Chapter 8

Anelie woke in darkness.

She blinked, getting her bearings. The inn. She was in her room at the inn. Nude, on top of her blankets.

With her hand between her legs.

Well, that confirmed the fleeting images she still had from her last dream. Allowing herself a sad chuckle, Anelie spread her thighs a bit, removing her hand. She wiped the two wet fingers on the fabric as she sat up.

The dream had not been about Shanna.

She knew that. There might have been other dreams that night, now forgotten, involving the brown skinned goddess, but the last had featured a trim, light skinned beauty. Who, she couldn't say. She couldn't picture her face, at least not now that she was awake. The girl's touch had been gentle. Loving...

Anelie shook her head. There was no point torturing herself like this. Not now. She had a job. A mission. Feeling sorry about her lack of companionship was not going to make it any easier, so she had to stop. Accept. Woman up.

Be who she was.

Anelie slipped off the bed, not bothering with a light. That day's clothing, only worn once so far on their journey, sat on a stool. Grabbing the panties from on top, she slipped them on. Then slipped them back off, remembering she was surrounded by at least some luxuries that morning. Walking to the open window, she saw the water basin outlined in the pre-dawn light, a sponge beside it. A sigh of feminine pleasure escaping from her lips, she wet the sponge and began to wash.

The common room was empty. That was to be expected. Anelie was usually the first one up, mental clock insisting she wake early. Unless it was a rest day. Somehow, her body knew to adjust its schedule, for which she was grateful. One of the many reasons she liked her body.

Noise came from the inn's lit kitchen. Adjusting her uniform, Anelie made her way across the room. Through the doorway she saw Jaromira cross her view. Lewy's wife wore a simple purple dress, a full white apron tied across her front. Her black hair was tied back in a simple ponytail, functional, giving her face a somewhat severe look. Reaching the doorway, Anelie stopped, a hand on the frame.

"Morning, Jaromira."

"Good morning, Lady." Jaromira gave her a brief nod, hands in a large glass bowl. A wave of incredible scents came to Anelie. She straightened, eyes wide.

"This can't be breakfast!"

"No, Lady." Her voice was harsh yet amused. "As long as we had access to a kitchen, I figured I'd bake a couple days worth of bread. That Felek lad found a shop that sold rye flour and other goods while he was out, and it was delivered after you retired." Anelie now saw the trays of round bread cooling. Jaromira must have started the dough rising hours ago. She also realized what Jaromira was mixing.

"Cookies? You're making cookies?"

"I have time, and they bake quickly. They'll last longer than the bread on the road, not that stale bread dipped in stew isn't still good enough for soldiers."

"I've just decided to promote Lewy."

"Good." Jaromira began forming the sticky dough into balls, placing them on an empty tray. "Now, if you'll forgive me..."

Anelie walked out into the yard, warm cookie in hand. The morning air was cool, almost cold compared to the kitchen. She shivered, enjoying the change.

Klocia pushed herself away from the wagon, coming to attention as Anelie approached the horses. They were milling around, peacefully. As Anelie watched, one let out a stream of piss. It was a good thing horses were beautiful and useful, or few would tolerate them. She let her hand run down the side of Bogdi's mount as she passed.

"Lady," Klocia said, saluting. Anelie returned it, smiling. Noticing the girl's eyes on the cookie still in her hand, she lowered it.

"Want some? Fresh made." She broke it in half, handing the smaller piece over. Klocia looked at it, uncertain.

"Um ... thanks, My Lady." She took it, fingers brushing Anelie. Anelie lifted hers up, taking a bite. She closed her eyes.

"Mmmm ... cookies for breakfast. I could get used to that."

"I've seen Lady Jaromira moving around through the kitchen windows for hours. I don't think she went to sleep."

"That's the kind of dedication I like." Anelie put the rest of the cookie in her mouth, licking her fingers. "I wish her luck trying to sleep once we're on our way, though."

Klocia shot her gaze away as Anelie looked at her. Knowing, or at least having heard rumor, of the girl's feelings made Anelie ... excited. She shouldn't be. Her own "crush" had been, was, no laughing matter, and neither should the girl's. Shrugging, she leaned back against the wagon, eyes on the far gate and the town beyond. After a few moments, Klocia leaned back beside her.

"You doing OK?" Anelie asked. She wiped her hands on her pants.

"Um ... Yes. Yes, Lady Anelie. I'm doing well."

"We've hardly given you any training yet."

"That's OK, My Lady. You've taught us a lot!"

