by Auryn Hadley
"I'm human, but none of them seem to mind," he said. Both recruits took it.
"Welcome to the family," Zep told them. "You try to touch Sal and I'll kill ya, then let Risk put you back together."
"Ignore him," Sal said. "I'll kill you. But do either of you know how to ride?"
"Yeah," Audgan said, surprising them all. "Nothing too fancy, but I can sit the gaits."
"A bit," Geoni said. "Rode postilion with the CFC carriage service."
"What'd you do, Audgan?" Zep asked.
"Exercise rider for Gergy house until I got conscripted."
"They do nothing but greys," Tilso explained. "Guess they wanted you to match the horses?"
He nodded. "They said I made a nice picture when they were showing animals for sale. I know how to groom, tack, and condition, but it's been a couple of years."
"I bet," Blaec said, standing. "Arctic, show them their new rooms and get them in black. Zep, get rid of the rest of them. Cyno, I need everything you can get me on the Unavi Rebels. Tilso, think you can get those horses tonight?"
"Yeah. Can I take Risk?"
"I was going to suggest it," Blaec said. "Razor, they need weapons."
Sal looked up at him and tapped her shoulder. "I think you forgot something."
"Right. Congratulations, Lance Corporal Geoni and Lance Corporal Audgan. Give me an hour to get your pips."
"Does that make us commissioned?" Geoni asked.
"Just barely, but yes," Blaec assured him. "I need my Blades to have enough rank to throw around, and that will do it. I'll get your pay schedules written up for each of you as well."
"I take it this wasn't a planned decision?" Audgan asked.
"No, it wasn't," he admitted. "You were the favorites from the first day, so none of us are shocked."
"I'm going to do the thing with them. That ok?" Arctic asked.
"No, that's good, just do it before Risk is out of the compound," Blaec said. "I know it will take the two of you a bit to get the horses, but I want the rest of you in my rooms in an hour. Geo just gave me some intel, and I'm not sure it can wait."
"I have news, too." Sal rested her hand lightly on Cyno's.
His head snapped up to hers. "Maast."
"Yeah. First level," she told him.
Blaec's head dropped. "Ran gave you the orders?"
She nodded. "We're good. Let's get moving. You and I need to talk anyway."
"I'm in so much shit," Blaec muttered, and the men around him laughed, each going their own way.
Chapter 27
"I would have told you," Blaec said when the door closed behind them.
"I know," Sal assured him. "And it wasn't final, and you didn't want to say anything when I was upset, or just after. I know that, love. We're ok."
"I kept hoping they'd change their minds." He pulled her close. "It's a whole year, Sal. Maybe more!"
She nodded. "I got that. We can talk about that later, Blaec. Ran was very clear that Jase and I need to leave before we return the ore."
"The fourth load?"
She nodded. "Star Fall is trying to set you up for a court-martial. We already know that. Parliament is wanting to do the same to me. You see the paper today?"
"No."
"'Salryc Luxx Brings Pride Back to the Species,' is the headline. Ran said it's easier to clear that up in a Parliamentary hearing than a court-martial. I'm not coming home from that trip, love."
His shoulders slumped.
"And I can't be seen in your rooms at night. Not only that, but my orders mean that Cyno will report to me directly. They're trying to get me from both sides."
"Fuck," Blaec growled.
Sal held up her hand, stalling his rant. "Blaz Eason, the guy with the horse? He's already got plans to clear this up. Jase will probably lose it a bit, and it will probably be public."
"What are you doing, Sal?" Blaec asked.
"I don't know what he's doing, but I can guess. When I woke him the other night, we walked out of his door and into Captain Tharp. He made a point of standing too close to me, speaking sweetly to me, and saying it had been fun. He told me he'd kill the rumors. That's all I know."
"Why?" Blaec asked. "Why's he being so nice?"
"Jiesa? Do you know that name?"
Blaec nodded. "Jiesa Cymil, First Officer of the 112th until a fight went bad in Escea."
