by Auryn Hadley
"So what's the chance of it happening again?" Rayna asked.
"The next night, when we defected? Yeah. They met me in my tent. Last night was Blaec, but they worked something out. Zep's staying with us now."
Rayna's mouth dropped open. "And they're not being all freaked out by each other?"
Sal shook her head. "Zep's human, which is the weird part. Iliri don't do that. I mean, look at Tseri's men. They all share a bed. The men even do, as friends, when she's out. They aren't doing each other, they just bond. Zep's doing the same thing. Each time we link, they get closer, and those two were thick before."
"Ok, that's actually shocking. Wouldn't have expected that," Rayna said.
"Jase saved Zep's life, Zep saved Jase's. There's a few more things between them, like Zep helped Jase learn Glish, and such. They've always called each other big brother and little brother." Sal chewed at her lip. "Maybe that's why it works?"
"Maybe," Ranya agreed. "So how do you sleep, and I mean the resting kind, with two men?"
"Diagonally," Sal laughed. "No, usually my head on Zep, because he's just a mountain in the bed, and then Jase against my back. The size difference - " Sal giggled. "And I mean chests. It actually helps."
Rayna was grinning. "Jase is a little shit. I mean, you are too, and Zep's like a damned bear. Dark and light, tall and short, quick and strong. Sal, you couldn't have picked them any different if you tried!"
"I know!" Sal gasped. "I'm really enjoying it, Ray. Jase is, too. I don't have to worry about ignoring them, or anything like that - and even last night? They stayed up late talking and drinking. No one told me about this."
"But you're iliri?"
Sal waved that off. "Raised as a slave. I was bought when I was about six months old. Never knew my parents. Reko found some stuff in records, and it looks like we're related. Some experiments they did down in Merriton."
"Shit, Sal. You deserve this, you know it? I never would have guessed all that. You always act like you're fine with everything, but I don't know how. You didn't fly kites, your best childhood memory was just being beaten over plates, but here you are."
"Don't go trying to feel sorry for me, Ray. I don't know anything else. I think I've hit the highs and lows in life, you know? I mean, I'm the Kaisae of Anglia. Slave to queen. Who ever would have thought? But I'm still just me. I don't feel like I deserve it, or like I missed out, or anything like that. All this crap that's been going on? It doesn't really change anything. I'm a soldier. I know how to kill, and in between that, I know how to love. That's it. The rest? It's just curtains on a window. Doesn't mean a thing about the rest of the house."
Rayna rubbed Sal's shoulder, nodding slowly. "That's kinda how I'm feeling, ya know?"
"Dominik?" Sal asked. "He's a slut, you know that, right?"
Rayna scrunched up her nose and nodded. "Oh yeah. The Shields warned me. Told them I was too, so it's ok." They both laughed at that, and Sal gestured for Rayna to keep going. "So, I've seen him every night since the dinner."
"Unh uh," Sal teased. "You have to tell me how that started."
Rayna squealed in excitement. "I showed up at the damned flags, and Ilija's there. He said he's supposed to escort me to dinner. I follow, and we end up out in the middle of nowhere, kinda like this, right? Nice circle in the grass, no one can see a thing, and two grauori. They welcome me in with hand signals, and Ilija excuses himself."
"Thought you were supposed to meet Vanja."
Rayna holds up a finger and keeps going. "Then Dominik walks in. He explains how he'd seen me when he first arrived and had pointed me out to the Shields. When the Dogs came to visit, Vanja recognized me, so the guys decided to see if I'd be willing to meet him, but they didn't want his interest to get out to the soldiers and crap, and make it look like the Dogs were being favorites. I get it. So I sat around talking to him until some guy, um... the pale one?"
"Ricown or Caein?"
"Caein. He said they needed to change shifts and the grauori were bedding down."
Sal nodded. "You were surrounded by guards the whole time. You know that, right?"
Rayna shrugged. "I figured. I mean he's the damned king. I also know there are mutts out there now because you're here."
"No," Sal assured her. "They don't worry too much about me. So then?"
"Ok, nothing like your night it sounds like, but yeah. Dom asked me if I wanted a drink, and the Shields went outside, and one of them, um, dark guy?"
Sal lifted empty hands. "That's most of them."
"Ok, not Vanja, not Danku, and not Ilija."
