Bane of the Wild Hunt (Heart of the Tithriall #2)

5. THE EXTENSION OF MY SOUL

Chapter five

THE EXTENSION OF MY SOUL

Orion

R iordan moved at a brisk pace, his long strides eating up every hallway within the Archigeío building at Ergastiri. The college functioned primarily as a school for training new cadets, but it was also the hub of military command and the place Riordan and I had always felt most at home. But it had been almost twenty years since I set foot inside this command building since Ktínos were banned again as soon as Riordan was gone.

Nice speech, I thought to him.

I wanted to make the new direction of our people clear before both Imítheos and Ktínos together, he responded.

Not that I expected it would make much difference for the Imítheos.

And what exactly are you hoping to accomplish with this impromptu meeting?

They already had a warning that I was coming home, Riordan pointed out. I did not wish to give them any more opportunity to discuss their strategy for managing me, now that they know my intentions. At least not before I got them here to interrogate them properly.

Ah. So you plan to antagonize them first, I teased.

I am going to weed out the ones who do not belong in command and strengthen our defensive position.

Despite a spike of concern for his intention to rattle the Imítheos authority so quickly, I couldn’t help smiling at the thought of how many griffins he was about to dismiss.

We reached the war room which was at the centre of the Archigeío. The most secure and secretive place in all of Ergastiri and probably in all of the city-states.

Or at least it had been.

The double doors were thrown wide open with just one guard posted outside whilst innumerable servants scurried around in a panic to tidy the room. And not the usual war room attendants who were carefully vetted and selected. These were ordinary servants who usually attended to the dorm rooms and mess hall. Civilians. There were civilians inside the war room with the war table and all the maps with our kingdom’s defensive secrets on full display.

The servants froze and stared as we arrived because even they knew they were not supposed to be in there.

I felt Riordan’s fury spike, but he took a pause before finally addressing them.

“Thank you,” Riordan dismissed them calmly instead of reprimanding them.

I was genuinely impressed by his restraint. This was a major potential breach of security when the situation with the Wild Hunt was so uncertain. The incompetence of the new leadership was beyond disappointing if keeping the war room secure was no longer common sense.

It is. Which is how I know I am being baited into losing my composure in front of everyone and proving I am unfit to be their king, Riordan assured me. He had waited for the servants to leave the room before he strode across the floor toward the war table.

I was astonished to realize he might be right. My skiá was well known for his impulsive and temperamental way of getting things done. He had good instincts and trusted himself to make decisions, so he rarely asked permission, explained himself, or sought advice. But he also had no patience for ineptitude, laziness, or entitlement, and his methods for dealing with it were wholly indiscriminate. The Queen’s Council had even been petitioned to demote my skiá for punishing an Imítheos cadet with kitchen duty for disrespecting campus staff. The same punishment that had always been given to Ktínos was far too humiliating to be applied to an Imítheos. Riordan’s cousin, Nikos, who had championed the petition, claimed Riordan was nothing but a hotheaded bully who was abusing students. He was unfit to be a general.

Luckily, my skiá’s effectiveness was unquestionable, and Nikos failed in his attempts to oust him. But it made sense that someone might try to provoke his temper now in an effort to undermine him in front of his war cabinet.

I watched Riordan lean over the massive war table while his eyes tracked across the map and every pawn placed upon it. I saw that familiar look of confusion and disappointment on his face as he absorbed the information with a keenness I’d always envied. The man was brilliant when it came to processing information quickly. With just a single glance, Riordan could produce an entire battle strategy complete with an outline of the enemy strengths and weaknesses, terrain barriers and advantages, gaps in defenses, and even loss predictions. It was perhaps his most impressive talent, aside from his ability to inspire unfailing loyalty in the warriors around him.

“How bad is it?” I asked aloud as Iris and Theo moved around the table to look as well. They had been barred from this room the same as I was twenty years ago.

“It is no wonder the fey have been able to avoid being captured during their incursions. Who the fuck thought it was a good idea to unman most of the quadrant towers Riordan erected?” Iris asked as she leaned across the table to tap her finger on several different locations.

