Tenacity (Rise of the Iliri Book 5)

by Auryn Hadley

  The metallic clink made Arctic smile. Slowly, he unwound the cloth. When the pair of steel daggers became visible, he didn't seem surprised at all. "How many more?"

  "There's crates of these things. All stamped on the hilt the same way. I'm supposed to tell you that there're other weapons, too. We couldn't slip out too much, so I just brought the pair."

  "Whose side are you on?" Dom asked suddenly. "You're slipping out steel to us. You're not playing politics like I expect. Whose side are you on, soldier?"

  "The right side, Dominik," Rais said. "I have no intention of becoming Anglian, nor do my men. That doesn't mean we agree with the crap they pulled in Myrosica. We own homes, we have friends and families, and we're willing to work to make things better. I've known the Black Blades a long time. I respect the shit out of LT and everything he did. The Conglomerate is a damned good place, filled with damned good people, but this whole iliri issue has brought tempers to a boil."

  "Iliri issue?" Arctic asked, setting his jaw. "Fuck, Rais. You know they shit they pulled on us."

  "Not that part. I get that we treated you all like shit. I'm all for change, right? I'm just not real happy about the idea that it's us or them, which ever way you wanna make that. We need to get some liberties for you all, sure, but that doesn't mean we need to throw the humans under the wagons, either."

  Arctic nodded. "Yeah, I get you, man. Still don't think you humans quite get it, though."

  "Probably not. I've never had to deal with it, but I'm starting to see it now. Disbanding the Blades was a bad mistake and caused a lot of iliri sympathy. So," he turned back to the leaders across from him, "Parliament is willing to agree to the terms you set previously. Recognition of all three species and the three kingdoms. Diplomatic immunity for all Anglian soldiers. They refuse to give a blanket pass for general citizens, though."

  "I'm fine with that," Dom said.

  "Rragri, too," Arctic added.

  "And of course, leave to cross our lands. I'm supposed to make some pleasantries about convincing you to begin mobilizing the military to the border. It's two weeks mounted back to the line, probably a month for infantry. Escea will have pushed past Eastward by then. We're losing soldiers faster than we can train them." Rais sighed and rubbed his hands through his hair. "Rumors are saying you lose dozens of men per battle, no more."

  "They're true," Dom said.

  "How?" Rais asked his desperation showing. "Fuck, and I'm sorry to hear about Zep," he said suddenly to Arctic.

  "Zep's fine," Arctic assured him.

  "Heard he took a Black Widow blade for Sal?"

  "Yeah. Fucked his tattoo a bit. He wouldn't let Risk clean the mess up, either, so he has proof. He's fine, though."

  Rais pointed to his neck. "The Black Blades tattoo? Man, how'd he live through it? What the hell are you people doing up here?"

  Arctic held up his hand, asking Rais to wait. In seconds, they could hear footsteps in the hall outside, and the door opened. Shift pushed through.

  "Yeah, I can do that," he said walking up.

  Arctic tossed one of the steel blades at him. "Use the new toys."

  Shift caught it easily and grabbed the first officer's arm. Arctic shoved his shirt up to his elbow and nodded as Rais watched them confused. With an impish grin, Shift laid the dagger on Arctic's skin.

  "Damn, these things are heavy," he muttered as he pulled the blade, cutting deeply. "Nice. They do rip a bit."

  "Yeah, now fix that," Arctic growled.

  Shift just chuckled then took a deep breath. As he released it, the wound slowly faded, the skin closing over it. Rais stared in complete fascination.

  Shift looked up with a smirk. "Simple healing. Causes vertigo in the patient for about ten seconds. Fixes minor wounds without issue, multiple healers can coordinate to deal with more serious injuries. That's how we healed the poison in Sal back in the CFC. Nice to see you again, Captain."

  "You too, Lieutenant. How many of you can do that?" Rais asked, gesturing to Arctic's arm.

  "Shift and Risk," Arctic said, shaking the last of the vertigo from his head. "A few thousand of the grauori as well. Approximately."

  "Fuck," Rais breathed. "You even use human medicine anymore?"

  "Yeah," Dom said. "We need someone to pull out bolts and deal with colds and flues."

  "Sal's up," Arctic interrupted. "Cyno just gave me a head's up. She's on her way down. Shift, see if Laern has coffee for her? She ate before they got her to sleep."