"Dag," Sal guessed.
"Yeah. He told me the Shields get hard of hearing, and soldier to soldier, it wasn't their story to tell, then winked. Sounded like something you'd say?"
Sal nodded, grinning. "Oh yeah. We've had to pull Dom from his whores a few times, and he doesn't like the snotty ones, either, so we can't exactly let the nobles know."
Rayna laughed, throwing herself back. "Oh yeah. He's not too impressed with nobles. Said he can't take up with common women, there are so many issues with that, so he told me about his 'professional girls'. You know he keeps the same ones?"
"A few traveled with us," Sal explained. "One joined up with the army. She doesn't charge him, but he still slips her something for keeping it quiet."
"Yeah," Rayna sighed. "He's a good guy. He tries to take care of the real people, even if his ideas need a bit of modernizing. Sal, it's only been a few days, and shit's getting serious between us."
"Is that bad?"
Rayna shrugged, no longer giggling. "I'm a soldier."
"So?"
"So this can't go anywhere. He's a king, and I'm a soldier."
Sal grabbed Rayna's shoulder and shook her gently. "Ray, this is Anglia. We're ruled by a bastard's boy, a slave, and a mutt. You know what the people would do if he even thought of marrying a soldier?"
"Revolt probably, and Sal he's a damned good king."
"No, silly," Sal groaned. "They'd rejoice. They'd put a crown on your head and cheer when you had your sword at your side."
Rayna just shook her head. "I'm not gonna have kids, Sal. This isn't gonna work."
"Sorry," Sal told her. "Got you beat there, too. You met Jarl yet?"
"Ilija's kid? The squire in the dirt with the grauori?"
"Yep. A bastard, until Ilija fucked up in the link and we kinda made him a Marquis. Kid's the heir to the throne, now."
Rayna didn't sound convinced. "Yeah, so what about Ilija?"
Sal shook her head, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Who gets his place?"
"Nava, his daughter. She's only six. Probably almost seven by now. He's got another on the way, too. Nica seems to like having kids well enough. That means the heirs are from the maternal line, so all perfectly legal, and letting Jarl inherit gives Dom the chance to alter the line of hierarchy to include women."
Rayna looked up at her for a long moment. "When did you figure this all out?"
Sal reached over and patted Rayna's knee. "The morning you met Jase. Just in case, you know. There's no reason you can't take this as far as you want, Ray. Just tell the Dogs soon?"
She nodded. "I hadn't, only because I thought I was going to have to call it off. Fuck me, Sal, I really do like him." Rayna smiled almost wistfully. "He doesn't act like it's cute that I keep a sword, he doesn't try to explain tactics to me like I'm an idiot, and he doesn't try to send me escorts and guards to protect lil' ol' me. He treats me like an equal."
"Yeah. That's just how he is. He's a good guy, Ray, but what are you going to do if he ends up with a whore again?"
Rayna giggled. "Tease him? I'm a soldier, Sal. I know what these guys do when they think no one's looking. It doesn't bother me so long as he's honest."
"Good. I don't know if he will, I just know they think a bit different up here is all."
"Here." Rayna sucked back a deep breath, savoring that. "At least I don't have to worry about Ilija. The morning he w
oke me? I crawled out of bed in front of him, and I thought Dom was going to have a heart attack. Ilija just looked at the ground."
Sal laughed, nodding in agreement. "He walked in on Jase and I half-dressed a few times. He should be almost trained by now."
"Yeah, pretty much." Ray sighed, and reached over to hug Sal against her side. "I love this place, Sal. I can get used to this. Thanks for bringing us." She chuckled. "Thanks for being a good queen, too."
"We're just trying to do what's right, Ray. All of us. I just can't believe it's turning out so well. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, you know?"
"I know," Rayna said. "Enjoy it while you can, my friend. We're headed to war."
"The story of our lives, right?"
"Yeah." Rayna stared up at the sky for a moment. "You know, that one really does look like a dog. I mean it. Look!"
Sal flopped beside her. "No, that's a duck."
"Fucking half blind iliri. It's a dog, I tell ya. Look. That's the ear, there. And that's the tongue."
"Oh yeah. That does kinda look like a dog." Sal smiled. "Thanks, Ray. I mean it. It's nice to have a real friend."
