by Auryn Hadley
Claiming the spot on the wall beside her, Jase dared to slip his fingers between hers. Slowly, his thumb stroked the tender skin against her wrist, out of sight from the rest of the base. It wasn't much, but she'd missed him and missed being so close to him. She turned to think something to him when the entire line of Viraenovans stopped. Sal jerked her head back.
"Unes edst e Kaisae? Sahna sussa aitae kai," a lean woman called out. Sal clearly understood the words. Where is the Kaisae? We need her assistance.
"Here," Sal called back, stepping toward her.
"Laetus, Kaisae," the soldier said, dropping her gaze as she offered her hand.
Sal reached up and touched it.
The woman's mental voice flowed into her mind. The Kaeen said the base is full. I am to take the rest of the maagra to find our own encampment. We have supplies, but it would be kind if you can have the Ahnor attend us there. She glanced at Jase, and her smile turned sweet.
Sal growled and pinned her ears. The woman's head snapped back, but for a moment she met Sal's eyes. None of the other soldiers acknowledged them. Just as Sal's lip began to rise, the woman dropped her eyes.
I did not intend offense, Kaisae. Your mate is attractive. I apologize.
Jase stepped closer, brushing his hand against Sal's. "Sturmgren's just behind us. I'll get orders."
"Thanks, killer."
Do na worry, I will na touch her. Then again, yer kinda cute when you're jealous. Flashing her an impish smile, he turned for the General.
No, Sal thought, stopping him. Touch her first so you can find them. Sal shot the Viraenovan soldier a warning look and stepped back.
Jase offered his hand. The soldier glanced at Sal quickly and just brushed his palm with her fingertips.
We will be on the west side. My name is Ynta Noyko. I am the commander of the second division, she told them before turning in her saddle and yelling a few words to the soldiers behind her. Fluidly, the line turned and moved out, cantering out of sight.
"At ease, Devil Dogs, and thank you," Sal said once they were gone. "You were perfect."
They relaxed, and a few laughed awkwardly. Most of the men muttered between themselves.
"What was that about, Sal?" the girl from the bath, Rayna, asked.
"Dominance, basically, and some politics. They're nuvani, not iliri, but like us, they are matriarchal. Guys, that means you don't get to flirt with the soldiers unless you want them to pull a blade on you. Whatever you all do, do not touch them unless they offer it."
Pig pushed his horse forward. "Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir!"
Then he leaned toward her and dropped his voice. "Lieutenant, would you be willing to advise my men if they need it?"
"Any Blade will." She pointed to her neck and glanced at Zep. "There's a lot of ladies out there, and they're soldiers, just like us. You want to figure out how to get their attention and not cause an international incident? Ask one of us."
"They bite," Zep said loud enough to be heard. A few men chuckled, but he shook his head. "I'm not kidding, guys. If they're anything like iliri, they'll bite the fuck out of you. If you aren't into that, stick with humans."
Sal saw Rayna look from him to her but didn't acknowledge it, turning to the General instead. "Sir? Can you have Cyno assigned to the nuvani camp for the duration of their stay? Corporal Wyra will be translating for the Kaeen."
His mouth opened, then paused. "Kaeen?"
She nodded. "Their ruler, the first woman I spoke with."
"Sal - Yeah, Cyno, you're good, take what you need. Sal, I'm going to need a full brief. Something clear enough I can take to Parliament."
"I'm free now, sir, and Kaeen Tseri Janoyc wants to start negotiations in the morning. She'll speak with Anglia tonight since she greeted us first."
"How are you going to explain away the silent conversation?" Pig asked, not caring that he'd just barged into her conversation with the General. "There were a whole bunch of soldiers watching you and that woman stare at each other."
Sal shrugged. "I guess humans are going to have to learn that we're not just small white versions of you. Maybe you'll even figure out that we can do a few things better, but I won't hold my breath."
"Don't," Pig told her. "You'd suffocate before the CFC would admit a scrubber could do anything better than a human. Good thing I learned from one of the best." With a smile, he ducked his head and ordered his soldiers to return to the stables.
