He couldn’t say it, but he saw more now that he gave Rain his space than he did when he was trying to force his boy to open up.
“There’s someone out there for you,” he promised. “You’ll find him.”
“Thanks, baba. Now, let’s show these males how real warriors do it.”
“Let’s,” Zayden agreed, grinning, trying to cover up where his thoughts went. He couldn’t say it, and he hoped it never had to be said. He just hoped he and the Company could love his son enough to help heal the wounds Elliar had left on him.
So far, it seemed like it was working.
6
Mave
Mave was anxious as she always was when she landed in the training field where she met Luykas every morning. Her previous night had gone well. After learning from Senri all afternoon, she enjoyed a quiet dinner with her males. While it had been an interesting day, it ended like every day before it—spending quality time with her lovers as they bitched and moaned about the weak males they had to train and work with. There was something endearing about it.
So, she knew she couldn’t be surprised she woke up tense at another morning with him. It was a routine she was familiar with.
What was surprising was the fact that she arrived first. She’d never beaten him. She would always drag her feet a little when she felt him leave his home every morning, so they didn’t have to see each other before training.
She focused on the second heartbeat in her chest. It wasn’t real, only an echo of his. Focusing on it, she could feel the pull in his direction with better clarity. It turned her head for her, directing her back to the village.
“So, now he’s the late one,” she muttered, shaking her head. She couldn’t tell if he was still in his home or not, but he was definitely in the village.
She found a stump on the edge of the field and sat down, pondering this new problem. Was he going to stop training her because she was pushing for more? Pulling out her right-handed morok and a rag, she wiped down the sword, catching her reflection in the metal. She was used to herself with tatua now, but it still made her pause. It was the first thing she had claimed with her freedom, and she had Matesh to thank for it. Now, she was living among other free Andinna. Now, she could speak most of the language. She was even learning to play the flute.
But it all came back to the fact that she was once a bare-faced Andinna, which was no longer the case.
She shoved the sword back into its sheath, then pulled out the little flute Senri gave her. Mave tried to play a couple of notes, wincing as they didn’t sound as pretty as when her friend played. She shoved it into her pocket again, confused as to why she even brought it. It just seemed like a good thing to do when she left after breakfast.
I’ll get better at playing. I’ll keep it to lessons for now.
After waiting for longer than she should have, she saw three black dots enter the sky, coming her way. From the ground, everyone was a black dot at a distance in the sky. Only the bond made it possible to recognize one as Luykas. As he drew closer, he lightened up, and she could recognize the white wings in the blue sky better. She could also see a deep red of one set of the wings and a green tint of the other.
She was grinning as Nevyn and Varon landed in front of her. Luykas had actually listened to her—she couldn’t believe it.
“Good morning,” she greeted, jumping up to shake their hands. Nevyn obliged, yawning, but Varon ignored her hand and wrapped his arms around her in a brotherly hug. It made her a little uncomfortable, but she accepted it, hugging him back.
“We’re going to spar with them and practice our…partnership in combat with the bond,” Luykas announced, stepping around the two males so they could see each other. She looked him over.
“Is that why you’re late?” she asked, letting go of Varon, who began to shake with laughter.
“No,” Nevyn answered. “He’s late because Varon and I had a hard time getting out of bed. Not his fault.”
She eyed him, then looked at Varon, raising an eyebrow.
“Can you blame him? My main training as a priest was for our love and fertility goddess.” For the first time since she met him, Varon gave her an arrogant smirk. He didn’t seem nearly as tired as his partner. Instead, he seemed rather proud of himself.
“I…” She looked away from the lovers to Luykas. What did a priest of love and fertility get up to that would wear out Nevyn? He shrugged.
“One learns not to question these two about their bedroom habits,” he said pragmatically. “Now, warm up stretches, then training?”
“Of course.” Nevyn was yawning again as he spoke, drawing out the words.
“And a chance for him to wake up,” she said teasingly, smirking at the couple. “I don’t let Mat and Bryn exhaust me on the nigh
ts before training. You should try that.”
“Ha! That’s called not living life,” Nevyn retorted. “You should let them exhaust you at every available opportunity. It’s what they’re there for. Ask them, and they’ll tell ya.”
“They also spend three full days and nights with the guards every week. They need their energy too,” she reminded him, chuckling. Whatever anxiety she always felt being around Luykas was gone with these two involved.
“Let’s just get started,” Luykas ordered, walking out into the middle of the field. She followed, the lovers trailing behind her.
“So, Mave. You know how to do some self-healing now, huh?” Nevyn asked as they stepped in a circle in the center of the snow-covered field.
“I’ve been practicing it.” She didn’t want to brag to him. He was the only person in the group she wasn’t sure she could beat with a sword, which made her cautious about talking too highly of herself. He’d put her on her ass as he had before.
“Wish I could do that,” he said dreamily. “Not a Blackblood, so…”
“She’s better at it than most,” Luykas commented, not looking up from his feet as he stretched. Mave copied him, knowing she needed to loosen up, or training with these three would kill her. “She can draw more power than I’ve seen most able to and heal more on the spot. Mat isn’t as strong as she is, and he’s decent. He can only speed up the healing in rest. You can see visible changes on her when she does it. Leshaun was probably as strong as her, but he’s past his prime now.”
“Well, look at you! You just have to be good at everything, don’t you?” Nevyn was ribbing her, and she felt her face heat. She was more surprised by Luykas’ praise than Nevyn’s. She hadn’t known he thought she was that good. Maybe that was why he’d finally decided to start them working on this.
“What’s the point of doing something if you’re not going to be good at it?” She shifted her weight between her feet in what probably looked like an anxious dance. “I mean, I’ve had a lot of time to practice.”
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