Without a Front: The Warrior's Challenge (Chronicles of Alsea Book 3)

by Fletcher DeLancey

  With a crisp motion she snapped her arm in, the sword now pointing straight up, and brought her other hand onto the grip. “Raiz Salomen Opah,” she said, “I stand before you with a clear heart and an honorable name. Though I am primarily sworn to Andira Shaldone Tal, Lancer of Alsea”—this wasn’t exactly true yet, but it would be—“my heart is free to serve another of my choosing. I wish to serve you, in any capacity I am able. I place my strength between you and harm, my sword between you and your enemies, and my last breath between you and death. This I swear in Fahla’s name. I am Fianna Londin Vellmar, Lead Guard of the Lancer, and I ask this gift of you: Will you accept my service?”

  She released one hand from the grip, let the sword fall to a horizontal position, and caught the flat of the blade on her palm. Dropping to one knee, she offered the sword to Raiz Opah. A moment later it was plucked from her grasp, and she heard the sshunk of the blade being retracted.

  “Please stand, Fianna Londin Vellmar.”

  She stood and looked into the face of her new oath holder.

  Opah handed the grip back to her and said, “You offer me a sword extended, and I return it to you sheathed. I accept the gift of your service with a glad heart, and trust that you will stand between me and harm. Should your last breath be expended in my defense, I swear to you that your name will be honored to the utmost of my ability, and the flames from your pyre will reach the stars themselves.” A sudden smile appeared. “But I really hope that won’t be necessary.”

  Vellmar smiled back at the unorthodox addition to the words of acceptance. “Thank you,” she said. Holding the grip in one hand, she brought her other fist to her chest and bowed her head in the salute given all oath holders save one. Tomorrow she would give a different salute.

  “I think this requires a drink, don’t you?” Opah said. “That was my very first acceptance. I need to celebrate the fact that I remembered all the words.” She turned toward the kitchen.

  Vellmar stared at the sword grip with hungry eyes, loathe to give it up, but Lancer Tal appeared in front of her and held out her hand.

  “That was a loan, Vellmar, not a gift.”

  “I know.” She handed it over. “It’s gorgeous. Thank you for allowing me to use it.”

  “You’re welcome.” The Lancer looked over the grip fondly. “I’ve had it since I was barely out of training. Cost me two moons’ wages at a time when I could least afford it.”

  “It would cost more than that now. I tried to buy one from Yulsintoh last cycle—thought my promotion into the Koneza unit might be enough for me to afford it.” Vellmar shook her head. “I’m willing to give up a lot for a good sword, but not that much.”

  “Really? What is he charging now?”

  “Twelve thousand cinteks for a sword without gemstones.”

  “Twelve thousand? It’s good to know he’s making a fine living, but at those rates, only collectors can afford his swords!”

  “Because you carry this one. Ironic, isn’t it?”

  Lancer Tal scowled. “Not in a good way. I may have to give him a call.”

  They were interrupted by the arrival of their spirits. “Give who a call?” Opah asked.

  “The crafter who made my sword. He’s upped his prices to the level of gouging. A warrior would need family money to afford him now, and that rubs me the wrong way.”

  “What can you do about it? That’s the way the market works.”

  Vellmar watched in fascination as an almost feral smile settled on the Lancer’s lips. “I can inform him that unless he makes his swords available to those who need them most, I’ll be carrying another maker’s sword at my bonding ceremony.” She lifted her glass in a salute. “The market works both ways.”

  “Take note, Lead Guard Vellmar,” said Opah. “Do not cross her.”

  “It never occurred to me,” said Vellmar truthfully.

  CHAPTER 26:

  Oath of service

  Tal watched proudly as Salomen accepted the oath of her last Guard on the floor of the Council chamber. Though she had uttered the words of acceptance nine times already, she made this one sound as fresh and sincere as the first. When the Guard saluted her and returned to the ranks, Tal found it impossible to keep the smile off her face. There was her tyree, standing in front of ten warriors and looking every bit the Bondlancer, despite having been so nervous this morning that she felt sick to her stomach. But she had performed the ceremony perfectly.

  Because her status had not yet been announced, these oaths were not being made publicly. The only witnesses in the tiers were Tal’s own Guards—now including Vellmar, who had sworn her oath before Salomen’s ceremony. They were going about things rather backward, but there hadn’t been time to do it the normal way. As it was, Tal was surprised they had managed to get Salomen’s Guards fully trained before word about her true status had leaked out. Miltorin would make the formal announcement tomorrow, and Salomen would officially be the future Bondlancer of Alsea.

  Which might be another reason for her bout of nervous stomach this morning, Tal realized.

  Of course, a third and very likely reason was their failure to locate Herot the previous night. They had managed to search most of southern Argolis, but by night-three, all of them were swaying from exhaustion. Tal and Vellmar had wanted to continue, but Salomen refused, saying that she knew she had to be the one to do it. They sent Vellmar back to her quarters and tumbled into bed for barely three hanticks of sleep. Getting up for this oath ceremony was torture; she was definitely past the age when one or two hanticks of sleep were enough.

