BloodLust (Rise of the Iliri Book 1) (15 page)

Chapter 18

News of an upcoming mission caught the interest of the men.  They turned expectantly.

"This is not going to be our usual, guys, and I'm sorry," LT said.  "We have to cause a breach in the border so the main army can push into Escea.  I have a handful of assassinations that need to be well timed, and quick enough that word won't spread to give the next target the chance to seclude himself.  Four politicians and at least three officers – more have been requested – need to be removed.  Cyno, Shift, Arctic, and Sal, I will be relying upon you for the assassinations of the politicians."

"Think Sal's ready for it?" Zep asked.

"I don't know.  Are you, Sal?"

"Well, I have a few tricks up my sleeve," she said, "and if you're worried about me killing a man, don't be."

"Have ya killed a man b'fore?" Cyno asked quietly.

Sal turned and met his eyes.  "It's not legal for a slave to act on her employers."

"So ya never had blood on yer hands, then."  He nodded without judgment.

The men accepted that as nothing more than fact.  None of them seemed to think less of her for it.  She looked from one face to the other, trying to find the catch.

"So, Sal," LT said, bringing her attention to him, "tell them what you learned during your preparation for our last trial?"

"I seem to have discovered my own ability."  She shrugged.  "And the Lieutenant thinks it will be very useful."

"Go on," Risk encouraged.

"If I concentrate, I can change my appearance."

"How much concentration and how big of a change?" Zep asked.

"A few minutes of focusing, and well," she smiled, "I learned that it's not as easy as I thought to piss while standing, if that's big enough for you?"

"Oh!" LT choked out.  "You didn't tell me you could change genders too!"

"It didn't seem appropriate at the time, sir."

"Is it just me," Shift spoke up, "or does anyone else feel like there's something they know that we don't?"

The other men chuckled and agreed.

"I put the Lieutenant in an awkward situation, you see," Sal explained.  "When practicing, I found that few of my disguises wear the same size I normally do.  LT caught me with my clothes off.  Once I explained about my ability, he understood, but," she couldn't stifle the giggle, "he does blush a very nice shade of red."

LT's thoughts shot into her mind,
Thank you for embarrassing me.  Shift's right, you really are a demon!

Remembering being told that Arctic could listen in on anything that passed through one of his mental links, Sal kept her reply as cryptic. 
I never said I wouldn't poke fun at you, did I?

The Blades were giving LT grief about his perverse ways and sneaking into a woman's room, so Sal decided she should step in and help.  "Guys, it was just awkward timing.  Don't be jealous, I'm sure all of you will get to see me undressed at some point."

"K," Cyno broke in, sounding unimpressed.  "Sal, let's see this new trick of yers... without shedding yer clothes if possible?  I dunno how many of these boys could take it."

She concentrated, thinking about turning herself as black as her uniform.  Without a mirror, all she could do was focus on the tingling feeling crawling across her skin, mentally tracing the progression from her head to her feet.  When it stopped, she glanced at her hands, finding they were pure ebony, the skin a matte leather color.

The Blades stared in silent fascination.  Cyno walked around her as though inspecting a new horse for flaws. 

"Smile?"  he asked, and she complied.  "That's an impressive shift.  Even yer insides look black."  He appeared fascinated.  "Can ya become me?"

"No.  Sadly, it seems I can't make an exact copy."  Sal released her hold on the mental image and felt the color fade.  "I can look like a sibling or from the same family, but I just can't quite master all the details of a person.  Not enough to pass for him or her."

Cyno nodded.  "LT, I get the first run with her.  If yer sending her in for assassinations, I wanna make sure she can do more than just play a part."

"No."  The Lieutenant shook his head.  "I need her riding, first.  You can have her for two hours each evening, if you want, but more than anything else, we need her on a horse."

Cyno nodded, but he didn't like it.

"She rode Boo in the trials, you know," Shift said.  "Maybe we should put her up on him?  He's quiet enough when he wants to be, and I'm not sure how far along her mare is, yet."

"Speaking of horses," Razor broke in, "that kid that helped you out, Sal, how do you know him?"

"He works in the barns.  Some stablehand accused me of being in the wrong place a few days ago – sorry, LT, I threw your name around – and the kid stepped up to apologize.  Why?"

Cyno glanced to the Lieutenant.  "I touched him this morning.  LT, he's in awe of the Blades.  He's also a little bit in love with Sal, but only 'cause she's a Black Blade who spoke ta him.  Razor and I talked 'bout it on our way back."

Razor added, "I want to put him on our horses and make him our head groom.  It'd save a lot of problems and prevent anyone from harming the horses to show how much they hate iliri."

"Let Sal tell him," Zep suggested.

The Lieutenant nodded.  "Agreed.  The kid jumped into a fray to help her out, the least she can do is tell him about his promotion.  Ok, Zep, you check on Sal's mare's training, Razor, you get the kid assigned and see if you can get all of our horses moved into the same barn.  The closer to this building, the better.  Sal, you get your ass up on Boo.  Shift, would you do me the favor of putting Scorch up?"

The men agreed and turned to their tasks.  Before they left the arena, LT called out to them, "Guys, when you're done there, stop by my room and get the files from my desk.  Start doing some intel on them and we'll meet up at lunch.  Sal's going to be barely able to stand by then, so grab our room if you would?"

"Can do boss," Shift said, and the others mumbled their ascent. 