"Yeah." Sal nodded. "That stallion's former owner, and Blaz's lover. We were talking horses and it came out. He said he liked me because I didn't mind that he's blunt, and I mentioned that I prefer blunt, so he said no wonder I do well with you, and I thought he meant more personally."
"What did you do?"
"Just flicked my ears back, but that's all a horseman needs. He never asked but said he'd kill the rumors because he understands. Asked me to make sure the Blades don't kill him."
Blaec nodded. "I'll spread the word. You'd tell me if there was something there, right?"
Sal laughed. "Yes, but he's very human and he's still in love with her. He's as safe as Tilso."
"I fucking hate this, you know?"
"Me too," Sal agreed. "But there's more. When I stopped in for my bath, Ran gave me a few mission details. Have you read my orders yet?"
"Yeah," Blaec said. "Over and over, hoping they will change."
"Ran had them worded very carefully. Parliament wants Jensen out – he's leaning to Terric. The son's out, but they like Eriwald. Ran gave me plausible reasons why he's not suitable."
"But he's been sympathetic to the Conglomerate," Blaec said.
"But not the iliri. Valmere is both."
"That's a long line between Jensen and Valmere, Sal. How are you going to take out, what, six Anglian nobles? How can you do that without anyone noticing?"
"We'll get creative. You may not like it, but we'll get it done, and we'll play in the rules."
He reached up to caress her face. "Just cover your ass. When you come back, I can't promise it will be any better."
"I know. But if we can get Anglia supporting the iliri, that's one more reason for Parliament to back off."
"Your orders say to prepare them for war so they can defend against Terric."
"So then we'll have a militarized country who supports us. This is going to be ok, Blaec. It's just a year."
"Or so."
She stepped into his chest. "I'm going to miss you."
Blaec grabbed her and buried his head against hers. He held her close, squeezing her so tightly she could barely breathe, then sighed and stepped back. "I want you to stay with Jase a bit, ok?"
She chuckled.
"I mean it. I can reassign him and send Zep or someone else if things won't work out with you two. I need to be sure you'll be ok."
"I was going to say the same thing," she admitted.
"You ever going to claim him?"
"I don't know," she groaned. "Maybe? Probably? Ran thinks I should."
He tilted his head, shocked at that. "You and Ran had one hell of a chat, didn't you?"
Sal nodded. "I kinda like him. He's easy to talk to."
"Yeah, that's part of being a General. It's why he's good at his job, because we don't keep secrets from him. I trust him, Sal. I have for a long time."
"What's it like to have a dava?" Her question seemed to come out of nowhere.
"Probably different for you than me. My dava always tried to protect me, but made me face things head on. He showed me how to be fair, and he made sure I always felt loved."
Sal nodded but tugged Blaec to the couch where she could rest her head on his chest. "Was he easy to talk to?"
"Sometimes. Sometimes not, but I always knew he'd answer honestly. Why?"
"I never had one, but Ran kinda makes me feel like that."
"He'd like that. He's pretty fond of you."
"Why?"
He laughed. "He said if he ever had a kid, he was sure it'd be just like you, nothing but intrigue and charisma."
A feeling of contentment ran throu
gh her, and she snuggled closer. Blaec rolled her onto his lap and just held her, breathing in her scent like he was trying to memorize it. From the tension in his body, she knew he was reaching for the future. She wanted to do the same, wishing she never had to leave.
"What do you see, love?" she asked.
"I just keep seeing one thing, Sal. Over and over, I see the same thing. You're standing somewhere, I'm not sure where, but it's outside, and an army is bowing to you. I'm on your right side, Cyno's on your left, and the rest of the Blades are behind us."
"What does it mean?"
He shrugged, pressing her against him. "I never really know. I just see it. It felt like the Emperor was scared, though. It felt like a very good thing."
"You've always been on my right and Jase on my left. Always."
"Yeah. For iliri, the left is a place of pride. Humans have their right hand man, or whatever. Being on the left for an iliri means being important."
"So why do you put Jase on my left?"
