9 AS

“I want you to court me proper.”

Marcus nearly choked on his drink. Looking up, he saw Hanna standing in the doorway of his study, braid pulled over her shoulder and toying with the end. Her blue eyes were looking up at him through her lashes.

Setting down his drink without looking, he continued to gaze at Hanna, who refused to look up directly at him. A moment later he sighed and waved her towards one of the chairs in the room, waiting for her to sit before moving to sit across from her.

“I thought you weren’t interested in a relationship? That was the impression I got when you brought your parents and from your interactions with your fellow mages.”

Hanna put her hands in her lap, watching them for a moment. As the silence lengthened, Marcus prepared to say something when she looked up at him, an intense look in those deep blue eyes.

“I didn’t. Then.” She paused for a breath. “I started talking to momma and some of the other girls in the dorm. Most girls my age are already married.”

Marcus sat quietly, content to let her work her way through her explanation.

“Momma tells me Daddy has been approached by a number of men, many who haven’t seen me since I joined the Academy. She even said a couple mages met with Daddy.” She made a face. “I don’t want anyone who won’t even talk to me first. If anything, I want someone I know and trust. That means you, Marcus.”

Sighing, he reached over to take one of her hands in his own. She looked down at their linked hands then back up at him, earnestness shining in her eyes. “Are you doing this because you want to or because you think you need to?”

Hanna held his gaze. “This is what I want. You’re my best friend. I know it isn’t something you’ve ever really talked to me about, and that you’ve fervently denied anything like this in the past, but I want to see if this will work.” Suddenly she smiled. “Besides, my elemental likes you. She practically sings when you’re around.”

Marcus blinked. Singing earth? That was a new one on him. Giving her hand a squeeze, he said, “If this is what you want… though I warn you, I have no idea what to do. I’ve lived most of my life here at the Academy. I don’t even remember my parents and there aren’t many opportunities to witness courtship rituals here.”

She gave him a slight giggle, seeming to relax. “I’m sure you’ll figure out something. Consider it a new project. One of the most important in your life.”

Standing, she leaned over to kiss the top of his head, her braid brushing his cheek. “I believe in you.” With that she released his hand and scampered through the door.

Several minutes later he was still sitting there, looking out the still opened door. A few students walking by had looked in briefly before continuing on.

Eventually, Typhonus waltzed into the room, slumping into the chair Hanna had earlier vacated. His best friend opened his mouth to say something, looked at Marcus, then seemed to change his mind. “Something on your mind, Marcus?”

Marcus looked at his friend, then leaned down and covered his face with his hands. “I’m doomed.”

Typhonus blinked, then asked for an explanation. His laughter at the end did not bode well.

***

“Our Khan will not like this.”

Bageera looked over at Theron, who nodded back. The two Panthras were tucked among the branches of a tree on the mountainside, shadows wrapped around them. In the near distance, a fortified encampment was nestled in a curve of the Silverspine Mountains.

“They sure have been busy since we were here last. How many guards were there last time?” Bageera watched as Theron raised six claws. “Right. Half a dozen. Now there are at least three times as many. Not to mention those lizard folk of theirs.”

Shaking his head, he tapped the trunk of the tree with his claw, careful to dull the sound. Getting into the compound would be easy enough, as would finding whoever was in charge of the place. The difficulty lay in the discreet nature of their Khan’s wishes. “Come. We need to think on this. There is a place for us to camp a few miles back.”

Bath Panthras leaped down to the forest floor, shadows absorbing the sounds. They flitted through the darkness, maintaining silence until they reached a cave. After a spell concealed the entrance, they headed inside.

A tiny dull mage globe popped into being, the light more than enough for someone used to working in the shadows. They sat chewing on trail jerky, each seemingly lost in thought.

Bageera leaned against the side of the cave, cleaning his teeth with a claw. “So what do you think? Avalanche?” He grimaced at the look Theron gave him. “Right, right. Not very discreet. Hmm…” He trailed off, watching Theron start cleaning some of his weapons.

Pulling out one of his combat daggers, Bageera continued, “It’s too bad we didn’t bring a Beast Caller. A nice stampede would clear out the place. “He started sharpening the blade with a slow, methodical stroke, his brown eyes gazing into the darkness at the back of the cave.

Theron put his weapons away, tapped the pack, then made a closed fist. Bageera nodded slowly. “You’re thinking of hitting their supply train? Less guards at first and maybe force them to divert from the encampment to escort their supplies, making it easier for us to infiltrate and find the leader?” At Theron’s nod, Bageera grinned.

“You are truly devious, my friend. The real question will be whether to kill the convoy guards. Now don’t make that face. I’ve never known a more squeamish assassin. Sorry. Espionage specialist. Considering you’re the better killed…” Bageera trailed off with a shrug.

