“Let me make this very clear,” I said, turning to the rest of the commanding officers in the mess room. “Theft. Pillaging.Rape…” I let the last word dangle in the air, my eyes glowing a fierce shade of orange. “Will not be tolerated. You burn… You pillage… You hurt a single civilian in this war, in our march to Aedrialis, and I will turn you all to ash.”
A sigh escapedmy lips as I inhaled the leather, cedar, and grassy scent of hay. The stables were quiet when I stepped inside to inspect the herd of agrippa war horses. Eighty or so grazed on dying grass in the neighboring fields, makeshift pastures lined with branch fences. Another fifty were stalled. The unruly ones, I noted, as I strode down the aisle, most of them stomping, flattening their ears or snapping their teeth through the bars.
A handful of stallions, but mostly mares. Fierce and fearsome. I stopped at a particularly angry one, who charged the door as I stood near its bars. Part agrippa, part mountain horse, I realized, scanning her grey coat and the dappled spots on her flank. The whites of her eyes flashed through her dark gray forelock as she stared me down, the intent in her gaze more promise than threat. I allowed the burning orange to flash in my own…
I dare you.
She charged once more, fearless and wild.
A long whip sat next to her stall, and the burning in my eyes flashed. I picked it up, eyes sliding to the mare. Her rage simmered. I sent a kernel of Obscura into my hand and let the darkness devour the whip, falling into a little pile of ash on the stone floor.
I reached for the rope halter and lead before sliding the stall door open. The mare’s eyes widened, and she tensed, ready to charge. I willed my heart to calm, the long-forgotten thrill of training a fire-spirited agrippa returning to my veins. I held my ground as I slowly lifted my free hand to her, closing a fist. She blinked, remaining where she was, tense and angry.
I waited.
Ten bloody minutes.
My arm began to shake, my shoulder burning until finally,finallythe pigheaded mare took a tentative step forward and reached a velvety nose to my outstretched fist, close enough for her whisker to brush my knuckle. I dropped my arm and waited a moment as she heaved a sigh and began to lick and chew, shaking her head.
I stepped back, slowly sliding the stall door shut as I blew a sigh of my own. I jumped, turning to find Vulcan at the entrance of the stables.
“Aelius save me, Vulcan,” I breathed. “Elves and your fucking stealth. I nearly turned you to a pile of ash.”
Vulcan’s lips twitched. “These agrippa need work,” he murmured as I stepped toward him.
“That’s an understatement,” I scoffed.
“Lieutenant Einar says most of the forces here are either criminals or survivors from tribute towns. They hate Sultiran soldiers and anything that represents them, including the agrippa.”
My jaw tightened as I thought of the whip. “One of the many things that will need to change before we march on Aedrialis,” I murmured.
“Indeed,” Vulcan agreed.
His eyes slid to me, and I waited for him to chastise me for my actions from an hour ago. Word must have gotten out by now.
“I’ll be in the sparring ring when you’re ready,” he said before peeling away.
I leaped backward,slapping Vulcan’s forearm away, my boots sliding on the muddy ground as he threw a second jab, catching me in the ribs. I chucked my knee up as he advanced, knocking it aside with his thigh as he caught me in the ribs once more before throwing me to the ground.
Fast. They were sofuckingfast. I would never be able to match their speed. Vulcan pressed an ink-covered forearm against my throat, pushing the air out, before I finally tapped his shoulder twice. The ribbons of scars and splotchy ink that lined his face were healed and opaque.
“I’m sorry,” I said quietly.
His brows pinched for a moment. “For?”
I looked pointedly at the side of his ruined face.
Vulcan rolled his eyes. “You apologize too much. I’ve had worse injuries,” he murmured, standing and offering me a hand.
I reached for it, popping up to my feet and rubbing my ribs. “Astraeus is an asshole. So is Raek,” I said, adjusting my stance to prepare for his next advance.
“Raek was following orders,” Vulcan murmured, as he slid his foot against the mud, getting the best grip he could.
“You’re defending him after what he did on theHydra?” I asked.
Vulcan leaped to the side. I scooted around him, following the dance steps that had become as natural to me as riding.
“You would have done the same if someone had attacked Bayne the way I went at Astraeus,” he said as I parried his blows, flying around the muddy ring.
