"Who trains them?"
"That's what I'd like to speak with you about," I said. "They came from the Bulldog's group. One of those four is Ura, the troublemaker, as I said before. I don't think Jae and Wend received their training at the Bulldog's hand. I think Sherra taught them what she'd learned."
"That's remarkable," Father breathed. "I can't say that I've heard of such—that another trainee bothered to help her classmates. It could affect the lists, you know."
"I doubt the lists are foremost in Sherra's mind," I said.
"We haven't had an escort survive in two centuries," Drenn observed. Not only was he stating the obvious, it dampened Father's enthusiasm for the subject.
"There's something else," I said, pointedly ignoring my brother for a moment.
"What's that?" Father asked.
"There were no washouts in the Bulldog's cohort."
"None? That's unheard of," Drenn snapped.
"It's true," I said, toying with my empty beer glass. "All of them were able to form a sufficient shield."
"There are other trials to come," Drenn said. "We'll see if there are any washouts then."
"What about the Bulldog and her penchant for favoritism? I know you referred to it seven years ago, when you selected Grae from another cohort at the northern camp," Father said.
"It's still there, and perhaps worse than it was before, because it has gone unchecked."
"What do you want to do about it?"
"I want to wait and see how things turn out with Sherra in the group, helping the others. I'm interested to see whether there will be washouts at upcoming trials, or if the class will remain intact. Of course, the Bulldog could ruin my experiment, but I'll be watching carefully as things proceed. Ura will certainly be watched, as will the Bulldog's other pet, Veri."
"Do you have your eye on Sherra as your escort?" Drenn's voice was flat as he posed the question. He meant to get under my skin, one way or another.
I turned to him, then. "I want nothing to do with her death," I stated. "So the answer is no."
"P erhaps you should reconsider your decision," Hunter began as he and I rode toward the warrior's barracks after dinner.
"What decision?" I asked absently. I was weary and ready enough for my bed.
"Not to take Sherra as your escort. Neither I nor your father wish to see you return again, wounded in body and mind," Hunter informed me. "This girl—Sherra—may be able to protect you better than the others."
"Hmmph. I meant what I said, Hunt. This way, when she dies as they all do, it won't hurt so damn much."
"I see."
I wanted to shout at him—tell him that he didn't see. Couldn't see. Couldn't understand. He'd never set foot on a battlefield. Had never watched escort after escort die giving him everything they had to support him in his efforts to turn back an insatiable enemy.
He'd never carried a dead lover in his arms, knowing he'd had a hand in her death. I wanted to bellow that to anyone who could hear me. Instead, I hunched my shoulders and remained silent for the rest of our short trip.
Sherra
"How long have you been a warrior?" I asked Levi at breakfast the following morning.
He looked at Armon for a moment before answering. "Seventeen years. Armon came along three years later."
I wanted to ask how many escorts they'd had, but Armon's pain-filled eyes and furrowed brow warned against it.
"No morbid thoughts, trainee," Levi gruffed before concentrating on his plate of food.
He was right, but I was filled to the brim with morbid thoughts. How could I not be? When the worst came—as it surely would, I wished to be prepared.
K erok
She wanted to ask us about how many escorts died with us, but held it back, Armon's mindspeak interrupted my breakfast with two Colonels and Hunter.
Good. Let's hope she keeps holding it back, I said.
Most escorts had guessed eventually that there would be no sex with either Levi or Armon. Therefore, they often were accepted by the weakest or worst of the trainees. Levi had watched nine die; Armon seven.
"Something wrong?" Hunter asked. I suppose my eyes had unfocused for a moment.
"Just an update from Armon," I shrugged.
"I fully support your decision to demote Captain Merrin to Lieutenant," Colonel Kage said before taking an enormous bite from a piece of buttered bread. He'd been on the battlefield for years before coming to my father's city to train new warriors. The battlefield habit of consuming the most food in the least amount of time had never left him.
