31. Chapter 31
T hree days had passed since Orm and Alaric went to aid Vodianka. I hoped they’d been as successful in their endeavour as we had been here. I spent most of my time in Orm’s office, doing my best to assist with fortress affairs. I wrote a few letters to people I hoped I could trust at the university, detailing the attack and asking them to raise the issue at the next council meeting. We needed more mages and more protection at the border. It was about time they stopped sticking their heads in the sand.
When I wasn’t busy writing, training, or talking to the citizens of Varta, I worried about the two men who held a special place in my heart. I tried to keep it under wraps, but my mood had noticeably soured and my brave front earned me concerned looks from Katja and Bryna. The only relief for my gnawing anxiety was drinking in the tavern, and with my friends both busy elsewhere, I was feeling less than pleasant.
‘Mead—the strongest and sweetest you have,’ I shouted to the barkeep, rolling a silver coin over the counter.
The old man always kept me well-supplied when I needed it. In reality, he was only a few years my senior; unfortunately, he looked as if life had rolled over him like an avalanche, then given him a swift kick when he was down. He was missing an eye and had a burn scar that covered the left side of his head and cheek, leaving only the semblance of an ear. The poor man was also missing two fingers and had a crooked leg that had obviously been caused by a badly set break, leaving him with an unsteady gait.
I quietly admired his resilience. I’d never seen him complain, and he worked tirelessly, fulfilling every order the rowdy soldiers threw his way, leaving their insults unanswered. There were plenty of both. The new recruits especially proved difficult, and without Orm’s presence to keep them in line, they behaved as if they owned the place.
‘As you wish, Lady Mage. Would you like to try some dried apple slices preserved in honey and cinnamon? They would go well with your drink.’ I think he tried to smile, but the scars pulled, turning it into a painful grimace.
‘Yes, please, and thank you. I need something sweet tonight.’
Regrettably, a group of newcomers overheard my words. ‘Leave that crisper alone and join us, pretty lady. I can sweeten your time if you’d like,’ said the bulkiest of the group, and I bristled at the cruel nickname they had given the injured man. I saw the barkeeper’s shoulders sag, and he turned around, wiping the already spotless worktop.
Where the riders and veterans in the fortress were gentle and well-mannered around the females, the conscripted soldiers—especially those newly recruited—were the scum of the earth, press-ganged from the gutters and sent here to die in service to a kingdom disgusted by their existence. They were loud, obnoxious, and precisely the type of men any reasonable woman would avoid.
I, however, was not a reasonable woman, and I wasn’t in the mood to deal with their attitude.
I turned towards the barkeep. ‘What’s your name?’ I asked, doing my best to ignore the group. I should have asked earlier, especially since the man had been so kind to me, but I’d been too busy moping over the monster’s words.
‘Ian, my lady,’ he answered, visibly surprised that I was still talking to him.
‘How about this, Ian? Drop that rag. The worktop is clean enough, and nobody else is calling for a drink. I need some decent company, and you look like a man with an interesting story. Please, join me.’
He was utterly baffled. ‘Me?’ I knew why he had reacted that way; the lack of women at Varta Fortress meant most of them were already engaged, married, or counting the days until freedom.
Single females were wooed, cherished, and spoiled by every single man here. With a ratio of twenty-to-one, not counting conscripted soldiers, the ladies could take their pick from amongst the best mankind had to offer. Yet I had chosen him, and I saw the disbelief and suspicion on his face, as if he couldn’t understand why.
‘Yes, you.’ I pointed to the conscripted soldiers. ‘If I had any maternal instincts, I’d be over there changing their swaddling blankets, but seeing as I’m a grown woman looking for decent conversation, I want to talk to a real man.’
From the laughter in the tavern, I could tell I’d made my words clear enough for everyone to hear. The long-term residents of the town let me know they appreciated my biting wit by jeering and aiming various obscene gestures at the new recruits.
I knew I’d poked the hornet’s nest, but I was strangely proud of myself, especially when Ian attempted to smile again. ‘Please, my lady. Be careful. These men haven’t been shown the way things are here yet,’ he said, but I saw his posture straighten, and for the first time since I’d met him, the old soldier looked me straight in the eye.
