Defiance (Rise of the Iliri Book 3)

by Auryn Hadley

  She read through the comments quickly. Nothing listed surprised her. He'd served for almost fifteen years, had taken command of units as needed, and always put in the effort necessary to perfect the duties he'd been assigned. Ilija had only recently been moved to the Palace guard, and still he was making a name for himself. Throughout the month, Sal and her pack had surprised many units in training, and only Ilija's had performed anywhere near their expectations.

  A knock at her door broke her from her thoughts. "Come," Sal called to the wood.

  A young man, not more than fourteen, slipped inside the door wearing the green and silver of a court page. His eyes were wide, and he refused to release the handle.

  "Can I help you, sir?" Sal asked the kid.

  "The King requires you to accompany him on a hunt," he blurted.

  Sal nodded. "Tell him I'd be happy to."

  The boy nodded back, not moving. Eventually, he stammered out, "He said it's the envoy, and you'd understand, Sergeant."

  "Kaisae," Sal corrected, watching the confusion flick across his face. "What's your name young man?"

  "I'm Jarl, Kaisae. He said they ride out in half an hour." With a quick nod at her, the page slipped back out her door, his feet slapping against the stones as he ran through the hall.

  Sal sighed and closed the file. Hwa, Roo, Jase? We're going on a hunt.

  Already with him, Kaisae, Hwa replied.

  I'll have the horses saddled, Sal. Get inta some armor, kitten. The daughter and the historian are walking heavy t'day, Jase added.

  You geared up, Jase? she asked, knowing he'd think of her before himself.

  Yeah, I had a barracks inspection this morning. Thought I'd dress the part.

  Well, that worked out nicely, Sal thought as she made her way to her rooms.

  Quickly, she got into her dress armor, enjoying the feel of the rings against her skin and amazed at how light and flexible it was. She dug in her packs, pulled out her bracers and strapped them on, then slung her helm over her shoulder as she made her way down to the stables below. It wasn't far. When Sal walked through the aisle of the barn, she found her mare standing in cross ties, blocking the alley. On the other side was Jase's mare She attached her helm to the clip on the saddle, then began adjusting the tack to be more comfortable. Beside her, Jase was doing the same with Raven.

  Where's the King? she asked.

  The other barn. He's playing the gracious host, and still flirting with that girl, but at least now he's acting like he's too shy to do more than meet her gaze.

  So he learns. Sal untied her mare.

  Jase did the same, and the pair of them led the horses to the doors, swinging into the saddle once they were under the open sky. Without a word, they trotted side by side toward the next barn. The air was crisp making the sky appear even more blue than it should. Pausing near a lush patch of early grass, they gave the mares their heads and waited for the rest. Both horses dug in greedily while their riders took the chance to relax. It didn't take too long before the grauori came bounding through the door with the clop of shod hooves behind them. The King's party was mounted on fine-boned coursers in shades of chestnut and bay.

  "Don't think I've seen your steeds before," Dominik said, riding up beside them. "They're amazing. Maybe I should be looking to buy horses from you," he joked.

  "I doubt they'd be for sale, sire. Not the ones of this quality. These girls are our lifelines," Sal told him.

  "Mares?" the King asked surprised.

  "Typic'lly," Jase answered. "They're more consistent in battle, and they are na allus trying ta breed something. Besides, ya ever see what a stallion does when a mare pisses at him? Yeh. Let's just say I am na too proud ta sit on a nice looking lady."

  The King laughed heartily at that. "Me neither, my friend. Me neither." Then he raised his voice for the group to hear. "My hounds will flush us some game. Most likely just fowl, but if we're lucky, we might get a stag. Sadly, it's the wrong season for boar. Let us all enjoy the ride – and tonight we'll feast on our conquests!"

  With his words, the grauori raced off, howling into the wind. Roo whispered into Sal's mind, It'll be stag. Dom asked us to give them little reason to use the bows. We want to keep the pace hard enough that the Terrans can't cause trouble.

  Good thinking, Roo. Let me know if anything changes, Sal replied.

  Always, Kaisae.

