by Auryn Hadley
Zep nodded. "Yep. Knives, sabers, prefers two weapons to shields. Want me to have Ryek see if she has any skill?"
"Please," Sal said. "Keeya, you killed a man yet?"
"No, sir. I just cleared training before we left Anglia."
Sal looked at Zep, and he shrugged. "Don't need to worry about the maast," he pointed out. "Your first got you a steel blade. Give her enough training, and it won't matter."
"Get it started, Zep," Sal said. "We're going to want at least ten in the lists. I'd rather spread them among the units than shove them all in elites right away."
"Can do," Zep agreed.
"And now I need to talk to Dom. Probably will be late before I'm in tonight," Sal told him, Keeya listening from her other side. "Don't leave the light on for me. I shouldn't be too much behind you."
Zep chuckled, well aware of what she was doing. "You can see in the dark anyway. Not worried about you falling over me. Go on. I'll finish your check, babe."
Sal grinned, and Zep pushed Diva closer again. "Oh no," Sal told him, reining Veil away. "You keep that demon spawn away from me!" She shifted Veil out of his path. "Be good, Taunor. And don't let her kick anyone!"
Sal nudged her mare into a canter. Zep just chuckled as she rode away. Thanks, Sal. I think she got the hint without taking it too hard, he sent.
I meant it, she shot back. You'd better be in my bed tonight. I'll be late, but you had better be there.
Ohh! I see. Have a hot date? Zep teased back.
Yep. Rayna needs some advice about breaking the news about her boyfriend to the Dogs. She also wants to know when to let the army see it.
I think soon, Zep said. As a bonus, it gives him a bodyguard. That girl's a real bitch with a blade. Give her a horse, and she's worse.
Not long after that, Sal spoke with Dominik about the male soldiers, and he agreed with Brisa's plan. When she tried to discuss other military matters, he waved her off, telling her that it was her call, and he didn't need to approve it anymore. Rragri was amused by that but insisted that she had no idea how to deal with humans, either. Sal spent the rest of the day riding with them, discussing the upcoming meeting with Myrosica. Both Rragri and Dominik agreed that the treaty should go well. Myrosica had been a gracious host so far, and with the power of Viraenova behind them, they were confident that Terric would finally be stopped.
When the line of soldiers finally called a halt, she was more than ready to get out of the saddle. The Blades threw up their tents but did not furnish them as they tended to for an extended stay. Bundles of blankets were thrown on the floor, and Sal grinned when she realized that they were a tent short.
"No sense unpacking it if you aren't going to use it," Blaec teased when he walked past her. "Let the boys finish. You've been working all day."
Sal needed no other excuse. She turned for the Devil Dog's camp and met Rayna walking toward her.
"I'm not putting up a damned tent tonight, Sal," Rayna said as a way of greeting, unaware that she was mimicking Sal's own situation. "You done already?"
"Yeah. With three sets of hands, it doesn't take long. We're down a tent, too." Sal winked.
"Come on then," Rayna said, turning Sal to the rolling hills beyond. "I need to stretch my legs. Been a long time since I rode at the army's pace."
"I know," Sal groaned. "It's like herding snails."
They giggled and slipped into the countryside. When they were well past the sight of the camps, Sal tugged Rayna to the side.
"Not that way," she whispered. Rayna looked at her, and Sal pointed at her nose. "Humans."
Rayna grinned, and they quietly moved well around them. When the air was fresh, Sal sank into the grass between a pair of hills. Rayna flopped down beside her, shoving her scabbard on her back to lay comfortably. The evening sky was streaked with pinks and oranges, but the purple was reaching up to claim its dominance and they sky was darkening quickly. Rayna rubbed at her hips, grinning.
"Maybe spreading my legs a bit will work out the aches," she said.
"Never works like that, Ray. You just end up with a cramp at the wrong time."
Rayna gasped, her eyes wide. "I'm so glad it's not just me. Ah, Sal. What do I tell the guys? This has been going on for a week now."
Sal shrugged. "Tell them it's finally serious enough for you to worry about, and shame on them for not being able to figure it out on their own."
"I like that," Rayna agreed. "Leaves them less room to give me shit. You sure this is really ok?"