“That was Nikos,” said another voice.

Iris and Theo both stood up quickly as Dio Matthias, the Commander of Erétria, entered the war room with his loyal skiá , Hermes, right behind him. Their female mate had been killed in battle long ago, but the two males had been together for centuries. Dio and Hermes were two of only a select few Imítheos whose company I enjoyed.

“And why was my cousin’s opinion on matters of war and defense heeded when he still has not studied even a year at Ergastiri?” Riordan wanted to know.

“Ah,” said Dio, his weathered face wrinkling into a genuine smile. “I have missed you , my boy.”

Riordan seemed to let it go, straightening with a smile to approach the older male so Dio could grab him into a hug before the other Imítheos could arrive and judge.

“I have missed you too,” Riordan said as they parted, offering another smile to Hermes who had gripped his shoulder affectionately.

“I hear you returned with a mate?” Dio verified.

“Her name is Amira, and she has not yet accepted me. She wished to get to know my home and my people first,” Riordan confided.

“Ah, then I shall appreciate her good sense as well,” Dio teased him with a smirk at me that made me want to roll my eyes in response.

“I am not sure that all of our people will make the best impression on her,” Hermes pointed out.

“All the more reason for her to be sure of her choice,” Riordan answered, but for the first time, I was astonished to feel a spike of vulnerability in him.

I’d never known Riordan to be uncertain of himself, and yet he was suddenly so anxious that it was hard even for me to breathe. Not because he regretted or doubted his own choice, as I hoped he would, but because she might not choose him. He worried he was not worthy of her .

And it made me hate her even more.

“Indeed. Life for a witch will not be easy in Kórinthos. Are you sure of your desire?” Dio asked.

“I am. You will understand when you meet her.”

“I always knew you would choose well. I look forward to meeting her,” Dio assured him, lowering his voice a little as several griffins filed through the door behind him. “Now, good luck. I am glad to have you back.”

Riordan smiled in response, but I could already see his stoicism stealing back over his features as the chamber began to fill, and he prepared for what came next.

I watched everyone, sinking back into my proud role as my friend’s living shield with great zeal as I protected his back. Everyone, even the new captains, still knew not to try and walk behind him, and I was rather pleased that my effectiveness had made such an impression.

I could almost forget that nothing would ever be the same now that he’d returned with the witch.

The newest of the Imítheos captains, who all had to know that their unearned ranks were on the line today, merely nodded at the king. None of them were brave enough to blatantly ignore him, but only some deigned to verbalize their greeting. A few Imítheos who Riordan had served with and promoted, like Dio, grasped hands with him and seemed genuinely glad to have him back.

In contrast, my people were so enthusiastic to see him that I had to intercept several who might have tackled him to the floor if I’d let them. I knew all of them had been gradually demoted in the years since he elevated them. They were glad to have him back, but they were also happy to be back in this room, in this place where he had given us the space to be respected and esteemed.

I was watching everyone, both the griffins inside the room and the ones still arriving, so I saw Nikos entering the chamber before Riordan noticed him.

I’d never liked Nikos right from the first time we met when we were mere fledglings with tufts of down feathers still visible in our wings. I was no better than an orphan thanks to a violent father and an alcoholic whore mother, and there was nowhere for children like me to go. I only survived because of my brother and because I was willing to fight for it tooth and nail. I was willing to risk robbing a trio of Imítheos children who thought they could sneak into the Rookery. Nikos wanted to take my hand as a punishment, but Riordan had given me all the coins in his purse instead while Rhea watched in deep uncertainty.

Riordan had remembered me the moment we met face-to-face in Ergastiri, and perhaps that was why I had given him such a hard time. He was a reminder of where I’d come from, the shame and anguish of my past that I had managed to put behind me after I got into the military. Nikos had never recognized me as the child who tried to rob them, and I preferred it that way.

