Conquering Lazar (8 page)

Elbi stared at the contours of her nude body in the full-length mirror. In the past, some would have called her waifish, fragile, and slight. But now she looked on with pride. After weeks of daily training, her body had become muscular, lean, and even better… strong. And along with her growing physique came skill. She truly was becoming the warrior Malachi wanted her to be. She had learned to use a sword—begrudgingly—but she had truly mastered the art of knife throwing. Even Nico said he had never seen such precision on hitting the target. Her days were filled with pride of her accomplishments.

Each day more and more reinforcements arrived. Casen was quickly outgrowing the space. Elbi had heard murmurings between Malachi, Donte and other soldiers about planning the attack on Jaden soon. There had been a time that Elbi would have been terrified to hear such news, but now she stood ready. She wanted to help take back the palace she so desperately loved. At the same time, she wanted the palace back, but she didn't want the old life she'd once lived. She had yet to figure out what would happen if they did return. What did that mean for her and Malachi? Would they still reside in the same quarters? Was there a future for them as there was for Briar and Donte? So many questions and no answers. Not even a hint from Malachi as to what he was thinking or wanting. The only thing she did know was love. She loved Malachi… was in love with him. Of that much she could be certain.

Elbi had noticed that as the weeks went by, she had seen less of Malachi. Both were gone all day and when they returned to the quarters, they were extremely exhausted from the day's events and sleep was all either craved. When she awoke in the morning, Malachi was always long gone. They each had their duties, and for the first time in Elbi's life, she was thriving. She had been given a gift, the gift of strength.

The sound of footsteps entering the room snapped her from her thoughts. "It is a beautiful sight," Malachi said as he walked up behind her. "Your body represents hard work, dedication, and fortitude." He placed a kiss on her shoulder, then continued to kiss up her neck and nibbled on her ear.

The Elbi of the past would have been embarrassed at being caught staring at her naked body. But the woman of today felt pride. She had grown stronger every day through blood, sweat and most certainly tears.

She turned around, wrapped her arms around his neck and placed a soft kiss to his lips. "I even have muscles on my inner thighs." She giggled and kissed him again. "I think I can thank
you
for that."

Malachi smiled against another kiss. "I plan to maintain those muscles long after we have reclaimed Lazar." He tightened his grip on her hips and kneeled before her. "I enjoy the muscles very much."

He began to place soft kisses along her inner thigh, slowly working his way up to her sex. Kiss by kiss, breath by breath, he snaked his way to his final destination. Licking up one pussy lip and back down the other, he moaned against her.

Elbi gasped and reached down, and curled her fingers in his untamed hair. "Malachi," she panted. She flung her head back and closed her eyes as he continued to lick, thrusting his tongue deeper into her pussy.

"Mmm, so wet for your daddy."

Elbi's heart skipped. She hadn't been a 'little girl' for quite some time. Hearing the familiar words escape his lips filled her with a sense of security. It had been so long since she could just feel safe and protected. So long since she could just be little Elbi needing comfort from her daddy. So long… and so very needed. "Yes… so wet. I need my daddy's cock—"

A loud knock on the door broke the erotic spell. Malachi shot up and headed to the main room, and Elbi scrambled for her clothes. The knock pounded again, followed by, "Malachi, open up. Jaden is approaching!"

When Elbi joined Malachi in the front room, she saw Donte, Talon, Nico and a few other soldiers engaged in a heated discussion.

"The scout said they are about five miles out," Nico announced.

"I think we should head them off before they get to Casen," Donte suggested.

Malachi shook his head. "We are stronger here. We have defenses and are prepared."

"And what if they are victorious? Then they succeeded at capturing our only other commune," Donte countered. He turned to Nico. "Did the scout say how many?"

"Hundreds. They are definitely coming with the intent of conquering," he answered. "But that's good news for us. If we are victorious, we can storm Lazar when Jaden are at their weakest."

"Exactly," Malachi agreed. "That should be our plan. Fight now and win, and then counter attack as quickly as we can. Before they can build reinforcements."

