Page 102 of Forcing Fate

“That’s mine,” I said flatly, knowing I sounded like a child, but having no other recourse.

“So it is. Here.”

He tossed it at me, and I caught it, gripping it tight.

“Put it on, then.”

I glared, glancing at Niehm as she crossed her arms, fuming. I unfastened my belt and held up my trousers with one hand while trying to thread the sheath onto my right side.

“No. You want it on your less dominant side,” he growled.

He batted my hand away and tugged the sheath to my left side. My breath slid out in a hiss as his arm bumped me. My heart sped up, and this overwhelming desire to jerk away and run as fast as I could overcame me.

“General Rafe, I have to say–”

“You have nothing to say.” He cut Niehm off as he let go of my belt.

I jerked it through the loops on my trousers a second time. When his hand sought my chin again, I sidestepped out of his reach, shying away from his touch.

Niehm’s blade sang as she unsheathed it. Shocked, I forced my jaw to stay shut. She stood, sword drawn, glaring at General Rafe with all the righteous indignation in the world.

“Don’t touch her.”

Her shortsword was pointed to the ground and, in technical terms, she had not drawn on him yet. The few people milling about the vendors paid us no mind. I wasn’t sure exactly how Generals ranked against Masters but I doubted she had the authority to challenge him.

“School Master… put it away.”

General Rafe’s dark eye bore into mine, but his attention was on the sword behind him. I saw it in the way he angled his body—if he had to fight her, he could turn quickly.

“Soldier or not, she is a woman. Men do not touch us unless we invite it.” Niehm spoke through bared teeth.

If she only knew how many touches he had taken already.

“Niehm it’s alright–”

“No, it’s not.” Niehm’s voice raised with outrage. “It’s not alright at all. You cannot let him walk over you–”

General Rafe spun and grabbed Niehm’s arm as she attempted to snap her sword up in defense. He pried the weapon from her hands and tossed it to the side. She backed away, and he advanced on her like a cat cornering a mouse.

“General Rafe!” I called quietly, trying not to attract attention. This was unseemly. Masters and Generals did not fight like this. I didn’t want anyone to get into trouble because of me.

“I will. I will walk all over her if I wish,” he ground out. He crowded her against the barracks’ wall. “I will order her, I will touch her, I will discipline her. She is mine. If I want her to kiss my boot, she will. She no longer belongs to you.”

He slammed his fists on either side of her head, boxing her in. She trembled, but not with terror—she was livid. Her green eyes blazed as her lip curled up in a silent snarl.

“She gave up any right she had as a woman when she signed the contract to be a soldier. She has the rights of a soldier, and that’s it. Nothing else.”

He leaned in to whisper something in her ear, and her hand shot up. He snatched her wrist before she could land her slap. A small, arrogant smile slipped over his lips before he shoved her hand away and backed up a step.

“Stay on your side, Master. Get between me and my soldiers again, and we’re going to have a problem.”

Niehm held her chin high and retrieved her sword, sheathing it.

“Avyanna. Good day,” she said.

She turned her back on us to walk along the wall toward the gate. I watched her fiery red hair blow in the wind as she went. She had a fierce temper, but even I understood she couldn’t afford to go up against the General.

I looked back at him, puzzled to see that he was frowning after her. His black clothes were dusty and the cloth covering his eye seemed worse for the wear. He turned on me and I braced myself.

---