Defiance (Rise of the Iliri Book 3) (25 page)

Sal giggled at the foolishness.  "Hand me up, Ilija."

"Fuck, Sal, I'm taking advantage of rank on this one," he said and lifted her into his arms.  The soldiers laughed heartily as he placed her gently on the table. 

Sal found herself grinning at him as all eyes turned to her.  "I'll let you keep your nuts intact this time, Ilija," she teased, "but I don't recommend anyone else try that."

The men laughed, and she could hear the tension.  One called out, "I hear the Ahnor gets that privilege!"

Sal nodded at him.  "Yeah, and only my Ahnor."  The men laughed again.  "Ok men, I'm not going to call you to attention for this, so grab a seat if you want."  A few did just that, but most began to pull in closer.

"A northern guard rode in today.  I'm not going to sugar coat this.  He said that Terric has taken an outpost and crossed into Anglia."  She paused for the murmurs she knew would come.  "There's roughly six thousand Terran soldiers riding down the mountains toward us.  They've been indiscriminately killing soldiers and civilians alike as they come.  We're lucky one man was able to make it here to let us know.  Sure, he may have killed my chances of making the most of this dress..."  She gestured to her gown and the men all laughed. 

One called out from the back, "Yeah, but we wouldn't have gotten to see it!" and more laughed.

"Fair 'nough," she replied.  "But it gets worse.  There's about a thousand men, most mounted, pushing hard for Dorton."  Sal saw heads nod, and grim faces, but oddly there was no fear.  "We're at war, men.  There's no more playing around.  Recruitment is now open, and I will assign officers from each division to handle applications and training.  I warn you, though.  This is no longer just a man's army."

"It hasn't been for a while now, Kaisae!" a voice called from the back.

"I'm glad you noticed."  She grinned in his direction.  "But I plan to allow women to join as well as men.  Do any of you doubt that a woman can hold her own in combat?" A few were already shaking their heads.  "If you do, ask the Colonel here.  No, not every woman who applies will be allowed.  I'm sorry, guys, your whores probably won't make the cut."  They chuckled.

"We begin mobilizing tomorrow.  I'll be taking forty-five units, and we'll ride at the King's side to protect Anglia.  Those of you who stay behind, I expect you to mount a full guard of Dorton.  We will be sending scouts out in all directions.  If Terric managed to sneak in from the north, who knows what else they're willing to try."

Sal looked over the men before her.  Many of them were young, and few of them had seen real combat, but they were all eager, and all were good soldiers.  She felt the responsibility for each of them weighing on her shoulders.  "Jase will call the list of units, and we will have a list placed..." Sal glanced around.

"Assignment board's over there, Kaisae," a soldier yelled out, pointing.

"Thanks.  I need to learn to come in the same door each time.  I'll have the list placed there.  I promise I'll have it written in Glish, too."  She got more chuckles from that.  "And, I do have some good news for you all.  Our King has generously offered to buy a few rounds for his men.  The royal cellars will begin rolling casks over any minute now, and all of you are welcome to as much as you'd like.  I warn you, though, there will be no sympathy for your sore heads in the morning.  You're free to come and go as you'd like, and all duties for the night are suspended.  The grauori have agreed to guard the King while you all celebrate."

They cheered.  The prospect of free alcohol was the way to every soldier's heart.  When the noise began to die down, she spoke again.  "Men, I have pushed you hard.  I came from the Conglomerate and expected to find backwards farmers with pitchforks and manure shovels.  Instead, I've found the best group of humans I've ever had the pleasure of working with.  I am proud of you all, and I can honestly say that I know why Anglia is revered across the continent.  You have made me proud to be your Kaisae, and I swear to you that I will not let you down.  I am not perfect – no officer is – but with you all at my back, we
will
win this war."

She looked at them, trying to remember their faces and the smiles they wore.  This was how she wanted to remember her soldiers, not twisted and bloody with death.  As she stood there, they began to kneel, all eyes looking up to her.

"Laetus, Kaisae," Ilija said softly, bowing his head to her.

The men behind him did the same, the words of respect sliding across the lips of every soldier crammed into the barracks.  "Laetus, Kaisae," they said together.

Sal's ears relaxed against her head in astonishment.  "Thank you," she whispered, the words meaning more to her than they ever had.

Chapter 27

Jase stepped on the table beside her, the list in his hands.  "B'fore I read this, I wanna tell ya all that Sal speaks fer us both, and I wanna thank ya all fer accepting us."

"Ok, then shut up and kiss her!" a man called from the second floor.  Others agreed, and one muttered, "We wanna see that it can be done." 

Jase turned to her solemnly.  "Cessivi, sae van corvae il ahvir," he said, then pulled her to him.  As the men began to cheer, he kissed her deeply, and Sal let him.  Like before, his hands slid down her waist until his fingers caught at the opening against her back.  Then he pulled her hips to his.  She melted into him, ending their kiss with a gentle bite on his lip and flicking her eyes to his.  Jase refused to look away.

"I see you've learned," she whispered, the rowdy noises around them drowning out her words.  He only nodded, so she turned to face her soldiers.  "And if any of you try that, I'll let him gut you."  Laughing, she hopped lightly to the floor, leaving Jase alone on the table.

"Listen up!" he yelled, and the men fell silent.  "Here's the list.  These're the units that'll begin mob'lization in the morning:  Archers, 1st, 7th, 23rd...."  As Jase called out the units scheduled to meet the Terran force, Sal grabbed Ilija.

"Thank you," she told him, looking up at his face.

He smiled at her softly.  "Hwa told me about it, and I wasn't sure I said it right, but we all mean it.  You've done good by us, Sal.  You've probably saved at least half their lives.  Remember that when it gets rough, ok?"