Donte turned to one of the soldiers. "Prepare the men for battle."

"Gather the women and secure them in the main building," Malachi ordered Nico. "I want several men surrounding them at all times."

"Wait!" Elbi interjected. Everyone turned, noticing her standing in the room for the first time. "We can fight as well. We are ready."

Malachi shot her a stern look. He didn't like his directive to be questioned, and his face made that quite clear.

Elbi continued. "We can't help if we are locked away."

"We will be fine with the men we have," Donte said, with Talon nodding in agreement.

"But what about the women you have? We have been training daily for over a month. Briar can shoot a bow better than anyone. Nico said himself that my aim is precise. And the rest of the women all have their own talents. Isn't this what we have been training for?" Elbi wasn't going to back down. Even though she was trying to sound courageous, she was avoiding Malachi's stare. The daggers coming from his eyes were more lethal than any knife she could throw. She looked at Nico for some kind of reinforcement. "Nico? Are we not soldiers?"

Nico looked at her, to the men, and then back at her. He didn't respond at first, and seemed angry for even being put in this position. Finally he turned back to the men. "I believe that Jaden will be looking for the harem. Killing the entire harem will send a powerful message. I think the best thing would be to disperse the women amongst all the soldiers. Have them fight, rather than be sitting ducks in one space."

Nico's answer wasn't exactly the support Elbi was looking for, but at least he was agreeing the harem shouldn't all be locked in a room waiting to see if they would die or not. Thankfully he was allowing each woman to take her own fate into her own hands.

"Very well," Malachi spat out.

Donte nodded, as did Talon. "Prepare for battle."

Elbi was about to follow everyone out of the house when Malachi grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back. The fury on his face seemed more daunting than the battle about to happen.

He pulled her so close to his face that she could almost feel the heat from his anger. "Never," he growled. "Never question me in front of others."

She squared her shoulders, swallowed back her fear, and stared directly into his eyes. "Then
never
question my ability."

Malachi remained quiet, but his face softened, as did his tight grip on her arm.

"I am not the same woman I once was, Malachi. Let me prove to you that I can be that warrior you believed I could be."

"I know how strong you are. You have no need to prove anything to me. What you do not understand is that the thought of you in battle makes me afraid."

"Because I am not strong enough?"

"No. Because I love you. Because I do not want the woman I love to die by the blade of a sword."

His words punched at her gut and stole her breath. He had declared his love. Malachi Lazar loved her. She'd known he cared for her, had sexual desires for her, and wanted her to be near him. But she hadn't been sure that love was anything he felt.

Tears clouded her eyes as she whispered, "And I love you."

"Then allow me to protect you. Allow me to keep you safe. I could not live with myself if you were killed."

"How? By hiding in a hole somewhere, shaking in fear of the unknown? Should I have another panic attack while I wait to see if someone comes to murder me? Should I cry? Should I break down and fall to my knees?" Elbi took a few steps back and asked, "Is that the woman you love?"

He walked toward her, closing the distance between them once more. "That is not the woman you are anymore."

"Exactly! What you don't realize is that you gave me the greatest gift I could ever ask for. You gave me the ability to fight. You healed the beaten soul inside of me. You made me realize that I can do this." Tears threatened to fall, but Elbi refused to let them. "Please don't take that gift away."

Malachi nodded, looking sad. He then cleared his throat and his expression grew firm. "You will do as I command. You will fight where I say, and stay near me. I am one of the commanders of this army, and you are a soldier. You will follow my commands and never question. It is your duty as a soldier in this army to do so. Do you understand?"

Elbi smiled. "Yes, sir."

Malachi gave her a weak smile in return. "Then let us prepare for battle."

Can anyone ever be ready for battle? Elbi pondered that question as she stood in position, fingering the heavy bag of throwing knives at her side. Her other side was weighed down by the sword she was forced to carry, even though she hated to do so. Malachi had told her to stand ready by one of the entrances. He told her that once the door was breached, to throw the knives and aim at their eyes. She'd also been instructed to remain behind the protective wall, and not to engage in hand-to-hand unless absolutely necessary. He then kissed her softly and left. Elbi hadn't seen him since, but she had no doubt he was nearby.

