Page 113 of Huntress

“There are a dozen adorably scrappy children living among our people today, thanks to the contribution of the woman your little village sent us seven years ago. Over half of them are being watched as potential recruits for the hunter clans. With the limitations on what a woman can provide to our programs within the confines of a single year, our program directors will be ecstatic to learn that a bright young male has signed on this time around.”

Neil’s face clouded over as Mordane spoke.

“It doesn’t stem from a ‘willingness to help’ when this arrangement was your required payment, and no food on this earth is good enough to be worth the sacrifice of leaving my home,” Neil ground out between clenched teeth. “I agreed to be your slave for the next year, please do not make light of what I gave up to be here.”

“Easy, son, I’m just the middleman in all of this. I don’t set the price, I don’t make the rules, and I don’t accept the contracts your own people negotiated. I merely enforce them. Trust me when I say this, though…” He steepled his fingers and leaned forward. “It is through my courtesy that you will receive the aforementioned comforts. With that in mind, perhaps you might wish to reevaluate the manner in which you speak to me for the remainder of your stay, hmm?”

Elsie pressed her lips together to stop herself from speaking out. She often forgot that her situation with Mordane was unique. That he handled her with kid gloves and practically let her get away with murder. The true Mordane, the general in charge of all militant operations of the hunter clans, was capable of destroying lives with a single word.

“Yes, sir.” Neil’s pride never wavered.

Roz arrived, and Mordane made the introductions.

“Come on, young man. You’ve got a whole week of health and genetics testing ahead of you.” Roz led Neil away.

“Do you need me for anything else?” Elsie asked after the pair left.

“Sit.” Mordane finally set his word puzzle aside. He waited for her to comply before continuing. “Angus Cornick’s influence within the colonies and the politics behind the hunter clans is equal to my own. In fact, I’m often convinced he holds more political power than I do. He is a driving force among the highest-ranking men in our organization, and I don’t think you have the slightest idea of how drastically the consequences of your threat against that man can throttle your future.”

Elsie’s face hardened. “He can’t do anything to me–”

“I assure you, young lady, he can. I made an agreement with your mother to keep an eye on you, and I have and will continue to honor that agreement. Cornick, however, is halfway convinced that making use of your reaper powers outweighs the danger of invoking the wrath of a death goddess,” Mordane said.

“I don’t have reaper powers.”

“I am well aware, but Cornick is adamant that given the opportunity to study your magic and the seal keeping it contained, he can rectify the problem. I have managed to block his attempts to acquire you for now, but the man is known for his dogged persistence, Elspeth.”

“Acquire me?!”

“You are one of us, and you have been since you accepted Albright’s offer of apprenticeship.”

“I was twelve!”

“I understand. And once that mother of yours remembers her obligation to you, you’ll abandon this place and your squad as if the past years have meant nothing. Cornick and his ilk will not honor our agreement in the same way. To them, you are Hunter Clan property, just like every other hunter or human in the organization. You have been bought and paid for with fourteen years of food, housing, education, and training,” Mordane explained.

“How long has he seen me as an asset?” Elsie’s hands were balled into fists at her sides. Her nerves were firing; the urge to hit something or run building under her skin.

“His first inquiry about you came when you were promoted to squad leader,” Mordane said. “You were the youngest in history to claim the achievement, it was bound to bring interest.

“A few years, then.” Elsie stood, paced the floor twice, then sat back down.

“As of now, I still retain control. You remain under my supervision until such a point that the men pulling the strings decide I am unfit to prevent you from becoming a threat.” Mordane looked her in the eye. “I’ve been told that I am too lenient on you, putting too much trust in a girl child with the potential to cause serious issues were she to turn against us.

In this case, putting up with me and obeying my orders is the lesser evil. I am expecting that you show more willingness to cooperate rather than the disrespect and insubordination you have been trending toward these days.” He sighed and propped his elbows on the desk, clasping his hands together.

“You’ve put me in a tough position, Miss Chantraine. I know you’d like to claim that it’s not your problem, but this time it is. For the next six weeks, your entire squad is on consecutive rotation. Starting today.”

“We just got back, I haven’t even had time to unpack or wash my gear.”

“And now you’re leaving. You’re still two men short, but I’m sure that pet of yours will make up for it. The mage will be given the choice to trade to a squad more conducive to her purpose among us, if she does not wish to participate. She’s here to learn, not to be run ragged.”

“Collective punishment? That’s your decision?”

“I find that applying negative pressure to the entire squad tends to keep the captains in line in the early stages of their rebellious phase. You’re not unique in your headstrong belief that you know better than everyone else. It’s a personality trait shared by those who make it to the top.” Mordane slapped a stack of three folders onto the desk.

“These are your first three missions. I’m sending your squad to the colonies for a while. Do not expect to return to the compound until these six weeks are up, and do not anticipate any downtime. One mission straight to the next. I’ll have new orders waiting for you when you finish these three. If you keep your head down and behave yourself, I’ll go a little easier on you when you’re finished.” He waited a moment, expecting a smart-ass rebuttal, but she stayed quiet for once.

“Well, go on then. You’ve got a tram to catch.”