Altered Destiny (17 page)

Nathan noticed all color had drained from Selia’s face.

Interesting. What did I say?
There was more to this woman than met the eye. “I’ll take you to him. Gods know you’ve come far enough.”

Selia seemed a little unsteady on her feet as she stood. He moved to help her. Even dressed as a man, there was something feminine about her. In the close office, she stood only a hand’s breadth away.

He cleared his throat and motioned toward the door. “Then let’s go.”

Her dark eyes lit, and she almost smiled.

Nathan’s breath caught in his throat. The expression so transformed her face, even bruised, that for a moment he froze and then realized he was blocking her. He tore his gaze away, stepped to one side and opened the door.

She walked into the hall, following him to the great cavern and out through the dining room, where men sat nursing steaming cups. Those in the hall nodded to him and stared after Selia with a hungry curiosity. This was definitely not the place for a woman. If she noticed, it didn’t seem to bother her.

“Commander, what are you going to do about the Svistra?” she asked.

Suspicion raised its head. “Why?”

“Because I was there, among them.”

Though reasonable, he sensed a lie in her statement. “I haven’t decided yet,” Nathan said and that wasn’t entirely the truth either.

At a narrow hall, Nathan nodded to a guard standing before a wooden door before stepping through into bright sunshine. A freestanding wooden structure stood a short distance away, its chimney bellowing smoke into the blue sky. He carefully shut the door. “This remains shut at all times,” he warned, listening for a plank sliding back into place.

Selia nodded.

Why did I tell her that?
The door was the weakest part of the fortress. It wasn’t like him to let one smile steal his good sense. Still, it was a pleasant change to be part of something that caused joy.

He led her to the wooden building. “The kitchens,” he said, then opened the door and stepped to one side.

“Oren.” The word was scarcely out of her mouth before she disappeared beneath Oren’s crushing embrace. “Oren, you’re breaking my back.” But Selia smiled as she said it, and Nathan was once again struck by how the simple gesture transformed her face.

“I’m sorry.” Oren held her at arm’s length. “It’s so good to see you.” Then his expression changed. Eyebrows drawn, he pursed his mouth. “What happened to your face?”

“A lot of things. I’m okay.”

“Commander Nathan says you shouldn’t have come. It’s dangerous.”

Nathan fought a smile.

Selia glanced toward Nathan then whispered loud enough for him to hear. “Since when have I listened to people who tell me not to do something because it’s dangerous?”

Oren laughed. “That’s true.”

“I’m so glad you’re okay.”

Oren appeared confused. “Why wouldn’t I be? Oh? Because of that mean captain? I’d told him he’d just have to wait until you got back, but he wouldn’t listen to me. Then I was here. Not here in the kitchen, but some other place. He wasn’t very nice.”

“I know. I’m sorry, Oren.”

Oren bent over, his face serious, and whispered something in Selia’s ear that Nathan didn’t catch.

Her smile faded, but she didn’t let go of Oren’s hand. She shook her head and then turned to Nathan. “Can you spare him, just for a bit?” Selia asked. “I’d like to talk to him.”

Nathan nodded. “Just don’t leave the outer wall.”

“We wouldn’t, Commander Nathan,” Oren said, his tone serious. “You told me not to, and I don’t disobey like Selia.”

Nathan managed to keep his face stern. “I know, Oren.”

The commander stood at the door, his arms folded and watching them with a curious expression on his face. Selia could tell he was attempting not to smile and in that moment, her hatred of him lessened. He stepped aside.

She took Oren’s hand. “Come on, let’s find a quiet place, and you can tell me all your adventures and I’ll tell you mine.”

They walked past the practice square, where two men exchanged blows, and continued toward the vegetable garden. “There’s a bench there.” Oren pointed past the garden. “I sit there sometimes and feed the birds. Don’t tell anyone. We’re not supposed to but they’re always so hungry.”

“I won’t tell.”

What Oren called a bench was actually a rotted log but Selia sat, pulling Oren down next to her. She studied his face. He seemed older somehow, and a pale white scar decorated his once clear forehead. “You gave me a scare.”

“I’m sorry, Selia, I didn’t mean to.”

“I know. No more apologies. We’re together now, and everything is going to be okay.” How she wished she believed her words.

Oren smiled then whispered, “Now can you tell me what happened to Jaden?”

She took a deep breath. “He came north with me, looking for you.”

“I heard some men wondering how you got so far. I told them they didn’t know you.”

“And they don’t know Jaden helped either. Commander Nathan is nice, but he wouldn’t understand.”