"Yeah. It really is."
Chapter 50
Anglia gave the Conglomerate the rest of the day to change their mind. Naturally, they didn't. No one came begging Anglia not to take offense. In fact, no one from the CFC spoke to them again. When dawn broke the next day, Dom ordered the camp packed and ready to move. Regardless of their species, everyone pitched in.
"Someone make sure the common area supplies are packed," Sal yelled as she walked through the main camp. "We need to be sure it's at the bottom of the wagons, not the top." Soldiers jumped to at her orders and Sal took the moment of respite, sinking to one of the tables she'd just been referring to.
"What are you doing, Sal?" Blaec asked, walking up.
"Just making sure we don't miss anything. Blades packed and ready?"
"Oh yeah. Tilso's got a wagon, so we're traveling extra easy. He's made sure to plan for room for the pups. It's a two-day ride over to Zaqala. Go do something, Sal. We got this." Blaec kissed her head gently.
"I can't, love. They're all busting their asses - "
"No, you're the Kaisae. You can, and you should. I'll take care of everything here. Go play with your boys or something."
She giggled and hugged his waist. "You've taken to that easily enough."
"My amma was the same way, so I'm used to it." He pressed her ears against her head, sliding his hand down to her neck. "I packed your armor, too, we're riding easy. Don't want to upset Myrosica."
"If someone tries to lob arrows at me, we have enough healers, and if they try to swing a sword they'll be dead before they get close, right? You're not going to pull me out of combat are you?"
"No," he promised. "Probably not so many assassinations, but let's hope we don't need a lot of those anyway. Keeping you out of combat is about as crazy of an idea as keeping Rragri from it. Maybe worse. Go play!"
"I'll go check my mares, ok?" she asked. "Yell if you need me."
"Ok. I won't, but ok."
Sal wandered toward the Black Blades camp. Moving day had always meant tearing down and packing away, but with the circlet on her head, no one let her lift anything. She growled softly and checked her packs, closing them back after a glance. She was ready to be moving.
"Army takes forever, ya know?" Jase grumbled, sinking beside her.
"At least it's not just me," Sal said. "Just tell me this whole leader thing is all it's cracked up to be?"
Jase shrugged. "I do na know, kitten. They need ya, and ya can na say no. That's about it. The rest of this shit sucks."
All around them, the camp bustled with activity, but it felt like nothing was really happening. Soldiers were moving horses to every area of camp. Some were hitched, others saddled. A team of drafts trudged by, soldiers on either side, and Sal wondered how they were supposed to hear anything coming with the chaos around them. She sighed and threw herself back against the table.
"You look grumpy, kid," Zep said, pushing Cessa beside them. He sat across her bareback, with only a halter and lead for control. "She's in a foul mood isn't she?" he asked Jase.
Jase just nodded. "Yeah." He shrugged at Zep. "She always hated moving with the army, man. Tedious."
Zep chuckled. "Yeah, and iliri don't do tedious. I'm on orders, Sal. Supposed to get your ass out of camp before you eat a human. Swing up here."
"Oh hell no, Zep. Cessa and no tack?"
"You'll love it, I swear. And Cessa's fine. She's having a good day. She's a finger shorter than Arden, so you can make the swing - or Jase can give you a leg. You're call, but you're getting up here." Zep waited.
"Ok, fine. Give me your hand." Sal moved beside the mare.
She grabbed Zep's wrist in hers and swung herself up behind him, her head hitting him in the waist as she clambered on. Zep laughed and put an arm back to steady her. The whole time, Cessa stood quietly, which wasn't typical for the feisty mare.
"You too, Jase," Zep said, offering his hand.
"Nah. Yer crazy-ass mare and me do na love each other so much."
"Grow a pair. I have a surprise," Zep insisted.
"Nah, ya two go on. I'm good, man."
"You're telling me you don't want to make sure Sal stays on? C'mon, little brother. Plenty of room." Zep reached his hand down. "I'm not leaving without you."
"Fine." Jase gave in, grabbing Zep's hand to pull himself across Cessa's lower back.
The mare pinned her ears, but Zep lifted the rope in his hand. "Hush," he hissed at her. "Just, ride like Blades, ok? She's carried triple before. Just trust me for once?"
