BloodLust (Rise of the Iliri Book 1) (12 page)

Chapter 14

False dawn cast a weak glow at the edge of the curtains, the morning not far off.  The pale light was the only illumination in the room.  Sal lay awake and satisfied in the bed, Blaec beside her, tracing lines on her bronze stomach with one hand.  His other twined in hers while they both caught their breath.  She turned her head to look at him, smiling gently when his soft eyes met hers.

"Tell me a secret, Siana," he begged, his gaze refusing to drop.

She glanced away, thinking of something she could share and not make herself feel any more guilty.  "I didn't tell you the complete truth about myself, but I didn't exactly lie to you either," she said.  "I just made the facts sound a bit better to impress you."

"I think we all do that, so that's not a very good secret.  Try again, my dear."

"Ok..." She paused to think before answering.  "How about this?  I won't be able to tell anyone about you, because they wouldn't understand?"

"And why is that?"

"Because spending such a wonderful night with some soldier isn't what girls like me are expected to do.  I do plan to treasure this memory."  The words were as true as she could make them, aware that he'd smell a lie.  "What about you, Blaec?  Tell me a secret?"

"Ah, my secret is that I have to be in a meeting in an hour, and I should have been sleeping all night instead of spending it with you."

"Now see, that isn't a very good secret!"  She giggled and flung a pillow at his chest, causing him to laugh at her.  "Try again."

"Ok, ok.  Let's see, I'm the commanding officer of the Black Blades, have you heard of them?"

"Oh, yeah.  I think everyone has.  That's you?"  She widened her eyes in false surprise.

"Yeah, that's my unit.  We're in the middle of recruitment, and I was supposed to finalize the details of my last test tonight, but for the first time in a long time, I seem to be biased toward the soldier I want to pass."

"Is that a bad thing?"

He let out a deep sigh.  "I don't know if it is or not, but I've been unable to sleep for days, hoping that I make the right decision and that my trial is fair.  My men deserve this recruit and they really seem to have already accepted her as one of their own."

"Her?" she asked, surprised he meant her.  "Are they just trying to have a cute girl around or something?  Is that why you're so worried?"

"No, it's nothing like that.  She's an iliri, and while she's exotic and, yes, they find her attractive, she also just fits in with us.  I don't know, I think it's that she cares about what we do rather than how much a position with the Black Blades would impress others."

He was wrong, but had just turned the conversation toward the information she needed.  She wanted to ask more about the men thinking she was attractive, but he was confiding in her and seeking her opinion.  She couldn't let the chance slip by.  

"So, is she better than the others that you have to, I dunno, choose, or whatever?"

"I think so.  While the others have more experience in combat, the girl is more skilled, and she seems willing to stand up for what she believes in.  That's really why we take the risks we do, because no one else will."

"So why don't you just pick her?"  Sal tried to feign ignorance.

"Well, it's a trial.  I have to make a test that's complicated enough for only one of them to pass, but I have three trying out.  The first is a long shot, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't have the mind to lead my men.  The other guy?  Well, he's good, but he's all about what's in it for him and the respect he'll gain as an elite soldier – bragging rights, you know, that sort of thing.  The girl?  She wants to make a difference, I think.  The respect sure won't hurt, but she has a heart about her the others don't.  No matter how many people try to crush her, she still gives back more than is asked.  Not many people like that."

Maybe he wasn't wrong, and it sounded like her chances were better than she thought.  Having the Lieutenant on her side certainly wouldn't hurt.  Sal knew that if she pushed, he'd break down and explain.

"Ok, so why can't you just pick her.  You're the one in charge, aren't you?"

"I am."  He lifted a hand to rub at his brow.  "But I also have to make sure there's no way for Command to prevent her transfer to my unit.  A fair trial does that.  She's pure iliri, you see."

"Ok, so then just make the trial one where combat experience doesn't count, but saving others does?"  Sal was thinking about the information the stablehand had given her the day before.

"Siana," Blaec said, "that's not a bad idea!"  He sat up in the bed, staring at the light sneaking in the edge of the curtains, his mind obviously working out the details.

She continued, "So, I don't know, create a situation where they can either 'win' the test, or save people that don't seem to be related?  Let the winner be the one that gives up on the test in order to do what a soldier should really do?"

