Chapter 46

We took our time walking home since the heat had become stifling; a slower pace kept us from sweating too much under the summer sun. I felt hot enough that I even fell several paces behind Liam when I stopped to pick a palm frond to fan myself with.

When we came around a bend in the path that led to our private residence, Liam stopped dead in his tracks so abruptly that I crashed right into his back. I rubbed at my sore nose and then moved around him so that I could follow his gaze and see what was going on.

Arranged in orderly lines, there were perhaps a dozen citadel guards, men and women alike, kneeling on the ground in front of the main gate to our home with their foreheads resting on the backs of their hands which lay on the ground in front of them.

On the shaded porch in front of the gate stood Zusa and Nanny. Zusa looked her usual calm self, but Nanny’s face held a fierce scowl.

Liam frowned a bit as he took in the guards, then he called out to the two women on the porch. “Zusa, Nanny, what is this all about?”

Both of the ladies startled, not having realized that we had arrived home. They both turned toward us and bent their heads low for a long moment before straightening up and Zusa greeted us with a “Welcome home, Tae Han, Tae Ko.”

Before Zusa could answer Liam’s question, Nanny butted in, her voice acidic with irritation. “These fools have been here all afternoon waiting for your return. I’ve told them repeatedly to leave but they refuse.”

One of Liam’s eyebrows quirked up in surprise. “What would guards want with me?”

A flicker of amusement dancing in her rheumy eyes, Nanny turned her face in my direction. “Not you, Tae Han. They wish to speak with Tae Ko.”

“Whatever for?” My voice betrayed my surprise. I couldn’t think of any reason that citadel guards would wish to speak to me, especially to such an extent that they’d kneel in the blazing summer sun for hours.

A voice came from behind me. “They wish to be your personal guard, Tae Ko.”

I looked back over my shoulder to see who had spoken and was glad to see Major Antelz approaching. Perhaps she’d have some insight into this situation because I sure as hell didn’t.

The Major bowed to us before gesturing at the people kneeling in the gravel. “These guards are among those that witnessed your Pel Zhi as well as your, ah, disagreement with Tae Beun. They were impressed by both your courage and the strength of your wolf and wish to serve as your new personal guard.”

Flummoxed by this, I didn’t respond immediately as I was at a loss for words. The whole situation was extremely disconcerting.

With my brow furrowed in confusion, I said, “I don’t understand. We already have Liam’s personal guard, which is sufficient for our needs.”

The Major’s face, as usual, betrayed nothing. “There are whispers that your wolf is calling to them. I don’t know what that means precisely, but whatever it is, they are here on their knees in supplication.”

Without changing her position on the ground, one of the guards called out, “It is truth, Major Antelz. Tae Ko’s wolf called to us and we are here to answer that call.”

Suddenly, I remembered the moment right after we had killed Jerrek Pirz, I’ikki and I, and we had lifted our head in a triumphant howl. Some of the attending guards had shifted to their wolf forms and joined our song. My skin prickled at the memory for it had been a magical, beautiful song, made even more so by the fact that I hadn’t heard wolf song in over six years at that point.

At that moment, I hadn’t understood why they were singing with us, only that the wolves music had resonated deep within my soul. But from what the guard had just said, I’ikki had somehow called to them.

Taking a few steps toward the guard who had spoken up, I stood before her. “What do you mean my wolf called to you?”

Without lifting her head, she replied, “It is difficult to explain, Tae Ko. When you howled, the air filled with your magic and power and our wolves responded by shifting us without our command to do so.”

I hissed in a sharp breath of surprise. “Are you saying that I accidentally compelled you?”

If that was the case, I would have to do some serious work on controlling my power for I’d had no idea that I was capable of performing such an act.

But that didn’t seem to be the case as the guard gave a small shake of her head. “Not exactly, Tae Ko. We guards train with compelling so that we may resist it if it is used in battle against us; compelling is a force of will, but what you did wasn’t force.” She hesitated for a moment, struggling to find the words she needed. “It was like your wolf calling for the Pack and our own wolves chose to respond. If there was any force, it was our own wolves making us shift without our say-so.”

That wasn’t possible. At least, not that I’d ever heard of before. While it was a cooperative relationship, the human side of Kin nature was the one in control.

I looked at Liam and saw that he had a puzzled frown on his face. I flicked my eyes at the Major, but her expression hadn’t changed.

The guard spoke again. “It was like… like our wolves wanted to respond to yours and they took control of the morph.”

I chewed at my lip while I thought about this. Finally, I said, “If what you say is truth, why would you wish to be the personal guard for a Kin that made your own wolves behave in such a strange way? Surely the thought that it might happen again would be disturbing to you.”