Once they were alone in the arena, the Lieutenant's demeanor softened.  "Let's get you up on this gelding and show you how to ride.  And no making me blush while we do this."

"I can't promise that!"  She laughed but walked over to the blood bay and tossed the reins over his neck.

"How much experience do you have with horses, Sal?" LT asked.  "You move around them like a natural."

"I worked here for over a year.  I've only ridden a handful of times in my life and, except for Boo, never a real battle trained horse, sir."

"It's just us, Sal.  I'm Blaec to you.  I hope that with us being alone, you can relax.  I mean, I've seen you naked already, how much more embarrassing can it be, right?"

"Well, I've seen you naked but it's not quite true the other way around, you know."

"I have a good imagination.  Now get on the horse."

She laughed, then tried to reach her foot into a stirrup that hung level with her throat.  Her short leg could almost touch it but she couldn't stretch high enough to bear her weight.  "So, now what?" she asked, annoyed.  "I can't go growing longer legs each time I need on a horse!"

Smothering a laugh, Blaec stepped in close behind her.  "Put your left hand here."  He moved her hand to the base of the horse's neck.  "And grab the mane.  Can you reach?"

"Yeah."  She clasped a fistful of the horse's hair in her hand.

"Ok, now, what you need to do is swing your outside leg back, pull down on that hand, and use your foot like a pendulum to throw your body over the horse's back."

She looked at him with a confused expression.  "What?"

"Let me show you." He guided her over a step and took her place.  "Like this."

Blaec stepped forward with his left, then swung his right leg hard.  His body followed it up and into the saddle.  "Think you can try that?"

"Trying is all I promise.  Ok, move."

Blaec slid off and stood to the side.  She grabbed a larger handful of mane this time while Boo stood quietly.  With one huge step forward, she tried to throw her weight through her outside leg, over the saddle, and felt her knee collide with the gelding's ribs.  Laughing, she patted the horse on the shoulder and tried again.  On the fifth attempt, she hooked her ankle over the saddle and wiggled her way onto the horse's back.

"Again.  You have to get all the way up.  We'll do this every day until you can mount any horse without effort.  And Sal?  You realize your mare is taller, right?"

"Seriously?  Why did I choose that horse?"

"Because she's the best animal this farm had to offer for a recruit?"  Blaec smirked at her.  "It just took me a bit to figure out how to hide her pretty color, because some idiot would have chosen her for that.  So, stop talking and get on your horse, girl."

Again and again, she flung herself at the horse's side, until her muscles would barely lift her.  Only then did Blaec let her rest.  "There's water at the side rail.  Get a drink and shake out your aches.  I'm going to see how this guy goes, then we'll let you do more than jump at the horses."

The Lieutenant swung up, clicked at the gelding, and Boo moved out easily.  He passed through walk, trot, and into canter, then half passed, changed leads, and transitioned down into an extended trot.  When LT exhaled, the gelding halted square, relaxed but ready to move with a shift in the rider's weight.

"There's no way I can learn all of that in a couple of weeks!" Sal yelled across the arena.

"You're not supposed to.  I just need you to sit the gaits.  We'll teach you the rest later."

"Why is it so important to be such a fancy rider?  None of the other outfits stress it as much."  She hated feeling so far behind in a skill she might need to support her brothers in arms.

"Well, tell me, can you see a use for this?"  He drew his sword and squeezed the horse up.  Boo half passed while Blaec pointed his weapon in the direction of travel.  "Or this?" and he mocked a parry while asking the horse to rein back.  "And of course there's this."  With a look of concentration, he brought the horse into a collected canter and gave an imperceptible aid.  Boo leapt from the ground, kicking out behind him.

"It's combat maneuvers, Sal," he said, riding up to her.  "The more you can handle, the more you can, well... handle in the field.  Don't worry, all you need for now is the basics."

He slid off the horse and gestured to her.  Knowing this was more than just parlor tricks, Sal put more effort into it and concentrated as she swung herself into the saddle.  This time she made it – although it still wasn't pretty.

"Not bad," he said, resting his hand on her thigh.  "Ok, now I want you to just walk him around the wall of the arena.  Keep yourself far enough off the rail that you don't catch your feet on the wall, and we'll start adjusting your seat."

She smiled down at him, her eyes moving to his familiar touch on her leg.  "You'd better pay more attention to your mannerisms in public, Blaec."  She squeezed the horse into a walk.

He blushed again.  It seemed she had that effect on him. 

As she steered the horse around the rail, he called out corrections, most of which revolved around relaxing her body and keeping her heels down.  She finally began to get the feel for it, and Boo bent into the bridle. 

A voice broke into both of their heads with a click. 
LT, let the girl eat.  We've been waiting for 30 minutes already.  She's got to be about to fall apart.  Sal, you're allowed to remind him about the time,
Arctic chided.

"Ok," Blaec laughed.  "That means we're good for now.  After lunch, we'll see how you do on your mare if Zep thinks she's ready.  Come over here and dismount."
I'm calling the lesson now and giving her another hour of lunch.  Are you happy, Arctic?

Yep, now c'mon.  We ordered some real food in here.

Sal rode up next to him, giggling from having heard it all.  Blaec grabbed the gelding's reins while she slid off.  Her exhausted legs hit the ground and buckled.  Sal reached for the stirrup, but Blaec caught her, preventing her from falling.  Braced her against his body, she relaxed her head, letting it fall back on his chest.  His heart was pounding against her.