Defiance (Rise of the Iliri Book 3)

by Auryn Hadley

  He stared at her in shock. "I haven't done anything like that."

  "You want to give the Emperor everything he needs to justify the persecution of our kind, you idiot. What do you think he sent you spying for. You think that because your skin is darker, you're somehow better than me? You think that any of us want this? They made us. Humans made us, and then they hate us because they made us better than them, and you want to help them torture us. Don't ask me why I'm doing this. Explain to me why you are."

  "It's not like that," Danis persisted. "Iliri, they're ruining the economy. They're too lazy to work. Look how they congregate in slums, and – "

  "Because you refuse to pay us. Because we're lucky if we can get anything that resembles freedom. Look at how lazy I've been." Sal gestured around her. "I did this. We did this." She indicated the men sitting beside him. "I've given everything I have to these people, and they thanked me for it. What have you done? You couldn't even rise above private."

  Danis slapped his hands on his legs, Sal's body holding him in the chair. "I busted my ass to be a private. You have no idea what I've done."

  Sal shrugged snidely. "It obviously wasn't enough. I made Lieutenant by my fourth year in," she flicked the bars at her shoulder, "and I'm as Iliran as it gets. Try again, you fool. You're still a damned private because your eyes are green." She stood up and grabbed her glass from the table, tossing the liquid back.

  Blaec gestured to one of the many guards around. "Take him somewhere, and have him locked up. This one's a spy. A spy and a fool," he said.

  "Yes, sir." The guard grabbed Danis by the arm and pulled him away.

  "Anymore like that?" Sal called to the grauori.

  We have a few left, but no. So far most of them just want away from the purple men.

  "Let me know if it changes." Sal sighed and sat down at the table.

  Ilija poured more mead into her glass. "Sounds pretty bad out there, Sal. How are we going to fix it?" he asked.

  "Ya can na," Jase said.

  "Yeah, Jase," Ilija insisted, "we can. If nothing else, we can do it the same way Sal did. One man at a time."

  Those words were exactly what she needed to hear. Standing, she looked at Blaec. "I'm ready. Send Zep to babysit that man, and tell him not to let up until Danis realizes jut how iliri he is. Have the grauori see if any of those humans want to defect. Ask Rragri if she has some bachelors to haul the rest of them back to Gallicor – forcibly if they have to. Then have Risk meet me at the Archduke. Jase, you and Ilija sort the rest of them out."

  Ilija nodded at her, but Jase snagged her hand. He stood and pulled her to him, looking down into her pale eyes. "Do na kill him, cessivi. Break him. Break him over and over, and when there's na a thing left to mend, put him together and send the wreck back, but do na kill him. Do na give them anything ta use against us."

  Then he took the last step between them and kissed her deeply, teasing her with his sharp teeth. Ilija glanced at Blaec, but he watched the pair casually. Able to feel their eyes on her, she leaned back to nip at Jase's jaw before turning to Blaec. Her Ahnor's affection had only encouraged the defiance building inside.

  "You're with me," she told her commander, striding away.

  Blaec glanced at Jase and bowed his head. "Ahnor," he said respectfully.

  "She's gonna hate this, LT. Take care a her, Dernor."

  Blaec flicked his eyes to the ground. "Yes, sir," he said, turning to follow Sal.

  Still reclined at the table, Ilija shook his head. "I missed something again."

  Jase claimed the chair beside him. "Sal does na interrogate, but she has ta this time. She's gonna fall into the maast, and she can na be alone with Risk."

  "Why not?"

  Jase chuckled. "Because she'd try to have her way with him, and she's na his type. Blaec can na read these prisoners, so he needs ta go with her. He's na really comfortable with her in maast because he does na get it himself."

  "And?" Ilija persisted.

  "And Sal needed ta work herself up a bit. She does na hate, na like ya'd think. That's a human thing, ya know? She can protect her own, but she can na hate."

  "She can't hate?"

  Jase shook his head. "Nah. Think about it, man. She can stalk, she can kill, she can make a logical decision to destroy someone, but she does na hate anyone."

  "Always thought she hated the Emperor." Ilija stared at the table thinking hard about the time he'd spent with Sal. "You think that's what we get from her? Why we all adore her so much?"

  Jase flashed one of his wicked grins. "That, her ass, who knows."

