Page 92 of Forcing Fate

He flashed a comical grin. “That’s the funniest thing I’ve seen in some time.”

“Thanks,” I grumbled, pushing past him.

The rest of the recruits headed for a field lined with benches. I spotted Commander Dewal talking to another man and started toward them.

The bounty hunter cleared his throat, and I glanced back to find out what he was drawing my attention to.

General Rafe stared down at me, laughter dancing in his eye.

Don’t say anything. Not a word.

He smirked, holding out a small but wicked-looking knife. I squinted at it and blinked, confused.

“Put a hole in the belt, so it will hold up your trousers, soldier.” He definitely found this amusing.

I fumbled with my belt, unfastening it and pulling it tight against me. I gingerly took the knife, its silver edge glinting in the sun, and pressed it into the leather.

“Dung heaps, girl!” The General cursed, snatching the knife. “Never cut with the blade toward you.”

He yanked on my belt, pulling it tighter. I cringed, leaning as far away as I could from his huge frame as he sank the point into the leather, creating another hole. He pulled back and nodded in satisfaction. I threaded the belt and fastened it in the new hole, bracing myself as I released the trousers. They stayed on my hips, though I didn’t know if I trusted them enough to be crawling in.

The General reached for me, and I flinched. He frowned and grabbed the hanging excess of my belt and cut it off with a quick slice of his knife.

“Go,” he growled, all amusement gone.

I spun and headed to the benches, scanning the rows for the bounty hunter. He sat alone in the back, and I took my seat next to him.

“Friend of yours?”

“Definitely not.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

I shifted in my seat to study the patch sewn to my sleeve near my shoulder. The single sword indicated the lowest rank of soldier. I fingered the tight black threads. It amused me that wearing a rough tunic suddenly made me a soldier. I wasn’t simply a woman trying to join the ranks anymore. It was real now.

My hands brushed over my legs, still not used to the sensation. The trousers were dark brown, almost black. Either someone had done a poor dye job, or they had been bleached lighter by the sun.

I wiggled my toes in my tan boots, the only thing that set me apart from the men. On the outside, anyway. Thanks to my days working in the laundry rooms, I learned my under-breeches differed from the men’s, but no one could see those. I was blessed to be so thin that I did not have to bind my chest like some women. I could forgo that undergarment, at least.

The warm sun beat on me and I struggled to keep my eyes open as I waited for Commander Dewal’s next orders. Earlier, I overheard that tomorrow we would be split into divisions and companies. I wouldn’t mind serving under Commander Dewal’s charge. He didn’t let me get by with anything, but treated me the same as any soldier. He didn’t even acknowledge that I was different. I appreciated that.

A figure caught my attention as they lifted their leg over the bench to sit next to me. I turned and smiled.

“Willhelm,” I greeted.

His gaze flicked to the bounty hunter, then to me. A frown creased his brow, but he settled himself. “Avyanna.”

The bounty hunter simply acted as if he didn’t know me—it was a mere chance we sat together.

With a mental shrug, I turned back to Willhelm.

“How did the weapons inspection go?” he asked.

“It went well.” I rubbed my sore arms. “Swords are heavier than I thought they would be.”

Willhelm chuckled, leaning forward to place his elbows on his knees. “They are. You held a longsword today. They’ll have you practice with every weapon to find what you fight best with. I doubt a longsword would be what suits you.”

“I’ll train with every weapon?”

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