She closed her eyes, and almost felt the gentle stroke of his fingertips.
Maybe it had been a mistake to think someone like her could ever find a place to lay her head, but she'd be damned if Loviva was going to take away even the chance of it, or at least what was left after she'd ruined it so fully.
She quelled the urge to take on Loviva right then. She was done with killing.
But Loviva was going to regret ever crossing paths with Moon.
Mattias
It was a good thing about the guard, at least, that they did not have much clothing to choose from. And so, when Mattias met Cleo in the yard in the afternoon, they both wore the same off-duty clothing of breeches and tunic that they had worn the last time they'd seen each other in the tavern.
That being said, the sameness of their outfits meant personalities came out in the details, and he noticed her braids were pulled back in a half-twist, not just a simple tail.
He wondered if she'd also spent the morning being berated by her friends. His couldn't believe his luck, and as he'd dressed they'd discussed his chances of being dumped by someone as cool as Jawego, while critiquing his hair and pointing out wrinkles in his clothing, before shouting good luck as they shoved him out the door. It had been, overall, much like any of his few other dates, he realized now.
She smiled as he approached, which sent his stomach to his knees. He was going to mess it up, wasn't he? Great Eye, then every older guard would know of it—
"Hi, Freas."
No more time to second-guess. He straightened his shoulders. "How are you?"
"Good, you?"
"Great." A pause. "I got us horses."
"Oh, thank you!"
They had to reserve them, and the space, since there wasn't much room in Carnate for riding, and of course they could not leave.
"Which stables?"
He gestured north, and so they fell into step, leaving the guardhouse and going north along a large thoroughfare.
The road was crowded and noisy, and conversation was hard to sustain.
"Did you hurt your wrist?" he asked, noting a splint on her right hand.
"No, just tweaked it during saber. I'm fine."
"Shall we take the High Road then?"
She agreed readily, and at the next opportunity, they left the hard-packed dirt road and mounted the High Road, here a wooden track decorated with vines that draped off the sides.
They both knew the way, and he followed her snow leopard form along the path. They dismounted near the north wall. From the High Road, Mattias could make out the craggy landscape beyond the wall. That landscape was the reason the Hji couldn't effectively surround the whole city. But it kept Carnate contained just as well, for they had no safe way to move an army out, and encircle the Hji themselves. Not that they would anyway, not with the huge numbers of the Hji.
He didn't let the morose thoughts cloud his day, though, not when Cleo shifted and smiled back at him.
The hostler checked them in, and didn't mince words when she told them everything better be back in one piece. She softened slightly when the stablemaster greeted Mattias warmly.
Then they were out on the streets. This was as far as Mattias had planned, but now that he was on a horse, he didn't worry about it. He didn't care if all they did was ride about all afternoon. He relaxed into his seat.
Jawego, he was glad to say, rode comfortably, without the stiffness or bumpiness he'd mocked in other guards. As she passed in front of him, he watched her riding form. Her shoulders were stiff though, and she hadn't teased him once this whole time...
"Are you nervous, Jawego?" he asked suddenly.
She cranked around in her seat, then saw him gesturing to the bay on which she sat.
"I'd hate for a repeat of our dice game."
Her eyes narrowed. "I won that dice game."
He shrugged. "In theory."
"You should be a politician. I think Hestia Letteres liked you."
He laughed at that. "She didn't even look at me."
Cleo drew up on her mount so they rode side by side.
"I'm not suited for it,” he said. “My parents work our ranch.”
That statement meant little, since ranches could be all sizes. But theirs was modest and had only one or two hands. Because of his sister's influence, he had regular notes from his parents and siblings. They were yet safe from the Hji.
"Don't write it off so quickly," she counseled. "Anyway, didn't we say you were going to join the circus?"
"What will you do in the circus?" he asked, pushing her arm. "Jump through hoops? Walk the tightrope?"
"Oh, I'll be the fortune teller," Cleo said seriously. She hooked the back of her shirt over the top of her head, and said in a crone's voice: "Ye shall be dead in three days' time if you don't pay me fifty gold."
He cracked up. They were still representatives of the guard, even off duty, and they were supposed to comport themselves with some dignity, but he was learning Cleo didn't feel too constricted by those little rules.
"What if I can't get fifty gold in three days, missus?" he asked her hooded face.
She cocked her head. "The spirits will allow five days, to give you more time to collect."
"The spirits are gracious," he said solemnly, and she laughed this time.
He had reserved time for them at the open ring, though they shared the space with others. They competed for the fastest time in barrel-racing, played games, and finally, in a corner of the ring, he showed her the handstand.
She did not hesitate but tried it with great enthusiasm, and by the end of their time, she could hold the position for several seconds. Mattias cheered as she dismounted lithely, her boots hitting the dirt.
Their ring time was over, but they had the horses all day, and so they made for the far end of the city.
"I swear it's the best cider in Carnate," Cleo declared. "I'll owe you if I'm wrong."
"Owe me what?" he asked, with just a slight suggestive tone.
The tension had eased over the afternoon, and Cleo pushed his arm. He pretended to fall off his horse.
