Maria Snyder - Scent of Magic

Or, he might be creating more dead soldiers. They probably needed time to train. Perhaps that mystery drug was grown in Vyg.

“What’s in sector five?” I asked the group.

“We don’t know,” Liv said. “Haven’t you—”

“I meant, what part of Vyg is in that sector? Are there towns? Forests? Any natural resources like a quarry?”

“Oh.” Liv glanced around. “It’s north of the center of Vyg. Near the Nine Mountains.”

“The area is forested,” Ursan said. “But there are a number of abandoned mining towns up there.”

“There’s your answer,” I said. “He’s protecting one of those mining operations. Probably ore so he can manufacture more weapons.”

“The Nine Mountains are full of ore,” Ursan said. “It would be smarter and safer for him to mine behind his lines in Sogra.”

“Plus he has control of Lyady Realm,” Odd said. “And has captured the president’s daughter to ensure their cooperation. Lyady’s steel mills are still in operation as far as I know.”

He had a point. I considered. “What else is mined in that area besides ore?”

Odd said, “The arms merchant in town claims his weapons are crafted from the liquid metal found at the bottom of the Nine Mountains. He mentioned there’s a shaft in Vyg that goes deep under the mountains.”

His comment caused a riot of laughter.

“You were conned,” Saul said. It was the first time he’d spoken since I’d arrived. He appeared to be the type of person who was content to just listen.

I would have agreed with Saul, but Odd’s statement triggered a memory. Kerrick had purchased my stiletto and throwing knives from a merchant in Zabin. Probably the same one, since he’d claimed my weapons had been crafted from liquid metal, as well. And Kerrick had nodded as if it meant something to him. Perhaps I should pay the merchant a visit when I had some free time.

Tohon’s hand stroked my back, igniting a trail of fire along my skin. His other arm wrapped around my waist, trapping me against him .

“Do you really believe teaching your little trick can defeat my army, my dear?” His throaty chuckle vibrated in my chest .

I tried to squirm free, but his magic flooded my senses. Desire tingled as heat spread from my insides out, turning my willpower into goo .

“You think you escaped, but you haven’t. From the very first time I touched you, you’ve been mine. I’ve already claimed you, my dear.”

My heart fluttered as a wave of intense pleasure rolled through me .

Something jolted my cot, and I snapped awake.

Wynn stood over me. “That must have been quite a dream, Baby Face. Lots of writhing and moaning. Who was the lucky man? Or was it a woman?” She smirked.

I sat up, rubbing my face. “Just a nightmare.”

“Ah, too bad. Do you get them often?”

Debating how much to tell her, I hesitated but then decided since we shared a tent, she and Liv should know. “Every night.”

“That stinks.”

An understatement. Before she could question me further, I stood, changed and grabbed a quick breakfast before heading over to the forest training area to meet Ursan’s squad. They stood at attention at the edge of the field. Two rows of five young men known as the jumping jacks. Despite their cockiness, I sensed an undercurrent of hostility from them.

I glanced at Ursan. “Jumping jacks?”

“Remember that move I pulled on you?”

“When you jumped down from the tree?”

“That’s our squad’s signature style for ambushing the enemy,” Ursan said.

“You were jackknifed, sweetheart!” a soldier called from the ranks, and they all laughed.

One look from Ursan silenced them. He had their respect, but I didn’t. Fair enough, for now.

I turned to the group. “Who called me sweetheart?” No one moved. “What? Too chicken? Come on, reveal yourself.”

A soldier in the front row stepped forward with a challenging smirk. I crossed my arms and scrutinized him for a long moment while I wrapped my fingers around the handle of one of my throwing knives.

“You’re not my father or my lover,” I said, causing a ripple of snickers. Boys.

I pulled my knife and threw it at the center of his belt, hoping I put the right amount of heat behind it. I didn’t want to hurt him.

He yelped as the tip of the blade pierced the leather far enough to keep the weapon in place. Staring at me in shock, he opened his mouth, but snapped it shut when I walked up to him.

I gripped the handle of the knife. “If you call me sweetheart again—” I yanked it out “—I’ll aim lower . Understand?”

“Yes.”

I waited.

“Yes, Sergeant.”

“Good. Return to your position, soldier.” I scanned the others. A combination of surprised, impressed and admiring expressions met my gaze.

“Does anyone else wish to call me sweetheart?” I asked.

No one said a word.

“I believe you proved your point, Sergeant,” Ursan said. “Let’s get started.”

I spent the rest of the day teaching the jumping jacks how to move in the forest. Not exactly sure if I could explain the technique in my own way, I taught it the same way Kerrick had shown me.

A few, like Ursan, caught on quick. Others struggled but eventually mastered the technique, and a couple had no sense of rhythm at all. They would have to return tomorrow for more practice.

Lieutenant Thea arrived in midafternoon to watch the session. She consulted briefly with Ursan before leaving.

The next day I worked with Ursan’s two remaining men while the others practiced their new skills. This time Major Granvil visited and asked for a demonstration.

I picked the four best students to accompany me and the major. We walked deeper into the forest until I found a suitable location.

“All right, gentlemen, I want you to take a noisy stroll away from us. Then on my command, go silent. Your goal is to return one at a time and get as close to Major Granvil as possible. He’ll signal when he hears you. Understand?”

“Yes, Sergeant,” they said in unison and with a little too much enthusiasm.

“Go.”

They tromped through the bushes as if they’d get extra points for noisiness. No doubt scaring away all wildlife. Major Granvil regarded their retreating backs before pulling his gaze to me. “I’d thought they’d give you a hard time.”

“They tried.”

“And?”

“They’re smart, Major. They quickly learned this technique can save lives.” I drew in a breath and projected my voice over the din. “Gentlemen, go silent!”

The crunching, snapping and rustling died in an instant.

“They could have just stopped moving,” Major Granvil said. He stroked his mustache.

I agreed. “That’s why I asked them to return. Listen closely, Major.”

He scanned the woods, turning in a slow circle. Although I had picked the best, they still needed practice. Small sounds, off notes and rustlings reached me. I tracked the first soldier. He had gone wide and planned to approach from our left.

When the soldier was about four feet away, the major heard him and called out his location. Major Granvil’s voice remained steady but couldn’t completely mask his surprise.

The next two soldiers were caught a few feet farther away, giving the major a sense of security. The last man looped around us. He showed more patience than the other three, moving when the major moved and stepping with care.

I examined a berry bush so I wouldn’t give the soldier away. He crept up behind the major and grabbed his shoulders. The major jerked but didn’t cry out. He turned and shook the smiling soldier’s hand.

We returned to the exit point. Lieutenant Thea and Sergeant Ursan waited for us with the rest of the jumping jacks in the field next to the woods.