by K. F. Breene
“You’ll have to get in line, Tomous, but thank you.” Shanti saw the man’s shoulders droop just a bit. A moment later, his muscles flared again. He’d had a moment of sadness, she’d bet on it. He was trying to stay hard and strong, but he had a war of emotion that he could barely contain or cover up. He wasn’t like a Graygual officer in character, and he certainly wasn’t trained like them.
“Deprive him of sleep,” she said to Sanders. “And by all means, continue to torture him with your personality. He’ll break sooner or later.”
“He’ll get brained with a rock sooner rather than later if he doesn’t start answering some of my questions,” Sanders growled.
Shanti made a clicking sound with her tongue. Her horse launched forward, throwing her back in the saddle. “Damn it!” She clutched at the saddle and pulled herself forward as the horse picked up speed. “Slow down, you filthy animal!” She pulled on the reins, tugging the horse’s head back. “Slow…down or I will put spikes in your mouth next time!”
The Bastard whinnied and half jumped, digging in his hooves on landing before hopping forward to slow. Shanti clutched with her legs and steadied her balance, breathing heavily.
“You’ll wind up as dinner if you keep this up,” she warned. She lightly tapped her heels to his sides. Thankfully, he started walking.
“Your horse is feeling better, huh?” Sonson asked with a grin. He was riding at the front of his Shadow, keeping everyone together. The Shumas were right behind them, all just out of the Graygual’s range and working on communicating through the Gift.
“Unfortunately, yes.” Shanti scowled down at her animal. “I doubt he’ll be any less surly, though.”
“Just like his rider.” A peal of laughter rang up from both the Shadow and Shumas.
“I’m really getting tired of that joke.” Shanti prodded her horse to go a little faster, wanting to get up to Cayan without making her horse sprint to do it.
“It’s not a joke,” Sonson yelled after her.
As she neared the front of the line, Cayan glanced back. Those beautiful blue eyes were a pleasant change from the icy ones filled with pain at the back. “Lucius,” he said. “Fall back.”
Lucius glanced over his shoulder at the Bastard before pulling back gently on the reins. Very obediently, his horse slowed to allow Shanti access to the Captain.
“I miss the boring horse I rode out of your city,” Shanti muttered.
“What have you found out?” Cayan asked.
A male skittered by the edges of Shanti’s awareness. Judging by the road they were on, others she had felt, and the fact that it was a single person, it was probably a bandit. He wouldn’t get close enough to be trouble.
“He’s hiding something.” Shanti thought over the lengthy and stilted conversation. “He wouldn’t say much, but with Sanders constantly annoying him, he made some admissions early on, one of those being that his village was cut down by the Graygual. He’d been confused at first when people around him were falling from the Inkna’s abilities, but he hadn’t felt anything. As soon as he figured out Sanders’ methods for extracting information—probably much different from the Graygual method of using pain—he stopped saying much of anything. He’s smart. And determined.”
“So the enemy grabbed him?”
Shanti furrowed her brow, considering his tone and words carefully, trying to make sure she pieced together the correct story. “I don’t think so. He was cut down, thought he’d die, but didn’t. It was when he was recovering that the Inkna approached him. I’m not certain, but I think it was some time later. I don’t know. He’s healed now, and showed confusion when I asked various training methods. I don’t think he’s been with the Graygual that long. So what was he doing between nearly dying, and joining the Graygual, if not being trained?”
“I don’t like it. He doesn’t fit.”
“No, he doesn’t, but we have no idea how. Or why. He must’ve met Xandre. Had to have, right? How else could he have ended up with the inner circle?”
“There could’ve been a go-between, but he would certainly know something. He has information we need, whether he knows if it’s useful or not.”
Shanti sighed and looked out at the trees. The Bastard did that weird noise, halfway between a growl and a snarl, both not sounding like they should come from a horse. She yanked the reins left, trying to put more distance between him and Cayan’s horse. The Bastard would pick a fight, and Cayan’s horse would not back down.
