Page 41 of Forcing Fate

“It’s a mending,” I stated.

Normally, I treated incidents with Vivian and her type with feigned indifference. They could never really hurt me, so I let them rage. But today was different. That was General Rafe’s tunic. He would have my head if anything happened to it. It didn’t help that I was running late to meet the Horse Master. If I didn’t get moving, I would make a terrible first impression.

“You’ve been spending a lot of time on the barracks’ side.” Vivian tossed the package in the air, then hugged it to her chest.

I held in my snarky reply. “I’m assigned to the Masters there.”

“We’ve heard things.” One of Vivian’s minions offered her best fearful glare.

“I’m sure you have.” Rolling a shoulder, I held out my hand, waiting. I faced down the Demon General. A little girl didn’t scare me.

Vivian clutched the package, leaning in to whisper as if it was some terrible, juicy rumor set on destroying me. “Things about you being around men… things about you being immodest.”

I didn’t manage to stop the roll of my eyes, though I tried to keep my next words as placating as possible. “The men are soldiers. They’re doing their job and I’m doing mine.”

“They say the General slapped you around… put you in your place.” The other minion curled her fingers, examining her nails.

“He did no such thing,” I shot back, though the seed of truth to her words warmed my cheeks in a shameful blush.

“But he touched you.” Vivian hurried to challenge.

I had no argument there. He did. And in public, no less. The soldiers witnessed our exchange, and word got around. I lifted my chin and calmed myself, reigning in my emotions. They had no place here.

“Give me the package, Vivian.” I stared at her, daring her to make a move.

I was angry, and I never felt angry during these confrontations. It was just Vivian’s way of interacting with the world. She was a bully, but harmless. I had nothing to fear, and yet anxiety zipped through my veins, urging my fight-or-flight instinct.

“What else did he do to you, I wonder? I’ve heard–”

I moved as quick as a viper and snatched the package from her hands, silencing her. She threw her head back and laughed while her minions snickered. I just gave in to the bait. I cursed myself and spun on my heel, seeing red.

My strides were brisk and clipped. I showed my orders to the guards, wanting to slap them when they didn’t take them, but just nodded me toward Willhelm.

Willhelm stood there, leaning in his usual place against the gatepost, watching me with hooded eyes. He had to have seen everything… maybe even overhead everything, too.

I knew my reputation was at risk when I didn’t ask a man to defend my honor. General Rafe treating me so poorly in public didn’t help things either. But I never thought there’d be rumors suggesting I slept with him, like some village prostitute.

Willhelm straightened and nodded to the guards before leading me through the streets. I stared at the ground and walked at his elbow, seething in silence.

“Well, out with it,” he urged.

I glared at him, then back at the ground.

He chuckled. “What were they on about?” he asked.

Taking a deep breath through my nose and steady exhale, I put my mind back in order. “Rumors are flying about me,” I stated, hating how those words sounded.

He nodded with a knowing look. “Yes, they are.”

“You knew?” I asked, surprised that he would participate in gossip.

“I’ve heard bits here and there.” He shrugged. “Some soldiers confirm it, others deny it, but what does it matter?”

“It matters!” I bit out, trying to rein in my ever-growing temper. “You might not care about reputation as a man, but as a woman, it means a lot!”

Willhelm stopped and faced me, eyebrows raised at my tone. “Do I hear that right? From the same mouth that has so often argued that she didn’t want to be treated like a woman? That she is to be a Dragon Rider, and being a woman didn’t matter?” he mused.

I ducked away from his intense gaze. How could I tell him that even though I said it didn’t matter, I still felt like it did? How could I explain that I wanted to defy the odds my gender placed on me? Just because I didn’t want it to define me, didn’t make it hurt any less when people thought ill of me for it.

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