“I know that.” He let his breath out in a huff. “What did you tell him?”

“That I made it alone.”

“You could have.” Oren sounded confident.

Selia remembered the White Forest and slowly shook her head. Nathan may have misgivings that she wasn’t telling the whole story, but even in the short time they’d spent together, she knew he’d never suspect the truth and, eventually because she was female, write his misgivings off as inconsequential.

“Where is Jaden now?”

She shook her head. “We were captured by Svistra. They aren’t all as nice as Jaden.”

Oren nodded with vehemence. “That’s what Commander Nathan says. He says they’re demons, devils.” His expression turned serious. “But they aren’t. Jaden’s not. All humans aren’t as mean as that captain either.”

She patted his hand. She wished more people thought like Oren. “Jaden helped me escape, but he’s still with the Svistra.”

“Does he want to be?”

“I don’t think so.”

Oren chewed on the side of thumb. “He’ll get away. Jaden’s smart.”

“I hope so.”

Oren looked thoughtful for a moment then smiled. “You said Jaden was nice. Does that mean you like him now?”

Did she like Jaden? Good question. There were too many conflicting emotions surrounding that particular person for her to define the way she felt, but she was sure that one of the emotions was like, so she nodded. “Yes, you were right about Jaden. I like him.”

“Good, because I know he likes you.”

“How can you be so certain?”

“Don’t be silly. I can tell by the way he looked at you.”

She thought of Jaden’s arms circling her and felt her skin warm. “I don’t think…”

Oren’s look clearly stated he wouldn’t believe any denial.

“Okay. It’s nice to have friends.”

“Yes it is,” he agreed. “Can we go home now?”

Selia took Oren’s hand again. She was so glad to see him, but even after sleeping so long, her eyes would barely stay open. “Soon, Oren. I need to rest first.”

“I missed you. I’m glad you’re here with me,” Oren said.

“I missed you too.” She closed her eyes and allowed herself the momentary peace and comfort their joined hands brought.

Jaden remained motionless. A trickle of blood traced his neck to his collarbone. Had he pushed Keldar too far?

“Well? I could say you rushed me and I defended myself.” Keldar smiled. “I could say anything I want and come away from this with my honor intact.”

“Like you did with Father?”

“Enough!” Keldar yelled then lowered his voice, almost as if he were thinking aloud. “There really is no reason I shouldn’t kill you now.”

“But you won’t.” A voice sounded from the tent’s opening. Noe walked in, her gaze moving from Keldar, down his arm to the sword and then to Jaden. She laughed. “Are you boys still doing this? I thought you were past the age for such things. Have either of you yet left your mother’s dwelling?”

Keldar re-sheathed the sword. Jaw clenched, he turned to Noe. “Do you have something of use to say, woman?”

“The warriors are back. They’ve studied the fortress. It can be breached.” She smiled. “And I thought you should see this.” She handed him a letter with the seal torn.

Anger boiled in Keldar’s eyes.

Jaden glanced toward Noe, but she refused to meet his gaze. She was playing a dangerous game.

Keldar read the missive and then laughed. “Where did you get this?”

“In Jaden’s pack.” She held the item up in her other hand.

Jaden’s stomach hollowed. How could he have forgotten about the letter? Pain momentarily blinded him as the muscles of his body clenched.

“Do you doubt now I have the gods’ favor?”

Noe smiled, but didn’t respond.

Keldar whirled back to Jaden. “So you’ve been intercepting messages?” He shook his head. “Will you tell me about the girl?”

Jaden met his brother’s gaze but remained silent.

Keldar threw the missive at Jaden. “Soon enough she will tell me what you will not. You’ve just given me the key to the fortress.” He turned to Noe, running a hand down her cheek, and then took her mouth in a savage kiss, his gaze never leaving Jaden. “Your service is, as always, exemplary, my sweet.”

Noe moved to leave the tent.

“Wait a minute,” Keldar commanded. “I didn’t see it before but perhaps I was distracted.” He examined Jaden with renewed interest. “Noe, would you say that Jaden appears to be a little hungry?”

Noe’s gaze traced his body. “Yes.”

“How long since you fed, brother?”

Jaden clenched his jaw. He’d known it was only a matter of time before someone noticed.

Keldar chuckled. “Have the pains begun?”

Jaden met Keldar’s gaze.

“Noe, I have an idea how to deal with the girl and Jaden.”