My utter distaste for Riordan’s cousin had not lessened since the last time I saw him when he came to personally demote me as the chief advisor to the general. I’d been confined to my cot, still healing from being wounded in the battle that killed Riordan’s brother. That was the only reason my foolish skiá had been able to sneak away without me to get revenge on the blood witch who was responsible. I had been so consumed in guilt and anguish, knowing that he was trapped in Uile Breithà, that the demotion barely stung me at the time. But it was only thanks to Dio that I wasn’t severely punished for letting our new king go off and get himself cursed.

Nikos sneaking by on your left , I warned, and a ripple of disgust came back from my skiá as he turned his head.

“Cousin,” Riordan called rather loudly, and I could not help smirking when so many people turned to look with bated breath. The animosity between the two males was known in both court and army. “I am surprised to see you. I always thought that you preferred politics to war.”

Nikos managed his composure well, although I knew he was irate that attention had been drawn to him for attempting to sneak by the king.

“I do. But the two are intimately intertwined, Riordan, as we have discussed often before,” Nikos pointed out.

“Indeed. I look forward to hearing your input today,” Riordan advised him. Nikos bowed quickly and rather deeply but probably only to conceal his expression.

Useless, snivelling cunt, I thought as he walked away.

Riordan cast an exasperated glance at me over his shoulder that reminded me how much he disliked it when I cursed so colourfully in his head. I shrugged a shoulder in apology even as my brows rose in an invitation for him to disagree. Which he declined to do with a suppressed grin before redirecting his attention forward.

The room was filled far beyond its usual capacity once everyone had arrived, and there was a very notable divide between the Ktínos on the left and Imítheos on the right. It also did not escape my notice that the Imítheos who had served with Riordan stood as a buffer between my people and their own. Most of them were even shaking hands with the Ktínos and seemed happy to have us back.

“Thank you for coming so promptly,” Riordan called, effortlessly bringing the loud, overcrowded room to heel. “I do apologize for the unexpected meeting, but I feel that our kingdom’s security is a matter of some urgency.”

I watched my half of the room, tracking every shifting step and disgruntled frown. I noted every pair of arms that were crossed and glances that were cast, and I relayed it back to Riordan. Both of us were perceptive on our own, but it was impossible to see everything . So we’d learned to map more of the room more quickly together. I took half while he took the other, sharing our snap judgements and impressions so instantly we were like one entity with an expanded mind. There were few shields between us whenever we exercised this skill, and I had missed it so fucking much. Missed him , the extension of my soul.

“We are glad of your return and eager to move forward under your leadership,” declared Heraklees, who was one of the Imítheos captains Riordan had promoted. He was also one of two who were demoted along with the Ktínos. He and Xantho had simply refused to be quiet about the systematic suppression of my people after Riordan left.

Someone, more than likely a Ktínos, thumped their fist against their armoured breastplate, several deep shouts of agreement rang out, and I saw Nikos roll his eyes. It did not escape my notice that he was as far from the Ktínos in the room as he could get.

“I would like to begin with a detailed report on the current structure. And introductions for anyone new with whom I am not familiar,” Riordan advised them.

Dio stepped forward to accommodate before one of the new commanders could, and I listened as he began to list the officers in their new hierarchy. He started at the top with the other city-state commanders who had control of the garrisons at the five city-states, and all of them were elite Imítheos. Dio was sure to also detail their previous military accomplishments and experience. A seemingly innocuous gesture except that it highlighted just how unimpressive their credentials were. The only exceptions were himself and Nyssa Petros who were appointed by Riordan decades ago. Based on the information that managed to trickle down through the ranks, I knew the two of them were the only reason our kingdom still stood. None of the others had any business being in control of a garrison. Especially not the blind, confused old bastard stationed here in our capital of Kórinthos.

Next were the division colonels, four of them for each city-state, and again, all of them were Imítheos nobility who were grossly underqualified for such a critical role. Then came squadron and company lieutenants, and by this point, the Ktínos in the room were becoming visibly agitated by the blatant favouritism. We knew it happened, but listening for an hour while Dio recited the names and their underwhelming qualifications was wildly infuriating. Especially when most of us had decades or even centuries more experience than most of them.

