Page 171 of Forcing Fate

“Another woman would be concerned for your virtue,” Xzanth clarified.

“Oi,” I sighed, dropping into a crouch to start on the gelding’s tail. Brambles and large thorny seed pods were nestled in the coarse hair.

“You’ve been whisked off to a hidden location, isolated with a group of men. She was… upset,” Willhelm said with a shrug.

“Well, tell her I’m learning to fight better and can hold my own.”

“In armed combat?”

“Aye.”

Willhelm looked to Xzanth. “Truth?”

“She’s shown marked improvement,” he replied, eyeing Willhelm through his long hair.

“That’s good to hear.” Willhelm’s eyes sparkled with pride. So far, his advice had proved true… after a week, at least.

I finished cleaning the gelding’s hooves and handed him off to a stableboy.

“Come, little one,” Xzanth said quietly, heading in the direction of the fortress.

“Farewell, Willhelm,” I called, waving to him as I followed.

Humming as I walked, a smile lit my face. I was thankful Xzanth allowed me to come and talk with Willhelm. Even the shortest conversation meant something when it came from a friend.

We returned to the fortress as the sun neared the treeline. Dane tended the fire, glancing up as we approached. A pile of hares lay next to him, ready to be cooked.

Dane preferred to keep to himself—a silent hunter, always observing and rarely speaking. He was the quietest of the Tennan and had never spoken to me. He didn’t come across as rude, but rather withdrawn.

His twin, Blain, did the talking. That was the primary way I could tell them apart, That and which did any labor. Dane wasn’t afraid to work, but Blain detested it. If he couldn’t accomplish something with pure talent, he gave up. Unless, of course, General Rafe set him to it.

“It’s the girl!”

I turned at the sound of an unfamiliar voice and searched the clearing. Two men stood with General Rafe. One newcomer had short red hair with a long fiery beard braided tight. His hair was a shade more orange than the deep ruby of Niehm’s. He pointed at me, his pale face splitting in a smile.

The man beside him had simple brown hair and seemed fairly average. Nothing about him stood out from any other soldier. He eyed me before turning to General Rafe. I walked over with a nervous grin, wanting to be polite. They could have been the last to join our Tennan.

“–hands off.” I caught the end of General Rafe’s gruff words.

The redhead looked between me and Rafe with a knowing glint in his eye.

Rafe locked his gaze on mine, and my smile faltered. His eye was dark and held a hint of danger. I had given him no reason to be angry with me… so I closed the distance between us.

“Hail,” I called. “I’m Avyanna.”

“Hail. We know who you are, girl!” The redhead’s voice boomed larger than life. “You’ve been the talk of the barracks! I’m Tegan, this is Garion. General Rafe plucked us from our companies to join his Tennan. He took you as well, eh?”

“Hail, Garion,” I greeted. “He offered me a position, and I accepted,” I clarified.

General Rafe grunted and pushed past me to head into the fortress.

“I’d heard he was a prickly one… but my, my! He really does have a twig up his arse, doesn’t he?” Tegan muttered, watching Rafe disappear behind the doors.

“You’ll get used to it. He’s not too terrible.” I shrugged.

“I bet he’s not terrible to you,” Garion retorted.

My eyes narrowed as I studied him, ready to defend my reputation, but he was looking elsewhere. He didn’t seem to have meant the comment as rudely as I took it.

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