Defiance (Rise of the Iliri Book 3)

by Auryn Hadley

  "Have you told the rest?"

  "No." Regret filled that word. "There's no point. We just need a bit more intel, and we'll be ready to finish this. That's why I brought us up here. Officially, we're finalizing the arrangements for Anglia's treaty, but I hope to get the last bit of intel we need." Then he looked down into her eyes. "You realize this is probably going to be a one-way trip into Terric, right? It's the only way to save our people. With the grauori, the traditions will continue, but we're the only ones able to finish this."

  She looked down, unable to hold those pale green eyes. "I know. But what now, Blaec?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "You can't be my superior and my subordinate at the same time. How do we get there from where we are?"

  "I could promote you. You want to lead the Blades?"

  Sal laughed. "No. Maast, Blaec, we both know that's the wrong answer. Besides, I kinda like my bars. Let me wear them for a while longer."

  He kissed her head and wrapped his arms tighter around her. "They're yours now. One day, I hope to promote you again, and you can give them away, or keep them in a drawer, or be buried in them. Those are for you, Sal, and your rank has nothing to do with it."

  "You still haven't answered the question, though," she pointed out.

  Blaec flopped back with a groan. "That's because I don't know the answer. If I try to think of it as a unit, it makes my head hurt. When I think of how a pack works, it makes perfect sense. You can handle the politics and the larger picture, I'll make sure the group is safe and organize the tactics. Does that work?"

  Sal nodded against his chest. "So, Ahnor, Dernor... and Blades?"

  "That, or iliri." Blaec ruffled her hair. "You know Zep would love being called an iliri. No, I think Blades is the best way to deal with that. We're outside of your army, and I promise I won't countermand anything you say."

  "I think that works," Sal agreed. "But I can't get out of this bed until you move, you know, and the sun is well up."

  "In a rush?" he teased.

  Sal just laughed. "Yeah, I have to piss before tracking down the six thousand humans heading our way. I can't lay in bed and reminisce all day." She paused before letting out a deep sigh. "Damn it. I did it again. Blaec, I need a shirt. All I brought over here was what I wore in battle yesterday, and you can't make me put that back on."

  "Yes, Kaisae," he said, pulling himself from the bed to walk across the room. After rummaging in his packs, he tossed something blue at her. "That should make you remember next time. Sorry, my pants won't fit. You'll have to sneak back into your tent."

  She pulled on the shirt and slipped down from the bed. Her white legs peeked from the bottom, but it hung almost to her knees. Stopping only long enough to kiss Blaec, she walked boldly out of his tent. The men were already up and working on their breakfast when she strolled outside, and a few glanced up. Audgan blushed and dropped his gaze, but Arctic stared, his white eyes tracking her. When Sal defiantly looked back, he smiled and glanced away, his face unreadable.

  She handled her body's most pressing need, then returned to Jase's tent. The floor was covered by Ilija's sprawling body, snoring gently. Jase lay quietly in his bed, those blue eyes watching her. Sal smiled at him, strangely embarrassed, and moved to her packs to find a clean set of blacks.

  Ya have no idea how tempted I am ta wake him, kitten, Jase whispered into her head.

  You'd give him a heart attack. You know how he had a fit every time he entered our rooms.

  Yeh, but that only makes it more tempting. Did ya have a good night?

  Good enough, she said, meeting Jase's eyes. But you've spoiled me, killer.

  Works fer me. He rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. I had ya long enough, figured I could share a bit.

  Oh, I see! And you think you get to make that call?

  Only when ya worry too much 'bout hurting my feelings. Otherwise, nah. Ya know we have a whole day ta kill b'fore the Terran army gets here, maybe more?

  Yeah, but I couldn't sleep anymore. Don't tell him, Jase, but it doesn't feel right.

  Ya know yer feeding my ego, right?

  Sal chuckled, trying to smother it. No, that wasn't what I meant to do. I realized something last night, though. The reason I made you Ahnor. She looked at him, a smile creeping to her lips. You've always been there. I mean always, from the moment I held out my papers that first day, you've always been around. Everything I do, it feels like there's a part of you, right here, she pointed to the back of her head, just waiting. You're good, killer, and it took me a while to see it, but I'm onto you now. You're just going to have to deal with the consequences.

