Instinctual
Date: 2016-05-08T18:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Fantasy; Science Fiction; Romance
Description: EVERY MAN WANTS HER. MANY WANT TO KILL HER. Good luck to them…. In the second beautifully-crafted paranormal romance of this reverse harem epic fantasy series, author Auryn Hadley explores Sal’s gently-morphing relationship to the Black Blades—her comarades-in-arms and lovers (although very little is gentle about their mating). Meanwhile, Sal continues to fight tooth and nail, blades, pikes, and shields… to fiercely protect her newfound family—and to free her people. Now that Sal has won her place in the Black Blades, an elite special ops unit of a superpower race within the army of the Conglo

Rise of the Iliri

Book Two

Auryn Hadley

Spotted Horse Productions

Instinctual is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2016 by Auryn Hadley

All Rights Reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher and the copyright owner constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

Published by Spotted Horse Productions

First Edition: May 2016

Cover Art by Spotted Horse Productions

Edited by Sarah Williams

Just when you think you know yourself, that's when everything changes.  The only stability we have is our ability to adapt.  You see, we aren't as civilized as we like to pretend.  Inside, we're all still beasts.

If you can remember that, then you'll be able to find yourself.  It matters.  Il bax genause.

Introduction

S ince the dawn of time, the iliri have been called beasts and treated as either pets or livestock.  The only things we knew about ourselves came from whispers spoken softly, far away from human ears.  Even our own language was hoarded like some treasure.  From mother to child, everything we'd experienced was passed down quietly, giving us some hold on our history, but it wasn't enough.  Often, the stories felt more like wishes than reality.

Until she came.

Nothing about her should have been a surprise.  Always, when we needed help most, one female would rise up to lead us.  We'd recognize her by her scent, that of hope and dreams, and we'd call her Kaisae.  In the past, she'd been just like us – but now we were different.  Our people had been diluted, changed by generations of crossbreeding until we weren't sure what we were anymore.  She didn't have that problem.

One look at her reminded us all of what we were supposed to be.  The pride in her eyes proved that we hadn't always been property.  We hadn't been created to live as slaves!  Once, long ago, we were the ones in charge, and it had been women like her who'd kept us safe.

But that was before humans fell from the stars.  Everything they needed, they brought with them – or so they thought.  From the crops they planted on our soil to the animals that grazed on our hunting grounds, what had once been ours, they took as their own.  It was never enough.

They wanted metal.  It held up their homes, powered their machines, and made them stronger than us, but our world didn't have much.  No matter what name they used, iron, copper, and even gold were things we'd never seen until humans came.  They swore it existed, but it seemed there wasn't enough to go around.  They decided to use us instead.

They hunted our prey, destroyed our homes, and killed our culture to make us serve them.  When we objected, they twisted us, forcing us to stand taller, bleed more red, and even speak their words.  Soon, we replaced their machines, and the humans were finally happy with their easy lives.

In only a few generations, we became their greatest tool, kept in check by our primal needs and shackled by our own minds.  Our species learned to submit.  Humans were stronger, so we had no other choice.  We still tried to resist, always relying on the best of our women to show us what to do.  Over and over, we failed, forced to become meek and obedient until we eventually forgot there had been any other way.

The stories of our history became myths.  Mothers gave up whispering them to their babies.  Our grandchildren ignored us when we tried, and theirs called them lies.  It didn't happen fast, but after many, many lifetimes, the humans had finally won.  The iliri, a once proud species, had become the pets humans had always called us, tamed through generations of domestication.

And that's when she finally appeared.  With her eyes locked on the ground, no one would have guessed that the worthless bitch was a threat.  We'd fought for so long, biting, clawing, and killing to keep what little pride we had left, but she'd learned something new.  She'd figured out how to be overlooked.

In other times, our people never would have chosen her.  In other circumstances, she wouldn't have been good enough.  Lucky for us, she was all we had, because that one unimportant girl was about to become the hope of an entire species, and it only happened because no one told her it couldn't.

Raised by humans, she knew so little about her own species.  All she knew was her shame for being different, but now she had a pack she could lean on.  The Black Blades had spent nearly a decade proving they were the perfect soldiers.  Since she'd joined, they'd become so much more than just a military unit.  They were a family, and they succeeded because they were no longer ashamed to be iliri.

Our masters weren't happy about it.

– Excerpt from The History of Salryc Luxx, by Ilus Molis Cernyn, Professor of Iliran history at the University of Arhhawen.

Chapter 1

Her knuckles rapped against the door.  Sal glanced at the orders she held, reading them again.  Rarely did anyone but the top officers of the special operations units ever get to meet with Ran Sturmgren.  She couldn't think of a good reason for him to request her presence, and quite a few bad ones sprang to mind.  Her ears flicked forward at the sound of feet crossing the room, and Sal shifted to stand at attention.  The door opened.

"Corporal Salryc Luxx?" the aged man asked.  He looked down at her kindly.  The top of her head didn't even reach his shoulder.

"Yes, sir."

"Please, come in."  He stepped back and gestured for her to make her way inside.

A pair of simple chairs sat before a heavy wooden desk.  Sal stood behind them, her chin up, her ears carefully held still while the general made his way to the padded chair on the other side.  He nodded at her and sank slowly into it.

"Sit.  Please."

She perched on the edge of the boring wood chair, her orders still in her hand.  Pushing her white braid over her shoulder, she waited, thankful he couldn't smell her emotions.

"Relax, I don't bite," he joked, reaching for a pad of paper.  His hand paused and he glanced back at her.  "That was a bad joke.  I hope it wasn't offensive."

"Humans rarely bite, sir," was all she said.

He sighed and nodded.  "You're making fun of me, aren't you?"

"Just stating a fact, sir."

He smiled at that.  "Ok.  Fair enough.  Now, you've never been in my office before, so let me explain the rules.  I call you by your rank, we're talking officially.  I use either your name or your call sign, and we're off the record.  I offer you a drink and it's a social meeting.  Understand, Corporal?"

"Yes, sir," Sal replied.

"Good.  Now, would you care for a drink, Sal?  That is what the Black Blades call you, right?  Sal?"

She nodded and flicked an ear at him, inhaling his scent.  He smelled like nothing but human.  There was no fear, no anger, and no concern lingering on his skin.  "Thank you.  I would love one," she told him professionally.

"Whiskey?"

She shook her head.  "It's made from grains.  That doesn't set well with my kind, sir - "

He wagged a finger at her, smiling.  "Nope.  You broke the rules already.  It's Ran."

"Sorry," Sal said, trying again.  "I don't handle plants well.  Fruits are better, but not by much.  Ran."

"I see.  So, that's why Blaec makes sure I have a bottle of mead in the office.  Will that work?"

"Thank you, Ran.  That would be wonderful."

He stood and moved the bottles around on his shelf, returning with a small clear one and a short glass.  While he poured, he said, "Now, you need to learn to relax, Sal."

"I thought I was."

"Nah.  You're as tense as a dog guarding his bone."

Sal nodded and leaned back in the chair, curling her feet under her.  Ran pushed the glass of mead across his desk and Sal took it, sipping carefully.  "Why am I here?"

The general didn't reply until he'd filled his own glass from a different bottle.  He glanced up at her and took a long gulp, sucking in a breath at the bite of the liquor.  "I wanted to meet the reason your Lieutenant found his spine.  He blames you."

Her ears twitched in surprise and her pale eyes widened slightly.  Hoping he didn't see that, Sal gave him a slow and careful nod, waiting for the catch.

"I'm not sure what to think about your revelation to the, well, the world basically, that the Black Blades are all iliri, but I am happy to see your recent combat effectiveness rating go up.  What's the story, Sal?"

"We're that good."

"Bullshit."  The General looked her in the eyes.

Sal tried to remind herself that he didn't mean to challenge her, but she couldn't bring herself to look away, either.  "It's just the truth," she told him.  "We're better than you."

"Are you so good then, that a new elite soldier could make the best unit in the Conglomerate of Free Citizens four percent more effective?"

"Yes."

He chuckled.  "That's not the answer I expected."

"Doesn't mean it isn't true."  She could not pull her eyes from his gaze.  No matter how hard she tried to blink, her body refused.

"What else?"  He leaned closer.

Sal clenched her jaw, stifling her urge to growl, and stared.  His eyes bore into hers, his lids squinting slightly at the intensity, and his muscles strained to get closer.  Her lip pulled upward in a snarl she couldn't prevent.  The bastard was challenging her.  Her!  Sucking in air, she smelled nothing but the calm scent of human, but he refused to even blink.

"Back down," he warned kindly, the tone of his voice at odds with both the words and the expression on his face.  Slowly, carefully, he lifted his left hand from his lap, a long resin dagger clenched in his fist, and set it on the desk.  "You'd never make it."

Her ears flicked up and she looked down, accepting her loss as her eyes found the slender blade.  Unexpectedly, she grinned.  "I could.  I may submit, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't make it."

"I don't really understand your species, Sal," Ran told her, shoving the dagger to the side of the desk.  "I'm playing blind here."

"Not that blind," she pointed out, gesturing to the weapon.

He laughed and lifted his glass.  "Blaec warned me about a few things.  Does this mean I have at least a bit of your respect now?"

Sal took another sip of the mead.  "It means you truly out-rank me."  She tilted the glass again, then realized that her words likely made little sense to him.  "You won, General.  I am impressed.  I will also obey you, well, pretty much without question."

"Pretty much?"

Her answering smile flashed sharp teeth.  "I can always challenge you again.  Being more dominant does not mean more intelligent, nor does it make you right.  We're different, we're not stupid."

"So how does that work in the Blades?"

"Well," Sal sighed, wondering how to explain it.  "The Lieutenant is the most dominant of us all.  He's usually right, and his tactical knowledge is impressive.  He not only has more human rank than the rest of us, he has more iliran."  She shrugged.  "It works just like you'd expect it to if we were humans."

"How do you fit in?"

Her head tilted.  "I don't understand."

"You're a female, one of the few, from what I hear."

The tiny, pale woman glanced down, looking at the blue envelope lying carelessly in her lap.  "I don't know."  She shrugged.  "I may be purebred, but that doesn't mean I have the answers, sir."

"Ran."

She nodded and continued.  "I've heard the whispers, too.  That's how I even got into the trials.  My records sure weren't good enough to get an elite unit to look at me."

"Nor your listed species.  Not many care for your kind."

"I know."

"So you're playing blind, too?"  His voice was gentle, almost paternal.

Sal lifted the glass again and took a long drink, emptying it.  Carefully, she set it on the desk.  The General refilled it and pushed it back at her.

"This going to be a problem in the Blades?" he asked.

"Nah," she grumbled.  "Just with me."  She waved away his look of concern.  "Not like that.  I hate that I know so little about this culture they all take for granted.  I have no idea about my parents, my history, none of it.  Half the time, I don't even understand my own instincts."  She stopped and glanced up at him.  "I shouldn't have said that."

"It's just a drink between friends, Sal," he reminded her.  "Least, I'd like to think of you as a friend."

"Humans aren't typically friends with iliri."

"Zep is."  Zep was the only human in their unit, and most of the time, the iliri forgot he was different from them.

Thinking of her big brother made her smile.  "Zep's kinda special."

"Mm.  You know what this is?"  The general tapped a file on his desk.

"Probably my personnel records?"

"That's part of it."  He flipped open the cover and turned a few pages.  "This is your official military history.  Every background check, every report, every promotion.  Anything tied to you during your time as a conscript is in here."

He pulled out a small set of papers then closed the file.  "This has been sitting on my desk for a while, Sal.  I've read it all."

Her ears dropped.  She knew some of what was in that file and most of it would not be complimentary.

When she didn't answer, he went on.  "You're not what I expected from this."

"Why do you have my file?  I wouldn't think you'd keep the complete file of every soldier in the elites."

"No," he agreed.  "But when you managed to beat Zep in your trials, Blaec Doll asked me for a favor.  You know how many times that's happened?"

"No."

"Twice.  This," he tapped the file, "was the first.  The second was after your little escapade in Yager's Crossing.  Anyone that mattered enough for Blaec Doll to take an interest in has my complete attention."

"Fuck," Sal whispered.

"Yeah, I know about that too, even if it's not in your file."

Sal looked up at him, shocked.  There was no way General Sturmgren could know she was intimate with Blaec, but her relationship with her partner had become rather public.

"Cyno?" Sal asked.

"And Blaec," Ran said.  "Iliri thing, he told me.  I don't get it, and I don't care.  Not unless it affects your performance as a unit."

She chuckled ironically.  "We already handled that."

"There's one thing in here, though, that I think might interest you."  He pushed the papers at her, face down.  "They're yours.  It's not an official copy, Sal, but I thought you might be interested to know where you came from."

"I grew up in Merriton," she said, confused.

"Yeah.  As a slave of some rich merchant.  I have that, too.  I mean before that."

She reached up and took the documents, almost afraid to read them.  On the other side, the heading for Lamarck Corp. was plastered boldly across the top.  Sal glanced up at Ran once more, then read the first page quickly. The paper seemed to grow heavier as she took in the implications of the words on it.

"It says they were performing experiments."  Her voice was controlled and steady.

"Controlled breeding," Ran said sadly.  "To see if iliri would breed pure."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"Read the next page."

She did.  It was a list of offspring.  A set of numbers was the only description for parents, followed by gender, date of birth, and date of death.  Only a few had the death column still empty.  Sal scanned the list of survivors and realized only one was female.

"I was an experiment?"

"It seems like that.  I'm sorry.  I debated giving that to you, but if it was me, I'd want to know."

She looked up at him with true appreciation, her white eyes fading into her alabaster skin.  "I do.  Thank you."

"We know you were purchased from Lamarck Corp.  Since there's only one female listed, I can only assume that's you.  I'm sorry I can't tell you anything about your parents.  The company went out of business about eight years ago."

"Do you know what they were studying?"

"Mm."  He locked his hands behind his head and leaned back, staring at the ceiling.  "Officially, no, but twenty-something years ago?  Was a lot of interest in your kind.  Probably either for birth control, or the whole aphrodisiac thing."

"I don't understand."

"Iliri females have always been considered alluring.  I doubt it's because you have no pigment.  Perfume companies paid a lot for supposed pheromones, and the fact that you don't reproduce like us has always been of interest."

"So they treat us like livestock."

"Yeah."

She glared, the anger in her eyes not for him.  "And you wonder why we hate you?"

"No.  I don't.  The only thing I wonder is how I can help."

Her lips curled, the smile nearly feral, but it was still a smile.  "Let us show them.  Help us prove that we're as good as you."

"What else?" he asked.

"There's a crate of documents in storage at the Stonewater Stables.  It's in iliran.  We want to get them to the University of Prin."

"That I can do.  What else?"

"Stay the fuck out of our way."

Ran laughed.  "Oh, now that I can't promise."  He shot her a devious glance.  "I plan to do a whole lot more than just get out of the way.  Lieutenant Blaec Doll will receive orders any minute that increase your unit size to ten.  He has authorization to begin recruitment to find two additional Black Blades – and quickly, before orders come down to prevent it.  The trials will have to be held in Prin, though, because Parliament has requested a meeting with him."

"Why are you telling me this?"  Sal made no effort to hide her suspicion.  "I'm not authorized for that information."

"You are now.  Unfortunately, he's only allowed to raise you up three ranks within a year.  He used that up when he made you a Corporal.  With your, um – I think he used the word expert – handling of the Black Widow Company's threat, he asked me for the second favor."

"How does this affect my clearance?" Sal asked, confused.

Ran continued as if she hadn't interrupted. "I can't promote you unless I truly believe that you're qualified for the position.  No iliri – well, no purebred – has ever held a rank above Corporal in our history.  Our little chat today was my way of seeing if you could take it."  He smiled and shoved a small box at her.  "I think you can.  I'm impressed, Sal.  You're nothing like I expected.  You're twice as lethal and ten times more intelligent, even if you confuse the hell out of me.  So, I'm promoting you to Sergeant and raising your clearance to first level."

Sal looked between him and the small box.  Slowly, she opened it and looked at the chevrons inside, then back to the general.  "Damn it, Blaec," she whispered to herself.

"You got Blaec Doll to suck up his pride twice.  That's something.  According to him, you're the best recruit he's had, and your records show you're a damned monster on the field – no offense."

"None taken, I assure you."

"I'm also moving you to Second Officer of the Black Blades."

Sal sprang to her feet, her ears pinned back to her head, shocking the general into sitting up.  "You have no right!"

"I was asked to," he said, waving her down.  "I'm not meddling in your, I think Blaec called it a pack?  I'm not about to start moving around your pack structure, Sal.  I'm just handling a few things he can't do himself in our human laws."

"Blaec is making me third?"

"Yeah.  Said he would have made you second, but you convinced him Arctic is still better."

She looked back at the chevrons in her hand and sank into the chair.  "Fuck," she whispered again.

"Oddly, I don't think that has anything to do with it.  I admit, I wondered."  He laughed when she took his joke as nothing more than a fact.  "I'm behind you, Sal.  You, the Black Blades, and all of the iliri in the CFC.  I'll stick my neck out as far as you need me to, and we all know that I have pull where your pale skins don't, I just ask one thing in return."

"What?"  She didn't bother to look up.

"Help me.  We don't know much about your kind.  You've been secretive for too long."  He sighed.  "I know it was because you had to be, but it hasn't helped.  Humans are scared of that which they don't understand.  Give me what I need to help you, all of you?"

"I can't do that."  She glanced up, unable to meet his eyes, and shook her head.  "I'll tell you some, but I won't tell you all of it."

"Why not?"

"You seem like a decent man, Ran.  You're pretty good for a human, but you're still a human."

"Will I ever earn your trust?"

Sal thought about that for a long moment.  "I don't know."  She lifted the documents he'd given her and flicked the edge.  "This is a good start, though."

"Good.  Then get to Prin, hold your trials, and show them what you're made of, Sergeant."  He stood and offered his hand.

Sal rose and took it.  The feel of his skin was warm and comfortable, nothing like most humans.  Her head cocked to the side and her eyes were locked on their grip.  Her small, milky-white fingers were dwarfed by his wrinkled, umber palm, but she didn't have the instinctual urge to jerk away.  Slowly, she looked up, directly into his deep brown eyes.  He didn't blink.

"I believe you're trying," she said, the words devoid of emotion.  "I'll give you a chance, but we've learned not to trust your kind.  You like to kill us too much."

The General chuckled and slowly looked to the ground.  "I always knew you'd be different.  Good luck, Sergeant.  I'll do my best not to disappoint you."

She turned, marching out as proudly as she'd entered.  When she reached for the door to the hall, she paused.  He'd just given her back her dominance.  He'd dropped his eyes.  From the tone of his voice, he'd known exactly what he was doing.  Slowly, she looked back to find him waiting.

"Thank you, sir."

"You're welcome..."  The door was almost closed behind her, but she heard his last word.  "Kaisae."

Chapter 2

They entered Prin in full battle dress, their black armor cleaned, their horses shining in the sweltering summer sun.  Citizens lined the street to see the notorious Black Blades.  The stories of their victory in the Escean Pass had preceded them, having traveled as fast as only rumor can.  Sal looked at the faces of the citizens she passed, wondering if the other rumors had spread as well.  It surprised her how many slit eyes stared at their procession in shades of blues and greens.  Beside her, her partner smiled, at ease in his home town.

"I grew up down tha' way, kitten" Cyno said, pointing down an alley as they passed.

Has it always been like this? Sal thought to him.  Their mental link was one of the secrets she refused to share with General Sturmgren.

Wha'd'ya mean? he glanced over at her, confused.

Our kind, she said. We're everywhere.

Yeh. He nodded.  Guttertown is mostly cross-breds.  That does na mean they will like ya none, but, he shrugged, leaving the thought hanging.

Merriton's different, Sal thought. I've never been this far north.

Prin's like the mixing bowl of the Conglomerate, he told her.  It's the best of all, and the worst.

A lot of slaves? she asked.

Na.  Slaves are too expensive, 'specially with, Cyno glanced at the throng of iliran mongrels watching them, so many of us willin' ta work for so little.  Only the rich have 'em.

Around them, pale-skinned women held potbellied children close, preventing them from running under the hooves of the war horses.  Hard faced men, so many of them young, watched the Blades ride past, their eyes tracking them like Sal would a threat.

Think they heard? she asked.

Yeh, Cyno said, sadly.  I think they heard, and they do na believe it.

Sal laughed, her response not what her partner expected.  Wanna show them?  She looked at him deviously.

His deep blue eyes met her white, and a smile spread across his lips.  Sure.

Cyno sat back and turned Raven, pointing his mare at a dense spot of pale skinned viewers.  Men pushed away, shrinking into the shadows, but one woman dared to look up and meet his eyes.  With a smile, he moved closer, halting before her.

"Ya know 'a Inessi Cynortas?" he asked, his strange accent thick.

"Na," she told him, glaring.

"Dru grae Inessi Cynortas?" he tried again in Iliran.

She cocked her head at the sound of the language, but held her face still.  When he refused to drop his gaze, she lifted her lip slightly.  "What do ya want, Ace?"

He laughed at the slur.  "Na, ya got me confused for some ape, kaisae.  Was just lookin' fer my amma."

"Ain't no scrubber gonna sit a horse that nice."

Sal made her way to his side and calmly looked down at the woman, aware that she looked like nothing other than a purebred iliri.  "No?" she asked, patting Arden's neck, then turned to Cyno. "Corporal, get what you need?"

"Yeh," he said, but Sal could smell the disappointment on him.  "Do na think they got the news yet."

She nodded in understanding, then leaned over and looked at the defiant iliri before her.  "Black Blades are all iliri.  Every one of us, and we're the best military unit in the country.  The damned humans can't stop us.  And yeah, I ride a horse this nice."

"Yeh," Cyno said, chuckling, "I think that will do it."

"Who'd ya sleep with ta get there?" the woman asked, a growl barely audible in her throat.

Sal smiled. "An iliri.  I killed a few humans to make the point."

Another woman pushed forward and, with awe in her voice, asked, "So it's true?"

"Very," Sal assured her.  "And we're not fighting for them."  She tapped the pin at her collar, a pair of crossed blades.  "Anyone with this is one of ours."

"But will they do anything for us?" the first woman asked.

"Everything we possibly can.  We won't let them rule us anymore." Then Sal turned to Cyno.  "C'mon, Corporal, we've got things to do"

"Yes, Kaisae," he replied, smiling proudly, aware the women heard him.

They returned to the ranks with little more than a confused glance from Blaec.  Sal shrugged at him then looked around subtly as they made their way through the city.  The streets of Prin smelled of refuse and sewage, and the city seemed to be divided.  The iliri and very poor lived on the southeast side, the wealthy humans in the far north.  Businesses lined the larger streets and homes were built up rather than out.  In the center of the sprawling city sat the Parliament building, the hub from which everything radiated.  In its shadow lay the military base that was their destination.

Once at the compound, the Blades made themselves comfortable for the long weeks ahead.  Except for the trials, the unit had no orders, so the Lieutenant gave them leave to come and go as they pleased, with the understanding that they keep their minds open.

Zep and Razor scouted the town, looking for the best pubs and bars.  The men spent the next few days sharing war stories around a bottle, their nights flirting with women, the same as most soldiers.  Their fame meant there was no shortage of attention for them, but they rarely went home with anyone.  The whole thing felt like a vacation, the first one Sal had experienced in her life.

What shocked her the most was Zep.  So obviously human, he found himself surrounded by well-bred women, their dark skin and hair showing their lack of iliran lineage.  He refused every one.  When she finally saw him slipping a date into his room, it was a pale blonde, the girl's slit eyes reminding Sal of her own.

Cyno, of course, kept to himself.  He withdrew to his rooms, only venturing away from the compound to visit Guttertown, hoping to meet those he had known before.  She often saw him sparring with the infantry soldiers, honing his skills and sharing tips with the men he fought.  His freedom made her resent the pile of paperwork she faced each day.

With the politicians demanding every last second of Blaec's time, Sal and Arctic sorted through the stack of applications.  They chose fifteen soldiers who might have a chance.  Most were iliri, but a few humans had resumes impressive enough that the Blades were willing to consider them.  It only took three days before all of the applicants had been notified and a date selected for the trials.

Working in a new base, they had to rearrange everything from housing to meeting areas.  Some of their typical tests would also have to be adjusted.  Never mind that the world finally knew they weren't just typical humans.  But how would the soldiers react when they learned the Black Blades weren't like any other elite unit.

It was the end of the fifth day when she sat at Blaec's desk, scrawling notes before the recruits began to arrive.  The door barely creaked as it opened but the scent of Blaec gave away her visitor.

"Sal?  What are you doing?" he asked.

"Last minute checks."  She looked up with a smile.  "Trials start in the morning, love."

Reaching over her shoulder, he grabbed the pages and placed them on the far side.  "I know.  Stop worrying.  If things get out of hand, we'll deal with it.  If a recruit can't handle things falling apart around them, they shouldn't be a Black Blade."

She laughed, realizing he was right.  "Ok, fair enough.  I've just never done this before, ya know?"

"Mm," he said, kissing her neck.  "I know.  It looks good on you though.  Leading."

"Looks better on you, sir."  She leaned into his touch.

He shifted back just enough to brush her hair away from her face.  "How do you want to handle this," he gestured between them, "with the recruits?"

"Shit," she muttered.  "Yeah.  Same as we do in combat?"

He looked at her, his head tilting slightly in the iliran sign of confusion.

Sal giggled and reached up to straighten his chin.  "Proper protocols, but not hiding it?  Chain of command stays intact, the subtle signs are there, but nothing that can get you court-martialed.  Anyone that makes the Blades will figure it out before he's in black."

"He?  Keeping out the competition?"

"No," Sal said sadly.  "Only two women applied.  Both human, neither with much combat experience, and neither had records that even hinted at hidden talent."

He nodded, tracing his finger down the thin skin of her ear.  "I'm not surprised.  Only about fifteen percent of the army is female right now, and maybe three percent of that has any visible iliran ancestry."  He caught her eyes. "Now you know why I was so shocked to see your application."

"I guess so," Sal said.  "Are there really so few of us?"

"Purebreds, or females?"

"Yeah."  She meant both.

"Yes," Blaec told her, holding up his hand to indicate that he'd explain.  "I think there's like five purebreds in the military.  Last I heard, we had less than twenty-five in the country.  Well, that we know about.  Less now, thanks to Terric."

"What about the females?"

He squatted on the floor beside her chair and grabbed her knee.  "I know you missed a lot of this growing up with humans," he said gently.  "Only one in five children are girls.  It's just the way of our kind.  The more human breeding we have, the higher the rate of female offspring.  Half-breeds tend to produce about one female in three children, so not too far off from humans."

"So, out of twenty-five iliri in the entire country, maybe five of them are female," she said, showing she understood.

"No," Blaec corrected.  "Thing is," he looked away and sighed.  "Humans.  You forgot what humans do to us."

"Yeah."

"All the purebreds we know of are male, except you.  It's pretty rare for a purebred iliri female to live past twenty."

"Are they trying to kill us?"

"I dunno, love.  I really don't.  Malnutrition, pregnancy, abuse... we don't do well in captivity."  He grabbed her hand and kissed it.  "I'm just glad you made it."

"Yeah, me too," she said, then laughed at the foolishness of her statement.

"Sal."  Blaec's tone lost any hint of amusement.  "You know they won't like this, right?"

"Parliament?"

He nodded.  "Them, and the rest of the humans.  We just painted a real big target on our backs, love.  Don't trust anyone."

Sal looked up at him, her face serious.  "Except our pack.  I never have."

Chapter 3

The next morning, soldiers began showing up to check in for the Black Blades' recruitment trials.  Sal leaned against the wall, one more drop of black, united in a pool of black.  Each of them reclined in their parade armor, amused at the show.  That feeling of being a part of something bigger made the Black Blades her home, her family.

As men in blue walked up, a Blade would break off, check his papers, and assign him a number.  They coordinated it silently, speaking only in their minds.  Outside the walls, Blaec waited on Scorch for the signal to make his grand entrance.

Sal watched a young man, not much more than a boy, slink toward them.  His hair was so pale blonde it was nearly silver.  His charcoal eyes glanced around, showing the slit pupil.

I got this one, guys, she sent.

She walked up to him, her hand out for his papers.  Fumbling in his pocket, the boy handed them over.  He had to look down to see into her iliri eyes, but dared to meet them with a smile.

"Zyrn Audgan?" she asked, reading his name from the papers.

"Yes, uh.  Yes, Kai… ma'am," he stammered.

"It's sir.  Every Blade is referred to as a sir."

"Yes, sir." This time, he sounded only marginally more confident.

She nodded, then continued, "You will be number 9. Please place your belongings there," she gestured to a row of numbers drawn on the ground in chalk, "and be at ease.  The Lieutenant will be here shortly to give you orders."

When she handed the letter back to him, she was very careful to avoid physical contact.  There was always the chance that touching could accidentally pull a recruit into their link like Arctic had done with her.  The corner of her lip curled upwards as she returned to her group.  Behind them, the numbers slowly filled as men hoping to become one of the most elite arrived for the recruitment trials.

Is it always like this? she asked.

Nah, Cyno said beside her. This part is, but we change it up as we go depending on what we see.  But number 9 is a lucky number.  Why'd ya give it ta him?

I have high hopes for that one.  I was number 9, you know?

Yeh. Cyno laughed in her mind.  I know.  I'm the one that assigned it ta ya.  Circus gave it ta me.

She smiled.  Unknowingly she had passed on a tradition.

Once all the recruits were in their places, Arctic alerted their commander through the link.  When Blaec acknowledged the summons, they called out in unison, "Attention!" making the two syllables into distinct words.

As scripted, the Lieutenant cantered through the front gates, making a dramatic halt. With a shift in his weight, he asked Scorch to paw the ground, then patted his neck affectionately before dismounting.  Zep stood ready to take the stallion.

The Lieutenant's black resin armor soaked up the daylight, giving him the air of a walking shadow.  At his back, a full quiver of arrows was accessible over his right shoulder, an impressive acrylic sword over the left, and a jakentron was strapped to his leg, turning him into a walking arsenal.  Blaec unfastened his helm and slipped it off, revealing perfectly chestnut hair, the coloration so close to human, but not quite.  His green eyes looked over each soldier before him.  The Blades nodded properly when his eyes passed, but the applicants seemed to retreat under his pale stare.

"Welcome, applicants," he said in a gentle voice. "I know that all of you are excited to show your strengths and prove that you are made for the Black Blades.  I want to make it clear that I do not owe any of you a position in my outfit.  Each of you was selected because I hope to find two soldiers who will be what we need, but I have refused entire groups before, and I'm not afraid to do it again.  A weak link is more likely to kill us than help us.  None of you is guaranteed a position."

As he spoke, LT walked through the ranks, letting his attention linger on each recruit. "When you're released, the first row will report to Zep, the second to Razor, and the last to Shift."  Blaec gestured at each man as he named them.  "Each officer will assign barracks for the duration of our trials and a time for me to speak with each of you privately.  You may be at ease."

He turned and retrieved his horse, leading the animal away, and Sal stepped forward, her eyes challenging each of them.  She knew what she was about to say would only make things harder for them, but the Blades were done hiding.

"You have all served in the CFC military for a minimum of two years," she said, "many of you for longer, but the Black Blades is not the Conglomerate Army.  For those of you wondering why I am speaking to you – me, an iliri woman – well, if you want to pass these trials, I suggest you get used to it.  I am Sergeant Salryc Luxx, and I am the Second Officer of the Black Blades.  If you cannot take orders from me, you may as well leave now.  If you think you are better than me because you have darker skin or your pupils aren't quite as narrow, you are welcome to resign from the trials."

Sal paused, looking at the eyes of each man before her.  The boy at number 9 stood with his head up, but the small lines around his eyes betrayed his relief.  The man standing on number 14 cursed softly, then grabbed his things.  Sal pointed toward Arctic and he nodded.  One down.  A flare of resentment hit her, but she smothered it.  The best unit in the military, and the fool hated her enough to walk away.  He was the only one his decision would hurt.

She turned to the rest.  "The Black Blades are proud to boast the highest combat rating of any outfit in this nation.  We also have the largest percentage of iliri ancestry of any elite operations unit.  Yes, the rumors you have heard are true.  We are iliri, and we will not hide it."  She paused, smiling proudly, her two sets of pointed canines making her look feral.

"If you are still interested in proving your worth, please place your baggage in the crate corresponding to the number you are standing on.  We will have your luggage moved to the recruit barracks.  Afterward, make your way to the stables post-haste.  Dismissed!"

The recruits began to move, rushing toward the side in their haste to be the first to their new location.  Audgan took his time, unwilling to push through the crowd before him.  Another man, this one with sooty hair, watched her carefully.  When his eyes met hers, he held her gaze for a second, then glanced away respectfully.  As the crowd thinned, he set his bag in a bin and walked directly toward her.

"Laetus, Kaisae," he said respectfully, looking at the ground before turning and walking away.

Much respect ta the mistress of the pack, Cyno translated.  It's proper to show respect to the dominant female of the family.  To na, when ya know, is considered a slight.  He was raised as one a us.

Is it always so easy? Sal asked.  To find the next Black Blade, I mean.  Do they always stand out so plainly on the first day?

You did, Arctic told her. We saw you walking up nearly a block away.

And yet we have trials.  Why even bother?

Razor glanced at Sal.  Because some are the exception, kinda like me.  Never know what you'll find in a mixed group like this, unless you look.

Zep huffed under his breath.  And to keep military command happy.  Gotta make them think we're obeying their rules, ya know.

Sal nodded in understanding.  Ok, that makes a lot more sense.

Zep, Razor, and Shift broke off to meet their recruits and set their appointments.  With tensions high and so many men wanting to prove their combat ability, fights weren't uncommon, so Risk and Cyno had been assigned to keeping order.  Sal cocked her head at Arctic, and together they made their way to their office.  Blaec was tacking down Scorch and would meet them before the recruits were even settled.  The pair were lounging behind the simple desk when Blaec walked in, grinning.

"So, we wanna scare the piss out of these boys, or set them at ease?" he asked.

"Scare, I think," Arctic said, glancing to Sal for approval. "Since we're not exactly gonna be the most popular unit in the Conglomerate soon."

"Least not with Parliament," she agreed.

"Good point," Blaec said.  "Sal, growling and snarling is allowed.  Be sure to challenge every one of them.  If they weren't raised as one of us, they should at least have the instinctual desire to submit to you.  Arctic, you want to play the good guy, or should I?"

"Works better when I do it, LT.  They're already terrified of you before they meet you."

Sal moved to lounge behind Blaec, leaning against the wall.  Arctic reclined, propping one foot on the desk.  Blaec poured them all a drink and they chatted casually about their first impressions until Zep sent them a warning thought.  The door opened shortly after, and he escorted in a tall dark-skinned man.

"Specialist Jad Ivant," Zep said, "let me introduce you to the officers of the Black Blades.  Lieutenant Blaec Doll, Sergeant Karim Chalybs – also known as Arctic – and Sergeant Salryc Luxx, who we call Sal."

"Well met, sirs," the man said.

"Sit down, boy," Blaec ordered, leaning forward.  "I like to take the time to meet each of my applicants.  Tell me, what do you know of the Black Blades?"

Jad smiled and stared politely at the Lieutenant's bars.  "Sir, I've followed your successes since I was a boy.  Congratulations on the Escean Pass, sir, and I was glad to hear that Yager's Crossing went well."

"We lost the damned intel," Sal said coldly.  "I wouldn't call that well."

He looked up at her quickly, then dropped his eyes, but his chin lifted slightly.  "Better the metal than the First Officer, sir."

Sal inhaled deeply, smelling the man's pride at the hint he'd just dropped.  "So you currently have, what..."  She walked closer to him and breathed in again.  A faint hint of a woman clung to his clothing.  "I see."

Arctic chuckled beside him.  "Iliri lover?  That's convenient."

"Pardon?" Jad asked, looking quickly between the three of them.

Blaec rested his chin on his hands and looked at the man before him.  "You've been seeing a woman of mixed ancestry.  She's either spent a lot of time at your place, you at hers, or you're living together.  She works in intelligence - "

"Ft. Landing, in Colonel Cal's office," Sal said.  "Hard to mistake that incense."

"Fuck," Jad whispered, his eyes widening.  "Fiancée, we live together in Ft. Landing, and yes, you even got her supervisor correct."

"And you know she's iliri?" Zep asked snidely from the door.

Jad clenched his teeth and turned, his eyes cold.  "Yeah, I know exactly what her breeding is."  He could barely keep himself in the chair.  "Got a sixteenth myself.  Not enough to get the benefits, but enough to not turn my nose up."

Did he really just challenge Zep? Sal asked, impressed.

Yeah, Zep sent back, glaring at the man, but his mental voice was amused.

He's truly pissed, too, Arctic thought.  He reeks of it.  "Hey," Arctic said, touching his shoulder.  "That's a Black Blade you're talking to."

"Sorry," Jad muttered, turning back to the officers professionally.

"You heard the rumors, boy?" Zep asked, taunting him.

"Yeah, I did."  He glanced up at Blaec, a smile spreading to his lips.  "More than just the one about your tirade in the officer's hall, sir."

Arctic made a pleased noise.  "Do tell?"

"Sergeant Luxx went rogue in Yager's Crossing, there's been speculation about proper military protocol with romantic liaisons, and my favorite is the one that says you can do magic."

Sal couldn't help it, she laughed.  "Magic?"

"Yes, sir.  The rumor is that there's magic in the Black Blades."  Jad ducked his head and grinned.  "None of you take wounds, you always seem to get intel faster than anyone else, and you can teleport.  I kinda figure they just haven't had the privilege of seeing iliran agility."

The Lieutenant chuckled.  "I see.  And what are your specialties, Specialist Ivant?"

"I've got a fair seat.  Rode with the CFC messenger service when I first enlisted.  I do well with the sword, but I'm a mess with a shield, sir.  I do have two years working in tactics with the analysts, though."

Sal was impressed.  The young man had potential.  He was one of the two humans that had made the cut.  She watched him, taking note of his body language as he spoke, and except for the defense of his fiancée, he seemed even-tempered and intelligent.  The short meeting concluded and Zep moved to his side to escort the man to his rooms.  Beyond the door, Shift waited with the next applicant.

"Mess hall at 1200 for your first exam, soldier," Blaec said as he left.

A long line of men streamed through the office that day.  Only a few stood out.  Most had anticipated the questions and had formal and flowery responses ready, but they told little of themselves.  Two men looked at Sal with their contempt barely concealed.  When the last recruit left the room, the sun was dropping in the sky, and the three officers had consumed nearly a bottle of liquor each.

"You'd better feed her, LT," Arctic teased, tilting his chin at Sal.

Blaec sighed and glanced up at her.  "You drunk?"

"No," she laughed.  "Takes more than a bottle of mead over six hours to make me drunk.  I am starving, though.  You coming?"

He shook his head.  "Nah, you two go.  I have a few things to do first.  Fucking Parliament wants a presentation, and I'm trying to talk them out of it."

"Presentation of what?" Arctic asked.

"The Blades," Blaec said.  "And it doesn't look like we get to take the week off for trials this time.  Probably going to be scrambling to make sure we get the trials done each day.  I'll want everyone available for the tests, though."  He rubbed his head, then waved that away.  "No, go eat.  I'll get this crap finished and meet you down there in less than an hour.  We can talk about all of this in the morning."

"Yeah," Arctic told him. "You know you can put it off, too."

Blaec laughed.  "Thirty minutes now and I get the night off."  He leaned over and kissed Sal, then shooed her to the door.

At Arctic's side, she walked through the stone halls of the Prin military compound.  The entire base had been designed to impress.  Stone columns and banisters lined the halls and deep rich wood was used liberally.  The place was nothing like the Stables at Stonewater that the Black Blades had always called home.

A cluster of recruits sat together at one of the many long tables in the mess hall.  Their heads followed the officers when they entered and Sal's ear flicked in their direction at the sound of her name.  She caught a few jokes about her – most light-hearted – while she filled a plate and moved toward the group of soldiers in black, but as she set it on the table, they crossed the line.

One of the younger men, Tane Geoni, laughed and asked his new friends, "Wonder what it'd be like to have those teeth wrapped around your -"

"You know I can hear you, right?" Sal called across the room, annoyed.

Nine heads snapped to face her.  The curious man at least had the grace to blush.

"You can hear that from over there?" another asked.

"Yeah," Arctic said.  "Most of us can."

"I take it his comments weren't so kind?" Zep asked Sal softly.

From the far side of the mess hall, Cyno answered while still filling his plate.  "He's just wondering what any man would.  Do na take it wrong, Sal."

Tane buried his head in his hands and the others laughed, but Zep wouldn't let it go.  He stood and made his way to the recruit's table, easing himself down in an empty spot.

"Let me make this real clear for all of you.  Sal's pretty nice to look at, and she's probably not like anything any of you have met before, am I right?"

The boys all nodded, a few glancing back at her.

"Any of you see her fight yet?" Zep asked pointedly.

They all shook their heads.

Zep smiled, nodding as if confirming what he'd expected.  "Ever seen any iliri fight?"

The heads weren't as emphatic this time, some men looking at those beside them cautiously.

"Well, they move like predators and strike faster.  Now just imagine a pack of them."  He stood and smiled kindly at the recruits, adding, "Don't piss us off. It won't be pretty."

"No, sir," Tane whispered, staring at the table.

Zep returned to Sal's side and patted her shoulder.  Sorry.  Just never could tolerate that shit.

Thanks, big brother.  She thought, smiling up at him.

The rest of the Blades slowly trickled in and they ate in silence, keeping their conversation inside their heads.  She knew they must make a strange group, looking at each other without a word spoken and laughter erupting spontaneously, then she remembered the rumors of magic.  Let them wonder, she told herself when the recruits stole curious looks.  The Blades would no longer change their ways to suit the sensibilities of humans.  The world would have to learn to accept them as they were.

Everything seemed to be going well when a disturbance at the door caught Sal's attention.  Audgan, the blonde kid, stood with his head down, apologizing to a human soldier.  Sal thought little of it until Cyno looked.  Then she flicked her ear that way, listening.

"I don't fucking care who you are, scrubber, I don't like eating with your kind around."

"Yes, sir," Audgan answered, unmoving.

Cyno's eyes caught hers.  Together, they stood.  Sal gestured for the rest to wait while the two of them checked out the situation.  Moving like the assassins they were, the pair was standing behind the soldier before he was aware of their presence.

"Don't 'sir' me, you fuck," the man snapped, shoving at Audgan's shoulder.

"There a problem?" Sal asked politely.

The soldier jumped, turning to glare at her.  Sal grinned back, flicking her ears close to her skull and smiling wide enough for him to see her nicely pointed teeth.

"Fucking Private tried shoving into me," he said, daring her to disagree.

"I doubt it," Cyno said coldly.

Sal glanced at the man's shoulder, then up into his face.  "We don't care to touch your kind, the feel never seems to come off, so I doubt there was any shoving.  Or are you intentionally harassing my soldier, Corporal?"

His eyes flicked to her shoulder and widened as he realized that she outranked him.  "Sergeant?  I guess it was a misunderstanding, then."

"I guess so," Sal said.  "I hope you don't plan to make a habit of it."

"Or what?" he dared to ask, his eyes drifting across her in disgust.

Sal flicked her ears forward and cocked her head to the side, allowing a friendly smile to show at her lips.  "Why, Corporal, if that happened, it might make me think you were seeking my attention.  I'd be more than happy to find you," she paused, "alone," and paused again, the smile never leaving, "to show you how appreciative I am."

"Sergeant Luxx, Corporal Cynortas," Audgan said softly, "I didn't mean to cause problems."

The human blanched.  Both Sal and Cyno were well known as assassins.  It was the last hint he needed.

"My apologies, Sergeant," he muttered.

"No problem, Corporal."

She gestured for Audgan to precede her.  Cyno followed.  When they were well outside the human's hearing, she stopped, touching the boy's shoulder lightly.

"How they treat you will never affect how you are judged in the trials.  How you respond may.  Understand?"

"Yes, sir," he said, his eyes never meeting hers.

"And that does na mean letting them kick the shit outta ya," Cyno added.

Audgan glanced up at him, a tentative smile on his lips.  "Wouldn't happen.  I may not be dominant like the two of you, but I have my ways, sir."

Sal nodded and left, leaving the recruit to find his own way.  Her instincts wanted her to protect him, but she knew that wasn't always possible.  He'd either pass the trials or not, and he'd have to do it on his own merits.  She liked the boy, though.  She was rooting for him.

Chapter 4

Blaec had never made it down for dinner with his men.  Sal wasn't shocked.  It was typical for him to get lost in his work and the revelation of their species only made it harder, but he would never admit it.  It was his fear of losing her that made Blaec storm into a meeting of the top generals of the country and snarl that the Black Blades were all iliran, giving up their pretense of fitting in with human society.   Only afterward had he realized that his men wanted the world to know regardless of the repercussions.  They were the only iliri in the Conglomerate of Free Citizens in a position to prove that their people were as good as humans.  Things would never change unless someone took the first step, and the Blades never did anything partway.

But she didn't want to return to their rooms only to watch him stare at maps and papers.  Sal sighed.  It was too hot to be trapped inside, she thought.  It would be stifling in the rooms for another couple of hours, and the compound seemed to have been built to minimize the breeze.  She unbuttoned her uniform, the standard-issue tank being more than enough for the summer weather, and leaned over the railing, looking into the courtyard.

Do na tell me you are fighting with him again? her partner's rough voice asked in her mind.

Sal shook her head, glancing over her shoulder to see him standing carefully in a shadow.  No, just too hot to watch him work.  Why are you out here?

Cyno glanced down and moved beside her.  Keeping an eye on our new toys.  He gestured at the courtyard.  Both regular military and the Black Blades' recruits mingled, all trying to catch the faintest hint of a breeze.

You really think there's going to be any problems, Jase? she asked.

Na, but does na mean I will trust them.

Is that why you always were keeping an eye on me, back in my trials?

He glanced at her quickly, then carefully looked back to the men below.  Na.  We all knew ya would na be a problem.  Did na realize ya knew bout that.

You were always there, she pointed out.  Every time I needed you, and a few when I didn't – but could have.

Yeh.

Why?

He shrugged.

What's going on, Jase? Sal pressed.  Ever since Yager's Crossing, something's changed.

Yeh, he said, looking up at her.  A lot's changed since then.  I owe ya my life, ya know?

Sal sighed at that.  I didn't think we were keeping track.  She looked over at him, his profile silhouetted in the setting sun.  Pretty sure that makes me still in your debt, though.

Ya count diff'rent than I do, then.

She shrugged and pulled off the long sleeve shirt, draping it across the stone railing, watching him.  Cyno had always been a bit more feral than the others and Sal never could quite guess what he was thinking.

I fergot how hot it gets in Prin in the summers, he said, leaning back, trying to change the subject.

Yeah, and it's after hours, so we're not required to be in uniform, she pointed out.

A smile finally found its way to his face, and he chuckled, glancing at her.  Trying ta get me outta my clothes? he teased.

Sal smiled.  It's been known to happen.

I can na resist an offer like that. He slowly began to peel away his own shirt.

Swirling black lines were etched across his left arm, reaching across his chest.  He tossed his uniform beside Sal's and leaned his back against the rail, his pants dipping dangerously low.  New lines caught her eye and she looked across his body, admiring the tattoos.

You ever going to teach me to read those? she asked.

Ya really wanna learn?  Why?

Sal shrugged.  I'm iliri, and I don't speak a word of my own language or read it.  It seems wrong.  She glanced away, her jaw set.  I don't know anything about us, Jase.  I'm faking this.  And here you are, with traditions and history that seems amazing and perfect to me, but I don't have a clue.

He reached out and touched her wrist gently, waiting for her to look.  She turned, meeting his twilight eyes.  Carefully, he lifted her hand.

It's ok ta touch them, Sal.  They do na burn.

She traced the lines on his bicep, sharp edges branching away from the swirling pattern, trying to ignore the hard muscles beneath.  Her finger followed the words, and she smiled, entranced with the art of her native language while her hand made its way to his chest.  She reached the new lines and his hand grabbed hers, stopping it.

That one, he said, is what ya will learn first.  His face showed no expression, but he held her gaze easily.

What does it mean?

It's yer name, kitten.

It was written over his heart.

Chapter 5

She woke up alone, again.  It was becoming a habit.  Blaec had slipped out from under her without disturbing her sleep to make yet another meeting.  Each day had been the same lately: a different politician calling him to their office, each wanting to know if the rumors were true.  None of them could believe that the best soldiers in the country were little more than beasts.  Sal yawned, looking at his empty spot beside her, wondering when he'd return.

Knowing she would never fall back asleep, she slipped out of the bed and slid into a pair of her usual black pants and a black tank, throwing one of Blaec's white standard-issue shirts over it.  She twisted her white hair into a knot and tucked it under a blue Conglomerate cap, not caring that she looked more like a common soldier than the Black Blade she was.  She breathed in the smell of him clinging to the material before heading into the main compound.

Cyno was at it again.  A circle of soldiers surrounded her partner, cheering him on as he stalked a blonde man.  By the smiles, she could assume there was money riding on the outcome, and she wanted a closer look.  It wasn't often she got to appreciate his skill from the sidelines.  Slipping between the tall men forming a circle, she made her way to the front of the crowd.  Both held practice knives, the blonde making feints at the iliri assassin, trying to spur him into movement.

"Pull back," Sal called out.  "If you retreat, he'll close the gap."

Ignoring her suggestion, the blonde lunged, and Cyno easily stepped past his attack, threw the man to the ground, then lazily touched the soldier's neck with his wooden blade.  The crowd laughed.

"You think you could do better?" a man beside her asked, looking down and seeing only her common attire.  "Girl, that's a Black Blade.  Their main assassin, ain't no one able to beat him."

Sal looked up and the man's eyes widened, seeing her pale skin.

"Oh, I can be beat, Nyurin," Cyno laughed, gesturing toward her.  "Guys," he said, turning to the soldiers around them, "I'd like ta introduce Sergeant Luxx, my partner, and a member of the Black Blades."

"She's that iliri!" one of the soldiers muttered.

"I've been called worse," Sal said, acknowledging that she'd heard him.  She shrugged.

"Sergeant," Nyurin assured her. "It's not a slur here.  I grew up with your partner there, a few blocks over.  I don't allow my men to disrespect iliri, never could tolerate it."

"Sal." Cyno moved to her side.  "This is Lance Corporal Nyurin, he's in charge of the 97th Pikemen."

She nodded at the man, and he explained, "I asked Cyno if he'd teach my men some knife work.  Short blades are all we get when our pikes fail us, and after hearing about your last mission and the way the Blades rode through the Imperial pikes up in that pass, I figured we could use some better ideas."

"He's the one to teach ya, that's for sure," Sal said.  "He taught me."

"Damn," one of the men in the ranks whispered.  "Means there's hope for me yet."

The others nodded in agreement, including a small group standing to the side.  Sal tapped Cyno and nodded at them.

"Yeh, they've been watching," he said, shrugging it off.

"Showing off?"

He looked at her deviously and leaned against the wall. "A bit.  It's encouraged, ya know.  Na all the recruits understand quite what they are signin' up for."

Sal chuckled, realizing he was right.  "Ok.  Fair enough."

"That, and we keep trying to get the real stories out of him," one of the men said.  "We all know the crap in the tabloids is exaggerated."

"Yeah, like we know you were in the pass, but what about the Escean warlords?" another asked.  "Were you on that one?"

Cyno looked up at him and nodded.  "Yeh, actually, that was Sal and I."

"Yeah, I heard the Blades took out six of them.  What'd ya do, have snipers in or something?"

"Nah.  Just Sal and I."  Cyno said.

"Seriously?"

"We say she's like a demon possessed.  It fits her pretty well, usually." Cyno laughed.

Sal pushed closer, positioning herself beneath the arm he rested on the balustrade.  "What he doesn't tell you is that he matched me step for step."

"Yeah, but you got four, I only got two." he pointed out.

"No, the third one we both got," she reminded him.  "You were a gentleman and let me have the last wounded one."

"Only cuz ya wounded him."

She had thrown her steel dagger into his chest while together they had slaughtered the leader.  Deep in the bloodlust, Cyno had watched her kill the last man, and Sal would never forget the desires that had coursed through her that night.

"Well, that, and he did have my knife," she admitted, choosing her words carefully.  "But the third one I think we have to share." Sal leaned her head on his shoulder as she spoke.

"Yeah.  When ya do that, I can na disagree," he said wistfully.

She felt him shift, and leaned into him.  He rested his arm on her shoulder, his thumb lightly caressing her bicep through her shirt.

"Ok guys," Nyurin said, glancing at Cyno, "We got drills, and the Blades' got the day off.  Let's let them do something besides entertain us."

Cyno shot him a thankful look as his childhood friend all but ordered the men away.  Sal turned into him and leaned her forearms against his chest, encouraging him to actually look at her.

"You hungry?" she asked, staring up into his eyes.

"Nah."  A smile played on his lips.  "Why?  Whatcha thinking, Sal?"

"Oh, I just happen to have the day off."

"What about Blaec?  Figured ya'd be with him."

"Nope, he and Arctic are handling the testing today."

"K.  Whatcha wanna do?  Seems ya scared off ma friends, so I'm free for a bit."

"Take me some place a bit more private?" she teased.

"Sal..."  Cyno met her eyes before switching into her head.  You sure?

I like spending time with you, she thought. Jase, just shut up and take me back to your place.  I deserve a little time to screw around and do something besides be an officer.

She saw his eyes widen imperceptibly.  Leaning against him, she could feel his heart beating faster, and knew it was fear, not excitement, causing the reaction.

Jase, she insisted. Look, you keep saying you'll teach me Iliran, right?

Yeh, he barely whispered the thought.

You saying you don't want to now? she asked, trying hard to read his expression.

He looked down and shook his head.  It's na that, kitten.  I just.  I like seeing you like this, you know, happy and shit.

And teaching me is going to be that bad?

Nah.  He reached up and ran his hand down the back of her neck, his finger trailing her braid down her back.  I just do na know where I stand with ya, ya know?  When I'm na in yer head, I do na always know how ya mean things.

Sal rolled her eyes and grabbed his hand, then tugged.  Smiling shyly, nothing like the predator she knew him to be, he let her pull him away from the wall.  His eyes were locked on their hands as he slowly caressed hers with his thumb.  She knew he could read her thoughts through the contact.  Then he shifted and draped his arm across her shoulders, turning her back to his room.

They walked in silence through the halls, the camaraderie between them no longer as perfect as it had once been.  Ever since Yager's Crossing, something really had changed.  They hadn't been in combat since, but it was more than that.  She'd chosen Blaec.

When they reached Cyno's door, the one next to his opened, and Arctic walked out.  The Black Blades had been given rooms side by side, only the Lieutenant staying in the officer's wing – and Sal was usually with him.  Seeing the assassins together, the First Officer smiled.

"Hey Sal, nice to see ya slummin' it." he teased.

"Oh, bite me, Arctic," she joked back.

"Nope.  Not my job."  He laughed, waving before he turned and left.  Sal just sighed.

Cyno shrugged it away and held the door to his place open, inviting her in.  His rooms were anything but tidy.  She looked around, oddly impressed with the clutter.  Dozens of knifes and swords lay on every surface, their edges sharpened, their scabbards oiled, books stacked beside them.

"I woulda cleaned up a bit if I knew I was gonna have company."  He shrugged, moving around the room and picking up discarded items, but none of it was the dirty clothing she expected.

"It's fine.  I can't complain about a man who leaves his blades out," she assured him, throwing herself on a small couch in the room.  Changing the subject, she asked, "Jase?"

"Yeh?"

"Why do you do this?"

"Do wha?" he asked, not looking at her.

"You're fine with me sometimes," she said, slipping off her boots.  "You can stalk me through an army camp like it's no big deal.  You're completely at ease with me when we're on a mission.  Shit, Jase, you slipped into my head like you belonged there when we took out those warlords."

He looked over at her, his hands on the chair in front of him, but said nothing.  Sal could see his knuckles were clenched too tight.

"During my trials, you avoided me.  You watched me, but you never really talked to me.  You're fine with me when there are others around.  You're fine with me when we're killing something.  Why don't you want to be alone with me, Jase?"

"I do," he whispered.

"But?"

He sighed, turned the chair, and sat in it, leaning his forearms against the back.  "It's cuz I dunno what ta do, ya know?  I wanna... Ayati.  Sal, I wanna impress ya, and when we're not frenzied, I allus feel like I'm stickin' my foot in it.  I am na good at this shit.  I dunno when I've gone too far."

"I dunno, killer.  I think you're...." Sal paused, looking for a way to describe it.  "It's flattering, ya know?  You, like this?  I kinda like it.  Jase? You're really sweet."

He laughed.  "That's a new one."

"I mean it.  I mean, you're lethal, we all know that.  But underneath the assassin, there's a very sweet man.  I like you, Jase.  I like being with you."

"Yeh?"  He raised his head, his eyes unable to meet hers.  "You're confusing me, Sal.  I'm part human," he told her.  "I was raised iliri, but there's a little part a me that wants what a man wants.  I can na stop it.  I try ta keep it ta myself and all, but it's shit like this."  He shrugged.  "I can na stop it.  I wanna see ya smile, Sal.  I wanna make ya happy.  Maast, kitten."

"This is what I mean," she said, running her hands through her hair in frustration.  "I don't understand what I'm supposed to do, or when."

"What do ya mean?"

She gestured between them.  "Us.  I love Blaec, you know that, right?"

"Yeh," he growled softly.

"The bloodlust, it gets to us, and I know that, but you're not making any attempt to hide how you feel about me.  I like you, Jase.  I trust you, but you're my partner.  I don't want to lose that."

He shrugged it off.  "Yeh.  We're good, Sal.  So what are we doing?" he asked, changing the subject.

"You promised to teach me," she tilted her head at his chest, "that symbol."

He nodded, accepting that.  "Here I was hoping that ya just wanted ta be locked away with me fer a few hours."

"Jase," she warned him gently.

"I was joking," he told her, his tone suddenly cold.

Sal looked at him pointedly. "You were going to explain to me why my name is over your heart."

He sighed, defeated, and nodded.  "Truce?" he asked glancing up at her.

"I'm just trying to work it all out," she told him.  "So yeah.  You tell me when I've gone too far, and I'll do the same?"

"Fair 'nough," he whispered, climbing to his feet and walking across the room.  He grabbed the closest book, and walked back to the couch Sal reclined on.  "This will be easier if I sit next ta ya," he said meekly.

She sat up, making room for him, and Cyno sank into the cushions, passing her the book.  Swirling lines decorated the front, similar yet different to the black marks across his body.  Unlike his tattoos, these were in various shades of brilliant colors.  Sal opened the cover and flipped through it.  The writing did not flow in lines like anything she had seen before.  Instead, it swirled across the page, smaller patterns branching from the larger, colors merging from one to the next.

"This is beautiful," she breathed, gently touching the page.

Cyno chuckled.  "Yeh, and a lot more informative than Glish.  The large lines, those are the main idea.  The smaller lines support it."  He tapped the largest.  "In Glish, this would be the concept.  I'm gonna make this simple, ok?"

Sal nodded, completely entranced.

"This is about some studies they did on us a while back.  This," and his finger moved as he spoke, "says that iliran males choose their mates based on an instinctual attraction, due to their perception of her scent."

Sal glanced up at him, her ears turning back in annoyance.  "I thought we were moving past this?"

"It's the book I had," he told her.  "It's what it says."  Sal nodded, and he continued.  "That's what this page is about.  These smaller thoughts, explain the main idea.  Here," and he moved to the first branch, "it says that pair bonding is often stronger in iliri than in humans.  The next," and his hand moved again, "points out that without the appeal of scent, iliran males become unable ta breed."

"What does that mean?" Sal asked.

"I thought we were talking about the writing, na the subject."

"I think we're talking about both now," Sal admitted.

Cyno growled softly in the back of his throat.  "I shoulda chose a diff'rent book."  He sighed, looking away.  "It means we can na get it up unless a girl smells good."

"Is that just purebreds?"

He shook his head.  "Nah, I dunno how much it takes ta work like that, but half or more, and yeah."  He paused.  "I never really asked Shift or Razor if it works the same fer them.  Na really somethan we talk about."

She looked up at him.  "I'm sorry.  I don't want to make you feel like a specimen, ok?  I just really don't know any of this."

"I know, kitten," he told her.

"So how does it work for women?"

"Ya wanna read, or wanna learn about yer species?"

"Both," Sal said, patting his leg.

"K.  I can do that."  He flipped back further in the book, glancing at pages quickly until he found the one he wanted.  "Iliri females typically have less conscious understanding of the olfactory appeal of their mates, but scent appears ta still play a role.  The scent of a male is balanced with his aggression and dominance to achieve his familial status."

Sal looked at him blankly.  "Can you explain that?"

"Um," Cyno scratched at the short stubble on his head.  "Ya may think a guy smells good, but he also has to kick some ass, and be the kind of man to help you lead the pack?"

"Is that why I'm so drawn to Blaec?"

He nodded.  "Yeh.  And it's why I will na even try ta..." he let the sentence die off.  "Lemme na get ahead.  It also says that females typically have two ta four mates, thus balancing the disproportion in the genders.  Males rarely exhibit aggression between members of a female's harem."  He closed the book, his finger marking the page, and met her eyes, waiting.

"Jase, I need a drink."

He chuckled and set the book aside.  "Yeh, figured no one had told ya that part yet."  Without looking back, he headed to the counter.  "How strong ya want it, kitten?"

"Not too much.  I have a feeling there's a few more revelations like that."

"Prolly."

He poured two full glasses and carried them back, passing one to Sal.  She took a long gulp, her ears twitching slightly as she swallowed.  Cyno waited until she paused for a breath before sitting at her side again.

"Ya good?"

"Yeah," Sal said.  "This thing, with us and Blaec.  It's normal?"

He nodded.

"Does he know?"

"Yeah."

"And he's ok with it all?"

Cyno reached over and brushed a wisp of hair away from her face.  "We're good.  He and I talked.  He's yer first man, and we both know it.  I'm yer partner, Sal, and if ya decide ta make me yer second, I will na say no."

She sighed and leaned back against the couch, looking at the ceiling.  "So, you're not my second now?"

"Na.  In Glish, it's a dalliance.  I guess ya could say we had fun a few times, but that is all.  Ya have na claimed me.  Ya allus stop."  He tilted his head a bit, looking at her from the corner of his eye.  "I keep hoping, though."

"And you'd be happy as my second man?"

He shrugged.  "Second man is a lot better than a dalliance, but stop thinkin' about it.  Yer allus tryin' ta do the right thing.  It does na work like that.  You would na marry a man because someone told you it would be a good match, right?"

She laughed and finally looked at him, an embarrassed smile tugging at her lips.  "No.  I wouldn't."

"K.  And ya should na choose yer second man because ya think ya owe me.  These things take time, ok?  Ya came here ta learn Iliran, na ta be lectured on my feelings."

She met his eyes and Cyno refused to look away, but his gaze held no challenge.  He waited, his face serene, while Sal read every feature and nuance, her ears slowly drooping the longer she looked.

"You're in love with me, aren't you," she said softly.

He nodded.  "Yeh."

"Jase..." she started, but he cut her off.

"I will na lie ta ya, kitten.  I am in love with ya, and I would die fer ya.  It's out there now, ok?  I did na ask ya fer anything back.  I never have, and I never will.  That is a human thing."

Her white teeth closed on her lip as she nodded at him.

"Ya ready ta learn about the colors now?" he asked, grabbing the book again.

She couldn't help it; she smiled.  He always made her feel so comfortable.  The most lethal assassin in the country, but he understood her feelings better than she did herself.  As Cyno lay the book across his lap, she reached up for his hand.

"I'm trying to learn quickly.  I don't have a clue what I'm supposed to do, or feel, or think, ok?"

"I know."  His fingers closed around hers.  "That is why I did na say anything.  I'm na in a rush, ok?  Yer my Kaisae, and my brother.  I know that does na make sense ta ya yet, but it does ta me, and it's ok.  We're good, Sal."

"I just don't want to do the wrong thing."

"I know," he said, looking at her hand.  "Ya hit me with it ever' time ya touch me.  We're good, kitten.  Honest."

"Ok.  Then tell me about the colors."

He did.  "Iliran is written in emotion as well as facts."  Pride crept into his voice.  "Glish is na like this.  Words are words and nothing more.  In Iliran, the lines display the facts and the colors the feeling.  So," he flipped the book open randomly, and pointed at a large section in green.  "This is about our nutritional needs.  Green means life, so ta me, this tells me that this is what we need ta survive."  He moved to a smaller line.  "And this is in purple, which is passion.  It tells me that these things are preferred by our kind."

"Like how we can't survive on vegetables, but we dislike our meat cooked too much?"

"Exactly!"  The praise was obvious in his voice.

She thought back to the pages about iliran mating habits.  "What is white?"

"Love."

"Black?"

"Death."

"Red?"

"Anger."

"Why are all your tattoos in black?"

He grinned and set the book beside his drink.  Slowly, he worked his buttons free.  "They are my list of kills, the memorable ones.  But they are na all in black."  He opened his shirt, exposing his chest, and tapped her name sign.  "Look closer."

She did.  The ink of her name was a deep, dark blue, a faint white line edging each swirl and point.  "What is blue?"

"Faith, or hope."  He watched her face, his head tilting slowly to the side.  "Should I explain ta ya why yer in blue?"

"Yeah.  And I see the white."

"White is all love.  Family love, the love of a friend, or simply the love of a thing.  It's that warm feeling that brings a smile when ya think of something.  Blue is faith or hope.  It’s more than hoping that ya will get rich, or such.  It's the kind of hope that's bigger than that.  Faith.  It's the belief that we can be more than the pets of humans, the hope that there's more than what we have now."

"Why me?" she asked.

"Yer a Kaisae.  A real one."

"Jase?  What does that mean?"

"Pack leader, roughly," he said, "if ya make it real simple.  It is na just the title though.  I mean, it is, and it is na."  He shifted, putting space between them.  "Ya know about the females.  There are na many of ya, and almost none are purebred.  What ya probably do na understand is that most are like that kid, Audgan.  They are na dominant like you.  Most iliri women are submissive, seductive things."

"What, you're saying they're just made to be your toys?" Sal asked snidely.

"Na," he waved that away.  "They are made to breed, if ya make it real basic like that.  But that's like sayin' we men are made ta just bring food home and die to protect ya ladies."  He grinned.  "We are, but I like ta think there's a bit more ta me than that.  But see, a few women are the dominant type - "

"Like me," Sal guessed.

"Na, do na get ahead of me," he told her.  "Some are dominant.  That woman I talked ta when we rode into Prin?  She's one."

Sal chuckled.  "Ok, I remember her."

"Well, they tend ta be organizers.  I'm still keeping this real basic, but historically, women like that are like a captain.  They handle small groups – our packs – and keep them operating smoothly.  We started calling them kaisaes a while back."

"Ok.  So, kaisaes are pack leaders," Sal agreed, thinking she understood.

"Yeh, now, but it is na what the word means."  He shook his head, trying to explain.  "Used ta be, we had real Kaisaes, the kind with a capital letter."

"So what's the difference?"

"Well, a true Kaisae, she's like a general.  Instinctually, we're driven ta obey her.  They think it's something hormonal or chemical that does it.  There's been a few in history that led rebellions and shit.  A Kaisae says ta fight back and any male that hears her will do so.  Most iliri, actually."

"A puppet master?" Sal asked, appalled.

"Yeh.  Basically."  He shrugged.  "I saw one, back when I was little.  She'd come ta Prin from Unav, and even as a kid, I wanted ta worship her.  It was like seein’ a dream come true."  He smiled thinking about it.

"Ok, so what does this have to do with me?"

Cyno looked at her quickly, then glanced away, embarrassment on his face.  "Remember when I took yer papers, how I would na touch ya?"

"Yeah," Sal said.  "Kinda pissed me off."

"Yeh.  But it's cause I smelled ya."  He inhaled, breathing in her scent, and looked up with his indigo eyes.  "Ya smell like hope, ya know?  It scares me, but I can na get enough of it.  It pulls at me, and if ya ask, I'll do it.  Does na matter what it is.  Ya were an applicant, and I knew when I smelled ya."

"Why is it such a big deal, Jase?  The Kaisae thing?"

He lifted his chin slightly, and said, "Because we have na seen one in a decade.  They were always pretty rare, but we thought Terric had killed them off."

Her ears went limp.  "What is it you all want from me?"

His eyes dropped to the book on the table, then back to her.  "That's a very simple question, but the answer is na so easy."

"Try?"

"We hope ya change the world."

Her hands trembled as she brought them to her face.  "I'm just a slave," she whispered.

"No," Cyno said, working hard to pronounce the word.  "No.  Ya were a slave, ya are a kaisae, ya will be a Kaisae.  The kind with a capital letter.  The kind my people write in silver.  Yer somethan' special, Sal, whether ya like it or na."

"I just want to be a soldier," she said, her confusion showing.  "I know how to kill!  I always fuck the rest of this up."

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to his chest.  Sal crumpled against him and he wrapped his arms protectively around her.  "The world does na care 'bout what we want.  I wanna be free, but I am na."

"This is a big deal, isn't it?" she asked, her head buried against him.

"Yeh, ya are.  But ya are na alone.  We're yer family, and we'll never leave ya, ok?"

"And you won't learn to hate me because I'm..."  She pulled in a deep breath, trying to keep her voice calm. "I'm gonna fuck this up."

Cyno looked down into her icy eyes.  "I swear ta ya, kitten.  I will never leave ya.  Even if ya send me away, I will na leave ya.  I can na."

Sal nodded, her hand touching the skin of his chest.  "I can't do this without you, Jase.  I'm lost without you."

Through her touch, he saw the truth of those words and swore to himself that he could wait for her to realize it, too.

Chapter 6

That afternoon, she finally left Cyno's rooms, her mind filled with a new understanding that had only brought more questions.  She'd known that a kaisae was the word for the female leaders of the iliri, but she'd never heard of a difference between kinds.  With each symbol Cyno had shown her, questions had come, both about the written language and their culture.

The first sign that she memorized was her name, the next for prey.  When he had explained how basic symbols were used to make complex ones, she thought she understood, until he wrote the sign for humans.  It was prey and punishment combined.  She ran her hands through her hair, thinking about it as she walked across the compound to Blaec's rooms.  Punishment made sense.  Humans had been the masters of their kind for thousands of years now, but she'd never hunted them.  They smelled sweet, though, and their histories mentioned that during the Landing, iliri had attacked, so maybe that was the reason?

One day at a time, she told herself.  One word, one tradition, one instinct.  Eventually, it would all make sense, and she hoped she'd feel a bit less lost.

She pushed open the door to Blaec's office – and paused.  Arctic and a recruit stood stiffly before the simple wood desk and Blaec barely flicked an eye at her.  She closed the door behind her gently.

"I'm sorry," Blaec told the recruit.  "Your scores on the test were below our minimum standard."

"Yes, sir," the man said softly.  Sal could hear the disappointment in his voice.

"Pack your things and Arctic will have transportation arranged to return you to your previous unit."

The man nodded, taking a deep breath.  "Are we allowed to reapply if we improve, sir?"

"Yes," Blaec told him.  "And a refusal by the Black Blades will not be shown on your public record, so it will have no bearing on your applications with other units."

"Yes, sir.  I have no interest in a unit that isn't iliran, sir."

Blaec smiled up at him and nodded.  "I understand.  Good luck, soldier.  I hope that next time we meet, I can give you better news."

The man snapped a quick salute and spun on his heel, striding toward the door.  Sal moved to the side, and he paused, breathing deeply.  His eyes met hers for a moment, then he looked down and made his way into the hall beyond.  Sal pushed the door closed, hearing the click of the latch.

"Worst part of my day," Blaec said to her.  "How was yours, love?"

She chuckled.  "I know three words now, and most of the colors, plus I can sign my own name.  I also feel like my head is about to burst with everything Jase told me."

"Which words did you learn?" Arctic asked.

"Prey, human, and iliri."

"Yep, that's Cyno.  He tell you that your accent is horrid?"

"No," Sal said, thinking about it.  "He said I spoke like a natural."

"It's the tongue," Blaec said jokingly to Arctic.

"I do not want to know!"  Arctic laughed.  "Keep that shit to yourselves.  Ok.  I need to ship this guy off."

"How many did we cut?" Sal asked.

"Two," Blaec said.  "He's the last, so I'm off work."

"Twelve left.  Not bad."

Arctic patted her shoulder, nodded to Blaec, then slipped out of the room, leaving the couple alone.  Sal leaned her hip against the desk, looking at her commander and lover.

"Blaec?" she asked.

"Yeah?"

"Did you know Jase basically has a library in his room?"

Blaec chuckled.  "Yeah, we all know that.  All in Iliran, if possible.  He's pretty much fluent in both languages now, but he still has a thick accent.  It's gotten better since you convinced him to start talking."

"He was using a book on our species."

He paused, looking up at her, a smile teasing the corner of his mouth.  "And you had questions?"

