Tenacity (Rise of the Iliri Book 5)

by Auryn Hadley

  For a few steps, they walked in silence before Kolton's voice broke it. "I might not count, but I'm still going to watch your back."

  He thought he heard her mumble something that sounded like "thanks."

  Chapter 31

  They walked for most of the day, pausing to avoid humans twice. Sal could hear or smell them long before the enemy would notice the pair, so the trip had been relatively easy. Exhausting, but easy. Considering she'd started out barely able to function, easy was still more than she could handle.

  When the sun was sinking low in the sky, they stumbled upon a small creek with a collection of caves along the bank. One held promise. The entrance was short, forcing even Sal to bend low to get inside, but the interior was tall enough for Kolton to stand.

  He sighed, looking around. "Home sweet home? I think we're staying here until we're both rested enough to pull another all day trek, what do you think, Kaisae?"

  She knew it was a good idea, just like she knew she needed to rest. The problem was that deep inside, her heart was urging her to keep going, to get back to her mates. It felt like they were the only thing she had left to live for and wasting time here would ruin everything. She knew that was fear and depression. Jase had taught her enough about stress responses and iliri hormonal studies for her to recognize the signs, but it wasn't what it felt like.

  She felt desperate and alone, and not even the human beside her could fix that.

  "Sure," she mumbled, heading toward the back. "If you want to start a fire, I can find something for us to - "

  Kolton just shook his head as he pulled the pack from his back. "That's not how this is going to work, Kaisae." He tossed it toward her. "There's a couple of thin blankets in there. Make yourself a place to get comfortable. I'll be right back with wood."

  With that, he left. There was no request, just an order for her to sit down, shut up, and do as she was told. The problem was that he was right. She was so tired. Her head hurt so much it was hard to think. All she wanted to do was lay down and close her eyes for a minute - and Kolton was giving her that chance - but she couldn't trust him. The last time she'd trusted Star Fall, his unit had tried to kill her in the baths.

  But not him. Even when his second officer had taunted her, joking about how they'd done it and wouldn't be charged, Kolton hadn't been amused. He'd nearly kept up with her harried pace across the mountain ridge. He'd stood up for her to his officers, lied for her to his Captain. Time and time again, he'd proven that she could trust him, but he wasn't a Blade. He may have married an iliri, but he was still not her ally.

  Could he be? The 112th Mounted were her friends. Most of the humans in Anglia were her friends. For most of her life, everything had come down to human against iliri, but all of that had just changed. Humans were her allies. Zep was her mate. The Emperor was iliri.

  While she spread the blankets in a dark, sheltered corner, Sal tried to wrap her mind around that. For over a decade, Makiel Geirr had been killing her people. He'd almost singlehandedly wiped out her species, but he was part iliri. Most people in the Conglomerate of Free Citizens could find an iliri in their ancestry. This war wasn't about black against white. The lines weren't decided by human against iliri. It went so much deeper than that, and someone had to be the first to try to change it.

  She had nothing else to lose.

  ***

  Sal was curled up on the blankets when he came back with wood. Her knees were pulled against her chest, her hands clutched beside her neck, and she looked so frail. Weeks of captivity had taken a visible toll on her. The bones of her face stood out more than he remembered and the spark was gone from her eyes, but she was still going. Kolt knew that most people would've given up long before now, but not her. Not even if she wanted to.

  Trying hard not to wake her, He quietly laid the wood out, tucking kindling underneath. For a moment, he thought he'd been successful, but when he flicked the striker, her eyes cracked open. He tried again, worrying less about the sound, and got a spark this time.

  "Go back to sleep, Sal," he breathed, leaning back on his heels. "And crawl under those blankets to warm up."

  She kicked her feet under, but little else, those white eyes never leaving. "What are you doing?"

  "Going to find you something to eat. Hopefully enough that you'll share with me." He felt his lips curling when she let him stare back.

  "And how are you going to do that?"

