When we turned back, the Kharis and her Trio had gone, leaving our room untouched. Had we not seen them enter, we would not have known they were there. We stepped back though our mirror, moving to bar the doors instead of just locking them.
“What now?” Lyros stood in front of me, arms crossed and face fierce.
“Now, we fight.” My feral grin spread, and my teeth bared.
We moved the furniture aside, making a large area on which to practice. The men took up their swords, testing them for weight and balance.
“They are heavier than an Eruhini sword,” Kar said, bringing the blade up and testing the straightness of it with his eye. If Laith made the sword, I knew it would be perfect. As somewhat of a sword maker himself, Kar would recognize that. “There’s magic in it,” he stated once finished with his inspection.
“Aye. The maker is the lands only Metalsmith that can imbue a blade with magic,” I answered. Watching the way he looked at the blade.
He touched the runes etched into the multi-layered steel. The blade was so finely made it looked blue. The pommel was made of Stag antler and intricately carved with runes to add grip. Gold inlay made the runes shimmer, and I could feel the magic in the blade. It was different than mine, even though Laith had made that one too. Laith had been practicing.
“A man made this?” He brought his eyes to mine and caught them; the soft look of wonder made me sadder than anything I had seen in the awful place.
I took a deep breath. “Yes. Perhaps, when our lands are One, he will teach you. He is the last of his kind, and maybe your Goddess magic and his are the same.” His eyes misted for a moment, then he grabbed me to him, kissing me fiercely.
“Thank you, Teagan,” he said, pulling away.
He brought the sword tip up, placed a hand behind his back, and tried to parry me lightly.
“While you are strong enough to hold the sword one-handed, Kar. These Great Swords were made to be gripped two handed so that they slice through heavy armor,” I said, reaching over and placing his hands on the right spots. “For thrusting, you can use it one-handed. Like this,” I paused, showing him the proper position for both the thrust and the strike.”
Together, they practiced holding, thrusting, and striking with their swords. They had acted as practice dummies with lighter swords before and had some knowledge. I gave them more.
We worked late into the night, I taught them as best I could, and they learned. More than once, their blades glowed, then stuttered out when they noticed. Lyros’s blade glowed a silvery-blue, Kar’s a molten red like my own, and Syl’ta’s a surprising purple. My men had deep hearts and even deeper souls.
We practiced pulling magic and augmenting their movements with speed and accuracy, and I learned something new about Laith’s work. The sword wanted to strike. I had the skill to put my edge where I needed it, but magic made their swords cut true. I had no doubt a wound with those swords would be fatal. I wished I could get more for those who would fight with me, but those blades were priceless. That Laith made three for my untrained men was humbling.
With that being said, my sister was giving me a new blade when next I saw her. I chuckled to myself, imagining Ari with one of these fantastic swords. Someday, it will be an honor to fight back to back with her again.
When our arms grew heavy and our eyes tired, we stopped for the night. Not even bothering to shower the sweat off, we collapsed into a heap and slept.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Lyros
Teagan is a glorious creature. She showed us how to use our new blades with patient but exacting passion. Which is precisely the way she does everything. We are quick studies when allowed to learn. Before dawn, we had a modicum of understanding of fighting with a sword. We would get better in short order.
Piled together in the dead King’s giant bed, we slept peacefully. I did not fear another attack by the Queen. She had made her opening salvo and thought she got away clean. She would be patient now.
As soon as we were up, I would start stealing swords from the armory and hiding them near the pens. Even without skill, the number of men there could cause some damage. If given the time and motivation to learn, perhaps they could win us a revolution.
She lay curled into my side, her breaths slow, and even and I could not believe the path that had opened before me since she came into my life. Soon we would be free. Or dead. Freedom sounded better, though, and I believed that we could win.
I watched her as she slept and wondered how one with so much weight on her shoulders could be so light, as if she had no cares. Her face twitched, and she smiled, causing me to wonder what she dreamed of.