‘I’m Ani. I’d like to thank you for your kindness the other day.’ I reached for my mead, sipping it slowly and pretending not to have heard his warning. ‘I’ve never tasted such an interesting flavour. Where did you source it? It’s delicious. Is that summer pear I can taste?’ I rolled my tongue over the roof of my mouth to identify the ingredients.
‘You have exquisite taste. There’s not much for an old campaigner like me to do, so I brew mead and ale. In fact, I made this batch myself. It’s summer pear and a little black pepper mixed into mead and left to ferment for six weeks. I can add a bit of water if it is too sweet for you.’
The pride in his voice made me smile before I shook my head. ‘No, no, it’s perfect as it is. You know, I think we’re going to become the best of friends. If you make something new, can I try it?’ I said, flinching when a heavy clay tankard smashed into the counter next to me.
‘This beer tastes like horse piss and smells just as bad.’ The soldier who’d tried hitting on me earlier clearly didn’t know to never disturb a mage who’s moping with a tankard of delicious mead. I turned, taking in the man before me, and he preened under my assessing stare.
‘Did your mother drop you on your head as a bairn?’
He frowned in response. ‘What?’
‘Is that a yes?’ I asked, and he bristled.
‘Watch your mouth, wench. Where I come from, ladies know how to behave, but I’m guessing you ain’t no lady.’ He reached for my arm. ‘Let me guess, you’re one of them here to service the soldiers.’ The snickers that came from his companions didn’t mask the sound of falling chairs as the veterans leapt to their feet.
Thank you, All-Father, for those too stupid to know better. Your daughter needs to take the edge off , I thought, unable to hold back my smile. The wise god was giving me precisely what I needed—a distraction, in the form of an idiot who deserved everything headed his way.
I tossed back the last of my drink. ‘Damn, that mead’s too good to spill,’ I said to Ian, and his pupils widened as I winked and tightened my grip on the handle.
That was the only warning anyone got before I unleashed chaos.
I didn’t use magic. That would have been a low blow to the ordinary soldiers, beating them up with elemental power. Besides, I didn’t want to put Ian out of business. Instead, in one swift move, I pulled my hand back and smashed the tankard on the soldier’s head. He was strong, but he hadn’t expected it, and when he slid to the floor, holding his bleeding nose, the rest of his group rushed towards me.
‘Hands off our lady, you dirty bastards,’ bellowed a veteran as he lunged forward and grabbed one man by the collar, choking the assailant as he threw him back against the wall. My laughter rang out as I leaned back against the bar and kicked my feet off my stool, catching another overeager fool between the legs.
As the man’s face connected with the discarded seat, I landed on his back and launched myself into what was now a full-blown brawl. I grunted when my forehead connected with one man’s nose. As blood sprayed across my face, a massive arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me off my current victim.
‘What the fuck is going on in here?! Who dared attack my woman?!’
Time froze as the echoes of that roar died down. The silence was so deafening one could hear people’s heartbeats stutter as everyone turned to look. At the centre of all the attention stood Orm, his armour still covered in blood, eyes glowing yellow like some terrifying god of war. His face was filled with such primal rage that even the veterans who knew him took a step back, lowering their heads, afraid to meet his gaze.
I hadn’t noticed the commander’s arrival, maybe because I’d been intent on beating up the arsehole whose ring had cut me above my eyebrow. Now, though, I was pinned to Orm’s side, not quite touching the ground. He barely looked at me, but his tight hold left me in no doubt. I was going nowhere.
I wiped the blood flowing into my eye and leaned back to look at him. ‘No need to roar, Lord Commander. We were just playing. Besides, my side was winning.’ I gestured towards the veterans who were still standing as motionless as statues.
That ended up being a mistake because it allowed Orm to notice the cut and smeared blood on my face. ‘Who the fuck made her bleed? Speak now, or you’ll all hang.’ The menace in his voice doubtlessly made it clear that he would carry out the threat. The soldier on the floor paled and attempted to hide his hand behind his back, but Orm noticed and his growl sent a shiver down my spine.
‘You!’ he roared. It was frightening how fast Orm moved. I was still stumbling to my feet after he released me, but as I looked up, my assailant was dangling from the commander’s grip on his neck, legs kicking ineffectually as Ormond’s bulging forearm lifted him higher. Oh fuck, is he still worried about the assassin?