Sweat trickled down Selia’s back. She stood and stretched, welcoming the aches and pains of a hard morning’s work instead of wounded flesh, and eyed the rows of freshly weeded vegetables. The first day at the fortress, after talking with Oren, she’d gone back to her room to find her bed re-made. The temptation of the clean blankets had been irresistible. She’d slept until well after the dinner hour, but found a covered bowl of stew just outside her door and ate it cold. That set the pattern for the first few days. Nathan hadn’t bothered her again, and slowly the naps grew shorter until she found she didn’t need them anymore.

She wiped some of the dirt from her hands and stared at the gates, where a guard stood whittling. Though Nathan hadn’t treated her like a prisoner, even assigning her the task of tending the vegetable garden so his men could train, she was a prisoner. She and Oren both were.

Even if she could get through the gates, then what? “There’s no way. No way through,” she muttered. They were trapped.

Her bruises lingered, like faint yellowish patches against her dusky skin, but even they were fading. Selia lifted her face to the sunlight, soaking in its warmth before she re-entered the fortress.

Nathan had asked to see her. She had an idea what was on his mind. She wasn’t insensible to the soldier’s leers. Often at the tavern, she’d seen the same flavor in men’s gazes. It wasn’t because of her appearance—she was no beauty, but a woman, any woman, in a group made entirely of men stood out.

Jaden needs you.

She wiped her hands against her leggings with more force than necessary as she walked toward the fortress. That certainty wouldn’t leave her, or the knowledge that she had no idea what to do about it.

She glanced toward the south. “Gods damn it, when did life get so complicated?” Jaden was okay; he was with his people. But as many times as she told herself that, she still didn’t believe it.

Before knocking on Nathan’s half-opened door, she took a deep breath.

“Come.”

Selia stepped into the room.

Nathan sat at the desk, his brow creased.

She cleared her throat. “You wanted to see me?”

“Yes.” He nodded to the chair. “I’m sending a message to King Leisle at Newhaven. You and Oren will accompany the messenger.”

Selia sat down hard. “What?”

“It’ll be dangerous, but you’ll be safer than if you stayed here.”

Clarity dawned. “You’ve decided to attack the Svistra camp?”

He hesitated. “Yes.”

“I’m not going to Newhaven.”

“You’ll go if I say you will. You can’t return to the tavern. We’re evacuating the northern territories.”

Numb disbelief washed the thoughts from her mind.

Nathan reached for a parchment, and Selia’s mind clicked into gear. She couldn’t go to Newhaven. Not until she knew Jaden’s fate. “You’d be making a mistake.”

“How do you figure?”

“You’re short on men.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Are you proposing to fight for me?”

Selia leaned forward. “Yes.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Selia, in case you haven’t noticed, this is a fort full of men. Men who haven’t seen a woman in a long time.”

“In case it escaped your memory,” she tried and failed to keep the sarcasm from her tone, “I tend a bar on the Outskirts, and I’ve been around a horny man or two. I can take care of myself.”

They glared at each other in silence until Nathan ran a hand through his hair and chuckled. “Where the hell do they make women like you?”

“One of a kind. Does that mean you’ll do it?”

“I can’t just make you a soldier.”

“Of course not. I’ll earn it like all the other new recruits.”

When he hesitated, she reached for his hand. “Follow me.”

Nathan examined the woman before him. Tall and lithe and no one could call her delicate, but a soldier?

For a moment he relished the feel of her warm skin against his then put the thought away. She fascinated him, but this wasn’t a time for emotion. But over the past few days, as he watched her tend garden or help Oren in the kitchen, the feeling had only grown. Curiosity, fascination. Lust. He’d been without a woman for as long as his men.

He followed her into the hallway.

“How do you think I protected my tavern?” she asked.

“Oren—?”

There was a hint of mischief in the dark eyes. “Oren doesn’t like to fight.”

“Still…”

As they entered the courtyard, Nathan blinked.
I don’t have time for this.
But the desire to see what she planned didn’t relent.
Oh, hell
. The sun had just reached its zenith and shadows pooled at the base of the stone walls. She led him toward the practice area. There she stopped and looked around.

“I’ll earn my sword. Just like the other recruits. Pick one of your soldiers. Any one.”

“Are you mad?”

“Probably. Pick one, or I will.”

They’d drawn a crowd. Apparently he wasn’t the only one curious what the barkeep was up to.

He shook his head.

“I’ll do it.” Tanik. He couldn’t have made a better or worse choice. Tanik wouldn’t show Selia any mercy. If, somehow, she managed to get a few good blows in, she would have proved herself.

However, Tanik was also one of his best fighters. The chances of her winning or even coming away unscathed were small.

“Name your weapon,” Selia said before Nathan could open his mouth.