“This accursed animal makes my life difficult,” she said with another yank out of temper.
“Now you know how Sanders feels.”
Shanti narrowed her eyes at the side of Cayan’s face where that dimple was showing. The indentation smoothed over quickly as seriousness returned to Cayan’s bearing. “You told Sanders to start sleep depravation after we stop?” Cayan asked.
“Yes. He’s tough, but he’s not cunning. I’m sure he’ll let more slip when his brain becomes foggy with fatigue.”
Shanti’s Gift rolled over a female far out to the left. A moment later she felt a few more people of both sexes idle. She glanced up at the sun, high at its zenith. “What should we expect from this land? It’s farther south than I have been.”
Cayan half shrugged, unconcerned. He glanced around him. “Not much. Smaller traders and travelers use this route. The weak get picked on and stolen from, sometimes worse. The strong are left alone. We won’t encounter any problems.”
“Do you know this from experience, or is that what Sanders told you?”
Cayan gave her a confused look. “What’s the difference?”
Shanti snorted. “Sanders is in a league of his own. Crazy. No one is messing with him. The people out there might very well attack someone like Leilius or Marc.”
“Let’s hope they attack Maggie. She’ll get to spread her wings.”
“We are going to have to stop eventually. If the”—she didn’t want to call him an Inkna—“stranger is awake, it means we’ll be blind. Any outliers could get attacked.”
Cayan chuckled, his big shoulders shaking. She had no idea why. “Even our weaker warriors would stick a knife in an attacker’s rib if surprised by a bandit. They might be shocked if they did so, but they’ll be fine. Marc can sense danger—he’s done it in the dark twice now—and he is the weakest fighter we have, if you don’t count some of the women. And I don’t, because they will be looked after.”
“You’ll look after the women but not poor Marc?”
“Marc is part of the Honor Guard and under your command. It is you that will not look after poor Marc.”
“Ah.” Shanti couldn’t help a smile. “As Rachie would say, you got me there.”
“That was a hint, you know. We need our doctor.”
“Don’t tell me how to do my job.” Shanti looked away to hide a smile from him.
“Later I’ll tell you some other things I’d like to have done. To me.”
“Sanders would make a comment about married people in the army.” Lucius’ voice drifted up. “He would wonder what this world had come to. I might think the same.”
“We aren’t married and Sanders needs to butt out,” Shanti said.
“Not technically married, you mean.” Cayan’s voice was light, but she could feel his gravity. He was trying to stay light during the peaceful times. They were few and far between.
15
“Hold up.” Sanders held his fist in the air so those out of earshot knew to stop. The Captain and Shanti sat rigid, one looking out to the right, one staring straight ahead. They were using their mental power.
He glanced behind him and saw the line three horses wide extend back and around the bend. Lucius was with the prisoner near the back of the line.
“What’s here?” Sanders asked Daniels.
Daniels glanced down at his empty lap where the map usually was. He put his hand on top of his saddlebag before scrunching up his brow in thought. “Small town up ahead, I believe. It’s the
only town between here and our destination. Apart from that, there are smaller camps and trading outposts, like we’ve seen already. None of those will bother with a force as large as ours.”
Sanders glanced behind him again. He remembered when he’d been taken by the Graygual and Inkna. The Graygual weren’t an honorable sort, but they protected the things they valued, and only an idiot wouldn’t value someone that blocked out mental power. They needed more people around that prisoner if the Graygual were going to make a play to recover him.
“Sanders.”
Sanders’ head snapped around at the implied order from the Captain. He directed his horse around the others and walked until he was next to the Captain’s large stallion. “Yes, sir.”
The Captain’s eyes were unfocused. “There is a host of watchful minds up ahead. We think they’re guarding the town. Within those there is one that bespeaks Graygual officer.”
“How high a rank, sir?” Sanders asked.