“Is this normal?” Kar asked, shifting onto his elbow to peer at Teagan’s face.
“A better question is, will she change? Once things settle, and she achieves her goals, will she change?” Syl’ta answered.
“I don’t think so,” Kar said, leaning over to tuck a curl behind her ear. “I think this is who she is. She doesn’t waiver. These thoughts and convictions of hers are not new. A man made the magic swords The Goddess gave us. A Man. That is the place from where she came. That is her normal.”
We watched her for a while longer then began to rise. We showered and dressed, letting her sleep as long as possible, but as the sun reflected more forcefully off the snow outside, we went to wake her. She stretched and yawned, trying to pull the covers over her face begging for more time.
Finally, Syl stole her covers, and she came off the bed with a glare and a screech. We stood innocently, looking anywhere but at her naked body, shifting from foot to foot.
“Fine,” she growled, stomping her cute little feet as she headed to the shower.
My brothers and I oiled our battle skirts to a dull shine, then polished the studs on the leather that crisscrossed our chests. As a slave, we wore nothing else. The leather panels of the skirt overlapped and covered us completely. Even with quick movements, we did not expose ourselves. Still, they parted easily, giving warriors access if they wanted.
Teagan came from the bathing room, less irritable, and beautifully put together. Most women wore their standard Warrior leathers daily. Teagan often chose to wear filmy dresses and occasionally soft pants. Today, she wore her black fighting leathers, which covered her from neck to ankle, with a cutout diamond at her bosom to her collarbones to allow for freedom of movement.
She had pulled her hair into a tight braid, and it laid flat against her head, making her look sleek and deadly. She had lined her eyes with kohl, something she never did. The addition electrified the black circle around her iris.
She looked otherworldly, stunning, and dangerous after strapping both swords to her back and a knife to each arm. To that, she added her war hammer, not bothering to clean the blood from it. After the events of yesterday, she was taking no chances.
With a wild grin, she beckoned us to follow. We walked on silent feet toward the breakfast hall where voices rang out, and a scattering of laughter echoed toward us.
The Queen had once offered Teagan her own house, yet had said nothing since the turn of events. If we had our own home, we would have a kitchen, and one of us could have made meals there. Once a Warrior is gifted a home, one of her Trio must cease his other duties to care for it. Should it ever happen, I hoped it would be me.
That would solve my little horse problem.
It would also solve this public dining hall issue.
When we walked into the hall, heads turned our way, but the conversations didn’t cease. Kar, Syl, and I sank to our knees along the wall, clasping our hands and lowering our eyes. Teagan walked forward without a backward glance and picked up plates, loading them with food before bringing them to us as was required, only usually the women ate first.
She went back and filled her plate last, keeping an eye on us as she glided through the crowd, saying hello to those around her as she ate. Taking the temperature of the room along the way, she stopped and talked to those that engaged her.
And many did. I expected problems, but there were none. As she walked, warriors either stepped away or into her, griping her forearm and talking with animation. She had done something incredible and likely didn’t realize it. Like her or not, Teagan had earned the respect of other warriors.
From her place on top of the dais, the Queen’s glittering eyes followed Teagan’s progression around the room, noting every handshake and whispered word. Being often ignored, slaves have the perfect vantage point to spot the signs of discord others may not see.
There was discord everywhere.
Teagan and her Goddess wanted a revolution, and they were going to get it. What that meant for us, I didn’t know. She stopped, putting her head together with the Lashmaster, Pameline. How Teagan could be friends with the woman who almost ended her life spoke to the vastness of her heart. Their heads pressed together a long while, Pameline nodded once and walked away, chatting with others as she went.
