Tenacity (Rise of the Iliri Book 5) Read online

  Shaden just shook her head then pulled the shirt over her shift. Sal put back on her leather and scabbards as she talked.

  "Ok. We need to get you back to the camp. I can't guarantee that Terric won't come back here. One problem, though. There's men."

  Shaden's shoulders dropped slightly. "I'm ok, Kaisae."

  "Shaden," Meia said, stepping before the girl. "Sal's mates, Jase and Zep? They're safe, ok? To you, they may as well not even be men."

  "What do you mean?"

  "They're cessivi," Rayna said. "They'll only touch her."

  The redhead looked up at Sal, daring to hope. Sal nodded. "It's true. The man you tried to set on fire? That's my Taunor. He's worried about you - but he thinks of you as a daughter or a sister, nothing more."

  "I'm ok," the frail girl said again. It seemed to be her go-to answer.

  Sal met her eyes and held them. "Just tell me when you aren't."

  Chapter 2

  The group of women escorted the fragile girl up the stairs. When they reached the main room, Shaden paused, looking around. She took a shuddering breath and turned to the main door. That was the only sign of her nervousness before she led them outside. The strongest women in the country flanked her as mere guards, but when they passed through the doors, Shaden's facade of strength crumbled.

  Under the bright, grey sky, the girl had to use her hand as a shield. It was enough to let her see, but she stiffened at the sight of so many soldiers waiting in the street before the building.

  "The Black Blades," Sal said gently. "The men in black are mine. Just black, not the black and purple of Terric, ok?" When Shaden nodded, Sal moved to her side. "The big black-skinned man and the little pale one with blue eyes? They're my cessivi. The man with reddish hair? That's my Dernor - and our leader."

  Shaden turned to look at Sal, her pupil's constricted to slits. "Who is the one with iliri eyes?"

  Sal made no effort to hide her sharp teeth when she smiled. "Arctic, named for his cold eyes and calm personality." She pointed and named off the rest of them, Shaden watching each carefully.

  "And grey is different than black?" she asked, looking at the women beside her.

  "Yeah," Rayna said. "Different unit. They're the Black Blades. We're the Devil Dogs. White is yet another unit, the Verdant Shields."

  "You gonna link her?" Blaec called.

  "No," Sal said, leaving it at that. "She's riding with me. We need to find a bunk for her, too." Sal followed that with a thought to Blaec. Multiple rapes recently. She's got a hair trigger on her mind. I need her close so I can shut her down if I need to.

  Yeah. I can give you my tent and move in with your boys for a bit. Terric did this?

  No, the iliri. They used her to keep humans from their own kids.

  Across the distance, Blaec nodded. "Guys, can I bunk with you and give the ladies my place?"

  Zep winked at him deviously. "Yeah, LT. It's always a party at our place, man."

  Jase merely watched. Sal caught his eye, and he nodded. He had the girl's back.

  While Sal was talking to her mates, Rayna grabbed Arden and pulled her to the patio of the tavern so Sal could hop onto the mare's back. With Rayna's help, they pulled the girl up behind her then tucked a blanket across her legs to shield her from the cold breeze. When she was adjusted, the group headed back to the Anglian encampment. The women lagged at the back, Roo trotting along beside them. Shaden looked at everything around her with wide eyes.

  "It's nothing like I remember," she whispered.

  "No," Meia agreed, pulling beside them. "War has been here. Your town isn't the only one that got hit."

  "Their town," the girl grumbled under her breath.

  Meia shrugged. "Unav, in general, has been hit hard. We're still winning, though."

  "So what am I going to do?"

  Sal shrugged. "Anything you want, I suppose. You're free from that hell." She chuckled sadly. "It's time to start on the next one."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Nothing ever works out quite like you wish, Shaden. Never. You learn to make the most of what you have, and you keep hoping for better, but" Sal turned her head enough to see her. "It's life."

  "Yeah. So being Kaisae isn't that great?"

  Meia shook her head. "She doesn't get to sleep half the time, everyone yells at her - even if it's not her fault - and she lives in a tent." When Shaden looked confused, Meia waved her off. "It's not all bad, but it's sure not a fairy tale either. Our friends die, our families are a long way away, and we spend most days killing people."

  "Could I learn to do that?"