He glanced at her, smiling, then leaned over to kiss her.  "That's it, exactly.  I can make that change easily with the mission I had planned and just make the cavalry charge through an area that'd end up running across 'civilians' played by some cadets.  The best soldier for the Blades will sacrifice me in order to save the civilians."

He pinned her to the bed, kissing her deeply before pulling himself to his feet.  "Sadly, I have to go, my dear.  I have a meeting with a few Captains to finish planning this.  With your new idea, I also need to run it past my men, to make sure they'd be happy with that as a trial for their next partner.  When are you leaving?  I would love to be more of a gentleman and buy you lunch at least."  He left the offer hanging, sadness creeping into his eyes.

"I honestly don't know, Blaec.  I'm supposed to check with the carriages and get today's schedule.  I have to make it to Eastward before the one to Merriton departs." 

He looked torn.  She could see his duty called him, yet he didn't want to leave.  "Siana..." he started.  "I never meant to go this far."

"I know, Blaec.  I'm glad it did.  I got this chance, and I'll treasure the memories of you.  Who knows, maybe we'll run into each other again?"

"At least leave me a way to get in touch with you?"

"If I don't see you at lunch, I'll leave something for you at the desk here.  I'd love to have more time with you.  You're a good man – sexy, brilliant, and with a caring heart.  Nothing about you is self-centered, and you're nothing like I expected from an officer in the military."  She spoke the truth.  Sal had always wished to meet a man like him, and here she was, with a taste of something impossible. "You and I both know this can't be something permanent, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it.  I refuse to be sad about this.  If a memory of you is all I get, then that's what it is."  She smiled up at him.  "Now get out of here before you're late."

"I..." Blaec shoved one hand deep into his hair.  "Siana, I don't want you to think this didn't mean anything to me."

Sal shook her head.  "No, Blaec.  I think tonight meant more to you than you're willing to admit."  She grabbed his arm and pulled him to her.  "You almost make me feel like I took advantage of you.  I swear this meant more to me that you can ever know, ok?  Now get to work, sir."

The Lieutenant kissed her once more, then walked out of the room without looking back.  Sal refused to open her thoughts to him, treasuring what she had, knowing that the Lieutenant needed to think of his night with her as a sweet memory, not a breach of military protocol.  She sighed and slipped deeper into the bed, convincing her body that she needed sleep.  While her mind drifted away, she couldn't help but wonder how she'd keep this secret from the men she planned to share the rest of her life with.

***

Blaec made his way toward the inn.  All morning, his memories of the night before flashed through his head, making it hard to concentrate.  As soon as they smelled him, his men knew where he'd spent his night.  Naturally there was teasing, but gently, and not as much as he'd expected.  Mostly they encouraged him to see her again before she left. 

They also liked the new plan – which he presented as his own – for finding the right soldier for their unit.  The idea of sacrificing their officer in order to save civilians was brilliant, and he had Siana to thank for that.  Her idea solved all the problems he worried about, and neither of the two men would be willing to risk failing their trial, even if it meant saving the lives of innocent people.  Sal, he thought, would. 

When he entered the lobby of the inn, the matron was there, like always.  "Lieutenant," she said calmly, looking at him like a mother.  "I have a package for you, sir."

He nodded and waited while she walked into the back room.  When she returned, she carried a small box no bigger than her hand and passed it across the counter to him.

"I take it she's left."   He looked down at the box, his world feeling like it had just fallen out from under him.

"Yes, sir.  She asked me to give this to you.  Her carriage left over an hour ago now." 

Blaec's shoulders sagged.  He'd been so sure he'd catch her.  There had been so much he planned to say.  With a heavy heart, he accepted the small box from Mrs. Heckly.

"I'm sure you'll meet someone better, sir."  She patted his arm.  "Women like her are like iliri, Lieutenant.  Always looking for what interests them now.  You deserve better."

"That's not how iliri are," he whispered to himself, stroking the lip of the box.

