Defiance (Rise of the Iliri Book 3) (31 page)

"What just happened?" Ilija whispered beside Jase.

"Geo tried his talent.  Sal basically just told him never ta do it again," Jase explained.  "Kitten, we told him ta try.  Do na blame him."

She nodded, and with a harsh glance at the recruit, moved back beside Jase.  Lifting her hands to her face, she rubbed away the memory.

"What happened, Sal?" Blaec asked.  "What do you remember?"

"I was watching Hwa and him, and then I started thinking about how I had known him during his trials, and how I'd thought about making him Dernor -"

Jase laughed, cutting her off.  "LT, guess I'm more terrifying than ya are."

Blaec smiled and gestured for Sal to continue.

"Well, the longer I watched, the more the idea seemed like a good one," Sal admitted.  "It started with what I knew, and then new memories were added, but there was no sudden switch in my head!"

"I'm sorry, Kaisae," Geo said, "I thought that Dernor was safer because LT wanted to see what I could do.  Ahnor, I don't know you well enough, but I've been warned not to cross you, so I figured if I could make the Kaisae – everyone said she's strong – feel that way about me, then it would be proof, but I dropped it."  He blushed, desperate to explain.  "I've never kissed an iliri before, Kaisae, I thought you'd be more like a human," he said before looking to Blaec.  "When she kissed me, I forgot to hold the concept, and I dropped it, and she remembered."  He touched the punctures on his lip, checking his fingers for blood.

Sal sighed.  "Ok, I'll forgive you, Geo.  Just be glad Blaec was there because Jase can't stop me," she warned him.

Geo nodded.

"Damn, Sal," Ilija teased, breaking the tension.  "I guess you're pretty damned good if that's his reaction."  The men around them chuckled.  "But what did he say to you?"

"Sae umso?" Sal asked, and he nodded.  "It means he submits.  I'm pretty sure it works with grauori, too.  If you're ever attacked, look away, give access to your vital areas, and scream 'umso'.  It's not respectable for us to kill you if you submit.  It's basically the same as surrendering."

"Is that something the humans should know?"

Probably,
Hwa said. 
With this many grauori around, a disagreement could get bad.  Knowing when to submit and when a grauori submits?  That could save some problems.

"Ok, I'll make sure they know it."

The men began to discuss other inter-species things to be aware of, but Sal felt a brush against her mind. 
I am sorry, Kaisae,
Geo told her again.

She caught his eyes with hers and held them. 
I'm angry, but I understand. 

She sighed, and Jase glanced at her.  Sal tipped her head toward the fire, and Jase saw Geo watching her.  He kissed her head, looked once more at Geo, then focused on the other conversation. 

You're beautiful, Kaisae,
Geo told her,
but I only thought that if I could make a Kaisae change her opinion, then it would be proof.  That is all,
he swore.  Sal could feel that he believed it.

You're ok, Geo.  I know what I did with my ability.  I won't resent you for what you tried.  Ok?

Thank you.  I didn't expect your mind.  I'm sorry.

And what would you have done if I'd been less iliri?
she asked.

Geo blushed. 
Enjoyed a kiss from my Kaisae and stepped away before I released it.  I swear to you, that was all.  You know Cyno never would have let me go further.  That's why I left him out of it.

Sal nodded. 
Ok, Geo.  I can't blame you.  I seduced a Lieutenant my first time, too.  We good?

Yes, Kaisae,
he sent.

Try calling me Sal.  I'm only the Kaisae to the Anglians.  Here, I'm just another Blade.

Geo ducked his head to hide a grin. 
Fair 'nough... Sal.

One by one, the men began to yawn.  The newer members were the first to make their way to their beds.  Geo bowed to Roo and offered his words of respect to the Gerus before slipping inside his tent.  Audgan only left when Shift woke him, the kid having fallen asleep by the fire.  Roo stood and handed Raast to Razor, nodded at Zep, who held Rhyx, and then she moved to the fire.  The little bitch curled into a small ball, and Hwa moved beside her.

"I have room, you know," Zep offered, pulling aside his tent flap, "and enough blankets to share."

Hwa looked up at him, nudging Roo. 
She'll need a night without the pups,
Hwa thought, dropping his eyes to the bundle Zep held.

"Man, that's a tough call.  Man-eating beasts, or a bundle of fuzz."  Zep sighed dramatically and kissed the pup gently before passing her to Risk.