"So you're on my left," he said, kissing the top of her head. "Every iliri that sees you there, with Arctic on my right, knows what it means."
"What does it mean?"
"That I love you and will die for you, Sal. You're my Kaisae."
"I'm not a Kaisae, not like you all say it."
"Then tell me why I see an army bowing to you?"
"Because I'm headed to Anglia to train one? I think sometimes you all want me to be this thing, and you forget that I'm just a scrubber slave who learned to kill."
"You're not just anything, Sal. You may have been a slave, or you could have been a queen, but there's nothing that simple about you. Stop fighting it, and just be who you are – whatever that is – and you'll be happier for it."
"I'm trying. That's why I want to be with Jase, because I feel something, but I don't know what it is. I want to figure it out, though. I'm trying to follow my instincts."
Blaec said nothing for a moment, his eyes looking into the future. "Promise me something?"
She nodded.
"Do what makes you happy, not us. If that's making him the first man, or finding someone to replace me, or whatever it is, just do what makes you happy?"
"You make me happy, Blaec."
"Promise me, Sal."
"I'll do what will make me the most happy. I swear. I make no promises about fleeting moments of happiness though, ok?"
He laughed at that. "You really are a demon, but I love you for it."
Chapter 28
The suite was muggy but not as hot as it was outside, so when Sal felt a waft of something cool trail down her neck to her back, she paused. Blaec inhaled quickly, instinctively glancing toward the door before he smiled.
"What was that?" Sal asked.
"Just wait."
She cocked her head at him and flicked her ears back playfully. "You felt it too. I saw it." He nodded, and his smile grew wider as Sal felt a second soft touch against her spine, like the velvet of Arden's nose across bare skin. "Ok, really," she said. "What was that?"
"That's the new guys joining the link. We all feel different, and it's different to each of us." Blaec kissed her quickly. "Now get up, love. They'll be in here soon."
Sal grumbled but pulled herself away from Blaec. "I'll get the forms for their promotions filled out. Anything else we need?"
"Wage schedule," Blaec reminded her. "Put them at the top rate for Lance Corporals, add hazard pay and elite benefits."
She nodded, walking into the office, and called over her shoulder, "Written, like you did mine?"
"Yeah. It's their choice to share that or not."
Sal sat behind the desk, moving stacks of maps and documents to give her enough space to work. Her head was bent over the papers when the latch clicked. She flicked an ear and inhaled, smelling Arctic and the new recruits enter. When she didn't raise her head, they continued into Blaec's suite. A few moments ticked past and the rest of their unit began to file in. When the latch clicked again, Sal smiled.
"You're slipping," she said without looking up.
"I did na want yer knife in my gut," Cyno said from beside her. "So I let the door close."
"I'm almost done." She looked up, feeling strangely shy.
"I'll wait with the rest then."
"No." She touched his arm gently. "Just give me a second."
He nodded, so Sal finished the last of Audgan's pay schedule, then folded both. She moved another stack of documents out of her way and pulled two dark envelopes from a box, slipping each man's paperwork inside. Cyno waited without a word, the two of them alone in the office.
Finished, she turned back to him. "We still good?"
"Yeh, we're good, Sal."
"When this meeting is over, did you have plans?"
He looked at her calmly, then the corner of his mouth twitched up slightly. "I cleared my schedule after our talk earlier."
A nervous giggle slipped out and she glanced down. "So when I come knocking at your door later, you'll let me in?"
"Nah." He reached out and caressed the side of her face. "Ya do na need ta knock. Ya know which room is mine. I'll be there. If ya change yer mind, that's ok, too."
His fingers slid off her jaw, then he turned and walked into the suite. Sal inhaled, caught a hint of fear, and ran her hands through her hair. She couldn't be sure if it was his or her own. Something about Cyno always made her feel like she should be impressing him. Never mind that this meeting was about to change everything and she dreaded it.
The office door opened one last time and Sal turned to see Zep. His eyes scanned her face as he closed the door behind him.
