by Auryn Hadley
Sal swung onto Veil's back. "It does, Zep," she said, but Tilso wasn't done handing out the embarrassment.
"Least you have good taste in men, Sal. Quite the nice looking harem you're putting together. If they get tired of your type, let us know ok?"
Risk gasped quietly from the dark horse on the other side, staring open-mouthed at Tilso. "Ahn!"
"What? You've said the same thing. Don't try to deny it."
Risk looked guiltily between Zep and Jase. "It's not like that," he insisted.
They shared a look, and Zep shrugged, walking back to grab Diva. He casually swung into the saddle, and the line started moving again. For a moment, Sal thought the awkwardness was over, but she should have known better. Zep reined his mare up on Risk's outer side, pinning him between the wagon and the warhorse.
"Let me tell ya something Risk," Zep said, leaning over, his voice low. "Shit between us? It isn't like you and Tilso."
"Zep - " Risk tried to get in, but the big guy shook his head.
"No, man. It's not like what you two have. But you ever change your mind, you're hot enough, I'd take ya."
Risk's eyes went wide, and Jase pulled on his other side as Tilso tried to smother a laugh.
"I dunno, Zep," Jase said. "I think Tilso's keepin' the best one. Think we should trade him fer a night?"
Risk's head snapped back and forth between them, but he said nothing. Zep finally took pity on him. "Brother, I'm fucking with you, but I'm not, ok?"
"Yeah," Risk said, confused.
"My point is," Zep went on, "I wish you'd learn to relax about this shit. We all know about the two of you. None of us think either of you are blind." Zep chuckled and patted Risk's back. "Bro, you want to check out my ass, you go right ahead. You should just know that Sal might do the same to you. Deal?"
"Serious, Risk," Jase said. "Ya know what's going on with the three of us. Yer shit is na weird at all in comparison, ok? Anyone gives ya shit, we'll turn Sal loose on em."
Risk chuckled and nodded. Tilso grinned up at the men, a look of deep appreciation on his face. He sighed, and leaned toward Sal. "Thanks. He'll need to be pushed a bit more, but he's finally realized that none of you care."
Sal nodded in understanding. "Guess we need to catch you two together a few times, then he'll have nothing left to hide."
"Oh yeah," Tilso agreed. "Yeah, that would do it. Sal, I hid this shit for years. Before I was picking fights to stand up for you, I was getting my ass handed to me because I'm not into women. I don't have near the crap to overcome Celyn does, but it still means a lot."
"Hey, Risk?" Sal asked.
"You too?" he grumbled.
"Yeah," Sal said, leaning over her pommel casually. "Which one's the prettiest? All the Blades and Tilso doesn't count." Risk shook his head and kneed his horse, pushing away from the teasing. She glanced at Tilso, and he was laughing, so she spun Veil, and gave chase. "Oh no, you can not get out of it that easy," she yelled after him.
The two dark-clad soldiers on dark mares raced up the line of soldiers making the greens turn and look. Sal yelled threats at Risk as she gained on him. With a laugh, he reined in his mare - and Sal nearly collided into their back.
"Why didn't you just stop me?" he asked. Sal was just glad to see he was smiling.
Lifting her arms, she giggled. "I forgot. Damn this mare is nice. Tell Ahn I owe him one."
Risk nodded. "I will. He'll like that."
Together they gave the horses their heads and let them catch their breath while the army passed them by again. "So which one?" Sal asked again.
Risk chuckled and pushed his long gold hair back. His yellow eyes met hers for a second. "Arctic. He's almost perfect."
"Yeah, I know what you mean," she agreed. "I'm not sure what gets me the most, those eyes of his, or - "
"His lips," Risk said, chuckling. "No, don't ever tell him I said that."
"Why not?" Sal asked.
"I'd hate for him to think that he can't trust me," Risk said softly. "He grew up new-iliri, taught to accept human values - and you smelled the Anglians when Tilso showed up!"
Sal just shook her head. "The Blades have known where your tastes lie for a long time. Why would a compliment make it any different?"
"It just does, Sal. It's like some men think there's a secret mark or something. If it's not there, we don't look at them. Once they realize that I just don't like the idea of a woman's body, it makes them feel awkward around me. I like what I have with these guys. I don't want to lose it."