I couldn’t let Orm kill someone for brawling—especially since I had caused it—but I supposed his reaction made sense. He was terrified someone would attack me, and now that someone had, he had lost it. I stepped forward. ‘Put him down.’ Orm didn’t react, fixated on the bloodshot eyes of the dying recruit. ‘He is not the attacker you seek. Put. Him. Down. ’
‘Ormond! Lord Commander, restrain yourself!’ I reached up to cup his face in my hands and forced him to look at me. His eyes were so full of rage and wildfire, I hardly recognised the stoic leader, but as my thumb stroked his cheek, his hand slowly lowered, and he threw his barely breathing victim to his comrades.
‘You’re alright? He didn’t …? Fuck, I thought …’ He pressed his forehead to mine as the yellow glint slowly disappeared from his gaze. When he straightened, I shook my head. ‘No, it is just a minor cut. I’m fine. I promise I’m alright.’
‘Take him,’ he said to the veterans before turning towards the rest of the newcomers. ‘As for the rest of you—since you’ve behaved like animals, you will not be permitted in the central city or the castle. You will stay in the barracks, and tomorrow, you will go on patrol at the Rift.’
The soldiers’ faces went pale. The rift patrol was a death sentence for the untrained and was mainly carried out by the dragon riders as they had the best chance of survival. Orm was effectively sentencing these rookies to almost certain death just because of a little brawl in a tavern.
‘Orm, no. We need men to fight, and even if these children are arseholes, you can still train them.’
‘Then they will have the chance to prove themselves tomorrow. Let the fates decide. If they return, they will have earned their training. It was you they attacked this time, but what if it had been someone not as adept at protecting themselves? Few have your strength and courage, and none have your magic. That is the law here. Attacking a woman means death.’
‘No. I started this fight. Blame it on me.’ The realisation I may have condemned these people to death hit me.
‘No, my lady. They were rude to you … and handsy with the other women. It was bound to happen. The commander is right. That’s our way, and they are being shown more mercy than I would’ve given them,’ Ian said, and I looked at him before turning my head towards the veterans, but they all nodded in agreement.
‘Come to the quartermaster tomorrow. He’ll pay you for the damages,’ Orm said to Ian, and the barkeep nodded, careful not to meet Orm’s eyes. I wanted to protest again, but as the commander looked down at me, the words died in my throat. ‘Are you well enough to walk?’ When I nodded, he took my hand. ‘We’re leaving now,’ he said, pulling me after him with such force that I had no choice but to follow.
We emerged from the tavern only to pause, surrounded by a large crowd. I should’ve known the brawl would attract attention, but I hadn’t expected Orm to appear—and certainly hadn’t expected to be dragged away in front of an audience.
He looked at the gathered people, and his jaw muscles ticked in annoyance. ‘Do you need me to find you something to do? Because I will be more than happy to oblige,’ he said, and despite a few sniggers from the gathered crowd, they dispersed quickly.
I moved closer, standing on tiptoes while grabbing his leather belt, both to stabilise myself and to get his attention. ‘We need to talk, and you shouldn’t scare the locals,’ I whispered, but Orm cursed in response.
‘If they’re stupid enough to listen to my private conversations, they deserve everything that happens to them. I need Alaric to see to this cut first. Gods, I thought they had attacked you! And I wasn’t even here,’ he said, and I bit my lip as he continued. ‘You knew about the threat. How could you let anyone come close enough to injure you? What if the blade was poisoned?’
‘It was a ring , and I was just having a little fun.’
He rolled his eyes. ‘Annika, your definition of fun baffles me. Now, let’s go see Ari.’
‘It’s just a cut. Orm, please.’ His face softened for a moment, and he pulled me into his arms, pressing my face to his chest and wrapping his cloak around me to protect me from the gust of wind blowing dust around.
‘Fine, I’ll take you somewhere no one can disturb us,’ he conceded, reaching for me. I was blinded by the flying debris and so surprised at being picked up that I didn’t realise he was carrying me towards Vahin, who—against standard practice—had landed in the middle of the street.
‘You can’t—’ I started, but he stopped me. ‘We can go to Ari or talk in private, but I’m not standing here just staring at the blood on your face. Your decision, Nivale: choose how you wish to proceed.’
‘In private,’ I whispered, feeling him hold me tighter as he climbed onto the dragon’s back.