by K. F. Breene
“Is there anything I can get you?” The barman bent toward her expectantly.
“An ale would suit me well, thank you,” Shanti said, changing her mind, her face burning brighter.
“And for your friends?” He gestured around the table.
“Ales all around,” Shanti said.
“Of course, of course.” The man was away, still smiling.
“Usually when people recognize me, they immediately try to kill me.” Shanti tugged at her collar. “Couldn’t we have stayed in a less showy inn?”
“The captain wouldn’t have it, you know that.” Sanders leaned back.
“In answer to your question, I did visit the wounded, yes.”
“We got lucky.” Sanders sucked at his teeth for a moment, a wave of uncertainty rolling through. He shook his head, the only sign of his feelings. “They weren’t as prepared as usual. Xandre was relying too much on his mind power.”
“There is no sense rehashing what was,” Portolmous said. “There is only what will be.” He unconsciously rested his hand on his bandage. Arrow wounds were no fun.
“My brother, the poet.” Sonson looked up as the barman showed up with their ale, helped by a young barmaid. The cook appeared directly after them with a heaping plate.
“Thank you,” Shanti said as her stomach growled.
“You just let me know if there is anything else,” the man said, backing away. The cook hadn’t budged. “Would you come on?” He plucked at the cook’s sleeve. She yanked her arm away, but smiled and backed up. “Anything you need,” he said.
“This is starting to get uncomfortable,” Shanti muttered.
“Starting?” Sanders asked.
They stayed in Clintos for another week, forcing money on the inn for accommodating them. In that time, reports came in from different parts of the land where the revolt was going strong, regardless of losses. Each victory pushed others to fight harder for their own freedom. It also inspired communities to help each other, sharing resources. The land was crippled, but it was on the first step to recovery.
Cayan and Shanti led their combined people across the land, taking the fastest route. Those who were not yet able to ride were taken in wagons and seen to by the healers and Marc. With each new city, or each person passing them, they were greeted with smiles and nods. Some went as far as to give Shanti gifts. Only very few tried to hide a scowl and hurry along. Rohnan guessed that those types didn’t want to hope in case it all went bad again, but who was to say.
After a journey at a fast pace—though not fast enough for the Bastard, who kept trying to sprint at random moments—the land started to change around them. Trees became more plentiful. The air fresher. Shanti’s heart became fuller.
“Is this real?” she asked Cayan as they passed the first sentry, a Shadow with a giant smile on his face. He saluted them as they rode by.
“Is what real?” he asked, his eyes flicking away from her and into the trees.
“In all that time traveling to reach this spot, we didn’t see one living Graygual. Not one.”
“We thought that might be the case. They are likely running and hiding.”
“Now we’re home.” She looked at another sentry, who threw her a wave. “No more Xandre. He’s dead. No more tyrant trying to find me. No more impossible duty that drags at me. No more bleak future.”
“You still have a bleak future if you’re going to marry the captain,” Sanders called up. People chuckled.
“It doesn’t feel real.” Shanti patted her horse. “None of this feels real.”
“I am looking forward to the day when it does,” Rohnan said from behind her. “Very much so.”
The closed gate loomed up ahead, so familiar and inviting. Shanti felt like she was riding on air when they got up to it, and smiled like an idiot when it opened.
Rufus, Cayan’s assistant, was waiting for them, his clipboard in hand. “Good to see you home safe, sir.”
“Good to be home. How is the city?”
“Well kept, well kept. I have been working with Commander Sterling to keep everything on track. Production is as good as ever, and we have the extra Shadow covered. Also, I received this.”
Cayan took the note as Sterling hustled toward them, his eyes sparkling and an unexpected half-smile on his face. Cayan looked at Shanti and held out the note. “There was another group of your people who set out, right?”
Barely able to breathe, she took the note. They’d feared the third group had been lost, though they couldn’t be sure. She hadn’t grieved for them yet, but knew it would happen when it all sank in.
Her eyes dipped to the scrawl, too loopy and messy to be read.
“They are alive,” Cayan said, clearly seeing her frustration.
“What was that?” Kallon said, moving his horse closer.
“They were surrounded by Graygual, it seems, and couldn’t get free. But with the turn of control, the way is clear. They are headed to the Westwood Lands—here—hoping you will come back.”
“When did you get this?” Shanti asked, hand shaking.
“That came in a week ago, ma’am.” Rufus checked his notes, and then nodded up at her. “A week to the day. They were a ways west of here, so they may have had to steal horses and food along the way, which can delay travel.”
“He knows your people well,” Sanders said. He didn’t get any argument.
“This is definitely a dream,” Shanti said, folding the note and tucking it into her belt.
“Rufus, get everyone sorted. We have wounded to see to. Make sure the doctor makes space.” Cayan kicked his horse forward.
“Yes, sir,” Rufus said, hurrying away.
Cayan looked at her. “Shall we head home? Everything else can keep for the morning.”
24
“Shanti, do you have a minute?” Cayan asked as he walked down the lane toward her.
Shanti glanced away from Tanna, who was standing in the front yard only half dressed. An older man on the other side of the cobblestone street was on his third lap, walking up and down the street, staring all the while.
