by Auryn Hadley
Sal smiled. "Cessivi. That's the word we use. Vanica is your cessivi."
He looked up at her. "What does it mean?"
"The other half of you."
A wistful smile flickered across his face. "She is. Shit, Sal. I'd give anything to marry her. When you make me Sergeant at Arms, maybe it will be enough. Maybe then I'll be able to convince Dom that I truly love her and that I can be a good husband for her."
She ducked her head to see his face. "You know I talked to him, right?"
"You said it wasn't about me."
"No, but I asked about Jarl. He did everything right, and that gave me a reason to ask. Did you know that Dom loves his little sister and has been trying to help her since Jarl was born?"
Ilija just nodded. "Nica and I agreed that this is what's best for the kids, but Dom's been trying to do everything he can. He's the reason she wasn't forced to marry some old man to make the shame of it go away. Told Tam that if he tried, Dom'd marry a barmaid." He chuckled. "Remember when I told you I like this king? Well, yeah, that's why. He's a good guy. He doesn't want his nephew to suffer what he did."
"He doesn't. He told me that he wants to squire Jarl, but he can't. If he could find a way to make it happen, he would." Sal stood and walked toward Ilija, resting her hand on his shoulder. "You've been a good friend to me, and an honest one. What we hear in the link, we don't share it with those outside the link. I won't say anything, but I'll be damned if I don't do everything I can to help you. Will you trust me?"
He gently placed his hand over hers. "Yeah, Sal. I trust you. That's why I told you all of that. I don't know what to do. Damn, I don't even know what I can do. I'm the son of a guard! I don't know shit about nobility."
"Then trust your men, too. They already know and haven't said a thing about it. Stop sulking, Colonel. Your armor's as clean as it's going to get."
He looked up sheepishly but nodded.
"Besides, we have an Archduke to interrogate and some prisoners to make citizens. Dominik is granting citizenship to any iliri in the group. We just have to figure out what to do about the rest of them. You've got an hour, and then I'm going to need you. Ok?"
The big guy's tension finally faded. "Thanks, Sal."
She turned to the door, but paused, thinking. "Ilija?"
"Yeah?" he asked, putting his armor away.
"Who inherits Valmere? If Dominik is the King now, and women can't inherit, and Jarl is a bastard, then who gets it?"
He shrugged, more worried about putting the rags away than any implications. "I guess Dom'll have to appoint a new Marquis."
"I see." Sal smiled and stepped through the tent flap.
Chapter 44
In the center of the military's common area, the grauori paced between the prisoners. Each Terran soldier knelt quietly as the wolves passed by. A few dared to look at their jailers but most stared at the ground. Anglian officers stood relaxed around the perimeter, just in case someone needed to call an alarm.
How many humans? Sal asked the gerus in charge.
Not many, Kaisae, she replied. Some are both, but few are just human. None are just iliri.
Pull the humans out. We'll need to deal with them differently – but remember, they submitted.
The nacione female looked up at her and nodded. Sal gestured, and a group of Anglian soldiers moved to the beast's side. As the gerus pointed out prisoners, the Anglians assisted them to their feet and escorted them away. Those were the true prisoners of war. The rest should be refugees.
"Put them in the supply tent, Corporal," Sal called out, and the man nodded at her.
While she watched the proceedings, Jase and Blaec entered the area. Humans looked up, grauori looked down, but it was impossible to miss their arrival. Most of Anglia considered those two heroes. Sal beckoned them over with a thought.
Dominik is granting citizenship to any iliri that seek asylum. We assume that's the majority of this group. They nodded, and she continued. He's not sure how to integrate them, but he welcomes all iliri. He said Anglia has room for them and land to spare.
What about Ilija, Jase asked.
The Shields are good with it. He's a wreck, but no one else is. Dom doesn't have a clue.
Good, Blaec said. You meddling in that?
She smiled smugly. I've laid the groundwork and Dom gave me everything I need to make Ilija a happy man. I just want to be sure that Vanica will be ok with this. Ilija swears she loves him, but you can never tell with humans.