"He says I smell good. Does that mean anything to you?" she asked.

"Probably more than it does to you."

"And females typically keep two to four mates, a sort of harem."

Blaec nodded, his smile turning smug.

"And you and he spoke, working everything out."  Sal crossed her arms over her chest.

Blaec couldn't stop himself from laughing.  "Sal," he said finally.  "You came to us knowing nothing.  You didn't even know the difference between the smell of humans and iliri."

"And?" she pressed.

"And you have two decades or more to catch up on.  You didn't know the bloodlust even existed - "

"Maast," Sal said, using the correct term.

"Right, that the maast existed.  When it hit you, you were drawn to him, and I understand that.  I'm not iliri enough to get it.  I understand that too."

"Why didn't you even try to explain it, Blaec?"

He glanced down, grinning.  "If you remember, you weren't exactly in the mood to talk to me."  He held up his hand before she could say anything.  "Or me to you.  I tried to prove to you that it was ok, but I think all of that got lost."

She nodded, realizing what he said was true.  "Yeah."  She remembered her anguish at thinking he wanted her to be human, and how she'd failed when she tried to pretend.

"After Yager's Crossing, it just didn't come up.  Cyno made a point of talking to me about the relationship we all have, but I didn't feel like it was my place to betray his confidence."

"He's in love with me," Sal said simply.

"I know."

Her eyes widened and her ears snapped forward, his answer not being the one she had expected.

"That's the confidence I meant.  Did your book today explain how the smell of you drives us crazy?"

Sal paused, thinking.  "Yes, and it said that iliri males are unable to, uh, breed, unless they find the scent of their mate appealing."

Blaec nodded, watching her work it out.

"Jase said he knows it's true for anyone with half iliri ancestry or more."

Blaec continued to nod.

"But you slept with Siana," Sal said, referring to the persona she'd used to infiltrate the Black Blades during her own trial.

"And I had planned to ask her if she realized she was iliri.  The smell of her reminded me of someone.  You might remember," he pointed out, "I asked a few times if we'd met before."

"The smell," Sal said, finally understanding.  "I wore a metallic smelling perfume that night!"

"Right.  I only knew this dark skinned woman smelled like the most intense thing I had encountered."

Sal thought about it for a moment, then took a deep breath and blurted out, "Is my smell the only thing you find attractive?"

"No," he said, standing.  "I'm sure you can look at a human and see that he has a nice body, good muscles, and such, but that doesn't mean he's attractive, right?"

She thought about that, and nodded.

"But if you think about what does make someone attractive, you'll realize it's a complicated thing.  A pretty face isn't enough if the person is snide and cruel.  A kind personality makes up for a lot, but it isn't the same as beauty."

"It's all of it," Sal said, understanding.

"And you have all of it," he told her, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her neck.  "The smell, the body..." He pulled back and looked down into her face. "The sharp teeth, beautiful eyes, and gorgeous face."

His words made her smile foolishly.  For so long, she'd been little more than something for humans to stare at.  Her iliri features were similar to humans' but different enough that she'd spent most of her life being laughed at and taunted.  That Blaec found her beautiful was a feeling she couldn't describe.

"And Cyno agrees with me," he said, bringing the topic back to what had started it.

"And you're ok with that?"

Blaec shrugged.  "I've tried to tell you.  We want our women to choose us each time, not just the first time.  My father was my mother's second man."

"How can you be sure?  I mean, if she had two lovers?"

He made a dismissive gesture and tried again.  "My father, not my sire.  I can guess which one was my sire, but the man who raised me was her second man."

"Ok," Sal said, unsure of how to respond to that.

"What I'm saying, Sal, is that it's ok.  I know you feel something for him."

"Blaec," she said, and he kissed her, cutting her words off.

"Listen first," he said when he broke the kiss.  "I know you well enough to know that.  I also know that you don't understand your own instincts.  You're a predator, but you've been raised and trained to ignore it."  He sighed, and shook his head.  "I didn't help that any.  I was so worried about protecting all of us that I fucked up, ok?"

She nodded timidly at him.

"You're iliri.  Pure iliri.  Listen to your instincts more and everything will work out.  Our entire culture can be summed up pretty easily.  We do what is natural.  We may need to hide it a bit around the humans, but with the Blades?  Just follow your gut, love."

"But I made a mess of it last time," she whimpered.

"No, sweetness, I made a mess of it.  You were right.  I promised you that I'd stop trying to be human, right?  Well, I want you to promise me something."

"What?"

"That you will do what feels natural first, and ask forgiveness later.  Anything.  If that's challenging me or sleeping with Cyno, I don't care."

The shock was obvious on her face.  "You don't care if I sleep with Jase?"

"Care is the wrong word.  I will never resent it.  I may hate not having you at my side, but there will be no anger if you're with him."  He chuckled and glanced away.  "That's not necessarily true for some man I don't know, though.  It's different inside the Blades."

"Why?"

"We're your family."

"So," Sal said, trying to understand, "how does this effect everything else?"

"I'm still your commanding officer.  Militarily, it doesn't.  Off duty?  We're a family.  We're not pretending to be humans anymore, Sal.  We both want to protect the Blades, and that's all that matters, even if we do it differently.  I'll get pissed if you challenge me, but we'll work it out.  Loving our pack has nothing to do with that."

"I think I get it," Sal told him, her entire body relaxing.  "I think I finally get it."

"Good.  Because I need to change the subject.  We report to Parliament in the morning."

"We?"

Blaec nodded.  "The Black Blades.  I'll let the others know in a bit.  Dress uniforms.  We will be presented formally."

"This is going to go bad, isn't it?" she asked him.

"Parliament?" Blaec asked.

"Yeah."

He grabbed her and tugged her into his arms.  "No, it will be fine.  I've done this a time or two, Sal."

She nodded, but didn't feel very confident about it.  "I haven't."

"I know," he teased, kissing her neck, and nipping at her gently.  "They don't tend to invite anyone with skin paler than mine.  This is a big deal, love."

"Yeah, but a good deal or a bad one?"

He shook that off, refusing to worry about it.  "We'll make sure it's a good one.  When they see iliri operating like a well-oiled unit and not the animals they claim, what can they do?"

"Are we animals?  Really, Blaec?  Are we?"

"No," he told her, turning her face up to look at his.  "Why?"

"All of it," she said.  "Jase, you, this.  All of it."

"Do you know how many human men have mistresses?"

Sal did not want to talk about her knowledge of human men.

His hand gently caressed the hair along the back of her head.  "It's not accepted because they breed too easy.  They marry to support their children, mostly, and make traditions about it being love.  We love, and embrace it for what it is.  We tend to keep our mates until death, too.  Which one do you think is primitive?"

"Fair enough," she admitted.  "We're different, but it's not worse."

"No," Blaec said, sliding his hands to her waist.  "There's nothing about you that isn't better than a human.  You're smarter, faster, stronger, and much more beautiful.  There's nothing worse about the iliri."

Sal giggled.  "You forgot shorter."

"Ok," he teased.  "You are kinda short."

Chapter 7

The Black Blades marched into the Parliament building in perfect formation, Sal just behind Blaec.  She'd never been in a building so grand in her life.  Forcing her expression to remain stoic, she took in the ornate carvings and intricate statues from her peripheral vision.  The grand doors led to a large foyer, staircases on either side leading up to a seating balcony.  Ahead of them stood another set of doors in a material so strange Sal couldn't place it.  The consistency was like steel, but it was more of an amber color.

They continued into the room beyond, men and women seated on either side of a wide aisle, and marched down it proudly.  A herald called out the unit's name.  A curved desk loomed at the end, raised on a dais, and twelve humans looked down at them from its heights.  Sal was amused at the ceremony, their grandiose entrance nothing more than posturing to a room of people who had already made their decisions.

Before the dais, the Black Blades fanned out, standing shoulder to shoulder.  Sal stood on Blaec's left, Cyno on her other side.  She could just make out Cyno's lip twitching as he fought to keep his face straight.

"Lieutenant Blaec Doll?" the woman in the center called out, standing to address him.

"Yes, ma'am," LT responded.

"These are the Black Blades?  Where's the rest of them, or are these just your officers?"

"Ma'am, this is my entire unit."

"Can't be," a man beside her said.  "These reports show an operational efficiency that you couldn't achieve with only seven combatants."

"Eight, sir.  I fight with them."

"Lieutenant Doll, do you find that wise," the first woman asked, "putting yourself in the middle of combat like that?  Who directs them if you are wounded?"

"My First Officer, ma'am, Karim Chalybs.  He can operate the unit nearly as efficiently as I can."

"I see."  The woman returned to her chair.

"And," another man stood, addressing the Lieutenant, "you believe that your unit is sufficient to eliminate the threat of the Empire?"

"No sir, not alone.  We are but one part of the military, simply a special operations unit.  Our expertise lies in infiltration and extraction."

"I see.  And my records show me that you are a Lieutenant, but you have refused nine offers of promotion.  Why is that?" the man continued.

"Sir, most of those promotions came with conditions I simply could not accept.  I am aware of my own limitations, and commanding a small unit is the extent of it.  Accepting a promotion simply for the pay or prestige, placing me in a position I am poorly suited to, does not help the Conglomerate."

"I see.  And yet you have assured us that your men are the best?" the man persisted.  Sal wondered where this was headed.

"They are, sir.  Our records indicate a combat efficiency well above the normal, and our mission success rate is nearly perfect," Blaec replied.

"Nearly.  Yes, you only have one failure on your records."

"Yes, sir.  That was six years ago, before I had many of these soldiers."

"I see," the man said, seating himself.  "Was that before your unit became all iliri?"

"Yes, sir."

"Lieutenant Doll."  Another man rose.  "I have a report here of your unit clearing out nearly sixty heavy cavalry and twenty pikemen in the Escean Pass.  Is this correct?"

"Sir, that report should mention that we were assisted by two other units.  The Black Blades was only a small force in that battle."  Blaec's voice was purely professional.

"And yet the records indicate clearly that without your unit, the battle would have been lost."  The man smiled as if victorious.

"It is possible, sir.  It is not my place to make those assumptions."

"I understand, Lieutenant.  What I want to know, though, is how many of those men your Black Blades eliminated."

"Fifty-four, sir."

"You're saying that the eight of you removed fifty-four heavy cavalry?"  The surprise was evident in his voice.

"No, sir.  We removed thirty-eight heavy cavalry, fourteen pikemen, and two teamsters armed with crossbows."

"How?" the politician asked.

"We were mounted, sir."

"I see.  Is this typical with iliri soldiers?"

"I wouldn't know.  Iliri typically have been spread throughout the military, not coordinated to make the most of our strengths."

"Our?" the man asked.

Blaec looked easily into the man's eyes.  "I am half iliri, raised in the iliran traditions."

"I see."  He returned to his chair.

The politicians began to talk amongst themselves.  The Black Blades stood at attention, unmoving at the front of the audience hall.  They could hear conversations hum behind them, but the room made it a homogeneous soft noise that prevented the listener from picking out specific lines of talk.  The wait seemed to go on forever, and Sal felt her right foot begin to tingle.

I wish they'd get it over with already, she sent to Cyno beside her.

Yeh, me too.  My neck is startin' ta hurt, he sent back.

Your neck?

Yeh.  I dunno why, jus' does.

My foot's asleep, I think, she told him.  Worst part of the military is standing around like decoration.

The woman in the center of the dais stood again, and the room around them fell into silence.  Clearing her throat, she said, "Lieutenant Doll, the Parliament of the Conglomerate of Free Citizens has officially declared war on the entire Empire of Terric.  I would like to offer you the chance to lead the main incursion.  Would you accept?"

"I'm sorry, ma'am.  I cannot.  My unit is not suited for leading an incursion like that.  Like I said before, we specialize in extraction and infiltration.  Heading an assault would be a poor choice for the Black Blades."

"I see," she said.  "What if I told you that this mission will require infiltration and extraction?  We have intelligence that suggests the Emperor is transporting bribes to Anglia.  We need those bribes intercepted and nullified."

"Ma'am," the Lieutenant replied, "I think the Blades could handle that type of mission, but I would also like to point out the inherent problem with discussing military strategy in a public forum."

"I agree, Lieutenant Doll.  You must trust me, that I have not divulged any intelligence that is not common knowledge."

"Yes, ma'am," he agreed.

"Madam Chair."  Another man stood, addressing the woman in the center.  "I object to the idea of sending a mere Lieutenant as the military commander for a mission as sensitive as this."

"I agree," said the man who had asked about their kills.  "A mere Lieutenant should not lead a mission of this nature.  I motion that Blaec Doll be promoted immediately to Major."

"I second that motion," a woman near the end of the dais said, standing momentarily.

"All in favor?" the chair woman asked.  A chorus of ayes followed.  "All opposed?"  A few nays were called out.  "Heard and passed.  I hereby promote you to the position of Major.  Congratulations, Major Doll."

"Thank you, ma'am."  Blaec's voice fell into the room like stone.

LT's gonna be pissed about that, Cyno sent to Sal.

I know, but he shouldn't be, she replied. I'll see what I can do to make him see the wisdom in it later.

Good.  He'll listen to ya.

I hope so.

"Now that our officer is a Major, Representative Toth, do you have any other objections?"  The chairwoman looked at the man beside her.

"No, Madam Chair," Representative Toth replied, glowering before returning to his seat.

"Good.  Then I motion that we place Major Doll in charge of our projected plans and grant him the necessary clearance as needed."

"I second that motion," another representative said, this time on the opposite side of the room.

"All in favor?" the chairwoman continued.  A chorus of ayes followed.  "All opposed?"  This time, Sal could hear quite a few nays.  "Heard and passed.  Major Doll, Parliament thanks you for your time.  You are dismissed. Please return to my office at 0800 tomorrow morning for your briefing."

"Thank you, Representative Anis," Blaec said, saluting.

In unison, LT and Arctic spun on their heels, pausing while facing the back of the room.  In her head, she heard Arctic's voice, About face in three, two, one, ABOUT FACE!

In time with her fellow Blades, Sal executed a perfect turn, pausing with her heels together and standing until Blaec stepped off.  Counting to three, she stepped in line behind him.  The Black Blades made a flawless exit from the room and they could hear the tone of the crowd.  Such simple maneuvers always impressed the civilians.

Marching in silence back to their barracks, Sal tried to touch Blaec's mind, but he shied away from her gentle request.  She knew his rank as Lieutenant had been something important, a way of remembering those who had died before him.  She also knew that he needed to move past that, and his promotion would mean more respect for his unit as a whole.  Making mental notes of the reasons why he should be pleased, she found reasons to dismiss his previous excuses for evading promotions while they marched back.

The Black Blades entered the compound to a cheer from the 97th Pikemen.  In their head, they were given the "at ease" by Arctic, and the 97th reached through, clasping hands or smacking the Blades on the back.  Phrases such as, "good presentation," and, "about time a real unit got some respect," were heard in the crowd.

The 97th was a large group, consisting of nearly 75 men.  The recruits and a few other units added to the mess in the courtyard.  Sal quickly found herself lost in a sea of bodies.  Pushing through the crowd, she aimed for Blaec's suite.  Right now, she'd kill for a comfortable shirt.

Through the mass of soldiers, a familiar face made her pause.  Struggling to place it, she remembered her last time with the man – as she strangled him in the Black Blade's trials.  She'd never gotten the chance to apologize.

"Kinetry!"  Sal called out.

The broad-shouldered blonde turned, looking around him, and Sal called to him again.  Spotting her, she was shocked to see him smile and push his way over.

"Sergeant Luxx!" he said, giving her a belated salute.

"At ease, Kinetry.  Is this your unit?" she asked him.

"Yeah.  Been with the 97th for about a month now.  The Lieutenant, I mean Major's, recommendation got me the spot.  Not as good as elite ops, but I fit in here.  It's a good group," he told her.

"I'm glad.  Look, I never got the chance to apologize.  I took it too far, back in trials."

"It's ok, sir.  They were pushing you pretty hard.  After I saw those idiots try to jack you the first day, I cursed my luck when they paired me with you.  I've never seen anyone move like that, till Cyno started drilling us, that is.  I didn't stand a chance."

"I'm still glad you're ok."

"Yeah, same to you.  I heard that idiot tried to jack you again in your last mission."

"He did.  Got me pretty good too.  Left one hell of a scar," she admitted.

"Rumor has it you flayed him as you went down.  Heard he bled out."

"I actually hadn't heard.  We got a bit busy after that."

Sal felt a hand on her shoulder and glanced up to find Cyno behind her.  "Ya good?" he asked.

"Yeah," she told him.  "You remember Kinetry, from my trials?"

Cyno slid his arm further up her shoulder, to the base of her neck, and left it there, making small talk while watching the man before her.  Understanding, Sal excused them and walked with Cyno through the crowd.

"Jealous?" she asked.

"Na really, but he was lookin', and I wanted ta make sure things were clear enough.  LT can na 'xactly do it himself now, can he?" Cyno said.

"Oh, I see," Sal teased, "you're just Blaec's stand in?"

"Am I na?"

"No, Jase, you aren't."  She turned to face him.  "You're nothing like Blaec, and he's nothing like you. You're my friend.  Maast, man, you're my partner.  I don't choose to spend time with you just to keep his reputation safe."

"But ya can touch me, ya know.  I mean, when we're in public."

She leaned over and kissed him.  "Like that?" she asked, pulling away.

"Ayati," he breathed.  "Yeh.  Like that."

She laughed and turned from him, seeing a man pat him on the shoulder in congratulations before she darted up the stairs to their rooms.

Inside, she found Blaec changing out of his dress uniform, gently caressing the bars on his shirt before removing them, folding it, and putting them away.

"It's been long enough, you know?" she said, wrapping her arms around him.

"I know.  It's just hard, Sal." he told her.

"You think your Captain would want you to hold your men back from promotions just for his memory?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, if you're a Lieutenant, Arctic can never be more than a First Sergeant.  He can't out-rank you unless an outside officer promotes him, and even then, he wouldn't take it, since it would most likely mean he gets control of the Blades."

"I hadn't thought about that," Blaec admitted.

"I didn't figure you had."  Sal smiled at him.  "Keep the bars, Blaec.  The guys will always call you LT, no matter what rank you are, but be happy about the promotion.  Oh.  And promote Arctic?  That poor boy could use a raise."

"Thanks, love."  Blaec turned to her.  "You know the right buttons to push.  What do you think?  Captain?"

"Nah.  Make him a Lieutenant.  It'll mean more to him like that."

"Sal?"  Blaec was clearly changing the subject.

"Yeah?"

"This promotion isn't a good thing, you know that, right?"

"You deserve it," she assured him.  "Regardless of why they did it."

He nodded, catching her eye as a knock came at the door.  "They're setting us up to fail."  He waited for her to nod before calling out.  "Come in, Zep."

Zep walked in timidly, which was unusual for the big guy.  He looked at them and held up a blue envelope.

"They aren't wasting time, LT."  He crossed the room to hand it over.

Blaec pulled the orders from the sleeve, his eyes scanning them.  With a nod, he handed them back.

"What's the plan?" Zep asked, as Sal looked between the two men, confused.

"Report to Representative Toth.  Be professional and keep our secrets.  You know the drill, Zep.  Least you're still dressed for it."

"What's the orders?" Sal finally asked.

"Just to report," Zep said.  "Short, sweet, and about as blunt as possible.  Thing is, I'm the only one that got them."

Sal nodded, understanding.  "You're human."

A cruel smile crawled onto Zep's face as he answered.  "Fuck that.  I may be human, but that doesn't mean I like them any."

Chapter 8

His boots rang out on the stone floor under the high arched ceilings, but Zep refused to step lightly.  Heads turned, staff watching the elite soldier storming through the halls.  His hand rested casually on the hilt of a large sword at his hip.  He paused, making sure he looked as menacing as possible, then turned into a small office.

"I have orders to report," he snapped at the girl behind the elaborate desk, tossing the blue envelope across the top so that it slid toward her.

"Yes, sir," she said meekly, pushing the papers back toward him.  "He's expecting you.  If you'd follow me?"

Her eyes were a bit too wide when she looked up at him.  He felt the muscles in his cheek fighting to smile, but his face remained cold and stony.  The poor girl nearly jogged as she led him through a set of double doors.  To his left, a rotund man waved him toward a seat.

"Sergeant Zepyr, so good to meet you," he cooed.

"Yes, sir," Zep said, allowing no trace of emotion into his voice.  He disliked this man already.  At least he couldn't smell the lies, because the idiot must reek of them.

"My, friendly aren't we?"

"I was ordered to report, sir."

"Yes.  Sit, Sergeant.  Can I get you something to drink?" Toth asked, gesturing to a glass cabinet filled with bottles.

"No, sir.  I'm on duty."

"I assure you," Toth said, "it's not a problem."

Zep turned slightly, catching the man's eye.  "Military Code of Conduct, Section 219:46.  All military personnel are prohibited from consuming alcohol during active duty or while on assignment.  I'm sorry.  It would be a problem.  How can I help you, sir?"

The Representative gestured to a seat.  "Ok.  Sit, Sergeant.  I have a few questions for you and no intention of ruining my neck to have this conversation."

Zep sat, shifting his shoulders slightly and lifting his chin.  His time with the iliri had made him sensitive to body language, and he knew that Toth would see nothing more than a confident elite soldier across from him.

"How long have you been with the Black Blades?"

"Nine years," Zep said.  "Although I've been with the unit for almost twelve years now."

The confusion was obvious on the politician's face.  "I don't understand."  Toth glanced at the papers beside him, hoping for an explanation.

"Representative Toth, I was assigned to the 62nd Mounted twelve years ago.  Over the next two years, we became known as the 62nd Black Blades.  A year after that, our unit experienced a catastrophic mission failure.  Our entire chain of command was killed in the line of duty.  Our Captain had only promoted Blaec Doll to Lieutenant the evening before, and he assumed command through the field promotion.  General Sturmgren chose the 62nd to become the third elite special operations unit in the Conglomerate, and it has been known as the Black Blades ever since.  I was with the Blades before they were the Blades."

"Field promotion?" Toth asked, unfamiliar with the term.

"Yes, sir," Zep said, remembering it all too clearly.  "That's the military's way of saying that everyone above him was dead, sir."  LT just took charge that day, screaming orders in his command voice, and everyone left had listened.  Somehow, he'd managed to keep them all alive.  Twenty-five men had left that morning, six of them had returned.

"Did you know at that time that Blaec Doll was iliri?"

"I was well aware that his mother was pure iliri.  We never discussed his father's ancestry."

"And Karim Chalybs?  He became the second in command at that time?"

"Yes, sir."

"And you knew of his iliran ancestry?"

Zep finally allowed himself to smile, barely.  "His eyes are almost white, sir.  It isn't something he can hide well."

"I understand," Toth said.  "And what did you think of serving under men who were inferior to you?"

"I have never served under men inferior to me," he answered, wrinkling his brow to appear confused.  "I am afraid I do not understand your question, sir."

"You are serving under two iliri, Sergeant.  It is well known that they are inferior to humans, and by the color of your skin, I can only assume that you have a very pure ancestry."

"Yes, sir," Zep said.  "Twenty generations of human breeding.  My parents were rather proud of that."

"So did it not bother you to serve under the iliri?"

"No, sir."

"Why not?!" Toth asked, his exasperation showing.

"The Major and the First Sergeant have proven their abilities in battle, sir."

"But they're just beasts," Toth persisted.  "Their lives controlled by their instincts.  No civilization among their people at all.  How can you tolerate this?"

Zep realized the man simply would not let this line of questioning go.  Slowly, he leaned forward, resting his arms on the chair, and looked deeply into the pathetic man's eyes, careful to hide his distaste.  "Representative Toth, I can only assume you have not been in combat.  Battle is not a very civilized place.  There's nothing but screaming, blood, and death all around you.  We do not get the luxury of holding tea parties while we're dying.  When you're in the middle of a war zone, the only thing that matters is making it out alive, and hopefully bringing as many of your fellow soldiers with you as you can.  I have served with Blaec Doll for almost twelve years.  I have seventeen scars from my time in, and I'm still alive to show them off."

"And you think Blaec Doll is responsible for your survival, and not your own skills?"

"Yes," Zep said simply.  "I owe the man my life, more times than I can count.  I don't think he's responsible for it; I know he is.  I was still conscious, Representative, when he took the pike meant for me.  After that, how could I care that he has less pigment than I do?"

"Blaec Doll was willing to sacrifice himself for a human?"  Toth leaned forward.

"What do you think we do out there?" Zep asked.  "Everyone who dies is dying for a human – so that Terric won't rule us.  It's why we're in this war, sir.  Every last man you put on a battlefield, elite or regular, is dying for the rest of us.  Both humans and iliri."

"Are you aware that you are the only human in the Black Blades?" Toth tried to change the subject slightly, aware that he was losing control of this conversation quickly.

"Yes, sir."

"Does that make you feel uncomfortable?"

Zep chuckled.  "Sir?  Do you know where they came from?  The iliri?"

"No," Toth said, giving Zep his opening.

"We made them," Zep said pointedly.  "We designed them, and bred them, and domesticated them to be what they are now.  We made them to be the perfect soldiers, sir.  They are, too."

"And this doesn't bother you?"

"No."  Zep leaned back, fighting his damned human urge to smile.  "When I have fifty Terrans wanting to see me bleed, I'd rather have a well-designed soldier beside me than some human boy who can trace his ancestry back to Landing but is pissing himself instead of covering my back.  I'm not sure I can make it any more clear than that, sir.  My ambitions are simple.  I want to live to be old.  In order to do that, I want to serve with the best soldiers I can, because who you fight with matters as much as who you fight against."

Toth looked at him for a long moment, then stood, opening the glass cabinet.  He poured a dark reddish liquid into a small glass and tossed it back, carefully replacing the bottle.  Then he glanced out the window behind him, and Zep watched the man take a deep breath, composing himself.

"So they fight well.  You think you could make them more efficient?"

"No."

Toth turned back, stunned.  "I'm sorry?"

"No," Zep said again.

"Sergeant Zepyr, your records are phenomenal.  You've tested in the top percentile in tactics and strategy, as well as a solid understanding of supply lines and troop movements."

"Yes, sir.  I am aware of that."

"Valcor," Toth said, sinking into his chair again, and leaning forward.  His every movement was designed to portray friendship to the soldier before him, including the use of Zep's first name, but his execution lacked finesse.  "You're a shining example of the type of soldier the Conglomerate boasts.  I believe in you, and I believe that if you were given the chance, you could rise through the ranks, possibly even to General."

"I know, sir," Zep said, taunting the man.

"I'm willing to give you that chance, Valcor.  I will promote you to Colonel and assign command of the Black Blades to you.  Keep the iliri, or don't, that's your call, but let’s show the country what can happen with a soldier like you in charge."

"A human?" Zep asked.  "No, sir.  I appreciate the offer, but I am not qualified to lead the Black Blades."

"Why not?" Toth gasped, tapping a stack of papers on his desk.  "Look at your scores, soldier, your records."

Zep nodded.  "Yes, sir.  Did you compare those to Major Doll's or First Sergeant Chalybs'?"

"No," Toth admitted, realizing he was defeated.

"My performance is twenty-three point seven five percent behind the First Sergeant.  Lieutenant – I'm sorry – Major Doll's results are almost forty-three percent better than my own.  The Major's placement tests still hold the record for the highest scores to date.  I am not qualified, sir."

"What about the girl?" Toth grumbled.  "Where does she fit in?"

"Sergeant Luxx?"

"Yeah."

Zep smiled.  "In two years, she'll be better than Major Doll.  That one's a natural."

"Is she even smart enough to speak Glish?"

"Yes.  Fluently, although she was raised as a human, so that might alter your opinion of her.  Her instinctual comprehension of combat is..." Zep paused, looking for the right word.

"Is what?"

"Representative, you know those kids who can do quantum physics by the time they're three?  Or the ones that master an instrument by five?"

"Savants?" Toth asked, wondering where Zep was going.

The dark man snapped his fingers, pointing.  "Yes, that's the word.  Salryc Luxx is a savant."

"I'm not following you."

"The Sergeant doesn't stop to think about combat, she feels it.  She knows where the enemy will place his men, how, and why.  She blinks and has a counter for their strategy.  She can use any weapon we give her as well as I can, even if she's never been trained in it.  We made the iliri, sir.  We made them to be what Salryc Luxx is.  The CFC is sitting on the best soldier I've ever seen, even if she's no bigger than the stable hounds.  She's a savant.  Be glad she's on our side."

"I understand," Toth said.  "Is her relationship a problem at all?"

Zep answered that easily, "No.  There's no regulations against it.  Cyno does not report to her, even if she outranks him."

"Cyno?"

"Corporal Jassant Cynortas," Zep said, watching the man's jaw clench.

"I thought she was involved with Major Doll?"

Zep leaned back, widened his eyes, and tilted his head slightly.  This was almost too easy.  "LT and Sal?" he asked, chuckling.  "No, sir.  She's not really LT's type."  He sighed dramatically, chuckling, and shook his head.  "That would make all of our lives hell, the two of them together."

"So there's no truth to those rumors?"

"I haven't heard them, sir." Zep said, thankful this fool couldn't smell lies either.  "I can tell you that Sal and LT spend a lot of time together, but Arctic does, too.  We typically call it strategic planning."

"I see.  So this is simply a misunderstanding of her duties, then.  Nothing I should worry about?"

"No, sir."  Zep assured him.  "Sir, that’s about as unlikely of a pair as you and Major Doll.

"Thank you, then," the Representative said, standing, and offering his hand.  "I appreciate the information.  Our talk has helped me feel much more confident about the revelation that the Blades are predominantly iliri."

"I'm glad I could help, sir," Zep said.  "If you have any concerns, I'm more than happy to speak with you again."

Toth glanced at him and Zep smiled, forcing the feeling to go all the way to his eyes.

"I may take you up on that.  Be safe, soldier, and thank you for serving."

"My pleasure, sir."  Zep snapped a quick salute.  "Have a nice day, Representative."  He turned sharply and strode from the room without a backwards glance, reaching out to LT in his mind.  I'm free.  They're just digging.

We knew they would be, Blaec answered.  Which angle?

Offered me command of the Blades, asked about Sal and you.

We covered?

Yep, Zep thought, pleased.  Pretty sure he thinks I'm a dumb soldier, but he's pretty convinced that the story I gave him is my honest opinion.  Offered to help him again if he needs it.

I owe you one, Zep, Blaec thought back.

It evens out in the end, LT.  What are we doing with those recruits?  Is it combat today?

Nope.  Second written test was today while you played politics.  Wrote off two more.  I'm giving everyone the evening off, to see if our potentials take advantage of it and try to form any friendships in the unit.

Gotcha.  Zep paused, thinking, then asked, Does that mean we need to stick around?

Why?

Came through Guttertown on my way in.  Saw a bookstore, the kind Cyno goes crazy for.  Also found a real iliran diner.

You stealing my girl? Blaec teased.

Was hoping to.  Haven't had a chance to just enjoy some time alone with my little brothers, you know.  Unless it's going to cause problems with the recruits.

No, Blaec told him.  Take her.  Well, them.  She needs it.

Zep pushed through the ornate door and stepped into the brilliant sun outside, the summer heat hitting him hard, but he didn't miss the concern in Blaec's thoughts.  Everything good?

Yeah, it's just that she's trying so hard to learn everything she missed, Blaec replied.  Seeing it will help.  She needs to be with him more, too.

You good with that, LT?

I am, Blaec told him.  More than you can understand, Zep.  I'm good with her and Cyno.

Hearing him say it made Zep feel so much better.  He'd been friends with his commander a long time, but his bond with the iliri assassin was deeper.  Zep never really understood why, but he'd liked Cyno from the moment they met, even though the bastard had been doing his best to kill him.  The little shit had spunk, and a fire inside that was hard to explain to those who didn't understand their kind.  Zep had always known that Cyno had feelings for Sal, and unlike most, he knew that iliri didn't love casually.

Chapter 9

Zep's feet carried him into the business district, taking the long way back.  He could have ridden, but that would only mean more work, tacking up Cessa, then tacking her down and cooling her out in this oppressive heat.  He wiped the sweat from his brow and glanced inside the stores he passed, unable to read the signs above them.  Finally, he saw what he was looking for.  Stacks of books peeked through the dusty window and Zep smiled.

He opened the door, ducking as he stepped through it, a small bell jingling his arrival.  Inside, a waft of cooler air hit him and Zep paused to allow his eyes to adjust to the shadows.  Iliri might see easily in the dark, but his human eyes needed time to acclimate.

"We do na haf yer books," an elderly man growled softly from behind the counter.

Zep rubbed at his eyes and turned toward the voice.  "I understand.  Would you be able to help me find something?"

"We do na haf books ya can read," the man said again.  "I can na make them in Glish, Ace."

He sighed, his eyes finally working, and saw a small, pale man glaring at him.  Zep turned his gaze respectfully to the ground.  "I understand, sir.  I am looking for something in Iliran, preferably written by a Kaisae."

"Most are written by women," the man said, annoyed.

"Not that kind, sir.  I mean, like Kaisae Sryni or Kaisae Wixa."

"Why do ya want those, Ace?"  The shop owner's eyes stalked Zep.

"It's for my friend.  I mean no disrespect, sir."

"Come here, boy."  The feral little man waved him over.  "Why do ya na look at me?"

"This is your place, sir," Zep said to the ground.  "I respect that, and would not dare show offense."

"Yer skin offends me enough.  Ya think buyin' yer slave a book will make him love ya?"

Zep's head snapped up and he met the man's eyes, holding them.  "My brother.  My dam and sire may have been human, but my amma was more iliri than you.  Do not insult my brothers with your assumptions."

The wizened little man smiled, his sharp teeth in perfect shape regardless of his age.  "My apologies," he said, waiting for Zep to look away.

He did, glancing back down, but aware that he could make this iliri submit to him.

"Ya do na smell like us, but ya smell like ya been with us."

Zep nodded.  "You smell my brothers, sir."

"Brothers, huh?  Come closer, let me see this dark skin of yers."

Zep chuckled and moved his hands behind his back, but walked slowly toward the counter.  "Then you'll want to hold onto something if you plan to touch me."  He unbuttoned his cuff and pushed one sleeve higher up his arm, baring his skin, then offered his arm to the man.  "My mind hits like a mule."

The shopkeeper didn't believe him.  He grabbed Zep's forearm – and gasped, his eyes flicking up into his head, his knees going weak.  Zep shifted around the corner of the counter quickly, grabbing the man before he crumpled to the ground.  He made sure to touch only the iliri's clothing.  When the elderly man nodded, pulling himself toward the counter, Zep released him and walked calmly back to where he'd stood before.

"How did ya know?"

"My brother," Zep said softly.  "Knocked him off his feet the first time.  Do you believe me now, sir?"

"Yeh," the shopkeeper breathed, nodding.  "Ya love them."

"I do," Zep said.  "They're my pack.  I would die for them.  I just wanted to get my brother something to make him happy."

"And the girl?"

"Kaisae," Zep corrected.  "I know my memories won't allow you to smell her, but she's no girl.  She's our Kaisae."

"She's all ya have," the old man told him.  "Of course she is."

"Wrong kind of Kaisae."

"Keep hoping, boy.  The true Kaisaes are gone."

"Were gone."

Old or not, the man moved easily as he glided around the corner toward Zep.  He reached up, touching the pin at Zep's collar, tracing the double blades.  Zep could feel his fingers tremble against the cloth at his throat.

"Ya sure?"

"No," Zep answered honestly, "but my brothers are."

"Where has she been?" he begged.

"Merriton, the slave of a damned human.  She knows nothing.  She's not ready, but she's here."

"They'll kill her."

Zep nodded.  "If they knew, they would.  We won't let that happen."

The little man chuckled.  "Yeh?  Ya really gonna abandon yer side fer some scrubber?"

Zep leaned down and lifted his upper lip as he met the shopkeeper's eyes again.  "I abandoned them a long time ago.  They killed my amma.  Sal?  I'll die for her.  We'll all die for her."

The old man nodded, breaking the gaze first, showing Zep that he accepted the truth of that statement.  What he said next shocked the Blade more than anything else.

"Ya lie.  Ya say ya can na know, but ya do."  He tapped Zep's chest.  "She has ya.  Ya may be Ace, but she has ya."

He could only nod, his throat betraying him, something it rarely did.

"Ya might be more iliri than ya know.  Come on.  I haf books."

The shopkeeper changed his moods as quickly as any iliri Zep had met before.  He followed the little man through aisles stacked full, listening to him hum a tune, working hard to keep up.  Zep rounded a corner, careful not to disturb a precarious stack, and found the shopkeeper shifting books from one pile to another.

"What does yer brother want?"

"He's been studying the old Kaisaes," Zep said, then smiled.  "He also has a strange interest, suddenly, in iliran courtship."

The man glanced up, grinning.  "Is he ahnor?"

"I don't know that one."

"Her lover."

"Not yet," Zep said, meeting the man's grin.  "He will be."

He nodded.  "Cessivi?"

Again, Zep shook his head, not understanding the word.

"Kaisaes and Cessivi.  This one should do him."  He glanced at Zep, his mind obviously working hard, then nodded.  "Skills and mental changes in Kaisaes.  Myths and legends of the powers of Kaisaes."  He passed the three books to Zep, then turned, looking high behind him.

Zep followed his gaze to a group of books laid carefully on the shelf above.  These were obviously more valuable.  Their binding was ancient, but the leather was of the best quality, faux-gilting decorating the spines.

"Grab the green one, Ace."

Zep reached up and carefully pulled a dark green book down.  White lines filled the front cover, lined in gilt, and the tome was heavy.  "What is this one?"

"The journal of Kaisae Nivix.  There are na many copies of it left."  The old man touched the book lovingly as it rested in Zep's hands.  "Now come."

He darted back toward the front of the store, leaving Zep to squeeze between the too small aisles again.  The little man grabbed two more books on his way and was standing behind the counter when Zep caught up.  He pointed, gesturing between the books Zep held and the ones before him, mouthing words as he thought, then smiled.

"Five each fer the histories, fifteen fer the journal, one fer the learner.  Thirty-one krits total."

Zep nodded and set the books carefully on the counter, then reached into his pocket.  "What are those two?"

"This one," he said, "is for the Kaisae.  Iliran grammar.  I saw ya remember her learnin' to read recently."

Zep nodded.  "Yeah.  Cyno said she's a natural."

The old man nodded.  "The other is a gift for ya."

"I'm willing to pay, sir."

"I know.  That is why it is a gift.  It is Glish to Iliran.  I think ya will use it."

"I will," he admitted, flipping through bills.  "Thirty one?" he asked.

"Yeh."

Zep nodded and carefully picked out three ten krit notes, then added another, glancing up at the man.  The shopkeeper placed the books in a large cloth bag, wrapping the journal in paper before laying it on top.  He pushed the package toward Zep and reached out for the payment.  Zep laid it in his hand, the bills folded around each other, and grabbed the bag.

"Thank you," he told the shopkeeper, turning for the door.  "I mean it."

"Yer welcome back, Ace.  Yer a good one," the man said, counting his payment.  Zep's hand was on the knob, when the iliri flipped the last bill open.  "Wait!" he said sharply.

Zep turned back, a grin on his face.  "It's a gift.  I think you will use it."

The old man looked down, a wrinkled one hundred krit note in his hand, enough to keep his shop open for months.  "I can na take this," he said, his hands trembling.

"You can," Zep told him.  "I want this place to be here when I come back."

"This is too much."

"No," Zep said softly.  "You could work for months and be lucky to earn that.  Because my skin is darker than yours and my teeth aren't as sharp, some Ace thinks I should make that for a single mission.  It's wrong, and this makes me feel a little better.  I want this place to be here when I come back.  It is a gift, but a selfish one."

The little old man nodded.  "The stories are true.  All of the Black Blades are iliri.  I will be sure they know.  Ayati, ilus."

Chapter 10

Leaving the store, Zep asked Cyno to grab Sal and meet him at the diner.  He didn't know the name of it, but luckily, Cyno was well aware of its reputation.  He agreed readily.  Zep hefted the bag over his shoulder and grinned.  He knew what ilus meant.  The shopkeeper had called him a respected iliri, basically.

The diner was only two blocks down the street, but Zep was nearly melting by the time he made it in the door.  Again, a cool breeze hit him and he wondered what the iliri did to keep their buildings so nice in the summer.  Even more surprising was that no humans had realized it yet.  Then again, not many dared to come to this side of town.

The diner was a small, humble place.  Maybe twenty tables filled the room, spaced far enough apart that no one would accidentally brush elbows with another.  Most were empty.  Zep glanced around, wondering if he should seat himself, but decided to wait.  In Guttertown, he would rather appear timid than brazen.

"I think ya got tha wrong place," a petite woman said, walking toward him with her chin held high.  Zep couldn't help but notice how much she looked like Sal.  Her nose was slightly convex but her large eyes were a very yellow green.

"No ma'am," Zep said.  "I'm meeting my friends here.  They wouldn't do well in other establishments."

"Do well?" she scoffed.

Zep nodded.  "Yes, ma'am.  Few places serve meals appropriate for my friends to eat.  Evidently, this is the best."

"How many of you?" she grumbled.

"Three."

"Fine.  Ya cause problems, we will throw ya out.  Do na think because we are small - "

"I know," Zep said.  "Most of you are stronger than me.  I'm well aware."

She glanced back at him strangely, then gestured toward a table.  "Beer?" she asked, curling her lip in distaste.

Zep chuckled.  "No.  Do you recommend anything for this weather?"  He looked up at her politely, his eyes avoiding hers.

"Ya think I know what you want, Ace?"  She rolled her eyes.  "Water.  Yer kind does well enough with tha'."

"Then water it is.  Thank you."

She tried to hide it, but her lip raised in a snarl as she turned her back.  Zep sighed and reminded himself that his family had to tolerate this every day.  He could make it through this, and the waitress was cute enough he was willing to tolerate her abuse.

We need ta get a place or ya here? Cyno's voice asked in his mind.

Already here, got a table for three.  And presents.

The door opened and the two assassins walked in.  Both wore the pants to their fatigues and the regulation undershirts.  Sal's was the thin strapped tank she preferred and Cyno's was white, making the tattoos down his arm even more striking.  They saw him and made their way over.

"Kinna shocked they let ya in, big brother," Cyno said with a grin.

Zep shrugged.  "I'm getting good at staring at the ground, man.  Waitress is beautiful too, so it doesn't hurt."

Sal chuckled, and grabbed the seat beside him.  Cyno glanced around the room once and moved to Zep's other side, his back to the wall.

"Ok," Zep told them, beaming.  "I have presents."

"Why?" Sal asked.

"Because I could.  Just smile, Sal.  It's a human thing."

She shrugged and flashed him a pointed grin.  "If you say so."

"I do."  He lifted the bag into his lap and carefully placed the books on the table.  "Iliran grammar for you, demon," he said, passing her the book.  "And this one is mine," he put his next to his elbow.  "The rest are for you, bro."

Cyno's face went still, and Zep watched the iliri's pupils constrict as he reached for the stack of books Zep pushed at him.  Slowly, his face changed, the expressions barely perceptible to anyone that didn't know him well.  Cyno's eyes flicked across the swirling lines, then back to Zep, time after time.  When he reached the last book, he paused.

"Fuck."

Zep grinned and glanced over to Sal.  "That means I did pretty good."

"I'd say."  Her ears were forward, intent on her partner.  "You can't smell it, but he's pretty impressed."

"How'd ya get this?" Cyno asked, his voice a whisper.

"Wonderful little place up the street.  Nice shopkeeper who helped me out."

"Bull shit," the waitress said, reaching over his shoulder and almost dropping the water before him.  "Molis will na sell to an Ace."

Sal turned to the girl, her ears flicking back against her skull.  "Respect my brother," she snarled.

The waitress took a step back.  Both Sal and Cyno glared at her, their eyes fierce.  She looked quickly at Zep and he shrugged.

"I didn't get to pick the color of my skin.  I did get to pick my family."  He reached over and touched Sal's arm gently.  "It's ok, Kaisae.  She doesn't know.  My kind have done enough to hers that it's only fair."

Sal nodded, but it was Cyno who spoke up.  "Fair or na, her nose works better than that."

"I assumed it was his servants," she said submissively.

"My pack," Zep whispered.  "My family, not my servants."

"I'm sorry," the girl said, daring to reach down and touch his shoulder gently.

Zep nodded at her.  "It's ok.  I told you, I just wanted a place where my friends could find a real meal."  He glanced up at her, and smiled.  "Can we try this again?  Is there anything you recommend for this weather?"

She listed off both dishes and beverages, but all were in Iliran.  None were anything that either Zep or Sal was familiar with.  Cyno grinned and grabbed both of their wrists, then ordered.  The girl glanced at Zep again, shocked.

"Do ya know what ya just ordered for him?"

"Yeh," Cyno said.

"Dog?" Zep asked.

"Na, horse.  Remember Unav?"

"Oh yeah!  Zep laughed.  "That shit's amazing.  What'd ya get Sal?"

"Dog," the waitress said.  She shook her head and turned back for the kitchens, but even Zep could hear her mutter, "I'm confused."

She returned quickly, a tray filled with drinks in her hand.  One blue, one yellow, and one pale green were placed before them.  "I'm na sure which goes where," the girl said.

"They do na know either," Cyno told her.  "Think of this more as sampling."

The girl looked at Sal.  "Yer na from around here?"

"Nope," Sal said.  "Merriton."

The girl glanced at the books on the table and her head cocked to the side.

"And I was raised by humans, as a slave," Sal said, lifting her chin.  "I'm playing a bit of catch up and my brothers are helping me."

"I'm sorry, I should na have asked," the waitress said.  "I'm Ryali by the way.  I just..." she paused.

"Never seen a purebred before," Cyno finished.  "We know."

Ryali nodded, her face turning pink, and hurried back the way she'd come.

"Yer gonna get that," Cyno told her.  "One form or another, it's how they'll respond here."

"I know," Sal said around a sigh.  "But they don't make me feel like a freak.  More like a wonder.  It's strange.  They treat Zep the way they used to do me."

"If I'm around long enough, they tend to get over it," Zep said.  "It's just not really safe for them to trust my kind."

"Oh, I know," Sal said.  "Doesn't mean I like it."

"Does na mean he does either," Cyno teased.  "Specially na the girl."

"Ryali."  Zep grinned.

Cyno shoved a hand to his mouth, trying to smother a laugh.  "How long b'fore ya try ta get a date?"

"About ten minutes ago," Sal answered for him.  "Girl's a fool if she doesn't take you up on it, Zep."

He shrugged.  "I get shot down more than picked up, demon.  I'm kinda used to it."

Sal flicked her ear and grinned, turning to stare at the table.  From the look on Cyno's face, Zep knew he'd been overheard.

"Fuck," he said under his breath.

Sal giggled.

Ryali rested the edge of her tray on the table and passed out a few more drinks.  Pink, a darker blue, and one that was almost lavender.  "Told Tensa, and she said these are a gift.  I'm supposed to tell ya, laetus Kaisae, from her," she said to Sal.

"Give her my thanks."

Ryali nodded, then turned to Zep.  "Why?"

"Fuck," he said again, burying his head in his hands.  "I wish I could hear like you do, demon."

"Why?" Ryali persisted.  "Go north four blocks and ya can have yer pick a' women."

Zep sighed and looked up at her.  "I hate humans, have since I was a kid."

She nodded, accepting that.  "I get off at dark.  There's a pub that will allow ya in.  Pick me up twenty minutes after the sun goes down and I'll let ya explain it."

"It's a long story," Zep warned her.  "Might take a few nights to tell."

Ryali laughed.  "If it does, I'll buy ya dinner to hear ya finish it."

"How about I buy you dinner for the chance to tell you?" he asked, daring to look in her eyes.

"Ya eat the horse, I'll let ya buy dinner.  Show me ya can stand to eat in the same room as me first."

Zep chuckled.  "Easy enough.  I've been eating with the Blades long enough I can't remember any other way."

Ryali's head snapped around, and she looked at the people at her table with a new appreciation, glancing at the collar of each.  "The Blades?"

Sal plucked something from her shirt.  "The Black Blades," she said, pushing the pin across the table.  The pair of crossed swords spun on the slick surface.

Cyno tapped his and Zep tilted his collar as Ryali looked at them in awe.  "Tensa!" She yelled, hurrying to the back and rambling a string of fluent iliran.

"Did we just get a fan club?" Sal asked.

Cyno nodded.  "Oh yeah.  I think the rumor spread better than we thought."

"So why didn't we get this on our way in?  Or did it just take time to travel?" she asked, looking between the men.

"Guttertown," Zep said.  "Humans aren't welcome here.  Means iliri don't have to watch their back.  Same reason I like it here."

"Yeh," Cyno agreed.  "If they cheer us on in their own homes, it is na the same as doin' it on the street.  Military still takes conscripts, kitten."

Sal nodded, accepting that, then rolled her eyes when she saw the gaggle of people peering at them through a crack in the door.  "We playing politics, or trying to eat," she asked her brothers.

"Politics," Zep said.  "After my meeting with Toth, we need a bit more base than what we have.  In Prin, everything comes back to Guttertown, and well, it won't take much to get the iliri on our side."

Sal nodded.  "Ryali?" she called loudly.

"Yes, Kaisae?" the girl asked, pushing through the door.

"Tell them it's ok."

Her words were the only encouragement they needed.  Eight women pushed through the door and surrounded Sal, all of them speaking in fluent Iliran faster than she could ever hope to understand.  Cyno laughed.

"She does na speak Iliran yet," he said in the same language, loud enough for them to hear.  "I can na translate that fast."

They fell silent, all looking between her, and her brothers.  "Ahnor?" one asked Cyno.

"Na, ilus," he answered, then switched to Glish.  "We're as mixed a group as Guttertown."

"But you're all iliri?" she asked, glancing at Zep.

"Close enough," Sal said, resting her hand protectively on Zep's arm.  "He's not exactly human.  He looks like one, smells like one, but doesn't think like one.  I don't know what you'd call him.  We call him brother."

"And you told them?" another woman asked.  "The humans?  You told them?"

"That we're iliri?" Sal asked.  "Yeah.  Our commander kinda snarled it to every general in Ft. Landing."

"And?"

"They're pissed," Zep said, catching Sal's eye.  "They want to break us, but I don't think it's going to happen yet."

A darker woman stepped forward, looking at Zep.  "How do we help?" she asked.

He smiled.  "We need to make sure it's not just a rumor.  Everyone needs to know the Black Blades are iliri, and that's the reason for our success.  There's a few crates of documents in the University of Prin that detail your people's history.  We need them to be seen.  Anything you can get printed would do wonders, in either language.  Those who work for the Aces..."  He shrugged.

"How will that help?"

"If everyone knows the Blades are iliri, doing as well as they are, and loved by so many people?  How many human kids have been pretending to be us?  Pretending to be iliri?" Zep asked.  "That's why they don't make a big deal about me."

"And that would help?" another asked.  "Would it really help?"

"Yeh," Cyno said.  "Right now it's the Representatives in Parliament that are tryin' ta stop us.  Public opinion, voters, is what sways them.  Guttertown is free, so ya all can vote."

"But most do na," Ryali said, resting her hand on Zep's shoulder.

"Then convince them they should?" Sal suggested.

A short pale woman grinned, nodding at Sal.  "That, I can do.  I will tell ever' one that comes in ta get official."

Sal sighed and ran her hands through her hair, shoving her ears tight against her head.  These people were willing to throw themselves into anything that would help the Blades.  She didn't want to give them false hope.  "Nothing we do will happen fast, you all realize that, right?"

"But yer doing something," the pale woman said.  "It matters."

"Il bax genause," the others whispered, nodding.

"Something, no matter how small, Kaisae, is more than we've had before.  It matters.  The Blades are welcome here anytime."  She glanced at Zep, and nodded. "All of you.  Guttertown takes care of our own."

"Thank you," Sal told her, meaning it.

"Thank you, kaisae," Zep said.

"Yer both welcome.  Been a long time, ya know?"

Sal nodded.  "I've heard.  I was locked away, though, so I don't exactly know."

"She will, though," Cyno promised them.  "We follow the old ways, and we will be sure she knows."

Chapter 11

Sal, Cyno, and Zep were just entering the military compound when LT's thought hit their mind.

I need everyone in my office as soon as possible.  What's the ETA?

Two minutes, Sal thought back.  Zep and Cyno are with me.

Five, Risk said.  You want me to bring Tilso?

Yes, Blaec said.  Shift, Razor?

On our way, boss, Shift thought.

Together, they made their way up the stairs, Sal leading them into the Blades' office.  The door to Blaec's suite stood open and Arctic gestured them in.  Zep threw himself into a chair, and Sal sank gratefully onto the couch as Tilso and Risk tapped politely at the door before entering.  Blaec walked in from his sleeping chamber and looked around, his eyes resting on Cyno.

"Take the couch, man," Blaec said to him.

"You sure?"

Blaec nodded.  "Yeah."  He gestured to the office door for Shift and Razor.  "I got orders," he said.

Even with the soldiers reclining casually on every piece of furniture, those words silenced them quickly.  Sal kicked off her boots and draped her legs across Cyno, her ears tracking Blaec's every move.

"We have three loads of steel moving through the pass.  This is our Anglian bribe.  I'm going to call in a few favors, but that means we'll be working with the other elites.  Pretty sure I can get Devil Dogs and the 112th.  I'm hoping for at least two more and I won't be picky about who they are."

"What are we looking at?" Zep asked.

"Three separate passes, each with a secure guard. There's no way we can handle this on our own.  We just don't have the manpower for it."

They all nodded, understanding completely.

"Here's why I called you in," Blaec said, leaning forward.  "I wasn't exactly authorized for the assistance."

"Fuck," Shift whispered.  "We supposed to fail?"

"Yeah," Cyno growled softly.  "I think tha's the plan."

Blaec nodded.  "Three loads, eight men.  There's no way we could do that, so I agree.  I've got a message off to Ran Sturmgren, asking for back up on this, but," he held up a stack of papers, "my orders give me quite a bit of leniency.  They screwed up there and I'm going to use it to my advantage.  I can't order the elites to assist us, but I can ask."

"You tell them about my meeting yet?" Zep asked.

"No, I'll let you."

Zep nodded and leaned forward.  "After LT's promotion, I got orders.  Report to Representative Toth ASAP.  Naturally, I informed my commanding officer, but I did report."

"Get your ass chewed?" Razor asked.

"Nope.  Got offered the unit.  He said he thought a, um, man like me could make something of this group.  Cited my last round of testing, too, so they're doing their homework."

"So, what do we do if they start changing up our ranks?" Shift asked.

"Same as always," Arctic said.  "Play human in public, but we all know where each of our skills lie."

"That's not all," Zep said.  "Toth asked about Sal."

Blaec glanced at her, and saw Cyno rest his hand protectively across her leg.  Sal just clenched her jaw and said nothing.

"What'd ya say?" Cyno asked.

"I laughed.  Made out like it would be the funniest thing ever for LT and Sal to be a couple."  He glanced over to his friend.  "Pointed out that her partner doesn't report to her, so the thing between the two of you is perfectly within regulations.  Sorry, Sal, I made it out like you were a bit too freaky for LT."

The men all chuckled at that and Sal finally smiled.  "Thanks, Zep," she said.  "But that means we have eyes around here."

"The 97th?" Risk asked.

"I don't think so," Shift said.  "We've had too much support from them.  LT, are you authorized to request their help, too?"

"Technically," Blaec said.  "You think they'd help?"

"Yeh," Cyno answered.  "Nyurin's an old friend.  And if the eyes are in the 97th, he'll shut them down if we can find them."

"You trust him?"

Cyno smiled.  "Yeh.  We got history."

"K," Blaec agreed.  "I'll talk to him tomorrow then.  Guys, we knew this would happen.  I have a feeling things are going to get real tight, real quick.  We have two options."

"No," Zep said.  "We have one.  I know what you're going to say, LT.  Keep pushing, or back off, and we can't back off."  He looked around the room.  "I was in Guttertown all afternoon.  We can't back off."

"What's the story, Zep?" Arctic asked.

"Stopped at a bookstore and got a gift," Zep said pointedly.

"And?" Sal asked, guessing she was the only one that didn't understand the significance of that.

Cyno rubbed her leg.  "Kitten, they do na have much down there.  A gift could be the difference between food and rent."

"And the diner?"

"Tensa's place," Cyno told the rest.  "Drinks, samples, and at least eight kaisaes begging ta speak with Sal."

"Yeh," Razor said.  "We can't back off, LT."

"Wait," Sal said.  "You're all doing it again."

"Cyno?" Blaec asked.  "You want to explain?"

He nodded.  "Tensa is the closest thing to a Kaisae in Guttertown.  She owns the diner and it's kinda the safe-house fer all iliri.  Fer her ta gift anything causes problems, because others might expect the same.  That is why we were adamant about paying fer it all, kitten."

Sal nodded, showing she was keeping up so far.

"Tensa, though.  Ya know which one she was?"

"No," Sal admitted.

"Plump one," Zep said.  "Amber eyes."

"Ah, yeah.  Ok, I know who you mean."

"Well," Cyno said, "Her word is as close ta law as Guttertown has.  When she said she'd convince everyone ta help, what she was sayin' was they will help, or the entire society will turn against them."  He looked around the room.  "Guys, they're with us.  The kaisaes asked how ta help, and we gave them ideas.  Our species will na be just a rumor soon."

"I won't be surprised to see it on the front page of the Prin Morning News," Zep said.  "And they know the pins now.  We made sure of that."

"Blaec," Sal said, looking up at him.  "Tensa said something.  I told her we wouldn't be able to do much, or do anything fast, and she said that something, no matter how small, matters."

The Black Blades all nodded, understanding those simple words.  Hope, no matter how little of it there was, was better than none.

"I don't want to go rogue," Blaec told them.  "We play in the rules.  We're going to show them that we are better than them, but we'll do it within the rules, giving them no way to break us.  Am I understood?"

"Yes, sir!" the Blades all said loudly, smiles spreading from one man to the next.

"And I expect everyone to watch Sal, Cyno, and Risk.  They're the most obvious of us.  It won't shock me for someone to try to put them in a bad situation.  Keep a partner with you at all times, travel in packs.  I don't want any of us alone if we can help it."  He looked at the one man who'd stayed silent the entire time.  "Tilso, that means you, too.  I don't care if the only thing you do is scream.  I need you to watch Risk's back for a bit."

"Yes, sir," Tilso said softly, his eyes wide.  "And I'm neither iliri, nor a Blade.  Can I use that if I need to?"

"If you have no other option," Blaec said.  "I'd rather you didn't end up at the end of an elite's blade."

The young man glanced at Risk, smiled, then glanced down.  "LT, sir?  I may not be a Black Blade, but you're kinda like my family, too.  I don't mean just for Risk.  If it comes down to me taking a blade or one of you getting court-martialed, I know what I'll chose, sir."

Shift looked up, his eyes catching LT's.  "I think it's time we let him in on the secret."

The Blades all nodded.  Sal slipped her knife from her belt and offered it to Blaec.

"It'll only make sense if he sees it."

"This going to set you off?" Blaec asked her.

"Nah," Sal said.  "I expect it, and I'm not cutting."

"Come here, Ahn."  Blaec gestured for Shift as well.  "I know you're well aware we've been hiding something, and you've never once asked.  There's only one human that I know of who knows about this.  Zep.  You'll be the second."

Tilso nodded, well aware that his position with the Black Blades had just changed drastically.

"I can't make you a Blade officially, but what you said?  That makes you one of us, and I'm trusting you to never breathe a word of this to anyone outside this unit."

"I swear," Tilso said.

Blaec patted the young man's shoulder.  "Ok.  Iliri have abilities.  We can do things that seem impossible.  You just offered to take a blade for us?"

He grabbed Sal's outstretched arm and pulled the knife across it, the pale ceramic cutting deep into her flesh.  Sal closed her eyes and breathed in but she never flinched away like a human would have.  The only outward sign she gave for the pain was the angle of her ears.

Shift took her arm from Blaec and smiled at the man, saying, "Watch.  It's magic," with a chuckle.

He closed his eyes and concentrated.  The blood stopped leaking from Sal's arm and, slowly, the flesh began to close.  Within a few seconds, the only sign that she'd been injured was the red stain against her white skin.

"Shit," Tilso said softly.

"You take a blade for any of us," Shift told him, "and we'll put you back together.  Just don't stop breathing."

"It sucks," Sal said, rubbing at her eyes.  "Shift makes me feel like I'm falling, and Risk's healing hurts like hell."

"You heal too?" he asked his lover.

"Yeah," Risk said.  "That's why they only have scars.  If you're still breathing, I can always fix you.  Just don't ever stop breathing, ok, love?"

"I promise," Tilso told him.

"We have a collection of skills," Blaec said.  "Sal changes her features and color, Cyno reads memories through touch, Arctic lets us speak in our heads, Shift and Risk heal, Razor can track anything, and I get premonitions of the future."

"You and I?" Zep said, grinning at the young man, "We just look pretty."

Tilso glanced at Zep and blushed.  "Yeah," he said.  "Ya kinda do, but I'm taken."

They all laughed at that, and Zep laughed the hardest.  "Ah, Risk," he said, wiping tears from his eyes.  "You did good with him, man.  Thanks, Tilso, I actually kinda needed the ego boost tonight."

"Shit," Sal said, sitting up suddenly.  "Speaking of that, Zep.  Sun's setting!"

"Fuck," Zep said.  "We done, LT?"

"Yeah?"  Blaec sounded confused.

"Ryali said twenty minutes after dark."  Zep scrambled for the door.  "I gotta change!"

The Blades watched him scurry, their faces amused, but Cyno and Sal just laughed.

"He's got a date," Sal explained.  "Cute little iliri about as mean as me."

Tilso leaned over and kissed Risk's cheek, then pulled away.  "Then I'll tack his mare so he won't be late."

"I'm getting jealous," Risk called to his lover's retreating back.

"I don't know if any of you realized this," Razor said, bringing their eyes back to him.  "Look around.  Just stop for a second, and look around.  The harder they push, the better things are for us."

"It's cause they do na get us," Cyno said.  "They think we want rank and standin'.  They do na realize how little that matters.  We want this."  He gestured between them all.  "Corvae.  It's the happiness ya get with a true bond.  The harder they push, the more we decide ta fight for it."

Chapter 12

The next morning was the hottest yet.  Sal was heading down to assist with the combat trials when she caught sight of her big brother whistling to himself.  He looked like he didn't have a care in the world.

"Hey Zep?" Sal yelled, jogging to catch him.  "How'd things go last night?"

He turned, grinning, and waited for her to get closer before he answered.  "She's something," he said.  "Threatened to bite me if I tried to pay."

"And?"

Zep chuckled.  "Can't fucking meet her eyes half the time, Sal.  I finally get what Cyno's been going on about."  His mouth snapped shut, and the smile disappeared from his face.  "That wasn't supposed to be out loud."

"You're good, Zep," she told him.  "We already talked."

He breathed a sigh of relief.  "Ok.  But yeah, it went really well.  She told me where she lives so I can stop by when I'm free.  That's really well, I think."

She patted his arm and giggled at the stupid smile on his face.  "It looks good on you, bro.  Now what are we doing today?"

"Combat trials.  The boys should be at the arena already, and I'm claiming you as my assistant."

"Works for me."  She fell in step beside him.

The arena was tucked behind the stone barn and surrounded by a large stone wall, which meant they would be stifling in the midsummer heat for the day.  The recruits had already started to gather.  Sal thought they looked like wilted flowers, dripping with sweat in their bright blue uniforms.  She smothered her giggle and glanced up to Zep to see if he'd noticed.

Amused? he asked her.

They're in blue and can barely take it, she pointed out.

Trust me, demon, only my pride is keeping me from running into the shade.  I swear you iliri don't feel temperature the same as the rest of us.

Dunno, Sal said, thinking about it.  But aren't half of them iliri?

Ok.  They're just pussies.  Zep shot her a devilish grin, and Sal giggled again.

"Ivant, Geoni, Riane, and Elae," Zep called out.  "You're with me."

Sal walked quietly at Zep's shoulder, watching the recruits from the corner of her eye.  The four with them were subdued, saying nothing as they followed their officer in a very organized group.  Zep led them to the far wall, in the shade of a large tree, and pointed at the weapons.

"Grab one of each, set them out, and find an area far enough from the man next to you that you won't kill each other."  He began unbuttoning his shirt, and added, "And so you know, I couldn't care less if you're in uniform."

With a wink at Sal, he pulled off his shirt and tossed it at her.  She flicked her ears against her skull in jest, but Zep just grinned, and leaned against the cool stone wall, watching the men scramble.  Sal sighed and stripped from her own uniform top, then reclined beside him.

So what exactly do you need from me? she asked.

Mainly to run through the second pair in a bit.  I might use you for a few examples though, if you're ok with that?

Always, she told him. Besides, I've never seen you teach before.

Zep shot an embarrassed grin at her.  Think of it more as demanding.  "Ok, men," he yelled.  "Let’s start with the staff."

He worked them through the standard military warm up, then began demonstrating new techniques.  She watched, intrigued by the way his dark skin glistened in the midday heat, wondering if it made him hotter in the sun, but he seemed to ignore it.  The recruits were all red faced and panting by the time he stopped, even with their paler skin.  Unimpressed, she reached to the stash of wooden weapons and grabbed the long sword, tossing it toward Zep without a word.  He saw the movement and grabbed it, making the applicants gasp in shock.

Trying to make me look good? he asked.

Think of it more as demanding, Sal teased back.  I want to see if they can do more than sweat.  That, and I'm wondering what these pampered boys will do if they have to fight in weather like this.

Zep nodded and moved right into the next weapon techniques without giving the men a break.  To her amazement, Geoni never seemed to falter.  Ivant began to let the tip of his sword droop, trying to conserve his energy, Riane was visibly panting, and Elae fumbled with the heavy weapon.

Can I interfere? Sal asked.

Of course, but what are you thinking?

They're just going through the motions, Zep.  Let's up the ante a bit.

He sent her back a wave of amusement, and Sal grabbed the polearm from his stash, leaning it across her shoulder as she moved to stand at the end of their line.  When Zep moved them into a guard position again, she acted.  In one whirling pass Sal flipped the pike from her shoulder, knocking Elae's weapon from his hand, then yanked it up causing Riane to gasp and step back.  Without a pause, she spun the butt out, knocking Ivant's sword well out of position, but it came to a hard stop against Geoni's guard.  Each of the men had been caught completely unprepared.

"Loose shoulders," Zep said, without missing a beat, "and tight forearms.  Keep your elbows in and nothing will get in your guard."  Come at me like that, demon?

Sal did, spinning at him without warning, and Zep blocked her hit, his sword shifting, only to return to center.  Sal pulled back, and he followed up with another standard move, hitting the pike hard enough to knock one of her hands away, but Sal simply moved with the weapon, regaining her grip, to come back at him.  This time, he dropped the point and deflected her next move, then nodded.  She stabbed the end of the polearm into the grass and reclined against it, not even breathing hard.

"All of that comes from the guard.  Now let’s do this again, and this time, impress me."

"Or her," Geoni whispered under his breath.

"Him," Sal said, loud enough to be heard.  "He's better with the sword."

The recruit just closed his eyes in embarrassment, and nodded slightly, moving easily into the guard position before looking at Zep.

I hate to say this, Sal told Zep, but even though it will cause a few problems, Geoni's looking good.

Cyno will kick his ass, you realize that, right? Zep asked, glancing at her.

It'll only take once.

True!

They worked through each of the weapons before them, then Zep called a break.  He moved back to her side, in the shade against the wall, and watched.  As expected, a few of the men looked around for refreshments, but Ivant stretched his muscles, breathing deeply to get control of his body.  Geoni just pulled off his shirt, dropping it on the ground with his pile of weapons, then returned to his place in the line of men.  He looked up at her once, a subtle challenge in his gaze.

Sal refused to look away.  Hang on, she said.

Zep glanced up and chuckled.  Geoni lifted his chin, his teal eyes boring into hers, and clenched his jaw.  Sal waited, refusing to change her posture in any way.  Moments ticked past, and still the recruit stared.  Beside him, Ivant noticed and shook his head as he backed away.

"Dumb fucking idea," he whispered.  "Fucking dumb idea, Tane."

So Ivant seems to know the customs, Zep thought.

Yep.  Makes me wonder if he's got the spine to do anything, though.

You mean you like that he's challenging you?

No, Sal admitted, but we want the kind of soldiers who won't just back down, right?  I'll win, but I can't promise I'll win quietly.

Ok, so just ground the fucker, Zep said.  The rest are breaking off to spar already.

Just wait.

She flicked her ears back and leaned away from the wall.  Geoni smiled and waited a moment longer before looking away.  "Kaisae," he whispered almost below his breath.

"Enough showing off," Zep ordered, "Ivant and Raine, go with Sal.  Geoni and Elae, come with me."

Geoni grabbed his weapons and moved to follow Zep, but he glanced back at her after only a few steps.  Sal was smiling.  The boy had as much spunk as she'd had, maybe more.

"Ok," Sal said turning to the men before her.  "Here are the rules.  You will fight.  If I believe that one of you is about to be irreparably harmed, I will stop you with the command 'hold.'  Full contact is expected.  A blow that should kill you will be declared by me, but otherwise, you'll fight until one of you surrenders.  The winner wins.  The loser is the one dead, or the quitter.  Understood?"

"Yes, sir," both men said, moving into position.

She waited, hoping for something more.  In the distance, she heard Geoni ask Zep, "Any specific weapons we're expected to use, or is it our preference?"

"Lay on," Sal called, already knowing how this would end.

The fight went just as expected.  Nothing special happened.  Ivant won, using a move that he must have learned from an elite, knocking Raine to the ground and dropping onto him.  Sal had no interest in judging a soldier's worth by how much training he'd stolen.  Her own fighting prowess had been self-taught, and such a move likely would have put her onto the ground, too.  In the end, her opinion of the men was that they were adequate but unimpressive.

Geoni won his match through sheer willpower.  Elae had flailed and staggered at him but Geoni had countered every unconventional move, only to follow with good technique and determination.  Zep was impressed, both in how well Geoni had coped with the situation and how Elae had made it so far in the trials for an elite unit.

He's really bad, he told LT when they returned.  I mean, not even worth our time kind of bad.

Ok, Blaec said, we'll scratch him.  Who are the worst from the rest?

Veraria from us, Shift said.  He's reckless.  Slapped Tenem upside the head during warm-up.  Said the others should've given him more room because he's got so much "reach."

Sal chuckled.  And that's supposed to be a good thing?

In his mind, Shift replied.

We're cutting Arnot, Arctic said.

Why? Blaec asked.

I can't stand him? Arctic answered.  Fucker challenged me twice.

Blaec nodded.  Good enough for me.  Doesn't respect unit discipline will be the reason we cite.  So, sparring.  Who wants which?

Zep spoke up first, Yeah, I want Geoni.

Sal needs to take the human, Arctic said.

Ivant? she asked.

No, the other one.  Here.  Arctic rested his hand on her shoulder, and passed her a flame of memory.

Sal looked at it and heard the man, standing behind Arctic, talking to another.  "What do you think the story is on the girl, Rezzo?" he asked.

"She's a Black Blade?  Is there more of a story to it than that?"

"Yeah, look at how they all treat her. Which one you think she's fucking?"

"Uh uh," Rezzo had said, "I'm not even going there, Ace."

"What, you scared of her or something?"

"If you had a brain in your head, you would be too!"

The memory faded, filled with Arctic's amusement, and Sal nodded.  Yep, I need to take that one.

Ok.  Any other suggestions? Blaec asked.

I get the kid, Cyno said.  They all knew who he meant.

They ran off a few names and the list of sparring partners was decided.  Sal and Zep bickered between them about who would go last and Zep finally won.  My partner's better than yours, he said, ending the discussion.  Sal had nothing, so she agreed, moving with her unit onto the hot sands of the arena.

The Blades reclined against the railing, listening as the Major explained to them what would be expected.  One by one, he called a Black Blade who chose his partner.  Sal watched casually, aware that this trial would scare off many of the hopefuls.  Seeing an elite spar was one thing, but matching blades against one was completely different.  Many applicants realized only after they fought just how unprepared they were for special operations.

Soon, Cyno was called.  He caught her eyes, and slowly unbuttoned his shirt, looking away when she smiled.  He tossed it over the railing as he called for Zyrn Audgan.  The timid boy jerked in place, then stood slowly, walking toward the assassin.

"Pick yer weapons of choice," Cyno told him.

Audgan nodded, grabbing a long slender blade from the stack, and moved into place.  Cyno glanced back and nodded, his hands empty.

"Lay on," Blaec yelled.

Suddenly, the timid man became a monster.  Sal sat up and leaned forward, shocked.  He refused to strike recklessly at the unarmed man, instead using his body for better positioning and his blade to keep Cyno at a distance.  He struck, missing more often than not, but each attack was well-thought and timed perfectly.  A quiet paranoia crept into her mind, and she couldn't help but think that if the kid managed to hit Cyno, the strike would break something, or that the sword would cut.  With each second the fear became more intense until she wanted to call the fight.

