Page 160 of Forcing Fate

Collins choked on a laugh, blushing when I looked at him.

“I will teach her,” General Rafe stated. “First, they’re not skeletons. They’re flesh and blood like you and me. You can gut them just the same. However, the way they fight is entirely different from us. You’ll rarely find a blade on any of them, and if you do, you’ve lucked out and found a weak one.”

I squinted in skepticism. If they didn’t use weapons, then how did they fight?

“They use magic. They control people, animals—the more intelligent the prey, the bigger the trophy.” He leaned forward and leveled a steady gaze at me. “That’s why they wear the bones of their kills. It’s a trophy to them. Some of the most dangerous carry human bones, which means their magic was strong enough to control a human. If you ever see one that wears a suit of bones that looks like a dragon, you’re as good as dead.”

“They wear dragon bones? Some have controlled a dragon?” I interrupted. I had never heard of such a thing. The idea that they could take freedom from such large and powerful beasts was horrifying.

“Aye. The ones with that level of power are known as Shamans. They can control a dragon, with or without its Rider. After the kill, they make a suit of bones, mimicking the dragon’s shape, and wear it as bragging rights—and a warning.

“That’s why it’s so hard to fight them. They can control our men. No matter how many we throw at the front, they turn them on one another. That’s also the reason that if you make it through a week of fighting, you can usually make it longer.”

He paused, and I took the advantage to question him. “How do they control us? Is it just their magic? Is there no way to avoid it?”

“Little one,” Jamlin chuckled. “She’s like a child. Full of questions.”

General Rafe turned a hard eye on him before returning his focus on me. “Their eyes.”

My gaze immediately went to his concealed eye. He waited, judging me, daring me to say something. I frowned and studied his face. He waited in anticipation for my reaction. His gaze dipped down to my mouth, a silent reminder of his promise if I revealed his secret. Did he think I would mention it in front of his Tennan? Did he think so little of my promise to him?

“Avoid their gaze. Once you look into their eyes, they can steal your soul. Your eyes are the key, and if you meet their gaze, they unlock that door and control you however they wish. You’ll be training with the men to fight without eye contact.”

I ground my teeth together. That was what we were taught as soldiers, to watch the eyes. A person’s gaze could hint as to how they would attack. Watching their eyes helped anticipate their movements. Not utilizing that ability would put me at a disadvantage.

“That being said, there are many who could control you, though most simply control beasts. Creatures roam the battlefield, preying on our men. They aren’t like the animals you know here. They are creatures of nightmares, pieced together.

“There’s one known to take to the battlefield that is half-sea monster, half-wolf. Another I killed was half-wild cat, half-horse. They stitch them together and keep them alive with their magic. We call them the Hunters, and you’ll find yourself fighting them far more often than the Shadows. You need to remember you’re always after the Shadow behind the Hunter. If you only slay the Hunter, another will rise in its place. Slay the Shadow, and its Hunters will die.”

“How do you find the Shadow?” I asked.

“That’s the hard part. The army is far too busy fighting Hunters and our own turned-soldiers to focus on the real threat. The Shadow Men hide deep in the Sky Trees, controlling their Hunters from the furthest distance possible.

“They know their weaknesses and strengths and fight accordingly. They’re not fools, and you’ll never have the upper hand with them. Never forget that. You’re always going to be weaker than they are. They’ve been at this far longer than you’ve been alive. They know their trade.” He sat back and rolled his shoulders to stretch his neck. His dark eye glittered as he watched me take this in.

“Why are they after dragons?” I asked.

“Dragon parts are important to their magic. The only sure way to draw them out is when they slay a dragon. Then they fight and squabble like vultures over carrion. They’ll carry everything away in pieces if left to it. It’s possible dragons have a magic they do not, or perhaps they bolster their own magic. It’s not clear, and we cannot sacrifice a dragon to find out.”

I thought about that. Was that really the only reason they fought us? They wanted our dragons? They were a weapon the King would not give up willingly. The dragons and their Riders helped us maintain peace throughout our lands. They were the biggest and most effective weapon for deterring invaders.

“Let’s also clear up this ‘their seed doesn’t take’ nonsense,” Rafe added. “It would take—were it allowed.”

My gaze sharpened on him, and Xzanth stood abruptly, stalking off into the darkness. I watched him go before returning my shocked stare to General Rafe.

“There are no records of children born out of their raids,” I stated. It was true. I had never stumbled upon a record of a half-Shadow child.

“Having no records doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened. Women are forced to drink the purging tea after a raid. Don’t think they started that to err on the side of caution.”

My mouth dropped in horror. I lived in a women’s dorm. How could I not hear of this? We always made a special tea for women who came after a raid, but it was a blend to calm and relax them. One that was made to ease their fears and help them settle into a normal life. Not a purging tea. Not a tea that forced their bodies to begin its moon cycle, emptying their womb.

My eyebrows met in a fierce frown. “How would you know this, sir?” I added the formality in anger.

“You are a soldier. I am a soldier. When the King orders us to see something through, we do.” He leaned forward as I jumped to my feet, and he snatched my wrist in a painful hold. “You don’t get to ask questions or debate morality as a soldier. Remember that, Vy.”

So that was why he shared this with me. He wanted me to acknowledge that if he told me to do something, and I doubted it was the right thing to do, I would still be required to carry it out.

“Yes, sir,” I hissed, pulling my hand away.

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