  Being yer Ahnor is a consequence of falling madly in love with ya?

  She nodded.

  Yeh, I can deal with that.

  She slipped into her blacks quietly, and somehow managed to not wake Ilija. Breakfast, killer. Smells like Roo's cooking, too.

  That made him sit up. Ok. Ya convinced me. Toss me some blacks and save me some food. I'll be right out.

  Sal did as she was asked and snuck out of the tent. Roo knelt before the flames, fresh meat in her hands and a pouch of seasonings beside her. Thankfully, she looked completely healed, even if she was moving a bit slow. When Sal sat beside her, the grauori offered a welcoming smile.

  Morning, Kaisae. I like our pack. Thank you for making me a part of it, Roo said.

  "Have they tried your cooking yet?" Sal asked.

  "Oh yeah," Shift said from across the flames. "Did you know Hwa caught the deer this morning? The pair of them prepared it, and now Roo's cooking it as people wake up. I love being spoiled."

  "Venison?" Arctic asked, snagging a bit from the end of Roo's skewer. The bitch growled at him, and he stuck his tongue out.

  "I'm next to Kaisor," he informed her, then paused. "Is there a word for that? Sal gets a title. I want one."

  No, Roo thought so they all could hear. Not a title for that, but the Black Blades aren't like any pack I've known. Kaisor was only made to explain human things, it's not really a word either. Make one, Arctic.

  "Hmm, ok. But my Iliran is horrible."

  "Raewar" Jase said, walking out of his tent.

  Yes, Roo agreed. That would work well.

  "Ok, what does it mean, Cyno?" Arctic asked.

  "Strength of the pack. It's the word fer that which makes us stronger. I think ya fit it, man."

  Sal nodded. "Yeah, it works. Raewar Arctic." She smiled up at him.

  "That smile of yours, Sal. I missed it," Arctic said. "Sharp teeth and all. I'm glad we're back together."

  "Me too," Jase said, wrapping his arms around her. It was the perfect way to start the morning.

  The smell of breakfast cooking permeated the camp. Slowly, the Blades trickled out, casually joking among themselves like always. She enjoyed hearing the sound of their voices after so long. The banter was something she hadn't even realized she missed. Safe in the middle of Sal's army, none of them noticed the group of Anglians until they appeared between the tents.

  With a snarl, the iliri jumped to their feet. Seven humans in near white uniforms reacted instinctually. Hands went to weapons on both sides – and Sal chuckled.

  "Black Blades... meet the Verdant Shields," she said, proud of her trainee's quick response.

  Ricown pushed his sword back into the sheath and dipped his head. "Next time, we'll make more noise. Sorry." Then he looked at her. "Sal, have you seen our Colonel? We seem to have lost him overnight."

  "Yeah," She gestured behind her, "he's in my tent."

  Chapter 35

  Ricown looked at Jase, surprised. "The Colonel is in Sal's tent?"

  Jase laughed. "Na like that man. Sal was na even in her own tent last night. Ilija is jus' passed out on the floor."

  Breakfast? Roo said gesturing to the deer as she looked up at the humans. Sal, would you tell them we have enough to share?

  "Roo wants to know if you'd care for some breakfast. Sorry, humans, we tend to do mostl
y meat around here," Sal said. "Come on in guys, pull up a seat, and get comfy. Blades, you'll likely be fighting beside these men, so you'd best get to know them."

  Hearing the commotion, Blaec emerged from his tent, dressed in his finest black uniform, and introduced himself. The Shield's were awestruck, most unable to do more than bob their heads in acknowledgment. Sal smiled at their reaction to meeting a military legend.

  "Jase, go wake the Colonel and tell him his men were looking for him?" Sal asked.

  Once the assassin left, Blaec took his place, sitting next to Sal beside the fire. While the shields found places to sit, he leaned over and kissed her gently, then accepted his own breakfast from Roo, smirking at the looks from the men around them.

  "You're off duty, so I'm not breaking protocol, am I?" he asked.

  "No, love," she assured him. "They're just used to seeing me with Jase. We made no secret of our relationship. It kept the humans from annoying me." Roo handed out food to the guests in her camp, but Sal noticed them eavesdropping. "They only know the two of us, and so many of you look human enough to confuse them."