  Dusting the wood chips and dried grass from his thighs, he pushed himself back to his feet. "Just like you told me to earlier. Not my first time to live off the land. Stop worrying and get some rest. I'm going to need you a little more revitalized for the next leg of this trip."

  Sal just lowered her head to the ground and closed her eyes. "Thanks," she whispered.

  Kolt felt his chest tighten. The last time he'd seen her, she'd been so strong, so vibrant. Now, the tiny woman was just a slip of herself. Lines of distress marred her face, showing her pale skin beneath the layers of dust and grime. Never mind that she hadn't chided him for meeting her eyes or ordering her around.

  If she were anyone else, he'd say she'd been defeated, but this was Salryc Luxx. He'd seen her come back from worse. He'd watched her pull a bolt from her own arm, enraged that it might slow her down. He'd heard stories of her in battles, of how even the humans around her were inspired to do more. He'd been there. He knew it was all true. But not right now.

  That meant he had to get her back. The first step was finding something she could eat. First, he slipped one of her steel knives out of the bag, working hard not to wake her. Next, under the cover of dusk, he headed away from the creek, seeking the barren grasslands to the north. Somewhere out there had to be a rabbit, mole, or fox that could keep her going another day. Meat. She wouldn't even care what kind, she just needed meat. More would be better, but he couldn't recall seeing her eat anything besides a few bites of human and a slip of liver from Narnx's hand.

  And iliri didn't do well if they weren't fed. Her body needed the proteins to fuel itself. Her mind needed the sustenance to stay focused. Withholding protein was a well-known way to tame beasts like her. Even the military used it for the punishment of conscripts. If the iliri weren't fed, they'd grow weak and weary. In order to eat, they'd become pliant. In so many cases, a few months was all it took for them to give up, learning to behave to be fed.

  But not her.

  For days, she'd been hanging from that post, and she'd never backed down. Even when Blaec had died, she'd only fought harder. That will, that tenacity, was the only thing that could win this war, and right now, it was up to him to make sure she kept going.

  He hadn't hunted since he was a boy, but it was hard to forget. Smaller animals liked to cluster under trees or in dense brush. He needed to stay downwind of them so they wouldn't flee from the stench of a predator. This late in the year, lizards would be gone, many of the birds would have migrated, and larger game would be too fast. That meant he needed rodents or ground fowl. Hopefully, the Emperor's army hadn't already decimated the area.

  No more than a hundred meters from the cave, he found a stand of trees with briars growing along the base. Slowly, Kolt moved in, listening for the subtle sounds of movement. Leaves rustled, proving something was alive in there - then he heard something else.

  Back and to his right came a rhythmic swish. It sounded like the grasses, but he couldn't be sure. One thing was obvious. That wasn't just any animal. It had to be human.

  Ducking low, hoping the vegetation would keep him hidden, he moved toward the sound. When he realized he was headed back toward the creek, his heart picked up the pace. Alone, Sal was completely vulnerable and too weak to fight back.

  Then he saw them. It was just two men, both dressed in the dark purple of the Terran infantry, and they didn't look like they were being overly cautious. Unfortunately, their silence didn't convince him that this was just a coincidence. He had to do something and, aware that he was dressed in a Terran uniform himsel
f, the answer seemed obvious.

  Kolt stood up straight. "Hey, there," he called out in his best Escean accent, waving an arm.

  Both men spun, their hands going to their hilts. "Who's that?" one asked.

  "Corporal Enik Karington," he replied, hoping Sal would hear his voice if nothing else. They were much too close. "I'm trying to get back to base."

  The second man stepped forward, still keeping his hand on his weapon. "What are you doing out here, Corporal?"

  Quick, he thought, think of something. "Our unit was decimated on the other side of the Siahies. I've been trying to make it back to report, but it's been a very long walk. Please tell me I'm almost there?" He was close enough that the soldiers could see his uniform and they still hadn't attacked.

  The first man shifted, moving enough to flank. The second looked him over. Kolt just lifted his hands, hoping neither of them noticed the bright steel hilt tucked in the back of his pants. For a few seconds, the Terrans weighed him in silence, then he saw the man at his side nod. With a chuckle, the other extended his hand.