Arctic, lock me down! Cyno growled into their heads.

The mental link went quiet, smothering their minds, but it didn't stop the fear.  The distraction was enough to let Audgan smack Cyno soundly across the arm with the tip of the blade, and the fear vanished.  The assassin snarled and struck, flowing behind the boy to wrap his arm around his throat.  His hands gripped the boy's head ready to twist, but Audgan stopped cold.

"I yield," he said, a smile playing at his lips.

The mental link between the Blades returned as Cyno answered, "Nice trick, kid."

"Thought you might like that, sir," Audgan said proudly, placing the sword back in the rack.

What was that? Shift asked.

No fuckin' idea, Cyno replied, but he's doing it intentionally.

I hope he can keep up with the rest of the damned trials then, Zep thought.  I fucking wanted to piss myself for a second there.

So it's worse for humans.  Good to know, Arctic thought, his amusement leaking though.

Chapter 13

"Sergeant Salryc Luxx," Blaec called, holding out his hand.  "And leave the steel."

She laughed and handed him her dagger, smiling at the shocked gasps of the men around them.  "Calon," she said.  "You're mine."

"You know you want this," Calon muttered under his breath.

Sal's head snapped to him.  "Don't push it."

"You're serious?" he asked.

The Black Blades laughed softly, trading amused glances.  Sal shrugged, flicked her ears forward, and asked, "Scared?"

"Shit," he said, climbing to his feet.  He moved to the weapons rack and snagged a broadsword, smirking at her as he moved to stand across from her.

"You sure?" Sal asked sweetly.  "You don't want a couple more to go with that?"

"I think I'm good."

Sal nodded.  "I'm good, sir."

Blaec chuckled and yelled, "Lay on."

Sal merely lifted her chin, watching as the human hefted the heavy weapon into a proper guard.  He stood still, waiting for her to move.  When she refused, he struck.  Moving as fast as he could, the man swung, exposing his torso to gain momentum, exactly as Sal had expected.  She pounced, tucking her ears tight to her skull as she leapt at him, sliding under his guard.  With each hand, she grabbed his forearms and shoved them out, away from her, letting the force of her impact push them back, her knees wrapping around his chest.  Calon staggered and dropped his sword trying to pull her off, but Sal growled, and locked her mouth around his neck.  She moved her grip to the back of his shoulders, pulling her teeth closer, pressing harder against the exposed flesh.

"Get the fuck off me!" he screamed, flailing.

"Yield, and she'll release," Cyno called from the side lines.

"I fucking yield!"

Sal pushed herself away, landing easily in the sand, and smiled up at the arrogant human.  "Keep your nose out of my private life, ok?"

"Yeah," he said, throwing his weapon at the rack and storming back to the sidelines.  Sal moved back to her place with the Blades and looked over to find him glaring.

Not really making me sympathetic, Blaec whispered in her head.  I think we'll have to cut him soon, if he doesn't quit tonight.

That, Sal replied, looking up with a wry smile, or let me actually bite him.

Blaec chuckled and looked away, then chuckled again.  No.  "Ok, and Zep, our weapons specialist," he called out, changing the subject.

Zep marched forward and yelled, "Geoni!"

The arrogant recruit nodded and made his way into the center, looking at Zep closely before turning to pick a weapon.

"No matter what I choose, you'll take the counter to it," he said, glancing over his shoulder.

Zep shrugged, "Ok, then toss me a broadsword and get what you want."

Geoni obeyed.  Zep caught the large wooden weapon and chuckled loudly when the applicant grabbed a pair of sabers.  He looked back at Sal and thought, If this kid beats me, I'm retiring.

Nah, Sal told him, he's not as desperate as I was.

Wouldn't count on it, Shift said.  Arrogance often covers desperation.

That made her look at the man with new eyes.  Tane Geoni was rather average.  From first glance, little about him stood out except his knowledge of iliran traditions and his arrogance.  But there seemed to be a lot more to him than that.  When both fighters found their place, Zep nodded.

"Lay on."

Geoni tried to move like Sal, rushing inside Zep's guard, hoping the human would be slow, but Zep was not a typical human.  He grabbed the kid's throat before the iliri could get his teeth anywhere close, and shoved him back, slapping his ribs with the sword to prove the point.  Geoni didn't learn, though.  He rushed again, this time with more finesse.  He smacked at the broadsword with his main hand weapon, and swung at Zep with his offhand.  Zep dropped to the ground and rolled, hitting his feet again easily and smacking the man across his rump.

"Stop fucking around," Zep snarled, "and fight."

And Geoni did.  He lifted the sabers into the proper guard position, then circled.  They traded a few tentative blows and the true match started.  Zep swung for his forearm.  Geoni pulled back, slicing across his body at the exposed ribs.  Zep flexed, avoiding the blade, and lifted his hilt for a secondary guard before lashing out with the tip.  Geoni batted it away, stepping into the arc of the weapon, striking once it moved past.

The sound of wood on wood rang out, the Blades watching for more than who won.  They wanted to see who had the technique to learn quickly and the agility to handle multiple opponents.  Zep began to press and Geoni rose to the challenge, falling back to basics when things got tough.  Every time Sal thought Zep would score a solid hit, Geoni returned to guard, deflecting the blade in time.  Zep continued to press, his dark body slick with sweat in the hot sun.  Soon, Geoni's ivory skin was glistening as well.

The recruit's mouth was open, sucking air, but Zep looked on, stone-faced, and swung again.  This time, Geoni made a mistake.  His exhausted muscles couldn't move fast enough.  The broadsword smacked soundly into his waist with nothing to block its force, making the recruit gasp.  He dropped his weapon.

"I yield," Gioni panted, waving Zep off.  "You're toying with me and we both know it.  If I miss again, I'll be out of the trials with a damned broken rib."

"You good?" Zep asked, leaning over to grab the sword from the dirt.

"Yeh," he managed.  "Gonna have one hell of a bruise, but that's it.  Just a damned good wake up call, sir.  You're not even breathing hard."

"Walk it off," Zep said.  "I'll rack this."

Geoni nodded and tried to straighten, his hands clasping his side.  He took a deep breath, then staggered to the rail, leaning against it and stretching back, hoping to keep the muscles from cramping.

"Ok," Blaec said, moving to the center.  "Each of you have just seen what it's like to spar with an elite.  Now that you have seen my Blades in action, you know what is and what will be expected of you.  Few of you could match them in combat," he said, "but you will have to be as good as any of them to pass these trials.  If you cannot improve – and quickly – there is no shame in resigning.  It will not be looked on poorly if you do so and choose to apply again at a later date.  Arctic will be in my office, and will arrange for transportation for anyone who chooses to rethink his preparedness."

"We didn't get to see you spar, sir," Geoni called out, wincing.

Arctic stepped forward, "The Major doesn't - "

Blaec cut him off.  "Does it matter?" he asked the recruit.

Geoni shrugged.  "You're supposedly the best of them, but none of us have seen it.  They're pretty damned good.  I'm just wondering what it looks like to be better than that."

Zep laughed and looked at Blaec.  "He's got a point, you know."

"I stopped sparring with applicants when I broke a man's hand," Blaec explained.  "You want to see what the Black Blades can do?  I'll show you."

He turned to Sal and passed her back the steel dagger.  Would you like to dance, love?

Sal grinned wickedly.  Live weapons?

And full combat.  No holds.

The Blades glanced at each other and Shift chuckled.  "I've got ten krits on LT."

"I'll match that," Cyno said softly, "but I'm bettin' on Sal."

"Sorry, man," Zep told Blaec.  "Ten on Sal for me."

Razor grabbed a pad of paper from the ground beside him and started making notes.  "I'm going with LT.  Arctic?"

"LT."

"Risk?  Tilso?"

Tilso chuckled and shook his head.  "Nope, you all don't pay me that well.  I'm just here for the show."

Risk looked at the two fighters and thought hard before saying, "I bet ten on a draw."

The recruits watched in awe, some shifting to be more comfortable, none willing to take their eyes away from the two Black Blades checking their weapons.  Blaec pulled his heavy sword and swung it, then rubbed his hands in the sand before testing it again.  Sal slipped her steel dagger into its sheath and checked those strapped to her leg.  With a smile, she turned to Cyno.

"Would you loan me a short sword?"

"Sal," Risk called out.  "I've got my sabers, you want those?"

Her eyes lit up.  "Perfect, and thank you."

He passed over a pair of thin, black resin blades, shorter than the typical sabers but well-balanced.  She made a few tentative swings, then moved toward the center.  With an evil grin, she stepped closer to Blaec, standing just inside his reach.

"Rules of engagement," Blaec said loud enough for them all to hear.  "Full contact, combat style sparring.  Fight ends when one of us yields."  Sal nodded showing that she understood, and he added, "So don't fuck around, Sal."

"Not against you, sir."

"Arctic?" Blaec asked, resting his hands easily on his sword.

Sal relaxed, crouching slightly, and Arctic's voice called out clearly, "Lay on."

His eyes hit her first, trying to make her submit, but Sal kept her focus on his sternum.  Neither moved for the space of a breath, a deep rumble slowly becoming audible, and then everything erupted.  Blaec swung and Sal twisted, snarling.  She ducked under his blade but he struck out with his elbow, catching her in the arm as she danced past him.  She shifted and kicked out, hitting him in the back of the knee, and he staggered but stepped into the motion, turning to face her again.  Their blades hit, his heavy resin against both of her light ones.

Sal pulled her weapons apart, ducking his sword as he pressed into her, and again she stepped around him, cracking him in the back solidly, the resin blade cutting into the leather but not through. The recruits gasped, realizing for the first time what full contact truly meant.

Blaec turned again, slower but more powerful than Sal, and no less deadly.  She tried to dodge, but his arm snaked out and caught hers, yanking her to the ground.  His lip curled, and he swung again, but Sal rolled and kicked out at his leg.  Blaec fell.  Sal scrambled to her feet, dropping her right sword to go for her dagger, the fight on her terms now.

She lunged, but he back-handed her hard.  Sal's head snapped back, her lip split.  Roaring her rage, she rushed him again.  And again he swung, but this time she dodged.  Blaec rolled and caught her in the shoulder with the hilt of his sword, but she was too close.  The steel blade flashed and leather parted across his arm, a deep red gash showing she'd aimed true.

Blaec scrambled to his knees, but Sal was still moving.  He tried to turn, since she had a fondness for attacking from the back, and was barely in time.  A pale glint darted toward his shoulder.  Blaec swung, hard.  Moving like an acrobat, she threw herself over the blade, the resin passing just under her back as she spun in the air, landing easily on her feet but at the wrong angle for a counter attack.  He reached for her again, using one hand to block her saber with his sword, the other snagging her pale hair.

He pulled her close, dropping his weapon, but Sal took the advantage, stabbing toward his stomach.  Blaec's eyes went wide, realizing his torso was exposed.

Still holding her with one hand, his other closed on her wrist, pushing it away.  The steel tip brushed his leather, but he lunged.  With her left arm pinned between their bodies, her right held in his own, and her head yanked back, Blaec buried his teeth in her throat, snarling.

Surprisingly, Sal began to giggle.  "I yield!" she managed to say.

For a moment there was nothing but silence and the sound of Sal's amusement.

"I missed the joke," Zep called from the side.  "What is so funny, demon?"

Blaec released her, confused, but Sal couldn't stop laughing.  "I just realized where the rumors come from!"

Suddenly, Cyno chuckled, too.  Blaec sighed and made his way to his feet, but Sal lay in the sand, still giggling.

"Bite me again, baby," she said, clutching her stomach in her mirth.  "I mean, sir!"

He couldn't help it, one laugh burst out.  "Ok, get up, Sergeant."

Sal nodded, and tried, but started giggling again, glancing over at the recruits, then back to Cyno.  "Does this mean I just made out with Calon, too?"

At that, Shift began to laugh.  Soon all of them were, and Blaec sighed as he wiped the sand from his leathers, checking the cut on his arm.

"Least she takes losing well," Geoni said.  "Good fight, sir.  We make it through trials, you gonna teach us some of those moves?"

Sal, sighing deeply, was finally able to control herself so answered for him.  "Typically a month of training.  Intense training.  And yeah, we'll teach you not only those moves, but others, and how to adjust for just about anything that comes at you."  She grinned.  "Including teeth."

"So," Geoni asked, looking among them all, "why isn't regular army taught all of this?"

"Most can na do it," Cyno said.  "We're iliri.  We move faster, we're stronger, and," he shrugged, "we're predators."

For the first time, the recruits stopped and truly looked at each other.  Most of them had some iliran traits, from pale eyes to washed-out skin that never seemed to burn.  Jad Ivant tilted his chin toward Zep.

"He's not."

"He is still a predator.  We do na rule out humans," Cyno said, his eyes traveling across Ivant, making his point.  "Some of ya have enough talent."

"So in order to be a Black Blade," Calon asked, glaring at them, "I have to put up with acting like a scrubber?"

"Yeah," Zep said.  "Exactly.  You have to bust your ass to keep up with half of what they can do."

"What's in it for me?"

"The pay's pretty fucking nice," Sal said.  "And one of ya needs to buy me a drink for throwing that fight!"

"Fuck off."  Zep pulled her beside him.  "I lost ten krits on you."

Sal shrugged.  "You should know no one beats LT."

"Ok," Blaec waved them down.  "You all are off for the rest of the night.  Sorry, we haven't found a pub close by, but I'll get the mess stocked well.  There's about to be at least four other units of elites in the compound, so all of you be respectful.  I hear of any recruit pissing off another unit, and you're out.  No questions asked.  Got it?"

"Yes, sir!" the recruits called in chorus.

"You're dismissed.  Enjoy it.  And like I said, Arctic will be in my office until sundown if anyone wants to resign their application with the option to try again at a later date."

Chapter 14

Sal climbed out of the bath and heard voices on the other side of the door.  She tucked the towel around her and walked into the sleeping area, her ears working furiously to identify the second man.

"We have nothing to substantiate the reports, which is why I'm sending you.  See if the 97th will lend a squad and take Shift, so I know you have a medic."

"Ya know I do na like goin' without her," the second man said, and Sal recognized Cyno's voice easily without a door between them.

"I know.  I can't spare her this time, though." Blaec said.

"Yeh, I gotcha.  We good between us?"

"We're good.  That has nothing to do with this.  Honest, Cyno."

"Ok, LT.  I just do na wanna cross the line."

Blaec chuckled.  "I notice you didn't say you'd back off."

"Na," Cyno admitted.  "I can na."

"You too?"

There was a long pause.  Sal found a brush and pulled it through her wet hair, wondering if she should feel any guilt at listening.

"Yeh.  I've heard about it, but did na expect it ta happen ta me, ya know?"

"You tell her?"

"Tried.  She does na quite understand yet.  I'll die fer her, LT.  I can na help it."

"I know," Blaec said softly.  "She's got me, too.  What are the chances of that?"

"Slim," Cyno said softly.  "It's like ayati.  You have na told her."

"And tell her what?  That she smells good?"

Cyno laughed.  "Yeh, that's kinda what I said."

"Just be safe, ok?  I don't want to ever have to explain to her that you aren't coming back.  Shit, you should have seen her before Yager's."

"Really?" Surprise tinted Cyno's voice.

"She was going to fight through me to come get you.  She doesn't have a clue what her instincts are screaming at her, but they're good instincts."

"How you gonna handle this?"

"One day at a time, man.  Just one day at a time.  If she grows into her ability, I'll step back.  We just have to keep her safe until then, ok?"

There was a pause, and Sal waited, listening for sounds of movement, but none came to her.  Finally, Cyno spoke again.

"What did ya see?"

"An army bowing to her, you on her left, me on her right, the Blades behind her.  It came with the feeling that the emperor was scared."

"Fuck," Cyno whispered.  "Ayati."

"Never really understood the iliran habit of thanking fate before," Blaec said.  "Then she happened.  She's right.  I've been too human.  I think the world is trying to tell me something."

"She's done with her bath," Cyno said softly.

"Eavesdropping?" Blaec called out.

"Yes," Sal yelled back.  She set the brush down, tucked the towel tighter around her body, and walked into the main room.  "I didn't want to come storming into some elite officer, and then I didn't want to interrupt a private conversation."

The men glanced at each other, sharing a knowing look.

"I'm headed out t'night, kitten," Cyno said, his eyes working hard to stay on her face.

"I heard.  What's the mission?"  She turned to Blaec for the answer.

"Purple-coated soldiers on the border, just an hour north of here.  It shouldn't be an engagement, that's why I'm sending Cyno at night.  I just want verification."

"And I'm not going?"

"No.  I need my Second Officer to make a few pretties with the elites and to help keep the recruits in line.  I fucking hate the layout of this place.  We can't just separate them."

"So I'm playing politics instead of watching my partner's back?"

"It's part of the job, kitten," Cyno told her.  "Yer good at it, too."

"I just hate wondering if you're ok."

Blaec chuckled.  "I bet," he said, stepping back.  "Just kiss her, man.  I'll get the orders for you."  He shook his head, chuckling, and walked into the office, pulling the door gently behind him.

"I do na want to cross the line," Cyno said softly.

Sal looked to the door, guiltily.  "Don't give me time to think about it."

He grabbed her chin and turned her face back to his, then stepped close.  Slowly he kissed her, sliding one arm around her back, refusing to let her go.  His mouth was soft, tender, and Sal forgot any concerns she'd had.  Her arms reached up and wrapped around his neck, pulling herself into his embrace, the towel slowly trying to work free.  She moaned, and their tongues danced, the kiss begging her to make it so much more.

"Seriously," Blaec called from the door.  "I said kiss her, not fuck her, Corporal."

Sal gasped and stepped back, but Cyno was grinning as he looked at her.  He reached up and caressed her cheek before glancing over to Blaec.

"Learn how ta kiss a woman then, it is na somethan ya rush."

"Evidently not."  Blaec walked back toward them, a blue envelope in his hand.  "Give this to Nyurin.  That's his name, right?"

"Yeh."  Cyno nodded, tucking the envelope in his pocket as he turned back to Sal.  "Keep an eye on Calon.  Do na be alone with him.  He does na smell right."

"I know."

"K.  Then I need ta get the pikes ready.  I'll stay through the thin' with the elites, then head out 'round sundown."

Cyno made his way to the door.  He glanced back at her once then stepped through it, closing it tightly behind him.

"So," Blaec asked her softly, "you believe me now about being ok with this?"

"I'm trying," she said, looking up at him.  "I don't get it, but I'm trying.  Does this mean I need to be ok with sharing you?"

He laughed and shook his head.  "No.  Doesn't work like that.  Usually our women are violently jealous.  That's why I chose you for the spar today, you know.  All those iliri know what you mean, standing there beside me."

"I don't."

"I know, love.  You've got a couple of decades to make up for.  It won't all come in a day."  He tapped her head gently.  "It's in here, though.  Just do what feels right, and if you're wrong, I really will forgive you."

She cocked her head, thinking through his words.  "What do you mean?"

"I mean that I know I'm not perfect.  I screwed up with you and let my pride make my decisions.  When you started pushing?  Started being everything I wish I was?  Like back in those caves when you probably saved our lives but didn't give a shit about my human rank?  Or this," Blaec gestured to the door.  "You like him or you sure wouldn't kiss him like that, right?"

She chuckled and looked away.

"Right?"

"Yes.  He's like a bad boy crush."

"Ok.  But you're still pretty hot for him."  Blaec tried but couldn't hide his smile.  "My nose works almost as well as yours, you know.  So, why are you fighting it?"

Sal let her head droop on her neck.  "Because a human told me to."

"Right.  I'd much rather you ended up in his bed, enjoyed yourself, and then told me it happened – the telling part is kinda important there, Sal – rather than make yourself miserable trying to deny your instincts.  I'm going to try to do this right, but you have to, too."

"Are we really that primal?" she asked, changing the subject slightly.  "All of you mention instincts at least once a day.  Humans, they never talk about it."

"Mm," Blaec thought.  "Yes and no.  Humans have them too, but try to ignore them and claim they're above that, but see what happens when two men are chasing the same woman."

She nodded, understanding what he meant.

"Difference is that we have never been ashamed that we're predators.  I think it's because we're accused of being beasts so much that we embraced it instead of shunning it."  He shrugged.  "You going to complain if it means you get your own little harem?"

Sal laughed and threw her towel at him.  "No.  But remember you told me to try the next time I stick my foot in so deep in it that I can't crawl out on my own"  With that, she walked back into his room and rummaged for clothing.

"It's still hot, you know," Blaec told her.  "Just go with the tank and those pants that are a size too big."

She leaned back, looking at him through the open door.  "You've been paying a bit too much attention to what I wear."

"Nah, just what's inside it."

Sal laughed and put on the exact clothes he'd suggested.  It was kinda like his reward, she decided.  Never mind that she liked knowing that he looked, and anything to encourage that seemed like a good idea.  She would never get used to being thought of as beautiful and often wondered if it was because she was the only iliri woman in the unit, but she wouldn't complain.  Better to be beautiful because she had no competition than always thought of as too strange to be pretty.

"Ok, Major," she said, pulling on her boots, "You going to escort me down?"

"I am.  I'll even buy you a drink in the mess."

"Drinks are free in the mess," she groaned.

"So I'm a cheap date."  He passed her belt over with the daggers still attached.  "And wear those.  I don't trust Trax."

She buckled her weapons on then grabbed his hand.  "So, does this mean I get a kiss from you too, before we have to go put on our public faces?"

He pulled her to him and leaned down for her neck, nipping it gently before kissing his way up to her mouth.  When his lips touched hers, he pressed closer, holding her to him, her head tilted back by his extra height.

He broke the kiss and turned professional in the blink of an eye.  "I need you to play bait, ok?"

"Hence the lack of clothes?" she teased.

"Well, that's part of it.  Mingle with the elites, see who's friendly.  They're all human, so listen to your nose more than your eyes."

She nodded.

"Devil Dogs are experts at putting on a good show.  Pig learned it from his time with us.  He knows, Sal.  All of it.  He's known for a while, but I don't know if his unit does."

She nodded again, accepting the orders.  "Anything else I should know?"

He sighed deeply.  "Two men were talking in the barn today.  Said that Parliament is hoping we'll be wiped out in this mission.  Said if we take heavy enough losses, they can just reassign the rest of the scrubbers."

"Any hint of who they were?"

Blaec shook his head.  "Tilso tried to get eyes on them, but by the time he was out from under the damned horse, there were a few groups, and they were all moving.  He thinks it was Star Fall."

"Gotcha.  You think they have orders to avoid making it easy on us?"

"Wouldn't shock me.  I need to see who we can trust."

Sal nodded.  "I'll do my best, sir."

"And officially, you were giving me a report on the trials and assisting with the intel on the border."

Sal grinned, "And borrowing your bath, since the ones here aren't segregated by gender and my quarters don't have one."

"I'm a good officer."  Blaec laughed, kissing her neck again.  "Have to make sure we maintain good hygiene and all."

"Yeah.  Something like that," Sal agreed.

Together they made their way into the courtyard, Blaec moving away to greet the leaders of the new units.  Men filled the area, many in the standard blue and gold, but others wore the specialized color of the elites.  Sal noticed Devil Dog's grey, Star Fall's dusty brown, and more.  A small group stood out in their Indigo uniforms, gold piping showing their allegiance to the Conglomerate.  Sal watched the elites, taking in the way they moved, finding herself comparing them to her own abilities, when she caught a whiff of something familiar behind her.  She turned, stepping lightly, to face the person moving into her space.

"Black Blades?" an iliri male asked.  He kept his small ears partially back.

She nodded, noticing his strange features and how they mimicked her own. "Azure Silence, I assume?"  She recognized his uniform.

He nodded, his eyes never leaving hers.  Sal fought the urge to growl and refused to break the look.

"I didn't know the Blades had an iliri." He smiled sardonically.  "What do you do?  Polish their... swords?"

Rage flared in her at the insult and her ears pressed tight against her head.  He was testing her and Sal's instincts warned her that she dare not lose.  She fought the urge to rip his throat out and kept her body relaxed, showing no sign of her inner desires.  "If they beg enough," she said sweetly, intentionally keeping her hands clear of her blades.

Sal? she heard Cyno's voice in her head.

I fucking got this, she snapped back.

Yeh, but you're drawin' a crowd, he whispered in her mind.  He's yers, kitten, but we got yer back.

"And what do you do?" she asked the iliri man, allowing her lip to curl.  "Scrub their boots?  Or do they trust you enough to give you the saddles?"

"Bitch!" the iliri spat at her, his own ears pinned.

She saw his chest tense and knew he was about to lunge.  Sal exhaled, never dropping her eyes.  When he leaned, his fist clenched, and stepped toward her, committing to his motion, she surged forward.  Bearing her weight on her left leg, her right swept his ankles out from under him, and she reached for his throat.  His neck slid into her hand, her thumb against his jugular, and she dropped her weight to the ground, taking him with her.  The iliri's eyes widened as he felt himself falling, but he still refused to look away.

He hit the ground hard.  Sal stared into his white eyes and snarled, knowing he had no choice but to submit.  Finally his eyes closed, then he blinked again, before looking at the men around him.

She leaned forward without breaking her gaze and whispered, "Try that again, and I might put some effort into it.  Don't fuck with me, and don't you dare challenge me again.  Got it?"

"Yes, ma'am." he whispered.

"It's sir," she snarled. "I'm a damned soldier.  And all of the Blades are iliri."

Sal released the man when he nodded, letting him find his feet, and turned her back on him.  Behind her, Cyno stood lazily, leaning against a wall with a smile playing on his lips.  He didn't even try to hide the sharp points of his canines.  To his right, Zep and Shift waited, their eyes locked on the elite soldiers across from them.  Razor, Risk, and Arctic watched from the balcony above.  At the edge of the crowd, Blaec waited calmly.  She could only assume he'd arrived in time to witness the scene.

"I'm sorry, sir," she told him, speaking loud enough to be heard at that distance.

Blaec pushed forward, a scowl on his face.  Locking eyes with her, he said clearly, "Luxx, that behavior is unacceptable."

Sal looked down, knowing the iliri from Azure Silence could see her submit.  "Yes, sir."

He then turned to the iliri man only steps away and glared, his pale green eyes easily meeting the man's white.  "And you.  You are?"

"Specialist Reko Wyra, sir."  The iliri refused to blink.

Blaec marched toward him, "And I am Major Blaec Doll, of the Black Blades.  I highly suggest that you do not threaten my soldiers again."  Sal could feel Blaec's presence, so strong, so in control, and so threatening as he forced the iliri to take a step back.  "Am I understood?"

The soldier looked away.  "Yes, sir.  My apologies, sir."

Blaec's demeanor changed suddenly, yet still held an undertone of threat.  He patted the man on the shoulder, and whispered in his ear.  As close as she was, Sal could just make out the words.  "She's mine."

The iliri nodded, casting a quick glance at her before looking away.  Blaec turned, a polite smile on his face, and looked at the soldiers around him.  His arms and legs folded, leaning against a wall, a dark-skinned man nodded at him.  "Nice entrance, Doll."

"Drago Trax.  Good to see you again.  Sorry about that.  My men are usually better mannered."

"Wyra started it.  I thought about calling him off, but figured it might be nice to see what your new one can do.  She's quick."  The leader of Azure Silence sounded smug.

"Yeah, she was a good find," Blaec agreed.  "Lemme buy you a drink, I hear the prices in the mess are great."  Together the men walked away.

Ya good, Sal? Arctic asked in her mind.

Yep, she answered him.  I think that's pretty well settled.

Arctic made his way toward the Azure Silence soldiers, introducing himself, and the tension between them broke.  Cyno pulled himself away from the wall and headed toward Sal as the other Blades moved in to greet the new elites.  They began to mingle, socializing in the casual way of soldiers.  More units arrived and the courtyard became crowded, but no one was willing to leave, knowing that they would be receiving orders soon enough.

When all the horses were stabled and all the soldiers settled, LT returned.  He climbed to the balcony and waited.  With a whisper in their minds, the Black Blades called out as one.  "Attention!"

Arctic finished, "Officer on deck!"

Movement stopped in a heartbeat as each soldier present snapped to attention.  LT was barely able to hide his smile.  It was one small way of showing the units before them that his men had been singled out.

"Men, I'm not about to try to give some pretty speech.  The Conglomerate of Free Citizens has officially declared war on Terric.  We know that the Emperor is attempting to bribe the governments of our neighbors.  The reason is simple.  They want to exterminate all iliri and conquer the continent."  He paused, letting that sink in.  "Before you think this doesn't apply to you, it has also been brought to our attention – by documents that were intercepted – that the Emperor considers most citizens of the CFC to be 'tainted'.  Almost all of us can trace our lineage to an iliri somewhere.  Some of us," he said, nodding to Specialist Wyra, "closer than others.

"History tells us that Terric has denied iliri within their borders for centuries.  Anglia, the most powerful nation on this continent, has been isolated by their geography, and it, too, is free of iliri.  Unav, Myrosica, Viraenova, and ourselves have been the main advocates of the iliri.  Yes, many of you may think they are simply scrubbers, but our past has been intertwined for millennium.  To the Emperor, this is all the excuse he needs to attempt to eradicate us.

"And yes, the rumors are true.  The Black Blades are iliri, but we are fighting for the preservation of all of us.  If Anglia joins Terric in this war, the Conglomerate will be crushed between them.  Unav has already fallen but we hope that our presence, that of an elite group of iliri soldiers, may be enough to encourage the Unavi Rebels to join with us.  Now that Escea has allied with the Empire, we need all the help we can get, regardless of our breeding.

"Currently, there are three supply trains headed to Anglia.  Together, they are carrying two thousand kilos of steel."  He paused as the soldiers gasped.  "That's enough to make fifteen hundred steel weapons, men.  We do not know where the Emperor is able to obtain so much ore.  What we do know is that these weapons are intended to secure the cooperation of Anglia and to gain the Emperor more military strength with which to crush us.  We cannot let that happen.  The future of the Conglomerate is in your hands now.  I have given each of your commanders the necessary information.  Please see them for your outfit's orders.  Dismissed"

"Blades!" Arctic called out, summoning them to him, as the other elite officers did the same.  I want everyone in LT's rooms, ten minutes.

They nodded and, as a unit, made their way to the officer's wing in silence.

Chapter 15

The Blades lounged on every surface of the commander's suite.  Sal lay across the couch, her feet in the air behind her, swinging them as she thought.  Blaec sat on the floor in front of her, and Cyno was across the small room, his back to a wall.  Shift reclined across a chair, his feet kicked over the arm, and he punctuated his words with an arm in the air.

"There's three loads, at hundreds of kilos each.  That means it will be broken down into smaller crates."

"So where are the loads coming through?" Zep asked.

Blaec sighed.  "The intel from that Black Widow Sal got in Yager's puts two crossing the Siahie mountains in Unav.  Scouts have started reporting heavily laden caravans making their way up the east side.  One is actually coming through Escea into the CFC."

"So what's the plan?" Arctic asked.

"Azure's taking the Escean load.  We have someone embedded with the train."

"Nice," Arctic said appreciatively.  "Ok, so that'll be an easy hit, even for them.  The others?"

"Sending the 112th Mounted and Star Fall together to hit the first Unavi load, and Devil Dogs will get the second."

"Why?" Sal asked.  "The first load better guarded?"

The Blades all chuckled, and Blaec reached up to grab her hand.  "No, love.  The 112th are extremely specialized, and so is Star Fall.  The Mounted won't fight on foot, and Star Fall is nothing but infiltrators.  To make it work, I need them to work together."

"And Devil Dogs?" Sal persisted.

"They're good," Arctic said.  "Twenty-five men, two squads.  Alpha is offense, bravo is defense, but they can change roles if necessary."

"They're almost iliri good, Sal," Blaec told her.  "I've known their leader a long time.  He was in the Blades about eight years ago."

"So, we're just waiting?" she asked.

"I think so," Arctic said, his eyes distant, tracking nothing as he tried to work out all the strategic angles.  "I can't think of anything else."

Sal kicked her feet again, thinking hard.

"LT," Cyno grumbled somehow sounding amused, "can ya na make her stop that?"

Blaec looked up, meeting his eyes.  "Distracted?"

He nodded, a devious grin taking over his face.  "Ya can na see her legs from there."

"Guys!" Zep said, laughing.  "There's enough tension in this room without the three of you adding to it."

Sal's mind was elsewhere as the men talked around her.  Her thoughts roamed across a map in her head, thinking about the routes from Terric to Anglia.

"Where are they coming through the mountains?" she asked, interrupting them again.

"There's a small pass just north of the Escean Pass, called the Nigal Way.  That's the southern one.  The Devil Dogs' load is going through the Belil Pass, and the joint load through the Idiptu Ridge," Blaec told her.

"I need a map," Sal said, sitting up.

"Ok?" Shift asked, passing one from the stack of documents the Blades had shuffled through earlier.

Sal grabbed the map as she slid to the floor beside Blaec, unrolling it.  She snarled a bit when it tried to curl back up.  Seeing her intensity, Cyno crawled forward to hold it in place.  Her finger traced the lines from Dorton, Anglia's capital, through the passes.  She paused and looked again, shifting the map, her ears twitching as her mind whirled.

"What is it, kitten?" Cyno asked.

"Blaec?"  Sal looked to her commander.  "You sure this is coming from Terric?"

"He's claiming it," Blaec said, looking over her shoulder.

"But you can't be sure it's coming from Terric, right?"

"Where else would it come from?" he asked her.

When Sal looked around, she found all of their faces staring at her intently.  She smiled like a pleased animal and pointed.  "It's all coming from around the Huracan River.  Wherever they are getting the steel, it's in Escea."

The men gasped and leaned closer to the map, but Blaec stared at her intently.  "What are we missing, Sal?"

She shook her head and looked back at the map, her ears drooping at her lack of knowledge.  Her eyes darted from the river to Anglia, seeking something out of place, something they'd overlooked.  Back and forth her eyes flicked, and no one spoke.

"What is he doing?" she whispered.

"Don't worry about that," Blaec told her, softly.  "What would you do?  How would you ensure that this works?"

Her head tilted slightly as she stalked the knowledge hiding before her.  She turned the map, then turned it back, and bit her lip.  No one spoke.  Slowly, she looked at Blaec.

"Where's the fourth load and why didn't Toth tell you about it?"

"You sure?"

She nodded.  "These two," and she marked the northern shipments, "are the distraction.  I won't be shocked if they aren't even truly steel.  The southern load, notice how far off course it is?"

The men nodded, a few smiling proudly at her.

"We're supposed to focus on the two easy hits in Unav and ignore the one sneaking through our own backyard, but the numbers don't add up.  Something this important needs redundancy.  I'd send the last load after the others, through a different pass, hitting land we already assume has been cleared."

"Where?"

"Echo Gap."  Sal stabbed a finger at the pass.  "It'll be elites, the ore will be on mules, and they'll be there about four days after the rest, moving fast to beat the autumn snows."

"Tilso," Zep said softly, "get the horses shod."

"Yeah."  Tilso glanced up to Risk, concern in his eyes.  "That's rough up there."

"You sure, Sal?" Blaec asked.

She shook her head.  "No, but there's nothing else.  There has to be another load, it's the only way it makes sense.  I mean, they could hit the Sarabda Notch, but," she trailed her finger on the map.  "They'd hit Issevi, Syhar, and Zaqala.  All the others pass by the major cities.  They wouldn't want to get close to other humans, not with that much wealth on them!  It has to be somewhere, and that's the only place it could work."

Blaec nodded, staring at the map.  "Ok.  Razor, get us mountain gear.  We'll need to spread supplies across the horses, Tilso.  I don't want to run with mules."

"I can do that," Tilso said.

"Zep, run a check on the known Terran elites.  Skirmishers, well-mounted, fast-moving."

"Got it.  Probably a bit reckless, too," Zep said, glancing proudly at Sal.

"We've got four days, men.  Cyno and Shift, when you check the border tonight, keep your eyes open.  The rest of you, feel out the elites.  Someone knows something, and isn't saying shit."

"Blaec?" Sal asked.  "I don't know what our humans are doing.  I can't make sense of it."

"I know," he told her.  "That's why I didn't ask.  They're setting us up to fail, love.  We just have to stay ahead of them.  You worry about the Empire, I'll take care of the politics."

"Ok, men," Arctic said.  "Tonight, we need to give the recruits a chance to seek us out.  We want them to be a part of the family, not just a body to throw at the enemy.  While you're doing that, take every chance you can to feel out the elites.  Every chance."  He glanced around.  "I want to know who has our back and who's painting a target on it."

"And," Blaec added, "Shift and Cyno won't be with us tonight.  Reports of Terrans on the border.  We're moving soon, men.  Be ready."

Chapter 16

The Prin military compound was near bursting with the number of soldiers.  The mess hall was crowded, and it spilled out into the courtyard.  In the hot evening air, men had either abandoned their shirts or left them hanging open, and the smell of humans was overpowering.

Sal entered the mess and made her way to the alcohol counter.  She grabbed a clean glass from the shelf and twisted bottles, reading the labels, looking for something that wouldn't intoxicate her too quickly.

"I wouldn't be too picky," a woman's voice said over her shoulder.

She was dressed in grey, goldish-orange piping along the seam of her pants.  Like Sal, she was wearing nothing more than the standard tank, hers in the Devil Dogs' colors.  Unlike Sal, her skin was a dark bronze.  The woman reached up to the shelf above and began turning the bottles.

"Whatcha lookin' for?" she asked, smiling at Sal.

"Mead, or something fruit based," Sal said, watching her intently.

She pushed a few more bottles around.  "How's sugarcane?"

Sal nodded and the woman passed her a bottle of rum.  "Thanks," Sal said, letting her confusion tint her voice.

"Hey, not many of us in the elites, we gotta stick together."

"Iliri?" Sal asked as she filled her glass.  The elite's skin was way too dark to have much iliran ancestry.

"No, women.  Rayna Mel, Devil Dogs."

"Salryc Luxx, Black Blades."

"Ah, heard about you," Rayna said.  "Didn't know you were iliri.  Shoulda guessed from the name, though."

Sal's eyebrows nearly crawled up to meet her ears.  "I figured that's the first thing anyone would have heard."

"Nah, not from Pig.  He told one of the guys to stop comparing himself to Cyno and start basing his efficacy on your record."  She shrugged it away.

Sal capped the bottle and shoved it back on the shelf.  Rayna grinned and tucked it behind a few others.  "They can drink swill and be fine.  Rumor has it you all drink the wrong thing and you're ripping someone apart."

"Falling down drunk is more like it," Sal told her.

"Gotcha."  Rayna looked at Sal for a moment, then leaned closer.  "You got a minute?  I think we need to talk."

Sal nodded, her guard up, and whispered a thought to Zep.  Rayna tilted her head toward the door.  With her glass in hand, Sal followed her into the courtyard.  The strange woman headed right to the stairs leading up to the officer's wing and sat on the edge, making room for Sal beside her.

"Ok," Sal said.  "We're as alone as it's going to get in this place.  What do you want?"

"I heard a story," Rayna said, taking a sip of her own drink.  "Something about an all-iliri unit not getting the best intel."

"Hazard of the species."  Sal shrugged it off.

"Story says there's another load.  Also said it's Echo Gap, Imperial Paradox, twenty-five strong, and moving fast."

Sal ducked her head to hide her grin, and added, "About four days out.  Metal's coming from the Huracan River area, avoiding major cities."

"Nice," Rayna said.  "Whichever one of you figured that out deserves a raise."

"I think Blaec already has me at the top of my pay scale."

Rayna glanced at her quickly.  "Watch that," she warned.  "He's LT.  They're waiting for you to fuck up."

Sal nodded, realizing her slip.  "Thanks for the heads-up on the unit."

"Yeah.  Watch Azure, too.  Dogs are with ya.  Pig's made it clear that if anyone has a problem with the Blades, they need to request a transfer.  Guess he and LT were pretty close back in the day."

"Still are," Sal said.  "Otherwise he wouldn't have ordered you to tell the first one of us you found."  Sal stood and looked at Rayna pointedly, before turning to leave.

"How'd you know that?"

Sal paused.  "Scent of a human male, tone of voice is carrying a low burr, and," Sal cocked her head, glancing into Rayna's eyes, "you got to the point way too fast."

Rayna laughed and sucked at her drink again.  "Point.  I was kinda expecting to run into one of your guys, actually."

"Pig should've known better," a deep voice said above them.

Sal smiled.  "You're moving lightly," she told Zep.

"There's twenty centimeters of resin with my name on it if I don't."  He looked at Sal, then turned to the woman she was with.  "Evening, Lieutenant Mel."

"Sergeant Zepyr," Rayna said formally, her eyes roaming across his body.

"Excuse me, I need to speak to the Second Officer," he said, motioning for Sal to follow him.  Get what you need?

Yep, just confirms what we knew though.  And looks like we have at least one unit in our corner.

Good.  There's a group of Azure headed this way, didn't want the two of you alone.  He shrugged.

I can still take care of myself, Zep, Sal said, glaring up at him.

Yeah, I know.  We still work as a team, and your partner's out.

She nodded.  I'm still on orders, Zep.  I need to feel out Azure as well.

Zep grabbed her shoulder and pulled her around.  "You fucking sliced his arm open.  It was supposed to be a friendly spar," he hissed at her.  Go with it.

"Friendly?" Sal asked, shocked, her mind spinning as her ears flicked, turning to the sound of three men walking behind them.  "After he backhanded me, that's friendly?"  I'm on the same page?

Doing good.  "Yeah.  Full contact, or didn't you catch that?"

"Oh, I caught it," Sal snarled to hide her grin.  "Just expected him to move faster."

"Problem?" a man asked, walking closer.

"No," Zep told him, glaring.

"We're fine," Sal added.

"Careful," a second laughed.  "I hear they'll turn on you."  He looked over Sal, making it clear who he meant.

She lifted her chin and met his eyes.  "Dream on."  Inhaling deeply, she caught nothing but the scent of fear and disgust from them.  "Sergeant?" Sal asked Zep, motioning for him to follow her as she stormed away from the men.  They're terrified of me, she thought to Zep.  I'd rather not be too far from the crowd with the way they smell.

Gotcha.  You armed?

Yes.

Ok, I'll put this to rest with a quick stop by LT.  Make sure we didn't make even more rumors.

Sal nodded and pushed back into the mess hall.  Besides, she needed to top up her drink anyway.  While Zep headed over to make a rather impressive display of asking LT about full contact, Sal rummaged in the bottles and refilled her rum.  They were one for one, with two more units to check.

I'm stepping outside, she told Zep, then made her way through the press of bodies into the cooler night air.

Torches flickered around the entrance to the mess and Sal leaned casually in the light of one, sipping at her drink.  A couple of recruits walked by, nodding at her politely before pushing into the mess hall.  She hated being around humans like this.  Too many of them in one place dulled her senses.

"Lonely?" a man asked, leaning beside her but keeping a respectful distance.

"Not really," she mumbled under her breath, glancing over.

He wore casual clothing, making it impossible to determine his unit.  His faded pants looked like they had once been blue and he used one side of his white shirt to fan at his bare chest.

"Forgot how much I hate summers in Prin," he said.

Sal just nodded, saying nothing, and sipped at her drink.

He tried again, "Blades still required to learn mounted combat?"

"Yeah," Sal told him.  "We're typically mounted skirmishers, so it kinda makes sense."

"Thought it was infiltration and extraction," he teased, smiling.

"They go together.  What do you think happens after we extract?"

"Fair point."

Silence hung between them awkwardly, and Sal thought about heading back in, but dreaded the thought of so many humans pressing against her.  Another crowd of soldiers walked up, laughing as they passed, and she decided talking to this man was better than facing that.  She sighed and closed her eyes, wishing she could just retreat to her rooms, or Blaec's, or Cyno's.  Anywhere but where she was.

She felt someone lean next to her, and pushed down the growl as she opened her eyes, turning to find Calon smiling over her.

"So, how'd I do this morning?" he asked.

"Don't ask me that," Sal warned him.  "You'll get scores the same as everyone else."

He lifted a glass and gulped at it, a bit of beer sloshing from the side.  Sal rolled her eyes.  Ok, Zep.  I hate humans.  It's official.

Yeah, just gimme a sec.

"So," Calon tried again.  "If I sleep with ya, does it get me in?"

"No," Sal told him, disgusted.  "Not to mention that it wouldn't happen."

"Heard you're fucking half the Blades," he slurred, leaning toward her.  "I just figured maybe that's the trick."

Sal reached behind her and checked her dagger, shifting away from him.  "Typically, recruits try to impress us, not insult us," she said.

"C'mon," he begged, staggering as he tried to follow her.  "What's my score, honey?"

"Go sleep it off, soldier," Sal snapped, making to leave, but Calon grabbed her and shoved her back against the wall.

She dropped her drink and slid a hand behind her, hearing glass shatter. In the back of her head, she knew Zep was coming, but the man on Calon's other side was faster.  He pulled the recruit off with an arm around his throat and held him tightly, his dagger tapping gently on the man's ribs.

"Do not ever treat an elite like that.  Some of us won't give you a second chance, boy," he hissed in the man's ear.

"Fuck," Calon gasped, holding his hands away from him.  "I just wanted to know my damned scores."

The man shoved him away, toward the courtyard, and waved his resin dagger toward the barracks.  "The lady said to go sleep it off.  I highly suggest you listen to her.  Got it?"

"Yeah, fuck.  Yeah," Calon muttered, staggering toward his quarters.  He glanced back and shook his head, but continued out of sight.

"Thank you," Sal said, flicking her eyes to the Black Blade now hovering just inside the door. I'm fine. Don't make a scene.

How's he smell?, Zep asked.

She took a breath. Annoyed. Nothing else, just annoyed and a little disgusted, but there's no hate or fear.

Ok, demon, but I'll stick close. Don't trust any of these Aces.

Sal almost laughed, but from the soldier's tone, her new friend wouldn't understand.

"You armed?" he asked her.

She moved her hand from behind her leg and the steel knife caught the light.  "Yeah."

He nodded.  "Blaz Eason, 112th."

"Salryc Luxx, Black Blades."

"Yeah, we all know who you are.  Sorry.  Shoulda let you handle that yourself.  Just pissed me off a bit."

Sal shook her head.  "No, that actually works out.  I offer a blade and rumors that I've gone feral start up."

"No shit?"

"No shit," she said, shrugging.  "Hazard of the species."  She seemed to be saying that a lot.

He laughed and sheathed his dagger, nodding at her words.  "You did kinda rub our face in it, you know.  Fucking right in front of us all these years, and then the Lieutenant has a bad day and screams it at the generals."

"Major.  He got promoted."

"Right.  Gonna take a while to get used to that.  'Bout time though.  Did he really snarl at them?"

She shifted closer to Blaz to keep her voice down.  "Dunno, I wasn't there."

"No?  Figured you'd all want to be there to see that shit."

"Nah, had a little issue at the same time.  Black Widows ambushed two of ours."

"Right, I forgot," he said.  "That end up ok?"

"Yeah."  Sal giggled.  "We cleaned them up.  I have some teen up in Yager's Crossing with a crush on me now, but that's about it."

Blaz turned his head and leaned forward, peeking in the door.  "Hey, Lorenz," he called.  "Grab me a bottle."

"Sure," a man inside the mess hall called back through the open doorway.  "Of what?"

He looked over at Sal and raised an eyebrow.  "Would you like to share?  Promise my intentions are simply to catch a bit of breeze."

"Sure.  So long as it's rum or mead."

"Rum!" he yelled back.  "And an extra glass?"

"Can do, boss."

"Boss?" she asked.

Blaz shrugged.  "Second Officer of the 112th.  I kinda forgot to mention that part."

"Sir."  She smiled over to him, acknowledging that he most likely outranked her.

"What-fucking-ever.  I'll be saluting you soon enough.  We all know the ranks in the Blades don't mean shit."

Chapter 17

Lorenz shoved through the door, a fresh bottle of rum in one hand, a pair of glasses in the other.  With a grin he handed the bottle to Blaz and one glass to Sal, holding out the second.  "Delivery fee.  I gotta try that shit."

Blaz opened the bottle and poured.  Lorenz took a sip and nodded, smiling at Sal kindly as he made his way back inside the mess.  Blaz lifted the bottle her way, and Sal held out her glass, waving him off when it was only half full.

"Thanks," she told him.  "The drink, the blade, and the respect."

He had the grace to blush, but tried to hide it by topping up his own drink.  "Isn't often we get this many spec ops units in the same place.  I'm shocked it's going as smoothly as it is, ya know?"

"For now," Sal pointed out.

"True."  He grinned.  "So tell me something, Salryc?"

"It's Sal," she said, her ears turning back as she waited for the bad pick-up line.

"Which horse in those stables is yours?"

Her ears flicked forward quickly.  That was not the question she'd expected.  Blaz's eyes glanced up, and he smiled while she answered, "Pinzgauer mare, covered in dark spots."

"And the black is LT's, right?"

She nodded.

"Ok," he said, looking up to her ears again.  "Forgive me if this is rude, but do you do that intentionally?"

"What?"

"The ears.  I can't be sure if I should judge them like a horse's or a dog's."

"More like an iliri.  And it's like eyelids," she told him.  "Something flies at your eyes and your lids will close, right?"

"Right."

"We get pissed, they..." Her ears flicked tight against her skull.  "Like that, so they aren't damaged."

"Ok, like a horse."

"Right, but I can move them to catch sounds and I can hold them still.  Some of our emotional expressions are tied to our ears, like yours are to your mouth.  So yeah, I can control it some, and sometimes I can't."

Blaz laughed.  "Iliri listen more, and humans run off at the mouth?"

She chuckled but shrugged.  "You said it, not me."

"It's kinda true though, ya know?"  He lifted his glass to her with a sigh.  "And you have a damned nice horse.  Your stable manager won't let us close enough to look, but we've been drooling a bit.  Tell Major Doll if he ever wants to turn that colt of his loose, we'll find some real good mares to cross with him."

"Is it really all about horses with you?" she asked.

He shrugged impishly.  "Pretty much.  I like horses better than people, you know?  That's why your ears get me.  Horses talk with their ears, and you do, too."

Sal glanced back at the mess hall door and saw Zep leaning easily against it but no other humans close enough to eavesdrop.  "Do the rest of your men feel the same?"

Blaz shrugged again.  "Dunno.  Lemme cut right to the heart of it, Sal.  We don't fucking care that you're all iliri."

"Blunt," she said, surprised.

"I work with horses all day.  Hinting just pisses them off.  Thing is, there's shit going on, and I don't know what it is, but I don't play politics."

"Looks like a lot of shit, Blaz.  We're just trying to make sure we don't get thrown under the cart."

"Not one of ours," he promised.  "Always been an unwritten rule with us.  We elites earned what we got, and we deserve respect for it.  I think that goes double for the Blades."

"Thanks.  You've just earned mine."

"Rumor has it, coming from an iliri, that means a hell of a lot."  He smiled at her kindly.  "Thanks."

"Why, though?  Humans have never really liked our kind."

Blaz sighed and gestured toward the courtyard.  "Care to sit?  The breeze can't really be worse out there."

Sal nodded and moved with him away from the door.  As the glow of the lantern faded, he looked around, stopping at a high stone railing.  "Can you make it up?" he asked.

In answer, she reached up and grabbed the rail, then jumped.  Shoving her chest against the stone, she slipped her legs over as easily as she'd mount a horse.  He nodded, then passed the bottle and his glass up to her before doing the same.  From their vantage they could see the entire courtyard and had a clear view of both the barracks and the officer's wing.

"Sorry.  I feel a bit better if I'm able to see around me," he explained, accepting his glass back from Sal and taking a sip.  "Here's the thing.  We're scouts and forward attack.  We rely upon people like you to make sure our intel's good enough to keep us alive.  In the time I've been with the 112th, Blades have pulled our asses out of shit at least a dozen times, maybe more."

She nodded, accepting that.

"We've never gotten weak or bad intel from the Blades, but I can't say that about the rest.  I like horses more than people, Sal.  Think about that for a second.  How can I say I don't want to work with 'your kind' because you're not human, when I'm already working with my partner, who isn't human?"

She ducked her head to hide her smile.  "Logic doesn't usually stop people from hating us, though."

He nodded.  "I'm sure.  Personally, I've just never thought much of it.  I'm from a long line of soldiers.  Both sides.  I can't remember a time without iliri around, ya know?"  He glanced over his shoulder quickly, and sighed.  "You figure out what they're planning yet?"

"Who?"

"They.  Them."  Blaz shrugged.  "I don't know who, but I can feel the tension well enough.  There's something going on."

"You know you're not here on orders, right?" she asked.

"Yeah," he said.  "You gonna explain that?"

"LT's promotion." This time she remembered to use his public name.  "It gives him authorization to make use of forces available.  The mission to stop the ore?  It was only given to the Blades."

"Three loads, eight of you, and he wasn't given direct command of any other units?"

"Exactly."

"They trying to kill you?" he gasped, shocked.  "They're willing to throw away the chance to finally stop this damned bribe because your skin is different from theirs?"

"I think it's the teeth," she teased, "but yeah.  Also heard a few other things that we didn't get with our orders."

He looked around again, peering into the darkness.

"Don't worry," Sal said.  We're out of even iliri hearing, and there's no one close."

"You sure?"

She nodded.  "I hear as well as your horse, can see better than most cats, and my sense of smell is almost as good as a hound's.  I'm pretty sure."

He grinned and patted her leg.  "I think we need some of you.  That has to be useful.  Can I ask what you didn't get?"

"We're chasing three loads.  There's rumor of a fourth, and that Parliament knows about it."

His manner changed quickly.  "Sal," he said, leaning forward, "this isn't a game.  You know that, right?"

"I do," she assured him.  "Not sure if they do, but we do.  We found the load, we'll get it."

"Can I pass that to the Captain?"

"Figured you would."

"Tolan's a good man.  Wouldn't serve under him if he wasn't.  He's got a bit of sway in Parliament right now, too.  If we hear anything, I'll let you know."

"Thanks, Blaz.  I'm getting to be in your debt really quickly."

He nodded, a smile slowly spreading across his face, until he chuckled.  "Let me ride that mare of yours one day, and we'll call it even."

"Thought you liked the black," she teased.

"Oh, I like them both.  Pretty sure my Rax is at least as good as the bay and grey in your string, but your mare might just be better."

"I'm not trading," she said around a laugh.  "I'm pretty fond of Arden."

"Nah."  He glanced away.  "Won't give up Rax.  Wish I'd never got him, but no way I'm giving him up now."

"Contradict yourself often?"

He rubbed his face quickly.  "He was Jiesa's.  She took a blade in that skirmish in southern Escea last year.  Couldn't get her to the medics in time."  Then he paused, staring at nothing, and Sal grabbed his hand.  In the moonlight, he looked down at her pale skin next to his.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"She was the First Officer, ya know?  I was the left flank lead at the time."  He flicked his eyes up to hers.  "I reported directly to her."

Sal could smell his anguish, mixed with the scent of love.  What his words didn't tell her, his body did.  Jiesa and Blaz had been lovers.

"They know?"

"Yeah.  Wasn't a big thing in the 112th.  It happens more than most guess, at least that's what Tolan said when I requested a transfer.  Told him I couldn't serve under a woman I was in love with, and he told me he didn't care about what happened when we're off duty, ya know?"

"I know.  So long as chain of command operates without a problem, it shouldn't matter."

"Yeah.  She asked me to take care of her first love."  He smiled sadly.  "Rax, I mean.  Swear the damned horse misses her as much as I do."  He patted her hand and nodded to himself.  "Sal, her eyes were blue.  Her hair was dark but not really black, and her eyes were as blue as a winter's morning.  I can't hate the Blades.  None of us can."

She just nodded, not knowing what else to say.  His hand tightened on hers, and he sighed again then leaned back, glancing up at the stars.

"I shouldn't have gone with the rum."  He tried to laugh.  "Thanks for listening, though."

"You tell anyone else?"

"Nah," he said, pushing it away.  "They know, and they understand, but no.  I try not to talk about it.  I'm not really ready."

"Blaz," she told him, "that was over a year ago."

He just nodded.  "Doesn't mean I'm ready."

"I know, but my ears do work well."

"You're nothing like I expected, Sal.  Iliri are known to be lethal, and the stories about you make you sound cold and practical.  Everything we'd want in a soldier, you know?"

"We were basically designed to be," Sal told him.

"Then whoever designed you needs more credit.  You may be a good soldier but you're easy to talk to.  We always say that our horses are the best listeners.  They never judge us, and always try to understand.  You make me feel like that."  He laughed.  "Damn, I'm sorry, I just got sappy."  Sal realized her ears had drooped when Blaz looked up at them intently.  "I don't know that one," he said, gesturing up.

She nodded, gently biting her lower lip.  "I'm not used to compliments."

"Embarrassment?"

She smiled at him tentatively.  "Kinda.  Insecurity?"  Sal leaned back, and brushed her hand across her ears to relax them.  "I just always feel like everyone's watching me because I'm different, and I'm not even sure what it is I'm supposed to be doing, so things like, well..." She sighed, looking for the right words.  "I don't exactly make friends well."

He shrugged.  "Me either.  I tend to be a bit too blunt."

"I like blunt.  Lets me know where I stand."

"No wonder you do so well with LT then.  Doesn't get much more upfront than that."

Sal's head snapped toward him, "What do you mean?"

His mouth hung open at her reaction and he nodded slowly.  "I see.  I meant as a commander.  He's always straight talking and to the point.  So there's truth to the rumors after all.  No wonder you understand about Jiesa."

"Blaz," Sal said softly.  "Don't make me lie to you."

"I didn't ask a question, Sal, but I think everyone knows what that," and he gestured at the top of her head, "means."

She realized her ears were locked back and flicked them forward.  "I - "

He stopped her words with a gesture.  "I didn't ask a question.  Of all the people in the world, I'm not going to ask that question."

She took a long, deep breath and nodded as she let it out.

"I am going to ask one now, and you don't have to answer it," he said.  "Thought you had a thing with your partner?"

"It's complicated."

"People would believe it more, if you two weren't always so casual together."

She sighed.  "Cyno isn't really a very..."  A wry chuckle slipped out.  "He's not the public display type."

He nodded, smiling.  "It sounds complicated.  Is he the protective type?"

"Yeah."

"I'll make you a deal.  You tell him not to kill me, and I'll help you shut down those rumors."

Chapter 18

She'd talked to Blaz for a while.  The party was starting to wind down when Blaec broke up their chat to request her help with mission planning.  Blaz smiled a little too big when he wished them luck.  Sal just shook her head and let her commanding officer escort her to the door of their office.  It led into his suite.  From there, he tugged her right into bed.

Hours later, the door to the suite opened gently, waking Sal from a deep sleep.  She grabbed Blaec's wrist, sending him a thought of warning, then slipped from the bed and moved into the shadows.  Blaec rolled to face the door, his eyes flicking to Sal as she pulled his sword from its place next to the wall.  They listened to feet cross the room, then the door opened a crack.

"LT," Cyno whispered harshly.  "We got shit."

Blaec groaned and sat up, yanking the blankets across his waist.  "We're up."

Cyno pushed the door open, then glanced to his right, chuckling when he saw Sal glaring at him.  He took a long look across her body and smiled.  "Might as well get the lights."

"Go ahead, love," Blaec said.  "I'm the only one here who can't see perfectly right now."

She grabbed the striker and flicked it, lighting the wick of the lantern before turning it low.   The light filled the room, making both assassins blink.  She rubbed at her eyes, turning away to put the sword back in its place.

"It's Terric," Cyno said, leaning back against the wall.  "Would na wake ya, but ya know that little village up in the Escea-Unav corner?  Triple Corners, or somethan' like that?"

"Yeah," Blaec said.  "Seriously, love, put something on, you're distracting me."

Cyno chuckled at that and grabbed a shirt from the ground near his feet.  He tossed it over to Sal.  "Yeh.  Well, it's kinda gone."

"Gone?" Sal asked, shoving her arms into the sleeves.

"Yeh.  Whole thing was burned to the ground.  Lots of scorched corpses.  Thing is, we found four farmsteads pretty fucked up on the way in."

"You sure it's Terric?" Blaec asked him.

"Three imperial bodies," Cyno answered, then reached over his shoulder, pulling something from the scabbard at his back.  "And these were kinda everywhere."  He tossed an arrow onto the bed.

The tip was made of black resin, the shaft was dark wood, and the scent of ravens wafted from it.

"Easy to fake the arrows," Sal pointed out.

"But na the bodies.  Looks like they came from Unav, not Escea."

Blaec flipped the covers back, grabbing his pants from the floor as he crawled from the bed.  "Map's in the office."

The three of them moved together into the other room.  Cyno found the lamp and lit it, turning it high enough for Blaec to see easily.  By the time he turned back, the Major had a small map spread across the mess of papers littering his desk.

"Here," Cyno said, pointing.  "This is the one gone, and here's the farmsteads."  His finger tapped at the map.  "Got tracks from here, and here, and found signs of a skirmish around here."

Sal cocked her head, watching.  Blaec sighed and leaned back, catching her movement from the corner of his eye.  "Ok, Sal.  Why would you do that?"

"What?"

"If you were the emperor, why would you make that move?  Three Corners – that's the name of the town, Cyno – is worthless.  No one is even sure what side of the border they're on.  Not more than a hundred villagers there, mostly human, and they keep to themselves.  The farmsteads?  Why would you take losses like that, or even the risk of loss, to hit something that insignificant?"

She looked back to the map and he pushed it toward her.  When Cyno turned to face her, she flicked an ear at him, but refused to let him distract her thoughts.  The lines on the map teased in her mind, hinting at something more.

"I need the other map, Blaec.  Huracan River to Anglia, at least."

"It's behind you, Cyno, in the case."

Cyno grabbed a large solid tube, working at the catch until the end opened.  With a shake, he slipped a dense roll of parchment from it.  "This will na fit on the desk."

"Tack it on the wall," Blaec said, moving to help.  Sal still stared at the small map before her.

"K, kitten," Cyno said as the men stepped back.

Sal turned, looking at the larger picture, and finally saw it.  Her mind traced lines from the river through the known passes to Dorton in Anglia.  Three lines fell north of the Conglomerate's border with Unav.  The third passed well below it, through land the army typically used moving toward the Escean front.

"Where's the Terran front in Unav?"

Blaec traced a rough line through the middle of the country, a smile growing on his face.

"Where was the western most farmstead?"

Cyno pointed, his finger to the right of Blaec's line.  Sal nodded.

"Bait and bleed," she told them, moving to the map.  "Terran regulars are hitting easy targets along our border, which will draw the main army north, rather than east.  We move," she gestured along the map, "here, and leave this open, allowing the Escean load through without complications.  The other three will pass north of the skirmish, but the hope is that we'd be too busy throwing ourselves against the line to break through.  When they reach here," and she tapped west of Issevi, "the border raids will simply disappear."

"Nice," Blaec said.  "I figured it was a distraction, but I'm impressed."

"No," she said, intensity in her voice.  "When did the raids start?"

"Two days ago, supposedly."

"Where did the other units come from?" Sal asked.

"Devil Dogs were passing through Prin.  The others weren't far out either.  Why?"

"Who was the farthest?" she insisted.  "This is important, Blaec.  Who?"

"The 112th, kinda.  They were headed back from Escea, and I asked Ran to push them toward us.  They didn't get the request until they were in Ft. Landing," he explained.

Sal's eyes flicked back to the map.  "Blaec, they're in the passes now.  That's why they're hitting us, the metal is moving.  Now."

"We can na break through," Cyno said, looking up at Blaec.  "Na like this.  There's signs of a few hundred of them, LT."

"Fuck," Blaec whispered, turning back to the map on his desk.  "How do we get through to hit the trains?"

Sal looked at the map again, her mind whirling.

"We might be able ta sneak through tonight?" Cyno suggested.  "Break the elites into smaller groups, and slip past?"

"Maybe.  But if they're in the pass, we could miss them.  We want to hit them in the choke point."

"K," Cyno said.  "Call Arctic."

"Already did, he's on his way."

Sal walked closer, her eyes flicking from place to place, her ears following their conversation, but only barely.

"Devil Dogs need to move now," Blaec said.  "They'll never make it otherwise."

"Want me ta grab their commander?" Cyno offered.

"Arctic's bringing him on his way over."  Blaec waved Cyno off, tipping his head at Sal.

"How tight's it gonna ta be with the mixed group?" Cyno asked.

"Tight."  Blaec sighed.

She traced the lines of each pass in the map, looking back down to Prin, then back.  "Wake them all, love.  We need to be mounted in two hours."

"What are we doing, Sal?"

The door opened, but she ignored it.  Standing before the large map on the wall, wearing nothing more than a too-large black shirt, she flicked her ears close and snarled.  She could see it so clearly that she was surprised the lines weren't painted onto the parchment.

"Blades will have to pull a hit and run.  We strike them here, which is where they should be held up for the day, and push them east.  Probably a hundred and fifty to two hundred Terran regulars, minimal archers.  They'll have light cav.  It'll be rough.  If we use the 97th, we can hold them in the valley by Three Corners.  Once we make a breach, Devil Dogs, the 112th, and Star Fall will have to slip through.  They need to move fast and not look back.  The timing is going to be tight and we need to start hitting them just after dawn."

"How do we get out?" Arctic asked behind her.

"Have the 97th pull back, give them time to retreat, and we harry them with ranged.  Send Cyno, myself, and Razor in on foot to hit them at the edges.  The three of us should be enough to make them think there's more."

"How do we get out, Sal?"  Arctic insisted.

She looked back at him and smiled cruelly.  "We're fucking iliri.  We hit them hard enough, they'll regroup for a counter attack, and we just disappear."

"Expected losses?" Blaec asked.

Sal glanced at Cyno.  "Minimal.  I think we can make it a lot more bluster than hand to hand.  The three of us can take out at least thirty, maybe fifty of them.  With you all mounted, there's another fifty, easy.  That leaves the 97th working at one to one, but in a coordinated push.  They'll basically just be a wall for us."

"Be careful, Arctic," a new voice said, amused.  "She'll take your job soon."

"Doesn't work like that, Pig."  Blaec laughed.

"Might, if she keeps this up.  Might want to find some clothes before the others get here, too."

Sal glanced down at her bare legs.  "Fuck," she whispered.

Blaec just shrugged.  "Bring me back a shirt?"

"Yeah."  Sal glanced between him and the Captain of the Devil Dogs.  She inhaled deeply, smelling only their intensity, then hurried into the suite, listening to the voices behind her while she dressed.

"So that's her?" Pig asked.

"Yeah," Blaec said.  "Don't ask, and I won't lie to you."

"Early morning military meetings pull a lot of officers from their beds, man," Pig said.  "No need to point out which bed it was."

"I owe ya," Blaec told him.

"I still got a few to pay back.  You get my Dogs through this, I'll owe you a few more."

"We'll get your Dogs through this," she said, walking back in the room.  Without looking, she passed the black shirt over to Blaec.  "Cyno's been drilling the 97th since we arrived.  Should be a pretty even counter."

"Cyno," Blaec said, catching the assassin's attention.  "You think Razor can keep up with you two on foot?"

"Yeh.  That's why she chose him.  Zep'd be close, but we ca na risk losing his abilities in the saddle."  He flashed a proud smile back at Sal.  "She's a natural."

"Do I wanna know?" Pig asked, looking between them.

"Sal's ability to see the fight?  It's instinctual."  Blaec shrugged.  "I think you humans call it a prey drive."

Pig grinned and tipped his head toward Sal.  "Yep, gonna hafta get me one a those."

"Good luck with that," Blaec mumbled.

"Get me the leaders of the units first," Sal told him.  "I'm not shitting you when I said we need to move in two hours."

"I'll get Nyurin," Cyno said.

She nodded.  "I'm not sure which room is Tolan's, but I know Eason's.  It's next door."

"I don't want to know," Blaec told her.  "Just wake him and get them moving.  Arctic, get Star Fall."  Blaec sighed regretfully.  "I'll get Trax.  Back here in thirty or less."

"Stay," Pig told Blaec.  "I'll get Trax, you organize.  Keep this shit moving, man.  You know Trax will drag his ass.  And for the record, Dogs will follow your orders as well as my own."

"Thanks," Blaec said, clasping the man's shoulder.  "Owe ya another."

Pig chuckled as he made his way through the door.  "Still not even, though," he called over his shoulder.

Arctic and Cyno moved quickly, but a glance from Blaec held Sal behind.  When the men were gone, he said, "Pig's ok.  I won't swear to any others, but Pig's ok."

Sal nodded.  "I think Blaz is ok, love.  I don't know why, but I do."

Nodding, he released her and turned back to the map.  "That's good enough for me."

She followed the men into the dark hall but they were already out of sight.  Sal could barely hear their feet on the stones of the stairs at the far end.  She turned to the door beside the office and tapped.

"Blaz?" she whispered at the wood, then remembered he was human.

So she tried the knob.  The door opened easily, unlocked, and she inhaled the air pushing through the crack.  His scent told her she had the right room.  Sal slipped inside, closing the door gently.

"Blaz?" she tried again, this time louder.

"Mm," a soft noise came from the other room.

Sal followed the sound to his sleeping chamber, stepping around the saddle rack left casually in the middle of the main chamber, and tapped at that door.  When she got no response, she decided she was tired of being polite.

Chapter 19

"Blaz," Sal said, opening the door and walking in.  "We need the 112th.  Now."

He jumped in his bed and grabbed at covers, his eyes peering into the blackness.  "Fuck!" he gasped.  "Don't do that!"

She giggled and moved to the bedside table.  Grabbing the striker, she lit the lamp, allowing the man to see.  "You're not an assassin, that's for sure," she said, turning to look at him.

"No."  He shielded his eyes against the light.  "And I'm hung over and naked.  Why are you here, Sal?"

"I need the 112th ready in two hours.  I need your Captain in the office next door in ten minutes."

"Fuck," he said again, sitting all the way up.  "Turn around or something?"

Sal laughed but turned her back, her ears following him.

"I see those ears, woman," he grumbled.  She could hear the rustling of cloth as he dressed quickly.  "Ok, my pride's safe."

She turned back, grinning.  "Nice abs.  Now, here's the short version.  Cyno's back from the border, positive ID on Terran regulars hitting our civilians.  Strategy suggests it's a bait and bleed, trying to pull us away from the southern load.  We need to hit them before they're prepared – which should be around noon today – so that we can get you all through to make your appointments with some metal.  We leave here in less than two hours."

While she talked, he moved around the room gathering the rest of his clothing.  He tossed it on the bed and pulled on his boots, belt, and scabbards.  His eyes never left hers.

"And stop that," Sal almost growled.

"What?" he asked.

"Just, the eye thing," she said, turning away.  "Men only look me in the eye for two reasons."

"I was listening, Sal," he said gently.

"I know," she huffed.  "To an iliri, it means you want to fuck or you're challenging me.  Your body posture has no challenge.  So, just blink more, ok?"

He laughed and nodded.  "Gotcha.  No offense?"

"No, we're good."

He stood and gestured for her to precede him from the room.  "We have a plan?"

"Blades have to play the bait.  I'm expecting about two hundred of them, eight of us.  We'll have the 97th, but that's it.  We just have to get you all through the line so you can make it to the passes."

"Fuck," he said, reaching around her to open the door.  "97th are pikes?"

She nodded.

"Least there's that."  He stepped through the door and into a man on the other side.

"Careful," the officer growled.

"Sorry, Captain Tharp," Blaz said, pulling Sal beside him.  "We just got the word, too.  I need to get Tolan."

"Hurry, boy," the Captain of Star Fall said.  "Shit won't wait all day for... that."  He looked at Sal with his disgust barely concealed.

Blaz shrugged and reached over, pushing hair away from Sal's face.  "I'll meet you in the office," he told her, his tone more friendly than it had been before.  "It was fun."

With that, he turned and jogged down the hall.  Sal was barely able to keep from laughing, remembering his promise to help dispel the rumors about her and Blaec.  She shook her head and turned the opposite way, following Captain Tharp into the now crowded room.

Blaec? Sal thought as she walked in.  Blaz is working to plant a new rumor it seems.  That I was with him last night.

Second for the 112th? Blaec asked.

She caught his eye and moved to the far wall.  Yep, the same.

Any truth to it?  A hint of jealousy tinted his mental voice.

Not unless you consider him pulling Calon off me last night foreplay.  I told you about the intel we traded.  That's it.

I'll go with it, but I want to know more later.

She nodded.

And tell Cyno, or he'll kill the fool.

Right, Sal thought, reaching out for the iliran assassin's mind.  Jase?

Yeh, kitten? he thought back, a feeling of urgency in his mind.

Just a head's up, don't kill the man from the 112th.

What did you do? he asked, and she felt him pause both physically and mentally.

Made a friend, Jase, that's it.  He said something last night about killing rumors and me not being affectionate enough with you in public to do it.  Asked if you were protective.  Just touch him first, he seems a good one.  Ok?

Nothing between you?

He's human.  He's also still mourning his woman.  He says my ears remind him of his horse, and he likes Arden.  Not exactly the romantic type.  You're cute when you're jealous, though.

Then I'll be jealous more often.  I got Nyurin.  Almost there.