"Well, that's my hint," Risk said, standing.  He looked into the pup's face, then cuddled her close to his chest.  With a protective smile, the golden man disappeared into his own tent.

Soon, only Ilija, Jase, Sal, and Blaec were left beside the fire.

"Ilija, why are you still here?" Blaec asked.

"Evidently," Ilija said, "there was a mess on the King's bed.  Something about grauori blood.  I gave him my tent, so I'm homeless for the night.  Besides, I was curious about the iliri."

Blaec chuckled.  "And not a spare spot in the Shields for you?"

Ilija shook his head.  "We aren't that tight yet, sir."

"It's Blaec, or LT, Colonel – and you outrank me."

Ilija just laughed.  "I've been around Sal long enough to know that iliri ranks and human ones aren't the same.  Sir, I will never outrank you, and I have no interest in it.  If Sal respects you, then I do as well.  That's all there is to it."

Jase kissed the top of her head.  "He's got a point, ya know," he said to Blaec.  "Sal has a way a putting things in perspective."

"Yeah," Blaec agreed, and the look on his face made Sal realize that the men weren't talking about ranks.  "There's something about her that changes things."

Jase nodded.  "Dernor," he said simply, meeting Blaec's eyes.

"Ahnor" Blaec replied, smiling as he said it.

"C'mon, Ilija," Jase said, shuffling to his feet.  "I have some extra room, and I'm pretty sure I have 'nough blankets fer two."  He bent down and kissed Sal sweetly, then looked at the human.

"No offense," Ilija said, as Sal stood and dusted off her rump, "but, three's a crowd."

She rolled her eyes.  "Ilija, you'll have to spend some time learning Iliran customs.  Blaec and Jase just came to an agreement.  There'll be room for you."  She walked over to Blaec and wrapped her arms around him. 

"I have missed you," he said, holding her close.

Sal smiled up at him, stepped back, and entwined her fingers in his.  With a nod at Jase, Blaec escorted her into his own tent, the flap slipping closed behind them.

"And you're ok with that?" Ilija asked.

"Yeh, I'm good, man.  It's been almost ten months since they've seen each other."

Ilija just looked at Jase strangely.  "This is one of those things I'll never quite understand isn't it."

Jase shrugged.  "There's na ta understand.  She loves him.  She loves me.  We love her.  Maast, ya know how't is.  We all love her, it's the vis.  They both have it, and there's na a thing we can do ta stop it."

"Yeah, but..." Ilija massaged the bridge of his nose.  "We've been friends for a bit, right?  I don't mean to be out of line Ahnor, but, your woman is sleeping with another man tonight, and you're just fine with that?  Even if he
is
your officer.  I couldn't do it, man."

Jase patted Ilija on the shoulder.  "I did it ta him first, but it does na really work like that.  Sal chooses.  I know how much she's missed LT, otherwise what I did tonight would likely have gotten my throat ripped out.  When we left, I was Dernor, and he was Ahnor.  She made the change in our status clear t'night, but I knew what she wanted.  I just told her it was ok ta act on it without hurting my feelings.  I can na stop her, man."

"Stopping her isn't the same as being ok with it."

"Nah, it's na, but it's different with us.  We do na claim our women, we enjoy them.  Fer us," and Jase gestured to the Black Blades' camp as a whole, "it's even more strange because we're led by a Kaisor, but our instincts tell us ta respect the Kaisae.  It's like Dominik and Sal, but Blaec's the commander and Sal's the King.  I dunno, man.  I guess it's like you being upset because Dom thinks she's a good soldier.  Does na mean he thinks less of ya, just that she did somethan ta get noticed."

"What is vis?" Ilija asked trying to understand.

"Yeh.  Glish has no word fer it," Jase said.  "Charisma is the closest, but it is na right.  It's the thing that makes her so different.  It's why we'd die fer her."

"Is it just an iliri thing?"

"I dunno.  I have na seen it in a grauori yet, but Rragri may have it.  Dom may, too."

"Yeah," Ilija muttered.  "Because, you know, I'd die for her too."

Jase nodded.  "Ilija, I saw the soldiers.  They all would.  Sal is special.  LT is too, but it's diff'rent.  Together..." He looked up at Ilija's dark eyes.  "Ya realize we're gonna win, right?  Ya know that together, na a thing can stop those two.  Why would I be jealous a that?"