  "Maybe," Rayna said from the other side. "Problem is most of the army is made of human men and female grauori. Sure, hacking down the bad guys is nice, but before you can do that, you'd need to learn how to fight. That means hours standing around with a lot of guys. Can you do it? Sure. Do you want to, though?"

  "But what else would I do?"

  "Make things, train horses, teach children? There's so many options," Rayna pointed out.

  The girl was quiet, thinking about that when they rode into the camp. But Shaden clung to Sal a bit tighter when they passed the lines of soldiers. Men saluted at the sight of the elites, their fists pressed to their heart, but few lingered long enough to do more than acknowledge the strange face. When they passed through the line, Sal made her way to the back of camp, next to the Blade's cluster of tents, and halted.

  "Let go of my waist and I'll help you down, ok?"

  "K," Shaden said, releasing Sal.

  She swung her leg over Arden's neck and slid down her side, then turned, reaching up for the scrawny girl. "I'd say grab my shoulders, but by the time you reached them you'd be on the ground. Arden, stand. Just scoot forward into the saddle, then put your foot in the stirrup and step down like it's a ladder. I'll make sure you don't fall."

  Shaden tried, shuffling forward and kicking at the stirrup until she found it with her foot. Clinging to the mare's mane with both hands, she stood. Rayna pulled her horse around, hopped off, and grabbed the off-side to stabilize it, but said nothing. Sal reached up and guided the girl to the ground.

  "Now let me show you what we call home." Sal gestured to the dark tents. "We color code them like we do our armor. Makes it easier when you're staggering home drunk."

  Meia pointed out, "We're just next door. The group back here's nothing but good people. Swear to it. Men in black, grey, or white can be trusted."

  While they filled her in, they guided Shaden toward the fire, then encouraged her to sit and warm up. She didn't refuse the offer, but a fire wouldn't be all this girl needed. Sal looked her over.

  "She's bigger than me but too lean for Cyno's stuff. Either of you have something that might fit her?"

  "Teya will. That girl has more clothes than Prin, I swear. Lemme go borrow some. Shaden, have a favorite color?"

  She shook her head, overwhelmed.

  Sal knew the perfect distraction. "Roo, can you get her some food?"

  What type? Roo asked.

  "Same as for Zep," Sal said, pulling a chair next to the fire.

  At least the rain had stopped while they were inside, but the ground was muddy, and the tents all sagged against the added weight of the water. It didn't take long before Rhyx appeared, walking carefully on her hind legs, carrying a platter of meats and cheeses. Raast followed behind her with a large pitcher of clear water in one hand, a mug in the other.

  Raast spoke first. "Amma? Amma Roo said to bring supper."

  "Who's she?" Rhyx asked.

  "I'm Shaden. You're Roo's kids?" Thankfully the grauori didn't seem to bother her at all.

  Both pups nodded.

  Sal clarified, "And Black Blades, even if they don't wear much black. Not all of the grauori are, just these four."

  "Is that what the tattoo means?" Shaden asked, pointing to Sal's neck.

  "Yeah. We're pretty proud of it."

  "The other ones look like me." She gestured at the scrolling white
lines across Sal's body.

  "Got some," Rayna said jogging back. "Pants ok, Shaden, or you prefer skirts?"

  The girl shrugged.

  "Pants," Sal decided. "Harder to get into."

  "Ah, good point. Boots aren't as easy. Grabbed a spare of my own, so they're grey. But, check this out." She held up a wad of clothes wrapped in her arms. "Which one's LT's, Sal?"

  "Behind ya."

  "LT?" Shaden asked.

  "Blaec. He was a Lieutenant for many years. We got in the habit of calling him LT, the abbreviation for Lieutenant. It kinda stuck even though he's a general now."

  "Still think of him as a Major," Rayna said. "Sal, let's get her in something warmer. You may not feel cold like the rest of us, but that doesn't mean she can't."

  Together, they guided Shaden to the tent. The girl stopped before the door. "Where is he?"

  "Talking to the King,"Sal promised. "He already said you were welcome to his place and he's crashing with Jase and Zep. He's not coming."

  "K," she said, taking a deep breath before entering.

