Here She Rules: The Chronicles of Erla: Book 1 (36 page)

She pulled him into her arms and he laid his head on her chest, curved against her side. Cassie stroked his long, black hair and twisted it around her fingers. It was so thick and soft, and she loved to feel it against her skin.
 

She pulled Garen close to her with her other arm, luxuriating in the feel of their beautiful, nude bodies pressed close to hers.

“I shall have to make short work of the Ambrian King and his bastard brother so that I can come back to you quickly.” Both men moved restlessly at the mention of the impending battle. “Mika, Garen, you will both be strong for me and see to the others.” Mika was drowning in her sparkling eyes, which were nearly turquoise at that moment, and he clutched her tightly, willing tomorrow far from them and praying that this night would last forever—for he knew that tomorrow, he could lose his reason for living completely.

Cassie allowed herself to relax, enveloped in the arms of her men, and sleep soon followed.

XXII

Cassie’s men were returned to her early the next morning, and they all helped her dress for the coming battle. She wore a set of leather fighting clothes under the hated russet dress and cloak; the floor-length skirt and long sleeves disguised the clothing she wore beneath.
 

Cassie took a few moments and kissed each one of her men goodbye, and then she bid them to stay with the supply wagons and out of the way of danger. She presented each man with a small dagger to hide on his person for protection before she left them and headed for the main tent where the Kings and Nera waited.
 

Nall, Kara, and Lee stood outside the tent talking quietly in the early morning mist and turned to greet her as she approached and they all entered the tent.

Last minute details were discussed, and it was decided that the entire force would follow Cassie less than an hour after her departure.

“Cassandra, I am praying for your success today. Please have a care. I wish to see you alive and well when I arrive.” Nera leaned forward and kissed her cheek. Nyles and Darien followed suit, gravely placing chaste kisses on her cheek as they wished her good journey.
 

They accompanied her to her horse, and Nall stepped past Darien to help her mount as her skirts inhibited her movements. Nall’s strong hands gripped her waist, and she met his stormy eyes for a moment before he lifted her onto the saddle.
 

He never spoke a word—even when he raised her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles softly. Cassie leaned down and stroked his cheek tenderly before bidding them farewell and kicking her horse into a gallop.
 

She pushed all other thoughts from her mind as they thundered on towards Erla.

Darien’s men made very convincing Ambrian guards, and she had no doubt they would be admitted to the city and to the Palace. They arrived in Erla just past midday and were only questioned briefly by the guards at the city gates before being waved on towards the Palace.
 

Riding through the city was torture for Cassie when she saw how haggard the native Erlans were looking. Many of the women sported bruises and abrasions from scuffles with the Ambrians.
 

Recognition and hope flared within their eyes when they lit on her, but it was quickly snuffed out when they noted the guards surrounding her. When Cassie’s procession arrived at the Palace, a servant took the reins of the horses and Darien’s guards surrounded her as they ascended the steps. Once inside, they were accosted by a guard who asked their business.

“We bring Lord Sern his woman as he requested,” one of them said gruffly.
 

The guard leered at Cassie and pointed to Sern’s quarters. Cassie burned in fresh anger as she saw he had taken her apartment for his own. When they reached the door, one of the men knocked loudly, and it was opened by a female slave whose eyes widened when they rested upon Cassie.

“This is the woman Lord Sern requested,” he said. The slave nodded and backed away so that Cassie could enter, and the men melted into the hallway, waiting for the time when they would be needed.

“Well, well, it is about time! You have no idea how I have pined for you, my flower.” Sern’s hated voice sounded from the lounge area. Cassie looked over and saw him draped across a sofa, being fed by a slave girl.

“As I see,” Cassie muttered as she looked pointedly at the half-clad slave who fed him.

“Jealous, my flower? You needn’t be. None can hold a candle to you.” He laughed as he pushed the girl away and rose, beckoning Cassie to him.
 

Cassie obediently crossed to him, her right hand clutching a small sword which was hidden by her cloak.
 

