Defiance (Rise of the Iliri Book 3) (19 page)

Dominik stood, pouring himself a drink.  "Yeah.  That's a good reason right there, but I can't tell my council that without proof."

Sal lowered her voice.  "I'd prefer you don't tell them that at all."

Suddenly Dom laughed.  "Ok, so how do you keep that from Jase then?"

"I don't.  He knows it as well as I do.  I simply want to allow him plausible deniability about me breaking orders.  No one hides anything from Jase."

Dom glanced up.  "What do you mean, Sal?"

"If he's touched you, he knows you, sire.  Both the good and the bad.  He knows your character, and he knows what you find important.  Why do you think he doesn't touch anyone."

"But you," Dom added.

"Yeah, and a few others.  But usually only if he's wanting a read, or the person is honest enough for him to touch them again.  Iliri don't tend to lie because of this.  You never know which of us is a reader.  It has its limitations, like skin to skin only.  We think the Emperor knows of our abilities, and we think we scare the shit out of him."

Dom swallowed his drink in a single gulp.  "Honestly, Sal?  You scare the shit out of me too, but I find you refreshing somehow."  He walked across the room to stand before her.  His expression was serious as he looked down into her white, slit eyes.  "You're like nothing I've ever met.  When you bit me earlier, I was sure that you wouldn't stop, because of the berzerker thing you told me about.  Yet the more I am with you, the more I find myself turning to you – and not my council – for advice.  You're the only one that is honest with me."  He paused, sighing deeply.  "Sal, I'm surrounded by nobles who think everyone else is beneath them.  They can't seem to remember that I was in that group not so long ago.  I have no clue what I'm doing, and you seem to be the only one who gives a shit about us."

"I do.  No one deserves to be relegated to second class because of something they can't control.  Doesn't matter if that's their species, their parents..."  She looked right in his eyes.  "Or her gender."

His mouth twitched in a weak smile.  "So you do have your own agenda, huh?"

"Only to see all of us have the same opportunities.  And maybe to survive for a few more years."

"Yeah."  The King stepped back, letting his eyes close and shoulders relax.  "That's what I thought.  It just doesn't make any sense for me to lean on you like this.  I should be bending Lord Otso's ear, not yours.  I'm supposed to be learning how to be a king like my grandfather, but here we are, and I'm asking an iliri woman for advice.  One who isn't even my citizen!  Don't make me regret this?"

"Dom, honesty brings honesty.  I respect you, and I trust you.  Jase says that you're a good man and that you truly want to do what is right for people, even if that means making your own life harder.  He saw that your childhood as the son of a bastard shaped the man you are now and that you don't place yourself above others, but work
for
them instead.  This is why I'm here. 
You
are the only man in Anglia who can save my people – and your own in the process.  I'll help you as much as I can."  She tilted her head, letting a smile show.  "Just don't make me regret it either, ok?"

"Ok, Sal." Dom said softly.  "Send that letter to Parliament.  Tell the Conglomerate they can count on me.  I'll play politics with Terric tomorrow and send them home empty handed.  Get my army ready.  Get them more than ready, because I think we're going to war."

"Are you sure?"  That wasn't at all what she'd expected from this talk.  "I won't be sending a letter, Dom.  If this is what you want, they'll know tonight.  Shouldn't you speak to your council before you make a decision this important to your people?  Don't they have to agree to an alliance with the CFC?"

He smiled as he reached up, touching the length of her ear.  "No, I don't think so.  That you even ask says you care more than any of those nobles.  Tell Parliament, but tell them that I require you to be here to help me."

Sal nodded and opened her mind. 
Roo, I need a link home.

Chapter 21

The next morning, light streamed through the windows while Sal sat comfortably in her office across the hall from the King's rooms.  Her desk was stacked with soldiers' files.  Some were reports of those performing poorly, others those who were excelling.  In her hand, she held a file for Sergeant Ilija Vayu.  She hadn't requested it.  His captain had singled him out as an example of a soldier deserving a promotion.

She read through the comments quickly.  Nothing listed surprised her.  He'd served for almost fifteen years, had taken command of units as needed, and always put in the effort necessary to perfect the duties he'd been assigned.  Ilija had only recently been moved to the Palace guard, and still he was making a name for himself.  Throughout the month, Sal and her pack had surprised many units in training, and only Ilija's had performed anywhere near their expectations.

A knock at her door broke her from her thoughts. "Come," Sal called to the wood.

A young man, not more than fourteen, slipped inside the door wearing the green and silver of a court page.  His eyes were wide, and he refused to release the handle.

"Can I help you, sir?" Sal asked the kid.

"The King requires you to accompany him on a hunt," he blurted.

Sal nodded.  "Tell him I'd be happy to."