“Ever since the Pel Zhi, our wolves have been… well, urging us, I guess you could say. Each of us here have felt a strong desire to be near you almost constantly. When we think about you or talk about you, our wolves grow animated and well…” Her voice took on an embarrassed tone. “They won’t stop barking. Even now, they are clamoring inside our heads.”

I shot another look at Liam, but he merely shook his head as if to say he had no idea what was going on either.

I sighed, not at all sure what to do about this. “I must think on this. Go back to your duties and return in two weeks. I will give you an answer then.”

Not a single person so much as twitched, each staying where they knelt on the ground.

Nanny called out in her querulous voice, “I told you they won’t listen.”

But not listening to a slave and not listening to their exalted princess were entirely different things.

Addressing the same guard as before, my voice agitated and confused, I asked, “Why are you refusing to go? I’ve said that you may return once I have had time to consider what you’ve told me.”

“Tae Ko, I cannot explain it. We want to be near you and to protect you. Your wolf calls to ours and we do not wish to deny her. We dream of you whenever we sleep and never stop thinking about you when we are awake. We believe the goddess wishes us to serve you. Please, allow us to be your personal guards.”

Exasperated, I put my hands on my hips and tapped a toe in agitation. After a long moment, I called out to the women still waiting on the porch. “Please have food and tea brought for our guests and see about setting up a canopy to get the sun off of them.”

As Zusa and Nanny bustled off, I stomped over to the porch, yanked off my boots with more force than was strictly necessary and removed my robe since it was just too damned hot to wear all those layers. I flung myself down to sit on the stairs and glared at Liam, who was clearly trying to stifle a laugh. “Are you going to just stand there and laugh at me or are you going to help me figure this out?”

Liam gave me a mildly reproachful look that I absolutely deserved and came and sat next to me. Taking my hand in his and twining our fingers together, we sat quietly while I tried to rein in my temper. A few minutes passed and Zusa returned with a crew of slaves to deliver the food and drink I’d requested for the guards. Another crew erected a canopy and while it wasn’t much help in this heat, at least the sun was no longer beating down directly on them.

I gestured at Zusa and when she came close enough to us, I asked her, “Where did Nanny go? I thought she was helping you?”

Zusa gave us the half-bow of her head that was the norm in our household but I saw that her eyes were slightly crinkled at the corners. “Tae Ko, she said that dealing with these ‘foolish young pups’ was tiring for an ‘old crone’ such as herself and went to have a rest.”

Liam and I both grinned at that. Nanny could be salty at times, but it was almost always entertaining and she had proven more than once that her mind was far sharper than her years would indicate.

“Well, that’s fine. Nanny deserves to rest whenever she’d like to. Could you please have some cold drinks brought for us?”

“Of course, Tae Ko.”

Major Antelz cleared her throat and tilted her chin at the guards. I looked at the guards and realized that none of them had so much as touched the trays of food and drink that had been placed before each of them and they were still in the obeisance position.

Aggravated by this discourtesy, I called out to them. “Do Zanskan guards not have any manners? In Astmenai, refusing food is an insult to one’s host.”

The guard who had spoken to me before lifted her head in startle ment and I in turn gaped as I saw that she had smeared some kind of paint across her eyes, much like I had at the Pel Zhi, a ritual my tribe had performed before each hunt or battle and that I had done merely to honor the tradition of my homeland.

While I had just slopped on some wood pitch that happened to be at hand, the guard had applied hers carefully in a rectangle across the width of her face with the top line just above her eyebrows and the bottom line bisecting her nose about halfway down.

I rose and went to stand before the guard. “What is this? Are you mocking my traditions?”

The guard’s eyes went wide with consternation. “Tae Ko, we wished to honor your traditions, not mock them. We humbly apologize if we have offended you. Please forgive us lowly ones.”

Flummoxed, I returned to my seat on the top step and beckoned at her with one hand. She rose hurriedly, brushed the dust from her knees and came to stand before me, her posture rigid as she gave me a deep bow.

I sat in silence for a long moment, considering the situation and trying to decide what to do about it. “What is your name?” I asked the guard.

“Karo Bomi, Tae Ko.”

Speaking more loudly, I addressed the rows of kneeling guards. “Please get to your feet. I want to see your faces.”

They all obeyed, standing stiff and rigid, but with their eyes cast downward as was protocol when standing before a noble.

I looked them over and did not see a single one with the silver embroidery at the collar that would have indicated that they were at an Adept power level, which was disappointing but not a deal breaker. They were all rather young and I knew the secret to making them, along with their wolves, stronger, just as I’d done with Liam. I also noted that a handful had also painted their faces like Karo had.

I returned my attention to Karo Bomi, taking her measure. Her black hair was tied back in a severe tail and her nails were trimmed short. Her knee high boots gleamed and her uniform was immaculate, despite her having been kneeling in gravel and sweltering under the summer sun. She looked serious and earnest and in excellent physical shape. Despite my earlier reservations, I was inclined to give this young woman a chance.