"We're iliri, Risk. I can see what you're saying for the humans, but none of us are like that. Ok? I mean, you've been in their heads. You know they don't care."
"Yeah," he finally admitted. "It's just a lot easier to say they don't care than to believe it. Sal, I'm an onsyc iliri man. Humans don't just hate me for one thing. They have a whole string of reasons why I deserved what I got."
"I know," she said, nudging her mare closer. "They keep wanting us to fit into these ideals they have, and they don't even fit into them themselves."
He nodded, staring down at his saddle. "Exactly. Now, I couldn't give a fuck what they think about me." His eyes flicked up to hers, then back down submissively. "But my pack? You're not the only one who waited a long time to find a place to belong, you know."
"I know."
But he kept going. "Sal, I was chained in the basement of a tavern when LT stormed in with an injured soldier - the guy you replaced. I didn't realize at the time how he knew to come there, and he didn't give me the chance to think about it. He just said he wanted to see their slave. When the owner refused, Zep held a dagger to his throat until he pointed the way to the stairs."
"How'd you get conscripted," she asked.
He smiled slightly. "Until you came along, no one realized Blaec Doll was anything but a pale-skinned human. He said he was claiming their slave for the benefit of the country as a whole and the military of the Conglomerate of Free Citizens. I never had to pass a trial. Putting Circ's arm back on was all I had to do to prove I fit in."
"And you do fit in, Risk." She reached over to rub his shoulder. "That first day? I was sure they would laugh me out of the trials until I saw your pale skin. It gave me hope."
"Me?"
She nodded. "Yeah."
Risk shook his head. "I think you got that backwards, Kaisae. You're the one passing out the hope. Haven't met an iliri yet who doesn't get a whiff of ya and say that's what you smell like."
"Fuck off."
"I'm serious," he insisted. "I heard that some smelled like other things, but no one's been able to tell me any. It's just one of the perks you get. I guess it's like the tie that binds all of us together."
She thrust her lower lip out and nodded. "Ok. I figure I can smell like hope, and you can check out the guy's asses with me. Fair's fair, right?" Then she dropped her voice. "And Arctic has a very nice ass."
Risk laughed, smiling over at her. "Cyno's pretty nice too," he said.
Sal grinned at him and nodded. "You seen where those tattoos end?"
Risk's smile grew devious. "Yeah. I put them on him, remember?"
"Then you know I'm right. Any man that'd let you put your hands there isn't too worried about where you're looking."
Risk ducked his head, but it didn't stop one last chuckle from slipping out. "Oh yeah, I was looking. He's always been cool with me, though. Never bothered him."
"I know. That's what I've been trying to tell you. It doesn't bother any of them. They've been covering for you since before I joined. Trust them more. It's the least they deserve."
The wagon pulled beside them, and Sal's mates glanced at her. She smiled and nodded gently, letting them know that all was well, but Risk turned to the men beside them.
"Thanks, guys," he said.
"Yeah, brother," Zep answered. Jase just patted his arm.
"We good?" Tilso asked.
"We're good," Sal promised.
"Yeah," Jase added.
"
Fuck no," Zep said a little too adamantly. "I'm still waiting for Risk to check out my ass." He stood in his stirrups, patting his butt cheek, and they all laughed.
"Yeah," Risk said shyly. He shrugged and glanced at Sal. "I'd hit that."
Zep laughed loudly. "I bet you would, man." He shook his head, laughing hard. "You'd make me beg for more. I know how you iliri are!"
Risk grinned and finally began to return the teasing. It made the next few hours on the road fly by. For this moment, right here, Sal was the happiest she'd ever been. They might be in the middle of a war. Their allies may have abandoned them because they weren't human. The strange thing was that none of it mattered. Anglia didn't care. Not Dom, not the humans, and certainly not the iliri or grauori.
And the Blades were at the center of it all. So long ago, Sal had thought being an elite soldier was the closest she'd ever get to freedom. Watching Roo trot over with her pups, Sal knew just how wrong she'd been. Freedom came in many shades. A year ago, she'd dreamed of the kind that let her eat every day and live without a chain around her neck. Now? She wanted to see a world where Raast and Rhyx would never have to explain what they were, where humans didn't shun her for daring to love her mates, and where having a human friend wasn't something that felt strange and amazing at the same time.
