by K. F. Breene
His head dipped to hers, his eyes delving. “What are you?” His voice held awe tinged with fear. Beneath that, though, in the deep timber of his voice, it almost sounded like he’d found an answer to a question that had been bothering him.
“I am your mirror. You have this power in you. Your eyes are glowing, just like mine. But…your wife does not understand.” She removed one of her hands reluctantly, hating to leave this power. The feeling.
The Captain was looking at her with more fear than awe, now. He was reaching on his own. He was laying his own net over hers as it blanketed the land. He was consciously searching for the first time in his life, and it scared him.
She knew how he felt, in theory, but it had been so long she could barely remember. Plus, their situations had been slightly different. Hopefully they would continue to be.
“I need my weapons.” Shanti stepped away. She rubbed her palm on her pants, trying to wipe a weird hum.
“Mugdock,” the Captain said softly, understanding. He was a fast learner, which was usually a good thing. Not great in their future circumstances, however.
“Tanicia.” He turned to the young woman. “Get to your family—get them to safety. Give the message to everyone you see. The alarm will sound shortly. Shanti,” he rounded on her, eyes alive, still glowing. He looked at her, then into her. He was now seeing properly for the first time. Brushing her mind with purpose instead of with unconsciously learned habit.
His eyes refocused and he shook his head to clear it. “You won’t leave.” It wasn’t a question. He wanted to ascertain if what he saw was correct.
And it was. It was also the third irritating discovery she’d had in this man’s presence, because she couldn’t leave a city to get slaughtered. It wasn’t in her nature.
“No. And right now, you need to protect your people, and I need to know the weakest point of entry.”
“Your weapons are in the throne room on the shelves next to the armor. There are battle garments there as well—“ He broke off, his eyes losing focus.
Sanders had arrived at the front door in much the same mood she left him. The Captain was a very fast learner…
“He’s…in a rage, by the way,” Shanti qualified. She had a feeling that, where Sanders was concerned, a head’s-up was always prudent. She didn’t plan to say why. The fun was in the surprise.
The Captain looked down into Shanti’s eyes for a brief moment of stillness, sharing an open moment before she closed up shop. A glimmer taking over his eyes, he was action again, darting away, heading for the stairs.
Shanti rushed after him—apparently she was expected to know which room was the throne room...
Chapter 12
Sanders banged on the door for the second time. He didn’t give a damn what he was interrupting, there was a security breach and that woman had to be squared away.
The door sucked in air as it opened, the Captain’s eyes were on fire, his hair tied, and his sword at the ready.
“It’s the wom—“ Sanders started.
“They’re here,” the Captain cut him off. “Sound the alarm. They will be attacking within the hour. I want to be ready for them.”
“How do you—you’re not believing her are you? How would—“
The Captain took one measured step outward and leaned. Sanders couldn’t help the uncomfortable tightening in his gut at the size and power pushed up into his space. But he had a reason for being pissed, damn it! A solid reason. That woman had to be taken down a peg.
Sanders let his rage push away his anxiety, desperately trying to ignore the commanding stare shocking into his body. He would have his say!
But as he opened his mouth to speak the air condensed around him. A blast of solid air rammed his chest and chattered his teeth. The dominance in that blue stare had warning tingles running up his spine and turning his stomach to gravy.
Unable to hold it, Sanders had no choice but to drop his gaze. The girl wasn’t worth having his skin peeled off.
“Call the Commanders,” the Captain said in an authoritative voice. “Meet in my office. Get a guard on Shanti. I don’t want her near that fight.”
“Not gonna happen,” Shanti tittered as she flitted out of the house with excited eyes hovering over a smile. “Sorry about your face, Sanders, and you, Sanders’ hero.”
“Lucius will guard you,” the Captain said to the girl, apparently not planning to wait for Sanders to arrange it. “He’s fast and able. He’ll keep you out of trouble.”
Shanti turned to a quiet Lucius and smiled at him pleasantly. She could smile all she liked, if Lucius was anything like Sanders, he wouldn’t fall for it. Because like Sanders, he, too, had just gotten beat up by a girl. It wasn’t something a guy forgave all that easily. Or ever.
“Sanders’ hero—Lucius? Hello. So you are my Chance? You will be guarding my back?”
Lucius nodded with one black eye. She nodded once, staring back, before her eyes started to glow faintly. Even as Sanders’ mouth dropped open, Lucius stood up straighter.
How did glowing eyes not freak the guy out?
“That gives them the courage of a lion,” Shanti said to the Captain. “They will not balk, they will not be impeded by fear for themselves or family, and they will prosper because of it. Give that Gift to your Commanders if they go into battle…if you can remember how.”
She met the Captain’s gaze for a long moment, her jaw clenched.
“Thank you,” the Captain said. “For the warning. For...” The Captain let the word trail away as he stared at the foreign woman with a lightly puzzled expression.
Sanders barely had time to wonder what was going on before she broke the gaze and took off down the street. Lucius sprinted after her a moment later.