"You told him he was responsible for his actions in this?" Colonel Weren repeated a question from an earlier meeting.
"Yes. Ura was on a par with two others. Merrin asked me to select her over the others, to test her mettle. I have his original written request, which you have seen already. As you know, he promised to observe only. Instead, he has engaged in conversation many times, and none of it was official business or the answering of allowed questions."
"It wouldn't be the first time an officer had his eyes dazzled by a trainee," Kage pointed his fork at Weren. "Merrin's actions, however, have set him apart in this. He has flaunted his authority before, and don't say he hasn't."
"Who will be elevated to Captain?" Weren nodded and went back to his plate.
"Armon. He can mindspeak, and I find that more than helpful on the battlefield."
"Good enough," Kage said. "I support that decision."
"As do I," Weren agreed. "I will have the letter delivered to Merrin this afternoon. If he isn't expecting it, then he's a bigger fool that I already imagined."
"What will you have the trainees doing for two days?" Kage asked, changing the subject.
"Light drills. Some shielding practice. Armon and Levi already have those orders."
"I'd like to see the one you spoke of," Weren lifted his head so his eyes would meet mine.
"Then come tomorrow. She's still recovering, and I won't allow a testing until then."
"Fair enough."
"Be harsh when you word Merrin's demotion papers," I said, placing authority in my voice.
"Do not fear, Prince Thorn. It will be as you say."
Sherra
Armon and Levi snapped the drill as I and my fellow trainees marched and turned in a small formation. At least the commands weren't spoken as a belittlement, as they were from the Bulldog.
From the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Commander Kerok, Hunter and two other, older men who joined Levi on the side of our practice ground. Here, we marched on flat, smooth concrete instead of dry grass and sandy dirt. It made a difference in dust accumulation and the occasional sneeze.
Warrior trainees were being drilled not far away; I could hear someone shouting similar commands as they marched and turned.
It made me wonder what their lessons were like, and how they were taught to use their power.
Warriors didn't receive their tattoos until they successfully completed their training, and then something resembling a fireblast was tattooed on an upper arm. It was a verification that he had passed all tests and was capable of combating the enemy in the field.
"Keep up, Sherra," Levi snapped at me. I did as instructed quickly, chastising myself for allowing my thoughts to get in the way.
Stop thinking and let your body take over, Armon mindspoke. It knows what to do.
He was right. I shut down my thoughts and let body memory take me through the drills.
K erok
Sherra moves gracefully, even when she shifts to catch up, Hunter informed me in mindspeak.
I doubt she cares how she moves, I responded. How do you feel about Merrin's demotion? You're his uncle, after all. Hunter wasn't giving up on his mission to pair me with tall, slender Sherra.
And you're his cousin, Hunter retorted. Merrin's had it coming for a while, don't you think? The last time he got in trouble, he almost revealed your true status to warrior trainees. While his aunt, your Mother-Queen, was ali
ve, he liked to flaunt that, too. It isn't becoming to one of his rank.
Drenn will likely be upset about it—it's why I didn't bring it up last night. He and Merrin like to drink together and exchange horror stories about me, you know.
Drenn isn't in charge of the army, and neither is Merrin.
I snorted a laugh at Hunter's unspoken words.
"Would you like to see how the warrior trainees are doing?" Kage asked.
"Yes, Colonel, I would," I replied. Hunter and I turned to follow Kage and Weren away from the smaller practice ground.
Hunter left after a while, but I watched as trainee after trainee leveled blasts against a brick wall. So far, none had breached it. I didn't expect them too—they were early in their training; practice and focus would eventually hone the abilities of the best of them. Then, they'd learn finesse or they'd wash out.
"Would the Commander join us for lunch in the trainee's mess?" A Sergeant approached and dipped his head to me.
"The Commander would greatly enjoy that," I agreed.
"Fall out," the Sergeant turned smartly and shouted. "Corporal, march them to mess."