  But seeing Salomen in front of her Guards made it all worth it. It was hard to believe that it had been only one nineday since the assassination attempt. Nine days ago, Salomen had still been afraid of their Sharing. Now she looked as if she were born to the title.

  “More than that, I am honored to accept your oaths.” Salomen was wrapping up her speech. “Every one of you has an impeccable record and an honorable name. Each of you was handpicked by Colonel Micah and the Lancer herself.” Her stern expression gave way to a smile. “And believe me, they have very exacting standards. You represent the best of your caste, and I have no hesitation in trusting my safety to your skills. I am proud to have such a unit serving me.”

  She looked over at Tal, who took her cue. Joining Salomen in front of the unit, she said, “Tomorrow the State House will formally announce Raiz Opah’s status as my promised bondmate. The bonding ceremony is planned for the twenty-third of Rosslin, but between now and then, she will still be a private citizen. Unfortunately, there will be those who do not see it that way, particularly in the media. Unless Raiz Opah informs you otherwise, you are charged with protecting her privacy along with her person.” She paused, surveying the unit. They looked sharp and professional in their dress uniforms.

  They had better be, she thought, and began their most important instruction.

  “Recent events have demonstrated that the danger associated with my title cannot be overstated. That same danger can sometimes apply to the title of Bondlancer. I knew and accepted the risk to myself as a price to be paid for the honor of serving Alsea. But Raiz Opah never pursued her title. She never wanted the loss of anonymity or the risk that came with it. I am grateful beyond expression for the love she bears me, because it is the only thing that could have induced her to accept the role she must now play.”

  She and Micah had agreed that Salomen’s Guards did not need to know their oath holder was tyree. Not yet, anyway. Though they were sworn to her service, they were also an entirely new unit. The potential for betrayal was there despite all efforts to choose the best. Tal would revisit the decision when the unit was more seasoned—or when the news got out on its own, she thought ruefully. In the meantime, she needed to impress upon them the importance of their charge without telling them exactly why.

&
nbsp; “As you are now sworn to the service of Raiz Opah, I will share with you a truth that very few know,” she continued. “Nine days ago, she nearly lost her life in the assassination attempt on me. The assassin was too far away to identify his target and took a wide shot instead. Though he did not know it, he was targeting Raiz Opah.”

  The Guards glanced at each other, their surprise obvious.

  “She stands here as my future bondmate despite having already experienced the danger associated with my title. I believe that is all anyone needs to know about her courage. And now I charge you with a single, overriding duty. You all swore it in your oath, but the oath of service is ancient and has lost much of its original meaning. Not for you. You swore to stand between her and harm. You swore to give your last breath in her defense. You are warriors!” She raised her voice on the last word, and every Guard in the unit stood a little straighter. “You are defending the most courageous woman I have ever known. You are guarding the most valuable life on Alsea. There is no duty more important than the one you bear. Do you understand?” she shouted.

  “Yes!” they shouted back.

  “Who do you serve?”

  “Salomen Opah!”

  “What do you serve?”

  “Alsea!”

  “To whom do you swear?”

  “Fahla!” they roared. “For Fahla and Alsea! For Salomen Opah!”

  Their voices rang in the empty chamber, and Tal let the echoes settle before saying, “Then do your duty, and earn your honor.” She looked at a dazed Salomen. “Raiz Opah? Do you require your Guards for anything else this morning?”

  To her credit, Salomen showed no outward sign of her emotion as she faced her unit. “You do me great honor,” she said clearly. “Thank you. Except for those now on active duty, you are dismissed for a well-earned morning off. Those on duty today will have a free morning tomorrow.”

  As one they saluted her, turned, and walked out of the chamber, talking excitedly among themselves. After such a high-intensity training, a free morning was a welcome reward indeed.

  Of those on duty, one would join the Lancer’s Guards in front of the hallway to their personal quarters. Once Salomen had her own office, that would be guarded as well. She could move freely as long as she was in the State House or on Blacksun Base, but the moment she stepped outside this building or off the base boundary, she would be accompanied by at least one of her Guards. Salomen would never be alone in public again, and Tal knew better than anyone on the planet just what that meant. It was a high price to pay for love.

  As her own Guards climbed down from the tiers, she leaned toward Salomen. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “Accepting this.” She gestured toward her Guards. “I remember a morning in your field when you told me they frightened you.”

  Salomen watched them approach. “I remember that, too. I told you I wanted someone who understood responsibility, stability, and tradition.” She shifted her gaze to Tal. “I found her.”

  Tal would have given much for the chance to kiss her then, but with the Guards waiting for acknowledgment she had to settle for a brief brush of their fingers. “Ready to find Herot?”

  “Are you going to tell them about what happens to our hands, or are you going to let them have the fright of their lives like Vellmar?”

  Tal pretended to think. “I was leaning toward the ‘fright of their lives’ idea.”