“What the fuck just happened, Sir?” Sanders couldn’t help but blurt. “Glowing eyes, stare-offs. She’s a menace, and something is definitely off—“
The Captain shot Sanders a hard look. A shut up or I’ll make you shut up kind of look. He turned back into the house. “Get ready. They are coming. And it’s going to be a bloody battle.”
A shock of apprehension coursed through Sanders. He had to make sure Junice got to safety! They were coming!
Chapter 13
Her Guard was huddled at a familiar copse of trees when Shanti tracked them down. They waited impatiently, mostly afraid and all apprehensive. Shanti approached at a fast walk, the thrill of the coming battle simmering her blood. “Are all your families to safety?”
“Yes, sir,” they responded.
“Good.” She looked them over, most with bent backs and large eyes, their limbs shaking and their faces pale. They wanted to help, felt it was their duty, and knew, one and all, that she would find them. And they were right. She’d trained them enough to give Shanti confidence that they could each help in their own way. It was not only necessary for the city, but vital for their experience levels.
“Leilius, where are your knives?” she asked. Lucius stopped directly behind her.
“Right here, sir.” Leilius patted his belt as he gulped.
“The rest of you, where are your swords?”
All the men patted their weapon, eyes pleaded for courage.
Shanti didn’t ever remember being this young. This green.
But then, she hadn’t had that luxury.
Shanti felt the trees around them, felt the life calling through the forest. She looked at the boys, so ill prepared, about to get their first lesson in warfare. “That is your weapon. You are the only one to wield it. In your hand, that weapon will protect your family. It will protect your brothers and sisters. It will protect your men at arms. It will protect your way of life. It will find you glory, it will mean your survival.”
She filtered the life-force through herself, merged it with the hope of eternal salvation, mixed in confidence and power, and layered it over their minds. Their brains hummed with an elixir of eternal life. Their backs straightened, their eyes brightened, and the crippling
fear each and every one of them felt burned away like kerosene.
Shanti nodded. “I will be protecting the most vital point. Is there a main gangway to this city that is often in danger of being overrun?”
“The Western Gate,” Lucius replied. “It’s the smallest, but the most vulnerable. It’ll let people through if any of them will.”
“That is where we will be,” she said to Lucius. He nodded.
She turned to the boys, just about to become men. “You will be playing your game hide-and-seek with the enemy. You will ferret around the city, silently, hiding in shadows. Finding stragglers that have made it in. You will kill them quickly and silently. You will not worry about blood, Gracas. You will not worry if you miss, Leilius. You will not worry about pain, Rachie, or letting your family down, Marc. You are faster, Xavier. You will stick something sharp in them, nod to a countryman that you just saved, and move on. If they have presented their backs to you, you stick them in that back. And you nod to your mother, who you just saved. We are not seeking the thrill of the hunt, men. Not the flash. We are getting quick and dirty and saving our family by the quickest means possible. There is no shame in killing. Yes?”
“Yes,” they said in union.
“Protect your family. Happy hunting.” Shanti turned and ran, Lucius by her side.
It wouldn’t be long now. Death was sprinting toward their doorstep. Shanti intended to be the one who answered the door.
Chapter 14
“Are the men stationed?” the Captain asked, looking at his three Commanders.
Sanders stood with beating heart and pumping blood
“They are ready and able, sir,” Sterling said.
“Is the entire horde accounted for?” the Captain asked, surveying the map of the city.
“Three-fourths are present.” Daniels scratched his graying head. “We have held this many before, under your father’s reign. But we had seen more battle then. We have quite a few green men right now. The Mugdock may get through, especially at the Western Gate. That will be a mess when they bring the gate down. And they will—it’s too weak to last long.”
The Captain gritted his teeth. It was no secret he had nearly fixed that problem, and they were just two weeks shy of switching the old gate for the reinforced new one—it was the final gate to be amended. He’d been held up because some people thought the town shouldn’t waste the expense when they were never attacked. And now look where they were.
“Are the women and children secured?” the Captain asked.
“Seventy percent secure. We are still getting them in,” Sterling answered.
“What of the gates?”
“Closed tight, men at the ready. We are prepared.”
“Our men are scared,” Sanders stated, standing with his hands behind his back. “Being out in the field is one thing, but here many fear for their families. It has been a long time since we’ve had a raid, but everyone hears stories. Or remembers a mother, or grandfather, who was taken or killed. They worry.”
The Captain nodded. “We will have to straighten their backbones by example. If we fight hard and tough, we’ll send the enemy running. The Mugdock have always been cowards first, soldiers second.”
“Yes, sir,” Sanders agreed.
“What of the girl—the foreign woman? I don’t want her taken. She hasn’t reported to the secure hold.”
“I think she can take care of herself,” Sanders mumbled, barely stopping himself from rubbing his ribs. He’d never seen someone fight like she had. She was small, but she kicked like a mule and punched like a pissed off bull. And she was damned fast. Probably faster than him, though he would never admit it out loud.
Sanders noticed the room condense around him and looked up into those perilous blue eyes. He probably shouldn’t have said that.
