“You better not die. I need you to figure out more great moves with your unit,” he said.
“Maybe don’t kill me then,” Adira replied.
He scoffed. “Hell, I’m not sure I can kill you. I mean, if I could, it would’ve been long before now. Tried it when you had that damn fishing spear, and you took out way too many trained warriors. How the hell were you not a soldier then?”
“Being a soldier didn’t exist in my little village when you showed up and took over.” Adira curled her lip again.
He smiled like she complimented him. “Nobody told your little village to be sitting in the middle of my supply lanes. Besides, they didn’t like you anyway. Not like I do!”
“Why is she sitting with us?” Jay asked.
“I like her.” The Amir raised his wine goblet. “I enjoy Adira and her grumpiness, especially when she leads her unit in a surprise flanking move that helps turn things in our favor. In fact, let's raise our cups to Adira.” Other goblets and cups went up. There were cheers and drinking, but the Amir wasn’t done. “And let’s not forget my little one. Did you guys see the work she put in?” He grabbed Ashni by the wrist and shoved her hand in the air. Cheers echoed through their banquet tent as other goblets shot into the air.
“We saw that lightning!”
“It was like she cut the sky!”
“And it saved our asses!”
Ashni had no idea. She threw her lightning around to stay alive. She fought down a smile, even though she hadn’t meant to do any of it.
Jay scoffed. “First the fishmonger, now this. She panicked and sprayed her talent all over the place. It’s probably only through the grace of the gods she didn’t hit any of us. Why do we celebrate mediocrity so often?”
“Nothing about what either of them did is mediocre. They have the gods’ touch as much as you do,” their father replied.
Jay shook his head. “Dad, we are descendants from gods. It’s blasphemous to put this fishmonger on the same level as us.” He scowled at Adira.
“Adira fought bravely, taking down their lead warrior with her spear. It’s those acts that make us great.” The Amir took a deep drink from his goblet. “That make us all great!”
The cheers came louder than before. It was like her father said great acts make people great. Adira did something great, so she was great.
Adira shook her head and focused on the food in front of her. She seemed sullen the whole time, even though she had the Amir’s full attention. Other soldiers would’ve killed for such an honor. But that was just Adira, Ashni learned. Glory was always a double-edged sword with her. It brought her great standing and wealth; except she knew what it meant to be conquered and here she was doing the same. Ashni wanted to know more of her.
Ashni could be great, too, as long as she did something great. Greatness was in her future. Have I been great, though? This wasn’t greatness to Adira. What is greatness?
Chapter Ten
MEETING ADIRA HAD POSSIBLY been the best thing to happen to Ashni. Adira turned her from a warrior to a soldier. Yes, she was a bitch about it, but she still did it. A soldier’s discipline had saved Ashni’s life many times on the battlefield.
“Recklessness is in your blood,” Adira had said to her as she stitched up a gash in Ashni’s arm. They were just outside Adira’s tent after another battle. They had known each other a couple of years now and she never failed to get on Adira’s nerves with her actions, no matter what she did. The sun was warm and felt like a blessing washed over them.
Jay wandered over to their section of the camp. “I wonder how. Not like the Amir is reckless.”
Adira laughed, more mocking than amused. “I’m almost certain that’s his family name.”
Flames danced on Jay’s fingertips. “You watch your mouth about my father, fisher-wench.”
Thunder boomed through the sky. “You watch what you call one of the best officers in the damn army. She says worse things to the Amir’s face, so I doubt he’ll mind this,” Ashni said.
“What’s going on over here?” Their father charged over. Ashni would have to learn to stop broadcasting her emotions, but it was hard to do with Jay around.
“Nothing. Just checking on Ashni,” Jay replied.
Her father turned to her and smiled. “You need more patience. You’re worse than I was at your age.”
“We kept the element of surprise,” Ashni replied. She had gone off before she was supposed to in the battle, except she had seen an opening. Adira taught her to take advantage any time she noticed one. Now, it seemed to be a problem when she put it into action.
Her father chuckled. “True enough, but you’re worth more than a victory, Ashni. Never think otherwise.”