The door opened again and Pig shoved Drago Trax through it, storming in on his heels.  Before it completely closed, Cyno and Nyurin slipped in.  They all stood shoulder to shoulder, and the humans weren't pleased with the lack of sleep.

"Who are we missing?" Blaec asked.

"The 112th," Sal said.  "Should be here shortly."

"Closest unit takes the longest to get here?" Trax asked.

"Shove it, Trax," a man said as he walked in.  "I wasn't in my rooms."

Sal saw no sign of Blaz but wasn't surprised.  Except for the Black Blades, only the leaders of the elite units and Nyurin for the 97th Pikemen were present.

"The bribe is moving," Blaec said without preamble.  "Terric has between one and two hundred men along the border," he traced the line Sal had shown him earlier, "blocking our way into Unav.  It looks like a typical bait and bleed, but we need to break the line - "

"How can you be sure?" Captain Tharp asked.

Blaec smiled at him coldly.  "Arctic?"

The First Officer passed him a pouch.  Blaec reached in, grabbed pins, and pushed them into points on the map.  He pulled out a line of string and wound it around the pins, marking the lines Sal had shown him earlier.  Then he placed markers on both Dorton and the split in the Huracan river, and traced the border between the CFC and Unav.

"See it yet, Tharp?"

"No.  Spell it out."

Blaec nodded.  "The metal is coming out of Escea, headed to Dorton, but claimed by the Emperor as his own.  The lines are the likely routes. Each one avoids any major habitation.  These two," Blaec said, pointing at the northern lines, "are moving close together.  This one," and he pointed at the southern, "is vulnerable."

"And?"

"It's also in the main line of our troop deployment.  In order to get through, they need to move the Conglomerate soldiers north, which means a distraction important enough to, well, distract us.  Civilian casualties tend to do that.  We've lost farmsteads here, here, here, here, and Three Corners is gone."

"Dammit," Tolan breathed, glancing at Sal.

"Trax, I need Azure to move out before dawn.  Ride fast.  Your shipment will be moving, along here," Blaec said.

They'll break north just before Bato Creek, Sal sent him.

"Heading north in this area to avoid the creek, and turning to Dorton," Blaec finished seamlessly.

"Easy enough," Trax said.

Blaec nodded then turned to the rest.  "The soldiers on the border are a distraction meant to delay us long enough for the bribe to pass through.  Nyurin, the 97th will support the Blades.  We need to make a break and get Star Fall, the 112th, and Devil Dogs north of the line."

"Can do, sir," Nyurin said.

"You using us to hit with the breach?" Pig asked.  Before Blaec could answer, he turned to Sal.  "Let me ask the strategist.  Sergeant Luxx?"

Blaec nodded at her, and Sal stepped forward.  "If you don't mind, sir, it would help."  She turned to the map.  "There's approximately one hundred and fifty Terrans spread along this line, probably more. They'll be holed up for the morning in the old ruins here.  Are any of you familiar with them?"

"Yeah," Nyurin said.  "Long narrow valley, used to be a retreat or something in there, but it's pretty trashed now.  Would give both cover and break a line that tries to hit them."

"How wide's the entrance?" Sal asked him.

"Wide enough, sir," Nyurin said.  "Half a kilometer?  Not a defensible point."

She nodded.  "Holding them here, or close to this area, is our best chance.  When we hit them, if all goes well, the rest of you will be able to head north without a delay, but I doubt that will happen."

"Talk me through it," Pig encouraged her.

"If it's as wide as Nyurin says, they'll push around us and try to cut you off.  We'll need a unit to counter-flank and push them back toward Three Corners.  Once they turn, break off and head north."

"112th can do that easy, it's our kind of work."

"And Star Fall won't be slowed.  Thanks, Tolan," Blaec said.

"We can get the ore," Captain Tharp said, "but we can't get it back.  If this is guarded as well as the reports say, we're going to have to move fast.  How far behind will you be, Tolan?"

"Hour, maybe two at the most?" he asked, looking at Blaec.

"Yeah.  This should move pretty fast."

Tharp nodded.  "Should work pretty smooth then."  He turned to Sal.  "This your plan?"

She glanced up at Blaec, and he nodded.  "Yes, sir," Sal said.  "It is."

"You sure about the timing?"

"No," she answered, honestly.  "I can only make calculations based on the speed of our own horses and the 97th's mobility.  Taking both into consideration to reach the border is really the only time crunch, sir.  I can't believe that the 112th's mounts would be that different from what the Blades use."

Tharp still wasn't happy.  "How far from the border to the caravans?"

She glanced at the map and her head tilted slightly as she thought.  "It's four hours to the border.  I would expect at least an hour delay there, until we can form a breach, but we might get lucky.  From there, it's eight hours straight travel to your choke point, sir.  Devil Dogs' is fourteen hours from the border."

"So we're fighting tired?"  Captain Tharp dragged a hand down his face in frustration.

"Yeah," Blaec told him.  "All of us are."

"Why should I risk my men for this, Doll?  That's a hard ride with one hell of a fight at the end of it, and I don't have orders."

Sal slammed her fist into the map and all eyes turned to her.  "That's Dorton, the capitol of Anglia."  Her finger traced a line, following the Anglian border, "And that's what we will be calling deep shit, if this bribe makes it through."  She hit the other side of the map, her face growing angry.  "And this is Terric's forward line.  You're a Captain of one of the most respected units in the Conglomerate of Free Citizens, Captain Tharp.  You're very well-decorated and loyal to your country.  A country that is proud to boast the most advanced military on this continent.  I'm sure you're well aware of what happens when you get flanked."

The men in the room looked at the map again, Sal's gestures made it clear just how tight the enemy lines would be to their homes.

"You'll help, sir, because you're a damned good soldier and none of us want to lose our home."  She glared at him and lifted her chin, daring him to deny the truth of her words.

"You think this will stop him?" Tharp asked Blaec.

"This time," Blaec said.  "But if we can't stop this, it's a game changer.  This isn't losing a town or a unit.  This is about losing our country."

Tharp sighed deeply.  "I'll wake the men.  Tolan, we'll finalize on the ride."

"Same for me," Pig said, turning to the door.  "Good work, Sergeant," he said before walking out.

The leaders of the elite units slowly made their way out, leaving only the Black Blades and Nyurin alone.  The Lance Corporal waited patiently until the room was empty, then asked, "What do you need from us, sir?"

"Not me, Corporal.  This is Sal's baby."

"Got a map of the valley, LT?" she asked.

"Yeah."  He pulled one from a pile on his desk.  "This do?"

She glanced over it.  "Corporal, can the 97th get back here?"  Her finger marked the eastern side of the valley.

Nyurin chuckled.  "Yeah, we can.  There's a ravine that runs through here, old run-off.  If you can get us up to here," he pointed to where the road made a sharp turn, "I can get them down there."

"Ok.  We'll hit them first, from the front.  If they have leaders with half a brain, they'll pull into the ruins and set defenses.  I want the 97th to push forward," she pointed along the path, "and hit them hard from the back."

"Soon as we start that, we're going to become the front," he told her.

"Yeah," Sal said, smiling cruelly.  "That's why I want you to move around this way.  Leave that ravine open for them.  Give them the escape, and make sure they know it's there."

He nodded.

"When you get here, pivot, and push them out.  Do not leave.  As soon as they make the retreat, we're done.  Pursue, but slowly enough to let them give you the slip.  Once they're out of sight, move toward the mouth of the valley and head home."

"So, it should be just a bluff?" Nyurin asked, glancing between her and Major Doll.  "Then why us?"

"Bodies," Sal explained.  "None of us want to lose men, and you have enough bodies to look imposing.  I also believe that the 97th can hold their own if things go bad."

"And what's the plan if things go bad?" he asked softly.

"Stay alive till we can get ya out," Cyno said behind her.

"I'll tell the men that your orders override mine.  Sirs, you have the 97th."

Chapter 20

The sunlight turned dappled through the trees, the pounding of racing hooves blocking out the screams of enemies.  Sal's mind was entwined with her brothers', sharing the senses and feelings of the others.  Each became that much more deadly because of their link.  Her mare charged, a Black Blade on either side keeping pace.

Sal stood in the stirrups, allowing Arden to flow beneath her.   Together, the Blades were destroying the small unit of scouts.  She could feel her brothers' kills as easily as her own, and it fed her bloodlust.  She poured her need for death back into the link, driving them all for just one more.

Her blade swung, hitting a man across the back, and Arden's motion carried the resin deep into his flesh.  The momentum tried to rip the weapon from her hand, but she pried it free, dragging the corpse forward as he fell.  Cyno made a kill, then Arctic, and Sal was already tracking the next.  She urged the mare on and swung again, this time keeping the arc shallow, and watched the Terran soldier fall.  His head hung limply from his neck.

Archers! Risk cried into their minds.

Her head snapped around, following her brother's senses, but it was too late.  The arrow slammed into her waist with enough force to knock her from the saddle.  Sal hung in the air for an eternity before the ground met her.  Hard.

When she opened her eyes, she was alone, their charge too fast to stop.  She sucked in a breath and rolled to her knees, snarling at the sharp pain.

The arrow had hit just above her pelvis, but her armor kept the puncture shallow.  The maast removed any fear that could have distracted her.  Sucking in deep breaths, she shoved her sword into the scabbard at her back and grabbed the shaft.  Squeezing her eyes closed, she took a long, deep breath, then pulled.  Her flesh tore, the pain a seductive feeling to an iliri deep in the bloodlust.

Get up! Cyno yelled, and she knew the Terrans were coming.

Sal staggered to her feet, each step easier than the one before, and drew her knives.  Leaves rustled close by.  Sal's head turned, a hint of purple just visible through the brush.  She had them.

Silently, she rushed the group of men.  Charging them on foot, her knives held point down, she had to hurry – before they knew she was coming.  Faster, she needed to be faster.  Then she was on them.  Her control was just a distant memory.  All she wanted was to kill.

Blades swung, hers cutting first one man, then another, as she ducked and wove between the enemy's.  She used their confusion as protection, never staying in the same place long enough for a human to take aim.  Cyno appeared beside her, his growl matching hers, his attacks timed perfectly.  For a moment, they danced, his mind caressing hers with each kill, his body bending around her seamlessly.  Razor joined them, his double bladed staff whirling a bloody counterpoint to their rhythm until there was no one left standing.

It was over too soon and she roared her anger, looking for something else to kill.  At their feet lay eighteen bodies.

East-northeast, Razor thought.  Another group, and more in the old tower.

The three of them ran, leaping through the brush, knowing every second could mean someone's life.  Eight of them, and it looked like nearly two hundred Terrans.  Sal could feel the rest of their unit slowly clearing a path, trying to draw eyes to them, but every thought urged them all to kill faster, to kill one more.  None of them tried to resist the desire.

An old stone structure loomed out of the trees and Cyno followed its wall with his eyes.  We go up, he told Sal.

I'll clear the ground, Razor said.

Watch the tower, she reminded them, glancing at where it stood above the tree line.

They moved, Cyno just behind her.  He grabbed her hips and she jumped, allowing him to give her the lift she needed to reach the top of the wall.  When her feet hit the stone, Sal reached down, offering her hand as a fulcrum for his own ascent.  Cyno jumped at the wall, his wrist slapping into her palm, and he scrambled to the top.  Together, they checked their weapons then moved, keeping their profiles low.  Below them, Razor slipped between the trees; they followed his path in their minds.

This wall ends at a roof, Cyno said.  If they do na spot us before that, they will when we get there.

Take out the archers first, Sal ordered.  Let the rest rush us.  Razor can hit them and we'll have the height advantage.

Ayati, I love this, Cyno thought back, a feral grin on his face.

"On the wall!" a man called out and both assassins turned to the sound.

Sal fired first, grabbing the loaded crossbow from her belt, flicking the catch open, then dodging as she loosed the bolt.  She ducked behind Cyno, who was pulling his own bow, and slammed her foot into the stirrup.  Yanking the string upward, she shoved a bolt into the groove in a fluid motion.  Cyno loosed, then moved back, and Sal leaned around him, finding one more target willing to look from the tower window.  She squeezed the release, watching as the man simply sank out of sight, collapsing behind the stone.

Incoming! Razor sent them.  A vision of soldiers rushing from the base of the tower gave more information than words could.

She shoved another bolt into her bow and flipped the latch, making it safe to clip on her belt, then ran.  The screams began before she could see the threat with her own eyes, but Razor's senses told her all she needed to know.  He lured them back to the wall, while from above, the assassins leapt into their midst.

They fell into the middle of a large group of men, blades flying.  Sal could feel Razor's aim and ducked under the arc, twisting around his side to slice at a man too close.  Cyno leaned around her, shoving his blade deep into a man's thigh and yanking it free.  Flesh split before the sharp ceramic.  Together, they became a formidable beast, every side protected, every angle lethal to approach.  With the staff, Razor could reach men who thought they were safe.  Cyno moved faster than any man Sal had seen before, darting out for quick strikes, killing a soldier with each foray.

The wound in her side slowed her, warm blood slowly oozing inside her armor, so Sal hung back.  Her mind begged her for one more strike.  When the Terrans began to pull away, she couldn't take it anymore, couldn't bear to see her prey fleeing.  She growled, and her brother's voices rose to meet hers.

"Kill them," she ordered as she surged at the man closest to her.

His eyes widened at the sudden aggression, and he staggered back, not even offering to protect himself.  She shoved her steel dagger deep into his chest, releasing it long enough to grab his head and twist.  The snap of his neck reverberated in her arms as his body went limp.  She removed the blade, wiping it against his leathers before taking a quick count of their kills.  Twenty-three this time, but most were Razor's.

They're on the 97th! Blaec bellowed in their heads. Protect the pikes!

"You good?" Cyno asked, grabbing her.

"Yeah," she said, moving toward the pikes' location, but he held her.

"You good, Sal?" he demanded.

She turned and glared at him.  Even though he couldn't see her face behind the helm, she knew he would feel it.  "I'm good, it's shallow, and I'm playing it safe.  Cover my left, damn it, and we'll be fine!"

"Yes, Kaisae," he said, and together they began to run, Razor not far ahead of them.

The sound of combat was loud with nearly two hundred men fighting hard.  Resin crashed against acrylic and men screamed in both fear and pain.  Sal knew some were their friends, and she thought of Kinetry, urging the Blades to move faster.

Save the 97th! she ordered, scrambling up the shallow hill between them.

The Blades obeyed, reporting their positions as they raced to flank the Terrans, a determination coursing in them that none had felt before.

Shift, Zep, on the edge, Arctic behind center for sniping, Risk, Razor, Cyno, and Blaec, on me, Sal directed and they fell in beside her.  Hit these fuckers hard.  Show them what it means to fuck with the damned iliri.

They fell into ranks as they reached the crest, looking at the battle below.  The 97th was pushed against the wall of the valley, pinned so tight they were interfering with each other's weapons.  Nyurin screamed orders, but the Terrans were savage, shoving forward over the bodies of their own men just to push harder.

"Hold the line!" Sal screamed at them.

Somehow they heard her.  Shields pressed closer together and the men leaned into them, millimeter by millimeter, regaining their space, and then their ground.  Sal could hear the 97th below, screaming at their shield mates, "The Blades are here, hold the line!"

Kill them all, Blaec ordered, releasing the fury of the Black Blades on the men below.

Sal roared, and the men's voices joined hers, loud enough to cause the enemy at the back to glance over their shoulders.  The Terrans yelled a warning, and the next line turned, thinking so few soldiers would be nothing to worry about.  Then the elites hit them.

Each Blade fought like a wild animal.  The rules of combat did not apply to them as they ravaged the enemy, ripping through men like a pack of wolves.  Their growls and snarls were more terrifying than their blades.  Bodies dropped and the iliri danced, always aware of the others' movements.  With their minds as one, they passed between swords and knew to duck the thrust from behind, reacting as if they were part of the same monster.  Each man guarded his brother's back.  Each brother sought one more death.  Each death meant one more friend would live, and the 97th cheered them on.

"Push them!" Sal called to the pike men. "Don't let them spread!"

And they obeyed.

A wall of blue shields and resin polearms began to press closer, each step a sign that there were less enemies alive to be a threat.  Shift and Zep spun their horses in the midst of the chaos, dropping their lances and drawing swords to prevent harming their own men in the crush.

The shield wall was close now, only a few meters away.  Sal saw Nyurin screaming orders from the front line.  A Terran rushed forward, the movement drawing her feral gaze.  She pounced, grabbing the man around the shoulders, hacking with her dagger at his throat.  The violence of her hit caused the blood to spray, and it painted the shields before her.  She looked up to find Kinetry's eyes peering desperately through the slit in her helm.

"They're all dead," he said.

Sal nodded, but her hands wouldn't release the man.  She stood before the shield wall, breathing hard, trying to remind herself that she could not kill these soldiers.  They were her friends, and didn't smell nearly sweet enough to be her prey.  She released her last kill, letting the body fall to her feet.

Kinetry looked to the man beside him and said something, but Sal's mind refused to listen.  "Sal."  Kinetry said, dropping his shield to reach up for her helm.  "They're all dead," he tried again, his fingers working the buckles and clasps.

She sucked in a deep breath as he helped her pull the helmet away.  He smelled pure, natural.  Her knees felt weak and all she could think about was another kill.  "How many losses?" she asked, sinking to the ground.

"Fall back," Nyurin said.  "Someone get them water – and anything else they need."

"How many damned losses!" Sal snarled at Nyurin.

"Three injuries that I know of.  One is pretty bad, but I think he'll make it.  No losses.  You pulled our asses out in time."

She nodded.  Shift, the 97th has a bad one.

I'm already on it, kid.  He'll be out for a while, but I'll keep him sound.  He's unconscious, but human.

"He'll make it," she breathed.  "How's the 112th?"

Zep pushed Cessa beside her.  "They got hit pretty hard."

"Ok, and where's my damned horse?"

"Where we left the 112th.  You good to ride?"

She tried to smile, but it was a viscous look.  "I am for now."

"You wounded?" Kinetry asked, stepping forward.

"She took an arrow at the start of this," Zep said.  "Help me get her up.  Sal, you're riding back."

She nodded.  "It was shallow, Zep.  I'm not dying."

"No, but it sure hurts like hell, demon."

Nyurin looked between them, then over Sal's head.  She knew Cyno stood just behind her.

"Head north, reinforce the 112th, and get them out of here," Sal told Nyurin, bringing his eyes back to her.

He smiled and dropped his eyes.  "Yes, Kaisae," he said softly.

"It's Sergeant," Sal corrected.  "Just do not let this mission fail."

"You heard her!" the Lance Corporal screamed.  "I want ten men to stay with the wounded.  Get them stabilized and headed back to Prin.  The rest of you, double time!  Move!"

"Give me your hand," Zep told her.

Sal struggled to her feet, Kinetry assisting her, then reached up.  Zep clasped her wrist and the pikeman her calf.  When Sal jumped, they pulled her across Cessa's hip, Kinetry grabbing at her thigh until she was secure.

"I owe you," she told him as Zep turned the mare and cantered through the bloody field.

Chapter 21

They broke from the trees to find enemies still struggling to fight back.  Sal's helm was somewhere in the field behind her, forgotten in her battle haze, which made it even easier to see the man standing defiantly before a group of Terrans.

Save him! she screamed into Zep's head, recognizing Blaz.

He reined Cessa toward the fight, Sal clinging tightly to his waist as the mare charged.  Zep swung at the first man and Sal pushed herself away, leaping onto the second.  Blaz hit the third.  She pulled her prey to the ground, reaching for the dagger at her waist, but he shoved her away.  Her wound broke open, and she snarled at the pain.  Her hand snaked out, her fingers locking under the lip of his helm.  She yanked him closer and, with the dagger finally in her grasp, plunged it deep into his chest as her teeth tore at his throat.  Sweet.  So sweet.

"He's dead," Zep yelled.

"He fucking hit me," she snarled, wiping the blood from her chin.

Blaz watched with a face devoid of emotion.  "I think that's the last of them."  He turned away, unable to look at her.

"Blaz," Sal gasped, aware of what she'd just done.  She shoved the corpse away to follow him.

Then she saw it.  Sprawled in the grass, a large black warhorse struggled to rise.  His left front leg flopped unnaturally as he collapsed back to his side.  Blaz spoke calmly to the horse, calling to him as he approached.  Walking slowly, his hands out, his kept his movements easy to follow.  A pale ceramic blade glinted in his fist.

"No!" Sal gasped, rushing to follow.

She reached the horse's side only a second after Blaz and grabbed his hand.

"I have to," he said.  "It's broken."

"Not Rax," Sal pleaded.  Blaz sucked in a quick breath, struggling to hold back his tears, and Sal pulled the blade from his hand.  "I can fix this."

"No," he whimpered, "you can't.  He's the last thing I have of her, and they fucking killed him!"

"Just let me try," she begged, dropping to hold Rax's head against the ground.  Zep!

I got Arden, Zep replied, thinking that was what she wanted.

I need your help.  Shift?

Yeah?

Horse with a broken leg, can you fix it?

Arden? Shift's concern was obvious.

No, she's fine, Zep told him, confused.

It's one of the 112th.  I owe him, Sal said.

I'll fix him, Sal, but horses aren't easy.  Sedate it.  I'm on my way.

Blaz shoved his face into Rax's thick mane and the tears began to fall.  "You're ok, big guy.  Just relax.  We'll make sure you don't hurt, ok?"  He looked up at Sal as Zep returned, Arden trailing at Cessa's flank.  "It's broken, Sal.  There's nothing to be done."

"It's not fucking broken," Zep called over to them, dropping from his mare's back to rummage in his saddle bags.  "It's dislocated.  He'll be out for a few days, easy, but we can fix it."

Blaz's face held a spark of hope.  "You sure?"

"See how it flops?  Carpus is out," Zep said, sounding like he knew what he was talking about.

"But..."

"Move over, I need to sedate him so I can see."  Zep pushed Sal out of the way, leaving Blaz at the horse's head.

He leaned over Rax's neck and found the large vein, then pressed it.  After holding it for a moment, he slipped a needle into the horse's skin, a flash of blood tinting the pale fluid in the syringe.  Slowly, Zep pressed the plunger.

"Pain killer and sedative.  Just pet him for a second until his breathing slows a bit."

"You a veterinarian?" Blaz asked.

"Nah," Zep said, patting the man's shoulder.  "Just like horses more than humans.  Someone needs to be the horse medic, right?"

"Evidently," Blaz said softly.  "He really going to be ok?"

"If he's not," Sal promised, "I'll take care of it."

Blaz nodded as the stallion sighed deeply.  Zep lifted the horse's lip, pressing against his gums, and made affirmative noises.  When Rax barely responded, he moved around the horse and reached for his leg.  Gently, his hand followed the bones, barely pausing as it passed over the break.

"Pretty sure we can save him," Zep said.  "This is pretty easy stuff.  Cessa did something like it a couple years ago and she's completely sound.  We'll be headed back after this and have Tilso keep an eye on him until your mission's done."

Blaz shrugged.  "I'm fucked.  They're about 30 minutes ahead of me, and I'm out a horse."

"Shit," Sal hissed.  "They need every one of you for this."

"I know," he said.  "But what can I do?"

Her mind whirled, knowing how much the loss of a single man would cripple an elite unit.  The odds were already stacked against them.  She looked across the field for inspiration and saw Arden grazing beside Cessa.

"Take my horse."  She looked up at Blaz's face.

He stared at her blankly for a second, uncomprehending.

"Take Arden," she said again.  "I can ride back with Zep.  We'll need to limp Rax back anyway.  You said you wanted to ride her."

"I'll run her into the ground trying to catch my unit," Blaz protested.

"Not Arden."  Zep chuckled.  "Keep her to a canter and she'll be fine.  She's weak in her airs above the ground, but her lateral work is impressive.  Be easy on her mouth or I'll beat you bloody."

"Zep takes care of them and handles a lot of the training," Sal explained.

Blaz sighed, and his shoulders relaxed.  He wiped at his face, then looked at the comatose horse beside him.  "If nothing else, just, take care of him, ok?"

Sal pulled her steel dagger and laid it in the grass.  "By my own hand," she promised.

"He'll be fine," Zep said again.

"Ok," Blaz said.  "You sure?"

"I'm sure," Sal said.  "Go.  Every minute is a meter farther."

He nodded and took one step toward the grazing mares, then stopped.  He turned back to Sal and leaned over, pulling her against his chest in a tight hug, unconcerned about the blood covering her.  "I'll never repay this, Sal.  I owe you."

"Then you count different than I do," she told him.  "Now go."

He did, finally, jogging to the spotted mare.  He grabbed her reins from the grass and petted her long neck gently before adjusting the stirrups.  Like a true horseman, he checked her tack one last time before mounting.  Gently, he tested the mare's training, then squeezed her forward.  Arden surged into the canter without any other request and carried Sal's friend down the road and out of sight.

"Why did he just ride off on your horse?" Shift demanded leading his own gelding up the hill.

"Because his is down?" she replied.  "Please fix him up."

"What's the deal, Sal?" Zep asked now that they were alone.

"Long story short, he went out of his way to make sure I knew the 112th were with us, that they couldn't give a shit about our species since their partners," she gestured to the horse, "are beasts, too.  And he threatened to gut Calon when he tried to make a pass at me."

"And?" Zep persisted.

"Zep's jealous," Shift said, running his hands across Rax.

"No," Zep said.  "It's just..." he let the thought trail off.

"Cyno's jealous," Sal finished.  "It's not like that.  First off, he's human.  Secondly, he's still mourning Rax's last owner."

Zep looked at her, confused for a moment, then nodded.  "So you're not his type?"  He assumed Blaz must prefer men.

"No," Sal laughed.  "The former First Officer of the 112th.  I guess she died about a year ago."

"Hold his head, Zep," Shift interrupted.  "Horses get stupid when they think they're falling.  Watch his legs too, he's going to thrash."

"Got him," Zep said, leaning his bulk against the stallion, but his attention was on her.  "Seriously, Sal?  That's a lame pick up line."

Rax shoved against them both, preventing her from speaking for a moment.  They held him, Shift struggling to keep his grip on the horse's ear.  Just as Sal was going to speak again, Rax heaved, and she decided against it, concentrating on keeping the massive animal down as he thrashed.

Finally, Shift sighed and leaned back.  "Check his leg, Zep?"

Zep just leaned across Rax's chest, pulling his leg up and bending it.  "Feels good.  Only way to be sure is to let him stand."

"Then let him up," Shift said.  "Looks good on the inside.  And Zep, we're not all dicks.  Sometimes saying we're not interested means we're really not interested."

"You didn't see him hug her, man," Zep grumbled.  "Besides, he's human."

"And you can't smell him," Sal shot back.  "He's about as interested in me as Risk is, ok?"

"You can really smell that?" Zep asked her, a worried look on his face.

"Yes," she said.  "We all can.  Zep, if all I had left of Blaec was a horse, what would you do?  If Blaec died, and all I had was Scorch, and Scorch was laying there dying?"

"You're right," he said softly.  "I'm sorry."

Shift put his hand on Sal's shoulder, and squeezed it gently.  "Demon, you've come a long way, you know that?"

"What do you mean?"

"I remember when you would have questioned yourself.  LT's not even pissed that you took over today."

"Oh shit," she groaned.  "I did."

"Yeah, but you won," Shift said, then he clicked at the stallion and slapped his hip.  "Get up!" he yelled, and Zep tugged the horse's head.

With a groan, Rax rolled onto his belly, pausing to look around.  The horse sighed and then shoved first one front leg, then the other before him and lurched to his feet.  He staggered.  Both Sal and Shift immediately pushed against his side, helping the horse find his balance.  Rax sighed again and began to graze, pulling at the trampled grass near his feet, slowly shuffling forward with each mouthful.

"Bearing weight on all four," Zep said, pleased.

"Let the drugs wear off and he should be as good as new.  What's the story you gave?" Shift asked.

Zep grinned, "Dislocated carpus."

"You're so full of shit, man, you know it?"

Zep shrugged.  "It's what we said when you fixed Cessa.  Now where's the rest of our unit?"

"Cleaning up the mess Sal, Cyno, and Razor left back there.  Not all were dead.  And yeah, Sal, I got your helm."

"Thanks," she told him.  "I should go help."

She patted Rax's shoulder and turned to Shift's horse, where her helm hung from the saddle.  She reached up for it – and sucked in a breath when the motion pulled at her wound.  Her hands clamped down over the pain and she curled around it.  Sal closed her eyes and waited for the rush of desire to pass.

"Sal?" Zep asked.

"I'm going to need a heal," she said softly.  "This isn't getting better."

"Fuck, Sal," Shift growled, rushing over to her.  "Why didn't you say something?  You let me heal the damned horse first?"

She made a dismissive gesture.  "It's shallow, shouldn't be a big deal."

"Ok, then sit down or hang onto Boo, but I need skin."

With one hand, she clung to the horse for support, holding out the other.  Shift grabbed it and focused, making Sal's world spin around her.  She concentrated on just keeping her feet beneath her, breathing slowly, until he released her hand and the vertigo passed.

"If that's shallow, I'd hate to see what you consider deep, little demon," he whispered, patting her shoulder.  "Now go find Cyno before you can't put off the 'lust anymore.  I'm sure there's something left for the two of you to kill."

Sal flashed him a devious grin, then jogged down the hill, her body whole again.  Shift watched her retreating back and shook his head.  "You're not going to be able to protect her from herself, Zep.  You know that, right?"

"Nah, man, I don't," Zep said.  "She trusts too easy."

"You're just jealous,"  Shift taunted.  Zep looked at him with confusion on his face, so he continued, "You really think she can't smell it?"

"It's not jealousy.  She just had you heal some human's horse as a fucking favor," Zep snapped.  "That's just asking for someone to realize that we have too much fucking luck."

Shift clasped Zep's shoulder.  "Nah, man.  She let you give a plausible excuse. She even told him she'd put the thing down if we couldn't fix him.  She refused to tell you how bad that wound was because she thought you'd stop her.  She keeps everything pretty damned shallow.  Why?"

"Shit," Zep said, realizing Shift was right.

Shift nodded.  "Yeah.  No need to start beating the shit out of humans, bro.  Trust me, she's not into him."

Chapter 22

Sal lay on the cold stone floor of the ruined tower, looking at the grass struggling to thrive between the cracks, her head resting against Cyno's bare chest.  Sometimes she wished she was human.  Life would have been so much easier if only she had darker skin.

"Yer touchin' me, kitten," Cyno whispered.

"That's kinda what happens after we kill something, Jase," she reminded him.  "I tend to rip your clothes off and have my way with you."

"Yeh, but it lets me right inta that pretty little head of yers."

"Oh."

"I do na understand ya," he said softly, brushing her hair against her head.  "Ya push us ta be iliri and then wish ta be human.  Why?"

"This," she said, gesturing to their naked bodies.  "We're limited by our needs.  I can't help out there because the maast just builds when I try to ignore it."

He nodded but said nothing.  Sal felt him look away.  When the silence stretched on, he finally said, "I do na want ya ta regret it.  When we get back, I'll see if there's some way ta control the bloodlust, ok?"

She sat up and turned to him.  One arm pillowed his head and he stared at a gap in the broken stone wall, his body appearing serene, but she knew better.

"It's not that I don't want to be with you," she told him, reaching out for his hand.  "I just don't want to be ruled by my body."

He nodded.  "Yeh, I can see that."

"I don't think you can."  She chewed at her lip as her emotions finally began to make sense.  "Jase?"

He looked at her, his deep blue eyes making her heart beat just a bit faster.  Everything about him made her feel right.  Sal smiled softly and caressed his face.

"I don't want an instinct to be why I'm with you.  I don't want it to be just because I killed a man."  She paused, trying to explain, the right words staying out of reach.  "I want to choose you, Jase.  Just once, I want to be with you for no real reason."

His eyes darted between hers, and she watched his brow crease.  The corner of his lip twitched and he chuckled once, then shook his head.  "Yer sayin' somethan, kitten, but I am na following."

"We're going about this the wrong way, is what I'm saying."

"Go on?"

"Humans, they have things pretty well figured out.  They meet, they flirt, they date, they kiss, and then they," she gestured to his body.

"Fuck?" he asked, trying not to smile.

"Yeah.  You and I?  We got it backwards."

"I am na human, Sal.  You are na either."

She nodded, "Yeah, but I don't know any other way."

"Why does it matter?" he asked.  "We are na human.  No one will judge ya because yer in my," he looked around, "ruins."

"Because I..." she paused, her urge to explain making her speak before she really knew what she wanted to say.  He watched her, waiting, and she tried again.  "There's something about you."

"Somethan?"

She shrugged, glancing away.  "Shit," she breathed.   "I think this was easier before I started talking."

"Usually is," he said gently, holding up his hand for her.  "Ya do na need words ta tell me, Sal."

She wrapped both of her hands around his and nodded.  "But I need the words to tell me."

"To tell ya wha?"

"I want more than this.  I don't want to just have a partner, Jase.  I trust you.  I mean, I think that's what I feel. I don't really know.  There's this," she touched the base of her throat, "this feeling."

"Tell me what it's like."

"When I'm scared, I want to be with you.  When we fight, I look to you to cover my back.  I like it when you smile.  I want to be the reason you smile, you know?"

"You are," he said, holding her hand tighter.

"I want whatever this is between us. I want it to be more than just something we do after a damned good fight, but I don't know what I'm doing."

He glanced away and smiled, then sat up slowly.  "Yer doing whatever it is pretty well," he said, pulling her hand to his chest.

She could feel his heart pounding in excitement.

"I just don't know what I'm supposed to do," she insisted.

"And ya think I do?"

Sal nodded.  "You always have the answers."

"Ah, kitten," he told her.  "I do na.  I know how ta kill.  I can read a few books.  That's all.  I've never really been with a girl b'fore like this."

"What do you mean?"

He pulled away from her and stood, grabbing his pants to pull them on while he talked.  "This girl liked me once, ya know?  Back when I lived here.  She thought it would be fun ta date on a us.  Iliri, I mean, and I did na know any better.  I did na know that she did na really wanna hunt dogs with me.  I was like fifteen or such, just a kid."

He paused, rubbing at his face.  "We snuck out t'gether, and I got a kill.  It felt so good, and she was right there.  We started makin' out and shit.  She let me get her undressed – "

He paused, watching her, but she waited.  No trace of judgment was on her face.  He picked up his shirt and shoved his arms into the sleeves, looking at the buttons to keep from meeting her eyes.

"She smelled so sweet and liked it when I bit her.  The first time."  He paused, his hands slowing on the buttons as he remembered.  "But I could na control it.  She fought.  I could na stop, kitten.  I went feral.  I – she fought me," he ended in a whisper.

Sal nodded, understanding.  The poor fool had probably bit or hit him, acting just like his prey.

"When I was done..."  He swallowed, glancing away.  "I killed her, Sal.  She was so sweet smellin'.  I was still lyin' on her, ya know, still in her, and I killed her, and I liked it.  She was too sweet and I could na stop."  He took a long breath and dragged his hand across his face.  "Cept fer a couple a whores, I have na... ya know.  I can na, cept with ya."  He shrugged.  "That's why."

"So where do we go from here?" she asked.

"Wherever ya want, Sal.  I am na good fer much, but I'm already yers.  Ya know I love ya. Ya know I will do anything for ya.  Yer also the only woman I can na jus' kill.  Even in the 'lust I just wanna protect ya."

"I want more," she said.

He smiled and reached down to grab her shirt from the floor, his smile only growing larger as he moved to her pants.  He glanced at her quickly and picked up her boots, walking back to her with shyness in his eyes.  He knelt and offered her clothes back.  His head tilted to the side, and his eyes locked on her lips.  "What do ya want from me, kitten?  What is more?"

She took her clothes, but his smile was contagious.  "This is going to sound stupid, ok?"

"That's ok," he assured her.  "I figure if yer still talkin' to me, I can do stupid."

"I want," Sal laughed, and shook her head.  "I keep thinking about lying across your couch, reading a book, and asking you about it, or a quiet dinner together, without the rest of the Blades.  I want to be alone with you, Jase, when we aren't on a mission.  I just want to learn more about you."

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.  "Get dressed, kitten, and I'll tell ya somethan more about me."   Then he retreated to the wall, thinking.  Finally, he said, "Ya know how I learned ta speak Glish?"

"No," Sal said, pulling on her pants, her ear turned to catch his every word.

"Zep.  He made me sit down with him, ever' day, and just talk.  He never laughed at me fer sayin' words wrong, he just told me how to say them right.  Once I could speak Glish, I started learnin' ta read it.  Risk helped there."  Cyno chuckled ironically.  "I'd be reading the history of the Viraenovan foundin' in Iliran, and Sue and Spot in Glish, tryin' ta learn it."

"So, you're kinda the Black Blades' scholar?"

"I guess.  I prolly woulda been somethan like that if I had na gotten conscripted."

"You make it sound like a bad thing," Sal said, confused.

"Yeh, it is."  Cyno looked over at her.  "I was na a slave, kitten.  We were poor, but free.  When I was a kid, I ran through the streets of Prin, playin' at huntin'.  We'd kill the rich men's dogs and take them home for dinner.  Our ammas would make it out like we were the mightiest men ever.  Getting conscripted?  It changed all that."

"How long ago?" Sal asked him.

"Four years, now.  I did na get ta say anythin' to my amma.  That's who I was askin' for when we rode in, ya know?"

"Ah, Jase.  I'm sorry."  Sal moved to him and rested her head on his shoulder.  "Wasn't like that for me.  Getting conscripted was like a taste of freedom."

"Yeh, I know," he said, lookin' down at the side of her face.  "Ya think about it a lot.  One of the things that comes through almost ever' time ya touch me."

"Is that why I feel like this with you?"

He smiled, and looked away, "Like what?"

"Comfortable."

"I do na know, and I'm na about ta question it," he said to her.  "And I'll take comfortable.  It's a step up from stupid."

Sal sighed and leaned back, staring at the ceiling.  "When I'm around you, even if it's just sparring, it just feels right.  I know you have my back.  I know you'll move to match me.  I trust you, but not like I trust Blaec.  I know I keep saying it, but I don't think any of you understand.  You're the other part of my mind, Jase.  I trust that you will be there the same way I trust that my arm will move when I want it to."

"I will be, kitten," he promised softly.  "I'm meant for ya.  That's what I tried ta tell ya.  When I smelled ya that first day, I knew it.  Whether I'm taunor, ahnor, or just your partner, I'll always be there for ya.  Ya smell like hope and happiness, and I will na give those up."

She moved closer, ducking under his arm to press her face against his neck.  "You smell like home, Jase.  I've never had one, but you smell like what I think a home should.  Safe, and," she paused, pulling away enough to look up at him.  "And loving."

He nodded, his blue eyes lost in hers.  "I am in love with ya, Sal.  More than life, I love ya."  He slowly caressed the side of her face, refusing to look away.  "I know why.  I know it's instinctual and all of that, but I still feel it.  I still want ta make ya happy any way I can."

"So, does this," she gestured at the ruined stone tower and the blood stains around them, "make you happy?"

"It sure does na make me unhappy," he said, looking down at her.

"But is it enough?"

He carefully pulled away.  "I dunno, Sal.  Yes?  Na really?"

"Just tell me the truth, Jase."

"I am."  He motioned at the world beyond the stone tower.  "Out there, things are different.  In here, for a moment, I get ya all ta myself.  That makes me happy.  When we hunt, I can feel it in the link, ya know?  Yer more mine than ya are theirs."

"What do you mean?"

"Think about it. Can ya feel LT as clear as me?"

She shook her head.  "No, he's always an anger at the back of my mind.  You?  I can feel every breath you take.  Is that what you mean?"

Cyno nodded.  "Yeh.  Zep said it's na the same for him.  Ya are strong, but ya make them all clearer to him."

"You're changing the subject, aren't ya?"

"Nah," he chuckled.  "I'm sayin' that's what makes me happy.  That feeling of ya with me."

"Is it enough?" she asked him.

"Is it enough fer ya?"

"I don't think so.  I don't know what I want, Jase, but this thing we have?  We kill, we fuck, then we act like it never happened?  On our down time, I feel like I'm closer to Zep than I am to you."

"And LT," he added.

She stepped back.  "Am I going to have to choose between you and him?"

"Maast, Sal, no."

"Then what's the deal?  You tell me it's normal for me to feel like this, and then you say something like that."  She looked up at him, her annoyance warring with confusion on her face, but her ears were forward waiting for his answer.

"I do na know the words, Sal," he told her.

"Try."

"Ok, c'mere."  He headed toward the ancient stairs and sat, tilting his head to the spot beside him.  Sal sank to the stone, waiting.  Cyno sighed deeply, nodding to himself before he spoke.  "They allus said I was too feral ta be loved.  Even my amma.  She tried ta raise me ta be a good second or third man, never the first.  All my life, I've been told that I need ta respect my woman's right to choose her lovers and ta be happy with anything I get.  I think a bit of it stuck."

"So that's why you're upset with Blaec?"

"Jealous," he said.  "I do na mind.  That sounds wrong, but I do na dislike that ya love him. I just wish it was me.  He's good for ya, though."

"What does it mean to be the second man?" She asked him timidly.

"What does it mean ta be the first man?" he asked back.  "It's different fer everyone."

"What does it mean to you?"

He clenched his jaw for a moment, then answered.  "I used ta think it meant I was na good enough fer someone ta love."

"And now?"

"Now, it kinda does na matter.  Being yer second man would mean that I at least had that much of ya."  He grabbed her hand and turned, looking at her.  "Ya should know, our kind does na tend ta change our minds."

"Then let’s take this one step at a time.  Take me home, Jase."

He smiled and nodded.  "Yeh, yer kinda out a horse I hear, and ya fit behind me well enough on Raven.  Yeh, I'll give ya a ride back ta Prin."

He stood and offered her a hand up, but Sal wrapped her arms around his neck.  She pulled him down and kissed him, her fingers pressing into the back of his head, holding him close.  "I don't mean Prin, Jase.  Take me back to your rooms.  Blaec can wait.  Everyone keeps saying it's my choice, after all."

"Ya sure?"

"Yeah."  This decision finally felt right.  "If I don't make you, it will never happen.  There's something between us and I want to see what it is."

Chapter 23

They rode into the compound just as the sun was setting.  Cessa walked placidly beside Raven, Rax prancing at her hip, taking all of Zep's attention.  Sal closed her eyes, her arms around Cyno's chest, and listened to the sounds of her temporary home.  Weapons clashed in the distance, the wooden crack of practice blades hitting each other, and the soft voices of exhausted men came from everywhere.

Raven came to a halt and Sal peeled herself away from Cyno's body, every muscle tired.  The rest of the Blades weren't much better.  The fight had been hard, and they had little sleep the night before.  She slipped from the mare's back, staggering when her feet found the ground, and turned to look for Blaec.  Men looked down at them from the railing, the faces unfamiliar, and few seemed friendly.

A large hand grabbed her arm, the skin rough and cool, like a human's.  She pressed her ears against her head, and spun, her hands reaching for the blades strapped to her waist.  She hit him hard.  Together they fell to the ground, one of Sal's knives against the inside of his thigh, the other above his heart.  Instinctually, her teeth rested lightly against his throat and a warning rumbled in her throat.

"Sal!" Blaec yelled.  "Back the fuck off the General."

Her tired mind finally placed his scent.  Ran Sturmgren lay sprawled in the dirt of the courtyard, his eyes wide, but relaxed.  When she pulled away, her ears drooped in shame, but he laughed.  General Sturmgren held up his hand to her, giving her the chance to help him up.

"I'm sorry, sir," Sal muttered.

"I, of all people, should know better, Sal.  Fresh in from combat and I didn't say a thing first?  I was asking for it."

She looked at the ground, unable to meet his eyes.  "I should have been more aware, sir. You just felt like a human."

"I kinda am.  Let's try this again?"  He dusted off his breeches, and nodded, taking one step back.  "Salryc Luxx, congratulations!" he said cheerfully, before patting her shoulder.

Sal couldn't help it; she giggled.  Nodding, she said, "Yeah, that works.  Good to see you again, General."

"Not even going to ask why I'm congratulating you?"

"Because we won?"

Ran shook his head, his smile growing bigger.  He leaned close, and barely whispered, "Don't kill me," then he grinned and looked around at the faces watching them.  "Nope.  Wanted to be the first to say it to you."

"Why?"

He held up his hand, his fist closed around something.  "Because times are changing, my friend."

Sal's head tilted to the side, her ears locked on his fist, well aware that Ran Sturmgren was making a rather public display.  Slowly, his fingers opened, revealing two simple black resin lines.  On the back of each, clasps showed they were meant to be pinned.

"Lieutenant Salryc Luxx, Second Officer of the Black Blades, you are out of uniform."

She glanced down at her bloody and tattered fatigues, her shirt tied around her waist.  "Ya think?  It's hot as fuck out here, sir."

"You are tired," he teased, "Lieutenant."

Sal's eyes widened and her pupils constricted.  Her ears flicked forward then back, and she shook her head in denial, but a smile was trying to take control of her face.  "Sir?"

"Give me back the damned chevrons, girl.  Take the bars."  He grabbed her hand and placed them in it.

Even exhausted, she managed to work the old insignia from her shirt and replaced them with the new ones, her smile growing bigger, her teeth easily visible.  "They're black!" she said, pleased.

"I had them made for you, Sal.  First iliri ever to make Lieutenant, and only what?  A month since I made you Sergeant?"

"But why, sir?"

"I said 'Sal' or did you miss that?"

She ducked her head and nodded.  "Are you off duty, sir?"

"I am, technically.  As much as a General can be.  Why?"

Sal wrapped her arms around his waist, her head pressed against his chest in the most human gesture she could think of.  "Thank you, Ran.  I'm sorry about the dirt.  I love the bars."

He patted her back gently, like he would a daughter's.  "You're trying to embarrass an old man? Let me go, little one. I have something to give to LT."

She nodded and stepped back, letting Ran move away from her.  Cyno grabbed the shirt at her waist and looked at the bars.  He tilted them, the light playing on the crossed blades pressed into the surface.

"Nice," he said appreciatively.

"Shocking," she countered.

"Hey, LT!" Ran yelled, holding up a small package.  "Got that thing you asked for."

On the other side of his horse, Blaec held up his hands and Ran tossed the package over.  Blaec opened it and nodded then looked at the men around him.  "Arctic!"

"Yeah?"

"Sorry it took so long, had to get them made," he said, throwing the box at the First Officer.  "Congratulations, Captain."

"Serious as fuck, LT?" Arctic asked.

"Look at them first, dumb-ass," Blaec teased.

Arctic opened the box and his smile slipped away.  His eyes widened, and he glanced up at Blaec.  "Thank you, LT.  Always a pleasure, sir."

"Not sure when we're getting another promotion," Blaec said as he patted Arctic's shoulder, "so figured these should be something you'd like to keep around."

"I take it they aren't standard-issue?" Shift asked.

"No," Arctic said.  "Oh fuck no."

"Well?"  Shift said, "You gonna try them on, or keep us all waiting?"

Blaec grabbed the box and removed Arctic's old chevrons from his shoulder, replacing it with the Captain's ring.  He moved to the other side and the Blades moved closer.  Each ring was a black circle edged in white, with a carefully sculpted pair of crossed blades through the center, one black, one white.

Zep reached up and tilted the insignia, looking at it carefully.  "Don't get too attached, man," he said.  "As fast as the three of you are moving up, these will be Sal's soon."

Arctic laughed.  "Guess I should make sure I get LT a set of knots I can live with?"

Blaec thought about that and nodded.  "I could handle wreaths on my shoulder instead of knots."  He glanced over at Ran.  "Who knows, maybe even stars one day."

"Dream fuckin' on," Zep said.  "Seriously, though, congrats to all of you.  You deserve it."

The men began to move away, leading their horses slowly to the barn.  Sal moved to get Rax, but Tilso was there, his head bent with Zep, looking over her friend's stallion.  She heard a polite cough behind her, and flicked an ear.

"I know you're there now.  You're safe," she said, turning to the General.

"You'll get orders soon," Ran said.  "I just passed them to LT.  They're from Parliament."

"Yes, sir," she said.

"Listen carefully, Lieutenant.  This is first level clearance.  Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Read those orders twice.  Think like a fucking iliri, get me?"

She nodded, aware of the intensity of his gaze.

"Sal, our intel's weak. We're going to have to take your word for it.  Remember the talk we had?"  She nodded again, and he continued.  "Don't forget what I said.  I won't just get out of the way.  Keep this shit clean and keep it tight, but read those damned orders like a Black Blade."

"When will I get them?"

"Officially, tomorrow morning.  I'll have offices in the south wing of the compound.  Come see me with any questions you have."

"Yes, sir."

"Your timing with this little escapade today worked out, but your promotion is preemptive for your next mission.  In one week, Corporal Cynortas will report to you.  Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Yes, sir.  I need to get my affairs in order before then."

"Exactly.  All of this is first level clearance only. Make sure that's known."

Sal cocked her head at him quickly, then nodded.

"I'm human, Sal.  I'm not stupid.  I know why the Black Widows went after Arctic.  I don't know what you're doing, but I know there's something.  There's rumors of magic in the Black Blades."

Sal laughed.  "That's insane, sir.  I would think that of all people, the former leader of Lightning Brigade would know better."  She brushed her hair back, her pinky lifted just higher than the other fingers, and caught his eye.

Ran smiled, recognizing the hand sign he'd created for "almost there".  "You know them all?"

Sal nodded.  "We're taught all the elites communications in the first month.  Yes, we can mix and match, too."

"Good to know."  He grinned, his hand asking her if she was leaving something out.

"But the bars mean a lot.  Did you design those, or did LT?"  Sal tapped her shoulder with two fingers to tell him she was.

"I did.  I hope that's not offensive."

"No," Sal assured him.  "It's kind.  As we'd say, Ran, it matters."

"Well, I'm glad you like them.  You've impressed me.  I expect you're going to keep impressing me, if the stories are true."

She looked at the far wall, watching a soldier heading toward the barracks.  "I'm not sure, sir.  The stories I mean.  I'm going to try to be the best damned soldier I can, though."

Ran nodded, his eyes roaming around the area just like hers.  They seemed to be alone, but that wasn't always the case in a military base.  He scratched at his neck, then tapped his jugular once.  Her ear flicked toward him recognizing the hand signal.  She checked on that soldier again, inhaled, then nodded.

"Yeah, there's no one within hearing.  Only two are watching us."

He chuckled and shook his head, amused.  "Useful.  Do you know about the fourth load?"

"Yes, sir.  We'll get it, don't worry."

"Good.  It just got moved to first level clearance.  I don't know what shit is going on in Prin, but I think the politicians missed your clearance increase in your last round of promotions.  What do you need from me?"

"The 112th and Devil Dogs have our back, Ran.  Azure and Star Fall, not as much."

"You think that's how this is going?"

Sal nodded.  "The last load's running slower, which is tactically smart but gives the politicians time to play games.  They want to let us fail then give a human unit the chance to pick up the pieces.  There's also questions about military protocols in the Blades."

"Shit," Ran whispered.  "You have eyes on you?"

"We probably just slipped up somewhere.  It's covered."  Sal sighed.  "Granted, these orders are going to make things a lot more complicated, but I can work around it."

"You ever hear of what the elites call 'Blaec's Rules'?"

"No," she admitted.

Ran grinned.  "Elites bend the rules to suit them, but rarely break them.  That's what it means."

"Then we're about to play in Blaec's rules.  Cyno's going to get a bit of discipline, but all the rumors are going to go away, I think.  If you ever get a chance, tell Captain Tolan the Blades owe him one."

"I will," he promised, then patted her on the shoulder.  "You're a mess, you know that?"

"I do, but the only bathing facilities here are communal.  I'd rather not have quite so many eyes analyzing my lack of pigment."

"You're not in the officer's wing?"

"Not officially.  That's the slip."

"Well, I am.  C'mon girl, you can use my bath."  He grinned.  "And let them talk.  It'll do my reputation some good."

Chapter 24

Sal tapped at the door, clean blacks in her hand and a towel over her shoulder.  Ran opened it and moved aside to let her enter.  Down the hall, another door clicked closed.

"I think you just gave LT plausible deniability," she said.

"Good.  That's what I was hoping.  Bath's off the sleeping chamber, but you probably know that."

She flashed him a sharp grin and nodded before making her way into his bathing chamber.  Ran relaxed back into his chair and picked up a book, listening as the water flowed in the other room.  Her nickname of "demon" seemed to fit her well, he thought.  She was just a slip of a thing, and as mercurial as any woman he'd met, but there was something about her.  Salryc Luxx rarely asked for anything, he realized.  She accepted favors with grace and gave back twice as much as she was ever offered, but she never asked.  Kinda like Blaec.

He turned the page, well aware that he'd read none of it, but it covered the fact that his mind was working too hard.  Sal had only been in the Blades for eight months now, and she'd risen from Private First Class to Lieutenant.  While he'd never sent out such a green soldier before, if anyone could succeed, it would be her.  Ran sighed and flipped another page.

"You should at least track with your eyes if you're going to simply pretend to read," she said from the bedroom.

"Didn't know it would matter.  I'm just going through the motions.  It's calming."  Ran looked up, then back down when he realized she stood there in nothing more than the towel.  "Get dressed before you give an old man a heart attack."

Sal giggled and moved behind the door, talking loud enough that he could still hear.  "We both know you've seen your fair share of soldiers, General.  Want to let me know why you smell like fear?"

"It's a long list, Sal."

"I'm off duty," she said back.  "Cyno and Blaec have things to work out, and it won't be until tomorrow evening before the ore's back.  I've got time."

"You decide I'm not a threat or something?"

She stepped around the corner into the main room – dressed, Ran was pleased to see – and looked at him.  "You want the honest answer, or the polite one?"

"The honest answer."

"Mostly.  I think your intentions are good but you're too damned human to understand half of what we're playing with.  You're learning fast, though, and that makes me willing to try."

He nodded.  "There's a bottle in there somewhere.  It's not your stuff, but you're going to want it.  Get it, and sit down."

She shrugged and walked across the room, grabbing the bottle and two glasses as she passed.  First, she offered him one and poured, then filled another halfway for herself.  Ran watched her take a timid sip, flick her ears back at the taste, then sink into the chair across from him, pulling her feet under her.  Like this, he'd never expect her to be a killer, but he knew better.

"I've been ordered to send you to Anglia.  Blaec's known about this for a while, but it was never confirmed.  Parliament demands that I send you.  Blaec requested that I include Cyno.  Said the Blades work as a team or they're ineffective."

Sal nodded.

"We both know that's only part true."

She nodded again.

"That's why I got you two more Blades.  This is a long embed, Sal.  Year, maybe more?"

"What's the mission?"

Ran sighed deeply and took a gulp of the scotch.  "Replace the Anglian King with one favorable to the Conglomerate."

"Who?" she asked, getting right to the point.

He smiled deviously.  "They gave you options.  King Jensen is leaning to Terric and we can't have that.  You're to assassinate him and his son in Bysno.  His cousin might be an option."

"Or?"

Ran chuckled.  "You're good.  The Marquis of Valmere, Sal.  He's known to be intrigued by iliri.  If the others prove to be unsuitable, Valmere is an option."

Her white eyes met his, and he watched her take a long, deep breath.  "You understand more than I thought," she admitted.

Ran smiled back knowingly.  "The Lord of Eriwald, the King's cousin, can be played easy.  His wife cheated on him and ran off, supposedly with a Conglomerate man.  Things are a lot different up there.  That's a pretty heavy blow to a man's pride and political aspirations.  He wouldn't serve well as King because of it, and we can make a good case for his hate of the CFC."

"What does Parliament expect from me?"

"Eriwald.  They have no knowledge of his situation with his wife."

"How do we know?"

Ran smiled and glanced away.  "I'm not sending one of my soldiers out without some better intel.  I've had eyes in Anglia for a year."

"Why are you telling me this now?" she asked.  "Thought I got my orders in the morning."

He gestured to the bathing room. "Sometimes things work out.  I'm not sure I'd get the chance to warn you otherwise."

"About?"

"You already got the fourth shipment.  I can't even breathe a word of that to anyone without first level clearance.  Not sure why LT asked me to give you that, but I'm damned glad he did, now."

"His idea?  Not yours?"  Ran nodded, making Sal smile.  "Then that makes sense.  You'll figure that out eventually; you're not that oblivious."

He paused, his drink halfway to his mouth.  "That was a hint, wasn't it?"

She dipped her head.  "Fair's fair."

"Well, the point I was getting to," Ran continued, pushing that aside, "is that when you get the last shipment, you and Cyno are already part-way to Anglia.  I highly suggest you take advantage of that."

Sal thought about it before saying anything.  Her eyes flicked around the room as her mind jumped from idea to idea.  "What am I being court-martialed for?" she asked.

Ran reached to the table beside him and tossed a newspaper at her.  Across the top it read, "Salryc Luxx to Bring Back Pride to the Species."

"I didn't ask them to print this, and," she smiled deviously, "I have an entire population willing to attest to that.  Plenty of them with dull teeth."

Ran nodded.  "That's the backup plan, but it's easier if you simply follow orders.  We can make the case in a Parliamentary hearing instead of a court-martial."

"And you know Star Fall's compromised?"

Again, he nodded.  "Thought they were for a while.  When Toth mentioned they'd be getting the fourth load, I knew it."

"They're the eyes, I think," she said.  "We're pretty sure they have orders to make problems for us."

"We?"

Sal looked at him blankly.  "Don't ask and I won't lie to you."

"Fair enough.  Their orders come from above me?"

"Toth," Sal said.  "I'm not sure of that, not yet, but that's how it's looking."

"I need to clean up this shit between you and Major Doll, Sal.  Even if you're gone, he's going to keep pissing off the Blue Party.  He'll end up busted back to Private."

"Jase and I have that covered.  Blaz Eason of the 112th, doesn't report to me, or me to him."

Ran laughed, his whole belly shaking.  "Does the poor boy know you're using him?"

"It was his idea."

His mirth vanished.  "Shit.  Jiesa?"

She nodded.  "I pinned my ears at the wrong time.  I also just saved his horse."  Sal held up her hand to stall his questions.  "Long story, but we're just playing by Blaec's rules.  Blaz has already started setting it up."

"Is Cyno going to kill him?"

"Why does everyone ask that?"

"Because human or iliri, it's pretty obvious how he feels about you.  If you haven't figured that out yet, you're a fool, girl."

Sal grabbed her glass and took a long drink, Ran's eyes growing wide as she swallowed.

"I don't know what to do with him, you know?"

"Cyno?"

She looked up, her eyes pleading, so like the daughter he should have had, then nodded.  He reached over, offering his hand, and she took it, suddenly nothing more than a vulnerable girl.

"I don't know who to talk to.  My best friend is his best friend.  Blaec is my lover. Shift doesn't understand why it's a problem."

"Why is it a problem, Sal?  I thought iliri accepted you having as many lovers as you want?"

"But I don't!"

"Why not?" he asked her gently, squeezing her hand.  "Do you love him?"

"Blaec, yeah," she said.  "Jase?  Ran, we're berserkers.  That's why Blaec paired us, so we take it out on each other.  I mean, the sex is great, but right now, that's all it is."

"But you know him better than that, Sal.  You've been his partner for months now.  What's his hobby?"

"He reads iliran histories.  He is intrigued by the old Kaisaes."

"He ever tell you about his family?"

"Yeah, he has a mom here in Guttertown.  Inessi Cynortas."

"She know he's a Blade?"

Sal shook her head.  "He got conscripted and hasn't seen her since."

"He could mail her a letter, you know," Ran pointed out.

"Actually, no.  She speaks little Glish and reads none.  Our mail tends to get lost if it's not in your language."

"Yeah.  I can see that."  He rubbed her fingers, hoping the gesture meant the same to her as it did to him.  "But it sounds to me like you know quite a bit about him."

Sal chuckled, admitting he was right.  "He's a good guy.  I mean he has an honesty and a dedication to him that I can't help but admire."

"So what's the problem?"

"Would you accept that?" she asked.  "If you were my lover, would you just ignore me spending half my time with someone else?"

"I'm human, Sal.  You remind me of that pretty regularly.  Is Blaec jealous?"

"No," she whispered.  "Not at all.  Jase is."

"I can see why.  You keep sleeping with him and then ignoring him for your commanding officer.  There's a lot of things there that hit a man's pride pretty hard.  I can only guess an iliri's isn't that much different.  Only thing worse, would be if Blaec was more pure than, Jase is it?"

Sal nodded.  "Yeah.  Cyno's real name is Jassant.  It's a bit of a mouthful, so I shortened it."

"I think I'd be worried if Jase wasn't jealous.  How do you feel about him, though?"

"It's nothing like how I feel about Blaec."

"That's not what I asked, and you of all people know to listen to a question better than that."

"He scares me a bit.  I feel like he was made for me.  Everything about Jase is perfect, and it's terrifying.  Everything, Ran.  I get jacked in Escea and he's there before I even hit the ground, setting off the maast just enough to keep the fear away, but not so much that I'd go feral.  I have a bad day and he throws a sparring match to make me laugh.  He looks at me like I'm beautiful and he is so patient with everything I don't know.  How can he be like this and be real?"

"Oh, he's real enough.  He's also not as perfect to the rest of the world as he is to you.  Sal, sometimes we just meet people who fulfill our own needs, and that's ok.  When it happens, you shouldn't run away from it."

"But Blaec..."

He held up a hand, stopping her mid-sentence.  "Blaec Doll is a grown man, able to tell you when things upset him.  If he hasn't said it yet, then he's not going to.  He keeps things pretty damned close, but he'll tell you before you cross the line.  Stop over-thinking this.  It's not espionage.  Sometimes it really is this simple."

"I told Blaec I'm spending a few days with Jase.  Both to quiet some rumors and to see where we stand, you know?"

"Very practical," he teased.

Sal nodded, biting at her lower lip.  "I can't believe I'm talking to you like this.  I can't believe I'm telling you all this!"

"It's just a drink between friends, Sal."

"I know, but," Sal laughed suddenly.  "Remember when I told you I had no clue about my instincts?"

Ran nodded.  "Remember when I told you that I wanted to be your friend as well as your commanding officer?"

She paused.  "You read my entire file?"

He knew where she was going.  "Yeah, I did.  Men paid a lot of money to spend time with you."

She nodded.  "That's all I know how to do.  That and kill, and the killing part's natural."

"So's falling in love.  It's not always easy, but it's kinda the most natural thing any animal – human, iliri, dog, swan, or whatever – can do."

"So I should just go with it?"

"I'm going to tell you something that not a lot of people know.  When I was a few years older than you, I met a girl.  I had my unit making headlines and we were the darling of the military.  I thought I had it all going for me, and this girl..."  He chuckled, remembering.

"I kept running into her.  We had a few wild nights but I was too busy thinking of my fame and fortune to stop and pay attention.  She was everything I'd ever wanted: smart, pretty, and about as spunky as they come.  I was entranced, but I kept thinking that she was always trying to be what I wanted, just because of that fame and fortune I'd been chasing.  When she said she wanted to spend the rest of her life with me, I laughed it off.  When we got back from the next mission, she was gone."

"What happened?" Sal asked, hanging on his words.

"I thought too much about it.  She left me a letter, said she didn't want to just be my play thing.  She wanted to be loved back, and she'd waited long enough for a hint or a sign from me.  Said she had to give up eventually and live her own life."  Ran chuckled and wiped at the corner of his eye.  "I've never seen her again.  I lost the best thing in my life because I tried to think too much."

"I'm sorry," Sal said gently.

"Me too.  Don't be like me, ok?  There's more to life than being a soldier."

"Ran?"  She looked up at him with a sad smile.

"Yeah, kid?"

"You're not like the rest of them, you know that?"

"Humans?"

She nodded.  "You're like Zep.  I think you get it."

"Then just let me know when you trust me, ok?"

"I'm trying," she told him.  "I respect you, sir, but trust is a lot harder to get.  I kinda want to, though."

Chapter 25

The sky was lined in pinks and oranges when Sal finally made her way to check on Blaz's horse.  The interior of the barn was dim, the lights still unlit, and the horses were content with munching on their hay.  Sal walked past Arden's empty stall, suddenly missing her mare even though she knew she was fine, and she continued down the alley until she found the large black horse.  Rax wasn't even polite enough to lift his head from the manger, so Sal slipped inside his stall.

He flicked his head at her, worried she'd pull him away from his dinner, but Sal just patted his shoulder.   She checked his legs, looking for a hint that he would be anything other than sound, and found nothing.

"Hey," she heard behind her, and turned, seeing Tilso looking through the bars.  He nodded.  "Ok, it's you.  He's looking good for having," Tilso shook his head, smothering the laugh, "a dislocated carpus."

"Shift's work," Sal said.  "You get a chance to check him yet?"

"Nah.  I'll lunge him tomorrow and make sure there's nothing else out.  You know how he got hurt?"

Sal shrugged.  "Combat?"

"I'm guessing he fell, though?"

"Probably."

Tilso leaned against the stall and watched Sal for a moment before he asked, "Why are we working so hard on someone else's horse?"

"Because I'm about to be in Blaz's debt.  That doesn't make sense now, but trust me?"

"Always.  I just didn't know how much effort you wanted me to put into him."

"It's going to be a real big debt."  She flicked her ear back at a noise in the barn.  "And we have company."

Tilso nodded, stepping back into the aisle as he struck up a false conversation.  "Yeah, I mean, he seems to be sound on it.  I bet it was a mess when it happened, though.  You sure he's going to take good care of Arden?"

"Tilso, if you'd seen him with Rax, you wouldn't ask me that," she replied, catching sight of a group of three recruits.

"Yeah," he said, seeing them, too.  "Already told LT, but I know you were speaking with Sturmgren earlier.  Had a bit of a problem when you all weren't back for today's trial."

"Seriously?" Sal growled.

"It's fine now.  I saw them gathering and told them the trials were postponed a day due to an emergency that required the Blades.  The entire compound was empty, so it was pretty obvious."

"And the problem?" she asked softly.

"Calon doesn't like listening to anyone that doesn't outrank him."

Sal nodded, leaning against the front of Rax's stall, one ear listening to the men at the far end of the barn.  "So I guess someone's heading over to talk to them?"

"Yeah, and I'm not getting close to that fuck again."

Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him.  "He hit you?"

"Put my ass in the ground without warning.  I'm not a soldier, but I work with horses enough that I'm not exactly slow.  He would have done more than put me in the dirt if it wasn't for that cocky bastard, and the pale one."

Somehow she knew exactly who he was talking about.  "Tane Geoni and Zyrn Audgan?"

"Geoni, yes.  I don't know the other one's name, but he fought Cyno."

"Yeah, that's the one.  So why are those three here?"

"Because they were the only ones who actually got involved," Tilso explained.  "Who's that walking up from the arena?"

Sal turned and looked.  The First Officer stormed across the sand, making his way into the barn.  "It's Arctic.  Gimme a sec, and I'll find out what's up."  She reached out with her mind to the First Officer and asked, Tilso told me what happened. What're we doing with them?

Cutting Calon and making it a pretty public deal.  LT's on his way.  Ran let you go?

Yep.  I need both of you when we're done here.  He gave me some good stuff, she told him.

Can do.  And Tilso wanted to thank the other two, and so does LT.  Glad you could make this, Sal.  LT wants to gut the fucker.  Arctic's anger was clear in his mental voice.

"You wanted to thank someone?" Sal asked Tilso softly.

He nodded.

"Well, stick around."

He chuckled and patted her shoulder.  "Useful.  No wonder Risk always had meetings that he forgot to mention, and they were always in five minutes."

Sal smothered her laugh and nodded.  "Welcome to the family, little brother."

"Why do I get to be the little brother?" he asked.  "I'm taller than you."

Sal shrugged.  "Someone has to be my little brother.  Might as well be you.  Besides, you're younger."

"A year," Tilso grumbled.

"Attention!" Arctic yelled as his feet hit the inside of the barn.

Sal stood straight and the three recruits snapped into place quickly. Arctic glanced at her as he passed and she fell in at his side, wiping all emotion from her face.  When they reached the three men, Blaec entered behind them.  Sal and Arctic halted in unison, falling to an easy parade rest.

"At ease," Blaec growled, stepping around the men.  "Would any one of you like to explain to me what happened today?"

The three men said nothing, they simply stared ahead stoically.

Glad you could make this, Blaec thought to Sal.  You want the first chance to rip them?

Sure.  Sal stepped forward and snarled.  "That was not a rhetorical question.  Someone start talking.  Now!"

"Sir," Audgan and Geoni said at the same time.

"You first," Sal told the darker man.

Geoni nodded.  "Sir, we all arrived for the scheduled trial, unaware that the elites had left before dawn.  Your stable man, there," he pointed behind her at Tilso, "came out, and informed us that today's trial would be postponed."

"I see," Sal said, interrupting him.  She turned to Audgan.  "Is that how it was?"

"Yes, sir," Audgan said, his voice more confident than she'd expected.  "He dismissed us and told us to meet at the same place and time tomorrow unless we received orders before then.  Calon wasn't happy with that answer."

"Not happy?" Geoni interrupted.  "He grounded the man!"

Audgan nodded.  "So he attacked the civilian," he continued as if Geoni hadn't spoken.  "We managed to pull him off and an off-duty officer broke up the disturbance."

Sal turned to Geoni and raised an eyebrow.

"Audgan got to him first and knocked him off the stableman – I didn't know his position, but I know he's a civilian.  Calon wouldn't stop fighting, so the two of us decided to make him stop, and we were throwing some pretty good hits around when the officer interrupted."

"I see," Arctic said, and Sal stepped back.  "And were you two trying to injure a superior officer?  Are the two of you aware that Corporal Calon out ranks you both?"

"Court-martial me," Geoni said, "but yeah.  I don't give a fuck who it is. We don't beat civilians."

"Technically," Audgan said, "we were simply attempting to protect the civilian, as is our first duty as soldiers of the CFC, sirs.  While Corporal Calon is a superior officer, he violated the first oath we all take, which grants both Geoni and myself the authorization to use whatever force is necessary."

Arctic nodded.

"Who else assisted you?" Blaec asked, glancing once at the human beside them.

"No one, sir," Audgan answered.  Geoni simply nodded in agreement, realizing his temper would do him little good.

"Corporal?" Blaec asked, turning to Calon, finally.  "Would you like to clarify anything they said?"

Sal could smell the anger simmering from the human even before he spoke.

"Yes.  Their story is designed to discredit me," Calon said calmly and professionally.  "Sir, I admit, I did knock the Stablemaster to the ground, but it was simply an accident.  My intention was to step toward him, when I misjudged the depth of the sand, causing me to lurch forward."

"Horse shit," Sal heard behind her.  "I don't even know what the fuck you're talking about, boy, and I know that's nothing but a pile of horse shit deeper than the compost heap."  Both Sal and Arctic ducked their heads as Ran Sturmgren strode beside them.  "Came to see how the 112th's horse was doing, to see if we'll need a replacement.  Good work on that, by the way.  He's worth a small fortune."

Sal watched the three recruits all glance to Ran's shoulders.  Audgan lifted his chin a bit higher, Geoni blanched, and Calon clenched his jaw.

"Now try that again, Corporal," Ran demanded, "And if it's close to the truth, I won't demote you.  Look at my shoulders one more time, and don't think I won't fucking do it."

"Sir," Calon said.  "It was an accident, sir.  I didn't mean to - "

Ran waved him to silence.  "Sal?  Arctic?  He telling the truth?"

"Not a word of it," Arctic said.

"Stale piss, sir," Sal added, glancing up at Ran.  "That's the closest way to describe it."

"Pretty distinct, I'd say.  You been rolling in horse piss boy?"

"No sir," Calon said.

"Good to know.  LT, you aren't keeping him, are you?"

"No," Blaec said.  "He had a physical confrontation with my Stablemaster while we were deployed today."

"Tilso?" Ran asked, looking around.

"Yes, sir," Tilso said, walking toward them.

"What happened, Mr. Tilso?"

"When the Blades left this morning, they didn't have time to inform the recruits that the trial would be postponed.  I realized it when I saw them gathering, so informed them it wouldn't be until tomorrow, unless they received orders otherwise.  The human decided that beating my ass into the dirt would somehow make the Blades materialize from thin air, though."

Ran laughed at that.  "I guess Risk told you before he left?"

Tilso's eyes widened, and he glanced at LT, who nodded.  "Yeah," Tilso said softly.  "Said it was an emergency mission and they should be back by sundown."

"What about the other two?  They cause shit, too?"

"No, sir," Tilso said.  "They pulled the Ace off me.  Sir, I'm a horseman, not a soldier.  I'm no match for elites, not even potential recruits."

Ran nodded.  "LT, you going to be taking him into the field?"

"Probably.  He's damned good with the horses."

"Ok.  Requisition him a set of armor, fill out forms for civilian combatant, and add hazard pay to his wage schedule?"

"Can do."

"Thank you, sir," Tilso said.

"And have Risk teach him some basic defenses to go with his iliri slang," Ran added.  "If you're done with Private Calon, I'll be happy to deal with him for you."

"It's Corporal, sir," Calon said.