"Yes, Ray. Zep even likes the idea. Said it gives the King a damned good bodyguard." Sal shrugged. "I can't find anything wrong with it except how hung up you are on his title."
"I'm just worried, you know?"
"Nope. Don't know, Ray. You're going to have to spell this out for me."
Rayna sighed. "I don't want Dom to think I just like him because he's the King. I mean, it's not like that. He's so normal."
"He really is. What would you do if he was just a soldier?" Sal asked.
"Keep him," Rayna said wistfully. "Hell, I don't want to jinx anything, but I'd be looking at rings by now. I can't stop thinking about him. I get day dreaming at the worst times - I have a bruise on my arm to prove it. Tyr got me with a broadsword this morning in practice."
Sal laughed. "Oh, that's bad. You think getting it out there will help?"
"Won't hurt, and this shit does." Rayna rubbed at her arm. "Least they'll know why I've gone all mush-headed and pull the shot. Combat's different. You know that. You smell the soldiers and the adrenaline just kicks in. I'm not worried about that."
"K. I'd hate us to get into something bad, and you ending up scarred for it."
Rayna made a dismissive noise. "Scarred? Shit. As fucking dumb as I've been, I'd get gutted and die slowly."
"Grauori, Ray. Gut wounds aren't fatal anymore," Sal pointed out.
"Shit. What kind of casualties we get?"
"Not many. Instant kills, of course. A few we just can't get a medic to, or who can't get to the medics, but besides that, we've been able to save most of them. Poison, bleeding out, and pretty severe wounds - like cleaved in half. That's about all we die from lately."
Rayna was nodding as Sal spoke, thinking that over. "Yeah, I can deal with that. Doesn't make it hurt any less, but not dying is a bonus. Tell me something, though. How is it you barely have any scars?"
Sal shrugged, meeting Rayna's eyes. "Iliri skin, I think. I've got a couple, but one was a fatal wound. That jacking back at Eastward camp."
"Oh yeah. I heard about that." Rayna giggled. "Heard you hit his femoral going down too. Impressive."
"No," Sal said, disagreeing. "That was all luck. I was going for his throat, but he hit my lung. I dropped like a rock." Sal scratched at her ear. "That's when I put that scar on Zep."
"How's that going anyway?" Rayna asked.
"He took Taunor this morning," Sal said. "And he made Jase, and I fly kites. You're right. It's fun."
"Aww," Rayna sighed. "That's cute."
"It really was. He dragged us out there bareback, had already stashed the kite, and then he made us do it, explaining it as we went. He and Jase got the thing in the air, and then they started working out how to make it better."
Rayna just shook her head. "It sounds so normal when you talk about it. The boys being boys and shit."
"It kinda is. We messed with the kite for a while, then just spent the afternoon cuddling while the army packed up." Sal shoved her hair and ears back against her head. "It works, Ray. It's how our kind lives."
Rayna made a dismissive gesture. "I'm not saying anything is wrong with it. I just mean that it sounds adorable, not like a bunch of bloodthirsty iliri, is all. I can almost imagine the three of you just lounging around. It's fitting. Don't ever think that because I ask means I'm judging, ok?"
Sal nodded. "Deal, if you'll do the same for me?"
Rayna nodded back. "Sure. You've got the advantage. You at least know what to expect with us. You've kept yo
ur habits hidden for so long that we're all learning as we go. I just figured having the Dogs accept it will mean the army does that much easier."
"Thanks, Ray. I - " Sal paused. The scent of sugar was coming closer.
Remember the humans? she asked.
Yeah, when we passed that big hill.
Sal sucked in another breath, tasting it. Well, it's more than two, and they are on the move. Stay quiet.
Rayna dipped her head in understanding. Together, they climbed to their feet, moving silently in the grasses. Sal crawled up the side of the hill, keeping her profile low. Her ears turned every direction possible, and she took a long, deep breath.
This is bad, she sent to Rayna. Tell the Dogs. I'll tell the Blades. They're Terran.
How can you be sure?
I smell a lot of ravens. Make sure they get the camp ready. From up here, there's more. Lots more.
Ok. Rayna thought. Sal, we need to move.