Kage, Weren, the Sergeant and I followed the troops, who marched together toward a welcome midday meal.
Sherra
At least Kerok and his companions didn't stay long to watch us. In such a small group, any mistake would be magnified. Mortification plagued me now, that I was the one shouted at during his presence.
I suppose that in the passage of time it would no longer matter, because I would die and be forgotten like so many others before me.
We marched in formation to the trainee's mess, and I was surprised to see that we had a small space set aside in the warrior trainee's mess.
Officers on duty barked at any who were curious enough to look up from their meal as we walked to the line to be served.
"Are those the warrior equivalent to drudges?" Wend whispered beside me as she stared at the men behind the serving line, waiting to assemble our plates of food.
"I don't know," I whispered back. "They don't have their wrists tattooed, like ours do."
"You could ask Levi," she replied as we moved closer. Ura had placed herself at the front of the line, which failed to surprise me. I watched as she took her tray and headed for the two tables reserved for us on one side of the large room.
This trainee's mess hall was built to hold many more than it currently did, and I imagined that the numbers of warriors could be dwindling, just as those of the escorts were.
"I'll ask Levi," I agreed absently. There was a larger problem staring us in the face here, and I surely couldn't be the only one to notice it.
Something wrong, trainee? Kerok's voice entered my mind. He was here, somewhere, I just hadn't seen him among the warrior trainees.
The numbers are down—here and in the escort camp, I said bluntly.
Sherra, I hope I don't have to order you to keep that to yourself, he gruffed back.
Do you think I want to frighten the others? I retorted. They have enough to be afraid of as it is.
Wise decision, he fired back. I still hadn't seen him and refused to look as I lifted my tray and strode to one of two tables set aside for us in the warrior's mess.
Ura, sitting at the other table on one end, was unnaturally silent. I wondered at that as Wend pushed the butter plate toward me.
"What's wrong with Ura?" Jae whispered from across the table.
"Huh?"
"She hasn't said more than a few words, today."
"I was grateful for the silence," Caral mumbled before stuffing a chunk of bread in her mouth.
"Why are Armon and Levi sitting at her table?" Neka whispered.
They were—I merely hadn't paid attention as yet, as my mindspoken conversation with Kerok had left me somewhat rattled.
"They usually sit with Sherra," Wend nodded. "At least the food is good—better than what we get at camp."
"This is the King's City. It doesn't surprise me that the rations are better," Jae pointed out.
"Commander Kerok is walking this way," Neka stuttered.
K erok
Shortly after my silent conversation with Sherra, a corporal delivered a private, written message to Kage. Kage read it swiftly, then passed it to me.
Colonel Kage, the message began, blood was found on Captain Merrin's sheets when a drudge came to make up his bed. I called the King's Diviner, who says it is virgin blood. He then tested the blood itself and has put a name to the woman—trainee Ura. He says Merrin stepped into the women's barracks and took her away with him, then returned her later. The Diviner is leaving this in your hands as to what you wish to report to the King. Please advise if you need further information—Corporal Carle.
Sit at Ura's table, I barked mentally at Armon. Levi, too, I added. We have trouble, and she and Merrin are at the bottom of it.
"Our letter will be revised," Kage stabbed a chunk of meat with his fork.
Fury clouded my mind and almost forced curses past my teeth. I had to wait while those feelings dissipated before I reported the note's contents to Hunter, who would pass them to the King at his earliest opportunity.
With Merrin involved, I sincerely hoped Drenn wouldn't weigh in on the matter, as it could show favoritism, when none was warranted or deserved.
Ura already had demerits. This would exact the worst punishment for her. Fucking hell entered my mind—Hunter had replied after taking a few moments to digest the information.
For Hunter to employ profanity meant he was disgusted and likely just as furious as I was.
Ura was a selfish, foolish brat, and Merrin knew better. Did he think to get away with this? Whether the blood was found now or later, Father's Diviner would have been called unless Merrin bothered to clean the sheets himself.