"No," Ran corrected.  "I warned you that if you lied to me again, I'd bust you.  Consider your ass busted.  Mr. Tilso still has two weeks to decide if he wants to press charges against you, so I'd recommend that you get real polite, real fast.  You understand, Private?"

"Yes, sir."

"I'll leave the others for you to deal with, LT.  Glad to hear the horse is fine," Ran said, leading Calon from the stable.

Chapter 26

"You both can relax," Blaec told the recruits.  "I'm not going to punish you for standing up for my Stablemaster."

"Thank you, sir," Audgan said.  Geoni just nodded.

"And thank you," Tilso said.  "I didn't get to say it before, but I do appreciate it."

I think you just had the perfect trial for a Black Blade, Sal told Blaec.  Protecting a civilian, even at risk to themselves, combat prowess, and tactical competency, along with the brains to shut up when Audgan answered better.

Blaec chuckled, glancing at her.  Good point.  Let's see what the others think first.  You good with this, Arctic?

Yeah, I agree with her.

Blaec nodded, and the recruits looked between them.  "Ok, both of you meet us in the mess hall in 30 minutes.  I want to speak more about this."

"Yes, sir!" they replied in unison, saluting properly.

"Dismissed," Sal told them.

Arctic, grab a set of pips and a pair of rooms on our hall, he thought, then opened his mind to the entire unit.  I need all Blades in the mess ten minutes ago.

Seriously? Zep asked.  Ryali's going to be pissed.

It's worth it, Sal though.  Just blame me.

Ok, Zep answered, accepting that idea easily.

The rest of the men sent their acceptance, and the three officers turned to leave the barn.  Arctic glanced over his shoulder.

"Coming, Tilso?"

"You know I can't keep up with you all, right?" he asked, falling in step beside them.

"Meeting in the mess," Sal told him.

Tilso nodded and moved beside Sal.  "Remind them to speak every so often for me?"

She nodded, patting his back.  "Will do."

Arctic detoured to the office while Sal and Blaec found a table in the back of the mess hall.  While they waited for the rest, the iliri glared at anyone who thought about sitting too close.  It didn't take long before they had a private area for their unit.  One by one, the rest of the Blades trickled in, finding seats around their officers.  Zep grabbed a bottle of mead from the shelf and a fistful of glasses before sitting beside them.

"Ok, we had shit with the recruits while we were out," Blaec said when they all were there.

"How bad?" Shift asked.

Tilso gestured, drawing eyes to him.  "They were on time for today's trial, and I saw them from the barn.  I guess no one had told them you were out, so I did.  Well, Calon didn't like it much."

"What did he do?" Risk growled.

"I'm ok," Tilso told his lover.  "He came at me fast, dumped me on my ass, and knocked the wind from me, but Geo-whatever and the pale one, they kicked the crap out of him."

"Isn't Calon the ranking recruit?" Zep asked.

"Was," Sal said.

"Well," Tilso continued, "an off-duty officer, some guy in blue, broke up the fight.  Said he was going to report it to LT.  He did, and LT asked me."  Tilso looked to Risk. "I wasn't going to say anything until I'd told you about it.  I didn't want you to worry."

Risk shook his head.  "LT's family.  I'm not worried about who hears it first, ok?  You sure you're fine?"

"Yeah," Tilso said.  "He doesn't hit as hard as Cessa.  I'm fine."

"So," Arctic said, "Sal was with Ran for the afternoon, causing a whole lot of interest in half the base - "

"Seriously?" she asked, interrupting.

"Carrying clothes to the General's quarters?  Yeah, a few people noticed."

"And none of them noticed that I left clean, I bet."

"Ran will take care of it," Blaec assured her.  "And probably gloat a bit, but go on Arctic."

"So, we didn't get to talk with her, but we called the three in to give them a chance to tell us what happened from their point of view.  Sal, of course, appeared right on time."

"She does that," Cyno said, catching her eyes.

She shrugged.  "Well, Calon had no regrets and thought that his species would be enough to get him out of any shit.  Geoni had no problem giving us his side of the story, about as bluntly as Zep would, but Audgan chose his words incredibly well, setting up his defense in the event of a court-martial."

"Nice," Razor said.  "I knew I liked that kid."

"Right," Blaec said.  "Then Sal pointed out that we don't really get a better trial than this.  Quick thinking, tactics, saving a civilian, and everything we look for.  All the recruits were there and only those two, who've been the top running favorites since they arrived, stepped up."

"So, we calling this final and pinning them?" Shift asked.

"Up to you all," Blaec said.

"Sal?" Cyno asked.  "Can ya pass a memory to the group?"

"I've never tried, but I think so.  Why?"

The little man smiled.  "Let’s get the complete story.  Ahn?" he asked the Stablemaster, holding out his hand.  "Think of how it started, from the moment ya realized they were gatherin', and touch me?"

"Does this hurt?" Tilso asked.

"Nah.  Feels kinda strange ta me, but you will na feel a thin'."

Tilso nodded and took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he tried to remember.  Exhaling, he reached for Cyno's hand, holding it gently.  The little assassin sucked in a quick breath and tried not to tense, breathing slowly and deeply until Tilso let go.

"Fuck," Cyno grumbled, sitting back.  "I vote yes.  And Tilso's easy ta read."

"Thanks?" Tilso said, unsure if it was really a compliment.

"Here, kitten."  Cyno offered his hand.

She rested her palm lightly against his, closing her eyes as the bright flame lit in her mind.  It didn't take long to copy it and bundle it tighter.

"For the rest of you, let me know if you don't get it," she said, passing the memory into their heads, not needing to touch them to do it.

The Black Blades sat in silence for a long moment, each of them watching Tilso's view of the ordeal.  If anything, he'd downplayed the anger and rage with which Calon had attacked.  Audgan had responded instinctually, rushing to protect someone weaker than himself.  Geoni had been only a step behind him.  The iliri had worked together without even intending to, just as the Black Blades always did.  Every nuance of the memory made Sal even more confident that they'd be a perfect match for the Blades.

"I vote yes," she said.

"Yes for me," Arctic said.

"Me too," Risk added.

"They got my vote."  Shift sighed, trying to rub the memory from his eyes.

Razor said, "And a yes from me."

Zep just nodded.  "Cyno, man, you're gonna have to put Geoni on his ass a few, but I like the little fuck.  Audgan?  I think we all knew from the moment he arrived.  I'm good with this."

"Shit."  Sal turned to Tilso.  "We're going to need two horses."

He grinned.  "I'm ahead of ya.  Put a deposit on a pair earlier."

"I didn't give you a retainer," Blaec said, leaning forward to look at him better.

"You were busy.  Look, a gelding and a mare, both over sixteen hands, both from good lines.  Their pedigree is long gone, but they were toys of some rich ass on the north side.  One of the guys in the barns told me about them."

"How long to work them up?"

"That's the best thing.  They're selling them because they keep dumping their riders.  Sounds like they're a little too well-trained.  I don't know where they came from, but they're solid in all their ground work.  Combat moves, too.  Pretty sure I can have them starting airs before the new guys can sit through them."

"What color?" Sal asked.

"Bay and a chestnut, minimal white.  Why?"

She nodded.  "Terran.  I bet they're war spoils that made their way up here."

"Nice," Blaec said.  "Very nice, Mr. Tilso.  Next time tell me?"

"This just happened this morning.  It got lost in the shuffle, LT.  I just know how you prefer we own our horses, rather than having them assigned, and I had enough spare cash."

Risk chuckled at that.  "I'm not the only one that heard that, right?"

"No," Sal said.  "He's family and he knows it."

"Fuck yeah I am!"  Tilso laughed.  "Just got my ass beat for you all."

"Tell Risk to kiss it and make it better," Zep teased, "or I might."

"You're starting to worry me," Risk told him.  "We aren't all as laid back as LT with the idea of sharing."

"Guys," Blaec said, halting the conversation before it got out of hand.  "Our boys are on time."

Arctic handed something to Risk beside him, who looked and nodded before nudging Tilso.  "I'll tell you when," he said softly.

"Me?"

Zep leaned across the table, "Yeah, you got your ass kicked.  You get the privilege."

"Thanks, guys.  I mean it."

"Come sit," Blaec called out to the recruits.

Both men nodded and made their way to the table, taking the empty spots at the end.

"You both went above and beyond today," Blaec told them.  "First, I want to say thank you.  Tilso's a part of our family, not just our Stablemaster."

"I kinda figured, sir," Geoni said.

Audgan just smiled, saying nothing until Blaec raised his eyebrow, encouraging him.  "He smells like Risk, sir."

"Does that bother either of you?" Arctic asked.

They looked at each other, completely confused.  "No? Should it?" Geoni asked.

Blaec shook his head.  "No, but a lot of humans have problems with it.  Do either of you know what we look for in the next Black Blade?"

"I can guess," Geoni said, continuing when Blaec nodded at him.  "You've made it known you're iliri, although I haven't figured out Zep, yet.  So you want respect for the pack, loyalty until death, and men who can protect the whole.  You're fighting for more than just freedom from Terric, too.  In Guttertown, they're talking about the Kaisae and how she'll save us.  I'm guessing that means we work for us as well as the country?"

Blaec nodded.  "Pretty much.  Audgan?"

"You want us to do more than fight, though," the pale boy said.  "We need to know when to hold back."

"That's still fighting," Geoni grumbled.

"Yeah, but it's not always about swinging a sword.  The Black Blades are infiltration and extraction.  You're a mixed group.  I know there's a reader, a linker, a finder, at least one healer, but I haven't figured out the rest yet."

Zep laughed at that.  "Human," he offered.

Cyno leaned forward and pointed.  "I'm the reader, Razor's a finder, Sal's a shifter, Arctic's the linker, Shift and Risk heal, and LT's a seer."

"No shit?" Audgan asked, looking up at Blaec with awe.

"It's weak," Blaec told him, "and pretty damned random."

"Always is, sir."

"So what exactly is it you do?" Cyno asked the kid.

Audgan grinned.  "It's a mutated skill.  Part finder, part linker, a bit of both but not like either.  I make fear."

"How?" Arctic asked.

He shrugged.  "I dunno.  I just seem to know what bothers them.  Like spiders for some, or snakes for others.  Sal doesn't like her family hurt. That's what I did in the spar."

"Damn," she breathed.  "It's not even a conscious fear."

He shook his head.  "Doesn't have to be.  I just need to shove it.  Like passing a memory, but more."

"You been linked before?" Arctic asked.

Audgan nodded.  "Amma was a linker.  My dava was probably a finder, but he got conscripted."

"You don't look confused," Blaec said to Geoni.

"I've heard the rumors," he admitted.  "We never had a linker, and those who knew their skill, they were usually rogue, but I know it exists."

"Where ya from?" Shift asked.

"Western border," Geoni said.  "Too dark to make it into Viraenova."

"You?" he asked Audgan.

"Guttertown."

"Dru kanna Inessi Cynortas?"  Cyno asked, his expression hopeful.  Sal only caught the name of his mother.

"Ya, kierna vaena derc denwar canzara," Audgan answered.

"She still good?"

"Yeh.  Your amma?"

Cyno nodded.  "Yeh.  Thanks, man."

"She thinks you're dead, though," Audgan said.  "I mean, Inessi, we all know her, but her son got conscripted and she thinks he's dead.  If that's you...?"

Cyno shrugged it off.  "Kinda figured.  I did na leave real nice."  The tone of his voice made it clear he didn't want to talk more about it.

Blaec was watching the new guys closely.  "You seem comfortable with our ways.  You sure you still want to go through with all of this?  Elites don't live very long."

"Hasn't really been a problem for the Blades," Geoni pointed out.  "Zep's going on like ten years?"

"Twelve total, but yeah."

"Arctic and Zep have been with us from the start, but I have lost men.  Any of us could be next," Blaec told them.  "Your chances of living a long life are a lot better if you stay out of the line of fire."

"Not really," Audgan said.  "Just look at me.  Ask Sergeant, I mean Lieutenant Luxx.  It's not really that safe anywhere when you're this pale."

"He's right," Sal said.

"Better to die for what you believe in than waste away trying to hide from anything you could change," Geoni said softly.  "Guys, I want to live to be a grumpy old man, but my chances are a lot better with the Blades than with the regulars.  They send our kind out to find the snipers, since we can be replaced so easy."

"I fucking hate humans," Zep said, shaking his head.

"Not what I expected you to say," Geoni admitted.

"He does," Cyno assured him.  "Rather a lot.  That's why he's here."

"Can I ask something?"  Audgan looked up at the officers.  "Off the record, and all of that?"

"You can ask," Blaec assured him. "I do not promise to answer."

"How does she fit in?"

"I'm the Second Officer," Sal said leaning forward around the others to meet his eyes.  "That's it."

"For now," Blaec clarified.  "We know, Audgan.  She doesn't believe us, but we know."

He nodded, then looked from Cyno to Blaec.  "Ahnor?"

"Me," Blaec said, holding his gaze.

The kid nodded, smiling as he lowered his eyes to the table.  "That's what I thought."

"Ya know those Star Fall guys are trying to get you in shit over that, right?" Geoni asked.

"I'm lost again," Sal said.  "My Iliran is nonexistent.  I was raised by humans."

"He knows yer fuckin' LT," Cyno explained.  "They can smell it."

"You sure it's Star Fall?" Arctic asked.

"Yeah," Geoni said.  "They have no idea how well we can hear.  I have the cleanest pair of boots, but I heard the whole thing."

Audgan tapped his shoulder.  "Touch Cyno, man."

Cyno leaned back and offered his hand.  Geoni shrugged but grabbed it.  It looked like nothing more than a handshake, then Cyno turned back.

"Shit's about ta get real bad, guys," he said, reaching for LT.

"Fuck," LT whispered.  "That changes things."

"Trials postponed then?" Geoni asked.

The Blades all smiled, but Blaec answered.  "No, they're over.  You both just passed the last one.  I'd like to offer you a place in our family, if you're still interested."

"Serious?" Geoni gasped.  "Fuck yeah, sir.  Fuck yeah."

"Audgan?" Sal asked.

"Why me?" he asked her.

"Ayati," she told him.  Fate.

He nodded.  "Yeah.  This matters.  This is what I want to be a part of."

Tilso stood and walked around the table to their sides.  With a gentle smile, he held out his hand, showing them both the small pin made of dark stone.  When they nodded, he pinned the crossed blades to their collar, and offered each his hand.

"I'm human, but none of them seem to mind," he said.  Both recruits took it.

"Welcome to the family," Zep told them.  "You try to touch Sal and I'll kill ya, then let Risk put you back together."

"Ignore him," Sal said.  "I'll kill you.  But do either of you know how to ride?"

"Yeah," Audgan said, surprising them all.  "Nothing too fancy, but I can sit the gaits."

"A bit," Geoni said.  "Rode postilion with the CFC carriage service."

"What'd you do, Audgan?" Zep asked.

"Exercise rider for Gergy house until I got conscripted."

"They do nothing but greys," Tilso explained.  "Guess they wanted you to match the horses?"

He nodded.  "They said I made a nice picture when they were showing animals for sale.  I know how to groom, tack, and condition, but it's been a couple of years."

"I bet," Blaec said, standing.  "Arctic, show them their new rooms and get them in black.  Zep, get rid of the rest of them.  Cyno, I need everything you can get me on the Unavi Rebels.  Tilso, think you can get those horses tonight?"

"Yeah.  Can I take Risk?"

"I was going to suggest it," Blaec said.  "Razor, they need weapons."

Sal looked up at him and tapped her shoulder.  "I think you forgot something."

"Right.  Congratulations, Lance Corporal Geoni and Lance Corporal Audgan.  Give me an hour to get your pips."

"Does that make us commissioned?" Geoni asked.

"Just barely, but yes," Blaec assured him.  "I need my Blades to have enough rank to throw around, and that will do it.  I'll get your pay schedules written up for each of you as well."

"I take it this wasn't a planned decision?" Audgan asked.

"No, it wasn't," he admitted.  "You were the favorites from the first day, so none of us are shocked."

"I'm going to do the thing with them. That ok?" Arctic asked.

"No, that's good, just do it before Risk is out of the compound," Blaec said. "I know it will take the two of you a bit to get the horses, but I want the rest of you in my rooms in an hour.  Geo just gave me some intel, and I'm not sure it can wait."

"I have news, too."  Sal rested her hand lightly on Cyno's.

His head snapped up to hers.  "Maast."

"Yeah.  First level," she told him.

Blaec's head dropped.  "Ran gave you the orders?"

She nodded.  "We're good.  Let's get moving.  You and I need to talk anyway."

"I'm in so much shit," Blaec muttered, and the men around him laughed, each going their own way.

Chapter 27

"I would have told you," Blaec said when the door closed behind them.

"I know," Sal assured him.  "And it wasn't final, and you didn't want to say anything when I was upset, or just after.  I know that, love.  We're ok."

"I kept hoping they'd change their minds."  He pulled her close.  "It's a whole year, Sal.  Maybe more!"

She nodded.  "I got that.  We can talk about that later, Blaec.  Ran was very clear that Jase and I need to leave before we return the ore."

"The fourth load?"

She nodded.  "Star Fall is trying to set you up for a court-martial. We already know that.  Parliament is wanting to do the same to me.  You see the paper today?"

"No."

"'Salryc Luxx Brings Pride Back to the Species,' is the headline.  Ran said it's easier to clear that up in a Parliamentary hearing than a court-martial.  I'm not coming home from that trip, love."

His shoulders slumped.

"And I can't be seen in your rooms at night.  Not only that, but my orders mean that Cyno will report to me directly.  They're trying to get me from both sides."

"Fuck," Blaec growled.

Sal held up her hand, stalling his rant.  "Blaz Eason, the guy with the horse?  He's already got plans to clear this up.  Jase will probably lose it a bit, and it will probably be public."

"What are you doing, Sal?" Blaec asked.

"I don't know what he's doing, but I can guess.  When I woke him the other night, we walked out of his door and into Captain Tharp.  He made a point of standing too close to me, speaking sweetly to me, and saying it had been fun.  He told me he'd kill the rumors.  That's all I know."

"Why?" Blaec asked.  "Why's he being so nice?"

"Jiesa?  Do you know that name?"

Blaec nodded.  "Jiesa Cymil, First Officer of the 112th until a fight went bad in Escea."

"Yeah." Sal nodded. "That stallion's former owner, and Blaz's lover.  We were talking horses and it came out.  He said he liked me because I didn't mind that he's blunt, and I mentioned that I prefer blunt, so he said no wonder I do well with you, and I thought he meant more personally."

"What did you do?"

"Just flicked my ears back, but that's all a horseman needs.  He never asked but said he'd kill the rumors because he understands.  Asked me to make sure the Blades don't kill him."

Blaec nodded.  "I'll spread the word.  You'd tell me if there was something there, right?"

Sal laughed.  "Yes, but he's very human and he's still in love with her.  He's as safe as Tilso."

"I fucking hate this, you know?"

"Me too," Sal agreed.  "But there's more.  When I stopped in for my bath, Ran gave me a few mission details.  Have you read my orders yet?"

"Yeah," Blaec said.  "Over and over, hoping they will change."

"Ran had them worded very carefully.  Parliament wants Jensen out – he's leaning to Terric.  The son's out, but they like Eriwald.  Ran gave me plausible reasons why he's not suitable."

"But he's been sympathetic to the Conglomerate," Blaec said.

"But not the iliri.  Valmere is both."

"That's a long line between Jensen and Valmere, Sal.  How are you going to take out, what, six Anglian nobles?  How can you do that without anyone noticing?"

"We'll get creative.  You may not like it, but we'll get it done, and we'll play in the rules."

He reached up to caress her face.  "Just cover your ass.  When you come back, I can't promise it will be any better."

"I know.  But if we can get Anglia supporting the iliri, that's one more reason for Parliament to back off."

"Your orders say to prepare them for war so they can defend against Terric."

"So then we'll have a militarized country who supports us.  This is going to be ok, Blaec.  It's just a year."

"Or so."

She stepped into his chest.  "I'm going to miss you."

Blaec grabbed her and buried his head against hers.  He held her close, squeezing her so tightly she could barely breathe, then sighed and stepped back.  "I want you to stay with Jase a bit, ok?"

She chuckled.

"I mean it.  I can reassign him and send Zep or someone else if things won't work out with you two.  I need to be sure you'll be ok."

"I was going to say the same thing," she admitted.

"You ever going to claim him?"

"I don't know," she groaned.  "Maybe?  Probably?  Ran thinks I should."

He tilted his head, shocked at that.  "You and Ran had one hell of a chat, didn't you?"

Sal nodded.  "I kinda like him.  He's easy to talk to."

"Yeah, that's part of being a General.  It's why he's good at his job, because we don't keep secrets from him.  I trust him, Sal.  I have for a long time."

"What's it like to have a dava?"   Her question seemed to come out of nowhere.

"Probably different for you than me.  My dava always tried to protect me, but made me face things head on.  He showed me how to be fair, and he made sure I always felt loved."

Sal nodded but tugged Blaec to the couch where she could rest her head on his chest.  "Was he easy to talk to?"

"Sometimes.  Sometimes not, but I always knew he'd answer honestly.  Why?"

"I never had one, but Ran kinda makes me feel like that."

"He'd like that.  He's pretty fond of you."

"Why?"

He laughed.  "He said if he ever had a kid, he was sure it'd be just like you, nothing but intrigue and charisma."

A feeling of contentment ran through her, and she snuggled closer.  Blaec rolled her onto his lap and just held her, breathing in her scent like he was trying to memorize it.  From the tension in his body, she knew he was reaching for the future.  She wanted to do the same, wishing she never had to leave.

"What do you see, love?" she asked.

"I just keep seeing one thing, Sal.  Over and over, I see the same thing.  You're standing somewhere, I'm not sure where, but it's outside, and an army is bowing to you.  I'm on your right side, Cyno's on your left, and the rest of the Blades are behind us."

"What does it mean?"

He shrugged, pressing her against him.  "I never really know.  I just see it.  It felt like the Emperor was scared, though.  It felt like a very good thing."

"You've always been on my right and Jase on my left.  Always."

"Yeah.  For iliri, the left is a place of pride.  Humans have their right hand man, or whatever.  Being on the left for an iliri means being important."

"So why do you put Jase on my left?"

"So you're on my left," he said, kissing the top of her head.  "Every iliri that sees you there, with Arctic on my right, knows what it means."

"What does it mean?"

"That I love you and will die for you, Sal.  You're my Kaisae."

"I'm not a Kaisae, not like you all say it."

"Then tell me why I see an army bowing to you?"

"Because I'm headed to Anglia to train one?  I think sometimes you all want me to be this thing, and you forget that I'm just a scrubber slave who learned to kill."

"You're not just anything, Sal.  You may have been a slave, or you could have been a queen, but there's nothing that simple about you.  Stop fighting it, and just be who you are – whatever that is – and you'll be happier for it."

"I'm trying.  That's why I want to be with Jase, because I feel something, but I don't know what it is.  I want to figure it out, though.  I'm trying to follow my instincts."

Blaec said nothing for a moment, his eyes looking into the future.  "Promise me something?"

She nodded.

"Do what makes you happy, not us.  If that's making him the first man, or finding someone to replace me, or whatever it is, just do what makes you happy?"

"You make me happy, Blaec."

"Promise me, Sal."

"I'll do what will make me the most happy.  I swear.  I make no promises about fleeting moments of happiness though, ok?"

He laughed at that.  "You really are a demon, but I love you for it."

Chapter 28

The suite was muggy but not as hot as it was outside, so when Sal felt a waft of something cool trail down her neck to her back, she paused.  Blaec inhaled quickly, instinctively glancing toward the door before he smiled.

"What was that?" Sal asked.

"Just wait."

She cocked her head at him and flicked her ears back playfully.  "You felt it too. I saw it."  He nodded, and his smile grew wider as Sal felt a second soft touch against her spine, like the velvet of Arden's nose across bare skin.  "Ok, really," she said.  "What was that?"

"That's the new guys joining the link.  We all feel different, and it's different to each of us."  Blaec kissed her quickly.  "Now get up, love.  They'll be in here soon."

Sal grumbled but pulled herself away from Blaec.  "I'll get the forms for their promotions filled out.  Anything else we need?"

"Wage schedule," Blaec reminded her.  "Put them at the top rate for Lance Corporals, add hazard pay and elite benefits."

She nodded, walking into the office, and called over her shoulder, "Written, like you did mine?"

"Yeah.  It's their choice to share that or not."

Sal sat behind the desk, moving stacks of maps and documents to give her enough space to work.  Her head was bent over the papers when the latch clicked.  She flicked an ear and inhaled, smelling Arctic and the new recruits enter.  When she didn't raise her head, they continued into Blaec's suite.  A few moments ticked past and the rest of their unit began to file in.  When the latch clicked again, Sal smiled.

"You're slipping," she said without looking up.

"I did na want yer knife in my gut," Cyno said from beside her. "So I let the door close."

"I'm almost done."  She looked up, feeling strangely shy.

"I'll wait with the rest then."

"No." She touched his arm gently.  "Just give me a second."

He nodded, so Sal finished the last of Audgan's pay schedule, then folded both.  She moved another stack of documents out of her way and pulled two dark envelopes from a box, slipping each man's paperwork inside.  Cyno waited without a word, the two of them alone in the office.

Finished, she turned back to him.  "We still good?"

"Yeh, we're good, Sal."

"When this meeting is over, did you have plans?"

He looked at her calmly, then the corner of his mouth twitched up slightly.  "I cleared my schedule after our talk earlier."

A nervous giggle slipped out and she glanced down.  "So when I come knocking at your door later, you'll let me in?"

"Nah."  He reached out and caressed the side of her face.  "Ya do na need ta knock.  Ya know which room is mine.  I'll be there.  If ya change yer mind, that's ok, too."

His fingers slid off her jaw, then he turned and walked into the suite.  Sal inhaled, caught a hint of fear, and ran her hands through her hair.  She couldn't be sure if it was his or her own.  Something about Cyno always made her feel like she should be impressing him.  Never mind that this meeting was about to change everything and she dreaded it.

The office door opened one last time and Sal turned to see Zep.  His eyes scanned her face as he closed the door behind him.

"You good?" he asked.

"Never thought I'd say this, Zep, but I miss Escea right now."

"That bad?"

She nodded.  "Let's get this over with."

Together, the pair walked into the suite.  Zep found a place against a wall and Sal moved to the couch, passing an envelope to each of the new recruits.

"Your wage schedule," she told them, before moving to sit on the arm of Blaec's chair.

Both recruits stared between her and their new commander.  Audgan quickly turned his eyes back to the paper in his hand, but Geoni refused to hide his interest.

"Get used to it or resign," Zep warned him.

"Just trying to figure out how things work," Geoni said.  "She submits to him."

"He won," Sal said.  "Of course I submit to someone more dominant than me."

"That's going to take me a while."  Then he looked at Zep.  "You probably don't get it, but that's going to take some getting used to."

"If you're trying to protect their secret," Audgan said to his paperwork, "you're a bit late for that.  Can't be within ten meters of him without us knowing."

"Of him?" Zep asked.

Audgan raised his head with a smug little smile.  "She smells like all of you. That's expected.  But him?"  The little man shrugged.

"Pretend like my senses are human," Zep suggested.

Geoni leaned back, looking at Zep defiantly.  "The Major and the Corporal both smell like her, but it's different.  They don't just smell like they've been close to her, they smell like..."  He trailed off, looking for the words.

"It's distinctive," Arctic said for him.  "Let it go, Zep."

"Is that our leak?" Sal asked Blaec.  "One of the recruits said something?  One of the pikes?"

"Probably."  Blaec didn't sound concerned.  "No way to know, and it's not something I'm willing to prevent.  I'm pretty sure 'she smells like him' won't give them a lot of leverage in a court-martial, ok?"

She nodded.  "Ok, fair enough."

"Can't be," Audgan said.  "Cyno smells like you, too."

The assassin chuckled on the other side of the room.  "I'm sure."

"Stronger now," Geoni clarified, "but you always have."

The Blades all looked at Sal.  She shook her head.  "Before today, we haven't been in battle since Yager's, guys."

Shift leaned closer.  "Geoni, explain that.  When did you first smell her on him?"

"Always?"

"When did you first meet him?" Shift persisted.

"He checked my papers the first day."

"Sal?" Shift asked.

"Nah," Cyno broke in.  "Leave her outta this.  If she amuses herself with me is na any of yer business."

"This time it is," Shift said.  "Pretty damned sure you haven't slept with her since the Warlords.  I could be wrong, though.  You two are pretty good at sneaking past the rest of us.  And I don't mean today."

Cyno's lip lifted in a snarl as he glared at Shift – who stared back.  When a deep rumble hit Sal's ears, she stood, but Blaec grabbed her hand.

"Let them," he whispered.

All eyes turned to the two men.  Shift puffed up and leaned toward Cyno.  That's when the little man struck.  He surged forward in one step and knocked Shift's legs out from under him, pulling a blade to drop beside him in one smooth motion.  Gently, he pressed the knife to Shift's throat.

"I said leave her outta this."

Shift glanced down and nodded.  "Umso, brother, but think about what he's saying.  He smelled her claim on you, even though you hadn't been with her for a month or more."

"What's between Sal and I is between Sal and I," Cyno growled.

"And your pack," Arctic said, patting his shoulder.  "He submitted.  Let him up."

Cyno pulled himself away, looking like he had to force every muscle, and sheathed the dagger.  He glanced up at Arctic once, then back to Shift before he stood and returned to his place against the wall.  Anger wafted from him.

That's the first time he's done that, Blaec thought to Sal.

What? she asked, confused.

Challenged anyone.  He's not as meek as he likes to pretend.

She nodded, then asked the rest of them, "Why does it matter?"

Shift lifted his hands in surrender and said nothing, so Arctic answered.  "First, it's plausible deniability.  I'm not dumb enough to give Cyno a reason to challenge me, so let me just say if your presence marks a man that clearly, for that long, what else do we not understand about you?"

"Is it because I'm pure, or female?"

"Both," Audgan said.  "Males smell distinctive, like that guy from Azure that was here, but females?"

Geoni laughed.  "It kinda carries."  He turned to Zep. "Think of it like smelling pastries and then running into the man covered in flour who smells like pies.  Pretty easy to figure out who is the chef.  You smell like her, too."

"Is there something I should know?" Blaec asked, chuckling.

"No," Zep said.

"The maast," Sal breathed.

"Ok."  Zep shrugged.  "That makes sense."

Blaec nodded.  "That, and she's always with one of the three of us.  Well, I think we just got our way to explain this.  Razor, you get those pips?"

"Put in a requisition.  Will have them by the morning.  I think their blacks will do well enough until then."

"Ok.  Shift, lock the doors.  Both of them."

The room waited in silence while Shift secured the suite.  When he was done, Blaec turned to the new guys and rested his hand on Sal's leg beside him.

"Your papers aren't final yet, so this is your last chance to back out.  The Blades don't work like other units.  We're a pack.  What I'm about to tell all of you is well above your clearance level.  If that makes you feel uncomfortable, then this is not the place for you."

"It'd leak out anyway," Audgan said.

"That's why we don't try to hide it.  Geoni?"

"Believe it or not, sir, I can keep my mouth shut."

Blaec nodded, accepting that.  "There's a fourth load of ore.  It's just been reclassified as first level clearance.  Sal already found it, though.  In three days, it should enter the mountains, heading through Echo Gap."

Sal leaned forward to get their attention.  "According to Ran Sturmgren – yes, he's on our side – the Blue Party in Parliament thinks that this will make a perfect example of how unfit the iliri are as elites.  Our mission today was to secure three loads of metal headed to Anglia to bribe the king to join with Terric.  Blaec was given the assignment."

"Without being given command of any other units," Arctic added, anger in his voice.

"I called in a few favors," Blaec continued, "which is how we got the elites here.  Most will return tomorrow and Azure should be back shortly after that.  Star Fall is our problem."

Sal nodded.  "Representative Toth has been seeking a way to discredit us."

"He's head of the Blue Party," Geoni said.

"Makes sense then," she admitted.  "He informed General Sturmgren of the load, and that Star Fall will make sure it's brought back.  They're supposed to hit it south of Ryass, well out of the mountains."

"So we need to intercept it before then?" Zep asked.

"Right," Blaec answered.  "But Geoni there just gave me a bit of interesting information.  Star Fall thinks the Devil Dogs are in allegiance with them."

"You sure they aren't?" Geoni asked.

"Yes," Sal, Zep, Arctic, and Blaec answered in unison.

"Ok, then."

"The Dogs are passing us intel," Sal said.

"And their commander is a former Black Blade.  He only left because I recommended him for the position.  If he'd been with us a bit longer, he'd be like Zep," Blaec explained.

"I ain't leavin', LT," Zep told him.  "Not even for a unit."

"I know, man.  That's the only reason I never recommended you.  I know better."  The two men shared a long look of understanding, then Blaec went on, "It's the 112th I'm worried about, but Sal is pretty confident that they're with us."

"They don't play those games, Blaec," Sal said.  "Not a one of them smell of anything but human when they're around me.  I've only met one man who can hide that.  Well, besides Zep."

Blaec nodded.  "Ran.  Yeah, I taught him that."

"He fucking had a blade for me and I didn't know because you taught him that!"

"He needed proof you weren't feral, love.  He got it, and you're in one piece."

"Ok, fair point."

"So," Blaec tried again, "Devil Dogs, and the 112th, I'm considering neutral right now.  Star Fall is aggressive, and we need to be extra careful around them.  We have three days, then we deploy.  We need to slip out of here quietly, without warning, so that we have a head start.  Geoni, Audgan, you have two days to get used to riding again.  I'm sorry, but this is a crash course.  Sal, you tell Cyno yet?"

She nodded.

"Ok.  Sal and Cyno will not be returning with us."

"What?" Zep asked, pushing himself away from the wall.

"We got orders, big brother," she told him.  "It's a long embed."

Zep swallowed and nodded.  "How long?"

"Year?"

Blaec sighed.  "This is first level, Zep.  We're removing the King of Anglia and putting Valmere in his place.  We talked about it in Stonewater."

"So it's official," Zep groaned.  "Sucks."

"Fuck," Razor whispered.  "That's not easy.  Pretty sure Valmere isn't even in contention."

"He will be," Cyno said.  "Bysno, Eriwald, Lord Jensen Idele and his son – and of course, the king.  I got stuff on Valmere too, kitten."

"Thanks, killer."

"So," Audgan said, bringing them back to the subject, "We need to stop a fourth load of ore, from Terric, I'm guessing?"

Sal nodded.  "The Emperor is using metal swords to buy Escea.  We shut that down with the Warlords there.  He's also trying to buy Anglia's support.  King Jensen has made signs to Terric that he's interested, and this would seal the deal.  We just shut down three of them today, but there's a fourth load."

"How can you be sure?" Geoni asked.

"Ok," Zep chuckled. "I like him.  We can keep him."

Sal grinned, but answered.  "It's the only reasonable answer, that's how we found it.  You tell me how to get two thousand kilos of metal moved in three shipments?  Two of which are traveling close together, and with a blatant military diversion, while the third is making a break south of Ft. Landing."

"Yeah, that is odd."

"So, two diversions, and two strategically placed to insure their delivery?" Audgan asked.

Sal nodded.  "Exactly."

"That means, while we're saving the country, we're also tip-toeing around the politics?" Arctic asked.

Blaec nodded.  "Exactly.  Star Fall is trying to have me court-martialed for an inappropriate relationship with Sal.  Any human would call it off with just that threat, so that's kinda how we're playing this.  One of the men from the 112th owes Sal a favor, and he's playing a diversion.  No, he isn't sure why, and yes, it was his idea."

"Eason," Razor said.  "Yeah, he's the type.  He'd figure he owes Jeisa's memory."

Sal's head snapped around to stare at him, her ears locked on his every move.  "You're familiar with the 112th?"

Razor nodded.  "And Eason.  Jiesa was my – I think humans would have called her my cousin.  Our mothers were second sisters."

"Second cousin," Zep corrected.

"Whatever.  We grew up in the same family but weren't all that close.  She took a bad injury a year ago or so and didn't live through it.  Eason was devoted to her.  The 112th all knew, too.  It wasn't a secret."

"Didn't know you had family in the elites," Arctic said.

Razor just chuckled.  "LT did.  It's how I got into my trials."

"And why I decided to spar with him," Blaec admitted.  "He impressed me when he never played on it.  But I didn't realize who it was.  Thing is, I don't want to know any more about what's going on with Sal and Eason.  It will make all of our reactions a bit more real.  Cyno, you are allowed to react, since your relationship with Sal is known.  We also need a reason to publicly end it."

"Why?" Zep demanded.

"Officially he's about to report to me," Sal explained.  "Yes, Parliament is trying to make my love life into a weapon."

"That rarely works," Audgan muttered.  "They don't understand iliri at all."

"No," she agreed.  "And I don't expect either of you to get tangled in this."

The pale boy looked up at her and smiled.  "Too late, Lieutenant.  We weren't raised by humans."

"Well, it's not a universal thing," Sal told them.  "Specialist Wyra is proof enough of that."

"Some of us regret our ancestry," Arctic admitted, "and go against what is natural for us.  It's easier.  It really is, but it isn't right."

"Fair enough, and I know I've thought the same thing before."  Sal cast a glance to Cyno.  He just smiled.

Chapter 29

"Ok," Blaec said, calling attention back to him.  "I have two days to get my assassins kitted out for a three month trip.  We're going to deplete the unit's annual budget for this, but we don't have any other choice.  I can get it replaced, I'm sure, but the Blades will be counting pennies for a few weeks at least.  Shit, I wish Tilso was here."

"Whatcha need?" Zep asked.

"To move their gear from here to Anglia with minimal problems.  Mules won't work for this.  They're going to be doing hit and runs, and dragging a mule after them?"  Blaec rubbed at his head, seeking the answer.

"I'll grab Tilso tonight and get him thinking about it," Zep promised.  "Worst case, can any of our horses pack?"

"Cookie can," Razor admitted.

"Cookie?" Geoni asked.

"My gelding.  He's the color of a cookie."  Razor just shrugged.

"And we can't be sure Arden will come back sound," Zep said.

"Then she takes Scorch," Blaec told him.  "We'll figure it out."

"Or Cessa, yeah," Zep agreed reluctantly.  "I'm gonna miss ya, little one."

"I know, Zep," Sal told him.  "But you know as well as I do what an opportunity this is for us."

"I have a question," Audgan said, looking at them all.

"Yeah?" Blaec asked.

"General Sturmgren.  He ordered Sal to put in a king that favors iliri?"

"No," Sal clarified.  "He made sure my orders gave me flexibility.  There's a lot of phrases like 'to the best of your ability' in them.  He told me what Parliament expects from us, and then gave me enough intel to justify another decision.  He did not order me to instill Valmere, but he sure made it very easy."

"Why?  You dropped his ass to the ground today.  Why would he do that?"

"He likes us, Audgan.  I'm not sure why, but he likes us," Sal said.

"I know why," Blaec told them.  "It's not my story to tell, but we can trust him."

"So what happens when we get back?"  This time the question was from Arctic.

"We either become heroes or martyrs," Zep said.  "I'm thinking five hundred kilos of ore makes a pretty nice headline, though."

"And then what?" Arctic pressed.  "Sal and Cyno gone? We're out of assassins.  They won't just let go of wanting to discredit us.  What do we do without them?"

"Ran is working on that," Sal said.  "He's trying to make life better for us all.  He asked me for ideas earlier, and I'm pretty sure he needs to use the Blades to implement them.  Quieting the discontent in Guttertown sure won't upset Parliament any, and if you're working for Ran Sturmgren, I think you'll be safe enough."

"Ok," Arctic said.  "We have three days.  What's first?"

"Sleep," Blaec said.  "Most of you are running on nothing.  In the morning, I want Zep and Tilso with Geoni and Audgan.  Zep, check those horses and make sure Tilso isn't over-mounting them."

"Can do, sir," Zep said.

"Razor, get Sal and Cyno the documents they're going to need.  Forge what you can't get legally."

With a chuckle, Razor nodded.  "Got it."

"Arctic..."  Blaec sighed.  "Run this through.  Make it clean and tight, with wiggle room."

"Why isn't Sal planning this?" Arctic asked.

"She's got enough on her plate," Blaec replied.  "You got this, man?"

"Yeah, not a problem.  You willing to look it over when I'm done, Sal?"

"Our tactics for the hit on the fourth load?"  When Arctic just nodded, she shrugged.  "Sure, but I don't know why."

"You'll catch what he might miss," Blaec told her.  "Ok.  Shift, you have two days to get Sal and Cyno med kits.  Teach her how to do basic medicine, too, since she's less likely to eat someone.  We're sending them to Anglia without a healer."

Shift nodded.  "Five assassinations and no medic?  That's pushing your luck, LT."

"I know, man, but it's what we have."

"K," Shift agreed.  "I'll get you some real good shit, Sal.  I just hope you don't ever need to use it."

"Me either," she agreed.

Blaec sighed and rested his hand on Sal's leg, then turned to the rest of the men in the room.  "Ok, get out of here.  I need to talk to Sal."

Shift turned to say something, but Zep shook his head, gesturing for them all to leave the suite.  Sal and Blaec's heads were turned together, their conversation silent and private.

You can't stay here tonight. You know that, right? Blaec asked her.

I do, Sal thought.  If there were eyes watching me enter Ran's rooms, then there's eyes watching me here.

I may not get to be alone with you again before you leave.

You will, love, she promised.  If you have to pick up some floozy in Guttertown, I'll find a way to have at least one more night with you.  I swear it.

He smiled.  You would too, you minx.

Sal's head cocked to the side and her ears flicked forward.  That reminds me.  Why does Jase call me kitten?

It's a saying from Guttertown, Blaec told her.  There's two types of women, pussies and kittens.  One you pay, the other you marry.

But iliri don't marry.

Blaec shrugged, That's a loose translation, Sal.  One you use, the other you love.  Better?

But he's always called me kitten, even when he barely knew me.

He nodded, waiting for her to make the next obvious realization.

Is this because you all keep saying I'm a Kaisae? Sal couldn't help but roll her eyes.  She was tired of everything coming back to that.

No, Blaec said, surprising her.  He grinned and tapped her nose.  It's because of something not even we understand.  The way you smell to us.

Sal chuckled and shook her head.  So, now you're trying to say that all iliri are madly in love with me?

No.  Just Cyno and I.  Maybe a few others, but no, not all iliri.  Ask him about it.  He'll explain it better than I can.

She clenched her jaw, frustration obvious across her face, and nodded.

We don't choose our lovers the way humans do, Sal.  You know that.  That's why Shift brings home more women than the others.  He can.  We can't.  This is nothing about you being special, except to us, and you already know that I think you're pretty special, right?

Yeah, she admitted.  Yeah, you have a point.  I'm just tired of being put on a pedestal, in the spotlight, and set up to fail.

We won't let you fail, Blaec promised.  All of the Blades are here with you.  We always will be.  Even if we're three countries away, we're still with you.  Ok?

Sal pressed her head into his chest.  I know.  I don't want to leave you, though.  I belong here, with the Blades.  With you.

You'll be with Cyno.

He's not you, she thought, her mind caressing his.

No, he's not, but he loves you quite a bit.  What aren't you telling me, sweetness?

What if I like him more than you? she asked.  What if I don't want to come back to you?  What if I'm wrong, and I'm stuck with him for a year?  What if I fall in love with him?

Blaec reached up, and gently touched her face, a sad smile on his lips.  Your questions tell me what you're really worried about.  If you love him more than me, Sal, then it's meant to be.  I won't complain so long as you still love me, ok?

But what if I don't?

Then you don't.  I can't make you love me.  I can only be the best man to you that I can.  I haven't been great about that, either.  If you give me up, then I have no one to blame but myself.

But I love you, Blaec.  You make me feel safe.  You take care of us.

And that's so iliran of you, he interrupted.  We will never know what will be, only what is.  And right now, that's you learning to stop worrying about what a man wants and start doing something you want.  Sal, you seek him out every time the maast hits you.  Him, not me.

She nodded.

You kiss him like you've never kissed me.  He held up his hand before she could send a thought.  I'm not saying better, I'm saying different.  I'll bet there's a lot more between the two of you that is different than between us.  He's iliri, Sal.  He can handle you in ways I will never be able to.  If you tried to bite me like you do him, you'd leave me looking like Zep.

I'd never hurt you!

No, you wouldn't, but I'm pretty sure you don't mind it at all that he bites you back.

Sal looked away, and Blaec laughed.

That's what I thought.  Sal, we're matriarchal.  Some things just don't feel right to us that you seem to take for granted.  Like a man making the first move.  Iliri men won't do that.  Cyno won't do that.  I'm pretty sure he never has.

No, he hasn't.

It's not because he doesn't want to, Blaec assured her.  It's because he doesn't know how.  Give him a chance, love.

Why do you care? she asked, trying to get the subject back on track.

He smiled and looked away.  I never would have expected he and I to share a woman, you know?  We're quite different.  I've always respected him, though.  Cyno's a bit feral, but I think a part of me wishes I could be wild like that.  I look at you and I see the potential for you to be like him.

Feral?

Wild, Blaec corrected.  I've been tamed, Sal.  Arctic, Shift, Razor, and even Risk.  We've all been tamed to varying degrees, but not Cyno.  I don't like thinking of you stuck in a human cage.  That's what they do to us.  The bars are made of politics and manners, but it's still a cage.

It feels like it sometimes.

He nodded.  A lot of the time.  And the more you're with him, the more you learn to love your freedom and not bow down to the rules humans try to impose.  A year with him?  I can only imagine what you'll be like.

Feral? she asked, worried.

If you are, then I'll learn to be feral, too, ok?  Sal nodded, and he wrapped his arms tightly around her, kissing the top of her head.  Now get up, sweetness.  Let me get your orders, then you have to go.  We can't take anything for granted anymore.

I'm going to him. You know that, right?

I do, he said, as he led the way into the office.  I just want you to do one thing for me?

Anything, Sal promised.

Talk to him.  Don't just lure him into bed.  He won't say no to that.  Neither of us would!  But talk to him, get to know him.  You have three days, Sal.  I can change the orders in the field if I have to.  Figure it out.

She chewed at her lower lip.  I'm just kinda scared.

I am too, he admitted, passing her a blue envelope.  I try not to show it, but I am.  My mind says this will be ok, though.  All of the options are still open.  So kiss me, then go read a book or something.

She did.  The kiss was gentle and sad, and she turned to the door with a sigh.  He followed her.  Unlocking the pin, he held it open.

The first full night of sleep I've had in a long time, he teased before saying "If you have any questions about your orders, Lieutenant, see General Sturmgren."

"Yes, sir," Sal told him, nodding professionally.  She turned, and walked down the long hallway without looking back.

Chapter 30

Sal tapped the envelope against her hand, staring at the door.  She glanced at the one next to it: her own room.  Rooms that she'd never used.  Her things were stored there, but she'd spent less than two hours in them since the Black Blades had arrived in Prin.  She debated which door to use for only a moment, then tapped at Cyno's.

"Come," he called.

She turned the handle and walked in, smiling when she saw his weapons properly stored.  "You cleaned."

"Yeh," he said, sitting at a small table.  "I had warnin' I'd have company this time."

"Blaec gave me the orders," she said awkwardly, holding up the envelope.

Cyno gestured to the chair beside him, smiling up at her shyly.  "Want anythin', Sal?  I've got coffee and mead."

"Coffee, actually."

"Black?" He made his way to the kitchenette.

"I'll drink it just about any way."

He held up a carafe and a small pitcher.  "Real cream?"

"You trying to impress me?" she teased.

"Nah.  It's a weakness a' mine.  One a' the servants in the mess brews me a pot of strong coffee at sundown so I have somethan when I'm readin'."

"How'd you convince him to do that?"

Cyno tried to hide his smile.  "Her."  Sal's ears flicked back as she glanced away, and he grinned.  "She refuses ta take no fer an answer."

"Sorry.  I can't control my damned ears half the time."  She refused to look at him.

"I'm jealous.  I wish I had yer ears."

"Really?"  He just nodded, so she pushed for more.  "Why?"

"They're beautiful and expressive.  I always know what yer thinking, and ya can pick up so much more than these things that are stuck ta the side of my head."  He shrugged, turned his attention to the coffee, and said softly, "Sometimes, the sunlight hits them jus' right and shines through the thin skin at the top, makin' them look like gossamer."

"What's gossamer?" Sal asked tentatively.

"Ever seen a web, covered in dew, in the mornin' sun?"  He glanced at her and made his way back to the table, "That.  Delicate, like it's from somewhere else.  The servant keeps trying, and I keep saying na, Sal.  I will na refuse the coffee and fresh cream, though.  I'm na stupid."

She laughed and accepted her cup from him.  "I don't mean to be jealous.  I'm sorry. I have no right."

"Ya have ever' right.  If she does it when yer around, ground her."

"We'll see.  What are you looking at?"  She desperately tried to change the subject.

"Anglian history.  Read those orders so we can get a better idea of what we're workin' with."

Sal opened the envelope, surprised to see it encoded.  "Jase, you have the fourth codex?"

"Maast," he whispered, glancing at the orders as if they were toxic.  "That's a big deal.  Yeh, I got it."  He grabbed a small book from his saddle pack beside the door and flipped it open.  Back at the table, he handed it to her.

Sal, able to transcribe the orders now, was impressed.  "Ran did good.  Short version, the orders state that myself and another Black Blade of Blaec's choosing are to be sent to Anglia to remove the current king and install one that shows an interest in forming an alliance with the Conglomerate of Free Citizens.  That's it.  There's a lot of stuff about how I'll need to make decisions based upon the information I am able to obtain in the field and crap like that."

"Remind me ta shake his hand," Cyno said.  It was not a casual compliment coming from him.  "Ok," he said, tapping the book in front of him.  "Here's the thing.  Valmere's a bastard's son.  He's been raised a bit diff'rent from most nobles."

"Explain that?"

"Typically, Anglian nobles are raised ta think they are better than those around them.  Their positions are inherited, na voted on, so bloodlines matter.  This one, though, his dava was Jensen's bastard, who managed ta marry the daughter of the former Valmere.  Since females can na inherit up there, that's the only way for Valmere to keep its seat in the family."

"Ok.  So what do we know of the current Marquis?"

"Single, liberally minded – for Anglia – has romanticized notions about democracy, and quite a few comments about his interest in our kind.  Seems they treat iliri as a myth up there."

"Really?  I know we purebreds are rare, but don't they have crossbreds?"

"If they do, they do na understand them.  Skin color is na a thing in Anglia, and they do na check teeth.  I'm guessing Dominik Jens – that's the current Marquis of Valmere's name – is gonna do well fer us.  He wrote a paper about the strong women in iliran mythology.  Prolly did na realize it'd get published."

"How bad is it?"

Cyno laughed.  "It's pretty bad.  Granted, looks like he was 'bout sixteen when he wrote it.  Primary graduation thesis.  Kinda reads more like some human's fantasy than anythan' close to our culture, but it's certainly favorable to iliri."  He chuckled.  "Ya do na wanna read it.  Ya'd kill him."

"So, how do we get rid of the rest?"

He looked up at her, a feral spark in his eyes.  "What do ya know of poisons?"

"Only what you've taught me."

"Ya sure we're going fer the bastard's kid?  Or do ya wanna check out Eriwald first?"

"No," Sal said.  "Ran was pretty adamant that Eriwald is anti-iliri.  We'll put Valmere in the chair."

"Throne," he corrected.  "K.  So, we hit the brother and his boy first.  I've got some long-acting poisons.  We'll need ta use the jakentrons and hit them traveling so we can make it look natural.  They will get real sick and wither.  May wanna consider hitting a few of their companions as well, ta make it look like a contagion."

"Nice.  Very nice.  No wonder you have the reputation you do."

He smiled at her proudly and continued, "Hit them before anyone knows we're in the country, then double back.  Make a public appearance in Bysno.  Rumors say he likes pale-skinned, dark-haired, married women.  That will give the country a time line fer where we are."

"So, that's like three free kills.  What about Eriwald?"

"Leave Bysno and make it known we are going ta Dorton and na used ta traveling in the snow.  We are na, but we can plan fer it."

"Snow?" Sal asked.  It was hard to think of snow in the middle of summer.

"Three months ta get there.  It's a lot higher elevation and further north.  Late fall brings snow ta Anglia, and a lot of it."

"Ok.  I haven't really seen snow before, except that bit we got two years ago in Ft. Landing."

"It's lovely, Sal."  Cyno's face grew distant.  "It makes the world different, ya know?  Smells are more intense and sounds sharpen, but the world is in shades a greys, like at night.  We should be able ta leave Bysno, hit Eriwald, and be in Dorton before our detour is noticed.  We're gonna need ta plan fer the horses, though.  Cold weather means extra forage, and snow packs in their hooves if they're shod."

"And we need shoes for the fourth load.  Fuck."

"I'll talk ta Tilso about it.  We'll need ta have them worked on while we are out, anyway.  Sal?  There's one thing ya need ta know about Anglia."

"What?"

"They do na like women there."

"Kinda like being iliri here?"

"Nah, nothing that bad.  Women breed and cook and stuff.  They can na own things.  They do na even get the right ta live on their own.  I mean, it's better than it used ta be, but, it's na like here."

"So what do they do?"

"Get married and produce heirs."

"So how do we convince this bastard that we can help him if he won't listen to me?" she asked, flipping open one of the books on the table to occupy her hands.

"Well, either ya try ta be submissive ta me, which prolly will na work well, or we teach them about our people?"

"You think they'll listen?  You know how humans get!  They think they know something and nothing will change their damned minds."  Sal growled and flipped a few more pages, glancing down at the pictures.

"I think this one might.  He's likely ta fall in love with ya, kitten."

She paused, and smiled.  "That is something I can work with.  Is it going to bother you if I play this man?"

"Na.  It's the job, Sal.  Ya seduce him and make him love our people, and it's na but good for us in the long run.  I think I can hold my jealousy for a while longer."

"Longer?"

Cyno clenched his jaw and looked away.  "I should learn ta think b'fore I speak."

"What happened to males not feeling jealousy within the pack?"

"I may have used the wrong words.  I'm envious but na hateful.  LT's family, but I can na stop wishing I was him, ok?"

"Don't," Sal told him, touching his arm gently.  "I don't want you to be him.  I kinda like this.  Together, planning things.  It feels..."  She sighed.  "I don't know the words.  I need this though, ok?"

"A strategist?"

"A man who can keep up with me," Sal corrected.

"Oh."  Her words were clearly not what Cyno had expected.  He nodded, then asked, "Ya know iliri do na try ta avoid things like humans, right?  We tend ta just talk it out, or fight it out."

"One of the things I love most about the Blades, actually."

He nodded, staring at the open book before him.  "So, does that mean I'm na fuckin' this up?"

"That's exactly what it means.  I'm not sure what I'm doing, but Jase, you're probably going to need more coffee, and I don't intend to talk tactics with you all night."

He closed his book and pushed it away.  "So what did ya wanna learn about instead?"

Sal tapped the picture in front of her.  "I want to know where I can get a set of these."  She flipped back a couple of pages and tapped at another picture.  "Or these.  I've never seen anything like them."

"It's iliri gladiator armor.  In the 2700s they used ta set us against each other.  Purebreds, usually.  They'd have specially made armors – most of it was as much weapon as defense – and they bet money on which one would live through the fight.  Winners were given their choice of mates, and the offsprin' were sold fer a small fortune.  The females were the most aggressive, of course, and their gear shows it."

"Could you imagine having something like this?" Sal asked, pushing the book in front of him, moving to stand over his shoulder.  She flipped a few pages and pointed out the sets she liked the most.  "Those are cutting edges on the forearms, and hooks at the wrist.  Backhand someone and you'd slash him open."

"Or catch on yer partner's pauldron," he teased, looking up at her.

Sal caught his eyes, the dark blue always shockingly beautiful, and glanced down shyly.  "I'd never do that.  Besides, you're too fast to get caught."

"Then maybe I need ta learn ta slow down," he said gently.

Sal trailed her fingers down his neck.  "Or I need to learn to move faster."

"Ya move as fast as ya can, kitten.  I'll wait for ya.  I do na understand why ya do the things ya do, but I accept ya fer who ya are."

"Why?"

He chuckled, "Ya would na believe me if I told ya.  Na yet."

"Try me, Jase.  Things are changing around me fast enough, that I'm willing to accept a lot right now.  Besides, I'm sure you have a book about it."

He grinned.  "I do, but ya can na read it."

"Then read it to me."

"Really?"

She nodded.  "You get the book.  I'll move the coffee closer to the couch."

"I can do that," he whispered, moving to a stack of books and rummaging through them.

Chapter 31

Sal grabbed the carafe and the pitcher of cream, set it on the table next to the coffee, then ducked into Cyno's sleeping chamber to get the pillows from the bed.  When she returned, he was flipping through a book, sitting on the couch.  Sal tossed the pillows against the arm rest.  She gestured for him to recline, then sat by his hip and pulled off her boots before laying against his chest.

"Now I can see without breaking my neck."

"Yeh, but ya'll break my arm there," he teased, then grabbed her and pulled her over his leg.  With her back to his chest, he rested his chin on her shoulder.  "Now I can see as well."

"So tell me why you put up with all the shit I keep putting you through."

"It's because yer perfect, Salryc Luxx," he whispered in her ear as he opened the book.  One finger traced the lines he read.  "Iliri have a tendency ta be a superstitious people.  Males often believe that they are destined fer a specific female.  Upon exposure ta her scent, these males become lifebonded, unable ta find attraction in another female.  The iliri have multiple words fer their mates, each of which has very specific connotations and societal implications."

"Mates?" Sal asked, pointing to a symbol.

"Yeah," he said, moving his finger to a new line.  "The iliri refer ta these dedicated males in vague terms, which is at odds with the rest of their language.  They simply say the male is meant fer, or intended fer, that female.  This has been explained as being due ta the female's preference for choosin' or rejectin' his courtship.  Rejection rarely cures the males of their dedication.  No one has yet clarified who or what they blame fer this phenomenon, as the iliri lack deities."

"What's a deity?" Sal asked.

"A myth or legend, I think.  Somethan that does na seem ta exist, but it effects the culture regardless.  We do na have anything like that, but humans used ta, many thousands of years ago."

"And you're meant for me?" she asked, scared of the answer.

"Yeh.  Blaec, too."

"Is that how it always is?"

"No," he said, pronouncing the word carefully.  "It is na so rare as the book makes it out, but it tends ta happen more in diverse populations."  He moved his hand to another line in the book.  "The iliri believe it's a biological signal that we'd be a good breeding match, as offspring from such pairings tend ta be superior ta those of typical matings.  Because we rarely have control of our own movements, it's rare fer a female ta meet two males who are genetically suited for her."

"I have no interest in having children, Jase," Sal told him.  "They would be born slaves."

"That has na to do with it, actually."  He breathed in the scent at her neck.  "It's how ya smell.  Does na matter if we ever have kids, it matters that I can smell ya, and it messes with my head."

"Not the most romantic thing you've ever said," she teased.

"Nah, its na, but ya asked how it works."

"What does it feel like?"

"Hm," he murmured, leaning back.  "Ya know how Blaec makes yer heart beat faster and ya smile when ya look at him?  How ya think he's beautiful?  Even his scars?"

"Does that come through when you touch me?"

"Some.  Most is what I see.  That is just how ya look at him.  That is how it is fer us, too.  When I took yer papers that first day, and ya lifted yer chin but forced yerself ta look down, I was impressed with yer spunk.  When ya looked at me after I fought that arrogant prick?  Ayati, Sal.  There ya were, the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, and ya were looking at me.  Me.  Like I was special."

"I'm not beautiful, Jase.  I'm a midget, built like a stick, with a head like a mouse and the ears to match!"

"Nah.  That is na what I see."  He pulled her hair away from her neck and kissed the thin edge of her ear.  "Ya look deceptively fragile, like a deer, but yer solid muscle, a perfect predator.  Yer agile and graceful, and ya do na walk anywhere, but glide, as if the ground gives way ta ya.  Yer skin is as pale as fresh snow, and yer hair, it's like some metal I've never seen, white, shiny, and priceless.  Yer eyes."  He chuckled.  "Ya dunno how many times I've thought it'd be worth it.  Ya'd put me in the ground, but it'd be so worth it ta just get lost in yer eyes.  They are na completely white, ya know?  They're like clouds, hints of color reflected back ta me.  And I love yer nose.  Humans always look like someone hit them in the head with a pipe.  Ya don't.  Yer nose," he chuckled again.  "Yer face is sleek and elegant, like a work of art, kitten.  Ya look like someone sculpted ya."

"And didn't finish," Sal said.

"And got it right," he corrected.  "Sal, just look."  He rested his hand against her arm, and she could feel him pushing a memory toward her.  She took it and looked.

It was her in training, curled into a chair, waiting for her session with him.  She was leaning over some book, hugging one knee against her chest, the other tucked under her rump, with a hand holding her loose hair away from her face.  The sunlight from the window lit her hair into a golden halo, and he paused, struggling to take in the beauty as his heart pounded in his chest.  Her delicate ear flicked toward him, acknowledging his presence, but he couldn't look away.  Her profile was streamlined and sleek, her figure was seductive.  Like a cat, everything about her was made to kill, every line refined and immaculate.  She looked up at him and he felt as if he could fall into the pale abyss of her eyes.

The memory faded, and Sal looked over her shoulder.  "That's how you see me?"

"Yeh.  Always.  I know how ya see yerself, and it is na the same."  He grinned.  "Yer just gonna have ta accept that I'm right and yer wrong this time."

She laughed.  "Ok.  I'll try.  I like your impression more than mine."

"Sal?" he asked, his voice insecure.  "The man from the 112th?  I know why we need ta put on this show, but it's just a show?"

"It's just a show."

"I am na sure what I will do.  I try ta stay away from humans, ya know.  I do na do well with them.  Ya are gonna have ta stop me."

"How?"

"I'll listen. Just make sure I hear it.  I will try na ta, but do na trust me, ok?"

"You're not feral, Jase."

"I am na far off.  We used ta eat them, Sal.  That's how I got conscripted."

"Humans?"

He nodded.  "I was feral when I became a Blade.  LT's the only thing that keeps me from going back.  I do na know what will happen in Anglia."

"I'll be there, too."

"Just do na ever eat one.  It's hard ta stop," he said softly.  "It's worse than the drugs they sell in Guttertown, kitten.  Do na ever eat them."

"But Zep's your closest friend."

"It's called irony.  I do na know why, but he is na like the others.  I've looked, and I've never heard of a human in a link. I've never heard of a human accepted into a pack.  He really is diff'rent."

"He feels different.  Maast, I'm going to miss them."  Sal's shoulders slumped.

"Ya know, those orders, they do na specify that I go with ya."

"I know.  I want you, though.  If I have to be alone with only one of you?  I just..."  Sal let the thought trail off.

"What?"

"I'd rather it was you."

Cyno brushed her hair back and kissed her head gently.  "We can prolly figure out how ta send Blaec.  He'd be perfect for this."

"I'd rather it was you," she whispered.

"Why?"

"I don't know."  She sat up and turned to face him.  "Blaec and I, we still have moments.  I look in his eyes too long, and by the time I remember to submit, he's angry.  He can't decide whether he wants to complete the mission or do something stupid to try to protect me.  Things like that.  I love him, I really do, but I feel comfortable with you."

"What does that mean, Sal?"

She looked into his deep twilight eyes, her ears sinking against her head.  "I don't know.  I've never..."

He smiled gently and leaned forward, his hand gently touching her face.  Slowly, he pulled her closer and kissed her, his lips just brushing against hers.  "It's ok.  They did na really let ya know yerself before.  I figure it's fair.  I've never really been in love before, Sal.  I've never felt like this."

"I won't throw that word out casually, Jase."

He smiled.  "I know, and I will na ask ya to.  If ya ever say it, it'll mean that much more.  Yer na telling me no, though."

"I don't think I can," she admitted.  "What I have with Blaec?  He makes me feel proud of myself, and I can understand it.  I can't explain it, but I can understand it.  With you?"

"What?" he begged.

Sal closed her eyes and took a deep breath.  Slowly, she opened them, not caring that he refused to look away.  "You feel like a place I want to stay forever.  This," and she gestured to the coffee on the table and the book beside him.  "This feels like how it's meant to be.  Home, Jase.  You feel like home, and it doesn't matter if we're here, or in a tent in Escea, or knee-deep in snow in Anglia, it just feels like my home is supposed to be where you are.  I don't know what you call that feeling."

He swallowed.  "I do.  In iliri, they call it cessivi.  We do na feel things the same as humans.  Ya do na need ta think of yerself by human standards.  Sal, ever' thing ya do, it's right.  Trust me, kitten.  And we have plenty of time ta figure it all out."

"Fuck," Sal groaned, looking around.  "What are we going to do with the books?"

He laughed.  "Zep will store them fer me.  I'll drag a couple along with us, ta give ya something ta learn ta read with."

"And you're going to teach me to speak Iliran, too?"

"Ya will be fluent by the time we're in Dorton.  I promise, ya will na talk like Guttertown trash, either.  I'll teach ya proper Iliran."

"How'd you learn?"

"My amma.  That's what she did.  She taught the young ones ta read and such.  She was na a fighter, but she was a strong woman.  She wanted a large family, but it did na happen."

"You going to see her before we leave?"

He shook his head.  "Na.  Soon as I try that, I'll make her happy, just ta get killed.  Easier if she does na know.  I'll tell her when we get back.  We'll have a nice stash of back pay, and I can buy her somethan' nice, and introduce ya to her."

"Me?"

He shrugged.  "If ya'd be willing ta.  I may na be one of yer men, but ya mean somethan' ta me.  I'd like ya ta meet her, a' least."

"How does it work, Jase?"

"What?  Meeting my amma?"

"No," Sal said.  "Being my second man."

"However we decide ta make it work, Sal.  If ya grow tired of me, ya can refuse me.  It does na happen often, but ya have the right."

"I know, you keep telling me that, but what does it mean to you?"

"It means that when some man tries ta touch ya, I have the right ta protect ya.  It means that I do na have ta feel embarrassed about daydreamin' about ya.  It means that I know ya will wanna see me one more time."

"What does it mean to me?" she asked him.

"That I'm yers.  I'm already yers, though, Sal.  It just means ya want me back."

"It means I don't have to hide the way I feel about you?" she asked.

He nodded.  "If ya think about it in humans, it's like a man offerin' to marry a girl.  He may already be in her bed, but if he wants ta marry her, it's his way of saying he wants more than just one night.  He wants to see where things go and learn ta grow and change with her.  Na all humans marry, but when they do?  There's a certain respect for the relationship that society gives it.  It is the same thing with us.  Ya claimed LT.  Whether ya meant to or na, ya did.  It let him put Wyra in his place by sayin' ya were his, because ya are."

Sal finally began to understand.  "If I claim you as my second man, it gives you a claim on me, and you don't have one now.  It means I don't just think of you as some toy.  It would let you feel pride instead of shame when Shift asked about us earlier?"

He chuckled.  "Yeh, I think ya get it."

"I don't though, Jase.  I never have thought of you like some toy to be thrown away when I get bored."

"I know," he said.  "That's why I am willin' ta wait."

Sal pressed him back against the couch and lay across his chest, looking deep in his eyes.  "I don't know what this feeling I have is.  I can't even begin to explain it to you, Jase, but I feel like I belong with you."

"I'll always be here, kitten."  He traced the line of her face.

"And I'll always need you.  You make me feel complete.  You make me feel like I'm doing something right."

"That's all I ever wanted," he whispered.

Sal leaned closer and kissed him.  When his teeth grazed against her lower lip, she knew that she never wanted to be without him.  He was the only person who understood the instincts raging inside her.  Blaec might accept them, but he didn't truly understand what pulled at her.  Cyno always did.

But it was so much more than that.  She hated the idea of the kitchen servant trying to impress him.  She wanted everyone to know that he belonged to her.  She was more than just a slave turned soldier.  She was truly iliri, and he made her proud of that.  He showed just how strong her people were.

There was nothing wrong with loving Blaec and wanting Cyno as her own.  The men said it over and over: it was ok for her to feel like this.  There was nothing wrong with being iliri.

"I want this," she whispered against his lips.

He kissed her again.  "I will give ya anythin' I can, kitten."

"Then be my man?"  She pulled away enough to look at his face.

His eyes widened but he said nothing for a moment.  "I will na push ya into that, Sal."

"I know.  I want this.  I want you to be mine and no one else's.  I want you to be proud of what we have.  I belong with you, Jase.  You're the one thing that always makes me feel safe."

"Always, kitten.  I'll be yer man so long as ya will have me."

"Forever," she breathed as her lips met his again.

Chapter 32

It was too early.  Sal poured coffee from the counter in the mess hall, her clothes rumpled and her body wishing for more sleep.  Rubbing her eyes with a fist, she smiled when she saw the pitcher of cream.  A dollop went in her cup, and she flicked an ear at the sound of footsteps approaching.

"Morning, demon," Arctic said cheerfully.

"I haven't had coffee yet," she warned him, but he just laughed.

"And when was the last time you ate?  You get snappy if we don't feed you regularly."

She shrugged.

"Go sit, I'll bring something," he ordered, tilting his head at the table they typically used.

It was empty at this time of morning.  Sal staggered to a chair, leaning her head over her coffee as she tried to force herself to wake up.  A plate of meats was set before her, then Arctic slid into the chair beside her.  He rubbed her shoulder briskly.

"Drink that.  It doesn't help much unless it's on the inside."

She gladly obeyed, taking a long gulp and feeling the effects almost immediately.  Made from plants, it tended to hit her harder than it did humans.  Right now, that's exactly what she needed.  Sal snatched at a piece of pork then took a second long drink.

"Long night?" he asked.

"A long, good night, Arctic.  I claimed him."

"Bout time," he teased.  "I'm glad.  I don't really get the harem thing, since I was raised new iliri, but it seems to work for you all."

"I don't really get the harem thing, either," she admitted.

"You ok with this?"

"I'm just - " she stopped, not sure what she was trying to say.

Arctic rubbed her shoulder gently, understanding.  "I bet.  They're good men, Sal.  We all fight and squabble, but that's normal in a family.  Believe it or not, it is.  Don't let the thing with Shift make you think less of Cyno."

She chuckled.  "It's kinda sweet, actually.  He doesn't want our private life to be a public thing."

"This mean you're gonna spend more time with him now?"

"A year isn't enough?"

"I meant before you go."  He turned his pale eyes to her, and she met them.  His expression was a little too serious.  "You do not have to claim him.  You do not have to take him to Anglia.  This really is a choice that only you can make, you realize that, right?"

"And Blaec?"

"You don't have to claim him either, but you seem more relaxed about him than Cyno."

"Is it that obvious?"

Arctic just nodded.

"Ok, good to know.  And no, I don't feel pressured.  Ayati, Arctic, Jase would never want me to claim him just to make things easier."

"Interesting choice of words," he pointed out.

"What?"

"Ayati."  He pushed her plate at her.  "You know what that one translates to yet?"

"It's the iliran belief in things that are meant to be."

He nodded.  "Maast is the chaos in our lives, embodied by the bloodlust.  Ayati is the order.  There are some things in life we can take for granted.  You drop a rock and it will fall down, not up.  Rain will always be wet.  Fire will make heat.  These things are Ayati."

"I thought that was nature," Sal asked.

"The order of nature.  Order is important there.  But Ayati is more than just gravity and physics.  You and Cyno?  You're ayati.  You're meant to be."

"I'm not following."

"More coffee."  He smiled in jest, but continued, "The rest of us?  We feel sparks between you, like static electricity or something.  I don't know how to explain it, but when the two of you are together, it's obvious.  I don't know why you're with LT, but you both are happy with it, so it's none of my business.  Cyno, though?"  He shrugged.

"Am I making problems between the rest of you?"

"No.  Nothing like that.  I just wanted to make sure you knew you had options.  You're not forced into this, Sal."

"Into what?"

"Any of it.  We can refuse the mission to Anglia.  We can assign you a new partner.  LT doesn't have to be your lover, or Cyno.  It's all your decision."  He rested his hand on her arm gently.  "I like you, Sal, but not like they do, so I'm out of this crazy circle.  I can't say you don't pull at me, because you do, but if you need an ear, I have two for you."

She nodded, suddenly feeling a wave of relief wash over her.  "Ok, what is the deal with the rest of them, then?"

He paused, casting a careful look at her.  "Um," he said tentatively, "Sal.  Iliran females were designed. We read that in those histories."

"Yeah, they made us all to be soldiers."

"Jase didn't show you the other pages, did he."  It wasn't a question.

"What other pages?"

"Fuck," he whispered.  "Um, they designed the females to be seductive.  We males are pretty instinctual about things, but they made you to appeal to all males."  His eyes watched her reaction.  "Humans, too."

"Stop tip toeing around this, Arctic," she growled.

"Silsyx, the woman who wrote those, she spelled it out pretty clearly.  They designed our females to be sex toys."

Sal's eyes went wide and her ears dropped.  "And everyone knows this?"