“I have saved the best of myself for you. Have no fear.” The swine licked his lips as his eyes caressed her form, and his thick fingers pulled the tie to her cloak and let it fall.
 

Sern was momentarily confused by the sword in her hand. When his eyes met hers, he saw the look which had been in her eyes the first day he met her.
 

“What are you doing with a weapon?”

“What? Do you mean this?” she asked, waving it at him. “I intend to cut your black heart out with it, you filthy bastard,” Cassie said as she smiled sweetly at him.
 

Sern roared and lunged for her, but Cassie neatly sidestepped him. The slave girls huddled together across the room—both fear and hope were on their faces. Cassie reached up with her left hand and ripped the offending dress from her body. Her men had picked the seams loose the previous day for this very reason.
 

When Sern swung around, she was ready for him. He didn’t even bother to find a weapon. His smug self-confidence refused to accept her as a true threat.

“You will regret your foolishness, woman, when I beat the rebellion from you!” he sneered. He then leapt towards her, swiping at her head. Cassie simply laughed and easily dodged his blows.
 

Suddenly, she no longer wanted a swift end for the pig in front of her; she felt a growing need to see him suffer first. At his next lunge, she moved to an angle and snaked a foot up, catching him in the temple with a hook kick and Sern staggered, holding his head, looking at her in disbelief.

“You bitch! Stop this before I must kill you for your audacity!” Sern bellowed.
 

Cassie attacked. Holding her sword in her right hand, she threw a volley of kicks at him, knocking him farther back and causing blood to pour from his mouth and nose. He swung a reckless roundhouse at her, and she met it with her sword, slicing right through his bicep.
 

He looked at the gaping wound and then at her in astonishment. His eyes were swelling as he searched for a weapon, and finding none, he seized an empty Mull bottle and threw it at her head.
 

Cassie ducked and charged him, swinging the sword with swift, efficient grace. Cuts opened over his chest and arms—welling blood poured down his body. She drew back and sank the blade into his thigh, drawing a hoarse cry to emit from his lips.
 

Sern opened his mouth to call out for a guard, but she laid the flat of the blade sharply across his lips, splitting them.

“Do you cry out for help, mighty warrior? Or shall I call you what you truly are? Disgusting pig! Raping animal! Filthy son-of-a-whore!” She punctuated each word with a blow from her sword.

Sern knew he was fighting for his life, and he tried desperately to get his hands upon her, but she was too fast and too good with her feet and blade. He was covered in his own blood and it ran down his face, further obliterated the vision from his swelling eyelids. His breath came out in harsh gasps, and, seeing the red haze of blood, he knew death was close at hand.
 

In his arrogance, he had seriously underestimated the woman he had held, ignored the rumors of her abilities because she was a mere woman, and now he would pay for his foolishness with his life.
 

Cassie grew tired of the game and drew back the sword. Then, without further ado, she plunged it straight through his heart as her eyes locked with his. Sern’s body convulsed and stiffened before falling limp to the floor.
 

She wiped the blade on his clothing and turned towards the door as the slave girls squealed and ran to her, hugging her and thanking her over and over again. They had watched her dispatch the hated Ambrian and were overjoyed to have their Commander there.

“Oh, Mistress! Thank the gods you have come to save us!” they cried out in relief and laughter.

She pushed them back and told them to hide themselves as a battle was coming.

Cassie opened the door carefully, and seeing Darien’s men loitering about and talking, she nodded at them, easing the door closed. One of them told her softly that the King was in Nera’s apartments.
 

She moved silently down the hallway, followed by the Destian guards. At the door to Nera’s rooms, she paused and leaned her ear against the wood, listening for voices. When she heard nothing, she turned the handle slowly and looked inside.
 

Startled slaves looked up at her from their various tasks, and their eyes widened at recognizing Erla’s Commander. She motioned for them to be silent, and they mutely nodded. She caught the eye of a male slave and lifted her brow in question. He smiled delightedly as he obligingly tilted his head towards Nera’s bedchamber.
 