Cayan glanced at the problem briefly, but didn’t say anything. Two weeks in the city, and this was becoming a constant problem. The Shadow, who had a lackluster attitude toward nudity, had also started wandering around half-clothed, finding the locals’ reaction hilarious. Boas was the leader of the Shadow nudity campaign, of course.
“Just a moment,” she said to Cayan, who nodded and stopped a few feet away.
“This will help them with their prudishness problem,” Tanna said when she had Shanti’s attention again.
“No.” Shanti shook her head, at a loss. “Just no. Put clothes on. That old man over there isn’t walking for his health.”
“There you go. I am helping him maintain an active lifestyle.”
“Until his wife tries to kill you.”
“And that makes three good reasons. The wife will learn how to fight in order to kill me, thus she will gain confidence in herself and her abilities. Eventually, she might learn the glory of just being one with her body.”
“You can be one with your body inside of your clothing. You don’t have to wear a dress, but you do have to wear something.”
Tanna shook her head as Tilas, one of the Shumas they’d met up with before the battle with Xandre, walked toward them wearing a frilly dress. It stretched wide on his upper body, was bunched in the middle, and fell to his shins.
Shanti rubbed her temples. “What the fuck?”
“What’s wrong?” Tilas asked. He didn’t speak the language, but he could understand much of it.
“That’s women’s clothing, Tilas. Where did you get it?”
“It was on a clothesline. It gives my balls breathing room. Don’t worry, I asked before I borrowed it.”
“I am in trouble for no clothing, and he is in trouble for wearing clothing?” Tanna crossed her arms and shook her head. “Chosen—I mean Shanti, this will not do. You need a clear set of rules, or how will w
e ever expect to follow them?”
“What in the holy hell?” Sanders yelled from down the street. The old man, who was on another lap, caught sight of Sanders and picked up his pace, getting out of there.
“He can handle it,” Cayan said, taking Shanti’s hand. “He loves dealing with your people and their confusion over our customs.”
“They won’t understand each other,” Shanti said.
“He’ll get to yell louder, then.” Cayan smiled, his dimples enhancing his handsomeness.
Without a second thought, Shanti let him lead her away, hearing Sanders say, “Pardon the hell out of me, but where the hell are you going? Oh great, leave me with this.”
They left Sanders behind and walked down the street and through the large park, winding deeply into the trees. Here Cayan paused and stared down into her eyes.
“Do you remember this spot?” he asked.
She looked around, noted the area, and nodded. “The Honor Guard and I have trained throughout this park.”
“This is the spot where we first fought. You were sad at the time, and didn’t feel me coming upon you.”
She smiled, remembering. It had been a tough spot in her life, made a little easier by his presence.
“At the time, I asked you to let me help. To let me protect you.” He brushed her lips with his. “I would like to ask again, only this time, I’m asking to protect you for the rest of time. For as long as I live. I want to continue to be beside you, and care for you. I want to continue sparring with you until we’re so old we can only sit and try to hit each other with our canes. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
He held out a jewel-encrusted ring that was as decadent as it was beautiful. It would be a great weapon, easily able to gouge an eye should she punch someone in the face. He brought out a plain gold necklace next. “For when you fight, or don’t want to wear the ring, you can keep it around your neck. With your father’s.”
Emotion welled up in her. She stared into his brilliant blue eyes.
He stared back expectantly.
“I realize that this is a sort of ceremony we didn’t get to complete last time,” she said, “but I’m not sure what happens next.”
The dimples cut deeper grooves into his cheeks as his smile broadened. “You give your assent or refusal.”
“I have already told you yes.”
“Right.” He chuckled and fit the ring to her finger before putting the chain around her neck. “I never thought I’d have to think of these things when I got married, but the chain will rip off if someone tries to choke you with it. I know that was a concern. Also, I had two more rings made, in case you are wearing the ring around your neck, you do get choked, the ring goes flying, and you can’t find it after you kill your attacker.”
Her heart swelled. “You’ve thought of everything.”
“I wondered.” His smile fell. “If you wanted to try for children? I know it can be difficult—”
“Of course I do! I look forward to it.”
Cayan’s smile blotted out the sun. He kissed her soundly before lifting her up and twirling her around.
On their way out of the park, they kept a slow pace, prolonging the inevitable. Finally, however, they could put it off no longer when they reached the edge of the trees.
“So?” Eloise jammed her fists into her hips. The entire Women’s Circle waited behind her, some with smiles. “Did you tell her about her official duties?”
The captain stared down at the bold woman, his brow furrowed, with a tiny bit of fear leaking out into the air around him.
“Because she is in a leadership position now, don’t you forget.” Eloise raised a finger at him. Shanti could feel his small flinch. “Your mother left big shoes to fill. She would want Miss Shanti leading the way. Strong but feminine.”
“Or fierce,” one of the women said. “Let’s not force a square peg into a round hole, here. Strong and fierce and with a vagina.”
“There’s no need to get crass,” someone said.
“What about a dress from her land? Didn’t she wear one of those, once? That would count,” someone else said.