Arctic shook his head.  "No.  Those papers are still under review and most people can't read Iliran like Cyno.  He was able to make out some of those ancient symbols that the professors are still debating.  I just figured you should know that before we send you out alone.  It's just another weapon for a Kaisae."

"Do they keep slaves in Anglia?"

"No." He gripped her arm.  "No, and Cyno would kill anyone that tried. That's why we want him with you."

She nodded.

"I did your background review, demon," he said gently.  "I read your file."

"I was a gymnast."  She dared him to deny it.

"I'm sure.  So, are you going to be ok out there alone with Cyno?  I know he isn't as sensitive at times as LT can be.  We can send Risk, Shift, or even Zep.  I'll go, if that works better."

She laughed.  "You'd leave the Blades deaf, Arctic.  No, I'm good with Cyno.  He's not human.  I trust him in ways I don't trust many others.  I don't know if that makes any sense."

"It kinda does."  He drained the last of his coffee and glanced in the cup.  "LT's coming, and the 112th should be back today.  Eat something.  I have a feeling you didn't have a very restful night."  He winked at her and stood.

"Hey," she called, stopping him.

"Yeah?"

"Stop worrying about my past.  It's done."

He smiled at her sweetly.  "As soon as you do."

She growled and tossed the uneaten chunk of pork back on the plate, then thought better of it.  Sighing, she ate what Arctic had brought her and finished the coffee, thinking about a second cup when Blaec entered the mess.  He smiled at her, grabbing her cup as he made his way to get his own.  Carrying both back, he sat on her right.

"He still in bed?"

Sal nodded.  "We stayed up late talking."

"And more, I'm sure.  You good?"

"Arctic just asked me the same thing.  What are you all saying when I'm not around?"

Blaec just held up a hand, waving away her anger before it could start.  "We discussed strategic options last night, and he asked where you were.  He and I have been friends a long time, Sal.  There's a reason I made him second."

"Ok, fair enough.  You didn't answer the question, though."

"He asked me why I'm standing in Cyno's way."  He met her eyes easily, waiting for her reaction.

"You aren't."

Slowly, his shoulders relaxed and he smiled.  "Good.  Just so long as you know it, too.  So you going to tell me how things went between you?"

Sal smiled, "We have a plan for Anglia."

"That's not what I meant."

She laughed, smothering it with a sip of her coffee.  "I'm exhausted, and I should have spent the night sleeping."

Blaec's laugh rumbled deeply.  "Worst part about being your officer?  I have to make sure that what others see is what we want them to.  I'd kiss you now, otherwise."

"Jealous?"

He shrugged.  "A bit, but I'm happy for you at the same time."

"I asked him to be my second man."

"Now that, I'm very happy to hear.  Might keep him a bit less feral."  He leaned back and took a gulp of his coffee, making a face as he burned his tongue.  "Ok, so here's what you missed.  The 112th should return today, and that means Star Fall with them.  Devil Dogs should be back tonight.  If all goes well, tomorrow we're shopping."

"Shopping?"

He nodded.  "You'll need court clothing for both of you, winter gear, and more.  Tilso had some ideas about storage, and we think we'll be able to keep everything to just your two horses, but it'll be tight.  Depending upon what we get will determine if we need to find a pack horse."

"Might not be a bad idea to have a backup mount if things go bad."

"That's kind of what I'm thinking.  Granted, neither of you are heavy enough to strain a horse double, so it's not as big of a concern as it could be."

Sal's ear flicked over her shoulder, and she grinned.  Blaec's eyes followed.  "Your girl left cream out," she told Cyno, as he walked past.

He glanced shyly at Blaec but nodded, making his way to the coffee.  Unlike Sal, he didn't have to be reminded to eat, filling both his cup and a plate before returning.

"Congratulations," Blaec told him.  "Does this mean we can stop trying to avoid mentioning anything about you and Sal, now?"

"Na till I've eaten," the little man teased.

"I'll take that as a yes.  Ok, let me catch you up.  Ore returns today, three units, shopping tomorrow, discussing whether to pack two or three horses."

"Two," Cyno said.  "We travel light, managin' a packer in a run would get us killed."

"Can do." Blaec agreed.  "And you get court clothing."

Cyno shrugged.  "Figured.  Dresses fer Sal.  They do na approve of much else."

"Easy enough."  Then Blaec slid his closed fist across the table.  "Something else for you, brother."  When he moved his hand, a pair of black chevrons lay against the smooth wood.  The two sharp peaks rested over a pair of crossed blades.

"You've been making a lot of custom rank badges," Sal said appreciatively, before turning to Cyno.  "Congrats.  I still out-rank you."

He laughed at that, gently touching the chevrons.  "Ya always will, Sal, regardless a what the military thinks.  Thanks, LT.  Ya want me ta wait b'fore putting these on, so ya do na have ta demote me later?"

"The thing with Eason?"

Cyno nodded.

"No.  Put them on.  Not sure how many people notice your rank anyway."  He pointed at Cyno's shoulders, which were devoid of any identifying marks.

"Fair 'nough.  We're gonna need some high end supplies, LT."

"Like?"

Cyno reached in his pocket and passed a slip of paper over.  "These should take care of most a them.  Add a pair of jakentron to it."

"A pair?"

Cyno nodded.  "Gonna have ta hit least two at once.  I'd rather she has a weapon she's used ta."

"You know it's a classified weapon, right?"

Cyno shrugged.  "I'm ranked fer it.  So's she.  They listed the job, and it's easy enough ta hide."

"Murtadem?" the Major asked, reading down the list.  "What the hell are you two doing?"

"Our job," Sal told him.  "Bysno has a family history of heart conditions."

"You got all this last night?"  He was shocked.

Cyno just grinned like a pleased animal.  "That was the first hour.  This is gonna work out.  That little Marquis?  His whole world's about ta change."

"You don't think there's going to be a problem with nobility dropping dead as soon as Conglomerate ambassadors arrive?"

"No," Sal said, "since they'll be dropping before we manage to make it to Bysno, officially."

Blaec just waved it all away.  "I shouldn't ask.  I have the best damned assassins in the CFC.  I should know not to ask."

"Ya should, but yer too curious," Cyno said, smiling deviously.  "Ya'd be good at it if ya ever let yerself try."

"I do better where I am, man, but thanks for the vote of confidence.  I'm also glad she finally asked you, just so you know."

Cyno looked away to hide his embarrassment.  He smiled, then glanced back as he said, "Thanks.  Feels pretty good.  The rest know?"

"Sal told Arctic, so if they don't yet, they will."

"One day," she muttered, "I'll understand my own culture."

"You just raised his rank with the men," Blaec explained.  "A lot."

"What does that mean?" she asked.

"I'm the general, you're the major, he's now a captain."

"Where does Arctic fit in?"

"Mm."  Blaec chewed his lip as he thought.

Cyno answered instead.  "He's yer equal, Sal, because ya let him be."

"So, how does the rank change?"  She looked between them both, trying to wrap her mind around the delicate balance between their pack and their unit structure.

"You're at the top," Blaec explained.  "For the rest of us, it's a mixture of where you put us and who we dominate."

"I feel like I'm not playing by the same rules as the rest of you."

"You aren't," he assured her.  "If we had other females, you'd compete with them, but we're a bit short on available women."

"Ya'd win too," Cyno said, reaching up to brush her hair back.  "Ya could na help it."

"I try to keep our official rank pretty equivalent to our social," Blaec said, gesturing to Cyno's chevrons.  "That's why he got the promotion.  He earned it a year ago, but never took it."

"So you just have those sitting around?"  The insignia they'd all received lately was anything but standard-issue.

"General Sturmgren brought them.  The new boys will get theirs when they reach Corporal.  I'll promote them as soon as they do anything worthwhile."

"You started me as a Corporal, though.  Why?"

Cyno chuckled.  "Ya were a bit more impressive than they were, kitten.  Ya have na slowed down none, either."

Blaec just nodded.  "Your final trial?  You nailed it.  I didn't realize how at the time, which is actually more impressive, but yeah.  Arctic and Zep basically told me that if I didn't make you a Corporal, they would."

"Can they do that?"

"Technically, but it causes a few issues."

Cyno sucked back the last of his coffee, shoved a bit of cheese in his mouth, then stood.  Swallowing quickly, he told them, "I need ta get a few things taken care of b'fore the rest return.  Keep an eye on her, LT."

"Can do.  I need to check out the new guys on their horses.  I'll drag her with me."

Cyno nodded, then bent and kissed her neck, causing Sal to look up at him shocked.

"I can do that now," he said softly.  "And it sure will na hurt for people ta see me do it in front of LT."  He grabbed her hand and squeezed it quickly, then left, moving as silently as he'd entered.

Blaec sucked back the last of his own coffee, gesturing to hers.  Sal followed suit, then grabbed both cups along with her plate, and set them in the designated tray while her commanding officer waited for her at the door.  She smiled, realizing how full the mess had become while she'd eaten.  Quite a few eyes followed her as she moved across the room.

"Ok, sir.  My ass is moving."

"You want to check on that stallion since it's on the way?" he asked.

She nodded.  Things should have been awkward between them when she told him about Cyno, but instead, the opposite had happened.  She felt more at ease with both of them.  Sal knew better than to question it.  If she'd learned anything during her time with the Blades, it was that acting iliri just felt right.

Chapter 33

Rax was doing well.  Not surprising, since he'd been healed by Shift, but Tilso had been unable to find a single thing wrong with him.  He moved easily and showed no muscle soreness anywhere.  The Stablemaster, now that he was aware of the tricks the iliri had been using, had done his best to cover the horse's miraculous recovery.  Rax had been massaged and worked in hand as well as on the lunge.  Tilso's skill made it appear as if the horse had blossomed with the care rather than simply being fine all along.

"Two days," Sal said to him.  "Not bad."

Tilso just shrugged.  "Shift's got the knack," he said with a wry grin.  "Just hoping Arden comes back as sound as she went out."

"Me too," she agreed, thinking of her mare.  "It's the 112th, though.  If she took a wound, it wouldn't be from lack of care."

"And you can let them near the horses," LT added.  "Pull out Scorch if they ask for it."

"You selling breedings?" Tilso asked.

"Officially, no.  It's frowned on to run a breeding operation, but it's not like we get a lot of quality horses any other way.  Unofficially, we do a lot of favors between units.  Captain Tolan's made comments and we need to kit out a pair of assassins."

"Can do, sir," Tilso said, understanding.  "The 112th has a lot of light gear designed specifically for them.  Get one of their tents and I can get it dyed black."

"I think I can do better than that.  Tilso, you think you can get eleven of them dyed?"

"Eleven?"

LT just nodded.

"Yeah.  A spare?"

"Yours," Sal said.

Tilso chuckled but shook his head.  "I appreciate it, sir, but I sleep where Risk is."

"Not with the full army.  I don't care if it stands empty, I'm not giving anyone a reason to cause us grief."

The boy shrugged.  "Yes, I can get eleven of them dyed.  I run a hard deal too, sir."

"Then I think you just got a new job.  I don't work with Azure or Star Fall, though."

"Understood.  So what did you think of the new horses?"

"Headed there now, actually," Sal told him.  "Want to show me what you got?"

"Yep!"  Tilso led the way through the barn, toward the arena.

Audgan and Geoni sat astride their horses, Zep in the center of the ring.  Both men had their hands crossed, guiding the horses with their legs, and Geoni seemed a bit worried about it.

"Take a break," Zep called to them.  "Two laps, and work out the muscles.  You'll be showing off in a second."  The boys sighed gratefully, and Zep motioned his officers toward him.  "Tilso did good."

"They Terran?" Sal asked, meaning the horses.

"Not sure, but they are experienced.  Little mare is a hellion, but Audgan has her in hand nicely.  The gelding is a bit lazy, but he knows when to work and when he can goof off.  Wanna try one, Sal?"

"No," she said, "But I want to see LT on the mare."

"Audgan!" Blaec bellowed.

"Yes, sir?"

"Come here, I want your horse."

"Yes, sir!"  The pale little man trotted his mare over to dismount.

He offered the reins to the Major and, with little more than a glance, adjusted the stirrups.  Blaec dipped his head in acknowledgment, an impressed look on his face, then stepped into the saddle.  The mare's head went up immediately and she locked her ears back.

"Try it," Blaec growled.

The horse skittered, then moved into his aids, walking stiffly along the rail.  Halfway around the arena, she tried to bolt.  LT put his legs on her, urging her forward, pushing the spunky mare into a gallop.  Her trick didn't work, so she decided to try another, this time letting out an impressive kick without slowing her forward motion.  It didn't bother her rider, so the next stride, she began to buck.

Blaec pulled her head to his knee and sat deep, moving her forward.  They made three tight circles before the mare stopped, ears still pinned, blowing hard.  Blaec just reached down, patted her neck, and asked her to move out again.  This time, the horse's ears flicked forward and she obeyed.  In moments, she was half-passing across the width of the arena, engaging her body and moving nicely.  Patting the mare's shoulder, Blaec asked her to halt and dismounted.

"She's going to be nice with some hours, Audgan," he said.  "How are your hands?"

"Light," Tilso answered for him.  "That's why he got the mare.  She doesn't like a solid aid at all."

"Mr. Tilso is a genius with the horses, sir," Audgan said.  "Showed me how to keep her happy, and we've been doing pretty good.  She doesn't feel like the other horses I've ridden, sir, but I have no complaints."

"Park horses," Tilso muttered.  "No, she won't feel like that at all.  The Geo guy, he's a bit ham-fisted on the bit still."

"Geo guy?" Sal asked.

Tilso just shrugged.  "It's Geo something, and I can never remember what."

"I'll answer to Geo," the man in question said as he rode by.  "Zep, Sal, Cyno, Geo.  Yeah, it's close enough."

"He's a smart-ass," Zep said, but he didn't look as if he minded.

"Geo it is," Blaec agreed. "Makes it easier to scream at you when you get out of line.  Now pick up a right lead canter, Geo!"

The dark haired man stopped grinning and concentrated, squeezing the horse gently.  The gelding hesitated, but managed to find the proper lead and move into the canter.  LT walked around the ring after him, calling out more orders, and Zep pulled Sal aside.

"Someone said something this morning," he whispered.

"I asked him, Zep," Sal said.  "It's true."

"You ok with this?"

She nodded.  "More than I thought.  It just feels right, you know?"

"You love him?"

"I dunno," she said softly.  "Maybe?"

"You want him to be one of your men, but you aren't sure if you love him?"

"I don't want to share him," she said lifting her chin, daring him to contradict her.

He did. "I don't believe for a moment that's the only reason, demon.  You're scared of it, aren't you?"

"I'm fine, Zep."

"Bullshit.  Those two are about the best things you could ask for, and you know it as much as the rest of us.  So why are you holding back if it isn't fear?"

"Why do you care?"

He tapped her nose and smiled.  "Because you’re all three my friends."

Sal glanced over at LT and sighed.  Tilting her head, she indicated Zep should move farther away with her.  When they were well outside anything an iliri could hear, she turned back to him.

"It's different with Jase, ok?"

"How?"

"If I knew that, I wouldn't be avoiding the answers, Zep!"

"Fair enough.  So explain the difference."

She nodded, thinking about it.  "Blaec makes me happy.  Things between us are safe, predictable, and exactly what makes me comfortable.  Jase?  He's never what I expect.  He goes from one extreme to the next.  Submissive to dominant, playful to deadly..."

"Loving to...?" Zep asked.

"That's the only thing he seems to be consistent about," she admitted.

"And you're about as unpredictable as he is," Zep pointed out.  "So what's the problem?"

"Me.  I'm working it out, Zep.  He knows that.  No one seemed this concerned when things started between Blaec and I."

"LT can handle his own shit.  Cyno?"  Zep dragged a hand over his mouth.  "Shit, Sal, he's never loved a woman in his life.  Never.  He and I've been through a lot of shit, and we had way too much time to talk.  When he was training you, back when you were new, he asked me what to do.  He couldn't stop thinking of you but he knew all about that trick you played on LT.  Every time the two of you sparred, you hit him with it."

"Is it possible to do anything about that?" Sal asked.  "I mean, every time I touch him, he's getting reads from me."

"No," Zep told her.  "It's why readers are always a bit off, or so they tell me.  Cyno's a damned strong reader too.  Don't ever try to hide anything from him."

She looked at him, confused.  "Why would I?"

Zep just shrugged.  "Why would anyone?  He's an open book, Sal.  You just have to ask.  He's not going to lie to you or hide things from you.  It's just how he is."

"It's like," Sal paused, but a look from Zep encouraged her.  "Zep, he's like the other part of my mind.  I feel so comfortable with him.  From the first time we met, I've always felt at ease with him.  Remember when you took me to the pub after our spar?"

"The red outfit.  How could I forget that?"

"Do you remember when I danced with him?"  Zep shook his head, so she continued, "I rested my head on his shoulder.  I barely knew him, but it just felt like it was ok.  I don't do that, Zep."

"I know.  You avoided touching me for weeks if you could help it."  He nodded, thinking, then said, "Sometimes I worry that you're going to rip him up and spit him out a broken man.  He'd let you, too.  You wouldn't mean to, but I still worry about it."

"Don't let me?" Sal begged.  "Maast, don't let me do that."

Zep just shrugged.  "This one's on you, demon.  You're going to be too far away for me to step in.  Just stop playing the hard bitch when you're alone with him, and let him in your head a bit, ok?"

"I do," she said softly.  "It's not my head that's the problem."

"The rest will come.  Damn, I'm going to miss the two of you."  He hugged her close.  "I really am.  You're both the closest friends I've had.  Just make sure he doesn't kill any humans he isn't supposed to, and bring him back safe, ok?"

She grinned.  "Ok.  You going to tell him the same thing?"

"Nah," Zep said, blowing that off.  "Don't need to.  But good luck getting him to handle Anglian court.  I don't envy you that."

"It won't be that much easier for me," she told him.  "I don't have the first clue how to deal with human nobles."

"Just act like LT," Zep told her.  "Pompous, arrogant, and like you know more than them.  You do, you know."

"Yeah," Sal said.  "I know."

Chapter 34

Sal sat in the shade of a tree in the courtyard, a book about Anglian nobility on her lap, a pad of paper beside her.  She made careful notes about questions that came up as she read.  Anglia was a strange country, with an archaic government system that had evolved over the years.  Rule of the country was inherited, but the public demanded a council of lords, yet the king could add or replace members of it at his whim.  It sounded completely inefficient.

The military in Anglia was worse.  Tradition demanded that their combat be honorable, and from everything she could read, that meant lining up across a field, waiting to die.  Infiltration, specialized units, and guerrilla warfare were things that Anglia shunned as distasteful.  Their cavalry was extensive, but only terrifying because of the number of soldiers the country could field.  Anglia's military was the largest on the continent.  She bent to make another note and paused mid-sentence.  She smelled well-worked horses.

We have returning soldiers, she warned her unit.

Quickly putting her things away, Sal removed the evidence of her research.  She didn't want to make it well-known that her classified mission was related to her sudden interest in Anglia.  Then she returned to the courtyard.  The rest of the Black Blades were trickling into the area.  A few of the 97th Pikemen noticed, and soon the courtyard began to fill, soldiers hoping the units returning would bring good news.

A pair of horses entered the compound gates, large crates slung between them, smiles on the rider's faces.  Behind them came another pair, and another after that, five crates in total.  Sal saw a flash of spots and leaned, trying to catch a glimpse of her mare, but the soldiers crowding the space prevented her from getting a clear view.  She could easily see the men of Star Fall dragging in behind the 112th, though.

"C'mon, give us some room," Captain Tolan yelled.  "This shit ain't light."

"Over here," Blaec yelled, lifting his hand to be seen in the mess of bodies.

"Five hundred kilos of steel, as ordered," Captain Tolan said proudly.  "Star Fall did a damned good job of getting us to it.  Shit's heavy as a bitch."

"Yeah, just stack it up.  We'll have it moved as soon as your horses are cared for," General Sturmgren ordered from the balcony above.  "Good work, men."

Soldiers yelled their congratulations and the weary elites thanked them, dropping exhausted from their horses.  Sal pushed through the crowd, making her way to the spotted hide.  Before she could reach them, Blaz Eason called her name.

"Sal!" he said.  "Let her though, guys."

She pushed between the last of the men and was surprised to see him grinning at her.

"Arden's amazing, Sal.  Was still fresh when I caught up and didn't even flick an ear the entire mission.  Gonna have to find me something like her."

"Rax isn't good enough?" she asked.

His mouth fell open in surprise.  "You saved him?"

"He's completely sound, Blaz.  He's fine.  Annoyed at being stalled, but fine.  Tilso does good work."

He grabbed her, wrapping his arms around her tightly, and lifted her feet from the ground in his excitement.  "You're as solid as the damned steel, Sal," he laughed, setting her down.

"You calling me fat?" she teased him.

"Oh, girl," he sighed, then leaned close, his lips nearly caressing her ear.  "The Blades going to kill me?"

"No," she said, looking up into his eyes.

Blaz smiled at her sweetly and cupped the side of her face in his palm.  "I owe you, Sal.  For both horses.  You've been too good to me."

Then he leaned over and kissed her.  In front of the entire Prin encampment, Blaz had found the perfect way to put the rumors about her love life to rest.  She returned the kiss, all too aware of how sweet he smelled being so close.

Just remember ta stop me, Cyno's voice whispered in her head before he yelled, "Get yer fuckin' hands off her."

The kiss ended when Blaz was shoved away from her, Cyno glaring up at the human.

"Back off, Cyno," Blaz warned him, glancing to Sal.  She flicked her ears forward playfully, hoping he'd understand.  He nodded, set his jaw, and turned back to the little assassin.  "Oh, I see.  So you two used to have a thing?"

"Did na realize ya were the reason it was over," Cyno growled, his hand reaching for a knife that wasn't there.  Sal couldn't help but wonder where he'd thrown his belt.

"Hey, can't blame a girl for wanting something a bit darker," Blaz taunted, then turned to Sal.  "Let me tack your mare down, and I've got the afternoon off."

"That's who ya loaned yer damned horse ta?" Cyno demanded. He tried to glare at her but his eyes never rose above her jaw.

"Yeah.  And that's where I was when you were on the border.  I told you, Jase.  We're done.  Orders changed."

"Fuck orders," he snarled, "Yer gonna wish ya had never touched my girl."

Blaz threw the first swing but Cyno was on him without slowing.  Within seconds they were on the ground, rolling in the dirt, the sound of the hits proving they weren't pulling the punches.

"Enough!" Captain Tolan yelled.

"Quit!" Sal snarled.

"Get the fuck on your feet!" Ran Sturmgren bellowed, and every soldier in the area froze.

Cyno and Blaz pulled themselves apart, the iliri growling loud enough to be heard by those around him.  Ran stormed down the stairs and into their faces, his jaw set.

"Eason, tack down that damned horse and check your own.  Cyno, stop fucking growling.  Sal!  Damn it, girl.  I said to end it, not cause a cock fight in the middle of the compound.  Captain?  Major?  Clean this shit up and then report to my rooms.  This is unacceptable!"

I'm good, Sal.  Make sure he knows it's all in good fun, Cyno said, his mental tone amused as he shot a deadly glare at her and stormed back to his rooms.  Zep, bare-chested in the heat, met him at the stairs and followed him up.  She couldn't help but notice that the shirt in his hand was rather solid.  At least she knew where Cyno had put his weapons.

"Care to join me?" Blaz asked her meekly, wiping at his bloody lip.

She shrugged, prying her eyes away from the sweet crimson stain.  "Might as well. You caused enough drama."

He glanced away shyly, well aware that everyone was watching.  "I wish you'd told me you had a thing with the best assassin in the country.  I might not have been so quick to take you home."

"Oh?" Sal asked.  "Changing your mind already?"

"No way," Blaz said pulling her close.

Sal laughed but looked down, avoiding giving him a chance to try to kiss her again.  She knew that the blood on his lip might set her off if she tasted it.  The smell of it was enticing enough.

"C'mon, my girl's tired."  She tugged him toward the stables.

He followed, leading Arden on a draped rein.  Sal patted her mare, pleased to see she looked well, and not as tired as she'd expected.  Blaz waited until they were near the barn before he spoke.

"Sal," he said softly.

"We're not talking about that," she warned him.  "And your face looks like my dinner."

He chuckled.  "Ok.  I'm sorry.  I was out of line, but you can't tell me iliri don't get jealous."

She shrugged, pleased to see he understood that they were still within range of too many others.  "We do, but I'm not about to reward you for it."

"Fair enough."

Tilso met them when they entered the barn.  He looked once at Blaz's face, then sighed before grabbing the mare.  "There's a sink in the feed room," Tilso told him.  "Trust me, you look like a mess."

"So I've been told.  How's Rax?"

"I'll tell you when you've washed."  Tilso glanced pointedly at Sal.

Blaz followed his eyes, and nodded.  "Ok, ok, I get the hint."  He ducked into the feed room and she could hear water running.

Tilso's attention turned to Sal.  "Star Fall's bedding down their horses on the far end, but I kept Arden's stall open.  Anything I need to know?"

"She looks fine," Sal said, "But you need to ask Blaz."

Tilso just led the mare into the stall.  Sal followed him.  Inside, he tilted his head at the wall beside them, and Sal heard the sounds of a man in the straw.  She moved closer and began unbuckling the girth as Tilso removed the mare's bridle.

"Cyno was better for you," he told her, raising an eyebrow.

"I know, but what am I supposed to do, Ahn?  He reports to me soon.  It's over between us no matter which way it goes, and you know that's not something he could hide.  Cyno's about as open as a damned book."

"Yeah, fair enough.  What's this one's name?"

"Blaz."

"He did pretty well with Arden."  Tilso sighed loudly.  "Ok.  If he treats the mare this good, I'll keep an open mind.  His boy's not a bad horse either.  Has some good manners."

"Is it all about horses with you humans?" she asked.

Tilso just laughed.  "Only the good ones, Sal.  Didn't expect to see you with a human, though."

"Blaz is different."  He was.  Not in the way she was pretending, but he wasn't like most humans.  He made the fourth one she actually liked.

"I'm what?" he asked, leaning into the stall.

Sal cocked her head at the wall beside her, and he winked.  "You're not like most humans," she said.

"Not sure if I should take that as a compliment, or not."

Tilso started to giggle.  "Yeah, ya should.  Iliri have a few advantages that humans didn't get."

Blaz laughed at that, nodding.  "Ok... well, not what I expected to be talking with the stableman about.  Thanks for taking care of Rax, Mr. Tilso.  Sal had good things to say about you."

Hoisting the tack, Tilso offered it to the human.  "Put the saddle in the tack room, bridle laying across it – I'll clean those in a minute – and I'll get your boy out."

"Fair deal," Blaz agreed, grabbing the leather from the little man and turning away.

Tilso patted Arden then slipped from the stall, leaving Sal alone with her mare.  She checked the horse over, looking for any old injuries and rubs from the tack.  There was nothing, except for a small chip in her hoof, for Sal to even complain about.  Arden nuzzled her hair, looking for a treat, and Sal gave in.

"You spoiled her," she called out when she saw Blaz walking down the alley.

He grinned.  "She deserved it.  Come tell me how you managed to fix my boy."  He held out his hand, and she took it, leaning into him as they walked down the aisle.

"Yer fucking sick," the man in the stall next to Arden's grumbled.

"Don't give me shit, Patris, I know about your kinks," Blaz taunted back.

"Fucking scrubber lover," Patris whispered under his breath.

Sal tugged Blaz away.  Tilso, leading the big black stallion from his stall, caught the cavalryman's eye, and he followed willingly, watching carefully for the horse to take an off step.  Down the aisle and into the arena, Blaz said nothing, his body tense as he began to hope that his horse would really be ok.

"He's fine," Sal told him.

"He's more than fine," Tilso said.  "Massage four times a day, in hand exercise twice, and worked at the lunge twice."

Tilso clicked, let out the line, and Rax began to walk around him in a circle, each step as easy for him as the one before.  Tilso clicked again and Rax picked up the trot, surging across the ground easily.  Each step came from the hind end and the massive horse seemed to float.  When Tilso clicked a third time, the stallion began to canter.  Tilso lifted his hand on the line and the horse collected, shortening his gait but maintaining the energy in each step, then lengthening at a subtle command from his handler.

"Fuck me," Blaz breathed.  "He's really sound."

"Light work for two days," Tilso told him, bringing the horse back to his side, "then treat him like you always have."

When Tilso offered Blaz the lead, he was shocked to get a hug instead.  Blaz squeezed him tightly and pounded on his back, a wide grin on his face.

"Mr. Tilso, you're amazing.  All of the Blades!  I was sure he was dead by now.  How can I thank you?"

Tilso pulled away and put the lead into his hand.  "Two things, sir.  First, keep taking care of Sal.  You're good to her, we'll be good to you.  Second, treat Rax just as good."

"I will," he promised.  "Sal, come help me put him away?"

"Of course."  She fell in step beside him.  Tilso shook his head and turned in the other direction.

Blaz followed Rax into the stall, making room for Sal beside him.  He removed the bridle, draped it over his shoulder, then pushed the door closed.  Ginning, he leaned back against the wood, pulling Sal against him.

"Hey," he said, glancing across the aisle from the corner of his eye.  "You on duty?"

"Nope," she said softly.  "I have some research to do, but that's it."

"Come back to my place?  It's been two days, and I missed you."

"I missed my horse," she teased.

"You had mine, wasn't that enough?"

"No.  I kinda missed you, too."

"Just kinda?" he asked, feigning insult.  "At least I know you won't get jealous of the attention my horse gets."

"Yes, just kinda," she purred.  "You'll have to remind me why I should have missed you more."

"Oh, you tease!  I can do that, and I have a bath big enough for two, Sergeant."

"It's Lieutenant," Sal corrected.

He glanced at her shoulder, and nodded.  "Promotion while I was gone.  Nice.  Too bad I can't make you salute me now."

"In your dreams," she teased, pulling away.

"Maybe."  He laughed as he opened the door.

Rax got one last pat, then Blaz followed Sal out, hanging the bridle on the hook at the front of the stall with one hand, draping his other arm across her shoulders.  She reached up, twined her fingers in his, and let him lead her up to the officer's wing.   At his door, he pulled away and unlocked it, swinging it open for her to precede him.  When the door closed behind him, he sighed.

"Thought you were an assassin, not a damned spy," he said, sounding impressed.

"How do you think we get close enough to kill?"

"Good point.  You have a bit?  I really do need a bath and Cyno didn't help any."

She nodded.  "Yeah, I am actually off duty.  I just have research to catch up on."

"Well, make yourself at home, Sal.  I think you might be spending some time here for the next few days." He caught her shoulders and guided her a step forward.

"No," she said, twisting away.  "The bath first.  I can't think with you here."

"Sal," he said, stepping back.  "I was serious when I said I'm not ready."

She chuckled.  "I was serious when I said you smell like my dinner.  Please, Blaz, my control is only so good."

Chapter 35

Blaz retreated into the other room, removing his shirt as he went.  Sal made her way to his liquor cabinet and looked inside, pleased to find a bottle of rum even if there wasn't mead.  She poured herself a small glass then returned to the couch, kicking her boots off to tuck her feet under her.

You ok? she asked Cyno.

I'm good, kitten.  How bad did I fuck up his face?

He's going to be a bit swollen and rather purple.

K.  Feel him out.  I think yer right about him.  If ya can get him drunk enough, we'll get Shift ta heal him a bit.  No need fer him ta suffer for us.

Good idea, she thought.  I'll see what I can do.

So ya know, he was holdin' back.  He fights like Zep.  Cyno broke the link, leaving Sal alone with her thoughts.

She looked around the room, trying to find signs that would tell her more about the man she wanted to think of as a friend, but there was nothing.  Everything was standard-issue, as if his entire life was temporary.  It almost felt like he hadn't planned to ever return and had left the room ready for the next soldier to pass through.

She heard the sound of a body stepping out of the bath and decided to refill her glass.  In the other room, a drawer opened, then she heard cloth rustle.  She was almost back to the couch when the sound of his sleeping chamber door made her glance up.  Blaz walked out, his mouth open to speak, and met her eyes.

"That's uncanny," he said.

"Yeah, I hear better than you do."

"Is that what it is?"

She nodded.  "And you have rum."

"I actually like it.  Knocks me for a loop, but I usually have it around."

"How bad is your face?" Sal asked him.

"It's been better."  He laughed and touched his jaw before heading to claim his own drink.  "Ok," he said as he poured, his back to her.  "I need to get this out there.  I haven't kissed anyone since... you know.  So I'm sorry I made a mess of it."

"You're fine, Blaz.  And thank you."

He just nodded and grabbed his glass, moving to the chair beside her.

Sal smelled his nervousness.  Leaning forward, she looked at him pointedly.  "Let me get this out there.  You're not my type, I'm not your type, and this game we're playing is just that.  I'm not going to take anything from it if you don't.  Deal?"

"I just -"  He sighed.  "I kinda realized that I didn't exactly let you in on my plan.  You fell into it easily enough that I started to wonder if maybe I'd given the wrong impression, you know, after the other night when I looked at you wrong."

Sal shook her head.  "You're human.  I don't smell the attraction from you.  Secondly, you're human.  We're just friends, Blaz."

"Is that why Cyno didn't kill me?  Sal, he moves faster than I can track.  There's no way I could have stopped him."

"No, but I could."

"How?"

She just smiled and took another sip of her rum.  "I tell him to.  I out-rank him and that will stop him as quickly as Blaec's word will stop me."

"The Blades are just that disciplined?"

"Not exactly.  You know how as a child, if your mother said not to do something, it was hard to disobey?"

"Yeah, as a little kid, like three or so."

"We never lose that.  Someone more dominant says to do, or not to do, something, and we have trouble disobeying.  It's why the Blades work like we do."

"Where does Sturmgren fit in?"

She smiled, her sharp teeth making it look cruel.  "He made me submit.  He outranks us all."  She waved that away.  "We can challenge it, but that rarely happens.  Our new guys, that's different.  They haven't found their place yet, so there'll be a blow out with them.  We're all pretty sure Geo will take on Cyno at some point."

"You got the new Blades?"

"Yeah.  Geoni and Audgan.  I think they'll do well."

"You've been busy while I was gone.  Ok, so my turn.  Star Fall is out for you."

She nodded, encouraging him.

"They were bragging about the fourth load and how they're going to hit it south of Ryass.  Said there's nothing you all can do to stop it."

"There is," she said, "but go on."

"Then your mare came up.  Asked me how I ended up on a scrubber horse and wasn't I ashamed, and," he shrugged, looking away.  "I'm not sure how much you've been around human males."

"A lot.  So, you bragged?"

He raised his glass in a mock toast, then took a long drink.  "You're one hell of a woman in bed, or so they think.  Made a few lewd comments about the teeth, a few of my guys joined in the fun.  Lorenz, you remember him?  He got into it too, saying he knew I was trying for ya when I begged for rum."  Blaz chuckled.  "I always drink rum, Sal, so my guys know."

"Mine do too, so it's ok."

"And evidently iliri teeth and ears are a thing."

Sal nodded.  "The teeth are terrifying, and the ears?  I'll never quite understand that."

"Well, they asked what your ears do, when we," he shook his head in embarrassment, "you know.  I told them it was dark."

"Forward when we're enjoying ourselves, down and back for orgasm, but not folded tight."

He took another long drink.  "Gotcha.  Never thought I'd have this talk.  They'll ask. You know that, right?"

Sal nodded, trying not to laugh at his embarrassment.  "Think you can play this game for two days?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I won't be here after that."

"Should I ask where you're going?"

Sal looked up into his dark eyes.  "What's your clearance?"

"Second level."

"Then no.  Don't ask."

"You've got a first level mission?" He sat up straight.

Giving nothing more than a blank look, she took another sip of her drink.  "Fourth load is reclassified as well," she said, the corner of her lip turning up.

"Remind me never to fuck with the Blades.  You gonna turn that in?"

Sal shook her head.  "You are."

"Sturmgren's going to kick my ass for that shit out there, Sal."

"He knew it was coming."

"Sturmgren's in on this too?"

Sal sighed and leaned back.  "I don't know how much to tell you.  This is a mess and you're far enough in already."

"Let's see if I'm on the right page.  Blue Party is anti-iliri.  They're driving this shit and doing their best to catch the Blades in something to get rid of the 'problem'.  Sturmgren doesn't approve, so he's keeping your asses clean.  He also knows way more than anyone should about every damned soldier that reports to him.  While all of this is going on, he's somehow managing to keep the CFC from getting our asses kicked in this war.  How'm I doing so far?"

"Pretty close.  You ever been to his office?"

Blaz nodded.

"He ever offer you a drink?"

"No, but he has Tolan.  Once or twice.  Why?"

"Over a drink, he and I talked about a few things, from Cyno to Blaec to you.  Next week, Cyno reports to me."

"Ah, so that's what that was about.  Gotcha.  So how can the 112th help?"

"Blaz, you're in neck-deep as it is.  I think we're good."

"Tolan's playing politics on this, Sal, but that doesn't mean he isn't on your side.  He thinks it's going to bite us again later, and the 112th needs to stay above it.  My orders are that if it can't be traced, it's allowed."

Sal tossed back the last of her drink and caught his eye.  "Teach me how to pack a horse for a long trip.  No pack animals, fast moving, able to be resupplied."

"I can do that.  How long?"

"Three months of travel.  Could be up to a year of deployment."

His eyes grew wide.  "The Blades are going to Anglia?"

"I will only need supplies for two."

"Shit.  What are you doing?"

"It's classified," she told him, never breaking her gaze.

"Yeah, I'll teach you.  We'll take a lazy ride tomorrow to the east.  Blades usually use mules, right?"

Sal nodded.

"Ok, so you're going to need tents and repair materials.  Hoof kit for horses, basic meds.  Cold weather gear?"

She nodded again.

"Can do.  We've got some tight packing stuff.  The 112th doesn't use pack animals and we move fast.  It's why we're forward strike.  Isn't the most comfortable, and give up the idea of cots, but yeah.  I'm sure I can say a few of us had our gear damaged in the last mission and need it replaced.  I'll get you a kit.  Can I trust the Stablemaster?"

"Completely.  I trust him more than you."

"Ok.  So he has the mission details.  Civilian, right?"

Sal smiled.  "Yep.  He doesn't report to anyone but LT."

"I can work with that.  Be careful, ok?  Anglia.  It's kinda weird up there.  You'll get there in mid-winter, too.  Fuck.  That's a hard assignment, Sal.  They trying to kill you?"

"Iliri do ok in the cold, Blaz.  Sturmgren is concerned that if I'm in the public eye, I might disappear from it too fast."

"Fuck.  Just watch your back around the King.  He hates iliri.  His two sons aren't much better either.  His bastard grandson should be safe though, so if you need a safe haven, it's the keep northwest of Dorton."

She glanced away finally, working to keep her face from changing, but Blaz noticed.  "Cyno's going with you.  So the rumors are true and Anglia really is flirting with Terric.  Sal, I've been up there.  Eriwald's a lying sack of shit.  He'll smile real sweet at you and stab you in the back."

"I know.  I was reading a history of Eriwald today.  Interesting stuff."

Blaz set his drink on the table beside him.  "I can get my hands on a book of the keeps.  Gives the basic layout of each.  Will that help?"

"More than you can guess.  Have you ever heard of the Idele?"

"Un-landed brother of the current king.  Has a son.  He typically moves between the lands of his relatives, but he keeps a guard at all times.  The boy isn't bad, but the Idele?  He's jumped up on his own self-importance.  Evidently it's a title that's given to one who could have ruled, but passed over the chance.  This Idele is the current king's older brother."

"How long were you there?"

"Two months, trying to secure treaties for the CFC about a year back.  Didn't go so well, but they pampered us with gifts and spoke real sweet.  I guess that's just how court works.  You want to shake things up, go in there acting like an iliri.  Everyone except Valmere will be confused as hell."

She giggled.  He'd just given her more help than he could know.  "Thanks.  I mean it.  I can't find much on Valmere."

"Except his papers from school.  Shit," he breathed.  "He favors iliri, but that isn't too well known.  This is official, Sal?"

"My orders came in a blue envelope.  Encoded."

"How many are you going to kill?"

"All of them, Blaz.  It's safer than being here."

Chapter 36

"So, you gonna tell me how you did it?" Blaz asked her, changing the subject without a pause.

"Did what?"

"Rax's leg, Sal.  I've been around horses a long time, and I know a broken leg when I see it.  That horse is as sound as he's ever been.  He's not even stiff in his hind left like normal."

She smiled.  "I told you, Tilso's good."

Blaz just shook his head.  "That's not fair.  I'm going out on a line here.  I won't say you owe me, because Rax more than pays for it, but the least you can do is not lie to me."

She stood and made her way back to the cabinet, then refilled her glass while her mind spun.  It took a long sip, then she topped it up again before deciding how much was safe.  Only then did she return to the couch.

"No.  I'm not going to tell you how we did it."

He nodded.  "This the magic we keep hearing about?"

"Probably."

"So he's really as good as he seems?"

She just nodded.

"Some kind of amazing primitive medicine that you keep to yourselves?" he asked, a mischievous grin growing on his face.

"Something like that."

"You're really not going to tell me, are you?"

"Fuck," she groaned.  "Why couldn't you just buy that damned story and go with it?"

"Because the front knee isn't a joint that gets dislocated, and if it did, the leg wouldn't bend abnormally in the middle of the cannon bone.  I'm an elite, Sal, not one of the regulars you all have been using these weak ass stories on."

"Fair enough.  Look.  Rax will be fine.  I owed you for not saying anything after the other night, so I wanted to pay you back.  Getting Rax fixed up seemed like a good idea at the time."

"And not now?"

"Not if you poke too deep into this, no.  There's a reason Jiesa never shared it either."

"What do you know about her?"  His tone was no longer playful.

"That she was Razor's second cousin.  They weren't that close, but they knew each other.  Just let this go, ok?"

Blaz reached over and wrapped his hands around hers, the glass caught between them.  "I'll leave it, but you need to realize it won't go away.  The Blades keep getting noticed and I won't be the only one that can add a few things together.  Your record is too good, your injuries too minimal..."  He stopped, looking at her.  "Stand up, Sal."

She clenched her jaw.  "No."

"You took a bolt.  I saw the hole in your resin and the way you favored that side."  He held her eyes, and this time she felt the challenge.  "You heal fast."

"Fine."  Sal dropped her drink on the table beside her and shoved to her feet.  With his eyes on her, she pulled at the waist of her fatigues, exposing her hip.  Her skin was flawless, not even a bruise to show that she'd ever been wounded.  "Happy?"

"That's what you did to Rax, isn't it?"

Jase, he's figured it out, she thought, reaching out to the person she thought would have the answers.

Then have Shift heal him.  That should leave him even more confused.

Unable to think of anything else, Sal reached out for her brother, begging Shift to do exactly that.  Blaz watched her, a wry smile on his lips, aware that she was preoccupied and still hadn't answered his question.  She thought quickly.

"Are you right-handed or left?" she demanded.

"Right.  You still haven't answered - "

Sal lunged at his left shoulder, pinning him in the chair.  With her mouth next to his ear, she said, "Iliri bite, did you know that?  You've been saying you spent the night with me, but everyone knows we bite.  You still want to play this game?  You want to try to blackmail me with veiled threats?"

She felt a faint prick just under her sternum and realized he held a blade to her chest.  "There's no threat, just amusement at finally understanding.  Yeah, I know you bite, and so do they.  I spent a fucking long-ass couple of days unable to remove my shirt so I wouldn't show that I had no marks.  You bite me now, it will be fresh, and I'll still have nothing from our supposed first night together."

"Well, be careful what you ask for, Blaz," she snarled.

"I like you, Sal, but I will put this knife in your gut if you go feral on me.  You're pretty fucking close right now."

"You really want to know what the iliri can do?  You really want to see how different we are from humans when we aren't trying to play nice?"

His eyes narrowed.  "I'm trying to help, Sal.  I just want to understand what it is that I'm in with."

She leaned back and looked at his face.  His eyes were honest, searching hers for a sign of where he stood, but he did not lower the knife.  He smelled calm, only the faintest hint of fear between them.  He'd done nothing but good for her, so she didn't want to hurt him.  Then again, Arctic said she had another weapon in her arsenal.

"I'll give you a demonstration," she told him, shifting her weight slightly as she leaned closer.

Unlike most men, Blaz Eason was not foolish enough to close his eyes.  She inhaled deeply, a hint of confusion mingling with the scent of him, but nothing else.  Then she struck.  Her left hand grabbed his wrist, pushing the blade away from her, and her right shoved his head to the side as her teeth found his shoulder.  She bit through his shirt, thinking only of the desire he should have for her, and her teeth just punctured the skin.  She bit him again, this time closer to his shoulder – and he gave in to her instincts.

Blaz dropped the knife in his lap and reached for her, the scent of arousal replacing everything else.  He sighed softly, trying to pull her closer, and Sal bit him a third time.  This time she pierced him like an iliri, and he flinched from the pain, allowing Sal to safely shove herself back to her feet.  The smell of lust faded as soon as she released her hold.

"Fuck," he breathed, looking at his shoulder, then slowly at her.  "What did you do to me?"

She dragged the back of her hand across her mouth, removing the last hint of his taste from her lips.  "You wanted to know what you were missing.  I showed you.  Humans thought they created nice little toys.  You just never stopped to think that we might be able to use it to our advantage."

"You bit me!"

She grabbed her glass.  "And you didn't want me to stop.  Now you have some stories for your friends."

"I..."  He closed his mouth on the rest of the words, opening it a few more times but getting no further.

"You humans made us.  You made us to do what you wanted then forgot it was even possible.  The men?  They kill, and they do it a lot better than any of you.  Me?  You meant for me to be a fetish."

"I didn't do it, Sal!"

Doesn't sound friendly in there, Shift thought, letting her know he was outside.

Don't knock, just come in.  It's fine.  Blaz just thought he understood and had a very rude awakening.

She released Shift's mind, but didn't stop talking.  "See, they fucked up a bit when they made us.  Not all women are the pets they expected.  Sometimes we come out a bit different."  Sal smiled at him smugly.  "Where's your knife?"

He grabbed it from his lap, embarrassed, and slid it back in the sheath along his leg.  "Were you even trying?"

"No.  I'm faster than Cyno and I seem to be able to do things he can't.  Men want me.  Half of them curse me for my strange looks, but all of you break when I offer it.  Why?"

"Stop being pissed at me!" he snapped.  "I didn't do shit to you.  I asked a question because you left a big enough hint that I can't look away from it.  I just want to know if I'm on the right side of this shit or if I crawled in bed with the enemy."

Sal couldn't help it, she laughed.

"Bad choice of words," Blaz admitted.  "I'm sorry, Sal.  I'll leave it alone."

"No, you just got your wish," she said.  "Shift's about two doors down, he'll be here - " The door to Blaz's room opened slowly, and Sal smiled.  "Now."

"Rumor has it, you got a bit too wise," Shift said.

"Ok, I'm freaking out a little bit," Blaz said, looking between them.

"Bites on the left shoulder should be about two days old.  Everyone saw the face, but no need for it to hurt," Sal ordered.

"LT know?"

Sal shook her head.  "This one's on me.  I didn't ask Blaec, but Blaz is close enough that he needs something else to think about."

"Gotcha, demon."  Shift grinned at Blaz.  "I recommend you close your eyes.  I'm about to rock your world."

He moved to Blaz's side and grabbed his wrist, closing his eyes as he focused.  Blaz gasped and snapped his eyes shut, his fingers gripping the arm of the chair tightly.

"Breathe," Shift whispered before turning to Sal.  "We good?"

"Yeah.  I'll take care of the rest.  Let Blaec know?  This could get complicated if he decides to start talking."

"Yeah.  You stuck your foot deep in this one, Sal.  Don't get us put in chains, ok?"

She nodded.  "If it comes to that, I'll pull out some other tricks, but I'd prefer he understands and agrees.  I won't risk you all because I decided to be friends with a human."

"You're good, kid," Shift told her.  "And he is doing us one hell of a favor. Don't forget that part."

She nodded meekly and Shift left, slipping out of the room as easily as he'd entered.  When Sal turned back to Blaz, he was watching her carefully.

"Look at your shoulder," she commanded.

Without a word, he did.  The punctures and tears from her teeth were little more than red lines on the skin.  He touched his lip gently then touched it again, surprised when the pressure caused no pain.

"You're scared?" he asked her softly.

It was not what she'd expected him to say.  Sal flicked her ears forward and cocked her head, trying to follow his line of thinking.  He smiled weakly.

"Let’s go back a bit."  He pulled himself from the chair and grabbed the bottle.  "I'm freaking out just a little bit, Sal.  When I offered to help you dispel some rumors, I never thought I'd end up in the mouth of an iliri.  Can we call a truce long enough for me to stop shaking?"

"Yeah," she agreed.

Blaz sucked back the glass of rum and filled another.  "I plan to get drunk enough to think this was some hallucination.  I don't think it will work, though."

"Probably not."

He nodded, defeated, and put the lid back on the bottle.  Slowly, he turned back to face her but made no effort to return to his chair.  "I felt like I was falling, the worst vertigo I've ever had."

"Lasts a few breaths, but it's not a lot of fun."

"I still heard what you said.  I don't know how you knew he was coming, or where he was, but I'm gonna just let that go.  I heard what you both said.  You're scared."

"I spent most of my life as the pet of a human.  Not all the Blades have, and I wouldn't ever wish to see any of them in chains."

"You mean as slaves, right?"

She ducked her head but nodded.  "Yeah.  It always happens like that.  They think they found something special, so they put us in chains and say it's to keep us safe.  Not all of us can escape from that."

"But some can.  Ok.  And if I breathe a word of this, someone somewhere along the line might say something that could be heard by the wrong person, and you're worried it will, I dunno... something bad will happen?"

"Yeah."  Sal rubbed at her ears.  "Let’s say I could cure impotence.  My owner figures that out.  Do you think he's going to ignore it or sell my services to his friends?"

"But they couldn't make you do it, could they?"

She lifted her chin.  "It's amazing what you will do when you haven't eaten in a week."

"Fuck."  Blaz turned away.

He nodded, his back to her, and reached back for his glass, taking another long drink.  With a shuddering breath, he wiped at his face before making his way back to his chair.

"Can you make me forget?"

"No."

"How do you do it?  I mean, I was going to put that blade in you if you tried anything, but then I," he shook his head, and rubbed at his face again.  "I didn't want you to stop."

"I don't know," she said honestly.  "I decide that you'll give in and you do.  I didn't even know I did it until a few months ago, but it’s in the histories."

"And Shift heals?"

"We aren't talking about Shift," she warned him.

"Fair enough.  How fast can you move, Sal?"

"Twitch response is pretty fast.  I can change direction, knock a blade from your hand, or dart behind you as fast as your eye can track, sometimes faster.  It's a single move though.  I can't run the speed of a horse or anything like that.  We're just made different.  The more iliri we are, the more we get."

"Does it work?"

"What?"

"Does it cure impotence?"

"No," she told him.  "I can force your body to respond to me, but only to me.  It never works for anything else."

He nodded.  "I can't touch a woman without thinking of her, ya know?  You're different, but it's because you scare the piss out of me half the time.  I knew that to kill the rumors, I'd need to at least kiss you in public, and I've spent the last two days worrying about it, wondering if I'd chicken out at the last minute."  He chuckled and shook his head.  "I don't think I'm ever going to be able to move on."

"What's holding you back?   Do you think Jiesa would want you mourning her this long?"

"No.  I know better than that.  I'm just so scared that I'll forget her."  He rubbed at his face yet again and refused to look at her.  "I bought her a ring.  I hadn't given it to her yet, but I'd bought it.  We had two more runs, and then a week off, and I thought we could celebrate.  I had it all planned out.  A secret wedding, promises just between us, and the only hint would be a ring with a blue stone that could easily be explained away.  I buried her with it."

"I'm so sorry."

"Me too.  Don't fuck around, Sal.  You never know when you won't have a tomorrow with someone.  It hurts more than any wound I've ever taken on the field.  It hurts so bad, I can't move on.  I can't stop thinking about it, ever.  That's why I asked.  I hoped that maybe you all had a way to fix me."

"Practice?"  Sal shrugged.  "The way you just set this up, you're going to have to be pretty physical with me outside this room."

He laughed.  "Not my best plan.  I'm not gonna say shit about the iliri.  If Razor got put in chains, she'd fucking haunt me.  That, and I actually do like you.  You're as mean as a damned mare in heat, but I like you.  I never have to wonder where I stand with you.  You should probably tell your unit that.  Sounds like they're all worried, or will be."

"Yeah."

Cautiously, he reached for her arm, lightly resting his palm across it.  "I know what it's like to be scared.  I know what it's like to be alone.  I don't care how sharp your teeth are, how little pigment your eyes have, or any of that crap.  We're elites.  We're on the same side, and right now, as far as I care, that means keeping this from the bastards who are willing to let some steel cross a mountain to prove humans are better."  He dipped his head to look at her eyes.  "I swear.  I'm not going to say anything that will put a citizen of my country in chains."

He sounded so honest, and smelled even more so.  Slowly, she nodded, feeling her body finally relax.  "I can't fix you.  I can't make you stop missing her."

"You still need to bite me," he said softly.  "Star Fall's on your ass.  They'll need to see proof or they won't believe it."

"You really want to keep this up?"

"Yeah.  You saved my horse and you've saved my pride.  Besides, I already know that my amazing pick-up skills are going to lose me this girl."  He winked at her, a shy smile replacing the concern he'd had only moments before.

"No blades this time?" Sal asked, standing.

He pulled his knife and set it on the table, pushing it away.  "Promise."

"Do you trust me?"

He huffed out a laugh.  "I think so."

"Do you want to like this or just get it over with?"

He blushed and looked toward the door.  "I'm not going to say something to insult you, but I'm not sure what that is."

"The truth won't insult me."

"Can you make me like it?" he asked.  His eyes slowly looked back to her.  "Just for a bit?"

"Close your eyes," Sal whispered as she knelt on his lap.  "Relax."  She moved his hands to her waist.

When he sighed, she leaned forward and gently brushed her lips against his neck.  The touch of her skin made Blaz's concerns fade away, but she didn't replace them with the passion she'd forced last time, just a quiet acceptance.  He relaxed and Sal kissed along his neck, nipping gently, her teeth just grazing the skin.  He couldn't help it.  The false comfort teased at his mind and Blaz sighed, feeling no guilt at the touch of a woman against him.  Sal made sure of it.

The feel was not sexual but reassuring, like a warm bed after a long day in the cold.  When her teeth broke the skin, he barely flinched, a smile on his face as he fell into the thrall of a Kaisae.  Sal left her marks along his throat, visible even over his uniform, and worked her way down.  She placed each carefully, concentrating on her hand against his neck and how she wanted him to feel.

The ability to enthrall men had always been something Sal thought of as a curse.  Humans longed to experience the iliri "tricks."  As a slave, she'd used it to earn her meals and hated it, but the more she learned about her species, the more she understood.  As she marked Blaz Eason as her own, she finally realized why iliri females had this.  It was a defense stronger than her ability to fight.  She could make even her enemies love her, so long as she could touch them.  Sal smiled and pulled away, releasing her hold on Blaz only when she'd found her feet.

He sucked in a breath when her hand left his skin and his eyes flew open.  "Damn," he gasped, reaching for his collar bone.  "The pain of that hits fast."

"As soon as I release you, yeah."  He smelled so sweet it made her pause.  She licked at her lips.  "I need to go."

"Yeah, work."  His eyes were on her mouth.

"I'm ok," she promised.  "Just," Sal held up her hand, and backed a step away, "stay there."

"It's that bad?"

Sal nodded.  "I'm a berserker.  Didn't anyone tell you that?"

"No."

"You're safe, but don't tease me, ok?"

"Tease?"

Sal gestured to his shoulder, then grabbed her drink and took a long swallow.  "Humans smell so sweet.  I've learned how to control it, but it's never easy."

"No blood.  Got it.  Go read, Sal."  He stood, and moved the other way.  "You're going to give me one hell of a reputation if everyone else knows that."

She laughed and headed for the door.  "They do.  It's not a secret."  With one hand on the knob, she paused.  "And thanks.  I'm trying, ok?  I owe you, and I'm trying not to take that for granted, but I spent my life being shown that it's not safe to trust a human."

"Then I'll try to prove you can.  We're even, Sal," he said.  She nodded and opened the door, slipping silently into the hall beyond.

Chapter 37

Once outside, Sal took a long, deep breath, exhaling the scent of human from her nose as she walked.  The sun was long past the horizon and the sky was slowly fading through blue to purple.  The flames of the day's last light were fading behind the compound's buildings.  Men clustered in small groups, soldiers in grey letting her know that the Devil Dogs had also returned.  Two loads of ore secured, two left, she thought.

She stopped by her rooms and grabbed a clean set of clothes, deciding to dare the baths.  It was late enough that they should be empty, and Sal had been locked away with Blaz for most of the afternoon.

Her last two days with Blaec and she had to spend hours with a human, almost screwing up everything.  If Blaz had been any less understanding, she could be in the stocks right now.  Sal closed the door to her room harder than she'd intended, flinching at the noise in the quiet evening.  She looked around guiltily, but no one seemed to notice.

Thinking back, she couldn't remember the last time she'd truly been alone.  Not since she'd become a Black Blade.  Now, she was always with one of her brothers, or Blaec.  Or Cyno, she reminded herself, realizing that she could no longer simply think of him as her brother.  A smile crossed her face as she trotted down the stairs.  She deserved a long soak.

Gender neutral bathing wasn't uncommon in the military.  She'd learned in her first year that after dark and early morning were always the best times to get away from the curious eyes of humans.  She had no issues with being undressed around them until they began to look at her as if she was the prey.  That was one feeling Sal had never learned to ignore.

She reached the bathing house and pulled open the door, looking around the room.  Nyurin turned at the sound, a blue towel wrapped around his waist, and nodded a greeting to her.  She nodded back and moved to the other side of the room, relieved to see him collect his things and leave shortly after.

She walked through the small building, alone except for the signs of men who had long since left.  Tubs were placed in the middle of the room, a few still steaming.  She picked one and began to undress.

Placing her things in her line of sight, she climbed into the nearest warm tub of water with a sigh.  The bath washed away her tension, the heat leaching aches from her muscles that she hadn't even realized existed.  Slipping her head slowly beneath the surface, she rinsed the smell of human away, then leaned against the back of the tub.

A noise caught her attention and Sal flicked an ear in the direction, but didn't hear it again.  She began to work shampoo into her hair, scrubbing it deep into her scalp, before ducking under the surface again to rinse the excessive perfume from it.  Pulling her hair over her shoulder, she worked knots from the end, hearing the sound again.  She glanced over her shoulder, but the room was as empty as it had been before.

Just too many hours in the field, she decided, and too much intrigue.  She scrubbed her body quickly, her ears flicking for sounds around her, and realized it was nothing more than the building settling in the evening chill.  With a deep sigh, Sal lay back and closed her eyes, lifting her feet to the rim of the tub and stretching.  Except for her toes, her entire body was submerged.  Each breath made her rise and sink in the water as if she were riding waves.  It was the little things, like a hot bath, that made this life worthwhile.

This time, the sound was right behind her.  Sal shot forward as a rope slipped around her neck, pulling her back.  Dark hands grabbed her shoulders and arms.  Each time she thrashed, the rope tightened around her neck.

Jase! she screaming into his mind.  A surge of panic was his response.

"Stop moving," a voice warned.  "There's five of us, scrubber."

She did, going limp against them, straining for a breath.  "What do you want?" she managed to whisper.

She felt the man lean close to her, and his breath tickled her ear.  "I'd like to get rid of every last one of you.  You stink.  You think you're so much better than us, but you're nothing more than a lazy bunch of shits.  Thing is, I need to know something first.  You gonna be a good girl, and talk if I let you breathe?"

Sal nodded, hoping to buy time.  She knew her pack was coming.  She could feel it.

"How did you find the last load?  Who leaked it?"

The rope loosened slightly and Sal sucked in a deep breath.  "Two thousand kilos doesn't break into three loads well.  Why run two loads together, and the third so far south?"

"How'd you find the fourth one?"

She tried to face him, but a fist met her temple before she could lay eyes on him.  "Don't try it," a second voice warned.

"I'm trying to tell you," she said.  "The tactics didn't make sense.  If you add a fourth load, it does.  Run two together, with the bait and bleed, and run two separate, hoping for stealth to cover them.  That increases the chances of at least one thousand kilos making it.  I'd be willing to bet that the deal is for only a thousand.  If all of it arrives, it's just proof of the Emperor's good will.  At least in his mind."

"Where's it coming through the mountains?" he demanded.

"I don't know," Sal lied.

"Horseshit," the second man said, tightening the rope.

"I don't," she gasped, "know!"

"Then you're useless," the first man taunted.  "Kill her.  Make it look like she did it herself."

"Easy enough," the second man said, pulling the rope tight.

Jase! she screamed again as she tried to pull her arms free.

She got one loose and pried at the rope around her throat, fighting her body's desire to go into a panic response.  She lifted her chin and struggled to find air, but none reached her lungs.  Slowly, the world began to grow dark and she thrashed one last time, turning to face the man killing her, sending his face through the link to her brothers.  At least she would get revenge, Sal thought as her body went limp.

Chapter 38

Audgan shifted his belt, the long sword tugging at his waist.  He knew he'd get used to the feeling – or learn to buckle his belt tighter.  Possibly both.  He smiled at the thought.  He had his own sword and he'd just fed carrots to his own horse.

He'd call her Nazar.  It wasn't too girly, and it wasn't too masculine, just like the spunky horse.  He wondered what she'd done before he got her.  Her reactions were too much like Geo's, both of them covering for something they didn't want the world to know.  Probably all iliri were like that to some extent.  Iliri, and his Nazar.

"Hey?" a man asked as he passed by.

"Yeah?"

"You one of the new Blades?"

"Yes, sir," Audgan said proudly.  "Zyrn Audgan."

"Rildyr Nyurin, of the 97th.  Look, I'm not trying to step on toes, but aren't you all a bit touchy about Star Fall?"

"I don't know why you'd think that," Audgan said, suddenly alert.

"Well, I just saw five of them heading to the bath house, and I think Sal might be in there alone.  Probably nothing, but I'd rather one of you knew."

"Thanks," Audgan said, jogging that way.

"Shit," Nyurin breathed.  "I'll bring help!"

Audgan didn't bother to reply.  If Star Fall was alone with Sal, who knew what they would do.  Sure, she could hold her own against a few, but if they got the jump on her?  He wasn't willing to finally meet a real Kaisae only to see her killed before she'd even grown into the position.

They got Sal! Cyno's voice ripped through his head.

Bath house, almost there, Audgan sent back.  Guy from the 97th told me to check on her.

He ran, not caring about the humans staring.  Across the courtyard, he saw a man jump from the balcony, and heard voices yelling, but he didn't dare stop.  He was the closest; he had to help.  He hit the door, the warm moist air sucking his breath away.

Two men hovered over Sal as she patted at the rope around her neck.  Three men stood behind them, swords in hand.  They turned to him, but his eyes were on Sal.  Her hand slowly went limp and sank into the water, and he felt as if a sword had been shoved into his guts.  A long, cold sword.

"Let her go," he snarled.

"Or what?" one of the armed men asked.

"Their new puppy thinks it has teeth," another said, laughing.

He reached for the cold feeling and embraced it.  Death.  The fear of death.  The one fear that everyone held, and Audgan knew it well.  He shoved it toward them as hard as he could, his own fear of Sal's demise adding to it.

"Let.  Her.  Go!" he yelled, building the fear with each word.

The door behind him flew open and men shoved through, pushing him aside, but Audgan didn't need to see them.  He knew their fears.  He knew all their fears.  When they began to scream, he smiled, and pushed harder.

Cyno reached her first, not even looking at the men screaming on the ground at his feet.  "Sal?" he begged, pulling her from the water.

"Sal!" LT screamed, rushing into the bath house.

"She's alive," Cyno yelled, trying to be heard over the cacophony.

"Secure them," another voice ordered, "And shut that shit up."

But Audgan couldn't stop.  He couldn't hear the words around him, lost in the cycle of fear and death.  The louder they screamed, the more he feared for Sal, and the easier it was to push that fear at them, making them scream louder.

"Audgan," a voice said beside him.  "Let them go."

He felt a hand on his shoulder and snarled, his eyes focused on something no one else could see.

"Damn it, Zyrn," Geo said, shaking him.  "Fucking stop!  Stop, man."

"He can't," Risk said, grabbing the pale boy's face.

"Fuck that," Geo growled.

Pain flared against his cheek and the ground jumped up to hit him.  Audgan gasped in shock, his breath loud in the silence of the room.  Tane Geoni stood over him.

"You with us?" he asked, offering him a hand.

"What the fuck?" Audgan asked.

"You went rogue, man.  Sorry.  I hit ya."

"Sal?" Audgan begged.

Geo looked away.  "They said she's alive, but it doesn't look so good."  He pointed.

Audgan sat up, and looked.  Three men hovered over Sal's body on the cold tile floor, her pale legs the only thing he could see around them.  "No," he whispered, trying to find his feet.  "Maast, no."

"Get these fucks out of here," General Sturmgren's voice carried through the bath house.  "If you're not a Black Blade, wait the fuck outside."

"Is she going to be ok?" Audgan asked, crawling toward her.

Geo grabbed his shoulders and pulled him to his feet, but the world began to spin.  Audgan sucked in a breath, fighting the feeling, and Geo held him tighter, helping him stagger to the cluster of people around the Kaisae.

Ran turned, his face pale, but he nodded.  "She'll be ok.  I think she's going to need a bit more of your iliri magic, but she's breathing, just unconscious.  Whatever you did, you saved her life."

"Move!" Shift said outside the door.  "My brother's in there."

Nyurin’s voice carried in when the door opened for Shift.  "97th, secure the building, only Black Blades and the General get in, and do not get in the way of a Blade or I'll let them gut you!"

"Yes, sir!" dozens of voices replied.

Shift moved to Sal's side and glanced once at the General.  "Fuck it," he muttered, and grabbed her bare arm.

Sal gasped, her eyes suddenly focusing, before she snapped them closed.  She lifted her hands to her face, shaking, and sucked back long deep breaths.  Every man in the room sighed in relief and a few weak laughs could be heard.  Ran began unbuttoning his shirt.

"Can you sit up?" the General asked, squatting at her side.  "Slip your arm in here, little one.  Let's get something over you."  He helped her wrap herself in his shirt.

"It's just my family," Sal said, her voice rough.  "They don't care."  She swallowed, and managed to smile at him.  "Thanks, Ran."

"Don't do that to me, Sal.  I'm too old for this shit.

"They wanted to know about the last load.  They've been breaking clearance, too."  She coughed, and the General waved her to silence.

"Ran," LT said, pulling the General away.  "You think you can forget anything you just saw?"

"What?  Your new recruit distracting them long enough for the rest of you to get here?  Shift giving a bit of first aid?  Smelling salts, was it?"

"Right," Shift said.  "And water for her throat."  He smiled, and offered Sal his hand.

"Fuck," she groaned, but took it, resting her head against her knees.

They sat like that for a moment, then Shift let go of her and stood, patting her back.  Sal nodded, but just breathed deeply a few times before finally lifting her head.

"Ran?"

"Yeah, Sal?"

"I'm sorry for what I said before.  I trust you."

"I won't make you regret it," he promised, "but I'm going to need a report.  I need something to work with here."

"Yeah, I'm good."  The tiny woman shoved herself to her feet.  "Fucking waste of a bath."

Cyno hovered beside her and Blaec's eyes followed as Sal made her way to her clothes.  She began pulling them on and most of the men looked away, offering her the only privacy they could.  She glanced at her boots, rejected them, then turned back to Ran and returning his shirt.

"We have to stop meeting like this," she teased.

"Rather the opposite, I think.  LT, you're to make your bathing room available to Sal.  If he's not available, use mine.  Do not be alone, Sal."

She growled in frustration.  "What the fuck are they after?"

Cyno grabbed a fistful of her pale, white hair and held it before her face.  "Hate.  They do na like what they do na know, and yer the most obvious of us."  He dropped her hair, and grabbed her arm, slapping her belt into her palm, two scabbards still attached.  "And this will na be out of yer reach again, do ya understand me?"

"Yes, sir."

"That's an order, Sal," Blaec added.  "And Ran?  I'm promoting Audgan."

"I'll just adjust his placement record.  Corporal?" Ran asked.

"Yes.  He just earned it."

Sal glanced at Cyno for a moment, then turned to Audgan.  She moved to stand before him, looking more regal than any queen he'd ever seen.  He inhaled, enjoying her powerful scent.  If he had to describe it, he could only think of one word: hope.

Sal smiled at him.  "Thank you, Zyrn, for saving my life.  I owe you."

He blushed, and looked away.  "I didn't - "

"Jase said you did.  This is how it works with us.  Ok?"

"Ok."  He couldn't think of anything else to say, and didn't want to upset her.

She reached up and touched the side of his neck, begging for his eyes.  When he looked into hers, the cold feeling in his gut was replaced with a warmth he hadn't felt in a long time.  He finally had a place he belonged, where he was needed.  He finally had a Kaisae.

Chapter 39

Ran opened the door, greeting Blaz and inviting him in.  Blaec and Cyno sat at opposite ends of the couch, each with a drink in hand and the General gestured to a chair across from them.  With a nervous smile, Blaz accepted.

"She ok?" he asked.

"Taking her second bath."  Ran gestured with the bottle in his hand to his personal bathing chamber.  "You know the rules, Blaz?"

"Yes, sir."

"Broke 'em already," Blaec teased.  "The correct answer is yes, Ran."

"Yes, Ran, then."

"Want a drink?"

"Fuck, yeah," Blaz nearly groaned.  "A stiff one, if you've got it."

"She bit ya," Cyno said coldly.

Blaz froze.  "Yeah, I'm sorry, man."

"Ya like it?"

"It's not like that," Blaz protested.

"Na what I asked."

Glancing behind him at the closed door, Blaz paused, then looked back at Cyno.  "Yeah.  She has that effect."

"Do na think she wants ya."

"No."  He laughed like that was foolish.  "She made that rather clear.  I know my place.  I don't know yours, but I know mine."  He looked at Blaec pointedly, then back to Cyno.

"He's first, I'm second.  Ya are neither."

"Leave it," Blaec said.  "He knows."

"Spell it out to me, Blaec?" Ran asked, passing a drink to Blaz, before sinking into his own chair.

"Iliri are matriarchal.  We have few children and most are male, leading to a distinct gender imbalance.  Purebred females are even more rare, often not living to adulthood because of the delicate nature of their juvenile systems."

"Ya kill em pretty good," Cyno added.

"How?" Ran asked.

"Malnutrition and pregnancy are the most common."

"Thought iliri had more control of that?"

"It's a learned skill," Cyno said, "Think of it like potty trainin'."

"Ok.  Go on?"

"Because we have so few women, we've evolved ta accept a slightly diff'rent family structure.  We live in packs when we can – by preference – and our women have multiple lovers.  Dominant females are, of course, the most desirable, but any female tends ta have her pick of men."

Ran took a careful sip of his scotch.  "And you like this?"

Blaec shrugged.  "That's like me thinking it's strange that you're willing to share your mother with a sibling.  Shouldn't you be jealous of her divided attention?"

"Nice analogy," Blaz said.  "Makes more sense to me now."

"How does this work with the command structure?" Ran asked.

"I keep our ranks pretty equivalent to our social structure.  Sal may take the Blades one day.  You need to be aware of that."

"That's going to be awkward."

"Nah," Cyno said.  "LT will be the First Officer, an' Arctic the Second."

"So, her orders don't override yours?"

"No," Blaec said, smiling proudly.  "I won."

"You actually fought it out?" Blaz asked.

Cyno shrugged.  "Yeh.  It rarely ends in death."

"You had a full out brawl with your lover?"

The two iliri glanced at each other, confused.

"We tend to think of hitting our women as bad," Ran explained.  "Men are stronger and it's considered to be a social disgrace."

"Ours are na weak," Cyno nearly purred.

Blaec clarified, "Our males tend to be slightly larger and stronger, but the females are faster, so it's a pretty even fight.  Of course, most of us are crossbreds, so even larger by comparison and even slower than her.  Cyno is a good example of what an iliri male would be like."

"How human are you?" Blaz asked.  "I mean, that's probably rude as fuck, but I don't know how else to ask."

"How pure," Cyno said.  "And I'm least ninety percent, maybe more."

"Damn.  Yet you're not white?"

Cyno shrugged.

The latch to the bedroom door clicked and the iliri looked up before the humans even heard it, both men smiling.  When Sal opened the door, the two humans understood.  She walked out, rubbing a towel over her head, but paused.

"Blaz?" she asked.

"I asked for him," Ran said.  "Cyno said he had information I needed."

"Unexpected," Sal muttered, folding the towel and placing it on the counter before grabbing a drink.

Her white feet peeked out from beneath the bottom of her black pants.  They hung loose on her hips, a tank two sizes too small exposing her belly.  Three of the men in the room watched appreciatively as Sal moved to the couch.  The General did his best not to laugh.