Finally, I looked at Liam. “They seem determined.”

He nodded and said, “We are not short on guards, but considering all that is going on, perhaps we could do with a few more. What say you, Major Antelz?”

Major Antelz turned her hawks’ eyes on the guard and I could see the other woman trying not to wilt under the Major’s severe gaze. “Mayhap.” the Major said in a musing tone. “But,” and now she addressed the guard directly, “what makes you think you are worthy of being the personal guards to Tae Ko?”

The young woman licked her lips nervously and seemed to be considering her words. After a moment of hesitation, instead of verbally replying, she took a few steps away from the Major and shifted her body into a fighting stance.

Major Antelz, in a rare show of emotion, grinned, flashing her dimples for just a split second before returning to her usual, stoic expression. Without changing her own stance at all, she extended one hand and beckoned at the guard with her fingers while her other hand remained behind her back.

Karo Bomi never stood a chance.

She rushed at the Major and to her credit, executed a flurry of punches and kicks that were impressive. Or they would have been had she landed a single blow.

Major Antelz dodged or blocked each fist or foot without even seeming like she was trying at all. The way that she bent and flexed and twisted to avoid Karo’s blows made her seem like her body had turned to liquid. I stood there, wide eyed and staring in awe.

Liam spoke with a note of pride in his voice. “I told you she knocks me down everytime we spar.”

I could only nod, too intent on the display before me. Within minutes, Karo’s face was flushed with exertion and she was panting, while the Major seemed like she was doing nothing more than taking a leisurely stroll through the garden.

When Karo executed a high spinning kick, I thought that the Major was done for since she didn’t even twitch as if to avoid the younger woman’s attack. Instead, in an almost casual movement, the Major lifted her hand, caught Karo by the ankle and with a powerful twist of her arm, flung the guard spinning through the air before landing in the gravel and rolling several feet before coming to a stop. I winced in sympathy for the gravel had to have hurt when landing on it with such force.

Karo groaned and then pushed herself up, shaking her head as if to clear it of the stars that were surely swimming through her vision. With an effort, she got back to her feet, though she wobbled a little bit and seemed to favor the leg the Major had grabbed just a bit.

With a growl, she rushed the Major a second time and spent the next few minutes furiously trying to attack, again to no avail as it ended with the Major flinging her to the ground, once more knocking the wind out of her.

Two more rounds later and Karo struggled to her feet, visibly swaying now, her hands and face covered in a thousand small scratches from falling on the gravel and her hair in wild disarray as it had come out of its tie at some point during the third round. She was panting hard and a river of sweat poured down her face.

In a quiet voice, Liam asked me, “Have you noticed that Major Antelz hasn’t even tried offense? And that her left hand is still behind her back?”

My eyebrows quirked up in surprise but when I thought about it, Liam was right. I suddenly felt a twinge of pity for Karo Bomi. Though I was no expert, she seemed to fight well; she was simply no match for the formidable Major Antelz.

The fifth round ended with Karo once more tumbling through the gravel and coming to a rest face down. Shakily, she got to her hands and knees and stayed that way for a moment, straggles of sweaty hair dangling around her face as she tried to catch her breath.

Eventually, she got back to her feet and I frowned with concern when I saw a trail of blood dribbling down her face from a cut on her eyebrow. I opened my mouth to say something, but Liam put a hand on my elbow. “That is minor. If she can’t fight past that, she has no place in the citadel guards, let alone in your personal guard.”

I fretted at my lip but I knew that he was right. In a real battle, guards would have to fight to the bloody end.

As Karo swayed in place, the Major lifted her hand in a halting motion. “Enough. You haven’t shown me anything that convinces me that you are fit to be Tae Ko’s personal guard.”

Karo’s lips peeled back in a snarl and she launched herself at Major Antelz once more, her anger seeming to refuel her. She sent a barrage of punches at the Major, who once more deflected them with ease. Suddenly, Karo propelled herself backward several steps and stood still, her breath harsh and ragged.

After a few seconds, she lifted a clenched hand and extended it toward the Major. Spreading her fingers wide, she showed that she was holding a tiny onyx pin in the shape of a black willow tree.

I made a small sound of surprise upon seeing what Karo held in her hand for it was the pin the Major wore at her collar, a symbol of her clan affiliation, the Black Willow clan.

Liam clapped his hands several times and called out to the exhausted guard. “Well done, Karo Bomi.”

Karo bowed to Liam, said, “You honor me, Tae Han.” She then promptly collapsed, no longer able to hold herself upright. Before she fell all the way down though, the Major was there to catch her and eased her the rest of the way down.