“Well, we have time before we have to worry about that. No telling how often they get supplies. At least they don’t have a teleportation node there. That would have really complicated things.”

***

The two Lyonin snarled as they ripped into each other, claws and leather flying. They separated for a moment, golden eyes meeting each other. A slight grin came to the female’s lips and she dashed back in, claws flashing low.

Kubla shifted slightly, taking the hit on the hip, rather than between the legs. Turning with the blow, he unleashed a fierce backhand that caught the female upside the head. She turned the fall into a tumble, coming up into a stance, crouched low with claws forward, her braids whipping behind her.

Khan Kubla slid back, one paw raised pad forward. Straightening to his full height, he towered over the female, though she was by no means petite. She had a sleek musculature that tended towards speed over strength.

Not that she lacked strength. Hiding the pain from the deflected blow, he stared down at the female, who slowly straightened from her crouch, never breaking eye contact.

“Had that blow landed, it would have defeated the purpose of the ritual.”

She gave him a wicked grin. “All the more reason for using it. You would be forced to block. Wasn’t expecting the counter though. Nice move. Looks like your status as top clan fighter isn’t due to being Khan.”

Returning the grin, he set about removing the tatters of his protective leathers. Tossing aside the rags, he caught sight of the female’s nostrils flaring at his bare torso. Only his leggings remained roughly whole.

“Your skills are everything I’ve heard of as well. I’m satisfied in that regard.”

Eying him openly, she replied. “Oh, are you now? Then what happens next?” She cocked her hips to the side, resting one paw on the curve of her hips.

A low growl rumbled in his chest. “Now we test your other physical skills.”

Purrs soon filled the room, among other sounds.

***

The two Lyonin lay entwined amidst the shredded remains of their leather outfits. Kubla’s heavy breathing was the only sound. Suddenly his eyes snapped open and a paw lashed out, fastening on the wrist of the female, who crouched above him, claw extended toward his neck. They locked eyes for a moment before she grinned at him, fangs bared.

“Good, you’re awake.” She continued to grin, tugging lightly on her captive wrist. “You pass.”

Kubla snarled and tossed her arm away. “Uppity female.” He fought to keep a smile from his lips. Standing, he stretched to rid himself of kinked from their rutting. The entire time he could feel her hungry eyes on him. At least in that there was no problem of compatibility.

Seeing her content to lounge among the leathers, he took a set across from her. “Tell me your name.” At her raised eyebrow, he added, “I’ve met with a dozen females in the past few days. Names don’t matter until you matter.”

Giving her a level stare, he said, “Now you matter.”

Her grin never faded. “Sasha.”

“So Sasha, I’ve chosen you. We will announce it to the clan tonight.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that. I’ve had enough time with you to know you. You are strong, body and mind. Everything I want in a mate. There is no need for pointless ceremony. The clan will have enough of that for us.”

Sasha’s grin faded as she nodded. “Straight forward. As I expected of you. All business.” She stretched languidly for a moment. “Well, not all business. At least I know you’re not all work and seriousness.”

Kubla allowed his eyes to roam his mate’s form before returning to meet her eyes. Her golden gaze seemed to shimmer with an inner amusement tempered by intellect. She’d already proved fierce in combat and coupling. He looked forward to pushing that intellect to the brink as well.

“Now to business.” Kubla clapped and the doors to the room opened, admitting his bodyguards. Neither he nor Sasha made any effort to cover themselves. Good. Wasted time really, all that unnecessary modesty.

“Report. Did you place the bodies?”

“Yes, my Khan. We made sure to use weapons to resemble those used by the Shartha as well as their claws. Three bodies were left at the site, too mangled for identification other than that they were the dirt dwellers.”

Sasha leaned forward, looking to be intently listening.

Kubla grinned at his bodyguards. “Good. Get your findings to the smith. Let’s see if he does better this time around.”

Turning to Sasha, he said, “Time to catch you up.”

***

Brightheart gazed upon the forces placed under his command. Over a thousand soldiers and mages. No longer just members of the Guard, these men were trained for combat as an offensive force. This was the largest force assembled in the history of the Empire, and it was possible, in the history of mankind.

“Speaker, we’ve begun to enter the Valley. It should be only an hour or so before we reach the point where the Trelk is reported to reside.”

Brightheart looked over and smiled at Captain Travis. While the group had quite a few Captains, he was most familiar with Travis, the man having served in his guard detail since the founding of the Empire.

“That is fantastic news, my dear Captain. It seems we are making fantastic time.”

Captain Travis grinned. “The men are motivated. None of us have seen the other side of the Silverspine Mountains.”

“I share their curiosity. Once we have disposed of the abomination we will have free travel through the entire continent.” Brightheart clasped his hands together, broad smile on his lips. “Let us continue our trek.”

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The hike progressed without delays. The men were just forming into ranks when Brightheart caught his first sight of the monster. It roughly resembled an oak tree nearly fifty feet tall, gangly limbs spread in all directions.

