by Auryn Hadley
"Greetings Viraenova and Anglia. We welcome you to Myrosica," Justice Krex said, standing. "Thank you for traveling this far. I hope your journeys went well."
Dom touched Sal's arm and shook his head. She sighed but said nothing, listening to the political rhetoric drone on endlessly. One after the other, each of the six justices stood to address them. None of them said anything at all important. The entire situation was nothing but political posturing. Even worse, they all knew it.
You look amazing, Tseri sent, the corner of her lip lifting as she watched the politicians intently.
Thank you. I love the armor your mates have, Sal replied.
Functional and pretty. I heard you ended up detained by Terrans?
They tried. Sal shrugged it off. We have the front line, though. They're almost on top of us. Your army ready to move?
Yep, Tseri said. They're at the wall right now. I can have them here in about two weeks. Three if the weather turns bad.
A whisper of a thought crossed Sal's mind, and she turned her attention back. She stood only a fraction of a second later than Dominik, and politely expressed her appreciation. When they sat, Tseri repeated the performance.
The hall hung silent for a long moment as the Judiciary passed papers between them. Finally, Justice Krex stood again. "Are your requests for a treaty the same, King Jens?"
"Yes," Dom said. "I request recognition of all of our people, diplomatic immunity for my military, and the right to passage across your country."
"I see. And you, Kaeen Janoyc?"
"Viraenova stands behind Anglia, but we too request recognition and protection for our soldiers if you wish us to cross your lands."
"And what does Myrosica get from this? How would this treaty help our people?"
Dominik touched Sal's hand again and nodded. Now tell them about the attack.
Sal stood, and all eyes turned to her. "Justices of Myrosica, I regret to inform you that Terric is already inside your borders. Two nights ago, when Anglia stopped to camp, we were attacked by a small strategic force. Only chance prevented a complete disaster. We know at least one unit of elite Terran soldiers was directing the attack."
The Justices gasped. "Where?" Krex asked.
"I would be happy to show you if we had a map," Dominik said.
Guards scurried, and a large map was pulled into the room. Set in a thick wood frame, four men rolled it in from an alcove at the side. Like everything else in the capitol, it had been designed to look impressive.
All this pomp is annoying, Dominik thought as he stood. And you can not bend over to point in that dress, Sal. Sorry.
She smiled as Dominik walked proudly to the map and glanced across it, his eyes following their path. He found the landmarks he was looking for and pointed. "Here. There's a cairn with nearly two hundred bodies. I had the army clean up as much as possible, and we apologize for the damage to your lands."
Krex waved that away, gesturing at the map. "We have reports that Terric is to the north, in Gallicor. If their line holds true..."
"Then they're upon us," Tseri said. "Please tell me you have an army?"
"Yes, Kaeen, but we are a small country, and our army reflects that."
"I see. And how long will it take for you to mobilize?"
"A month?" Krex asked looking at the justices around him.
Sal shook her head, and Tseri sighed.
"That is too slow," Rragri said through her translator. "If you grant us permission, I can have grauori here in two days."
"Yes," Krex said. "I think this changes things. I had hoped to ask for trade agreements as well, but I had no idea Terric was so close. Orassae, how many, um, maargra can you bring?"
Rragri whuffed in amusement. "You were kind enough to consider my strange shape and bring me a couch. How many would you like Justice Krex?"
He bowed his head respectfully. "As many as you can spare, Orassae. If they are as close as you say, Myrosica will need all the help we can get."
Rragri and Sal chuckled at that, and the Justice looked up, confused.
"I have eight million I can 'spare'" Rragri informed him. "I'm not sure your land can handle them all."
"Shit," Justice Krex whispered, rather unprofessionally. As the words slipped from his mouth, he looked up, ashamed. The Anglian rulers just chuckled, showing no offense.
"Bring what you need," he said. "Scribe!" An aged, lean man stood from behind them, and Krex waved toward the Anglians. "You heard them. Write the treaty, keep it plain. We can discuss trade agreements later. I think that - "
A surge of panic pierced Sal's mind, followed by a jolt of pain. She stood, turning to the source - outside the room - and her chair tumbled loudly to the ground. The sound echoed in the massive hall.