Blaec laughed, the sound startling in the silence. A few prisoners turned to look at them.
One more thing, Sal said, looking between her lovers. Dom is adamant that he grants me land and a title. I told him no – again – but he's already picked out a place. Arhhawen, it's called.
Blaec glanced quickly at Jase, but the little man shrugged. No, she has na told me but, LT, I've touched her since then.
We have to finish this, Blaec insisted. I've been talking to the Blades and we all agree. We have to try, even if we die doing it.
Sal nodded. I know, and that's what I told him. He countered with the fact that I can proclaim my heir, and there's no law that states it has to be a human. He pushed me, Blaec. I don't know how to deal with humans acting like this and said more than I should've, but Dominik's behind us. She raised her eyes to meet her commanding officers. Zep reminded me that I'm not the Emperor, but how do I back away from the loyalty we spent so long building here?
It's the vis, kitten, Jase said. Zep's right, but ya are too.
I'm not so sure, she replied. Where's the line between obsession and justice? This isn't Anglia's war.
Sal felt their silence like a pressure in her head. Finally, Blaec found an answer.
When what we do helps someone else more than it helps us, he said. When we lead by action, not words. When we refuse to let anyone else die for our war.
When we're all equals, she thought, looking back to the Terrans, who might finally have a chance at that. When our defiance is not for ourselves, but for people like them.
Before her, the gerus had reached the end of the prisoners. Less than ten humans had been removed from the group. She looked at her mates, and they dipped their heads respectfully. Together, the three iliri made their way to the prisoners.
"Terrans," Sal called out, "look at me." She waited for the soldiers' eyes to meet hers. A few tried to hold her gaze, but most dropped their eyes to the ground. "The grauori have removed the humans, and all of you left are iliri or descended from iliri. Go ahead, look around."
The soldiers did as she suggested, their heads craning from one side to the other. Some seemed shocked, others relieved.
"The grauori," Sal gestured at the wolves, "are our ancestors. The humans domesticated us from them. Many of you have been sheltered from your ancestry and forced to live as humans or in hiding. All of you surrendered to us for some reason. What I want to know is why." She paused, watching them. "Words are easy, we all know that. All of you have been claiming to be human for years. I know this because you're still alive. Some of you may not even realize you have iliri ancestry. But this means I can't trust what you say. Unlike humans, we can learn what you think."
A pair of grauori stood and moved toward Sal. She gestured to them. "Each of you will touch the grauori when they offer it. You can not lie to them, but you're welcome to try. Remember, we are not humans, and we are not Terrans. You surrendered to us. We will not harm you unless your actions leave us no other choice. Cooperate with us and we'll do our best to find a solution to this little problem we have." She paused to let that sink in. "Terrans, please remember – we did not want a war. We fight because we refuse to just lay down and die."
Sal turned away, heading to the side of the holding area. Blaec and Jase followed her as if they were subordinates. When she stopped out of the way, Blaec gestured to an Anglian soldier.
"Table, chairs, and maybe a drink for the Kaisae?" he asked.
"Yes, sir!" the man agreed, movin
g quickly to make it happen.
Sal, Blaec reminded her, how things look is almost as important as how you act. Let the prisoners see the respect you've earned and watch you reclining like nobility.
She nodded in understanding. Their opinion of her would do half the work. In minutes, a handful of soldiers returned carrying furniture. Jarl scrambled forward with a bottle of mead and glasses. Behind them, the grauori passed between the prisoners, pausing to touch each one.
"His Majesty ordered that I attend you, Kaisae," Jarl said proudly, then bowed deeply to her.
"Thanks. Jarl, right?"
"Yes, Kaisae. I brought mead. The King said you like that best, but I didn't know what else you'd want."
Blaec chuckled. "I could learn to like this. Have any whiskey?"
Jarl grinned, bobbing his head proudly. "Yep! I'll be right back, Major Lieutenant, sir," he said before he ran off with the enthusiasm of the young.
"Major Lieutenant?" Jase asked.
Blaec shrugged. "Those damned stories always call me the Lieutenant, but the kid can read insignia."