Watching Roo lift her pups into the wagon with Tilso, Sal made herself a promise. She wouldn't stop until she'd done everything in her power - something that seemed to be growing by the day - to make it happen. Jase's books said that Kaisaes grew to meet the need of their people. If that was the case, then she had three kingdoms counting on her. Three kingdoms, and two adorable pups that she'd claimed as her own, who deserved to be completely and totally free.
Just as she thought that, Rhyx dared to snarl at Tilso. He shot a warning glare at her, and the pretentious pup quickly dropped her eyes. Raast ducked her head and whimpered, but from the ground on the other side, Roo whuffed in amusement. Dropping her ears low to show she was sorry, Rhyx pulled herself onto the bench where Tilso sat.
"I 'orry, Dava."
The man's mouth split into the biggest smile Sal had ever seen on him. "It's ok, little one, but I can't fight back. I'm not a soldier like your other davas. I'm just the horseman."
The pup paused, thinking about that. "I wanna be a horseman, too."
"Sure." Lifting one arm around her, Tilso held out a rein to each hand. "Think you can hold them?"
Rhyx's eyes lit up. "Ya!"
The Blades all watched proudly, as Tilso taught the little grauori how to drive the team. His hands were never far, and the horses were extremely docile, but Rhyx couldn't stop grinning. When Roo tried to cajole the kids back onto their own feet, Rhyx refused to leave. Tilso had to assure Roo that she wasn't a problem.
"I need someone else that can drive, Roo. She's got a feel for it," he said.
"I can do it, amma," Rhyx insisted.
I know, Rhyx, and you are doing it, but you need to run a bit, too, so you will sleep good tonight, Roo said.
Rhyx shook her head. "No, amma. I need ta help with tha horses. I can drive, and then I can tack. I'm gonna be a Black Blade. I need ta know horses, too."
Roo gave in. If you are sure she isn't a problem, Tilso. Just tell me if she gets to be too much, ok?
Tilso agreed easily. "I promise, Roo. She's cute, and everyone else had months with them. I need to earn my dava, too. Ok?"
Roo grinned and trotted off, trusting her pup in the care of the pack. Raast scampered along at her heels. Sal decided she might be a lot closer to her idea of a perfect world than she'd thought.
Chapter 53
Sal made a few passes along the length of the army, or most of the length, throughout the day. Seven hundred humans made a very long line across the countryside, and it left a lot of dust. The men always smiled when she passed them, and a few called out to her. Sal grinned when she saw Keeya, a pair of sabers strapped across the girl's back.
"I see you got new blades," Sal said pulling alongside her.
"Yes, sir," Keeya said grinning. "Couple of guys in the Devil Dogs said they could spare them."
"Which guys?" Sal asked, suddenly curious.
Keeya blushed. "Ryek and Tyr. They were old offhand weapons they just kept for spares." She giggled. "I still like yours better."
"Yeah, I do too. Zep worked a long time to get those right."
"Custom made?" Keeya asked.
"Yep. They were a gift for my trip into Anglia."
"Sir? Why the white and black?" she asked.
Sal chuckled. "White for iliri, black for the Blades. The black one is my main hand weapon, the white my offhand. Do you know why?"
"No, sir," she said, truly interested.
Sal dropped her reins across Veil's neck and pulled the swords. She tilted the black one. "Blaec Doll, leader of the Black Blades, guards my right. He is my Dernor." Sal turned the white one next. "Jassant Cynortas, the next most pure iliri that I know of - besides myself and my brother - guards my left. He also happens to be left-handed. His skin is nearly as pale as mine. Each blade compliments one."
"Sir, that's actually sweet. And Zep made them? Did he plan that?"
Zep laughed behind her. "My timing is getting better and better. Sal, Veil going to be good?"
"Yeah, it's Diva I'm worried about."
He pushed the psychotic mare closer. She pinned her ears, and he thumped her across the base of the neck. Diva sighed, making Sal chuckle. "No, we're getting along well. And I did plan it like that, Keeya. I just didn't get to explain it because I wanted the swords to be a surprise. When she figured it out, I was even happier."