“I’ll look into it, sir,” he amended crisply. He failed to add that he probably wouldn’t find her even if he tried. Sanders had seen her work through her fighting styles. Then disappear right in front of her Honor Guard’s eyes. If that girl wanted to leave, and good riddance if she did, then she’d kick Lucius’ ass again and take off in the confusion. Sanders should be so lucky.
“Let’s get into position,” the Captain pronounced, returning his gaze to the map. “I will be overseeing the main gate on horseback. They put the most pressure on that gate. Sanders, you should traverse between trouble spots, lending help and fortifying weakness. Daniels, monitor within the city. Make sure the innocents are covered and any breaches are closed or I am notified. Sterling, you have the archers and throwers. Get to the wall and get in position. It will start soon.”
All men answered in the affirmative and turned to leave.
“Wait.”
Sanders turned back, wiping his mind clean and trying not to feel the small knot of worry at the base of his spine. Junice would be okay. Their unborn child would be okay. His family would survive this night, and if not in its entirety, at least she and his child—so new Junice wasn’t even showing—would have a future.
The Captain was looking at them, focusing and frowning. His eyes barely glowed an eerie blue. Sanders couldn’t help but lean in, half terrified, half in awe. They were like the girl’s. His eyes were glowing like hers!
As Sanders stared, the knot of worry wringing his stomach lightened. Loosened. And then dissolved, the worry floating away. Before he could blink in confusion, the rush of determination stole his breath. Strength, power, accuracy—he would win this fight. He was one of the best in this city, and he would show it. He almost smiled, light as air. He felt ten years younger, transported back to the days when he didn’t have a worry in the world!
The Captain blew out a breath, nodded, and turned. He walked out of the room with a brisk pace. Sanders turned to the others.
Daniels had a slightly confused look, his back completely straight, his brown eyes calculating. “I feel…” The words trailed away.
“Like winning. Let’s go,” Sanders said into the din. The others wasted no time.
It was time to rid the world of some filthy Mugdock!
Chapter 15
Malice slammed against her shield in steady pulses, the effect of a mass of people with the same thoughts and motives. Adrenaline pumped through her body, revving her up. Getting her ready. It was a matter of minutes, now. They were coming. Moving as a huge horde toward this city.
Wasting no time, Shanti marched up to a group of armed and waiting men and took stock of what she was working with. The sturdy twenty-foot-high stone wall ended in a wood gate. The beams and work were well done, sturdy. The problem was the small metal bar that acted as the latch, three inches tall and one inch thick. It stood at her shoulder level and would not stand a chance against a battering ram. What’s worse, that ram would burst the gates inward, probably ripping them off their hinges and crushing everyone on the other side.
Who was the fool that designed this gate? He was about as inept as the artists.
“Why hasn’t this gate been altered?” Shanti asked Lucius, casting her glance at the men. They stood still, backs straight and ready to fight. But they worried. Apprehension and uncertainty shed from their bodies like sweat. In a normal battle, death was honor. You died to protect those you loved. Here, death might open a doorway to their loved ones. To their city. Their home.
Well now, she couldn’t let that happen.
Shanti was marching to the front of the line as Lucius answered, “It’s in progress, actually. The Mugdock has gotten more sophisticated lately. They have more than one battering ram. This is the last gate to be replaced. It’s just not ready yet.”
Shanti glanced upwards to the archers flanking the top of the gate. The top of the wall was fashioned after a castle, providing cover for archers as they fired on those below. There was enough room for two men to walk abreast, the wall made sturdy and probably able to withstand a heavy attack. Which didn’t mean anything at all when the gate was battered down.
Another push of viole
nce slammed against her.
“They’re coming. We haven’t much time.” Shanti couldn’t control the fear in her voice. Images flashed through. Violence. Death.
The waiting was always the hardest part.
In the distance a hawk screeched, hunting through the night, descending on some unfortunate prey.
Shanti pushed through the last of the crowd toward the gate, noticing they gathered in a semi-circle, the more experienced knowing the gate would never hold. The anticipation of false safety acted like acid dribbling onto their nerves.
With a confident stride, she marched right up to the metal bar and slid it away. Turning back to the men, authority seeping into her bearing from more experience than anyone in this city, the Captain included, she stared down the men in front of her.
“Lucius, open the gate,” she commanded.
“Yes, sir.”
She wondered at him not asking why. Surely he’d think this was madness. He was trained to obey. Stupid. Battle was a place of madness; following without thought made men into animals. The lines of good and bad blurred, and if someone didn’t maintain the reins of logic, humanity wouldn’t find a way to creep back in. The good side would end up just as corrupt as the bad.
A conversation for another time.
As Lucius opened the door, a few male voices asked each other what he was doing. Two asked her right out.
The doors swung open, a gaping black hole at her back. Gazes stared past her, into the void. Wondering when it was coming. Fearing they wouldn’t be enough. That they couldn’t hold it.
“You will hold it,” she barked in a loud voice.
Gazes snapped to her.
Shanti addressed the group in a loud, clear voice. “Give me a nod if you understand why I have opened those gates.”
A couple heads bobbed within the cluster of men. Many more shifted their feet, uncomfortable. A couple voices muttered something about “foreign woman.” A couple others asked about her safety. One asked if the Captain knew she was here.