She stood there for what felt like an eternity. Waiting. Waiting for Jaden. She looked around and watched the hundreds of soldiers waiting as well, worry obvious on their faces although none would speak of it. With all the soldiers ready for the attack, she could see no sign of Briar or anyone else she knew, but she wasn't going to disobey Malachi and leave her post to go searching.

Sweat trickled down her arm as the blazing sun began to set. Would Jaden wait until nightfall to attack? That seemed the most logical thing, but the waiting game tortured her. She tried to busy her mind and not allow it to go to thoughts of what it would be like to kill someone. How would it feel to throw a knife and actually hit a human's eye? No… those thoughts could not exist right now. Those thoughts led to weakness.

"Elbi," she heard being whispered behind her. She turned quickly to see Briar hunched down with her bow ready. "I wanted to tell you that I'll be in the tower behind you." Elbi looked over Briar's shoulder at the tower looming over them. "I will shoot anyone who tries to get near you."

She nodded, not sure what to say. The fear of what was happening began to weigh her down.

"I love you, Elbi. You're going to be just fine. You can do this," Briar assured her. She then turned and quickly made her way to her post, leaving Elbi as she struggled with her internal demons and fought back the fear that made her want to run and search for Malachi.

Just as the shadows were taking over, the calls of war pierced the air. Shouts, screams, commands… even the first groans of death. What was once a stagnant silence became wave after wave of chaos.

Elbi held her hand on the hilt of her sword and palmed a knife with the other. She waited with the sounds of war all around the outside of the encampment. She waited for the doors to be opened as fear threatened to paralyze her body. So far, the walls of Casen were holding Jaden back. No one had entered, and the damage was being done to Jaden on the other side by the archers.

The question of whether she would see battle was answered by a loud crash, followed by what was left of Jaden's men storming through. It was her time to perform. Without any hesitation, she began to throw one knife after another, aiming for their eyes. Moving targets were harder, but her intentions were met for the most part. Arrows whirled around her, swords clanging against swords. People cried out in agony as weapons made contact with flesh. But Elbi focused on her knives and her duty. A tidal wave of mayhem surrounded her, with its only saving grace being that it didn't give Elbi time to think. It didn't give her time to process that she was engaged in battle. She did not have a second to consider that people were dying all around her and bloodshed became the norm.

As the knives were becoming few, the bodies surging forward slowed. The sounds of misery lessened, the howls of the night weakened, and after a time of nightmarish proportions, the fight seemed to end. Elbi stopped throwing and stood. Silence…

And then the cheers of victory roared through Casen. Had they won? Was that it? Was the attack from Jaden over? Malachi? Where was Malachi? Elbi didn't know as she stood and circled in place, searching for the answer. Was he one of the fallen soldiers? No doubt he'd led his men, charging toward his own death in the hopes of victory. Was Malachi dead?

A sound behind her brought the answer, Elbi turning on bare heel to lay her eyes upon a tall figure emerging from the shadows. Her heart skipped a beat as anticipation filled her, her breath catching in her throat as she waited to see if it would be her lover returning to her or just her mind playing some terrible farce against her.

His face was weary, and he had deep circles beneath his dark eyes. He looked very much the tired man, the warrior. He looked broken, almost defeated. And yet, when their eyes met, the doubt that had filled his gaze, the fear, melted away.

Neither of them moved for what seemed an eternity, both believing the other to be a dream, a mirage conjured up by tired minds to soothe the tormented soul. He would be the first to break that silent stillness that seemed to encompass them like a heavy blanket.

"Elbi!" she heard called from the distance. Her name bubbled from his lips like the most precious of secrets. She smiled to see Malachi charging forward, his lengthy stride closing the distance between them. She remained in position, as he had commanded, until she was engulfed in his arms and spun in a circle. "We won. It is over."