Keeya nodded. "So where do you guard, sir?"
"I get her back. Put me anywhere else and there's no way she'd see around me."
The girl smiled at his joke. "Weren't you a special forces unit before? I mean, before Anglia?"
"Yeah," Sal said. "Infiltration and extraction, mostly. A lot of skirmishing when we could."
"But you weren't Kaisae then, right?" Keeya asked.
"Only kinda," Sal admitted.
"But they still covered you?" Keeya looked at Sal confused.
Zep waved that away. "Yes and no. Sal also guards LT's left. Arctic guards his right. Shift guards his back. Each of us has a left hand, a right hand, and a back guard. We don't work in a line, we work in groups."
"Oh!" she said, suddenly understanding.
"We just prefer to admit we're guarding her, ya know? Makes us feel a bit tougher and gives us something to brag about."
"Sir?" a girl on her other side asked, leaning forward in the ranks.
"Which one?" Zep said.
She shrugged at them. "Either one really, sirs. Would that work with us? I mean is there a reason we can't get a battle buddy?"
"No," Sal said, thinking about that. "It's not a bad idea. What's your name, soldier?"
"Brisa, sir. Brisa Vokt. Thing is," she glanced up at Sal, "I'd rather have the same guy at my side, you know? They sometimes forget we're here to be soldiers, sir."
Sal nodded. "I'll make the change, Brisa. There've been problems?"
Keeya and Brisa shared a look.
Zep sighed angrily, his jaw set. "Privates, any soldier gets out of line, you find the first Blade, Dog, or Shield, and let us know. You understand?"
"We don't want to cause problems, sir," Keeya said.
"I'm just glad to be in," Brisa insisted. "There's not a lot of jobs for a woman with no family out there. The last thing we want to do is ruin this."
"No," Zep said. "That's an order, ladies. Sal, I'm addressing the ranks tonight about this. That shit isn't acceptable."
Keeya looked up at Zep, but Brisa persisted. "Sir? We can handle our own, sir."
"It's not that, Privates," Zep grumbled. "I believe you both could, but there's more of them than you. There always will be, that's just how it goes. We need to make sure the men know that a few ladies in tight pants aren't an invitation for them to lose their minds
. What happens to the girl who has a few too many drinks? Who takes care of her? What about the late night watches? Not many eyes to witness things when everyone is asleep. And how good of soldiers will either of you be on too little sleep, tense as a green colt?"
They nodded, and Sal smiled at the look of complete adoration in Keeya's eyes. "This isn't about you," Sal told them. "It's about integrating women and making sure we covered all the bases. Flirting is fine. What you do on your own time is fine. Someone doesn't seem to want to take no for an answer? You tell an elite." Sal looked at them. "We'll make sure the concept is very clear to him." You have a fan, she sent to Zep.
I know. She's been dropping hints since we sparred the other night. Wanna help me out a bit? Zep begged.
It's cute, Sal insisted. She's not into Tyr?
No!
"Thank you, sirs," Brisa said, unaware they were holding a silent conversation.
"You available to spar tonight, sir?" Keeya asked Zep.
He looked at Sal. Ok. Help now. Do not laugh, just get me out of this!
Sal shook her head. "I have a few things I need him to do, and addressing the soldiers just stole his free time, Keeya. I'm sorry."
Thank you!
Keeya sighed. "Not a problem, sir."
"Dogs should be free," Sal added. "Just wander over there and tell them I sent you to ask for some saber lessons. They have a few who are more talented than us."
"Than you? I doubt it," Keeya said.
Sal nodded. "A few of them can put me on the ground. The Dogs are as good as the Blades, combat-wise. The only reason we shined so well and had those stupid stories written is because of the tricks all of Anglia is using now. I'm scared to see what Ryek can do."
Zep pushed Diva closer to Sal, the angry mare tensing. "Yeah, I know. He's still talking about those blades of yours."
Sal giggled, looking up at Zep. "Next steel we get is his. You know he made it through two grauori?"
"Yeah," Zep said as if he had an idea. "Keeya, how good are you at sneaking?"
She shrugged. "No idea, sir. Why?"
Sal looked at the girl a moment. "She's the right size."