Sal shook her head. No, Ray. We need to hide. We're dumb shits, and we're surrounded.
Chapter 54
They alerted their units, and Sal knew that back at the camp, men were frantically scrambling. She also knew that her pale hair was going to mark her easily in the dark grasses.
Ray, I'm white. Don't panic, but I need to change, Sal warned her friend as she concentrated on darkening her skin to a bland shade of brown and putting her ears where they wouldn’t be noticed.
Rayna's eyes went wide. Useful. So that's a shifter, right?
Yeah. Takes concentration to hold it. Now, I think there's less of them this way. On the upside, they won't be able to surprise the camp like they wanted. On the downside...
We're stuck in it, Rayna thought, amused. Least it's us and not some new recruits. Lead on, Sal. I've got your back.
Sal crept forward slowly, breathing in the air. She turned based on the scents she could detect. Soon, they could hear voices, but Sal pressed on until she could find no way out. The scent of humans and raven feathers surrounded them on all sides.
Fuck, She thought, glancing at Rayna. All we can do now is hope they don't stumble upon us.
How many, Sal? I can only hear a hint of them every now and then, and I can't see shit.
Sorry, Sal thought. Take this.
Sal hit Rayna with a meld, shoving them together. Her impatience was the only sign of her concern. Rayna grabbed the link with nothing more than a small breath, offering no resistance. She blended with Sal's mind as easily as any of her brothers.
Shit. I can see. Damn, and smell.
Yeah, sorry I forgot. Zep always reminds me.
Rayna shrugged. So we just waiting here?
Unless you have a better idea?
Not really. They're getting closer, Sal.
I know. They will find us, you know that, right?
Kinda figured that part by now. That's why you pulled us to the edge. I'm not new to this game, Kaisae. Can you tell how many?
Sal focused on the sounds around her. She heard a set of armor clanking in one direction and the leather of a sheath creak in another. One by one she counted.
Between ten and thirty.
Ok. So getting out of this is possible. How good's Terric? Rayna asked.
This far out, I have no idea. If we hit Black Widows, we're fucked.
K. Pig's worried and screaming in my head.
Sal nodded, showing she'd heard, but there was something a little more important. Ray? You know what happens when I kill someone, right?
I trust ya, Sal. I'm staying the fuck out of your way, but I trust you.
Sal sighed softly, feeling her entire body relax. You'll feel it too. I'm sorry.
Rayna tilted her head, listening through Sal's ears, and slid a knife into her hand. We're good, Sal. You wanna play the scared little girls new to the army? If not, think of something fast because they're almost over this hill.
Scared girls sounds like a plan.
They moved closer to each other and huddled together. Too many times, they'd both seen the same thing. Innocent young girls were given more sympathy by so many male soldiers. It didn't always work, but if nothing else, it was a better chance than meeting these guys head on. Both Sal and Rayna checked their weapons one last time as footsteps became audible to Rayna's ears. They waited. In the darkness, men passed on either side of them, no more than twenty feet away, and neither moved. The next line of men walked lightly over the hill - and Sal's hopes crumbled. The soldier paused right before them.
"Hello, pretties," he whispered. "You scream, and I'll slit your throats. Nod if you understand."
Sal and Rayna looked up, wide-eyed, and nodded. The soldier whistled like a night bird, and Sal scanned his uniform. She saw the patch of an elite unit but didn't recognize it.
You know this one? she asked Rayna.
Yeah, Rayna said, eying the patch. Death Vipers. Specialize in forward breaches and surprise tactics. Not really combat elites, but their tactics are impressive.
How many?
Twenty-five, if they're running full.
Summoned by the whistle, soldiers closed in around them, and the man standing over them said softly, "Come on, girls. Get up. Let's take you back to camp. Jorton should be impressed to see what we caught."
Sal and Rayna nodded, standing slowly. The man saw the knife in Rayna's hand and shook his finger at her. "Sheath it and you can carry it. You even think of fighting back, and we'll throw you down and strip every one of those weapons from you."
Rayna slid the knife back into its sheath, her hands shaking. She missed the opening the first time and had to look for it to get the blade inside. The man chuckled, and shook his head, unaware that she was faking her fear.
