Page 70 of Shadows of Winter

“My men will make sure you’re ready for that and more. You’re to train to become a ranger.”

“What?” That wasn’t what she’d come north for. They couldn’t conscript her, could they? Women didn’t even become rangers, did they? She hadn’t seen any when she visited the headquarters. “You can’t just— I have a dream. This.” She pointed to the castle and to the table where the mead had spilled. “You can’t walk in and give me a new career.”

A career where people didn’t live to see retirement. She didn’t know how to fight, and all rangers did was fight.

Vlerion didn’t appear surprised by his captain’s words.

“You’re a kingdom subject, aren’t you?” Targon asked.

“Yes, but—”

“Then you will do what your people need.”

“The meadery—”

“Can be run by your brother. He’s the brains, isn’t he?” Targon pointed toward the notebook full of numbers still open at the end of the table, as if he was certain Frayvar had done that. Why did so many people know so much about them and their business?

“It’s my dream.” Kaylina crossed her arms over her chest.

“Now, you can have another dream.”

“Captain,” Vlerion said. “You can’t force people to join the rangers.”

“Watch me.”

“If you want the meadery to be taybarri free, then move her and her projects into ranger headquarters. But there’s no reason to—”

“There are many reasons to train and use an anrokk. Do not question me, Vlerion, or I’ll flog you myself. No, I’ll do one better than that.” Targon looked at Kaylina, calculation entering his eyes, before pinning Vlerion with his stare. “You’ll handle her training.”

For a stunned moment, Vlerion didn’t speak. When he did, it was only after he’d frowned over at Crenoch, who’d woken from his nap and lifted his head to gaze at Kaylina.

“I am not interested in that duty,” Vlerion said stiffly.

“Too bad. While you’re teaching her to fight, knock some respect into her. She won’t make it long in the north if she can’t learn to say yes, my lord.” Targon waved at the taybarri and the rangers. “Everyone back to headquarters.”

Targon stalked out, leading the way.

Vlerion, after helping Crenoch to rise, looked darkly over his shoulder at Kaylina as he walked out.

He might have tried to help her, but he did not want this duty.

“Do you know what anrokk means?” Kaylina asked after the rangers had cleared out and only she and Frayvar remained in the courtyard.

“It’s an ancient Daygarii druid word. It’s someone who has an affinity for animals. For their kind, it meant a magical link. Since humans aren’t magical in any way that science has ever been able to prove, when we use the word to describe people, it means animals are drawn to them, usually for reasons known only to the animals.”

“That’s silly. The taybarri like honey and know we have it. That’s it.”

“None of them have licked me.” Did he sound envious?

She would gladly give him this affinity. Then Frayvar could go train as a ranger. Except, he couldn’t. With his frail frame, awkwardness, and wheeze that came on with exercise, he was a more unlikely warrior than she.

“I don’t get it, Fray. I’m not an anrokk. I like animals, but it’s not like they communicate with me or treat me differently than they do others.”

“No? You’ve never noticed that all of Grandpa’s hounds like to sleep in your bed?”

“I notice when there’s no room in the bed for me.”

“Even the bees like you. You’ve never been stung.”

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