Chapter 22
Sal spent the rest of the afternoon with the General, listing the nuances of the nuvani culture. She'd asked Roo to attend, to clarify anything she missed, which meant that Marnia was in heaven with the two pups wrestling around their feet. Sal had already purged her brain of everything she thought would be relevant when Rhyx interrupted them by tackling the General's ankle.
"Rhyx, rraz!" Sal said sternly.
The pup rolled on her back, looking up at Sal. "I orry, amma."
"Get up, little one," Sal told her, "but you don't jump on the General. He outranks even dava Blaec, ok?"
"Even oo, amma?"
"Yes, Rhyx. Me too."
The pup looked up at Ran, her eyes big. Behind them, Raast pulled herself into Marnia's lap to hide in her arms.
"Umso, sir." Rhyx held her ears to her head and kept her tail tucked close to her body. Ran glanced at Sal, confused.
"She submits, sir. It's respectful."
"I forgive you, little one," he said, scrawling on his page. "And thank you for showing me something we missed. What's the word?" He looked at the pup for the answer.
Rhyx's ears flicked forward, and she reached up for the desk to see the page. Ran easily lifted her into his lap and pulled the paper closer. Sal was surprised at how comfortable he seemed with the child.
"Umso," Rhyx said, looking between the General's face and his notes. "At's na writin'," she told him.
Roo whuffed, and Sal rubbed her hand across her face, but Ran just smiled at the pup. "Ok, here." He pulled out a fresh piece of paper and set it before her. Next, he passed Rhyx a pen. "Show me writing, then."
Rhyx nodded and scrawled a large symbol on the page. Beside it, she made another. "Rhyx," she said pointing at the first one, then "Raast." When he nodded, she began drawing again, speaking as she did so. "Den oo make de story, and oo have to go like dis." She made a production of scrawling Iliran across the page.
"That's beautiful," Marnia said looking over.
"She's still only got a few words," Sal explained, "and no colors yet, but I'm very proud of how fast they're learning. In just a week, their Glish has improved so much, and their Iliran isn't far behind."
"Colors?" Marnia looked confused.
"Show her your tattoos, Sal," Ran suggested. "Marnia's never seen anything like that."
Sal unbuttoned her shirt, the ever-present tank beneath, and pulled it off one arm. "Names of my family and our history is in white. Bigger events are colored for what they felt like. The words are the facts; the colors are the emotions. The language is read along the stream." Sal pointed to a long swirling line and then to a shorter one beside it. "Some things take more words to say, others are quick."
Marnia nodded. "It's lovely, Sal. And this one?" she pointed to her own neck.
"My family name." Sal chuckled. "It's pronounced Black Blades in Glish."
The girl grinned, evidently understanding the implications in her words. "Thanks." Then she looked at Roo. "I mean it. I'm serving as the General's aid, but I just finished studying archeology at the University of Prin. I'm hoping to get in on the papers that, well, I think it was you all that brought them back."
"Ah," Sal said. "The crates? Paper almost like resin? Yeah, that was us."
Marnia nodded. "I'm hoping to do some field work later, and I was told that interning with the military was a good way to help that along. I guess we get military escorts we need to deal with or something. Anyway, that's why I'm such a sucker for all of this."
"She got me," R
an explained, "when she said she wanted to know where the iliri came from. Blaec had just sent the first letter about 'iliri ancestors' to my desk. Most humans dismiss your kind, but the more we know, the better, right? Figured I could try her out."
Sal chuckled. "Yeah, and if you approve of her, she'll have an inside line to the best envoys. Makes sense." She turned to Marnia. "Thanks. When the translation is finished, is there any way for us to get a copy?"
"It'll be years, Sal. I'd be happy to, but it will be a long time."
Sal shrugged. "Anything helps. We're winging it, too. If you have free time, I'll see if I can get a nuvani to speak with you."
The girl sat up. "Really? That would be amazing. Thank you!"
General Sturmgren gently set Rhyx back on the floor and stood. "It's dinner time for me, ladies, and I'm sure Sal hasn't had anything either. Marnia, if you'd close up the office? We'll be back here in the morning."
"Yes, sir," Marnia said.
"Sal, I'm meeting with a few Representatives tonight. I'll see if I can get you in on the alliance stuff. If not, I'm pretty sure either Anglia or Viraenova will demand it, so look sharp tomorrow?"