Sooner than expected, Jarl was back, a dark bottle in his hand. "I took it from the King's stuff, but he'll be ok with that. Anything else, sirs?"
"Yeah," Jase said, and the page looked at him seriously. "Nice work t'day, man. How'd ya know what we'd do?"
Jarl shrugged. "The Black Blades always do the right thing. The Kaisae is a real bitch, too. No way would she let the Terrans win like that." The words were out of his mouth before he realized what he was saying. His eyes grew wide, and his head snapped over to Sal.
She smothered her urge to laugh with a hand. "Thanks, Jarl. I appreciate the compliment," she told him, patting his shoulder. "But Jase is right. I don't know many people who would have been that brave – human or iliri."
"Really?" he asked.
The three Blades nodded at him, and Sal continued, "You never once doubted me, even as I taunted the man to kill you. That means a lot to me."
"Well," Jarl looked at them all, thinking hard. "Kaisae Sal, you remember your first day as Kaisae? When you chewed out all the officers?" Jase chuckled under his breath, but Sal nodded. "I was there, running errands. Well, I remember what you said about how you were a soldier, and you'd be the only thing standing between them and death, and there I was, and there you were. And Hwa. He's my friend ya know? He even let me see his kids! I kinda like the mean one."
This time, it was Blaec trying not to laugh. Instead, he cleared his throat, but couldn't quite stop the grin. "Yeah, Rhyx is definitely a Black Blade."
"When I get older," Jarl informed them, "I'm going to be a Verdant Shield. I'm not iliri, so I can't be a Blade, but I'll be a Shield instead. Colonel Vayu said he'd even teach me how to use a sword."
"But not till you can hold it," Ilija said walking up behind the kid.
Sal bent and unbuckled a sheath from her leg. She pulled the white ceramic blade out a few centimeters, checking it. "Jarl?" she asked, getting the kid's attention. When he looked at her, she passed him the sheathed weapon. "Start with a knife. The moves are the same but faster. If you can handle knife work, the sword is easier. Will help build those muscles."
"Yes, Kaisae," the kid said solemnly, looking at the knife.
When he moved to give it back, she stopped him. "The Blades have a tradition. Every soldier earns his first weapon." She pulled her steel knife and laid it on the table, Jarl's eyes going wide. "I earned that. Blaec gave it to me as a reward for a job well done. That," and she gestured to the ceramic knife the kid held, "has been my offhand weapon since before I was a Blade. You earned it today."
"Wow, really?"
She nodded. "But Ilija is going to need a chair. Put that on your belt first, then find him one?"
Jarl slipped the black sheath onto his belt, buckled it back on quickly, then hurried off.
"Good kid," Blaec said.
"Yeah," Jase agreed. "Gonna make a good soldier one day."
Ilija looked between them. "Thanks. I appreciate it, sirs."
Kaisae, one of the grauori called to Sal.
"I've been summoned," Sal said, standing. She pointed to her head, and the men nodded. Behind her, they continued to talk, most likely easing the Colonel's fears.
She walked to the grauori, and he gestured at the man before him with his nose. This one is a spy, but also iliri.
What did you get?
He was told to surrender to us, and to become friendly with any iliri he could. When he had our confidence, he was to report back any tactical information he could get in exchange for rank. He did not know he is iliri.
Sal turned her attention to the man. "Come with me, Terran," she said, expecting the prisoner to follow.
He did, and Sal led him back to the officers.
"We were right," she said. "They sent a spy, thinking we were too trusting." Turning to the man, she gestured at her chair. "Sit down. What's your name?"
"Private Danis Calden," he said.
Jase leaned toward him and inhaled. "Nice human name, private. Which nation are ya from, Escea or Unav?"
"Gallicor, sir," he replied.
"Ah," Blaec muttered, "Terric's up there already, or are you from the southern corner?"
"The south, sir."
Ilija reached over and poured a quarter glass of whiskey for the man. "Here, you'll need this. They're uncanny as hell."