The Queen stood, her eyes following Pameline. “Warriors, good morning,” she started, interrupting Pameline’s travels. “Today, some of you will embark on a mission to the Sléibhte Glasa to meet with clan Luchorpán to pick up a shipment of gold, cloth, and sword quality steel. You will deliver some of our finest finished swords, glass, raw iron ore, and the coveted black mountain ore they use for fuel but do not have naturally. Another faction will go to Tir fo Thuinn and meet with Galene to pick up another shipment per our agreement. Teagan, you will lead the warriors to the Luchorpán, and Jordania will travel to see the Thuinnians.” The Queen’s eyes swept the crowd, her face devoid of any emotion.
The leniency she granted Jordania in the light of day did not go unnoticed. Warriors looked from one to the other in confusion. At the same time, she was sending Teagan on a suicide mission. Luchorpáns are deadly folk, and only the most experienced negotiators go to them.
Yet Teagan gave a sly smile at the news, and I wondered what she knew that we did not.
“First and Third regiments of warriors will go with Jordania and Second and Fourth regiments will go with Teagan. Mount up in half an hour.” The Queen stood, walking away. Her Trio trailed behind, all of them smirking at my brothers and me over the crowd.
They did not intend for Teagan to return, and they meant for the Luchorpán King to end her so that Kharis didn’t have to.
With a sinking feeling to my soul, I rose as she came for us. She shook her head once to silence my concerns. Only when we were alone in the stone halls did she speak.
“Don’t worry. It will be fine,” she said before we could get a word out.
“Teagan,” I started. “The Luchorpán…” She crushed her lips to mine, silencing me. I melted against her heat, going limp.
“I know.” She gave me a wink as she pulled away. “I’ve got this,” she said. “I’ll be gone for two days, at least, and maybe more. This buys us time. With four ranks of warriors away, only a skeleton crew will remain, including Pameline. Now’s the time. Train your trusted men hard, so they are ready on my return.” She took off at a brisk pace, and we followed behind, casting worried glances at one another.
“But what if,” Kar started, begging her to pause just a moment.
She silenced him with a kiss, then moved to Syl’ta and did the same.
“No what-ifs, my loves. None at all.” The smile that spread across her face was beautiful and confident. Yet she refused to say anything more. “Do you want to go to the pens or to work?” she asked, hustling forward.
“The pens would be better so we can gather the men.” Syl picked up his pace to match hers as she was practically skipping.
“Excellent idea, Syl. Come with me to the stables first,” she said, a merry twinkle in her eye confusing me more than I have ever been confused in my life, and that says a lot.
Luchorpáns are notoriously nasty. They will kill you as soon as talk to you. I’m sure that is what Kharis intends, yet Teagan began to whistle a light tune as she skipped ahead of us. My brothers and I cast long looks at one another as we tried to decide if perhaps she had snapped. Maybe this land had finally gotten to her, and her mind was lost.
Syl shrugged his shoulders, and we three sped even faster to keep up with her loping gait. I saw Kar smirk and stretch his legs into an odd skip, and then we were all doing it. Laughing like loons, we slid to a stop in the stables, drawing the eye of the warriors waiting for their leader.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Teagan
I chuckled inwardly at my Trio’s discomfort. I didn’t do it to be rude; I simply didn’t have time to explain. Yes, the Luchorpán are exceedingly dangerous, but I’d dealt with them before and had every confidence that things would be fine.
My concern was for my men. Even though there would be few warriors here, there would be some, including Kharis. I worried for their safety far more than I feared for mine. Besides, Pameline would stay behind and help them train those they deemed trustworthy.
My horse was ready when I got there, and I pulled each man to me, kissing their mouths while the waiting warriors watched. I cared not one bit. Their lips were soft, and they tasted sweeter than any dessert I ever tasted.
Kar had carried my furs and draped them around my shoulders, raising the hood with a sigh. I turned to the only remaining stable guard, “Would you be so kind as to see that my Trio is returned safely to the pens. I’ll be very agitated if there is so much as a mark on them when I return. I find their skin to be nothing short of perfection.”
“Yes, Teagan,” she said, snapping into a tight bow as if I were already Queen. Perhaps she thought I wouldn’t return and did it as a show of respect; I didn’t know which.