  "Welcome back, Corporal. You're about a day out on foot. We have a camp back there," his head jerked to the southeast, "with some real food that might make you feel a little better."

  Kolt pushed out a relieved sigh, then chuckled. "Yeah. Nothing like ‘home cooking' after a long hike, right? You on patrol?"

  The two shared a glance. This time, the man to his side answered. "Looking for escapees."

  "Oh," Kolt whispered, dropping his voice. "Close?"

  "Trail ends by the creek a klick up. Made camp there hoping one of the hounds would find something, but they've been silent for a while."

  Kolt was nodding, taking it all in while trying to look like he was thinking. "How could someone slip the dogs like that?"

  "It's an iliri, Corporal. The bitch herself. Sergeant Narnx sent the best units out in each direction, and we're the only ones who've had any sign of her. She's around here, and we're going to get one hell of a nice bonus when we bring her back."

  "Yeah. If it's her, that means you've got a couple units, right?"

  Once again, the men shared a look. "No, sir," the man before him answered. "Just us."

  "Us?" Kolt pressed.

  "Second Tracking Specialists, Corporal. Our record is excellent at returning escapees."

  And that was all he needed to know. The Second Tracking Specialist unit consisted of ten soldiers and five dogs. Their combat training was above standard, but much less than even the typical Black Widow received. While they were excellent in following the smallest sign of a trail, they traveled light and fast, armed only for the takedown. In other words, they didn't stand a chance.

  Bracing a hand on his back, Kolt scratched at his head, drawing both of their eyes up. The fingers of his other hand brushed the hilt of Sal's dagger, and he worked it closer while he talked. "So I guess you're just camped for the dogs to have a break, huh? Not much chance of me getting a full nights rest and a ride back?"

  "No, sir. Sorry, Corporal, we're going the other way. Unless we happen to find her around here, and that isn't looking likely. Just us and another pair making sure while the rest eat up, then we're off again. If you wanted a free meal, better head that way before we start moving again."

  "Good to know." And Kolt jerked the dagger free of his belt, plunging it into the throat of the man standing right in front of him.

  Before the other could scream, Kolt ducked, swiping out with his feet as he shifted his hand on the blade. Together, they hit the dirt, Kolt's dagger placed right at the man's throat. Just feet away, the first man was gurgling his last breaths in the grass. Kolt smiled.

  "Where did you last see her?" he demanded, the false accent gone.

  The Terran's eyes were wide. "In camp."

  "Her trail, you idiot!"

  The man closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I can't tell you that."

  "If you think I won't cut your throat, you're dumber than I first thought. Start talking or I'll start cutting." Kolt moved his dagger to rest just under the man's ear. "And I'll make it slow."

  A calmness came over the Terran, and he opened his eyes. "The longer you take, the better chance of them catching you, traitor."

  "Good point." With a smile, Kolt pressed, slicing deep through the cartilage and tissue beneath the soldier's jaw.

  He didn't stick around to see the fear of death in the man's eyes when he realized he was bleeding out. He didn't bother checking the other to make sure he was truly gone. Kolt had the information he needed, and a second pair of scouts was out here somewhere. Probably much too close to Sal. Ducking back into the tall grass, he ran, weaving like some animal even as he hurried back to where she was.

  While he'd been delayed, night had truly fallen. The stars in the sky were enough to light his way, but there was something else. From the top of the bank, a pale line of mist crept ever higher. At least that's how it looked from a distance, but Kolt knew better. It wasn't really mist. It was the smoke from Sal's fire venting through some hole. Even worse were the shadows heading toward it on the bank.

  Sal! he thought, wishing he could speak into her mind like an Anglian. Wake up, Sal, because they're coming, and I'm not sure I'll make it in time.

  But she'd never hear him. As he slipped through the grass, Kolt was sure it would happen again. Once more, he'd be just a moment too late, and she'd be the one to suffer. If he didn't figure out some way to distract them, Salryc Luxx, the only person who could stop this war, would die and it'd be all his fault.