The cider was good, and he was glad they'd made use of the horses. Otherwise, the only time they were able to get to this side of the city was on duty at the wall. It also meant a little more privacy, since the area had few guards.
They sat in a corner table. Cleo straightened his sleeve while describing the great sea she'd seen on travels with her father. Every time her fingers brushed his skin little jolts of energy ran up his arm.
They returned the horses and walked side by side back to the High Road. Her arm kept brushing his, but he wasn't sure which of them was standing too close to the other.
They shifted on the street and took a set of steps up to the road.
Mattias knew as he was going up the steps that the short walk back was going to be a challenge. In cat form, he wasn't as able to control his impulses. And in human form, his nerves kept him from admitting to himself that she was interested too. Now, those little worries faded.
It was lighter on top of the road, as the last of the sun still reached them. The snow leopard looked back at him.
He froze, caught in her gaze.
Cleo turned sinuously.
Their noses bumped together, then away again. They sniffed each other with new familiarity. He rolled his shoulder into her. She pushed back. They slid along each other. He could feel every muscle along her body.
They twisted around each other. She made the first move, jawing at his chin. He batted her with a heavy paw—and she tackled him.
Just then three panthers crested the road from the stairs.
While they'd hardly been doing anything embarrassing, especially in animal form, the distraction was enough to bring them back to themselves. They began the short walk back to the guardhouse, nipping at each other's tails and racing playfully between the sides of the road.
The returned to the ground and human form in no less playful moods. Mattias wrapped his a
rms around her and she pushed him away, but kept a hand on his wrist so he couldn't get too far.
She dropped it abruptly when they came in view of the guardhouse. It wasn't a sudden want of privacy. He saw at the same time that the gates were shut.
The gates were almost never shut.
They broke into a run.
At the gatehouse, Lieutenant Nimbus greeted them with a sharp nod. "I don't know what's happening, don't ask."
"What happened?" Mattias burst out.
Nimbus sighed. "I'm sure we'll hear soon, Freas. All I know is General Freas called for a lockdown thirty minutes ago, but from what's been reported to me, it'll be over soon."
"Why?" asked Cleo.
"Someone was caught inside the office, but they escaped. Step back from the gate now."
They were only kept waiting another few minutes before someone inside the walls sounded the all-clear. Nimbus gave the signal and the guards on their side stood at ease. The gates were swung open.
They passed through the gates and immediately felt the frisson. There were extra guards on, in full armor but making no move to head for the wall. The buildings blazed with light as people ran back and forth.
The large plaza of paved stones spanned the distance between them and the main building. The path to the left led to the barracks. To the right was grassy slope leading to the office. There weren't many other buildings, and the main one was mostly for the mess and large meetings. Most of the space was in the back, where the training yards were.
He looked at Cleo. She sent him a frown. They hustled toward the barracks.
His was closer, and she followed him into the long building. Groups of off-duty guards stood together and talked excitedly.
Mattias went to the far end, where Piong stood with a large group around him.
"Oy!" said Piong when he spotted Mattias. "You missed the excitement!"
Several more of his friends were in the crowd. They welcomed Mattias and Cleo into the group and brought them up to speed on the discovery of a spy looking for information. She'd been cornered but had escaped with some kind of powerful magic. There had been a sweep of the entire compound, despite them being reasonably certain she'd shout straight into the air and over the walls. Sorcerer Amadou had arrived and was even now huddled up with General Freas.
"Amadou said he was worried about a Fade," Mattias said, then regretted it as everyone clamored for more information, kindling to add to the raging conspiracy theories flying around the barracks. Despite the excitement, the mood turned dour, and it frequently did as the siege had worn on. No one had much hope if their enemies had legions of Fades at their disposal.
"I think we'd've heard by now if the wolves had all these Fades," Cleo finally cut in. "Wouldn't they have killed Amadou and stormed the walls already? But hasn't the tower held them off so far?"
They were forced to admit that Carnate was yet holding out.
"Now how many of you have early patrol tomorrow?"
A few admitted they had, and the group broke up. Piong stayed to tell the story of how General Freas had said he had "sharp eyes" one more time. Mattias and Cleo went out so he could walk her to her building.
"Jawego, Freas, just who I needed to see." They turned to see Lieutenant Nimbus coming up. "You're both pulled from patrol in three days’ time. Amadou's got an important shipment coming into the city, and after tonight's events he wants more bodies on it."
"He's not mad at Guen – at General Freas, is he?" Mattias couldn't help but ask.
Nimbus shook his head. "More like she's mad at him! Going on about what good are our spells if they can't detect invisibility..." Nimbus chuckled. "She's always looking out for us." He clapped Mattias on the back and left them alone.
They arrived at Cleo's building all too quickly. The night was full dark, and activity has lessened in the yard. They were able to stand in the darkness to the side of the footpath, and turn towards each other once more.
Mattias couldn't help but set his eyes to the distance, as if he could see over the guardhouse and all the walls of Carnate to the waiting Hji encampments.