“Thank you, Aerolas,” I replied, clasping her shoulder before stepping away. I mounted the white horse I usually rode, winked at my men, kicked the mare into a gallop, and ran out the door.
The wagons were waiting at the gates, and we circled them as their drivers urged the teams forward, and the ranks of warriors fell in line in front and behind of the wagon train.
We headed South and East. The Luchorpán lived in the verdant mountains in that direction. The realms were not only side by side but layered above and below. Tir fo Thuinn was beneath us and was the largest by far, accessible only by water. Having never been on a boat, I would take the Luchorpán any day.
It felt good to be out; Goddess, it felt good. Being cooped up in the palace was stifling, even in this frigid place, I would choose to be outside if given a choice. I just wished my men could ride beside me and enjoy it too. Well, except Lyros, he would have to run as a wolf, but I bet he would love that. I wondered how horses reacted to Syl’ta.
Riding my mare one-handed, I smiled, tilting my head to let the sun strike my skin. The breeze was cold but gentle, allowing the sun’s rays to heat my skin. This place wasn’t all bad. There is a beauty to its stark wildness that even Talamh na Sithe does not contain.
Snowbirds chirped in the distance, and a deep calm settled over our ranks.
“Mistress, you seem unfazed about going to the Luchorpán King.” I glanced over to see a warrior called Tralalis riding next to me.
She was born Eruhini and showed it; sleek black hair framed pale skin and silver eyes. Her sharp cheekbones and pointed chin made her look cold, as most Eruhini do, but the merriment in her eyes spoke of more profound things. The tips of her ears poked through her shiny hair, and full lips revealed even white teeth when she smiled.
“Luchorpáns are a fierce race, Tralalis; I look forward to meeting with them,” I said, glancing over at her. She rode her white horse well, sitting naturally and comfortably as few do.
“They are deadly, Teagan. The last ranks of warriors that met with them did not return. Not a one.” She did not look worried, and I liked her more for it.
“We will use our skills and walk away with fresh wagons in tow.” I looked out across the snow-covered fields and watched as a snowhawk grappled with a white rabbit and flew away.
“And that’s
why I like you,” she said, slanting her silver eyes my way. “You are fearless. I’m not sure there is another warrior that would have taken this assignment so willingly. You are different. It’s refreshing.”
“I thank you for that, but there’s naught to be done for it. It’s a dangerous mission, but one I am sure will be successful,” I said, observing her expressions.
We rode at the front of the line, which in this direction is the most dangerous position. Behind us lay the Capitol, so the weaker warriors rode there. On the way home, we would reverse those positions.
It was a day’s ride to reach the distant peaks and slow going because of the wagons, but the atmosphere was relaxed. We rode down the high plains and into the valleys below. As we traveled, the snow melted into dried grasses that blew in the warm breeze.
We stopped at the edge of one such meadow and let the horses graze while we ate a light lunch of dried meat and cheese. Some warriors had packed wine, and we passed the skins around, sharing it along with friendly conversation that somehow devolved into talking about men.
“Teagan, you seem rather fond of your Trio, I must say it’s a shock to see them tamed,” Tralalis said, stretching out to let the sun warm her body. Within minutes her cheeks were turning pink.
“Tame?” I threw my head back and laughed. “Only the weak-minded enjoy tame men. I appreciate their fire.” I chuckled again, feeling the curls that slipped around my face catch in the breeze. “I’ve redirected their fire to other pursuits.” I grinned at the thought of which pursuits I enjoyed most.
I caught the covert glances some of them exchanged. “Come on, ladies, surely you agree. All this eyes down and hold your tongue stuff is dreary. They offer much more than that,” I finished, lounging back to let the sun hit my face too.
“In the quiet of my home, my men have freedom,” Tralalis whispered.
“Mine, too,” another warrior spoke up, and that was echoed by more down the line.
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