“They showed up early one morning, not unlike the Mugdock did the other day. We were long since ready. We had a Seer. She foresaw them coming. Also their numbers. We could not win. I lost the rest of my people two days later. I was ferreted out by my Chance. He was also my Sacrifice when they caught our trail. He stayed behind.”
“How long ago was this?” the Captain asked, leaning forward in his chair with his forearms resting against his thighs.
“A little over a year.”
“You were never captured?”
“You are the first.”
“And they want to finish their task? To wipe out the last of you? You being the last?”
Shanti met his gaze. “No. They want to breed me. They want to build an army out of me. Xandre, their leader, the Being Supreme, wants me for his own. He wants the next generation of super fighter to be of his seed. I thought that threat had ended with me gone. But now there is you. And you have learned to block me. You are also easier to breed. You make semen constantly. You can be drugged to give it willingly. They can impregnate a whole city with you and hope a few babies pop out with your Gift. Or, they can mix our bodies and have a better probability of success, though I am not sure if they know that.”
“What do you mean, better probability of success?” the Captain asked gruffly.
“My people did not procreate well because like talent has a better chance of producing offspring with like talent. Two Warring Gifts would have about a fifty percent easier time producing an offspring than a Warring Gift and a…Sadna Hasneas. Um…Empathic, I think is your word. Empathic Gift. A Gifted and non-Gifted would have an even worse chance still. The offspring might have some Gift, but not always. Until now I knew nobody with a like Gift. Now, together we are extremely dangerous, both to current military and future military. We should both be killed. But there might be others. Now I’m not sure. Maybe the Graygual already have some? Maybe there are stronger Gifts than mine, or yours. Maybe the breeding is already taking place? Who’s to say?”
“Well, I guess that means war is coming, and we’ll be on the side with a hard road,” Sanders said with his head in his hands. “I wish I stayed in bed today.”
“Did they take any of your people?” the Captain asked quietly.
“Yes. A few. Twenty or so.”
“To…breed?”
“Disgusting,” Sanders spat, pacing.
“I believe so,” Shanti replied with a straight face.
“So there is a chance another you—us…another one of us is already created.”
“No. They expired.”
“What’s that?”
Shanti rubbed her temples. “They were taken. They would have been raped repeatedly. Because they were unable to do it themselves, I killed them. I would rather not go over the specifics right now. I need to sleep.”
“You killed your own people?” Sanders stopped and stared with a gaping mouth.
“You didn’t try to save them, first?” Cayan asked in a sympathetic voice, but with an edge.
Hot tears rolled down her face. “Yes, and yes. The enemy had a city of fighters larger than your city of civilians. I got close, but I couldn’t get them out. So I killed them. They begged it of me, and I complied. Please leave. I don’t have the strength to make you.”
The Captain stood and nodded for Sanders to leave. “Wait for me.”
Sanders wasted no time. He was through the door as if the room were on fire.
In the silence the Captain neared. He approached her slowly, reading her face. “What of the children? You still have people waiting for you, don’t you? Hoping you will succeed? Where are you going? Let me help.”
Tears were still rolling. She felt the brush of his mind on hers, trying to reestablish that link they’d shared in his bedroom. Trying to get in and form a deeper connection. She closed up tight, locking herself in.
He put his hand on her bare arm. His power seeped into her skin, lighting her on fire. So much power. It was flash boiling her blood. He poked at her barriers gently, seeking a way in, searching for a chink in the armor. His eyes glowed as they looked down on her, blue like the sky. Dark rimmed like thunderclouds rolling through.
“There is no one else. They are all gone,” Shanti whispered.
“Then how can you reunite them?”
Good question. He was too smart for his own good.
“What of the children?” he asked again.
“Why do you care?”
“Because I am of the Old Blood. Like you. Procreation was always hard with my family, too, on my mother’s side. The gifts, as you call them, are carried with the mother. I know the history. You know the use. Together we are more powerful than each of us alone. We stand a better chance.”
“I am at war with the Graygual. You are not. If I were you, I would hide. They are… you stand no chance. For your people’s sake, hide.”
“I think we both know it is too late for that. As you say, we have wealth—we have extremely fertile lands and are well managed. This Inkna was behind the Mugdock attack. They were dressed as Mugdock. They have been poking around our mines, our leather factories—they were getting a good look. War is coming, and I do not bend my knee. We are on your side.”
“You are on your side. I am alone.”
The Captain withdrew his hand, his mind lingering. “As I said, I do not bend my knee. Not even to visually arresting outcasts. You will see it my way in the end. You will eventually need a friend, and then you will realize I am that friend.”
“I need a bed buddy and you don’t fit that role, so I’m good without you. Except, uh…for that other thing. Thank you. For that.”
“For what, exactly?” His eyes were twinkling so hard they belonged on a dance floor as a sparkly ball. Or in Rachie’s room, where she’d seen it. Cayan definitely knew what for.