"I'll try.  First, I have to get to a council meeting.  Tell Jase to come to my office when he's done?"

"Yes, sir."  Ilija stepped back and saluted her, his fist over his heart in the Anglian style.  Sal nodded at him and turned for the door.

Roo, can you get me a link to Arctic?
she asked.

Yes.  I already touched him earlier, when you told the King, so he knows you'll need him.

Thanks, little one,
Sal said, waiting for the strange shift in her head that meant she'd been passed to a new link, staggering slightly when she finally felt it.

Sal!
Arctic greeted her.

Hey, man, nice to hear from you.  I have bad news, though.

Yeah, you usually don't send to me to tell me the good stuff.  What this time?

Terric's already in Anglia.  They're about two to three days from Dorton.

Fuck.  Ok, that's bad on a whole new level.  What's your plan?

I've got about a thousand in the first push, if the report is right.  Another six behind them.  The troops here are good enough, but we'll take heavy losses.  The King is not a fighter, so I've got complete control of the tactics.

High ground, Sal.  Are your men skirmishers or head on?
Arctic asked.

Anglia's always fought head on, but I've been drilling in alternate tactics.  The first group is mostly mounted, though.

Then go for wet ground.  It'll slow the horses.  You want your men on a hill to give the archers a better angle.  If you can, find open ground.  Every tree in your war zone means a shot missed.  Keep the archers tight, but multiple groups of them, and space the pikes out between them and the front line.  Use the cav for skirmishing, and break their push.

Ok, I got that.  Anything to be wary of?
she asked.

V formations.  They'll pierce a pike line easily.  If you see one, get the archers to focus fire on them.  Who do you have on the King?

Verdant Shields.  Yeah, I made an elite unit.  Eight men.  They aren't too bad either,
she said.

Ok, then have the King make a rush across the line but don't let him get greedy.  The men will need to see him engaging.  It'll raise the morale.

That's easy enough.  Dom's not too hyped about combat.  Ok, can I get Blaec from ya now?

Yeah, hang on,
Arctic told her, as she slid through the link.

I'm getting briefed, sweetness
, Blaec said, and Sal waited for him as she made her way through the palace.  When he spoke to her again, his mental voice sounded concerned. 
Three days, that's all you have?

Yeah.  We had a rider come in tonight.  He said they can't be too far behind him.  Otherwise we wouldn't have a clue.  They're coming through Gallicor, Blaec.

And Arctic gave you the basics for your tactics.  You know your men.  Put them where you need them and just trust your instincts.  You're good at this, Sal.

I'll try, love.  I'm a bit scared.  I've never done anything like this,
she admitted.

Just plan it like any op we've done before.  Your tactics are good.  There's nothing you can do about what you don't know, so just try to close all the holes you can.

I wish you were here, Blaec.  I just told the army, and Dom bought the alcohol for the celebration tonight.

Dom?
  Blaec sounded amused.

Yeah, the King.  Yes, we're on a first-name basis.  No, he won't try to touch me again.

Sal felt Blaec laughing in her head.
Well, I think that clears it up.  You think Anglia can hold out for a week or so?

Yeah, I'm pretty sure.  Why?

Because we're almost there.  I wanted to surprise you, but it sounds like you need a morale boost yourself.

Ayati, you're coming into Anglia?
Sal asked, shocked and happy.

Already here.  We're just south of Eriwald.  But I'm not taking Kaisae from you.

Why not?  I took the damned position just to get an alliance, and now I'm neck deep in this shit.  Blaec, I'm an assassin, not a leader!

Well, the rumors down here don't agree.  Sal, they're talking about the iliri who's changing the nation, and they aren't upset about it.  The populace is sure that because of you, Anglia will win the war.  I can't replace you.  The people won't take it.  I'll help you, but I think you did a bit too good of a job of charming them.

Sal laughed and knew Blaec would feel it across their link. 
Well, that's not a complaint I've had before.  Things are different here.  They have no hate for us.  I haven't heard the term scrubber used since the Terran assassination attempt.  Oh! I almost forgot!

Well?  Spill it, don't keep me waiting.

You know how we all talk about wishing we could grow old and become grouchy together instead of dying in battle?

Yeah,
he thought,
but only Zep and I aren't conscripts.

Well, the King of Anglia offered it to us tonight.  He's serious, too.  I didn't accept, but I thought you should know.  He's offered freedom for all iliri and said he'll gladly welcome the Blades if we chose to defect, granting us equal rank in the army here.

Damn,
Blaec said. 
I don't know how I feel about that.  I mean, that's one tempting offer.

It is.
Sal agreed. 
Don't tell the men yet.  I haven't told Jase, either.  I just thought it's something you should know.  Either way, we still have an army out to kill us, and there are some things about home that I miss, but freedom is a very tempting offer.

First,
Blaec decided,
let's kick the shit out of Terric, and talk about long term plans later.  With all of us up here, it does make it something we have to consider.  I'll run it past Arctic.

Good call.  Ok, I have a council meeting to attend.  Ride fast, love?

I will, my dear.  Stay safe for me?
Blaec begged her.

Always.

As the link closed, Sal closed her eyes and tried to relax.  Eriwald was just under a week away.  Five days if they pushed hard.  Knowing she had her brothers so close made this a little easier.  Sal took a deep breath and opened the door to her office.  Inside, a pile of maps lay strewn across her desk and the councilors were grilling the northern guard.  The poor man gaped at them, his eyes wide.

"My Lords," Sal said, as the nobles turned to her.  "Step away from my soldier.  This man just risked his life for Anglia.  Show him some respect, or get out of my office.  We're at war."