Defiance (Rise of the Iliri Book 3) (21 page)

No.  They saw the crossed swords on yer armor and knew we're from the Conglomerate, so assumed the King was compromised. 

He is,
Sal reminded him.

I know, but the man felt like he was in a hurry.  There was some deadline where he had ta make a decision, and if they could na, he was to be assassinated.

She looked over the mostly healthy king. 
Which means Terric is about to be desperate.  What the hell are they going to try next?

Jase didn't try to guess. 
I killed him, kitten.  I need ta leave.

Take the grauori, have them secure the guards, and meet me in our rooms.  I won't be far behind.  Stay away from the humans, Jase.  I mean it.

I know.  Stay strong, kitten.  Remember ta breathe,
Jase told her as he ran for his horse.  Sal watched him swing into the saddle and glance back, his need written on his face.  Letting her eyes close, she sighed.  It was hard not to just follow.  When she opened them, he was riding away fast with the mutts running at his side, heading the opposite direction of the guards.

A large man led the group, twisting to look back at Jase but never slowing.  It was Ilija.  He pulled his mount in hard and jumped from the saddle, landing solidly to run toward her.

"Walk!" Dom yelled, and Sal realized she was snarling.

"Your Highness?"  Ilija sounded confused.

"Trust me, soldier.  Now is a good time to walk."  The King laughed, looking up at Sal. 

She was tracking his movement, unable to help herself.

"Are you ok, sire?" Ilija asked him, kneeling across from Sal.

"Yeah.  I'll live.  Can't say the same for the Terran envoy, though.  Sal, did the Ahnor leave yet?"  Honest concern showed on his face.

"Yes, sire.  I sent him to secure the last two men, their guards."

"Ah," Ilija said.  "So that's why they were in a rush.  We already got them, Kaisae.  Sire, I brought a physician."

The King nodded.  "It's only a small wound, I believe.  The fall from the horse likely did more damage, but the Kaisae refused to let me move."

Ilija accepted the half truth easily.  He and Sal stepped away as the physician reached the King.  They moved out of earshot, but she watched the man probe the wound, waiting for some sign that he'd know what had really happened.  The whole time, Ilija stared at her.  Without warning, his massive hand closed on her shoulder, turning her to look at the blood across her face.  Sal yanked herself free.  The snarl came too easily to her lips.

"Don't touch me," she growled at him. 

Quickly, he dropped his hand, taking a step back.  "I'm sorry, Kaisae.  I thought you were injured."

Sal rubbed at her brow, reminding herself to breathe deeply.  She sucked in a lungful of air and released it in a shuddering breath.  The sweet smell of blood tainted everything, and only her will held her in control of her desires.  She tried not to think of it, focusing on the situation before her.

"Sal?" Ilija whispered.  "Are you ok?"

She shook her head.  "No, I'm really not.  Why are you here?  You're supposed to be off duty today."

The big man chuckled and shrugged.  "The huntsman came into the stables yelling at the top of his lungs that the King had been killed.  I sent the off-duty men to secure the guards – so the Ahnor will have little to worry about – and made my way here."

"Why?" she pressed him.

"The truth?  Sal, this is what I do.  I like this king, I think he's good for the country and soldiering is what I do."

She nodded, understanding what he meant.  "Are you scared of me, Ilija?"

"Kaisae, I respect you, but...yeah.  Sometimes."

"Then get me out of here.  Find me an excuse to leave."

"Why?"

"Because the bloodlust has me, man.  I'm in nearly a full berserk."

He did not move away, merely nodded.  "So that's why I was told to walk.  The King knows."

"Yes," she admitted.

"Sal, you're the Kaisae.  Just leave.  They won't ask.  I got this.  I'll tell them you're cleaning up before the council meets.  It will meet, you know?"

"I do."

He shifted to stand between her and the rest of the rescue group.  "Can I help?"

"No, my friend, you cannot."  She walked away, raising her voice to the men around her.  "Sergeant Ilija Vayu is in charge here.  Search the bodies and get the King back to the Palace."