He could have found another woman to satisfy his needs—there were places for that sort of thing.
The rules regarding escort trainees were in place for a reason. Centuries in the past, escorts had allowed warriors they didn't like to be killed, so they could be with another. In my understanding, the laws were changed after several such incidents.
We'd already lost one trainee on this trip. Tossing the napkin on my plate, I stood and made my way toward Ura's table, where Levi and Armon waited for me.
Sherra
Kerok was clearly furious as he stopped beside Ura, who dropped her fork onto her plate and refused to meet his eyes.
Opposite me, Jae blinked in terror. All of us felt it, somehow; something had happened and trouble was coming.
"Commander," another man joined Kerok. "The Diviner wishes to speak with you in private." The man handed Kerok a note.
I watched as Ura lifted her head, then. Her face had gone quite pale as her eyes met mine. I'd never seen such a look of terror before. In that moment, all her petty jealousy had fled, and she was begging me with her eyes to help her.
I had no idea what she'd done, and, as a trainee, I had no authority to do anything for her.
"Armon, Levi," Kerok barked, "Take this trainee to the lock-up. Kage, take two others and place Merrin in custody. I'll meet with the Diviner at the palace." Kerok stepped, then, disappearing from the mess hall.
"Stand," Armon ordered Ura. She stood, visibly trembling.
Caral cursed under her breath—she understood this better than I did. I watched in horrified fascination as Ura was led from the mess hall by Armon and Levi, while the other—Kage—did as Kerok did and stepped toward his destination.
On the other side, all the warrior trainees had gone silent, leaving a hush that hung heavy in the air. The only sounds heard were the noises coming from the kitchen behind the serving line, where plates and pans were being washed and readied for the next meal.
K erok
Father looked gray. He'd already heard from his Chief Diviner, Barth, and Barth's words hadn't sat well with him. I hadn't heard the full story yet, however.
"Drenn was with Merrin last night," Father's l
abored sigh broke into my stunned silence. Barth stood nearby, his face a mask. He'd brought the previously unreported news to the King—that was obvious.
"I asked him to make the report himself," Father admitted. "I already knew Drenn was out with Merrin last night; I merely had no idea what they were up to."
"Fucking hell," I breathed, repeating Hunter's mindspoken curse. "Barth, was the girl forced or coerced?"
"Not forced, my Prince. She was willing, although an offer of protection was made by both Merrin and Drenn."
"Father?" I turned to him, then. If these acts were committed by any other culprits, the heaviest punishment would be levied. With the Crown Prince's involvement, it was up to the King to place judgment.
"Thorn, my heart is involved in this," Father said.
"What do you say, Barth?" I turned to the Diviner.
"I say that this should remain a matter between father and son, as far as the Prince's involvement goes. As for Merrin, he should take responsibility, as he was the one to do the stepping to get Drenn out of the palace to begin with, and to remove the girl from her barracks."
"Will you speak with Drenn, Father? Whatever Merrin's final punishment, he will be removed as Drenn's enabler." I didn't want Drenn to feign innocence in the matter or escape punishment, but that was Father's decision to make.
I also didn't want to take Drenn's place as Crown Prince. I was happier where I was, instead of being stifled inside a palace covered by a dome.
"I will speak with Drenn, and he will be placed under house arrest until such time as I deem he has been punished enough," Father said. He sounded defeated in this, as if Drenn's punishment was also a punishment to him.
It is, I told myself after a while. This deed would harm Father more than it would ever harm Drenn.
"What punishment for Merrin?" I asked.
"Banishment, after his power is burned out of him," Father mumbled before striding from the room.
Banishment. I couldn't say whether that was a lighter punishment than the swift death that Ura would receive. Where Merrin would end up, there was nothing, and no way for him to escape, once his power was removed.
The Rose Mark: Black Rose Sorceress, Book 1 Page 7