  "Will do." Shift walked quickly out of the room.

  "Don't push her," Arctic warned Rais. "She's up to about five hours of sleep in three days. You push at her and I'll haul your ass out of here forcefully. Understand?"

  Rais waved him off. "She did good by me, man. I'm not here to push. I requested the mission."

  Arctic nodded. "And Rragri says that as far as she's concerned, whether we help you or not is up to Sal."

  "Same here," Dom agreed. "Wasn't me you tried to fuck with."

  "I understand," Rais said.

  Laern waddled in from a side door with a tray. He smiled at the leaders and placed it carefully on the table before the empty seat. "I was told the Kaisae would need coffee. I brought what I had, and I'm making more, strong. Do any of you know if she takes cream? I brought some, just in case. Anything else I can get for her?"

  "You're fine," Dom assured him. "She usually takes it black, but I appreciate the cream if nothing else."

  "Right. Yes, sire. Orassae. I'm sorry for the intrusion," Laern said bowing out of the room.

  Arctic wasn't the only one grinning at the man's devotion. They were still smiling when Sal entered the room. Her blacks were creased and her wool overshirt hung open, exposing the black tank underneath. She drug Zep behind her, clinging to his hand. From the look on her face, she was still half asleep.

  "Oh," Sal sighed. "Coffee!"

  "Captain Tolan," Zep greeted the man. "Why are you here?"

  "Let the Kaisae have coffee first," Rais said. "Nice to see you're doing well."

  Zep nodded. "Dying is good for a man, Captain."

  "Rais."

  "Gotcha. We haven't been awake long. Forgive us," Zep said.

  "I'm not in a rush," Rais assured them. "I did bring a present from Marnia, though."

  Arctic slid the pair of daggers across to Sal. At the clink of metal, her eyes lit up. "A pair?"

  "Yep. Marnia said there's crates of them. She's pulling a few out of each. I could only get the pair across the border, though."

  Sal smiled wistfully. "No, that's perfect. Ryek needed a pair. He's a demon with mine."

  Rais chuckled, Sal's easy manner setting him at ease. Her smile was contagious, sharp teeth and all. He waited while she sucked back a long gulp of coffee. Finally, she sighed and gestured for him to continue.

  "We're here to beg, Kaisae."

  "Still Sal. And what changed?"

  "Berrik got recalled. Three other anti-iliri Reps too. Toth's close. Escea, with Terric, broke the border and they're in the western foothills of the Siahies. We've lost the Forward Camp, and Eastward will fall before we get back unless a miracle happens. Parliament is willing to give recognition to humans, iliri, and grauori as sentient and sovereign species. Diplomatic immunity for all soldiers, but not civilians, and permission to move inside our borders as you deem necessary."

  "What do they want?"

  "The old borders."

  Sal nodded and sucked at her coffee again. "Dom? Rragri?"

  "I'm good with whatever you decide," Dom said.

  Sal looked to Rragri then nodded. "Ok. They willing to sign it?"

  "Yeah. Hoping you'd return with me, which is why I requested the mission. Parliament is in a special session about this, waiting for word. They're willing to sign and hoping Viraenova will follow your lead."

  Sal took another sip of the coffee, cradling the cup. "They let me tell the iliri about the defection laws, and I'll sign it." She looked over at Rragri.

  "
Yeah." Arctic drug the word out. "Rragri and Sal are discussing logistics. You have numbers?" he asked Rais.

  "We've got two units of Escean elites and some specialists from Terric. Haven't seen Black Widows in a while, though."

  "They're on us," Arctic told him. "Were in Syhar as recently as two days ago. We're not sure they're gone yet, so make sure your men stick together."

  Rais nodded. "Thanks for the head's up. Besides that, we've got counts of about three thousand. Lots of those are assassins. Movements suggest a lot more, probably around twenty thousand across the entire range."

  Sal dismissed that easily. "It's Escea. Where's Jurica in all this?"

  "His military is on our side of the border. They've claimed his lands."

  "Fuck. Ok." Sal looked at Dom. "You coming with me?"

  "I think I need to," Dom said.

  "Yeah. Rragri, you want to stay here and keep this push going?"

  "Ya," she said, glancing to Arctic.