Chapter 34

The next morning, Sal snuggled closer to Blaec's chest, shocked at how much larger he was than Jase.  Pale light was turning the edges of the tent grey, and Sal tried to convince herself that it was ok to sleep in and enjoy this.  Never mind that she'd stayed up a bit too late proving how much she'd missed him.  Blaec's gentle lovemaking had been exactly what she needed to erase the anguish of battle, but she hated that he kept his mind locked tight.  After so many months alone with her assassin, laying next to her commander felt strange – and the silence didn't help. 

"You've changed, you know?" Blaec said softly, his voice rumbling through his chest into her ear.

"Too iliri for you now?" Sal joked, her voice just a whisper.

"More iliri – but love, you can't be
too
iliri.  That's not what I meant, though."

"Then what?"

He chuckled softly.  "You're more.  That's how Zep always describes you, ya know.  He says your like the rest of us, but you make us all more."  He paused to yawn.  "You're a true Kaisae, Sal, not kaisae by default.  You've embraced something and become just a bit more wild – the same way the wind is wild.  Damn, I missed you.  But I'm also glad I sent you."

"Really?"

"Mhm."  He shifted, turning slightly so he could kiss the top of her head.  "Don't take this wrong, but it feels like you've grown up.  Kinda nice to have a woman around to help me keep this pack in line."

She giggled, burrowing her face against his strong chest.  "So are we going to take Dom's offer?"

"Staying in Anglia?  We can't, not now.  Terric isn't done.  You pulled the grauori into this, and the Conglomerate is filled with crossbreds, but iliri?  We're the only ones – the ten of us – that truly follow the old ways.  We're the only ones that have any chance of ending this."

"Have you told the rest?"

"No."  Regret filled that word.  "There's no point.  We just need a bit more intel, and we'll be ready to finish this.  That's why I brought us up here.  Officially, we're finalizing the arrangements for Anglia's treaty, but I hope to get the last bit of intel we need."  Then he looked down into her eyes.  "You realize this is probably going to be a one-way trip into Terric, right?  It's the only way to save our people.  With the grauori, the traditions will continue, but we're the only ones able to finish this."

She looked down, unable to hold those pale green eyes.  "I know.  But what
now
, Blaec?"

"What do you mean?"

"You can't be my superior and my subordinate at the same time.  How do we get there from where we are?"

"I could promote you.  You want to lead the Blades?"

Sal laughed.  "No.  Maast, Blaec, we both know that's the wrong answer.  Besides, I kinda like my bars.  Let me wear them for a while longer."

He kissed her head and wrapped his arms tighter around her.  "They're yours now.  One day, I hope to promote you again, and you can give them away, or keep them in a drawer, or be buried in them.  Those are for you, Sal, and your rank has nothing to do with it."

"You still haven't answered the question, though," she pointed out.

Blaec flopped back with a groan.  "That's because I don't know the answer.  If I try to think of it as a unit, it makes my head hurt.  When I think of how a pack works, it makes perfect sense.  You can handle the politics and the larger picture, I'll make sure the group is safe and organize the tactics.  Does that work?"

Sal nodded against his chest.  "So, Ahnor, Dernor... and Blades?"

"That, or iliri."  Blaec ruffled her hair.  "You know Zep would love being called an iliri.  No, I think Blades is the best way to deal with that.  We're outside of your army, and I promise I won't countermand anything you say."

"I think that works," Sal agreed.  "But I can't get out of this bed until you move, you know, and the sun is well up."

"In a rush?" he teased.

Sal just laughed.  "Yeah, I have to piss before tracking down the six thousand humans heading our way.  I can't lay in bed and reminisce all day."  She paused before letting out a deep sigh.  "Damn it.  I did it again.  Blaec, I need a shirt.  All I brought over here was what I wore in battle yesterday, and you can't make me put that back on."

"Yes, Kaisae," he said, pulling himself from the bed to walk across the room.  After rummaging in his packs, he tossed something blue at her.  "That should make you remember next time.  Sorry, my pants won't fit.  You'll have to sneak back into your tent."

She pulled on the shirt and slipped down from the bed.  Her white legs peeked from the bottom, but it hung almost to her knees.  Stopping only long enough to kiss Blaec, she walked boldly out of his tent.  The men were already up and working on their breakfast when she strolled outside, and a few glanced up.  Audgan blushed and dropped his gaze, but Arctic stared, his white eyes tracking her.  When Sal defiantly looked back, he smiled and glanced away, his face unreadable.