Looking up, he nodded and thanked her, then tucked the package safely in his pocket before heading back to his own cabin.  It had taken him most of the day to realize why she felt so familiar, and only a stray comment from Cyno about Sal made him realize what it was.  Both had an easy laugh, both had a quiet self confidence that he respected.  They even smelled similar.  Blaec couldn't help but wonder if Siana knew she had iliran ancestry.

Granted, Blaec hadn't been involved with a woman for years.  The few times he found one that interested him, work got in the way.  The Blades were an integral part of who he was.  He and his men fought for more than just a paycheck.  Usually, the ladies he met were just too human.  They couldn't understand that the war wouldn't stop because he took a day off.  They couldn't wrap their minds around why he was dedicated to this lifestyle.  None of them could fathom the bond he had with his men – Blaec thought of them as his family, not just a military unit.

Siana, though, had accepted that and never once hinted at him doing anything else to be with her.  While it was only one night, he felt connected to her in a way that he couldn't describe.  He'd secretly hoped she would decide to stay at the stables or travel to whatever base he was stationed at next.  It was impossible, and he couldn't see a future where they were together, but deep in his heart, he'd hoped. 

Treading slowly back to his rooms, he thought about how he'd planned to tell her that her idea had been the answer he needed, and how he would have thanked her.  Blaec had hoped for a quiet dinner.  Some place to speak openly with her, without his men interrupting, even if they were always in his head.  Now, he would never get to know her better, and his chances of finding his way to Merriton were slim.  He could write her, or maybe send a gift.  He told himself that in time he would forget her and everything would be back to normal, but he doubted it.  She'd smelled like perfection.

When he reached his cabin, he pinned the lock and pulled the box from his coat.  He expected to find a lengthy letter in it, possibly even one that told him she couldn't talk to him again and had only wanted a single night.  To his surprise, the package had a small item, wrapped in soft papers.  Carefully withdrawing the layers, he found himself holding a necklace.  Not the necklace she'd worn the night before, but a large opal set on a black resin chain.  Searching through the papers, hoping for an explanation, he found a note scrawled on the innermost layer in an elegant hand.

No one can let you down if you haven't been leaning on them.

Maybe it's time to start leaning.

Chapter 15

Two days later, six men stood before Sal in full black battle armor.  Her own had been assembled from spare pieces and barely fit, since administrators rarely requisitioned armor.  Blaec – LT, she reminded herself – said it wouldn't be worth having a custom suit made.  Either she would get a black set or return to her duties behind a desk.  Sal tugged at the oversized chest piece again and began giving orders to "her" men.

"We have information that the Lieutenant has been taken captive and is being held at the bend in Stonewater Creek.  The enemies are thought to be mounted, but their other assets are not known."  The Blades had already performed this mission twice before with the other candidates.

"Arctic, can you reach his mind?" she asked, breaking protocol from the start.

"I cannot."  His smile showed the answer was a part of the ruse.

"Then we must assume that he is unconscious, correct?"

"Yes, that's the -"  He smirked, and she knew the Lieutenant was talking in his head.  "- feeling I get from him."

"Then Razor, can you find him or his body?"  She turned to the dark man.

"Yes, I have a direct bearing on him.  It seems to point in the general area claimed."

She looked at the rest of her men and ran her mind over the orders one more time.  "Do we have any weapons left or taken when they captured LT?"  She was hoping for a long shot.

"If we did?" Arctic asked.

"Then I'd ask Cyno to see if he can get anything that would help us understand who took him, and what their plan was."

Arctic paused for a moment, then nodded at Cyno.

"Yeh, let's say I had one, and that I can get..."  Cyno shrugged.  "I'm na so good at this role playing," he grumbled.  "Yeh, I held a weapon, and it gave me an impression of a force trying ta breach the border of the Conglomerate.  I get a feel of about twenty-five men, the one who dropped the weapon was mounted, but na all are."

"Good enough, Cyno.  And you just told me what I needed.  There are more of them than us.  Ok guys, let's mount up. I'm the weakest rider, so I'll follow the path picked by Razor.  I want to come around them from the side and spiral in.  Arctic, you and Risk at the back, keep a few paces between us to give you room for a clear shot in case an ambush catches us.  Once we're close enough, communications will be silent, so Arctic, keep the link up."