Cassie moved soundlessly to the door and eased it open. King Ston sat on a large chair while a slave girl knelt before him with her head moving up and down quickly on his erection. His head was thrown back and eyes squeezed shut as his large hand pressed on the back of her head, forcing her to take him deeply.

“Am I interrupting?” Cassie’s voice rang out. Ston’s eyes snapped open and he released the girl, who jumped up and turned to look at Cassie with relief in her eyes as she scurried quickly out of the room.

“What are you doing here dressed like that
and
with a weapon?” Ston thundered. “Does my brother not know how to keep his whores in line?” His lip curled into a sneer. “Come here and finish what that other one started, slut.”

“As attractive as that offer is, you pig, I am going to have to decline.” His eyes widened at her words. Cassie brandished the sword and returned his sneer.

“You impudent bitch! I believe I will fuck the resistance out of you before I kill you,” he snarled before grabbing up a sword. “Perhaps I will let my brother watch so he will know how to properly fuck a woman.”

“You know . . . I really hate to be the one to tell you this, but your pig of a brother lies dead by my hand.” Cassie grinned at the outrage and shock which lit Ston’s face as he moved closer. “Don’t worry, though. You can tell him all about it when you see him in Hell,” she calmly informed him. Cassie then parried a strong blow and hit his face like a slap with the flat of her blade as she twirled out of his reach.

“You bitch! I will rip your guts out with my bare hands!” Ston shouted, charging at her wildly.
 

Outside the room, Cassie heard screams and the clank of swords. Her reinforcements had arrived.
 

She turned her mind back to the man she was fighting. He was strong, but he had no finesse. She met a blow with her sword and front-kicked him in the gut, knocking the wind from him.

“All you are going to do is die for daring to touch my Queen, you worthless piece of shit. You will never underestimate a woman again.” Cassie kicked him to the ground as he stood, clutching his stomach. She sent a boot into his groin, smiling in satisfaction as he groaned in pain. She lifted her sword to end him when a hand grabbed her arm. Twirling around with her weapon raised, she met Nera’s violet eyes, Erlan warriors flanked her on all sides.

“This one is mine, Cassandra.” Cassie bowed and turned back to him, kicking his sword out of his grip and left him to her sovereign.
 

Nera leaned in towards him and whispered something into his ear which made his eyes bulge in fury before she stepped back and removed his head from his shoulders with one swing of her broadsword.
 

Cassie dropped the short sword she was carrying and scooped up Ston’s long, jewel-encrusted one. The women looked at each other and nodded before heading back into the thick of battle, which was currently being fought just outside of the Palace.

Outside, it was utter pandemonium. Slaves sought cover as the mixed army fought back the leaderless Ambrians. Nera and Cassie waded into the fight, slicing through their opponents. As Cassie dispatched a huge, ugly warrior, she felt someone at her back. Turning her head, she threw up a block, but found Darien grinning at her as he fought on. They stood back to back and took out wave after wave.

“Did you kill Ston and Sern?” Darien yelled over the din.

“I took out Sern, Nera beheaded Ston herself!” Cassie shouted back.

“I have an idea regarding how to end this a bit more quickly,” Darien said.

“Then, do it; there is no use in losing more of our warriors!” Cassie returned.
 

She looked at him, and he nodded—driving his sword through a man who stood in his way as he ran up the steps and into the Palace. Cassie turned her mind back to the fight.
 

Her arms were beginning to feel like lead weights, but she fought on. The combined forces were making short work of the Ambrians who, without a leader, lacked direction.
 

Pain lanced through her leg as a huge Ambrian warrior sunk his blade into her thigh while she fought another. Cassie swung around with her sword, trying to hold them both off while she reconnoitered—aware that the wound on her thigh was deep enough to be a problem if this didn’t end quickly. The two Ambrians nodded at each other and charged her simultaneously.
 

Cassie prepared herself for the assault, knowing that she was no match for them both; they were like Viking berserkers in their bloodlust. Suddenly, the strangest look covered the face of the man to her right, and he fell forward with a thud. Kara stood behind him, blood dripping from her sword.