"You good?" he asked.
"Never thought I'd say this, Zep, but I miss Escea right now."
"That bad?"
She nodded. "Let's get this over with."
Together, the pair walked into the suite. Zep found a place against a wall and Sal moved to the couch, passing an envelope to each of the new recruits.
"Your wage schedule," she told them, before moving to sit on the arm of Blaec's chair.
Both recruits stared between her and their new commander. Audgan quickly turned his eyes back to the paper in his hand, but Geoni refused to hide his interest.
"Get used to it or resign," Zep warned him.
"Just trying to figure out how things work," Geoni said. "She submits to him."
"He won," Sal said. "Of course I submit to someone more dominant than me."
"That's going to take me a while." Then he looked at Zep. "You probably don't get it, but that's going to take some getting used to."
"If you're trying to protect their secret," Audgan said to his paperwork, "you're a bit late for that. Can't be within ten meters of him without us knowing."
"Of him?" Zep asked.
Audgan raised his head with a smug little smile. "She smells like all of you. That's expected. But him?" The little man shrugged.
"Pretend like my senses are human," Zep suggested.
Geoni leaned back, looking at Zep defiantly. "The Major and the Corporal both smell like her, but it's different. They don't just smell like they've been close to her, they smell like..." He trailed off, looking for the words.
"It's distinctive," Arctic said for him. "Let it go, Zep."
"Is that our leak?" Sal asked Blaec. "One of the recruits said something? One of the pikes?"
"Probably." Blaec didn't sound concerned. "No way to know, and it's not something I'm willing to prevent. I'm pretty sure 'she smells like him' won't give them a lot of leverage in a court-martial, ok?"
She nodded. "Ok, fair enough."
"Can't be," Audgan said. "Cyno smells like you, too."
The assassin chuckled on the other side of the room. "I'm sure."
"Stronger now," Geoni clarified, "but you always have."
The Blades all looked at Sal. She shook her head. "Before today, we haven't been in battle since Yager's, guys."
Shift leaned closer. "Geoni, explain that. When did you firs
t smell her on him?"
"Always?"
"When did you first meet him?" Shift persisted.
"He checked my papers the first day."
"Sal?" Shift asked.
"Nah," Cyno broke in. "Leave her outta this. If she amuses herself with me is na any of yer business."
"This time it is," Shift said. "Pretty damned sure you haven't slept with her since the Warlords. I could be wrong, though. You two are pretty good at sneaking past the rest of us. And I don't mean today."
Cyno's lip lifted in a snarl as he glared at Shift – who stared back. When a deep rumble hit Sal's ears, she stood, but Blaec grabbed her hand.
"Let them," he whispered.
All eyes turned to the two men. Shift puffed up and leaned toward Cyno. That's when the little man struck. He surged forward in one step and knocked Shift's legs out from under him, pulling a blade to drop beside him in one smooth motion. Gently, he pressed the knife to Shift's throat.
"I said leave her outta this."
Shift glanced down and nodded. "Umso, brother, but think about what he's saying. He smelled her claim on you, even though you hadn't been with her for a month or more."
"What's between Sal and I is between Sal and I," Cyno growled.
"And your pack," Arctic said, patting his shoulder. "He submitted. Let him up."
Cyno pulled himself away, looking like he had to force every muscle, and sheathed the dagger. He glanced up at Arctic once, then back to Shift before he stood and returned to his place against the wall. Anger wafted from him.
That's the first time he's done that, Blaec thought to Sal.
What? she asked, confused.
Challenged anyone. He's not as meek as he likes to pretend.
She nodded, then asked the rest of them, "Why does it matter?"
Shift lifted his hands in surrender and said nothing, so Arctic answered. "First, it's plausible deniability. I'm not dumb enough to give Cyno a reason to challenge me, so let me just say if your presence marks a man that clearly, for that long, what else do we not understand about you?"
"Is it because I'm pure, or female?"
"Both," Audgan said. "Males smell distinctive, like that guy from Azure that was here, but females?"