Ahn! Risks desperate cry pierced all of their minds.
Chapter 59
Sal knew that Tilso lay bleeding, and Risk stood over his lover's body in the halls outside. Frantic, she slammed all of their minds into a link, Tseri and her mates with them. It was the only way to know what was going on. No one was talking. None of her brothers sent updates. She needed to know, and locking their minds together did exactly that.
"We're under attack," Tseri said, gesturing to the posture of the iliri.
Tilso's pain pounded at the back of Sal's awareness, and she felt Risk cut down two men before dropping to Tilso's side. Through the halls, Blades, Shields, and Dogs were encountering Terran soldiers who seemed to pour from nowhere.
"Blaec, Myrosica," Sal snapped, giving orders. "Jase, Zep, the door. Rayna on Dom. Arrgro, Harrgra, check the other entrances. Rragri, watch the justices. Tseri?"
"I'm good, Sal."
Rayna grabbed Dominik's shirt and pulled him to his feet, then hauled him against the wall. "Stay behind me."
"Damn, I love you," Dominik whispered, and Rayna's head snapped around.
"Bad fucking timing, Dom," she said.
He held up his hands and pressed closer against the wall.
"Someone get me a weapon, I have more than a hundred in the building!" Sal yelled.
With a flick of his wrists, Zep tossed Sal's knives to her. She caught them easily as the sound of combat began to echo through the halls. That's when the Myrosican judges began to panic, surging out of their chairs but left without any place to retreat. Sal turned to face them.
"Justices, I'll honor our agreement, and we can sign it later. Whatever that man in black says, do it and you'll live."
They nodded, and Blaec directed them against the wall. Like always, he took charge easily, and the Myrosicans obeyed. He turned back to say something - and his eyes went wide, their link carrying the warning before his mind could even form words.
Jase grabbed her, pulling Sal away as a resin blade crashed across his armor. A man in black landed behind it. This close, she could finally smell the ravens and citrus. Two more men jumped from the balcony above, all of them intent on Sal. She sliced at the man on Jase, and spun, taking an arm across her jaw. This was the Black Widow Company, the best soldiers the Terran Empire had.
Zep buried his sword in the man's back, and Jase surged back to his feet. Another Terran moved behind them. Sal blocked the swing at Zep's arm with her knife, but the soldier was good enough to knock the blade from her hand. It rang as it skidded across the marble floor. She snarled, intending to rush him, but Zep grabbed her, jerking her to the ground. Pain flashed in her head. Jase growled, his voice matching hers, and he sliced the man's neck open. Zep slowly sank to the ground beside him.
The doors began to pound, the decorative wood flexing.
"Risk!" Sal screamed. "Risk!" she begged with her entire heart, and she fell to her knees beside Zep. His armor gaped open from his neck to his shoulder and blood pooled out. "Risk!" she roared, her anguish piercing through their minds.
Around them, more men jumped from the balcony. The nuvani and Anglians kept fighting, doing their best to block out Sal's grief.
"Bleed out is one to five minutes,
Sal," Zep said softly. "I won't make it.
She grabbed his hands, shaking her head. "Hush," she said, resting her finger against his lips. "Think, but hush." She grabbed his mind to her, wrapping herself in him and slowed his heart, relaxing his body.
The link between the Blades, Shields, Dogs, and nuvani crumbled as Sal forgot about anything but the man before her. Tseri grabbed the fragments and tried to shove them back together with her mind, Arctic and Roo meeting her. It took all of them to patch them together around Sal's grief.
I love you, Sal, Zep said.
"No," Blaec whispered, seeing his friend bleeding slowly across the floor. "Oh fuck, no. Guard the damned doors. Get me a fucking medic!"
Tseri ran to Jase, pulling Sal's blades from the scabbards at his back. Tears streamed down his face, but he stood calmly before the door. Her mates moved to his side, and they all growled as the wood flexed against the next pounding, but Sal saw none of it.
I love you, Zep. Stay with me. She pressed her hand against the wound, trying to slow the bleeding.
I can't, kid. You'll do great. Just listen, ok? In a minute, my body will go into shock. Let go before that. You can't go with me this time.