“Who dares cross the Valley with weapons of war?” The voice echoed across the Valley, like the creaking of wood in the wind. Several branches shifted, as if the creature were loosening itself up.

Speaker Brightheart made his way to the front of the group, stepping between a trio of slavards with their mage handlers.

“The Empire of Man now controls the Valley. You are merely a relic of the past. One we intend to remove.”

The creature shifted again, leaves rustling. “There is no Empire of Man. The Majestix maintain the peace. They forbid all others.” There was a new timbre to the voice, one that seemed at once affronted and amused.

Brightheart smiled broadly, hands clasped together before him. “The Majestix are no more. They died with Central in The Sundering. As you will die here.”

Hollow laughter boomed across the Valley. “I am Ironbark. For over a thousand turnings of the seasons I have stood sentinel. No weapon of war has passed my watch in all that time. They will not pass now. Turn back now lest you join those foolish ones who dared to try.”

A rumble tumbled from the valley walls as vines erupted from the earth, skeletons entangled in their midst.

“Behold, little human, the bones of your ancestors, whose flesh has nourished these grounds.”

There was a shuffling among the men, leather creaking as nervous soldiers gripped hilts and bows. Brightheart turned from the monster to regard the men. “It’s only a trick, cheap theater meant to scare you. I will show you the folly of this creature.”

Turning to the mages, he ordered them to unleash the berserkers. A moment later the warcry of the slavards rang through the air and the lizards were tearing across the ground, blades gleaming in the sun.

Massive branches snapped down, clubbing aside the lizards. They went tumbling before slowly getting back to their feet. Another attack by the slavards was swatted aside. Nothing that big should be able to move that fast!

As the lizards staggered up for a third assault, Brightheart turned to the control mages. “It appears the lizards are ineffective against such a creature. A shame. Tell the other mages to unleash fire. I’ll have the Captains switch the men to flaming arrows. No matter what else, wood still burns.”

The mages nodded and turned away as Brightheart related the new orders to the soldiers. Moments later arrows and fireballs arced through the air, slamming into the creature, though it seemed able to sweep aside many of the attacks.

Brightheart noticed the crumbled bodies of the slavards right before they were engulfed in flames. Pity.

Ironbark’s voice boomed across the valley. “You think fire will save you? You know nothing of true fire!”

More vines erupted from the ground, these ones a mix of a dark brown and the other a sickly yellow. Those vines quickly ripped across the distance between the Trelk and the men, rushing past Brightheart, who looked on in dismay. Brown vines sprouted within the formations of confused soldiers, many of the men attacking the plants with their weapons.

Suddenly thick thorns sprang to life all along the vines, impaling dozens of men outright. Cries of pain and outrage filled the air.

Several of the vines reached out for the Speaker. The ruby on his ring flared, surrounding him in a circle of red light. Any plant entering the circle immediately withered away.

Frowning at the vines writhing outside the circle, Brightheart looked from brown to yellow, recognition tugging at his mind. His eyes widened. Turning to the mages, he watched one unleash a fireball at the vines.

“No, wait! It’s firevine!”

The world seemed to explode.

Flames raged everywhere. Men screamed and died as they were burned alive. Brightheart yelled for the mages to get everyone out. He felt searing heat flash up the side of his face just before everything went dark.

***

Brightheart awoke to the feeling of a cold compress on his face. The sound of groaning and crying filled his ears, with muddled voices fighting to be heard.

Struggling to sit up, he tried to open his eyes, only to feel a hand on his chest. His eyes opened enough to see one of the healers kneeling over him.

“Easy, Speaker. You’re out of danger, but you’ve still got severe burns along the side of your face. We were able to heal some of the damage, but you’ll have extensive scarring.”

Brightheart allowed himself to be pushed back down. “What happened while I was out?”

The healer sighed and sat down. “The entire valley is filled with vines, a woven bramble of firevine and whatever those brown ones with the thorns are. I mean filled. From mountainside to mountainside and over a hundred feet tall. Whatever those brown vies are, they don’t burn either.”

“And the men?”

“We have roughly a hundred still alive, almost all of them injured.”

Only a hundred out of a thousand? That was almost as painful as the burns had been. Not to mention having to tell the Emperor he’d failed.

Closing his eyes, he said, “Have Captain Travis begin preparations to return to the Capital.”

“Sorry sir, but we haven’t been able to find the Captain.”

Brightheart opened his eyes to stare at the sky. “I see. Find out who’s in charge and give them the same orders. It’s time to go home.”

***

Annamarie giggled, falling into Alaina’s arms as the two stumbled through the door into Alaina’s suite. The two managed to straighten before tumbling to the floor, their laughter growing for a moment as the door closed.