"Not as much as I would have liked." She looked at the blonde teen. "It's not like I can send you home if one of you can't cut it. It would be a long walk."

"We'll be fine, My Lady. We'll do our jobs."

"It's me doing mine I'm worried about." She looked up into the sky, the stars no longer visible. "I wish Shanna was leading this."

"I ... I think you're a great commander, Lady Anelie."

She heard herself in that voice. Heard countless conversations with Shanna over the years. Was this how Shanna had felt? Had her endless praising, worshiping ... Anelie mentally shook her head to clear it. What was done was done. Shanna had not chosen her. She had to move on.

"I need you, all of you, to be honest with me, Klocia. Tell me when you have problems. Obey me without question, of course," she added, grinning, getting the same in return, "but I want to know where you think you're weak. Where we need to build you up."

"We will, Lady."

"Good." She looked off into the distance. "I know I'm hard on you. Harder than I am on the men, really. Probably why the other girls couldn't hack it. But I want you to succeed. I want women warriors. An army of Dark Hussars worthy of Shanna."

Klocia stiffened beside her at the same moment Anelie noticed the movement. Someone was approaching the gate. She leaned forward, eyes focusing. It was a female Kikker. In fact, it was...

"It's the girl who brought us here," Klocia said. Yes, Anelie saw. It was. She grinned at her companion.

"Your eyes are as good as mine. Let's see what the she wants."

The Kikker girl stopped a few feet from the gate, obviously seeing the two Poles approaching. Anelie tried to remember her name. Olay? Ofay? She hadn't really been paying attention. As Shanna had said many times, if as Commander you're not sure, fake it.

"Hello again," she said, stopping two paces from the gate. Klocia set herself beside her, hand on her sword pommel. Unnecessary, but Anelie liked the instinctive-ness of the action. The Kikker stepped back another half pace. "What can we do for you, this early in the morning?"

"I..." The girl licked her lips. "I need to talk to Issa."

"He's asleep, if he knows what's good for him. Who knows when we'll sleep in real beds again. What do you need?"

"P-please." She bowed her head. "Please, take me with you."

"What?" Anelie shook her head. "No. Of course not."

"I have to go with you!" The girl grabbed the gate, webbed hands wrapping around the wooden struts. "Please! Take me!"

Klocia stepped forward, drawing her sword. The Kikker jumped back, as if struck. Anelie folded her arms across her chest.

"We are not some escort service for runaways. Go on! Scat!"

Klocia raised her sword. The girl turned and ran.

"That was a little much, Klocia," Anelie said, eyes following the retreating teen. The soldier shrugged as she re-sheathed her sword.

"If she was that serious about it, she wouldn't have run."

"True." The door to the inn opened, Lewy pausing in the doorway to say something to someone still inside. Anelie put her hand on Klocia's shoulder. "Come on. The day is starting."

They rode through the eastern gate just as the bottom of the sun rose above the horizon. There was no gawking crowd to see them off, the town just on the verge of waking. Neither were there teen girls. Anelie had kept an eye out for her, certain she would try again as they set out. Again, if it had been important, if she had been serious...

Felek let out a contented sigh beside her.

"I honestly don't know which I enjoy more," he said. "stopping for a well deserved rest, or setting out again."

"Staying there was a good idea," she agreed. "The civilians needed it." Anelie caught one of his eyebrows raising. She ignored it. "I don't know how often we'll be able to do it."

"We'll play it by ear. The longer we go, the less we'll be able to do it. We got a good price for the rooms, but what silver and gold we have is better spent on food."

"Do I want to know what those eggs came from?"

"Probably not. They were good, if a little greener than chicken eggs." Felek looked around as they crossed a wooden bridge over a small stream, tributary to the slightly larger one running through the town behind them. "Any predictions as to our course?"

Anelie scoffed.

"The road only goes east, so that had better be the way. If we're turning around, I'll be pissed."

"There's always cross country," Felek said happily. She growled as he looked behind them. "Ruta! Direction check!"

"Straight ahead!"

Anelie let out a relieved sigh. Sooner or later the path would turn difficult. Later would be better.

"Stop!"

Anelie reined in sharply at Ruta's cry. Felek's response was even faster, his mount turned and heading back towards her almost before her shout had ended. Anelie followed down the other side of the column, frowning as the startled Issa brought the wagon to a stop. Her eyes swept the countryside.

"What is it?" Felek asked, hand on his sword. Behind the wagon, Bogdi was ordering the recruits off to either side of the column. Ruta just shook her head.