The boy nodded back, not moving.  Eventually, he stammered out, "He said it's the envoy, and you'd understand, Sergeant."

"Kaisae," Sal corrected, watching the confusion flick across his face.  "What's your name young man?"

"I'm Jarl, Kaisae.  He said they ride out in half an hour."  With a quick nod at her, the page slipped back out her door, his feet slapping against the stones as he ran through the hall.

Sal sighed and closed the file. 
Hwa, Roo, Jase?  We're going on a hunt.

Already with him, Kaisae,
Hwa replied.

I'll have the horses saddled, Sal.  Get inta some armor, kitten.  The daughter and the historian are walking heavy t'day,
Jase added.

You geared up, Jase? she
asked, knowing he'd think of her before himself.

Yeah, I had a barracks inspection this morning.  Thought I'd dress the part. 

Well, that worked out nicely,
Sal thought as she made her way to her rooms. 

Quickly, she got into her dress armor, enjoying the feel of the rings against her skin and amazed at how light and flexible it was.  She dug in her packs, pulled out her bracers and strapped them on, then slung her helm over her shoulder as she made her way down to the stables below.  It wasn't far.  When Sal walked through the aisle of the barn, she found her mare standing in cross ties, blocking the alley.  On the other side was Jase's mare  She attached her helm to the clip on the saddle, then began adjusting the tack to be more comfortable.  Beside her, Jase was doing the same with Raven.

Where's the King?
she asked.

The other barn.  He's playing the gracious host, and still flirting with that girl, but at least now he's acting like he's too shy to do more than meet her gaze.

So he learns. 
Sal untied her mare. 

Jase did the same, and the pair of them led the horses to the doors, swinging into the saddle once they were under the open sky.  Without a word, they trotted side by side toward the next barn.  The air was crisp making the sky appear even more blue than it should.  Pausing near a lush patch of early grass, they gave the mares their heads and waited for the rest.  Both horses dug in greedily while their riders took the chance to relax.  It didn't take too long before the grauori came bounding through the door with the clop of shod hooves behind them.  The King's party was mounted on fine-boned coursers in shades of chestnut and bay.

"Don't think I've seen your steeds before," Dominik said, riding up beside them.  "They're amazing.  Maybe I should be looking to buy horses from you," he joked.

"I doubt they'd be for sale, sire.  Not the ones of this quality.  These girls are our lifelines," Sal told him.

"Mares?" the King asked surprised.

"Typic'lly," Jase answered.  "They're more consistent in battle, and they are na allus trying ta breed something.  Besides, ya ever see what a stallion does when a mare pisses at him?  Yeh.  Let's just say I am na too proud ta sit on a nice looking lady."

The King laughed heartily at that.  "Me neither, my friend.  Me neither."  Then he raised his voice for the group to hear.  "My hounds will flush us some game.  Most likely just fowl, but if we're lucky, we might get a stag.  Sadly, it's the wrong season for boar.  Let us all enjoy the ride – and tonight we'll feast on our conquests!"

With his words, the grauori raced off, howling into the wind.  Roo whispered into Sal's mind,
It'll be stag.  Dom asked us to give them little reason to use the bows.  We want to keep the pace hard enough that the Terrans can't cause trouble.

Good thinking, Roo.  Let me know if anything changes,
Sal replied.

Always, Kaisae.

As the grauori sped into the trees, the King spurred his horse to follow, and the group of them fell in behind.  The King, three of the Terrans, and a single huntsman made the entire party.  Sal worried about the lack of Anglians, so kept herself and Jase to the back, their eyes open for treachery from either the pace or the Terrans.  This outdated hobby might seem quaint to humans, but to her, it was the epitome of a stupid decision.  Too bad she couldn't convince the King to step into modern times with the rest of the continent!

The hunt crested a hill.  The horses bounded down a ravine, splashing through the creek below when the "hounds" gave voice to their prey.  In the distance, Sal heard the eerie howl of more beasts.  Another grauori pack was near.

But the hunt was moving fast.  The King and his entourage blindly raced after the deer, their horses leaping fallen logs and racing across the muddy ground.  Spring was trying to grip the world around them, the snow clinging only to the bases of the trees and the shadows of rocks.  For too many weeks, she'd huddled in stone buildings and had almost missed the winter melt away. 

Kilometer after kilometer, nothing happened.  Sal relaxed into the saddle, enjoying the hunt, and gave Arden her head.  The speckled mare picked her own path across the slippery ground.  When she raced to a downed tree, Sal lifted herself from the saddle and smiled as her horse surged under her, clearing the jump easily.  Maybe there was something to this after all.  With a glance over her shoulder, she saw Jase just behind her, Raven's ears forward, galloping easily.  He was focused on the group but caught her movement and looked over with a smile on his lips. 