  As the two Terran soldiers peeked into the first opening along the creek bed, Kolt made his decision. He stopped hiding and ran harder, clutching the bloody dagger in his fist. Realizing that wasn't a cave, but just an indentation, they moved to the next, bending to see if the small hole was as useless as the one they'd just found. Kolt knew it wasn't. He knew they had to see the glow of her fire. Any second, they'd rush in to find Sal blissfully asleep, worn beyond anyone's ability to keep going.

  "Hey!" he yelled at the top of his lungs. "You looking for me?" Covered in blood to his wrist, openly carrying a very well known steel blade, he knew it was a death sentence. But at least it wouldn't be her death.

  Both soldiers looked up. Kolt had barely enough time to recognize that the smaller was a woman before he hacked at the man. That was the bigger threat. He'd be stronger, more capable of fighting back. The woman would be faster. She'd wear him out too soon. The steel grazed the man across the torso just as Kolt felt himself yanked back.

  The woman had grabbed his collar, using his own speed to dump him on the ground. When he hit, something snapped, and his air rushed out, but Kolt knew how to deal with that. He kept moving. Kicking at one of the ankles over him, he heard the woman yelp. Before they could contain him, he slashed out with the knife in his hand. Their legs were close, easy targets, and he was damned well going to win - or die trying.

  Chapter 32

  Sal heard a yell in the distance, jerking her awake. She couldn't remember what had been said - proving she was more exhausted than she wanted to admit - but she knew the tone. Fear. She'd been discovered. Rolling from her makeshift bed, she scrambled toward the packs, shocked to see they'd been opened. Inside, one of her knives was gone.

  But she had the other and Blaec's sword. It would have to be enough. The broadsword was too big for her to use effectively as a weapon, but it'd work well enough as a shield. Leaving everything else, she moved to the side of the entrance, pressing her body close to the wall in the darkest shadow, and convinced her skin to match it.

  Then she waited.

  Outside, she heard a crash. Then a yell. After that came a muffled grunt. Clearly, someone was fighting. The problem was that she had no idea who. In here, all she could smell was smoke. The acoustics of the cave made the voices distorted so she couldn't even go by sound. She didn't know if it was Kolton, the resistance, or a group of Escean nationalists. If she ran out to help, she could easily find herself in
the middle of something so much more dangerous than she could deal with.

  So she waited. Another thump, a muffled cry followed by the sound of resin on flesh, and then a wet crack. For a moment, there was silence. Shifting her hand for a better grip, Sal took a deep breath, waiting for the enemy to enter her hideout. Finally, she heard the first step.

  Weary and lame, someone shuffled through the low entrance. All she could do was wait. Tense. Ready. She just had to see him. When the first hint of a black and purple uniform came around the stone, she acted, pushing into his face with her dagger at his throat as she let her color return to normal. Holding the sword point down, she kept it ready to serve as a spear.

  That's when his scent registered in her mind. The problem was that it didn't match the human before her. Kolton slowly raised his hands, one of her knives held loosely in the right.

  "Sal?" he asked softly, searching her face.

  She just took another breath, feeling the hand with her dagger shake slightly. She knew that smell. It was one she'd never forget, and it sure wasn't from a human! Memories of silk sheets and safety flooded her, but that was impossible. This was Kolton - or so she thought. Time and time again, she'd been close enough to know he smelled too sweet to match her memories. Those were of an iliri - and not just any iliri. He'd been the man who'd changed her life, and Kolton smelled just like him.

  "You're a shifter," she growled, deciding it was the only explanation that made sense. "Where is he?"

  "Who?" His head shook slightly.

  "Sergeant Enik Kolton." Her ears flicked back. "What have you done with my human?"

  Standing so close to him, it was impossible to miss the shock that flared across his face. Ignoring the weapon she held on him, he reached for his throat, pawing at his neck as a gasp slipped out. That's when the stale scent of fear came as the man who looked like Kolton began to step back.

  "Sal," he begged. "I can explain."