Without pausing, she made her way to Arden, the mare plucking at the winter grasses.  Sal glanced back at Ilija once, and he nodded at her before she pulled herself into the saddle.  Behind her, the big guy began to shout orders.  That was all she needed.  Sal turned her horse toward home.

Jase,
she whispered,
I'm coming, but things are about to get really busy.

Arden's hooves flew, the mare pushing hard.  It was mere moments before she skidded to a halt before the barn and threw her reins on the ground.  Stable hands ran toward her, and Sal brushed past them striding quickly for the stairs. 

She snapped over her shoulder, "Tack her down and cool her out well.  If she's lame tomorrow, you all will pay for it," before she climbed the stairs two at a time.  She began unbuckling her armor before she even reached her door.

Chapter 23

The water was red, their own blood mingling with that of the humans as it twirled down the drain.  Sal sighed, satiated, as she dried her hair and wrapped the towel around her body.  Behind her, Jase pulled her damp locks from her neck and kissed her gently, careful to avoid the mark he'd left. 

"Ya need ta get ta the council, kitten," he reminded her.

"I know, killer.  Come with me?"  She leaned into him.

"Ya will be fine without me, ya allus are."

"Not like that.  I'm going to need a read on those guards," she said, reaching up to kiss the side of his face.

Jase cupped her face.  "Fair 'nough, but I'll get the read, then head ta the meeting.  I do na have the mind ta sit and listen ta them fools fer too long, ya know."

"Ok, then just read them and send to me.  If Dom's there, he'll follow my lead, I think.  If not, I'll need some backup."

Jase nodded, so Sal made her way into the main room.  Their clothes were strewn across the floor, blood staining the rugs beneath.  Sal picked up her curiass and tossed it on the couch as she walked past on her way to the wardrobe.  She'd just opened it when a knock came at the door.

"Kaisae?" Ilija called through the thick wood.

"Come!" she yelled back.

The big black man slipped in the door, looking towards her.  Their eyes met for only a moment before he looked to the ground, and Sal laughed.

"I'm sure you've seen a naked woman before, Ilija."

He chuckled, and lifted his eyes back to hers, carefully avoiding looking at her body.  "Human women, Kaisae.  Not iliri.  I came to see if you're suitable for the council.  Dom's well enough, and he's called them together."

"Yer safe, man," Jase said, walking out of their bathing chamber with only a towel around his waist.  "And she's almost presentable."

Ilija's eyes widened as he looked at him.  The lithe man was covered in fresh wounds.  Jase smirked back, amused at the human's reaction.

"Yeh, Ilija," he said, "we tear the shit outta each other."  He pointed to his face and the scratches there.  "Jayel got those."  Then he pointed to his bloody lip.  "But that's one a Sal's fav's.  Anythan below the neck was Sal."

"Shit," Ilija breathed, glancing over to see her wounds for the first time.  "You both are like this?"

Sal dropped her towel.  The soldier quickly glanced away, but not before seeing the rest of her wounds.  "I told you Ilija.  Bloodlust.  We call it maast.  So long as we're able to kill, you're pretty safe."  She laughed as she pulled on a shirt.  "I'm covered, boy, you can look."

"I'm sorry, Kaisae.  I don't mean to keep doing this.  I feel like every time I'm in your rooms..." Ilija shrugged, letting the sentence die unspoken.

"You'd better get used to it, then," she said, kicking through the clothing on her floor.  "Jase, seen my boots?"

"By the door, kitten.  Ya kicked 'em off when ya came in."

She walked past the hulking guard, and snagged a boot from the corner, speaking as she did so.  "When that door closes, Jase and I get our only moments alone.  So if you plan to come in here, you should probably get used to looking at the floor."  Sal grabbed her other boot and patted him as she brushed by again.  "Or stop being so chivalrous."

Jase just shook his head, chuckling to himself while she sat beside her curiass and pulled the tall boots on her feet.  "She lived with just men, Ilija.  Trust me, we all got an eye full and lived ta tell 'bout it."