No, Sal pleaded.
You have to, demon. Don't remember me like this, ok? Remember the kites. You made my life complete, baby. I've never loved anything like I love you. And you look amazing in that dress. I've never seen anything so perfect in my entire life.
Zep, she tried, but he stopped her.
Just listen. I know you love me. I also knew I didn't deserve it. Take care of the girls. Make sure they remember me, ok? And my mares. A flare of amusement caressed her mind. You're not as scared of them as you say.
The doors shattered.
Don't remember me like this, Sal, Zep begged her. Remember how I loved you, ok?
Sal grabbed his soul to her, clinging to it, and refused to let it go. Men screamed and died beyond, but Sal couldn't think about anything but Zep. Desperate, she held his life with her will - it was all she had left.
Let go, baby, he said. It's ok. I had you. We had you. They're so good to you. You'll be fine without me, but you have to let go.
No, she said, shaking her head. Just hold on, Zep. They're coming. Just hold on a bit longer.
You know I can't. His body gasped, but his eyes held hers. He gasped again, lurching beneath her, but Sal held on, shoving against the wound, willing the blood to stop.
Kiss Jase for me. A lot. You look so beautiful with him. And give Rhyx my sword. He gasped again, his mind flaring in panic against hers, but she held him both with her hands and her mind. You can't stop it, demon. If you hold on too long I'll take you with me, and Anglia needs you, Sal. It's time to let go. I'm tired.
Jase fell beside her, pressing his hand over hers. He entwined with their minds, looking down at Zep. Hold on, big brother.
I can't, little brother. His body gasped. I love you, too, man. Just take care of her for me?
The door was clear, but combat rang out beyond, the next wave pushing to them. Behind her, Blaec screamed for Risk. Before her, the Viraenovans stood splattered in blood, their swords held ready.
Don't let go, bro, Jase begged.
We've got you, Zep, Sal thought.
A surge of panic hit them as Zep became heavy against their minds. It felt like the ground had fallen away from his soul. Instinctually, Sal and Jase wove themselves together, wrapping Zep between them. Neither of them hesitated. They weren't going to let him die so easily.
I'm falling! Zep thought. Don't let her fall in, Jase. Let go. She can't fall in. Take care of her and make her let go!
No. Jase refused to consider it. Together, they braced his death against their life. Tears streamed from Jase's eyes as he fought. Sal did nothing, her entire willed focused on keeping her Taunor with her.
***
In the hall, Raast ran as fast as she could. She'd felt the flare of pain and knew her dava was dying. Rhyx ran behind her like a grauori. Their only desire was to help. Nothing else mattered. Sliding around a corner, their claws slid against the slick floor, but the twins refused to slow. Hwa and Roo chased behind them, attacking anything that came close. Just ahead, Terrans ran toward the courtroom. The pups scampered, knowing they needed to reach the door before they were blocked by battle.
Audgan saw the girls running fast, sticking close to the edge of the wall, and he cut down the man before him to chase after them with Hwa and Roo. A Terran lunged from the side toward the pups, and Audgan swung his sword, cleaving the man's head from his shoulders, then struggled to catch the running grauori. Footsteps behind him told him all he needed to know.
I've got incoming, Audgan cried into the link. Courtroom. Lots of them.
I can't make it, Arctic said. We're blocked off.
One by one, the Blades called out their positions, and Audgan felt his heart sink. The Courtroom only had one entrance and exit. They had to hold it until the soldiers cleared the Terrans from the back. On the heels of the pups, he raced through the doors, shoving past the Viraenovans - and stopped cold.
Bodies of Terrans were scattered across the room. Rayna stood with her sword held before Dominik, her face streaked with blood and tears. Blaec and Rragri blocked the dais, the bitch pacing across the top of it. Cyno and Sal knelt over Zep's lifeless body. The pool of blood soaked into her dress and spread across the floor. Cyno cried without shame.
"No," he whispered.
Tseri grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to look at her. "We have to hold the door. Stay with me as long as you can."