Alaina flung herself onto her lounger, her white silk dress settling around her like glistening snow. She stretched languidly, an amused smile on her lips, her eyes shimmering as brightly as the jewels woven into her hair. “I’d say that was a successful night of turning men to puddles.”

Annamarie settled into a comfortable chair, her black dress clinging tightly to her generous curves. Grinning across the room at her friend, she nodded. “That is most certainly was. I was certain that one elderly Speaker was going to trip over his tongue. It’s as if they’ve never seen a well-dressed woman.”

Sitting up enough to recline on her elbows, Alaina nodded. “That’s because they never do! Did you see those dowdy outfits their wives were wearing? It’s as if once they’re married they stopped caring about appearances.”

“They certainly look as if the most strenuous thing they do is lounge about their homes gossiping.” Annamarie frowned. “Not a fit body among the lot.”

A chuckle escaped from Alina. “Isn’t that the truth. I may not practice the bow anymore, but I keep myself in shape.” She ran her hands down her sides and hips, slowly sliding back down onto the lounger.

Annamarie giggled. “I can’t picture you as one of those plump matrons.”

“That won’t happen to either of us, my dear. We’re too vain.”

“Ha. Speak for yourself. I’m out on the practice grounds nearly every day. Need to keep the armsmen in line.”

“All those grunting, sweaty men staring at you. How do you handle it?”

Leaning back in her chair, Annamarie smiled. “Mostly by being able to beat any of them into the ground. That and they all know I’m completely devoted to Dallon. They wouldn’t dream of offending either of us.”

A look passed through Alaina’s eyes that Annamarie couldn’t quite decipher. Before she could enquire, her friend spoke up.

“Well, shall we discuss our findings for the evening?”

Deciding to ask more later, Annamarie let herself be diverted. “I think the most interesting piece of news is the proposal for actions against the Shartha. Seems they’re being blamed for some thefts and killings.”

Alaina sat back up. “There are those who have always been interested in the metals the Shartha trade to us. Some have been pushing for more direct control of those mines. Seems they’ve seized on this excuse to finally do something final. I wasn’t able to find out what they’ve got planned, but they’ve put Crighton in charge of it.”

Annamarie frowned. “That is a man who can’t do anything small or subtle. Do you think there is anything we can do about it?”

Alaina echoed her frown. “I’ll reach out to my contacts in the mages to find out more, but it seems like the project is already under way. Maybe we can delay it long enough to get a messenger to the Shartha Plains to warn them.”

Peaching up to tap her lips, Annamarie said, “Dallon mentioned that Ty was working on a way to contact the Majestix. If he’s managed that, the Majestix are much better positioned to warn the Shartha. Plus it wouldn’t expose a messenger to interception.”

“So we’ll both look into this further.” Alaina nodded to herself. “What else did we find out? There were some rumors of…”

The two traded gossip they’d managed to tease from the various men of influence who’d been at the gala. Most of it was confirmation of things they’d learned from other sources. None was as significant as the issue with the Shartha. The news from the Valley was interesting at least, though tempered by the number of lost souls.

“So Speaker Brightheart was badly burned? I wonder how that’s going to affect that smile he’s always carrying around?” Alaina frowned in thought. “Not that he needs to do any more recruiting. One way or another, every human settlement on this side of the Silverspine has been brought into the Empire.”

Annamarie grunted. “I’ve never liked that smile. Always seemed fake to me. Pity he wasn’t lost as well.”

Alaina’s frown turned to Annamarie. “Hundreds lost their lives. Even for one such as he, I wouldn’t wish more lives lost.”

Folding her arms across her chest, Annamarie shook her head. “I understand how you feel, but I disagree. Every man who died chose to be there. Chose to attack a target with over a millennia of experience and unknown capabilities. In Danatala we are more respectful to the Treefolk. They’ve been helping us fight the Giantkin since they were locked behind the Jeweled Gate.”

“Easy, my bloodthirsty friend.” Alaina raised a placating hand. “I know they chose their fates. It’s still sad to see so many lives lost to ignorance. I’m sure you even knew some of them from your husband’s time in the Guard and your own experiences training men.”

Annamarie turned her head aside for a moment before nodding and turning back. “Sorry. It still gets me upset at how people in the Empire view the other races. We have much more in common. Maybe it comes from how integrated things are in Dantala as a whole and the Gate specifically. I’ve seen firsthand Treefolk and Majestix fighting side by side with us against the giants. We’re too far from any real threats here. There hasn’t even been a portal invasion in this area of Ryode in centuries.”

Alaina sighed. “I know. And I agree with you. There aren’t nearly enough of us right now to change public opinion, but we will. We’ll set this Empire straight. One day they’ll accept all peoples.”

Rising from her chair, Annamarie crossed the room to enfold her friend in a huge. “We will change things. Together.”

Alaina returned the embrace, holding tightly.

“Together.”