  Obediently, he translated. "She says that she'll push to Ryass while we're away. Tseri is working to Issevi. She assumes you're going to use maargra?"

  Sal nodded. "At least a couple units of her soldiers. I'm also taking Devil Dogs, Shields for Dom, and of course the Blades. I'll also want the 17th and 101st Mounted."

  "Take the 257th too, babe," Zep said. "They're heavy archers."

  "Nice. Ok. So that's seventy-five mounted, plus the elites. Rragri, you want to tell some to start heading this way from Anglia?"

  "From Anglia?" Rais asked. "Sal? Will they make it in time? That's three months to Prin!"

  The Anglians all laughed. "No," Sal assured him. "Maargra. That's grauoran military, Rais. They'll assist Viraenova until we sign the treaty."

  Rais still looked at her, confused, so Zep took pity on him. "Two days from Dorton to Zaqala. A week for them to go from the Ahnian Ridge to Prin. They'll beat us there."

  "About five thousand should do for the first push, Rragri. Assign a temporary leader, if you would. And a Vargwar for them?"

  The Orassae nodded.

  "Ok. We'll leave the day after tomorrow. That gives me time to settle Syhar. Does that work?" Sal asked.

  Rais nodded. "I'm just happy you're willing to help, Kaisae. I can't even imagine five thousand grauori."

  "I think we're running about that, here. Plus one thousand combined iliri and humans."

  "Explains the tent city outside the walls," Rais said. "Nice discipline with so many. How do you do it?"

  Sal tapped her head. "It gets uncomfortable to disobey orders. They learn real fast."

  "No wonder you're sweeping the continent. They're impressed in the Conglomerate. I should warn you, quite a few are wanting your military secrets."

  Zep chuckled and patted Rais's shoulder. "Iliri and grauori, man. That's all there is to it. You ever see grauori move?"

  "Yeah," Rais said. "Silent, and damned near invisible. Like I said, I can't even imagine thousands of them."

  "Neither could we." Dom smiled at Rragri. "Imagine our surprise to learn how long they'd been living among us. We done here?"

  "Yeah," Sal said. "And I need to give a present and let the elites know we'll be moving out."

  "Poor Laern." Zep grabbed Sal's hand. "He's been enjoying having you here."

  As a group, they rose and made their way back into the common room. When the leaders entered, the 112th scrambled to their feet. Sal waved them back down.

  "Thanks for helping back in Myrosica. We're soldiers, just like you. None of us want bowing and kneeling and crap."

  The men nodded and returned to their chairs, but one dark-skinned man at the back waited for Sal to look at him before speaking. "Thanks, Kaisae. We all owe ya a few."

  Sal grinned, rushing to his side. "Blaz!" she exclaimed as she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.

  "Looks like you're doing pretty good for yourself." He hugged her back.

  "How the hell is Rax?"

  "Lazy?" he joked. "Nah, he's great, Sal. Things still ok with you and LT?"

  Zep chuckled, "Yeah. This is going to be fun to explain."

  Blaz shrugged, "And Cyno?"

  "And Zep, it looks like," Rais said casually.

  Blaz looked up to the big dark skinned man, confused, then back to Sal. The question on his face was obvious.

  "Ok, sit. Relax." Sal sank into a chair and gestured for Blaz and Zep to sit beside her. "Yes, my three men and I are great. No, Zep isn't dead anymore. Yes, the stories are probably true."

  The 112th all chuckled. A man down the line leaned forward. "You just took Syhar this morning?"

  "Liberated," Zep said. "You all know about the menu?"

  Laern heard the question. "I don't feed maerte to humans, Kaisae!" he yelled.

  "Good, just wanted to make sure. The men in blue won't even know what it is," she called back.

  "Don't ask," Zep told the men. "Just trust that it's not suitable for human systems, ok?"

  Most of them shrugged it off, but one man was curious. "Is that what I smell?"

  "Yeah." Zep grinned. "Trust me, doesn't taste a thing like it smells."

  "Sal?" Arctic pulled her aside. "You good without me for a bit?"

  "Yeah, why?"

  He sighed. "Flowers. I need to pick some flowers."

  Sal laughed and nodded. "Ok. You good with linking her in later?"

  "Yeah, I think with the flowers, she'll be fine with it. Cyno and Zep, Risk and Tilso, she trusts them already. She's touching me, and LT doesn't scare her. She wants to be a Blade, to pay you back, so I think she'll take the link."