Audgan shook his head in disbelief. The pups pushed to Zep's side, Raast grabbing his still hand, and Rhyx howled. Behind him, the feet thundered closer, and Zyrn Audgan knew anger like he'd never known before.
"That is my brother!" he yelled as the first men rounded the corner. "You will not get past."
He reached for something deep inside and felt its darkness. Pushing it toward the Terrans, the pale young man's eyes glazed with intensity. The scent of fear began to leak from the humans before him. Audgan smiled cruelly as a few retreated from his fear.
"We know about you," a man said, shoving his way closer. A deep red spider was stamped on his shoulder, marking him as a member of Black Widow Company. "Fight or die, kid, but your fear won't stop us."
Audgan growled. When the men charged, he pushed his will at them as hard as his blade. Terrans fell back, staggering against the monster they couldn't see, but the man before him parried. Stroke for stroke they matched blows. Tseri's men held off those on either side. It was enough. Audgan saw an opening and struck, but the veteran was better. The Terran tilted his shoulder, and his blade hit Audgan's arm, the ceramic slicing easily through a gap in his armor and into the flesh beneath.
Pain flared. Audgan gasped, falling to his knees, but he wouldn't give up. Battering away the blows coming at him, a warm tingle began in his throat, racing through him, making the edges of everything more defined, the colors more vibrant. His lip lifted in a feral snarl. He had no fear of this man, and the fool smelled like prey.
"You will not get past me," he growled from his knees.
"Fuck off and die, kid," the elite said as he parried blows from the nuvani. "You're next, you iliri fuck."
"You will not get past!" With a surge that could almost be heard, Audgan embraced the fear of dying slowly and alone. Men dropped in place, curling around themselves, and then the screaming began. "You will not hurt any more of us!"
Keep it up, Audgan! Blaec demanded. Arctic, get the grauori in here. Dogs, we have a shitload of them at the courtroom door, I need it cleared. Blaec did his best to keep order as the battle tried to fall apart around him.
We're coming, man, Ilija promised. Who's down?
Not now, Ilija, Blaec said. First, we save the living.
I got everyone up out here. I'm missing Audgan, Risk said.
He's here. He's holding the door, Blaec told them.
Oh fuck, Pig said, e
vidently close enough to see the insanity. What the fuck? They're all down.
Just kill them, Pig. Audgan's made them afraid of their own skin or something. Fucking kill them all before he drops it.
You heard the man! Pig ordered. Clean this shit up.
The smell of death only made it easier for Audgan to hold the fear on them - and push it further. Across the basilica, men fell, and others ran screaming. Anglians, Viraenovans, and Myrosicans battled side by side outside the building. The bodies piled up, and the grauori surged through the halls and streets, looking for more. In the middle of the Courtroom, another battle raged silently.
***
Hang on to us! Jase screamed at Zep.
Their minds and souls still clung together, but they felt as if they were suspended over a deep chasm, only their wills holding Zep to them. Death sucked at him, staking its claim.
Just trust her Zep, don't fucking let go, man.
Sal said nothing, focused completely on holding Zep away from the blackness she felt in the void.
Raast clung to his cold hand, Rhyx beside her. The pup ripped at the well of life inside him, pulling more and more from depths that only she could see. She used her own energy to brace the well, and Rhyx added to it while Sal and Jase held Zep above the void.
The prophecy, Zep thought, and suddenly, he began to struggle, no longer limp in their grip.
Sal could almost feel the chasm closing, and she pulled harder, sinking her mental hands deep into Zep's heart and mind, yanking them into herself. Jase supported him, preventing his brother from falling back. Slowly, Sal lifted him higher and higher. Then the pull just stopped. Sal, Zep, and Jase felt as if they were flung against a wall, and Raast whimpered as she collapsed.
"Amma!" Rhyx whimpered.
Roo and Hwa rushed to them. Roo pulled Raast's limp form to her chest, and Hwa wrapped Rhyx in his arms. Both of them held their children tightly, at a complete loss for words.
Zep gasped.
The air sucking into his lungs sounded loud in the silent hall, and all eyes turned to them. Zep opened his eyes, met Sal's, and they both passed out cold. Jase sagged onto his hands. Only his will kept him from joining them, but he looked completely spent.
