“Cold, My Queen?” Alois asked lowly in my ear.
I hummed slightly, a shiver running up my spine at Alois’ casual use of “queen.” He’d told me yesterday of his plans to unify Elyria under himself as king—it was a desperate man’s last bid to bring together a force that could stand against the gods and the rebellion. The logistics of it made sense, I supposed, but the thought of becoming queen just set my teeth on edge.
I turned my attention from my husband to the beasts in front of me. While I’d ridden for sport with Peytor and Finian aroundthe property of our manor home outside of Katiska, I’d never sat atop a horse for as long as the journey ahead of us.
Days ago, Alois received a report that Cellia, a midsize village in the Borderlands, was overrun by rebel activity. While much of the population was fleeing north, away from the rebels’ path—reports saw their growing band trudging through Reeria toward its capital, Hillford, while the refugees made their way to Vespera—Alois felt the need to see the destruction with his own eyes. Apparently, he didn’t trust the word of his illustrious spy network.
Fitting.
It was clear that my husband had deep-seated trust issues, even with his ability to discern truths from lies.
It was also clear that this was more than just a mission to confirm information—there were a dozen cadets sitting astride horses, waiting for the command to move. They were dressed in the Mage blacks that characterized the Academy soldiers, and even I could tell they were all a bit green; their movements were jerky, laughs loud. An air of undue confidence filled the space as newly-Awakened Mages and Vessels postured for each other.
I’d seen death and destruction in Hestin—the bits I could remember anyway—and quickly discerned that this was also a mission to show the new recruits what real battle looked like, what it smelled like.
I’ve already killed more men than most, if not all of them, my mind supplied unhelpfully.
I physically shook the thought from my brain and my eyes fell on Lex and his Vessels. There was tension between the three of them that wasn’t as prevalent a few months ago, and the strain was evident on all of their faces. While Lex’s Pleasure Vessel rode even with him, his Pain Vessel rode slightly behind, as if trying to separate herself from her Mage.
Odd.
A loud laugh from one of the recruits jolted me from my thoughts and I thought I saw Lex roll his eyes before he barked a swift “mount up!”
My hands ceased stroking my horse’s nose, much to her displeasure, before gripping the saddle horn in one hand and the reins in the other. I swung my leg over the saddle, already thankful for the padded riding pants I’d found laid out on my bed earlier this morning.
With quick words, Lex paired each of the recruits up into two’s—their “buddy” for the ride to and from Cellia. Surprisingly, Lex’s Pain Vessel paired herself with Alois, leaving me fidgeting and alone.
“Looks like you’re with me,” a rough feminine voice sounded from my right, and I turned slightly to regard the woman pulling her horse even with mine. She was short, much shorter than my six-foot height, and built like a bulldog. Even through her thick riding pants and winter cloak, it was clear the woman was all muscle.
“Looks like it,” I said as we pulled our horses into line.
“Leal,” the woman said as she leaned across her saddle, stretching her palm in my direction.
I smiled slightly before briefly clasping her hand with my own.
“Ellowyn,” I managed. It had been a while since I’d had to introduce myself, and I nearly forgot all of the lessons my mother instilled in me.
How disappointed she’d be in me now—sitting astride a horse in pants and boots, shaking hands with the soldiers.
Though, on the simplest level, her expectations for me helped put me in this current predicament, so I felt less guilty over practically throwing her feminine expectations away.
“Oh, I know who you are,” she said with a shrug as we clicked at our horses to follow the pair in front. “I just figuredit was common courtesy to ask your name before launching into everything I know about you.”
A surprised laugh burst from my chest at her statement.
“I can be rather blunt,” she admitted, a slight red tinge coating the tops of her cheeks. “But I’d always needed to be, growing up with four brothers in the inner-city. Plus, when you’re built like this, no one expects you to be feminine anyway. It’s easier just to play into the stereotype.”
I hummed softly. “Well, I appreciate your candor. I’ve dealt with too many masquerades and hidden intentions during my short life. I’ve always appreciated it when people tell it to me plain.”
“Are you really a Creation and Destruction Mage?” she asked as we clipped our way through Vespera; the streets were relatively empty this time in the morning, citizens just beginning to leave home to open shops and carts—or stumbling home from whatever drunken revelry the night previous.
“Yes,” I said simply.
“And . . . you don’t need a Vessel? Or crystals?” Leal asked hesitantly, her eyes trained firmly on the horse in front of her.
“No, I can feel a well inside,” I said, surprised that others knew of my unique attribute. It was something the acolyte at my Awakening wanted me to keep secret, though after my little spectacle in Hestin, it was a fool’s hope to think it would stay hidden for long.
“What are you?” I asked and winced at the insensitive delivery.