The Major, still in a crouch, spent a moment looking down at the exhausted woman at her feet and then looked at Liam. “I like her. She has fire in her belly.”

Liam grinned and nodded in agreement.

The Major took her pin from Karo’s hand and pinned it back onto her collar. “Clever move. You knew you weren’t going to land a blow, so you took my pin instead knowing I wasn’t guarding against that.”

Karo’s voice was strained with her harsh breathing. “Yes, Major Antelz. I thought it might be better than nothing.”

Major Antelz gave Karo an approving look. She rose to her feet and gestured at a couple of the guards, who came to lift Karo to her feet and held her up with her arms around their shoulders.

The Major came to stand at the bottom of the steps, once more tucking both hands behind her back. “She’s in need of more training, but I’d say she’s capable of being a personal guard. If the rest have half of her determination, they may make a good squad.”

I shared a look with Liam and he nodded his head. I had only his and the Major’s assurances that these people had the skills to do the job since I didn’t know much about Zanskan fighting techniques. It seemed a lot more sophisticated than what I’d learned in Astmenai and from what I’d gathered in the last month, Liam was a talented fighter and the Major was even better. And after witnessing what I just had, I could believe the Major knew what she was talking about.

Before committing though, I asked, “But can they fight with weapons? I see only a few of them have swords or moon staffs. Surely any guards around me or the crown prince should know weaponry.”

The Major turned her piercing eyes on me. “Tae Ko, all citadel guards have weapons training. I don’t know their rankings, but I can pull their records to see what the Training Steward has said about their aptitudes.”

Somewhat reassured, I nodded and turned my attention to the guards still standing in rows in front of my home. “Well, they certainly have discipline. Not only have they been out here slowly roasting in the sun, but they uttered not one sound as you and Karo Bomi sparred.”

The Major simply nodded, waiting for my decision.

I rose to my feet and looked at Karo and the two guards still supporting her. “Very well, Karo Bomi, I will take you and these others as my personal guard. But-” I raised a hand to hush her before she could respond. “This is on a trial basis. We will be evaluating your official records, as well as your training records. If any should not meet our requirements, they will be expelled and will return to their former squad.

“Additionally, you will depart in three days time with Major Antelz for a training expedition.” I belatedly shot a glance at the Major and thankfully she seemed to be amenable by giving me a short nod of her head.

“You will be learning some new techniques of working with your wolves and I will re-evaluate your power levels on your return. Any who fail to show a significant power increase will be expelled.”

I hesitated for just a second before giving them the final requirement. “And within six months time, each of you must be an Adept.”

Their discipline broke finally and gasps and murmurs ran through the lines of guards. I raised my hand again and they quieted. “This may seem harsh, but what you will learn on the training expedition should take you far in acquiring a new power level. All of Tae Han’s personal guards are Adepts and surely you must agree that my own should be just as strong.”

There were some nods of agreement, but more than half of the guards looked skeptical.

“This is what you wanted. Are there any objections?”

A few people looked nervous but no one spoke up. “Good. And one last thing. If any of you discuss what you learn with Major Antelz or betray any of my or Tae Han’s secrets, not only will you be expelled from my personal guard, but you’ll be expelled from the citadel guards, as well. Failure to keep my trust will have dire consequences.”

And with that, I returned to my seat on the porch. “Major Antelz, will you please make arrangements for them to join Liam’s guards in their barracks?”

The Major, not even looking like she’d just had a terrific sparring match under the blazing heat of the summer sun, nodded and took her leave.

I called out to the guards. “Please get Karo Bomi to the infirmary. The rest of you may return to your barracks. Word will be sent to you about the schedule for the training expedition. In the meantime, I suggest you all get some rest tonight and spend the next couple of days at the training yard.”

The guards all gave me a deep bow of their heads and left in an orderly fashion.

Once they were all gone, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Liam sounded proud as he said, “That was well done, wife. I hadn’t expected you to have stipulations.”

I shrugged. “It seemed the sensible thing to do. But I am sorry I stole Major Antelz away from you without talking to you first. The idea just sort of popped into my head and came out of my mouth before I could think it through.”

He gave me a crooked smile. “I’ll have to rearrange some of the tasks that she does for me, but it shouldn’t be a problem. She is the best person to begin their training and your safety is far more important to me than administrative tasks.

“You were thinking of how you taught us to communicate with our wolves, yes?”

“Mhm. What better way to get their power levels up and quickly? Perhaps she can even take them to Twisted Pines. It was an excellent location for training with the wolves.”

He smiled fondly and reached out a hand toward me. I took it and smiled back. Twisted Pines had been a wonderful experience and we both had learned many things during our stay there.

After a few minutes, I stood and dusted myself off. “Come, husband. We still have to finish packing.”