  That made the Colonel laugh. "Ok, fair point. She doesn't cry either. I saw that when Roo got hurt."

  "Yeh. Iliri eyes do na cry. The rest of us can. We have just enough human ta cry, but na Sal. Pisses her off, too."

  "I'd think it'd be a relief."

  "Nah. Does na work like ya think. She still feels the hurt, she just can na do anything about it." Jase suddenly changed the subject, "Ya know how ta use a knife at all?"

  Ilija paused, catching up. "Enough, but I'm no expert."

  "K. I'll teach ya a few things. 'Nough ta get the kid started at least."

  "You really think he's old enough to start learning how to use that thing?"

  "Iliri start younger. My amma had me practicing stances when I was 'bout six." Jase shrugged. "The sooner he learns, the better he'll be, and the longer he'll live."

  Ilija took a gulp of his whiskey. "I hoped he'd grow up to be more like Dominik."

  "Did ya know Dom has iliri ancestry?"

  Slowly, Ilija turned to look at the little assassin. "No."

  Jase just nodded. "Thought ya might find that int'resting. Seems the aggression tends ta pass from the maternal side, too." He tossed back the last of his whiskey and reached for the glass Sal left, sipping at her mead.

  "Is it enough to make him a Black Blade?"

  Jase refused to look at the man. "Zep's a Blade."

  "What are you getting at, Jase?"

  Without warning, Jase switched to his mind. This was not a conversation anyone needed to overhear. Blaec is set on removing the Emperor. Sal will go along with it because she knows it's the right thing ta do. Dom's offered the Blades a home here in Anglia, but she will na take it while we have a mission to complete. When we get back ta Dorton, you're gonna officially become the Sergeant at Arms, and we'll head to Myrosica to meet up with the Conglomerate. They'll send us on yet another suicide mission that we'll somehow manage to pull our asses out of.

  Ok? Ilija asked.

  So the short answer to yer question is yeah, the kid has enough iliri to be a Blade, and they'll be needing men ta fill the ranks – if there's a unit left ta fill up. The problem is ya can na embrace it without changing. If the kid becomes a Blade, he'll never be a human again.

  Shit, the Blades will be fine, man. You always are, Ilija assured him.

  I'm just a Sergeant, Jase reminded him. I do na handle the tactical stuff, but even I can see how this is going. Ya need that title, but the Blades could use a little help with this, and neither Blaec nor Sal will ask fer it. Hell, they'll refuse it if asked cuz they know what will happen when Anglia enters the war. They see tactics as easily as ya and I see colors.

  What's going to happen?

  Continental war. Ever' other nation out there is so worried about what they'll get out of it that the iliri are gonna get slaughtered in the middle. Someone needs ta make this about them. Someone needs ta put Sal and Blaec in a position where they can na make themselves martyrs. Someone needs ta be worried less about sending lines of troops against lines of troops, and worry about finding a way ta help the people. Anglia's in the perfect position ta make that happen, but a bunch of iliri can na really make that suggestion. Ya need ta figure out real fast why ya wanna take Anglia inta this war. Ya can na do it because ya love Sal. Ya need ta figure out what it is ya hope ta win.

  Ilija looked down at the glass he was spinning between his hands. And you're sayin
g that Anglia is in a position to make a bigger difference?

  Jase nodded slowly, letting that sink in. We're in this cuz our people are being exterminated. The Conglomerate is in this cuz Terric wants ta take the country, and he's been knocking at the borders fer years now. Unav has fallen and Escea was bought. Sounds like he's taking Gallicor now, too. Myrosica, Anglia, and Viraenova have no bitch in this fight. Ya just pushed Terric out – and they will na come back too fast neither, so why ya planning ta poke at the nest?

  Pride, mainly, Ilija admitted. They came for us and we pushed them away. It only makes sense to push them all the way back into their territory.

  Jase sipped the mead again, casually staring across the table. It is na that far of a push. He probably has eastern Gallicor by now. Ya have any alliances with them?

  No. Gallicor doesn't ally with anyone. It's nothing but grasslands and independent villages up there. Nothing to make an alliance with.

  Jase turned his eyes back to his friend. So why would ya even bother pushing them past the line?

  Because they'll come back?

  Will they?

  Ilija started at him in confusion. I don't know, Jase. It just feels like we need to do something.