“He’s high,” Shanti said. “Intelligent and cunning. Not as high as the Hunter, but he’ll have skill and speed. He’ll have a few good officers under him, and he’ll be a good leader. This may be speculation, but…the Graygual aren’t known for their creativity in training.”
Sanders remembered what the Captain and Shanti had said about the inner-circle warrior. They weren’t original, but they didn’t need to be. They were excellent.
“What’s our move?” Sanders asked. “Go around?”
Shanti shook her head and looked as if she was holding something back. The Captain stared at the back of her head for a while before heaving a sigh and looking down at the head of his stallion. He seemed to be fighting with something, but Sanders had no idea what. With that woman, Sanders imagined the littlest of things became ten times more complicated.
“We’re going straight through,” the Captain said in a strong and sure voice. Sanders knew him well enough to hear the resignation in the words. “We’ll hit them hard and fast. No sneaking.”
“Sir.” Sanders braced his hand on his leg and tried not to shift uncomfortably. “All due respect, but that city is not our play. If we go through, it’ll act like a warning for the Graygual. They’ll know we’re coming, killing any chance of surprise.”
“Do you think a horde this big can go around without being noticed?” Shanti asked in irritation. She didn’t look back at him. It sounded like a repeated argument. “They’ll see us, or feel us. This isn’t like that Mugdock town. These Graygual are trained. They don’t miss much. In the time it takes us to go around, we’ll be spotted, and we’ll have an army waiting for us.”
Sanders gritted his teeth. “If you don’t mind me saying, sir.” He glanced at the silent Captain before returning his gaze to Shanti. “But there is a chance we won’t get noticed with you and the Captain running interference.”
“The interference will be noticed, as will our tracks.” Shanti shook her head. “We came this way, so we need to commit to this way. If we blaze through that town, killing or maiming everyone we can, we can be through and onward in no time.”
“The townspeople will help,” Kallon said, now directly behind them. “They are scared to act now, but when the balance is restored, they will rise up. We’ve seen this time and again. I agree with Chulan.”
“If the Captain had time to get to that challenge between you two, you wouldn’t be so sure,” Sanders growled.
“He’s right,” Rohnan said in that damn placating voice.
Is this what had happened to the Captain? He’d been browbeaten into this decision by the most stubborn people alive? Well, Sanders wasn’t so easy to sway. “What do you know about it, gorgeous?”
“I am not so mistrusting as you—”
“That’s enough.” The Captain shifted forward in his saddle and then sat back, his shoulders straight and broad. He’d made his decision and was gearing up.
Sanders shook his head. “I strongly urge you to reconsider, sir.”
“We should give the townspeople a chance to win back their freedom,” Sonson said, moving his horse closer. “We cannot do this alone. It sounds like it’s time to make our situation known.”
“I had wanted to keep that a secret a little longer, but it cannot be helped.” The Captain turned to Sanders with authority. “This situation is much like the one in the Mugdock lands. Prepare to attack.”
Sonson nodded at Sanders and turned his horse. Sanders turned his horse, too. This situation is much like the one in the Mugdock lands. The Captain had been referring to taking the city. He was talking about when they snuck onto the hillside in the dark to catch a predator without a net. It had been a fool’s errand, but had worked out exactly as Shanti had guessed.
The Captain was letting her off the leash again, and this time, all her people and the Shadow would be beside her. God help them all.
A couple of hours later, Shanti sat in the middle of the lane astride her horse with Cayan and the rest of the mental workers around her. The spicy simmer deep in her body heated up, growing into life. Electricity crackled as her power built, answering the deep well of energy boiling within Cayan. The Shadow came in next, spinning the power and morphing it, making it pulse around them. Then the Shumas boosted it, making it grow into a living thing. Like in the trials all that time ago, the power took on a life of its own, surging but playful. Flirty and dangerous.
“Unleash the fury!” Cayan yelled for everyone to hear. “Let’s free these people from tyranny!”
A cry went up from his men. The Shadow and Shumas hardened up, silent. Ready.