“I’m fine with nudity. I wouldn’t mind airing out once in a while…” another said.
Eloise’s lips thinned and she glanced behind her. After rolling her eyes, she stared Shanti down. “We will work something out, you and I. I can be reasonable.” Someone sniffed. Eloise stiffened, but didn’t look back. The struggle was evident. “We’ll talk.”
Cayan led her away, more quickly than normal. “I urge you to find a middle ground. She is meddlesome.”
“Meddlesome? Or do you mean terrifying?” Shanti laughed as she felt their follower. Arsen, who had been ecstatic she’d returned, had taken up following her around the city. She let him. One day, he’d be as good as Leilius.
“What is next on your to-do list?” Cayan asked her.
“I want to check on Alexa. She is the only one who hasn’t completely pulled through.”
“She is close, right?”
“Close. But not there yet.”
“I’ll accompany you,” he said.
The hospital walls were the same white as before, with a shining, equally white floor. In front of Alexa’s room waited most of the Honor Guard, including Alena, who had been with the second group of fighters, and had hated herself for it. Now she glued herself to their sides. The only one missing was Marc, who Shanti could feel inside the door.
Beyond them were Kallon and Tulous, it being their shift with the vigil. They nodded at her in greeting.
Xavier looked up, his face drawn and the bags under his eyes pronounced. “The doctor is in there with her,” he said.
“How is she?” Shanti put her hand on his shoulder.
“She has a fever. Marc wasn’t that worried, but the doctor is checking just to make sure.”
“Whoa, S’am, is that a ring?” Rachie leaned toward her. “That’s a big one.”
“It’s from the captain, you idiot.” Leilius elbowed him. He got an elbow back and winced, grabbing at his stomach.
“Does this mean you won’t be living in sin anymore?” Gracas winked before he noticed the captain’s stare. His face turned red and he looked at the ground.
Shanti ignored them and pushed into the room, with Cayan behind her. Rohnan glanced over from the corner, but remained silent, as did Marc, who stood behind her bed, letting the doctor take the lead.
The doctor sighed dramatically. “Another one. Can’t you people take a hint—she doesn’t need you crowding around her. Go back to somewhere where you’re wanted.”
“Another lovely day, doctor?” Shanti asked, looking at Alexa’s shining face, hot with fever.
“How is she?” Cayan asked.
“This will break, I have no doubt. She’s too stubborn to succumb. Then she can just rest. We have fluids going into her, we’re monitoring her—we just need peace and quiet to do our jobs…”
Marc tensed. He knew better than to talk to Cayan like that, but then, the doctor was special. He didn’t care about authority.
“Her people will want to remain close,” Cayan said in a tone that brooked no argument. “They stick together. Let them.”
“It’s not as if I could stop them,” the doctor said dryly. “I physically push them toward the door, and the next thing I know, I’m being carried out. I give them a stern talking to, and they laugh. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again—they are a barbaric sort of people.”
“I don’t remember you ever saying that, doctor.” Shanti grinned at him. “I think I would remember.”
“Well maybe not to your face…” The doctor stood, nodded at Marc, and walked from the room with a stiff back.
“He treats you as an equal,” Shanti said to Marc, feeling Alexa’s hot forehead.
“Yes. I have a job here now. I don’t have to train with you anymore.”
“Yes you do. Just as soon as everyone is on their feet, you’ll train. It’s good for
you.”
“Not when it always ends up hurting…”
At the very edges of her awareness, Shanti felt something that made a smile blossom on her face and tingle race down to her toes. Before she knew it, she was running as fast as she could. She could feel Rohnan and the other’s longing as she raced away, shoving out of the hospital doors and sprinting through the city. At the horse stalls, she ripped open the Bastard’s stall and reached in to grab him. He bit at her. She slapped his cheek.
After his consenting nod, she jumped onto his back and kicked her feet. Cayan was right behind her, having no trouble with his horse, as usual.
“Why didn’t we get a warning?” Cayan yelled as they thundered out of the gate.
“Because it is a wonderful surprise!” Shanti let the Bastard go as fast as he wanted to, zipping through the trees and leaving Cayan behind.
She saw them up ahead, the horde of Shumas atop what were probably stolen horses, a ragtag crew who’d been on a journey for far too long. When they felt her, they beamed and jumped from their animals. Shanti did the same, running at them as fast as she could. She jumped into their arms and cried, so thankful to finally see them again.
“What of the children?” someone asked.
More horses from the city thundered toward them. The other Shumas had felt the newcomers. “We’ve gotten word. They are safe. They all live. They are coming here. Coming home.”
The rest of the Shumas piled in then. Faces wet and words coming too fast, they hugged and laughed, so happy to be reunited again. Happy to be alive and finally, finally free.
If you liked the Warrior Chronicles, be sure to check out Fate of Perfection, a NEW action-packed thrill-ride by K.F. Breene. You can read an excerpt on the next page!
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Look for the BONUS epilogue of Overtaken.
Fate of Perfection by K.F. Breene
“LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEE IT! I was only a couple of chapters in and I was hooked!” Malia
