Song of Blood & Stone (Earthsinger Chronicles #1)(6)
Do what you think you can’t. She’d wanted to stop going to town, hide in the valley, and never hear grol spat at her with hatred or contempt again. But he wouldn’t let her. And now, even if she had somewhere else to go, she wouldn’t have left. This was her home. The only thing she had in the world. She would face anything to protect it.
It wasn’t long before the telltale clomp of boots announced the men. She hadn’t gotten a good look at them in the dark, but the cool, morning light revealed dirty uniforms and even dirtier faces. All except for their leader, a man of skin and bone, his narrow face overshadowed by both a giant, curling mustache and a blackened eye. He was clean and well-groomed, hair parted and shining with pomade.
She stood as they approached, shotgun dangling almost casually from the crook of her arm. The Elsiran, barely standing, was held upright by a soldier.
The leader spoke first. “Pleasant morning to you, miss. I am Tensyn ol-Trador, Honorable Sergeant of His Majesty the True Father’s royal army. My men and I are in need of food and shelter. We must speak with your father or husband.” His voice was high and nasally, like a human rat.
“This is my home.”
His eyebrows shot up, and he glanced back at his men, his mouth twisting into what perhaps was meant to be a smile. “You are alone?”
“I want no trouble here,” she responded. The Elsiran’s head popped up, he frowned and squinted at her, his bruised face freezing once he recognized her. Astonishment and sorrow settled across his features, and his shoulders slumped.
Her Song had regenerated over the many hours of travel, but she struggled to catch hold of Earthsong while keeping her attention on the men before her. The power skittered out of her grasp.
“We have been caught in the mountains by the storm and cannot make it to the capital until it passes. We are tasked with transporting this spy to face the True Father’s judgment.”
“An Elsiran spy? In your uniform?”
“Yes, he had been spelled to look like one of us. I witnessed it wear off with my own eyes, miss. There are traitorous souls infecting our land, working with our enemies. The Singer responsible for this spell is soon to meet the World After, I think. But that is a matter for the True Father to sort out.”
The soldier holding the Elsiran kicked at his legs, causing him to crumple, face-first, to the ground. His upper body heaved as he drew in jagged breaths, but he did not cry out. Jasminda held her breath, keeping her face rigid to hide her horror. The prisoner rolled awkwardly to his knees, then slowly struggled back to his feet. The soldiers beside him snickered as he wobbled before finding his balance. His head shot up defiantly.
Her breath escaped in a rush. The man she’d met the day before on the mountain had been somewhat peculiar, but also gentle. Even with the uniform, he’d struck her as a painter or poet who had fallen upon thieves or been mauled by an animal. She hadn’t truly believed him to be a soldier. But now, the sharp lines of his face had turned savage. With his sculpted cheekbones, decisive chin, and that cold power in his eyes, she wondered how these soldiers ever thought they had him cowed. How could she have thought him anything but a warrior?
She forced her gaze back to the sergeant who looked at her expectantly. He’d been speaking, but she hadn’t been paying attention. “Excuse me?”
“May we shelter here?” His tobacco-stained smile sent a cold chill rolling through her.
“You and your men may stay in the barn. I will bring you food and water.”
A collective grumble arose from the other soldiers. Sergeant Tensyn’s grin fell away. “The barn? You must be joking?”
“The cabin is quite small, as I’m sure you can see. Plus, I am not in the habit of inviting strange men into my home.”
He took a step closer to the porch, bringing his eyes level with her chest. Though his gaze reached her face quickly, she did not miss the route it took. “Miss . . . ?”
She clenched her jaw. “Jasminda ul-Sarifor.”
“Miss Jasminda. As the True Father says, it is your duty to aid his representatives to the best of your ability. I’m afraid the barn will not do. For the prisoner, perhaps, but my men have been marching for days with little food or rest.” His eyes narrowed. “We have already learned there are traitors among us. Would not a loyal citizen answer the call of our great leader?”
As she had suspected, these men also believed they were in Lagrimar. If they thought her Elsiran they would likely kill her. She gritted her teeth, closed her eyes briefly, and finally connected to Earthsong. With the energy pulsing into her, she could sense emotion and mood. It was not her strongest skill by far, but these men were easy to read.
Danger rolled off them, impatience, barely reined in malice. And determination. She would not be able to keep them out. Her best chance was to go along with their assumption of her loyalty, be vigilant, and bide her time. Though she knew little of her father’s land, being a Lagrimari may save her life, so that is what she would be.
She released her connection, adjusted her shotgun in her hands, all while glaring at the sergeant. “You may wait here for the storm to pass, but listen to me clearly. I will kill any man who touches me.”
He swallowed. The others shifted where they stood. Finally, Sergeant Tensyn bowed. “I give you my word on the True Father that none of my men will harm you in any way. Food and shelter are all we ask.”