  Inside, the canvas tent was a real home. The bed was against one side, two chairs on the other. Traveling trunks and chests were stacked up to make tables or dressers. A lantern sat on the one next to the bed, a book laying face down beside to it. By the door, two saddle racks sat empty, bottles of oils and rags carefully stored beside them.

  "Wow," Shaden said looking around in awe. "This is amazing."

  Rayna chuckled. "Blaec's organized, I'll give him that. Where's your stuff, Sal?"

  "Mingled. No secrets in here, so don't worry about it, Ray. What clothes did you bring?"

  Rayna grinned and began to lay things out on the bed. "Blues, greens, pink - not really Shaden's color, but if she likes it, she's welcome. Um, and this one."

  She proudly spread out a pair of bronze pants with a matching shirt. Orange flames licked at the edges of the sleeves and around the throat, gold stitching accenting every seam.

  "Arctic said she tried to burn Zep. I thought it was fitting and Teya hates the brown tones. They're all yours, Shaden. A gift from a mutual friend."

  Shaden turned from the clothes to Rayna, clutching her hands close to her chest. "Mine?"

  Rayna nodded. "Yep. Make sure they fit. If they're too big, we can have someone take them up."

  "Roo," Sal said. "She sews and cooks."

  "That's better than my option. Tyr's the only one I know who can use a needle."

  "Tyr?" Sal asked. "Now that's shocking."

  Shaden felt the soft fabrics as if she was scared to truly touch them. "I'm filthy, though," she said.

  "With the mud, there's not a lot to do about that,"Rayna assured her. "Don't worry. This stuff will wash fine. Next time we stop, Pig promised a bathing tent. Sal, you wanna see if the boys will share and we can take the Blades' for the ladies?"

  "Yeah. Pretty sure the guys will be ok with that unless we find housing in town." Sal kept her eyes on the girl but kept talking, hoping the conversation would set her at ease. "Granted, we both know my guys will do their best to show off their tattoos."

  Rayna chuckled. "Nothing wrong with a little preening. Besides, I'm gonna get Cyno to draw me up one. A few of us keep talking about stealing your idea with the mark. The guys aren't so sure about the neck, though."

  As they chattered, Shaden slipped off her shift and began putting on the soft pants.

  Sal kept going. "The neck is an iliri thing. It's supposed to be the least likely place to be destroyed. Zep proved that wrong, but hey. He never has been a proper iliri, right?"

  "True," Rayna agreed. "But having been in a meld with all of you now, I know what you mean about him. He feels... well... like Jase. The Dogs feel like a soft couch or something, but yours all feel like teeth in my head. Zep's not human."

  "No. Especially not after Zaqala."

  "Yeah. That was fucked up. He still ok?"

  "He has some real bad nights." Sal smiled sadly. "He also has a thing about sunrises now. He's been counting, you know?"

  "Fuck. That has to be hard on a man."

  Sal nodded.

  "What happened?" Shaden asked softly, then snapped her mouth closed. "Is it wrong to ask?"

  "No," Sal assured her. "Zep tried to die on us a few months back. He took a sword for me."

  "Was it bad?"

  "Yeah." Sal sighed. "Jase and I held him from death until Raast started his body back up. That's how he became our cessivi."

  "You mean, like a real cessivi?"

  Turning to Shaden, they saw the girl's bare skin. Dark lines traced across it in a V, truly similar to the markings of the cat she'd compared herself to. Rayna glanced at Sal, but her only acknowledgment was that movement of her eyes.

  "I'm as human as it gets and I can see it. The three of them are like one. Scare one, the others appear from nowhere. What's on your back?" She asked like it was no big deal.

  "I don't know. They've always been there."

  "Can I see?" Rayna stepped closer.

  Shaden shrugged the shirt over her shoulders, exposing her upper back.

  Reaching, Rayna asked. "May I touch you?" Shaden looked at her, confused, so Rayna explained, "If you're part iliri, I always ask. I know how Sal is about touching. Feel free to say no."

  "It's ok. I've just never been asked before."

  Rayna gently traced the dark markings on her skin. "Sal, I think I know what this is."

  "Ok, don't keep us guessing."

  "Ever heard of chimerism? Happens in horses sometimes."

  "You mean like the brindles?" Sal asked.

  "Yeah. Same thing. Her hair's the same way, plus the two different colored eyes. Shaden, did you know your parents at all?"