The soldier looked at him strangely but accepted the glass. Ilija poured another for himself and sipped at it, reclining back in his chair. The Terran looked between Blaec and Jase again, then took a small sip.
"It's good stuff," Blaec said. "From the King's own stores. I didn't realize there were a lot of iliri up in Gallicor. Your eyes are green."
"Lots of people have green eyes," Danis said.
Blaec nodded, pointing at his own. "I know. I also know why a lot of people have green eyes."
The soldier reached for the glass again, but Jase grabbed his wrist. Closing his eyes, he held the man for a long moment.
"Our interrogations don't hurt, Danis," Sal told him, "but be assured that you are being interrogated right now."
Danis's shrugged, watching Jase. Finally, the assassin opened his eyes. "He does na much care fer us, Sal. He has na realized yet tha' the reason we stink is cuz we do na smell like his prey." Jase turned back to the Terran. "Private, ya can na stay here. We can na trust ya. So what should we do with ya?"
"I just didn't want to die out there," Danis started, but Jase cut him off.
"Ya were ordered ta surrender as soon as Sal made the offer. Yer commanding officer was as human as they come – dark skin, black eyes, and missing his tooth, here," Jase tapped his front canine. "Ya agreed readily."
Sal leaned over the man's shoulder and whispered in his ear, "Don't even try to fuck with us."
Chapter 45
"So," Blaec asked the prisoner, "what should we do with you?"
Ilija propped a foot on the table and took a long sip of the whiskey. "Any of you able to give him a compulsion to return to Terric?"
Sal shook her head. "We don't work like that. We learn; we don't force. All of our talents are knowledge and assisting, that's it."
He nodded. "If it were me, I'd brand him with the Terran Falcon across his face and turn him loose. But I'm guessing you won't allow that, Kaisae?"
She wanted to giggle at Ilija's bravado. "No. That's how we've been treated. Someone has to give, and we're willing to do it." She paused, thinking. "Killer, you still have the stains you used on my skin for the ball?"
Blaec hummed thoughtfully. "Oh, now that's clever, Sal."
"I missed it," Ilija said.
Sal flicked a finger at the prisoner. "Your idea is good. Send him home, but a brand... that's too permanent. Now, that tattoo across my back at the ball? That lasts about a month. We can give them each one of the horses collected from the field, mark them clearly, and send them away. I'm sure there's a pack of bachelor grauori willing to escort them out of
Anglia, too. Young males like that sort of thing."
"What are you branding me with?" the man asked.
"Not branding, ya fool," Jase snarled. "Just a warning, so ya can na lie ta the people ya pass. I'd say the Terran Falcon across his forehead, and," Jase dipped his finger in his whiskey and drew a sprawling figure across the tabletop, "His species on his cheek."
"That may make things harder for you with the Terrans," Sal told the soldier.
"What does it mean?" he asked, gesturing to the symbol.
"It means 'Corrupted One,'" Jase said, looking at him. "It's pronounced 'iliri.'"
"You can't mark me as iliri!"
"Why not?" Sal asked. "You are one."
He shook his head. "I'm human. I've always been human."
"With green eyes?" Blaec asked.
He nodded. "Lots of people in Gallicor have green eyes."
"Lots a them are iliri, too," Jase pointed out.
"Well," Sal said, offhandedly, "we could always just give him what he wants and send him back."
Ilija lifted his glass as if toasting. "Yeah, but they wouldn't believe him."
Sal shrugged. "Not really my problem, is it?"
Danis looked up at her. "Why are you doing this?"
Sal tugged the chair around, so the man faced her, then leaned on the armrests. "When I learned to walk, a human told me to carry her things. When I was six, I learned how to clean up their mess. When I was ten, I was whipped for the first time – because the plates didn't match. When I turned thirteen, I was told to lay there and not make a noise. When I turned fifteen, my owner charged money to see me dance. When I was eighteen, I said no, so began the cycle again, but this time in a uniform." Sal snarled at him. "Humans have done nothing but take from me my entire life, and now some asshole across the continent thinks I deserve to die for it? Did you expect us to lay down and wait for him to come? We didn't live this long by submitting."