  As the grauori sped into the trees, the King spurred his horse to follow, and the group of them fell in behind. The King, three of the Terrans, and a single huntsman made the entire party. Sal worried about the lack of Anglians, so kept herself and Jase to the back, their eyes open for treachery from either the pace or the Terrans. This outdated hobby might seem quaint to humans, but to her, it was the epitome of a stupid decision. Too bad she couldn't convince the King to step into modern times with the rest of the continent!

  The hunt crested a hill. The horses bounded down a ravine, splashing through the creek below when the "hounds" gave voice to their prey. In the distance, Sal heard the eerie howl of more beasts. Another grauori pack was near.

  But the hunt was moving fast. The King and his entourage blindly raced after the deer, their horses leaping fallen logs and racing across the muddy ground. Spring was trying to grip the world around them, the snow clinging only to the bases of the trees and the shadows of rocks. For too many weeks, she'd huddled in stone buildings and had almost missed the winter melt away.

  Kilometer after kilometer, nothing happened. Sal relaxed into the saddle, enjoying the hunt, and gave Arden her head. The speckled mare picked her own path across the slippery ground. When she raced to a downed tree, Sal lifted herself from the saddle and smiled as her horse surged under her, clearing the jump easily. Maybe there was something to this after all. With a glance over her shoulder, she saw Jase just behind her, Raven's ears forward, galloping easily. He was focused on the group but caught her movement and looked over with a smile on his lips.

  Kaisae! Roo called into her mind. The urgency in her voice killed the moment.

  Sal quickly turned her attention back to the humans but saw no sign of aggression from any of them. The Terrans were riding well and seemed pleased at the entertainment. As the King broke out of the trees and into a small clearing, he reined in his horse hard. That meant the problem was up ahead. Sal automatically guided Arden around the crowd to the King's side, following his gaze.

  In the center of the clearing, a pale white form writhed angrily. A bear trap had caught the grauori's leg, and he was near panic trying to free himself. The poor beast saw them and stopped thrashing to pull farther away from the humans. His lips lifted in a snarl.

  "Sal?" Dom whispered to her. "Can we get it out?"

  "I think we need to," she whispered back, reaching out to Roo. Can you talk to him?

  No, but Hwa can. He won't listen to a rafrezzi, Kaisae, the little female answered.

  Then do it. The King wants him free. Sal felt her acknowledgment and reached for Jase. Killer, keep an eye on the humans. I need to get the grauori out of there.

  Yes, sir, he replied officially.

  "Sire, please keep your distance," Sal whispered to the King as she slid to the ground.

  She saw him nod so began walking slowly to the trapped beast. Behind her, the King was explaining to the Terrans how valuable these animals were to him and how his own companions had come from a similar fate. The humans nodded, accepting his story without question. Sal whispered thanks that he could lie so well. As she got closer, the male stared at her, meeting her eyes. Sal refused to look away. He snarled again.

  Roo, link me to him? she begged.

  I can open you to him. I'm not sure he'll take it, Kaisae. He's called us traitors and refuses to listen to Hwa.

  All we can do is try, little one.

  She felt a strange slip and knew Roo had connected her with the male's mind.

  I am iliri, Sal sent. She continued explaining who she was as she steadily approached, all too aware
of the humans behind her. I will release you. You may leave if you choose, but you will only die to humans if you remain here. I am Kaisae. I control my pack, and my pack will prevent the humans from harming you now, but we can not stop them all.

  Finally, the male dropped his gaze. His eyes focused on her chin, and he stopped pulling against the trap. You have grauori eyes, but iliri are a myth, he told her.

  I don't feel very much like a myth, my cousin. And you don't look like one either. Will you allow me to release you?

  Will you? Or will you merely kill me when I am complacent?

  What choice do you have? You can hear my mind, listen to it. If I wanted to kill you, I would simply have shot you from my horse, not walked all this way trying to reassure you. Trust me, or don't, but if you try to attack me, I will leave you for the humans.

  She felt his resentment, but he turned his gaze to the ground. Sal quickly looked over the trap, finding the release. It was designed so that both hands were required to loosen the jaws around the grauori's leg. Kneeling at his side, she reached for it, warning the male in her mind, I am sorry, but this will hurt.