Shanti cleared her throat. She hated saying she was wrong, she hated saying she was sorry, and she hated having to tell this egotistical ass that she was thankful he saved her life against overwhelming odds. Still, honor dictated that it be done. “For, uh, coming for me. On the battlefield. I would not have made it out without you. So, thanks.”
He looked at her with gravity, his eyes still sparkling, but grounded. “You’re welcome.”
She nodded. He continued to try and lock eyes.
“Okay,” she said, too tired to play at holding the intense gaze—she’d hoped that would get easier. “Now get out.”
“I like it better when you’re vulnerable.” The Captain took a step back.
“Liar. It makes you nervous. You aren’t as good at blocking as you think you are.”
A grin ghosted Cayan’s lips, his dimples making a brief appearance. When he got to the door he stopped for a brief second, his hand on the shiny knob. “Who was this man that turned you down?”
“Why? Going to give him a pat on the back?”
The Captain turned his face to her, his eyes burning into her for a second. He did the equivalent of flicking her in the head. It was a weird sensation, bouncing off her block and tingling her skin. A second later, with a half-smile this time, he was out the door and gone.
The Captain strode past Sanders, not slowing to let the other man catch up. “Do you know why I needed you in there?”
Sanders had no fucking idea, but he wished he’d left that girl by the tree where he found her.
“You have never balked at the fact that she can fight,” the Captain went on. “You have always taken her at face value. You see a dangerous person, while the others see a woman playing with knives. I need the other two commanders on board with this—I need a unified front—and we all need what is in Shanti’s head, me most of all. I need you to help me turn them to my way of thinking.”
“You’ve never had a problem with that before.”
“We’ve never had a situation that confronts our prejudices. All our problems have been within the realm of war. They don’t see that this is, too.”
“She
has been nothing but disruptive to my life,” Sanders growled.
“Just think what war will be when we meet it unprepared.”
Sanders blew out a breath. That was true. He hated when the Captain used logic.
They walked a while in silence before the Captain said, “Sorry about the… other thing. That was meant for me, I believe. I am not telling you your business, but there is no need to relay that to…anyone else. I would prefer that stayed under the hat.”
“The other thing? You mean the invisible hand on my bells and whistle? Yeah, I don’t need anyone knowing that shit. Sir.”
The Captain nodded once.
They continued out the door and back to business. Sanders couldn’t help wondering how much this strange woman was going to mess up their way of life.
Chapter XXIII
SHANTI WAS ON A BLUFF above the tent on the edge of the fighting camp. They had taken Simon and left his twin sister Simone in the holding cell. Now they marched him toward a tent at the edge of the huge camp, to one of the higher-level battle commanders who waited outside to receive him.
Simon had his hands tied in front of him and four guards surrounded him. His mind-power was weak and his fighting only decent. It was why they had been able to take him. It was also why only four men could hold him.
“The man you requested, Battle Lord.”
“Yes, thank you. Pass it down that the women aren’t to be touched. The Supreme Being doesn’t want any man’s seed in them but those appointed. Anyone who breaks that rule will be killed slowly and painfully on full display.”
“Yes, Battle Lord.”
The filth gestured to Simon. “Tie him to the bed inside. Make sure he cannot inflict harm. The rest can be distributed. I only require this one.”
“Yes, Battle Lord.”
Shanti closed her eyes as Simon was led out of her sight, into the tent.
Shanti could free him. She could kill the man about to do this thing and take Simon right now. Maybe Simone, too. But she couldn’t get to the rest. They were within the clusters of fighters, spread around. The men would be used like Simon. The girls were being herded to a tent with guards, keeping the others away. She would reveal herself, cause a giant manhunt, and probably eventually get captured herself. She could kill herself, though. She could free herself from a life of rape and torture. She would also kill the hope of all of her people with her, leaving these few to the same existence they faced right now without her help.
Shanti touched Simon’s mind. Gave him a nudge.
She felt his awareness. Then his surprise. Finally…his desire for death.
She spread out her mind, found each of her people. Did the same. And with each, felt the same. Even the women—they knew their fate. They were safe now, but not for long. They couldn’t end it themselves; they needed her.
That’s when she felt it. Simon—his horror. His fear. His grossly intimate abuse.
Something snapped.
Bowing her head, not caring if this was the end, she latched on to each and every mind belonging to her people. So different than the beastly brain patterns of their captors. She focused on them, feeling that two others were going through the same treatment as Simon. They were suffering. She felt it.
With one blast of pure, intense power, she fried them. It took more energy, but it was quicker. Less painful. Most fell dead immediately. The three strongest fell into the pain, not allowing themselves to scream, until finally succumbing to it.
Simon went limp on the crate, his face clearing.
Barely able to stand, sobs choking her, knowing she had just killed people she had known all her life, she fled. Stumbled and ran. Nearly blind, no strength, she made herself keep going. Legs catching on brambles. Dogs barking, chasing her. Men shouting. She had to keep going.
Had to keep going.
“It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
Shanti thrashed at the arms, crying out, struggling away. Her face was pressed against a chest with no give. The arms that held her were like giant bands of cable. She lashed out mentally and splintered on a hard block. Cayan.