  “I thought as much.” Beneath Salomen’s light words, her anxiety was all too apparent. “All right. Let’s find my brother.”

  CHAPTER 27:

  Group Sharing

  In all his life, Micah never imagined himself standing guard over a group Sharing. Even if he had, he would never have imagined that Sharing to include Tal, her tyree, and almost the entire Lancer’s Guard. When Tal proposed it right after the oath ceremony, he wondered if someone had slipped something into her food. But Vellmar spoke up, explaining what she had experienced the night before, and after that no Guard wanted to be left out.

  They moved to the training room on the ground floor of the State House, where there was sufficient open space and privacy. Micah called in First Pilot Thornlan to help him stand guard, since every other member of Tal’s Guard was either asleep in off-duty rotation or in the room with Tal and Salomen. He and Thornlan stood on opposite sides of the entrance, at the back of the observation deck overlooking the training floor. It gave them a perfect view.

  The first two attempts failed. The traditional formation of a group Sharing—two lines of people forming behind the primary connectors—did not provide a sufficiently cohesive experience. Not only that, but the combined power of the Guards overwhelmed Salomen’s ability to focus. At Tal’s suggestion, they reformed into a huddle, with Tal and Salomen at the center and the Guards circling them in ever-widening rings. Vellmar theorized that the key might be having each individual touching the necks of two others, so they shifted around until they worked out the right geometry.

  “Now remember,” Tal called. “Focus on me, not Salomen. I’ll channel it to her. And don’t try to search actively. Salomen knows Herot’s emotional pattern; our job is to support her and increase her range.”

  “Do her Guards know she’s a stronger empath than they are?” Varsi asked. All of the Guards had been understandably astonished to learn of Salomen’s talent.

  “No,” Salomen answered, “and I’d like to keep it that way for now. A Bondlancer has to have some secrets, you know.”

  Laughter rippled through the group. “We’ll never tell,” said Gehrain. “But we want to be there when they find out.”

  “Deal,” Salomen said. “Are we ready?”

  After the general affirmative, Tal and Salomen made their connection—and this time it succeeded. Micah couldn’t sense what they were feeling, but he heard a gasp from every single Guard in the huddle.

  “Fahla!”

  “Great shekking…”

  “Goddess above…”

  The whispers filled the room, and Micah was envious. He knew he was serving Tal better by guarding all of them than he could inside that huddle, but damn, he wished he could see what was causing all of these experienced warriors to show such open astonishment.

  Then his own jaw dropped. Tal had warned them about it, but for the love of Fahla, she just said their hands would glow!

  “Mother of us all,” murmured Thornlan, and Micah nodded in speechless agreement.

  Tal and Salomen were enveloped in a shifting aura of gold, so bright that he found himself squinting. He couldn’t even look at their hands; it was like looking directly at the sun. They were radiating a frightening power, but inside that brilliant glow they stood serenely, eyes closed and faces relaxed.

  Surely they must feel that, he thought. With that much energy pouring through their bodies, how could they not? But they seemed not to notice the light crackling between them.

  A hantick later, he was musing on the fact that a person could get used to just about anything. Nothing more had happened; Tal and Salomen were still standing calmly in a curtain of fire. But they had been standing there long enough that Micah had already come to see it as merely extraordinary rather than shocking. He’d enjoyed watching the other Guards make their own discoveries, though. It was easy to tell when they opened their eyes because of the sudden involuntary jerk of their bodies. But to their credit, not a single one of them broke the connection.

  His wristcom vibrated, and a voice spoke into his ear.

  “Colonel Micah, this is Colonel Razine. Lancer Tal’s com code is locked out on a privacy setting. Do you know where she is?”

  He tapped his earcuff and spoke quietly. “In the State House. I’m with her.”

  “I need to speak with her immediately. I’m outside her office now.”

  “Is th
is critical?”

  “Yes.”

  The very lack of detail said it all. “Understood. She’ll be there in three ticks.” He tapped out of the call and punched a breakthrough code into his wristcom. A moment later Tal lifted her head, looking at Salomen for a moment before slowly bringing her hands away. The brilliant glow vanished, and Micah breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Lancer Tal, you’re needed in your office right away,” he called.

  Tal nodded. “Take a break, everyone. You deserve it after that. And thank you—we’ve now eliminated all of Argolis and the northern coast of Pallea. I wasn’t sure we’d make it across the ocean, but at this point I think we may be able to reach all the way to Last Port.”

  A murmur of agreement followed her as she made her way through the huddle and trotted up the stairs to Micah. “What is it?”

  “Colonel Razine is waiting outside your office. She says it’s critical.”

  “Let’s hope that for once, ‘critical’ means ‘important in a good way.’” Tal went out the door.

  CHAPTER 28:

  Traitor

  Colonel Razine waited until they were inside Tal’s office, with the door shut and the security lock engaged, before she shared her news.

  “It worked,” she said.

  For a moment Tal thought they had found Herot. Then she realized. “Salir called our traitor?”