  I know. Please be fast.

  Sal grabbed the lever with both hands, pulling and twisting to loosen the trap. As the mechanism engaged, the jaws clenched against his mauled leg. The male yelped in pain before the trap released him completely. Without pausing for permission, he ran, carrying his injured leg close to his body. When he reached the tree line, he looked back, his eyes wide when he realized there'd been no pursuit.

  You kept your word. Laetus Kaisae! My thanks for my life, he sent her.

  Long life, cousin, Sal told him. Find healing soon.

  "Kaisae!" The King yelled at her across the clearing. "Spring that trap so another is not caught and send guards out here when we return. I will have no poaching of grauor wolves on my lands."

  "Yes, sire," Sal called back, grabbing a stick to trigger the trap. With a crunch, the teeth snapped shut, splintering the branch and unable to catch another grauori's leg.

  Just as she stood, the male whispered in her head again. The human calls you Kaisae?

  Yes. He is the human Kaisor, but he respects my pack and me as equals. He hopes to stop the violence against our kinds, and so I will give him my respect in return.

  She felt his confusion as he slipped out of the link. Hopefully, he'd tell his packmates that things with humans had changed. If the rumor spread, there might be a chance of peace between their species and the humans who'd taken over their land. She'd have to explain to Dom how good of an idea this was later.

  Turning back for her horse, she paused. The Terrans had pulled themselves into a tighter group, putting distance between themselves and the Anglians. Dom was smiling at her proudly, oblivious to the tension – or faking it really well. Then she glanced at Jase. His hand rested against his leg casually, and his eyes stalked them. Sal knew that behind his leg lay his weapons. His posture screamed the warning louder than anything else. That he hadn't sent a thought meant he wasn't sure. Reminding herself to relax, she headed back, but the openness around her now felt like a vulnerability.

  Time seemed to slow as the fake historian lifted his hand, the crossbow aimed directly at her. She jerked to the side but heard the twang of the string. The bolt crashed into her chest, near her right shoulder. Air rushed from her lungs, but she didn't feel the sweet pain she expected. Confused, she dared to glance at her shoulder, finding nothing more than a scuff on the black rings. Those idiots were going to die.

  She moved, running toward the man who shot her, but the Terrans were prepared. As the historian retreated to reload, Mr. Claudiu moved to put the assassins between himself and the fight, and the woman kneed her horse forward. Her bow was held low, the bolt pointing at the King. The iliri were too far away to stop this.

  "Dom, down!" Sal yelled.

  Chapter 22

  As Dominik tried to throw himself from his saddle, Jase flicked his wrist. A pale dagger flew between them, burying itself in the woman's back. Her finger closed, the bolt released, but her aim was good. With a sickening crunch, it lodged in the King's shoulder and his body crashed to the ground – silent.

  Sal looked for the last Anglian, the King's huntsman. Paralyzed with fear, the young man sat on his horse staring at the body of his king. "Ride, you idiot!" she screamed, breaking his trance. "Get the guards. I don't care if you founder that horse, damn it. Ride!"

  The man shoved his heels against his mount, spinning the animal toward the Palace, and raced away as if demons chased him. Elius Claudiu broke away to follow, the aged man reacting slower than the King's huntsman. Sal didn't have time to help. There were still two assassins to deal with.

  Raven shoved close to the "daughter". Jase pulled his sword. Her back was red with blood seeping from the wound his dagger left, but she met him. Blocking his first blow with her crossbow, the wood shattered under the force of the resin. Jase kneed his horse closer, and they grappled between their mounts. He had this. Sal rushed past, intent on her own target: the supposed historian. On the far side of the clearing, the grauori sped after the retreating Anglian and his pursuit.

  Subdue him! Sal screamed into their heads. I want answers, damn it.

  She felt their ascent, but their feet never slowed. The historian still struggled to load the bolt in his weapon, glancing up calmly to watch her running at him. With a curse, he dropped it and pulled a long, narrow blade from his side. Snatching at his reins, he wrenched his horse toward her and spurred it forward. When he was almost on top of her, Sal leapt to the side. Her hand closed on his wrist, the other fisting in his shirt, and the horse's momentum pulled him out of the saddle. They landed hard, the impact breaking them apart. He scrambled to his feet, pushing away from her, but Sal only crouched. Her eyes locked onto his.