She sat beside Blaec and smiled at Cyno before curling between them like a pleased cat.  Blaec wrapped his arm around her protectively and Cyno pulled her legs across his lap.

"Looks to me like it works out well enough," Ran told Blaz before turning back to Sal.  "I want you to keep the affair with Blaz going.  Think you can do that?"

She nodded.  "No different than being on a mission."

"Thanks," Blaz teased.  "We just have to figure out more excuses to not be locked together for hours."

"You've already given me one.  Tomorrow, I need you to give me a lesson in packing."

Ran shot a glance at her.  "Sal?"

"What?" she asked.  "I just need to know, didn't tell him why."

"She didn't," he swore.  "I can make some pretty good guesses, but she didn't.  She just asked how to fit a horse for a long trip without needing mules or pack horses."

"Ok.  The 112th would be the best to know.  You're not taking mules?"

"Will get us killed," Cyno said, "or be a real good way ta lose all our gear in the first run."

Ran sighed.  "Ok.  Point made."

"I'm going to deplete the Blade's coffers on this, Ran," Blaec said, glancing at Blaz, then back.  "Gonna make things pretty hard for us."

"Can you hold out for two weeks?" Ran asked.  "I'll get a line of credit cleared up, but it won't be fast."

"Yeah, we'll make do."

Blaz leaned forward, drawing their eyes.  "I can do a check of gear – after our last mission it makes sense – and write off a few things.  That should make it a lot easier on the Blades."

"Just turn it in to me," Ran said.  "So you know, they're only packing two."

Blaz nodded.  "Figured that out already.  Sal and Cyno.  That's why he's going to be reporting to her soon."

Ran sighed, looking at his glass longingly.  "I probably need to raise all elite firsts and seconds to top clearance."

Blaz saw and stood to get a bottle from the shelf.  He carried it back to refill both of their glasses.  "Speaking of that, Star Fall was pretty open about the fourth load."

"Go on?"

"There's a fourth load of ore, headed through the mountains.  The Blue Party wants it secured by humans, not iliri.  They don't know what pass it's headed through, so they'll be hitting it south of Ryass.  They also said they'd make sure the Blades were out of commission and unable to stop them."

"What does that mean?" Ran asked.

Blaz shrugged.  "Wasn't long after that before one of them saw the horse I was on and put a few things together.  Lorenz might have something, or Tolan, but I'm not sure."

"Give me everything you have," Ran ordered.

Blaz ticked off comments on his fingers.  "Blades are iliri and making it too easy to find reasons to shut them down.  They discussed some blow up in Escea and the thing with the Generals in Ft. Landing.  Hot-headed and feral were words they liked to use.  Said it would be easy to get one of the officers court-martialed for an affair, and that would be all Parliament needed after their reputation of being too primitive."

"So you stepped in?"

"Yeah," Blaz said.  "Laughed at the idea of Sal and LT together.  Said she wouldn't have time, and wouldn't do that to me.  Things like that.  Ran, they never said enough for me to be sure, but it sounded like they plan to jack them en route."

"Sure they weren't talking about tonight's ordeal?" the General asked.

Blaz shook his head.  "No, I'm not.  Seriously, what the fuck was that all about?"

Sal giggled.  "I notice you didn't ask how."

"Nope.  Not gonna make that mistake twice.  I figure whatever shit you people are doing, I don't want to know if I'm going to be allowing you to bite me for the next couple of days."

"He liked it," Cyno said quietly to Sal.

"Yep," she told him.  "You expect me to torture someone that's helping us?"

His eyes flashed and the corner of his lip curled up.  "Nah."  But his expression denied his words.

"Ok," Blaz said, tossing his hands up in annoyance.  "I feel like a boy caught making out and my parents are discussing what to do with me.  I make forward strike plans, not infiltration.  My idea may not have been brilliant, but it's what I had.  Hit me when the Blades fell into their roles seamlessly that I'm probably working above my pay grade right now, ok?  I'm not trying to seduce your girl."

The two iliri men tried to hide it, but they were amused.  Cyno clenched his jaw and Blaec rubbed his hand across his mouth.  Both turned to Sal.  Cyno couldn't help it, a laugh slipped out, triggering one from Blaec.  They caught each other's eyes, and both laughed again.

"What?" Blaz demanded.

Sal looked between her men, their amusement contagious, and chuckled herself before answering.  "That comment was very human," she explained.  "It also just made them feel a lot better about this."

"Ok?  I'm not supposed to admit I'm shit at planning infiltration missions?"

She shook her head.  "No, you're not supposed to think you can seduce me."

"I can't," he said, still lost.

Cyno laughed again.  "Men do na seduce women," he said, trying to smother his urge to giggle like a child.  "Especially na Sal."

She ignored him.  "They keep telling me that men impress women and I choose to accept it."

Cyno grabbed his glass to smother another laugh that was trying to work its way out.  Watching him, Blaec sighed, rubbing at his jaw.  "Stop that, man," he told the little assassin.  "It's not that funny."

Blaz was completely confused.  "Then why are you laughing at me?"

"Not you," Blaec said.  "I mean, he's right, but I can't remember seeing Cyno ever giggle before."

"I do na giggle."

"You are," Sal pointed out.

"It's funny," Cyno said in his defense.  "Does na mean I'm gigglin'."

Ran watched the trio, leaning back casually in his chair, a content smile on his face.  He raised his glass and took a sip, but never looked away.  "I think that's the first time any of you have done that," he told the iliri.

"What?" Sal asked.

"Stopped playing human and let anyone see how you truly interact.  Is this how it is when you're alone?"

"Yeah," Blaec said, pulling Sal closer.  "We're not that much different than you."

"You kinda are," Blaz told them.  "I know you don't see it, but you are.  There's a nuance to everything you do that just doesn't make sense to the rest of us.  Like the three of you sitting together."

Sal suddenly sat up straight, swinging her legs to the floor.  "They asked who told me about the fourth load."

"Who did tell you?" Ran asked.

"I did," Sal said.  "It is the only thing that makes sense.  I can show you?"

"I don't have a map, Sal.  I'll trust you on this."

She nodded but the intensity didn't leave.  "They're hauling the metal from the Huracan River split, not Terric.  I don't know what's over there, but that's where they're either getting it, or – what's the word for when they make it into the bars?"

"Smelting," Blaec said.

"Yeah.  But they couldn't figure out which pass it was going through."

"I couldn't, Sal," Blaec told her.  "Did you see it, Cyno?"

"Yeh, once she pointed out the part about Escea, but I did na get that on my own.  I'm na like her, though."

"What do you mean?" Ran asked.

"It just makes sense sometimes," Sal told him.  "Like the bait and bleed.  It was so obvious.  I couldn't believe that no one else could see it was just to clear the path for the Escean load."

Ran's eyebrows raised and he glanced at Blaec.

The Major tried to explain.  "We're pretty sure it's related to her prey drive.  She basically predicts tactics and strategy as easily as you catch something.  You don't think about the fact that you're calculating where the arc of the throw will end up, you just catch it.  She catches her prey."

Ran set down his glass, looking at the men around the room.  "Ok.  Blaz, find out which men said what about the fourth load and report to me tomorrow.  Blaec, go do whatever it is you do.  Cyno, would you mind waiting outside for Sal?  I need a moment with her."  The three men stood, and Ran held up a hand.  "Blaz, if you happen to be heard working things out with Cyno, that would make this a lot easier on all of you.  I do not want her alone for the next few days, am I understood?"

"Yes, sir," all three said, then started making their way out.  With a last look back, Cyno closed the door gently behind him.

"How did you get caught?" Ran asked her without preamble.

"I made a mistake.  I heard them but didn't realize it wasn't a typical noise for the bathhouse."

"Where were your weapons?" he demanded.

"About a meter out of my reach.  Steel does not do well around water.  I'll keep the ceramic with me next time."

"Damn it, Sal, there will not be a next time!"

She reached out and patted his leg.  "Yes, Ran, there will.  This is the fourth time I've had an attempt since I've been with the Blades.  There will be another.  I will die, or I will not, but I can't always know where it will come from."

"Oh, little one," he said patting the top of her hand.  "I walked into that room just in time to see Cyno dragging your body from the water.  You're pale enough to look like a corpse as it is."

She smiled at him.  "Just trust us, ok?  I knew the Blades were coming.  I tried to buy time, but I couldn't buy enough."

"This hasn't thrown you off, has it?" he asked, gesturing to his head.

"It's sweet that you worry," she told him, leaning closer.  "It really is, but you just can't understand.  That thing today?  That's not a big deal.  I'm not scared of dying.  I'm not scared of being raped, or tortured, or anything else like that.  That's why the Blades are so damned good.  That, and that alone, is why we're so effective."

"What are you scared of, Sal?"

She looked away and took a deep breath, then turned back, lifting her chin defiantly.  "Chains.  Cages.  I don't want to be a slave again.  If you let me fight back, I'm fine."

Ran nodded.  "Then I promise you, I will never let it come to that."

"It's our own people who are most likely to do it," she said, "and you can't exactly stop them."

"Maybe not, but if I have no other option, I swear, I'll kill you before I let them do that."

"Why?" she asked, daring him to answer.

"I like you, Sal.  I like the rest of them, too, or I wouldn't have them as elites, but I see something in you."

"What you just offered me would get you hung."

He shrugged.  "I've looked death in the face before.  Believe or not, I didn't always sit behind a desk."  He scratched at the grey hair on his head, then looked back at her.  "Child, the iliri aren't the only ones who aren't scared of death anymore.  Some things are just worth it, ok?"

Sal nodded and untangled herself from the couch.  Taking the two steps to his side, with a shy smile, she leaned over and wrapped her arms around his neck.  "Thank you.  I believe you, Ran."

"Oh, baby girl," he whispered, hugging her back.  "Just let an old man indulge himself without trying to make me sentimental, ok?  Just let me take care of you a bit?"

She nodded at him.  "A bit.  But only if I get to do the same?"

"We'll call that a deal.  Now go see your boys."

When the door closed behind her, Ran grabbed his drink, and swallowed all of it in a single gulp.  He sighed, rubbing at his eyes.  In another life, she could have been his daughter.  She had no idea how many memories she brought back.  The stars on his collar be damned, he'd make sure he took care of that little spitfire if it was the last thing he did.

Chapter 40

Sal and Cyno entered the store two steps behind Zep, their heads lowered.  All three of them were dressed in civilian attire, Zep's clothing significantly better than his friends'.  He gestured for them to stand to the side, and glared until they obeyed, then turned a saccharine smile to the clerk.

"I need to have my staff outfitted.  Is that possible?"

"The iliri?" a young man asked, eying them with disdain.  "Here?"

Zep sighed dramatically and made a dismissive gesture.  "I know, but I'm hosting a party, and my wife is adamant that the staff not embarrass her."

"Ah," the clerk said, nodded in understanding.  "So we need couture for the event.  I understand.  Yes, we can help you with that."

"In blues and golds.  The female needs to be in dresses, the other, do what you can with him."

You're an ass, Cyno sent.

Don't make me laugh, Zep warned him.

"Is there a specific style you're wanting to achieve?"

"Oh, what did she call it," Zep said, glancing up and to the right.  "Renaissance?  Does that make sense to you?  I'm afraid I don't follow fashion."

"But you have excellent taste."  The man gestured to Zep's clothes.  "Yes, we can do Renaissance.  We have a few ball gowns and suits based on Anglian and Myrosican styles.  Our clients typically use them for themed or costume parties."

"Yes, that should do.  Make sure it fits well or she'll have my head."

"No problem," the clerk promised, turning for his assistants.

He gestured, and a young lady moved toward Sal, sniffing in disdain.  "Follow me," she said curtly.

Sal did, keeping her head down but her shoulders high.  Unlike Cyno, she had perfected acting like a slave long ago.  Shockingly enough, he was playing the role better than she had anticipated.

You two just let me know what works, Zep thought to them.

The iliri tried on outfit after outfit, each being presented to Zep for his approval.  Each time, they either approved or discarded the choice based on not only its appearance but also its functionality in combat.  Sal tried on the next and decided against it right away.

This will not be appropriate in Anglia! She warned Zep as the clerk gestured for her to show her "master."

"Yes, we'll take that one, too," he said, smiling at her.

Zep! she chided.

Not for the trip.  That's for Cyno.  Damn, man, you've got to see this thing. It's sparkly, and....

And? Cyno asked.

There's nothing to it, Sal finished.

Owe ya one, big brother, Cyno said.

The girl directed Sal to change again.  When they had a suitable selection of court clothing – as well as the scandalous dress Zep purchased for Sal – he led them from the store.  The iliri carried the packages and Zep walked ahead, knowing they would follow.  Once outside, he held the act for almost half a block before pausing.

"Ok, hand me some of that shit," he said, grabbing items from their hands.

"You make a pretty convincing master," Sal teased.

"Yeah, I just try to act like my father.  Ok.  What's next?"

"Packing supplies are coming from the 112th, chemicals from Ran, we have armor and weapons." Sal thought out loud.

Cyno jerked his head back to the poorer district.  "Rations, because I am na takin' what the military offers.  We'd be near dead in a month."

"Ok," Zep said, thinking.  "Food we get from Guttertown.  Think Tensa can make up something?"

"Prolly," Cyno agreed.  "Or she would know who could."

"Cold weather supplies," Sal remembered.

"Ok, I can do that easy enough."  Zep led them onto the next place.

On and on it went until they had more supplies than the three of them could carry.  Zep nodded at a group of people clustered on the corner and walked toward them.  As they neared, Sal saw a sign that read "Delivery Services."  Men and woman stood around it, each in an obvious uniform, a pad of paper in hand.  Zep looked along the row and yelled out to a small pale boy, his nearly orange hair setting him apart from the others.

"You!"  The boy ran over expectantly and Zep gestured at the items they carried.  "All of this needs to go to the Prin military compound.  Can you handle it?"

"Yes, sir," he said, standing up straighter.  "I can have it there faster than the others, and I assure you - "

Zep cut him off.  "I know.  Deliver this to Major Blaec Doll of the Black Blades.  He can sign for it and see that it's stored for me."

The boy's eyes went wide, and he looked quickly at Sal and Cyno.  "Black Blades, sir?"

"Yeah," Sal said.  "Easier to not make waves on this side of town if we're not in uniform."

"Him too?" he asked, glancing at Zep.

Sal nodded.

"No charge, sir," the boy said, reaching out for their parcels.

"Bullshit," Zep grumbled before stuffing a bill in his pocket.  He walked to the kid's other side, and pushed in a second.  "That's for your friend on the corner who keeps looking over here with plans to help."

"Thank you, ilus," the boy said solemnly.  "I will be sure they know."  He motioned for his companion, then glanced at Sal, careful not to meet her eyes.  "Laetus Kaisae.  Be safe."

"You, too," she told him, touching his arm.

The boy grinned, then nodded to his friend, passing over half the packages before they moved off down the street.

"Ya just tipped the kid a hell of a lot," Cyno told him.

"Yep," Zep said smugly.  "Feels pretty damned good."

"You some kind of scrubber lover or something?" one of the men in the line demanded, glaring at Zep.

"Yeah," Zep told him, standing straight and turning to the man.  "You have a problem with it?"

"So you're big and dumb?" the courier asked.  "Fucking didn't want your trade anyway."

Zep just laughed and turned away, gesturing for Sal and Cyno to join him.

"Can't wait to get out of this place and back to the right side of town," Zep muttered.  Cyno nodded in agreement.

They turned their feet south and had gone two blocks before Sal was sure.  He's following us, she warned her brothers.

Ya sure it's the same one? Cyno asked.  They all look alike.

It's the same.  He'll duck between buildings in a moment, when he gets too close.

In a few meters, he did exactly that.  Sal saw Zep check his waist.

If this goes bad, let me take it, he told the iliri.  Parliament would love to use a city brawl against the two of you.  If I do it, half of their complaints become invalid.

Do na like it, Cyno thought.

But he's right, Sal agreed.  I hate it, but he's right.

They continued to walk casually, tracking the man behind them.  Cyno glanced to his side and tapped Zep's arm, tilting his head across the street.  A pair of men paced them, turning to look at the trio too often.  This time, it was Sal's hand that went to her waist, checking the handle of her dagger.  They only passed a few more shops before four men approached them ominously.

"Fuck," Zep muttered.  "Ok, what do you want?" he asked, turning to the man following them.

"You don't bring their kind north of Guttertown then rub it in our faces," the courier spat.

"Did na realize that breathin' was offensive now," Cyno said cruelly.

"When your kind do it, it is."

"We're just trying to get back to the base," Sal said.  "Not trying to cause a scene."

Sure enough, people were beginning to gather as the seven men cornered the Black Blades.

How we playin' this? Cyno asked.

Do nothing, Sal said.  We have witnesses, and a few bruises never stopped us.

Both Zep and Cyno nodded.

"Don't look at each other like that," a dark man behind them said.

"Now lookin' is offensive," Cyno muttered.

The man grabbed him and shoved him against the wall, his arm against Cyno's throat.  "Shut the fuck up, scrubber.  You can't even speak Glish right."

"Jase," Sal warned.

Cyno held up his hands, empty, but refused to look away from the human's eyes, daring him to try something.

"Hey," Zep said.  "Is this really necessary?"  He raised his voice so the people crowding around could hear him easily, "We were just walking through, not trying to bother anyone."

"See this?" the courier said, pointing at Sal.  "That fucking bothers me.  That shit belongs in Guttertown, not in the business district.  Look at her."  He shoved her backward.

Sal stepped with the push, offering no resistance.

"Don't," Zep said.

"Fucking stop me.  You don't like it when I make your girlfriend obey me?  She's just a slave after all."

"Conscript," Sal corrected.

"Soldier," Zep warned him.

"That?  A soldier?"  The courier laughed then shoved her again.  Sal's back hit the wall.  When she didn't flinch, he grabbed her shoulders and slammed her into the stone siding.

Zep's jaw was clenched tightly.  "Feel like a big man now, do you?"

"You lost me business," he said, shoving at Sal again.  "Your kind comes up here and shit goes bad.  Keep your bleached asses south of Trade Street and we'll leave you alone."

"I wouldn't do that," a voice in the crowd yelled.

"What?" the courier snapped at him.

"Fuck with her.  That's Lady Death, man."

A teenage boy shoved forward, clutching a crudely bound magazine.  He stopped at the edge of the crowd but held it up.  A rough drawing of Sal and Cyno graced the cover.

"That crap's a bunch of shit," the man said dismissing him.

"That's Sal, Cyno, and the big one is Zep," he insisted.

Zep smiled, his head nodding.  "Nice, I made the tabloids."

"Bout time," Cyno muttered.

The courier slammed Sal into the wall one more time.  "Shut up," he yelled at them before turning back to the boy.  "If they were the Black Blades, why aren't they in Black?"

"Off duty," the boy said.  "I dunno, maybe you should ask them."

"And you really think this little thing is Lady Death?  Scrubbers are fucking with your heads."

The kid grinned.  "Keep going, jackass.  We'd all like to see if they really are as good as the stories make them.  Besides, name another bitch pure enough to have ears like that."

Sal cursed under her breath, afraid of where this was going.

"She weighs like forty kilos soaking wet.  He ain't much bigger.  No way she could even stop me, let alone a damned soldier."

"Forty-seven kilos at my last weigh in," Sal said, smiling big enough to show her teeth.

"She's deceptively heavy," Zep added.

"If you're a Black Blade, why aren't you fighting back?" he snarled in her face.

"Our first oath is that we will not harm civilians.  Our second is to die to protect you."  Sal shrugged, trying to act like she wasn't terrified that this was about to become a riot.

"Can't be Lady Death," a man on the other side yelled.  "Where's the metal dagger?"

Slowly, Sal slid her hand along the wall and drew the blade, slipping it down beside her leg.  The courier still held her shoulders, but he was looking over to the last man who spoke.  Sal tapped the flat edge of the knife against the stone siding, the metallic ring like nothing the people in the crowd had heard before.  As heads turned to her, she lifted her hand to her side, flipping the knife and catching it by the blade, the hilt shining in the sunlight.

"Fuck," the courier whispered, stepping back.

"But isn't the other one supposed to be marked up?"

Cyno pulled his hand between him and the man holding him, and slowly pushed him back.  With a feral smile, he loosened his cuff and shoved his left sleeve higher.  "Tattooed," he corrected.

"Leave 'em alone," a girl in the back yelled, as the people in the crowd began to push closer.

"Hey!" Zep bellowed, "Back the fuck off."

"We don't need their kind to help us," someone called out.

"They took out the Escean Warlords, and no one else could get it done."

"You really Zep?" the first boy asked.

Zep just looked at him as if he was a fool.  "No, I'm some big black-skinned fuck that you've never heard of who runs around with the two best assassins in the country."

"He's Zep," the boy said to his friend beside him.  "It really is the fucking Black Blades, man.  Hey, Sal, will you sign my book?"

Sal stepped back into Zep, more concerned by the handful of fanatical kids than the couriers who had started it all.

"Do it, Sal.  In Iliran," Zep whispered.  You make them love you, and you beat Parliament.

They're crazy!

You're a damned celebrity, just go with it.

She looked timidly at the boy and nodded.

"Can you sign it on the picture of you?  I was gonna hang it in my room."

Seeing the picture, she couldn't help it, she laughed.  The artist had made her ears too large and her teeth twice as long.  She stood at the front of their unit, Cyno beside her, both of them half the size of the rest.  Zep towered above them all, a hulking shadow at the back of the Black Blades.

"This is really bad," she told the boy.

"Nah, it's cool as shit.  It's caricature of each of you, mixing your combat skills with how you look.  Kinda a thing, ya know?"

"Sure," Sal agreed, taking a pen from Zep and writing her name sign in the space below her character, then signing it in Glish for good measure.

She passed both to Zep, and he passed it to Cyno as the next kid handed her something to sign.  A few were from the same magazine, although some were older issues.  All the fans were human, and all looked at her with only adoring respect.

"I love your ears, by the way. They're amazing," the girl said, offering her magazine to Sal.  She couldn't have been more than thirteen.

"Really?"

"Yeah.  Had my mom make me a headband like them.  It's dumb, but," she shrugged, not finishing the sentence.

Sal nodded, her eyes widening and pressed a hand over her mouth.  She nodded again when she passed back the magazine, but her voice refused to work.

"I'm sorry!" the girl said.

Sal just shook her head, so Zep put an arm around her, and chuckled.  "Don't be.  Just give her a second.  No one's ever said something nice to her like that."

"You're not what I expected you to be like at all," the girl said.  "I thought you'd be full of yourself, but you're nice, Sal."

"Thanks," Sal managed.  She took a deep breath and smiled at them all.  "I mean it.  Thank you.  I didn't expect this.  I thought humans hated me."

The girl shook her head.  "Nah.  Most of my friends want to grow up and be a Black Blade, just like you."

Chapter 41

The three of them walked into the courtyard of the base, melting in the midday heat.  Dark clouds rolled overhead, threatening rain, but so far offered nothing more than humidity to make the soldiers more miserable.  Under the shade of a tree, Blaz and a few other men from the 112th clustered together cleaning their saddles and laughing.  Blaz's shirt was off, her bites trailing across his left shoulder.

Cyno shook his head, glaring at the man.

Show time, Sal thought, forcing herself to smile brightly before heading toward them.

One man looked up and Sal held her finger to her lip, walking up behind Blaz.  He nodded imperceptibly, but she caught the way his hand shifted.  Blaz bent his head lower to the saddle as Sal wrapped her arms around him.

"Hey!" Blaz said, feigning surprise.

"Give it up," she told him, pressing into his side.  "I saw the sign."

"Fuck," the man said.  "You read ours, too?"

Sal gestured back, "Yes."

"How come we don't know yours, then?" he asked.

Sal just smiled.  "Learn iliran."

"Nope," Lorenz said from the far side.  "Behind you is still behind you, no matter what language it's in."

"But do you really want to learn the difference between enemy male behind you, friendly female behind you, and the six types of behind it could be?"

"Don't ask," Blaz warned them.  "Trust me."  He smiled down at Sal and kissed the top of her head, catching sight of Cyno out of the corner of his eye.  "We ok, man?" He asked the assassin.

Cyno shrugged.  "Yeh.  Can na change orders.  Things are good tween the Blades and the 112th."

Star Fall's around the corner, out of your line of sight, Sal told him when she caught one of the horsemen glance that way.  Looks like all of the 112th know what's up, though.

Good ta know.  Still hate seein' yer marks on him, but I'm tryin', kitten.

I know.  Now go get our stuff put away.

"Pull up a saddle," Blaz offered.  "I was gonna clean yours too, but I'll be damned if your Stablemaster hasn't learned to growl."

Sal laughed at that.  "No one touches our tack but the Blades, and Tilso might as well be a Blade.  I didn't catch all of your names, though, and Blaz hasn't been polite enough to introduce me."

"Lorenz ya know," Blaz said, "The others are Aleks and Celso."

"You're fuckin' playin' with fire, boss," Aleks muttered.  "Hope it's worth it."

"So," Blaz said, ignoring that.  "Rax looks good."

"He's getting plenty back for those bites," Celso told the others.  "Him and that fucking horse."  He turned to Sal.  "And don't let him lie to you.  Blaz isn't this nice to just anyone."

"Yeah," Sal said, catching his eyes.  "I'm well aware."

"Fuck off, Celso," Blaz warned the man.

"Serious as shit, man.  You don't do favors for anyone outside the 112th.  Don't act like you're just some kind-hearted gentleman."

Sal's ears twisted back when she realized Celso was being serious.  The four men around her all glanced at her head, and Blaz chuckled.

"Yeah, close enough to horses that you can read them," he told the guys.  "Not completely the same."

Lorenz glanced over at the group of men in brown from Star Fall, then back to his saddle.  "Pretty sure they can't hear us from there," he said softly.

"They can't," Sal said.  "They're wondering what the rest of you think about your Second Officer sleeping with me."

"Wish I could just put my fucking crop up their ass," Celso grumbled.  "How'd all the dumb-asses end up in the same unit?"

"Didn't," Lorenz said.  "You forget about Azure or something?"

"Yeah, I try to."  Celso laughed.  "Seriously though, Sal, they far enough away we can talk?"  She nodded, so he continued, "They think the Blades are headed to Ryass.  They aren't sure when.  Hell, none of us are.  But rumor has it that's not where you're going."

"Nope," Sal assured him.  "And I would rather not tell you."

"All good," Lorenz said beside him.  "You're gonna finish it though, right?"

She sighed and leaned against the saddle, running her hands through the loose hair around her face.  "That's the plan.  Worst case, we know Star Fall should catch the steel on the other side.  Look, we'd all rather see the bribe stopped than play politics."

"Why don't you just let them pick it up?" Aleks asked.

Blaz answered for her, "Because if the Blades fail, they run the real risk of getting disbanded."

"Look," Sal told them, "we're not about to lose the steel because of our damned pride, ok?  If that shit makes it to Anglia, we're all fucked.  I'd rather be busted back to blues than have my head sent to Myrosica."

"Damn," Lorenz whispered.  "I didn't think about it like that.  That's what the Emperor's been doing, isn't it.  Shipping off iliri heads like trophies?"

She nodded.  "Yep.  We're fucked either way we go on this.  Our only good option is to bring the steel back ourselves."  Sal glanced away, trying to hide the anger on her face.  "I'd really prefer not to go back to the way it was before, ya know?"

Blaz put his arm around her shoulder a bit awkwardly.  "This is what you were telling me about, isn't it?"

She nodded.

"So how do we help?" Celso asked.

"Stay out of my way," Sal told him.  "Don't stick your nose in my business because it'll likely end up bad."  She ran her finger down Blaz's shoulder to make her point.  "We can't play by the same rules as the rest of you."

"I did get some gear," Blaz told her.  "It should be with your stableman by now.  Anything else you need?"

She shrugged.  "I dunno.  Nothing I can think of."

He smiled deviously.  "Well, there's one thing I can think of.  Probably take all of us to pull it off, though."  Then he looked to his guys.

"Uh oh, sounds nefarious," Aleks said, grinning.

Blaz nodded.  "Need to pull a topsy turvey.  From my door to the one next to it.  Doesn't make sense to hide her away with me when LT's just a door over."

"Pssh," Lorenz dismissed that.  "Too easy."

"Gimme an hour," Blaz said, pulling Sal to her feet.  "Then let's run it."

"Yes, sir," Celso said.  "I'll get your saddle.  You two go make rumors."

"Thanks, guys," Blaz said, grabbing his shirt.

He pulled her away from them and toward his rooms.  She moved easily to his side, wrapping her arm around his waist and hooking her fingers in his belt.  To the watching eyes, she looked completely at ease with the situation.  When they reached his rooms, she swiveled her ear back.  Hearing voices, she tugged Blaz around to face her and pushed his back against the door before he could open it, pulling his head down to kiss her.

"No way that's a ruse," the man down the hall said.

"She really just ditched her partner and jumped in his bed in a few days?" the other asked.

"Guess so.  I mean, they are pretty freakish about how well they follow orders.  Maybe she really did.  Cyno seems pissed but accepting of it.  LT?  He couldn't give a shit.  No way was anything going between them."

"Maybe Jalik is right and it's their fighting style that started it?  She's always got her teeth on someone's throat."

Sal broke the kiss and smiled up at Blaz, tilting her head at the door.  He fumbled with the lock, then opened it and followed her inside.

"Sal?" he asked behind the closed door.

"Sorry, wanted to eavesdrop on some guys down the hall."  She shrugged.  "Looks like it's working, just so you know."

"Wow," he said, smiling at her shyly.  "That's one hell of a performance."

"Sorry."  She flopped onto the couch.  "And thanks for not saying anything down there."

"About what?" he asked, confused.

"The strange shit that happens around us, what you heard from Ran, my fear of being a slave again?"  She waved her hand in the air as she spoke, trying to make her words lighthearted, but they weren't.  "All of it.  This, too.  It matters.  I'll remember."

He flicked the lock on the door and nervously walked over.  For a moment, he looked down at her, then sat beside her hip.  Cautiously, he reached up and brushed the wisps away from her face.

"You're leaving soon, aren't you?"

"Before dawn," Sal told him.

"That storm's supposed to hit tonight.  You're riding out in the middle of it?"

She nodded.  "I'd rather no one noticed we're gone until we're just not here, ok?"

"Yeah," he said, understanding.  "I won't say shit.  About any of it.  Thanks for the trust."

She patted his leg.  "Guess that means this is our last time together."

"Yeah," he said softly.  "Look.  I needed this, ok?  I know you're not into me, and it would never work out between us, but I kinda needed someone to push me a bit."

"You're pretty good at the kissing," she teased.  "I don't think you have anything to worry about there.  Better than most humans."

"Thanks, I think."  He laughed, but kept looking at her.  "What is it about you?" he asked finally.

"What do you mean?"

"Celso's right.  I don't exactly make friends easy, and I can't ever remember going out of my way for someone outside my unit, but here I am with a line of iliran bites down my shoulder and a beautiful girl on my couch that I can't touch.  Why?"

"Cyno says it's because I'm a Kaisae and I have the vis."  She shrugged.  "I don't exactly know what that means, but it's supposed to be a big deal.  Not that I feel like a big deal, but..." She lifted her hands, showing that she had nothing else.

"I think you're a lot bigger deal than you know, Sal.  I just have a feeling that shit's about to get real, and somehow you're going to be in the middle of it, and I want to make sure I'm on your side."

She laughed at that.  "I think it's because you want in my pants," she teased, getting up and heading to grab a drink.

Blaz said nothing for a long time.  "Maybe," he said softly.  "I dunno." He laughed when Sal turned to look at him.

"Blaz?" she asked.

"Nothing like that, Sal.  Fuck, pour me one of those.  We have time to kill.  I'll bare my soul."

She poured him a large glass and filed hers to match.  He moved to the chair beside her, so she could recline again and still see him.

"I'm kinda glad you're leaving soon.  I think a few more days of this and I'd be looking at you differently.  That kiss at my door a bit ago?  I didn't expect that, ok?"

"I'm sorry," she said, trying to understand what he was saying.

"No, it's good.  You're just so, I dunno, there.  No one can miss it when you're around, and you're completely upfront about everything.  That kiss was the first time you've done that to me, and I wasn't expecting it.  For a second, I was simply desired by a girl, and it's been a long time since that's happened.  I think I kinda relaxed or something."  He nodded, trying to choose his words.  "We're good, and I'm not about to risk Cyno getting pissed at me, but for just a second, I wasn't acting, ok?"

She nodded, her ears intent on him.

"If that happened too much more?  I dunno, I might end up having the wrong kind of thoughts.  That's why I said maybe.  You're a pretty girl, Sal."

She laughed at that.  "I think only you and Cyno believe that."

"Not human pretty.  You're too exotic for that, but once I got used to it, you're a pretty girl.  I think it's the confidence.  Believe in yourself a bit more, ok?  You're going to need that in Anglia."

Chapter 42

The 112th kept their word, sneaking Sal into Blaec's office, giving her the night alone with him.  Sal lay with her head against his chest, listening to Blaec's heart beat beneath her ear, her fingers twined with his.  He wiped at his eyes with one hand and held her tight with the other.  With a deep sigh, he pulled her even closer and bent to kiss her head.

"We have a couple nights on the road. You think Cyno will mind if I keep you to myself?"

She shook her head.  "No.  Maast, love, I'm going to miss you."

"You'll be fine, sweetness.  We should be able to hear you for the first couple of days, but it won't be long.  I don't know how far you can reach."

"How far can you reach?" she asked, having never thought about it before.

"About two days ride.  Problem is, we're both going to be headed in the opposite directions."

"What are we going to do with my things?" she asked.  "And Cyno's?"

"Ran has storage for deployed soldiers.  We'll take care of it, Sal, don't worry."

"I just feel like I'm forgetting something."

He laughed softly.  "I hope it isn't me."

"No," she assured him.  "If I could fit you in my packs, you'd be coming too.  Unfortunately, I think the rest of the guys might need you."

"More than you do."  He kissed her again and glanced up at a loud boom of thunder.  "I think that's our sign.  C'mon, get dressed."

"Tell Blaz thank you?"

"If you get dressed, I will," he said, sliding out from beneath her.  "Least it will be a nice cool rain."

Sal pulled on her riding clothes and strapped her knives to her belt while Blaec did the same.  She could feel him checking with the rest of the men in the unit, the melancholy of their impending departure looming over them both.  At least she still had a few days with the Blades.

Blaec handed her an oiled coat and she buttoned it to her throat, then flipped the hood over her head.  With a nod, he opened the door.  Sal glanced back at the room she'd spent so much time in, then walked through the door.  This departure felt so final, like she was leaving a part of her life behind.

Shadows moved through the compound, the Black Blades drifting toward the stables.  Their dark clothing hid their pale skin, making them into ghosts.  It felt like a macabre scene as they moved silently through the sleeping compound.  Beside Blaec, she slipped down the stairs, their footsteps soft, and he touched her arm before they turned the last corner.  The leader of the Devil Dogs stood before them.

"Back gate's open," he told Blaec.  "Tyr will close it when you're through.  Good luck, brother."

"Thanks, Pig," Blaec said.  "Delay them if you can?"

"We'll do everything we can think of," Pig said, winking.

"I owe ya."

"Not yet."

With a nod, the men turned, and Sal followed Blaec into the stables.  Their horses stood tacked in the alley, silhouettes highlighted by the flashes of lightning through the doors and windows.  Zep bent over Cyno's mare, securing a few last minute things.  Arden and Raven were laden, but the gear had been stored and balanced well.

"Sal," he said, seeing her enter.  "Take these."  He passed her a fistful of leather, rows of scabbards hanging from each.  "One for each leg."

She buckled them on, and counted.  Five pale blades hung from each side, the sheaths attached to a strip of leather that ran from her belt to her thigh and buckled around her leg.  It looked as if it had been designed to be worn while mounted.

"Thanks, Zep," she said, then hugged him.

"Take care of my little brother, ok?"

"Promise."

Ok, Blaec told them.  Let's get mounted.  Next time the rain dumps, we move.  Dogs have the back gate.

They all sent back their acknowledgment and found their horses.  Sal swung up to Arden's back as Cyno pulled beside her.

Ya good? he asked.

As well as I can be, she assured him.

K.  Just so ya know, I am na jealous if ya wanna be with him.  I understand, kitten.

Thanks.  I kinda do.

Then do, he told her, reaching out to gently grab her arm.  With a smile, he pushed Raven forward, toward Zep.

Bright light flashed, making Sal wince.  A few seconds later, a loud boom followed, triggering the rain.  A deluge fell from the sky, and they began to move.

The horses all balked at the edge of the barn, not wanting to step into the cool stream of water, but none refused for more than a moment.  When Arden passed under the eave, the water pummeled Sal, each large drop slamming against the oiled hood and ringing in her ears.  She could just make out the shapes of her brothers before her.  Step by step, they squished through the sloppy ground, the noise of their passing covered by the storm.

There was a small gate in the back wall where Blaec led them.  Sal knew it was there but couldn't see it in the rain until she was almost on top of it.  At the side, a large man stood with his head down, his hood sheltering him.  She ducked through the opening, shivering as her movement caused a few drops of water to trail down her neck, and then she was in the streets of Prin.  At the next flash of lightning, she moved Arden up the line.

The Blades tightened their grouping and picked up speed, urging the horses into a slow trot.  Their hooves smacked on the wet cobbles, sounding like the fat drops on the roof tiles of the wealthy homes around them.  In this weather, they could be sure that few would see their departure.

The rain didn't let up until well after dawn, just before they crossed the border into Unav.  When the pelting water slowed to a mere drizzle, many of the men dropped their hoods.  By the time the rain stopped completely, the humidity was sweltering.  Sal pulled off her coat and rested it across Arden's hip, hoping it would dry by the time they stopped for breakfast.  She wasn't the only one.

We can rest now, Blaec thought to them, or push into Issevi.

If we keep going, we can overnight there, Arctic said.  Will make it that much harder for anyone to trail us.  If we leave through the north gate, they'll assume we're headed to Ryass.  Cut east and double back, and we should be pretty safe.

We're all going to need the time out of the saddle too, Sal added.  We haven't exactly been doing a lot of riding lately.

'Cept you, Shift teased, but not horses.

Sal stuck her tongue out at him, and he laughed, pushing Boo close enough to snag her coat from Arden's hip.

"Hey!" Sal said.

"Come get it," Shift taunted, and put his heels to his gelding's side.

She gave chase, her mare excited to finally stretch her legs.  It soon became a game, the men passing her rain coat from one to the next, all of them laughing.  When Arden began to tire, Sal reined her in, patting her neck.

"Damn," Shift said, moving Boo to her side and passing back the coat.  "I guess I'm gonna have to start picking on Geo."

"He might pick back," Sal teased, "and then what would you do?"

"I can think of a few things."  He winked at her deviously.

They reached Issevi just after noon.  As they rode into the city, a pale-skinned woman pushed through the crowd, staring at Sal.  She called out in Iliran, but Sal didn't understand the words.  Cyno moved Raven forward and answered.

Terrans in town, he translated for the Blades.  She's offerin' us a place to stay and warned us to get out of uniform.

Take her up on it, Blaec said, halting the group.

Cyno leaned across his horse's shoulder and offered the woman his hand.  She smiled and tilted her head politely before brushing her palm lightly across his.  He said something else to the woman, and she gestured at them, leading the way down a small side street.  Eventually, she stopped before a large stone-sided building and pointed around back, yelling what sounded like a name.

The woman turned to enter the building, but paused and looked directly at Sal.  "Laetus Kaisae," she said respectfully, then left the Blades to make their own decisions.

Well, we're off the main road, and I think we'll be ok here, Arctic told the Blades.

Yeah, Blaec agreed.  Let's get the horses tacked down and find some food.  Least we know we can eat what they serve.  Make sure you grab civilian clothing.  We're not Blades for the night.  We're in Terric's back pocket now.  Stay sharp, people.

The others gave both Cyno and Sal a hand with their over-full packs, a young boy showing them where to store their gear.  The kid stared at Sal with open admiration, smiling shyly each time she looked at him, but when he began to hover as she groomed Arden, Cyno growled.  The boy disappeared quickly.

"We're in the underground of Issevi," he told her.  "They play human when the Terrans show up, but keep their culture otherwise.  They should all speak Glish, and they will all stare."

She nodded at him.  "I understand."

That night, they relaxed comfortably.  Sal kept close to Blaec, not needing to hide her relationship from these people.  They were gathered over dinner when the boy burst into the room, a frightened look on his face.

"Terrans?" Blaec asked the kid.

"No," he said, speaking Glish.  "There's a group of men in brown uniforms, saying they are from the CFC, looking for the Black Blades.  Do I need to tell them where you are?"

"No," Blaec said, leaning forward.  "We are not here, no one has seen us."

"Some have.  They saw you enter."

Sal spoke up, "We stopped for a meal, then continued north, possibly northwest.  Add as much as you want to that, but let us know what it is?"

"Yes, Kaisae," he said, running back through the door.

His mother stood at the entrance to the kitchens.  "You want to tell me what I just brought into my business?"

Sal smiled at her.  "The Black Blades."

"What are you doing, Kaisae?  Is my boy going to be hurt for this?"

"Na," Cyno said.  "He's just throwin' the hounds off the scent, kaisae.  We are na sure those men want Terric ta lose.  We can na trust them, so we do na want them here."

She nodded and grabbed something from the shelf, then marched toward Sal.  Setting it on the table, the woman pushed, sending the jade medallion sliding to rest beside Sal's hand.  A crude symbol was carved in the front.

"Pride," Cyno said, reading the word.  We're in the center of the Unavi Rebels.

Sal looked up at the woman and smiled.  "We've been looking for you."

"And we've been waiting for you," she said.  "What do you need from us?"

"We need to get to Echo Gap.  There's a load of steel headed to Anglia." Sal said.

That's classified, Blaec growled in her head.

And they don't exist.  I'm trusting my damned instincts, she snapped back, before continuing.  "If it makes it, Anglia will join with Terric.  We need to stop it.  Those men in brown?  They want to stop us, but they aren't sure where it's crossing the mountains."

"What will you do when you get it?"

"Take it back to the Conglomerate, let them think it's a big win, and use the praise to help the iliri there.  They know what we are, kaisae.  That's why they don't want us to do this.  If we fail, they think it'll prove that our kind are worthless."

"And then what?  After this mission of yours, do we just go back to hiding?"

"Yes," Sal told her.  "For now."

The woman thought about that, then nodded.  "When does it end?"

"When we all give up," Sal promised.  "Or when the war is finally over, and we can be free.  Strengthen the iliri, kaisae.  Give them hope and teach them to hide, to fight only when they will win.  We will be back.  It won't be soon, but we will beat the Emperor."

The woman turned to Blaec and took a long deep breath.  "I have heard of you, the iliri Lieutenant.  What do you see?"

Blaec didn't bother to correct his rank.  "The Kaisae before an army and the Emperor is scared," he said, meeting her eyes with a smile.  "It's all I see.  There's no other good option, now.  All other fates lead to her death."

Sal sucked in a breath.  She'd never heard Blaec talk about his visions this way, but she didn't dare ask.  Not now.

The iliri woman nodded as if she knew exactly what he meant.  "Then take that.  If you wear it where it can be seen, we will find you.  It doesn't matter where in Unav you are, we have people."  She looked at Razor, then to Zep.  "Some are like yours, but we are sure of them.  Let me get you everything on Echo Gap."

With that, she tottered back into the kitchen, whistling.  The Blades looked amongst themselves, surprised at how easy it had been to not only verify the rumors of the Rebels' existence, but to find them.

Should have known, Razor thought.  I mean, they are iliri.

True, Arctic agreed.  I just thought you were doing a bit of wishful thinking, LT, when you asked about them.

He shook his head.  I had a few reasons to believe they were more than just a myth.  Why'd you give them the intel, Sal?

Because she was waiting for a reason to trust us.  We may be iliri, but not all iliri are on the right side, love.  You all want me to be this Kaisae?  Then I'm going to have to make a few decisions, and telling stories to myths doesn't seem like that big of a problem to me.  I've already broken enough regulations. I figure a few more won't hurt.

Chapter 43

Sal and Cyno had chosen to leave their excess gear at the iliran inn.  They would pass back through on their way to Anglia and the innkeeper was willing to store it for them.  Suited for battle, the Blades rode out of Issevi at dawn, eventually turning toward the east.

Within an hour, they realized someone was following them.  Dark shapes dotted the tops of hills behind them, always far enough back that even the best iliri sight couldn't be sure who or what it was.  The fourth time it happened, Sal was sure it was not a coincidence.

"It's got to be Star Fall," she said.

Blaec reined in Scorch, and looked.  "How many do you see?  I've got nine."

"Yeah, me too," Sal said.

"Last time there was ten," Cyno said, pulling beside them.  "She's right, LT.  It's got ta be them."

"Ok.  Ideas?" he asked the men.

They argued, debating between attacking and fleeing, none of them wanting to get so close to the final load of steel, just to be stopped by their own side.  That's when Audgan spoke up.

"Talk to them," he said.

"Yeah," Geo agreed.  "Makes sense.  See what the fuck they're doing and make them attack first.  Can't really be worse than where we're at now, right?"

"How far out is the steel?" Sal asked Razor.

"Day or more," he said.  "I can't even be sure they're in the mountains yet."

"Ok," Blaec said around a long sigh.  "Check your weapons and gear.  I'm not sure what side of this they're on, but I don't want any of us slacking.  Better to be prepared for no reason than wishing a cuirass was properly strapped on."

Each of them made one last check, Sal pulling her sabers from the pack behind her and strapping herself into the scabbards.  Cyno tested the edge of every blade, turning a few so they were facing properly.  Zep merely patted his chest piece, then his horse, and declared himself ready.

They turned back the way they'd come, slowly fanning into a wide line to make the silhouette of their unit look that much larger.  When they topped a large rise, Blaec called the unit to a halt.

Arctic, open us up, he ordered, and Sal felt the familiar brush of her brothers' minds joining hers.

Geo looked at her quickly, the shocked expression on his face fading as soon as he met her eyes.  Audgan simply sighed, relaxing in a moment of bliss. Then they waited.

Minutes ticked past slowly, and their horses fidgeted in place.  Cessa began to paw, annoyed at the inactivity, but Zep corrected her.  Nazar cocked a hip, proving she was a veteran of battle and knew to catch her rest whenever she could.  Then the first man came into view on the hill across from them.  None of the Blades moved, keeping their relaxed posture, but their eyes tracked each form.

They're in brown, Cyno said.  Ya realize, LT, we fight this out, we're na going back.

Yeah, he said.  I'm well aware of that.  Not without a good excuse or a lot of bodies.  Let’s hope they just want to help.

The humans finally saw them.  Star Fall pulled their horses together, riding forward in a cluster before spreading out to match the Blade's posture.  Sal watched, aware that Blaec had secured the high ground and was threatening the infiltrators with the prospect of fighting mounted, something they typically refused to do.  She glanced at her hip, checking that her helm was within easy reach, then leaned across the pommel as Captain Tharp pulled ahead of his men.

"Look what we found.  The beasts!" Tharp jeered, an obnoxious smile on his face.  "What are ya running from?"

"To," Blaec said.  "We were running to our objective.  You come to help?  Or hinder?"

"Really, Doll?  You're acting like we're across the line from each other or something."

"Aren't we?"  Blaec gestured to their positions.

"Thought we both fought for the CFC."

Sal spoke up.  "Thought we did too, until you tried to kill me the other day, or did you forget about that so quickly?"

"I wasn't speaking to you, bitch," Tharp said.

"Yeah," Blaec told him, "ya kinda are.  So start talking."

"Get off your ego trip, Doll.  We're all here for the same reason."

"Which is?" Sal asked.

"Getting this ore back to Prin.  You don't know where it's coming from, so you need us."

Arctic snorted in contempt.  "So we can do your work and then let you kill us off because we're just scrubbers?"

"So we can tell you which pass."

Sal laughed, making Tharp glare at her.  "Is this a bad time to mention that I learned to lie?  We know where it is."

He gestured at her dismissively.  "You're not very good at it.  Doll, you're playing blind.  Help us get the ore back, and we'll put in a good word for you."

"No," Blaec said, the corner of his lip lifting.

"What?"

"No.  I am not telling you where it is.  I am not leading you to it.  I am certainly not going to trust you, not after what you did to my Second Officer."

"Cut the shit."  Tharp pushed his horse closer.  "She's not qualified to be the Second Officer.  She's your lover and that's it.  We all know it."

"Pretty sure Blaz Eason might be a bit offended to hear that," Blaec taunted.  "Heard he was pretty fond of her.  If nothing else, you really need to ask yourself what man is dumb enough to want to stand on the other side of Cyno's blade.  But we're not here to talk about who Sal's fucking, are we?"

"We're just here for the ore, man," Tharp said, trying to sound like a desperate friend.

"We're here to talk about how you can get the Blades busted back to blues," Blaec corrected.

"Toth hasn't been subtle," Sal told him.  "He's scared of being voted out so he's playing on the anti-iliri sentiment in his district to keep his seat in the next election.  Thing you don't realize is that he doesn't have the first clue about the damned war.  He just wants to sit on his ass and get lots of presents from people who are trying to buy his vote."

"What do you know about politics, scrubber?" Tharp snapped.

Ten hands slipped to the hilt of their weapons, their bodies tensing.  Zep yelled across the space, "Which one of us did you mean?"

"Sorry," Tharp said, raising his hands to show he was out of line.

"What are you doing?" Sal asked him.  "Seriously, all this posturing aside, what the fuck are you doing?  Do you not understand what we're playing with?"

"Do you not understand that we'll get the ore?" Tharp asked her back.

"It's steel!" Sal yelled, her anger flaring.  "It's ingots of steel, not ore.  Your intel is so bad you don't even know what you're chasing!  Five crates, one hundred kilos of precisely measured, smelted steel ingots in each.  It's ready to be hammered, you dumb fuck.  Each ingot is enough to make a standard two-handed sword!  You ever fought against steel?"

Sal glared at him, and Tharp finally shook his head.  She reached behind her back and pulled out her dagger, holding it by the blade so none of them could consider her a threat.

"This is steel.  It's harder, stays sharper, and is more forgiving than anything we have.  With enough force, it can cut through your composite armor.  Resin and ceramic can't even dent it."  She slammed it back into the sheath along her belt.  "I've been fighting with steel for six months, and I've almost matched Cyno's kill record.  I'm not that much faster than him, but my blade's a lot fucking better.  You want to stand across the line from that shit?"

"Where did you get that?" he asked.

"Escea," Sal told him.  "That's why we cleaned up the Warlords.  The Emperor was trying to buy them with swords and daggers like this.  He's trying to buy Anglia now, and your head is so far up your ass worrying about what color my hide is that you keep forgetting the most important thing!  We're on the same damned side!"

"We're not," one of the men behind him yelled.  "You're not fighting for the Conglomerate.  You're fighting for the damned iliri."

"We live in the Conglomerate," Sal yelled back.  "Human, iliri, what's the difference?  If Terric takes our homes, I promise I'm going to lose a hell of a lot more than you will.  He'll send my damned head to a fucking politician to mount on his wall.  You?  What will you lose?"

"Our freedom," he yelled back.

"We already lost that," Arctic said, grabbing Sal's arm to calm her.  "About three thousand years ago.  We're fighting for our lives, now."

"You don't look like you're doing too bad to me," Tharp said.

"Hey, Tharp?" Shift asked.  "Whatcha gonna do when you retire?  Me? I'll be fertilizing a garden from the bottom up, so kiss my ass, ok?"

"Now let's try this again," Blaec said, lifting a hand to silence his men.  "Why are you here?"

"We just want to stop the ore," Tharp told him, again.

"So why did you try to kill my Second Officer?"

Captain Tharp gritted his teeth and looked away.  He shook his head, then looked back.  "Our orders say to remove the Black Blades' combat efficiency and create a catastrophic failure in the unit."

"Keep going," Blaec suggested.

"There's a city senator who's moving up.  She's promised a few politicians a few favors if we can get Guttertown under control.  Your little revelation does not work in her plans, so she wants to see all of you embarrassed enough that you'll fall out of the spotlight."

"And you took the mission?"

"I didn't have a fucking choice!"

"You always have a choice," Blaec said calmly.

"Not this time, Doll.  I tried to refuse the mission and was informed that if we cannot complete it, we will be disbanded as an example of what happens to ineffective units.  Don't tell me you wouldn't do the same."

"I wouldn't," Blaec said meeting his eyes.  "The Blades don't operate like that."

"We wouldn't let him," Arctic said from his right side.

"Then what the hell would you do?" Tharp growled back.

Sal pushed Arden a step forward.  "I'd learn to play politics.  It's a hell of a lot different than combat, but pretty damned effective in that big building in the middle of Prin.  Woulda thought infiltrators would know all about making the right impression."

Zep shook his head, anger clear on his face.  "I sure wouldn't start trying to strangle elites in the bath house.  Dumb fucking idea, Tharp."

"And yet my new 'friends' in Parliament got those charges dropped, didn't they?  They were really interested to hear about the hallucinogenic effects the iliri cast on us."

Sal shook her head in disgust.  "Guess no one told them that female iliri are a bit different than the males, did they?" Her tone was too sweet.  "We evolved to have a few defense mechanisms.  Seems to me that it works."

"Bullshit."

Sal shoved Arden forward, riding right into his face and held her arms out to her sides, exposing her entire body, pushing the bluff.  "Then try it again.  Let's see who's full of shit?  You try to kill me and it will happen every time.  It will hit every human in twenty meters of me, maybe more."

Blaec shook his head at his men, holding them in place.

More, Audgan thought, amused.

"Did you need a weapon?" Sal asked him.  "I have a few you can borrow."

"You'd be bleeding out on the ground before you could do anything, bitch," Tharp warned her.  "Don't try me."

She smiled slowly.  "I'm trying you, and you don't have the balls to do shit to me.  We both know I could tear your throat out before you'd have a blade in your hands.  We both know that your men wouldn't be able to do a damned thing about it.  We both also know, Captain Tharp, that the Blades have the high ground, and your foot soldiers are sitting mounted across from us."  She paused letting that sink in.  "And everyone thinks that Star Fall is headed to Ryass, and we aren't.  The entire CFC thinks we're hundreds of kilometers apart.  Let's fucking play."

Tharp looked over to Blaec.  The leader of the Black Blades just smiled and patted the loaded crossbow at his hip.  "She's right."

"And how would you explain Star Fall's disappearance?"

"Not my problem," Sal whispered to him sweetly.  "We were busy securing the steel.  Have a long enough line of witnesses to it that I'm not scared.  I told ya.  You should have learned to play politics."

Chapter 44

"Captain?" one of the men from Star Fall spoke up, interrupting the arguments of the officers.

"What!"

"We got company, sir."

Sure enough, a group of soldiers was headed their way, riding hard.  Through their link, without turning her head, Sal could see that they wore purple.  Terrans.  The two units had been so intent on each other, they'd stopped right in the line of a patrol.  Behind her, Blaec cursed under his breath, realizing how foolish they'd been.

"What now?" Sal asked Tharp, unwilling to turn her back on the man.

"If you're really on our side, then we fight," he said, staring into her eyes, daring her to say otherwise.

"Can the Blades really stop this?" the First Officer asked, pushing his horse closer.

Sal looked over to him and nodded.  "Yeah, we can get the steel."  She recognized his voice from the other night.  He'd held the rope around her neck.

"Tharp, call a truce.  She's right.  They'll lose more than us, and they're better suited for this mission."

Captain Tharp spat an impressive string of vulgarity before nodding.  With a deep sigh, he looked at Blaec.  "Ok, Doll.  We'll pull these fucks off your tail, but we're gonna catch back up."

Sal reached across the space between them, and grabbed his shoulder.  "Echo Gap, day and a half out, Imperial Paradox, twenty-five strong.  We're hitting them on the downhill side, near the boulder pinch."

"Shit," Tharp breathed.  "Got it.  Now go.  Just don't fuck this up, ok?"

Sal turned her mare and called over her shoulder, "See you on the back side, when we're playing for the same team."

With a nod from Blaec, the Blades spun and raced in the opposite direction.  Behind them, Tharp began screaming orders and Star Fall pushed toward the oncoming soldiers, the elites pulling ranged weapons.

They're not on our side, Arctic said to her as they ran.  I know you expect the most from everyone, but they are not on our fucking side, Sal.

They are for now, and the rest of the unit just decided we're team players.  Besides, we're changing the plan.  We're going to hit them in the middle of the pass and see if those humans can keep up on the top of a mountain.  She grinned at Arctic as she leaned over Arden's neck.  I'm not that stupid.

His laughter tickled in the back of her mind.

They pushed hard across the foothills, heading south.  When the Terrans were long out of sight, they turned back east and moved higher into the mountains, letting Razor's sense of direction lead their way.

The footing was difficult for their mounts as the land grew higher and higher.  Sal had never been in real mountains before, but she'd expected a gradual shift in the terrain.  Instead, large crops of stone sprang up without warning, as if they were trying to break free of the ground and reach for the moons.  Their progress slowed when they moved from grassland to evergreen forest, and again when the trees began to grow thin around them.  As the day wore on, the horses gasped for breath in the thin air as the sun stained the land around them with fire.

"They're done for the day," Zep called ahead to Blaec.  "Air's too thin."

He just nodded, staring intently to his left and right, seeking something.  Blaec's own breath made pale clouds before his face.  It wasn't long before he pointed.

Flat spot to the right, he thought to the unit.  We're making camp.

It's gonna get cold tonight, Arctic warned them.  Build a fire and we'll sleep around it.  Someone put LT's tent far enough away for those two to have privacy?

Weary and tired, they dismounted and dragged the tack from their horses.  Zep and Razor, being the tallest, strung a picket line while Sal and Cyno filled nose bags for each of the mounts.  She whispered an apology to them for the lack of hay, but they would manage well enough on what they had grabbed on the way in.  Shift and Audgan scoured the area for dead fall, and Geo cleared an area for a massive fire.

"I think you're a little overzealous," LT said to him, patting the new Blade on the shoulder.

Geo grinned up at him and shrugged.  "I saw a grass fire once, sir.  Can't imagine a forest fire.  If nothing else, it'll be softer to sleep on, right?"

"I'm sure the rest will thank you.  Hey Risk, give me a hand with this?" he called out, gesturing to his tent.

By the time it was truly dark, the Black Blades lounged casually around the fire.  Razor still insisted that the steel was moving but would not be close until well into the following day.  Cyno walked past Sal, reaching out to touch her gently, before moving to sit away from the rest.

"Where's Star Fall?" Sal asked Razor.

"Coming this way."  He shrugged.  "They won't be here until well into the night."

"What are we doing about them?" Risk wanted to know.

They all looked at each other for the answer, and Blaec pulled her closer against him.  "You willing to forgive them?" he asked her quietly.

"No," Sal told him.  "They tried to kill a Conglomerate soldier.  That crosses the line in my book, but I'm willing to use them to our advantage.  Why?"

"Because we're not going to be able to get the horses up there, Sal.  It's too steep on this side.  We'll be on foot against mounted, and I wouldn't mind a few more to help us."

She nodded, looking at the faces around her.  "Makes sense to me, but I get Cyno at my left."

"Yeah," he said.  "Always, love.  I feel safer knowing he's there."

"What's the plan?" Razor wanted to know.

"We hope they miss us in the dark?" Blaec laughed, then shook his head.  "They'll likely find us in the morning.  No one in their right mind would move through this shit at night.  We do what Sal suggested earlier and give them the chance to share the 'win' with us, but keep it on our terms."

"They'll kill us if we turn our backs on them," Zep said.

"Yeah," Blaec agreed, "so don't turn your back.  Star Fall works as a unit.  We break them into smaller groups and their tactics fall apart.  Sal, Cyno, I'm putting you with their First Officer.  Tharp will be with Arctic and I, and the Second Officer with Zep and Shift.  Geo, Audgan, you both will stay here and watch the camp."

"I can help you up there," Geo insisted.

Sal leaned forward and caught his eye.  "Yeah.  First thing Star Fall will do is try to release the horses or lame them.  If we can't get back, we can't return the steel.  If they double back on us, Audgan can drop them and you can handle the rest.  He's not protecting you, trust me.  He's using your talents."

"Oh," Geo said, taken aback.

Blaec nodded to the young man, and kept going.  "We'll have to get eyes on the terrain before I can tell you all more than that.  If we can, I want to use a simple ambush.  Maintain the high ground, ranged weapons, you all know the drill.  Wear armor you can climb in, because," he gestured at the tall shadows blocking out the stars in the east, "I have a feeling it's not getting any smoother."

"Ok," Cyno said from the darkness.  "Leave them alone, now.  Sal and I leave t'morrow."

His words hit her like a blow.  It was too close.  Too soon.  With a long sigh, Blaec stood and offered his hand.  She smiled at him sadly as she took it, refusing to let him go until they were behind the canvas walls of his tent.

***

Hours later, Cyno sniffed at the cool night air.  He'd always liked the night.  Unlike the others, Cyno had no problem with the second watch, actually preferring to sleep in short bursts rather than all the way through.  Besides, he could see better at night, and it was one of the few times he could find true peace.  That's why he recognized the scent of humans so easily.  They didn't belong in his night.  Even worse, he recognized one of the scents.

Star Fall is here, he warned the Blades, waking many of them.

Where? Arctic asked, coming to his senses quickly.

Dunno, but I smell 'em.

The men around the fire moved, grabbing weapons and fading into the darkness.  The iliri had never practiced this.  Disappearing was just something they knew instinctually.  Arctic, however, headed toward LT's tent.  Satisfied his brothers were prepared, Cyno inhaled and turned, following Tharp's odor.

A feral smile began to take over his face, and he couldn't seem to push away the thought of how the man would taste.  The bastard had tried to kill Sal.  His life was forfeit for that.

Softly, silently, he slipped through the trees, stopping to track the scent every few steps. A rustle of pine needles betrayed the man he was stalking, and Cyno moved to follow. Circling Sal's tent, he moved downwind of the human and unsheathed the resin dagger.  A moonlit form became visible between the trees. Tharp was headed directly for them, most likely hoping to catch LT and Sal together, thinking he would finally be able to finish his mission.

The idiot even smiled.

Sal, get dressed.  Quickly, Cyno warned her, as he took the last step to the man.

He kicked the human's left knee, shoved his right hand across the Captain's mouth, and laid his blade against his throat, pushing the edge against skin.  The Captain gasped as he fell, but made no other sound.  His eyes were wide, scanning the darkness, and Cyno leaned close.

"What do ya want?" he growled softly enough that it wouldn't carry.

"Just wanted to tell LT we're here," Tharp said against the assassin's hand.

"Na," Cyno told the idiot.  "Ya do na try ta circle us ta say hello.  Try again or ya'll bleed out b'fore they know I cut ya."

"We weren't sure if it was you or the Terrans," he insisted.  "So I took precautions.  Trying to hide something?"

"Ya tried ta kill my girl," Cyno warned him, pressing the blade just a bit harder against the man's throat.  "I do na play politics.  I kill.  And I can smell yer lies."

"Why haven't you killed me then?"

"Sal said I should na."

Tharp laughed and pulled his head back from Cyno's hand.  "Still fucking her?"

The iliri snarled and grabbed a fistful of hair, yanking the human's head back.  "Ya did na tame me.  Ya will na tame me.  She listens, but I will change her mind."

"Let him up," Blaec said from the door to his tent.

Cyno simply growled.

"I said," Blaec repeated more sternly, "let him up.  And put away your teeth."

Cyno nodded and shoved the human's face into the ground, then stepped back.  Tharp rolled, expecting an attack to follow the push, but when he looked up the assassin was simply gone.  Standing behind a tree, the iliri could see the human peering, nearly blind, into the night.  He smiled and made his way back to the rest of the men, moving easily in his natural element.

Those fools were meant to be eaten.  They just made it too easy.

Chapter 45

"Where'd he go?" Tharp demanded.

"Cyno?" Blaec asked.  "He's gone.  I told him to let you go."

The scent of fear clung to Tharp.  "That was really Cyno?"

"Yeah," Blaec said, offering the Captain a hand up.  "He doesn't really like you very much."

"Has a thing for me," Sal said, leaning forward so she could be seen from outside the tent.

Tharp smiled.  "Imagine that," he said proudly, looking at Blaec.

"What?" he asked with mock innocence.

"She's in your tent in the middle of the night.  Thought there was nothing there."

The sound of another man's laugh interrupted him.  "We're not that kinky," Arctic said.  He'd only just managed to slip inside the tent while Cyno taunted the Captain.

"Uh."

"So do you have any knowledge of this pass," Blaec asked him, "or should we continue trying to make contingency plans?"

"Pretty sure this is going to work, LT," Sal said.  "Bring him in. We'll light something so his human eyes can see."

"My human eyes?"

"I'm assuming you can't read without a lamp?" Sal asked him.

"And you can?" he demanded.

"Yes."

Tharp looked between the three iliri, confused, so Arctic decided to elaborate.  "The light destroys our night vision, as I'm sure you're aware, Captain.  Since we can all see well enough right now, we prefer not to put ourselves at a disadvantage.  Besides, we all know how easy it is to see lanterns in the woods.  No need to mark the officers for anyone looking to kill us."

"I'm sure the Captain would never do anything like that," Sal said pointedly.  "Now come in or go away.  We have work to do."

"Show me the plan," Tharp said, moving forward.

Arctic grabbed the lamp and lit it, turning the flame as low as he could.  "Still see?" he asked.

"Are you fucking serious?"

Arctic turned the flame up.  "Evidently that was a no.  Sal, you good?"

She nodded, blinking against the light, her eyes constricted to mere slits.  "Yeah, give me a second."

The men sank to the ground, and Blaec tapped the map before him.  "We'll be winging this a bit, but our basic plan is to run the ridges and shoot down on them when they pass through."

"How are you getting up there?"

"Climbing," Arctic said.  "We're on foot from here on out."

"That's gotta be a kilometer, maybe two."

Blaec nodded.  "Yeah.  We'll leave here about two hours after dawn.  Arctic, you want to tell Star Fall to put their horses on the pickets?"

"Can do, boss," he said, climbing to his feet.  Thanks for getting me out of here.

Blaec just nodded then turned back to the Captain.  "You'll run with Arctic and me.  I'll put Emen, that's your First Officer, right?  With Sal and Cyno.  Cheny, your Second, can run with Zep."

"Why?" Tharp asked.

Sal answered.  "Two reasons.  First, we can keep an eye on you.  Second, we can make sure you make it out alive."

"I'll let you decide who else to put with them.  I'm leaving two men here to watch the camp.  I suggest you do the same."

Tharp nodded.  "Pairing us one to one?"

Sal crossed her arms over her chest.  "Yes."

"Fair enough.  Evens the odds a bit, I suppose.  If it makes you feel better, we can do that."

"It'll make me feel better," Sal growled, "if I could just drag Emen up the mountain by his throat.  Figure I owe him."

The captain froze, his eyes slowly turning to her before his face followed.  "You couldn't see that."

"I don't need to see to know who was there, but thanks for cracking me upside the head to protect your face."

"I'm just trying to take care of my men," he hissed.

Her ears flicked back and her lips curled up, the rumble of her growl hammering against the human's chest.  "I'm being pretty fucking sweet for someone you tried to kill, so stop acting like I owe you a favor."

"You taunt her," Blaec warned, "and I'll let her go.  She will kill you.  Make no mistake, Sal would kill you before you knew she was moving.  Hell, Cyno almost did already, and he's not as fast as her."

"I'm just trying to make this right," he said to the Blades.  "Saying I'm sorry does as much good as pissing into the wind, so I'm trying to do it another way."

Sal breathed deeply and the growling stopped.  She looked up at Blaec and thought, He believes he's telling the truth.  He hates us, but he seems to be trying.

Yeah.  I'm not about to trust him, though.

You're going to be riding back to Prin with them, short two.  I don't like it, love.

I know, Blaec told her.  We're still enough to handle them.  I think Cyno scared the shit out of him earlier.  Worst case, I'll keep us moving by night to even the odds.

Sal nodded and crawled to her feet.  Tharp leaned back, his eyes wide, and she laughed.  "I need sleep.  Do not keep the Major up too long."

"Yes, ma'am," Tharp said softly.

Her head whipped around and her ears locked against her skull.  "It's sir.  I'm better than you."

Tharp nodded.  "Yes, sir."  There was no hint of sarcasm.

She smiled at him sweetly, or as sweetly as she could, before leaving the tent.  In the darkness outside, her ears relaxed, identifying sounds as she waited for her eyes to adjust, walking toward the soft glow of the camp fire.  Zep stood beside it, the light outlining his shadowed form glaring over the rest of the humans mingling among them.

"Listen up," Sal said moving to his side.  "Cyno's on watch, the rest of you should be sleeping.  I don't care how much you've missed our long lost friends.  Find your things, and crawl in it.  Zep, a moment?"

"Yes, sir," he said, moving to her side.   Nice entrance.

Figured I should start acting like an officer, right?

He chuckled.  Something like that.  Sorry they ruined your last night, demon.

Yeah, me too.  Little problem, though.  I don't have a kit by the fire, and one of them will notice.

Take Cyno's.  I have next watch, and he can just take mine.  They'll wonder, but won't say shit.  He patted her shoulder.

Ok, Sal thought, relieved at the simplicity of that.  And you'll be babysitting the Second Officer.  If he gets out of line, gut him.

Gladly.  Which one jacked you?

Sal pointed them out to Zep and he nodded, cracking the knuckles of his hand with his jaw set.  He saw she was watching and smiled, then nodded again before the two of them made their way back to the fire.  The men from Star Fall had already pulled up their own things and were laying them out, the Blades kept close, refusing to trust them.

Sal slid into Cyno's pallet, all too aware that a human had placed his things beside her.  When he crawled into his blankets, the man smiled in her direction.  Sal moved her hand up so it peeked above the covers, smiling back when he saw the ceramic blade she held.

"Touch me, and I will kill you," she whispered.

"Or I will," Cyno said from the edge of camp.  "Ya lean at one of my brothers wrong t'night, and ya will na live ta see the morning."

The man nodded and Sal closed her eyes, letting sleep find her quickly.  She'd been too long with too little rest and needed it more than she knew.  Unfortunately, it was one of those deep sleeps that felt like she'd only just closed her eyes when a brush against her mind warned her to wake.  She gripped the blade tighter and smelled Zep before he moved into her field of view.

"Ok, demon," he whispered, touching her shoulder.  "It's time."

She pushed the covers back, refusing to yawn in front of the humans, even if most were still asleep.  "Ok, guys," she told her men.  "As many ranged weapons as you think you can carry.  There's twenty-five of them, and if we get lucky, we won't kill the damned mules carrying the load."

"Leathers?" a man asked as he returned to the pallet beside her, gesturing at Sal's armor.

Zep chuckled.  "Boy, you ever scaled a mountain in resin?  Hell, you ever tried to keep up with an iliri on foot?"

He cocked his head and gestured to Sal.  "Boss said I'm going to get the privilege of it today."

"What's your name?" Sal asked him.

"Corporal Enik Kolton," he said.  "I'm to run with you and Lieutenant Emen."

"I won't wait for you," she told him.  "Cyno and I need to get to the back side, so I hope you can move."

"I can move, sir," he assured her, pulling a long knife from his pack and shoving it into a sheath on his hip.

She looked him over, recognizing the signs of her profession.  He wore too many knives and not enough swords.  His eyes moved too fast, taking in things that others didn't see, and his hands were gloved.

"And can you shoot?" she asked.

"I got this, babe," he told her, grabbing another blade from his pack.

Sal lunged forward, closing the space between them.  Pulling her dagger as she moved, it came to rest just under his chin.  Her left hand pinned his wrist to his side and her right foot held his forearm on the ground.  Leaning across his body, she flicked her ears forward, impressed that he didn't back away.

"It's sir.  Not babe, not bitch, not scrubber.  You will call me sir, Corporal."

"Yes, sir," he whispered, his eyes on her jaw.

She leaned closer to his neck and inhaled.  His scent was unfamiliar and too sweet, but somehow brought back memories of her past.  It was a time she never wanted to think about, so she released him a little too fast.

Sheathing her weapon, she calmly moved back to her things, asking, "So why weren't you there when they tried to kill me?"

"Two reasons," he said, lifting his chin.  "First, not enough clearance."

Sal shook her head, unimpressed.  "And?"

"And you won't believe the second if I told you," he finished.  "Sir."

"Fair enough."

She grabbed her bow and began to tighten the string, checking the pulleys to make sure everything was operating properly.  Satisfied, she secured it to one of the straps on her chest and rested the weight against her lower back before adding arrows to her quiver and buckling that on her belt.  When she moved to the crossbow, Kolton couldn't stand it.

"Compound bow, crossbow, at least ten daggers..." he shook his head.  "You going to add a sword to that?"

"Yes," Sal said, pulling her sabers from her pack.

"And you were telling me I need to worry about keeping up?"

"Yes."

"Fuck," he whispered, standing to find his own bow.