  "Yeah." Her voice held no emotion.

  "One was human colored? The other pretty pale, right?"

  "How'd you know?"

  Rayna chuckled. "I'm pretty sure I'm right. Ok, get dressed and sit down. I'll explain it."

  Sal grabbed the chairs and pulled them closer then moved the pile of clothes to one end. While Rayna lit the lantern, Sal climbed on the bed and shoved the pillows around until they were comfortable. Shaden sat politely in the empty chair, watching them.

  Rayna dropped into the last seat. "Ok. Iliri and humans typically have children that are somewhere in between for the color, right? Like if Sal And Zep had a kid, it'd be Razor's color, maybe lighter. Doesn't always work like that, though. Sometimes the child is the color of one parent or the other. You've seen that, right?"

  Shaden nodded, listening intently.

  "So. You know there's two types of twins. Identical... and I can't remember the other."

  "Fraternal," Sal supplied.

  "Right. Chimerism is a pair of fraternal twins that grow into one person or thing. Does she smell odd?"

  Sal nodded. "Strong of both human and iliri."

  "Yeah. I bet I'm right. Dark lines are the more human twin. Light lines are the more iliri."

  "So explain her talent?"

  Rayna just laughed. "Nope. Can't. I can barely wrap my mind around the skills your men have, let alone yours, Sal."

  "I just get angry, and things get hot." Shaden shrugged, looking at them to make sure her answer was ok.

  "You have to see it?" Sal asked.

  She nodded.

  "Does it only happen when you want it to?" Rayna asked.

  "Kinda. I mean, if I get scared, or hurt, but I kinda want it to, ya know?"

  Sal nodded. "Oh, I know."

  A soft scratch came at the tent flap. "Sal?" It was Arctic.

  "Yeah?"

  "You need anything?"

  "We got clothes and food for her already," Sal answered through the canvas.

  "LT's gonna need gear and I've got saddles. You want to get these, or can I come in?"

  Sal looked at Shaden. "Your call."

  "I'm ok."

  "Come on in, Arctic. Flap's open."

  He ducked inside and dropped the first saddle on the rac
k then stepped back through. Sal heard him take the next from someone and return to set it on the second rack.

  "I can either take stuff over to, well, the other tent, or you can. We really have to figure out which of you claims which tent, Sal."

  She pointed. "Blaec's, and the boys."

  "Yeah. So, you want me to haul shit over there now, or have LT stop by?"

  "In all honesty, I have no idea what he wants. I can take it over. I'll want to kiss them good night anyways."

  Arctic chuckled. "Aw, what I wouldn't give to see that. Poor LT and his pride."

  Shaden stared at him while they talked. Arctic glanced at her and dropped his eyes almost immediately.

  "The bronze suits you," he said, then turned and walked back through the door.

  When Sal looked at Shaden, the girl was smiling. "I told you he's nice," Sal said.

  "He's not like the men I'm used to."

  "None of them are," Rayna assured her. "You can only watch so many of your friends die before you change what's important, you know?"

  "Have a lot of people died?"

  "Not recently," Sal assured her. "Zep tried, but we've been lucky enough to stop most of them. You know about healing, right?"

  "Yeah." Shaden nodded. "They used to do that to me. You know, after."

  Rayna reached over and rubbed her shoulder. "Kid, it gets better."

  "When do I stop being afraid of them?"

  Sal flopped back to rub at her face. "When you're stronger than them, I think. Not physically, but mentally. One day something just changes."

  "Go on, Sal," Rayna said.

  "I don't really know what more to say, Ray. I'm iliri. When I was a slave, I was mad, but not devastated."

  "Mmhm," Rayna teased gently. "How long between the time you were conscripted and when you touched a human?"

  Sal laughed. "Years."

  Rayna made a gesture as if that proved her point.

  Sal shrugged. "And that's if you count Zep as a human."

  "Nope. I don't." Rayna cocked her head, giving Sal an apologetic smile.

  Before she could answer, something brushed Sal's mind. It was a request. Pulling herself up, she asked, "Ray, you able to hang out with her for a bit?"

  "Yeah, what's up?"

  "I dunno. Blaec just wants me in for some strategy. I'm betting it's Syhar, again. We still don't know how to get through the gates."