by Auryn Hadley
"Yeah, I'm still pissed they ruined my afterglow. That's why we were linked."
Blaec laughed harder. "Damn, ok. That's funny shit." He wiped at his eyes. "No, they didn't mention that."
Zep chuckled. "Nah, they're just jealous because I'm so well hung. Funniest part? Not a damned one of them looked at anything below Sal's teeth. Shit like that makes me realize how not human I am. She's ripping a man's throat out, and I'm checking out her ass." Zep grinned. "So just open up your mind and stop breaking her heart. When you get your head out of your ass, let me know. I'll show you the rest of the shit you're missing."
"I'm not letting you in my room while I make love to my girl, Zep. Not gonna happen."
"That isn't the part you're missing, dumb-ass. You keep thinking of her as a human, but she doesn't love that way. Seriously."
"I know," Blaec admitted. "I do know, Zep, but I can't. I can't let her in my mind."
Zep shook his head. "What the hell could be so important that you don't want to share it with her?"
"The future," Blaec whispered.
Chapter 39
Sal pushed the flap aside and stepped into Dominik's tent, nodding to Ricown and Caein as she made her way to the small seating area. Tseri Janoyc and her mates reclined, each sipping at a glass. Dominik turned to her.
"Sal, did you know that our friends here speak fluent Glish?" he asked by way of greeting.
Sal sank into a chair. "No, but can't say I'm shocked either. A wise ruler never gives up all her secrets."
Tseri grinned, and Dom laughed. "Dare I ask what you're still hiding then?" he teased.
"Nope. You know how touchy I am about these things," she joked. "Rragri coming?"
"Yeah. She said not to wait for her. One of her gerus got out of line, it sounds like," Dom said.
Sal nodded. "Gotcha. So, welcome to Anglia, Tseri. I didn't catch your mates names."
"My Ahnor is Syed Laako, and my Dernor is Daest Islay," Tseri introduced them. Both men dropped their eyes and murmured a respectful greeting.
"They are well trained, Kaeen, and respectful. You must be proud," Sal said politely.
"They are loyal," Tseri beamed at them, "and not nearly so submissive in private." The men glanced at each other and grinned. "I sadly can not claim either as cessivi, though," she said, giving Sal a pointed look. "I am not that strong."
Sal studied Tseri for a long moment. "I didn't realize that strength of mind had anything to do with it."
Tseri shrugged. "It is both strength of mind and of heart. Few have both. Even fewer can find another who claims the same and is a good match. You are lucky, Sal."
"I really am, but I'm sure you didn't ride all the way over here to talk about our lovers."
Dom chuckled, watching both ladies. "Maybe not, but I find it fascinating. Makes me a little glad to be human, I think."
Syed shook his head. "Being claimed and accepting it is not the same as being weak. King Jens, our people love deeply. I think if you could understand, you would change your mind."
Dom glanced at the wall, staring blankly for a second. "Ahnor, I can't claim to have loved at all, so I have to believe you. I keep hoping the right woman will find me, but they're more interested in what's on my head than inside it."
The Dernor smiled. "Sire, you are not so different then, if you are hoping for a woman to find you." He looked at Tseri fondly. "They do tend to come along at the strangest times and when you least expect it."
"I hope you're right, my friend, and I hope that the three of you will call me Dom, or Dominik. I'm rarely amused by the political dancing done by my kind. I find Sal's direct approach much more appealing. So, why are you here?"
Tseri actually laughed. "Dom, we wanted to talk about the Conglomerate. Sal, you are right. Anglians are good humans."
Behind them, Jase slipped in the tent. His focus wasn't on Sal, but the group of nuvani. When the conversation paused, he walked to Sal's side and kissed her head gently, then turned to Tseri and dropped his eyes. "Laetus, Kaeen. Ahnor, Dernor."
"Tseri, I hope you remember my Ahnor, Jassant Cynortas?" Sal asked.
"Jase," he corrected, then turned to the men beside her. "Sal said ya had come with yer mate. If Tseri is like my cessivi, she likely does na need ya at her side. Yer welcome ta stay, but we got some other things here that are more fun. I'd be happy ta show ya around."