Cleo's fingers curled in his. "My father tried to get me out of Carnate, but I chose to stay."
He looked in surprise. He'd spent the past eleven months wondering what his life would have been like if he hadn't been inside the walls when the siege had begun. He'd felt it guiltlessly. Now he felt embarrassed to be standing in front of someone who'd consciously chosen to stay.
"Why?"
"I guess I just felt that even though I'd moved so much as a child, I knew where home was."
"That's lovely," he said, and meant it. When she said "home" he thought of the ranch under the great sky. But would he actually go there, if someone gave him the chance right now? If the Hji took Carnate, they would continue on and eventually take the ranch, too.
"I'm glad you're here," he said, and brushed the side of her face with his hand.
"Do you have early guard duty tomorrow?"
"No," he said absently.
"Then do you want to go somewhere?"
All dreaminess left him. He stiffened and locked eyes with her.
"You know where to go?" He knew of some places people went when they wanted to be alone, but he couldn't imagine bringing Cleo to any of those dirty, barely-hidden corners of the guardhouse. That was for quick trysts, not...well, whatever they were doing here.
She grinned. He was getting used to that grin.
"I know where to go."
She took him around the side of the barracks. Thankfully, for he wasn't sure if he'd survive coming in the gates the next morning with the whole guardhouse knowing he'd gone out with Cleo the night before.
They scaled an iron ladder. He had assumed it went to the roof, but actually there was a small door beneath the eaves of the building. Cleo opened the door. It was old and rusted but the hinged swung smooth and quiet. He smirked at the ingenuity of young guards hoping for privacy.
It was an attic running the length of the barracks. Beneath, he could still hear the calls of people in the rooms below. She led him along the semidarkness. He shifted partially to better see where he stepped. Wooden beams that supported the ceiling of the barrack crossed the floor and raised above his head. At the far end, they passed through another, normal-sized door into a small room. Mattias straightened. The floor was made of flat planks. A lantern had been set on the floor, and a low sofa and tangle of blankets made up the only things in the room.
Through the eaves, he could see the wall of the guardhouse. It grew with flowering vines.
"It's beautiful," he said.
She let out a sigh. "Oh good, because I – it's not what you think – I mean, I cleaned everything but wasn't expecting anything."
He couldn't help the huge smile on his face when he turned to her.
"Stop laughing! I just didn't want you to think—"
"I don't think," he said with fake seriousness. The amount of effort she'd put in made him bold, and he stepped forward and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Thank you."
He kissed her. She pressed into him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and pulling him in.
They melted together. Now that they'd begun, Mattias did not feel the stress any longer. He pushed her toward the blankets and she tumbled in with a laugh.
"Mattias!" she said as he flopped dramatically next to her.
He rolled over her, looking into her face on hands and knees. He leaned down to kiss her, this time slowly, pulling back even though her hands went into his hair and tried to pull him back down to her.
"Don't tease! Do you know how long I've—"
She broke off, and avoided his gaze. He caught her mouth for a kiss, which she returned eagerly.
Then he half-shifted, so he could lick he neck with his broad tongue. She gasped and clutched at his shirt. She pulled it over his head. He unbuttoned just enough buttons to do the same for her.
She ran her hands over his chest and he growled. Sh
e was delaying the shift, and the rush of pheromones it would bring. He pulled down her breast band and ran a sandpaper tongue over her nipples. Her dark skin flushed and shifted, taking on the pattern of her snow leopard coat.
Their mouths met again, and they stayed in that position for a while, enjoying the feel of each other's bodies and exploring with hands and mouths. Finally, eagerly, they stripped off the rest of their regulation off-duty clothing.
Moon & Renat
Moon didn't quite have a plan.
It was easy enough to see where the shipment would come in. A normal citizen may not notice, but to Moon the building screamed for attention. There was a vacuum of activity around it, an absence that made it an obvious hive of guard activity. What she didn't know was how long the shipment would remain in the building, or if it would pass through quickly. Surely it was safest in the tower? But who knew. Perhaps the sorcerers had so much magic, what was priceless to her was nothing to them.
She camped out at a location where she could track the comings and goings from the building. She had a plan to infiltrate it, but did not want to attract any attention, or walk into a magical trap. Yesterday at the guardhouse had been a close enough call for her. No, her real problem was with Loviva.
The Demon’s Breath had been skulking around as well. They didn't wear their marked capes like in their own territory, but her ass was falling asleep she'd been sitting on the hard stone roof for so long, and she’d memorized the normal patterns of movement around the street. Loitering Demon's Breath did not blend in, not to her watchful eye.
Shipment or not, she'd be searching that building tonight. There could be other things there, waiting to be picked up by someone light-fingered enough.
And she wanted to take a count of the guard. Being invisible was only so helpful. She idled away the rest of the day, napping when the sun was highest.
Joining Renat's crew had been a strange experience. She remembered the first time she'd traded watch with an equal. Well, not an equal. She was Renat's lover after all. But she'd been on her own, and then a slave, and then on her own again, and to be treated with deference, and to have the burden shared between people who respected her, well that was new.
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