"When did Anglia start taking ladies?" he muttered as they walked.
"After the invasion," Sal said, doing her best to sound timid.
"And you really thought being a soldier was a good idea?" He chuckled.
"Better than being a whore," Sal muttered softly.
"Nope," his voice came from behind them. "Same shit, girls, just different clients. Turn right."
They turned and crested another hill. The Anglian camp was not only out of sight but out of the reach of even Sal's senses. Tucked away below them, a soft bed of coals glowed in the night sky, and Sal could make out forms passing in front of it. They were guided in that direction by the five men now surrounding them.
We want to stay out of the light, Sal thought.
Yeah. Let their eyes take the hit, Rayna agreed. You got a count?
More than twelve.
Sal walked slower the closer they got, and Rayna matched her, both of them looking around nervously. The soldier in charge grabbed Rayna's shoulder, halting her before a tent, well out of the light cast by the bed of coals. The girls moved close to each other, each one watching the other's back. Both of them were trying to get an accurate count of the soldiers around them while trying to convince the men they were terrified.
"Wait here," he said, then turned to a man beside him. "Keep an eye on them. I'll be shocked if either knows which end of those weapons are the sharp ones."
The men chuckled, and Sal and Rayna moved closer. Through Sal's ears, they could hear the men talking inside the tent, and footsteps, followed by the commander shoving through the flap.
"Pray tell, ladies," he said walking up to them. "Why were you out in the hills?"
Sal and Rayna looked at him, shifting away. Rayna shook her head, and Sal said softly, "We were just talking."
"Mm. And what about?"
They looked at each other guiltily. "The Corporal," Rayna whispered. "He likes Meia. That's all, sir. I swear!" Do not let them know who you are, Sal, Ray said. You're Meia Spadar, got it?
Yep. Good call.
"So she's Meia. Who are you?" he asked.
"Rayna," she said timidly.
"Mm. I see. And not a rank on you. Do you know The Conventions?" Both girls shook their heads, and he chuckled. "Ah, Anglia. You make this too easy. W
hen asked, you're supposed to give your full name, rank, and nation of allegiance. Now let's try this again." He pointed at Sal.
"Private Meia Spadar, Anglia."
"Good girl. Now that wasn't so hard, was it?" he asked, and Sal shook her head. "Now you," he told Rayna.
"Rayna Mel, Private, and Anglia."
"Good. And what are you doing with those swords? Either of you know how to use them?"
"I'm learning," Sal said defiantly, and he chuckled. I got twenty-seven, Ray.
I got twenty-six, so we should be close.
"Now girls, here in a bit, you're going to hear battle for the first time. Anglia just rode right into our trap, you see. If you're good, we might just let you live through this." He chuckled. "My boys have been lonely, and we're a long way from home."
Sal and Rayna clutched each other tighter.
Can you get those four by the fire? Sal asked pointing them out mentally to Rayna.
Oh yeah. You want me to head right for them?
Please, Sal thought. Then I won't have to watch for you when I lose it. Come at these from the back, then clean up for me?
Gotcha. He tries to take our weapons, and I'm going to fuck his world.
I'm wearing steel, Ray. I pull that, and we're both fucked.
A single flash of Rayna's anxiety leaked over. They'll know who you are. Fuck. You've kinda gotten famous for having them.
I'll use the swords, Sal assured her, but, I tend to get a bit messy with them.
Sal felt Rayna bite her tongue. Do not make me laugh Sal. Not a good time.
In the distance, Sal heard a noise, but none of the men reacted. It grew louder and slowly moved toward them. The clash of weapons was clear to Sal before the Captain smiled, but eventually, he did.
"Ah, there it is," he said. "Anglia is about to be decimated. Ok, girls. You're prisoners of war, now. Unbuckle those weapons and hand them over. You make a wrong move, and there are a few guys in here that have no problem with watching you bleed."
Rayna unbuckled her scabbard, slowly pulling it away from her chest, and Sal worked the one at her hip. They both moved slowly, and the soldiers began to close in around them. Unfortunately, the battle wasn't heading their way. From what she could hear, it sounded like it was going to pass a few hills over. That meant they were on their own.