Kaisae!
Roo called into her mind.  The urgency in her voice killed the moment.

Sal quickly turned her attention back to the humans but saw no sign of aggression from any of them.  The Terrans were riding well and seemed pleased at the entertainment.  As the King broke out of the trees and into a small clearing, he reined in his horse hard.  That meant the problem was up ahead.  Sal automatically guided Arden around the crowd to the King's side, following his gaze. 

In the center of the clearing, a pale white form writhed angrily.  A bear trap had caught the grauori's leg, and he was near panic trying to free himself.  The poor beast saw them and stopped thrashing to pull farther away from the humans.  His lips lifted in a snarl.

"Sal?" Dom whispered to her.  "Can we get it out?"

"I think we need to," she whispered back, reaching out to Roo. 
Can you talk to him?

No, but Hwa can.  He won't listen to a rafrezzi, Kaisae,
the little female answered.

Then do it.  The King wants him free. 
Sal felt her acknowledgment and reached for Jase. 
Killer, keep an eye on the humans.  I need to get the grauori out of there.

Yes, sir,
he replied officially.

"Sire, please keep your distance," Sal whispered to the King as she slid to the ground. 

She saw him nod so began walking slowly to the trapped beast.  Behind her, the King was explaining to the Terrans how valuable these animals were to him and how his own companions had come from a similar fate.  The humans nodded, accepting his story without question.  Sal whispered thanks that he could lie so well.  As she got closer, the male stared at her, meeting her eyes.  Sal refused to look away.  He snarled again.

Roo, link me to him?
she begged.

I can open you to him.  I'm not sure he'll take it, Kaisae.  He's called us traitors and refuses to listen to Hwa.

All we can do is try, little one
.

She felt a strange slip and knew Roo had connected her with the male's mind.

I am iliri,
Sal sent.  She continued explaining who she was as she steadily approached, all too aware of the humans behind her. 
I will release you.  You may leave if you choose, but you will only die to humans if you remain here.  I am Kaisae.  I control my pack, and my pack will prevent the humans from harming you now, but we can not stop them all. 

Finally, the male dropped his gaze.  His eyes focused on her chin, and he stopped pulling against the trap. 
You have grauori eyes, but iliri are a myth,
he told her.

I don't feel very much like a myth, my cousin.  And you don't look like one either.  Will you allow me to release you?

Will you?  Or will you merely kill me when I am complacent?

What choice do you have?  You can hear my mind, listen to it.  If I wanted to kill you, I would simply have shot you from my horse, not walked all this way trying to reassure you.  Trust me, or don't, but if you try to attack me, I will leave you for the humans.

She felt his resentment, but he turned his gaze to the ground.  Sal quickly looked over the trap, finding the release.  It was designed so that both hands were required to loosen the jaws around the grauori's leg.  Kneeling at his side, she reached for it, warning the male in her mind,
I am sorry, but this will hurt.

I know.  Please be fast.

Sal grabbed the lever with both hands, pulling and twisting to loosen the trap.  As the mechanism engaged, the jaws clenched against his mauled leg.  The male yelped in pain before the trap released him completely.  Without pausing for permission, he ran, carrying his injured leg close to his body.  When he reached the tree line, he looked back, his eyes wide when he realized there'd been no pursuit.

You kept your word.  Laetus Kaisae!  My thanks for my life,
he sent her.

Long life, cousin,
Sal told him. 
Find healing soon.

"Kaisae!" The King yelled at her across the clearing.  "Spring that trap so another is not caught and send guards out here when we return.  I will have
no
poaching of grauor wolves on my lands."

"Yes, sire," Sal called back, grabbing a stick to trigger the trap.  With a crunch, the teeth snapped shut, splintering the branch and unable to catch another grauori's leg. 

Just as she stood, the male whispered in her head again. 
The human calls you Kaisae?

Yes.  He is the human Kaisor, but he respects my pack and me as equals.  He hopes to stop the violence against our kinds, and so I will give him my respect in return.

She felt his confusion as he slipped out of the link.  Hopefully, he'd tell his packmates that things with humans had changed.  If the rumor spread, there might be a chance of peace between their species and the humans who'd taken over their land.  She'd have to explain to Dom how good of an idea this was later.

Turning back for her horse, she paused.  The Terrans had pulled themselves into a tighter group, putting distance between themselves and the Anglians.  Dom was smiling at her proudly, oblivious to the tension – or faking it really well.  Then she glanced at Jase.  His hand rested against his leg casually, and his eyes stalked them.  Sal knew that behind his leg lay his weapons.  His posture screamed the warning louder than anything else.  That he hadn't sent a thought meant he wasn't sure.  Reminding herself to relax, she headed back, but the openness around her now felt like a vulnerability.