Elbi knew they both had waited with building anxiety for the battle to end, both having their own hopes as to the outcome. By the end, each had only wished it over, if just to see the other's face once more. As brutal minutes had passed and turned into hours of murder, fear planting a seed of doubt within their hearts, both had feared the other dead.

She did not speak, but the joy she felt shimmered in her azure eyes, spilling down her cheeks in crystal droplets, soon to be wiped away by dirty fingers from his calloused hands.

"I thought I had lost you." Her voice was barely a whisper above the gentle breeze that blew her hair over one cheek. She gripped at what remained of his tattered shirt, fingertips smoothing over his sun-kissed flesh.

"I was nearly lost, but I could not bear the thought of breaking your heart. No grave will hold down my love for you." His fingers, stained with blood and dirt, slid over her cheek as his lips met hers in the tenderest of kisses. Passionate, fulfilling, perfect. The pain of war, of loss, of defeat… and now victory.

When finally their lips parted, there was nothing to be found between the pair but smiles and warmth, compassion and understanding passing through the depth of their gaze. His fingers wound into her hair, the strength of his arms crushing her into him as her tears soaked his chest.

"We cannot remain here, my love. We must hurry, we must leave for Lazar tonight. We need to strike now before Jaden can rebuild."

"Just allow me to stay with you," she pleaded with him, her fingers clutching desperately at his chest, fear once again gripping her. "I don't want to be apart again."

He merely shook his head, brushing her lips with his own before he took her hand, twining their fingers together. "Nothing will separate us again. This is a promise I will make."

* * * * *

"Nico is leading the troops to Lazar now. We did not want to waste a minute," Donte informed Malachi as they stood in the main house. Donte had a gash across his forehead but seemed fine otherwise. Briar held Donte's hand as if she would never let it go, undoubtedly relieved to have the man she loved still alive. Elbi understood the feeling as she watched Malachi. Not only had they won the battle; all the women of the harem had survived the attack. Though many soldiers had died, Elbi hadn't lost anyone she'd been close to, and she was grateful to be alive and well in the same room with the man she loved.

Malachi nodded. "Good. Let us get everything and everyone ready for departure. We will leave first thing in the morning. Let everyone rest for the journey. Hopefully by the time we arrive, the Palace of Lazar will be ours once again." Malachi smiled at Elbi and squeezed the hand he hadn't released since they'd been reunited.

"What about Casen?" Briar asked.

"We are handing it over to the allied forces. It is our gift to them for all their help in defeating Jaden," Donte answered.

Malachi nodded and added, "The reign of Jaden is not over yet. We will need the continued help from our allies in order to keep Jaden at bay. Giving away Casen is our first step toward peace. Greed leads to war, and we plan to share our wealth."

"Today we won. In a few days, with Jaden being weak, we will regain Lazar. But Jaden will try to rebound and we must be ready." Donte's voice deepened as he spoke, and his face grew dark.

"And we will be ready, brother. We will reclaim the Palace of Lazar and never lose it again. When Jaden comes knocking again, we will answer the door with vengeance."

* * * * *

Deep in the desert, the clash of swords and shrill screams could be heard for miles as the harem marched toward the palace. A war had broken out two weeks ago, and when Nico and the troops came swiftly down the dunes, they attacked Jaden with a ferocity that would become legend for hundreds of years.

Now, as they approached what was once their beautiful palace, Elbi stopped and clutched her heart.

"I see it," she declared, her voice raspy from the days of travel through the harsh desert.

Other gasps and cries were heard as each person glimpsed what she observed. Their palace stood—though battered—it stood free from Jaden. Charred land, burnt structures, and smoldering fires still lingered, but there was not a Jaden soldier in sight.

Nico came charging up the dunes on horseback with pride in his eyes. Behind him rode several more men. One man had a stake in his hands, with the head of General Rhys impaled on it. The general's eyes remained wide open, his face frozen in the fear he'd felt right before someone had ended his life and beheaded him. General Rhys was dead. Elbi could barely take her eyes off the head of a man who had tormented so many. It took all of her will to look at Nico as he approached and declared, "We have conquered the Palace of Lazar! It is ours! The Palace of Lazar is ours!"