The men looked at each other and shrugged. Tseri chuckled. "Go on. See their camp, spar, look at the human women. You can smell as well as I do that these are true friends. There's no better time to learn to relax with them." Her mates shared a look, probably conferring with each other, then the Ahnor kissed her gently on the lips. When he stood, her Dernor leaned over to kiss her head before the pair moved toward Jase.
"Love?" Sal said over her shoulder. "Zep's free, but Blaec's with the army setting up for the Dogs."
"Gotcha. Nice ta see ya in a more relaxed setting, Tseri." He smiled at the Kaeen politely before inviting the Viraenovans to follow him.
"They're gonna start so much trouble," Tseri muttered at the canvas flap.
Dom nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah, can't wait until they meet Zep. That's going to be an interesting conversation."
"Your Taunor?" Tseri asked.
Sal shook her head. "No, sadly. My human iliri."
Tseri's eyes widened, and she leaned forward. "How?"
"I don't know," Sal admitted. "He was born human but always had a fondness for our kind. Ten years ago, his unit - now my family - began to convert to iliri soldiers, but he stayed, learning to use his mind and teaching us how to link humans in the process. Now, he feels more iliri than," Sal gestured behind her, "Ricown there." She shrugged. "I can't explain it, but he is iliri, even if he tastes and smells like a human."
Tseri's head tilted to the side as she tried to wrap her mind around that. "Now that is interesting. Do you know how much you just said?"
Sal let a smile show. "We're allies. I see no reason to hide this from you."
"Well I'm lost," Dom admitted.
Tseri glanced over to the King. "Sal just told me that Anglia accepts all people equally and judges them on their mind, not their body. She also let me know that you have advancements that let you bring humans into the link." She flashed a smile at Sal, "Plus a few more personal things."
"Not all of us can link, though," Dom grumbled.
"I'm sorry Dom," Sal told him, "but we'll get you linked."
"I know Sal. I just feel like I'm the only kid here without a piece of candy is all." He sighed, then changed the subject. "Tseri, I have about fifty thousand humans and roughly nine million grauori, plus a handful of iliri. I also have the Black Blades." Dom kicked his feet on the arm of Sal's chair, sipping at his liquor.
Tseri stretched out on the short couch and held her glass out to Dom for a refill. "I only have roughly one million soldiers, but all are nuvani, like your Black Blades. I would rather not use more than half of them."
Sal tucked herself into her own chair, gesturing for one of the guards to bring her a bottle of mead. "Terric has two million total, most are conscripts from Unav, Gallicor, and Escea - and poorly trained, if trained at all. We think between one-eighth and a quarter of them will defect to us. Those who have are tested by the grauori before acceptance." Sal poured her drink, setting the bottle at her feet. "He's spread out across that long front line, though."
Ricown spoke up from the door. "Need a map, Sal?"
"Yeah, thanks. Grab another bottle for Dom and Tseri?"
Ricown retrieved the map from the table, and a bottle of brandy from the crate beneath it, passing it to Tseri. He unrolled the map on the floor, chuckling as he looked around. "It's times like this that I'm proud to be Anglian. Best damned military meeting ever. Let me know when you're ready for dinner and we can get you Grauoran cooking."
"Thanks, Rico," Sal said, looking up at him. He returned to his seat while Sal sipped again, pointing. "He's halfway across Gallicor, which
is how he managed to hit us up in Anglia. The border between Escea and the CFC is highly contested, so he's holding at least a hundred thousand over there. They keep throwing elites at him, breaking the line, so he's taking heavy losses. Only the western tip of Unav is even in play anymore."
Tseri nodded, her eyes following where Sal pointed. "So what is your plan?"
"Unav is my main concern, Tseri. There's a high Iliran population there, or was. If Myrosica joins us, we can have them push up into Gallicor. Nothing but humans up there, and it'll make things easier. The Gallicor front is weak, but I would leave grauori in Anglia, just to cover our flank. The Conglomerate will not fall, and they may even push Escea back - with or without a treaty between us. They have no other choice."
"Ah," Tseri said. "So that is why you care so little about their willingness to sign. I had wondered."
"Yeah. If we push on Unav, it allows the CFC to focus on their east. I would prefer to put Viraenova between Unav and the Conglomerate."