She handled her body's most pressing need, then returned to Jase's tent.  The floor was covered by Ilija's sprawling body, snoring gently.  Jase lay quietly in his bed, those blue eyes watching her.  Sal smiled at him, strangely embarrassed, and moved to her packs to find a clean set of blacks.

Ya have no idea how tempted I am ta wake him, kitten,
Jase whispered into her head.

You'd give him a heart attack
. 
You know how he had a fit every time he entered our rooms.

Yeh, but that only makes it more tempting.  Did ya have a good night?

Good enough,
she said, meeting Jase's eyes. 
But you've spoiled me, killer. 

Works fer me. 
He rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. 
I had ya long enough, figured I could share a bit.

Oh, I see!  And you think you get to make that call?

Only when ya worry too much 'bout hurting my feelings.  Otherwise, nah.  Ya know we have a whole day ta kill b'fore the Terran army gets here, maybe more?

Yeah, but I couldn't sleep anymore.  Don't tell him, Jase, but it doesn't feel right.

Ya know yer feeding my ego, right?

Sal chuckled, trying to smother it. 
No, that wasn't what I meant to do.  I realized something last night, though.  The reason I made you Ahnor. 
She looked at him, a smile creeping to her lips. 
You've always been there.  I mean always, from the moment I held out my papers that first day, you've always been around.  Everything I do, it feels like there's a part of you, right here,
she pointed to the back of her head,
just waiting.  You're good, killer, and it took me a while to see it, but I'm onto you now.  You're just going to have to deal with the consequences.

Being yer Ahnor is a consequence of falling madly in love with ya?

She nodded.

Yeh, I can deal with that.

She slipped into her blacks quietly, and somehow managed to not wake Ilija. 
Breakfast, killer.  Smells like Roo's cooking, too.

That made him sit up. 
Ok.  Ya convinced me.  Toss me some blacks and save me some food.  I'll be right out.

Sal did as she was asked and snuck out of the tent.  Roo knelt before the flames, fresh meat in her hands and a pouch of seasonings beside her.  Thankfully, she looked completely healed, even if she was moving a bit slow.  When Sal sat beside her, the grauori offered a welcoming smile.

Morning, Kaisae.  I like our pack.  Thank you for making me a part of it,
Roo said.

"Have they tried your cooking yet?" Sal asked.

"Oh yeah," Shift said from across the flames.  "Did you know Hwa caught the deer this morning?  The pair of them prepared it, and now Roo's cooking it as people wake up.  I love being spoiled."

"Venison?" Arctic asked, snagging a bit from the end of Roo's skewer.  The bitch growled at him, and he stuck his tongue out.

"I'm next to Kaisor," he informed her, then paused.  "Is there a word for that?  Sal gets a title.  I want one."

No,
Roo thought so they all could hear. 
Not a title for that, but the Black Blades aren't like any pack I've known.  Kaisor was only made to explain human things, it's not really a word either.  Make one, Arctic.

"Hmm, ok.  But my Iliran is horrible."

"Raewar" Jase said, walking out of his tent.

Yes,
Roo agreed. 
That would work well.

"Ok, what does it mean, Cyno?" Arctic asked.

"Strength of the pack.  It's the word fer that which makes us stronger.  I think ya fit it, man."

Sal nodded.  "Yeah, it works.  Raewar Arctic."  She smiled up at him.

"That smile of yours, Sal.  I missed it," Arctic said.  "Sharp teeth and all.  I'm glad we're back together."

"Me too," Jase said, wrapping his arms around her.  It was the perfect way to start the morning.

The smell of breakfast cooking permeated the camp.  Slowly, the Blades trickled out, casually joking among themselves like always.  She enjoyed hearing the sound of their voices after so long.  The banter was something she hadn't even realized she missed.  Safe in the middle of Sal's army, none of them noticed the group of Anglians until they appeared between the tents. 

With a snarl, the iliri jumped to their feet.  Seven humans in near white uniforms reacted instinctually.  Hands went to weapons on both sides – and Sal chuckled.

"Black Blades... meet the Verdant Shields," she said, proud of her trainee's quick response.

Ricown pushed his sword back into the sheath and dipped his head.  "Next time, we'll make more noise.  Sorry." Then he looked at her.  "Sal, have you seen our Colonel?  We seem to have lost him overnight."

"Yeah," She gestured behind her, "he's in my tent."