  Why?

  Because someone has to do it! That man is dangerous. Look at what he's doing. He has to be stopped! Ilija shouted into Jase's head, his frustration raising the volume of his thoughts to uncomfortable levels.

  Jase just smiled. Yeh. Someone has ta, and the Blades are na enough. I'd rather na see my pack throw themselves on the pikes, but I know they will. I'll be right there with them when it happens. Be a hell of a lot nicer if we had some heavy cav to break the line first. If we can get a man back, the Blades will live on and someone will hold to the old traditions. Jase looked at the prisoners. There's a lot a iliri up here pretending ta be humans, and na a lot a real iliri. That blade Sal gave the kid?

  Yeah. Her offhand weapon. That's gonna mean a lot to him, you know?

  It is na just that, man. Jase smiled sadly. Pull the blade and look at it. She carved the swords on it. That's a free pass. Any Blade who saw it would know what it means. It's a free fuckin' pass into the Black Blades if he goes that way. She's already refilling the ranks.

  "Fuck," Ilija muttered. "Damn it, Jase. You good here for a bit? I have to talk to Dom."

  Jase nodded. "I was hoping tha's what ya'd say. Yeh, man. I got this."

  Chapter 46

  Ilija stormed into the King's pavilion. Verdant Shields piled in behind him, and Dominik jumped to his feet, looking around for the threat. A young woman knelt on the floor wide-eyed.

  "Time to go," Ilija snapped at the girl. She jumped to her feet, scrambling out of the tent.

  Dominik sighed. "What is it this time? I just paid her, man."

  "Do you know what the Black Blades are planning?" Ilija demanded.

  Dominik just stared at the Colonel, confused.

  "Did she fucking tell you what she's planning!" Ilija screamed, and the King winced.

  "I don't know what you're talking about," Dom said.

  "Sal was in here earlier, right?"

  Dominik nodded.

  "What did you talk about?"

  The King thought back. "She told me they have to stand up for the iliri. I told her we were behind her, but she said we can't do it, that we can't be a part of what the Blades will be doing. Why?"

  "Damn it, Dom. They're cleaning shit up. Every last one of them is closing up their lives. It's a fucking suicide mission they've planned!"

  "Shit," Dom whispered. "She said they wouldn't be coming back, but... Fuck."

  Ilija sank into a chair across from the King. "How do we stop them?"

  "Ya don't," Vanja said.

  All eyes turned to him, and Ilija glared. "You want to see them die?"

  Vanja shook his head. "No more than you do, sir, but you can't stop them. That's the Black Blades you're talking about. Not even we can work like they do. We can't stop them. For every block we put in their path, they'll get around it and learn to hate us for it."

  Tebio nodded. "He's right, sir."

  "Not Sal. She'll never hate us." Ilija chuckled wryly. "She can't." He leaned back against the chair and rubbed his face. "Guys, grab a seat. Dom needs to hear this."

  "Sir?" Caein asked.

  "You're good," Dom assured them, waving them to sparse furniture in the pavilion. "I think this is a bit bigger than worrying about what's proper."

  "Jase had a talk with me, sire," Ilija started. "He wanted to know why we're going after Terric."

  Dom looked at him strangely. "They attacked us."

  "Yeah. So we're going to become just like them? Hit us and we hit you harder? When does it end?"

  Dom just shrugged, shaking his head.

  "Why would we conquer Terric? Why would we push all the way across the continent? The Conglomerate, Escea, Unav, Gallicor... all of them are pushing Terric back from their borders, but we're talking about marching on them. Crossing other nations to 'finish' our fight. Why?"'

  "Sal," Vanja said.

  Ilija nodded. "It's because we know what he's after and we can't bear the thought of Sal being a victim. Or Jase, or any of the other Blades. We know that the grauori will come next. None of that is an excuse to go cause war, though."

  Dom scrubbed at his face. "That's what she was trying to tell me. Fuck." He stood and grabbed a bottle of liquor, opening the top to suck back a long swallow. He passed it to Dag and gestured for him to help himself. "Worst part is, she's right."

  Ilija huffed out a frustrated breath. "But what if we go on a, well, a humanitarian effort of sorts?"

  The men all looked at him. Danku spoke up first. "Jase gave you something, didn't he?"