They packed the camp, leaving only the supplies for Geo and Audgan easily available, then began to gather into smaller groups.  Sal moved to the side and felt Cyno brush against her shoulder.  He was just as heavily laden.

You look really good in that, she told him.

My leathers? he asked, confused.

No, Sal said, the weapons.  Who knew a bow looked so sexy on a man.  Just a shame it's too cold for you to show off the tattoos.

He laughed, ducking his head.  Do na tempt me, kitten, he thought, turning just enough to see her smile.

Trust me, Sal told him, I'm tempted.  I also know that we're going to have one hell of a time holding off the maast.

He shrugged.  I do na report ta ya until tomorrow, but I think I can convince them ta leave us alone.

If not, pretty sure Blaec will.  That's a lot of crap to take off of you, though.

Cyno chuckled and nodded.

Corporal Kolton and Lieutenant Emen marched toward them.  The assassin, Kolton, walked a step behind the First Officer, who glared at the iliri as he approached.

"Was told I'm following your orders, Lieutenant," Emen said.

"If you want to stay alive, you are, Lieutenant," Sal replied in the same tone, thankful the bastard didn't outrank her.  "You boys ready?"

"Yeah, if you girls are," he said, shocked when Cyno laughed.

"It is na an insult ta me," Cyno said.  "Iliri females are meaner than the males."

Sal grinned and slapped his shoulder, then turned to the crowd and whistled.  Heads turned to her, and she caught the eyes of her Blades.

"All right, we all good?  Cyno and I will hit the back side.  Shift, Zep, I want you both across from us.  LT and Arctic will be hanging back unless we need them." In their minds, she added, Razor and Risk, you stay near the front.  And Shift?  Don't fucking shoot anything.

He laughed.  Not even bringing a bow, demon.

Good. Sal turned, and looked at Blaec.  We good?

All yours, Sal, he said, nodding for the humans to see.  We'll be playing politics.  If anything goes bad, though, we're on your ass.

Yes, sir, Sal told him, grinning.  Arctic, open us up.

Gladly, he said as he did just that.

"We're moving," she told the men beside her.

Around the campsite, the other Blades did the same, giving just enough information to Star Fall for them to keep up, but never enough to give them an advantage.  With one last glance, Sal and Cyno turned uphill and jogged into the trees, the humans following them as well as they could.

Chapter 46

Sal surged up the rock face, Cyno just ahead of her.  The humans struggled to make the climb, panting loudly in the mountain air.  When the iliri reached the top, they sat, taking the breather while waiting for Emen and Kolton to reach the top.

Is it gonna be like this the whole way? Cyno asked.

Probably, Sal thought, unimpressed.  And they're elites, that's what gets me.  How slow would regulars be?

Cyno chuckled.  Blues would na be able ta make the climb at all, kitten.  He nodded at the arm scrambling for purchase.

Sal sighed and moved toward the man, wrapping her fingers in his shirt to pull him over the edge.  Kolton smiled up at her thankfully, gasping for air.  Sal refused to consider helping Emen.

"Get him over the edge," she told Kolton.  "You're too slow."

"Trying, sir," he panted.  Laying on his stomach, he reached below the lip of the cliff.

"Let’s go," Sal said to Cyno.

"Just give me a minute more," Kolton begged.

"Ya know LT would want ya to," Cyno reminded her.

"Fine," Sal huffed.

Kolton finally pulled Emen over the edge and they both lay in the dirt, sucking air.  "I just can't breathe up here," Kolton told her.  "Air's too thin."

Sal looked at him and blinked slowly before giving in.  "Longer breaths, panting will only make you hyperventilate.  Long slow breaths help you acclimate."

"Done a lot of work in the mountains?" he asked, trying to follow her suggestion.

"No, just the Escean Pass."

"That's not this high," Emen managed to say.

"I know."

"I fucking hate the iliri," he said to the Corporal.

"Because we're better than ya?" Cyno asked.  "Stop whinin'.  We need ta move."

Razor?  How far out is the steel? Sal asked.  Damned humans are moving too slow.

We're still good, he assured her.  They have another kilometer at least, and much of that is up.

She patted Cyno's arm and they trotted ahead, grinning when the men behind them scrambled to keep up.  To her left, the rocks dropped away sharply, the chasm getting steeper and wider with each step they took.  The terrain at the top of the ridge was jagged and unpredictable, but it became more level a few meters away from the lip.  Across from her, she could just make out Zep and Shift pacing them.  Their humans hung behind as well.

When the chasm began to close again, Sal slowed the pace and carefully crept forward, daring to glance into the pass.  This is it, she told the Blades, marking the spot in their minds.  About one hundred meters of pinch before it drops off on either side.  I'm guessing six to eight meter drop, so we can get down.

Understood, Blaec replied.  Let's play this tight, but do not take your eyes off Star Fall, people.  And don't forget that the Terrans are elites.

She moved to the far end, her group following, and looked down into the gorge below.  The trail fell away sharply, winding in a steep switchback down the eastern side of the mountain.  Far below, she could make out a line of dark dots working their way up.

"Ok," she said, turning to the men behind her.  "Now you can rest.  They're still a ways down there."

Emen moved to stand beside her, looking.  He shook his head, unable to see the men below.  "Where?"

She pointed.  "Follow the trail down, past the first three loops, past the boulder, then four bends beyond, they're just crossing the stream."

"I don't see a stream," he said.

Sal shrugged, and stepped back, sitting easily on a slab of rock that jutted above the others.  "Must suck," was all she could think to say.

"You really see them?" he asked.

Kolton answered.  "Iliri are known to have some damned good vision.  It's why so many end up in the archers."

"And smell," Sal added.  "And hearing, of course."

"So how'd we get you the other day?"

Sal growled and looked away.  "I thought I was safe in my own camp.  You'd think I'd learn by now."

"So how'd the kid do it?" Emen asked her, sinking to the ground.

"Do what?"  Sal already knew the answer.

"Convince us all that we were going to die any second in such a heinous way that we froze."

"Our females," Cyno said, moving to sit by Sal.  "They are na like yers.  The pure ones?  Ya do na wanna fuck with them."

"Or?"

Cyno chuckled.  "Endorphins trigger specific responses.  One of them is hallucinations.  When ya only get one in five, it's a good thin' when they can manage ta live ta breed, ya know?"

"Why haven't I heard of this before?" Emen asked, not believing the crap they were feeding him.

"Ever met a female iliri before?"

"Yeah, before Unav fell."

"Ever tried ta kill one?"

He shook his head.  "I was just a kid back then, man."

"Then check it for yerself.  Most iliri females die from malnutrition."

Kolton looked up at him, "And the males?"

"Na the crossbreds," Cyno said.  "We can at least eat the same shit ya do, even if it does na do much for us.  Sal?  Nah.  Fucks her up pretty bad.  Same for all purebreds, but we have enough males, we can lose a few."

"Damn," Emen said, chuckling.  "That's one way to get rid of the competition, I suppose."

Cyno looked at him, his stare cold.  "I am na the one killin' us."

Emen shrugged and turned to Kolton.  "Ya know iliri don't have any hair on their body?"

"Not talking about this," Kolton said, standing.  He walked to the edge, and looked over carefully.

"The whole thing, white as fresh milk.  Ya shoulda seen her, man."

"Are you really that fucking dumb?" Sal asked him.  "First you try to jack me.  You ever hear what happened to the last guy who tried that?"

"What?" he asked skeptically.

"He bled out," Cyno almost purred.

"And then," Sal continued, "you have the balls to sit here, trying to taunt me?  Do you not realize how steep that drop is?"

"Gonna throw me over it?" Emen asked.  "I'll take you with me, bitch."

She shook her head.  "Whatever.  Look, you kiss my ass enough, and you can ride through Prin with the last load of steel.  You piss us off, and we'll leave you looking like fools."

"It's time ta start suckin' up a bit," Cyno said to him.

Emen said nothing, which Sal thought was a pretty nice improvement.  Long minutes ticked past, the men taking turns sitting and checking the progress of the train slowly making its way closer.  Across from them, Zep and Shift did the same.  Sal began to ignore the humans and fell into an easy conversation with Cyno.  They talked about everything and nothing, but only in their minds.  At each chuckle or smile, Emen glanced over but said nothing.  Kolton refused to show any sign that he'd noticed.

Finally, the sound of men's voices reached Sal's ears.  She gestured for Cyno to look as she pulled her bow around.  He made his way to the edge and crouched, then nodded back to her, holding his finger to his lips for the humans.

"It's time," Sal whispered to them before reaching for her unit's minds.  They're here.

Across from her, she saw Zep stand and scan the path.  Clear angle from here, he told her.

Then let's see what we can do, Sal said, slinking forward.

Both Emen and Kolton crept to the edge with her, moving as silently as she could have hoped.  Sal nocked an arrow and glanced at the men around her.  When they nodded, she stood and took careful aim.  The glint of captain's rings pulled her attention to a man at the back.  She loosed, her arrow plunging deep into his throat.  Cyno released a second later, dropping the man beside him.  Kolton caught a man from the front line in the shoulder, and Emen buried his arrow in a horse's shoulder.  Below, the Terrans reacted.

The bodies of the officers hadn't even fallen from the saddles and the Terran elites were seeking cover, pressing their horses against the stone sides of the walls.  That only made it easier for Zep and the two men with him to find their targets.  Beneath her, men and horses screamed.

"That's more than twenty-five," Cyno said.

Imperial Paradox is not alone, we have almost forty men here, Sal warned the rest.

Clean up what you can, Blaec said.  Start from the back, push them into the pass!

"Hit the ones at the back," Sal ordered.  "We need to lock them in.  I don't know if the others are also elites."

"Others?" Emen asked.

"I got twenty extra," Cyno said.

Sal made her way further down the ridge line, hoping for a better angle.  Shift, am I behind them?

Not yet, he said.  Ten meters more and you will be.

When she'd reached the point he indicated, she pressed toward the lip again.  This time, she didn't bother to hide her silhouette.  Standing tall at the edge of the rocks, she loosed, hitting the last man in the back.  Beside him, a soldier screamed, whipping the mules he followed into the pass exactly as she'd hoped.

She aimed again, hitting the ground just beside his horse's shoulder and nocked yet another arrow.  When the man glanced back, she could be seen clearly.  Sal took aim and pulled the bow, waiting.  The fool rushed forward, abandoning the mules, screaming a warning.  She loosed, and he toppled from his horse.

"Emen!" Sal yelled.

He jogged to her side and she pointed.  "Think you can manage to hit some of that shit?"

"Fuck off," he said, taking aim.

Sal waited.  When he finally released the arrow, she was pleased to see a man fall.  "Good," she told him.  "Don't let them out of the pass.  Do not shoot us.  If you do," she pointed across the gap, "my brother will shoot you.  Do you understand?"

"He couldn't hit me from there," Emen said.

Zep, can you put an arrow at Emen's feet?

A shaft hammered into a tuft of grass struggling in the rocks a hand's breadth from Emen's right foot.  He gasped and hopped over as Sal grinned ferally.  "Oh, he can hit you just fine.  Now you have an extra arrow if you need it.  I get so much as a scrape, and he'll put one through your throat.  Got it?"

"Yeah," he said, stunned.

She ran back to Cyno's side, removing the strap from her bow, and checked her weapons one last time.  Cyno was doing the same, both of them obviously preparing for something.  Kolton watched intently, but made no move to interfere.

"Let’s dance," Sal told her lover.

He nodded, and the pair jumped from the edge.

When she landed, Sal tossed the bow toward the wall and pulled her swords, rushing forward into the panic of men and horses.  Cyno moved the opposite way, surging to the back of the group, hacking at a Terran who saw him.

Sal felt the kill through their link, and snarled.  Embracing the maast, she tried to match him, shoving her sword into the lungs of a horse, then jumping away before it fell.  An arrow killed the rider before he could jump free.  She looked up and saw Blaec standing on the rocks above, Tharp beside him with his bow drawn.  Sal ran, hitting the next target, her bloodlust making it so easy to forget that she should fear them.  She could see the entire battle through her brothers' senses, and her lover was watching the men she'd left behind.

On the ridge above, Kolton chucked his bow toward Emen, dropping the quiver at his feet.  He looked at the drop once, and then slipped over the edge carefully, his feet seeking purchase on the sharp rocks as he climbed down into the chaos below.   If any Terrans bothered to look up, he'd be an easy target as he made his way to the battle.

He jumped the last meter and pulled his weapons, wading into combat.  Sal darted between horses like some wild animal, jumping and rolling as easily as she ran.  Cyno hacked at the men in the last row, pushing them ever deeper into the choke point.

She heard a grunt and turned, catching sight of Kolton beside her.  He grabbed a rider and pulled him from his horse, shoving his blade into the man's chest, and kept going, flowing easily with the battle.  Sal moved with him, never letting him get behind her, keeping well clear of his blade.  Around them the bodies piled up, but more always moved forward.

Three men charged toward the far end of the pass, right toward Sal and Kolton.  She grabbed the crossbow from her belt and pulled the release, catching the man on the left in the shoulder.  Kolton rushed him, swinging high, his sword cutting deep into the man's chest.  The Terran crumpled from his horse and Kolton glanced at her with a proud smile on his face.  Over his head, she saw the next rider pull a crossbow and aim, the Conglomerate soldier too close to ignore.

Rushing the two steps toward the Corporal, she grabbed his arm, yanking him to the ground as the Terran released.  Kolton's weight spun her around.  Sal felt a jolt of ice, followed quickly by the burn of pain in her arm.  She roared, and Cyno's scream of rage matched hers.  Shoving herself back to her feet, she looked for the Terrans, and caught Kolton pulling the last from the saddle to cut his throat.

More coming! Zep warned her from above.  Recover, Sal.  Get your shit together or you'll be under them.

She just nodded her understanding and looked at her arm.  A black bolt pierced her bicep.

"Fuck," Sal breathed, just as the Corporal made it to her side.

"Fall back," Kolton said, trying to stand between her and the combat.

"Pull the fucking bolt," she snarled.  "The head's through."

She lifted her arm, showing him, and he blanched.  "Sal," he whispered.

"Pull the fucking bolt.  I can't get a grip on it from that angle!"

He looked down the narrow ravine, then back to her when he saw no enemies close.  "We can get you a medic, sir."

"Five more coming up from the back.  Don't be stupid, just pull the damned bolt."

His eyes wide, Kolton nodded.  His hand closed around the protruding shaft of the arrow, and Sal yanked her arm, pulling the bolt almost halfway through.  He gasped and let go.

"Fuck," Sal snarled, reaching for the rest, now that enough protruded for her to grasp.

Kolton grabbed her shoulder.  "Fine," he said, shoving her hand away.  In a smooth motion, he gripped the bolt and pulled, the fletching dragging in the wound, making Sal grit her teeth.  With a last look at the bloody mess in his hand, he threw it to the side.

"Not so hard, was it," she sneered, drawing another ceramic knife from her sheath as she made her way toward the back side of the ravine.

"Fucking crazy-ass iliri," Kolton whispered to himself, following her.

They cleaned up the last of the Terrans with the help of the archers, and the Blades moved in to check the bodies.  Zep corralled the mules in a corner of rock, enticing them with handfuls of grass until he could catch the leads to bring the string back up the mountain one last time.  Shift was with Sal, checking her injury.

"We're doing this old school," he said, pulling out a wad of pale cloth.  "This will slow the bleeding, and I'll patch it when we're back at camp and you're out of armor."

"Gotcha."  Sal held her arm out to him, as Kolton watched from the side.  "Fucking put a hole in my leathers," she grumbled.  "I'm going to need a whole new arm piece."

"I'm thinking that's the least of your worries," Kolton told her.  "Sal, those don't always heal well.  Ya might be done as an assassin."

"It's a clean wound," she told the human.  "It'll be fine."

"Yeah, the pain hasn't hit yet," he said.  "You'll be fine until it does."

"The pain won't hit her," Shift told him.  "And don't stand too close right now."

Kolton took a step back.  "Why?"

"Because I want to kill you."  Sal looked up at him with a cold stare.

"She's berserk," Shift explained.  "Ok, demon, here goes."

He pulled the bandage tight around her arm, and Sal closed her eyes, a soft moan escaping her lips.  When he made the next wrap and pulled it tight, she tilted her head back and sucked in a long breath.

"Where's Cyno?" she begged her brother.

"Killing the wounded," Shift told her.  "Zep should be with him."

Sal nodded, grabbing Shift's arm with her free hand when he pulled at the wound again.  "Tie it off," she warned.

"One more, demon.  Bite the leather if you need to."  He tilted his head at his shoulder.

Sal tried to ignore it, but when he pulled the wrap again, she surged forward, sinking her teeth into the thick pauldron he wore, moaning.  Kolton moved even further back when her teeth pierced hardened leather meant to stop a sword.

"Fuck," he breathed.

"That's what she'll do next," Shift told him.  "And if you don't want those teeth of hers in your skin, I highly suggest you get out of her line of sight and keep all your little friends away from her for a bit."

"How long?" he asked.

"Until she's fucked someone, and I only know one man that she can't kill."

Sal growled and yanked, aware that she was slowly losing control of herself.  Shift jerked to the side and finished tying off her bandage before shoving Sal back.  She looked up and her eyes locked on him, but Shift just shook his head.

"Oh no, Sal.  Back the fuck off."

She sighed and wiped at her mouth before glancing at her arm.  "I just need a minute," she told him.  "Just don't touch me yet."

"Not gonna," he assured her.  "Cyno's coming.  Think you can hold off long enough to get out of sight?"

She nodded.  "Yeah.  You're going to have to clean this up."

"I got it," he promised, tilting his head to Cyno striding toward them.  "You deal with him. I'll take care of this."

Sal closed her eyes, breathing deeply, waiting for Cyno to get just a bit closer.  He grabbed her, pulling her to her feet, and the pair lost control.  Sal lunged at his right shoulder, sinking her teeth deep in his flesh, and he bit at the back of her neck in response.

"Not here," Shift said, shoving at them.  "Go play elsewhere!"

Cyno lifted his head and licked his lips, his eyes finding Shift's easily.  He smiled then turned Sal in his arms, guiding her toward the cover of evergreens at the edge of the choke point.

"Shit," Kolton gasped.  "Both of them?"

Shift just laughed and patted his shoulder.  "Ya can't be half bad if Sal took a bolt for you."

"I don't think she meant to," he said.

Shift shrugged.  "She knew it's what would happen.  Trust me, that little bitch doesn't make mistakes in battle.  This," and he gestured to the carnage around them, "is just too easy for her."

"And Cyno?"

"He's almost as good.  Good enough he's grounded her a few times, sparring.  Would hate to see how it would be if they were in maast, though."

"What?" Kolton asked, walking at Shift's side.

"The bloodlust, berserk, whatever you want to call it.  We call it the maast."

"So it makes them better?"

"Dunno."  Shift shrugged.  "Good luck getting her to kill anything without it happening.  Although ranged combat doesn't seem to have an effect on either of them."

The two men made their way back to the officers, checking in.  Kolton stepped up and saluted Tharp sharply.  "Eastern side of the pass appears to be clear, sir," he reported.  "Emen is still on the ridge.  Will take him a bit to get down, I expect, and Lieutenant Luxx and Sergeant Cyno are securing the back trail.  They will be with us shortly."

Shift glanced at him, trying to hide his shock.

"You let them out of your sight?" Tharp asked.

Kolton shrugged.  "Sir, they only ever stayed in it because they chose to.  I'd only hinder their efficacy, and I thought you'd prefer the report."

"Gonna need to up your game then, Kolton," the Captain said.

Kolton shook his head.  "I can't match that shit, sir.  Replace me if you need to.  I'm not about to pull a damned bolt from my own arm and keep fighting.  Can't do it, sir.  Had enough hits to know."

Blaec caught Shift's shoulder.  "It's clean?" he asked, meaning Sal's wound.

Shift nodded.  "Yeah, bandaged her up a bit ago.  Her and Cyno were adamant that they finish the check, so haven't loaded her up yet.  She took it for Kolton, saw it from the hill."

"Understood.  See Razor.  He took a graze to the hip from one of the Terrans."

"Sal took a bolt for Kolton?" Tharp asked, looking between Shift and Blaec.

"Yeah," Kolton said.  "Pulled me out of the line of fire before I even saw him and got hit in the bicep."

Tharp sighed and turned to Blaec.  "Give her my thanks, would ya?"  Blaec nodded.

Shift turned to the assassin beside him.  "Did you want to escort me, Kolton, so Tharp won't be concerned?"

"Sure," Kolton said, laughing under his breath.

When the two of them were far enough away, Shift stopped and looked up at the man from Star Fall.  "Why'd you cover for them?"

"Yeah," Kolton said, drawing the word out.  "Two reasons.  First, she saved my life."

"Mhm," Shift said, waiting.

"You won't believe the second," he said, turning away.

Shift refused to budge.  "Try me."

"I can read Cyno's tattoos."

"You're human, though," Shift said.  "I can smell it."

He shrugged.  "My wife is half.  My boy's more.  She looks like Major Doll so my unit doesn't know.  I'd prefer it stays like that."

"Fair enough," Shift said.  This time he turned away, but Kolton stopped him.

"What did the boy do in the bathhouse?" he asked.  "I know it's not an evolved response."

Shift glanced over his shoulder and smiled.  "Ask your wife what a real Kaisae is.  When you can answer that, I'll tell you.  Until then, you're just a damned human."

"Fair enough, man.  Fair enough."  A sly smile played on Kolton's face.  "And so you know, the plan really is to just take the shipment back to Prin.  Sturmgren threatened Tharp pretty good."

"Still don't trust ya."

"Didn't say ya should.  Just thought you'd like to know that we'll all make it back in one piece."

"Yeah, and you might like to know that LT's planning to pull a few strings to keep Star Fall whole.  We'll be putting on a damned good show when we enter Prin."

"Why?"

Shift grinned.  "Because people love military heroes, and if anyone knows how to put on a nice spectacle, it's LT."

"No, man.  Why you helping us?"

"Well," Shift said, "It's the tactically sound move.  We may hate your fucking human asses as much as you hate our iliran ones, but we're not quite ready to be mounted on a wall yet."

"Not good enough," Kolton said.

Shift chuckled ironically.  "Ok, but the other reason won't make any more sense to you."

"Try me."

"We're going to need your help in the future."

Kolton forced out a laugh, his head nodding.  "Yeah.  Ok.  You're right.  That sounds like crazy talk."

Shift just shrugged and continued on his way.  It was the truth, though.  All of it.  Blaec had seen something on their way up the ridge, but all he said was that Star Fall would be important later.  Shift wasn't as optimistic, but he sure hoped he was right, and that this wasn't a serious mistake.  For all of their sakes.

Chapter 47

Sal and Cyno returned to the camp doing little more than smirking at the stares from the men of Star Fall.  While Sal looked for Blaec, Cyno sat casually by the fire.  Zep moved beside the little assassin and tugged his collar up, making Cyno chuckle, but he nodded in appreciation.

"Tense," Kolton said, putting voice to the awkward feeling emanating from the humans.

"Na my problem," Cyno said, shrugging it off.

"No," Zep said, "but it's about to be ours, little brother.  You two play it safe out there, ok?  None of the stupid shit you both like to try."

"Yeah, man.  I'll bring her back in one piece."

"Back from where?" Cheny, the Second Officer for Star Fall, asked.

"That's classified," Blaec said, walking up.  "Sal and Cyno have orders. They will be leaving us at the foothills."

"Lieutenant?" Kolton called out, catching Sal's attention.  "It's been a pleasure, sir.  I owe you one."

"You’re welcome," Sal told him.  Her voice no longer held as much animosity as before.

"Ok, let's get this shit packed," Blaec ordered.  "Zep, you and Kolton take the mules.  Shift, check Sal's wound and fill her supplies back up.  The rest of you get the horses tacked and let's get out of here."

"Yes, sir," Star Fall said.  The Blades simply nodded.

"Sal?"  Shift gestured for her to follow.  When they were far enough away, he found a place for her to sit.  "None of this while you're away, ok?"

"Yeah," she assured him.  "I won't have idiots running between me and a crossbow that I need to keep safe.  It's Cyno you need to be warning."

He laughed and made a display of checking her wound, grasping her arm and bending it.  "Close your eyes," he whispered.

She did and felt her world shift, sucking in deep breaths to stabilize herself.  He released her hand and patted her shoulder.  She just nodded, waiting for the vertigo to pass.

"Wrap that shit," she told him.  "They'll notice otherwise."

"Good idea."  He pulled out a fresh bandage and wrapped her arm just tight enough for it to stay in place.  With a final sigh, he pulled her to her feet and hugged her tightly.  "Damn, I'm gonna miss you," he said against the top of her head.

"It's just a year," she promised.  "Take care of Zep for me?"

"Yeah.  I'll even drag him to Tensa's at least once a week.  It'll make him feel better."

Sal laughed at that.  It would.  The closer Zep was to the iliri, the happier he always seemed to be.  It was as if he hoped that by immersing himself in their culture his skin would fade to white.

Her heart was heavy when she swung into the saddle and turned Arden beside Blaec to head down the narrow path.  Star Fall followed behind them, two of the crates left in their care, but the angst between the units seemed to have lifted.  Either that, or Sal was simply too absorbed in her own feelings to notice.

This is going to be ok, right? she asked Blaec.

Yeah, love, he told her, it is.  You're going to do great, we're going to stay in the spotlight, and Ran's going to make sure that nothing can stop us.  By the time you come home, it'll be that much better.

And us? she asked.

Sal, I'm still iliri.  There's a reason the woman at the inn back in Stonewater Stables was shocked to see me with you.  There aren't many women who even tempt me, let alone that I'm in love with.  I'm going to miss you, but I'll miss you until you come back to me.

I'm going to be alone with Jase, she told him.  It's a year, Blaec.  Things are going to change.

He nodded.  I know.  Just promise me something?

Anything.

Don't push him away because you think you should.  Don't try to be what you assume I want.  Just be little Sal, our demon. He smiled suddenly and caught her eye.  I saw you last night.  It was different.  Not much, but it was.

And? she begged.

He smiled at her proudly.  You're right.  The army bowing to you was in green.  It's Anglia, but it didn't look like any Anglian army I've ever heard of.  These men were soldiers, not pawns to be set up on a battlefield, and they respected not only an iliri, but a woman.  I was on your right, Sal, and you were looking at me like you are now.

And Jase?

On your left.  I always see him on your left.  Every day that goes by, it seems like the scene gets a bit more clear.  The King was there, and he had these massive beasts beside him.  They were like wolf hounds, but I couldn't quite make them out.  I don't know why, but the details are starting to come into focus.  Faces of men and woman are no longer blurred, and the feeling is still there.  The Emperor was terrified.

So how do I do it? she asked him.

I don't know.  Just do what feels right, sweetness.  Whatever is instinctual.  That's what seems to work best for you.

Sal sighed, nodding as she released the breath.

It's time for us to start winning, love, Blaec told her.  She could feel the intensity of his belief.  You were right.  We can't just keep hiding from them, hoping the humans won't notice us.

A smile slowly found the way to her face, and she looked up at him mischievously.  Remember what Tharp said?

No, Blaec admitted, searching his memories for what she meant.

He called us beasts.

And?

Maybe we should stop hiding how much better we are?  Maybe we need to make them see what they created?  Maybe it really is time, Blaec.  Maybe it's time we start being proud of what we are.

He looked at his hands on the reins, thinking about what she said, then glanced back at the men behind him.  That's what you've been doing, isn't it?

No, Sal told him.  That's what they've been teaching me.  Cyno, Risk, Arctic, you.  Hell, even Zep!  They taught me to be proud of what I am, and to never back down because of it.

Then do it.  You're the Emperor's worst nightmare, Sal.  The demon he doesn't even know exists.  Give our people something to aspire to.

She nodded slowly.  I can try.  They made me to be this thing, whatever I am.  They designed me, and I'm what they wanted.  They try to keep me ashamed of what I am to control me.

Then be proud of it, Sal.

I try.  You all help.

No, he told her gently. Cyno makes you proud.  Every time you start to doubt, he's right there holding you up.  It's not me, Sal.  All I've done is hold you back.

You haven't! she protested.  Blaec, you made me a Blade.  You showed me I could be something!

And I tried to make you human.  I keep telling you to do the wrong things.  No, Sal.  I need to listen to you, not the other way around.

She looked at him wide eyed, not knowing what to say.  Not knowing even what to think.  But I love you.

And I do love you.  Don't forget that, but don't think that loving me makes me a good man. He shrugged, a wry smile on his face.  There's a lot of good men in the Blades, but that sure doesn't mean we all agree, or that we're all right.

Yeah, she agreed meekly.  I guess I can see that.

I hope so, because I'm not going to be around to tell you that you're right.  You're going to have to believe in yourself, not just what you're told to do.

I've been acting like I'm still a slave?

Not really, he said, tilting his head to show he was honestly considering her question.  A lot less lately.  You're ready for this, love.  You proved that today.  This, he gestured to the line behind them, was all you.

And you.

No.  I had almost nothing to do with this.  Your plan, your execution, your tactics, your combat skills.  That's what made this happen.  Cyno's support helped a lot, but this was you.

She just shrugged.  It's kinda hard, you know?

What is? he asked.

Accepting that I can do something right.

He laughed, smothering it quickly before glancing at the men behind them.  Get used to it.  All you need to do to make others follow you is act like you're right.  Even when you aren't, just act like you're right and that they want to be a part of what you're doing.  If you fail, then fail as proudly as you can.

Thanks, she said.  I can actually do that.  It's no different than putting on a show, ya know?

Exactly.

Is that what being a Kaisae is?  A figurehead that others follow who gives them pride in themselves?

Blaec thought about that, watching her as they rode.  She swayed slightly with each step, her hips rocking with the horse beneath her, her chin held high, a brilliance in her eyes that others just didn't have.  She always was so open, so honest, that those around her couldn't help but want to protect her.  She had no idea how she pulled at people, making them love her just because she existed, but he didn't know how to put that into words.

I guess it's something like that, he said finally.  The last Kaisae I saw inspired people by showing them the good in themselves.  She made them believe they were worth something.  That matters, Sal.

Yeah, she said, biting at her lip as she thought about it.  I'll never be anything like that.

He didn't know what else to say.  It was her he'd been talking about.  She made them all feel like they were worth something, and they fought harder for it.  Not just harder, they fought for the right thing now.  It mattered.  That's what the iliri said.  They were words the Blades were starting to live by.

I think you're going to be amazing. It was the best he could think of.

They continued on in silence.  The humans chatted softly, aware that the iliri were in no mood to celebrate, but not truly understanding why.  Star Fall had never been, and probably would never be, as close as the Black Blades.  Maybe it was just their nature.

When they reached the foothills, Blaec pulled Scorch in.  "This is it," he said sadly.

"Yeah."  Sal sighed, looking to the west.

Zep rode up beside her, and the organized line began to crumple upon itself.

"What's going on?" Tharp asked from the back.

"We're leavin' ya here," Cyno said.  "Wanted ta say good-bye to our brothers."

Zep dismounted and ducked under Cessa's neck, moving to Sal's side.  He grinned and pulled her from Arden, embracing her in a strong hug.  Her feet dangled well off the ground.  "Ah demon, I'm gonna miss ya."

"Yeah, me too, Zep," Sal told him, squeezing him back.  "Won't be the same with just two of us."

He laughed.  "No, probably not.  Be safe, little sister."

"You too, big brother," Sal whispered, pressing her head into his chest one last time and inhaling the scent of him.

Arctic moved to her other side and touched her shoulder gently, asking her to turn.  When she did, his pale eyes held hers and Sal smiled as she intentionally looked down, freely giving him rank over her.

"Make us proud, ok?" he said with a shy smile.

"Yeah.  And come back alive, and all the rest of it.  I'm sure gonna try."

He nodded.  "And stop fighting it, Sal.  Ayati."  He chuckled at himself.  "They love you most when you're wild. They really do."

"I have a feeling we'll be more than a little wild before we get back."

Behind her, Zep stood with Cyno, and she glanced over, shocked to see the big man pull the small assassin close.  "I mean it, bro. Don't do stupid shit.  I know you will try."

"Na more than usual.  Read the fuckin' books."

Zep laughed at that.  "I'm getting there.  Can tell my girl she's beautiful now.  It's a pretty good step, right?"

"Yeh, better than the harsh crap yer spewin' at her now."

"Fuck," Zep said softly.  "Been two years, man.  I'm gonna miss the shit outta both of ya.  Closest friends I ever had."  He hugged Cyno again and pounded loudly on his back.

The men of Star Fall were starting to look uncomfortable with the display of affection before them.  Kolton pushed closer to Enem.  "C'mon, let’s give them some space.  Ain't our shit to be in."

Emen nodded.  "I'll talk to Tharp," he said, not moving.  "Damn," he breathed.  "They fight like fucking beasts.  Did not expect this."

He turned his horse and moved up the line.  Captain Tharp sat astride his grey, glaring at the hold-up when Lieutenant Emen stopped at his side.

"Sir?" Emen asked.

"Got an idea on how to get them moving?"

"Yeah, let them say good-bye in peace.  Let’s give the Blades a bit of space, sir?"

"Not while they're holding three hundred kilos of steel, Lieutenant.  Besides," he grumbled, "doesn't look like we're bothering them any."

"Seriously, Brek?  You're being a dick," Emen said.

"When did you become a scrubber lover, Foyt?"

"When I watched Sal pull Kolton out of the line of fire, man.  She took the hit for one of ours and never even thought twice about it.  If she had, he'd be dead."

"We're not leaving.  Blades are fucking devious enough, this could all be a ploy to sneak out of here and take all the credit for this."

"Yeah, I'm not buying it, but if that's how you want it, I'll let the men know."  Emen turned back to the cluster of humans and shook his head.  "We stay," he said softly.

Many of them grumbled at the disrespect.  Elites had always been proud of how they treated each other, knowing it would come back to them when they needed it most.  None of them were proud of Tharp's paranoia.

Sal moved to Shift next, all too aware of the humans behind them.  She grinned, and pounded his back as hard as he did hers, but when he looked at her, she couldn't find the words.

"Yeah," he said, then kissed her cheek gently.  "Ayati, demon."

She simply nodded and found Razor beside her next.  He smiled shyly and she wrapped her arms tight around his chest.  He hugged her back gently.

"Look, we've never been close like the rest," he said, tilting her head up.  "Doesn't mean I don't respect you, got it?  And if you ever need a dancing partner, I'm in.  Was fun in the ruins."

"Yeah," she agreed, patting his bicep.  "You're amazing with that thing and easy to follow."

"You led that dance pretty well.  Take care of that man, though.  He won't do it for himself."

"No," she agreed.  "But he'll do it for me."

"Yeah," he said, nodding.  "Glad you understand."

And then she was with Risk.  He wiped at his eyes and shrugged.  "Tilso's going to kick my ass if I don't give you a list of things to do to Arden."

"Well, tell him I know, and I'll do them."

"It's not going to be easy up there," he whispered.  "They've never seen us."

"I know."

"You can't hold a form that long, either.  Don't try.  You'll make yourself sick and fall out at the wrong time."

"I wasn't planning on it.  They think we're a myth.  That's probably a lot better for what we want."

"Yeah.  Have Cyno tell you some of the old stories.  Keep him from going feral, too."

Sal nodded, and pulled Risk down, kissing his forehead.  "Pass that to Tilso for me, ok?"

He just nodded and wiped at his eyes again before turning to his mare.

"Sir?" Geo asked, moving toward her, Audgan beside him.

"Sal," she corrected.

"Yeah.  Good luck, Sal."

"Work with Zep, Geo.  Have him show you knives and short swords, tell him to train you like he did me.  You can fill in while we're gone."

"Think so?" he asked, pleased to be thought of as good enough for assassination work.

"You've got a natural talent.  Don't fight it."

"Yeah.  Thanks, Sal."

Audgan just smiled up at her sweetly then turned to walk away, but she stopped him.  "Zyrn?"

"Yes, sir?"

"I owe you."

He shook his head, and grinned.  "Ayati.  That's what you told me, so I'm saying it back."

"Fair enough."  Then she wrapped her arms around his lean frame.  "Protect them?"

"Always."  He inhaled, breathing in her scent.  "Be safe, Kaisae."

The only one left to say her goodbyes to was Blaec.  He leaned against his black stallion, a sad smile playing at his lips as he glanced up at Tharp behind them.  Her eyes made their way to his, and like always, she felt the desire to look away.

"Fuck this," he growled, and marched toward her.

He closed the distance in five steps and grabbed her head, bending to kiss her deeply.  Sal twined her fingers in the leather at his chest, pulling him closer, and heard men gasp in surprise as Blaec pulled her body to him.  He kissed her passionately, in a way he never had before, making her heart pound in her chest.  When he finally broke the kiss, she was breathing harder.

"I love you, Salryc Luxx, and I don't care who knows it.  You're right, it's time to stop hiding this shit."

"That was a stupid-ass thing to do," she told him.  "I love you, but that was fucking stupid."

"I think I've got this covered.  It's my word against his, and I don't want to spend the next year wishing I'd kissed you one last time."

"Then kiss me one last time," she told him.

He did, smiling as he pulled away.  "West, love," he whispered before yelling at Cyno behind them, "If you let her die, I will kill you."

Cyno chuckled.  "It does na work like that.  If she dies, it means they got through me."

Blaec nodded and released Sal, clasping Cyno's bare hand with his.  The little man's eyes widened, and he nodded before Blaec pulled him closer for a hug.

"Alright, mount up," he called to the Blades.  "I want to be in the flatlands by sundown."

They all made their way to their horses, Sal swinging up onto Arden and looking back at the humans.  Tharp stared at her with a cruel smile on his lips and winked.  She growled and turned Arden to the west, Cyno pushing Raven to her left side.

"Ya good?" he asked.

Sal chuckled softly, and looked over at him.  "As well as you are.  Least we have a real bed tonight."

He nodded.  "Together?"

"Yeah," Sal said.  "I'd like that."

She glanced behind her one last time and watched Blaec ride right at Tharp.  His head was held high, and he made no move to hide what he'd just done.  Tharp glared, his fingers playing with the sword at his hip, caressing the hilt as if deciding whether to use it.  Arctic moved to his commander's side, saying nothing.

"That was about the dumbest shit you've ever pulled, Major," Tharp told him.

Blaec shrugged.  "It's worth it."

"Worth the Blades?  You realize when Parliament hears about this, you'll be court-martialed and they'll disband your entire unit.  Still worth it?"

"Yeah," Blaec said.  "And good luck proving it.  No one out here but my men and yours, and what are you going to say?  She's more than proven that there's nothing between us.  There's seventy-five men in the 97th Pikemen, a good dozen or more at her favorite diner, plus I'm thinking the 112th will be more than happy to say that she's done nothing inappropriate."

"And all of my men will say otherwise.  You're known to be devious, Doll.  They all saw the same thing I did."

"I didn't see shit," Kolton said, turning his horse away.  "I fight Terric, not CFC elites.  Sorry, Captain.  Guess I was looking the wrong way at the wrong time."

Cheny nodded.  "Give it up, Captain.  She saved his life.  He's not going to repay her like this.  You demote him, you demote me, too.  I won't serve under you for something this petty."

Tharp ground his teeth together and glared at Blaec.  "Fuck you, Doll."

"Really?" Arctic asked, finally speaking up.  "He's giving you half the credit for this to keep your unit together, and all you can see is that my eyes aren't as dark as yours.  No, Tharp.  Get your shit together and play the same game.  I don't know why he wants to keep Star Fall intact, but he does.  You should be thanking him."

"We need them later," Blaec said softly, glancing once at Arctic before riding away.

Arctic just nodded and fell in behind him, moving to take his place behind the line of mules.  Emen pushed his gelding into the space the men left.  "You're losing the men's respect, Brek."

"What about yours?" Tharp asked him.

"I really don't want to talk about that right now.  We fucked this mission pretty bad."

Tharp nodded, sighing deeply.  "How do we pull our asses out of this shit, Foyt?"

Emen just laughed.  "We learn to play by Blaec's rules."

"And what rules are those?"

"They made our men respect them before they took a single step out of line.  They had their asses so well covered that those two could have stripped naked and started an orgy in the grass, and nothing we said would convince the rest of the world.  We were out-played, Captain.  Plain and simple.  We learn to play by his rules, or we get our asses kicked from both sides."

Tharp cursed softly under his breath.  "The fucking iliri think they're as good as we are.  This keeps up, you know what's going to happen?"

Emen nodded.  "Yeah.  They might just prove that they are."

Epilogue

Zep smiled down at Ryali as they stood before the door.  She'd never been in a military compound before, near so many humans.  She tried to hide her nervousness by adjusting her hair.

"You sure you're good with this?" he asked.

"You sure he's na about to conscript me?" she shot back.

"Positive.  He needs a favor."

She nodded.  "Yeh, let's get this over with.  Can na believe I let ya talk me into this."

Zep nodded and knocked on the door.  They listened to the footsteps, and Ryali flinched when the door opened.  Zep squeezed her hand in reassurance.

An older man smiled from the other side, his eyes on her jaw, and moved aside to let them in.

"Is it kaisae?" General Sturmgren asked politely.

"Na, I am just Ryali, sir."

"Miss Lyas?"

"Just Ryali.  Only Aces call us Miss," she grumbled.

"And I would hate to be in that category.  Come, sit." Ran gestured toward the chairs.  "Can I get you anything?"

Ryali shook her head, her disdain showing.  "I doubt ya have anything I can eat or drink."

Zep chuckled.  "I don't think she's ever had decent mead before, sir."

"Grab a bottle then, Zep."  Ran turned back to the girl.  "Sal's fond of it, so I'm pretty sure you can drink it."

"He keeps it around just for her, ya know," Zep called from the other side of the room.

"Why would ya do that?"

Ran chuckled, claiming the chair across from her.  "Look, I'm not as knowledgeable about the iliri as I could be, so I'm just going to be blunt.  Sal is my friend, and a very dear friend at that.  I will do everything in my power to help her and Blaec Doll make changes, and I have pull in places they don't.  I don't have pull in places you do, so I need your help."

"Tell me first," she said, as Zep passed her a glass, "And I'll tell ya if I can help."  She took a tentative sip, and paused, looking at the glass strangely.  "What is this?"

"Fermented honey," Ran said.

"This is good!"

"I'm glad you like it.  Zep, give her the bottle.  It'll go bad before I have use of it.  Least someone should appreciate it."

"You can na bribe me," she warned him.

"I can," Ran assured her, his face still amused.  "I'm not stupid enough to think a bottle of mead will do it, though.  I'm really giving you that simply because it would go bad otherwise."

"Then what do ya have that I'd want?"

"Dru kanna Inessi Cynortas?" he asked her in heavily accented iliran.

"I know who she is, but no, I do na know her."

"Can you get a message to her?"

"Why?"  Ryali lifted her chin, holding his gaze.

Ran politely looked away.  "Because her son is still alive.  I'm doing my best to keep him safe, and I have done all I can to help the Kaisae."

Ryali looked to Zep quickly.  He stood at the end of the couch, watching her.  "The man with the tattoos.  My friend?"

"Yeh?"

"Cyno, short for Cynortas.  That's her son.  He was conscripted four years ago," Zep said.

"Ya want me ta tell his amma he's alive?"

"And a Black Blade," Ran said.  "And that he's with the Kaisae."

"What's the bribe?"

Ran held up his first finger.  "I want word to get out in Guttertown that Anglia will soon support the iliri.  The Kaisae is out of reach of Parliament, and we will make sure that she is safe until she..."  He looked at Zep, "What's the phrase?"

"Until she understands her abilities," Zep said.  "You cannot print this.  It needs to spread the old way."

"Yer protecting Sal?"

Both men nodded.

"Why?"

Zep shrugged.  "We're not all assholes, Ryali.  There's a couple of us on your side."

"Why?" she demanded.

"Because you're right," Ran said.  "Because it really does matter."

She finally relented.  "I'll tell kaisae Cynortas, and I'll get the word out, but I'm na doing this fer ya."

"That's fine.  I don't want this for me."

"Then fer who?"

"Sal," Zep said, and Ran nodded.

"You know what a continental war would mean for us all?" he asked the girl.

She shook her head.

"All iliri, dead.  Most humans, too.  Our way of life would change – both of ours – and not for the better.  I've tried to find a solution, and there's only one I can see.  We need Anglia, and the only way we can get Anglia is Sal."

"What aren't you telling us?" Zep asked Ran softly.

"Dominik Jens will be the king of Anglia, and he won't tolerate the oppression of the iliri.  They have enough economic clout that we'll have to listen.  If she can do it, and if she can gain his trust, we'll not only win this war, but also change everything for the iliri.  If Anglia turns their back on us, the CFC will crumble."

"Why did ya send her away?" Ryali asked.  "We need her here."

"Not right now, you don't," the General told her gently.  "If Sal stayed here, they'd throw her in jail or hang her, and nothing I could do would stop that.  I need her safe.  She has Cyno with her.  He won't let anything touch her."

Zep nodded.  "He's meant for her."

"So she will come back?"

Ran shrugged.  "I don't know.  What I do know is that Sal will never forget her people.  You all accepted her when no one else would.  She's still different from you, but you made her feel like she belongs somewhere.  Like she's a part of something."

"It matters," Zep whispered, grabbing Ryali's hand.  "Remember when Tensa said that?  Yeah, Sal does too.  She won't forget it, either."

"What do I need ta do?" she asked.

"Talk to Inessi Cynortas.  Let the people know that Sal is still working for them, even if she isn't here.  And," he held up two fingers, "if you can, find me at least two people willing to run a newspaper."

"We do na read Glish."

"I didn't ask for a Glish paper.  The military is about to commission advertising in Iliran.  It should pay well enough to cover the startup costs.  That's the second half of my bribe."

"What does the military want with Guttertown?"

Ran smiled.  "Conscriptions will only be used for tried criminals.  There will be no more pulling iliri from the streets and throwing them into uniforms.  Iliri will be trained in Glish as part of basic training, and death benefits will be offered to the families for both volunteers and conscripts.  It's not much, but I'm trying.  Most importantly, though, the iliri will have a means to spread word of what is happening, including the political climate."

"I will tell them, sir," Ryali said, standing.  "I think it will make them happy."

He grabbed the bottle and handed it to her.  "Thank you, Ryali.  I have a feeling that the next time we meet, I will be able to call you kaisae."  He turned to Zep and said, "Make sure she makes it there safely."

Ryali laughed.  "I am safer in Guttertown than he is."

"I meant the compound," Ran told her.  "Don't trust them unless they're in black."

She nodded and, with Zep at her side, left the suite.  She turned to say something, but he shook his head, gesturing for her to follow.  Without a word between them, he led her to the business district, two blocks outside the compound walls.

"This is where I turn back," he told her.  "I'm still on duty."

"I'm sorry I did na trust ya," Ryali said, looking at the ground.  "I try."

"I know.  These things take time.  But thank you."

"Fer what?"

"Cyno's amma.  He wanted to see her, but he was afraid that he'd give her hope just to die and crush it."

Ryali cocked her head to the side and looked up at him.  "So why now?"

Zep smiled.  "LT said it's going to be ok.  He said they will come back to the Conglomerate.  It will be a while, but they will return."

"Then I will tell her now.  I work tonight, but tell the General that he's welcome at Tensa's."

"I will.  I'll see you tonight," he said, grabbing her hand quickly before turning and walking slowly out of sight.

Ryali rubbed at her head, trying to make sense of it all.  The Black Blades were already making a difference and it sounded like they would only continue to make things better.  It felt like a dream.  Like waking up human, with the world at her fingers and no one to tell her she couldn't because of who she was.  She couldn't help but smile as she walked through Guttertown.

In front of a small grey house, a tiny, pale woman whistled as she watered the flowers in her window box.  Ryali recognized her immediately.  Most people knew of Inessi.  She'd taught their children and kept the old traditions alive each time the humans tried to crush the iliri.  She was a hero to many of them, but four years ago, her son had been conscripted and she'd withdrawn.  She only ever came outside now to water the flowers and whistle a song of mourning.

"Kaisae?" Ryali asked.

"Do not interrupt me, girl," the woman snapped back in Iliran.

Rayali responded in the same language, "I think I should.  Your song is wrong."

Inessi turned slowly and stared at Ryali.  Quickly, the girl dropped her eyes to the ground.

"Why is it wrong?" Inessi snarled, her jaw set.

"I was sent here to tell you that your son is alive.  I have seen him."

The water can hit the dirt-covered cobbles, bouncing once before landing on its side, the water slowly leaking out.  Slowly, the kaisae's hands went to her face, and she began to wilt toward the ground.  Ryali rushed forward and grabbed the cloth over her shoulders, helping the woman to sit gracefully.

"Jassant?"

Ryali nodded.  "He was in Tensa's, asking about you.  We did not know him, so no one told him you were still here."

"Where is he?"

"He's in Anglia.  I'm not exactly sure where that is, but I know it's another country, and it's far away."

Inessi nodded.  "It's very far away.  Why is he there?"

Ryali smiled and squatted so she could look the woman in the eye.  "He's a Black Blade.  He's protecting the Kaisae and training her."

The woman swallowed and nodded, unable to speak.  She nodded again, then held her hand out to Ryali.  Without hesitation, the girl grabbed it, watching while Inessi closed her eyes.

"Is that the Kaisae?"

"Yes."

"Why are they with a human?"

"He is their brother."

"A human?"

Ryali just nodded.  "Your son speaks Glish as well as I do, and he's teaching the Kaisae to read and speak Iliran.  And the human, I think."

"That's my boy.  I knew he'd be a great scholar one day."

"He's more than that, kaisae.  Zep said he's one of the best assassins in the country.  He's almost as good as the Kaisae.  He has a list of his kills on his left arm, and there's a lot of them!"

"I cannot believe that he's still alive.  My boy is still alive!"

Ryali nodded.  "And he's coming back.  It may not be soon, but there's been a vision of him coming back."

"With the Kaisae?"

"I don't think you understand.  Salryc Luxx keeps your son on her left."

After four years, Inessi Cynortas finally was able to cry.  She'd refused to shed tears for her son, telling herself that at least his life would be no worse and cursing herself for bringing him into such a cruel world.  This time, she didn't try to stop them.  The tears flowed down her cheeks and she smiled.  Maybe her son would live to see something better.  Maybe he would even help to change the world.  Inessi wiped at her cheek and laughed.  These tears were tears of joy.

Dear Reader,

Instinctual continues the story of the Black Blades, and there's much more to come.  I've even included the first chapters of Defiance, Rise of the Iliri 3, immediately after this.  If you want to check out my other books, please consider following me on my author page to get updated when the next book comes out.

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INSTINCTUAL

Defiance

Rise of the Iliri 3

Chapter 1

Their feet rang out on the polished stone as the couple headed toward the dais.  Sal was careful to stay one pace behind Jase and keep her head down.  Every instinct in her body wanted to rebel against the submission, but she had to do this.

Back home, she was considered inferior because of her species.  Here, being a woman was what supposedly made her worthless.  It was still a step above slavery – and right now the ignorance would play nicely into their plan.

As the pair neared the man seated on his chair – one that closely resembled a throne – the herald announced them.  "Sergeant Jassant Cynortas, Emissary of the Conglomerate of Free Citizens, and his wife."

Evidently, not even her name was important.  Through thick, dark lashes, she glanced at Jase.  He was the only thing she liked in this country it seemed.  The vivid blue of his coat clung tightly to his well-formed body.  The tawny leather of his pants just peeked over his tall boots.  The Conglomerate colors brought out his eyes, and she'd told him so just before they entered the audience chamber.  Maybe it'd be enough to get him through this.  The shy little man hated being the center of attention.  Speaking in a forum this public was sheer misery for him.  Lately, it seemed talking to her wasn't much better.

After a few more steps, they were within range of the Baron.  Jase bowed deeply in a sign of respect and Sal curtsied, her knees nearly touching the floor.  That was traditional.  That she dared to lift her eyes was not.  With a sly smile on his lips, the Baron waited.  Her false crystalline blue met his brown for a split second.  Quickly, she dropped her gaze back to the floor, letting the man play in her peripheral vision.  She had him.

His white teeth made a cruel line against his dark skin at their show of respect.  For a long moment, he just watched, silent while the pair held perfectly still.  Packed off to this unimportant corner of Anglia, etiquette was the man's only power and he was trying to make sure the foreigners respected it.  A flick of his hand granted the iliri permission to rise.

"Sergeant," he began, "it is the pleasure of the Province of Bysno to have such esteemed guests in our hall.  What is the nature of your visit to us?"

She couldn't help but notice the man's use of the royal plural.  His rank didn't give him that right, only his ego.  Everything about Lord Bysno was despicable, but she kept her face pleasant, halting the growl in her throat before it could even start.  He might be the King's son, but his arrogance would cost him soon enough.

Jase looked the man right in the eyes.  "Baron Stojan Jensen, or do ya prefer ta be known as Lord Bysno?"

The man nearly sneered.  "I go by the title of my lands."

Her partner ignored the man's anger.  "Then Lord Bysno.  I am here ta request the aid of Anglia in our war against the Empire of Terric."  Jase's rolling accent was at odds with his rough voice.  "As the heir presumptive ta the throne, it only makes sense ta beg fer yer favor first."

The Baron chuckled.  "I'm sure it doesn't hurt that we're also the closest province to the Conglomerate."

"It does na," Jase agreed, "but courtesy dictates that I speak ta ya b'fore the others.  I am merely lucky that yer location is so convenient."

"Evidently," Stojan grumbled before looking over to Sal.  "And I see you're accompanied by your wife?"

Jase dipped his head, barely acknowledging her presence.  "Yer Lordship, may I introduce Salryc Cynortas, my wife."

She glanced at Jase.  Was he really that upset with her?  He smelled irritated but not angry.  Jerking her eyes away, she took a tentative step forward and bowed her head.  "Lord Bysno," she whispered, daring to look up at him once more.  The smile on her lips was intentionally more than just polite.  Beside her, Jase pretended not to notice.  Maybe he honestly didn't.

"Well met, Madam Cynortas."  The Baron's eyes traveled across her body before turning back to Jase.  Standing, he gestured to a door behind him, "Let us retire for a few drinks, Sergeant, and discuss these requests you have.  We'll assume your wife can fare well enough on her own until we get back."

Jase stepped forward, leaving her there alone.  "Na like she can get inta much trouble," he grumbled under his breath, shooting her a warning look.

Sal couldn't meet his eyes.  "Yes, sir," she whispered.

That was it.  The whole meeting had lasted only a few moments before the men retreated to the Baron's private rooms.  Apparently dismissed, she turned, careful to keep her posture demure as she made her way from the hall.  Once in the corridor, she headed straight to the window.

They were only on the second floor of the keep.  Snow covered the ground outside and trails of smoke rose from the small buildings clustering the courtyard.  Below her, the wall stretched down jaggedly, the stone rough-cut.  It would be easy to cling to if she needed a way out.

She wasn't sure who had the worse job this time.  While she was stuck counting minutes waiting for something of interest to happen, Jase would be forced to muddle through the political games he despised so much.  Somehow, he had to convince this arrogant ape that he was willing to do anything for a handful of troops.  The Conglomerate could really use the support, but Anglian soldiers were notoriously archaic.  The entire country was!  Although, this time, it wasn't her responsibility to decide the tactics.  Right now, her job was just to be as beautiful as possible.

She hoped she still was.  Sal aimed for one of the mirrors lining the hall.  Her long dress had been picked out by Zep in the same shade of blue as Jase's coat.  Her now-raven hair fell luxuriously past her shoulders.  She tucked a stray wisp behind her stationary ear, then adjusted the comb to hold it.  The reflection wasn't one she was familiar with, but it was exactly what this man liked.  The rest of her was as perfect as she could make it.  Now to learn the rest of the building.

As Sal made laps around the keep, women skittered everywhere like scared rodents, but the men were nowhere to be seen.  She wondered if it was due to the weather or if this society could really be that far behind modern thinking.  Oddly, there didn't seem to be the same prejudice against coloration.  Blonde and red hair were nearly as common as the black Sal was used to.  Some were even the same blanched tones that hinted at iliri lurking in the pedigree.

Sighing, Sal turned back to the hall, hoping to make another circuit before boredom managed to kill her.  The place smelled of nothing but humans.  So much so that she couldn't make out a thing.  On the third trip around, she turned a corner and found herself face first in a wall of green brocade.  Gasping in surprise, she stepped back.

"My apologies, Madam," said the owner of the brocade.  Sal's head tilted up, seeking his face, and she found herself dwarfed beside what appeared to be a guard.  "The Baron would like a word with you, if you please."  He offered his arm.

She took it, feeling links of resin below his green doublet.  This was exactly what she'd been waiting for.  Her act fell back into place easily.

"Thank you, sir.  I thought the men would be busy for a while yet."

"I wouldn't know, Madam."  The guard's tone was completely professional.  "The Emissary has returned to his rooms and his Lordship requested to meet with you."

He led her through twisting corridors.  Out of habit, she made note of each hall and turn.  If she had to make her way out of this place in a hurry, this man was basically giving her directions.  At a large wooden door, the guard paused.  Sal politely commented on the detailed carvings, but he said nothing, just rapped his knuckles on the wood and stared forward.  On the other side, footsteps rustled.  Then, with a long creak, the door opened to reveal the Baron.

"Ah, Madam Cynortas."  He smiled, inviting her in.

She stepped through the entrance, but the soldier made no move to follow.  Instead, the brocade mountain took up a position beside the door – obviously to stand guard.

Inside, the room was decorated in shades of green, from the emerald chairs to the forest rug.  Expensive wood gleamed in the lantern light.  Statues were scattered on every surface.  Displays of wealth were everywhere as if the man was compensating for something.  Beyond an open door, Sal caught a glimpse of a bed – also covered in green.

Without preamble the Baron said, "Your husband just traded me the afternoon with you in exchange for one hundred men."

A twisted smile crept to her mouth.  Finally allowing herself to look up, Sal stared her prey in the eyes.  Her voice, however, was perfectly sweet and controlled.  "You were cheated then, Baron."

The man shrugged halfheartedly.  "I merely asked.  He told me he'd look the other way if I signed a letter of promise for the soldiers.  With the Conglomerate paying for their keep, how exactly did I get cheated?"  His tone suggested she was too stupid to understand his affairs.

"Because he would have let you have me for fifty."

"Ah, but Madam Cynortas, this way I have even fewer to feed.  In case you haven't noticed, it does get cold up here in the mountains."  Turning to the table, he claimed two glasses, offering her one.  "So tell me, since you are so blunt.  How hard is it going to be to get your clothes off?"

Accepting the liquor, Sal tilted it up.  The burgundy fluid brushed against her mouth, but none entered.  He didn't need to know that.  The last thing she'd do was show this man her weaknesses.  Then she set the glass beside her and gently licked the single droplet clinging to her lip with the tip of her tongue.

The Baron's eyes followed.  When the man smiled in anticipation, she knew he was already trapped in her spell.  The idiot was so convinced of his superiority that he couldn't imagine how a woman could be a threat.  It seemed things were going much better than she'd hoped.

Now to seal the deal.  Stepping toward him slowly, she began to unlace her bodice.  The gown slid to her feet, turning into a soft blue puddle before she reached him.  Sal held his gaze defiantly as she stepped out of the cloth, looking for any hint that he suspected her true motive.  The fool did nothing more than smile like the half-wit he supposedly was.

"Oh, I don't think you'll have any trouble.  We do things a bit differently in the south, you know."

Her hands met his shoulders, gently pushing him back.  The idiot didn't question it when she guided him toward the bed.  He stopped thinking completely when her fingers worked the laces free and pulled his shirt over his head.  His legs hit the mattress and she forced herself into his arms.

The Lord of Bysno had never met a woman like her, and she knew it.  Anglian women were raised to be meek and submissive.  Lieutenant Salryc Luxx was none of those things.  She was a ruthless bitch, a killer, and she'd been hunting this man long enough.  Her mouth found his and her tongue dove between his teeth, distracting him as she twisted her "wedding" ring slightly.

The sharp jewel now pointed at her palm.  While the Baron kissed her passionately, she moaned in feigned pleasure.  Her hands pulled him closer, convincing the human she desired him.  Naturally, he responded.  His need to possess her was about to be his downfall and he'd never even know it.  He'd never expect something as harmless as a woman to be so very deadly.

Clinging to his shoulders, her nails scraped across his skin and she pushed the tip of the stone into the gouges left behind.  The fragile crystal snapped, its point slicing alongside her nails, but that was all she needed.  The poison was slick beneath her fingers as she caressed it into the wounds.

The man would never know what happened, but that didn't matter.  Her job wasn't about respect.  It certainly wasn't about fame.  She was just here to kill, and the fool pushing her onto the bed was so concerned about his own primal needs that he didn't suspect anything else.  She was just a woman, after all.  In Anglia, they thought her kind were only good for one thing.  Sal would prove them all wrong.

Chapter 2

The couple left early the next morning.  The sun was up, but it was impossible to tell behind the snow filled clouds.  Jase gently lifted his supposed wife into the saddle, holding her hand for a moment before he turned to his own horse.  Beside him, the Bysnian quartermaster waited for the foreign Sergeant's attention before speaking.  The scent of anxiety wafted from him, mixed with a hint of disgust.

"Sir, I'll have the units prepared and dispatched to Prin within the month, will that be acceptable?"

"Thank ya," Jase said.  "That'll do, but the sooner, the better.  I'll have a letter ta my commanders b'fore they arrive."

"Thank you, sir," the quartermaster replied.  "I've also refilled your supplies with some dried meats, cheeses, and a bit of bread.  Is there anything else Bysno can offer before you go?"

"No. Thank ya." Jase nodded at the man.

Rather than turning to leave, the quartermaster looked at the Conglomerate soldier a moment longer.  "Are things so bad with Terric then?"  His eyes flicked to Sal.

So that was the reason for his distaste.  He knew she'd spent the evening in that man's bed.

"Yeh," Jase answered honestly.  "They are.  Ya do na have the iliri here, so ya would na know.  If yer skin is lighter than the soil, yer hair is anything but black – or yer eyes – ya never know when a man will come for ya.  I know of two entire towns that were simply found dead.  Entire towns."

The quartermaster nodded, stepping back.  "I understand, then.  Safe travels to you, Sergeant, and watch out for the grauor wolves.  They're common between here and Dorton."

"Thank ya, sir, I will."  Jase mounted his horse and turned for the gate without looking at her.  She squeezed her mare to follow.

They trotted down the road in silence.  Once the keep was well out of sight, the pair moved to the side of the road.  Sal dropped from Arden's back, ignoring her tangled skirts, and rummaged in her packs to find clean riding attire.

Relaxing, she returned to her normal form. A tingle traveled across her skin as it reverted to the color of the new fallen snow around them.  When her ears were once again on top of her head where they belonged, she flicked them toward her partner.  On the other side of Raven, Jase was rummaging in his packs.

Satisfied she was back to normal, Sal tossed her blue cloak across the saddle and turned her ears to the road.  Hearing nothing, she stripped.  Cold air hit her bare skin.  This court clothing was too cumbersome for travel.  The sooner she was rid of it, the safer she felt.  Winter in the mountains was enough of a reason not to dawdle, but she still hoped to catch a glimpse of her partner's lithe body.  She leaned to the side.  Unfortunately, his mare stood at the perfect angle to block her line of sight.

So Sal yanked on her boots and strapped her leather armor across her chest quickly.  Ignoring the cold, she ducked under his mare's neck and dared to enjoy the view.  Jassant Cynortas had the angular beauty typical of the iliri.  With his back to her, she could see the swirls of tattoos across his left arm, turning him into a living piece of art.  He'd added new ones before they left, the lines reaching down his back, following the arcs of his muscles.

He tilted his head slightly, proving he heard her.  Slowly, he turned, but wouldn't meet her eyes.  She wasn't going to let him keep ignoring her.

"You good with this?" she asked, hoping to break the ice between them.

"Yeh.  Ya know it does na bother me.  Yer the one that had ta sleep with the man."  He pulled his shirt over his head to avoid her gaze.

"I meant poisoning him rather than a clean kill."

"That?  Well, that's na as much fun, but, it's the job, ya know?"  He flicked his eyes up.  "Ya na getting soft on me are ya, Lieutenant?"

"No, not likely.  It just makes more sense to be well away from there before the man takes ill."

"Yeh, can na say I disagree none."

Sal paused, watching him.  "It was a good hit, though, I made sure of that.  In about a month, the Murtadem will make his heart fail."

Jase just nodded.

"Ok, what?" she demanded.

"Nothing."  This time, he avoided her gaze by climbing onto his horse.

Something was very wrong between them but every time she asked, he refused to discuss it, claiming there was no problem.  He'd been like this ever since she'd refused him during her annual estrus.  That had been halfway through Myrosica before they'd even reached this backwater country.  Since then, he hadn't made any attempts to touch her.  No matter how hard she tried to get him to talk about it, all he would do was say he was fine.  She knew he wasn't.  She could smell it, but Glish had no word for the crisp tang of that emotion.

At first, she'd thought the awkwardness was simply because they were on their own.  While Jase was the more veteran of them, Sal was the ranking officer.  He'd always said that was the way of their kind, but then her body had decided it could wait no longer.  He'd been the perfect gentleman, understanding that she had no interest in bringing a child into war, but that's when everything started to change.

After that, Sal had assumed it was simply the hardships of the road.  Long days on horseback and splitting the watch gave them little time to do more than talk.  Conversation had run dry, and he was still holding himself away from her.  She couldn't remember the last time she'd been wrapped in those tattoo-covered arms.  He'd become withdrawn.  Sitting beside him now, she missed how close they'd been before this trip started.

She sighed and grabbed her mare.  After pulling her cloak black-side-out around her shoulders, she swung her body onto Arden's back.  With legs as short as hers, it was the only way to reach the saddle.  Jase wasn't much taller – both of them small compared to any human – and their war horses were bred to be massive.  She tossed one last look at him before squeezing Arden into a lazy walk.

"He wasn't any good you know," she mentioned to the road.

"Prolly na," Jase agreed, glancing at her once.  "Things are so strange here.  I can na imagine treating a woman the way they do.  It's hard for me, ya know?"

"Is that what this is about?"

"Is what about?" he muttered.

Sal wanted to snarl but tried to keep her tone casual.  "I know it's been a long time since our last job – and this one doesn't count.  I thought that's why you were so annoyed with me."

He didn't reply.

That had to be it.  It wouldn't be much longer now, only about a week until they would be able to truly kill again.  After being on the road for almost three months, a week seemed like the blink of an eye.  Sal looked at Jase astride his blue roan mare – but glanced away before he caught her.

Around them, snow turned the world black and white.  He reminded her of a statue in his shades of grey: beautiful in a harsh way.  If Zep were here, he'd tell her how to fix this, but relationships were the one thing she'd never been able to master.

"Sal" he whispered, breaking into her thoughts.

"Yeah?"

"It is na just me?  Ya see that?"

She nudged Arden over, looking across his horse.  There, on the side of the road were a few spots of vivid red, brilliant in the monochromatic world.  Her eyes met his, but he quickly glanced away.

"Jase," she almost growled, "you're going to have to stop doing that eventually.  But yeah, I see it."

"K."  He still didn't look at her.  "Do we ignore it or follow it, Lieutenant?"

Annoyed now, Sal sat deep in her saddle halting her horse.  "Ok, first, let's deal with this."  She waited for him to raise his head.  "What is wrong, Jase?  It's been almost three months, and now you won't meet my eyes, you have barely talked to me lately, and you're addressing me by rank?"

He continued on a pace, still looking at the garnet colored specks before reining in Raven.  "Do ya really think it's a good time for this?"

"No," she had to agree.  "Just stop calling me Lieutenant and let's figure out what's bleeding."

He nodded once then guided Raven forward, intent on the trail of blood.  The two mares became more alert as their riders sat up in the saddles, but trudging through the drifts was cumbersome work.  Step by step, they followed the droplets as the spots swelled and ebbed in the virgin snow.  After nearly a kilometer, whatever they were tracking had left the side of the road and moved toward the trees.  The person or animal was bleeding freely, but the footprints had long since been blown away by the wind.

Jase glanced up at her once, his deep blue eyes holding hers while he slid off his horse.  A snarl wanted to take over her face.  She knew he was trying, but his submission made her crazy.  As he followed the blood trail, she dismounted, sinking to her shins in the frozen white.

Maast, Jase whispered into her mind.

He hadn't sent a thought to her in months.  Sal wasn't sure which shocked her more, the cursing or his touch on her mind.  Without Arctic to stabilize their mental link, it was rare to hear him in her head and, so far, had only happened when they were touching.  She struggled to catch up, her short legs reaching through the drifts.

When she neared the tree, she saw it.  Laying in the snow was a large beast, nearly the size of an iliri.  It resembled something between an otter and a mastiff, yet not quite like either.  Its body was covered in dense, white fur, allowing it to blend into the snow.  The beast's eyes were closed against the pain.  Its muzzle was short and she could see sharp teeth as the thing's mouth hung open, panting.  Arrows riddled the animal's body.  Its blood seeped slowly, staining the snow a deep burgundy.  Oddly, Sal felt nothing but pity for it.

She slipped her knife from her belt.  "It's still alive.  We can't leave it like this."

"Nah, Sal, look."  Jase pointed.  "She has pups."

"Fuck, seriously?"

It lay on its stomach, head turned to the side, forelegs tucked to its chest.  Now that he'd pointed it out, she could see what appeared to be a pair of tails hidden between the animal's legs and her throat, the pups trying to burrow into the snow.

Sal dragged a hand across her head, pushing back her ears in frustration.  "Damn that's going to make her a lot more dangerous."

"Prolly."  He shrugged, then let the silence hang between them.

But she couldn't just walk away.  Wanting to see how much strength the thing had, Sal decided to move closer to the bitch – cautiously.  One small foot moved, the pup trying to push farther under its mother and away from her strange smell.  From the other came a tiny whimper.  The poor things had no idea their mother was dying, but they probably couldn't survive without her.  Especially not in the middle of an Anglian winter.

Hoping to reach one before the bitch had a chance to attack, Sal knelt slowly.  Just before her fingers could touch the little white leg, she checked the creature's face.  It hadn't moved.  Hadn't even flinched, but staring her down were a pair of white, slit eyes.

Sal jerked away in shock.  She landed on her ass in the snow and scampered out of its reach.  "Maast, Jase, look at her eyes.  Look at her damned eyes!"

"Ayati," he breathed at the same time.  "She has iliri eyes."

The beast snarled, her gaze locked on Sal.  Their eyes were identical.  Both Sal and the animal in the snow had perfectly white eyes, broken only by the vertical pupil in the center.  Both she and the beast were the color of the snow.  Both of them had mouths filled with teeth sharp enough to rend flesh from the bone.  Only one of them had fur.

"Sahvarr grauori, nas vahn ilirri."

"I'm na crazy am I?" Jase asked softly, both of them frozen in place.  "She... Did she say iliri?"

"Sahvarr nas vahn ilirri," the beast repeated emphatically in a weak whisper.

"Savar nas vahn iliri?" Sal asked.  It sounded almost like her species' native language, but none of the words were quite right.

Somehow, she pulled her attention away from the bitch long enough to glance at her partner.  He stood behind her, his mouth open, frozen in shock.

"You know what it means, don't you?" Sal kept her voice low.

He nodded, her words breaking his trance.  Creeping to his partner's side, he spoke directly to the beast in Iliran.  "Sahna ast iliri.  Kierna edst iliri.  Dru nas vaun iliri.  Za ast dru?"  Pausing, he looked over to Sal and translated.  "We are iliri.  She is iliri.  You are not iliri.  What are you?"

"Savar vahn grauori.  Ayme.  Nee, Ayte e grru, vrrg zasht eene," the poor beast panted out.

"Fuck," Jase hissed, diving toward the bitch.  Sal drew her blade, her immediate reaction to protect him from the injured creature.  As he neared, the bitch lifted her head with a whimper, exposing the pups laying lethargic from the cold.  Jase grabbed the first, handing it back toward Sal.  It yelped, but nothing more than the mother's eyes moved, watching.

"Her babies are freezing," he explained, "and she's begging fer help."

Continue reading DEFIANCE here

Books by Auryn Hadley: (Excerpt to follow)

Adding Ink (Romance):

One More Day

Two of a Kind

Three Sheets to the Wind

Four Ways from Sunday

The Wolf of Oberhame (Fantasy):

When We Were Kings

When We Were Dancing

When We Were Crowned

Gamer Girls (Contemporary Romance):

Flawed

Challenge Accepted

Virtual Reality

Rise of the Iliri (Science Fantasy):

BloodLust

Instinctual

Defiance

Inseparable

Tenacity

Resilience

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About The Author

Auryn Hadley is happily married with three canine children and a herd of feral cats that her husband keeps feeding.  Between her love for animals, video games, and a good book, she has enough ideas to spend the rest of her life trying to get them out.  They all live in Texas, land of the blistering sun, where she spends her days feeding her addictions – including drinking way too much coffee.

For a complete list of books by Auryn Hadley, visit my Amazon Author Page, or check our my website: aurynhadley.com

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