"Why?" Dom asked.
Tseri smiled at him. "I see you are not the military advisor."
Dom shook his head emphatically. "Oh no. Rragri, Ilija, and Sal keep me in line. I play politics."
"Well," Tseri said, swinging her feet down as she leaned toward the map. "This line, between Unav and the Conglomerate, is open to attack from the back. With Sal's recent actions, the Conglomerate may decide their pride is hurt more than their nation and push on you. With us, they will try to beg for a treaty, and, what is the term, Sal?"
"Kiss your ass? I think that's the one you're looking for?"
Tseri nodded. "Yes. I like the mental image. The Conglomerate has long tried to impress us but has had little success. If we move there, and you move here," Tseri gestured, "and Myrosica moves here," she gestured again, "then we leave Terric no way out."
"Not only that, Dom," Sal added, "But we'd be fighting in conquered lands. That means possible rebel assistance all over, and the populace will be rooting for us. Only Escea allied with Terric by choice. We leave the CFC to deal with that mess. Now, once we get to here," Sal pointed at the mountain ridge. "Everything changes."
Tseri nodded. "Escea will push us, and Terric will get scared."
"Here's the thing, Tseri," Sal said, swinging her feet down. "The metal everyone is crying for? It's here, here, here, here and here."
Tseri shrugged, looking up at Sal. "I do not care for metal. That is not why we are here."
"I know," Sal assured her, "but they know it's there. They're going to fight like beasts to guard it. But it actually is a treasure. Each one is a history vault. The metal matters little. I'm not even sure we could work it in the form it’s in. But the knowledge in there? It's priceless."
The Kaeen's head snapped up. "What is it?"
"Histories of a time before the Landing. The flashes we got from the Archduke showed things that I can't even begin to understand. Jase said much of it is a strange type of Glish. I'm not saying we're fighting for these deposits. I just think that we need to be sure that if and when we admit to their locations, we make sure archaeologists and professors are the ones that we send to them, not miners and metal smiths."
"And you agree to this?" Tseri asked Dominik.
"Why wouldn't I?" he asked, refilling his glass.
"Humans seem to love metal," she pointed out.
Dom chuckled. "I think you said it very well in there today. Our wealth lies in our people, not in metal. Oh sure, I can see where metal would help. I see how deadly Sal is with those steel blades of hers, as an example, but they're all isolated examples."
Sal nodded. "The CFC also has a few kilos stored in Prin. A year ago, or so, we organized an effort to break Terric's attempt to bribe most of the continent. Crates of metal ingots were intercepted on their way to other nations. They still have it. Back then, they said they'd be handing it out to the military - and trust me, steel is better than resin when it comes to weapons - but I haven't seen anyone wielding it besides me."
Tseri nodded and leaned back. "Well, that was easy enough." She laughed, patting Dom's leg and holding out her glass with the other hand. "I think I like this new alliance we have."
Dom refilled her drink, then gestured to Sal with the base of the bottle. "Blame her and her pack. They blindsided us, changing everything."
Tseri smiled knowingly. "Not at all what I expected from a human, so maybe you will help me?" Then she looked over to Sal. "Your brother wishes to be Viraenovan, not Anglian, but this law doesn't allow it."
Sal waved that away. "Sure it does. Just takes a little more work. Dom, you ok with an oath of fealty given through the link?"
He shrugged. "I am if you are."
"Then I'll have Reko swear to Anglia, make him one of my citizens, and release him. If you really want him, that is, Tseri."
The Kaeen chuckled. "It's actually my daughter that wants him, and our population would be thrilled to find another purebred, even if he's not a Kaisae."
"Just the brother to one," Sal said. "Which will make our nations even closer if there are family ties binding us together, right?"
"Exactly."
Dom scrubbed at his face. "And here I was hoping to move away from that whole marriage for leadership thing, and you iliri are all messing it up." He smiled under his hand to prove he was only joking. "Just like everything else, right? Sal, you know even our exports grew while you were here?"
Sal shook her head. "I don't even know what that means, Dom."
"Anglia's selling as much stuff as the Conglomerate, girl. That's what it means. Hey Tseri, want to add some trade agreements into that alliance?"