The men nodded, and Shift led her over to the gentle palfrey assigned to her for this mission.  With their newly picked horses awaiting training, the recruits had been issued the use of a standard transport mount while the Blades used their own horses.  Shift gave her a leg into the saddle, and she checked to make sure her concept of the commands were correct.  While the other men mounted, Sal moved her horse around the staging area, asking it to stop, back, and turn a few times until she was sure she wouldn't hinder their efforts with her riding.  When she had control, she nodded to Razor.

Ok, let's go find him,
she thought.  As one, they moved toward the creek, Zep falling in behind her.

Their horses trudged through the underbrush, stepping down hills and over trees.  The Blades moved in near silence, the sound of their mounts no more distracting than the wildlife in the area.  A few minutes in, she could tell their path spiraled like she'd ordered.  When the sound of water trickled through the brush, she reached out to their minds again.

Razor, can you find something vague?
she asked, the thought leaping into her mind.

Depends how vague, I suppose.

Are there men hiding near us.  Sentries, archers, anything like that?

He looked over his shoulder, meeting her eyes, and smiled.  His expression gave the answer away while she felt him check with the Lieutenant.
I feel like there's men in the trees.
He pointed up casually, and Sal looked for soldiers she knew would be waiting.

Arctic, Risk, peel off and check for archers and snipers.  Take out any you can, as quietly as possible.

The men nodded and reined their horses to the side, both pulling padded training arrows from their saddles and stringing their bows.  Sal, and the four men with her, continued on.  A kilometer farther, she saw a break in the trees, and Razor called a halt.

LT's about two hundred meters ahead of us.  He's stationary,
he thought.

Shift, see what you can.  Do not give us away.  Cyno, Razor, Zep, hold here until we get a better idea of the weapons we'll be up against.

Shift slipped off his horse and passed through the brush silently.  The wait seemed to be endless before they heard him in their heads again. 
I have ten men here, heavy armor, swords and shields. There's a lot of hoof prints, and I think there's probably cavalry close enough that we need to be concerned by it.

Sal pulled her mind close, locking the others out, and wondered where the civilians would be.  Blaec wouldn't make it easy, or obvious.  In theory, this would be a group of enemy soldiers that had breached their border and were hiding out.  They would have patrols and be overly aggressive with any civilians who spotted them, knowing one set of eyes would lead to more.

Guys, what's in this area besides the stables?
she asked.

Not much, Sal,
Shift told her. 
We have the pastures a few clicks over, and this area is often used for training the military, the medical units, and such.  Why?

Is there any place they could be holding up?  If they're a military incursion force, then wouldn't they want something more defensible than a creek bed?  If they breached the border, like Cyno suggested, then they have bigger plans than just capturing our leader, right?

She felt, rather than heard, the approval of the men in her head.

Zep spoke up. 
I think there's some caves up the way a bit, might be they dug in there?

Where?
She asked, and he responded with a gesture to the north of them, on the other side of where the Lieutenant was supposedly being held.

Ok.  Razor, any change on LT?

None.

Then you, Zep and Shift make your way across the creek here,
she directed. 
Come at the camp – quietly mind you – from the other side.  Pick off as many men as you can without alerting them, but watch your back for those extras.  Cyno and I will start the same from here.  Mounted or on foot, your choice.  We're outnumbered two to one, so make it count.  I don't care who gets to LT first, just get him out. Arctic, Risk, how's it going with the archers?

We took out four so far, looks like there might be a couple more up your way,
Risk thought back.

Ok.  Guys, keep your eyes up.  These are probably snipers, so don't give them anything to see.  I need you, Risk and Arctic, to cover our escape.  Once we're engaged with the enemy, take out as many as you can, as fast as you can.  You guys know what to do.  Let's go.

They sent their agreement, and faded into the brush like whispers.  Sal slipped off her horse, surprised to see Cyno do the same.  Together they crept closer to the enemy, breaking apart and circling in opposite directions.  Her heart hammered in her chest and she resisted the urge to mentally check on the men she was responsible for.  Until now, the mission felt theoretical, but hearing voices so close, the real test was upon her.