“Selia,” Nathan began.

She walked close and whispered. “Don’t worry. The bigger and more conceited they are, the more likely they are to make a mistake.”

“Let’s get this over with. Sword,” Tanik said. “Terms. First one to be disarmed loses.”

“Agreed.” She accepted a blunted practice sword and felt for its balance.

“At least you picked it up at the right end.” Tanik laughed.

The crowd snickered.

“Did you know the Svistra women are trained to fight alongside the men?”

“How do you know so much about the Svistra?” Tanik growled.

“If you listen, you learn things.”

One of the other men snorted. “It’s no surprise—you can’t tell the men from the women.”

“Are we gonna fight, or you gonna stand there chattin’ all day like the woman you are?” Tanik asked.

Selia’s smile sent shivers up Nathan’s spine.

Selia adjusted her grip on the sword. It was made for someone stronger and larger, but she was used to that. Though she’d had many teachers, the first one who taught her the art of the sword had made her practice with his weapon until her arms fell useless to her sides. At the time it had almost been as long as she was tall. He advised her to build her strength because she’d never know when she’d need it. She silently thanked him now.

Even so, it had been a while since she used a sword. She arced the blade through the air trying to get the feel of it.

“Okay, ready,” she said.

Tanik charged. Selia ducked, spun and made first contact, hitting her blunted blade against Tanik’s leather vest. The crowd roared, and the mumbled sounds of betting brought a smile to her face. At least someone thought she had a chance.

Tanik’s face had flushed red and his eyes glittered.
Get as pissed off as you want, big boy.

This time he didn’t charge but circled. He could outlast her. He was stronger and had greater endurance. Having only just recovered her strength, she had to make this fast.

Selia stepped forward, feinted a charge and then somersaulted away and behind him. She came up on her feet and smacked his ass with the flat of her sword.

A noise like the roaring of an enraged bear sounded to her right, and she jumped out of the way in time to avoid the blow that would have cracked her skull had it hit her. Tanik kept coming. She regained her feet and blocked his sword. His blade screeched down the length of her blade, making her hair stand on end. Tanik bore into her with his full weight.

She couldn’t hold her ground for much longer before he forced her to the ground. In one movement she gave in to his superior strength and rolled to one side. Tanik stumbled forward but kept his presence of mind. He countered with a back swing, hitting her arm.

The crowd yelled its encouragement. If it had been her sword arm, she’d have dropped her weapon and lost the match.

Tanik attacked with a flurry of strikes. She parried each, her arm growing heavier with each stroke. The opening he suddenly presented took her by surprise. With a deft twist of her wrist, she jerked the sword out of his hand.

He stood looking at his empty hand for several seconds then turned to her. The crowd roared. The distinct clink of coins could be heard amid grumbling and laughter. She threw down the weapon and stood, hands on thighs, trying to catch her breath. Tanik slowly approached. She couldn’t tell from the look in his eyes if he meant to kill her or congratulate her.

At the last minute, he stretched out his beefy hand. “Well fought.”

Selia took it, careful not to wince as Tanik squeezed her arm. She was glad it was the left. She only had partial feeling in that one.

Nathan stepped up, scratching his chin. “Who taught you to fight like that?”

“My mother’s clients.”

Nathan appeared confused. “Clients? Was she a seamstress or something?”

“Or something,” she agreed.

From a corner of the eating hall, Nathan sat, watching his men and Selia. They’d finished their evening meal quite a bit ago and instead of dispersing into smaller groups to play cards or gamble, they listened to Selia relate, in colorful detail, some of the stranger things she’d seen at the tavern.

Damn it to hell if she wasn’t right. His men accepted her on a new level. He smiled his grudging respect into his ale. The woman was one of kind. She’d proven herself, earned her sword. She was in her element. A torch near her flickered, adding a rosy blush to her skin.

A woman who could fight like a man. The thought stirred his loins. He remembered the first time he saw her at the tavern. He’d assumed she was a whore, one he’d like to sample. If he was honest, he still would.

Was she as fierce in bed? His cock swelled.

Nathan set the mug down with a little too much force, and heads turned in his direction. He smiled and waved them off. That was the problem with letting your mind wander; it sometimes took you places you shouldn’t go.

He caught Selia’s eye across the room. She smiled before turning toward Micha and laughing. Had she known he’d been staring?

Almost simultaneously, a horn rendered the hall deathly silent. Tanik ran in, his face flushed and eyes wild.

Instantly Nathan was on his feet.

“Commander,” Tanik gasped. “Svistra. They’re attacking.”