Ilija blushed brightly making Sal take pity on him.  "I keep telling you.  I'm a soldier.  Speaking of that, how've the whores been?"

Guilt flashed across his face.  "We were inundated last night, but how did you know that?"

"Oh, I ran into one and made it known that they're welcome.  You might want to drop the word to the men.  Subtly?"

"Looking for a bit of favor from them, or something?" he asked.

"It doesn't hurt.  That, and I know they'll be better for it.  No sense in forcing them to break rules they can't keep.  If they hurt the girls, though, there will be punishment."

"Sal, some get paid extra fer that," Jase reminded her.

"That doesn't count.  Anything outside of what they paid for.  I think Ilija knows what I mean."

"I do, Kaisae.  I'll make sure a few words get whispered."

"Good.  Then let's go play with the nobles.  Killer, if you're not going with me, I'm taking Ilija."

"Have fun wi' that.  Oh, and do the thing while yer there?  I gotta start putting 'em together soon," Jase told her cryptically.

"Good idea," she agreed.  "He just gave me the excuse I need, too.  Ok, big guy, let's go."  Sal turned for the door.

"Kaisae?"  Ilija stepped in front of her. 

Sal looked up, and he smiled as he tugged her collar higher at the back of her neck.  "Keep your hair loose.  You won't convince anyone that's anything but a bite."  Behind them, Jase just chuckled, his head buried in the closet.

"Thanks," she said.  "You're a good man, Ilija.  I wouldn't have expected it from our first meeting, but you're going to be great."  Then she grabbed his wrist and tugged him through the door.  He didn't try to resist.

Together they walked through the halls, and Ilija kept his silence.  The council room sat next door to the King's chambers, only a few strides from her suite.  Without knocking, she pushed the door open and stepped in with Ilija at her heels.  Seated before her was Cillian Tor and Marcu Piet.

"Kaisae," Cillian greeted her warmly.  Lord Piet simply grunted, the noise dismissing her presence.

"Lord Piet," Ilija said, "it's typical to greet the Sergeant at Arms more politely than that."

"And you truly think that," he waved a hand at Sal, "is a true Sergeant at Arms?"

"Not only I, my lord, but most of the soldiers here do.  The Kaisae is more skilled than any man in Anglia that we know of, and our ranks have excelled because of her training.  The Ahnor as well.  I'm sorry you disagree, my lord."

Lord Piet glanced away in disgust.  Too many years thinking of women as inferior could not be erased so easily.  Sal knew it wasn't the man's fault.  He simply didn't know anything else. 

She claimed a chair beside Cillian and propped one foot on the seat, her knee bent against her chest.  Ilija placed himself at ease beside her.  The room waiting in an uneasy silence until Bjan Arvo arrived with the King right behind him.  When Dominik entered the room, they all stood respectfully.

"Please, be comfortable.  We're waiting on Otso again?" he asked as the councilors returned to their seats.

"Yep," Cillian said.  "He'll have a good excuse, I'm sure."

Dom nodded, flashing an understanding smile as he turned to his counter for a bottle.  "The usual?" he asked around the room, "And that's mead for you, Sal?"

"Yeah, thanks," she said.  "And I have something that doesn't truly require the full council."

"Go for it," Dom said, passing her the drink. 

Sal took a small sip and gestured behind her, "I want to promote Ilija Vayu here to at least Major.  Colonel would be my choice."

"What?" Ilija gasped, standing straighter.  "Kaisae?"

"Shut it, soldier," she teased, smiling over her shoulder to show him she wasn't offended.

"Ok, Sal.  Why?" Dom asked.

"He was the first to arrive at your side today, sire.  What you didn't know was that he was off duty and still organized the men in the barracks to secure the guards.  He put together the necessary information and acted on it without requiring a ranking officer's orders.  I can give you a few other examples of such actions.  He's the one responsible for pacifying the Terran envoy when they demanded your immediate attention last night.  I've reviewed his record, and it's glowing.  His superior actually sent it to me requesting a promotion, with a note saying that this man is too skilled for his rank."