Too soon, a man in royal blue walked only feet from where she crouched in the dense brush.  She quickly checked her surroundings and, finding no one else near, reached out an arm to pull the man's feet out from under him.  Calling on her iliran-born speed, she slapped her hand over his mouth before he hit the ground and touched her practice blade to his throat, making a slashing motion.  The cadet, eyes wide in shock, nodded, accepting his "death."  She crawled a few paces further to the right and saw a path into the clearing.  Watching, she could just make out shadows crossing at the end.  That meant more soldiers.

She avoided the path, instead choosing to keep to the underbrush, her ears working overtime.  At the edge of the clearing, she could see the Lieutenant "tied" to a chair in clear view.  The situation was amazingly cliche.  Before moving, she reached out with her mind to check the locations of "her" Blades.  She could feel Cyno across from her.  Shift, Zep, and Razor had nearly reached the opposite side of the clearing. 

What's the status of the snipers?
she asked.

Gone,
Arctic assured her.

I think there's one left,
Risk added,
but can't be sure.
He sent her an image of odd leaves above them.

She looked up and understood what he meant.  A grouping of leaves was just a bit too dense for their location in that tree. 
Arctic, keep an eye on that.  When we make our move, toss an arrow in it just to be sure, then grab our mounts,
she sent a mental image of where they'd been left,
and head in here.  We'll want to make a quick exit.  If they have heavy cavalry, there's no way we'll stand up to that.  Our best chance will be to grab LT and get out.

The men sent her their agreement and understanding.  Sal had been keeping an eye on the clearing and could only count four enemies.  They were beginning to look restless, since their fellow soldiers weren't returning.  She assumed they knew an attack was coming but not what would happen.  Before she could call a rush, Zep broke into her mind.

I'm still mounted, Sal,
he thought. 
From where Cessa and I are, we can take out most of them before you could even get close.

Do it, Zep.  Then grab LT and get out of here.

This mission should have a catch to it, but so far it seemed simple and straight forward.  Zep spurred his horse and the dark beast announced her charge with crashing branches.  The "enemy" soldiers turned to the new threat in unison.  Sal took the chance and darted forward, "stabbing" one in the back, the woman's nod all Sal needed before moving toward the Lieutenant, while Zep "killed" those remaining.  Cyno reached LT first and began "untying" the ropes. 

His mind still blank to them, LT said, "I'm unconscious," and nothing more.

"Cyno, hand him up to Zep.  If he happens to help in his unconscious state, fine, if not, haul his ass over the saddle," she ordered. 

Cyno grinned and threatened to do like he was told, before LT accepted Zep's hand and swung into a seat behind him.

Your horse is double, Zep.  Head back, keep your mind open.  We'll be right behind you.

Gotcha, don't take too long,
Zep thought back, as Sal heard more horses heading to them.

She expected Arctic and Risk to be bringing in their own mounts, but the sounds didn't match their mental locations.  That was all the warning she needed. 
INCOMING!
she screamed into their minds.

The Blades scurried in different directions for cover, and Sal shot a thought at Arctic to get the horses to Cyno.  She ducked and dodged between branches, trying to become invisible.  Her heart pounded in her throat.  They'd pass nearly right on top of her.

Guys, get back, get safe.  I'm in a bad spot,
she thought.
Arctic, take lead and regroup.

Sal,
Arctic sent,
you only pass if you make it back.

I'll make it back, don't worry, but I'm not losing any of you on my first mission.  I still have some tricks to use.

His understanding filled her mind before he directed the men out of the clearing toward a meeting point.  He sent the location and it tasted of hope.

Her navy armor gave her the benefit of blending into the forest shadows, but her hair and skin would draw the eye as soon as any horseman got close.  Sal quickly thought of herself with skin of bark and hair of leaves while she ducked into a cluster of bushes at the base of two large trees, unsure if her camouflage would work.  Glancing up from her cover, the first horse darted past, the rider never looking in her direction.  Behind him followed two full squads, mounted and dressed like heavy cavalry.  She sent the images to Arctic, updating him on the next wave they faced.

With the horses behind her, Sal began to creep forward, careful to avoid making any noise that would alert them to her location.  She tried to slow her breathing, but her heart pounded so hard they had to hear it.  Behind her, the cavalry officer bellowed his orders.