Ashni grinned at him. “Hey, I’ll be all right. They don’t call me the Chosen One for nothing.”
“The Empress is going to kill you when she realizes you turned her only daughter into you,” Adira said.
He guffawed. “Maybe that was my plan all along.” He puffed out his chest. “And yes, she’s definitely going to kill me.”
“Ah, I’m sure the Sky Cutter would have your back.” Adira rolled her eyes, calling Ashni by the nickname in a sort of sarcastic way.
He chuckled even more and patted Adira on her arm. “When you’re done with my impulsive offspring, I need to talk to you. We’ve got some new war toys to help as we get closer to Shadow Walker territory. I don’t need to tell you we’ll need every weapon we have to take on their talents.”
Jay scoffed. “Those Shadow Beasts won’t know what hit them when we show them our Fire. Shadows can’t exist in the light.”
Their father shook his head. “The Shadow Walkers have lived in Darkness for centuries. They know how to snuff out light.”
Jay frowned and crossed his arms, looking down on their father. Jay might have been taller than the Amir, but he was still the son and had to be reprimanded. Their father didn’t pay him any mind. Jay’s nostrils flared.
“The Shadow Walkers won’t be an easy conquest,” Adira said.
“Nothing worth it ever is. They have the knowledge and talent to make the Empire excel. Beyond that, there are massive quantities of water in their area. I had hoped for a trade.” He shrugged.
“They said no,” Adira said, her voice dry.
He grinned. “Well, their response was much more unfriendly than that. So, now we have to be unfriendly as well. Saniyah, a brilliant engineer if you haven’t met her, has a few ideas.”
“I have not met her.”
“Well, she’s brilliant. She was trained by Nayyir Gyan and he’s been singing her praises since he brought her along. Of course, she’s his niece, so it might come across as biased or something, but he’s right.” It was so clear he was excited, practically bouncing in front of them.
Adira shook her head. “Well, I know how much trust and faith you put in him. I’ll be by as soon as I’m done working on Captain Reckless.”
“Hey!” Ashni didn’t find it fair she got so much crap over something that worked.
“Should I come as well, Dad?” Jay asked.
Their father nodded. “You may come. Bring the twins. Adira, bring Ashni.”
Adira nodded. “Let me finish this so we can make your meeting.”
That was enough to get rid of her father, and Jay followed him. Ashni turned her attention back to Adira, awed by her. Maybe it was the level of respect her father had for Adira. It was obvious he trusted Adira with the world…and her.
Adira took a breath as she finished the stitches. “Okay, you’re all done. Try not to get wounded in this meeting. I don’t think either of us want to hear or see Jay again.” That was the truth.
The meeting had several top officers in it who interrupted an eighteen-year-old Saniyah Gyan almost constantly. Her mentor stood, letting it happen. She needed to learn to assert herself.
Adira stood by Saniyah as she presented and explained her work. Ashni noticed their fingertips brush a couple of times bu
t didn’t think anything of it. She thought more and more about her father’s trust in Adira. She was obviously special, beyond being an officer. I admired her. I still do. What is greatness to Adira?
***
Nakia entered the throne room with Asad at her side, his hand on her elbow. Jay stepped behind them, Bashira pressed to his side. Bashira had a bruise at the corner of her mouth and her eyes were red.
At the side of the room, Badar watched from the shadows, hard to spot, though Nakia had become familiar enough with him to know he was there. Not too far from Badar, Layla paced, hand on her sword. Nakia caressed the hilt of a dagger hidden in her sleeve, the temptation to stab Jay in the throat greater than the desire to murder Asad. She sat down on the throne, head high, though Asad and Jay stood on either side of her. Their message was loud and clear.
Saniyah rushed the dais. “Let my niece go.” Her voice echoed through the large hall.
Jay held up Bashira’s wrist. She whimpered and tried to pull away. He only pulled her closer and her face screwed up in pain.
“She was given to me by the Queen,” Jay said, like his words were the stone-cold truth. He winked at Nakia. “Such a fine hostess.”
“Lies!” Saniyah pointed at him. “I know Nakia well enough to know that isn’t true, so let’s put the proper players in place.” That sounded like a challenge and Nakia didn’t like that. They weren’t in the right place to challenge anyone.