"What rank are you, sir?" Cillian asked Ilija.

"Sergeant, sir," Ilija answered crisply.

"That's quite a jump, Sal," Dom told her.  "Can I ask why?"

"Yes, but I think that part will require Otso."

"Ah, so you have plans.  Ok, then sure, congratulations, Colonel Vayu," the King said, walking across the room to offer the soldier his hand.  Ilija said nothing, his eyes wide, and wasn't sure whether to kneel or shake the hand of the King.

Sal patted his hip from the chair beside him.  "Relax Ilija.  You outrank most of the army now."

"Yes, Kaisae, I'm rather aware of that.  Thank you!" he gasped, as the King pumped his arm up and down.

"Well, Colonel, what can I offer you then?" Dom asked, walking back to his personal bar, "Mead, brandy, or whiskey?"

Ilija glanced at Sal, refusing to commit until she nodded.  "Whiskey, sire, and thank you."

As they all offered the soldier their congratulations, Lord Otso Aulis slipped into the room, shuffling to his seat.  He opened his mouth to make an excuse when the King cut him off.

"I don't care, Otso.  But now that you're here, I'd like to hear why we just promoted Colonel Vayu."

Sal smiled at him wickedly, then turned to the councilors around her.  "I warned you all I had plans to restructure the military.  You do not have a single elite operations unit, and I intend to start one.  When it is operating efficiently, it's my hope that Colonel Vayu will be instrumental in the formation of more.  This first unit should be structured similarly to the Black Blades.  A collection of talents ranging from snipers to heavy arms men, all able to operate efficiently mounted or on foot, in the open, or in close quarters.  They should be highly trained and able to work without specific orders."

"Why?" Marcu Piet demanded.

"Because your king just had an attempt on his life, your guards suck, and I won't be here forever," Sal snapped back, before turning to the King.  "Your Majesty, the first elite unit should serve as the King's guards both in court and during times of war.  It's also my intention to train Colonel Vayu to my position.  We both know I'll be returning home eventually and, so far, he's the only officer I've seen with the intelligence, drive, and tactical knowledge to adequately command the military."

"That's my position!" Lord Piet cut in.

Beside her, Cillian sighed.  "We've been through this, Marcu.  It's not your position.  I don't think it's ever going to be your position.  Get over it and be happy you're still a Marquis."

"Would you be interested in this, Colonel Vayu?" Dominik asked the big man.

"Sire, I'd be honored.  I never thought of becoming the Sergeant at Arms, never in a million years, but I've always been a soldier." 

Sal knew she was giving the man a dream, but she thought he actually deserved it.  "Dom, when the physician was assisting you, I asked Ilija why he'd come to help.  I knew it was his day off.  He told me it's because he believes in you.  He's the only man in this army willing to stand up and tell me no – he changed his mind, mind you – but he was more than willing to stand behind his convictions.  I can't think of anyone more willing to give his life for yours, may there never be a need."

Dominik and Cillian nodded in agreement.  "What about you, Lord Aulis, are you ok with the idea of a new unit in the military?" the King asked.

"Sure, if you keep acting like this, we're going to need a lot more, and I'd rather have an Anglian leading our forces.  No offense to the Sergeant."

"Kaisae," Ilija corrected.

"Whatever," Otso muttered.

"And I suppose you're opposed, Lord Piet?" Dom asked.

"Not at all.  I'd like to have the Colonel here shadow the Kaisae.  The sooner he's trained to his position, the sooner she's no longer a thorn in my ass."

Sal and Ilija exchanged glances, but she shook her head at him slightly.  He nodded in understanding and said nothing.

"Ok, then that was easy.  Sal make the unit and train them.  Colonel, I agree with Lord Piet.  I'd like you to attend the primary meetings with us, if possible."

"I can make that possible," Sal said.  "Sorry, Ilija."

The big man shrugged, "I need to learn, Kaisae.  I'm at your disposal."