Riordan did not interject, he listened with a frown and his arms crossed over his leather breastplate. The only sign of his growing agitation was the speed at which his tail flicked back and forth behind his right leg.

At last, several Ktínos were named as squad captains, including Ares who was not present, but they only had other Ktínos under their command. They were the best of the previous lieutenants and colonels who were demoted.

Riordan was quiet for a moment as his eyes tracked across the room. Most of the Imítheos could not bring themselves to meet his gaze, and I was not sure if that was due to shame or fear.

“There are still many more people in this room that have not been given designation,” he noted finally.

“There has been an influx of advisors since your time as general, Your Majesty,” Dio explained. He maintained a rather spectacular poker face in spite of how I knew he felt about inexperienced voices in the war room.

“Advisors?” Riordan prompted.

“Many of the newly appointed leadership are not yet confident in their roles, Your Majesty.”

“So rather than appoint experienced individuals who can perform their job, we have increased the number of individuals in this room to compensate?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You do believe in democracy, do you not, Riordan?” Nikos pointed out. “More voices rather than fewer.”

“I certainly do when it comes to matters of social and political reform. But when decisions that can save or end lives on the battlefield need to be made, it is not the time or place for naivety. Not even in the name of democracy. In those times, I only want the most experienced voices in my ear, and I should still be able to hear myself think,” Riordan replied, his voice sharpening with every word.

“There are matters of ethics in war—” Nikos began.

“To be determined before war. Not during. There is no need for dozens of advisors to be clogging up discussions. Not when the commanders themselves could be confident and experienced enough to trust their own instincts,” Riordan declared. His tone of absolute finality shut down any further argument before he turned his attention to the nearest Imítheos youths who were balking.

“We were all new once, and if you are committed to excelling here then you will do so under my command,” he reassured them more kindly. “But it will be by your own true merits, not just because you were born into the right family. And I can promise that you will find it much more rewarding to receive a rank you know you earned. Come that day, you will have done the work so you no longer have to question yourself or feel any uncertainty. But this is not the same as court. This is not a place for posturing where you will be handed things to reflect your family’s prestige. The lives of our people and the security of our cities are at stake here.”

I should not have been surprised to see the relief in the eyes of most of the young griffins, but it was clear that Riordan had taken immense pressure off of many of them. The youths had been given these titles that they were not comfortable with for the sake of their family’s honour.

Several warriors began to bow deeply after Riordan was finished speaking. Most were Ktínos, but Imítheos joined them until even the most reluctant individuals were grudgingly ducking their heads. I was the last to bend my head down, once I was sure no one would strike at him, and I felt his attention shift to me instantly.

I don’t believe you have ever bowed to me, he noted. Actually, I think you even swore never to do it.

Don’t get used to it, I answered, relishing the sensation of his amusement.

“Who is your general?” Riordan asked once everyone in the room had risen to face him again.

“We did not appoint one,” admitted Dio, raising his brows at Riordan to subtly convey his disappointment.

I thought for a moment my skiá might really and truly lose his temper. The prickle of his ire vibrated down our bond and raised the hairs on the back of my neck.

“Why?” he asked, reeling in his reaction.

“A decision could not be made. And in the interests of a more democratic war room, we decided to maintain a war council instead,” Dio explained.

Riordan drew in a deep, slow breath through his nose and then merely nodded as he released it.

“I will take that under some consideration, and should I deem it is prudent to appoint a general, then I will select the most suitable candidate.”

“Perhaps we could all vote on one,” suggested Nikos.

“Perhaps you could , if I trusted you not to be unfairly biased and irresponsible with your choice. The role of a general is not a matter of popularity,” Riordan dismissed.

Riordan was the one focused on Nikos, so I did not need to look at the ilíthios, but I still saw the quiet fury igniting in the eyes of the king’s cousin.

Careful. You really cannot afford to make enemies on a whim anymore. Not with such a vulnerable mate.

Amira is not as vulnerable as you think. And I do not make enemies on whims, Riordan protested my warning.