Jay inclined his head. “Meaning what?”
“Let Bashira go. She’s got nothing to do with royal matters. I am chief war engineer and married to Ashni’s top general. I know the Court. I could educate you.” There was a strange, determined glint in Saniyah’s eye, like a dare.
Jay practically jumped at it. “Your council would be valuable.” He flung Bashira away. “Go away, dancer. Be thankful for your aunt.”
“Aunt Saniyah!” Bashira seemed to fly to her aunt’s arms, sobbing as soon as she was secure against Saniyah.
Nakia flicked her gaze to Jay. What the hell had that monster done to her?
Saniyah held her and stepped back, putting distance between them and Jay. “It’s okay now,” she said, patting Bashira’s head.
“Don’t do this, please.” Bashira’s voice cracked.
“I have to protect you, even at the cost of myself. It’ll be fine. This is an old dance,” Saniyah said, eyeing Jay.
Nakia could only imagine the history between the brothers and Saniyah. What she couldn’t imagine was why Jay would want to treat Saniyah or Bashira harshly. They were the sweetest people she had ever met.
Saniyah gave Layla a nod and Layla vanished into smoke only to reappear by Bashira’s side. Dark smoke billowed once more, and both Bashira and Layla disappeared. Saniyah marched to Jay as if she could walk through flames, stopping by his side with a scowl.
Jay smirked. “You know who I’m sure would love to join us?”
Asad tapped his chin. “Saffi?”
“Leave my sister out of this,” Nakia said through gritted teeth. She had no idea what had happened to Bashira, but she’d be damned if she let them do anything to Saffi.
“Oh, she’s already involved herself. Your sister wants to follow the rules,” Asad said.
Nakia’s stomach dropped. She didn’t want to, though she could believe it. When Saffi walked in, smiling and heading straight for the throne, she knew. She couldn’t even be angry. Those damn Tyrans broke Saffi a long time ago. This probably made the most sense to her.
“All I had to do was offer her a chance to be my third spouse.” Asad shrugged.
Nakia’s lip curled. “Bastard.” She couldn’t see Saffi wanting to be anyone’s spouse ever again, especially if there were multiple spouses already.
Asad smirked. “No, that would be your spouse. Checkmate.”
“We haven’t even begun to play,” Nakia replied. Oh, really? Because from here, it looks like you lost.
“The game is over.”
Nakia straightened her shoulders. “If this is all for Amal, imagine what I will do for Saffi.” She’d tear these bastards apart with her bare hands to keep them from hurting Saffi. Her sister had been through enough.
Asad chuckled. “Saffi isn’t your twin.”
Nakia leveled a glare at him, needing him to see the promise in her eyes. “You will regret this.” Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow, but soon there would be a reckoning.
***
Ashni knew what the darkness would give way to once it lifted. Why? To remind her of how amazing her little sister was? To remind her of what she and the Roshan took from her little sister? To let her know greatness wasn’t what she imagined it to be at first? Before she could determine the reason, the darkness lifted. She watched and wondered.
The battlefield was quiet for a moment, a lull in the fighting. Her father pulled his troops back, not a full retreat, just enough to rethink the plan. Ashni hung in close to Adira as the officers gathered around the Amir. Adira offered suggestion after suggestion, none of which the Amir commented on. Ashni wasn’t sure what was wrong with any of them, but kept her mouth closed. Too bad other officers couldn’t manage to do the same.
“Fisherwoman, stop bombarding the Amir!”
“Yeah! Learn to keep your mouth shut.”
“Why are you even here? This is a meeting for top officers.” Jay pushed his way over to her.
Ashni stepped between them. “She’s a top officer.” Why the hell did her brothers act like they didn’t know that? Especially Jay. He always jumped down Adira’s throat the second she said something.
Adira put her hand on Ashni’s shoulder. “You know you don’t have to stand up for me. I’m not scared of him, or any of these other sterlings.”
“You should be.” Jay blew a small fireball in her face.