  "I know what your armor means, scrubber," he taunted, ready for her.

  She didn't respond, merely waited for him to move. Her ears twisted, following the noises around them. Behind her, horses shuffled in the grass. To her side, Jase was growling. In the distance, she could see the grauori struggling with a body on the ground. A moan let her know that the King still lived. It was a standoff as they stared at each other, both too well trained to make the first move. A man like this wouldn't get desperate, but she was willing to bet he'd never fought anything like her.

  Sal snarled, allowing her inhuman teeth to flash at him. As his eyes lowered to her mouth, she pushed, closing the gap in a single step. Her hand closed on his throat. His blade slashed against her, but her armor prevented it from cutting. He tried in vain to stab through it as she squeezed, his off-hand wrenching at her fingers in panic. The thrill of a kill built inside her, and she raised the hooks of her bracer to his throat, watching his eyes widen in true fear, savoring the passions of her victory.

  The historian twisted suddenly, slipping his shoulder under her arm to swing wildly. Sal felt his resin blade tear through the flesh of her jaw, and he broke free. Her body responded against her will, lashing out at the cause of pain. The sharpened wings of her armor raked through his throat, taking nearly half his neck with it. The man's mouth opened and closed in a silent scream, and his eyes flicked around in pure terror before they stilled and grew dull. She let him fall and turned to her mate.

  Jase lay across the woman's body, covered in her blood. Her form was motionless beneath him. Small cuts covered his face and hands. His lips were pulled back in a feral snarl as he looked up at her.

  "Secure the old man, Jase," she told him too calmly, jerking her head to the grauori in the distance. Hwa stood on top of Elius Claudiu, and Roo held his shoulder, the man below them very still. Jase pried himself from his kill, wiping the human's blood from his lips as Sal neared. She whispered, "Question him. I want information first, Sergeant, then you may kill him, lover."

  He smiled at her, then took the last step to close the distance between them. Grabbing her pauldron, he pulled her to him, meeting her lips with his. Sal held him
there while she savored the taste of human on him. So good. Too good to let go, but she had to. Their eyes met. His look was both a promise and a need. When she wrenched her eyes away, he hurried toward the grauori. Sal rushed to the King's side before she could be distracted again.

  Dominik lay in the dirt, the black fletched arrow buried below his collar bone. The wound was serious but far from fatal, Sal thought as she knelt beside him.

  "Sal?" he moaned, "what happened to your face?"

  She smiled and felt a flash of pain as her skin resisted. "I'm afraid we decimated the envoy, sire."

  He nodded, searching her face. "And Jase? The grauori?" he begged, honestly concerned about their well being.

  "Fine. Your wounds are the worst. Lay still. I have the huntsman seeking help. They should return shortly." Sal licked her lips, the smell of his blood thick in the air.

  "Am I safe from you, Kaisae?" he asked. There was no fear on his face.

  "Yes, sire. I make no promises for Jase, but you are safe from me. I only wished you smelled less sweet."

  He laughed, cutting it short with a moan of pain. "I'm afraid there's nothing I can do about that, Sal. I'd prefer you don't eat me, though." His smile faded for a moment, and he whispered, "Shit, girl, this hurts."

  "I know, Dom. Move less and it will hurt less."

  Giving in, he let his head flop to the side. "Sal?" he whispered, and she glanced over her shoulder following his gaze.

  The nacione grauori they'd freed earlier slunk toward them. His eyes were wide and ears up, watching them both. The male's leg was also nearly healed. "Rer hoomans not so tame, Kaisae," he said, refusing to look away from the body of the King.

  "He is mine, nacione," she snarled, moving her body protectively across Dom's. Her eyes sought those of the male approaching her, but his head was lowered, his tail tucked close to his body.

  "Ya, Kaisae," he whimpered, shifting his gaze to hers then back to the ground quickly. "I owe roo fer mah life. I rill heal this one."