What I mean is that you have more at stake than ever. Nikos is arrogant and entitled, and he got used to power in your absence. Do not give him even more reason to come looking for your weaknesses, I maintained.

Amira is not a weakness. But I hear your point.

“Tell me about the outposts and why so many of them have been abandoned,” Riordan said, seemingly changing the subject and freeing Nikos of his scathing attention. But I knew better even before Dio, Heraklees, Xantho, and all the other Imítheos from the previous leadership turned to look at Nikos. No pretense of mediating blame.

You hear my point, but you are not listening. You are determined to make him an enemy, I accused Riordan.

I am determined to drive him from this chamber where he does not belong, Riordan clarified stubbornly.

Nikos stood with his arms crossed while trying his best to maintain an austere expression, but I could sense his fury brimming as he was singled out once more.

“We pulled them back, focused our forces in the cities, due to fears of mutiny, dissension, and defiance.”

“Mutiny,” Riordan repeated, his sternness breaking in shock as he looked first to Dio and then to me.

“After your disappearance, there was great unrest in the ranks. Especially among the Ktínos. It required us to take certain measures to preserve our peaceful society,” explained Nikos.

He lies, I seethed in utter disbelief. And I could feel the same rage swelling throughout the room as the other Ktínos reacted to this unfounded accusation. He needs a justification for why he restructured their leadership.

“Enough,” said Riordan, his authority silencing the murmur of anger. The room parted as he stepped forward, moving toward Nikos who drew himself up as if in fear of his retaliation. Not an utterly unfounded concern either, judging by the indignation on my skiá’s face.

I moved with Riordan to protect his back in the crowd as he stalked over to his cousin.

“You do not know our military history.”

“Why should that matter—” Nikos tried to demand.

“It matters a great deal,” Riordan interrupted harshly. “Had you or any of your newly appointed leadership studied at Ergastiri, you would know that there has never , not in ten thousand years , been an incident of the Ktínos acting in aggression toward the Imítheos.”

“Perhaps that was because they were not in position to pursue any ambitions for rebellion. Not before you made so many of them commanders, colonels, and lieutenants in our army,” Nikos pointed out with a nonchalant shrug.

Infuriated snarls erupted through the room, and I could not help the growl rumbling out of my own throat.

I take it all back. Rip him apart, I invited my skiá.

“At Ergastiri, you would have also learned the great importance of numbers, Nikos. And in case you were not aware, the Ktínos outnumber us ten to one. So they are , and have always been in position to act on any ambition they so choose. This council is dismissed,” he shouted before Nikos could attempt to justify himself again.

The room had become enraptured, but they all jolted to attention at his abrupt dismissal and began to file out of the chamber. But before Nikos could slither away, Riordan grabbed him suddenly by the front of his toga and dragged the smaller male up against him. I stepped forward in case Nikos retaliated but kept my eyes on the other Imítheos nearby who might try to come to his aid.

“If you think that I will ever forget how you treated my skiá in my absence, then you are sorely mistaken,” Riordan warned. His voice had sunk into that dangerously low tone that made me want to both brace for battle and shiver with gratification.

I did not tell you about that.

You didn’t need to , Riordan replied without removing his stern gaze from Nikos whose head snapped toward me before his eyes narrowed in accusation.

“You certainly did not wait long to get retribution now that your protector is back,” the bastard taunted me.

“Orion did not need to say anything. I only wanted you to confirm my suspicion,” Riordan corrected him smugly. “And the next time you jeopardize our kingdom’s security by sending unauthorized people into the war room, I will imprison you for treason,” Riordan added more roughly.

Nikos blinked in surprise that Riordan had realized that was him and then smirked.

“Do you fear spies in your kingdom, cousin?”

“Stay out of my way, Nikos. This is the only warning I’ll give you the courtesy of uttering,” Riordan swore before he shoved his cousin back.

Nikos barely managed to stay on his feet, but he was sure to glare at me over his shoulder before straightening his robes and stalking through the open doorway.