Sal stood and saluted lazily. "Yes, sir. Does this mean I'm off duty for the night then?"
"Yeah. Unless we need you, but you know how that is. Have a good evening, soldier, and thank you for pulling our asses out of this mess."
He nodded, and they began to break up. The pups chased the General down the stairs. The old man encouraged them, scampering outside the building into the grass, just to tackle Raast with his hands, tickling her belly. Rhyx growled and darted at him a few times, wagging her tail to be sure he knew she was only playing. Sal and Roo called the girls back so the General could get on with his business, and together they made their way toward the barracks, Roo staying with the Shields just outside the compound gates on the other side.
"I miss you girls, you know that?" Sal asked.
They both nodded at her, Rhyx reaching up to be held. Sal complied and hugged the pup to her. Like her mother, Raast trotted along beside her.
"Kid looks like you," a snide voice called out, and Sal sighed.
"Fuck off, Erol," Raj hissed. "Get inside, I'll catch up. That's an order."
"You ain't a scrubber lover all of a sudden are ya?" Erol asked.
"No! I just want to know what Trax is in for, and she's the one that'll know. Now shut it, before she does."
Erol chuckled, not realizing Sal could hear them, and jokingly smacked the guy on his other side. They moved away. Sal, however, waited quietly.
"Your kids?" Raj asked when he got closer.
"Yeah." She wasn't exactly in the mood to be friendly. "Don't fuck with them, Raj. I'm serious. Roo may not enjoy fighting, but she'll rip you to shreds, and the pups will help."
On cue, Rhyx raised her lips in a snarl and let out a baby growl.
"Hush, Rhyx," Sal whispered.
"They're cute," Raj said, shrugging off the kid's threat. "I said I owe ya one. I wanted to let you know I owe you two, now. Sturmgren pulled me in his office this afternoon before Viraenova showed up."
Sal stared at him blankly, offering nothing.
"Wyra's bunked with the Viraenovans. That was my suggestion." He sighed, and looked down. Roo whuffed at his unintentional show of submission. "Look, I ain't a scrubber lover or anything, but I owe ya. I'm hoping Wyra will pay back some of the first, ok?"
"Ok," Sal said. "Then thanks."
"I'm not done," he said, looking up again. "Trax is pissed at me now, too. He had me running laps this evening, but Erol and Tine asked me to help them with their orders. They thought I might be interested."
"What orders?"
"You're gonna get jacked again, Sal. I'm guessing tonight, but I'm not sure. They know where you are, and they're asking for the right room. Rumor has it, one of the ladies in the Devil Dogs is going to try to get your brother..." He looked at the pups. "Uh, get friendly, with - "
Sal laughed. "They're grauori. They know about mating. So Rayna's trying to fuck Zep. Gotcha."
Raj's head snapped between her and the pups. "Seriously? Aren't they kinda young for that?"
"They were born from a battle wound. Iliri and grauori get maast. They know about sex and murder. For our kind, they go together. We don’t have the same hang-ups you humans do."
"Yeah. That's just weird. Ok. Look. All I'm saying is don't let your guard down. Talk to Rayna, or whatever."
Sal shifted Rhyx to her other hip. "Why are you telling me this?"
Raj dragged a hand across his mouth, delaying his answer. "This ain't what elites are about, Sal. We're supposed to fight them - you know, the enemy - not each other. I don't love iliri, but I don't hate you either. I just wish you'd stop making me look like a fool out there, ya know? I can't be that fast, and there's nothing I can do to be as good as you."
Sal shrugged. "Zep's human. Your excuse is gone."
"Seriously?"
"He was born pure human. We can't find a trace of iliri back at least twenty generations. He's more human than you by breeding. Mentally, he's iliri, and we claim him. So yeah. Think faster. That's all there is to it."
"K. Yeah. Shit, you'll regret saying that in a second." He sighed yet again. "I'll be there when they do it, Sal. If I'm not, I'll get court-martialed. Trax gave me the drugs, told me to slip them to you, but he's saying he'll report me for it if I don't play by the rules. His rules, he means."
The man smelled like nothing but truth and remorse. "What changed, Raj? Why are you telling me this?"