  Blaec nodded. "So, we go to Conglomerate habits, or do we teach them about iliri?"

  "No -" Sal began to answer as Jase returned.

  "He's up. Damn it, LT, ya stole my spot," Jase said as he moved to Sal's left side, putting her between them. The Shields traded glances, most of them tense and waiting for an outburst.

  Sal giggled, but continued her thought. "No, Blaec, I think if we want iliri to be accepted here – truly accepted – we need to show humans that we aren't quite like them. They know we're different, they just don't understand all of the nuances."

  Jase quickly grasped the way the conversation was going. "Yeh, I had ta explain it ta Ilija last night. He half expected me ta challenge ya, LT."

  "Really?" Blaec was amused. "I would've thought that of all of them, he'd think little of it. You know him pretty well, don't ya, Sal?"

  "I do, but like I said, only with Jase."

  Blaec picked at his food. "Yet you think we should enlighten them."

  "Not just that. We need to get them a link. If nothing else, Roo can hold it until Rragri can assign a linker to them. I think she will, with the way things have been going."

  Roo joined the conversation. I think she will, too. She wants to begin mingling the packs with the humans and reclaim the country as their own. She's willing to share, but she isn't willing to go back to the secrecy the grauori kept before. The Shields have worked with Hwa and me, and they'd be a good trial to see if it works.

  The three Blades nodded in understanding.

  "First," Arctic pointed out from beside them. "We have to stop talking about them like they aren't here,"

  Ricown chuckled. "Yeah, I don't know about the rest, but I know there's a bit of tension. Kaisae, we know your Blades are different -"

  "Blaec's Blades," Sal corrected with a grin.

  "Ok, the Blades. A few of us know there's more, and the Colonel knows more than we do."

  "What about me?" Ilija asked, rubbing his head as he staggered from the tent. "Morning men. Don't touch the iliri unless they offer it," he said. "And it sounds like we already have an issue."

  "No," Sal assured him. "Not an issue, really."

  "I kissed the Kaisae," Blaec explained. "Your Shields didn't like it, but they were polite. It just brought up the cultural differences, and we're debating the best way to handle it."

  "Well, what'd ya do in the Conglomerate?" Ilija asked.

  "Hid it," Jase told him. "In public, we act as human as we can. That's why we all have a camp at the edge, and why we're so hypersensitive ta humans entering it. Our den, our home, that kinda thing." He shrugged at the Shields in explanation for their earlier behavior.

  Ilija nodded. "Well, I don't think ya need to do that. We all know Sal's anything but normal, and Ahnor, you aren't exactly the most comfortable man to be around. Knowing that, I can see why the Shields are tense. Hell, I know how it makes me feel." He shrugged. "All I can say is that you'll probably answer a lot of questions – like Jase did with me last night. You may have to push some of 'em because we humans don't want to offend. We know what we owe Sal."

  Blaec thought about that. "So, address the concerns before they can become more, and just be ourselves? You already seem to understand a few of our quirks, like the touching."

  "Yeh, I know about the Ahnor. I also see enough to notice how Sal tries, but flinches every time a strange hand touches her. The grauori are the same."

  Arctic explained, "Most of our abilities are touch based, or at least accentuated by touch. Some are conscious, like Sal's, Shift's and Risk's. But others, like LT's and Cyno's, are spontaneous."

  Sal looked at the humans sitting much too quietly. "Come on, Shields, I see you listening, you might as well join in."

  Ricown chuckled. "I was trying to be subtle, Kaisae."

  For the first time, Arctic looked at the First Officer of the Verdant Shields. His head tilted slightly. "Sal?"

  "Yeah, quarter iliri. I know, Arctic. I don't know if he has a talent – we didn't have the means to check without a link," she said. Ricown looked between them, his eyes large, as Sal talked about him. "He's a better shot than you, though."

  "Seriously?" Arctic asked, impressed.

  "Yep. He's the one that nearly killed me in the gauntlet. That was before he had training."

  "Nice," Arctic said, and Ricown blushed at the praise.

  You should link them, Raewar, Roo suggested. I'll hold it, but I don't know how to pull them in.

  Arctic switched to his mind, including Ilija in the mental conversation. What do you all think? Once they're in, they may be able to piggyback on any link like we can.