  "Good. Soon as she links in, we'll put her in black."

  "Thank you," Arctic said, meaning it.

  "Go pick flowers," Sal told him, before moving across the room.

  "Rais?" Arctic gestured for the Captain to follow him. "I need a favor. Come outside with me for a moment?"

  "Sure. I'll be back, men."

  Together they left the building, pausing on the porch. Arctic took a long deep breath, then nodded. "Ok, just you."

  "You smell us too?"

  "Yeah. Always have," Arctic said as if it was a silly question. "Look, when you're back in the CFC, I need you to find someone for me."

  "I don't have that high of clearance. The 112th isn't the Blades."

  "No, it should be public record over there. This is just a personal favor. It has nothing to do with military, intelligence, strategy, politics. I just need to know a man's name. He did a favor for Sal a long time ago."

  "So you don't know his name and want me to find him? Thread in a haystack?" Rais asked.

  "Kinda, but it shouldn't be that hard. Six years ago, about a month after we did the mountain skirmish here in Unav? There was a specialist, maybe a corporal - I'm not positive of rank, but know he was a minor officer. He escorted a trade caravan from Merriton to Fort Landing. I'm not even sure if he's still alive."

  "You just want a list of names of people that fit?"

  Arctic nodded. "Yep. Sal doesn't know I'm trying to find him for her."

  "What'd he do that's worth searching for?"

  Arctic sighed. "He's the first person who gave her hope."

  Rais let his breath just fall out. "I don't get it, Arctic. I can't even imagine what it's like, but I can see it on all of you. I'll see if I can find something."

  "Thanks. You know how the idea of Terric conquering the Conglomerate makes you feel?"

  "Yeah."

  "Just imagine if they won, and you'd be close. That's what we all lived with."

  "I'll find it," Rais swore.

  Chapter 14

  Rais returned to the common room of the White Stone, alone, and the soldiers fell into an easy conversation. They reminisced, in the way that only those who've faced death together can. The rest of the elites slowly trickled in as their duties were complete, joining in seamlessly.

  "Hey, Sal," Lorenz, one of the men from the 112th said, leaning across the large table. "Anyone tell ya you broke Eason y
et?"

  "No?"

  Not even Blaz's dark skin could hide his blush. "Aw, man," he moaned.

  "Sorry, boss," Lorenz teased. "Have to tell her. Yeah, he has a thing for Nuvani it sounds like."

  Sal just shrugged. "Sounds kinda like he always has. Started with Jiesa."

  "Lieutenant Cymil? That Jiesa?" Lorenz sounded shocked.

  Sal nodded. "Yeah, she was Razor's cousin."

  Rais leaned forward. "She didn't really talk about that, Sal. Only a few of us knew. But that's why I asked for him, back in Myrosica."

  "Ah," Zep said, "Always wondered why they put him in the 112th and me with the Dogs."

  Rais just nodded. "Pig wanted either you or Arctic, and I asked for Razor. Ran chose you for the Dogs because they don't use snipers."

  The door to the White Stone opened again, and a group of soldiers in grey entered. They paused when they saw the blue uniforms, hands slipping to their waist until they recognized the faces. Tyr grinned as he headed over to sit across from Sal and next to Rais.

  "Hey? You seen Ryek?" Sal asked.

  "Yeah, he was up earlier. Want me to call him?"

  Sal nodded.

  "You got a job for him?" There was a hint of concern in his voice.

  Zep laughed. "Nah, nothing like that."

  It didn't take long before Ryek jogged into the hall. He looked around and spotted Sal's white head easily. Tyr waved him over while Zep tried to hide his amusement.

  "Kaisae," Ryek said when he reached them.

  She set a heavy bundle on the table. It was wrapped in blue cloth. "You're going to need to have sheaths made today," she said, pushing it across to him.

  Ryek looked at her, confused, then unwrapped the knives. "You need sheaths?"

  "Nah. I just know you have a fondness for those."

  "Getting out of the business?" he asked carefully.

  Sal smiled and laid her own pair of knives on the table. "No."

  He looked at the four steel blades, a smile slowly making its way to his face.

  Tyr's eyes were wide. "I will never see that much wealth in one place again. Damn. You could buy this entire inn for that."