Sal rested her hands on Zep's waist, settling easily behind him. Jase edged forward, reaching up to smack Zep. "Move up, bro, I'm on her croup."
Zep laughed, and they all shifted. When they seemed stable, he looked over his shoulder and Jase nodded. Kissing softly to his horse, Zep moved Cessa out, angling away from anything that looked like civilization. Their destination was somewhere across the grass. A breeze blew the long vegetation like water, and Sal finally felt the tension ease. When they were away from camp, she wrapped her arms around Zep's chest and pulled herself against his back. Jase took the opportunity to lean forward and kiss her neck.
"None of that, yet," Zep told them. "We're almost there. I'm pretty proud of this one, so at least pretend like you're impressed, ok?"
Jase chuckled. "Man, just hit her with a link and Sal's impressed with anything ya do."
"Not just her, bro. Cyno, this is for both of you."
Jase fell strangely silent for a moment. "I think I'm worried, kitten."
Sal giggled. "I am. I mean, we've just been led away from the encampment by some rogue human. We're out here all vulnerable and unprotected."
"Shit," Zep drawled. "Then I got a tattoo to show you, girl. No humans here. If you're good, I'll even let you tickle it."
"Na denying the rogue part?" Jase teased.
"Fuck no, bro. We're all rogue iliri now, right?" Zep turned the horse to a cluster of three trees growing close together. "Here it is!" Pulling Cessa in, he held the mare steady while Jase slid off her hip, reaching up for Sal. She fell into his arms and kissed him.
"I think it's the humans," Sal said. "I'm feeling better already."
Zep dropped down beside her. "That's just because you're surrounded by some of the best looking Anglians."
"Fair 'nough," she agreed, twisting to wrap her arms around his waist.
"No, wait. Don't go distracting me yet." Zep untied the lead from one side of Cessa's halter and dropped it to the ground. The mare wandered toward the longer grass and began ripping at it greedily. Zep didn't seem to care. Holding up a finger for them to wait, he made a straight line to the trees and grabbed a large, strange item.
"Either of you ever seen a kite before?" he asked, holding it up.
Sal shook her head, the smile growing wider. "When did you talk to Rayna?"
>
"This morning. She said you'd never flown a kite, so I made one. I figured if you hadn't, he hadn't. The day is perfect for it, too. Come on."
"I don't get it," Jase said, chuckling at Zep's antics.
"Just come on!" Zep insisted. He took them well away from the trees, then handed a spool of string to Sal. "Here's the thing. You have to launch it, and it takes two of us, ok? I'll take the kite down a ways, then you have to run to give it some lift. It's worse than a damned duck trying to get airborne."
"Ok?" She looked at Jase, and he shrugged, looking as confused as she was.
"Fucking trust me, Sal. It's fun," Zep yelled back as he held the kite into the breeze. "You ready?"
"Maybe?" Sal called back.
"Ok, run away from me and pull that bitch into the air. Like Terric's chasing you, move girl!"
Sal turned and ran, hauling the string behind her. The kite began to gain lift, and Zep let go. Slowly it climbed. Sal looked over her shoulder as she ran, pulling at it, giggling when it climbed higher and higher. Suddenly it spun - and dove into the ground. Sal jogged to a stop, laughing.
"It flies worse than a duck," she yelled.
"Lemme try," Jase called back. "Ya almost had it."
They grabbed the kite and moved back to where Sal had started. This time, Jase took off running, and Zep held the thing aloft. Both were concentrating hard on getting the cloth thing into the air. Zep threw it, and slowly the kite began to climb.
"Keep going, Cyno!" Zep bellowed. "It's almost up."
The kite shuddered against the string and started swaying, but they kept running. Suddenly, as if with a mind of its own, it smoothed out and began to climb higher and higher into the sky. Jase slowed, staring up at it with the biggest grin on his face Sal had ever seen.
"Let out the line, little brother," Zep said, walking over to him. "Let it higher."
Watching her men play, Sal sank into the grass. Zep reached out and yanked on the string, and Jase panicked for a moment, expecting it to fall out of the sky. That made the big guy roar with laughter, and Jase smacked him, but both were having a good time. They bent their heads, talking quietly, laughing occasionally, and their gestures proved they were both focused solely on the kite. Sal had never seen them together like this. Grown men, both with swords at their side, they gestured at the sky.