Shanti threw up her hand. “Let’s—” Her body jerked backward as the Bloody Bastard took off running. She heard a pounding of hooves beside her, and the thundering of the whole army behind. “Ruined my moment,” Shanti muttered through gritted teeth.
The ground jiggled in her vision before she shifted and braced. Her body merged with that of her horse, matching the movement and finding balance within his stride.
Feeling out in front of them, she gripped the mind of the first Inkna sentry, and the few after, in preparation. They flew around a soft bend. She speared the sentries as the Bastard sprinted down the lane, the ground even and smooth. Their minds winked out, only of moderate strength and no match for the might at her disposal.
A surge of power went up from the town, only a couple of hundred yards away now. The enemy had felt the sentries die and knew danger was drawing near. Here we go!
“Haw!” She dug her heels into the Bastard’s side and gave a grunt when he put on a burst of speed. He took off like an arrow.
The town came into view. Townspeople were running for cover. Shanti spared a small part of her power and touched as many minds as she could, layering them with feelings of relief, joy, and ease. She envisioned wrapping them up in blankets of safety, making them welcome the people bearing down on their town. Finally, she injected a shot of courage. It would not diminish their fear, but it would bolster their natural inner strength. It was time for them to fight.
A line of black ran toward the edge of the town. The Graygual response time was impressive.
She searched, combing through the town for the Gifted. She found them, many in a state of urgency, some waiting anxiously. About a dozen—they were of moderate power and experience, but a shiver of fear worked through their minds as she clutched. Clearly they could feel the power on their doorstep. There was only one force it could be.
The Chosen.
Hating to disappoint them, she struck. Her power thrust out of her, slicing into soft brain matter. Agony flared before half the minds blinked out, dead. The others held on, clawing through the pain.
The gates loomed. Graygual stood in front, holding shining blades and experienced poses. Shanti ripped out her blade as an arrow whipped out from the side. Heads popped up over the walls. Bows came up.
Bursts of power flared around her now as the Shadow and Shumas were in range. Their attacks fell on the archers. Screams rent the air. A wave of ar
rows took to flight anyway, few of them well aimed. Someone groaned in the cluster of Cayan’s army. A gasp preceded the sound of a body hitting the ground.
“Steady!” Cayan yelled, throwing his voice over the noise.
The Bastard gave his equine war cry, unlike any other horse she’d ever heard, followed by a loud whinny as he reached the line of Graygual. He barreled through, knocking his way into the city before flinging out a foot behind to catch someone in the head. The blow cracked the Graygual skull like a melon.
Shanti slashed down with her sword as power slapped her. She shielded as the Bastard reared, having her tipping in her saddle. She threw a leg over without thinking, and jumped. She hit the hard ground and rolled, coming to a stop at a Graygual’s feet. She kicked out, catching his knee. His leg bent sideways. He screamed and fell. Still on the ground, she struck toward his chest. Misjudging, she missed. Her blade rammed through his throat. Happy accident.
She hopped up. A sword swung through the air, right for her head. She ducked as a blast of power smacked into her. The remaining Inkna were getting annoying.
Without warning, Cayan’s huge undertow of power bubbled up and overflowed. It rolled through her and then surged out, shaking the ground as it ripped through the battle. Pain hammered through the Graygual, making them shriek. Her power swirled higher, filling the void between them with electricity.
“Blast it, Cayan,” she swore, slashing through a Graygual and running deeper into the city. He was right beside her, moving so fast she could barely see the tip of his sword. “You have to aim!”
“I reacted. Quit nearly getting your head lopped off!” he yelled back. He blocked a thrust and then kicked out to the side, catching another Graygual in the jaw. He cut through the man in front of him before ripping him out of the way, too impatient to wait for him to sink to the ground in death.
Shanti took out a knife and threw it at a Graygual who was running around a house toward her. Another knife hit the next man before Rohnan appeared by her side, his staff whirling.