Tseri laughed. "Sure. Might as well." Getting comfortable, she stretched and sighed on the couch like a cat, her eyes constricting to slits as she looked at Dom. "Sounds like my boys are having a good time with hers," she waved her hand in Sal's direction, "so I'm going to be here a while. Sal, let's teach you something about tariffs, ok?"
Sal just begged the Shields to bring her another bottle. Ricown complied, a grin on his face.
"Dom," he said, passing over the mead, "you're starting to act like them, I think. When you end up growling, we'll have to find a human to replace you."
Dom grabbed a small pillow that had fallen to the floor and threw it at him.
Chapter 40
On the other side of camp, Tseri's mates were laughing as they sparred with the common soldiers. The men fought differently from anything Jase had ever seen, but it was efficient. It was also beautiful, looking more like dancing than the hacking and slashing he was used to. Human and grauori alike had lined up to see what talents they claimed. Keeping an eye on the whole thing, Jase and Zep reclined on one of the tables scattered around the communal areas.
"Can I ask you a question, man?" Zep said quietly.
The little assassin didn't bother looking away from the Viraenovans. "Figured ya'd have a few," Jase said. "I take it ya do na want ta be overheard?"
"Basically. Look, I just wanna know what's up between us."
Jase nodded, leaning his arms on his knees. "Sal ya mean?"
"No," Zep clarified. "Between us. We good little brother?"
"Yeh. I do na have Risk's tastes if that's what yer wond'ring."
Zep cast a quick glance over and shrugged. "Yes and no. Look, we've always been good, right? We got enough shit between us, I don't think we need to worry?"
Jase nodded slowly, wondering where Zep was going.
"Thing is, man, I like this. Not sure if I'm supposed to say that to you is all." He laughed awkwardly and shook his head before resting it in his hands. "Like I said, I'm out of my depth here. As a human, it gets weird if I said something like that. Even kinky shit like we've been doing? It's ok, you just don't talk about it, ya know?"
Jase slowly looked at the man he thought of as his closest friend. "I'm still na human, bro."
"Yeh, that's why I'm asking."
"Ya have na asked yet."
The big guy chuckled under his
breath. "Fuck off, man. I'm working up to it." Jase nodded and looked back at his feet, so Zep tried again. "Is it wrong that I like having you with us? I mean, sometimes I'm sure I'll want her to myself and all, but there's something about the three of us, ya know?"
"Yeh," Jase agreed. "It works. It's na wrong. Tseri keeps hers in the same bed."
Zep's head tilted like a confused iliri. "Always?"
Jase nodded, still looking at the ground. "Yeh. It is na a thing ta be ashamed of fer them." He made a motion with his hand, tilting it left, then right. "She rolls left ta choose one, and rolls ta the right ta choose the other. It's just how it is." Slowly he looked at Zep from the corner of his eye. "She looks good on ya, though."
Zep shifted his gaze back to the fighters. "I know what you mean. You two look like you're made for each other. Weirdest shit? I'm not jealous about it, ya know?"
"That's na weird. Na ta me. Besides, how can ya be jealous when ya feel what she gives back?"
"Is that what it is?"
Jase lifted a shoulder and let it drop. "Look, ya know I did na ask Sal before I hit ya with that, right?"
"Nope. Figured she knew."
"Nah. If it was up ta her, she'd ask ya first. That's just how she is." Jase snuck another glance at his friend. "But I know ya, man. Yer na like LT. Ya really want this. Ya want more than fuckin' her."
"He's scared of her," Zep said, meaning Blaec. "I talked to him today. She's stronger than him, and she isn't slowing down any, and he doesn't know how to handle it. Freaks him out. He's having enough trouble with her taking charge. If he didn't love her so much, they'd be challenging each other."
"Yeh," Jase whispered. "He's a dumb-ass at times. Good Kaisor, but he's got a lot ta work out."
"Fuck, Cyno. I got a lot of shit to work out," Zep said. "LT? He's just got to learn to trust her."
Jase refused to explain. Blaec's stories were his own. Instead, he changed the subject slightly. "She's going ta him tonight. Ya know that, right?"
Zep quickly looked over. "I wasn't sure. How'd you know?"