"I told you, Sal. That first time? I thought it was funny. You'd scream, you'd cry, and we'd untie you, making sure you knew we could overpower you. Figured you'd put up one hell of a fight, but learn how to play well with others. That's all it was supposed to be."
"Yeah. Guess no one told you iliri can't cry."
"What?"
She slowly shook her head, making the point. "Nope. Doesn't work. No more than Roo and the pups. Our eyes will weep only when there's something in them, but not for emotion."
"Yeah. Didn't know that."
"And most female conscripts aren't that worried about being raped. After about the tenth time, we learn how to deal with it."
His head snapped up. "Are you fucking serious?"
"Yeah. I am. I fuck men to kill them, Raj. It's not exactly something I'm going to melt down over. I'm pissed you got the poison in me. I'm pissed that I didn't smell it."
"I don't get you, Sal. Anyone else would've tried to kill me, not dropped the charges and then helped me deal with the Captain."
"Ris iliri," Roo said. "Sal ris na ooman."
"What does her species have to do with it?" Raj asked.
"A lot," Sal told him. "Because no matter how well we fit into your society, we're not humans. We just fake it well enough to make you apes shut up. Tell Erol or Tine to steal a kiss from one of the Viraenova soldiers and you'll see what I mean."
Raj chuckled. "May have to try that. Too bad almost all the ladies are at the camp. But seriously. I give you my word, Sal. I'll be there, but I'm not gonna do shit, ok? Knock me out or something? I just don't need a court-martial. I've disobeyed orders too many times pulling our asses out and have a few marks against me. I'll get hung."
Rhyx began to squirm, trying to pull away. Since Raj was being decent enough, Sal bent and placed her on the ground while trying to think of a way to make this work. She didn't want to harm the man, not after he'd made an effort to warn her. Knocking him unconscious was probably the best option.
"Toucha," Rhyx said, working hard to pronounce the word properly, and holding her hand up to Raj. "Touch!"
Sal and Roo looked at each other quickly, but Raj squatted down before the pup and held out his hand. Rhyx grabbed it. A second later, she whimpered. Her tail went limp and her ears sagged low on her head, then she released Raj's hand.
Amma? the pup asked into Sal's head.
Yeah, Rhyx?
He does na wanna
. He is scared. Someone did mean things.
Can you show me, little one? Sal asked, squatting. Like amma Roo showed you. Think it, wrap it up, and give it to my head?
Rhyx dropped to her rump in the grass, her little paws held before her. She rubbed them together almost as if washing her hands or crumpling paper, then huffed out a heavy breath. Sal felt the pup trying to give her the memory so reached out, guiding Rhyx's mental hands. A bright flame began to grow in the front of her mind.
"Give me a second, Raj," Sal said as she pried open the packaged thought.
Flashes of pain jumped at her, the memory from Raj's perspective. He'd been sedated and beaten with sheathed swords. The resulting bruises looked like those from training, but much deeper. Sal saw Drago demand Raj put the iliri in her place, and the vial of liquid he put in Raj's hand. She caught broken fragments of Raj speaking with his unit-mates, Erol and Tine, and the men explaining to him how Sal wouldn't live through this one. As the burning faded, Sal rubbed at her eyes.
"Good job, Rhyx. Push harder next time, and you'll do it on your own, ok?" Rhyx nodded, her tongue hanging from her mouth as she grinned at the compliment. "Roo, can you take the girls home? I'm not sure they're safe in the Conglomerate right now."
Yeah. What do we need to do?
"Nothing, Roo. I got this. Tell Hwa to sleep lightly, ok? I'll yell if I need you." Roo nodded and pushed the pups ahead of her. Sal waited until they were away before turning back to Raj. "Ok, you got your wish. Rhyx snagged a few of your memories. I believe you."
"Thought you couldn't read minds?"
Sal crossed her arms and glared at the guy. "I can't. I can change my appearance, but I can't read minds. Evidently, Rhyx can, and she shared your memories with me."
The man's mouth was hanging open. "That's fucking amazing. She's just a kid?"
"No. She's a grauori pup. They don't have childhoods like you'd expect. She'll be in the ranks by the time she's two and able to take you down well before then. But that's not the point. I saw it, Raj. The vial, the chat with Erol and Tine, and the nighttime visit."