  Only if they know they can, and have a strong enough awareness of the linker, Hwa pointed out.

  Sal thought about it. It would make things easier in the long run. I know we'll all suffer for it the first day, but I expect we'll be fighting with them for weeks, if not months more. They're good men. On their own, I wouldn't recommend linking them all, but as a group...

  Ilija held up a finger to the Verdant Shields, letting them know that something was going on. I can't guarantee that I can control them, but I haven't seen much that makes me worry about linking them. Dag is rash, and Vanja can be belligerent, but that seems to be the worst of it. Their intentions seem good, and with a link, we'd be that much more aware, right?

  Blaec nodded at the Colonel. Yeah, and if Roo opens you up before battle, they can't hide anything. It'll also let you share perceptions from each of them, covering your blind spots. From what Sal says, Dominik deserves the best he can get behind him. He turned to Roo. You sure you're ok with managing their link?

  Yes, Kaisor. And I want to learn how to bring a human in. I can't fight, not now, but this I can do.

  Arctic, let them in. Take Ricown first.

  Yes, sir, Arctic agreed, standing. He walked over to Ricown and held out his hand. "Ricown, touch me."

  Ricown looked up and started to climb to his feet, but Arctic waved him back down. Again, he held out his hand. "It's easier if you're sitting."

  Ricown clasped it. "Ok?"

  "You're part iliri. This shouldn't feel too strange to you. Your head is going to feel like it's being tickled, and that's ok. It's me. Don't fight it."

  "Yeah, I feel you," Ricown said, impressed.

  "Take it. Follow it," Arctic whispered.

  From the look on Ricown's face, he did. Sal felt something brush against her consciousness, like rough spun wool that was well worn. Around the camp, the Blades were smiling, knowing the feel of a new mind joining the link, and one that showed promise.

  Be welcome, Blaec thought to him, and Ricown's eyes nearly shot out of his head. He looked at the Major in awe.

  "Did you?"

  "Yeah," Blaec said, gesturing for Ricown to hold that thought. It's easier for you if you don't know what's coming. Then you can't brace against it. The humans will
be harder. Let us not set them up to fail.

  Ricown just nodded, looking around at each of them.

  "Ok, hang on," Ilija interrupted. "Let's get this straight, first. Those humans have names. The dark ones are Dag, Danku, and Vanja, from darkest to lightest. Then we have Zain, Tebio, Caein, and Ricown, again dark to light." He pointed at the men as he introduced them. "And the Blades..."

  Blaec took over. "I'm LT, then Arctic, Sal, Jase, Zep, Razor, Shift, Risk, Geo, and Audgan." As he named each one, they nodded at the Verdant Shields.

  Awkward greetings were shared all around. The Shields could tell the Blades were up to something, but were unsure of what it could be. While the new guys tried hard to be polite, Arctic stepped to the next man, Dag, and offered his hand.

  "Dag, look at me, and touch." The soldier obeyed. "You will feel something in your mind, let me know when you can feel it."

  "What does it feel like?" Dag asked.

  "A worm in your head. Awkward and like it's moving," Zep told him.

  "No, nothing like that."

  Arctic focused harder, and Roo stared across at him. Is that it? Roo asked.

  I think so. Each human is a bit different, so let's see.

  "I think I feel it. Oh, that's weird," Dag whispered.

  "I need you to grab it and hold it like a dog on a bone. Sink your mental teeth and nails into it, and hang onto it like your life depends on it," Arctic told him.

  Dag nodded. "Ok, I got it."

  Arctic pulled, and Sal felt gravel behind her eyes, and then nothing.

  "It got loose, man," Dag said, shrugging it off.

  "Trust me, Dag, you want to hold onto that shit," Ilija said.

  "One more try," Arctic said, gazing deeply into Dag's eyes for a moment.

  Eventually, Dag spoke again, "Ok, I got it good."

  "Don't let it go, man," Ilija said.

  Arctic exhaled, and again Sal felt the gravel against her brain. She leaned her head on Jase's shoulder. Blaec massaged her knee. The other Blades rubbed at their heads, and Audgan was breathing deeply. Eventually, the irritation stopped, and they all felt the prickle of a new presence in their link. Blaec glanced at the Blades, and everyone nodded.