Adira didn’t even blink as the fire blackened her nose. “I’ve faced more formidable Fire and come out quite fine. And that was as a fisherwoman.”
“That’s it!” The Amir came and took Adira by the shoulders. He shook her a little. “You said we should rain down sacred oil on them, right?”
“One of several suggestions, yes,” Adira replied.
“We’ll mix that oil with the battle oil. The fumes will slow the Shadow Walkers down enough for us to take control of this situation.”
“It sounds crazy coming from you,” Adira said. His demented smile probably didn’t help.
“Well, it’s to be done. Prepare!” He clapped his hands together.
“Are you sure?” Jay asked.
Their father punched his fist into his palm. “It’s perfect. It’s just crazy enough to work.”
“You’re just plain crazy, but okay,” Adira said, which was funny since it was half her idea.
The troops were hastily put back into their lines and battle weapons were put on display. Their enemy moved to put themselves back into their formations. Demons of onyx mist paced in front of them, eyes glowing, ready for battle. They shrieked and the ground shook. A piercing sharp noise rang throughout the space. Ashni resisted the urge to stick her finger in her ear as pain erupted through her brain.
“Set it up!” Khalid ordered.
Everyone scrambled to get the oils mixed and loaded. The Shadow Walkers didn’t move when the oil was launched. They expected the oil to ignite and spread fire on the field. The Roshan had done that earlier. The Shadow Walkers had easily countered, engulfing the fires in their shadows or letting their demons put them out. Now, it would be different.
When the new oil ignited, the smoke choked the Shadow Walkers. Any demon caught by the smoke disappeared into mist. The Shadow Walkers broke their ranks, trying to get someplace safe as they burned, flesh peeling when hit by the oil. Their screams rippled through air, but Ashni didn’t think anything of it. Wailing was a common sound to her.
Next came the charge, Ashni’s cue. Midnight Thunder ran heavy into battle. Her swords in hand, special blades her parents gifted her to make sure they could withstand
her talent, cutting whoever she went by, but they hadn’t turned things around yet. Roshan charged, going down into a dark pit and didn’t come out. Was this a Shadow Walker trick or a void?
As she got closer, she got a better idea. Warriors were being turned to dust by a black cloud that had tiny hands. Ashni let a small blast of lightning go, thinking it would take care of the cloud. Instead, her lightning vanished into the ether and the darkness faded enough to reveal the truth.
Ashni gasped. “A kid? A kid is taking out the Roshan elite?”
The kid looked at her and smirked. A void ripped open in front of Ashni. Midnight Thunder reared back, almost throwing Ashni, narrowly missing being devoured by the black hole. Ashni leaped off of Midnight Thunder. No one was going to kill her horse…even if he was still a jerk sometimes.
Bolting forward, she made a tight fist as she went into the pit. The child waved her hand at her and Ashni moved just in time to avoid another void. Then the kid glanced at another soldier coming with a sword for her. The sword began to turn to dust just as Ashni’s knuckles connected with the little girl’s cheek. The kid yelped and tumbled into the blackened dirt. She fell in a heap, and Ashni grimaced.
The girl didn’t look much older than her youngest brothers and they were barely nine. She couldn’t imagine them being in battle, couldn’t imagine punching them in the face either. The idea made her stomach clench. She approached the child as the other Roshan went to rejoin the battle.
“Hey, kid, you dead?” Ashni asked with a lump in her throat.
The kid leaped to her feet and put her hands up. Her eyes were completely black, as dark as her armor. Shadow Walkers eyes did that when they were tapping into their true power. A kid shouldn’t have been able to do it, shouldn’t have that much power.
“Darkness prevails!” she yelled.
Ashni tensed, ready to fight, and then the kid fell right on her face, unconscious. Ashni stayed with her. A kid shouldn’t be on the battlefield, except this kid seemed like a different creature altogether.
Ashni could hear the sounds of battle above them and itched to join the fray, but she stayed until the kid woke up some long minutes later. I stayed. The kid jumped to her feet, stumbling a little. Ashni raised her hands, ready to defend herself, but the kid didn’t do anything. She looked around.
Blood Rain (Warrior Class Book 3) Page 15