  "Yeah. If we're not there to conquer, but rather to remove the "unwanted" iliri and offer them asylum? If we offer aid and assistance to the people and aid to our allies?"

  "Then we're not extending the war, we're ending it," Dom agreed, smiling.

  "What are we gonna do with 'em all?" Caein asked. "Some will come back here, some won't. What do we do with them?"

  Tebio chuckled. "Protect them, help them rebuild, educate the humans, and introduce the grauori to them. It's a big undertaking, sire."

  "Yeah," Dom agreed. "Can we do it, Ilija?"

  Ilija nodded at him. "Oh yeah. Sal put some good programs together. But that doesn't completely solve the problem with the Blades."

  "If only they were Anglians, then we'd have some claim on them. As it is..." Dom trailed off.

  Ilija stopped him. "They aren't yours anymore than the grauori are, my liege. Even if they were Anglian, you still couldn't stop them."

  "Then don't stop them," Zain said. "Sir, you just gave yourself the damned answer. Give them the grauori. Nothing's stopping them, and human laws don't apply to them."

  Looking up, Dominik laughed. "Soldier, which one are you, and what rank?"

  "Zain, sir. I'm a specialist."

  "Promote him, Ilija, or I will – and I can never remember what comes next."

  Ilija chuckled. "Congratulations, Corporal Rosha. Happy Dom?"

  "Yeah. Who has the bottle? I need a pull," Dom said, taking another drink when the bottle was passed to him. "I'm giving her the damned title."

  "Ya know what ya should do?" Vanja asked, reaching out for the bottle. Dom passed it to him. "Thanks, sire," he said before taking a gulp. "Change shit up. A title means land, right?"

  Dom nodded, confused. "Yeah. I planned on giving her Arhhawen. She keeps refusing it, but it's between Dorton and the Grauoran hills."

  Vanja grinned. "It isn't just Sal, sire. It's all of them. They're a fucking pack, man. Ya don't get one without the rest. They're a packaged deal." Dom nodded, and he went on, "So change shit up. Make Kaisae her fuckin' title, and rank her over Ilija. Military adviser to the King. She doesn't care if she's a Marquis, or whatever, and the laws screw with 'em. Sal's heirs are those pups."

  Dom waved that off. "Nothing s
ays you have to be human to inherit, and Sal can name her own heirs."

  Vanja shook his head. "Males, Dom. The males get the preference. That's backward. If Roo has a boy next time, the whole thing gets fucked."

  "Shit," Dom said, realizing it was true.

  "So change it. You're talking about making the grauori their own leaders, right? Make Arhhawen the seat of the iliri. Three kingdoms, one land. Human, grauori, iliri. Ya do that, and ya just got your reason for riding out to save "your" people."

  Dominik stood up and grabbed the bottle from Vanja's hand, nodding. He looked at Ilija and pointed at the young soldier, his head still bobbing. "Him too. Do it with him."

  Ilija laughed. "Corporal Loka, congrats."

  Vanja chuckled. "The rest of ya better start thinking. That or drinking. Shit Dom, this stuff's potent."

  "Vanja," Ilija hissed. "Sire!"

  "Yeah," Vanja waved his hand in Dom's direction. "Sire, this stuff is potent."

  Dominik laughed. "Ilija, right about now, I don't care what anyone calls me. Fuck, Ilija, promote them all. None of the Blades are less than a damned Corporal, so same for the Shields. Any man with balls enough to come storming into my tent, running off my whore..." Dom groaned. "I don't know why I like you guys."

  The men laughed, and Tebio said, "Because they just solved your problem. You really think the grauori can keep the Blades from killing themselves?"

  Ilija lifted empty hands. "I don't know, but if they can't, we sure as hell will."

  "This is going to be a mess, you all know that?" Dom said.

  "What will?" Ilija asked.

  "Them. The iliri and grauori. We make them people, we recognize them as people, and the rest of the nations will not like it."

  The men murmured their agreement.

  "But we're Anglia," Dag said. "Fuck 'em if they don't like it. They thought we had a military before. Damn, they ain't seen the grauori yet!"

  They all laughed, but Dom waved them down. "We can't beat them all into submission. We need Viraenova. I got a very polite letter from them, but that's all. We need Viraenova behind us." He sighed and leaned back, rubbing his hands through his hair.