“Sssshhhhh. I’ve got you. You’re safe.” His rough voice calmed her. Reassuring.
She drifted back into dreamless sleep. If only keeping going wasn’t so painful.
Chapter XXIV
THE GROUND COOLED SLOWLY AS the sizzling sun disappeared entirely from the sky. The electrifying colors of dusk settled into the blues and blacks of night, cloaking the land and hiding its mysteries. Somewhere within the large park Leilius roamed, looking for Shanti, skulking behind trees and blending into bushes, cloaked in black and trying to become the darkness. He was great at hiding, but not so great at moving silently. It was a work in progress.
Five days after the battle, Shanti was recovering yet again, still in the Captain’s city. Cayan had offered her a place as long as she wanted. When she was ready to go, he offered her any help he could provide. And while she was thankful, because she needed to heal again, she wasn’t exactly comfortable. She felt the pull of the East, the urge to continue with her duty and move the war effort along. Not only that, but she had dragged his people into her struggle. He and his commanders were starting to think of the overall picture now, having an idea of what was coming, and already choosing a side. That was good, obviously, but they were such a small nation—Shanti couldn’t help but think she had made a grave mistake by not killing him. He’d be taken, and he’d be used. And right now, there wasn’t a damn thing she could do to stop it.
So here she sat, trying to block out the pressure of her duty, her mistakes and failures, and keeping her mind completely closed so Leilius wouldn’t have a chance to sneak up on her. It was amazing, and more than a little frustrating, how mangled her plans had become in the space of a month.
As night settled, she heard stomping to her right. It was loud enough to be a massive land animal. If that was Leilius, he would get his ass kicked, no two ways about it.
“Tasha, wait.” A male’s voice rang through the clearing. Commanding. Controlling, more like.
“Tasha!”
A pretty young woman stomped into view with tears rolling down her face. She had a look of determination intermixed with fear. Behind her stepped a man the usual height for this land, but he was lean for these people. There was a confidence in his bearing that said he could hold his own, but wasn’t an excellent fighter. Dirty fighter, perhaps. Punched people when they weren’t looking.
He grabbed the young woman’s arm and swung her to face him. She collided with his chest, her arms coming up immediately to push away.
“I just want to talk,” he said gruffly. By the way his body loomed over hers, and the way his hips slightly protruded, that was horseshit.
The fear in the girl’s body said she thought the same thing.
“No. I don’t want to. I’m not ready.” She had tears in her voice. “Please.”
He grabbed her with both hands. “You can’t lead me on and then walk away, Tasha. That’s not how this works. What am I supposed to do…” He shook her a little, pulling her back toward the trees.
Boy-oh-boy did he pick the wrong time to step into Shanti’s life. With her nightmares waking her up screaming three nights out of four, she was not in the mood to witness any more social injustices.
Shanti stood up silently and walked closer slowly, trying to control herself before she jumped into this altercation. Because she would absolutely be jumping in. In this city, based on its rules, no woman should be manhandled. It was like roughing up an Empathic in her village. Or someone not engaged in the fighting arts, man or woman. The strong didn’t pick on the weak.
“No, Tommas. Please…” the girl begged.
“Oh, hello,” Shanti said casually, walking into a spot of moonlight in the small clearing.
Tommas startled but held on, not letting go of his prize. Tasha stayed mute, mouth closed tight. Her eyes said help, but they also revealed guilt. Possibly she had been making out with hi
m in the trees and he tried to go too far. Didn’t make it right, but this woman was too young, or too entrenched in social customs, to know that.
“What do you want, bitch?” Tommas asked with a snarl. “Can’t you see I’m having a private moment with my girlfriend?”
“Ah yes, bitch. I don’t love that word, myself. Passive aggressive. I much prefer cunt if you are looking to make a point. Much more vulgar, don’t you agree? Widens people’s eyes. Regardless, I wanted to know if I can assist in any way? It seems there is need of a mediator.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“You seem to be having a dispute. I thought I might be able to solve the situation logically. As an impartial third party, of course.”
“Fuck off, you stupid cunt!”
“Oh, lovely. Two of my favorites in the same sentence. I just love the word fuck. It’s very similar to flak, in my homeland. You can hear the similarities. The meaning is slightly different, however. Flak is more of ‘everything good in the world suddenly going wrong’. Turning to shit, you might say. Fuck seems to be more sexually based, however loosely. But oh the things you can do with it, am I right?”
Tommas just stared. He had no idea what she was talking about, what was going on, and why his vehemence wasn’t scaring her off. She used this distraction to move ever closer, lackadaisically getting into range so that she could get Tasha away and then have some sport with Tommas.
“For example,” Shanti continued. “You can use it as an action: I am going to fuck you sideways and call you Martha. Or as a thing: you are a dumb fuck. Or as—“
“What the fu—what do you want?” Tommas spat.
“It is certainly used more often when angry, yes. I have noticed that.” Shanti was a step away now, her feet light on the ground, in predator mood.
FIERCE: Sixteen Authors of Fantasy Page 41